Author's notes: Hey y'all, I'm here to update with chapter nine of the story. I hope everyone likes it.
Huge thanks, as always, to Gin. You're a real star
Thank you also to, punkydiva17, foolishangel87, Disco Inferno1 and Tortilla Girl and Spuddies for your reviews. They mean the world to me guys.


Chapter Nine: Remind me again, why don't I wanna date this guy?

As typical of a Monday, the bar was packed. Spotting a free table near the rear of the room, the three superstars went over to it.

After setting down his jacket, Mike headed to the bar to get the drinks in. Cheryl sat texting Dave as Sam scanned the room for Alison.

The blonde soon found the P.A just entering the room. Out of her business clothes, she looked very different. Her mousey hair was now dressed with a cute red clip that brought out the auburn shades in it. Alison was dressed in a flattering cream trouser suit, with stunning shimmering make up.

"Wow, is that Alison Crest?" Cheryl asked, putting her cell back in her bag.

Sam nodded.

"She looks so pretty. I wonder who she's meeting?" queried the red head.

"Mike, she asked if he was seeing anyone, so I invited her to join us," replied the blonde, with a grin.

Standing up, the diva called Alison over.

"Hi," said the P.A as she sat on the free chair, one that Sam had purposely put next to Mike's.

"Hey," the two divas replied.

"Mike's just getting our drinks, do you want me to ask him to get you one?" asked Sam.

"No, I'll do it," replied the new arrival, walking off.

Cheryl raised a suggestive eyebrow, to which Sam giggled.

A few minutes later, Mike and Alison returned, laughing about something.

"Mike was just telling me about when he played football at high school," Alison said, sitting down.

"He's showing off now," whispered Sam to Cheryl.

Mike presented the women with their drinks; Cheryl had a bottle of beer, Alison gin and tonic and Sam rum and coke.

The four people chatted happily, although Mike and Alison kept having whispered conversations of their own.

"They seem to be getting on well," commented Cheryl.

"Yeah, it's great isn't it?" replied Sam. "So, how's Dave?"

"He's good thanks. Told me to say hi to you guys."

"Bless him," smiled the blonde.

"I can't wait until I get to see him at the weekend. I've got Saturday and Sunday off."

"Aww, that'll be really great for you guys. What have you got planned?"

"I think we're going to visit his parents. How about you, what are you doing when you're off?"

Sam too had the weekend off, but as yet had no plans.

"I dunno, maybe something will come up later in the week," she mused.

Suddenly Sam felt a jolt of electricity run down her arm and knew who had just tapped her on the shoulder. She turned, not surprised to see John Cena.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," the diva smiled back.

Cheryl suppressed a giggle; Mike and Alison however seemed oblivious to the new arrival.

"Sit down already," said the red head.

Both Cena and Sam blushed before he pulled over a free chair.

"Sam was just telling me how she had no plans for the weekend," the Women's Champion went on.

Sam tried to, and missed, kicking her friend under the table.

"How's Batista?" Cena asked Cheryl, trying to make conversation.

"He's good thanks."

"Who's that with Mike?" he asked.

"Alison Crest," Sam informed him.

As if alerted by their names, the whispering couple turned their attention to the group.

Alison seemed unsurprised by Cena's arrival, obviously assuming he and Sam were an item. Mike however stared at the Champion.

"Alright," they both grunted.

Sam rolled her eyes.

"So, you seen the new issue of 'Hot Wheels'?" Mike asked the other man, obviously trying to find some common ground.

To the three women's' great surprise, the two men got into a deep conversation about cars.

"Who'd have thunk it?" said Sam.

Cheryl and Alison laughed.

"So, how long have you been seeing each other?" asked Alison.

Sam blushed as Cheryl smirked.

"Erm...we're not," replied the blonde.

"Oh, sorry. I just thought... With everything. Anyway, you'd make a cute couple," replied the P.A.

Cheryl almost spat out her beer from laughing.

The two men turned to see what was amusing the others so much.

