Rockband ... yes that is what the WWE superstars could be found doing on Friday nights. There was no glitz and glamour for them, nope just a hotel room, a television, and a few bags of chips to make them happy. Tonight everything was being held in Mac and John's room. They took turns on who hosted their little Rockband fests. Ana was always invited but she never went because she felt that the Rockband nights were something the group did and she didn't want to intrude on that but Mac had insisted that she come this time. So there she was in her most comfortable pajamas, another part of the rules for Rockband night, waiting for Mac to answer the door.
"Hey Ana" Ken came to stand next to her. He smiled at her. She looked him over noticing the blue plaid sleep pants and the white wife beater.
"Hey Ken" she replied politely. "Did peg you as a person who wore flannel pants to bed"
"I usually don't but that's part of the rules ... guys have to wear pants not boxers"
"Damn you guys have a lot of rules just to hang out" she remarked.
"Well the boxer one kinda makes sense I mean there really isn't all that much to keep ya covered and the last thing any guys wants to see his another guy's package" the Green Bay native laughed. "Randy and John came up with that rule".
"Makes sense I guess and I'm sure it's easier for the girls that way too cause no girl wants other girls to see their man's package" she chuckled a little.
"Very true"
"So ... what about you? Do you have a guy who you don't want other girls to see his package?" he tried to act as nonchalant as possible.
"Was that your unobvious way of asking me if I have a boyfriend?" she asked with a laugh.
"Yea pretty much" he shrugged.
"No ... I'm single"
"Me too" he added for her benefit.
"Good to know" she giggled.
"Yea ... just haven't found the right girl yet" he bounced a little on his toes wondering to himself why he was making such a fool of himself and why it was taking so long to open the damn door.
Ana knocked again this time a little harder than the previous time. "It's open" they heard Mac yell from inside the room. The pair walked into the room to find Randy, John, and Mac engaged in a fierce twister contest.
"Figured you guys would have realized it was open after nobody answered" Mac was currently contorted in a very uncomfortable looking positing. A look of determination on her face.
"How long they been at it?" Ken asked leaning against the back of the couch next to Maria who looked just plain bored.
"Bout 30 minutes, Mac is obsessed with beating Randy but he's pretty good considering his size and I don't know how John has lasted this long" the Diva replied spinning the little spinner thing. "Red" she called out.
Randy tried to move but ended up falling over in the process. Everyone could hear Mac snickering. "Green" John attempted to place his arm over Mac's body to reach the little colored circle but lost his balance and knocked both himself and his "wife" over.
"Damn you John" Mac laughed.
"Sorry baby" he gave her a quick kiss before helping her up.
"So you guys do this every week?" Ana asked amused.
"Yep, pretty much" was Mac's reply.
"If you'll guys excuse me I have to make a quick call" John excused himself moving towards the bedroom. Ana knew he was going to call JJ and say goodnight.
"Mac, why do you guys seem to make a phone call at the same time every night?" Maria asked.
"We do not"
"Yea Mac you kinda do" Randy interjected.
She looked towards Ana for help. "Guys come on I'm bored lets start playing Rockband" the dark haired girl remarked trying to take the attention off of her friend. Everyone turned their attention to her and Mac mouthed the words thank you. With everyone else distracted she was able to slip into the bedroom with her husband. They both returned a few minutes later. Everyone who was there was already playing. Bruce Springsteen's "The Wrestler" started playing from inside Ana's pants pocket. She looked bashfully at everyone as she reached in to grab it.
"Hey dad" she said into her phone. "Nah you didn't interrupt anything I'm just hanging out with my friends". There was something different about her as she talked to her father. Maybe it was the uneasy smile that appeared across her face as she tried to speak as casually as she could. Ken watched her in confused puzzlement.
"I promise dad ... I'll be there on Tuesday" she rolled her eyes. "Ok I love you too ... no dad I really will be there ... give my love to my siblings and Patti"
"So where do you have to go on Tuesday?" Randy being the nosy bastard he was had to know.
"Mind your own business Randal" Mac snapped at him.
"It's cool I have my little brother Sammie's birthday party to go to he's turning 15"
"Are your siblings as much as a pain in the ass as my older sister is?" Randy asked.
"Nope, we're all pretty laid back people" she replied. "And I don't think Mac is a pain in the ass at all".
"Thank ya kindly"
"You're very welcome"
"You women ... you all stick together" Randy scoffed.
"You are like 2 seconds from an ass whoopin lil brother" she emphasized the word little.
"You think just cause you are older you are better that me"
"Oh lord here we go" John covered his face with his hands.
"Don't look directly at them" Ken jokingly whispered.
"I don't think I am better than anyone but like it or not I am your older sister and not by my choosing might I add ... I never wanted to be Bob Orton's daughter but you know what I am so deal with it"
"Why must you two always start with each other?" John asked the two of them like he would if he was scolding his children.
"She started it"
"Am I going to have to put you two in time out?" John asked.
"Oh shut up" Mac rolled her eyes.
"What did I miss anything good?" Tiffany asked letting herself into the room followed closely behind by Melina. "Sorry we were late but a sista needed to get her hair did"
"Mac and Randy at eachother's throats ... so you really didn't miss anything new"
"Ok well that's good cause you know how I hate to miss things"
--
"You ready to do this?" Ana asked Ken.
"You bet" Ken picked the song. He was playing guitar and Ana had the microphone.
Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" started playing. Ana bit her lower lip. She could do this ... there was no reason she couldn't. She took a breath and began singing along to the song. Knowing her father's every intentional pause and random woos and grunts came in handy. She even had that very Springsteen like swagger going on. Ken watched her in amusement. Ana finished the song and they both got perfect scores. They high fived.
"You are a natural Springsteen" he said grinning.
She froze and look at him with almost horror-filled eyes. "W...what did you call me?"
"Springsteen ... seems like a good nickname?"
"I agree with Ken" Mac added her two cents sending a knowing look in Ana's direction. Ana glared at her friend which went unnoticed to everyone but John, who now knew that Mac knew something he didn't. Mac held her stare because she still agreed with her earlier advice about telling Ken.
"Well then it's settled Ana's new nickname is Springsteen"
"Yay ..." she tried to sound excited but she was anything but.