D'awe so happy you guys all like Giselle! There will be lots of her. This is one of my more lengthy chapters so try and keep up :)
I received 23 wonderful reviews in total for Chapter 51, thank you!
I would LOVE to get 30 reviews for this chapter, then I'll update. Thanks to those who reviewed! And as always, if you guys really like this story, feedback is the best way to let me know. The more you give, the sooner I update! And if you have any requests for chapters, give me ideas! I love your feedback!
Disclaimer: I do not own John Cena or Randy Orton (Damnit) Or anything affiliated with the WWE. Vince owns all, superstars own themselves. I own the OCs and the ideas. Sue me and you will get negative dollar amounts in the form of a Student Line of Credit.
Song Credits: -What if? by Coldplay, Neon Lights by Natasha Bedingfield and Distance by Christina Perri
ENJOY!
-Every step that you take could be your biggest mistake.. It could bend or it could break.. That's the risk that you take-
"Okay.. so does he interfere or just come to intensify issues.. uh huh.. oh really.."
Laleia's fingers flew over the keyboard of her laptop as she sat on the edge of the king-sized bed in Randy's room. She nodded to herself as Roxanne prepped her on the meeting she had missed the night before, as well as the main points of the events that were to take place during that evenings' Smackdown in St. Louis.
"Yes, I did get your email.. yes, it's all edited and back in transit to you.."
Randy stood in front of her and smiled. Laleia flicked her eyes up to him as he was tapping his watch. She mouthed 'One second,' and began typing once more.
"I'm leaving very soon, so if you print and make copies I will distribute," Laleia smiled to herself as Roxanne responded emphatically.
"Oh, Laleia you are a life saver!"
"And don't you forget it."
Even though Stephanie still did not promote Laleia to her former position, Roxanne had eventually submitted to the idea of Laleia being the Alpha Female. After the instance of almost being fired, Roxanne came to realize that she would be better off to take advantage of Laleia's backstage know-how rather than attempting to take advantage of Laleia through her position above her.
Laleia tapped her Bluetooth off and closed her laptop. Sliding it into her oversized shoulder-bag, Laleia tucked her hair behind her ears and pushed off the bed.
"Look at you, a woman in charge," Randy grinned.
Laleia smiled, "Strategies of intimidation tend to pay off."
"There is nothing sexier than an aggressive woman," Randy draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer and kissing her head. Laleia rolled her eyes and patted his stomach. Randy released her then grabbed her suitcase.
Gliding down the stairs, Randy placed the bags at the door and waited on Laleia to make her way down. Pausing in the middle of the stairs, Laleia squinted slightly at the door; a shadow was growing in the window. Randy raised a brow at Laleia.
"Leia, what's-"
Before Randy could finish his sentence, the door swung open with such force that after hitting him square in the side of his head, it pinned him and the luggage behind the door.
"Where the fuck is my girl?"
Laleia almost tripped over her feet as she flew down the stairs. Randy cursed from behind the door. Standing in the doorway with her hand perched on her in a powerful stance, Giselle peeled her sunglasses off her face.
"Oh thank fuck, I did find the right house," Giselle grinned, "woman, you are near impossible to track down."
Laleia shook her head, "You crazy bitch, I didn't think you'd make it out!"
Giselle closed the space between them, laughing as she pulled Laleia into a tight hug. Slowly, the door shut behind them as Randy pried it from his face.
"Jesus Christ, who in God's name is this?" Randy growled, rubbing his head as he crawled to his feet.
Laleia and Giselle turned to look at Randy. Laleia tried her hardest to hold back her laughter. Randy's eyes bored holes into Giselle as he fumed. Pulling away from Laleia, Giselle placed her sunglasses on her head and walked to Randy. The height of her heels gave the illusion that she was almost eye to eye with Randy.
"Well, hello handsome," Giselle held out her hand, "Giselle, the maid of honor at your service."
"How did you get past the gate?" Randy said while shaking her hand dumbfounded.
"What a lovely welcome response," Giselle scoffed then shrugged, "baby, I work in real estate; don't ask questions."
