A/N: Thanks for being patient. I can't believe we're at chapter 30 already! Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season. Here's an early Christmas present for you. Hope you enjoy. :)

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Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the OC. Everyone/thing else belongs to themselves. This is entirely a work of fiction.


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Chapter 30: Headlines and Headaches

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I watched as the sun came up on the horizon and stifled a yawn. I had slept a grand total of two hours and twenty three minutes last night. And that was not uninterrupted. I had tossed and turned for hours until I had had enough and gave up on sleep. I took to Twitter for a little rant about my being denied entrance to dreamland, checked my emails, caught up on the news and then showered. All that only killed about an hour and a half. Since then I've been sat at the window, watching the world go by and thinking.

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The events of the previous night were replaying in my head. I played that kiss with Phil over and over in my mind, I don't know if I was really trying to figure it out or if I was trying to hold onto the memory of the last time I would ever kiss him. I'm pretty sure it was the latter. The kiss may not have been in the script but it was still storyline, so there was nothing to figure out about it. Though the same could not be said about my other thoughts. Randy was in love with me. He truly loved me. I know he had admitted it months ago but to be perfectly honest, I didn't believe him. I thought he was just trying to use me to antagonise Phil. Plus, I didn't think he was actually capable of love.

But when he was telling me about heartache, I realised that I was wrong.
He was capable of love.

Then it was like everything fell into place.

I saw the way he looked at me, the way he had always looked at me. With a longing that I finally understood. Part of me felt flattered that he felt this way about me. Another part felt guilty and another part of me was scared. For all these years he had been harbouring these feelings for me, never saying a word until recently. I was oblivious for years, thinking he was just a friend, it made me feel uncomfortable that I had been utterly clueless about the whole thing.

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The movement across the room pulled me away from my thoughts. I turned to see Randy looking at me.

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"Hey." He spoke, sleep still evident in his voice.

"Morning." I replied.

"What time is it?"

"A little after seven."

"You're up early." He said as he moved into an upright position.

"Yeah."

"Trouble sleeping?"

"Just a bit."

"Need to talk?" He asked.

"I'm good, but thanks." I replied turning my attention back to the window.

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Randy got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom. As he passed me he stopped and backtracked. I turned to face him. He was looking at me strangely.

"You look different."

"Do I?"

"Yeah. Did you do something different to your hair?" He asked.

"I washed it." I laughed.

"Haha, stinker. But no, there's something else."

"Well I usually blow dry my hair, but I didn't want to wake you so I just let it dry naturally."

"That's it. I like the curls. Suits you." He replied.

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I felt my cheeks blush as he smiled at me. An awkward silence fell.

"Anyway." Randy began, breaking the awkwardness. "I'm going to jump in the shower. Want to grab some breakfast after?"

"Sure."

"Cool." He replied before heading into the bathroom.

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While Randy showered I took the opportunity to get dressed.

I changed out of my pyjama's and sat down at the vanity table and looked at myself in the mirror. I could see the slight purple tint under my eyes from lack of sleep. Feeling self-conscious I opened my toiletries bag and took out a hair elastic, slipping it onto my wrist before proceeding to pull out some make-up. I applied a light foundation to my face, making sure to cover the blemishes under my eyes and finished off with a touch of eye-liner, with my usual flick at the corners of my eyes. Light and simple.

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Randy exited the bathroom fully dressed in a pair of jeans and white t-shirt and went to slip on his shoes. I gathered my hair in my hands and pulled the elastic off my wrist, tying my hair into a pony tail at the back of my head. As Randy moved towards the door and grabbed his wallet from the dresser, I lifted my bag from the floor and checked my appearance in the mirror one final time. I reached up and pulled the elastic from my hair, letting the soft waves fall naturally around my face before standing up. Randy smiled at me as I exited the room as he closed the door behind us.

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We rode the elevator in silence for two floors until the doors opened on floor six to reveal Ted in a lip lock with a mysterious brunette.

Upon noticing Randy and I looking at him with humorous expressions, Ted's eyes went wide.

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"Hey Ted." Randy spoke causing the brunette to turn to look at us.

"Uh, hey." Ted replied unevenly.

"Who's your friend?" I asked with a playful tone.

"She-"

"I'm Denise." The brunette replied, cutting Ted off.

"I'm Randy and this is Scarlett."

The brunette looked at Randy like he was the first bit of food after a famine.

"I know who you are. I'm a huge fan of yours Randy." She purred.

