The flight was more than awkward….at least for Randy. Outside of the constant chatter of his comrades he knew for a fact that Rae was looking at him. He could feel it. The only problem was-- he couldn't prove it. Every time he turned around to catch her watching him, she'd quick-like look away and then casually look back. That only made him look like more of a weirdo.
"Way to be a creepster, Randy." He sighed to himself.
John and Dave stopped making fun of Randy long enough to talk to him. John tried to compassionately hide his mocking smile. "So then the plan is to stare and talk to yourself…"
"Rather than get up and talk to her?" Dave glanced over to a seemingly unknowing Rae.
Randy rationalized the situation. Technically, the ball was very much in his court and he really wasn't as big of a creepster as he thought he was. "I could go over."
"You did that in the first place, no?" John unbuckled his seat belt as soon as the flight allowed him to do so. He rose to his feet and made way for his best friend to walk by. As Randy got up and shuffled down the aisle towards the girls, John sat next to Dave and shook his head.
"He's gonna crash and burn isn't he?"
Dave nodded.
The very sound of possible failure perked Ken's interest. He pushed his nap to the back burner as he turned around to watch with the other boys. "Ten bucks says Orton gets a slap." Ken chocked through a fleeting yawn.
John shook Ken's hand just as Randy perched himself against Rae's seat. "You're on."
--
Rae continued to play as though Randy weren't even there though his weight pushed down her seat. Even with years of practice the other divas had no such luck. Maria, Trish and Mickie all stopped their gossip to smile at the statuesque Orton.
"Morning ladies."
The three divas waved and reluctantly, Rae looked over her shoulder in Randy's general direction. "Morning."
Randy didn't have anything to say… he hardly had enough sense to muster up a nod. Looking down at Rae, he could have swore she stole the smirk off of his face.
"So," she continued, turning her body to better face her Superstar, "what brings you to this neck of the woods Mr. Orton?"
Luckily, the light signaling a free bathroom flashed in the corner of Randy's eye. " I was headed to the bathroom and I stopped to say 'hi'."
Mickie laughed. "You just figured you'd be cordial?"
"Yeah, ha!" Maria scoffed, but questioned, "What's cordial?"
Rae licked her bottom lip and Randy instantly wondered the flavor of her lip gloss. It took every fiber of real man in him to pay attention to her words, not the pout they flowed out of. "Cordial means to be genuinely nice and sincere. That's not Randy?"
Trish stifled laughter as she leaned over Mickie and Maria. She rested her hand on Rae's leg, as they were fast becoming friends, "No, Rae… He really isn't that kinda guy." She held eye contact with Randy until he got the hint and turned to return to his seat.
"Wait, Randy seriously…" Rae began what seemed like an apology, "don't let us stop you from heading this way--" she pointed over her shoulder-- away from where he was headed.
Randy raised an eyebrow.
"--bathroom?"
Orton shoo'd his obvious cover and stalked back to his seat among friends.
Not wanting to kick a friend when he's down, John and Dave stayed silent. Ken however took a deep breath and released and audible sigh, "I say you go back over…. be aggressive. Try again."
Randy looked in his iPod's reflection as he prepared an attempt to sleep both the flight and the shame away. Rae smiled at him. "He's got money riding on this doesn't he…."
John nodded and Dave answered, "Ten buck said you'd caught a hand to the face."
"Come on boys, the flight is young! Best two outta three?!"