Good Intentions

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Spoilers: Nothing that you can't read about on the 'net

Rating: T for language

Pairings: Well, I could tell you…but I won't.

Summary: She knew her friends only had good intentions, but why here? Why now.. And why him?

Notes: I know the concert that John has in Cleveland is scheduled for a Tuesday.. I'm switching it to Wednesday.. Play along...oh.. I'm altering this into a mid-length series. Not exactly a short series, but not a long series. Why, I'm not exactly sure.. But I have a few ideas.

Additional Note: I just wanted to say thank you for reviewing this story. The feedback means a great deal to me and honestly, I am one very humbled authoress. I just hope this part doesn't disappoint. I want to keep this as realistic as fictionally possible (and within the limits of my over active imagination). Did that make sense at all? Blah, I'm running on three hours of sleep, a lot of coffee and pixie sticks.

…………

From the interior of the taxi, the exterior of every passing building looked the same. Of course, she couldn't really see that clearly since it was nighttime.. And being wedged between two people marginally larger in stature than herself, didn't help her case. Still, she tried to see out of the window when the taxi paused at the traffic light.. And even then it wasn't much to see. Street lights, tall buildings, random people walking along the sidewalk or cutting across traffic. Perhaps all cities just became one big blur in this business.

Or at least it seemed that way to her.

Whether they were on the West coast or the East coast.. Midwest or down South- it was always the same. Certainly yes- the accents were different, the slang terminology varied and the clothing style was equally diverse. But for all intensive purposes, it was still the same. It was always an arena, nothing but a big building. There would always be a lively crowd- ready and willing to boo the villains and cheer the heroes. And it had been that way since she started in the business.

Only the scenery changed between drives.. Everything else- stayed the same.

To some extent anyway. Faces in the locker room sometimes blurred. Granted yes- there were those who just stood out. Those who didn't fit the status quo. But perhaps -in a way- that described every one in the locker room on Monday or Tuesday night. They didn't fit the status quo- the eight hours a day, five days a week with a home in the suburbs. Well that wasn't entirely true either, because some of them did own a home in the suburbs. They just didn't commute to work daily like the 'normal' people.

But normalcy was just another state of being anyway.

Take the occupants in the non descript yellow taxi cab for example. Each of them were different on the outside, but perhaps, similar on the inside.

In the passengers seat, sat a blonde woman. Normal? Certainly. On the outside. But Trish Stratus wasn't just another blonde woman. And Lita knew that. Trish Stratus -a WWE Diva, Women's Champion and one of her best friends.

And to her left on the bench seat, sat Marc Predka. And beyond his nickname and family ties to John Cena- she didn't know anything else about him.

And, to her right on the bench seat, sat John Cena himself. WWE Champion, rapper.. Hailing from West Newbury, Massachusetts. And she knew that from the company's official website and the ring announcer.

Which, aside from the taxi cab driver, left herself.

And who was she really? Born as Amy Christine Dumas, on April 14th in the year 1975. Older sister to one brother. A brother that she didn't quite get along with growing up.. And still really didn't get along with now. But was that who she was? To the wrestling fans- she was Lita.. Or Angelica or Miss Congeniality, depending. A redheaded woman, residing in Sanford, North Carolina. Former member of Team X-Treme. Former girlfriend of Matt Hardy. Former Women's Champion. The WWE's very own, 'Queen of Extreme'.

But did that define who she was?

She wasn't entirely sure at that point in time, nor did she really care.

Nor did she really have the time for any further self analysis as the taxi cab came to a screeching halt. The building looked the same, just like the others they had passed. The line formed outside of the door held the same amount of varying people. She guessed that even the music sounded the same. Which it was, when it got the point that you didn't care about such things. And she was nearing that point. Or perhaps she had already reached it. Still, she was there.. Trish had already paid and was now standing on the sidewalk. Marc had already exited, standing on the sidewalk with the blonde woman. And, like it or not, she was also about to exit the taxi cab.

She'd already told him once he was annoying.. Now she could add impatient to that list.

