Part II
"Wow John. I'm impressed. This building is great." Randy looked up at the tall structure in front of them. It was an old looking building, which appealed to the pub-feel that John had wanted to incorporate. He looked up and saw the arched windows of the upper three levels.
"It was built in the 1890's. The history I found on the place said that it's called an Art Nouveau building. It's got lots of asymmetrical shapes, and arches." John said seriously, watching his friends' faces for their reactions.
"What was it before it shut down?" Charlie asked inquisitively.
"Actually, it was a hotel when it first opened so the first floor was like a lobby. In the 70's though, they turned it into an apartment, then most recently, some guy bought it and made the bottom into a café and the upper levels lofts. So he knocked down a lot of the walls from the apartments that was here before. But he was trying to make the café into some kind of high-class place and you know, people here are pretty regular. They just didn't go for his European style café. But the inside is amazing. The guy who fixed up the place thankfully kept all of the original countertops, sconces, and moldings."
Randy and Charlie looked at John impressed. He really was taking this seriously.
"The most amazing thing is the old lobby counter which I thought could be the bar, has this beautiful surface carved out of wood with these curved, plant-like designs. And..." John rambled animatedly.
"Whoa whoa, slow down there buddy. Let's take a look first shall we?" Rand interjected, laughing at the spirited expression on John's face. He had been on a roll.
"Sorry," John smiled sheepishly. "I just...well when I started thinking about the kind of bar I wanted to have and what I wanted it to look like, I just got into researching and stuff." He led the way to the front of the building and took out the.
"Wow." Charlie and Randy said simultaneously. The building was indeed beautiful inside. It was white all over the place, still reminiscent of the elegant European feel that the previous owner had tried to achieve.
"I was thinking the first thing I would do was darken this place up a bit, maybe with some dark blue paint just to make it more soothing. I mean the white is nice, but it kinda makes you feel really awake, and I want this place to be ya know, all chill and what not."
Charlie laughed. "Yeah, gangsta chill right John?"
"Shut up Haas." John shook his head. "I'm serious."
"Sorry."
"The white is way too vacant for a place like this." Randy interjected, "Makes it look too big. If the bars going to be here, we need to make it look smaller, more intimate, and I think some dark blue and green paint...maybe even some brown will help with that."
"Good idea Randy." Charlie mumbled, continuing to look around the place. John started to speak again.
"Anyways, I've been looking at some antique places with one of my brothers who's actually a carpenter. And we came up with some ideas for the tables and the booths. He can build us a couple of corner booths, and then I want some scattered tables, with mismatched chairs, cause I don't know...it just seems like it would look good like that."
"And it won't look too 'new' and sterile." Randy added.
"Whoa, look at this." Charlie motioned to a windy staircase in the corner of the bar. "I've never seen stairs like this before in my life."
"Neat huh?" John asked eagerly. "It's the only entrance to the upstairs area."
"You know, I bet we could even close part of this floor and make it into an office." Randy said.
"I know! It's huge."
"How much is it going to cost us?" Charlie asked seriously. Money was always a serious issue with him.
"Well I ahh...actually have a bit of a confession to make." John cleared his throat.
"Oh no...John tell me it's not going costing us like a million dollars." Randy said worriedly.
"No no, nothing like that. The thing is the guy that used to own the place went bankrupt when his business went under and they auctioned the place off."
"Really?"
"He was actually an asshole, he basically went on a rampage and punched some walls through and broke some windows."
"But it looks fine now." Randy stated thoughtfully.
"Yeah, well that's cause I've owned it for a year." John mumbled. "I've been fixing it myself with the help of my brothers."
"John! A year? You own the place? You don't need us." Charlie said.
"No no, the thing is, when I bought the building I got it at the auction for about 250,000. I took out a bunch of loans and what not to get it. I'm almost done paying, but I still need some business partners to go into with me. Opening the bar will be the most important and expensive part. I mean we're talking food, hiring employees, finishing up the upstairs part. I just can't afford all that on my own." John said honestly.
"Like I said before man, I'm in. I trust you. This building is fucking amazing." Randy said once again looking around.
"Thanks man. And Charlie I could really use your help with the financials and stuff. I mean I don't really know too much about business." John said.
Charlie was thinking about whether or not he should join in when something caught his eye outside the window. A young woman was holding a pile of fliers in one hand and a roll of scotch tape in the other. She was now trying to look through the window to see if people were inside. His breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful; he could see that even from the distance that separated them. Her light brown wavy hair was blowing around in the wind and she was trying to push her hair away from her eyes while maintaining a grasp on the fliers and tape.