"What's so funny? You haven't been telling Alison anything embarrassing have you Sam? 'Cos you know what'll happen," said Mike.

"Chill Mike, your secrets are safe," the blonde smirked.

Placing down her empty bottle, Cheryl yawned.

"Sorry guys, I'm getting too old for this," she said.

This was partly the truth, but also, Dave had promised to call; plus she was feeling a little out of place.

"I'm off to bed," the red head continued.

The other wrestlers said good night to the Women's Champion, and she headed to her room.

"See you in the morning," called Sam, as she left.

With Cheryl gone, Mike and Alison went back to their whispered conversation and were soon kissing.

Sam rolled her eyes. "Wanna go for a walk? I'm feeling sick watching them two," she asked Cena.

The WWE champion nodded and the pair left the new couple to it.

They headed onto the balcony, fresh drink in their hand.

"So, how long have Mike and Alison being seeing each other?"

"About an hour."

Cena laughed, "The sly dog."

"Meh, stops him bugging me," shrugged Sam.

"Giving you a hard time is he?"

"Yeah, he keeps going on about you and me," confessed the diva.

The man raised his eyebrow, "Seems like everyone thinks we should be together."

"Apart from me."

"Oh yeah, I forgot, you won't date me, but enjoy kissing me every night."

Sam laughed.

"So, why is it that you won't go out with me?"

"I dunno."

"Come on, we had a good time at lunch."

"True."

"So how about it? Cheryl said you're free this weekend. Let me take you out."

The diva pondered the suggestion for a few minutes, before giving her answer.

"Alright. But it's not a date, ok? Just two friends hanging out."

"I can do friends."

Sam smiled and relaxed back in her chair, she and Cena were sitting very closely, but she felt no tension.

"I meant to ask you, are you ok after what we talked about on the plane?" asked Cena.

The blonde was touched that he had remembered.

"Yeah, I'm ok now," she nodded. "So, where are you taking me?" she asked changing the subject.

"Well, seeing as it's not a date, I thought we could just go for a drink and hang out."

"Sounds good."

For something that wasn't a date, Sam started feeling very excited about the weekend.

"What do you usually do when you're off?" the diva asked.

"Go home and visit my family. I was down there last week, slept on my dad's couch with the dog."

Sam smiled.

"How about you?" he asked.

"Whatever the mood takes me. Although I learnt my lesson last week, ended up getting really drunk."

They both laughed.

Sam shivered, which was half put on, as she kind of hoped Cena would give her his jacket. Instead, he slipped an arm around her shoulder. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, and he began to play with her hair.

"You like my hair,don't you?" she asked.

"Yeah, it smells of peaches," he replied, blushing slightly.

The diva felt a tingle run through her body.

What the hell is going on?

They remained silent for a few minutes until Cena spoke.

"I spy with my little eye something beginning with SS," he said.

"Small star?" suggested Sam, looking up to the sky.

"Nope, sexy Sammy," he replied.

The blonde giggled, "My go. I spy with my little eye, something beginning with CJ."

"Car jacker?"

Sam shook her head, "Cute John."

The pair looked at each other, feeling a crackle of electricity.

Brushing the hair from Sam's face and touching her cheer, Cena lent in to kiss her.

Suddenly, Mike and Alison burst onto the balcony.

"Oh god, sorry," panted the other woman.

Mike looked half-embarrassed, half-shocked as he realised whom they'd just stumbled upon.

"Don't worry about it," Sam assured, straightening herself up.

Cena and Sam departed, leaving Mike and Alison to what ever they were doing.

"Well, I... erm... Better be getting to bed," said Sam.

"Ok, sweet dreams," replied Cena.

"You too," she said, before leaving for her room.

Upstairs in her room, Sam's head was spinning.

What the hell had just happened? Had she and Cena almost kissed? Was she starting to like him?

The blonde didn't know the answer to any of these questions and felt too tired to think about them, so she changed into her pyjamas and got into bed.

That night the diva had a very racy dream involving the WWE Champion woke to the sound of her cell ringing feeling hot and sweaty.

