Disclaimer :As much as I wish otherwise, I do not own Randy Orton or any other entity associated with WWE. I can only claim property rights of OC.
The sound of someone knocking on her door pulled Claire from a fitful sleep. She had gone back to her room after the diner disaster with Cody. Groaning when the knocking didn't stop, Claire pulled herself from the bed. A check of the peep-hole showed Cody standing in the hall. Sighing softly, she pulled the door open.
"I brought you breakfast." Cody held up the McDonald's bag and cup of coffee. Claire reached for the coffee before stepping back into the room, allowing Cody to enter.
"Thanks." Claire sat on the side of her rumpled bed and opened the bag.
Cody stood nervously at the foot of the bed, watching Claire unwrap the McMuffin. "About last night, I'm sorry."
Claire paused, McMuffin half-way to her mouth, and looked at Cody. "I over-reacted."
"So you're not mad at me?" Cody anxiously shifted his weight from foot to foot.
"Mad? At you? For what?" It was Claire's turn to be confused.
"For telling you to watch out for Randy."
Claire shook her head and took a sip of coffee. "I understand why you did. Randy's not the kind of guy you want to piss off."
Cody shook his head right along with Claire. "I just don't want you to get hurt." 'Cause I care about you. Cody thought to himself.
"Truce?" Claire held her hand out to Cody for the deal-sealing handshake. Cody smiled and took her hand. "Truce."
"What's the plan for today?" Claire balled up the McMuffin wrapper and reached for the hash brown.
"We're not due to leave here until late this afternoon. What do you feel like doing?"
Claire laughed slightly "What I WANT to do is go back to bed. What I need to do is get dressed and go shopping. I only had time to pack an overnight bag."
"Would you mind some company? We could go with you and leave for the airport after lunch."
We? As in, not just you? As in you, Ted and Randy? Claire groaned to herself and looked at Cody. She took in the hopeful look on his face and knew she couldn't say no.
"Sounds great." Claire forced a smile and uncurled herself from the bed. "Give me 30 minutes to pack up and I'll meet you down in the lobby."
Cody forced himself not to shout for joy. He was just so damned grateful Claire wasn't the type to hold a grudge. He was even more excited that she intended to stay with them. After he had dropped her off at her room last night, he wasn't sure she would. Part of him had been afraid that she had caught the first flight back to the home office. He was relieved Claire was willing to stay. I'll just have to make sure Randy doesn't get to her Cody thought to himself.
It was almost an hour later when Claire finally made her way down to the lobby. She had taken the longest shower of her life; then brushed her hair a hundred strokes. When she had officially run out of ways to procrastinate, Claire forced herself to leave her room. Her steps slowed as she left the hotel. Randy was standing outside the double doors. Just the sight of him made her want to crawl under a rock. Cody and Ted were nowhere in sight. She stopped beside him and pulled on her sunglasses. "Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day."
"You're late." So much for trying to make small talk. Claire glanced at Randy. He stood motionless beside her, dressed in dark jeans and an RKO shirt. Dark shades hid his eyes.
"Sorry." What else could she say? "Where's Cody and Ted?"
"I sent them to get the car."
Claire arched a brow. Wasn't that just a kick in the ass? Even off camera Cody and Ted played the role of Randy's minions. What kind of man could wield that kind of power? Claire couldn't help but wonder. She didn't have a clue as to what made people want to obey Randy's every wish without question. Something about it just didn't seem natural. The silence began to wear on her nerves. How the hell was she supposed to write anything about the man if they couldn't even hold a conversation?
"Are you on the card tonight?" Claire wasn't surprised when she didn't receive an answer. She scanned the length of the parking lot again, hoping to see Cody and Ted.
"Any plans for while we're in L.A.?" Silence again.
Well, so much for getting Randy to open up Claire thought. She wished the boys would hurry up with the car.
"Get your bags." Randy strode down the sidewalk toward the parking spaces across from the building. Claire grabbed her bags and started after him. It took a moment for his words to register; Get your bags. What the hell? Now he was giving her orders? What was worse, she followed them without thinking. That pissed her off. Royally. Who the hell did he think he was? He may have been the in-ring bad-ass but at some point enough was enough! He wasn't going to make demands of Claire and not get a piece of her mind. Claire was beyond pissed off by time she made it across the expanse of the parking lot to the car. Randy slid behind the wheel as Cody came around to help her with the bags. Without a word Claire slid into the backseat.
"How long do we have until we leave for the airport?" Randy asked.
"About five hours. We'll have time to hit a few stores and grab something to eat." Ted answered.
"We leave for the airport in three." Randy's reply made Claire want to slap him. The man had some kind of nerve. What was the point in cutting their time so short? Claire wasn't sure she could find everything she needed in just 3 hours. She had taken the time to make a quick list before checking out of the hotel. She figured it was going to take the full 5 hours. She wasn't sure how she was going to buy everything so quickly.
"Can we make it four hours?" Cody spoke up from the seat beside her. He had noticed how tense she had gotten when Randy spoke. Apparently she didn't agree with Randy's way of handling things.
"I said three. Maybe if somebody hadn't wasted so much time this morning, we wouldn't have to cut it short." The urge to claw Randy's eyes out was almost overwhelming. Claire opened her mouth to tell Randy to shove it when she caught Cody staring at her. Slowly he shook his head.
Please, Claire, don't do this. Not now. Cody thought to himself. Claire sighed softly and sat back in her seat. "Three it is."
**A/N --- Please read and review**
