Disclaimer: I can't even pretend to own anyone.
The arena had emptied; the fans had left. Only the janitorial crew still remained sweeping up the memories of what had been. Signs were dropped on the floor and had been trampled, wearing the shoeprints of age and remorse. The ring had been torn down, the security walls gone, the screens and pyrotechnic equipment had been packed up and shipped off to London, Ontario, awaiting an even more spectacular event than what SummerSlam had been.
Randy stood in the center of the empty arena, his bag at his feet, still holding the world championship title that he had won only hours before. They would be expecting him soon; his cellular phone had been ringing non-stop since the ref's hand slammed the mat the third and final time. He looked around and took a deep breath. It would be the start of a new era. He would remember this night for years to come, would probably relay the story to his own children when the time came. His happiness and exuberance would hold him for some time but he wanted to remember all of it: the hope, the doubt, the promise, and the questions that only time could answer.
The end of the match, when Benoit re-entered the ring and demanded that Randy shake his hand, had been completely impromptu. Randy had wanted to hug the man and thank him for what he done for his own career. Benoit had handed over his torch, and Randy desperately wanted to run with it. Self-doubt shrouded his happiness like a cloak, uncertainty hung around him like a fog. So many people had so much confidence in him, believing without a shadow of a doubt that he could do this. Randy could do this; he would do this. Breathing deeply, he looked around the arena one last time, thankful he had these few moments alone to recognize what he was feeling. He was at the top of the mountain and was ready to maintain that position for a long time to come. Nodding his head, a smile creeping across his lips, he picked up his bag and made his way to the parking lot outside.
Walking back to his car, he thought back to what the night had brought him. Once stepping back through the curtains, Paul immediately drew Randy into a long hug and congratulated him for the match, saying he was there now: the top. He was in with the big boys and there was no going back. Paul told Randy that he was ready; he deserved this. Randy had merely nodded and fought back tears. He walked away to the sound of thunderous applause from the backstage crew; people he had never even bothered to get to know so emotionally involved in what he had just accomplished. Even though the outcome had been scripted and much of the match had been pre-determined, Randy was proud of what had occurred, and he desperately wanted to see the man that had made it all happen. He had found Benoit in his locker room, getting ready to shower and head back to the hotel to see his wife. Randy had walked in and the two men just looked at one another. Randy could tell that the older man's heart was breaking just a little, knowing that the belt was once again out of his grasp. This was when Randy allowed the tears to fall, knowing that Benoit would understand. "Thank you" was all Randy could say to his opponent as they hugged. They would meet again soon and the next match would be even better, but the emotions that tonight had brought up would never again be repeated. Randy left just as silently as he entered. The ringing of his phone brought him out of his reverie.
"Orton, where the hell are you, man?"
"On my way, Dave. I'll be there soon."
"We've got the Cristal ready for you, Champ."
Shortly after hanging up, Randy pulled up to the valet attendant and handed the man his keys. He buttoned his suit jacket and walked into the club. He walked straight through the doors, bypassing the waiting line, and into the inner sanctuary. Vince had rented out the VIP section and Randy walked in to more applause. "THE CHAMP IS HERE!" Randy heard his good friend, John Cena, shout. He lowered his head and smiled shyly as his friends surrounded him and cheered. A stunning redhead handed him a glass of champagne and kissed him feverishly on his lips. She looked in his eyes and winked, allowing her index finger to trail down his silk tie; the woman licked her lips and slowly backed away. Randy raised his eyebrows, having forgotten how forward ring rats can be.
In the past few weeks since told he would be given the championship, Randy had focused on his wrestling. He worked out harder than normal, ate better than normal, drank less and had limited his female companionship to his friendships with women. He had been hanging around Stephanie anyway due to his close relationship with Paul, but more recently he had found himself seeking out Leigh. The woman was more than a friend, but definitely not a lover. Randy wanted her to be the first person he spoke to in the morning and the last person he thought of at night. Their friendship was honest and genuine; neither asked more than the other was willing to give; now he wanted nothing more than to see Leigh. He scanned the crowd and saw her dancing with Mark Lemonica, otherwise known as Bubba Ray Dudley. She threw her head back and laughed heartily as the large man twirled her around and dipped her. Randy smiled as he watched her, before something hit him. Was he jealous?
