Okay, I've made a decision! I'm am writing a chapter before Monday (*coughs* obviously *coughs*). So here ya go, I hope you find it intriguing! On with the chapter now ,eh?

Chapter 12: Reflections

~Saturday. 1 Nov. 2003. 9:23 PM.~

Breanne lay on her bed in her hotel room brooding over the events of this past week. She went back to her date with Jon. They had gone to Red Lobster for dinner. He was polite, nice, and cute. He had opened every door for her, paid for dinner, walked her to her hotel entrance, and didn't even try to make a move on her. She was impressed with him, needless to say. It was the first date she had been on in years, and she had a great time. However, her thoughts didn't linger on Jon or the date with Jon for too long at a time.

Breanne's thoughts would wander to Randy. She found herself comparing the two men. Jon had taken her to a nice, comfortable place to eat. They were able to eat comfortably without having to sit in the back. Whereas with Randy, they sat in the back, where the lights were dim and they were constantly worried someone would spot Randy and start a ruckus where they would have to make a quick exit.

However, it had been exciting. It was just as comfortable being with Randy and worrying, as it was being with Jon and not worrying. Maybe because Randy was good at cracking jokes and striking up a good, interesting conversation that had nothing to do with their jobs. Jon on the other hand was sort of bland when it came to discussion. He talked about work and asked her frequent questions about her job duties, if she liked it, what she thought of everyone, and told her about broadcasting. She frequently found herself bored with his chosen topics of chatter and had to force herself to pay attention and provide input.

Her comparisons continued. Jon opened doors and paid. Randy opened doors and paid. Jon was polite, sweet, kinda cute, and……polite. Randy was funny, sweet, gorgeous, Hell, sexy beyond belief, polite…a friend. Breanne's current train of thought ceased. Randy was a friend. Only a friend. Why was she comparing and contrasting the two guys, when there wasn't even a question of her having to choose one. One wanted to date her, the other only wanted to befriend her.

Her thoughts drifted back to her encounter with Randy Monday night. She had pointed out what she thought was obvious about her appearance and desirability, but then he had told her something she never thought conceivable. He had told her she was attractive, that she was noticeable. Breanne recalled his words. "If you're so ignorable, then how is it that I notice you?" Her eyes closed as she envisioned the scene. She was going to say something after he said the first part, but she was unable to remember what it was. All she could remember were his next words. "And if you're so unattractive, then why are you so beautiful?"

Breanne remembered how he had paused and checked her out to emphasize his meaning. 'He thinks I'm beautiful? How could he think that? I'm not. I've always been told I'm plain by all my friends and ex's…' her thoughts trailed off. She remembered how all of her boyfriends had cheated on her. She would ask them, why? How could you do this to me? Am I not enough for you? And every time, it was either no response or "I'm sorry, no you aren't enough for me."

She suddenly remembered why she had avoided dating. It always ended in her getting hurt. She couldn't take it. Her friends, the few she acquired, weren't much help. They suggested that maybe she should change her look. She remembered the words of her room mate in college, Mary, "Maybe you should consider dressing a little less boring. I mean, what do you expect a guy to do when his girl isn't even trying to impress him?"

Not only had that comment confirmed that Mary thought she unattractive and boring, but it also consented that Mary thought that her ex was right to cheat on her. With those words, Mary was justifying his unfaithfulness with the fact that she was ugly. Like that comment was supposed to encourage her or something. It was not what she had expected Mary, her so-called 'friend', to say and was probably the reason Breanne had distanced herself from Mary afterwards. She expected her friend to take her side, not justify the acts of a dishonest asshole like Mark (her ex, I figured, hey, give 'im a name. Lol).

"Ugh," Breanne sighed at the turn of her thoughts. She closed her eyes again. Once more allowing her thoughts to drift back to Randy. She remembered the look on his face when she told him who Jon was. He seemed a little…surprised maybe? Then when she told him that she had agreed to go on the date, Breanne swore she saw hurt in his eyes, if only for a moment. Then he backed away from her. What was that all about? "Why would that hurt him? He couldn't have been jealous." She nearly laughed out loud.