Maneuvering around Randy, Giselle looked at Laleia while pointing at their luggage.
"Going somewhere?"
Laleia nodded, "Heading to the arena now, and then going to the airport straight from the show."
"Actually," Giselle pushed Laleia's suitcase aside then shoved Randy's suitcase into his hands, "Randal is heading to the arena and then to the airport."
"Ha ha, you're hilarious," Laleia laughed softly, moving toward her bag. As she reached for it, Giselle's hand whipped out and slapped Laleia's hand away.
"Ow! What was that for?" Laleia exclaimed while shaking out her hand.
"Woman, you know better than to not listen to me," Giselle crossed her arms over her chest.
"Giselle, I can't just miss work to hang out with you."
"No no no," Giselle kept her stance in front of the bag firm, "enough of this. You and I have things to do."
"Baby, we really need to go," Randy urged. Giselle turned her gaze to him. Sliding his other bag over his shoulder, Giselle pushed him out the door.
"Then you better get moving, baby..." Giselle said with a smile, and then promptly slammed the door in Randy's face.
"Giselle!" Laleia raked her hands back through her hair. Giselle held up a hand.
"We are going shopping for your wedding dress if I have to goddamn beat you with your own suitcase and drag you there."
"Excuse me? This is why I'm missing work?" Laleia shook her head, "Giselle, I can't-"
"I drove almost six hours from Chicago for your bitch-ass," Giselle glared at Laleia, "we are going fucking dress shopping and you are going to have the goddamn time of your life!"
"Since when do you live in Chicago?"
"NOW."
o0o0o0o0o
-Take a breath, take it in, love has no expiration date-
"What in the hell are you putting her in?"
Patience, God give me patience..
"There is no need for so much goddamn tulle!"
Sanity, God where is my sanity?
"She's a bride not a fucking disco ball! Take these out of here!"
Laleia stood on a pedestal before a curved wall of mirrors, rubbing her temples and giving the bridal consultants remorseful smiles. After speaking with Roxanne to explain the situation, then coaching her through a mental breakdown after she realized she was on her own, Laleia allowed Giselle to whisk her away to the best bridal shop within driving distance. She agreed to the shopping day with the condition that Giselle get Laleia to the airport on time to catch her flight with Randy. A few hours and about twenty dresses later, Laleia was beginning to think she would never find a dress.
"You'd think when I told them there was no budget they would get something better than this cheap crap they've been showing us," Giselle murmured as she adjusted the bodice of the dress Laleia was currently modelling.
"The dresses are all beautiful, Giselle," Laleia said as she looked at herself in the mirror, "I just haven't gotten that.. feeling, yanno?"
"Lee-baby," Giselle rested a hand on her shoulder, "you will find a dress, I swear, and you will feel like a princess on your day."
Laleia let out an uneasy breath and rested her hands on her stomach. Every girl dreams of being the center of attention on their wedding day; most see themselves in a gigantic, poufy princess dress. Laleia had come to realize her body did not agree with this ideal. Princess dress after princess dress later, Laleia was beginning to feel defeated until the consultants finally began to bring in more mermaid style dresses. Other than the drone of Giselle critiquing in her ear, butterflies were making an appearance in her stomach.
"I like shopping as much as the next girl, but Gi-Gi, I'm starting to lose it here," Laleia relented.
Giselle's lips pursed into a thin line. Her eyes drew up and down Laleia's figure in the mirror as she was pondering. Her eyes then darted around to the consultants as she pulled back from Laleia.
"Could we have some privacy, please?" Giselle demanded in the calmest voice she could muster. Nodding gently, the consultants graciously took their leave; there's only so much abuse people can take after all. Giselle rolled her eyes then led Laleia to the small, cream-colored love seat in the middle of the room.
"Lee-baby," Giselle took both of Laleia's hands in her own, "what is on your mind?"
Laleia looked up into her eyes, "I don't really know."
"Laleia, you know as well as I do that a couple of those dresses you tried on could have been the one," Giselle said softly.
