Sorry the update has taken so long... I just didn't have the drive to write on it for a while.. But I hope that it is over, and my goal is to update regularly until this one is finished.. Thanks to everyone that has reviewed this story so far. I hope I don't dissapoint.

Stacy

Chapter 6

Randy sat quietly, pouting. After Kennedy apologized, he had felt himself give in a little and his anger that he held toward her, weaken. She had been sincere enough, but he just didn't want to forgive her yet.

"What?" He grumbled, when she leaned down to be at eye level with him.

She grinned, "You have got to be starving. And a little birdie called me, right before you got here, to let me know that you had begged her constantly for some 'McDonalds'. I think her exact words were, 'Randy is dieing to get his hands on a Quarter Pounder with cheese'. Is that right?"

Randy was drooling, and Kennedy had to fight the urge to wipe the dribble from his chin when one of the orderlies walked in with a brown paper bag and a lidded cup.

"Oh, I almost forgot about the strawberry shake." She announced taking the items from the orderly and placing them on the tray in front of him.

Randy sighed happily and rolled his eyes up toward the ceiling. The day had started off as one giant cluster of shit that could go wrong, but after they brought in the food, he didn't see any reason to not at least try and enjoy the rest of his day while he filled his tummy with a good meal from McDonalds. No, he wouldn't admit it to anyone just yet, but he felt that he might be able to get along with the people in his new environment, especially if they continued to bring him fast food.

Kennedy had taken the brunt of his anger, facing him head on, and she never showed any sign of backing down. He liked that. Not only that, but once she had bribed him to stay, she waited for his parents to leave and then she took the time to make sure he was able to use all of the items in his room. His lights, the TV, and his nurses call button were all powered by voice activated controls. All he had to do was touch his thumb to his index finger that held his pulse monitor and give the command. From what she said, Vince had shelled out the money for him to have every luxury item essential to making his recovery as smooth as possible.

Thinking of Vince brought a scowl to his face. Not because of Vince directly, but because of what his business had done to the people in it. The business thrived on competition, and somehow it had gotten so bad that it made a friend set out to end his career.

When he was a boy, playing in the locker-rooms with the wrestlers and their children, he had known then that he would be a part of the industry. Even when his dad would complain about all of his ailments, it was the passion that drove him to keep going that had Randy hooked. He never thought, back then, that the gold belt and having the title of champion would eventually make him hate the very business he only knew to love.

The championship belt was now what stood between him and perfect health. The men he used to walk beside and go about his daily life with crushed his dreams over the belt. The same men, who always told him to never hold back, take what you want. He never heard them mention that it was ok as long as it wasn't what they wanted or held.

What he couldn't understand now was, why. Why at Summer Slam, when he was about to face the current title holder, they told him to win. Pumped him up and said nothing would keep him from it, and then the next night they even came to the ring to help him retain his position. Why would they do all of that, if they really didn't want him to have it? Hell, when they turned on him, they had just celebrated, cheered and hugged him, and then in a flash it was all over. Friendships, security, reliability… All of it gone in a moment.

The whole kicker to Randy? The realization that after everything was said and done; he had turned out no better than Hunter. He had listened to him scream about getting the belt again and knew how much it meant to him… and Randy had found himself craving the status just as much, if not more, than Hunter.

The night of Summer Slam, Dave had told him that he needed to watch his back, and that he had a funny feeling about the entire situation. He in turn said that no matter what, they'd always be friends; nothing could or would change that.

But things changed. All of it changed.

Dave came to him after they had dumped him in the ring. He was alone. Using his words of everlasting friendship to reach him, giving him an ultimatum… friendship or gold. His face had been unreadable. He said things about just starting his career, not being able to leave the power that the other two men gave him, and he was sure Randy would understand.

It had taken all that Randy had inside himself, not to beat some sense into his friend then. He knew their reason's to stay, but the reason's to leave where greater. So, for that he didn't understand. Surely, Dave has to know that one day they will turn on him just as easily. Thumbs down.

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