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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: randy-lover-4ever, Terri16, aussiewrestlingfan, J3r1ch0h0lic4eva, Ban, together and Latisha C. for the reviews!
It had taken some sweet talking on her part, but eventually Randy Orton found himself eyeing the racks of clothing lining the walls of Trash and Vaudeville. He trudged slowly after the energetic redhead, looking more like a pouting four year old than a superstar wrestler. He had stood by, waiting while Lita picked out a few things to try on; absently nodding his approval when she stepped out of the dressing room to show it off. He shook it off when she had stepped out in a rather revealing outfit, but said nothing when she questioned his lack of response. Fortunately, she had shrugged it off, writing it off to the shock of being there. However, when Lita was done and Randy was ready to take off, the look in her eyes caused him to take two steps further towards the door. And, while she at least was gracious enough to let him pick the colors, he was still wary when she desposited three shirts, two pairs of pants and combat boots in his arms. At his pouting look, the redhead merely pointed to the dressing room; indicating for him to follow suit. And that was where the redheaded Diva found herself now. Awaiting --still-- for Randy to emerge from behind the black curtains. Lita patiently sighed, waiting for Randy to emerge from the dressing room. Granted, she had taken her fair share of time, but did it really take thirty minutes to put on one shirt? Hazel orbs flicked to the expensive watch in her hand, the redhead letting out another sigh when there was still no sign of movement.
"Um, is everything okay in there?" Lita absently called out to the black curtain, and she was met with silence. "Randy?"
"Yeah, sure fine." Came the response, albeit a minute later. "Uh..are you sure about this?"
Lita rolled her eyes at the curtain, wondering why he would question her. "Of course I am. Just step out, and let me see." When there was still no movement, she placed a hand on her hip. "If you don't move from there within the next ten seconds? I'm yanking this curtain off the rod."
Her arms crossed over her chest, the woman beginning her count aloud. She had just started on 9 when the curtain was yanked back. "Happy now?" Randy sent a wry look to the woman, tugging on the black mesh shirt. While it was certainly a far cry from his custom made suits, the redhead hadn't done half that bad.
For her part, Lita raised a brow; indicating for him to move forward. And, when he did..she smiled in approval. "Looks good." Came the smooth reply, the Diva masking the shock in her eyes. "Now, was it really that bad?"
He shrugged slightly, stepping back into the dressing room to check his reflection. "I guess not," He replied finally, raising a brow at the woman. "Just as long as you don't expect me to dye my hair green or something."
"Oh I wouldn't do that," Lita grinned charmingly, her hands coming behind her to hide the bottles of temporary hair dye. "So, are we ready?"
Randy nodded enthusiastically, "More than ready..I just need to change."
"Uh huh," Lita nodded in response, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We're not leaving here though..until that's paid for."
He rolled his eyes, but said nothing as he closed the curtain. "Yeah, whatever." Came the response, Orton seemingly leaving the redhead to her own means.
For her part, Lita scrutinized the accessories; adding a few to the cache of hair dye in her arms. She winked mischievously to the cashier, quickly stuffing her newest purchases in with the rest. And, with innocence radiating; the Diva stood near the door waiting for Randy to change and re-emerge.
x
One hour later found the two in a reverse situation from earlier. Randy had dragged a reluctant Lita inside an upscale and trendy boutique; patiently arguing his case. After all, he reminded her, she had agreed to go one store of his choice if he had done the same. And, much as she had done prior; he had let her at least pick out the colors. Finally, when she was done picking out two more things to try; he gestured to the honey colored door leading to the dressing room. For his part, he flopped down into a nearby chair, his own purchases already taken care of; and although a screaming opposite from the Trash and Vaudeville bag, he had to admit..this day had been fun. Interesting to say the least, but it was fun. He was just rising to inquire if Lita would be emerging any time soon when her cellphone rang. Now, he knew that he really shouldn't be answering her cellphone, especially when the caller id proclaimed it was Chris Jericho. But at the same time, it could be very important. Truth be told, he would've been content to just let it keep ringing; however when Lita's voice rang out crisp and cool he thought otherwise.
