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Chapter 11 – The Usual Confrontation

Maria was reading a romance novel while she was waiting for the early morning flight to the next city. She wasn't really focusing on the words on the page she was reading from but rather she was deep into thought about her date with Shane the other night. There was no doubt that he was being such gentleman towards her and she couldn't help but wonder if she could describe her feeling toward him was a liking.

I guess he's not as bad as he seems.

At the same time, she had her doubts on whether she made a good decision on trusting him. This was the Shane she was talking about. The Shane McMahon she had disliked since the day she joined the company. And now she trusted him.

Perhaps she trusted him because she feared that Shane would reveal her secret to the world, including Randy?

John and the girls didn't know about her and Shane yet and there was no doubt that they would be asking questions about her whereabouts much sooner than later. She had to prepare to answer all the questions when the time arrived but for now she had to be careful of what to say while the self-proclaimed legend killer was around.

The girls came back with the food ordered from the fast food restaurants. Mickie took her seat next to Maria while Candice and Torrie took their seats opposite the brunette diva. Maria bookmarked her page and put her book away in her bag.

"Thanks Mickie," said Maria with a small smile as she took a box that was handed to her.

"You're welcome sweetie," said Mickie, beaming.

"Maria, you know that you have a lot of explaining to do?"

"Yeah I do," said Maria, realizing what Torrie met. They had asked where she was but due to her sleepiness, the questions had to be dropped until the next morning. Now that the girls were together with no one around to possibly here them, it was the time for the brunette diva to answer all the questions that could be thrown at her.

Here we go….

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As he watched Maria talking to her friends, Randy was a bit relieved to find out that she was okay. Though he shouldn't have worried that much but at least he knew that she was fine and that was all that mattered to him.

His recollection was brought him back as he remembered what he had said the other night and started to wonder if he was right when the others doubted the fact. Perhaps that he was just being silly when he thought that she avoided him for no good reason. Right?

The problem was that he had the feeling that he could be right all along. He couldn't help but to get that gut feeling even though John and the girls had confirmed that Maria wasn't avoiding him. The only thing to get his doubts pushed aside was for to talk to the brunette diva himself and find the answers he was looking for.

"See something interesting?"

Randy frowned at that question, let alone that voice that was coming from behind him. He turned around and faced with the man he had the purest hatred for. He would rather talk to the Great Khali at any time of day, despite that he couldn't understand a word that the Punjabi giant would say. As long as it wasn't Shane McMahon, that would be fine.

"Actually yes but that's not of your interest."

Shane made a small laugh. "You're a funny guy. You know you're like a clown."

"A clown, huh?"

"That's right," Shane sneered.

"Which one may I ask?"

Shane raised a brow at him in a questioning manner. But he had cut off before he could ask what Randy was talking about.

"You see there are two kinds of clowns. One is the fun clown that you see at the circus with the rainbow wig and the red nose. The other kind is a special clown and now that I've thought of it, I think you're fit for that category."

"Is that so?" Shane asked.

"You got that right."

Shane chuckled a bit. "You're just like John. You try to be funny when you're actually not."

"At least I don't have to fake a break dance on top of the stage every ti-"

"Are you trying to sabotage my reputation as a dancer?" Shane asked he faked a sad expression on his face as he placed a hand to the heart as if he got his feelings hurt by the wwe champion. Randy rolled his eyes at his phony display.

"Please. I've seen way better dance moves from Save the Last Dance. I recommend that you watch that movie because it's a really good. In fact, why not buy all the break dance videos you could find? I mean you could afford just about anything, even hire a teacher or two. So once you've got the source, you can learn actually learn a thing or two."

Shane forced out a laugh and Randy knew this as a phony one too.

"Okay I see where all of this is coming from. You're in a good mood today, aren't you? Could it be that you retained your title successfully?"

Randy made a shrug. "Maybe. Yeah maybe that's why I'm such in a good mood, considering the fact that you are an idiot to think that I would lose my championship to Hunter. Have you forgotten that he was once my mentor? Or have you lost your history book?"

Randy could tell from Shane's expression that he was a bit annoyed yet he didn't want to show it. He would always play it cool. That was so typical of him.

"You just got lucky," said Shane.

"Or maybe it's because I am a champion material?"

"Okay so you have proved your point back in WrestleMania. What makes you think that you'll stay champion for a long time?"

"Because I know I can and I will stay champion. That's a promise."

The two stood there in silence as they shot glares at each other. One had the intention of bringing the other down and the other would keep fighting back. That was the usual confrontation they had in Shane's office, in the locker room…most likely any place where they might bump into each other, including the airport where they stood at that moment in the waiting room.

"Well that's my flight," said Randy as the voice disappeared from the speaker after hearing the announcement.

"I expect to see you next week, Champ."

Randy grinned and then said, "Don't worry about me I'm not planning on missing any surprises that you have in store."

