chapter eight

April 23, 2012 (off camera)

Central Park was all but deserted at this time of morning, especially when it was overcast as it had been since Friday. The air today was cooler, the misty precipitation edging slightly towards snow if the temperature dropped any more. He didn't really care. He knew her routine. She'd be out here, rain or shine. Damned April showers— thunder rumbled across the sky as rain fell in solid sheets.

The cold North wind whipped his hair around as he took a few more steps towards the monument, skirting the larger puddles. He was already soaked to the skin; rainwater ran down from his hair, dripping down his neck to soak his shirt beneath the red hoodie and leather jacket he wore. His ankle rolled, and if not for good balance, he would have fallen. Instead he splashed gracelessly through the water, his palm scraping against weatherworn stone as he groped for support. And now there was rain in his shoes. How perfect.

Lex Collins, former wrestler-turned-stalker paused, looking up into the sky, suddenly chilled. It seemed like an omen, and after the last few minutes, he didn't think it was a good one. His heart leapt in his chest, his palms growing sweaty. Squaring his shoulders, he squinted down the path he knew she would be taking. His eyes were burning, his vision blurry from the rain and remnants of styling products that dripped into them. He leaned his head back, letting the rain wash over his face, mindless of the cold. Muttering to himself like he always did when especially agitated, he shivered, straining his ears.

Finally he heard the slap-slap of her running shoes on the wet concrete. Drawing in a deep breath, he stepped out into the path. His clothes were drenched, his pants spattered with mud, clinging to his muscular frame. Slowly, he turned towards her. With the rain plastering his hair down, and the slightly crooked smile on his face, he looked like a crazy person. "KASEY!"

He shouted her name, causing her to lift her head before she passed him by.

She was in the zone, running on autopilot while a steady stream of rock music blared in her ears. As her eyes met his she faltered, shortening her stride and tripping over the same crack he had earlier. She crashed into him, and if not for the statue they hit, both would have gone down hard. Sputtering, she shoved him hard, struggling to regain her footing. "What the hell are you doing here, you creep?!" She shouted at him, waving her hand in his face as he stared at her.

Shrugging, he leaned back against the statue, "see you, y'know? That's all. Wanted t'say congratulations, really."

Rolling her eyes, she took another step back, one hand going into the pocket of the hoodie she wore. Her fingers closed over the little canister of mace. "You could have sent a card or something."

"Nah," he shook his head, "you know I ain't much of a writer. Not like that new guy you got. He's got all those catchy little sayings, don't he?"

"Seriously?" She shook her head, "you're still following me around? Just drop dead, Lex. I'm with someone now, and I honestly care a lot about him."

"Yeah?" Collins snorted, "he ain't all he's cracked up to be, Kase."

"What's your deal?"

He shook his head, "if you don't know by now, you're kinda dumb. I care, despite what you think. I never stopped even though you turned on me."

"I TURNED ON YOU?!" She almost shrieked the words at the top of her lungs, "you threatened my uncle and then he turned up dead in the middle of a burned out house! Why are you here, Lex? Do you want revenge? For what? If that's what this is, just tell me what you want and stop being so damned theatrical about it!"

He looked up at the dark sky, and ground his teeth. "Ain't theatrics. Just a warnin', alright?"

"No! No warnings. No threats!" The raven-haired champion shook her head, "you're trying hard to get back into my good graces but that won't happen, Lex. I'm sorry, really. But you just need to go away before someone sees me talking to you." She tried to leave but he grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

He chuckled ruefully, "you don't get it, do ya? You're bein' played."

She twisted away from him, lifting her other hand and spraying the mace right in his eyes.

He screamed in pain, clawing at them helplessly. "OH JESUS CHRIST, KASE! IT BURNS!"

She kneed him in the groin, watching as he fell to the ground. Then she crouched over him, putting a hand over his mouth to silence his bellowing. "Listen up, Lex. I went to Jax for advice and you know what he told me? Would you like to know exactly what the advice he gave me was?" Kasey closed her eyes and let part of her photographic memory come to the surface, "if I choose to walk the straight and narrow road, nobody will hold quarrel with me. That means you, Lex. I'm above your stupid, sick little games. I don't care what you think you read on Twitter because Adam is jealous of Kyle… he's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm not going to let you ruin my happiness." She watched his reaction, knowing he could hear her just fine, even though he couldn't see her. "I'm sorry, hon, but when you show up like this, I consider it a threat. Next time you do, I'm going to sic the cops on your ass."

She got up and disappeared into the misty deluge, that rhythmic slap-slap of her shoes fading off into silence again.

He groaned, and then flopped on his back, letting the rain wash over his face as he tried to keep his eyes open. His final words came out as mutter, the warning lost on her altogether, "goddamnit, Kase, you can't negotiate revenge."