If she cared about such things, she'd realize those were qualities also pointed out to her. Which was true. She could be impatient, but then, so could everyone. Except for Jeff.. Jeff always took things at his own leisure. Sometimes too long, but perhaps.. Jeff was the exception. And the annoying part, well.. That all depended the current company. So, perhaps, they were both guilty of being annoying. But again, anyone could be annoying.

Annoying, like normalcy, was just another state of being. Impatience, on the other hand, was a character trait.

A highly, common character trait at that. The others on the sidewalk, shared that character trait. Not just the ones she had just been in the taxi cab with, but the other club goers as well. Victoria, who had been in another taxi, was also an impatient person. Lita knew this. Chris Jericho, who had been in the other taxi, was also an impatient person. Shane Helms was an impatient person where it concerned certain things.. Waiting in line to get into a nightclub was not one of those things.

…………

"Velvet Dog," Shane drawled to the others, "Interestin' name for a club."

Trish shrugged, "I wasn't the one who picked the place so.. All I was given were directions."

Lita raised an eyebrow, red locks parting from her face with a sweep of her hand. "By who?"

"Someone," the blonde woman replied vaguely. "Don't give me that look either, Li."

"You're sure they're here, right?" Chris glanced to the blonde Diva. "Did you call or.."

"He called," Trish shifted her weight from foot to foot. "Right before Vikki and I collected you and Shane."

The blonde man nodded, threading a hand through his hair. "Good. Because it wouldn't do us any good to show up here and for them to not be here."

"I'm aware of that, Chris." The Canadian Diva stuck out her tongue in a playful manner, "I'm not as blonde as I appear to be."

Victoria rolled her eyes, stating with a wry smile. "Coulda fooled me."

"Whatever, they trusted me enough to get us from point A to point B safely. And I've done that."

In vain, Lita rubbed her temples. "Why does this not sound promising."

"Just trust me." Trish grinned, linking arms with the redhead. "You'll have a good time, I promise."

"Uh huh," the redhead rolled her eyes. "You said that when were leaving the arena.." A short smile to Marc and John. "No offense… just-"

"Quite alright." The WWE Champion held up his hands. "Even though you just insulted us.. It's quite alright."

Lita made a face, "I already told you.. It wasn't my scene. It's nothing personal against the two of you."

"Then why didn' ya just leave?"

"I didn't drive, that's why."

John shrugged his shoulders a touch. "You coulda called a cab or somethin'."

Lita nodded to the blonde Diva beside her. "She confiscated my wallet and my keycard."

Chris looked impressed, "So that's how you managed to keep her there."

"I had to think of something," Trish tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear, "Especially because she wouldn't let me let Li leave."

Lita frowned, "And just who is this she?"

The Canadian Diva flicked away a piece of lint from Lita's jacket sleeve. "You'll find out when we get inside."

The Sanford resident smiled thinly, "The next book I write.. I'm going to title it: The Many Deaths of Trish Stratus.. Or 1001 Ways to Murder Your Best Friend."

Trish rolled her eyes as the line moved, "Li- just lighten up. Like I told you before, we're here to have a good time."

"If you define a good time as: let's make our friend's life even more miserable than it already is… then I guess you are having a good time." The redheaded woman huffed, "I am not enjoying myself. I have not been since we left that damn arena."

"Cut me some slack, would you?" The Canadian Diva shook her head. "God, you've been so freakin' moody and temperamental for the past few months. The tiniest freakin' things set you off and put you in this dark mood." Trish expelled an exasperated sigh, "And I don't know about everyone else, but I am sick and tired of dealing with it."

"Cut you some slack?" Lita echoed incredulously, "Try taking your own advice, Trish. You know what's been bothering me an' yet.. Instead of givin' me the space I want, you're draggin' me here an' there."

Victoria shook her head, adding this latest argument to the countless arguments between the two Diva's in the past 48 hours. Shane also shook his head, opting to keep quiet, lest he add more fuel to the proverbial fire.

Trish tossed up her hands, "Fine.. Have it your way then, Li. I'm only trying to look out for one of my best friends.. But apparently, she's gone missing. So, when you find her? Please, let me know because I miss her dearly."

