Disclaimer: Still not mine.. Sadly, this is true.

Spoilers/Summary: All in the previous chapters

Thank You: To everyone who has reviewed!

…………

As they strolled towards the haunted house, Lita was now toting a stuffed dog that she had won and the promised cotton candy. Beside her, John was hefting along a stuffed lightening bug, a Miss Piggy doll and another stuffed dog.. Also from wins by the redheaded Diva at the arcade. His pride was stinging just a touch, as she was the one who had bested him at the games.. But that aside, he had been a good sport about it. Such a good sport that he had offered to carry the stuffed animals for her. Of course, she had been more than a bit patronizing when all was said and done but regardless she had accepted the offer. The two were now sporting one more layer of clothing, the end results of the partially air conditioned arcade. The white wife beater tank top was draped over Lita's left arm, the right hugging her stuffed dog close to her form.

"So, you think they're here yet?"

The redhead shrugged her shoulders, "Can't see really.. I'm not a mind reader."

"Well it's gotta be close to 2:00, right?" John stopped when she did, setting the three stuffed animals on a nearby bench. "I mean- when did we get here?"

Lita set down the dog in her arms, an eyebrow raising slightly. "Why? You bored or something?"

He shrugged, plopping between the stuffed animals. "Naw, not really.. I just figured they'd be here. 'Specially since Dawn'll be with 'em .. An' we both know how that woman can be."

The redhead rolled her eyes, opening the bag of cotton candy then. "That's for damn sure.. Don't get me wrong, I love that woman like a sister but she's just so.. So.."

"Nosy?" John supplied in the blink of an eye, "Meddling? Gossipy?"

Lita smirked, tearing off a piece of the spun sugar. "How about all of the above." she chewed thoughtfully before adding: "And don't forget pushy, overbearing, moody-."

At that, John raised an eyebrow, the West Newbury native sneaking a piece of cotton candy. "No offense.. But that last part? At least from what I know of y'all.. That applies to all of you women."

The redhead's nose scrunched, "That's not entirely true."

He scoffed, "It is so true. Y'all women can't make up your minds 'bout anything, y'all are always complainin' 'bout something and y'all are always worried about what other people think.."

She stuffed a large piece of cotton candy in her mouth, chewing thoughtfully before she replied. "If that sexist generalization is supposedly true.. I want proof."

"I wasn't bein' sexist, I was merely statin' the facts." He shrugged, stealing another piece from the bag. "An' that's another thing 'bout y'all.. Always judging people -especially men- without a second thought."

She crossed her arms, "An' next I suppose you're going tell me that all women are petty and backstabbing.. After which," she tore off another piece of cotton candy, using the fluffy concoction as a gesturing tool. "You'll go on to say how much better men are than women-"

"An' there ya go.." he rolled his eyes, "That's exactly what I mean about y'all judging people.. You don't even know what I'm gonna say- you just assume." He smirked, tearing off a large chunk from the piece in her hand. "An' you know what they say 'bout that- it only makes an ass outta u an' me."

She sent him a glare, "I didn't say you could have any of my cotton candy." The redhead moved the bag purposely into her lap. "An' I wasn't judging.. I was making a statement."

"An' so was I." John shook his head, "That's the other thing.. Y'all only hear what you wanna hear. Never botherin' to hear the whole story unless it suits ya." He smirked while adding: "Why should I ask anyway? You'd just say no."

"Oh and who's assuming now, hmm?" She smirked, removing another piece of cotton candy from the bag. "You never asked, so how do you know I would've said no?"

"Now, that? I was just goin' on what I know an' what I've seen of ya." He shrugged his shoulders slightly, "You ain't one to share so freely."

She regarded him suspiciously, "Have you been spying on me?"

"No," he set the lightening bug on his lap, "I've been observin' here an' there, plus- travelin' on occasion with Dawn, leads to her jabberin' away while I listen on patiently."

"But still," The redhead made a show of popping another piece of cotton candy in her mouth, "You didn't ask, so you wouldn't know for sure, would you?"

"Well no, but-"

"Case closed, moving back to what you said earlier." She popped the last piece of cotton candy in her mouth, wiping her palms on her shorts. "I'll agree.. Sometimes yes, women can be pretty judgmental.. I'll admit to it at times.. But that's part of my nature.. It's part of human nature. And as far as the complaining part? I can't speak for everyone, but that's a personal issue. No one person is ever truly happy with everything."

"I guess.."

The redhead nodded, leaning back against the metallic surface of the bench. "As for the always wanting approval? Don't we all? I mean, as children we always desired our parents approval, then our teachers.. Why, as adults, should it be any different?"

"I meant like.. In a physical way. Always worryin' 'bout how they look, or wantin' to look a certain way to impress people."

She shrugged slightly, "Well that's also part of human nature or it has to do with self esteem."

"True.. Though I ain't no psychology major or nothing. Yeah I guess that's true."

"Right, now.. About the moody part? All people are moody- it shows we're capable of feeling emotions. If people weren't moody.. I'd worry."