"So Ted, your sister and I are going to get some breakfast. Care to join us? You can bring your friend."

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Denise's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, she turned to Ted with a pleading look.

"Maybe another time. I... um... I'm busy right now." Ted spoke looking at Randy with a pleading look of his own. "I was just walking Louise to the elevator."

"Denise." She corrected.

"Yeah, uh Denise."

"My brother the gentleman." I spoke.

"Yeah, that's me." He laughed nervously. "Anyway, I've got to run. Enjoy breakfast."

"Bye Teddybear."

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Randy and I looked at each other with matching shit eating grins.

"Bye Teddybear." We both sang.

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Ted sent us a glare. He then turned to Denise and said "I'll call you."

"But-" She spoke before the doors cut her off.

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She turned to us with a frown.

"But he doesn't have my number."

"Oh well we could give it to him for you." Randy suggested, a wicked look in his eyes.

"Really? Oh thanks." She replied staring straight at the viper.

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She hastily wrote her number on a piece of paper and handed it to Randy.

"We'll make sure he gets it."

"You can call me too if you like." She smiled.

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Thus this became the most awkward elevator ride ever.

Randy raised an eyebrow at her flirty tone.

I turned away from the scene before me, wanting nothing more than to pry the doors open and get away.

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"I've got a girlfriend." Randy replied.

"And?"

"And... this one gets awfully jealous." Randy replied throwing his arm around my shoulder.

"Oh. I didn't know you two were dating. I mean, I did but I thought it was all just for TV. I didn't know you were a couple for real."

"You're not the only one." I replied sending Randy a look that told him I was not happy.

"Yeah, it's all kind of new. Not many people know yet." He smiled at her before turning to me with the same smile.

"Oh right."

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Silence descended once again.

As soon as the elevator reached the next floor Denise was out of there like a bullet. I'm going to guess she wasn't even staying at the hotel and the awkwardness was just too much for her to take.

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As the doors closed again I looked at Randy.

"What?"

"You couldn't have come up with a better excuse? One that didn't involve me?"

"She put me on the spot. You were the first person that came to my mind other than Ted."

"You should have played the gay card."

"Please, I highly doubt she'd believe that I'd go for Ted."

"Hey. That's my brother." I scolded.

"No offence, but if I was gay I'd be way out of his league. Ted missed out on the good looks in your family."

"Hey!" I slapped his arm.

"Ow! That means you got them all. I'm complimenting you woman!" He yelled laughing. "Jeez did you get all the temper genes too?"

"Do you want me to hit you again?" I asked with my hand raised.

"I apologise for calling your brother an ugo."

"Apology accepted." I replied, leaning back against the wall again. "Though his taste in women leaves a lot to be desired."

"I didn't want to say anything, you know in case I got hit again, but since you brought it up... Woof."

"I know being on the road is hard and you guys have needs but ring rats? I thought Ted was better than that."

"Hey don't lump us all in together."

"Are you saying you've never banged a ring rat?" I asked sceptically.

"You know your elocution is your most attractive quality."

"Fine, don't answer my question. I'll just take that as confirmation that you have." I said smugly as we stepped off the elevator and into the lobby.

"I'm not saying I have but, if and I mean if I had, it wouldn't be about the sex."

"So the riveting pillow talk is the appeal?" I quipped.

"No. Being close to someone is the appeal. It's lonely on the road, some guys have girls to go back home to, others are lucky enough to have their other half travel with them." Randy spoke. "For people like me, well there's nothing waiting for us when we get home, no hug, no kiss, nobody to say they missed us. So when a girl throws herself at us we take it. Sometimes it's just nice to feel connected to another person, even just for one night."

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I stared at him in surprise. I had never really thought of Randy as a deep person, in fact I thought he had the depth of a kiddie pool, but over the last twenty four hours I had heard him come off with things I had never expected from him. I'd never thought of the reasoning behind one night stands other than the obvious, but Randy's explanation actually made sense. And I found myself feeling guilty for just thinking he was a shallow man whore.

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"Hypothetically speaking of course." He added.

"Oh yeah, of course." I replied.

"So..." Randy began after a brief moment of silence. "Breakfast – Hotel or IHOP?"

"Well I do love IHOP pancakes." I beamed at the thought.

"IHOP it is then."

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We took a booth at the back and ordered. When my pancakes came out I was in my element. I'm sure I looked like a complete animal when I got tore into them.

Randy laughed and flicked a bit of egg at me. I flicked the same piece back at him only to have another piece hit me in the forehead.