A hand slapped Randy on the shoulder and he turned to see none other than Vince McMahon himself standing next to him with a drink in his hand and a grin on his face. The chairman of the board extended his right hand, which Randy shook.
"I have no problem saying yours was without a doubt the best match on the card tonight. At the risk of sounding condescending, I'd like to say I'm proud of you."
"I appreciate that, Vince, I really do. Coming from you that means a lot," Randy replied.
"Your old man must be ecstatic. Have you heard from him?"
"He had already left a message by the time I got back to the locker room, but apparently he'd been calling every thirty seconds until he got a hold of me. He wanted to be the first in my family to say congratulations."
"Well, son, you deserve all these accolades. Enjoy yourself tonight, but remember you've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow. Congratulations, again."
"Thanks, Vince. I'll see you around," Randy said as he began to make his way over to Paul and Stephanie who were seated in a round booth with Ric. Stephanie looked beautiful as she hung on her husband's arm; being in love clearly suited her. Randy took the seat next to her and kissed her cheek as Paul and Ric stood up and clapped. The young champion laughed as he shook the hands of both man and thanked them.
"How you feeling right now, big man?" Ric asked as he finished his glass of champagne.
"On top of the world, my friend. Does it really ever get any better than this?" Randy replied.
"It will once you have one of these lovely ladies on your arm," Paul answered, gesturing to the flock of young women that had begun surrounding the table as soon as Randy sat down. They winked and batted their eyelashes as he looked around, rewarding some of them with his million dollar grin. He recognized some of the Diva contestants and quickly looked away. Groaning, he turned his attention back to his friends.
"Nah, not really my type. Is Maria around?"
"She's trying to flirt with the bartender, last I saw, so you're safe for now" Stephanie answered, taking the next round of drinks from their waitress. Randy quickly finished the second glass of champagne and ordered two Jack and Cokes before the waitress could leave the table. "I see you're going all out with the celebration tonight," she laughed.
"Gotta make up for lost time, my sweet. I've been denying my female fanbase for way too long," Randy said as a long-legged brunette walked by the table, swaying her hips for his benefit. "That's what I'm talking about," he said, gesturing to the young woman as she smiled at him.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Champ," Ric laughed and slapped his hands together as Randy left the table to talk to the woman. He caught up with her shortly and turned on the Orton charm. Leaving his jacket behind at the table, he placed one arm around the woman's waist and sipped his drink with his other hand, leading her to the dance floor.
Nine Inch Nails began to play; Randy couldn't remember the name, but the song to him was pure sex. The bass reverberated throughout the club as the colored lights flashed. The woman ground her hips against him and did her best to fuck him through his clothes. Randy put his hands on her ass and tugged her closer to him as she brought his head down to hers and lavished him with her tongue. Her breath was hot and her skin sticky from sweat and dancing. He looked her in the eyes as she repeated, "You want to get out of here?" Randy smiled and looked around, as if contemplating her offer. He was ready to get laid, it had been a while for him; longer than usual. For some reason, however, he wasn't tempted to take this woman back to his bed. Maybe it was because he just got there and hoped to find something better, but in any case, she was just a warm-up.
"And miss my own party? Sorry, sweets, not you, not tonight," he laughed as he went directly into asshole mode. He finished his drink, which he had brought to the floor with him, and walked away leaving the brunette horny and alone. Randy wasn't worried, though; he knew there would be 50 other guys who'd be willing to take his place. He walked up to the bar where he saw Leigh talking to John, looking too comfortable in Randy's opinion. He watched the two talk at the other end of the bar, observing their body language and trying to gauge what was happening.
Leigh looked stunning, as usual, in a black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places; she hadn't changed from the arena, but the outfit went from professional to evening wear easily. Her hair was still pulled back but it was beginning to unravel slightly, giving her a sexy tousled look. Her jewelry, as always, was minimal: a watch on her right wrist, a large emerald ring on the middle finger of that hand, two silver bracelets on her left wrist, but no wedding band; she had done as he suggested and quit wearing it out. He watched as John handed her a shot of alcohol, at which she raised an eyebrow until he pleaded with her long enough to take it. Guess I can be thankful it's not a body shot, Randy thought.