"I just didn't get that feeling, Giselle," Laleia said, pulling her hands back into her lap.
"You need to talk to me, Laleia," Giselle gripped her hands again tightly, "because there is something there.."
"I think," Laleia pulled away and stood up, "I just need to try on a few more and I'll find it."
"Laleia.."
"Giselle, just leave-"
The buckle of Laleia's purse rattled against the table it was set on as her cell phone buzzed intensely. Shuffling over to the table, Laleia dug through her purse and grabbed her phone. Pausing, she smiled slightly and answered the call.
"I am a terrible bride," Laleia spoke into the phone. Her smile intensified as a lively chuckle rumbled in her ear.
"I think you're too Type A to be a terrible anything, Ley."
"I have barely anything done for this wedding. I can't even pick out the right dress," Laleia sighed.
"Do you remember your prom dress?"
Raising a brow, Laleia replied, "Yes, but you didn't even go to prom, so how do you remember it?"
"Well, even though I can't hear her squawking, I'm assuming Giselle is there, right?"
"Yes she's here, but what does she have anything to do with this conversation?"
"Ask her," Laleia could almost hear him smiling through the phone.
"I will later, but why are you calling?" Laleia said as she switched ears.
"Well, as you've pretty much confirmed already, I heard you skipped out on work today for shopping; I just wanted to make sure you hadn't lost your mind."
Laleia laughed, "You know as well as I do that had it been just myself, I would not have missed work."
"The mighty She-Hulk has spoken, puny human!"
"Be nice, Meathead," Laleia warned with a smile. Giselle peered at Laleia in the mirror. Laleia shrugged as Giselle shook her head.
John scoffed,"See? Her influence has gotten you again; you haven't called me that in months, almost years."
"And you love every second of it."
"... Maybe.. a little.."
"J, the consultants are getting antsy, can I call you later?"
"Say no more, I would not want to incur the wrath of the Fashion Gods; or Giselle for that matter," John laughed.
Laleia giggled, "Much appreciated."
"Laleia?"
"Yes, John?"
"Regardless of what you pick, you're going to look beautiful on your wedding day."
Smiling, Laleia hung up her phone and slid it back into her purse. Turning around, Laleia made her way to the dresses hung up on the wall.
"Laleia, sit down."
Laleia turned around to see Giselle seated in an upright position, staring hard at her. Laleia's smile faded.
"What's wrong, Gi-Gi?"
"Jesus Christ Laleia, just please fucking sit." Giselle snapped.
Laleia padded across the floor to the couch slowly and sat down. Giselle bobbed her leg then leaned forward. She licked her lips then crossed her arms.
"So what did John have to say?" Giselle inquired.
Laleia leaned back slightly, "Just wondering why I missed work, wh-"
"Why did he ask if I was here during that prom conversation?"
"You know, now that you mention it, he did tell me to ask you about that connection. That's weird."
Giselle sighed, "Oh dear.."
"... did you just say 'Oh dear'?"
"Lee-baby, do you remember shopping for prom dresses?"
"I remember specifically your ass ditching shopping for some shit that almost got you arrested.."
Giselle smirked, "Yes, I was a fucking rebel, but I digress. Do you remember what I asked you to do?"
Laleia paused for a moment then replied, "You said to take pictures of my top three choices and to give you the Polaroids to help me choose."
"And of the three, I picked my favorite and it ended up being the one you bought."
"It did; it was perfect," Laleia nodded along with Giselle's words but her expression still remained confused. Giselle blew out a breath, covered her nose and mouth with her hands then moved them down slightly to cup her own face.
"Let me tell you a little story from 1995.."
-Flashback-
John checked his watch for the third time in twenty minutes. Tugging his hat off his head, he raked his hand through his fade then secured his hat back on again backwards: a nervous habit of his. He cursed under his breath, he should have known better than to trust her with something important.
"Such a goddamn flake.." He muttered under his breath. Glancing around once more, he shuffled his foot into the dirt tracing patterns absentmindedly. Before he knew it, the air around him became contaminated with smoke. Coughing, he looked up and groaned.
