Disclaimer: We own nothing but the story itself!
Notes: Not much to say. Again, this is a joint story between justagirl8225 and littleknux2008. Hope you enjoy the chapter, and please review!
Thanks to: aussiewrestlingfan, Latisha C and RKO-luver for the reviews!
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Lita stared numbly at the golden doors that would not budge.
'Of all people to get stuck on an elevator with. Why him? Why couldn't it have been someone I can actually stand?'
She scowled, slumping down against the wall; her legs stretching fully outward.
"I'm not happy about this either you know," her companion reminded her rather dryly, as he too slumped down against the wall. "I should be--"
"At a party?" She offered rather crisply as she brought her legs inward; resting her chin on her knees when his longer legs extended outwards. "I'm so sorry."
She rolled her eyes, turning her face sideways.
"I was going to say preparing for my match," Randy let out an annoyed huff, rolling his own eyes. "There ya go, judging me...again."
"Whatever," she muttered under her breath, hazel orbs focusing intently on the tacky carpet patterned wall.
Blue eyes roamed over the form adjacent to him, trying to figure out the mystery to this woman. Sure he had worked with her for awhile, Triple H wanted her. But what was it about her? The slightest of frowns marred his chisled features before he spoke.
"Would it really kill you to be nice to me? Or am I just that sickening that you can't even acknowledge I'm here?"
Lita blinked at the audacity of his question, opening her mouth to retort before she bit it back. In all fairness, she hadn't really given him a chance. She sighed softly to herself before she turned her gaze in his direction. "Is that better?"
He snorted in spite of himself. "That's a start..."
"Look, I'm sor--"
"Like I said before? Don't say if you don't mean it," he reminded rather tartly; folding his arms across his chest.
"And you thought I had nerve? I'm trying to apologize, trying to play nice here. And what do you do? You go and cut me off." The Diva shook her head, raking a hand through her red locks.
"I'm sorry for judging you, but it's just given the company you keep? I can't help it."
Randy's head tilted in curious inclination. "Do you know anything about me? I mean aside from the fact that I run with the big dogs. Do you really know me?"
"Do you know anything about me?" She retorted quickly, her legs relaxing slightly. "Or do you just know what your almighty leader has told you?"
"I know that you have a tounge and wit to match that fiery red hair," he replied almost smugly, his eyes glinting at the angered look on the woman's face. "And I know that you don't take crap from anyone...superstar or diva."
She frowned, "I don't know if I should be insulted by that or not," she shook her head ruefully. "I really don't know anything about you, and I'll tell you why. I don't get along with your friends and I don't want to associate with your friends."
At his slightly puzzled look, she continued. "Getting to know you would eventually mean associating with your friends. And that is a road I really don't want to take."
"Makes sense," he conceded easily. "I can't say I'd want to run in your circle either. Your friends aren't exactly fond of me."
"It's all about the company we keep Randy," Lita reminded rather tactfully. "That's what it all boils down to."
"So if say, I wasn't in Evolution," Randy began, making an open gesture with his hand. "Would you want to get to know me?"
The Diva's shoulders shrugged just slightly. "I suppose..I mean, to your credit. You are pretty talented and obviously you have a lot of potential.." She trailed off as she chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip.
"Start over?"
When the young man raised a brow in question, the redhead almost gave up. "I mean, ..we started on the wrong foot. Let's put that behind us for now..and start over," hesitantly she extended a slim hand towards him.
"Randy Orton," he extended his own, grasping her smaller hand in his for a brisk shake.
"Lita," she responded evenly, offering a tiny smile before her hand retracted.
----
Despite the fact that they were still stuck in the elevator; the silence that followed was at least comfortable. For his part, Randy had moved his legs so they could both stretch fully and for hers; Lita wasn't completely ignoring him.
"So," Randy cleared his throat, preparing to break the silence. "Uh, have you been to Toronto before? I mean..aside from with the WWE?"
Lita blinked slightly in surprise. "Yeah...to visit friends. Well friend really. Adam used to live around there. You?"
"Can't say that I have..I mean, aside from with the company." He shrugged slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's probably been one of the nicest things about the business."
A smile lit up the diva's face, but didn't quite reach her eyes. "I agree with ya on that. I hope we go back to Japan or Mexico soon."
"Mmm," Randy agreed easily. "Those were definately fun trips."
Lita absently nodded, searching her mind for another safe conversation topic and hoping at the same time that the elevator would come back to life.
"I wonder who we're traveling with Wednesday."
Randy's shoulders shrugged as he rested his hands in his lap. "Your guess is as good as mine. But I'd think if they're sending us, they'd send a superstar and diva from SmackDown as well."
"That'd make the most sense" She reasoned, before sardonically adding as an afterthought: "If management ever makes sense."
Orton chuckled slightly at that. "I wonder about that myself sometimes."
Hazel eyes twinkled with mirth. "I've wondered about that since I started in this company. I mean, don't get me wrong; Vince is great, all of them are. It's the others I question."
"Like our dear old boss?" Randy queried, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I'd have to say one of the better days was when Eugene was running the show."
Lita raised a brow in surprise, "I thought you didn't like Eugene."
