This Is Me

Part 57

Sean cleared his throat, anxiously looking Stacy's dad in the eyes. Wallace curled his fingers into a fist, his knuckles cracking with a dark look. One of the guys at the table, tapped Wallace's arm, uttering aloud. "Ok... Well, at least he's not a hockey player... right?" Wallace locked his jaw, growling out. "Ya... He's worse." Sean raised a hand, informing him honestly. "I feel your concern, but he was nice to her." Wallace snorted dismissively, snapping out. "Probably because he wants something from her. Why did you leave her with him?!" Sean opened his mouth to answer, when Wallace suddenly took off from the table. Mark shot to his feet, mumbling out under his breath. "Oh, shit..." Sean turned around to see that Stacy was walking in with Rasputin. Wallace was heading straight for him with a fire in his eyes. Mark swatted one of the other guys, ordering him seriously. "Come on. We've got to stop him." The men all nodded, jumping to their feet to follow Mark. Sean moved a bit faster to reach Wallace sooner.

Stacy's smile fell as she asked her dad with concern. "Da?" Wallace didn't stop, he rushed up and shoved Rasputin away from Stacy. Rasputin's back hit the wall, but he showed no emotion. Stacy shoved her dad back, shouting out sternly. "Da! Stop! He didn't do anything!" Wallace pointed a finger at Rasputin, shouting at Stacy in a flurry of Gaelic. Stacy pointed a finger back at her dad, answering just as heatedly in Gaelic. Sean could barely keep up. He only caught bits and pieces of their fight. All he knew for sure was that Wallace didn't want her near Rasputin. Stacy tried to defend him, and it just got more tense. Wallace touched the jacket on her shoulders, then yanked it off her. Stacy cringed, shooting him a fowl look. Wallace ignored her, throwing the jacket back at Rasputin as he snapped out in plain english. "Take your shite and stay away from my daughter." Rasputin adjusted the jacket in his hands, smugly stating back. "She's a grown woman. I don't think you could keep her from me if you tried."

Stacy shot Rasputin a stern expression, before Wallace shoved her behind him and growled out to him. "Try me, Comrade." Rasputin smirked, stepping closer to him as he said coolly. "I'd love to see you try..." The guys moved in to separate them and Rasputin raised his hands innocently for the onlookers to see. Rasputin started to walk away, his eyes locking with Sean's for a brief minute. Seeing Rasputin smirk, boiled Sean's blood. Wallace snatched a jacket from one of the guys, draping it over Stacy as he told her seriously. "Stay away from that fecker! He's the enemy." Stacy rolled her eyes, storming to the elevators as she blurted out over her shoulder. "He's not MY enemy." Wallace took a step toward her, but the guys kept him back, cooing him softly. "Let her go. She's had a bad day." Stacy stepped into the elevator and Sean bolted for it before Mark could stop him. He couldn't wait. He was her best friend. He needed to say his peace, or he'd never forgive himself. Slipping through the doors before they closed, he moved to stand against the wall.

Stacy leaned back against the opposite wall, mumbling out under her breath. "He just bought me hot chocolate and offered to walk me back. Nothing happened. So, you can all fecking relax." Sean shuffled his feet, admitting softly. "I know... I followed you. But Stacy... I'm worried." Stacy hugged herself, muttering out grimly. "You think I can't handle myself? I have dated other guys, you know." Sean knew that was a lie. Lifting his head to look at her, he told her with light concern. "Stacy, please. I know you're in pain... but don't latch onto him. I don't trust him. He could be using you." Stacy turned hollow eyes on him, saying sharply. "You think I don't know that? I told you. We just talked. And... it was nice." The words slipped from Sean, before he could stop them. "What did you talk about?" Stacy's eyes narrowed on him, her voice turning defensive as she said. "About why I was running half naked through the snow." Sean inhaled slowly, trying to keep himself from commenting about that.

Stacy tilted her head back against the wall, adding in a softer voice. "He actually wanted to know if I was being chased. He was nice." Sean scoffed without intending to. Her eyes darted back to him with a scowl and he quickly blurted out. "He didn't seem that nice back in the lobby. Stacy, I just want you to be careful. I couldn't bare it if he were to hurt you." Stacy let out a heavy sigh, before telling him casually. "I know you're only trying to look out for me... That's what everyone does." Sean opened his mouth to comfort her, but she stopped him by saying swiftly. "What hurts... is they were right. I can't pretend that seeing you happy doesn't make me feel left out. There was a reason that you were my only real friend in school..." Stacy's eyes began to water, causing her to wipe her eyes. Sean reached out for her hand and she took it. Intertwining their fingers like they usually did, Stacy admitted to him. "We just talked... And I enjoyed myself. That's it. It won't happen again."