Another loud burst of laughter echoed through the bar as the WWE superstars laughed about something. There had been an upper deck that Mackenzie had sweet talked the owners into letting them use exclusively for the night. It hadn't been hard, the owner, Frank, was a wrestling fan and just asked for some autographs in trade which had been readily given. Kaitlyn, Mackenzie, A.J, Natalya, Alicia, and Rosa, had been joined by some of their male counterparts, Dolph Ziggler, Primo, The Miz, Ryback, Wade Barrett, and Zack Ryder had come along. The group had just finished laughing at the story Miz had just told about his experience with the airport security on the way to Houston.
"Really only you can get in trouble for your protein powder being unsealed," Natalya said, rolling her eyes and chuckling.
"Always," the Miz said, a hand over his face.
Mackenzie looked around at the group, an odd group but a group none the less. Her eyes rested on her best friend, a couple of seats away, sitting with Dolph. The 2 had been dating for quite some time now and seemed to be getting more and more serious. She was extremely happy for her, everything in her life was on the right track. It was just Mackenzie that seemed to be going nowhere. She sighed and picked up her beer bottle, finishing the last of it. Tonight was not the night to mope selfishly, she was here to support her closest friend.
"I'm gunna go grab another drink," She announced, standing up from the table.
"I'll come with," Said Kaitlyn, "I gotta go to the wash room too," She added with a laugh.
Both girls were tipsy, and on heels they had a little issue finding their balance. Giggling, they used each other to support themselves to the stairs and back down to the main part of the bar. They reached the last step and Mackenzie felt her head swirl a little. They never really went out to drink, so the alcohol was hitting her already.
"I'm gunna go get some air while you pee," said Mackenzie, "Meet you at the bar in 2, K?"
Kaitlyn nodded and the two girls went their separate ways.
Mackenzie made it outside, the Houston air hitting her immediately. It was neither hot nor cold, and just refreshing enough to clear her head a bit. The bar they were at had a covered porch, a few patrons were out smoking, and Mackenzie walked to the edge and leaned on the railing, inhaling deeply as she did. The sounds of Metallica dully sounded from the barn as the breeze swept across her face. She shut her eyes and let her mind be blank for a moment, just taking in all around her through the dizzy haze in her brain.
"Fancy meeting you here," said a voice behind her to her left.
Mackenzies eyes opened and she turned to look at Seth Rollins, flanked by the other 2 members of The Shield, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns. She smiled at her friend, her and Seth were amicable, mostly because he was friends with Kaitlyn. The other 2 she nodded at, acquaintances at most.
"You sure you 3 wanna hang around here? I heard there was a Ryback inside and he was feeling hungry," She joked, walking over, feeling much more sober than she had a few moments ago.
Seth laughed, "We'll take our chances. Heard Kait was having a bit of a celebration and I didn't wanna miss out. Naturally dragged these 2 recluses outta the room with me." He joked.
"So funny Seth," said Romans deep voice, his eyes rolling as he gave Seth a punch in the arm.
"Yeah she's inside, we were just grabbing drinks when I decided to get some air. Come on, I'll show ya the sweet seats we got in the place." Mackenzie said, leading the way back inside.
The 4 of them headed towards the bar and Frank looked up, smiling at her.
"Beer still Mackenzie?" he asked.
She nodded and he handed her a bottle of Canadian, her favourite beer.
The 3 others ordered their drinks, poking fun at Mackenzie's beer choice as she rolled her eyes and bantered back, before they headed up the stairs, greeted by a loud cheer.
"I was wondering where you were!," Kaitlyn said, jumping up to see her friends.
She gave Seth a hug and nodded at the other 2.
"I found Ryan a snack!" Mackenzie said, laughing as she did.
The group laughed and the 3 guys pulled up seats near Mackenzie.
Everyone was drinking, probably a little more than necessary but it was a fun evening, something that didn't usually happen for the superstars. The 2 towns they were gong to be in were close enough that they could stay at 1 hotel, so there was no early morning travels. Mackenzie was more drunk then she had planned or wanted to be and was desperately looking for a way to get outside without anyone noticing. She stood, quite wobbly, and snuck away. Thankfully everyone was either too inebriated to notice or was drunkenly dancing to slither by Velvet Revolver at this time to notice. She got downstairs, noticing the bar was in full swing. She made her way to the doors and pushed outside. Thankfully there was only 2 other people outside and they seemed like they had been looking for some private time. The retreated down the side of the bar and left Mackenzie by herself. She resumed her position from earlier, leaning on the railing with her eyes shut as the world spin behind her eyelids.
