Uhm… teh Hi. -- hides --
Lilian wasn't sure exactly when she passed out, but when she came to, the trainer was waving a foul smelling packet under her nose.
"Oh, God," she gagged, waving his hand away from her face. "What the hell-"
"Smelling salts," the trainer explained before she could complete her sentence, setting it on the table next to her. "You passed out on us." Lilian raised a hand to touch her forehead, only to have the trainer grab her hand to stop her. "Don't. I just got the bleeding stopped."
Lilian nodded slightly, regretting the action when stars formed in front of her eyes. "Oh, God," she murmured, closing her eyes and trying to will the nausea away that was forming thanks to the bright lights.
"Try not to fall asleep again. You have a concussion, okay, Lilian?" the trainer told her, patting her hand.
"Yeah," Lilian replied, resting her head back against the pillow on the table.
"I'll be right back, okay?"
"Yeah," she repeated, bringing her gaze back up to the ceiling as he made his way out of the room.
Lilian wasn't sure how long she had laid there before her eyes started to drift closed again. She was almost asleep when a voice startled her awake, causing the little blonde to jump.
"You're not supposed to sleep when you have a concussion," Randy Orton spoke up, leaning against the doorframe as he looked at Lilian.
"Yeah, well, I have a major headache and there isn't exactly anything entertaining to keep me awake, so… what do you want me to do, Randy?"
Randy smirked as he pushed himself off the doorframe and walked into the room. "I don't know, Lilian. It's good you still have your dry sense of humor. You must be fine." She opened her mouth to bite off a reply, but he talked over her. "But your question… Well, to start, how about you stop picking fights with seven foot tall guys?"
She glared at him with cloudy green eyes, her voice low as she replied, "He attacked me Randy. So if you're here to pick a fight with me, you can just leave now."
"Nah, I'm not gonna do that," Randy replied casually, chuckling to himself as the little blonde sighed when he took a seat. "It's fun to annoy you. After all, you are-"
"Why aren't you with Evolution?" Lilian cut him off before he could finish his statement.
Randy sighed, crossing his arms across his muscular chest as he looked hard at Lilian. "They're doing something in the ring. I figured you needed me more… and besides, I have a feeling Hunter and Ric are going to blow a gasket at the fact I saved your ass out there. That's something that will probably be better handled backstage than in the middle of the ring rather than in front of 18,000 people."
Lilian frowned and shook her head slightly, immediately regretting the action. "It's nice to know that one person in Evolution has a heart-"
"Lilian… what we do… It's business and you know it-"
"So what? Randy, damn it, I know I'm just the ring announcer, but still… would it really matter to them that you saved me?" Randy dropped his gaze to the floor, unsure of how to answer. "Damn it. Orton, look at me and answer me," Lilian demanded.
He brought his gaze back up, meeting Lilian's fiery gaze. "Yes, unfortunately, Lilian, it does matter. Business decisions and personal decisions can't mix in the world of business."
Lilian gave him another harsh look, this time making the young superstar actually flinch. "Leave," she finally murmured lowly.
"Lily-"
"No, Randy. I want you to leave. And now," Lilian managed, only to curse to herself when tears began to flow down her cheeks, the emotion of the night and his statement getting to her.
"Hey," Randy whispered, standing so he could lean over her. He pulled her up and hugged her to his chest tightly, then let her go and cupped her face with his hands as he brushed away her tears with his thumbs. "Lily, I don't care what Hunter and Ric and Dave say. I don't care if it's business or personal. You… you mean so much to me. I'm gonna save you no matter what. I hope you know that… and if you don't, please believe me, okay? "
"I know," Lilian sniffled. "I just… I hate being the damsel in distress… and I don't want you to get in trouble with Evolution. Your career-"
"-doesn't matter when it comes to you," Randy finished, resting his hand against her cheek and reaching down to grasp her hand with his other hand. "I hope you know that."
Lilian opened her mouth to reply, only to freeze when a cold voice spoke from the doorway.
"Well, isn't this nice?"
Lilian and Randy both turned to the door, seeing Dave, Hunter, and Flair staring at them.
Randy dropped his hand from Lilian's cheek but kept his grip on her hand, squeezing slightly to let her everything was going to be fine.
He glanced at the little blonde, who had a nervous look on her face, then said, "Guys. How did the segment go?"
"Well, if you'd have been out there, you would have known," Ric answered evenly, though Randy could tell the older man was pissed.
"I know… and the decision to not go out there with you guys is one that I made," Randy answered. "So what's up? Why are you here?"
"'What's up?' 'Why are we here?'" Hunter repeated coolly. "I think that's what we should be asking you."
Randy glanced at Lilian, again squeezing her hand. "It's personal."
"Yeah, I'd say it's personal," Ric replied with a smirk, looking at their enjoined hands.
"What?" Randy asked, following his gaze. "Wait! No, it isn't like that!" he stammered, though he didn't let go of Lilian's hand.
"Then what is it?" Dave asked. "Cause it looks like you're awfully cozy with the ring announcer here."
Lilian glared at Dave, opening her mouth to say something about the fact that he referred to her as the ring announcer rather than her actual name. However, Hunter spoke first, his words annoying Lilian even more.
"Yeah, Randy, are you screwing her?"
"Hey!" Randy said angrily before she could say a word. "It's not like that and even if it were, it wouldn't be your business! So back off Hunter!"
Lilian sat there, shocked that Randy actually spoke to Hunter that way. She swallowed slightly at the angry look that came across Hunter's face, moving a little closer to Randy.
Hunter licked his lips, pressing his hair back from his face as he tried to control his temper. "You… you do not talk to me that way," Hunter began, only to have his annoyed look turn to shock as Randy cut him off.
"No. You don't talk to her that way!" Randy answered hotly.
"Randy," Lilian began nervously, not wanting an all out brawl to erupt in the trainer's office, especially if it meant Randy could be in trouble in Evolution.
"No, Lil," he said softly, smiling at her gently, his eyes asking her a question… the question she knew would one day be asked… the question she didn't want to answer.
Still, she nodded her agreement, closing her own eyes as she listened to Randy.
"Guys… I'm going to be honest here. I saved Lilian tonight… not cause we're an item, or cause I like her. I mean, I do love her, but…" Randy paused, then continued.
"Lilian Orton is my older sister."
End Chapter 2