Chapter 6

Two hours later, the three were still sitting at the restaurant having already eaten and were telling stories back and forth...Randy laughed as he watched the interaction between John and Karen and was almost a little jealous at their friendship...Almost.

John had just finished hearing how Randy met and pissed off Karen and said, "Damn...I always knew our mouths were gonna write a check our asses couldn't cash..." Randy said, "Okay...I heard Lisa say this...what is Nerak?"

Karen laughed and said, "It's my nick name...It's from a REALLY old Disney movie about a girl named Karen who went missing...and when her ghost or spirit haunts these two girls they get a dog and her spirit tells the sister to name the dog Nerak...which is Karen spelled backwards...It's so lame...I can't believe she gave me a dog's nickname...but she's been calling me that since I was 10."

John said, "Speaking of Nerak and Karen...Why do you have your hair up? You used to hate your hair up." Randy jumped in with, "I've not seen her with her hair down yet...Every time I see her she's got it up in a bun like now." John said, "You know all that weight on the back of your neck is going to give you a tension headache."

Karen smiled and said, "I know I know...I just don't like it down when it's windy cause it goes all over and you know I'm too stubborn to cut my hair." John pointed to Randy and said, "So you haven't seen her hair?" Karen said, "Excuse me it's not a National Treasure." John said, "Yea...Says you."

Randy paid the check as the three some stepped into the parking lot and John said, "C'mon...you can't deny the boy the hair." Karen threw a glare at John and Randy said, "Yea...C'mon...I've got to see it now." Karen turned and glared at them both...and said, "If you two only understood how long it takes me to get it up like this..."

John said, "Blah, Blah, Blah...Just drop the hair woman!"

Karen growled from the back of her throat as she turned away from then and they both watched as she reached up and pulled the blue chop sticks out of her hair and then watched in amazement when her raven hair slowly unrolled from it's bun and fell in long waves down her back, hugging her hips and waist and rest just below her bottom. Randy was almost scared to touch her hair...it looked like a river of the black plague flowing down her back.

John said, "Now that's what I'm talking about." Randy said, "Tell me again why you don't leave your hair down...It's beautiful...from top to bottom...it's absolutely breath taking." Karen said, "It's just hair...besides I need to have the dead ends taken off." John said, "As long as you don't have too much taken off." Karen smirked and said, "You know already...3 inches max."

When they got back to the hotel...John said, "Are you coming to the show later?" Karen shook her head no and said, "Lisa, Tyson and I have a flight back to Boston at 4...So call me when you get home tomorrow please...Don't let 6 months pass again with out at least a phone call."

John saw the look in her eyes...and said, "Insomnia getting bad?" Karen nodded and said, "Of course...I actually got to sleep last night...but it won't last." John pulled her in for a huge hug and Randy noticed the unshed tears in Karen's eyes as John held her like her life depended on it. Randy was now more curious then he was before about her insomnia...and why she looked like she was losing John forever.

Randy watched as John kissed her forehead and then Karen walked up to him as she stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek and said, "Thanks for lunch Randy...I had a really nice time...I'll see you Friday for the weekend house shows." Randy smiled and nodded as she pulled her key card out and opened the door and was whisked away with Lisa and Tyson, doing God knows what in the hotel room.

John looked at Randy and said, "You like her don't you?" Randy didn't have to say the words, he just nodded and John said, "I'm warning you now...Don't playboy around on her Orton...She's the closest thing I have to a little sister. She's been hurt in the past...big time...So if you're going to keep the playboy image...please...Please...for the sake of Karen's heart and soul...leave her be."

Randy nodded in acknowledgement as the duo walked back down to their rooms continuing random conversations. Randy just wished he could figure out what hold Karen had over him.