Love to my reviewers, Eisac Namhort, Duchan Mandic, Christina89, JoolR, Dreamin'BIG, AshleyBabe86, SuperStar89, Viper-Desi, KimmieCena, Xandman216 and Thiala! You guys rock!
So, who else was scared to death that Vikki Guerrero was going to be the new General Manager? Uh, I was freaking out, and did NOT want to hear "EXCUSE ME!" on my Monday nights. But good ole' Randy scared her off… =D Overall, not a bad Raw… Kept us on our toes.
Chapter 14- Little Secrets
The whole first day we spent in Pittsburg after we arrived by plane from Mexico, Randy and I spent shopping; and it wasn't for recreational purposes. The airlines had lost my luggage. In the whole month that I had dealt with planes and airlines and travel companies, never have I felt so angered towards that specific airline. I even made a phone call to Vince, warning him never to use that line again, potentially costing the airline millions of dollars. That made me feel better about my missing luggage.
"Do you need me to help with anything?" Randy asked, while riding in the cab to the local shopping mall. I knew he meant did he need him to give me any money. The WWE paid well, but I had spent quite a bit of my last check on the clothes that the airline was trying to find.
"No, Vince gave me an extension from my next check to get a couple outfits and a few things I would need until those idiots find my stuff," I grumbled. But as soon as I lashed out, I suddenly felt bad for my attitude towards him when he was only trying to help. It wasn't his fault that the people that ran the airlines were stupid. "Thank you though."
By the time Randy and I made it to the hotel, checked into our usual adjoining rooms, and settled in, it was getting late in the evening. I had managed to get quite a few outfits for the amount of money I had. I didn't shop like Randy did, and I could tell that he didn't like it. When I walked into the store, I looked for the sale and clearance racks first. Randy didn't have to care about the price, but I had a range, and that was okay. I didn't have a problem with that. I did let him buy me a few things, because, even though, I told him he didn't have too, he insisted; and I didn't want to hurt him or be rude by continuously turning down his offers. And let's face it, Randy could have a good eye when he wanted too; like the gorgeous pair of purple sandals he picked out for me.
I took an extra long shower, trying to ease the troubles out of my tense muscles with the steaming water. I waited until the tips of my fingers and toes started to prune and wrinkle up before I shut the water off and stepped out of the shower. I headed back to the bed, and picked up the shirt Randy gave me of his to sleep in. I smiled to myself as I slipped it over my head and towel dried my hair. After brushing my teeth, I exhaustedly climbed into bed, checking my phone to make sure that my alarm was turned on; but I noticed I had a voicemail and a missed call. A missed call from an unknown number. I couldn't think who it could be as I hit the voicemail button, waiting to hear the message. But I never expected the voice to echo on the other end. It made my heart stop.
"Lora, hey it's me. I'm going to be in Pittsburg tomorrow, same time as you, so I'm going to stop by and see you. You can't run from me at your new job. We need to talk."
I hung up my phone and threw it across the room.
oo
When I woke up the next morning, it took me a few minutes to realize why I hadn't slept well, and why I was on edge. Until I remembered the voicemail and the voice of a man that haunted my dreams all night. I fell back against my pillows, covering my face with my hands. Today was going to be hell. I jumped at the sudden sound of the door opening across the room. I peeped through my fingers, watching Randy walk into my room, dressed in his basketball shorts and tank top. He smiled at my usual morning disheveled appearance.
"Are you going to sleep all day?" he asked, smirking down at me from the foot my bed. I groaned.
"What time is it?" I asked, sitting up, trying to show that something was wrong.
"Fifteen til eleven."
I gaped at him. Had I really slept that long? Where was my alarm? I crawled out of my bed and went to the spot where I threw my phone last night. I found it in three pieces in the corner. The back had come off and the battery had jarred loose. It was off. I sighed, and slowly reassembled my phone. I was glad that Randy didn't ask any questions, and just raised his eyebrow at me.
I knew I should tell him about the phone call, but I just didn't know where to start. I shook my head, and decided to wait until later in the day, when I had time to wake up and build up nerve to deal with the situation more.
"Oh, and the airlines called Vince this morning. They said that your luggage will be delivered to the arena tonight before the shows over," Randy said, sitting on the corner of my bed, watching me pace around the room, sifting through the small supply of clothes.
