Chapter 5
After the cold water hadn't taken care of his self-inflicted problem, John resorted to handling it manually. Then he washed up. He stepped out from the bathroom in just a towel, shaking water from his short hair.
"How's it coming?" He asked with a grin, seeing her fingers flying across the keyboard, and shook his head. "They don't move that fast on-" He stopped, looking innocent when she glanced at him.
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Austin giggled when he just gave her a cheeky grin, shaking her head, and continued typing while he walked around getting ready. He had a match tonight, though she had no idea who his opponent was. She didn't care and wouldn't be watching it, hating that he did something that caused him pain for a living. "Just tell me, are you going to be bleeding or anything tonight, so I'm prepared?" She asked, pausing in her typing, nodding as she crossed off another day, having it almost completed.
"Uh..." John thought about it for a second. "Nope. Not that I'm aware of. If I come back in here with blood or a lump, then someone jumped script." He told her, knowing she wasn't likely to handle that very well. "Aus, you going to be able to take seeing me get hurt?" He asked gently, shrugging on his newest shirt, a walking advertisement.
"I'll be fine, John. I knew what I was getting myself into. I've prepared myself; I just need you to warn me when it's going to happen, even though I know that's not always the case." She replied softly, feeling him pull her on his lap after sitting down beside her, kissing him softly, her laptop temporarily forgotten. She loved him and Austin suddenly wanted him in the worst way, but knew she would have to wait until they got back to the hotel. "I love you, John." She kissed him again before he could talk, their tongues entwining together, sitting sideways on his lap. "I can't wait to be your wife."
"Mmmm...I can't either." He murmured huskily, adjusting her so her legs were wrapped around his waist, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, Aus." God, the thought sent tingles throughout him, smiling against her soft skin. "I love you so much, baby." He murmured, finally raising his head to stare into her beautiful green eyes.
"I love you too, John, so very much." She meant it too, having spent the last three years of her life with this man, slowly falling in love with him. Randy was her past, as far as she was concerned, and John was her future. Austin smiled as her fingers ran through his short, soft brown hair, snuggling against him, back pressed against the couch. The perks of being the champion, which is who she was with, a winner. Randy had been a winner too, but at the time she was too young to settle down, wanting to run wild and free. They weren't meant to be, but John and she was; Austin wasn't having it any other way. "Did you call your Mom and Marc?"
"I'mma gonna." John grumbled, shifting so he could reach for his bag, which he had dropped on the end of the couch, fumbling until he pulled out his cell phone. "Do I REALLY have to call Marc? He's just going to be a freaking whiner about this." He half-joked, seeing her expression and started dialing the buttons, shifting her again. "I got his voicemail." He growled, hanging up.
She sighed gently, taking the phone from him and dialed Marc's number, waiting for his voicemail before putting it to John's ear. She smiled when John reluctantly left a message for Marc to call him back regarding what happened before hanging up, taking the phone from him, having held it the entire time. "There, that wasn't so bad was it?" Austin squealed out when he began tickling her, kissing him to make him stop as her back hit the couch, him between her legs and moaned as his hands ran up and down her sides. "John..." She whispered, pulling away long enough to talk. "John, you have a match tonight. Later, I promise I'm all yours."
"You can be my warm-up." John murmured, knowing fully well she wasn't going to go for that. He knew her too well sometimes, but that didn't mean he couldn't entice her with what was to come later in the evening…if he had his way. "I love you." He whispered huskily, nipping on her earlobe before moving to her throat. "And tonight, I'm going to kiss...and lick...every...inch...of...you..."
Austin shivered against him at the mere thought, nodding as she licked her dry lips, and kissed him until neither of them could breathe. Slowly pulling back with swollen lips, Austin had a thundering heart and pure love shined in her green eyes.
"I know I love you too, John. I'm yours tonight...and for as long as you want me." She whispered, closing her eyes when he whispered forever in her ear, nodding and hugged him tightly around the neck. "Forever sounds perfect."
"I just hope it's enough." He replied, groaning when someone called through the door about a promo. "Work is becoming a pain in my ass." John joked, somewhat. He had better things to do, like stay in here and just cuddle with his bride-to-be. "Okay..." He pushed himself away from her and got to his feet. "I'll be back; feel free to roam the building if you get bored, babe. Anyone gives you problems and you can't find me, go to Randy or Mark, okay?"
There was no way in HELL she was going to Randy EVER, but Austin just smiled at him and nodded, giggling when he kissed her again. "You are enough." She whispered against his lips, wishing he would have more faith in himself as she watched him walk out the door.
Austin sighed gently as she pulled the laptop back on her lap, leaning back against the couch and decided to browse dresses again, wondering if it should be strapless, spaghetti strapped, long sleeved, short sleeved…They were marrying in Carol's backyard since it was huge; the perfect setting. Her parents had no problem with it, both her and John refusing to marry in a church. She wasn't religious and neither was he, another reason she loved him. Sighing, Austin closed her eyes and began picturing what each dress would look like in that setting.
John had an extra bounce in his step as he walked down the hallway. He grinned when Adam Copeland fell into place. "How's your lovely wife?" He was referring to the current storyline Adam was forced to do with Vickie Guerrero.
"She is NOT my wife."
He didn't like Adam, so provoking him was a must. "Are you SURE? I could have sworn I heard her say something about you two having a bun in the oven...or was she referring to your...Twinkie?"
"I am going to FUCK you up, Cena.
After finishing up John's schedule and printing it out, along with the three dresses, Austin decided to go out for a smoke, needing one after running into her ex-boyfriend. She still couldn't believe Randy was going to be John's Best Man. That just...boggled her. It was almost surreal. Austin arrived outside of the arena, the cool night air blowing through her red hair, and walked over to stand next to the wall; her back to the door, Austin lit up and took a long drag, smoke blowing out moments later as the nicotine worked its magic, eyes drifting closed momentarily.
