Sydney's P.O.V
I rubbed my nose roughly and wiped my tears as I ended the call with Dave. He didn't know why Randy was being like this. He told me it would be better to phone John, considering him and Randy were tight. I dialled John's house number, knowing either him or Ash would answer...
"Hello..."
"Ash..." I sniffed,
"Syd?"
"Is John there?" I asked, hoping he hadn't gone out,
"Yeah..." Ashley replied, "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not ok" I said, sobbing as fresh tears fell from my eyes,
"Hang on..." Ash said, as I sniffed. I could hear Ash shouting John in background, then the sound of him asking who it was. I overheard Ash saying that I sounded upset, "Hello?"
"John..."
"Yeah Syd..." he replied, sounding worried,
"Do you know what's up with Randy?"
"Why? What's happened?" he asked,
"Coz he won't look at me, he won't talk to me! Have I done anything?" I replied, sobbing again, "He's never been like this with me!"
"Syd..." he began, "Something has happened"
"What?" I asked, "Is it something I've done?"
"No, no, no – what would make you think that?" John asked, sounding confused, "It's nothing to do with you!"
"Then what is it to do with?" I asked, sniffing,
"Promise me that if I tell you, you won't say anything to him or hint it! You gotta wait until he tells you!" John said – it must be something serious if he's making me promise,
"I promise" I replied, sniffing again – getting sick of my nose,
"He phoned me before to tell me..." John began, sighing, "Nana Orton died last night"
"What?" I said, shocked – I'd never met her, but Randy always spoke about the good times they had together and how they were so close. "They were really close weren't they?"
"Yeah... it's hit him harder than any of them, yeah they're all cut up about it. But he spent most of his Summer Holidays with her as a kid, when he wasn't travelling with Bob – he was with her" John began, "And it's only got worse for him"
"Why?" I asked, thinking about how it could get any worse,
"Bob didn't tell him, Beck's or Nathan that she was dying!" John began, "He knew she was dying and didn't tell them..."
"Well, there's gotta be a reason!" I replied, "He wouldn't just do it for no reason... would he?"
"I dunno... everyone's capable of anything" John replied, "But I know Randy well enough to know that he's gunna shoot his mouth of to his dad about it! When he tells you... calm him down... don't let him go home all guns blazing! I don't wanna see his family get torn apart"
"I won't" I replied, "When and if he tells me, I'll keep him calm... He's at mine now until the week after next... He's at mine 'til the Pay-Per View, then he has signings and stuff next week..." I continued, "So he won't see his parents until the week after next... he's bound to tell me before then... I hope"
"Yeah..." John sighed, "Anyway... I gotta go, Imma go phone Elaine and Bob... send them my condolences"
"Ok" I replied, "I'll speak to you and Ash in the next couple of days, later"
"Later" John said, as I ended the call. I sighed; I was stupid to think it was my fault! I just hope Randy's gunna be ok...
FFW AN HOUR
Randy's P.O.V
I was laying in bed, staring into the darkness. Syd still wasn't back and it was dark outside. I was starting to get worried myself. I heard the door click open and I turned over – Syd walked through the door and placed her towel down by the door, I could see her hair was wet by the way it was draped over her face, it didn't look as soft as it usually did. She grabbed something off the table and made her way, quietly, to the bathroom. I heard her lock the door before the sound of the shower echoed through.
FFW 15 MINUTES
The shower had been turned off and it was silent. The sound of the bathroom door made me turn over to face Syd. She walked over to her suitcase and placed her swimsuit in before throwing the towel on top of the other one by the door. She walked over to the bed and climbed in, sighing. She pulled the covers up and didn't say anything. I snuggled up to her and winded my arm around her waist,
"Your hands are cold" she said, giggling with me,
"Sorry" I replied,
"For having cold hands?" she said, sounding confused,
"No!" I replied, "For earlier... I shouldn't have ignored you, I know you were only thinking of me"
"I'm sorry for trying to force you to tell me..." she replied, "I should have just left you to tell me when you were ready... I've realised that now"
"I was only like that before because..." I choked up. Syd turned over to face me, she wiped my eyes. Stupid tears! I thought to myself, "because my Nan died last night" I finished, choking up again and letting the tears fall,
"I'm here Randy" Syd replied, pulling me in for a hug, "She'll be fine!"