"Thank God," I mumbled, still distracted. Randy sighed, and stood up, and before I knew it, his arms were wrapped around my waist, and I was being pulled back into him. I tensed, feeling that I would say too much with thinking if I was in his arms too long. He rested his head on the side of mine, brushing his lips against my hair. I felt his breathe hit my ear.
"After Raw, why don't you come over to my room and stay with me? I've been known for mind-blowing back massage here and there, and I might spare one for you; make you forget everything with this damn airline."
I shivered against him. And even though my mind was somewhere else entirely, my heart, my body, was right here, wrapped up in Randy. I couldn't have said "no" if I wanted to. I nodded weakly, closing my eyes. I heard him chuckle softly and then his body was gone. I didn't know he had disappeared until I heard the click of a door. I spun around and I was alone. I sighed in frustration and headed for the bathroom, to get ready to head to the arena with two things on my mind: Randy and his room, and that damn voicemail.
oo
I was headed to John's locker room later that evening. I was still waiting on the visit, because I knew that voice, and I knew that this was serious. But I had calmed down a great deal from this morning. I didn't jump every time I saw Randy, or every time he walked by. And my luggage was delivered about half an hour ago, so all and all, an improvement of my day so far. I pushed the door out of my way and stepped into John's locker room, spotting Casie on one end of the couch, clutching her side in laughter, and John on the other end, on his laptop computer, squinting at the screen as if it was getting smaller by the second.
"What is going on?" I asked, eyeing the both of them. John looked up with an immense wave of relief.
"Oh Lora! Come help me!" He waved me over, and I joined them on the couch, and I looked at the screen to see what he needed help with. He had been staring at a webpage that was mainly blue, with bold lettering and a bird on it.
"You're setting up a Twitter account?" I mused. I heard Casie giggle from beside me. It was kind of funny. The idea of John Cena tweeting was hilarious.
"Don't judge, just help me please," he grumbled. I shoved against his shoulder and set on to help create his Twitter account. We decided on just simple, one picture, and basic name as to not over do it. It wasn't any time, after the site had announced that John was on Twitter, that he had a couple thousand followers.
"Damn, that was fast," John said, sounding amazed.
I laughed. "Yeah, people really get into tweeting. Be careful John. It's addicting." John waved me off as he tweeted for the first time. I turned to Casie, and she rolled her eyes at him and we both laughed at John's expense. I slid down the couch, while John was packing his computer up, and sat with Casie.
"How are you feeling? Any better?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No. I don't know if the medicine hasn't started working yet, but it's been several days. It even seems like it's gotten worse. My stomach hurts all the time, and I'm getting this weird leg pain."
"Leg pain? With a urinary track infection?" I was confused. Though I had never studied medicine even that sounded off to me. I had never heard of that before. "That's a new one. If it's not better a little bit by Wednesday, I'd go to another doctor."
"Oh, I plan on it," Casie said, laughing, even though I knew that she was in pain.
oo
Have you ever heard the phrase "like nails on a chalkboard"? Well, I met a woman tonight whose voice fit that description to a "T". Vikki Guerrero. I had missed the months where she was interrum General Manager last year, to my mercy apparently, and I didn't know who she was. Edge, or Adam, was using her for one night only, trying to bring her back as the permanent manager. I was secretly happy that it was already planned out that she was to resign in fear of Randy, because I don't know what I would have done, having to listen to her grinding voice bellowing over the microphone each and every Raw.
The show started out with Randy coming out, talking about Edge's offer last week to reunite their past tag-team. Then I hit Meatloaf's music, one of my favorite songs "Paradise By The Dashboard Light", and I sang along to myself as I watched him walked down the ramp and joined Randy in the ring. He was here to promote his new album. I was excited to see him on the show, but the song's he wanted Randy to use as his theme song was hilarious. I could see Randy nearly losing it, and nearly laughing, a few times, before gaining his "viper" composure. And it wasn't too long after that, an "RKO" had Meatloaf lying in the ring, and Randy was punished, by Vikki, with a two on one handi-capped match between Edge and a partner of his choosing. I didn't know who it would be yet, but I knew that Randy would win, sending Vikki packing.
