PREQUEL TO GARDEN OF EDEN
Ok, so I know quite a few people quite like the OC Rhian from Garden of Eden. So I decided to write a short two-shot about how Rhian and Randy met. This started out as very self-indulgent - I needed to get inside Rhian's head for a bit for a variety of reasons, but then I thought maybe if everyone else read it they would understand her more when Garden of Eden continues (please forgive me, there have been some issues, back soon, although I can't say when at the moment.)
Told from both POV's - It was going to be entirely through Rhian, but then I quite like two points of view, so please excuse me lol.
If you haven't read Garden of Eden (go read it!) - it can just be a smutty two-shot, completely stand-alone. It is a prequel after all. Even thought it's written after the original story that I haven't even finished. Oh well.
Based on a slight fantasy of mine and my friends - Roadtrip to the soundtrack of Bon Jovi & Meatloaf. Hell yeah ;-)
DISCLAIMER - I don't own anyone from WWE including Randy Orton, Triple HHH (Paul), John Cena & Evan Bourne. However Rhian & Lea are mine mine mine.
Apologies for any mistakes etc - No beta, just me. Oh and sorry for long intro lol.
Enjoy :-) Part two will be up by next week... Honest.
(Rhian)
'Look Miss-'
I cut him off with a scowl. He rolls his eyes as I go back to rummaging through my purse. My fingers curl around my wallet. I pull it out triumphantly. The man behind the desk grunts in mild-approval. Now, where's my card?
I tug my credit card out of its slot and shove it violently into the machine. Nothing. I look up the man. He shrugs and presses something on the keyboard. The screen on the machine lights up for a brief second and then dies. The guy shrugs.
"Out of order," he announces. "Cash only."
I tug my card out and open my wallet again. No cash. Shit.
"Cash only Miss."
"I haven't got any."
He sighs. "I'll have my gas back then."
"How exactly do you think you're going to do that?"
He shrugs. "Not my problem."
"It's your machine, therefore your problem!"
Someone coughs behind me. I glance over my shoulder. Shit. A queue has formed behind me, made of four disgruntled looking guys. "What?" I glare, before turning back to the even more disgruntled cashier.
Just as I'm about to hurl another string of abuse at the cashier for his lack of customer service, the fact that there's not even an ATM in a hundred miles of this shithole so what does he expect me to do, an arm reaches over my shoulder, a fistful of notes.
"Excuse me? What do you think you're doing?" I reel round. Blue (or are they grey?) eyes meet mine.
"It's cool, don't worry about it."
"I don't want your money. I don't even know you." I push his arm away. "Look," I say to the cashier, "my friend is in the car, I'll get the money from her."
"How do I know you're going to come back?"
I throw my purse across the counter. "Your insurance."
I turn and go to storm out the shop. "Move," I hiss. The guy behind me steps half an inch to the left as I barge past him, my shoulder aching from hitting his arm as I exit the shop. The dirt and sand make their way easily into my sandals as I stomp angrily to the car.
Throwing the door open, my friend Lea looks round, exhaling smoke towards me. "Sorted?"
"Not even close. The idiot's machine isn't working. Have you got fifty bucks?"
Gripping the cigarette between her lips she leans back and grabs her purse from the backseat. She retrieves two notes. "Shit. I've only got forty."
"I'll sort it," I say, taking the notes.
"Show him your tits!" she laughs after me. I flip her the finger.
Maybe that's going to be my only option.
Just as I'm about to wrench the door off it's handles and beg to be let off for ten dollars, the door swings open, missing me by an inch.
"Hey, did you get your money?"
"Yes, what's it to you?"
"Our buddy just paid for you."
"What?" I scowl, pushing past the guys in the doorway. Sure enough, at the counter, the guy who offered to pay for the gas is just getting his change from the cashier. The guy turns and smiles when he sees me. I feel my face turning from red anger to pink embarrassment.
"Your welcome," he says, a broad grin stretching out his face.
"I had the money."
He looks at the two notes in my hand. "You're still short ten bucks."
I shrug. "I had some coins."
"Well don't worry about it. It's sorted."
"No."
"No what? I just paid for your gas, I think what you're supposed to say now is thank you."
"I'll pay you back." I move past him and take my proffered purse from the cashier. Opening it up once again, I hunt through it and after moment strike lucky – a scrunched up note at the bottom. "Here," I thrust the notes at the guy.
