"Hello Brock." Courtney stated unenthusiastically, she was enthralled with her gameboy and barely had the time of day for the beast. It rode Brock's last nerve that she was preoccupied, he was used to being the center of attention and here was this random woman simply shrugging him off, nearly ignoring him.

"How'd you know it was me? You didn't even look up, too busy with your nerdy toys." He voiced his annoyance.

"You're a moving mountain Brock, creating human overcast wherever you go." Still her eyes did not move up from her screen. "And if I'm a nerd for playing video games . . . . well you're in video games so what does that say about you?" 'Damn he's going to break it now.' Too late she realized her smart mouth might cost her the 'nerdy toy'. Brock caught on, saw her grip tighten on her gameboy. He leaned down and snatched it, finally getting her attention. He was faced with a reaction he was used to, terror. The look of someone who knew destruction was inmate. "You probably shouldn't be talking to me anyway." She grabbed for her game but Brock just held it over her head, a cocky smile on his blocky face.

"I do whatever I want." Brock smirked with confidence, perhaps arrogance.

"That's bullshit." She tried to jump to get her gameboy back, she was close, a few more tries and she was sure she'd reclaim the prize, she stuck out her tongue biting it slightly trying to will herself to grow a few inches. "I do what I want. You do what you want . . . as long as it's ok with Heyman."

"That's not true." And with a gut wrenching crunch Courtney's big mouth finally was her gameboy's undoing, only upside to be seen was now she had nothing to lose.

"We're adults here right?" She waited for Brock to nod. "We both wanted to have sex the other night right?" Again she waited for the agreement. Brock had a stupefied look at how shamelessly she talked of their urges.

'Weird.' He couldn't decide if that was alluring, or off putting.

"Well one of us did and one of us didn't because his manager is a prick and doesn't know when to keep his nose out of his 'client's' business."

"Who?"

"Wait is that a serious question Brock? I know you don't have to think very-" It was Courtney's time to be in awe.

"Shut up I'm not a complete moron." Brock's jaw clenched as he tried to calm himself. It was true his brain was the least worked muscle in his body but he wasn't brain dead as most people thought. Being the beast wasn't really a thinking man's job, it was for someone who could tap into their animal instincts. He was realizing as time went on that he simply needed to work on separating Brock from the Beast, he needed to learn how to turn instincts off and thinking on. He had never had to incentive to do so previously, but he wanted to prove something. He wanted to prove to Courtney that he wasn't one dimensional, wanted to prove that she didn't have him figured out, he would make sure that she wouldn't ignore him again. "Who did you sleep with?" Brock thought back to the men he had seen at the bar.

"Doesn't matter the point is-"

"Was it that punk in the suit?"

"No. You scared everyone in that bar, no one would touch me with a ten foot pole, really put a cramp in my style." She watched Brock smirk victoriously, she caved and smiled back. As the smiles faded a silence coated them, Courtney saw a look on Brock's face she wasn't expecting, one of contemplation. 'The big brute's trying to think. It's really getting to him for some reason.' She could tell he was trying to figure out who she had slept with that night. "I'm sorry Brock." She realized how cold and somewhat cruel she was being, she was not giving Brock the chance to shake her first impression of him.

"Huh?"

"It's not my place to be stepping on you and Heyman's toes."

"I owe my whole career to him, he's the one who made me the next big thing."

"He owes everything he has now to you, you're on the top of your game, and you're bringing him with you. It's not a one way street Brock. I'm not going to puff up your ego anymore than it already is, but you definitely do not rest on your laurels."

"What the hell are laurels?"

"I um . . ." She stopped and scratched her head "Some kind of plant . . . or root or something . . . I think." Eventually with a shrug and a chuckle she gave up.

"Idiot." Brock tussled Courtney's hair with one of his bear paws.

"Ha! Tickles." Brock had no idea he was shaking her head from side to side with force. He had a confused smile on his face, where did he stand with her? Did he now have a friend within the company? No one needs friends to get single's titles, but it does get lonely at the top maybe he wasn't just trying to prove Courtney wrong, maybe he wanted to prove that he was a viable friend. As awkward as their short conversations had been, they were a welcomed change of pace. 'Can't talk to Paul all day, his voice it just . . .gets in your head it's annoying!'

