Chapter Eighteen: Dave's P.O.V.

The whole flight to Baltimore, Jessie was unusually quiet. I would try and talk to her but she would just give me really short answers. This caused me to believe that something had gone on between her and Randy that he neglected to tell me.

When we arrived at the airport, Adam Copeland was waiting for Jessie.

"I'll see you guys later," she said, before walking towards him.

"Hey! Are we still on for tonight?" I called after her.

"I'll call you later!" she hollered back and continued walking.

"She's awfully close to him," Randy commented. "I think she's playing you, big man."

"They're just friends. Plus, I thought I wasn't supposed to get attached to her so it really shouldn't matter, should it?" I replied but I couldn't help but feel a little twinge of jealousy.

Randy and I got our luggage and caught a cab to the hotel. Paul was already waiting for us.

"I thought you were supposed to be here earlier, big man," Paul said to me.

"I thought we were too but Randy got the times messed up," I replied.

"I don't know what's been up with him lately but whatever it is, he better get his shit straightened out. Where is he anyway?"

I looked around and noticed that Randy was nowhere to be found. "I'll go find him," I said and began to walk away.

"Don't worry about it , big man. We have more important things to do than look for his punk-ass," Paul hollered to me.

"Alright, I'm just going to grab something to drink," I lied and began searching the lobby for Randy.

I wasn't long before I found him, as a matter of fact all I had to do was turn down one hallway.

"So does he always talk shit behind my back or was it just a special occasion?" he asked, casually.

"Well, Randy, in a sense, Paul's right. Lately, you have been more careless and that's really unlike you, well, except when it comes to women. But that's beside the point."

"Whatever, Dave. Why do you always stick up for him? It's like he's right about everything even when he's not. Personally, I don't think it 's me that's changed. I think it's you."

I stared at him in confusion. "How have I changed?"

"Before, you were this ass-kicking machine who went out there with only one person on his agenda… himself. A person who listened to nobody, rarely even the boss. But now, Paul tells you to jump and you ask 'how high.' Damn it, Dave chances are, if he told you to go jump off a damn cliff, you would do it. And now that I think about it, I think you're more of Paul's bitch than Stephanie is," he said, casually leaning up against the wall.

My hands instinctively balled into fists but I didn't say anything.

"See what I'm saying? You're not even sticking up for yourself now," he commented and walked down the hall.

There was definitely something wrong with Randy but before I had a chance to think about what it might be, my cell phone rang. I didn't even bother looking at the caller ID before answering.

"Hello?" I answered, irritated.

"Dave, is this a bad time?"

"No, Jess. I just had a really weird conversation with Randy. That's all."

"Oh, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, I guess. I'll tell you about it tonight. That is, if we are still going out."

"Of course we are. Why wouldn't we be?"

"I don't know. But do you by any chance have a nice dress or something to wear tonight?" I asked, curiously.

"No, I don't bring any of that with me."

"Okay, well, tonight you're skipping the house show to go buy yourself a new outfit."

"And who says you can tell me what to do?" she asked.

I ignored her question and continued on. "The you can get ready and meet me in the lobby around 10:30."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I come up to your room and make you," I said, smiling.

"I don't know, Dave. I'm no good at picking out things to wear. Like all of my wardrobe, my friends back home picked our for me."

"Fine. Then I'll send one of the Divas to help you."

"Dave Batista, I swear you better not! The Divas are totally different from me!" she said as Stacy Keibler turned into the hallway.

"Oh, here's Stacy now," I smiled.

"DAVE! NO!"

"Hey, Stacy, could I ask you for a favor?"

"No, Dave, I won't sleep with you," she stated, coldly.

"Actually, it's not really for me, but a friend of mine."

"I'm not sleeping with Randy either."

"I'm not asking you to sleep with anybody. See, there's this girl that I know and we're going out tonight and I was wondering if you'd go shopping with her and help her pick out something nice to wear."

"And what's in it for me?" she questioned.

"I promise that no member of Evolution will hit on you for a month."

"Okay," she replied after thinking for a moment. "So who is this girl?"

"You might've seen her. Jessica Lawrence, she's the writer around here,"

"Dave, seriously, stop it," Jessie said, irritably.

"Oh, yeah. I know who she is. Tell her I'll meet her in the lobby in about an hour," Stacy replied and walked away.

"See, Jess, that wasn't so bad," I said to her.

"You better be glad I'm on the phone and not right next to you."

I laughed at her comment. "Stacy said she'll meet you in the lobby in an hour. I suggest you be there."

"One day, Dave Batista, I will get you back for this, I promise," she joked.

"Yeah, sure. So, I'll see you at 10:30."

"Alright, I'll see you then," she said and hung up.

The troubles that Randy and I had were now far from my mind as I thought of mine and Jessie's upcoming date.