John scratched his forearm in thought, "Alright.. You made your point. It's not just women- it's human nature.. Just that women have more tendency to show it and or act a certain way."

"But, some men are even more concerned about their appearance than women. Some men are more moody than women."

"Yeah, that's true.. I ain't gonna argue that." He shrugged nonchalantly, "Then can I ask ya something?"

An eyebrow raised, "Concerning?"

"Why can't women just pick one mood an' stick with it for longer than an hour."

"We do."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, "Take you for example.. I've seen ya shift from happy, to jealous, to bitchy, back to happy in the course of forty five minutes."

She raised an eyebrow in turn, quipping dryly, "Lets not forget annoyed, pissed off and irritated."

"An' in the course of less than 24 hours.. You've gone from bein' borderline depressed, elated, immature, angry.. Would you like me to go on?"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm well aware of my emotional changes.. thanks."

"Then please, for my sake.. Pick one mood an' stick with it for more than an hour." He whacked her arm playfully with the stuffed dog. "Like I said before, you're a lot easier to put with when you ain't actin' all uptight."

She pondered that for a moment, returning the whack in the arm with the stuffed dog in her lap. "I'll try my best, but I'm not makin' any promises." the redhead huffed, sticking out her tongue before adding: "Considerin' that bein' around you-"

"What 'bout me?" He feigned hurt, "You gonna point out my flaws or something?"

Lita rolled her eyes, "I don't know you well enough dork."

"Oh, so now we're name callin'?"

She stuck out her tongue again, "You are really exasperating you know that?" the redhead stood, grabbing the stuffed dog as she did so. "I shoulda just left you in Sanford."

"An' how much fun would that have been?" He scoffed, picking up the remaining stuffed animals as he stood. "You gotta admit, this ain't been borin'.. right?"

"Well no," Lita conceded with a shrug, "But I coulda dragged Jeff with me."

"You wound me."

She smiled wryly, "I try.."

"An' just when I thought we were getting somewhere."

"With what?" She eyed him warily, "Moving on from being immature and childish to acting like civil adults?"

John scoffed, "Woman.. There ain't no chance of that happenin'.. I meant that, when we left Sanford? You said you barely knew me.."

"Which I still don't know you that well."

"But, I'd like to think that now we're more friends than we were before.. Right?"

"I suppose," her shoulders lifted in a nonchalant shrug, "Why does it really matter?"

"It don't really, but.." He shrugged then, the two coming to a stop at the entrance to the haunted house. "I'd just like you to know that.. Ya got a friend in me."

Lita blinked, honestly surprised at that statement. She regarded him silently for a moment longer, a small smile forming at the corners of her mouth. "Thanks, that means a lot to me.. And I mean that.."

John grinned, causing her smile to broaden. "You're welcome." He waited a beat before adding: "Corny as this'll sound? You really should smile more."

The redhead rolled her eyes, "Why? Because it suits me or some stupid shit like that?"

He rolled his eyes right back, "Naw, just because.. It's more pleasant to see a smile than say, a jealous glare."

She smirked then, "You ain't gonna let that go, are ya?"

John cracked a lopsided grin, "Maybe I will, maybe I won't.. what's it to ya?"

The Diva shook her head, "You're such a goofball, you know that?"

"Well," He smiled wryly, "Ya know what they say.. Birds of a feather flock together an' all that."

She chuckled softly, "I guess so.." Lita fell silent then, the two still standing near the entrance to the haunted house. "So, haunted house or no?"

"Is it cheesy?"

She snorted, "Extremely."

"Alright.. I'm just gonna go find a locker or something to stash all this junk in." He reached for the stuffed dog, "I'll be back."

Wordlessly, she handed the stuffed dog and his wife beater tank top over; the Diva leaning back against the guard rail as she waited. If anything, yes- she had made a friend in John Cena. Part of that thought bothered her, but it was only a tiny part.. So miniscule that she forced it to the far recesses of her conscious mind. But as he returned, that same good natured smile on his face; she couldn't shake the thought.. The tiny part of her that was bothered with just being a friend. All the same, she did her best to shake it off, the two falling in line for the haunted house.

………

As soon as the two had disappeared from view; Dawn, Victoria, Chris and Jeff appeared in view. The four occupied the bench that Lita and John had been occupying.. A slightly flustered look on the brunette Diva's face. They hadn't been in perfect hearing range of the conversation, but what little bits they had heard weren't sitting well with the New Jersey native. Why, Chris and Jeff couldn't exactly figure out.. But judging by the mixed look of scheming and frustrated on the brunette's face.. They had a pretty good as to why.

"So, after this.." Chris began, sending a pointed look to the Diva's. "Then can we meet up with them?"

Dawn rolled her eyes, "Yes fine.. We'll meet up with them when they're done."

"Finally," the blonde man let out an overdramatic sigh. "Cos' we've been here for at least an hour and we haven't been on one ride."

"Oh quit your whining," Dawn shook her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It hasn't been all that bad, has it?"