"It's not the fact that she's died..." I continued, "It's the fact that dad didn't tell me, Beck's or Nathan that she was dying! We could have at least known, so we could've been ready!"
"Babe... Maybe he has a reason for not telling you" Syd replied, as I held her close,
"I don't care what the reason is! She's my Nan! I deserved to know" I sobbed, "I just really wanna know why he didn't tell us!"
"Babe... you can phone him tomorrow and ask, right now you need your sleep... we'll be up early tomorrow and you can't travel when you're half asleep!" Syd replied, kissing me,
"I love you... you know that right?" I replied,
"Yeah... I love you too, now c'mon we got an early start... let's get some sleep" she said, as I kissed the top of her head, "Night" she finished, snuggling up to me. Within minutes her breathing got deeper, she was asleep. I lay there awake, thinking... before drifting off to sleep...
FFW A WEEK
The PPV had gone great! I had won the title from Cena and I was heading into SummerSlam as the champion! I was on top of the world. The signings had gone great and me and Syd had a couple of days to ourselves in LA – Syd shopped until we both dropped, literally!
I looked over at Syd who was staring out of the Taxi window. The houses lined up on the family's street in St. Louis were rushing by.
"You ok?" I asked, watching her facial expressions,
"Yeah... I'm just tired, and tryna think" she replied, smiling at me,
"About?" I asked, being nosey,
"How my life's changed over the past month and a half!" she said enthusiastically, "I mean, I've found my dad! Got a great life! Amazing friends! And an amazing boyfriend!" she finished, kissing me softly...
FFW 15 MINUTES
"Thanks dude" I heard Syd say as I pulled the bags out of the boot,
"Ahh it's alright... anything for a couple of local hero's" he replied, as Syd giggled – making me laugh. The people round here respected my family a hell of a lot, beside the baseball team, we put this place on the map! Big style!
"Keep the change" Syd said. The taxi driver replied with a 'thanks' as I wheeled our suitcases onto the pavement, before closing the boot. Syd climbed out smiling at me, before closing the door watching the taxi driver zoom off.
"That man friggin' loves your family!" she said, grabbing her suitcase, "Hell! Everyone around here loves your family"
"I know; I know..." I replied, sighing, "Sometimes it gets a bit too much... That's why I had to get out and get my own place... well that and my stubborn father in there" I scoffed, rolling my eyes,
"C'mon" Syd said, laughing and dragging me and my suitcase along with her. We reached the house door and I walked in,
"Hey mum... We're back" I shouted, as the kitchen door opened and Nathan came out smiling, "Alright dude?"
"Aight Randal" he replied, winking,
"Hey! Only mum has the rights to call me that... Its big bro or Randy too you Nath!" I replied, with a hint or sarcasm – winking back at him,
"Whatever" he shouted from the top of the stairs, before the sound of his door closing echoed down the stairs,
"I hope by we, you mean you and Sydney!" mum said, exiting the front room,
"Yeah I do" I replied, as Syd parked her suitcase by the stairs,
"Oh hello kids!" she said, pulling me in for a hug – followed by Sydney,
"Hey Elaine" Syd replied, giggling, "How have you been?"
"As good as can be expected" mum replied, smiling at Sydney,
"I'm so sorry about Nana Orton" Syd said, smiling at me, "Randy's told me many stories about her, she seemed very nice and I'm upset at the fact I never got to meet her... I guarantee she was a great woman"
"Oh, thank you darlin'" mum said, pulling her in again, "She would have loved you!"
"Yeah... she would have" I inserted, kissing Syd's head,
"Do you wanna speak to your dad?" mum asked, looking at me,
"No" I replied, plain and simple,
"Randy..." Syd sighed, "We talked about this, you can't block him out"
"But..." I said, being cut off,
"No buts! You gotta speak to him!" Syd said, giving me a look, "You can take these upstairs and then come down and speak to him!"
"Ok fine!" I replied, knowing there was no way I could out argue Syd on this case. I dragged the cases upstairs with Syd following...
FFW 10 MINS
I walked down the stairs, preparing myself for a fight with dad. As I reached the living room door I could hear dad ranting to mum,
"I couldn't tell him Elaine!" he said, "He's been too involved with Sydney! Every time he phones it Syd this, Syd that! How could I get a word in edge ways with him being like that?"
