Thanks to xAttitudex, rory21, DarkenMystery and Jorrieprincess for the reviews. I hope you will enjoy this chapter, happy reading!
Chapter 4 – A Tuneful Discovery
"Come on lazy bones, get up."
"Just give me five minutes."
"Mickie, you already had your five minutes."
"Yeah but…"
The brunette diva seemed too tired or perhaps too lazy to get off from her bed. They had rested for about an hour before they planned to head for the arena to train.
"This bed is oh-so comfy!" Mickie added with a moan, her hair was wildly spread across, her arms out freely and her feet out at the edge. "I could just stay like this for the whole day."
"Not unless I do something about it."
"And what is that suppose t-"
Before she could finish, her face got slapped with a pillow, courtesy of the dark haired diva and best friend Candice Michelle.
"Hey!"
Mickie quickly responded with her hand clutching tightly to her own pillow and swung it back to the diva's pretty face. Eventually, a pillow fight ensued and they would be giggling madly as if it has been a long time since they had this much fun. Soon they stopped, catching their breath as a diva would fall back to her own bed but at the same time, controlling their laughter seemed to be the hardest thing to do.
"Okay Candi, you win! I'm up, are you happy now?"
"Hmmm…not quite."
Mickie raised her eyebrow at her.
"Not quite."
Candice laughed hysterically by the look on her Mickie's frown when she finally threw a pillow at her when she didn't at least expect it.
"Okay, I'm happy now."
"I'm going to get you, mark my words Miss Michelle!"
Candice grinned. "So are you going to take a shower or what?"
Mickie shook her head and laughed as she got up and head toward the bathroom. About two minutes later, she came out with a white fluffy towel wrapped around her. She unzipped her suitcase and took out her training attire and a pair of white trainers. Soon she got dressed, her hair brushed back into a playful ponytail and lips shone with glitter thanks to her lip gloss.
"Ready to go?"
"I am when you are."
Mickie picked up her sports shoulder bag and followed Candice out to the door, who then locked the door with the key. They would pass through a few doors on either side before they got to an elevator to transport them to the lobby.
"So you and Paul are getting along huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well it seems like you two have bonded."
"Look Candi, if you're suggesting that it's-"
"I'm not saying that it's something romantic," Candice quickly put in defensively. "I'm just saying that you got along with him pretty well."
"Yeah I suppose so," said Mickie. She hasn't got to know him properly ever since he and Brian got drafted to Raw. But last night seemed to be awkward yet interesting since it was perhaps their first time they would ever have a deep conversation.
"He's a nice guy though."
Candice beamed. "Who knows, maybe you'll get to see him again today."
"Maybe."
Mickie made a small smile on her face. It would be nice to see him in the arena. But there was something that was still troubling her and then let out a sigh.
"Something wrong, honey?"
"It's nothing. I'm fine."
Mickie knew it for herself that she was definitely not fine. Not when someone that has her whole heart had made her world collapse right before her eyes. Candice was aware that she was being bothered but she rather not put it into discussion. As she watched her best friend gazing mindlessly at her own two feet, she thought,
"Poor Micks. She really took it hard. I hope she will get over him soon enough."
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A long two hour drive got them to the arena and eventually Candice found a spot at the reserved parking area. They got out with bags in hand and Candice locked the rental car with a key and slipped them into the bag pocket.
"I hope we could use the ring today. My hurricarana could use some working on."
"Don't worry it's not that many of us who come here to train anyway."
"That's true."
The two Raw divas beamed and greeted some of the crew members as they went through the still corridors and finally out on the steel ramp which would lead them to the squared circle. The arena was full of silence, but of course, there wouldn't be a full house until the next few days, which would be a houseshow.
Mickie and Candice walked down the ramp and dropped their bags next to the steel steps. They would climb on the apron and went under the ropes and would be going to start their warmup.
"Candice!"
The dark haired diva looked around her as to follow that voice that called her.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yeah, someone's calling."
Candice looked around, still baffled that she heard a voice and no one wasn't around.
"Over here!"
Candice heard it again from behind her so she turned and looked up at the large empty rows of red seats. Finally she caught a glimpse of a figure that seemed to be wearing a white t-shirt which thankfully was very clearly notable.
"Oh there!" said Candice, her eyes were now looking at the right place where the caller was. She was full of giggles when she saw him waving and did the same in return.