"Yah, right. I'm letting my imagination get out of control." Breanne tried to convince herself that she had imagined the hurt in his eyes. "It was just an illusion. It's like that dream I had of being in his arms, nothing more than an illusion. It didn't really happen, it wasn't real. I'm just looking for something that isn't and never will be there." She sighed. She really wanted it to be there.

Breanne wanted that dream to be real. She wanted that look in his eyes to be real. She wanted his kind words to be more than that of a friend. She wanted that dinner between friends to be a date. She wanted…she wanted him. Breanne wanted to be with him. She didn't care if it ended in pain, she wanted to be able to call him her man. What she wanted, though, she knew she could never truly have. That her dreams were as close as she'd ever come to him. They were all she would ever have.

Breanne sighed again, "God, I'm so depressing. I need…pizza…and…chocolate. Oh, and Smirnoff Ice! Wait! Triple Black and Sky Blue!" She wouldn't allow herself to think about it anymore. She decided to have a little party with three friends: "Me, myself, and I," she thought. What could be better than booze and junk food. Not much. Maybe seeing Randy, but that wouldn't happen until Monday. "Why am I still thinking about that? It's settled: Friends, nothing more. Now! It's time to get drunk, dammit." And with that, Annie grabbed her keys and headed out the door.

~Meanwhile (Lol)~

Randy was driving back to his hotel. He had been chilling with Ric at his hotel tonight. Out of all the members of Evolution, he was closest to Ric. Maybe because he reminded him of his grandfather so he felt more at home with him. They had been talking and eating some room service when some how, Ric had gotten onto the subject of Annie.

~Flashback to earlier that night~

"So, how's your girlfriend?" Ric teased.

"Ric, dude, she's not my girlfriend. Annie and I are just friends. I-"

Ric laughed, "I wasn't talking about the intern, Randy," he laughed some more.

"Oh…um…who were you talking about?"

"Well, I was talking about that little red head you were dating last month, but now I think I've stumbled onto something a little more interesting, wooo," Ric added his trademark with a chuckle.

"Oh, well things didn't work out. She wanted to…um…and I…didn't…" Randy trailed off. He lowered his gaze from Ric to the floor. The little red head, Jessica, had only wanted to have sex with him. Randy may portray a slick, player as his wrestler gimmick, but he wasn't like that in reality. He didn't like the idea of 'one night stands.' Randy only had sex or made love to people he cared about and usually didn't date people he just met. He liked to get to know them first. Just as he thought he had known Jessica, but he was wrong about her.

Ric noticed how Randy wouldn't meet his gaze, "What? You're not ashamed 'cause you didn't have sex with the little floozy are you?"

Randy's head shot up. He didn't know Ric could read him so well. He knew if Batista or Paul knew, he'd never hear the end of it. "It's just that…I don't know. I like to know the person before I take it that far. I thought I knew Jessica, but she turned out completely different. It turns out she just wanted to have something to tell the girls back home, I guess."

"Look, there ain't nothing to be ashamed of, kid. Be glad you didn't go through with it. As much as I hate to admit it, I speak from experience. There isn't anything worse than the morning after a one night stand."

"Thanks, Ric. Just do me a favor and don't tell the guys. I'll never hear the end of it." Randy had a pleading look on his face.

"No problem. But let me tell you something," Ric paused thinking of the words he wanted to say, "It takes a lot of heart to avoid the dark side of the business. I'm glad that it seems you're doing a good job of that. I'm proud of you Orton, and if you keep it up, I know you're going to be one of the greats in this business. And if you ever need anyone to talk to or anything else for that matter, I'm here."

Randy smiled, "Thanks Ric." That meant more to Randy than words could possibly say. Here, Ric Flair, a legend, was saying he was proud of him.

"Don't mention it, wooo! But why don't you tell me what you're thinking about all the time? Is it a certain intern?" Ric said, lightening the mood again.

