Chapter 12

Somewhere with in the awkward silence between Carrie and I, I fell into a restless sleep. My dreams were haughting me once again. All I could see was Stacy, telling me that she wanted Dave. Maybe I didn't give her a choice in the airport because I thought that she would choose Dave. I didn't want to hurt Dave. I feel like Judas, but I don't know how to detach myself from Stacy. This is why love is so dangerous. There was no way to prevent all hell from breaking loose. Maybe it had already broken and I was standing in the middle of it. I opened my eyes and looked around the room, this time Carrie had disappeared with no note. I didn't have time to wonder where she had gone.

I showered and got dressed for the autograph signing. I felt numb as I mindlessly went through the routine of meeting fan after fan. I stole a few quick glances at Stacy. I loved to watch her interact with the fans. She was so sweet, always smiling, always giving them hugs. I made eye contact with her only once. I just looked at her trying to understand what was going on in her head. I avoided Dave like the plague and was somewhat grateful for Paul sitting in between us, even though Paul continued to scoff at me.

After the signing I was to meet mom and dad for lunch at the hotel restaurant. They arrived before me of course because, the cowboy was never late and I on the other hand somehow always found a way to be. I spotted them sitting in a corner table. Mom spotted me first. "There's my baby." She came to meet me, embracing me into a huge hug. Now I may be a grown man but I still love it when my mom hugs me. She always made me feel safe. Safe, almost the way Stacy made me feel.

"Hey mom," I said picking her up in to a bear hug.

"Oh…Randy…put me down." She laughed. I always like to hear mom laugh. She laughed a lot when I was a child.

"Well look who it is, soon-to be the youngest champ in history." Dad stood up and walked over to me shaking my hand and pulling me into a hug.

"Oh let me look at you…You get more handsome every time I see you baby…oh but are you getting enough sleep? You look tired….Bob, doesn't he look tired?" Mom started her usual routine. She held me at arms length, after I had placed her on the ground, studying me.

"He looks fine Elaine…Let's sit down and order." Dad said as he led the way to the table. I noticed we had caused a slight scene. But we soon took our seats at the table. "So son, how have you been?"

"I'm on top of the world." I lied.

"By golly, you should be, son. You are the future of this company." I watched my dad say as he read the menu. I wanted to change the subject about me being on top of the world because the truth was I was torn to shreds inside but thought it best to keep it to myself. We chatted over lunch about general conversation until mom got to my love life.

"So any special girls in your life?" Mom looked at me as if she was gleaming.

"A few," I said trying to make light of the situation as dad and I laughed in that annoying way that always irritated my mom.

"Now Randy don't you want to meet a nice girl." Mom said. 'No Mom I have met the perfect woman,' I wanted to scream but I decided in was in my best interest for the time being not to tell they.

"Leave the boy alone, he's only 24, he's got plenty of time to settle down." Dad started on Mom.

"Who are you taking to the Mask tonight?" Mom continued ignoring Dad. She did bring up a valid point. I had forgotten with all the drama for the past few days about the Mask. Being a guy, I thought the idea was a little dumb, a masquerade ball right before Summer Slam but Vince always wanted to portray a sophisticated side to the business and loved elaborate parties. Plus it was a hefty charity fundraiser.

"No one," I said. I meant it. I didn't have any plans of taking anyone. I couldn't very well ask a Stacy to go, she would be with Dave, and I thought it would be a tad unwise to ask someone else with the 'current situation.'

"Why don't you ask, that girl…um…um…oh what is her name?" Mom made a face trying to think. "Oh …the valet girl…pretty blonde….Stacy, that's her name. Ask her."

Mom stated as if she had my life all figured out. I wanted to confess everything, maybe because she was my mom and part of me wanted her comfort. I resisted.

"Mom, Stacy is dating Dave." I clenched my teeth maybe a little hard when I said it. The fact was she still was with Dave.

"Oh well that is a shame you would have made such a lovely couple." She stated. It was my turn to detour the subject to get Mom on a subject that she like more than my love life.

"So Mom, what are you going as to the mask?" I asked her. My Mom sometimes did not take the changing subjects well but I said a silent prayer in my head that this time would be different. This time it work Mom got on a rave about costumes and Dad's lack of enthusiasm.