Unfortunately, my trash talking with Dave and Stephen, while we were in Mexico, had circled around to bit me; well, John. John had come out to announce that his stipulation with Dave at Over the Limit, another Pay-Per-View, would be an "I Quit" match. Which simply meant that either John or Dave had to make the other say the words, "I quit." Which I thought was a rightful choice for John to make; I mean, didn't his shirt say "Never Give Up"? I never knew a situation where John gave up. But then John called out Stephen, or Sheamus, and that's where things went wrong. As Sheamus charged the ring, Batista came from the crowd. I watched in horror as John held his own for a short while, but the number's game got him quickly. They took turns kicking and throwing blows at John's head. He was helpless. Sheamus set John up for the only good thing he had, and kicked him in the head. I groaned and covered my eyes. I heard before I saw the help arrive.
The fans stood to their feet, screaming and cheering, and my heart soared as Mark Henry and Tamara ran to the ring, and came to John's aid just as Batista was getting ready for his devastating Batista bomb. Tamara slid into the ring, and ran to John, while Mark took care of Dave. Sheamus, the coward, slithered away from the ring out of harm's way of the hundred plus pound man of Mark Henry. Together, Tamara and Mark were able to get John to his feet and get him out of the ring. Tamara picked up his title belt, hung it over her shoulder, and walked John back behind stage. I paged my second in command, David, and relieved my duties to him for a while so I could go check on John.
I met up with John and Casie, with Mark, in the trainer's locker room, and John was lying down on a cot, while the trainers worked about him. Casie sat at his side in a chair that she had pulled up, and I heard her fuming about Dave and Stephen. The words coming from her mouth would have made a sailor blush. It would have been a lot funnier if John wasn't grunting and groaning in pain.
"John, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said what I said to those idiots last week," I apologized, feeling guilty for the beating he just took. "My temper just got the better of me, and you paid for it."
"Lora, it's not your fault," John said, through his pain. "It's all in the storyline. They just used excess force because none of us like each other. And I found your comments to be rather amusing, so don't apologize for them."
"Hey, John, you alright?" I turned to see Randy heading towards us. I shifted on my feet, smiling at him, thinking for the first time today, about his offer to share his room tonight. I don't know what brought on the sudden memory of this morning, but I was intently fighting off the blush it caused.
"I'll be alright… Nothing a good gym session can't fix," and we all smirked at him. John was nothing but resilient.
"Do you mind if I steal Lora?" Randy asked, wrapping his arm around my waist. My blushed broke free and turned my cheeks a bright shade of pink when John laughed at us, and wagged both of his eyebrows at us. I let Randy pull me away from my best friends and out of the locker room.
"What's up?" I asked, once we were clear of all ears.
"Does there have to be a reason for me to want to see my girlfriend?" Randy asked, chuckling softly in my ear, causing goose bumps to erupt all over my skin. "But Adam sent me to get you. He said that someone's looking for you."
My chest chilled to the bone. And if it wasn't for Randy's arms around my body, I would've stopped walking.
"Who?" I managed to choke out.
Randy shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. He said it was just some guy asking to speak with you."
"Oh," I said, my mind turning, trying to think of how in the world I was going to get out of this, "thanks for telling me. But don't you have a match to go get ready for? I'm sure this is just a guy from the airlines, checking up on my luggage. You need to go prepare."
"That's alright. I wouldn't miss you blowing up on someone again, after what I saw last Friday on Dave and Stephen. Besides, I'm already oiled up, no thanks to you, and there's really nothing else for me to do but wait."
Damn. As much as I wanted him around me all the time, this was not one of those times. He picks now to get un-busy and attach himself to me. Great. Just wonderful. I felt like I was walking the proverbial plank as he took me to my visitor. I heard every sound my shoes made on the cement floor, and I heard each breathe taken by Randy, I heard my heart pounding in my ears. I felt very sure that if my heart didn't slow, I would have a panic attack, like in the elevator, and soon. I suddenly couldn't stand the feel of Randy's arms on me. I subtly slipped from his grip and just walked beside him. I felt like my acting skills where improving, because I don't think he thought anything of my actions, and just went along walking in what he thought was a comfortable silence.
We rounded a corner and I spotted Adam in his infamous wrestler's pants, already for his match against Randy tonight. His long blonde hair was slicked back, out of his face, and he was trying to get focused. This would be his first big match since he was drafted to Raw, and he would try to make himself, though Randy would win out over him. But my eyes caught the sight of the man standing directly to his left. He had kept his promise in his voicemail. I wanted to turn around and run in the opposite direction, but my feet had it in for me, and carried me forward.