"So what do you think Charlie?" Randy queried
No response.
"Charlie?" John asked curiously. He followed Charlie's eyes to the woman outside. John nudged Randy and they both watched as Charlie, seemingly not hearing their entreaties, begin walking towards the door.
"Hi, can I help you?" Charlie asked politely. Wow, she was even more beautiful up close. Well, not exactly beautiful...but intriguing. Yeah, intriguing was definitely the word.
The woman's dark brown eyes were wide with surprise after Charlie opened the door.
"Oh I'm sorry. I honestly didn't see people in there." The girl laughed nervously. "I'm Sophie Browning, I umm I'm opening a store down the street and I was just wondering..." Her voice faltered when she realized he was staring at her with a far-away look in his eyes.
"I was...umm...wondering if...I...umm..." She stuttered. All right, calm down Sophie! She said inside her head. He was a good-looking guy, but Jesus, calm the fuck down. Just say your piece and get the hell out of here.
John and Randy looked at each other curiously as they watched Charlie stare at the girl intently and the girl start to look uneasy under Charlie's gaze.
"What the hell is he doing out there?" Randy wondered out loud.
"I have no idea. But I think we have to go help the poor guy out." John mumbled and Randy followed him as they headed to the door.
"Yo Charlie, what's goin on out here?" John called out nonchalantly, pretending that he had no idea what was going on. "Oh, hi." John smiled briefly at the girl.
"Hi." She said quietly, breathing out a sigh of relief when she was able to tear her eyes away from Charlie's concentrated gaze.
"Hi!" Randy said when he got a better look at the woman. He quickly pushed out past John and stood beside him.
The girl smiled shyly. "I'm Sophie Browning."
"My names John Cena, and these are my friends Randy Orton and Charlie Haas. Can we help you with anything?" John resisted the urge to smack Charlie on the back of his head. The guy was still staring intently at the poor woman.
"Actually, I just had a question." Sophie's eyes veered towards Charlie then back at John. "I'm opening a shop down the street in a few months, and I was just putting up some fliers to advertise the place. I was wondering if I could put one up on your window here."
"Really? A shop? Well, you're more than welcome to put one up. As long as when we open up our bar, we can put one up in your store too." Randy said in a friendly manner.
"Oh absolutely. Wow, I'm glad other people are opening up places around here, I was beginning to think I had made a mistake."
"Oh no Sophie. I've actually done some research in the area, and if what you're selling in the store has anything to do with the 20 to 40 year old market, you're sure to have a lot of luck."
"Actually, I am. That's really good to hear John." Sophie beamed at John, but her gaze shifted at first to Charlie.
Charlie blinked when he realized that he hadn't said anything for almost 10 minutes.
"What kind of store are you opening?" He finally got out. John and Randy bit their lips to keep from laughing out loud.
"Charlie right?" Sophie asked.
"How'd you know my..." Charlie began then stopped when he saw John frantically shaking his head at him. Realizing that John must have said his name, he simply nodded.
"Well... I'm ...opening up a clothing store."
"What kind of clothes?" Randy asked, his signature smirk pasted on his face. Charlie looked on in disgust for The Smirk, in the present of a lady, was usually followed with a huge dose of Orton Flirtation as John liked to call it.
"Vintage clothes. That's the main focus, but I also have a section of antique furniture, and some thrift shop clothes and accessories for the younger people." Sophie said, she looked down at her watch suddenly and realized the lateness of the hour. "Oh crap."
"You have to be somewhere or something?" John asked.
"Yeah, I'm actually interviewing some people. Umm..." She pulled a flier out from the pile and started to fumble with the tape.
"Here, just give it to me, I'll put it up. Go ahead to your meeting." Charlie interjected smoothly taking the paper and tearing off a piece of tape quickly.
"Thanks Charlie. John, Randy, it was nice to meet you guys." She said, as she turned away.
"See you around Sophie." Randy called out.
"Bye!" John said.
As she disappeared around the corner, John and Randy both turned narrowed eyes at Charlie who was surreptitiously smoothing the flier on top of the tape.
"Her store is called Pink Moon. That's from a Nick Drake song." Charlie mumbled.
"Yeah. But what's really interesting here is...I think Charlie's got a major thing for our little neighbor over there." Randy said confidently.
"Oh yeah man, major. Someone's going to be invited to the Haas of Looovvve." John snickered.
"Shut up you guys." Charlie muttered, but he could feel the tips of his ears burning up which could only mean that...he....Charlie Haas...was blushing. Something he hadn't done since senior year when he had stepped on his prom date's dress and basically ripped it off of her.