"Ah, there you go again; thinking I'm just like Triple H," He shook his head, raking a hand through his short brown hair. "I never had a problem with Eugene. He kept things interesting with us...and I really am sorry about what happened"
"Well I suppose it was either kill or be killed," The diva offered, somewhat sympathetically, her eyes first darting to the door then back to the young man. "Why are you still with Evolution?"
Just as Randy was opening his mouth to respond; the floor beneath them jolted. "Looks like we're getting out of here" He let out a relieved sigh, offering a hand to the Diva as he pushed up from the floor.
"Finally," Lita let out her own sigh of relief as she accepted his hand, shouldering her gym bag. The redhead winced slightly, as her right foot had fallen asleep and since the elevator was still slightly shaky; she lost her balance. Just as she was sure she would hit the carpeting, an arm darted around her waist to steady her. Lita then found herself staring up, her face flushing, into the eyes of her rescuer.
"Thanks," she mumbled in response, jerking away quickly to relieve the awkward situation.
Fortunately for them both, the doors soon opened allowing the two their sought after escape routes. However, as Lita was preparing to turn down the opposite direction from the elevator; a gentle touch on her forearm stopped her. "Look, for sake of starting off on the right foot," he started uncomfortably. "Maybe we could get together for breakfast? Talk about this little company sponsored trip and whatever?"
Lita's brows shot up in disbelief but she quickly shook it off; instead offering a tentative smile. "That'd be nice..I'll meet you downstairs at say.."
"8:30?" He offered. "I'm not really a morning person, otherwise I'd say earlier."
"That works out just fine for me," She smiled re-assuringly this time. "I don't like mornings much myself."
He smiled easily, his dimples just grazing his cheeks. "Good. I'll see you in the lobby at 8:30."
She smiled in turn, nodding her head in farewell. "Good night then."
"Night." He waved shortly before turning on his heel to head down the hall.
---
As the redhead made her way down the opposite side of the hall, she shook her head once more. Despite the fact that she had just gotten stuck in an elevator; Randy Orton really wasn't half that bad. Of course, she was quick to remind herself that it was only a brief amount of time and anything could change before then. But then again, he had also paid for the taxi. And speaking of taxis, just as the diva reached her hotel room door; she was reminded of why she had to take the taxi back in the first place. "Stacy," Lita began as soon as the door to their shared hotel room swung open. "You really owe me."
"I'm sorry" The blonde diva squeaked out from her spot on the bed, turning the t.v. off when her roomie entered. "Chris and Adam wanted to go out for pizza and--"
Lita raised a brow, scanning the room for evidence. "Did you at least bring me back some?"
"Yup!" Stacy beamed, "We just have to head down to Chris' room. He and Adam wanted us to stop by after you got here..which, why did it take you so long?"
"Elevator got stuck," Lita replied absently, setting her gym bag down on the floor. "And before that, had to wait for the taxi."
"Ahh," Stacy nodded, raking a hand through her blonde locks. "So, what did Bischoff want?"
"Pre-SummerSlam promotional thing," Lita mentioned as she removed a warmer top. "I leave tomorrow, head to Detroit to meet with two people from SmackDown..then the four of us are off to Toronto starting Wednesday."
"Wait" Stacy inclinced her head quizically. "If you're meeting two from SmackDown.."
"Traveling with Randy Orton," Lita mentioned blandly. "And don't even start with me Stace."
The long legged diva held up her hands in defeat. "I wasn't going to say anything..I'm not like Dawn."
"Most of the time," Lita muttered freely, yanking the shirt over her head. "I don't need you, Matt, Dawn or your boyfriend meddling in my non exsistent love life. Maybe I like it that way."
"I'm not going to do anything" Stacy protested innocently. "I can't speak for Dawn or Adam but--"
Lita rolled her eyes, a withering glare tossed in her friends direction. "Then do me a favor and don't say anything about this stupid promotional tour to Adam, okay?"
"Alright," Stacy agreed easily, flopping back down on the bed as Lita swept her locks upwards. "Do you know who else is going?"
"Nope," the redhead shrugged, tossing her hairbrush back in her bag. "We find out tomorrow. Oh, and before I forget," Lita sent a firm look to her friend preparing to move towards the door. "You can not, under any circumstances, be in the lobby at 8:30 tomorrow morning. That goes for you, Adam and Chris."
The blonde Diva blinked, "But why?"
"I'm leaving at that time and meeting Randy" Lita explained quickly. "I don't want to be seen because I don't want those two getting the wrong idea."
Stacy shrugged, hopping up from the bed to cross the length of the room. "Fine by me. But I expect a detailed report of how this thing goes on Saturday in Toronto."
Lita rolled her eyes good naturedly, her hand grasping the door knob. "Fine, fine. Can we go now? I'm starving."
As the two walked down the hall, Lita raked a hand through her messy ponytail; idly questioning her reasoning. Was she ashamed of being seen with Randy? Or was it as simple as not wanting her well meaning friends to jump to conclusions? Slightly flustered, the redhead decided on the latter; plastering on her brightest smile as she and Stacy entered Chris' hotel room.