I've had major writer's block, so I'm sorry this has taken so long! Hopefully you guys like this chapter!

Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I only own unfamiliar people. Everyone else belongs to the WWE or themselves.

***

The car ride was silent. They were still holding hands, and Zack had begun to rub circles with his thumb on the back of Brooke's hand.

Brooke looked out the window. She didn't know what to say, but Zack was calming her down just by being next to her. Finally, she looked at him.

"If you're about to apologize, I don't want to hear it," He said.

"I'm not," She said. "I just wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"For caring so much," She replied. "I just... I really appreciate it."

Zack grinned. "No problem. You're awesome, so you should be treated that way."

It was quiet again for a few more minutes, but Brooke spoke up.

"So... I have a favor to ask."

"All right," Zack said.

"Since we're going to be in Detroit tonight, I was hoping we could stop by and see my lawyer?" She said. It came out sounding more like a question than she meant to.

Zack squeezed her hand. "Absolutely."

"I'm actually from Detroit, so my lawyer is there," Brooke confessed. "She's great at what she does. I just hope she can keep Jace away from me."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Zack asked, briefly glancing at her.

"If you want to," Brooke replied. "I'd love it if you did, but you don't have to."

He squeezed her hand again. "I'll be there."

***

"Brooke Freeman?" The receptionist said.

Brooke looked up at the sound of her name. "That's me."

"Mrs. Perry will see you now," The receptionist said.

Zack and Brooke stood up and followed the receptionist to the office. When they walked in, they sat down in two chairs by a desk.

Behind the desk was Vanessa Perry. Her long black hair was up in a bun, and her brown eyes glanced at them from behind her glasses. She was currently on the phone finishing up a conversation. After a few minutes, she hung up and smiled at the WWE Superstars.

"Hello, Brooke," Vanessa said. She looked at Zack and stuck out her hand. "I'm Vanessa Perry. You are?"

"I'm Zack Ryder," He replied, shaking her hand. "I'm one of Brooke's co-workers."

Vanessa nodded, then looked back at Brooke. "I'm assuming you are here about the restraining order?"

"I am," She said. "Jace started sending me texts and one day showed up where I work. He told me the restraining order had ended."

Vanessa stood up from her chair and opened a filing cabinet next to the desk. After some rummaging around, she pulled out a folder labeled Freeman, Brooke Lynn. She opened it and looked through some papers before finding what she was looking for.

"Your restraining order expired almost a week ago," Vanessa said, her eyes scanning the paper. "If the address on this paper is correct, my office sent you a letter in the mail about this." She handed the paper to Brooke.

Brooke looked at the address on the paper and frowned. "Oh no..."

"What's wrong?" Zack asked.

"After Jace and I broke up, I moved out of our house, but he stayed," She explained. "I don't actually live anywhere right now because I'm always on the road. This is Jace's address."

"So Jace has been getting your mail?" Zack asked.

"Most of it is junk, so I didn't even think about it," Brooke said. "I didn't realize I'd be getting something about this in the mail."

"If you'd like, you can file to get a new restraining order," Vanessa said.

"I guess I have to," Brooke said, sighing.

"I will go to the court and get you a temporary restraining order," Vanessa said. "Eventually, you'll need to go to a hearing to get a permanent one."

Brooke nodded. "I'm too familiar with all of this. When you get the temporary restraining order, could you give me a call? I'll come by and get it. I don't want Jace getting his hands on it."

"Absolutely," Vanessa said. She and Brooke stood up, shaking hands. "If you need anything else, feel free to give me a call."

"Thank you so much," Brooke said. She looked down at Zack, who was still siting. "Come on, Zack. Let's go."

Brooke and Zack left Vanessa's office. After exiting the building, they got in Zack's car and he started it. Brooke let out a deep breath.

"I'm glad that's out of the way," Brooke said.

"Okay, I'm going to tell you all this now so you don't find out when it's too late," Brooke said. "If you are dating someone and they hurt you, LEAVE THEM. Even if they say that they'll never do it again, you need to get out of that relationship. They are lying. That's what they say every time they hurt you. You need to find someone who loves you for you and doesn't hurt you. Find someone who wouldn't even dream of hurting you. I found all of this out too late, but you don't have to. Please don't stay with someone who doesn't love you enough to keep you safe."

"I'm glad it is, too," Zack said. "You shouldn't have to be dealing with Jace and all of this. I'm sorry."

"Now you're apologizing?" Brooke asked, looking over at Zack and raising her eyebrow.

"Yeah, I am," He said. "I'm allowed to. I don't apologize about everything."

"Fair enough..."

"I'm sorry that life has thrown so much shit your way," He said. "You don't deserve it."

"You know what?" Brooke asked. "Just date Zack Ryder. Everyone is a shitty relationship, I give you permission to date Zack Ryder. I'm sure he won't mind."

"Thanks," She said, giving him a small smile.

"So..." He said. "Your name is Brooke Lynn?"

"Where do you think I got the ring name Brooklyn from?" She asked. "My middle name's Lynn."

"That's cool," He said. "I never knew."

"So many people assume my middle name is Lynn just because I'm Brooklyn," She said. "I figured you did, too."

"I don't like assuming things about people," Zack said, shrugging.

"That's a good trait to have," She said. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

"I thought you liked me for my striking good looks," He said.

"No, of course not," Brooke said, rolling her eyes. "It's definitely because you don't assume things about people. Your striking good looks are just a bonus."

"So you think I look good?" Zack asked, smirking.

Brooke blushed. "Uh..."

"What did I just get myself into?"

"Well, yeah, you're attractive," She said. "I know an attractive person when I see them."

"Just so you know, I think you look good, too," He said, the smirk still on his face.

Brooke blushed even deeper, if that was possible. Her face was redder than an apple.

"Thanks..." She managed to get out.

The car ride was silent again. This time, it was awkward, as opposed to the earlier car ride that had a comfortable silence.

"My God, I'm awkward." Brooke sighed. "Sometimes I get flustered around attractive guys. It's not my fault!" She paused. "I just called him attractive again, didn't I?"

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Zack said, frowning. "I thought you already knew."

"People just know they're attractive?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah," He replied. "I know I'm attractive. Do you not know you're attractive?"

Brooke shrugged. "I guess not."

"Well, you are," He said. "You are god damn beautiful. And I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable again, I promise. You deserve to know."

"Thanks..." Brooke said, and this time she didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable.

She felt god damn beautiful.