"Hello?" He said, tucking the phone between his ear and shoulder. And when he was met with silence, he tried again. "Hello?"
On the other end of the phone, Chris Jericho blinked. He moved the cellphone from his ear, staring at in disbelief before he began. "Um, I'm trying to reach Lita."
Orton rolled his eyes, settling in the chair again. "Well, she's busy. Can I help you?"
Jericho raised a brow at that, but shook it off soon enough. "Bischoff wanted to me to tell her, that she's not needed tonight. He said that, instead of the house show? She needs to meet with the people from SmackDown."
It was Randy's turn to raise a brow then. "Okay..what about--"
"I'm not sure Orton," Jericho replied before Randy could finish. "You want your messages? Call Bischoff and ask."
Randy gritted his teeth, reminding himself that Jericho was Lita's friend. "Yeah whatever. I'll let Lita know about the changes. Thanks." The cellphone was shut then, Orton rolling his eyes before he sent a look to the still closed door. And figuring that Lita was still against the dress, he stood..his back to the dressing room door while he stared out over the store.
"Who was that?" The redhead queried, raising a brow at Orton's back. "Earth to Randy Orton. Helllooo. Who called?"
His shoulders shrugged, Randy finding himself speechless when he turned. He couldn't mask the approval in his eyes, nor could he stop the smile from forming at the sight before him. And, when Lita took a step closer, he finally responded. "That was Jericho. Bischoff wanted you to know that, you aren't needed for the house show tonight."
"I see," She nodded a touch, her head ducking to glance over the form fitting dress. "What am I supposed to do instead?"
"Uh," He tore his gaze away, both to avoid staring openly and to gather his thoughts. "You're supposed to meet with our SmackDown counterparts."
"Okay, then what about--"
"I'll call Bischoff in a minute." He said evenly, turning to face her again. "You look good."
Her head ducked again, and Randy swore she was blushing. Of course, he was pretty sure that when she stepped out; his own face was red. "Thanks," She smiled a touch, meeting his gaze. "If you don't mind though--"
He nodded towards the door, "I'll make that call to Bischoff while you change. And, same goes for you..we aren't leaving this store until you buy that."
She blinked, eyeing the price tag. "I really don't have the money." The Diva shifted from foot to foot, looking away then.
"Then that's what the corporate credit card is for. Besides, you never know if you might need it." Randy winked to the redhead before he brought out his cellphone, leaving no room for argument.
One and half hours later found the two stuck in traffic. Given, they still had a fifteen minute window before they needed to be there, and the agent had been more than understanding. But that didn't erase the fact that they were stuck, the sun was streaming down through the windows..and the car was starting to heat up. As it were, Randy also had the night off from the house show; Bischoff informing him that he and Lita needed to meet with their travel partners. He also let Orton know that since they would be leaving early for San Fran., the hotel room arrangements had already been taken care of. Both had been equally skeptical at that bit of information, the two hoping that Bischoff didn't screw things up. At any rate, they had now moved half a block in five minutes. The cab driver refused to turn on the air conditioning, and even with the windows rolled all the way down; Lita sat back grasping her hair above her head. In vain, she fanned herself with her hands, quite curling up on the bench seat.
"Is it just me?" Randy began, sending a look to his side. "Or do we just have a knack for getting stuck."
Lita snorted, hazel eyes focusing on a distant building. "I can't really say actually. I mean, anyone could get stuck in traffic..or in an elevator. It's just a matter of it happening twice. Then I'll start believing otherwise."
"I guess," He conceded at that, turning his face to the side. "At least we--"
"Don't say it, cuz then it might happen." Lita cut him off mid-sentence, a brow raising as her face moved to look at him. "What time is it?"
His eyes flicked down to his wrist, the wrestler shrugging his shoulders. "We have five minutes before we need to be there."
The redhead groaned, sweeping her now damp locks from her forehead. "This is just perfect. Not only are we going to be late, but I look like crap."
"Well, no not entirely." Randy admitted hestitantly, his head ducking to assess his own state of crappiness. "We couldn't help the fact that we would get stuck in traffic."