"That bad?" Chris echoed skeptically, "Dawn- we're in Myrtle Beach.. And all we've done since we got here, is spy on them."

Victoria rolled her eyes then, "We're staying overnight so it's not like it's been a total waste of time."

Jeff snorted, "Says who? All we've done is sit here or stand there.. We ain't done nothing so that qualifies as a waste of time."

"Lighten up," Dawn chastised with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "I thought the main point of coming down here was so you could get your car back."

"Well that is part of it.." Jeff conceded with a shrug, "But still.. We're in Myrtle Beach. We coulda just as easily met up with them when we got here an' had fun.. But nooooo, you just hafta spy."

"I'm not spying," the brunette retorted indignantly, "I'm giving them their space."

Jeff raised an eyebrow, "Their space for what? To see who can pinch the other the most in the least amount of time?"

Dawn shook her head, "I just think those two are good for each other and-"

"I knew it," Chris smiled wryly, "This was nothing but one of your grand matchmaking schemes, wasn't it."

"No," Dawn retorted instantly, "All I said to John was, go talk to her.. Ask her to dance. That was all. I didn't encourage him -or her for that matter- to take Jeff's car for a joyride to Myrtle Beach."

"Uh huh," Chris shook his head, obviously not buying a word of it. "So you're telling me that, when you asked John to 'talk' to her.. All you wanted him to do was 'talk' to her?"

"Yes," the brunette tossed her hair over her shoulder. "That's all."

Chris and Jeff exchanged a look, the blonde man querying. "And just how long have you been encouraging him to 'talk' to her?"

Dawn raised an eyebrow, "Why does that make a difference?"

"Oh it makes a world of difference," Chris stated matter of factly, "So? How long have you been at it?"

Dawn shrugged indifferently, "Not too long.."

"Dawn.." Jeff shook his head at the New Jersey native, "When are ya gonna learn to just people be? I know Li ain't looking for a relationship right now.. An' pushin' someone ain't gonna help matters either. Just let 'em be."

"I am," Dawn stated defensively, "I've only asked him to talk to her.. That's all.. And besides," She toyed with a strand of hair. "I just want to see my friends happy."

"Can't you see she is happy?" Jeff raked his hands through his hair, "I mean ya, she has her moments but we all do.. Underneath that, there is a very happy, vibrant woman.. Jus' give her some time an' in the meanwhile- leave her be."

"Alright.." Dawn held up her hands in mock defense, "I'll butt out.."

Chris opened his mouth to question her 'innocence' but was cut off shortly.

"There you are!" Lita exclaimed as she and John walked out of the haunted house. "What time is it anyway?"

Jeff flicked a glance to his wrist, "Time for you to get a watch."

Victoria rolled her eyes, "It's 2:30.. We got held up by traffic."

At that Lita nodded, "I see.. Well now that y'all are here-"

"Where's my car?"

"Safe." Lita replied vaguely, at his look she rolled her eyes. "Don't worry Jeff, your car is just fine."

"Good." Jeff stood then, scrutinizing the redheaded Diva. "Don't do this again, ya hear? Or if ya do.. Take someone else's car."

Chris stood as well, the blonde man stretching his arms overhead. "So.. Who's up for a ride on the roller coaster?"

"I'll meet y'all over there," John mentioned quickly, "I gotta pick up the stuffed animals."

"You don't have to." Lita stated before he could take off. "I mean, they are mine so.."

"It's no biggie," the West Newbury native re-assured with a smile. "It'll only take a minute anyway."

"Still, they are mine so.." She shrugged, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll get them."

Dawn looked on with interest as they argued playfully. "Since you can't make up your minds.." at the twin glares she smirked, "Why don't you both get them?"

"Or you can give me the locker key, an' I'll get 'em." Jeff interjected himself into the conversation before Lita or John could retort. "Otherwise we'll be standin' here forever.. And it looks like neither of y'all can afford it."

Lita blinked, "Huh?"

The green eyed man gestured absently to her shoulder. "You're startin' to burn missy."

"Oh," Lita spared a glance to her shoulder, noting with a scowl that she was starting to burn. "Do any of you have sunscreen?"

"No," Victoria confessed then. "They do sell it here, don't they?"

"They should.." Lita bit her lower lip in thought, "I'll go see if they have any.. I do not want to walk around looking like a tomato."

"Or a lobster," John added with a grin, "Maybe we shoulda taken that sunscreen earlier."

Lita rolled her eyes, the redhead departing the group with Jeff. And instead of heading off to the roller coaster as intended; Dawn, Chris, Victoria and John waited for their return. As it were, Jeff returned before the redhead; the green eyed man enquiring about how they obtained that many stuffed animals. Almost reluctantly, John re-told the tale of Lita's success in the arcade and his no so successful run. And by the time he had finished and received some good natured ribbing from Chris; the redhead had returned with the promised sunscreen. Finally when every person in the party had the proper amount of sunscreen applied; they set off for the roller coaster.