"Yeah he does." John and Randy said simultaneously elbowing him good- naturedly.
"Shut up. I do not. All I know is..." Charlie began.
"Uh.... that you want Sophie?" Randy smirked.
"No." Charlie said firmly. But inwardly he thought, "Hell yes."
"All I know is that I'm in."
John took a step back in surprise. "You're in?"
"I think this bar is a great idea. I'm in."
"Okay, you're in." John said smiling hugely. "There's only one way to make this official guys." He said turning around and walking to his car.
"You have champagne in your car?" Randy asked incredulously.
"Hell no! You know how I feel about alcohol." John said opening his trunk and rummaging through the bags and boxes in it.
"You've got a contract drawn up?" Charlie asked, ever the businessman.
"Umm...I guess I should do that. But no not yet...ah ha!" John called out.
"I'm dying what to know what this is now." Randy said unintelligibly.
"We all gotta feel the sting." John said pulling out three cans of YJ stinger, which he presented to them with gusto.
"Oh Jesus." Charlie rolled his eyes, but accepted the small can from John anyways.
"What? I have a lifetime supply of these bad boys. Let's drink up for a successful business venture together." John said holding his can up for a toast.
"Amen to that. And ah... Charlie...you can send an amen for Sophie too, we don't mind." Randy said laughing when Charlie who had taken a drink sputtered.
"Oh who are you kidding." John said smiling widely when Charlie tried to deny his attraction to her. "You definitely felt THAT sting!"
"Good one Cena...your corny prick." Charlie said sarcastically.
"Don't hate Haas...don't hate." "Oh leave him alone John." Randy began, shaking his head with mock disapproval at John.
Charlie looked at Randy in surprise. "Thanks Randy. Now see, here's a mature guy."
"Besides he's too busy thinking of stinging her." Randy continued laughing hysterically.
Charlie grunted frustratedly and walked back inside ignoring his friend's laughter. "Whooohoo! A little touchy aren't we?" John teased.
Charlie's thoughts headed back to Sophie. Oh yeah, the guys were right. He admitted to himself silently.
***I'm loving the responses to this story. Note to Steffie, I've already laid down some groundwork for two of the O/C's but since you mentioned putting in a diva in it, I've decided that one of these guys is going to end up with someone in the wwe, haven't decided who though.
"Wow John. I'm impressed. This building is great." Randy looked up at the tall structure in front of them. It was an old looking building, which appealed to the pub-feel that John had wanted to incorporate. He looked up and saw the arched windows of the upper three levels.
"It was built in the 1890's. The history I found on the place said that it's called an Art Nouveau building. It's got lots of asymmetrical shapes, and arches." John said seriously, watching his friends' faces for their reactions.
"What was it before it shut down?" Charlie asked inquisitively.
"Actually, it was a hotel when it first opened so the first floor was like a lobby. In the 70's though, they turned it into an apartment, then most recently, some guy bought it and made the bottom into a café and the upper levels lofts. So he knocked down a lot of the walls from the apartments that was here before. But he was trying to make the café into some kind of high-class place and you know, people here are pretty regular. They just didn't go for his European style café. But the inside is amazing. The guy who fixed up the place thankfully kept all of the original countertops, sconces, and moldings."
Randy and Charlie looked at John impressed. He really was taking this seriously.
"The most amazing thing is the old lobby counter which I thought could be the bar, has this beautiful surface carved out of wood with these curved, plant-like designs. And..." John rambled animatedly.
"Whoa whoa, slow down there buddy. Let's take a look first shall we?" Rand interjected, laughing at the spirited expression on John's face. He had been on a roll.
"Sorry," John smiled sheepishly. "I just...well when I started thinking about the kind of bar I wanted to have and what I wanted it to look like, I just got into researching and stuff." He led the way to the front of the building and took out the.
"Wow." Charlie and Randy said simultaneously. The building was indeed beautiful inside. It was white all over the place, still reminiscent of the elegant European feel that the previous owner had tried to achieve.
"I was thinking the first thing I would do was darken this place up a bit, maybe with some dark blue paint just to make it more soothing. I mean the white is nice, but it kinda makes you feel really awake, and I want this place to be ya know, all chill and what not."
Charlie laughed. "Yeah, gangsta chill right John?"
"Shut up Haas." John shook his head. "I'm serious."
"Sorry."
"The white is way too vacant for a place like this." Randy interjected, "Makes it look too big. If the bars going to be here, we need to make it look smaller, more intimate, and I think some dark blue and green paint...maybe even some brown will help with that."