"Isn't that Randy?" Mickie asked.
"Yes it is," said Candice with a giggle.
"Are you going to train?"
"Yes I am!" Candice replied, her voice would be encircling the divas with echoes until they faded away. "You're here to train too?"
"Nah, I just got here actually. Just chillin' out here for a bit."
"So does that mean you're going to watch me?"
"Do you want me to?"
Candice looked at the Mickie, who folded her arms and frowned.
"I'm not taking any part in this. This is between you and him."
"Aw Micks…"
"Well if you want him to stay, then that's fine with me. I'm not your mother, you know."
"Okay Mommy," said Candice.
Mickie gave a playful punch to the dark haired diva's arm. Candice grinned at this and turned back to the self proclaimed Legend Killer and beckoned her hand.
"Yeah, come on down."
Candice sighed cheerfully and giggled to herself while Randy was on his way down the concrete steps. As the brunette diva freed up her arms and legs in preparation for a short warm up, she said,
"Whatever it was, Jennifer and Celine sure did something to him."
"What?"
"I mean since after last night he seemed to haven fallen for you."
Candice forced out a laugh. "Me? He's fallen for me? Randy Orton, of all people?"
"Well isn't it obvious? First he ditched me for you and now he 'just so-happened' to be here and now he's coming to watch you train."
Candice laughed. "He didn't ditch you, okay? He switched seats with Paul and you did admit that you're happy that Randy did."
She was right though she wasn't sure that happy was the right word. Mickie was a bit cheerful, there was no doubt about it, that Paul sat next to her on the plane. He was a cool guy and he had helped out during her time for a need of comforting.
"Alright," Mickie shrugged. "Well Randy's sitting down now and is waiting to see you shake your ass off. So you got what you wanted."
Candice's jaw dropped down with a scoff and was going for a kick to Mickie's bottom but she missed and added with a chortle, "Can we start now?"
"Of course."
So the warm up began. Mickie would be counting along to each bit of exercise they would do as the former world heavyweight champion looked on from the front row.
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The session lasted for an hour and Mickie was left alone, walking through the corridors to get to the women's locker room to hang out there for a bit while Candice had remained, only to join Randy at the seating area, perhaps to discuss his thoughts on the divas' session and, if the conversation stretched out a bit longer, other things that come to mind.
"Just for a minute she said," said Mickie, rolling her eyes. "I know her too well to know that a minute could mean hours."
With her hand clutching to the strap hanging over her shoulder, she walked leisurely since she doesn't have anything else to do besides to relax a bit before heading back to the hotel. Though she doesn't know why she would be thinking of him now, but maybe she was just curious…just curious of what Paul was doing right at this moment. She hasn't seen him around the arena, nor did she ask if she would meet him there. She would of if he was staying at the same hotel as her, but he wasn't.
"Oh well, there's always the houseshow."
There was no doubt that she could meet him there.
"Yeah,
I'm trying to concentrate but all I can think of is you
Well the
phone don't ring 'cause my friends ain't home…"
She paused. Those words were very familiar to her. Mickie could them from afar and it seemed like it came from the locker room that wasn't too far from her. As she went closer, the sound was louder by each step she took. Mickie got to the door and pressed her ear onto the door to listen. From a familiarise tune from a guitar, a grin was spread on her face when she had finally concluded from the words she knew where they were from…
"When
you're gone, I realize I'm in love
Days go on and on, and the
nights just seem so long
Even food don't taste that good, drink
ain't doing what it should
Things just feel so wrong, baby when
you're gone…"
It was the song 'When You're Gone' by her all-time favorite artist Bryan Adams.
"Oh I love this song!"
Then something else came to mind. There was someone inside the men's locker room. There was no other Superstar in the arena, expect for Randy and he's with Candice at the moment. So with her hand firmly on the door handle, she pressed it down and it had clicked open and she went in. Instantly, Mickie blinked with disbelief by what she had discovered. Was she dreaming?
Apparently the person had his back toward her so he didn't notice that she came in. He was indulged deep into the words and the tune of his guitar that he probably didn't hear the door open or perhaps thought it was a fellow wrestler who came in and just kept on playing anyway.