Sam looked at the clock, it was half past ten, she was meant to meet Cheryl and Mike for breakfast half an hour ago. Looking down at the cell, it showed the number of the Women's Champion calling.

Knowing she was about to get a telling off for being late, she answered it.

"Morning, Sam speaking," she yawned.

"Hi Sam. Where are you? Mike hasn't got up either," came Cheryl's voice on the other end.

"What? He's not down there with you? Give me ten minutes to get dressed, and I'll be straight down. I'll try to find the lazy boy whilst I'm at it," the blonde replied.

"Alright, I'll see you in ten. Do you want me to order you any breakfast?"

"Please, I'll have a pot of coffee and some blueberry pancakes," said Sam, before ringing off.

The blond hurriedly dressed, trying hard not to disturb a snoring Melina, and made her way into the hotel hallway.

The room Mike was sharing with Charlie Haas was five doors down. Knocking on the door Sam waited for a reply.

None came, so she banged a little harder. The diva heard a giggle coming from behind the door, followed by Mike's voice hushing who ever had laughed. Again, she hammered on the door.

"Keep it down, will you? You've been at it all night," came Haas' voice.

Again a woman laughed, this time joined by a man's laughter too.

Sam didn't need to hear any more to work out what was going on. Shrugging her shoulders with a sigh, she walked off.

Cheryl was sat at the same table as last night, a bowl of muesli and a glass of orange juice in front of her. In front of one of the empty seats was a steaming pot of coffee and a delicious stack of sweet pancakes.

The red head looked up and smiled as her blonde friend sat down to her breakfast.

"Where's Mike?" she asked.

Sam held up two fingers, indicating that she would explain in a minute, as she'd already started greedily eating the pancakes.

Taking a large gulp of hot coffee, that burnt her throat, the blonde swallowed her mouthful of food.

"He's still in bed, with Alison," informed the diva.

Cheryl looked shocked, "Wow, he didn't waste any time."

"Tell me about it. I was out on the balcony with Cena last night and they came stumbling over, looking flushed."

"What were you doing on the balcony with Cena?"

"Trying to escape the sex show," Sam half lied, leaving out the almost kiss.

"So, you two getting along now?"

"Yeah, we are as it happens. We're going out this weekend."

"That's good; I'm really pleased for you. It's nice that you're friends now."

Sam nodded, taking another huge forkful of food to her mouth.

The two friends remained silent as they finished off their breakfast. Then, with nothing but drinks left Sam started to speak again.

"It's kind of odd to be honest. Ever since we caught a plane together yesterday, we've been getting on really well."

"So, you're changing your mind about him?" questioned the older woman.

"Yeah, I think I am. He's easy to talk to and we have fun together."

"And you love kissing him."

"Well, I won't lie, that's nice too, but it's just part of our job. Last night, before Mike and Alison interrupted, we almost kissed again. But it was different, softer almost," confessed the blonde.

Cheryl smiled, "You like him, don't you?"

"I dunno. I no longer want to kill him every time I'm near him, but it's still in the early days. We're just friends for now."

"Well, that's a fantastic start. You never know, it might go somewhere."

"We'll see. I'm just taking each day as it comes."

"So, how's Mike with it?"

"To be honest, I haven't told him how I feel. I didn't really know how I felt, until I just told you. Besides, he's busy with Alison now."

As if by magic, the couple appeared, looking like they hadn't got much sleep.

"Morning," they both yawned.

"Morning," greeted the two divas.

Mike and his new girlfriend, because that was what she was now without anything official being said, joined the diners and ordered their own breakfast.

After their meal, the three wrestlers and P.A returned to their rooms to get ready for that afternoon's flight to Colorado, the venue of that night's show.

Arriving back in her room, Sam found Melina packing her things.

"Morning," the diva cheerily called.

"Hey," the blonde replied, heading to the bathroom to shower.