Lita clenched her jaw, jamming her hands into her pockets as she tuned out her surroundings.

Chris glanced between the now silent Diva's, offering an apologetic smile to Marc and John. "This is normal, really.."

The two shrugged in response, opting not to comment on the subject. In Marc's case it was a matter of being an outsider looking in. He didn't know anyone there, save of course for John. So really, even if he had an opinion -which he did- it wasn't his place to dispense it. As for John.. Well, he had already pissed off the redhead earlier. Inadvertently on his part, but in her eyes- he had done so. To comment on the situation now, would more than likely result in that temper of hers flaring up.

And that was the last thing he wanted to deal with.

…………

Exactly five minutes and thirty three seconds later, or approximately 11:05 p.m., found them inside. Trish and Lita still weren't speaking to each other.. But at least Trish had started speaking again. Lita, however, chose to remain in her own little world. Though, even that couldn't last forever.. And it didn't have a chance to last forever. For no sooner had they stepped inside, did a body approach from upstairs.

"Finally," Randy Orton proclaimed with a wide grin. "It took you all long enough to get here."

Trish rolled her eyes good naturedly, "Well it wasn't like we could just leave in the middle of the concert."

"Some friend you are," John mock glared, "You told me you were gonna be there."

"Not entirely my fault," Randy held up his hands in defense. "Everyone else is upstairs.. So, whenever you all are ready."

"More than ready," Chris assured with a smile. "Believe me.. We're more than ready."

The Legend Killer raised an eyebrow, but didn't question it further as he lead the way to the V.I.P. room upstairs.

"Hey you guys!" Stacy Keibler greeted first when the door opened, "Glad you could make it."

John shook his head as he shrugged out of the light jacket he was sporting. "Man.. I don' know 'bout y'all.. You can show up for some sorta after party, but you can't show up for a concert? There's somethin' just not right 'bout that."

"Well, someone had to make sure our reservation -and the money- wasn't wasted." Dave Batista moved from one of the couches. "Otherwise, we would've been out there supporting you and all that good stuff."

The brown haired wrestler rolled his eyes, "Whateva, bro. Jus' don' think I ain't gonna forget."

"You'll live," a familiar voice commented from the couch. "But we're here now, so that counts for something."

John blinked, "What the hell are you doin' here?"

Dawn Marie rolled her eyes, a visible bump beneath her shirt. "You act like you aren't happy to see me or something John.. I'm hurt."

"Nah, jus' surprised to see ya, that's all." He met her halfway between the couch and one of the tables. "It's good to see ya."

She returned the hug, pulling back to regard the silent redhead. "I take it nothings changed with you.."

Lita offered her long time friend a thin smile. "Dawn.. Please. It's already been a night."

The New Jersey native raised an eyebrow, making her way over to the redhead's side. "Then can you at least pretend you're having a good time? We have a rule here tonight." With a playful smirk, she added: "That rule is only one bitchy, hormonal woman. And since I have a good reason to be.. You can't be."

Lita rolled her eyes in response, offering the brunette a hug for her efforts. "Well I'm a rule breaker anyway.. But, for you.. I can try."

Trish smiled in greeting to the brunette, "We need to have a little chat later."

Dawn nodded shortly, "How about now? I mean, we have a fully stocked bar up here so.."

The Canadian Diva nodded in agreement, "Stace? We'll need you for this one too."

Trish didn't give the leggy blonde a second to react, grasping her by the elbow as she and Dawn held court at one of the corner tables.

Meanwhile- Lita, Victoria, Shane and Chris meandered to the bar at one end, while John introduced Marc to the gathered. Aside from the already mentioned; Christian, Tyson, Eddie, Rey and former Diva, Nidia were also present. Once introductions had been made, Marc and John meandered to the bar while Lita and Victoria drifted to the couch to speak with Dave and Randy. Shane struck up conversation with Rey and Nidia, Chris opting to chat with Christian, Tyson and Eddie.

Such was the start to an after party that none of them would soon forget.