"That makes me feel so much better," Came the sarcastic reply, Lita rolling her eyes. "Maybe we should've just walked."
At that, Randy raised a brow. "And go through another one of your traffic dodging, death runs? I don't think so."
Lita stuck out her tounge playfully, hazel eyes glinting at the man. "Oh come on..where's your sense of adventure? Besides you big baby, traffics bumper to bumper..the Virgin Superstore is a few blocks up."
Randy shook his head, opening his mouth to respond when she decided to play her trump card as a woman. He made a face when she pouted, admitting inwardly that it looked cute before he shook it off. "Fine, have it your way."
Lita grinned triumphantly then, the necessary cab fare already in hand. Her hand moved forward to pay the cab driver, while she grasped the handle on the door. For his part, Randy mumbled his apologies to the cab driver before a hand quite yanked him out. He was thankful then that traffic was bumper to bumper; otherwise he would've ended up as a hood ornament. The now rejuvenated redhead guided them out of the street, and into the pedestrian traffic a few feet away. His hand unconcsiouly gripped hers tighter as the smaller of the two wove them between the tourists and Manhattan natives. As it were, the two arrived to their destination, five minutes late but still had some time to refresh before they were ushered to a table. Once they had regrouped, Randy pushed out the chair for the redhead waiting until she was seated before he took the seat next to her.
x
Randy and Lita had stayed half an hour beyond their scheduled time slot, informing the booking agent that since they had nowhere else to go? It was the least they could do for being late. At any rate, once the final autograph had been signed and the last fan had requested a picture with the two; they were more than ready to head back to the hotel. Once the taxi had pulled away from the hotel's curb, Randy had gathered all of their belongings while Lita lead the way inside. The two eyed each other as they entered the lobby, the redhead wondering then; when were they supposed to meet their new travel partners..and equally important was where. Randy shrugged in response, figuring that Lita had known that information. She pointed out that Bischoff had given him more information than she, and with a slight shake of her head; the two stepped on to the elevator. However, clueless as they were as to who they would be meeting; they would find out soon enough. For no sooner had the redhead emerged, did a voice beckon her name from down the hall.
"It's about time!" Dawn Marie huffed, blowing her bangs out of her face as she rose from the floor. "What took you two so long?"
Lita rolled her eyes at her long time friend. "We got held up."
Dawn nodded then, moving forward to wrap the redhead into a hug. "How've you been girl?"
Lita shrugged, her hands jamming into her pockets to fish for her keycard. "Not bad, not worse. You?"
"Nothing's changed for me." The brunette Diva evenly replied, a brow raising when Randy appeared behind Lita. "And you are?"
Lita rolled her eyes, glancing between the two. "Randy, this is Dawn Marie. Dawn this is Randy Orton. Now, could one of you please back off so I can breathe?"
Dawn smiled politely, reaching over the redhead's shoulder to shake Randy's offered hand. "John's down the hall looking for a soda machine."
Lita sent a look over Dawn's shoulder, "There's one in that direction..to the left of the elevators. But we were just gonna order room service anyway."
"So it's you and Cena then?" Randy grinned slightly, stepping back from the redhead so he could set their bags on the floor. "This should be fun."
Dawn winked at that, "It's always fun when I'm involved."
"Anyway," Lita huffed, her keycard now in hand. "I take you need a place to crash or would Dawn like to sleep in the hallway."
The brunette Diva rolled her eyes, "No she wouldn't." She stuck out her tounge before she playfully nudged the redhead. "Well? Get a move on, we had a harrowing flight and I'm famished."
"Pushy," Lita mumbled as she slid the keycard into the slot. "Um, Randy? Would you mind--"
"No biggie," He glanced down the hall before looking back to the two Diva's. "Don't forget this.." He reminded the redhead, as he held out two bags.
Lita nodded, mumbling her thanks before she quite pushed Dawn into the hotel room. For his part, Randy leaned back against the wall, waiting for John Cena to return from his search. As it were, he wouldn't have long to wait as a soda-less Cena appeared in his line of sight. Orton took it upon himself to inform Cena that Lita was the fourth travel partner, and on that note; the two entered Randy's hotel room.