He wasn't as tall as Randy or Adam, and he wasn't as built either. But his face, staring at me with those eyes, did the one thing that no one here has managed to do; intimidate me. Those brown eyes that I knew so well, staring at me with that hard look sent an unpleasant shiver down my spine. I shook my head, regaining my composure, refusing to let him just show up and ruin what I worked so hard for.
"Lora, this is Erik Gilbert. He says he knows you?" Adam said, as Randy and I stopped in front of them. I didn't say anything, just stared into his eyes. I couldn't believe that he was here. What did he want?
"I had to get your attention somehow, Lora," he spoke, his voice just a silky and greasy as it was on the phone. It made my stomach churn.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Randy asked in a low voice, narrowing his eyes at Erik. I closed my eyes and turned my head away from the scene I knew was about to explode before me. Somewhere in the back of my mind I thought, some things are just too good to be true.
"Erik Gilbert, Lora's fiancé."
My eyes popped open at that, in indignance, but the damage was done. I heard the exhale of breath from Randy behind me, and I saw the look of utter shock on Adam's face. I wheeled around on the spot, to face Randy, and my heart broke. I will never forget the look on extreme hurt mingled with anger on his face. It was burned into my brain. Randy's eyes roamed over my own face, and I could practically see all the pieces clicking into place for him, all my weird behavior all day, and misreading my shocked expression for a guilty one.
"Randy," I started, reaching out for his arm. My fingertips got within an inch and he yanked it back, as if he was revolted of my touch. I gasped and I felt the moisture welling up in my eyes. He's never shied away from my touch. "Randy?"
He started backing away from me, stumbling slightly, until he couldn't stand the sight of me anymore, and turned on his heel, and began stalking off. "Randy!" I yelled after him. He had to listen to me. "Stop!" But he didn't. He ignored me completely. I felt my heart break as I watched him retreat down the hall. After everything he'd put me through, I'd just hurt him. But he wouldn't listen to me. I was going to have to make him listen to me. I had just decided to go after him; I had even started walking in his direction, when I heard my name being called out after me.
"Miss Pierce! We're having a problem in the titantron room!" I turned to see lower ranked technician running towards me. Today was not my day. I could go after Randy, and try to fix this, and then lose my job because something went horribly wrong in my room, or I could go fix my room and let things get worse with Randy and have it get to where he won't ever talk to me again. Sounds like a win/win situation to me.
"I'll be there in a minute," I called out to him, and he ran back in the direction he came from. Then I rounded on Erik. "I will deal with you later. Don't you leave this arena, you hear me?" He smiled down at me in a condescending way that sent a red cloud of anger over my eyes. I decided to deal with him now. He had probably just ruined my relationship with Randy, and adding that to the pile of everything else he's ruined in my life, he's had this coming.
"Erik, I don't know why you came here, but I'm glad you did. It gives me the opportunity to tell you things that I have never been able to before. For instance, you're an ass. You're a controlling, manipulative, son of bitch. Maybe that's why I left you. And you're ruining my reputation, going around saying that I was ever stupid enough to consider marrying you!" I didn't realize I was screaming, or trying to hit him, until I felt Adam's arms holding me back. All I could see was Randy's hurt, and all I could feel was his hurt; and this idiot caused it. And I wanted to cause him the same amount.
"Look, I just want you to come home. I'm sorry," Erik crooned.
"Yeah? Sorry? Well, maybe you should have thought about that before you laid your hands on me!" I yelled, and yanked myself out of Adam's grip. I had just admitted out loud, what I hadn't said to anyone. And from what I could gather, there were about thirty people around. I could feel my nerves unraveling, and I knew I needed to get away from him, and I needed to be myself. "Leave the building now, or I will have security escort you out."
oo
The problem in the titantron room was that my second in command had delegated his duties to someone who did not know how to do his job, and the timing was all wrong for the last match entrances, and I was barely able to get it fixed in time. That was the last time I was going to place David in charge and I was even going to have a word with Vince about him later. But, having to sit in the titantron room, I had to watch the last match; which was Randy Orton vs Edge and Ted DiBiase Jr. I could tell that he wasn't able to fully get into character, because he was still so upset with me. But in a way, that made him in perfect character, because towards the end, when he was stalking Vikki, after the match, he was so angry looking. I knew that he was not acting, and that he was venting off for the world to see that I had hurt him, which broke my heart even more. I locked up the titantron room and headed back to John's locker room. My calls to his cell phone were being ignored, which was a dig on my heart even more. I was on special look out, because if I even saw a glimpse of Randy, I was going to run after him and make him listen to me. But nothing. I sighed, closing my eyes. Which was a mistake, because I did run into somebody, Adam.
