Chapter 8

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"What are you doing, man?" John asked, "What's going on with you and Arianne?"

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"Come on, man! Are you really going to deny it to me?" John said, "I've noticed it a while back, I didn't take it for anything. But don't you think you should stop now?"

"Listen, I don't know what you're talking about." Randy said. "So unless you tell me what exactly it is you mean, be specific, then I got nothing to tell you."

Actually, he got an idea about what John was talking about. He figured he meant that he was still playing the game with Arianne, which is not true. When he told Kennedy that it was over a while back, he meant it. If it seemed to turn out that he won, that wasn't his problem anymore. He didn't even take the prize.

But John still believed that was what he was doing. "Dude, I know you." He said, "Don't you think you ought to stop playing with her now? You've kept this going for months now, obviously you've won. What else are you trying to prove?"

"I'm not trying to prove anything." Randy said.

"What are you doing then?" John asked, "Don't tell me you actually have feelings for her? You're not in love with Arianne, are you man?"

Randy didn't say anything. But when John said that, that was when he was actually able to articulate the questions lingering inside him about what he really feels for Arianne.

Is he in love with her? Should he be? He knows it's wrong to, but why does it feel so right, like suddenly everything made sense?

"Dude, you're not in love with her, are you?" John asked again, interrupting his thoughts. "Man, you know we have policies about these kinds of things, don't you? You could get suspended, and she could get fired. Not to mention, if this goes out to the press that you're having an affair then..."

"We're not! Okay, John?" He snapped. He took a deep breath to compose himself again, "We're not having an affair."

He knows John is right about what could happen. He could get suspended, but with his status in the company, they can't give him too harsh a punishment for it. It would be something he can survive, and it would probably get covered up for his protection and won't even get to the media.

But he was more worried about what could happen to Arianne. She could get fired and there's nothing he can say or do about it. So does Stephanie, however close she and Arianne may be.

Arianne was definitely going to suffer the worst blow, and he can't let that happen. That's why he can't cross the line.

"You're right the first time." He told John. "I am…still…just playing Arianne. I'm just having too much fun, I guess, that's why it's gotten this far…"

"I knew it!" John said in affirmation. "Well, Randy, all I can tell you is you better stop this. Look at what you're doing to the poor girl. She's falling for you, it's so obvious. If you don't stop now, you're going to end up breaking her heart…"

"Okay! I got your point, alright?" Randy stood up, and threw his napkin on the table. "God, don't you ever shut up?"

He walked away pissed off and didn't even finish his breakfast. John thought Randy just didn't like being reprimanded like that, and quite frankly, he could've sounded a little less lecturing. He's a grown man, and he's really matured a lot over the years.

In the seriousness of their conversation though, they failed to notice Cody pass by behind them. He heard what Randy said that he was still just playing with Arianne, and he couldn't help but connect everything that went on, and everything he saw about the supposed closeness and friendship the two have.

He has the utmost respect for Randy, as he was a sort of mentor for him since he debuted, and they are friends, but Arianne is his friend too. So it bothered him that Randy said that. Somehow he feels he has to let Arianne know about it, if only so she could protect herself.

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Later, at the show…

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Randy and Edge just came back in from the ring after their match with Big Show, against Triple H, Cena and The Undertaker. The other four guys were still in the ring to close the show. They were headed back to their dressing room when Arianne approached them.

"Hey guys!" She said, "Hightailed again, huh?" She joked.

Randy just smiled a little. She's been trying to convince him to make a face turn or at least be a tweener multiple times when they're talking about what direction they should take his character to, but he always just dismisses it. He likes being a heel he said. She's very persistent though.

"Haha! What else is new?" Edge said sarcastically, "It's the life of a heel! Anyway, I'll see you guys at the next city."

"You never stop, do you?" Randy said.

"What? I thought you liked that about me!" She said, laughing a little.

Just then John came back in and saw them talking. Randy saw him too and remembered what they talked about earlier over breakfast.

"So, anyway…you should get cleaned up. Just message me when we're leaving." She said.

"Actually…" He said, "I'm going to ride in Big Show's bus with Ted and Sheamus."

