Flashback

I grunted as I pushed up on the 195lb.weight that skimmed my chest. Conditioning had NEVER been this intense before! But having your best friend call you and tell you that she'd gone out with the guy you'd privately considered "Yours" well...it made a girl want to do something strenuous. And since dad had already told me that if I rammed another car because the person in it "couldn't drive", or because I'd heard something I didn't like on my cellphone voicemail, he'd pull me out of school and make me go back on the road with him, I tended to take my frustrations out in the weight room. "My insurance DOES NOT cover PMS, Molly."

I finished my twelveth rep and sat up, burnt out for the day. I'd been working out since noon and it was already a little after 5 pm. Wiping my face with the driest end of my towel, I stood and stretched. Time to hit the showers and then get home as quickly as possible. I had a hot date with Ben & Jerry and a pint of Chunky Monkey. Grabbing my bag, I started off towards the shower when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Still working without a spotter, I see."

I froze. It couldn't be. I had JUST spoken to Steph that afternoon and she'd said that she had gone out with him the night before. That was a good 400 miles from my school, not that he'd have any reason to be here in the first place. I turned slowly and my breath caught in my throat. My God, how was it possible that he looked THAT good? His short brown hair was mussed, as though he'd been running his hands through it in an agitated fashion. The black polo shirt he wore brought out the intense blue of his gaze and set off the golden tan that touched his body. And what a body, too! Muscles. That's all I could think. Muscles. The sleeves of his shirt were tight around his biceps, as though they could barely restrain them. The material was stretched tight across a broad chest and tucked into the narrow waist of INCREDIBLY snug jeans. My god, he HAD to have spray painted them on. I swallowed hard and licked my lips, hoping I didn't look as hungry as I felt. But my mouth and lips had suddenly become dry and if I were to speak without making a fool of myself, I had to moisten them. I took a deep breath and tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"Still making obvious observations, I see."

Randy Orton laughed as he pushed off from the door frame he'd been leaning against. "Gee, I've missed you too, Flair." I arched an eyebrow in his driection, but didn't move from my spot. He stopped a mere inch from me, his smell intoxicating my senses until all I wanted to do was bury myself in his arms and kiss him for all he was worth. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his mouth as he spoke softly, reaching out to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. "REALLY missed you."

I laughed wryly and took a step away from the gentle brush of his fingertips. "So, lemme guess, you going out with Steph made you feel closer to me, is that it? I mean, she IS my best friend and all..." for a split second I thought I'd seen confusion flash in his eyes. But as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone to be replaced by that familiar and infuriating smirk.

"Jealous, Flair?"

I gave a very UN-ladylike snort and turned away, heading once again toward the showers. I should've known better than to think he'd ever meant anything by what he'd said to me those last few days before I'd left for college. And after all, it HAD been almost three years ago...

"You wish, Orton. Why don't you go on over to the Kappa Delta house, Randy? After all, those ARE the easiest girls on campus...right up your alley." The next thing I know, I'm being whirled around and pulled tight against the chest of one VERY pissed off man. Boy. Whatever the hell he was classified as now. I looked up into eyes clouded with fury. Damn, but he was getting me all hot and bothered with this whole take charge thing!

"Watch your mouth, little girl." I couldn't help it. I laughed at that one.

"Little girl?" I jerked out of his grasp, crossing my arms over my sweaty shirt. "If you'll remember, SWEETHEART, I'm older than you."

Randy's eyes clouded over and all of the sudden, I could've SWORN that the temperature in the room went up to over a hundred degrees.He snatched me to him again, this time, his grip punishing. "That may be SWEETHEART, but I don't take comments like that from anyone. Not my father, not my brother, not any of the guys...and I sure as HELL don't take them from you!" I had never seen Randy look as angry as he did right then. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just the slightest bit frightend of him at that moment. He must have been able to tell, because almost instantly his touch gentled on my arms and the hardness left his face. He sighed heavily and dragged me to him. I couldn't move, too shocked by his little outburst to really do anything.

"I'm sorry, Molly." His words snapped me out of my stupor and I shoved away from him, crossing my arms, once again over my chest.

"Just...go, Randy." I turned and started back toward the showers.

"Molly, wait, please." I stopped, but didn't turn around. It annoyed me to no end that I was starting to tear up and I refused to let him see me that way. I hadn't cried in front of him in the hospital two years ago and I wasn't about to start now. I heard him approach and stood there, stiff as a board. I'd be lying if I didn't say a BIG part of me wanted to do nothing more than throw myself in his arms. But, damnit, I was a Flair and pride was always in our way. A large warm hand took hold of my arm and turned me gently towards him. I looked up at him and all of my good intentions of not crying vanished. With a strangled sob, I jerked out of his grasp, horrified at what I thought was pity reflecting in his eyes.

"Do us BOTH a favor, Randy, and pretend this never happen." and without looking back I went into the women's lockeroom and bawled like a baby.