"Oh hey," I said miserably.
"Hi."
I suddenly had an idea of how to pass a message on to Randy. "I know you hate me right now, but will you please tell Randy to not lock the door tonight?"
Adam looked at me in confusion. "What?"
"Please, just tell him. He'll know what I mean," I said, and began to walk around him.
But Adam caught me by the arm and turned me around. "And I don't hate you. I'm still you're friend." I stared up at him, not sure I heard him right. I really needed someone to believe me outright, without asking any questions, and he was here, providing that. And I was grateful. I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you. So much."
As I walked the path to John's locker room, I was really counting on Randy's tendency to keep things to himself and privacy, especially when it involved him being hurt. And I was right on the money. When I opened the door of the locker room, Casie and John were gathering their things, getting ready to leave for the hotel.
"Oh hey Lora," Casie said, looking up from her bag as she zipped it shut. She looked over at John, who was playing on his phone. She huffed.
"What are you doing now? Are you ready?" I looked back and forth between the two, already missing what Randy and I have. Or had. He wouldn't even talk to me, refused to look at me. I don't see how I was going to fix this.
"Almost. I'm tweeting." That brought me out of my miserable thoughts with a laugh. It's amazing what the thought of John Cena tweeting can do for the soul. Move over chicken soup, here comes John Cena's tweets. But nothing good ever lasted long, and thoughts of Randy drifted into my head, and how would I tell my best friends that Randy and I are… well, what are Randy and I? God, I needed to talk to him.
"Casie, can you spend the night with me? Please?" I asked, hoping she, and only she, could see the desperation in my eyes. I really needed to talk to her, after I spoke with Randy, and tell her what was going on.
"Of course," Casie said, giving me a look that spoke the words her mouth didn't, and I flashed her warning glance not to say anything until later.
oo
I stood in front of the adjoining door, frightened to death to try it out. What if it was locked? That would tear me up. I know I couldn't manage if Randy refused to talk to me. The door being locked was one end of extremities. The other being it was open; which meant I had to face him, anger and hurt and all. I didn't know how to prepare myself for that. Thinking about it was one thing, but actually seeing it was another. But I knew I had to try. I would never be able to sleep or get any rest if I didn't try. I had told Adam to pass the message, and I trusted him too. I slowly wrapped my fingers on the cold knob and took a deep breath, and twisted it.
It was open. I didn't know whether to be happy or scared. But I steeled my nerves and pushed the door open just enough to let myself in. I turned around on the spot and saw that Randy was propped up on the bed, watching TV. He didn't acknowledge my presence, just continued flipping through the various channels. He wasn't going to make this easy. Not one bit. I took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, trying to steady my beating heart.
"Randy, I--" but he just turned the TV off, and stood up. The movement was so quick, it took my breath from my body, and all thought from my mind.
"Don't. Not right now," Randy said, he voice soft and ragged. "Don't come in here with some excuse and just think things are going to just go back to the way they were. Because they can't. Whoever that man was to you, knew someone that you saw fit to hide from everyone here. Do we really even know you? I've never heard you name anyone in your family." He was looking at me as if he was seeing me for the first time. And I knew that the moisture in my eyes was welling up at a dangerous rate, but I couldn't muster up enough energy to care.
"We aren't going to be okay tonight. We aren't going to be okay for awhile. You are going to have to give me time on this. But not tonight. Tonight is not okay."
I felt the first tear slide down my cheek as I just stared into the broken blue eyes of Randy. I nodded stiffly and left the room, closing it behind, hearing it lock shut. I sighed, staring up at the ceiling, letting the tears fall freely and waited for Casie to come keep me company.
A/N So sad! Poor Randy! Poor Lora! I really don't have much to say in this note, but let me know (in reviews!) if you like/don't like what you've read! Oh, did I mention to REVIEW! Lol love you guys!