He and John had gone through OVW together and quickly became friends, both being young, good looking and exceptionally talented. They traveled together often before the roster split, but hadn't been able to spend much time together since. Cena was being looked at as the franchise player for SmackDown and Creative was hoping to spin the same gold with him as they had done with Randy on RAW. The two had often competed for women, each getting more than his share. Seeing John with Leigh, though, was almost too much. While it was true that Randy and Leigh weren't dating, he didn't want anyone else to be seeing her either. He watched as John put his arm around to the small of her back and pulled her close; a lump formed in Randy's throat. He breathed a sigh of relief when she pushed him away and laughed, then briefly glanced up and saw him. Leigh smiled at him and gave him a small wave, which Randy interpreted as an invitation to join them.
"Didn't think you were much of a drinker," he said as he pulled her into a long hug. He could feel her laugh against his chest.
"I heard there was cause for celebration," she answered.
"Orton, man, I gotta say: that match tonight was completely off the hook. I've never seen you look better, man. Good job," John said as the two men shook hands and pulled one another into a one-armed-hug-back-slap.
"Thanks… so, what're you drinking?" Randy asked, gesturing to the two empty shot glasses on the bar.
"Cement mixers; ever try one?" Leigh challenged.
Randy laughed at the incredulity of it. "You still trying to pawn that shit off, Cena? "
"Man, she said she's a friend of yours, so I had to initiate her. Gotta say, though, she took it like a champ, so she's cool," John laughed as he eyed his friend. He had noticed the look Randy had given the beautiful blonde and realized she was already taken, even if neither she nor Randy realized it yet.
"Randy! There you are—I've been looking all over for you! Your match tonight was so good! I loved the red trunks! I was so excited that you wore them because I had just told you last night how good you look in the red trunks and then you wore them when you won your first world championship! I can't believe you remembered!" Maria ran up behind the trio and slipped her arms around Randy's waist. He rolled his eyes as his two friends laughed at the ridiculous wannabe.
"Oh, hey, Maria, have you met Trish Stratus yet? She's been saying all day how she really wanted to see you…" Leigh said in a helpful tone. She got the reaction she was hoping for when the blonde paled and ran off. "You owe me, Orton," she quipped as she walked away.
Randy watched her go and John watched Randy watch her go. "You're into her, aren't you? More than usual, I mean," John asked as he signaled the bartender for another drink, and then nodded at another pretty blonde who had been trying to flirt with him from three barstools down.
"She's just a friend, man, nothing more," Randy replied as he slapped his friend on the back. "We're in Boston in a couple of weeks; you gonna be there?" John nodded in confirmation as he walked over to the woman and shouted back, "We'll talk then, cool?"
Randy nodded his head and walked back to his table where his friends were waiting. Ric had proceeded to get Paul and Stephanie sufficiently drunk by then and they were giggling as they watched Shane and Marissa try to dance. He sat down and sighed, realizing that it had been a long time since he himself had been good and drunk. If there was ever a good time, he knew it was now, but just then the house lights came up, signaling the end of the party. Different wrestlers began gathering up their belongings and their dates for the evening and made their way out the door. Ric, Paul and Stephanie finished the last of their drinks and began stumbling out of the booth.
"So, Randy, mi compadre, which of these lovely ladies is it gonna be this evening?" Ric gestured with his outstretched hands to the throngs of women still hoping to catch Randy's attention.
"Honestly, I don't think tonight's my night. I don't want the hassle of getting these chicks out in the morning. You guys gonna be okay getting back to the hotel?" Ric nodded in affirmation and told him that Dave was calling the limo now to pick them up. Randy looked around until he spotted Leigh and approached her. "Need a ride, pretty lady?"