Now clean and changed into comfortable travelling clothes, Sam started to pack her things and filled in an order for some extra wrestling attire, remembering that she owed Dusty Rhodes for the new outfit he'd given her yesterday.

At one o'clock, Sam met Cheryl, Mike and Alison in the hotel lobby and the four got into a cab to the airport together.

"Where are you sitting?" Sam asked Alison.

"The row behind you guys," she replied.

The travelling companions soon arrived and checked in, loading cases onto the luggage carousel.

Mike and Alison then headed towards the gift shops as they waited for their flight to be called.

"I guess were gonna have to get use to having her around," Sam said to Cheryl.

"Looks that way. How are you taking it? I know how close you and Mike are," asked the red head.

"I'm alright, it's not like he hasn't dated people before. They're still in the new couple stage, so they want to spend every minute together. Give it a few weeks and everything will be back to normal."

The two friends discussed Mike's new relationship as they waited for the boarding call to come.

At two O'clock, the four people were having their tickets checked when Sam smelled a familiar scent. Recognizing it as Cena's aftershave, she turned round to say hello to him.

"Hey," she smiled.

"Hi. Having a good morning?" he asked.

"Yeah thanks, you?"

"Kind of, I just got a call telling me my little sister has got engaged, I didn't even know she was dating someone."

"Brittany's got engaged?" Sam asked, remembering the name of the WWE Champion's younger sister.

"Yeah, mom seems ok with it, dad hit the roof apparently."

Sam and Cena walked onto the plane together, still chatting about his sister's announcement.

"Where are you sitting?" she asked, as they headed down the aisle.

"Seat 56. How about you?" he replied.

"Ohh, that's right next to me." Alison butted in, before Sam could reply.

Mike whipped around to see who was sitting next to his girlfriend, and his face filled with a mixture of annoyance and amusement as he realised it was Cena.

Pulling Sam aside, the black haired man whispered in his best friend's ear.

"You wanna do me a huge favour and swap seats with Ali?" he asked.

"Alright, but you owe me a drink later," replied the blonde.

Returning to her conversation with the champion, Sam went on.

"Looks like I'm sitting next to you. Mike wants to sit with his girlfriend," she informed him.

"What about Cheryl?" he asked.

"Oh god yeah, hang on a sec," she said, turning to the woman in question.

"Cheryl, would you mind if me and Alison switched seats?"

"Nah, go ahead. I've got a book I wanted to finish anyway," replied the red head, realising the implications of the change.

The five people took their seats as the plane took off.

"He's been with her less than a day, and already I'm forgotten," mused the blonde, fastening her belt.

Cena laughed.

"You know he almost missed breakfast because they were still in bed. Then he brings her to join us."

"Tell him it's bugging you then."

"Nah, I can't. I'm glad to see him happy and I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon, and then everything can go back to how it was."

"I guess, and like you said, it gets him off your case."

"That's true. He hasn't questioned me about my personal life all day. So, what are you going to do about Brittany's engagement?" asked the blonde.

"Nothing I can do. But I'll make sure the guy knows what will happen to him if he messes my baby sister about."

"Aw, bless. So, where are we going to meet at the weekend? Are you going home at all?"

"Yeah, I told my Mom I'd go down on Sunday for lunch. I guess the best idea would be to meet somewhere in-between." replied the Champion.

"Yeah, where are we on Friday? We could just stay there. Then you could go back to Massachusetts, and I could go to Lexington. I should see my Mom too; I haven't even called her to let her know how the pay per view went."

"Are you close to her?"

"We use to be, but since I joined the WWE we've kinda lost touch."

"I bet what happened.. you know with your dad... Brought you together."

"It did at first, growing up I was a right mamma's girl. But when she got re-married things changed, it didn't help that me and Steve hated each other."

"Your step-dad?"

"Yeah, it was ok when him and mom were dating. But as soon as they got married, he thought he was my dad. He was so mean when I joined the WWE, he actually said I was being childish and I'd grow out of it," confessed Sam.

"He really said that? What did your mom say?"

