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: Um, authoress realizes she made a goof and that they were in Austin, not Houston. My excuse is that I have another story that was set in Houston at it's particular time of writing so..whoops! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review. And randomness, I have banner(s) for this fic. If you wanna see, they're at my updates list, say so in a review or you can e-mail me. Just check my profile.
Thanks to: Funky in Fishnet, CenasNakedInMyBedWithMe, together, Ana Michelle,
Latisha C., aussiewrestlingfan, iaera and flamboyant-flair for the reviews on the last chapter! And thanks to tina for the review on the first, and to moonchaser1 for the review on chapter 8!
Chapter Nine: Dinner with a Friend
While her morning was spent with Victoria and Christy sightseeing; Lita spent her afternoon listening to Victoria go on and on about how she should dress that night. By the time Victoria dragged her into the fourth store in thirty minutes, Lita had enough. Eventually, she compromised with the raven haired Diva; allowing Victoria to handle her hair and make up as long as she stayed away from her clothing. Victoria agreed to that, while Christy wisely kept her mouth shut. Even if Lita had been her tag team partner; she knew when to leave well enough alone. At any rate, Lita shooed the other two away..as far away from her as possible, while she perused a store more to her liking. For their parts, Victoria and Christy wandered around; the raven haired Diva asking Christy for her opinions on the best make-up choices. And as Lita perused a row of pants, she thanked her lucky stars that Dawn and Stacy weren't there. Otherwise, she would've been severely outnumbered and in short--doomed. She sighed aloud, wondering why Victoria was making such a big deal out of it in the first place. It wasn't a date..and no matter how many times Lita tired to say otherwise; Victoria insisted it was. At any rate, Lita had at least talked Victoria out of joining her..and remained firm when the raven haired Diva had the stupidity to suggest a double date. The redhead rolled her eyes, draping a few shirts over her arm; that idea had really taken the cake. It wasn't a date to begin with, and futher more -- as Lita pointed out -- having Chris would make it awkward. When Victoria demanded to know why, Lita shut up.
By the time Lita met back up with Christy and Victoria; the redhead had found something suitable to her liking. When Victoria tried to peek, Lita yanked the bags away. She vaugley informed the raven haired Diva, that it really was none of her business. Plus, who was to really say that she had bought anything for that night? Victoria merely raised a brow at that, simply saying that since it as going on 5:00, they should probably head back to the hotel now. Lita readily agreed and so the three set off, returning to the sanctuary of the hotel.
x
When they reached the hotel they would soon find their sanctuary would be hard to come by; for no sooner had they stepped on to the elevator; were they joined by three other bodies. Lita stiffened instictively as Hunter, Batista and Trish filed in.
"Victoria, Christy," Hunter smiled winningly. "Lita..how are you ladies this lovely evening?"
Lita lifted a brow, leaning back against the wall. "Peachy and yourself?"
Hunter shrugged, jamming one of his hands into a pants pocket. "Better."
Lita merely nodded, wishing a hole would appear and swallow up Hunter and company.
"So, Lita." Hunter kept his sole attentions on her; ignoring even his associates. "How about, you and I--"
"Any sentence that includes you and I?" Lita rolled her eyes, "Doesn't need to be said."
Hunter smirked, "I was only going to ask you out, dinner and a movie. Harmless, really."
And Lita scoffed, "I don't think so Helmsely. Not tonight, not any other night."
"That's too bad," Hunter said then, his tone nothing short of condescending. "Because I can assure you, I'm far more interesting company than say..Randy Orton."
Lita shrugged, shifting her weight back. "That might be true, but I really don't want to find out."
"Suit yourself then," Hunter's mouth curled into a devious smile. "But mark my words, you'll come around. They all do in the end."
Lita just shook her head, thankful beyond belief that the elevator finally reached their floor.
"Give Randy my best," Hunter called after them, winking to the trio of Diva's before the elevator doors closed.
"Ugh!" Lita let out a sigh, "He is such a jerk."
Victoria nodded in turn, "There's just something about him that screams creepy."
Christy lifted a brow then, "I dunno about that. I mean sure, Hunter is a jerk. But if anyone? I'm afraid of that Batista guy."
Lita scoffed, "Please. They're all just big piles of fluff underneath that macho facade." She blinked at her words, adding then: "For the most part. Just stay away from Hunter and you'll be fine."
They continued down the hallway in silence, Lita bidding the other two farewell when she reached her hotel room. As it were, since Lillian had left early; Lita had the room to herself. Victoria reminded Lita that, promptly at 6:30 she would be there to do her hair and makeup. At that Lita sighed, but only nodded; waving shortly before she ducked inside her hotel room.
xxx
As expected, Victoria and Christy showed up at 6:30, after all Lita was supposed to meet Randy at 7:00. Lita figured that between the three of them, she'd make it there with a minute or two to spare. Needless to say, she was wrong. Lita pursed her lips in exhasperation, watching as the digital clock flipped from 6:59 to 7:00 and Victoria was just starting on her hair. She muttered then that this was the last time Victoria would be her stylist, raising a brow at the woman's reflection. Victoria in turn, stuck out her tounge; placing a few decorative hair clips in Lita's half up-do. The raven haired Diva proceeded to inform Lita that she needed to close her eyes until she was finished. Lita rolled her eyes, but complied none the less, just wanting to get this whole night over with. One little dinner was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth. Ten minutes later and Victoria declared she was finished. She stepped back, informing Lita that she could look now. At first glance, Lita was okay with it. She admitted that Victoria had done a fairly decent job; securing her hair into a bun on top, while there was still a portion left to cover the back. It was only until she took a closer glance did she get flustered. She pursed her lips, informing the raven haired Diva that she did not want to look so 'girly.' Victoria only rolled her eyes, pointing out that it went quite well with Lita's outfit. Lita had half a mind then to poke the well meaning Diva with one of the faux cherry blossom hair clips, but decided against it. For one it would ruin her hair and two, she was running late.
