A/N: This story is a truly collaborative effort. Some chapters are written by me, some by other authors. While each chapter centers around one specific theme, each chapter will read like a vignette, almost like a OneShot, unto itself. The idea is based on a song by Aslyn called 'Golden.'

Fool for Love
The Prologue by Queen of Kaos

'And I never loved so hard. Never hurt so bad. Never been such a fool for love. And I never want so bad just to do it all again.'

Perfectly gelled hair? Check. Freshly shaven face, silky smooth because he finally agreed to try some of Dave's moisturizer? Check. Pouty, kissable lips? Check. Perfectly tailored, pin-striped dress shirt that showed just enough of his dark, chiseled chest to be alluring, not mid-life crisis creepy? Check. Jeans that hung low enough to show his hip-dents when he stretched, but not so low that he looked too gangsta? Check. Irresistable cologne to ensure she sat a little closer all night? Check.

Randy Orton winked at his own reflection and turned to grab his wallet, stuffing it carefully into his back pocket. Even though he was used to going out after a show, partying until the sun came up with most of his friends, he wasn't used to the nervous feeling in his chest. Hanging out with the guys was nothing compared to the idea of an actual date.

He wasn't the kind of guy who got nervous easily, and especially when he was just cruising for chicks with the fellas. They had a system, they stuck to it, they all got laid, and everyone was happy. It was easy to be Randy Orton most nights. He knew people thought he was some voracious man-whore, but what did they know about his life?

Randy would be the first to admit he was no saint when it came to the women he surrounded himself with. He wasn't ashamed of the women he dated, and he knew they weren't ashamed of him. Hell, most of them wore him like a badge of honor. At least for a little while.

Of course, they all just assumed that he was trying to get laid. He was a young guy. Why wouldn't that be all he was after? Why would a guy like Randy Orton, with a demanding job and the world on a silver platter, want anything more than a tumble with a sexy, young lady? He surely wasn't looking to settle down.

And he knew how they got that idea. No guy was going to come right out and say "I'm lookin' for the one. Do you think you might be her? I'm hoping you might be." At least, no guy who ever wanted to have another date in his lifetime. So he pretended, under the guise of 'player,' that he wasn't looking for the one, that he didn't care if he found her, that it didn't matter if he ever found a soulmate so long as he got some ass.

As long as everyone went on believing that his little 'trial and error' method was synonomous with 'mack,' he wouldn't have to sweat his cover being blown. Besides, what did it matter to them if he might want something more from them in the future? All Randy really wanted was to find a chick who he could stand to be around for more than a couple of weeks - one that he found physically and mentally attractive. And, as far as he was concerned, he didn't have to stay celibate until he found it.

His father had always warned him that dating co-workers was a bad idea. A horrible break-up would ruin things not only for him and the woman he was with, but also for the rest of the people who had to be around them. 'Son, this business is complicated enough without adding fraterinzation to the mix.'

Fraterin . . . whatever. Randy just knew that he liked to be around the girls that he was dating. Divas were always around, so they made the most sense to Randy. They were the best of all worlds, in his opinion, because they were all beautiful, but had a plethora of personalities. When one had issues he couldn't deal with, another was waiting in the wings with a completely different set of crap. When he got tired with that, there was another chick, from another place, with a whole new set of life experiences and character flaws.

At least that's how it was starting to feel. Still, in the midst of several failed relationships, Randy couldn't help feeling optimistic about this date. Sometimes he thought that being so hopeful about relationship after relationship was a little bit girly. It had just the briefest hint of fluffy kittens and brightly-colored rainbows, he knew. But he couldn't stop himself from believing that she was out there. Somewhere. Maybe he'd already met her, and just didn't realize it yet. Maybe she was waiting for him at that very moment.