CHAPTER FIVE

"So?" Randy said to John as he sat back down at the table after ordering one last coffee.

"So what?" John asked, looking at Randy in utter confusion.

"So, we've got to leave in a minute if we want to get to the arena in time." Randy said, taking a glance over at the counter. "Are you going to go over there and ask her out?"

John just snorted and shook his head. "Nope." he said looked away from Randy and down at his cup.

Randy laughed and shook his head. "Oh, come on, John." he said. "You know you want to."

John snickered. "Yeah, well, wanting to and actually doing it are two very different things."

"Ok, if you really wanna miss the opportunity to ask out a beautiful woman, that you're obviously interested in, and will probably never see again if you don't, then fine. It's your lose, I suppose." Randy said, taking a gulp of his drink.

John didn't respond, he just let Randy's words sink it, before glancing in Catherine's direction. He was certainly attracted to her. But he just wasn't sure if she felt the same way he did.

"She's not even interested in me." John suddenly said. "What's the point when she's just gonna shot me down anyway? I might as well just save myself the time."

Randy just laughed. "How do you know she's not interested?" he asked. "Did she tell you that?"

"Well, no, but..."

"But nothing." Randy cut John off. "What have you really got to lose? Just go for it. Unless you're scared." he teased.

John frowned at Randy, then rolled his eyes. He looked over at Catherine again and took a deep breath. "Okay, fine, I'll do it." John said, standing up and trying to prepare himself.

He looked down at his friend, Randy just smirking in response. John took another breath and then a step forward. He paused for a second, then shook his head clear and continued walking.

Randy smiled as he watched his friend disappear behind the counter and out to the back of the cafe. He stood up and grabbed his empty cup, taking it over to the counter. He tried to look around to see if he could see John, but there was no sign of him. Randy just laughed and shook his head. He decided he would wait for John outside.

As he turned around to leave, he suddenly felt his body collide with someone elses.

"Oh, I'm sorry." he said, taking a step back and straightening himself out.

Randy's eyes rose up to see the woman standing in front of him and gave a wide smirk.

"Well, hello again." he said, leaning against the counter.

"If I didn't know any better, Mr. Orton, I'd swear you were stalking me." Melissa said, raising an eyebrow.

Randy just laughed and pushed himself away from the counter.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he offered, moving closer to the young woman in front of him.

"I'm not here for long, I'm meeting a friend." Melissa explained, looking behind the counter for Catherine. "Although, she doesn't seem to be here." she trailed off.

"She works here, does she?" Randy inquired.

"Yes."

"Short, brown hair, about your height, brown eyes?"

"Yeah, how do you know?" Melissa asked, tilting her head to the side a little, giving him a confused look.

"Ummm...well, I think she'll be a while." Randy laughed. "You see, I have this friend...and, well, he bumped in to her outside the bathroom or something...he was quite taken with her, so he's gone to see if she'd be interested in going out with him some time."

"What?" Melissa said. "Oh no, this isn't good."

Melissa frowned and tried to push past Randy to get to the counter.

"Whoa." Randy said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back. "What's the big deal?"

"I'm sorry, Randy, it's complicated." Melissa tried to explain. "I just need to go and find Catherine."

"Hey." Randy held on to her wrist and pulled her over to an empty table. "You're not getting away that easily. Now, John's my best friend, if he's going to be put in some kind of trouble by getting involved with this woman, I'd like to know."

Melissa sighed and ran her hand through her curly hair. "No...no, it's nothing like that." she reassured him. "It's just that...well, Catherine just broke up with someone...yesterday, in fact...and they didn't end on good terms. I just don't think it's wise for her to be getting involved with anyone right now, she's upset and vunerable."

Randy paused for a moment, running his hand over his face. "John's a good guy, he's not going to take advantage of her if that's what you're getting at."

"I didn't mean that." Melissa said, starting to get a little frustrated. "I just don't think she's ready for something like this yet. She needs time to get over her failed relationship."

"Or maybe she needs someone like John?" Randy suggested.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, maybe she needs someone she can actually trust." Randy explained. "John's not the type to mess a woman around. If he's really interested in her, then he'll do anything he can to make her happy. And I can tell her really does like your friend."

Melissa didn't speak for a minute. She sat there and just thought about what Randy had said to her. Maybe what he said was true. Maybe what Catherine needed was a man that she could trust and that made her feel special.

She sighed and looked up at Randy. "You know, maybe you're right." she admitted.

"I think we should just wait and see what happens." Randy said, leaning forward a little. "I mean, she hasn't even said she'd go out with him yet. Maybe she'll end up shooting him down. But if she doesn't, give John a chance. He's really a genuine guy that is really interested in your friend, and who knows, they might end up living happily ever after."

Melissa shook her head and laughed softly at Randy. She looked up in to his eyes and smiled gently. "Thank you." she said quitely.

Randy just smirked and winked at her. "No problem." He glanced down at his watch and said, "I better be going, I'm going to be late otherwise, and that won't go down well with the boss." he snickered, standing up.

Melissa rose from her seat as well and smiled. "Okay, well, thanks again, Randy." Melissa said. "Maybe I'll see you around again some time."

"Yeah, maybe you will." Randy smiled, winking again and he turned and made his way to the exit.

Melissa watched him as he left and smiled to herself. She laughed lightly and headed back up to the counter to wait for Catherine.

Well, there's chapter five for ya. You're gonna have to wait until chapter six to find out what happens between John and Catherine though. Heheh. R&R please peeps.