Lita scowled as she exited the elevator, to think she was checking her reflection for a non date. She wasn't the type to care even if it was a date. At any rate, she smoothed out her shirt sleeves, checking for any signs of lint on her pants before she entered the lobby.
"There you are," Randy greeted as the redhead stepped forward. "Ten minutes, ..is that common for you or should I be thankful it wasn't longer?"
"Ha ha, very funny." Lita rolled her eyes, "I blame this on Victoria."
Randy only shrugged, indiscreetly giving her the once over. "Well, it's a good thing the reservations are for 7:30 then."
Lita only shook her head, questioning Victoria's use of pink, but none the less..she smiled. "So.."
He nodded, offering his arm to the Diva. "No limo this time, it's a nice night anyway."
Lita blinked, but shook it off soon enough; hesitantly accepting the offered arm. "Guess it's a good thing we're in Texas and not in Montana or something right?" A faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as the two made their way out.
Randy half shrugged, sending a sidelong glance to the Diva. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you look.."
Lita lifted a brow, "Too girly?"
He bit back a laugh, "I wouldn't exactly say that."
Lita snorted, her head lolling back to gaze at the sky. "I would. This is way too much..pink for my tastes."
Orton chuckled good naturedly. "It's different, at least from what I know of you..but it looks good."
Lita shrugged, focusing straight ahead. "I'll take your word for it then."
They fell silent then, reaching the resturaunt before the silence could become excruciating. Perhaps it was only to her surprise, but Randy played the part of perfect gentlemen. Whatever the case, any doubts she may have still held on to about Randy Orton were erased or at the very least set aside by the time their meals arrived. Also to her surprise, she found they had a good deal in common. Not that it meant much, she had a good deal in common with most of her co-workers after all. Well, except maybe Hunter or Carmella but they didn't really count anyway. At any rate, the redhead found herself with a full stomach, and at the very least a friend by the time the meal was over. All the same, Lita found herself reminding Randy that it was just dinner with a friend; therefore allowing her to pay her half of the bill. He conceded to that then, and once the bill had been picked up; he mentioned there were a few clubs nearby and a movie theatre. At that, Lita just shrugged stating that she really didn't care so long as they got back to the hotel at a decent hour. Randy agreed easily and as soon as the waitress returned with their change; they left the resturaunt behind.
xxx
Needless to say, the two found the rest of the night cut short. Thanks to a 'chance' run in with none other than Hunter, Batista and Trish. And while Lita hadn't backed down from the trio, neither Randy nor Lita were in the mood to deal with the three. Instead they called it a night, heading back to the hotel shortly before 11:00. And while Lita admitted that running into Hunter hadn't been the highlight of it all; the night had been fun. As it were, Randy walked her back to her hotel room; the redhead shifting uncomfortably as they stood outside her door.
"So.." Lita began, leaning against the wall.
"Aside from the little run in with Hunter and company," Randy shrugged, standing on the opposite side of the door. "I had fun."
Lita nodded, a smile coming easily. "I'd hafta agree. Thank you.."
He smiled easily, "And maybe next time we won't run into Hunter."
A wry smirk crossed her features then. "Yeah, I hope not at least."
"I guess, I'll see you Sunday then?" Orton pushed off the wall to stand in front of her.
The redhead nodded, extending her hand but writing that off as too formal. Instead she perched on tip toe to give him an awkward hug. "Thank you again."
For his part, he lifted her hand in his; just brushing his lips over her knuckles. "Have a good night."
Lita nodded, waving shortly before she ducked inside her hotel room. And not to her surprise, no sooner had she locked the door; did a knock come from the adjoining door. The redhead rolled her eyes before she allowed Victoria to enter.
"You know Mom." Lita sent a pointed glance to the raven haired Diva. "You didn't have to wait up for me."
Victoria only snorted, parking herself on the spare bed. "So, how did it go?"
"What was that?" Lita feigned innocence, removing the hair clips painstakingly slow. "How did what go?"
"Oh no missy." Victoria raised a brow. "I have all night to wait."
Lita rolled her eyes, nimble fingers removing bobby pins. "Fine fine. I had a good time, are you happy now?"
The raven haired Diva smirked, "Not entirely.."
"Come off it Vikki, it was dinner. Not a date."
Victoria put up a hand in defense. "I wasn't going to call it that. I was only going to ask if you're going to go on a real date."
Lita shrugged, "It didn't really come up so.." She shook her head, weaving her fingers through her hair. "If that's all, I'd really like to call it a night now."
The raven haired Diva raised a brow, but asked nothing more. She figured if there was really something worth digging out of Lita it could wait until tomorrow. At any rate, she bid the redhead good night, threatening her that she better tell her if anything changed. In turn, she got a pillow tossed at her for her efforts. And once Victoria had completely disappeared; Lita settled in for the night. But instead of going to sleep like she intended; she ended up watching a movie. And given, her thoughts were partly on the movie..but the rest of them drifted. Both to Sunday and the ass beating she would deliver to one Trish Stratus and one particular phrase she had uttered. While she hadn't agreed to go on a real date, she hadn't exactly said no. At any rate, she shook it off; settling in completely to watch the movie.