"That shit will kill you," John snapped. Rolling her eyes, Giselle took one final drag of her cigarette then tossed it into the dirt and stamped it out.
"Pardon me, Meathead; didn't know you were the newly appointed Cancer police," Giselle tried to hold back her smile.
"Did you get them or not?" John burst out. Giselle shook her head then rolled her eyes.
"Baby, if you really wanted to see them, why didn't you just ask her to go with you?" Giselle suggested, "Then you could ogle your unrequited love all night long."
John shoved her slightly, "One, don't call me baby. Two, shut up. And three, you know that's not my scene."
Giselle smiled, "Alright, alright if you wanted to get physical all you had to do was ask.."
John and Giselle walked around the school then down the sidewalk. After bantering for a few blocks, John anxiously sped his pace up and turned into a nearby diner. Giselle followed him inside and they grabbed a booth at the back of the restaurant.
"Well?" John prodded.
"Keep your fucking pants on, baby," Giselle retorted while digging through her large, black backpack. John licked his dry lips while his legs bobbed under the table.
"You're making me anxious with your fucking feet tapping," Giselle said, cutting her eyes at John.
John slowed down his feet to a stop, "How long does it take to get pictures out of a bag?"
As he was about to go on a rant about how she generally pissed him off, Giselle tossed three Polaroids of Laleia trying on prom dresses in John's direction. He paused and slowly slid his left hand out to adjust the pictures. Turning them right-side up, his breath caught in his throat. The first dress was all black, with a layered skirt to the floor and the yoke of the dress draped across the middle of her shoulders. The second dress was a deep red color with black tulle underneath the skirt that hit right at the knee. But the final dress is what made John's heart skip a beat. Strapless with a sweetheart neckline, the dress was a bright cerulean that almost rivaled the color of Laleia's eyes. It had a fitted bodice that extended to her hips down then flared out at the knee. The fabric gathered together at the hip with a small jeweled piece. The dress hugged every curve on her body, accentuated what should be and camouflaged everything that shouldn't.
"Wow.."
"I know right?" Giselle smiled slightly, "she looks like a goddamn rock star in that red one!"
John glared up at her, "Are you blind?"
"What do you mean?" Giselle blinked.
"How the hell could you think these two even measure up?" John said, tossing the Polaroids of the black and red dresses aside.
"Hey, don't blame me! She picked her top three so she liked them all pretty much equally!" Giselle hissed.
"If you really paid attention, you'd know which one she loved.." John mused aloud.
"You think I don't know my own bes-"
"You see her smile in this one?" John tapped his finger right next to Laleia's mouth, "this is the only one where she has her genuine eye-crinkler going on."
"... come again?"
John rolled his eyes, "Have you ever seen Laleia laugh? I mean really laugh? The beginning and end of that laugh is an eye-crinkler smile. It only happens when she finds something either really funny, really exciting or something that makes her genuinely ecstatic. It's the kind of laugh where she smiles until her cheeks hit her eyelashes and it almost hurts to hold back a laugh. Her eyes crinkle, as well as her nose. You can see all of her top teeth and a slight hint of her bottom. When I see her in this dress," John paused, a crooked smile on his face and a dimple creeping out of his cheek, "I see her."
Giselle pulled back slightly, "Goddamn, Stalker Boy, don't jizz all over it for fuck sakes."
"If you didn't want my opinion, then you should have picked whichever one you wanted," John shrugged and flicked the picture at her.
"Just because you like it doesn't mean I'll say I like it, Meathead," Giselle grabbed the pictures and shoved them back in her backpack.
"I don't know why I even talk to you sometimes..."
"Feelings mutual, baby," Giselle slipped her backpack onto her right shoulder, "Adios."
"Giselle, wait," John grabbed her hand.
"Don't touch me," Giselle smacked his hand away from hers, "I don't know where that's been."
"Then listen you goddamn harpy," John stood up, "I may not like you, I may not like your friendship with Laleia, but I do respect the kind of pull you have with her."
