Chapter 17
Say It Isn't So

Randy felt like he had been spending every waking moment at a bar, any and every bar. After a show, before a show, and every time in between. He had been visibly taking the break up hard. Now I know what she felt like, he thought to himself, taking another long swig of beer. He wasn't just suffering in his personal life, it had carried over to his professional life as well. It became increasingly hard for him to focus during his matches. The losing streak was evidence of his mental state.

The Legend Killer ran a hand through his hair, letting out a loud sigh, he didn't want to keep doing this- nor did he know how long he could. Chris plopped down on the bar stool next to him.

"Still, Orton?" Chris mimicked the sigh Randy had made just moments ago.

"Yeah..."

"You need to get out of this slump you're trapped in." Chris signaled the bartender over and asked for a shot of whiskey. She brought it over quickly, sending him a flirty smile. Normally Chris would spring at the the opportunity of a cute girl, but he knew his friend was in pain so he focused on attempting to help him.

"I can't. Don't you think I've tried? I feel so empty inside. It's pathetic." He took a shot of whiskey along with Chris and placed the empty shot-glass next to his beer bottle. The bartender set a new one down in front of him, lending a sympathetic smile, she had seen a lot of people like Randy in here before.

"No, I understand. She quit talking to me too. She may have not been my girlfriend, but she was my best friend. I feel a void too." He kicked his second shot back and let out a groan as it burned his throat the whole way down. "I heard you started seeing a new girl though?" He ventured, unsure if Randy was going to admit to the rumor.

"Yeah," he let his eyes wander over the many bottles of liquor that lined the walls. "She's cool..."

"But she's not Raleigh?" He finished the brunettes sentence, knowing what he was going to say. Randy nodded at his guess.

"It's weird though, everything she does reminds me of Raleigh. I'm honestly starting to worry that it's going to happen with every girl from now on. A constant reminder of the pain."

"Highly doubt it," Chris said in an attempt to be positive. Being pessimistic would not help the situation by any means. Granted, Chris was definitely down about the whole Raleigh ditching all of her friends thing, since he got left in the dust too. But he decided he would have to be the defining glue that held Randy together.

"Anyway, you'll see her tomorrow for John's wedding. I mean, maybe you can talk to her then?" Chris was hoping that Randy could talk some sense into her at the reception the next night.

"Yeah..." Randy solemnly agreed. "Not sure if that's a good or bad thing though."

"We can only hope for the best." Chris smiled briefly, hoping that he was right, he had no idea just how bad it had to get for her to come to her senses.

Randy adjusted his tie and checked his reflection in the rear view mirror.

"I don't know man, what if she won't talk to me? I don't know if I can see her and have her reject me," he looked over at Chris who ran a comb through his golden locks.

"You'll be fine, I'm sure she will talk to you."

"Or worse, what if she's there with Justin? Everyone in the locker room said they've been seeing them together. I don't know if I can handle seeing her with that asshole," he growled, resentment present in his voice.

"Here's the thing Orton, it doesn't matter if you can handle it or not, you have to deal with it. I don't like him anymore then you do, especially with Raleigh. But you and I can't start anything. This is John and Liz's reception, remember?"

"You're right," Randy nodded. He had too good of a friendship with John to ruin, he did only have a few close friends to begin with. He of course had Chris, they remained good friends after Raleigh had convinced them to first hang out. Then he had Wade Barrett, everyone thought they would clash from their very similar personalities, but they in fact mashed together well. Then he had his two unlikely buddies, John Cena and Evan Bourne. Randy and John had plenty of in ring feuds but had always actually been good friends in real life. Then there was Evan. A lot of the guys couldn't handle his hyperness, but Randy had found it as quite the comic relief. Whenever most of the guys told Evan to scram, Randy would always let him hang out with him. This surprised a lot of people- especially Evan himself.

They walked inside and were both instantly set back by the mass of people that flooded from wall to wall. It had to be a fire hazard if they'd ever seen one.

"I knew they were inviting a lot of people but..." Chris nodded in agreement. "This is a little more then I expected." Randy peered through the room, scanning for just one person in particular.

"I don't see her," Chris said, practically reading his friends mind.

Suddenly John appeared behind them, draping both arms over their shoulders.

"Glad you punks could make it..." John slurred a few words and spoke slowly, it was apparent that he had already hit the drinks, and they were rapidly streaming through his large frame.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Chris said with a smile. He nodded his head towards him and motioned drinking to Randy who just chuckled.

"Kicked back a few in the limo, eh John?" Randy slapped him lightly on the shoulder.

"W-what? Nooo way, I had like..." John proceeded to hold up four fingers, "like two!" Randy smirked when John nodded his head proudly and walked away sloppily.

"Congrats Johnny boy!" Both the blonde and the brunette called out to their very intoxicated friend. He waved his hand behind his head to signal that he had heard them. Chris shook his head and laughed quietly.

"Has he always been a two beer queer?"

"Correction, a four beer queer," Randy said, holding up four fingers, mocking John's drunken actions. "You really should hear the stories about him and Tank."

"Tank?" Chris asked quizzically, raising one eyebrow slightly. That seemed like a story he definitely wanted to sit through.

"That, my friend, is a story for another time." Randy said as he finally spotted what he had feared the most. He scoffed at the sight which mad Chris follow his eye-line.

"Oh, shit."

"Oh, gross... is more like it." Randy could feel a lump form in his throat as he took in the sight before him. There was Raleigh, looking as beautiful as ever. But the person she had hooked arms with made him want to retreat to the bathroom and hurl. The love of his life was obviously here with that low life Justin Gabriel. Had the girl lost her mind? He was a notorious two bit player and coke-head.

"Don't do it Randy," Chris warned, he could see that it was taking everything in him to not race over and beat the living daylights out of Justin.

"I won't," he told the older man through gritted teeth. He would control himself. For now anyway...