Chapter 9:
"Coming!" Haley scrunched the ends of her hair with the white cotton towel, removing any excess water before exiting the bathroom and going to answer the door. She assumed it was John, who had gone back to his room to shower and change before they went out to breakfast.
"Hey, I left the door unlocked for you." She laughed, swinging open the door. Anything else she was going to say died on her lips.
He stood tall at 6'4, just around two hundred and fifty pounds. Sold muscle rippled beneath the material of his t-shirt that read 'Just Bring It' in bold letters. He wore black track pants with white trim and sneakers. He looked ready for a workout. He smiled at her, pulling sunglasses down and raising one eyebrow at her suggestively.
"Dwayne!" With a delighted squeal, she leapt at him. Her legs formed a vice around his hips and her arms coiled around his neck, clinging. One of his arms hooked under her bottom to hold her up, while the other looped around her back in support. Content, she inhaled his familiar scent of ivory soap and anti-perspirant.
"I missed you too, Haley baby." She could feel the chuckle rumble up through his chest.
"What are you doing here?" She demanded, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. "Not that I'm not thrilled to see you or anything."
"I saw your hard fall the other night. Had to come check on you, baby." He gently set her back on her feet.
"I told you I was fine when you called." She shook her head in bemusement and smiled.
"That was your first injury and I had to watch you get carried out by the medics from a million states away. I wanted to see for myself." He shrugged. "And because of it, I think some training is in order. What do you say?"
She thought of John and their plans for breakfast. They spent most of their time together as it was and she hadn't seen Dwayne since she had joined the RAW tour. He probably would understand her taking a rain check, or at least she hoped he would.
"I say yeah, just let me change and called John." She walked back into her hotel room, with Dwayne following.
"You're letting that Chump keep tabs on you already?" Dwayne teased, taking a seat on her bed.
"Hardly." She scoffed. "I don't need to call my boyfriend to ask for permission, what kind of girl do you take me for? We had plans for breakfast so I'm going to let him know to go on without me."
"Aw Haley baby, canceling dates with your precious boyfriend to spend time with me, I'm flattered." He placed a hand over his heart, playing at appreciative.
"Oh shut up." She reached for the sweater on top of her suitcase and chucked it at him.
He snatched it out of the air with ease and tossed it aside. With an embellished swagger, he crossed to her and bent her into an exaggerated dip. "I always knew you couldn't resist The Rock, or his certain charms." He arched an eyebrow before placing a big, noisy kiss on her mouth, just as John walked into the room.
John froze in the threshold on the doorway, frowning at the scene of his girlfriend being kissed by another man, no matter how brief the embrace or the knowledge that he was like her older brother. He relaxed slightly, however, when the Rock smirked playfully at him.
"Well baby, we've been caught red handed" Dwayne straightened and brought Haley back to her feet. "It's time to come clean. The truth is Johnny boy is that Haley here is madly in love with me and just can't control herself. She's bewitched me and now is carrying my lovechild. So we're off to Viva Rock Vegas to elope and then run off some secluded island in the Caribbean." He said it all with a straight face.
"Oh, get off me, you animal!" Haley shoved at him, hardly containing her laughter at the ludicrous story.
"Funny, I didn't realize Batista was here. I thought he'd be with SmackDown." Dwayne joked.
"Shut up." She scolded, before looking over at John. "See what happens when I get a concussion? The circus comes to town and I get left with a buffoon!"
"You love me!" Dwayne winked and sat back down on the edge of the bed. "We were just about to enjoy the better aspects of our hot, illicit affair when the ball and chain walked in."
"You mean Chain gang." John bent down to kiss Haley briefly in greeting. "Besides, why would she want an affair with you when The Champ Is Here!"
"Because she can smeeeelllll what the Rock is cooking!" Dwayne argued with a smirk.
"Oh god, both of you, shut it!" Haley rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "John, I'm sorry. Dwayne just arrived for an impromptu training session after the other night. Do you mind if I skip out on breakfast?"
"Oh yeah, she can smell what the Rock is cooking." Dwayne grinned. "We're going to lay the SmackDown! On some candy-ass!"
"Shut it, Dwayne!" Haley giggled and shot a playful glare over her shoulder. "You're acting like a five year old."
"Careful Haley baby, don't make me come over there and show you why they call me 'The Great One'!" Dwayne mock threatened.
"You're a large cup of Dunkin Donut's coffee?!" Haley gasped. "Oh I need one of those!"
Dwayne lay back on the bed and got comfortable. "I've checked into the SmackDown hotel and am more than ready to rumble."
"It's no problem, Hales." John assured his girlfriend, bending down to give her another quick kiss. "Just do me a favor and remember, if you want some, come get some!"
"Oh Jesus, stop it!" She giggled.
"I'm untouchable." He grinned over at the Rock. "He's just got nothing to touch."
"Bring it!" Rock dared.
"Call me when you're done, we can all grab lunch or something. Word life." He started for the door. "You can't see me." He added to Dwayne. "My time is now!" He disappeared down the hall.
"I like him, Haley baby." Dwayne approved. "Funny guy."
Haley shot him an obvious look. "That's because you both are ridiculously alike in mannerisms."
"Why do you think I like him?" This time both of Dwayne's eyebrows shot up. "He doesn't sing, but he raps, which is close enough, I guess."
"We all know how much you like to sing." Haley commented. "Lunch will be interesting."
"Anything is interesting when the Rock is involved." Dwayne rose and started for the door. "Just like our training session to come. I'll wait for you in the lobby while you get changed."
"I'll be down shortly." She promised.
"Take your time, Haley baby. It'll give the Great One the chance sign more autographs and take more pictures with his loyal fans." He sighed dramatically. "I always knew how to stir excitement."
"So full of yourself." She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and throw something else at him for his arrogance. "I'll see you in five minutes."
"Like I said, no rush." He laughed. 'See you in a few, Haley."
Once he left, she traded her low-rise jeans, off the shoulder top and flip flops, for track pants, a sports bra and zip up sweat shirt and sneakers. She pulled her hair up into a slightly lop sided bun with a few strands falling loose to add some appeal to her vanity.
"This is going to be one hell of a day." She muttered to herself, zipping up the sweat shirt to her bust line.
She reached for her gym bag and grabbed her cell phone. Dwayne was, as he said, signing autographs and taking photos with several kids, when she reached the lobby. She couldn't help but be awed at the sight of fans with their hero. No matter how long he was away from the ring, he'd always be the King of it. He helped make wrestling what it was today and she knew that some day in the future, she'd be present at his induction to the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. He would always be a legend, even to those who should have grown up by this point.
With a happy sigh, she made her way over to him and his followers. For the first time, she was feeling a little star struck by the man who had been her friend and coach for most of her young adult life.
A/N: I think this was one of my favorite chapters to write. I like writing the relationship between Haley and the Rock. It's fun and loving and he really helps her out. He's going to have a bigger role in the fic as we go on. REVIEW REVIEW! Go ahead and vote some more if you want. I still haven't set anything in stone. Do me a favor and send your vote in a review rather than an email, though I do like everyone's ideas in the emails I've recieved. But, I have Haley's wrestling career all figured out, its the romantic lead that's undecided, though I've pretty much decided, but knowing me I might change my mind, so keep on voting.
1: Jeff
2: Batista
3: Chris (Y2J is now ahead by one)
4: John