"Well that's good because next week will be like no other show you have ever been to." Shane smirked.

"Alright. I can't wait for that."

Randy turned to way away. Before he went further, he had his last look at the general manager of Raw.

"Forgot something Mr. Orton?"

"Yeah just one thing," said Randy. "If you want to know about the special kind of clown I was talking about earlier, you should check with Chris Jericho. I'm sure he knows what I'm talking about."

Shane raised his brow again but then got lowered as he made a frown shortly afterwards. He said nothing and Randy didn't give him the time to response since he had to go on board. So for the record it was the self proclaimed legend killer who left Shane in defeat.

"Ass clown," Randy murmured and then made a soft chuckle.

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"…So that's how Shane knew," Candice was saying as to clarify the matter in hand as the discussion among the girls went deeper in the last few minutes. "He overheard the both of us talking in the locker room."

"Yes he did," said Maria and made a sigh. "Look I know it's odd for me to be so nice to him all of a sudden when I have never like him at first but I have to trust that he can keep my secret."

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Torrie asked. "I mean it is bad enough to have another person to join in this whole 'secret keeping group.'"

"Do you honestly think that I like any of this?" Maria asked with a bit of harshness in her voice. "I don't like it any more than you do."

"Then let it stop and take our advice before it's too late," Mickie pleaded. She clasped her two hands around Maria's hand as the short brunette diva looked directly at her, hoping that Maria could come to her senses.

"Please Ria we hate to lie for you and to make up excuses for you. Randy was genuinely concerned about you last night but you act like it doesn't matter to you."

"It does matter to me-"

"Then why can't you accept the fact that you know that we're right?"

"Because I can't!"

"He deserves to know about he's going to be a father and you know that," said Candice. "How would you feel if someone-?"

"Don't even bring that up," Maria cut in with a serious tone.

"Why?"

"I'm not going into this 'if I were in his shoes' moment."

That was the last thing that she wanted to think about because she hated the fact of being defeated at her own game.

"Well if that's how we can knock some sense into you," said Torrie. "Then so be it."

"Torrie, I-"

Maria stopped abruptly when her eye had caught onto something and in an instant, her heart made a leap in her chest. The girls turned their attention from Maria to whatever she was looking at. There were two men walking towards them and her friends knew very well that she had her eyes on the one that they happened to be discussing about. Maria sat up for she had to prepare to look at the self proclaimed legend killer fully in the eye. Randy was holding a sports bag over his shoulder while John shoved his hands deep into his jeans pockets.

"Hey ladies," said Randy. "I'm going to get on board."

"Oh right, I heard the announcement just a second ago," said Candice. "Well we hope that you'll have a safe flight."

"Thank you," Randy beamed.

"Tell Isabelle we said hi," said Torrie.

"I will." He turned to Maria who gave him a small smile.

"You know we've been looking for you last night."

"Yeah I heard about that," said Maria. "I'm sorry that I disappoint you guys. I have no idea that you planned on taking me out."

"Oh it's nothing," said Randy. "How are you feeling though?"

"I'm feeling much better."

"That's good. I'm happy to hear that."

Randy smiled. He was glad that Maria was doing fine.

"You do know that planes can't wait for you in the sky, right?"

John grinned as he watched his best friend rolled his eyes.

"Yes John, I'm going now."

The guys and the girls laughed.

"Alright man, take care," said John with a pat on Randy's shoulder.

"You too," said Randy. "You take care, ladies."

"We will," said Mickie.

Randy smiled and then said, "See you all next week."

"Bye," they said in unison as he waved at them as he walked off to join in the line of people waiting to board on the plane. Maria sat back on the seat as she sighed and past her hands through her brown hair. She began to wonder what she had gotten herself into. First the girls knew and then Randy's best friend knew, by accident. And now Shane, of all people, was added to the list. Maria knew it wouldn't be easy to keep secrets when he was the reason why she kept it quiet. But she had to try harder so that no one else besides that list of people knew about her pregnancy. She prayed that this list wouldn't continue to grow than it already had been….

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Randy made himself comfortable on the window seat that he was occupying before fastening his seatbelts. He was to arrive in St. Louis around midday and he couldn't wait. Isabelle had to be home from her business trip by now so they could proceed in their wedding plans.

He took out his wallet from his pocket and opened it. There was a small photo secured in the pocket. He pulled it out and smoothed it out a bit with his thumb. It was a picture of a beautiful woman with sleek black hair and a cute smile that anyone could fall in love with. A smile appeared on his face as he looked at the photo of his future wife.

I can't wait to see you baby. I'm coming home.

What's to come on chapter 12: Randy spends time with Isabelle. Maria goes to her home to think things through. Meanwhile, she finds a photo album while sorting out her room and finds herself reminiscing her fun times with Randy.