"Gracing me with your presence twice in one evening? I'm honored," Leigh smiled at him as she picked up her purse and slung it over her shoulder. "Actually, that'd be great; I left my car back at the hotel. You're leaving now?" As an answer, Randy offered her his elbow which she took and they walked outside. Giving his keys to the valet, he noticed Leigh shiver as they waited for the car. He took off his coat and placed it around her slender shoulders and she looked up at him and smiled in thanks. The car pulled up and Randy opened the door for her, then circled around the back and tipped the driver. As they pulled onto the street, Leigh looked at her friend.
"I'm surprised this seat was available tonight; I figured you'd be bringing a date home with you."
"Believe me, so did I," Randy laughed.
"So why didn't you?" she asked, looking back to the road.
"Nobody interested me. This has been a big night in my life, one that I'll probably always remember. I don't want some random thrown in there, too," he replied honestly. Leigh nodded in agreement, but truthfully was surprised at the answer. She knew Randy well, but didn't think he'd be quite so… mature about it.
They drove the rest of the way in silence, passing through the deserted Toronto streets until they reached their hotel. Walking through the lobby, they passed the empty swimming pool area, still light up even at 2:30 in the morning. Leigh stopped and looked out the glass doors, finally pulling her shoes off and walking outside, leaving Randy stumped. He quickly followed her out and down the steps, where she stopped at the edge of the pool and sat down, sinking her feet in the water.
"Heels are a bitch, especially after a seventeen hour day," she said in explanation. Randy chuckled and sat down next to her, himself pulling off his shoes and socks, rolling up his pants legs and joining her. "You really were great tonight; I don't think I told you that yet," she said softly.
"I appreciate that," he answered. He leaned back on his elbows and up at the stars, relishing what has seemingly been the most perfect day in his young life. "I noticed you and John were getting along pretty well; I didn't interrupt anything there, did I?"
Leigh looked back at him, a slight mixture of surprise and guilt crossing her face; Randy noticed the way the pool lights reflected in her eyes, then mentally scolded himself for sounding like a lovesick poet. "Jealous?" she challenged. Randy was quiet at that, then slowly pulled himself up to a full sitting position, never breaking eye contact with his beautiful friend. He put one hand on her neck and pulled her face to his, gently kissing her with an agonizing passion he didn't realize he felt. He was just as surprised when he realized she was kissing him back.
The arena had emptied; the fans had left. Only the janitorial crew still remained sweeping up the memories of what had been. Signs were dropped on the floor and had been trampled, wearing the shoeprints of age and remorse. The ring had been torn down, the security walls gone, the screens and pyrotechnic equipment had been packed up and shipped off to London, Ontario, awaiting an even more spectacular event than what SummerSlam had been.
Randy stood in the center of the empty arena, his bag at his feet, still holding the world championship title that he had won only hours before. They would be expecting him soon; his cellular phone had been ringing non-stop since the ref's hand slammed the mat the third and final time. He looked around and took a deep breath. It would be the start of a new era. He would remember this night for years to come, would probably relay the story to his own children when the time came. His happiness and exuberance would hold him for some time but he wanted to remember all of it: the hope, the doubt, the promise, and the questions that only time could answer.
The end of the match, when Benoit re-entered the ring and demanded that Randy shake his hand, had been completely impromptu. Randy had wanted to hug the man and thank him for what he done for his own career. Benoit had handed over his torch, and Randy desperately wanted to run with it. Self-doubt shrouded his happiness like a cloak, uncertainty hung around him like a fog. So many people had so much confidence in him, believing without a shadow of a doubt that he could do this. Randy could do this; he would do this. Breathing deeply, he looked around the arena one last time, thankful he had these few moments alone to recognize what he was feeling. He was at the top of the mountain and was ready to maintain that position for a long time to come. Nodding his head, a smile creeping across his lips, he picked up his bag and made his way to the parking lot outside.