Randy sighed, but the mere thought of Annie brought a smile to his face, "Yah. I just…I don't know, man."

"You like her don't you? Why don't you just ask her on a date?" Ric asked.

"I don't know, Ric. Annie's so…" Randy didn't know how to describe her. She was the walking definition of his dream girl. Dark hair, blue eyes, not too chesty, not too flat. It was obvious that she worked out after holding her that night. He could feel the outline of her abs through her shirt when he had his arm around her.

"Perfect for you," Ric finished his thought.

Randy shook his head and laughed, "How do you do that?"

"Just stating the obvious," Ric chuckled. "Why don't you just go up to her and ask her on a date? I know you two just met, but after all the things you've already been through, I'd say you've already established a good enough friendship. Besides, in my day, dating was the way to get to know one another. No one says you have to jump into any kind of serious relationship or get married. It's obvious that you like her, so just ask her out before someone beats you to it."

Randy looked at Ric. He was right. Another thought hit him though, "Someone already did beat me to it, actually."

Ric's eyebrows raised in surprise, "Who?"

"Jon from broadcasting," Randy said with more disdain than intended.

"Hmm. Well, you'll just have to bud in and ask her out anyway. One date doesn't mean anything."

Randy sighed, "I don't know if I can do that. I mean, if she turns out to like the guy, I want her to be happy, ya know? Otherwise, I'll ask her out." Randy made his decision right there. If Annie and Jon didn't spark, he would move in on her. He would ask her on a date. However, if they did hit it off, he would just be her friend and leave it at that. His heart feared the worst though. He really hoped that she didn't like Jon, but he would have to wait to find out Monday.

~end flashback~

Randy sighed. He was feeling a little stressed out with everything. He didn't know if he would even be able to look at Annie straight after what he said to her Monday. He laughed to himself. One Monday he's telling her she's ugly, the next he's telling her she's beautiful. What was wrong with him. He knew he was attracted to her, but he didn't know it was this bad. He couldn't think of anything else. "That's it, dammit! Time for some alcohol." Randy turned his car into a nearby Texaco.

He turned his car off and headed for the door. 'What should I get? Jack? Beam? Vodka? No, nothing too hard, I have to be up early tomorrow for some promotion crap. I know! Smirnoff.' Finally making his decision, he headed to the back of the gas station toward the coolers. The scene he found when he got there, nearly set him beside himself. Annie was there, and apparently for the same reason as him: Alcohol. Lots of alcohol. She, however, was totally oblivious to his presence, so he felt it necessary to make himself known.

"Funny, I didn't figure you to be the drinkin' type," Randy said.

Breanne whirled around at the sound of Randy's voice, "Randy! What are you doing here?" She was a bit embarrassed at the fact that he was seeing her in her pajamas (t shirt, gray sweatpants, house shoes and her hair hanging loose and slightly disheveled about her shoulders) at a gas station picking out alcohol. Especially when he was dressed to kill (blue dress shirt, black suit pants, and nice dress shoes).

"The same thing you're doing apparently," he replied gesturing toward the coolers. "What's the occasion?" He couldn't help from grinning, she looked so cute in her pj's and messy hair. She was blushing lightly. So damn cute.

'You're the occasion,' She thought, but instead she answered, "None, I just needed a break from all the work I've been doing. I just needed a drink, but I didn't want to go to a bar, so I came here." She paused, "What about you? What's the occasion?"

Randy smiled, "No occasion." There was an awkward silence. Randy decided to break it, "So what do you drink?"

"Um, I don't know. I like Sky Blue and Smirnoff when I'm worried about a hangover, but when I really don't have anything to do the next day I like Aftershock and Hot Damn." Breanne blushed when she saw his surprised reaction. "What?" she asked modestly.

"Nothing, it's just…" Randy's smile grew wider, "I didn't know a little lady like you could possibly like to drink any alcohol, much less drink whiskey."

Breanne laughed, "Well, what can I say? I'm full of surprises. What do you drink?"

