A Matter of Convenience

Summary: When Trish makes an un-official alliance with Evolution, Lita is seemingly left to fend on her own. Or is she?
Rating: PG-13 for language
Spoilers for this chapter: RAW, 11-8-04
Disclaimer: I'll say it once: Anything that you recognize does not belong to me.
Notes: Nothing that hasn't been said before, enjoy the chapter and please review.
Thanks to: CenasNakedInMyBedWithMe, aussiewrestlingfan, Clare, CanaceErinn and Latisha C. for the reviews on Chapter 6.
And to: Latisha C., CenasNakedInMyBedWithMe and moonchaser1 for the reviews on Chapter 7.
Special thanks to my beta, Cam.


Chapter Eight: So, it's a date?

Later that night found Lita, Lillian and Victoria cheering on Christy at the local Jillian's. After Lita had gotten over her guilty feelings, Christy had suggested they hit Jillians, because after all, they had everything. And she really hadn't been joking. This one in particular had a bowling alley..and that was where they found themselves now; in the midst of a guys vs. girls match. Currently, the girls were up by two frames and from the looks of things, well on their way to winning. By the time Lillian secured the victory, Christy had talked Lita into sight seeing the next day. Truth be told, Lita had intended on that anyway, since her plane ticket was dated for Wednesday. As it were, by the time they had all gotten their shoes back; Lita, Victoria and Christy had set plans for the next day. The petite blonde had opted out, stating that she really just wanted to rest her voice for Sunday. Eventually, the group found themselves divided between the game room and the dance floor. As it were, Lita was currently perched at one of the tables; waiting for someone to return with the drinks.

"I would've gotten here sooner," Randy began apologetically as he set down the drinks in his hand. "But, Jericho decided to ditch me at the bar."

Lita smirked, accepting her own drink as he sat down. "Why am I not surprised."

"At least he didn't leave me with the tab." Randy shrugged, looking out over the dance floor.

"True, he's done it before though, to Christian actually." She grasped the glass by the stem, eyeing the frozen concoction within. "Let's just say, he wasn't too happy when he got his credit card statement the next month."

Orton raised a brow, bringing his beer to his lips. "I can only imagine."

"Well, just make sure you're never on the receiving end of one of Jericho's pratical jokes." Lita stated matter of factly, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. "I've been pretty lucky so far."

"Yeah? That's probably because you're a woman."

She snorted, sipping her drink before it was set on the table; the Diva tracing the rim of the glass. "I don't think so. He got Trish really good this one time. Plus, when Steph still traveled with us." Lita rolled her eyes then, toying with the decorative umbrella. "Those were some really memorable moments."

"I'll bet," Randy shrugged thoughtfully, sending a glance to the games then back to the dance floor. "So, are you just gonna sit here all night? Or what."

"I'm going with or what for now." Lita replied impishly, "But no I am not dancing tonight."

He nodded, pushing back from the table then. "Then, how about a game of air hockey?"

Lita's eyes glinted, the redhead readily moving from the table. "You're on..be prepared to get your butt kicked."

Orton snorted, waiting until she had passed before he started walking. "I don't think so. You are so going to lose."

Lita only rolled her eyes, making sure she had grabbed her drink before they took off for the game room.

x

Forty five minutes later found the two tied at three games each. Before they started the tie breaker, Victoria had tried to coax the redhead away, but Lita wouldn't budge. She proclaimed she would leave the air hockey table after she had won. Victoria tried again, and eventually walked away muttering about two overly competitive people. Lita had taken a moment to drain the last of her forgotten drink, hoping that she didn't piss off the raven haired Diva too much, before she turned back to the game.

"So," Randy began as he readied for her first move. "Are you heading home tomorrow?"

"Nope, I'm stayin' one more night." Lita stated as she sent the air puck flying. "You?"

"Same," He replied after he blocked the incoming shot. "Jericho and Maven talked me into it."

Lita snorted, sending the puck flying again. "Vikki and Christy talked me into sight seeing with them tomorrow..but I had intended on staying an extra day anyway."

He nodded, blocking the shot in the nick of time. "I'm shocked."

Lita lifted a brow, waiting until just the right moment before she sent a sure shot down the table. "And why is that?"

"Damnit," Randy muttered, removing the air puck from the pocket. "Oh, it's just I figured you'd want to head home, prepare for your match and all."

Her shoulders shrugged slightly, Lita anticipating his next move. "Well, I had thought about it, but Vikki's been on my case about taking some time to relax."

"Not surprising, considering how she's been tonight." Randy admitted then, waiting until her guard was down before he sent the puck flying to tie the game.

Lita frowned, "She's always been like that, just more so than usual lately." The redhead swept her hair from her face, taking her time to retrieve the puck from the pcoket. "This is the last game, right?"

"Yup," Randy confirmed, waiting for her to make her move. "And then we'll have an undisputed Air Hockey champ."

Lita smirked, "Correction. You'll be calling me Undisputed Air Hockey Champ." She tossed the puck back on the table, leaning forward a touch.

Randy snorted. "We'll see about that won't we." He shook his head then, only to find the puck flying past and into the ungaurded pocket. "That was cheating, you know."

"How?" Lita batted her lashes, flashing an innocent smile. "I don't cheat to win. I'm just that good."

He raised a brow, removing the puck from the pocket. "Never mind."

"Suit yourself then," Lita shrugged it off easily, not entirely liking that she had more or less cheated..but then she just wrote it off to being female.

"Aside from your sight seeing, what else are you up to?"

A brow raised impercitably, "I'm not sure..probably just find a nice place to have dinner, head back to the hotel and veg." She blinked, blocking the shot that was being sent in the nick of time. "Why?"

He shrugged slightly, waiting a moment before he sent the puck flying back to her. "Oh, just wondering that's all."