Walking back to his car, he thought back to what the night had brought him. Once stepping back through the curtains, Paul immediately drew Randy into a long hug and congratulated him for the match, saying he was there now: the top. He was in with the big boys and there was no going back. Paul told Randy that he was ready; he deserved this. Randy had merely nodded and fought back tears. He walked away to the sound of thunderous applause from the backstage crew; people he had never even bothered to get to know so emotionally involved in what he had just accomplished. Even though the outcome had been scripted and much of the match had been pre-determined, Randy was proud of what had occurred, and he desperately wanted to see the man that had made it all happen. He had found Benoit in his locker room, getting ready to shower and head back to the hotel to see his wife. Randy had walked in and the two men just looked at one another. Randy could tell that the older man's heart was breaking just a little, knowing that the belt was once again out of his grasp. This was when Randy allowed the tears to fall, knowing that Benoit would understand. "Thank you" was all Randy could say to his opponent as they hugged. They would meet again soon and the next match would be even better, but the emotions that tonight had brought up would never again be repeated. Randy left just as silently as he entered. The ringing of his phone brought him out of his reverie.
"Orton, where the hell are you, man?"
"On my way, Dave. I'll be there soon."
"We've got the Cristal ready for you, Champ."
Shortly after hanging up, Randy pulled up to the valet attendant and handed the man his keys. He buttoned his suit jacket and walked into the club. He walked straight through the doors, bypassing the waiting line, and into the inner sanctuary. Vince had rented out the VIP section and Randy walked in to more applause. "THE CHAMP IS HERE!" Randy heard his good friend, John Cena, shout. He lowered his head and smiled shyly as his friends surrounded him and cheered. A stunning redhead handed him a glass of champagne and kissed him feverishly on his lips. She looked in his eyes and winked, allowing her index finger to trail down his silk tie; the woman licked her lips and slowly backed away. Randy raised his eyebrows, having forgotten how forward ring rats can be.
In the past few weeks since told he would be given the championship, Randy had focused on his wrestling. He worked out harder than normal, ate better than normal, drank less and had limited his female companionship to his friendships with women. He had been hanging around Stephanie anyway due to his close relationship with Paul, but more recently he had found himself seeking out Leigh. The woman was more than a friend, but definitely not a lover. Randy wanted her to be the first person he spoke to in the morning and the last person he thought of at night. Their friendship was honest and genuine; neither asked more than the other was willing to give; now he wanted nothing more than to see Leigh. He scanned the crowd and saw her dancing with Mark Lemonica, otherwise known as Bubba Ray Dudley. She threw her head back and laughed heartily as the large man twirled her around and dipped her. Randy smiled as he watched her, before something hit him. Was he jealous?
A hand slapped Randy on the shoulder and he turned to see none other than Vince McMahon himself standing next to him with a drink in his hand and a grin on his face. The chairman of the board extended his right hand, which Randy shook.
"I have no problem saying yours was without a doubt the best match on the card tonight. At the risk of sounding condescending, I'd like to say I'm proud of you."
"I appreciate that, Vince, I really do. Coming from you that means a lot," Randy replied.
"Your old man must be ecstatic. Have you heard from him?"
"He had already left a message by the time I got back to the locker room, but apparently he'd been calling every thirty seconds until he got a hold of me. He wanted to be the first in my family to say congratulations."
"Well, son, you deserve all these accolades. Enjoy yourself tonight, but remember you've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow. Congratulations, again."
"Thanks, Vince. I'll see you around," Randy said as he began to make his way over to Paul and Stephanie who were seated in a round booth with Ric. Stephanie looked beautiful as she hung on her husband's arm; being in love clearly suited her. Randy took the seat next to her and kissed her cheek as Paul and Ric stood up and clapped. The young champion laughed as he shook the hands of both man and thanked them.
"How you feeling right now, big man?" Ric asked as he finished his glass of champagne.
"On top of the world, my friend. Does it really ever get any better than this?" Randy replied.
"It will once you have one of these lovely ladies on your arm," Paul answered, gesturing to the flock of young women that had begun surrounding the table as soon as Randy sat down. They winked and batted their eyelashes as he looked around, rewarding some of them with his million dollar grin. He recognized some of the Diva contestants and quickly looked away. Groaning, he turned his attention back to his friends.
"Nah, not really my type. Is Maria around?"
"She's trying to flirt with the bartender, last I saw, so you're safe for now" Stephanie answered, taking the next round of drinks from their waitress. Randy quickly finished the second glass of champagne and ordered two Jack and Cokes before the waitress could leave the table. "I see you're going all out with the celebration tonight," she laughed.