"She never knew. He made sure he was all sweetness and light around her and I didn't have the heart to say anything different."

"Yeah, I can see how it would have been hard for you," said Cena.

"That's why I don't go home much."

The two wrestlers fell silent, something about talking about her family always made Sam brood.

However, it was odd how she could open up to Cena it. As close as she and Mike were, something's we're never discussed.

"I'm sorry; I always upset you when we fly together," Cena said after a few minutes.

Sam turned to face him, "No, you don't. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

"Yeah, someone who doesn't trade you in either," he said, nodding his head to the couple in front.

Mike and Alison were joined at the mouth and had been that way for some time. Poor Cheryl was asleep, with a book open on her lap. Sam bet her friend was glad that she wasn't awake to witness the show.

The blonde turned back to her dark haired companion.

"Anyway, we never did decide something about the weekend."

"Oh yeah. Well, I think we're in North Dakota on Friday."

"Jeez, that's pretty far for both of us. Our home towns are on the East coast more or less."

"Yeah, I was going to say meet in D.C, but we don't wanna be travelling all day."

"Good point, how about we just stay in North Dakota Saturday? If we meet late afternoon, that means we can get night flights home or be up early for a Sunday flight."

"Sounds like a plan. I told my Mom I wouldn't be down until around four, so I can catch a morning flight," agreed the Champion.

"Ok then. Well, I haven't even called my mom, so it doesn't matter what time I show up. Where we gonna go? Do you know any where in North Dakota?"

"Not really, but I'm sure there's some cool bars."

"Yeah, just no crappy rap bars, ok?"

Cena laughed.

"I'll let you pick. What kinda music do you like?"

"Any old crap really; rock, pop," shrugged the woman. "Did Dusty tell you about our match tonight?"

"Yeah, Melina and Nitro. They're alright; I sometimes have a drink with them."

"Mel's sweet, I room with her. I dunno Nitro though."

"What a coininsidence, I room with Nitro. Mel's always stopping over in our room; she and Jonny keep me awake."

Sam laughed, "Ahh, that's where I get the advantage, I get a quiet night's sleep."

"Maybe I should just swap rooms with her, that'd solve everyone's problems," he joked.

"Yeah, if you wanna end up with a lamp thrown at you," the blonde smirked.

"You'd love it really. Then we could kiss any time you wanted."

Sam raised her eyebrow.

"You don't give up, do you?"

"Can't blame a guy for trying."

"It won't work though. I'm not changing my mind," she half lied.

"Ok, what would it take to change your mind? Last week you hated me, and now we're mates, arranging to hang out."

"There's a big difference between friends and something more though."

"Not really, all the best relationships start out as friendships."

"I guess. But not all friends have to start dating, just look at me and Mike."

"Yeah, but that's different, you've known each other for years. You can't fancy someone you're that close too."

"Fair point, but it still doesn't make any difference. I won't date you."

"Why though? Give me one valid reason and I'll drop it forever, I promise."

Sam really had to think about that one. He was right. They got on now and had fun together. She could talk to him, even about things she didn't talk to her closest friend about. Moreover, there was no point pretending she didn't find him attractive. It wasn't even like she could say it was because they worked together, loads of wrestlers dated, hell Cheryl married Batista. Why wouldn't she date him?

"I dunno," she answered him honestly; "I really don't have a valid reason."

"Ok, well, as I said before, I can do just being friends, so that's what we'll do."

Sam sighed. "Ok, friends," she said, holding out her hand.

Cena took it and held it tightly. A spark ran through Sam's body.

Remind me again, why don't I wanna date this guy?

The blonde wished Cheryl was awake now and that they weren't on a plane. The older woman would be bound to have some advice.

The last twenty minutes of the flight passed by with small talk, mostly about Brittany's engagement and up coming wedding, before the plane touched down in Colorado.

Sam and Cena said good-bye in the airport, knowing they'd be back in each other's company in a few hours. Before Cheryl, Mike and Sam got into a cab for the hotel, Sam was pleased to see Alison wasn't joining them.