The peacefulness was interrupted only seconds later by the door opening behind her. She paid no mind, and heard the distinctive noise of foot steps behind her. They stopped close to her, and she opened her eyes looking to her right. Dean Ambrose stood beside her, and she watched as he pulled a package of cigarettes out of his pants pocket. He slowly pulled out one, placing it between his lips he closed the package and put in back in his pocket, pulling out a lighter this time. He brought the lighter to the cigarette, lit it, and took a drag in. Placing the lighter back in his pocket, he pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and exhaled a cloud of smoke, not once looking at Mackenzie. She stared unabashedly at him, watching his every movement as the smoke reached her. She inhaled, reveling in the smell of a newly lit smoke and closed her eyes again, saying nothing.
The 2 stood there for a moment, Dean smoking, her just breathing. Nothing was said between the 2, yet the silence wasn't uncomfortable like it usually was between 2 people who had barely spoken before. In fact, it would probably be more uncomfortable if they had tried to make small talk.
The tranquility of the moment was broken by the door opening and 2 giggling people staggering out of the bar. Mackenzie and Dean turned to see Kaitlyn, supported by her boyfriend Dolph, heading out of the bar.
"Hey Kenz, I'm gunna take her back to the hotel. I think she's had enough," Dolph said, smiling when he noticed his girlfriends' best friend outside.
"Yeah sounds good, see ya tomorrow," Mackenzie replied, waving.
Kaitlyn noticed her friend and Dean standing there, and broke free from Dolphs grasp, throwing herself heavily into Mackenzie's arms.
"I love you bestie," she slurred at her, the smell of vodka cranberries permeating from her breath.
"Love ya too, champ," Mackenzie replied as Dolph grabbed Kaitlyn once again.
"See ya Ambrose," He said with a nod. Kaitlyn giggled and waved at him too, but didn't go in for the hug thankfully.
Dean nodded back, taking another drag of his cigarette. Dolph and Kaitlyn got into one of the waiting cabs and were gone in moments, the silence returning. Mackenzie heaved a huge sigh and turned to go back into the bar.
"Hey," Dean said, his distinctive voice filling her ears.
Mackenzie turned back around and looked up into his eyes. She tilted her head to the side, mainly because she was now seeing doubles.
"You ok?" He asked.
" 'course, why wouldn't I be?" Mackenzie asked.
"Your stumbling lots," he observed.
"I've been drinking," she mumbled back, lowering her eyes.
"Maybe you should follow suit and head back to the hotel," He said, finishing his smoke and stubbing it out before looking at her again.
"I would, but Dolphs rooming with Big E, so they're about to have sex in my room," Mackenzie said.
"K, lets get you back and you can wait it out in my room." He said, walking towards her.
Mackenzie backed away, slightly offended.
"I'm not that kinda girl, Ambrose," she said.
"Didn't say I was going to fuck you, just offered you a place to relax. You look ready to vomit and pass out, neither of which are exactly my turn ons," he replied.
Mackenzie, Shocked by his bluntness, took registry of herself. She did feel like she was on the verge of passing out, making his offer extremely tempting. Normally, on any other night, the answer would remain a stead fast no, she would go grab Nattie, and head back to bunk with her now that Tyson wasn't traveling due to his injury. Tonight though, as she had watched her best friends career propel forwards while Mackenzie's remained ground to a halt, the itching feeling to do something different or daring was humming through her veins. Even if it was just going back with Ambrose, even though he said he wasn't into her, was something more thrilling and edgy than slinking back into the bar. She knew he wasn't a good guy, he wasn't stable. Though not to the degree he portrayed on TV, He still was something different. Mackenzie didn't know if it was this, or the comfort she had felt moments earlier with him in the smoke filled silence, that lead her to utter the one word that changed everything.
"Ok," She said.
With that, Dean snaked an arm around her waist to steady her as they headed towards a cab.