"Gotta make up for lost time, my sweet. I've been denying my female fanbase for way too long," Randy said as a long-legged brunette walked by the table, swaying her hips for his benefit. "That's what I'm talking about," he said, gesturing to the young woman as she smiled at him.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Champ," Ric laughed and slapped his hands together as Randy left the table to talk to the woman. He caught up with her shortly and turned on the Orton charm. Leaving his jacket behind at the table, he placed one arm around the woman's waist and sipped his drink with his other hand, leading her to the dance floor.
Nine Inch Nails began to play; Randy couldn't remember the name, but the song to him was pure sex. The bass reverberated throughout the club as the colored lights flashed. The woman ground her hips against him and did her best to fuck him through his clothes. Randy put his hands on her ass and tugged her closer to him as she brought his head down to hers and lavished him with her tongue. Her breath was hot and her skin sticky from sweat and dancing. He looked her in the eyes as she repeated, "You want to get out of here?" Randy smiled and looked around, as if contemplating her offer. He was ready to get laid, it had been a while for him; longer than usual. For some reason, however, he wasn't tempted to take this woman back to his bed. Maybe it was because he just got there and hoped to find something better, but in any case, she was just a warm-up.
"And miss my own party? Sorry, sweets, not you, not tonight," he laughed as he went directly into asshole mode. He finished his drink, which he had brought to the floor with him, and walked away leaving the brunette horny and alone. Randy wasn't worried, though; he knew there would be 50 other guys who'd be willing to take his place. He walked up to the bar where he saw Leigh talking to John, looking too comfortable in Randy's opinion. He watched the two talk at the other end of the bar, observing their body language and trying to gauge what was happening.
Leigh looked stunning, as usual, in a black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places; she hadn't changed from the arena, but the outfit went from professional to evening wear easily. Her hair was still pulled back but it was beginning to unravel slightly, giving her a sexy tousled look. Her jewelry, as always, was minimal: a watch on her right wrist, a large emerald ring on the middle finger of that hand, two silver bracelets on her left wrist, but no wedding band; she had done as he suggested and quit wearing it out. He watched as John handed her a shot of alcohol, at which she raised an eyebrow until he pleaded with her long enough to take it. Guess I can be thankful it's not a body shot, Randy thought.
He and John had gone through OVW together and quickly became friends, both being young, good looking and exceptionally talented. They traveled together often before the roster split, but hadn't been able to spend much time together since. Cena was being looked at as the franchise player for SmackDown and Creative was hoping to spin the same gold with him as they had done with Randy on RAW. The two had often competed for women, each getting more than his share. Seeing John with Leigh, though, was almost too much. While it was true that Randy and Leigh weren't dating, he didn't want anyone else to be seeing her either. He watched as John put his arm around to the small of her back and pulled her close; a lump formed in Randy's throat. He breathed a sigh of relief when she pushed him away and laughed, then briefly glanced up and saw him. Leigh smiled at him and gave him a small wave, which Randy interpreted as an invitation to join them.
"Didn't think you were much of a drinker," he said as he pulled her into a long hug. He could feel her laugh against his chest.
"I heard there was cause for celebration," she answered.
"Orton, man, I gotta say: that match tonight was completely off the hook. I've never seen you look better, man. Good job," John said as the two men shook hands and pulled one another into a one-armed-hug-back-slap.
"Thanks… so, what're you drinking?" Randy asked, gesturing to the two empty shot glasses on the bar.
"Cement mixers; ever try one?" Leigh challenged.
Randy laughed at the incredulity of it. "You still trying to pawn that shit off, Cena? "
"Man, she said she's a friend of yours, so I had to initiate her. Gotta say, though, she took it like a champ, so she's cool," John laughed as he eyed his friend. He had noticed the look Randy had given the beautiful blonde and realized she was already taken, even if neither she nor Randy realized it yet.
"Randy! There you are—I've been looking all over for you! Your match tonight was so good! I loved the red trunks! I was so excited that you wore them because I had just told you last night how good you look in the red trunks and then you wore them when you won your first world championship! I can't believe you remembered!" Maria ran up behind the trio and slipped her arms around Randy's waist. He rolled his eyes as his two friends laughed at the ridiculous wannabe.
