Chapter 60: Super Bowl Sunday
Six days later...
John, Nicole, Shelton, and Delancey went to Detroit, Michigan for Super Bowl Sunday and they had just arrived at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.
The gang had hotel rooms next to each other and John and Nicole went inside theirs and set their bags down. Nicole plopped down the bed and John went through his stuff.
"I cannot wait for the Super Bowl today," Nicole said. "It's gonna be so awesome. I mean, one of the greatest rock bands ever, the Rolling Stones, is gonna perform during the halftime show and we're gonna meet Ben Roethlisberger again before the game. This is gonna be an awesome day."
"Oh, it's gonna be awesome, alright," John said, "because I also heard that they're gonna introduce the MVPs of the past 39 Super Bowls at the beginning of the game."
"Oh, so you know that Tom Brady of the New England Patriots will be out on the field and the Patriots have won the past three Super Bowls."
"Yep. Look, Shelton and I got some things to do, so I'll be back."
"Okay."
John went over to Nicole and kissed her and he left the hotel room.
Nicole decided to get a head start to get ready for the Super Bowl. Nicole got off the bed, grabbed her workout bag, and left the hotel room. She went next door and knocked on the door of Shelton and Delancey's hotel room. A minute later, Delancey opened the door.
"Hey, Nicole," Delancey said. "What's up?"
"I'm going to the gym for a little workout," Nicole said. "You wanna come?"
"Naw, I'm cool. I'm just gonna lay down for a little while until Shelton comes back."
"Okay. I'll see you in a bit."
"Alright."
Delancey closed the door and Nicole walked away.
An hour later, Nicole went back inside her and John's hotel room and she set her workout bag down. She then went into her suitcase and pulled out her Pittsburgh Steelers football jersey and denim jeans and Nicole changed into them. Then Nicole went into the bathroom to straighten her hair.
After Nicole was done getting ready, John walked inside the hotel room carrying a box and a bag in his hands.
"Hey, John," Nicole said.
"Hey, Nicole," John said.
"What's that you got?"
"Well, I went out in Detroit and got something for you."
John gave the box to Nicole and Nicole walked over to the bed and sat it down. When she opened it and saw what it was, Nicole's eyes widen and squealed with delight.
"Baby!" Nicole said. "It's adorable!"
Nicole took out a little black and white border collie that John got for her and cradled it to her chest.
"You like it?" John said.
"I love it," Nicole said petting her new puppy. "John, I can't believe you got this for me."
"Well, I thought you would have something to play with while you're on the road, and hey, I thought getting you a puppy would be the best thing. The guy told me it's a year old and it's a girl."
"John, thank you so much. This is one of the most wonderful presents you have given me."
"You're welcome." John gave Nicole a little peck on the lips. "So what are you going to name this little girl here?"
"Well, I always said that if I have a puppy and it's a girl, I would name her Baby."
"That's a nice name."
"Come on. Let's go next door and show Delancey and Shelton."
"Hey, Shelton got Delancey something, too."
"Hmmm, I wonder what it is."
John and Nicole went next door and knocked on the door of Shelton and Delancey's hotel room. A minute later, Shelton opened the door.
"Hey, what's up?" Shelton said.
"Hey," John and Nicole said.
"I see that you happen to love the puppy John gave you. What's her name?"
"Baby."
"That's cute. Wanna see what I got for Delancey?"
"Yeah."
John and Nicole went inside and saw Delancey sitting on the bed playing her Siamese cat that Shelton gave her.
"Oh, Delancey, that is a beautiful cat," Nicole said petting the cat.
"Yeah, I absolutely love it," Delancey said. "Oh, your puppy is so cute. Did John give you this?"
"Yes, he did. Her name is Baby."
"Well, this is a girl as well and her name is Shadow."
"That's a nice name. I'm telling you, I think this day is gonna be even more fun."
"Yeah."
John and Shelton loved to see the smiles on their girlfriend and fiancee playing with their new pets.
A little later, the gang went down the hotel restaurant for lunch before the game.
"So, has either of you talked to Rochelle lately?" Shelton asked.
"I have," Delancey said. "She's doing all right."
"I still can't believe Randy would say such horrible things about Eddie Guerrero," Nicole said. "I still feel hurt though."