"Pretty much the same thing as you. I actually came here to get some Smirnoff since I have to be up early tomorrow."

"Yah, me too." There was another silence.

Once again it was Randy who spoke, "So how was your date with Jon?"

Breanne blushed, she didn't expect him to ask, but then again, they were friends of course he would ask. She found herself wanting to tell him that she wished it had been him instead on that date, but she didn't, "It was okay. He was nice."

"Oh," Randy noticed she didn't seem too enthusiastic about the whole thing, "Sucked that much, eh?" he said as he opened the cooler and retrieved a six pack of Triple Black.

Breanne laughed, "Yah, actually, it was pretty dull."

Randy grinned, "Really? How so?"

She smiled as she grabbed her own six pack of Triple Black, "All he wanted to talk about was work, right?" She laughed, "Every time I tried to change the subject, he would get back on it and his sense of humor, well, he doesn't really have one. I was so bored. I wished you were there." Breanne had said the last part before she could stop herself. Her eyebrows shot up at her sudden confession and she quickly dropped her gaze to the floor.

Randy saw her tense at the realization of her last words. He put his hand under her chin and lifted her head. When their eyes met he said, "So do I." He smiled and before he could stop himself, he began to close the space between them. His hand moved from her chin and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

Breanne's stomach was turning flips. He was so close. She could smell the light scent of his cologne, could feel his warmth radiating off him. She was getting dizzy and her knees felt like they were going to give out any minute.

They were half a foot away from each other when some one interrupted them, "Excuse me, but could I maybe get over there?" It was another man wanting to get a pack of beer.

"Uh, yah, sorry," Randy said as the moment was lost and they separated, both coming back to reality.

Breanne took a silent, deep breath and cleared her throat, "Um, well, I better be getting back to my hotel, you know? What with all the drinking I've got to do and all," she let out a forced 'heh, heh.'

Randy smiled as they made to the counter and paid, "Yah, me too. I'll see you Monday?" Randy asked as they exited the Texaco and walked into the parking lot.

"Yah, I'll be there. See ya later," Breanne smiled, and met his gaze. Suddenly their smiles faded.

The dislike of going their separate ways was apparent in both of their eyes. They both looked away quickly.

"Goodnight, Annie," Randy breathed. He knew if they hadn't looked away, he would have kissed her, and he wasn't sure if she was ready for that. Hell, he didn't really know if he was ready for that.

"Goodnight," Breanne said softly. With that they risked another glance and smile at each other and went their separate ways. Each of them having their own internal battles about leaving the other.

~~~

Breanne was on her fourth bottle of Smirnoff. 'Oh my God, he almost kissed me………didn't he? We were so close.' She could feel her heart beating faster at the very thought. She wanted him to kiss her. "Oh COME ON!!" She yelled at herself for thinking about him again. She chugged the rest of her drink and grabbed another bottle from the pack. Opening it, she lay back against her pillows welcoming sleep.

~~~

Randy was laying in his bed finishing the last of his Smirnoff. 'I almost kissed her. If it hadn't been for that guy, I would have.' He suddenly had to fight the urge to find that guy and kick his ass for interrupting them. 'Damn. So close.' In a way, though, he was glad that the guy had come along when he did. He didn't want things to get weird between him and Breanne, and knew that if he had of kissed her, things would definitely have become awkward.

It was just that every time their eyes met he felt drawn to her. Almost as if he had no choice but to close the space between them and…'God that sounds corny,' he laughed to himself, 'but it's true.' Randy sighed and dropped his empty bottled into the trashcan. He had a small buzz from practically chugging the six bottles, but he didn't mind. It made it that much easier for him to drift off to sleep and that's exactly what he did.

~~~~~~~

The next day, both Randy and Breanne went about their business, both thinking of each other and their encounter at the gas station. Neither of them wanting to admit their eagerness to see the other person at Raw Monday.

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Okay, so there's your chapter, hoped you liked it. I worked hard on this one. Review please. I love to hear from all of you!