"Oh…okay." She said. "Who am I gonna ride with?"

"I don't know…" He said, coldly. "Ask Cody, maybe you can ride with him and Beth."

She felt a little disappointed about it. It's not just because she's gotten used to riding with Randy wherever. There were times when he does ride with the other guys, but he always makes sure she can ride with someone else. This time, it was different because he didn't inform her ahead of time.

Aside from that, there's this sudden change in his demeanor like he was suddenly cold—indifferent even, when just yesterday up to that morning before they parted ways he seem like he didn't want to be apart from her.

Not that she was going to tell him that.

"Right…" She said, trying to sound casual. "I…I guess I'll see you…in the next city."

He didn't say anything, not because he didn't want to, but he couldn't. It's like there's this bug lump inside his throat that made it hard for him to speak.

And with that she walked away, perplexed and confused about what just happened and what she felt about it.

He watched her go farther and farther away until she turned to one of the alleys in the long corridor and disappeared. He wanted to go after her, but he controlled himself. Instead, he went to his dressing room and took a shower. He was determined to take the notion of them having an affair out.

He stood in front of the mirror, after coming out of the shower, looking at himself. Arianne's probably out of the arena now and on the road with someone—hopefully Cody and Beth, he thought.

He looked closer at his reflection in the mirror, trying to convince himself that he did the right thing and that it was all for her own good.

"Then why the hell don't I feel good about it?" He said out loud, rubbing his face in frustration.

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"You ready to go?" Beth asked Arianne.

"Yeah, I'm all set." She said, pulling her luggage.

Beth was amazed that she was only carrying one luggage and her laptop in a bag. "That's all you have? Wow, you travel light."

"I don't have to lug wrestling gears around, and in Cody's case a few couple dozen comic books." She said.

Beth laughed. "I know, right?" She said, "Oh, here he is finally. I swear he takes longer to get ready than I do."

Cody had the feeling the girls were talking about him with the looks on their faces. "What?"

"Nothing." The girls said in unison.

He shook his head, "Right." He said, "Arianne, can you drive first?"

"Of course." She took the key, and they left.

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Meanwhile, on Big Show's bus…

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"Guys, can you keep it down? I'm trying to sleep here." Randy said under his pillow.

He's been trying to go to sleep basically since he got on the bus—trying being the operative word, but he's failing miserably to do so. Not just because Sheamus and Ted were talking while playing cards a couple of feet away from him, it was more because of what he did to Arianne.

He keeps playing back in his mind how she walked away and disappeared in the hallway. If she had turned around to look at him, he thinks he would've changed his mind. The longer he thinks about it, the more it eats at him.

"I can't believe we're stuck in traffic at one in the morning." Show grunted.

"Take it easy fella." Sheamus said, "I'll take over the wheel if you want."

"Hey, isn't that Cody's car?" Ted said, looking outside the window.

Randy stood up quickly and went to the window, "Where?"

"There, the red SUV after the Corolla." Ted said. He looked at him, curiously. "I thought you were sleeping?"

"I was trying to. You guys were too loud." Randy said, peering through the window. "I can't see them."

"Them or that lass you're always hanging out with?" Sheamus asked, jokingly.

Randy suddenly backed away from the window when Sheamus said that, realizing that it's not only John that's noticed about him and Arianne. If Sheamus who's from ECW had noticed it, how much more would the people from Raw?

Ted shot him a look, as a warning to not continue with the topic. From the amount of time he's spent with Randy, he already knows what the little quirks and body language he has means.

Even if he doesn't really know what's going on in his head, or what the real situation is. He knows when Randy is not in a good mood.

Randy didn't say a word and went back to where he was sleeping in.

"What did I do?" Sheamus asked Ted.

"Just…don't ever say anything about that again."

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For the next couple of days, it was more obvious that Randy was avoiding Arianne. He would only talk to her if it's about work, and sometimes he doesn't even talk at all. He just let Cody and Ted do it and just have them relay what they've discussed to him.

