For Months after that day Randy went back into his old habits, not having his two best friends around anymore affected him more than anything. He let the voices in his head convince him that he didn't need them, all he needed to do was party, get drunk and sleep with hot chicks; and that's exactly what he began doing.
John found it a struggle to not stop Randy from what he was doing to himself and to his career but he made a promise to Ryder that he would take care of her, and she didn't need to see what Randy was doing to himself, it would kill her. He and Ryder had become the closest of friends, and nothing would come between them, John tried his hardest to keep Ryder away from Randy so she could continue being happy.
As happy as Ryder was on the outside there was still a part of her that loved and missed Randy, he was the first person she had ever felt that way about. She was well aware of what he was getting up to now but she just didn't want to believe it until she saw it for herself.
Ryder was sitting in the training room preparing to cool John down after his match with Big Show when she heard him talking to someone down the hall, Moving closer to the door Ryder heard two familiar voices, John was fighting with Randy, again.
"Come on Randy, you have you title match tomorrow night and you're just going to leave it like this?" John noticed Randy holding onto his shoulder again, he had just been put through hell at the hands of Alberto Del Rio.
"John I don't need you babying me okay I'm fine, I don't need yours or anyone else's help okay!" Randy Snapped at John
"It's your title on the line, and you can't win against him when you're injured like this!" John tried to reason with him, as angry as he was at Randy he didn't want him to lose his title, or his job.
"I'll be fine, just got to get some rest." Randy winked and laughed at John, pushing past him and out of his sight; John just shook his head and decided to go back to his locker room forgetting all about Ryder.
After the show everyone decided to go out for drinks and get excited about The Royal Rumble tomorrow night, everyone was enjoying themselves and getting really drunk, all except for Ryder who couldn't take her mind off of Randy and John's conversation this afternoon.
Ryder looked over to John and he was having a blast with his friends, she decided she would just walk back to the hotel, it wasn't that far away and it was a nice night for winter. Ryder grabbed her coat and text John saying she was leaving and that she would see him tomorrow afternoon.
Ryder stepped outside and it was still snowing a little bit but it was a refreshing change from the humidity of the club. Just as Ryder was leaving a noise could be heard coming from around the side ally way, it sounded like an argument. She stuck her head around the corner to see two guys picking on one other guy, who just happened to be Randy.
One of the guys was holding him and the other was sizing him up for a fight. At the risk of getting hurt, Ryder decided she had to do something about it. She pulled out her Cell phone and called out to the two men. "Let him go or ill call the police!"
They both looked over to her and laughed. "We'll be done before they come princess."
"What do you want from him?" Ryder stepped closer to the two men trying to see if Randy was ok.
"This is Randy Orton sweetheart; He's got all the money in the world. Were just gonna beat him until he decides to give us all he's got."
Ryder took out her purse and handed the guy all the money she had as well as her credit card. "Here, this is all I have but the number for the card is 7459, I work with him and we earn the same amount of money, please just leave him alone."
Seeming satisfied one of the guys let Randy go, letting him drop to the floor. "Thanks sweet cheeks, have yourself a goodnight." As they both left Ryder ran over to check on Randy, who was slightly beaten up but still conscious and drunk. "Time to go home Randy." Ryder sighed.
Ryder called a taxi and she escorted Randy back to his hotel room, as there was no way he would make it by himself. Finally they made it back to his room and Randy fell onto his bed as Ryder got him a glass of water.
"Are you insane? You have a match tomorrow and you go out and get drunk and almost robbed!? You are a fucking idiot!" Ryder handed him the glass and stood in front of him.
"I was fine Ryder, I didn't ask you to come and save me you know?" Randy took a drink, he had started to sober up after all the effort it took to get himself back to the hotel room.
"Well you would be one poor and broken man if I didn't!"
Randy sat there in silence, she was right he would of and she just gave up everything to help him even though he had treated her like dirt. "I'm sorry I put you in that situation."
Taken aback from his apologies Ryder shook her head. "It doesn't matter Randy, you just need to get some sleep, and come and see me in the morning okay, ill fix you up." Ryder smiled softly, it wasn't fake; she was just glad to speak to him again.
"Why do you want to help me?" Randy couldn't get it around his head why she didn't just leave him to suffer.
Ryder could feel all the emotions coming back into her mind, and a tear trickled down her cheek.
"Because I still care Randy, unlike you. You just went off the rails and changed completely you didn't want to see how everything affected me you only cared about yourself" she wiped away the tears "I get losing your fiancé would be terrible but I would have been here still to help you, but you just pushed me away instead."
Randy stood up and moved closer to Ryder, he could see how hurt she was, all because of him; he wanted to hit himself for treating her this way, she had a heart of gold and that shouldn't be taken advantage of. He put his arms around her "I'm so sorry Ry, I'm so so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you like this." He pulled away still holding onto her waist. "I want to be back in your life, just like before."
Ryder smiled softly. "So do I, but you have to promise no more secrets this time."
"I promise on my life Ryder, I won't hide anything from you again." Randy smiled.
"Ok, I'll hold you to that one." She didn't trust him anymore, but what could it hurt to try one more time, she had nothing to lose. Ryder glanced over to the clock on the night stand 2:00am "Randy you have to go to sleep, you are going to be so sore in the morning and hung over." Ryder softly pushed him towards his bed. "We can talk more tomorrow." She smiled.
Randy grabbed her hand as she pushed him away. "Stay with me."
"I can't Randy." As much as she wanted too, she still loved him and she didn't know if he still loved her back. She didn't want to ruin their friendship again, not over a stupid heart.
She wrote down her number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. "Call me tomorrow morning when you wake up, I'll come and help you get over your hangover okay." Ryder smiled softly and giggled.
"I have to be up at 7am, you might as well just stay Ry, come on; it will be like a slumber party." Randy smiled.
"How about I stay with you until you fall asleep then I'll see you in the morning?" Ryder tried to bargain with a very stubborn Randy.
"Fine, have it your way then." Randy took off his shirt and climbed into bed gesturing for Ryder to come and lay beside him.
Ryder smiled and lay beside him above the covers, trying to help him go to sleep.
"Night beautiful." Randy turned toward Ryder and smiled.
"Night." Ryder returned the smile, so glad to have her best friend back, unfortunately with the same feelings, feelings that would hopefully go away in time.