"Brock!" Speak of the devil and he doth appear. Paul came plowing towards Brock and Courtney. "Brock the car is ready." He stopped to glare at Courtney. "I can't seem to get rid of you can I?"

"Sometimes trash sticks to the bottom of your heels when you try to walk over it. But I can tell when I'm not wanted, I'm going don't worry" Courtney scoffed, Paul left a foul taste in her mouth.

"Good." Heyman nodded as if he had accomplished anything.

"It was nice talking to you Brock." Courtney smiled. ' I have to remember . . . not to be so mean to him, it's not his fault Paul's turned him into some rabid dog. Thing is though it'll hurt the same regardless, if I let him get a bite in. Brock I' need to give you a second chance, you're rough around the edges but I . . . can see somewhere in there you're a half decent guy'

"Nice?" Brock didn't remember the conversation going that way.

"I feel a budding friendship brewing don't you?" She had a cheeky grin plastered on her face.

"That is a bold face-" Paul started but was cut short.

"You're just saying that cause you hate Paul." Brock wasn't oblivious to Courtney's moves.

"Well sure sort of, I mean trust I do hate Heyman. But there is an easy fix to that if I really wanted to, I could just ignore the both of you." Courtney made a solid point, punctuating her statement with a shrug. "You're an interesting guy Brock."

"Interesting?" He had been called many a thing interesting was not high up on the list.

"Sure I wouldn't hate getting to know you. I mean-"

"Courtney!" A hand popped on her shoulder, causing her to jump and shriek, this wild child was easily spooked. Brock pulled her behind him, creating a human wall between her and the surprise. The possible threat was just Courtney's friend Gail.

"Oh hey!" Courtney bobbed her small round face from the side of Brock's stocky arm.

"Come on lets go, bus is here." There was a nervous rushed tone to Gail's voice, she went to grab her friend but Brock advanced forward continuing to 'protect' Courtney.

"Down boy." Courtney patted Brock on his tense back, she then tugged on his sweatshirt, there was no chance she could restrain him, only hope he would acknowledge her cue. Brock looked back at her, an agitated look on his face, he didn't like being told to heel, not by Heyman and especially not by someone he barely knew and wasn't convinced he liked. He let out an annoyed grunt as he relaxed his aggressive stance.

"We need to go." Gail obviously was unsettled by the beast.

"One minute I'll be right there." Courtney gave a nod to keep Gail patient. Looking up at Brock she smiled, a warm non threatened gleam in her emerald eyes. He was surprised, the smile she had just thrown, it wasn't fake nervous grin, it wasn't to bother Heyman, it wasn't to calm Gail, it was for him.

"No now!" Gail scampered around Brock and pulled Courtney from behind his shadow, running away like a bat out of hell.

"Bye Brock, see you one city over!" Courtney blew him an overexagerated kiss.

"Bye." Brock gave her a wink as Gail feverishly pulled her away.

"Now Brock, she's nothing but trouble, I don't know what she's planning but Brock she has to have something up her sleeve. Don't you worry Brock I'll take care of this, I won't let her-"

"Paul?"

"Yes Brock?"

"Leave her alone." It was not a suggestion it was a demand, a demand Paul visibly was not a fan of.

"Why Brock? Why her? There are plenty pudgy faced blondes out there, I don't understand . . . I can't comprehend why it has to be a diva, don't mix work with pleasure, are you hearing me Brock? She doesn't respect you, she-" Paul's rambling was trying Brock's limited patience.

"PAUL!" The muscles in Brock's neck tensed as he barked his manager's name.

"Just." The smaller man put his arms up in defense. "Just tell me, try to enlighten me Brock, what is so important about that girl that you would disregard my opinion? Have I ever lead you wrong Brock?" Paul could not understand why something so simple as a prospective one night stand was worth creating a rift between manager and client.

"Just anyone isn't good enough, not for me. I'm top of the mountain, hell I am the mountain" His chest puffed up as he remembered Courtney referring to him as such.

"You deserve nothing but the best Brock I completely agree! She's not good enough, none of those glorified strippers are." He gestured over to the two women huddled together in their own conversation.

"Anything I can't have . . . I always take it . . . any obstacle that comes in front of the beast, I conquer it."

"Brock I uh . . . I apologize, I don't understand."