"Okay, I got it from here, Cody." Randy called over his shoulder, knowing his friend wasn't keen on his smoking, and stepped outside. He almost hesitated when he seen Austin, watching as she slowly, almost reluctantly, looked at him. "Hello." He greeted, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, smacking it against the palm of his hand before sliding one out. They both worked here now, not like they could ignore each other.
"Hello." She returned the greeting with a smile, taking another drag of her cigarette before letting it dangle from her lips, looking at the dresses and groaned before folding them up and sliding them in the back pocket of her jean skirt. She would deal with it later, not wanting to think about her wedding in the presence of her ex-boyfriend and former love of her life. "You know who I am." It wasn't a question as she blew smoke out, not looking at him. "I had no idea it was you or I would've never agreed to come on the road with John." Austin had no idea why she was saying this and flicked ash away.
"Why should it matter?" Randy asked nonchalantly, leaning back against the wall. He was bound and determined to enjoy his nicotine fix before dealing with Paul's overeager, script breaking ass. Even if the former love of his life was RIGHT here, in a skirt no less and showing off her beautifully tanned legs. "We had our fun, didn't we? You went one way, I went the other." He shrugged. "Besides we can be friends, can't we?" No, they could not.
They would have to be; there was no two ways about it as Austin nodded, not turning to face him as she took another deep drag. "Sure, friends."
Yeah right! That wasn't happening, but she wasn't going to say that and stared down at the ring on her finger. It was a constant reminder of who the new love of her life was…that Randy was the past and he had to remain there, no matter what. This was so awkward, what the hell was she supposed to say to him? She was the one who walked away from him, ran away actually. She left him with nothing, but a note and broken heart, four years shattered into a million pieces. Austin sighed as she willed the tears to stay in her eyes as that memory rushed through her, hitting her like a tidal wave, using the nicotine to keep her calm and relaxed.
He just stared at her, watching as she examined her engagement ring. Why the HELL he was still out here was beyond him. Oh yeah, his cigarette. He took a long drag off of it, blowing a lazy smoke ring. So she was marrying his best friend? He could see it now...barbecues with his wife and Austin together, now THAT would be awkward. He groaned just THINKING about it.
If she could help it, Austin was NOT going out on the town with Randy and his wife Sammy. She didn't want to see the woman who had taken Randy's heart, who had given him what he wanted. Granted, Austin had what she wanted and it was plenty for her. Still, Austin couldn't stop remembering how much passion and love was between her and Randy. It was the main reason why it took her so long to tell John she loved him because she was afraid of letting go, of moving on. There was no more fear though and John loved her unconditionally.
"I'm not telling John we know each other." She said out of nowhere, turning to face Randy, their eyes locking, green on icy blue. "It will only complicate things. If you tell him, that's fine, but until you do I'm not saying a word." She flicked her cigarette away and took another deep breath before walking past him, the scent of lilacs trailing behind.
Before she could go inside though, Randy reached out to gently grab her wrist, feeling electricity instantly course through his body, arching an eyebrow down at her when she inhaled sharply. "Don't you think he SHOULD know? You are going to be his wife after all, Austin. Or don't you share everything with John?" He asked in almost a low hiss, wishing the electric currents going through his body would stop.
She was feeling that same electricity and it was making her head spin lightly, clearing her throat. "There are some things that are better left unsaid, Randy. No, I don't share everything with John; only things that I know are safe. There are just some things he doesn't need to know about me and my past. That's what it is, the past, and he accepts that. He accepts me for who I am. So if he's going to find out, it'll be from his Best Man." She slowly pulled her wrist from his grasp, needing to get away from him as a rush of heat flowed through her body, glad the air was cool.
"Maybe he will." Randy shrugged, finishing his cigarette before flicking it aside. "I mean, it'll look more than a little fucked up, don't you think, if his fiancée happens to be skittish around his best friend?" Blue eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he studied her. "He may not be the sharpest crayon in the box, but he's not a fool either, Austin."
"I'm not going to act skittish around you. I blacked out or fainted, I guess..." She couldn't remember; the last thing she saw was Randy's eyes and waking up to find John's peering down at her worriedly. "I was in shock." She finally said, raking a hand through her hair. "John only told me your first name, never your last and I never thought to ask..." Austin was becoming frustrated as she clasped her hands together, biting her bottom lip. "I have no problem being cool, calm and collected around you, talking to you. I'll have to since you are the Best Man and everything." This was seriously messed up and Austin felt a headache coming on at everything that was being thrown at her. "You do what you want and I'll tell John the truth if and when the time comes."
Randy just shrugged again. If and when he told John, it wouldn't be tonight. He'd wait and see if she worked up the courage to do it. And if she didn't, then he would. It would be MORE than interesting to see her squirm her way out of that one. No doubt John would be a little bit upset to find out his best friend and future wife had a serious history between them and that she hadn't bothered mentioning it.
"Have a nice night, Randy." She murmured softly before turning and walking back inside the arena, wondering briefly if he would tell John.
No, he wouldn't. He would probably use this information as leverage against her and Austin wasn't playing that game with him. They were done, finished, and he was married with a family of his own. Austin arrived back inside John's dressing room, glad he wasn't back yet, and popped another breath mint before lying down on the couch. She just needed a few minutes to relax, her entire body tensed from that conversation with Randy.
Randy shook his head, wondering WHY she wouldn't tell John that. Not like it was a big deal, now was it? Unless she felt like she had something to hide? Of course, John probably didn't now what a flight risk she was or else he would have her ass tethered somewhere. Snorting, he headed back inside as well, needing to go find something or someone to punch around.
