Okay, so i'm super sorry about the long wait! I've had so much going on lately and it's been messing with my head! A massive family crises. But here it is, i have a few chapters ready but i will upload the next on the weekend as i want to add some more to it. :) I hope you enjoy, sorry if it's lame, i need to get back into the swing of things! As always, R/R - Jade. xo
CHAPTER TWELVE: HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HIS OWN STRENGTH.
I sat there in an angry silence as the three men tucked into their meals, the thought of getting up and storming out had crossed my mind several times but I had decided to be the better person, I wouldn't allow this to get to me, even if it did piss me off to the max.
"So, Tiff.. How long have you wrestled for?" Cody was the one to break the silence by questioning me on my past. Nice try, Cody, but it's not going to change my mood.
"Eight years." I answered bluntly, slowly diverting my gaze towards the wrestler at my side who spoken. I noticed the look of surprise which spread over his features, and a quick glance towards Ted proved that he had the same reaction to the new. Randy, however, wasn't phased – not that I gave a crap.
"Wow.. So you must have started out young.. I mean, you're what, Twenty-five?" any other woman would be offended when asked of their age, but I wasn't any other woman, I'm Tiffany Jane Marvel.
"I'm actually twenty-four. I started out when I was sixteen. I've wrestled for three different independent promotions during that time. And now here I am." I explained briefly, shrugging my bare shoulders before straightening my posture in the uncomfortable seat. I'd go home with a back ache thanks to Randy 'The Jerk' Orton.
"That's quite a big jump from indie promotions to the WWE.. you sure you can handle it?" Randy finally spoke, his tone dripping with sarcasm and I couldn't help but detect that he was patronising me too. Really? He was going to go down the nasty route? So be it.. I can be a bitch too.
"Yeah.. I'm confident that I can cope." My answer was blunt and short compared to the answers that I had been giving Cody – with good reason too! Why should I pour my heart out to Orton when he was treating me like a piece of crap on his shoe?
"You sure about that? I mean.. The divas division is bad enough as it is.. I don't think they need another failure to bring them down further." Randy drawled, a slow, cruel smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched me intently through those almost grey eyes.
"Sorry to harm your over-inflated ego, Orton.. But you're not exactly great yourself." I spat. I couldn't help it, he had pissed me off and unleashed the bitch within – he asked for it. "I worked hard, day and night for eight years to get where I am now.. My aim is to entertain the fans and become a better wrestler.. Not to get my hands on championships and high wages." I looked at him like he was a thing, like he was a disease-ridden dog. I was able to see Orton for who he truly was behind his perfect, tanned façade – a cruel, heartless, big-headed jerk. "Now you can sit there and insult me all you like.. But it isn't going to change the fact that we're working together, and will be for a while.. So you better get used to this'failure' being a part of your group." I snarled before tearing my gaze away from him to take a hold of my clutch from my lap.
"Orton.. Calm down." I heard Ted mumble from across the table as I pushed my chair away from the dirty table, rising to my feet, standing a few inches taller thanks to the shoes Nattie had kindly leant me.
"Where are you going?" Cody asked, almost in a saddened tone of voice, and a quick glance towards him told me that he was a little upset with my departure, judging by the look on his face.
"I'm going back to the hotel. I'd much rather spend my evening in a hotel room than here with the biggest asshole known to man.." I passed a quick glance towards the seething Orton.. I hate to admit it, but the look in his eyes and the way his jaw was set scared me. "Thanks for the outing Cody, I'll text you later." I informed him, passing a quick, fake smile before strolling away from the table and out of the Chinese food restaurant completely. The sound of the cars passing by had clearly masked the sound of Orton pushing away from the table and storming out because within a second or two of getting outside onto the sidewalk, I felt a large hand wrap around my elbow, spinning me around to face the angered face of Orton.
"Who do you think you are?" he growled, his face inches from mine as he held me in place, staring into my soul with eyes that had the ability to burn through a humans protective barriers. "You have NO right to talk to me like that.. You know NOTHING!" he snapped, making me jump a little – I had brought out The Viper and I was genuinely quite terrified.