"Bob! He's head over heels for that girl! You should be happy for him like me and Dave are for them!" mum defended, like she always does,
"OH ELAINE!" dad shouted, "Don't try and defend him! He's been too bothered with Sydney to even ask about his family lately! And you know that's true!" – I'd heard enough and busted through the door,
"Don't you dare blame this on Syd!" I spat, "She has nothing to do with the fact that you wouldn't tell us!" I continued, "What's your excuse for Beck's? The fact that she's too busy being pregnant?" I mocked, "Or Nathan? He fucking lives here!"
"Randal..." mum said, sternly,
"No mum! I've had enough of him and his fucking complaining! The last time it was because Syd was too young! This time it's because I'm spending too much time with Syd! Next time will be the exact same!" I said, as mum looked at me – with the eyes that said she agreed, but she just wouldn't say it, "He can't accept anything! And you wonder why I left home so early!"
"Now you listen to me boy!" dad spat, "I didn't tell you because you're too involved in your work and that girl!"
"That girl has a name!" I spat back - I wasn't giving in, "And it's Sydney! Don't refer to her as some ring rat!"
"For all you know she could just be a gold-digging, ring rat!" dad shouted back,
"Don't even go there!" I shouted, "You don't know shit about her or what she's been through! She could leave here right now and get on with her life perfectly fine! She doesn't need anyone!" I continued, "If you had any idea what she's been through, you'd have a hell of a lot more respect for her!"
"That is true Bob" mum said, agreeing,
"You EVER refer to her as a gold digger or a ring rat again and I swear!" I threatened, "Mum, we're not staying for long... I can't stand to look at him any longer, never mind staying in the same house as him! We'll stay the night then travel back down to mine tomorrow, you can happily come with for a couple of days"
"I'll decide later Randy darling" mum replied, smiling, "I think you should go cool off though"
"Ok, ok... I'll speak to you later" I said, hugging mum – before looking evilly at dad and walking out of the room.
As I exited the room, I saw Syd sat on the stairs. I knew she'd heard that conversation. Her eyes were watery,
"Syd..." I sighed, "You heard everything didn't you?"
She looked up at me, a tear fell. She'd heard it. "It's my fault you can't get on with your dad"
"No its not" I said, sitting down next to her, pulling her in, "He's always been a twat!"
"It's my fault he didn't tell you" she said, beginning to shake,
"No its not" I repeated, "If you weren't here he would have found another excuse... It's nothing to do with you!"
"I shouldn't be here!" Syd said, standing up, "I'll get my bags and catch the next flight out of here" she continued, walking upstairs, "I'm sorry"
"Syd, please..." I replied – she ignored me and carried on walking, disappearing on the landing. I sighed and stood up – making me way back towards the front room. I walked in to find dad on the sofa watching TV.
"Thanks, dad! Thanks! Wreck another life!"
"What did I do now?" he asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice,
"You and your fucking hot shot mouth have made Syd think she aint fucking welcome!" I shouted, making mum come in, "She's getting the next fucking plane outta Missouri! You've wrecked the one week we were gunna have to ourselves!"
"She's leaving?" Mum asked, "Why?"
"Coz she thinks this dick here hates her fucking guts! And she thinks that everything's her fault!" I replied, giving dad the evil Orton eyes,
"Why would she think that?" mum asked,
"Because she heard every lie that bastard there told! She believed every excuse he used then!" I shouted, pointing at dad, who was sat on the sofa – not caring,
"BOB!" Mum shouted, as I looked out of the window to find Syd yanking her suitcase down the drive, "You better go say sorry to that little lady! She's done nothing wrong!"
"It's too late!" I said, rushing out of the house, finding Syd talking to the taxi man. "Syd!" I shouted, making her turn around, "Please... don't go" I said, approaching her and taking her hands in mine, "Please!"
"I don't wanna cause any trouble" she said, as I hugged her and held her waist,
"You aint!" I replied, giggling, "Please... just stay until tomorrow? We'll leave for mine then we'll have the week to ourselves"
"I dunno Randy" she said, sighing, "I just feel in the way"
"You're not!" I sighed, placing my forehead on hers, "please... for me?"
"Ok" she replied, I smiled down at her – making her smile back. I kissed her softly before telling the driver his services were no longer needed and grabbing her suitcase, wheeling it back into the house, with Syd in tow...