It's Been A Long Time... [Desperate Measures Sequel]

Thirty.

I was silent in the car ride back to the hotel, AJ left me in his car whilst he went to collect any belongings that I could have from the reception. I was sitting in the passenger seat, everyone else had travelled in their own cars so I didn't have to listen to anyone rambling on. 

I kept my eyes on the hotel doors waiting for AJ to return, I had my own plan for what I was going to do now. The doors kept opening and closing as many different people came and went through the doors. 

Keeping my eyes on the doors I saw AJ coming out the door, he looked like he was arguing with someone as he turned back before I saw Dean exiting the hotel. AJ stopped walking before he turned around and looked at Dean, AJ dropped my bag to the ground before he launched himself at Dean, pushing him against the wall grabbing his collar. 

Instead of getting out the car to help I watched on almost emotionless before I leaned back in the seat and bit my lip. As I watched on I saw other wrestlers try to intervene, AJ punched Dean in the face at least once before he was pulled off him. I leaned forward in my seat as I opened the car door and stepped out of the car, holding the door as I looked over at AJ. 

His eyes met mine before he grabbed the bag from the floor before he walked in my direction. He came closer and when he was halfway Dean grabbed him from behind, making AJ face him before he punched AJ. AJ stumbled back before he threw himself back at Dean pushing him down to the ground before they started scrapping on the floor. 

Roman jumped in alongside Seth, Luke and Karl pulling the two apart from each other. I watched on, a blank look on my face as I looked from AJ to Dean before I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I jumped away as I turned around to see Ruby with a concerned look on her face, "I'm so sorry." She spoke gently, "I didn't mean to scare you."

I weakly smiled at her, it was so difficult to try and be normal at this moment in time. All I really wanted was for someone to hold me, someone to take me in their arms and tell me everything was going to be okay. "It's okay," I spoke quietly before I turned back and saw Luke and Karl trying to calm down AJ, and Roman and Seth holding Dean back since he was raging. 

"Do you wanna get out of here?" She asked me sensing I was not feeling too comfortable right now. 

Scanning my eyes over everything I shrugged my shoulders before I headed over to the middle of the drama, I could feel everyone's eyes on me before I scooped up my bag from the ground. Standing up straight I looked at Dean, our eyes met for a brief second. His whole aura and looks were angry but for a brief second, I swear I saw regret flash across his face. 

Turning to look at AJ I shook my head before I put my head down and walked towards Ruby. 

"Tasha!" AJ called after me, "Tasha!"

I ignored his shouts as I got level with Ruby closing AJ's car door and following her to her car. I got into the passenger seat and closed the door clutching the bag close to me as I shakily pulled the belt over me. 

Suddenly the door opened and I looked up and saw AJ standing there, "I'm sorry."

"Me too," I whispered. "Please, I have to go."

He reached for my hand but I moved them away from him, I couldn't bear to have anyone touching me right now. He backed away before he gave me a little nod, "If you need anything, just call me." He closed the door before Ruby pulled away from him, leaving everyone behind. 

I wished I was with AJ right now, I really could have used someone who knew me much better to be my lift, to be the one who was here for me. For now Ruby would have to do, she was here for me and not acting like a child, that's what I really needed. 

<3

I lied when I said I was strong, I was weak right now and I knew it. 

Ruby had taken me to a different hotel to try and talk but I clammed up, I didn't want to talk about it and wanted to be alone. What I really wanted the most was to not be in a hotel, so the first chance I got I headed away. Taking my small bag, dumping it in a nearby bin and hiring a car. 

I drove out of the state, I didn't even have a plan. I was so numb to everything right now. 

It just seemed everything seemed to be happening to me all in one go. I felt so helpless like there was no end in sight. The pain, the mental pain was too much to bear right now. I had no support system, not anyone that I felt I could talk to anyway. 

My brother was in another country and he had his own problems to worry about. I guessed him and my parents knew about what happened since they had been calling me none stop. I guess that was why I had left my phone in the hotel, I didn't want to deal with having to talk to anyone. 

If I spoke to AJ that meant I had to face up to the fact he attacked Dean. I know he'd tell me he did it for me but I never asked for any of it. 

Dean didn't even wait for me. 

I filled the car with gas at the nearest gas station where I grabbed myself a bottle of water, I needed something to get me through the journey, not that I knew my destination. After paying for the fuel I returned to the car and set back on the road again. The freeway was not too busy at this time of the evening, I mean it was busy enough but it kept me awake. 

Driving through the night was a killer, I did it before I finally decided I was best to get some sleep, to get some rest. I wasn't even tired, my mind was working overtime and I didn't want to stop and think properly because then I might remember things, I might just remember what happened. If I remembered what happened I had to live with the fact it happened. 

Turning up the music I tried to drown out the thoughts I had. I couldn't stop now, if I stopped I would only think more. No, I had to stop, if I didn't stop I was going to make myself sick. Pulling off at the next town I drove around the town before I stopped at a target where I walked around aimlessly. I had no intention of buying anything, I had no intention of doing anything until I sat down on one of the sofas within the store. 

I pulled my feet up and got comfy for a second, I watched as people walked around, nobody seemed to care that I was getting comfortable on this sofa. My eyelids were getting heavy, I put my arms on the arm of the sofa before leaning my head down for a brief second before I felt myself falling asleep. 

I was woken by a store employee, I don't know how long I was asleep for but I needed it and felt much better for what little sleep I did get. "Sorry Miss, you can't sleep here." She was a young thing who looked like she was only here for the money. Her long black hair and many facial piercings telling a different story to her voice. 

"I'm so sorry," I told her as I got to my feet before brushing down my outfit. "I don't know what came over me."

She smiled at me, her bottom lip moving slightly as she played with her lip piercing. "Haven't I seen you before?" She looked me up and down, "I recognise you from somewhere."

"Maybe," I sat back on the sofa. "I occasionally pop up on the telly."

"Yes," she grinned as she sat next to me on the sofa, "My housemates are totally into wrestling, I knew I'd seen your face before."

I looked down at her name badge, "Lucy," I said as I looked up at her face. "Don't ever become famous."

She raised an eyebrow, "It can't be that bad."

"Everyone knows your business," I sighed before I got back to my feet. "Thanks for taking the time to have a little chat with me." It might not seem like much of a chat but it was good to just talk to someone who didn't really know me, someone who didn't know anything. "I have to go," I told her managing a weak smile.

I heard her call her goodbyes after me, I didn't stop and turn back, if I did I might find myself bursting into tears or worse returning back to where I had run from. For now, all I could do was press on and keep going.