"No," he pushes my hand back.
"Honestly, just take it."
His fingers curl around my wrist and push my hand forcefully back towards me. "Where are you headed?"
"What's it to you?"
"Well, you can pay me back by letting me take you out for a drink." He pauses as the words hang in the air. "Fuck... that didn't come out right... You don't owe me anything. Jesus Christ..."
"Look just take the money," I frown, my face burning up at his proposal. I stuff the notes into the pocket of his jeans, my rings catching on the material so I have to tug my hand free. His hand curls around my wrist once again as I release my fingers from the confines of his pocket.
"Well if I see around... drinks are on me."
"Whatever." I swing my purse over my shoulder, turn on my heel and hang my head in embarrassment.
As I get closer to the car, I can see Lea's feet hanging out the passenger window.
"What took you so long?" she asks as I get in.
"Some idiot decided to pay for us and then wouldn't accept the money to pay him back and then, as if it wasn't humiliating enough, he then basically said that if I slept with him that would be suitable pay back."
Lea cackles with laughter. "Jesus, poor guy. He met his match with you. Why didn't you just say thank you graciously instead of raining on his parade?"
"Who pays for a random chick's gas and expects nothing back?"
"Him apparently. And I doubt very much that he was propositioning you, he was just being friendly! And you just bite his hand off..."
I scowl at her and she laughs once again.
"Was he hot at least?"
"I didn't look."
"Point him out."
I glance out back to the row of cars next to the gas station. A few guys surround one of them.
"That one," I point as he emerges from the shop front. I glance back at Lea who is leaning over the gearshift to get a closer look, her sunglasses now on the tip of her nose and her eyebrows raised so high they disappear under her thick bangs.
"Fuck me," she breathes. "What's wrong with you? He's hot! Who gives a shit if he propositioned you? He is ripped!"
"He's a dick."
"You don't even know him!"
"He was just... ugh... I don't even know."
"You should go say thank you."
"Why?"
"Because it's polite! And tell him where we're headed – I haven't got any more cash for drinks later."
"Lea!"
She shoves me gently towards the door. "Go on!"
"No!"
"Quickly, before they go!"
"No."
"Spoilsport. I'll do it."
"Oh God no... Fine, I'll go."
She leans back against the seat, pushes her sunglasses back up and sticks her feet back out of the window, grinning with success.
(Randy)
"That chick just messed you up!" John chuckles as he slaps me on the back on the way back to the truck.
"Fuck off, you were the one telling me to pay for her."
"Well I didn't think you ever got shot down by a girl," John laughs as we approach the other guys.
"What happened?" Paul asks.
"She gave me the money back."
"And?"
"And nothing," I grunt. What a fucking idiot.
"Reckon we could all pass on some tips for not making a dick of yourself in the future."
"Sure, I look forward to that."
John thumps my side.
"What?"
"She's coming over," he hisses.
Shit, another humiliation? Seriously, what is this girl on? I turn around and watch as she approaches. Paul whistles under his breath behind me, whilst Evan chuckles with approval. Her cut off shorts cling to the tops of her thighs, as she walks steadily towards us. The wind suddenly picks up, whipping her hair around her face and lifting her loose fitting shirt up, exposing her stomach for a brief second. Is that a tattoo on the side of her stomach?
I swallow hard as she nears. Please, seriously, don't make a scene.
"Hi," she says, staring me square in the eyes.
"Hey."
"I, erm, I just wanted to say thanks. My friend says thanks too." She gestures back to her car. Two feet wave in our direction.
"No problem."
"Sorry too."
"Don't worry about it."
"Where are you guys headed?"
"East," pipes up John.
She nods slowly. "Us too..."
"Where are you stopping?" he asks.
She shrugs in reply. "Wherever we feel like."
I take a deep breath. "What if I give you my number. Phone me when you stop and we'll see where we're at."
She narrows her eyes for a second and then nods. "Sure."
She extracts a phone from seemingly nowhere and passes it to me. Just before I tap in my number I notice the picture on the screen – her and another girl clearly in fancy dress. She pouts at the camera, whilst her friend is laughing. I hurriedly type in my number and hand the phone back.
"What's your name?" she asks.
"Randy."
"Cool." She taps away and then stuffs the phone back where it came from. "Maybe I'll see you around."
She turns and saunters away, slow, almost deliberate steps. As if she knows exactly what she's doing to me.