"Oh, hey, Maria, have you met Trish Stratus yet? She's been saying all day how she really wanted to see you…" Leigh said in a helpful tone. She got the reaction she was hoping for when the blonde paled and ran off. "You owe me, Orton," she quipped as she walked away.
Randy watched her go and John watched Randy watch her go. "You're into her, aren't you? More than usual, I mean," John asked as he signaled the bartender for another drink, and then nodded at another pretty blonde who had been trying to flirt with him from three barstools down.
"She's just a friend, man, nothing more," Randy replied as he slapped his friend on the back. "We're in Boston in a couple of weeks; you gonna be there?" John nodded in confirmation as he walked over to the woman and shouted back, "We'll talk then, cool?"
Randy nodded his head and walked back to his table where his friends were waiting. Ric had proceeded to get Paul and Stephanie sufficiently drunk by then and they were giggling as they watched Shane and Marissa try to dance. He sat down and sighed, realizing that it had been a long time since he himself had been good and drunk. If there was ever a good time, he knew it was now, but just then the house lights came up, signaling the end of the party. Different wrestlers began gathering up their belongings and their dates for the evening and made their way out the door. Ric, Paul and Stephanie finished the last of their drinks and began stumbling out of the booth.
"So, Randy, mi compadre, which of these lovely ladies is it gonna be this evening?" Ric gestured with his outstretched hands to the throngs of women still hoping to catch Randy's attention.
"Honestly, I don't think tonight's my night. I don't want the hassle of getting these chicks out in the morning. You guys gonna be okay getting back to the hotel?" Ric nodded in affirmation and told him that Dave was calling the limo now to pick them up. Randy looked around until he spotted Leigh and approached her. "Need a ride, pretty lady?"
"Gracing me with your presence twice in one evening? I'm honored," Leigh smiled at him as she picked up her purse and slung it over her shoulder. "Actually, that'd be great; I left my car back at the hotel. You're leaving now?" As an answer, Randy offered her his elbow which she took and they walked outside. Giving his keys to the valet, he noticed Leigh shiver as they waited for the car. He took off his coat and placed it around her slender shoulders and she looked up at him and smiled in thanks. The car pulled up and Randy opened the door for her, then circled around the back and tipped the driver. As they pulled onto the street, Leigh looked at her friend.
"I'm surprised this seat was available tonight; I figured you'd be bringing a date home with you."
"Believe me, so did I," Randy laughed.
"So why didn't you?" she asked, looking back to the road.
"Nobody interested me. This has been a big night in my life, one that I'll probably always remember. I don't want some random thrown in there, too," he replied honestly. Leigh nodded in agreement, but truthfully was surprised at the answer. She knew Randy well, but didn't think he'd be quite so… mature about it.
They drove the rest of the way in silence, passing through the deserted Toronto streets until they reached their hotel. Walking through the lobby, they passed the empty swimming pool area, still light up even at 2:30 in the morning. Leigh stopped and looked out the glass doors, finally pulling her shoes off and walking outside, leaving Randy stumped. He quickly followed her out and down the steps, where she stopped at the edge of the pool and sat down, sinking her feet in the water.
"Heels are a bitch, especially after a seventeen hour day," she said in explanation. Randy chuckled and sat down next to her, himself pulling off his shoes and socks, rolling up his pants legs and joining her. "You really were great tonight; I don't think I told you that yet," she said softly.
"I appreciate that," he answered. He leaned back on his elbows and up at the stars, relishing what has seemingly been the most perfect day in his young life. "I noticed you and John were getting along pretty well; I didn't interrupt anything there, did I?"
Leigh looked back at him, a slight mixture of surprise and guilt crossing her face; Randy noticed the way the pool lights reflected in her eyes, then mentally scolded himself for sounding like a lovesick poet. "Jealous?" she challenged. Randy was quiet at that, then slowly pulled himself up to a full sitting position, never breaking eye contact with his beautiful friend. He put one hand on her neck and pulled her face to his, gently kissing her with an agonizing passion he didn't realize he felt. He was just as surprised when he realized she was kissing him back.