Wait For You

Not So Sweet Homecoming

December 24th, 2013: Christmas Eve

Four months since Scarlett saw Randy, and it still only felt like it was yesterday when she announced on national television that she was leaving not only the WWE, but him. Things seemed to be doing okay for her, but deep down she still had feelings for Randy, and they weren't going away, despite not talking to him for months.

"I have a surprise for you," Ms. Sinclair stood with a smirk as Scarlett turned around, breaking off her thoughts.

"What?" Scarlett approached her mother in the kitchen and widened her eyes when she saw John standing beside her. This scene was all too familiar.

"Hey," John spoke softly and smiled.

Scarlett ran to him and embraced him. "I can't believe you're actually here," she admitted as she looked up at him in awe. John was supposed to be on an overseas tour in England.

"I took the next few days off to spend some time with you guys. I haven't been home for Christmas in a long time, and I missed you guys," John explained, "So, here I am," he chuckled.

Scarlett grinned widely. It was great knowing she would spend Christmas with her father for the first time ever. It felt surreal. Scarlett couldn't let her father go, so she squeezed him tightly. "I'm so happy you're here."

"Me too," John smiled.

"Me three," Ms. Sinclair chuckled as she kissed her fiance on the lips.

"God I miss that," John groaned as he kissed back and cupped her face. Ms. Sinclair slid her hand to John's backside and groped his butt, causing him to moan.

"Keep it PG please!" Scarlett yelled as Ms. Sinclar giggled. "Or at least save it for the bedroom," Scarlett commented, trying not to gag. Seeing her parent's public display of affection was gross, she thought.

"Okay, okay," John sighed, "We'll stop now, you little party pooper," he frowned, "But someday when I catch you making out with another boy, I'll remember this moment," he teased.

Scarlett scoffed. "Like that would ever happen."

"You don't think I'd do it?" John raised his eyebrow.

"No, I know you would," Scarlett chuckled, "I'm talking about me making out with a boy," she paused, "No guy would ever even want to talk to me let alone kiss me," she laughed to herself. The idea was kind of hilarious in her mind. She couldn't imagine herself even talking to another guy ever again. No one would like her, she thought to herself.

"What? You can't be serious Scarlett," John thought she kidding. But when Scarlett just stared at him, he was worried. "Why would you say something like that?"

Scarlett just shrugged.

"Tell me," John looked down at her.

"There's nothing to tell," Scarlett laughed nervously.

"Don't make me," John threatened to tickle her.

"You'll never get me to talk," Scarlett declared.

"That's where you're wrong," John smiled mischieviously as he started tickling her, causing Scarlett to laugh uncontrollably.

"Stop it!" Scarlett screamed through her giggles, but John tickled her even more.

"Not until you talk," he smirked, refusing to give in.

"Fine!" Scarlett surrendered. "Now stop," she couldn't breathe. John finally stopped, and Scarlett caught her breath before speaking. John stood with his arms crossed, waiting for her to talk. "Spill," he demanded.

Scarlett bit her lip. "No guys like me," she said simply, but John wasn't buying it.

"Then tell me why there are fan pages out there about you, and why I even have guys coming up to me everyday wondering if you have a boyfriend," her father seemed amused.

"That's the thing though, no one likes me for me, for who I really am, you know?" Scarlett looked down at the ground and sighed.

"Scarlett..." John put his hand on her shoulder, "You have a lot going for you. You're beautiful, intelligent, free-spirted, funny, caring...you name it, you have it," he chuckled.

"But no one cares about that stuff anymore," Scarlett replied with sadness in her voice.

"What do you mean?" John was confused.

"Never mind," she shrugged, "You wouldn't understand."

"Then help me understand," John pleaded. He wanted to help her.

"I've had dozens of guys approach me these past few months, saying they want to get to know me, but then they started asking me the same questions over and over, and that's when I realized that they didn't really want to know me because I was interesting. They only cared because of who I was associated with, so they were just using me. I haven't actually met a guy who liked me, for me since---" she stopped herself. She couldn't say it, not out loud.

John raised his eyebrow, still confused. But then it hit him. "Ohhhh," he mouthed to himself. "Scarlett---"John was cut off.

"Don't say it. You have absolutely no reason to be sorry," she giggled through the tears.

John could see her fighting back those tears, and it broke his heart. "Come here," he said as he wrapped his arms around his daughter. Scarlett sobbed silently into his shirt. "Everything's going to be okay," John assured her as he rubbed her back lightly.

"No, it's not," Scarlett sighed.

"As long as I'm here, I will make sure it is," John promised.

Scarlett smiled slightly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," John smiled back.

Maybe he's right. Everything will turn out okay, right?

Scarlett still hadn't managed to talk about the situation in months, mostly because she didn't want to. She was afraid that if she started talking about the past, that her feelings would come back. She still hadn't fully gotten over all of it, and she hadn't been able to say his name out loud. She just couldn't do it. The fear held her back. She hadn't been the same ever since that summer, and she wasn't sure she'd ever be alright again. The guilt consumed her everyday, and not a day went by when she didn't think of that summer---the memories, the emotions. She couldn't let go, no matter how much she wanted to.

She kept going back.

All because of----

Scarlett's heart dropped as his name appeared across her phone, as if on cue.

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Hope you enjoyed this! Comment if you'd like!