Hi everyone! Sorry for the long wait, I've been super busy lately and I couldn't make up my mind on how to write this chapter! Anywho thanks so much to ILoveJohnCena54 and Yakitori-Chan for reviewing! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: If you recognize a name, that means I don't own that person!
*Four months later*
"Heeelllloooo, earth to Tinsley!" Megan said impatiently waving her hand in front of Tinsley's face. Tinsley couldn't help but notice how large her best friends hands were. A 'flaw' that Megan complained about daily.
"Sorry. What?" She asked shaking the thought of Megan's huge hands out of her head.
"What were you daydreaming about?"
"Nothing." Tinsley said casting a glance across the room again. Two tables away sat an adorable little boy with blond hair and glasses. His black t-shirt was a few sizes too big for him but it was the writing on it that had caught her attention. 'Age of Orton', something she'd read a thousand times but before it had brought a smile to her face, now it felt like a punch to the gut. She knew it was silly, Randy was extremely popular, especially in this town. He had grown up here after all. She would have to get used to seeing fans, she would have to get used to probably seeing him. The town was small, they were bound to run into each other eventually. Tinsley cringed at the thought.
"Oh." Megan said following Tinsley's gaze. "I'm sorry."
"Whatever, it's no big deal. Come on, we better go. I have a class in half an hour." Tinsley said quickly gathering her mess. She avoided looking at the little boy as she went to the trashcan.
After the break-up Tinsley had stayed with Megan for a month. In that month she had picked up the phone a million times with the intention of calling Randy, apologizing, and getting back together with him. But she'd always stopped just before pressing the call button. Once Megan had grown tired of Tinsley's moping she'd poked and prodded at her until she finally got out of bed. They started slowly, easing Tinsley back into the real world. They took trips to the mall, got their nails done, even had massages. And then Tinsley got a job. Before Randy, (and that's how she was categorizing her life, 'before Randy' and 'after Randy') she'd worked as a ballet teacher. Her old job was more than eager to rehire her even after such a long period of time. Tinsley found happiness in her job. Monday through Friday she got to interact with three different groups of girls (and one boy) daily. Everyday she got to teach them the steps, the posture, the language and everyday she got to see them progress. Saturdays and Sundays were spent with Megan and their friends. Sometimes they went out but mostly they stayed in and watched movies or embarrassed themselves at Rock Band.
Tinsley got an apartment two months after the break-up. It was a cute loft apartment, perfect for a single lady. She'd painted the loft, her bedroom, hot pink. It was a girl's only zone and the color reflected that. By month three Tinsley was back in the swing of things. She only found herself thinking of Randy occasionally. She thought of him whenever a guy hit on her and she thought of him whenever she passed Raw on tv. But, worst of all, sometimes when she had a bad day she thought of him while she was lying in bed. She'd imagine his arms around her or she'd think about how he talked in his sleep. She became extremely lonely those nights, but the next day she always felt better. Life had, finally, returned to some level of normalcy.
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Randy sat uncomfortably on the couch in his dressing room. He'd won his match that night but the satisfaction just wasn't there. Instead he felt incredibly anxious. Since the break-up he'd only spent a few days at home. And on those days he'd stayed holed up, not daring to go out and risk running into her. But now he had a full two weeks off and no groceries which guaranteed him at least one trip into the real world. 'Maybe I can get Mom to go for me.' he thought before shaking his head. He knew he was being silly, they were both adults and it would happen eventually. They lived in the same town! But no matter what he told himself, every time he thought of seeing her his stomach churned and his heartbeat raced.
When they had broken up Randy had thrown himself into his 'pre Tinsley' life. He spent long hours at the gym, ate dinner on the couch when he was at home, and went out almost every night. He indulged in women, a habit he hadn't given up even with Tinsley but now he did it without the guilty feeling of having a girlfriend at home. To the outside, he looked unaffected by the termination of his four year long relationship. More than one Diva had whispered about how he was emotionless after seeing him chat up some girl at a bar. But Randy knew that he was just putting a band aid on a cut that required stitches. He spent the majority of everyday replaying what an asshole he'd been to Tinsley. He hated himself for treating her the way he had. The truth was he loved her and he wanted her back but he was to proud to call and apologize. Every time he brought a girl back to his hotel room he got to spend a couple of hours not thinking about Tinsley but when the morning light came and he saw a naked girl in bed next to him his heart ached with so much guilt that he had to leave. He always left a note, asking the girl to be gone by the time he got back. His father had told him to 'man up' and call Tinsley. His mother had begged him to get her back. His brother and sister had all but stopped talking him since the split. But whenever he picked up his phone to call her he stopped himself. He didn't deserve her, and he knew she wouldn't take him back. He'd hurt her too badly.
"Hey man. John said suddenly entering the room with considerable noise. Tinsley and Randy has always made fun of him for his inability to walk normally. John Cena stomped everywhere. On nights when they had consumed a few drinks, or were just feeling silly, Randy and Tinsley would hop around, waving their hands in their faces and shouting "You can't see me, but you can HEAR me!!" They'd always collapse with laughter after that.
"Hey."
"What's wrong with you?" John asked nonchalantly as he plopped down next to Randy on the couch. He knew what was wrong, he'd been best friends with Randy for years and he saw through his 'everything is fine' routine.
"Nothing, I'm just tired." Randy lied, running his hand over his bare head. Tinsley preferred him with a little hair so he'd made sure to keep his head shaved as close to his scalp as possible since she'd left. He knew it was childish, and most assuredly unnoticed by Tinsley who had barely watched Raw on tv when they were together 'I prefer to be there live' she'd said.
"Oh yeah, I'm sure that's it." John said scoffing and glancing down at his phone. He was texting Tinsley, they were good friends and he had told both Randy and her that he was not going to pick sides in their break-up.
*What are you going to do for your vacation?* her last text read.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Randy asked his voice unsteady with agitation.
*I'm not sure, I may be coming with Randy to St. Louis so I can visit you* John texted before looking up at his friend and saying:
"Randal, don't play dumb. I know what's bothering you. It's okay to be scared, it's even okay to be upset."
"Felix, don't play therapist. I'm not scared, I'm not upset. I am tired. End of discussion, next topic." Randy snapped as John's phone vibrated.
*Really? Don't get my hopes up if you aren't going to come see me! Lol*
John looked at Randy who sat, arms folded like a pouting child, and sighed. He wasn't thrilled about the two week vacation either. His family were on a cruise and the majority of his friends were in the WWE and would be going to their own homes for the vacation.
"Yo Randal, how about I come to St. Louis with you? I don't have anything going on at home and I need to find something to do for two weeks."
"You can only come if you promise not to be my makeshift therapist." Randy mumbled.
"I make no promises. But I'll try my best."
"Sounds like a plan. I leave in the morning at eight, you better try to get a seat on my flight."
John smiled and hit 'reply' on his phone.
*Get your hopes up, I'm coming to the Lou!*