It was Sunday afternoon, and Arianne was looking for Randy to inform him of the changes Vince made in the storyline with Batista for that Monday. They had Ric Flair written in for his return. So she went to his hotel room, but he wasn't there. Cody was the only one there.

"Hey, Codes…is Randy there?" She asked when Cody opened the door.

"No, he's ah…out. I think he went to the gym with Ted. Didn't…he tell you?" He asked cautiously.

He saw the spark in her eyes grow blunt and her smile dim, like all the other times she came to talk to Randy but found him unavailable. And like all the other times, she tries to act casual about it.

"Well…I guess I should just leave this to you." She said, handing the papers to Cody. "I've highlighted the important parts, and wrote notes on the side so he has a guide."

"I'll make sure to give it to him." He said. "Hey, Arianne…can I talk to you for a second?"

"Um…okay, what about?"

"Come inside?"

She walked into the room. Cody thought about it for a second. Should she tell him what he heard Randy and John talking about? That it's all just a ploy and Randy's still playing her just because he enjoys it? Randy's his friend and mentor, but she's his friend too and she doesn't deserve any of it.

"Just be careful with Randy." He said, "Don't be too close to him."

Cody didn't really want to tell her everything and thought it would be enough just to warn her.

"What?" She felt a little prick on her heart when Cody said that. Perhaps she felt a little offended that he's telling her what to do. "Why? What are you trying to tell me?" She asked.

Cody couldn't come up with any other excuse to make for why he said such a thing, so he decided to just let her know what he knows.

"You remember when I told you months ago, about the game they're playing?" He said, "I just don't think he's stopped playing it yet." He paused, "Arianne, you're my friend. And I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Come on, Cody…you expect me to believe that?" She asked.

She was very confident that Randy was sincere in their friendship. There has never been any hint that he wasn't. He's been there for her more than anyone else the last few months, regardless whether he knew what's really going on with her or not.

But he's been a shoulder she could lean on through her hard times. He's also helped her professionally, encouraging her and pushing her to whatever she wanted to try.

"I don't know why you're telling me this, or what you hope to achieve." She said, "He's your friend. Why would you say that about him?" She shook her head, "I can't believe this…I can't believe you're saying this. If you have issues with him or something, you should go to him…and not try to turn me against him." She turned to leave.

"I'm just worried about you, Ari." Cody said, when she was about to turn the door knob.

"He is my friend, but so are you. I hope he's not just playing you, because in this situation you're the one who's at the most disadvantageous position." He said, "I'm just looking out for you."

"You don't need to do that, Cody." She said, turning to look at him. "He's not gonna hurt me like that."

"I hope you're right." Cody said, "And I hope you're not just saying that because…because you're in love with him…are you?"

"Of course not." She said.

She turned her back at him. She had never been the kind to able to hide her feelings as it always shows on her face. She didn't want Cody to see the hesitation and confusion in her eyes as she denied what her heart was screaming.

"Good." Cody said, "Because he's married. You're just going to end up getting hurt."

"I have to go." She said.

And as quickly as that, she opened the door and walked out.
But even as she tried to hide it from Cody, he still was able to read through her. And that made him think of taking the next action.

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A week after…

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Randy was still avoiding Arianne. She even rents her own ride now, just so she could avoid anyone asking about all the changes. He was always hanging out with the other guys so she was left with Cody and Ted most of the time. She could take a hint though and realized what he was doing, although she doesn't know why.

Or maybe she just doesn't want to admit it to herself that maybe, just maybe, Cody was right and he had just dropped the act, moved on and left her to hang dry.

That had never been more apparent to her than that Monday afternoon before Raw, at the Staples Center in LA. He was chatting with MVP, Batista, Big Show and John Cena backstage, sitting around on equipment boxes, when Arianne came to talk to him.

"Why must Miz be on my team?" Randy said, "Come on, I'll swap him with anyone! That dude's annoying."

"Meh…at least you only have to deal with him tonight." Show said. "I think they're planning to make us a tag team!"

Batista laughed, "Thank God, I'm not a heel right now or I'll be on the team with you."

"Man, I'd rather work with Miz than you-know-who." John said.