"Hey!" I tried to sound angry but failed instead laughing.

"You left me no choice. I was afraid to get your attention with my hand for fear you'd bite me."

"Sorry. I love pancakes."

"I can see that, Mrs Butterworth."

"Got a problem with that?"

"Hell no. Just don't eat me." He laughed. "Oh, looks like we've got company."

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Randy nodded to the window beside us. Sure enough there were a few people waving and snapping photos of us. With eyes watching us we decided to get the rest of our food to go, I wasn't too keen on having myself snapped the way I eat. After signing a few autographs we walked back to the hotel at a leisurely pace, Randy carrying the food.

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We entered the lobby and were heading towards the elevators when a voice called out to us.

"Enjoy your breakfast?"

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I turned to see Ted coming out of the hotel restaurant.

"Yes actually. I got pancakes." I smiled pointing to the bag Randy was carrying.

"You went to IHOP? Without me?"

"We did invite you." Randy replied.

"Yeah you also invited Louise."

"Denise." I corrected.

"Whatever."

"That reminds me." Randy pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Ted. "Denise's number. You forgot to get it."

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Ted's face dropped.

"You two think you're real funny."

"I like to think so." I grinned.

"Well I don't. That was awkward enough this morning without you guys fooling around."

"Aww, we're sorry Teddybear."

"Do you want a hug?" Randy asked with outstretched arms.

"Fuck you." Ted replied.

"Aw Teddybear."

"Fuck you too." He said pointing at me before stomping off.

"Well that was rude. Think I know where they got the idea for the movie 'Ted' now." I quipped before we both began laughing.

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I watched as Ted walked outside of the hotel, still holding his middle finger up towards us. That's when I noticed Phil and Miz at the doors to the restaurant.

Our eyes met and I felt my stomach tighten. He didn't look happy and I instantly felt guilty. Randy placed his hand on my back to get my attention. The elevator had arrived. I tore my eyes from Phil and walked into the carriage, stealing one last glance before the doors closed.

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The house show went like clockwork, I had a match with Eve and Brie Bella and then I accompanied Randy for his match against John Cena. After getting showered and changed I was packing up my clothes when my phone alerted me to a new text.

'Hey, you might want to check out the dirt sheets. I've emailed you the link. Nattie xx'

I opened my emails on my phone and clicked the link Nattie sent. The page opened up and I instantly saw what she wanted me to see.

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'New Romance?'

We all know not to believe everything we see on TV especially in the world of professional wrestling but could one of WWE's storylines possibly be becoming a reality?

WWE fans will be aware that current WWE Champion Randy Orton and Diva Scarlett have been in an on-screen romance for the past few months. But could things be heating up between the pair off-screen?

The pair left the arena after Monday night's Raw together and were then spotted outside their hotel chatting in the privacy of Orton's car. Okay, so that doesn't sound like much, but then this morning the former Legacy members were spotted laughing and joking and looking rather cosy at a local IHOP where they were photographed enjoying breakfast together.

What some of you may not know is that the resident red-headed Diva is rumoured to have been in a relationship with WWE Superstar CM Punk [Real name Phil Brooks] for the past two years. The two have been inseparable since before Scarlett made her WWE début, that is until recently. The two have not been seen together in over a month. Could this mean their relationship is over? Is the Viper to blame for their break up? Or is this all just a coincidence?

UPDATE::

A guest at the hotel told us exclusively;

"I saw them together. Randy had his arm around her. They told me they were dating."

Randy Orton and Scarlett DiBiase are dating.

You heard it here first.

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Beside the article was a photograph of Randy and I laughing while we had breakfast. Below were photos of us in the ring and one of us in the hotel lobby earlier.

"Fucking Denise." I cursed.

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The exclusive with a hotel guest, it had to be her.

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I packed up the rest of my things and opened the locker room door. As I was walking down the corridor towards the exit I heard somebody calling my name. I turned around to see Ted running towards me.

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"Ted? What's wrong?" I asked noticing his urgency.

"Are you OK?" He asked looking me over.

"Yes Ted, I'm fine. Why?"

"He didn't hurt you did he?"

"Who? What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Punk."

"What? No. Why are you even asking me that?" I asked growing more and more confused by the second.

"You need to stay away from him." He warned.

"Why? What is this all about? Why are you so distressed?"

"Because Punk is on the warpath. He just attacked Randy."

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Balls.

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Thanks for reading.

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Roxxi =)