"Baby
when you're gone, I realize I'm in love
Days go on and on, and
the nights just seem so long
Even food don't taste that good,
drink ain't doing what it should
Things just feel so wrong, baby
when you're gone…"
"Baby when you're gone…"
The words faded and so did the sound on the strings ended in a low pitch. Mickie just stood, very impressed but at the same time, still surprised by what she had witnessed.
"So you're back? What took ya?"
Mickie bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. Obviosuly, he didn't know that she was standing there all this time.
"Paul?"
"Oi!" He got startled by the female voice and turned to see Mickie herself. He seemed slightly embarrassed by this and made a laugh.
"Hey there," said Paul. "You almost gave me a heart attack."
"Sorry."
"It's okay," Paul beamed. "I didn't know you were here. I thought you were Brian."
"Yeah," said Mickie with her arms folded. "I figured as much."
"So…" Paul paused, thinking as to ask the question or not. "How long have you been here?"
Mickie smirked. "Oh let's see…just long enough to discovery your hidden talent."
"Hidden talent?"
"Well you didn't tell me that you could sing and play a guitar!"
Paul shrugged. "I guess there are plenty of things that you don't know about me."
"Yeah I'm sure," she agreed. So how long have you been playing?"
"Ever since I was thirteen. I started singing when I was eight when I joined a choir back in my elementary school."
"Wow, so you could sing and play a guitar? Tell me why you're here in the first place?"
Paul laughed. "Well I never considered it to be a career of my liking. I mean wrestling was all I ever think about. Besides, music as a hobby is good enough for me."
Mickie nodded, impressed by his talent. Never in a million years did she though of him singing, let alone playing a guitar as well.
"So Miss James," With a change in his voice, Paul was imitating as the British man particularly a fellow wrestler, William Regal. "Would you like to take the liberty to learn more about me?"
"Yeah sure," said Mickie with a chortle.
"How about we chat over ice-cream?"
"Ice cream?" said Mickie.
"That is correct," said Paul, still in his 'British' accent.
"Oh."
"Too simple for you?"
"No, it's not that. It's just…"
Mickie never thought of going out so soon when she had just broke up with her boyfriend just the other night. She sighed and drooped her head down. She was in silence until Paul got up from the bench and went over to her.
"I understand," Paul told her.
"Do you?"
He nodded. "But it's not really a date date, if you know what I mean. It's more like hang out with a friend."
"So, that's what it really is?"
"Yeah," he said truthfully. "I know you have been through a lot so why not go out for a rocky road, that could cheer you up or better yet a pistachio…oh ewww not pistachio! What was I thinking?! Bleh!"
Paul stuck his tongue out in disgust and Mickie would be cracking up with laughter.
"Okay, skip that. Vanilla is definitely a good choice of flavor. You can't go wrong with vanilla!"
Mickie laughed and then Paul would join to laugh at himself for his goofiness. Then the laughter would die down when a door opened and a blonde haired man came inside with a Dr. Pepper soda can in his hand.
"Oh hey Mickie."
"Hi Brian."
"Candice was looking for you earlier."
"Oh she is?" It would take her a second to realize that she was also in the arena. "Oh she is! I was supposed to be at the women's locker room."
"Well you might catch her there."
"Alright cool, thanks for the message."
"No problem. So am I interrupting something 'cause I am, I would just go-"
"No it's okay," Mickie insisted. "I have to leave anyway." She turned back to Paul. "So when can we go?"
"How about tonight after the houseshow?"
"Yeah okay, sounds good."
Paul beamed. "Great. I'll see you later."
"Okay bye." Mickie picked up her bag and stopped by the door and turned back.
"Oh by the way, that song you played earlier happens to be my favorite."
"Really?"
"Yeah," said Mickie. "Well, see ya."
"Cheerio."
The brunette diva grinned and held her hand for a wave and went out of the door. Brian turned to him and laughed.
"Dude, what's with the accent?"
"I was just being random," said Paul with a grin. "You know me."
Then a thought came to mind. They both liked the same song. That was the only thing that Paul knew about excluding the fact her knowing her personally.
So she likes the song too? I guess that's kinda cool.
----------------
"There you are!"
Candice stood up from the couch when Mickie came in.
"Where were you?"
"I was with Paul."
"Paul…as in Paul London?"
"Yeah, him. We happened to have a very interesting meeting."
"Oh really?" Candice asked with a smirk. "How was that?"
Mickie made a smile and then said, "Let's just say that he's full of surprises."