"What's your name?" I call out after her. She carries on like she hasn't heard me.
"Damn," breathes John. "She is fine..."
"More than fine," agrees Paul, then he laughs. "You just gave a nameless chick your number."
"What was I supposed to do?"
"Get her number. Not the other way round! Everyone knows that," he rolls his eyes.
"Man speaks the truth. She had you hanging on her every word. She's had you whipped in less than a minute!" John laughs.
"Fuck off," I mutter, still watching the girl as she wanders over to her car. The door slams and for a second nothing happens, then, music blares, the engine revs and dust floats towards us.
I lean back, scooting further down in my seat and stretch my legs right out. Closing my eyes, I feel the sun burn on my eyelids. I reach up in blindness and tug the sun visor down.
Fingers brush my shoulder. My eyes flick open. John is leaning between the seats, his hand on mine, the other edging its way towards the dial on the stereo.
"Fuck off," I mutter, swiping his hand away. Paul grunts in agreement.
"What the hell? We've got to drive in silence?"
"Are you deaf? There's music playing."
"I can't hear it."
"Then shut up."
John flops back, causing Evan to swear at him for crushing his arm. Paul relents and turns the dial up a notch. I close my eyes again.
The girl plays on my mind. I keep touching my jean's pocket, desperately trying to resist the urge to look at the screen and see if she's phoned and I haven't heard it ring. No need to add to the taunting that ensued for the first half hour of the journey. Now, the only thing taunting me is the girl – that thick dark hair around her face, in her eyes... those eyes... fuck. I thought it was only guys who undressed girls with their eyes.
I sigh. Laughter breaks out.
"What?" I hiss, opening one eye.
"Keep your daydreams to yourself," chuckles Paul, punching my arm.
I scowl.
Then my seat starts to vibrate. My hand goes to my pocket, but when I pull out my cell phone, the screen is dark. What the... Glancing in the wing mirror, only a few car lengths behind us is a car, with the roof down, two girls in sunglasses, music blaring.
"What the fuck are they playing?"
(Rhian)
"Is that them?" Lea yells over the sounds of Bon Jovi echoing out of the speakers.
I shrug. I'm not bothered. Well, not that bothered. Okay, so maybe he is cute. And okay, maybe cute is an understatement. And yes, I did get his number, but that doesn't mean I'm going to call him. And we've only ended up behind them because we stopped off a few miles back to get coffee. Lea made me wait until we saw their truck pass us. And then ran back to the car, made me put the roof down even though now we look like we've been dragged through a hedge backwards thanks to the wind.
Bon Jovi fades away and is replaced a second later by Meat Loaf. Lea shrieks and turns it up even louder, if that's remotely possible. She pinches my arm, laughing when I roll my eyes at her. She leans over and screeches the words into my ear until I join in.
We close the gap on the car in front.
"Over take them," Lea laughs mid-head swing, her hair looking more scarecrow-like with every movement.
I shake my head. She scowls.
"Go on... Rhian! C'mon, where's your sense of adventure? And how are we going to know it's them unless we over take?"
She has a point, but I'm quite happy to cruise behind. I've already damaged this guy's ego enough. Being overtaken by two girls isn't going to help.
"It's them," Lea grins.
"How do you know?"
"That guy, what did you say his name was?"
"Randy."
"Well he just adjusts the wing mirror – I saw his face. Go on, we have to over take!"
I glance at the speedometer – it's already hitting 80. There's nothing in my mirrors. Fuck it.
Lea runs her fingers through her hair and adjusts her sunglasses. My hair is a state. I shake it out of my eyes, but it falls back a second later. With a quick, last glance over my shoulder, I swing out and hit the gas.
As we pull alongside, I chance a look up. A guy with blonde hair stares down at us, and in the background, I can see that face. And then, I press my foot down further and we shoot forward and swing in front of them. When I look in the rear view mirror, I can see the blonde guy shaking his head, a guy in the back leaning forward between the seats and Randy, slumped back, arms folded, his face half-shielded by the sun visor.
I make my mind up. Tugging my phone out of my pocket, I shove it at Lea.
"Turn the music down and find his number."
She nods and suddenly all I can hear is the wind and the engine.
"Dial it."
Lea presses the key and then hands it over. It rings twice and then:
"Hello?"
"Hi."