"You know what?" John said. "If Randy thinks using Eddie's name is a way to get to the World Heavyweight Championship, what do you think is gonna happen if his plan went to waste?"
"Then he's gonna snap. I mean, it's always about him and the title and he doesn't care. Simple as that."
"But what if his plan works?" Delancey said. "Rey would be disappointed and he'll feel like letting Eddie down."
"Which is why we shouldn't let Randy win at No Way Out, but I gotta warn you, Randy will do anything to win."
After lunch, the gang had arrived at Ford Field and got out of the car. John and Shelton were wearing the home jerseys of the Pittsburgh Steelers and blue jeans and Nicole and Delancey were wearing the away jerseys and denim jeans.
As they entered the stadium, the gang went to the locker rooms to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers and got their pictures taken with them especially with one of the players, Ben Roethlisberger, that the superstars got to meet during a houseshow back in December. After that, the gang stopped near a concession stand.
"Alright, ladies. What do you want?" Shelton asked.
"I kinda want two hot dogs and orange soda," Delancey said.
"Me, I want a burger, fries, and Dr. Pepper," Nicole said.
"You got it," John said.
As the guys went to get the girls their food, Nicole's cell phone rang. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and saw that Rochelle was calling her. Nicole answered the call.
"Hello?" Nicole said.
"Hey, Nicole," Rochelle said.
"Hey, Rochelle. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Are you guys at the game?"
"Yeah. John and Shelton is getting our food. We just met Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers and got our pictures taken with them."
"Aw, that's so cool."
"Yeah, it was."
"Okay. Well, I hope you guys have a good time and I'll talk to you later."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye and tell Delancey I said hi."
"I will." Nicole ended the call. "Rochelle said hi."
"How is she?" Delancey asked.
"She's doing good but she'll feel a lot better once we get our hands on Randy Tuesday night."
"Amen to that."
"Here you go, ladies," John said as he and Shelton were bringing Nicole and Delancey their food.
"Thank you," Nicole said.
"You're welcome," Shelton said.
"So, what do you say we see our friends, the Steelers, kick the Seahawks' ass?" Delancey said.
"Oh, yeah," everyone else said.
Super Bowl XL was a very exciting game. During the pre-game ceremonies, Stevie Wonder, along with Joss Stone, India Arie, and John Legend, performed a medley of his hits. The Four Tops also performed during the pre-game ceremonies.
In honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Super Bowl, the pre-game ceremony featured the on-field introduction of all former Super Bowl Most Valuable Players.
A moment of silence was observed in memory of the two civil rights activists who had died during the months prior to the game: Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks, the latter of a long-time Detroit resident.
Singers Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville performed the national anthem as part of a pre-game tribute to New Orleans, a nine-time Super Bowl host city then in the midst of efforts to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Before the halftime show, the score was the Pittsburgh Steelers, 7, and the Seattle Seahawks, 3.
The Rolling Stones performed during the halftime show performing three songs like "Start Me Up," "Rough Justice," and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." At least there wasn't no "wardrobe malfunction."
At end of the game, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl by the score of 21 to 10 and Hines Ward was named the Super Bowl XL Most Valuable Player.
After the game, John, Nicole, Shelton, and Delancey went to the club and back to the hotel room.
Inside, Nicole was playing with her puppy, Baby. John walked out of the bathroom after brushing his teeth and washing his face. He then smiled at Nicole playing with the puppy.
"You love Baby, don't you?" Nicole said.
"I absolutely adore her," Nicole said.
"So, did you have a good time at the game?"
"I had a wonderful time. I'm so glad we went to the Super Bowl, especially seeing Kurt Warner walking down the field as the MVP from the St. Louis Rams from Super Bowl XXXIV. Delancey was glad to see that as well."
"Yeah. So, Nicole, are you sure you know what you're going to do on Tuesday night on Smackdown? I really don't want Randy to hurt you again."
"John, I'm gonna be fine. Besides, you told me never to back down and never quit, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm gonna get even as much as you want to and I'm not gonna let Randy get away with making such disgusting remarks about Eddie Guerrero."
"I hear you. I just want you to be careful."
"I love you, John."
"I love you, too, Nicole."
Then John and Nicole kissed each other.