"Hey, baby girl!" MVP said when he saw Arianne. "What's up?" He put his hand up for a high five.

"Hey, how's it goin' M?" She smiled and high-fived him. "Um, Randy…can I talk to you?"

Everyone became silent then, waiting for him to say something. Somehow, it made him feel like he's being scrutinized from the inside out.

"I'm busy right now." He told her, in a cocky demeanor, brushing her off.

"But this is important." She said.

"Whatever it is you want to say to me, it can wait." He said.

"Oooh!" Batista teased.

Arianne felt as if her feet got planted right where she was standing. She felt her face flush in deep red, and it was very visible no matter how she tried to control herself and show no emotion.

She felt her eyes getting warmer, like they were about to produce tears out of utter annoyance. So before they start to do that she decided to leave.

"Okay." She said, with gritted teeth and a clenched fist. "Later then…"

She turned around and walked away from there as fast as she could. She didn't even see Cody and Ted until she bumped into them literally. But even then she didn't stop.

"Hey, Ari…" Cody called after her.

"Sorry." She said without turning around or stopping.

"What's wrong with her?" Ted asked.

Cody didn't answer, but he thinks he knows what happened, especially when he saw the direction from where she came from.

"Nice man." Batista said, gesturing for a fist bump from Randy, laughing. "You a playa dude."

Randy obliged and bumped his fist, but then he became quiet and would only smile vaguely.

How could he smile for real when what he did was tearing up his heart with guilt? And it's really pissing him off because he knows he can't do anything about it.

All he can do is try to hide what he's really feeling.

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Arianne went to the TV room for a while because she wanted to have a moment alone, and nobody was going to be there yet since the show hasn't started yet.

She was just really teed off with how Randy had talked to her in front of the other guys and she had to calm herself down. So she laid down on the sofa for a while and closed her eyes.

Suddenly Stephanie walked in while talking on her phone, and she sat up then.

"Yes, baby…Don't forget to take your meds now okay?" She said, "Mommy will be home tomorrow…I love you, too. Bye."

She clicked the phone off then and put it in her coat pocket. "Arianne! What are you doing here?"

"I just…wanted to be somewhere quiet for a little bit."

"Is there something wrong?" She asked.

"No, everything's just fine…" Arianne smiled.

But Stephanie must have some kind of sixth sense because she read through that smile.

"Really?" She curled her lips, knowingly. "Come on, are you going to start keeping things from me now?"

"Well…It's Randy…" She said, unsure if she really should tell her.

"What about him?" She asked. "Did you have a misunderstanding?"

"That's the thing." She said, "I don't even know. He just…all of a sudden is avoiding me…and acting different towards me."

"And it bothers you?" Stephanie asked.

"Well…yes." She said, "I mean, how am I going to do my job if he won't talk to me?" Of course, it's not just doing her job she's worried about.

"Hmm…I have noticed you haven't been hanging out much since lately." Steph remarked.

She didn't respond to that. She doesn't even know what happened or why he suddenly changed. They've just spent an entire day together, and then the next day he was completely aloof. It was like he was trying to push her away was what she meant, but she didn't really want to say that.

"Well…you should talk to him." Stephanie said, "Nothing can be solved without sitting down and talking about it."

"I already tried that earlier…he just brushed me off." She said.

"Well, I'm sure you can find another way to get him to sit down and talk." Stephanie said, "Be a little assertive."

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That night on Raw featured a Ten-Man Tag Match, putting the team of Randy Orton, Ted Dibiase, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, and The Miz in Denver Nuggets jerseys against the team of John Cena, Batista, MVP, Evan Bourne and Mr. Kennedy in Lakers jerseys in the main event.

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Back at the hotel, after the show…

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Randy was packing his bags after taking a shower. He'd had a rough night, especially after the tag match, when he had a bit of an argument with Kennedy backstage.

His traps were sore and it would probably feel even sorer in the morning. Not to mention his other problems. That's why he was even more pissed off when he was about to sleep and somebody came knocking on his door.

A/N Hi, readers! Thanks all for reading! Would love to hear from you. :)