I finished up lunch with my parents and decided to find Chris to go over the match and to try to take my mind off of Stacy. I was successful this time in finding him and after 3 hours of grueling pain better know as practicing. I headed back to the hotel and up to my room to shower and get ready for the mask.

I was not looking forward to this evening at all. I had an ill defining feeling that something strange was in the air. You know before a disaster happens, the calm before the storm. There was just eeriness that hung over my head. I was standing in front of my door trying desperately to open the it with my card key, I was having almost as much trouble as Stacy had the night before. The light finally turned green and the door popped open. I discovered two envelopes lying in the floor that had been slid under the door.

Both had my name on the out side, my tux with a white mask that would cover the upper part of my face except for the eyes, for the party also was hung neatly on the clothes hanger with a note that read: Courtesy of the hotel staff. It must have been delivered when I was out.

I picked up both envelopes up off of the plush, soft white carpet. I opened the first one and read it aloud. "Randy, we need to talk. I have made my decision. Meet me at the mask by the fountain in the hotel garden at 8:30." and it was signed Stacy. Oh great she had made her decision. I felt nervous as if I would lose my lunch that I was so desperately trying to keep down. That was a quick decision. She must be staying with Dave. That is why it was so easy. Staying with Dave and letting me go.

I had an urge to "forget" to go tonight. It really wasn't my thing anyway. But something inside of me had to know. I had almost completely forgotten about the second envelope when I glanced down at it again. I tore open the envelope and read it aloud. "Charming Frog, all will be reveled. Meet me at the fountain in the hotel garden at the mask tonight at 8:30pm don't be late. I would hate for my frog to become a prince. Carrie." How strange they had requested the same time. What did Carrie intend to revel to me? How did she know about the mask? There were a million and one questions running through my head. Only two was sticking out though: Who the hell is Carrie really? And whom did Stacy choose?

I somehow went through the motions of showering and getting dressed and silently cursing my tux tie for not cooperating with me. But after 20 minutes of struggling it finally complied. I slipped the white mask on my face noticing that it very much resembled the Phantom of the Opera's mask. It looked so white on my tan skin. The Mask had just begun. I was shaky inside but managed to conceal it on the outside. My stomach was in knots. All hell was about to break loose and I was going to be standing in the middle of it. I made my way down into the hotel's ballroom, where there was already a crowd of people standing in line as the invitations were checked. I walked up to the door where a man in a top hat and black cape with a mask similar to mine but it was black asked for my invitation. I handed it to him.

"Have a magical evening Mr. Orton." He said as he extended his arm as to tell me to enter. As I entered I saw Vince has spared no expense on the party, not that he ever did. The ballroom was lit in warm lighting and there were tons of candles sitting on anything that stood still. The place was set as if it was a grand ball that a king would have thrown in the Middle Ages. The ballroom was filled with people in masks it was hard to make out who anyone was. I glanced around for someone I recognized. I glanced at my watch and the Rolex read 8:25. I decided to search for the gardens.

I pushed my way through the crowd of people and saw that on the opposite wall to the entrance that the ballroom had a small door that led outside I walked over to the door and stepped out of it. I was surrounded by a lush garden that was all but deserted which was strange due to the party inside the room. The garden was lit with candles and white Christmas lights. It was beautiful. I was not looking forward to having my heart broken, as I was sure that Stacy would choose Dave.

I sat on the edge of the round fountain and just looked around at the surroundings. My stomach was doing flip-flops as I was clenching my jaw. I reached up to adjust my mask when I heard a voice that I didn't expect to hear. I looked up and I was somewhat startled to see Dave standing in the garden with a letter in his hand. He had on a gold mask and a tux as myself.

"Randy, did you send me this letter? I have to admit it the handwriting looked familiar but I would have never thought it was yours." He laughed. It was all I could do to stand.

"I didn't send you a note, Dave." He handed me the note I read it aloud. "We need to talk. Meet me at the fountain at 8:30." It was not signed but I recognized the handwriting.

It was Carrie's.

Well everyone that was the next chapter I know I took a little longer with it, but I had hit a roadblock. I hope you all like….Please let me know ….Thanks for continuing to read and the next chapter will be a big one I promise. Please review and let me know what you think.