"Randy you're hurting me." I struggled to try and pull my elbow out of his grasp, but it didn't help, as he lifted his other hand to grab my other elbow, keeping me in place as he stared down at me. "Randy.. Let go of me." I warned, still trying to wriggle out of his vice grip. But he refused to let go, and was now completely silent, simply looking down at me through angry eyes. "I said.. Let go!" I yelled, resorting in the most drastic option to make him let go of me, by bringing my knee up to connect with his groin. Sure, he doubled over as the air left his lungs in a rush and tears of pain stung his eyes – but I knew I would come to regret it when we next crossed paths, which would be soon considering we worked together. As soon as I was free of his grip I signalled for a taxi, and thankfully one pulled up by the curb almost instantly. "The Hilton downtown, thanks." I informed the driver after climbing in, quickly closing the door before looking out of the window to see Randy awkwardly straightening his posture, glaring at me before he fell out of sight as the cab drove away.
I sighed and sat back in my seat, pushing my fingertips through the roots of my hair in a gesture of stress. The sound of my text message alert sounded throughout the back of the cab and after reaching for my phone I noticed that it was Cody who had sent me a message.
Cody: 'What happened? Randy is pissed!'
I chewed on my lip as I read the message. I knew he would be pissed, but right now I was too angry to even think about regretting the decision. I sighed and sent my response.
Tiff: 'Knee + groin = pissed Randy. He wouldn't let me go, I reacted.'
Cody: 'Did he hurt u? I'll call you l8r. x'
He responded quickly and then sighed again, slouching back against the seat. I needed this journey to be over with quick, I just want to get into bed and sleep this stress away. The cab pulled up sooner than I expected and after paying the man I climbed out of the vehicle and hurried into the hotel as it had just begun to rain. Once I was met with the warmth of the hotel lobby I wandered over to the lift and pressed the button, and luckily it was already on my floor so it allowed me to jump on and anxiously await the arrival at my floor. As soon as the doors opened I was out of there, strutting down the corridor until I reached the room I was sharing with Nattie. I slipped in the card key and pushed the door open, shutting and locking the door behind me with a sigh.
"How did it go?" I heard Nattie squeal from within the room and I turned around to face her as I walked into the room, hoping my expression explained it all. "That bad, huh?" she sighed, pushing her lips into a grumpy pout as she looked over at me.
"I don't think bad even comes close to describing it.. Randy and Ted decided to tag along.." I began whilst kicking the heels of my feet, sighing in comfort as my feet rested on the carpet – they were sore after being in heels for so long.
"Oh that's bad!" Nattie hissed inwardly like one would do when they were in pain – clearly she felt pain for me, I did too.
"Tell me about it.. But that's not the worst of it.. Guess where they ate, Nattie.." I paused whilst pulling my hair up into a messy, careless ponytail. "A freaking Chinese takeaway restaurant! CHINESE! I sat there in a eighteen hundred dollar dress, in a place where they serve food that I don't and can't eat!" I shimmied out of my dress as I spoke, hanging it up before slipping on a pair of shorts and a tank top. I didn't care much about changing in front of friends, we were all grownups, all female – so the fact that Nattie was there didn't faze me.
"Are you kidding me?" Nattie felt my shock and I passed her a look that said 'I KNOW' before collapsing down onto the bed next to hers, grumbling into the duvet before rolling onto my back, turning my head to look over at her.
"I wish I was.. But unfortunately no. And then Randy decided to insult me.. So I snapped back and I left. That's when he stormed out and grabbed me.. He wouldn't let go so I kneed him in the groin." I rushed out the truth, and the look of shock on Nattie's face made me frown. "I know!" I gasped before faking a sob as I rolled onto my stomach, crossing my arms beneath my head.
"He's going to be so pissed!" she insisted and I nodded my head, closing my eyes a little as I rested my head on my crossed arms. "Hang on.. did he do that?" she questioned, and I looked over at her with a confused expression, arching one of my eyebrows. She pointed towards my arms and that was when I noticed a few small bruises around my arm near my elbow – around the same shape as fingertips. Fuck you, Orton, fuck you.
"I guess so." I mumbled and fidgeted on the bed until I was tucked under the duvet. "He doesn't even know his own strength.." I mumbled quietly, just enough for me to hear and quiet enough for Nattie to be unable to make it out. I closed my eyes and prepared myself for a restless night and a worrying day tomorrow.