Nothing I've Become

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Jay surveyed his surroundings with paranoia as he walked. He'd been on a tear ever since discovering Dawn Marie was gone. He still couldn't believe her betrayal. It left a bitterness in his heart.

His brows rose as he suddenly spotted a familiar feminine form... Lita. She was walking alone, clutching her purse. It appeared as though she were heading in the opposite direction from The Stop. Being a pretty regular customer at the diner, the blond man found that strange, as he knew the redhead normally worked during this time on this day of the week. He wondered if this odd occurrence had anything to do with his encounter with Edge from the previous night.

Christian kept his sharp gaze on the pretty waitress. He decided right then to follow her. He was sure she would unwittingly lead him to his wife. Damn Dawn Marie... How could she just so casually toss him aside? Everything they had and shared - and why? It wasn't as though she gave a damn about Adam anymore!

As he trailed Lita, he clenched his right hand into a fist. Maybe if he didn't actually find Dawn this way, he would coerce the redhead to answer a few questions.

*

Lita tapped her upper chest gently, pacing herself. She had to remain calm and keep her breathing even. The anxiety attack had been one of the most uncomfortable things she had ever experienced. And she did *not* want to go through that ever again.

She kept walking, relieved that she didn't have much farther to go. Stacy had offered to walk her, since she was taking a break anyway, but the redhead had declined. She'd been grateful and thanked the tall, skinny blonde but had assured her she'd be okay.

An odd feeling suddenly crept over Lita, and she stopped in her tracks. She had the distinct sensation she was being followed.

Swallowing hard and with dread, the young woman glanced over her shoulder. Again, she consciously kept her breathing even.

There was nobody there. She couldn't see anybody behind or anywhere near her, at least not anyone she knew or who looked suspicious.

'Don't be so ridiculous,' she mentally chastised herself. She really didn't want to have another panic attack. Christian wasn't following her. And why *would* he? He would have to be insane to do that after what he'd done to his stepbrother the previous night.

Lita continued her trek home. She shook off all thoughts of Christian as new ones of his wife came to her. She knew that all of her suspicions about the brunette were equally as paranoid. Dawn Marie was helping her and Edge, trying to right the wrongs of her past.

The feeling of a huge weight being lifted from her shoulders struck the redhead as she finally reached home. As she made her way up the front walk, she could hear Cody bark-whining excitedly, happy his mistress was back. She dug out her keys and unlocked the door in a hurry.

"H-Hello? Who's there?" she heard Dawn Marie's voice ask.

"It's me, Dawn," she replied.

*

Christian managed to keep back at a certain distance, far enough not to be spotted but near enough to see what was going on.

The ungrateful bitch was staying at Lita's... He couldn't believe it. He had thought Dawn had skipped town, and possibly to stay at her mother's house.

He watched as his wife let the redhead into the house, the two women conversing. His blue eyed narrowed with rage as he kept watching. He stayed put for several moments, even after the door closed.
 
 
 
 

Part 43

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