"Did you just over take us?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Hmm." Pause. I can hear yelling in the background. Then a muffled sound accompanied with a "will you shut the fuck up?" followed by what sounds like kissing noises and guffawing.
"You still there?"
"Of course," he answers.
"So... what are you doing out here?"
"On our way to the city."
"What for?"
"Hang on a second, why are you asking all the questions?"
"Why not?"
"What's your name?"
"Why?" I grin, as Lea rolls her eyes.
"You know mine, I want to know yours."
"Rhian."
"Why are you out here?"
"Roadtrip."
"Where are you from?"
"What's it to you?"
"Making conversation."
"Where are you from?"
"Missouri," he replies. His voice is doing all kinds of weird shit to me. What is wrong with me? The way his tongue curls around the words is making my insides melt.
"Same..." I murmur.
"Small world."
"I guess."
"Where are you gonna stop?"
"Not sure."
He takes a deep breathe. My skin tingles. "Do you still want that drink?"
"Ring me when you stop." I hang up.
(Randy)
I stare at the phone. Did she just hang up on me?
"Did you get her name?" John questions.
"Yeah. Rhian."
"What did she say?"
"Not much..." I frown. "She hung up on me."
John cracks up. "What the fuck are you saying to this girl?"
"Nothing!" I watch the car pull away from us, the glint of sunglasses as Rhian's friend twists in her seat and gives us a wave. "She told me to ring her when we stop."
"Least you have her number now. Even though if you do call her, it just proves how whipped she's got you already."
"Dude, you're not exactly fucking Casanova – didn't that chick last night slap you when you offered her a drink in exchange-"
John cuts me off, "well, at least I got her name before she slapped me."
"Right, because that's the way to do it. Name and then get slapped. I ain't been slapped yet."
"Metaphorically you have," Paul adds. "That girl has you running in fucking circles. And you know it should be her chasing you."
I slump back in my seat. My phone buzzes.
My friend thinks your friend is cute. The one with the baseball cap.
I chuckle.
"What?" John pipes up.
"Her friend was checking you out."
"Well if she's anything like your girl, I don't wanna know."
My phone buzzes again. This time a photo pops up on screen. Rhian and a blonde girl – Rhian's sunglasses are firmly in place, whilst her friend's are propped up on her head, and they're both pouting at the camera. Underneath it reads: She's the blonde one – Lea.
"Judge for yourself," I mutter, showing John the photo.
He lets out a low whistle and when Evan starts to laugh: "Nah, not my type. She just looks like a blonde version of her stupid ass friend."
"You want me to tell her that?"
"No!"
I laugh and tap out a reply: He's a dick. She should set her sights higher. My level is good.
I hit send before thinking. Fuck that didn't sound right.
Just as I'm writing out a second reply, their reply pops up on screen.
One girl not good enough for you? You want both of us?
That didn't come out right. What I meant is that he's a dick and not worthy of any girl.
Of course you did. How deep is that hole you're digging?
Very funny.
I chew my lip. Why can't I think of anything else to write? I know what I want to put, but do I risk it?
(Rhian)
"Fuck!" hisses Lea.
"What did he say?"
"Very funny. I don't know what to say. Do you always have this effect on guys?"
My insides twist. I'm not doing this deliberately. I just want a laugh. Although, if his reply makes me flutter like a teenager, what does that mean?
Lea is already typing out a reply.
"What are you putting?"
"No, I think it's just you."
"You can't put that."
"Why not? Play hard to get."
"I..."
"You don't want to play hard to get? Oh my god, you like him!"
"Like is over-statement."
"Lust?"
"No! He's just cute."
"You said he was a dick."
"He was. He is."
"What changed?"
"I wouldn't be thinking any of this if we had just driven off earlier, but no, you' I reach over and poke her side. 'You made me go over there and say sorry."
"You didn't have to give him your number."
"You said we needed someone to buy us drinks!"
"I was kidding!"
Silence.
"What do you want me to put?"
"Nothing. Don't reply." I push my sunglasses up. The sun is dipping, the road ahead slowly turning orange. "Where are we going to stop?"
Lea leans back and tugs the map out of her bag. "Where are we?"
"You said you knew!"
"I lied," she shrugs.
A road sign zooms towards us. Lea frantically searches for the names on the maps. "We haven't passed some crossroads have we?"
"Don't think so."
"Well, when we do take a right."
"Okay..."
"What about that guy?"
I shrug. "Let's see if he calls."