"She's putting up a fight." Brock shook his head. "People don't do that, not to me." He rolled his shoulders, some testosterone filled muscles flexed as he pointed at himself.

"You're right, she's dumb she's-"

"I'm going to win the fight, I always do." Brock wasn't flowery with language, he sounded brutish and cocky but if he was slightly more eloquent he would have been able to explain that he viewed Courtney as a tough nut to crack, and the fact that she wasn't crumbling to his demands made her more appealing than anyone had in quite sometime, he was enamored by her attitude.

"Fine, there's no arguing with you." Paul had completely missed the point. "Just promise, hit it and quit it, beasts can't be bogged down by feelings for anyone, the only feelings you need are determination to win gold, anger at people standing in your way and confidence in your dominance."

"Yup." Brock gave a slight nod. Cogs were spinning in Brock's head, at the moment Courtney was the gold, Paul and now Gail were standing in his way, and he would dominate the situation. 'Loud mouth idiot.' He thought back to Courtney's smile. 'Maybe.' He thought harder, maybe he didn't want to just hit it and quit it, maybe he wanted to get to know this girl who was denying his advances, maybe she was tantalizing to him, maybe there was something worth wile about the nerd. 'She's not as bad as Paul said . . . I need something . . . someone.' What point was victory if no one was genuinely proud of him. He felt Courtney might have the patience to tolerate the beast. He had to make headway soon, before she completely distanced herself from him. Before his manager pushed her away. "Paul?"

"Yes Brock?"

"I need a new one of these." He held up the broken hunks of plastic that used to make up Courtney's gameboy. 'I'll win her, I'll step up my game and win Court.' Brock had his eye on the prize and no one would keep him from it.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Gail gave Courtney a shove trying to knock some sense into her.

"I'd say it depends on who you ask." Courtney rubbed the back of her neck and gave an awkward laugh. "But popular consensus is . . . yup . . . bat shit crazy up in here." She knocked a fist into her head.

"This isn't a joke Court!" Gail shouted as they entered the bus.

"What isn't?"

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Getting on a greyhound . . . questionable but not insane." Courtney shifted to get comfortable in her seat.

"Talking to Brock Lesnar?"

"Sure he's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I think he's smarter than people give him credit for, just doesn't get a chance to show it what with that chatter box Heyman putting his two cents in about every god damn little thing I-"

"It's not Lesnar's SAT scores I'm worried about Court!" Gail was stupefied that Courtney was overlooking the precarious situation she was putting herself in.

"What are you worried about then?" Courtney couldn't believe how over the top Gail was being. 'Who put her panties in a bunch?' She smirked to herself.

"Court it's not funny! Don't you think there's a reason no one talks to Brock?"

"I don't know." Courtney shrugged. 'So what?' "No one cept you talks to me."

"He's a lose cannon! He could wake up on the wrong side of the bed one day, you say something wrong and he'd break you in half."

"Just means I have to get out of bed before he does." Courtney closed her eyes, planning to nap through some of the ride.

"No! Absolutely not! You cannot have sex with Lesnar, you cannot date Lesnar, you can't be friends with Lesnar, just stop talking to him do you hear me?" Gail was trying to look out for her friend.

"I do what I want." Courtney turned towards the window. "And now I want to go to sleep." She let out a yawn. "Can we talk about this later?"

"I know you're enjoying your new found freedom but-"

"Drugs sex and rock and roll that's where I am right now Gail, I have no intention of buying his and her towels, best friend bracelets and meeting his mom anytime soon." Courtney had recently left her 'old life.' behind her and was embracing her 'I do what I want mindset.' She just wanted to have fun, be rebellious, trying things she wouldn't have done before, like chatting with the beast.

"Just promise, I mean just . . . run it by me before you do something stupid." Gail knew out of the two of them she had a far more level head.

"Maybe." Courtney yawned a second time.

"Court!"

"Alright ok, before I talk to Brock next, I'll talk to you, good enough?"

"You're insane." Gail scoffed. "Fine, I'll wait till you wake up to try and talk you out of it."

"Great news. I . . . I just don't . . . don't want to be that person . . . who doesn't want to give someone a chance, to judge a book by it's cover. Those people suck. I want to . . . give Brock a chance."