"Good idea Randy." Charlie mumbled, continuing to look around the place. John started to speak again.
"Anyways, I've been looking at some antique places with one of my brothers who's actually a carpenter. And we came up with some ideas for the tables and the booths. He can build us a couple of corner booths, and then I want some scattered tables, with mismatched chairs, cause I don't know...it just seems like it would look good like that."
"And it won't look too 'new' and sterile." Randy added.
"Whoa, look at this." Charlie motioned to a windy staircase in the corner of the bar. "I've never seen stairs like this before in my life."
"Neat huh?" John asked eagerly. "It's the only entrance to the upstairs area."
"You know, I bet we could even close part of this floor and make it into an office." Randy said.
"I know! It's huge."
"How much is it going to cost us?" Charlie asked seriously. Money was always a serious issue with him.
"Well I ahh...actually have a bit of a confession to make." John cleared his throat.
"Oh no...John tell me it's not going costing us like a million dollars." Randy said worriedly.
"No no, nothing like that. The thing is the guy that used to own the place went bankrupt when his business went under and they auctioned the place off."
"Really?"
"He was actually an asshole, he basically went on a rampage and punched some walls through and broke some windows."
"But it looks fine now." Randy stated thoughtfully.
"Yeah, well that's cause I've owned it for a year." John mumbled. "I've been fixing it myself with the help of my brothers."
"John! A year? You own the place? You don't need us." Charlie said.
"No no, the thing is, when I bought the building I got it at the auction for about 250,000. I took out a bunch of loans and what not to get it. I'm almost done paying, but I still need some business partners to go into with me. Opening the bar will be the most important and expensive part. I mean we're talking food, hiring employees, finishing up the upstairs part. I just can't afford all that on my own." John said honestly.
"Like I said before man, I'm in. I trust you. This building is fucking amazing." Randy said once again looking around.
"Thanks man. And Charlie I could really use your help with the financials and stuff. I mean I don't really know too much about business." John said.
Charlie was thinking about whether or not he should join in when something caught his eye outside the window. A young woman was holding a pile of fliers in one hand and a roll of scotch tape in the other. She was now trying to look through the window to see if people were inside. His breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful; he could see that even from the distance that separated them. Her light brown wavy hair was blowing around in the wind and she was trying to push her hair away from her eyes while maintaining a grasp on the fliers and tape.
"So what do you think Charlie?" Randy queried
No response.
"Charlie?" John asked curiously. He followed Charlie's eyes to the woman outside. John nudged Randy and they both watched as Charlie, seemingly not hearing their entreaties, begin walking towards the door.
"Hi, can I help you?" Charlie asked politely. Wow, she was even more beautiful up close. Well, not exactly beautiful...but intriguing. Yeah, intriguing was definitely the word.
The woman's dark brown eyes were wide with surprise after Charlie opened the door.
"Oh I'm sorry. I honestly didn't see people in there." The girl laughed nervously. "I'm Sophie Browning, I umm I'm opening a store down the street and I was just wondering..." Her voice faltered when she realized he was staring at her with a far-away look in his eyes.
"I was...umm...wondering if...I...umm..." She stuttered. All right, calm down Sophie! She said inside her head. He was a good-looking guy, but Jesus, calm the fuck down. Just say your piece and get the hell out of here.
John and Randy looked at each other curiously as they watched Charlie stare at the girl intently and the girl start to look uneasy under Charlie's gaze.
"What the hell is he doing out there?" Randy wondered out loud.
"I have no idea. But I think we have to go help the poor guy out." John mumbled and Randy followed him as they headed to the door.
"Yo Charlie, what's goin on out here?" John called out nonchalantly, pretending that he had no idea what was going on. "Oh, hi." John smiled briefly at the girl.
"Hi." She said quietly, breathing out a sigh of relief when she was able to tear her eyes away from Charlie's concentrated gaze.
"Hi!" Randy said when he got a better look at the woman. He quickly pushed out past John and stood beside him.
The girl smiled shyly. "I'm Sophie Browning."
"My names John Cena, and these are my friends Randy Orton and Charlie Haas. Can we help you with anything?" John resisted the urge to smack Charlie on the back of his head. The guy was still staring intently at the poor woman.
"Actually, I just had a question." Sophie's eyes veered towards Charlie then back at John. "I'm opening a shop down the street in a few months, and I was just putting up some fliers to advertise the place. I was wondering if I could put one up on your window here."
"Really? A shop? Well, you're more than welcome to put one up. As long as when we open up our bar, we can put one up in your store too." Randy said in a friendly manner.
"Oh absolutely. Wow, I'm glad other people are opening up places around here, I was beginning to think I had made a mistake."