"If you mean a stronger relationship than you could ever dream of having, then yes, I have pull-"
"Do something right for once in your godforsaken life."
Giselle froze as John walked out of the diner. As much as they fought, never had John ever sunk so low. Thinking about it more, Giselle had also never seen John so serious about it in her entire life. As she walked home, all Giselle could see was everything bad she had ever done, which was an innumerable amount, paired with an overtly happy, eye-crinkling smile.
-End Flashback-
-And I will make sure, to keep my distance.. say 'I love you' when you're not listening.. and how long can we keep this up?-
"A few days later, I went with you back to that boutique and convinced you that there was no other choice but that blue dress."
Laleia sat with her bottom lip between her teeth, trying to process everything she had just heard. Staring off into space, she wrapped her arms around her stomach. Her breathing sped up. She suddenly felt suffocated by her dress. Standing up quickly, she reached around behind her to try and loosen the dress. Frantically, she pulled at the ribbon but could not seem to get it to untie. Seeing her distress, Giselle jumped in and aided her friend; she practically felt the fabric burn her at the pace she was removing the ribbon. Laleia leaned over her knees as she gasped for breath after being released from the constricting dress.
"Jesus Christ, kid! You scared me!" Giselle said while rubbing her back. Laleia continued to breathe heavily until she felt her heart beat beginning to fall back to its normal pace.
"If I knew you'd get this worked up about it, I never would have told you," Giselle murmured.
"How long had John and I known each other at that time?" Laleia pondered.
"Well, I'd say around three years; John was 17," Giselle sat next to Laleia on the floor.
Laleia looked over her shoulder at Giselle, "In three years, he noticed and knew more about me than people who had known me my whole life."
"The kid loved you just as much then as he does now, Lee-baby," Giselle said softly, tucking Laleia's hair behind her ear. Laleia sighed and shook her head.
"John and I as friends? Fantastic. John and I in a relationship?" Laleia stood up, "Toxic."
"Baby, I think you need to sort out your priorities," Giselle stood up next to her.
"What do you mean?" Laleia questioned while holding up her dress.
"He and I may have never gotten along, but I know for a fact that the kid would capture a star in a jar if that is what your heart desired."
"Randy loves me as much, if not more than John has proven to me," Laleia said as she when back to looking through the dresses hung up on the wall.
Giselle sighed and helped her sort out dresses, picking out one for her to try on then helping her into it. Laleia moved back to the pedestal and gasped at her reflection. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she took in her reflection. The top of the dress was slightly scooped, ending in points parallel to the end of her collarbones then curving to fit her chest. The bodice fit tight to her until it hit to the middle of her hip and the fabric gathered to one side. The skirt was a series of pickups that had just enough volume to make a statement but not to overwhelm the rest of the dress.
"Laleia," Giselle breathed, "it's perfect."
Laleia continued to study herself in the mirror. It was the first time during the whole day she tried on a dress and her entire body felt electrified. The reality of her wedding finally set in when she could see herself as a true bride. Take a few more glances at herself, Laleia smiled so big it was hurting. Her smile faltered slightly as she caught Giselle's reflection in the mirror. A single tear had slipped down her cheek.
"Gi-Gi? What's the matter?" Laleia held out her arm and pulled Giselle closer. Giselle laughed through her tears.
"The eye-crinkler," Giselle choked out. Tightening the grip on Giselle, Laleia did another once over of herself. Her cheeks began to flush as she realized the dress she was wearing was strikingly similar to something she'd seen before.
"You picked this on purpose."
"When the man is right, the man is right," Giselle replied. When it all came down to it, Laleia fell in love with a dress that made her truly happy.
"You love him, Laleia," Giselle stared hard into Laleia's reflected gaze.
"I'm marrying Randy, Giselle," Laleia stiffened slightly, "John and I would have an unhealthy relationship." Giselle began to laugh at Laleia's final stand.
"Baby, you're marrying a druggie and you have the balls to call a relationship with John unhealthy?"
Do you agree with Giselle? What did you think of the overall chapter? Let me know in a review! :)