"Uh huh," Lita nodded, shaking her head before she sent the puck back.

He remained silent, the puck flying back and forth between them a good four times before he finally spoke up again. "There's this really good Japanese resturaunt. Not too far from the hotel actually."

She nodded absently, "That's where I was probably going to head."

He waited until he had sent the puck back, "Then, would you want some company?"

She blinked, nearly allowing for a tie game. "Um, are you--"

"Asking you on a date?" He finished evenly, "If you want to call it that, then yeah. If you're not comfortable with that, then no. Think of it as dinner with a friend."

She nodded, blocking the puck before she sent it back. "Um, sure I guess then. What time?"

Randy shrugged, just blocking the puck. "How about, we meet in the lobbby at 7."

Lita nodded easily, keeping the puck at bay. "That works for me.." She offered a lopsided smile, sucking in a sharp breath before she sent the puck flying.

"Good," He smiled easily, blue eyes focused on her a moment too long. "Looks like you won."

A smug smile tugged at her mouth. "I told you I would."

"Do I at least get a re-match?" He pouted playfully, the redhead finding it cute. Almost.

"I'll think about it," Came the lofty reply, Lita turning on heel then. "Guess we should head back now."

x

Randy nodded, gesturing for her to lead the way. They met the others back at the table, Victoria promptly grabbing the redhead by the hand to drag her out to the dance floor.

"I won." Was Lita's first statement as the two settled into a rhythm. "Unofficial, Undisputed Air Hockey Champion."

The raven haired Diva rolled her eyes, "Congratulations. Would you like a cookie?"

"Very funny," Lita rolled her eyes right back. "And..we're kinda going out for dinner tomorrow."

At that, Victoria raised a brow. "What do you mean kind of? Did he ask you out?"

Lita half shrugged, hazel orbs darting back to the table before they returned to her friend. "Kinda I guess."

"So, it's a date." Victoria smirked at that, an all knowing glint in her eyes.

"No, it's not." Lita corrected instantly. "It's dinner with a friend, Vi and nothing more."

"Uh huh," Victoria just nodded, not buying it for a minute. "Where are you going?"

"The Japanese resturaunt a few blocks from the hotel."

"Sounds nice," Victoria's eyes twinkled. "So, what are you gonna wear?"

Lita snorted, "Why does it matter? I already told you, it's not a date. It's just dinner."

"What's not a date?" A new voice chimed in, "And who's going on this non date?"

Lita sent a glance to her right, "I am actually and it's dinner at the Japanese resturaunt a few blocks from the hotel."

"Randy asked her," Victoria mentioned then. "But, she insists it's not a date."

Jericho nodded, "Ah. Well, I'm sure it'll be fun anyway, right?"

Lita nodded in turn, "It's not a date Vikki, because I asked and he said it wasn't."

Victoria raised a brow then, "Well, if he had asked you..would you have said yes?"

The redhead shrugged, growing slightly uncomfortable. "I don't know..I mean, I don't know him that well and--"

"Then use this dinner to get to know him." Victoria reasoned then, seemingly oblivious to the nervous redhead. "And then you can tell me about your plans for a real date."

Lita rolled her eyes, "Doubtful Vikki, very doubtful. I don't have time for a relationship anyway."

The raven haired diva smirked. "That's what you said before you and--" She cut herself off, realizing then that she was making two people uncomfortable. "Never mind, I'll just shut up now."

Lita smiled apologetically to Chris, before she politely excused herself from the floor; claiming she needed another drink.

For her part, Victoria cleared her throat, focusing her attention on Jericho. "I'm sorry about that..it's just--"

"There's nothing to apologize for." Jericho stated evenly, "So don't worry about it."

"Yeah but, still. I'm sorry."

Jericho shrugged it off, "She said it herself Victoria, it's not a date. Even if it was, what business is it of mine?"

Victoria only nodded to that, the two falling into a silence shortly after. While the raven haired Diva partly believed Jericho's words, she also questioned them. She knew that Chris had said he was okay if Randy and Lita started dating, but Victoria wondered how okay he was with it. True, Chris had said that he just wanted to see Lita happy..but had he meant with someone else or with him again? And then there was Lita herself. She had been adamantly against dating of any kind, focusing her energy soley on her career. That was until, Randy Orton had entered the picture. While Victoria did admit that Randy made Lita a little more light hearted to be around, it also created some unstated tension. Whatever the case, the raven haired Diva decided not to worry about it much longer. After all, Lita was so damn focused on her career right now that Victoria doubted she would end up dating anyone, Randy included.

The remainder of the evening found Victoria, Chris, Maven and Christy on the dance floor; while Lita, Lillian, Chris Benoit and Randy camped out at the table. As it were, the four at the table were discussing Survivor Series while the four on the dance floor were discussing movies. Eventually, it was Lillian who declared the night over; gently stating that she did have an early morning flight the next day. They all agreed to leave when she requested, piling into taxi's in a semi druken state. In their taxi, Victoria and Lillian pressed the redhead for any details that she might have left out. Lita adamntly insisted there were no details to be left out, and stated firmly that it was only dinner with a friend. Nothing more. Lita remained firm in that, although the raven haired Diva did doubt her words. But only time would tell..and even if it was just dinner with a friend, who was to say that a real date wouldn't stem from it? She kept her mouth shut about it though, not wanting to provoke the temper that was Lita and so the three continued the cab ride in silence. Christy and Lita parted with Lillian and Victoria in the hallway; Christy informing Lita of her own date the next night. And as she drifted off, Lita began to question if staying in Houston one more day was a good thing. Especially with Survivor Series in less than a week. She shook it off eventually, but she couldn't help but wonder. Normally she would head home, prepare and train. But, no..this time it was different and for the life of her; Lita couldn't figure out why.