"Oh no Sophie. I've actually done some research in the area, and if what you're selling in the store has anything to do with the 20 to 40 year old market, you're sure to have a lot of luck."
"Actually, I am. That's really good to hear John." Sophie beamed at John, but her gaze shifted at first to Charlie.
Charlie blinked when he realized that he hadn't said anything for almost 10 minutes.
"What kind of store are you opening?" He finally got out. John and Randy bit their lips to keep from laughing out loud.
"Charlie right?" Sophie asked.
"How'd you know my..." Charlie began then stopped when he saw John frantically shaking his head at him. Realizing that John must have said his name, he simply nodded.
"Well... I'm ...opening up a clothing store."
"What kind of clothes?" Randy asked, his signature smirk pasted on his face. Charlie looked on in disgust for The Smirk, in the present of a lady, was usually followed with a huge dose of Orton Flirtation as John liked to call it.
"Vintage clothes. That's the main focus, but I also have a section of antique furniture, and some thrift shop clothes and accessories for the younger people." Sophie said, she looked down at her watch suddenly and realized the lateness of the hour. "Oh crap."
"You have to be somewhere or something?" John asked.
"Yeah, I'm actually interviewing some people. Umm..." She pulled a flier out from the pile and started to fumble with the tape.
"Here, just give it to me, I'll put it up. Go ahead to your meeting." Charlie interjected smoothly taking the paper and tearing off a piece of tape quickly.
"Thanks Charlie. John, Randy, it was nice to meet you guys." She said, as she turned away.
"See you around Sophie." Randy called out.
"Bye!" John said.
As she disappeared around the corner, John and Randy both turned narrowed eyes at Charlie who was surreptitiously smoothing the flier on top of the tape.
"Her store is called Pink Moon. That's from a Nick Drake song." Charlie mumbled.
"Yeah. But what's really interesting here is...I think Charlie's got a major thing for our little neighbor over there." Randy said confidently.
"Oh yeah man, major. Someone's going to be invited to the Haas of Looovvve." John snickered.
"Shut up you guys." Charlie muttered, but he could feel the tips of his ears burning up which could only mean that...he....Charlie Haas...was blushing. Something he hadn't done since senior year when he had stepped on his prom date's dress and basically ripped it off of her.
"Yeah he does." John and Randy said simultaneously elbowing him good- naturedly.
"Shut up. I do not. All I know is..." Charlie began.
"Uh.... that you want Sophie?" Randy smirked.
"No." Charlie said firmly. But inwardly he thought, "Hell yes."
"All I know is that I'm in."
John took a step back in surprise. "You're in?"
"I think this bar is a great idea. I'm in."
"Okay, you're in." John said smiling hugely. "There's only one way to make this official guys." He said turning around and walking to his car.
"You have champagne in your car?" Randy asked incredulously.
"Hell no! You know how I feel about alcohol." John said opening his trunk and rummaging through the bags and boxes in it.
"You've got a contract drawn up?" Charlie asked, ever the businessman.
"Umm...I guess I should do that. But no not yet...ah ha!" John called out.
"I'm dying what to know what this is now." Randy said unintelligibly.
"We all gotta feel the sting." John said pulling out three cans of YJ stinger, which he presented to them with gusto.
"Oh Jesus." Charlie rolled his eyes, but accepted the small can from John anyways.
"What? I have a lifetime supply of these bad boys. Let's drink up for a successful business venture together." John said holding his can up for a toast.
"Amen to that. And ah... Charlie...you can send an amen for Sophie too, we don't mind." Randy said laughing when Charlie who had taken a drink sputtered.
"Oh who are you kidding." John said smiling widely when Charlie tried to deny his attraction to her. "You definitely felt THAT sting!"
"Good one Cena...your corny prick." Charlie said sarcastically.
"Don't hate Haas...don't hate." "Oh leave him alone John." Randy began, shaking his head with mock disapproval at John.
Charlie looked at Randy in surprise. "Thanks Randy. Now see, here's a mature guy."
"Besides he's too busy thinking of stinging her." Randy continued laughing hysterically.
Charlie grunted frustratedly and walked back inside ignoring his friend's laughter. "Whooohoo! A little touchy aren't we?" John teased.
Charlie's thoughts headed back to Sophie. Oh yeah, the guys were right. He admitted to himself silently.
***I'm loving the responses to this story. Note to Steffie, I've already laid down some groundwork for two of the O/C's but since you mentioned putting in a diva in it, I've decided that one of these guys is going to end up with someone in the wwe, haven't decided who though.
