A/N: This will be the last update until Monday morning. In about twenty minutes, I'm headed to New Hampshire until Sunday morning, and then I'm working 11-7 that night. I just wanted to get this chapter finished, since I've been working on it for about four days now. On the side, I also stared a myspace page for Rylee. It's myspace(dot)com(slash)RyRyCoCo.
Stand by Me
Flashbulbs surrounded the two wrestlers as they stepped out of Randy's rental in front of a club in downtown Houston. From the backseat, Sam and Rylee stepped out, the youngest of the group sending the paparazzi a simple smile and wave. Sam slid her arm through hers as the two ladies started towards the front door.
Rylee just wanted one night to let loose and hang out with friends. Sam needed a night out, leaving Dave at the hotel with Alana to get re-acquainted with caring for a baby again. Randy and John were game for anything that the girls planned, hoping it would involve alcohol -- and a lot of it.
"Hey guys. How are you?" Rylee asked a few of her normal followers with discreet black SUVs and extra long lenses on their cameras. They just nodded in her direction as the foursome started into the club.
They were met with blasting music and multi-colored strobe lights. Dressed in a simple red tank top reaching her mid thigh, with a black belt across her stomach and dark jeans tucked into black heeled boots, she was ready to relax for a night. "What are you guys having to drink?" Randy asked as he and John were headed towards the bar.
"Just a Sprite, Stud."
He nodded and since he knew his wife's usual drink, he followed the West Newbury native towards the crowded bar. Sam pulled the young brunette into a booth close to the back to wait for the guys to come back. "Ry, John is seriously into you."
"You and your husband are like the exact same person, Sami."
The dance teacher smirked. "Really, Ry. It's like he's your bodyguard or something when it comes to the paparazzi." Rylee's perfectly shaped eyebrow rose in confusion. "He just keeps a keen eye on them, making sure they're not up in your face or anything."
"Knowing my darling father, he probably paid John to keep an eye on me. I love my dad dearly, but I need him to trust me more in public. I know how to take care of myself."
Sam shrugged. "Even if your father didn't put John up to it, you know Randy would be taking care of you. You're like his younger sister, Ry." Rylee nodded as a smile took over her face. While someone would think she had enough family in Boston and Washington D.C., Rylee had about the same number in close friends. Whether it was Randy and Sam, some of her dad's other co-workers that she grew up around, her band and label, she had the best group of people around her. All of them were looking out for her. "You're like my little sis, too, Ry."
Rylee reached across the table and gave Sam's hand a squeeze. "So, momma, how does it feel to be out of the house?"
"It's good and bad. I want to be with Alana at all times, but I know I need to get out or else I'll go crazy." The taller brunette shrugged and licked her lips. "And it was a good idea to leave her with your father. I just don't understand why he thinks he's lost touch of taking care of a baby."
Rylee rolled her eyes. "He's crazy like that. After nineteen years, I've come to the conclusion that my father is crazy." The two shared a laugh.
"Damn straight he is." Rylee turned to see Randy and John about to take seats at the table. Randy continued, "But he's just looking out for you, Stunner." The nineteen year old just nodded.
"So, are we just going to sit here or go dance?"
"Stun, I don't dance."
The Boston native rolled her eyes at the six foot four superstar across from her and shrugged in direction of his wife. "Sami?"
"Let's go. Boys, come join when you feel man enough."
The two girls stood up, and as Rylee grabbed Sam's hand, they were off towards the dance floor.
xXx
About twenty minutes and five songs later, Rylee and Sam were letting loose on the dance floor, and openly rejecting any guys that wanted to dance with them.
Deep down, Rylee had the urge to head back to the table and pull both of the WWE Superstars out of their seats to join them on the dance floor. But in her four inch heels, she could just barely see the taller wrestler making his way towards the twosome. Silently, she hoped Randy was bringing John with him. Besides the fact that she didn't want him to be stuck at the table alone, she kind of wanted a dance partner.
A smile broke out across her face as Randy emerged through the crowd -- with John behind him. The St. Louis native greeted his wife with a kiss, while John smiled in Rylee's direction.
"Will those two just hook up already?" Sam whispered to Randy who just smirked. "We're giving them all of the clues, they're both just too slow to put the puzzle together."
"Give it time, babe."
John placed his lips by Rylee's ear. "I can barely dance."
She just shrugged. "My label thinks I can," she responded, a laugh escaping her throat. "Just go with the music. It's all in the beat." John started off on his own, causing Rylee's eyes to widen, showing that she understood his lack of dancing ability. "Here, I'll help you."
She stepped in front of the West Newbury native and placed his hands on her hips. 50 Cent and Justin Timberlake's song "Ayo Technology" blasted through the speakers, so Rylee swayed in time to the beat, with John following close behind.
After a moment, Rylee shook her head and laughed. The Boston native turned around to face John. "You do know how to dance."
When his lips met her ear again, her breath caught in her throat. "It was lame, but it got me close to you, right?"
He pulled away, locking eyes with the nineteen year old. Her chestnut eyes gazed directly into John's sea blue as her lips eased into a simple smile. His hand wrapped around her left hand, out of sight of Randy and Sam, who were dancing next to them, but keeping tabs on their friends. Their fingers intertwined, and Rylee felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
John's smiled matched hers, showing off his dimples. After letting out the breath she didn't know she was holding, Rylee pulled John through the crowd in the direction of their table. Upon their arrival, John slipped into the booth, his hand still holding Rylee's.
The singer took a seat next to John, who in an instant placed his lips on hers. His free hands slipped to the base of her neck, while hers rested on his thigh for support. When the Superstar finally pulled away a minute or so later, Rylee took a deep breath, while their eyes connected again. "What was that for?" she asked, slightly breathless.
"For you being you." Rylee slowly tore her eyes away from his intoxicating blue orbs and licked her lips. John placed his hand to her cheek and turned her to look back at him. When she finally did, he landed yet another kiss to her lips.
xXx
By the time Sam and Randy made it back to the table, John sat with his arm around Rylee's shoulder as she was as close to John as she could get in the booth. "What's up with you two?" Sam asked as Randy wrapped an arm around her waist.
Offering her friend a smile, Rylee shrugged. "What are you talking about Sami? Wasn't this your big plan." A smile just took over Sam's face as Randy just smirked. "Well," she started, turning to face John with her smile intact, "it seems like the big Orton plan worked out."
xXx
Around 1 A.M., the foursome exited the club, Randy and Sam tied up in each other per usual, but John was keeping a tight grip on Rylee's hand, who was a few paces behind him. She was caught up in her own world, and was completely oblivious to the paparazzi still lining the sidewalks.
As they reached the car, John opened the backseat for her, and waited for her to slide in before tossing her a smile and closing the door for her. While the girls were in full conversation in the backseat, John tried to keep some of the paparazzi crowding the car away.
When they finally got the hint, Randy and John got into the front seats and proceeded to drive away from the club, noticing there were two black SUV's following behind them.
xXx