Ok, I promise that you will enjoy this chapter! As much as I enjoyed this past Monday's Raw. What with it being no commercials and everything, it was an awesome Raw. It felt like a pay-per-view… lol oh and Randy actually smiled, yes, I said smiled.. Been a long time since we saw that on Raw.. lol like I said, it was a good Raw.
Again, thanks to Eisac Namhort, Duchan Mandic, Christina89, JoolR, Dreamin'BIG, AshleyBabe86, SuperStar89, Viper-Desi, KimmieCena, Xandman216, Thiala, Barnsley Gal 09 and roknpstergrl for the reviews!
Chapter 16- Truly, Madly, Deeply
Randy
Someone once said that having a strong personality was great virtue. I once prided myself on my strong personality, my sense of dignity. Right now, I hated it. I hated that all of that was holding me back from the only thing that I could think of. The only person that invaded my thoughts day and night, no matter how hard I tried not to think about her. I was too stubborn to just put aside my feelings and listen to her. And deep down inside my head, I knew she was right. "I gave you the benefit of the doubt. The least you could do is do the same for me." Her words ran through my mind so much until I was forced to come to the only conclusion that she was right. But I just couldn't bring myself to make the walk to her room.
But I knew it was only a matter of time before I caved and went groveling back to her. Not being able to hold her when I wanted to, to kiss, touch, or feel her whenever I wanted too wore on my body every day. My will was weakening, and I could feel it. I didn't care who was right or wrong in this anymore. The only thing that mattered was that I hadn't had her in my arms in over a week. If it wasn't for the fact that tonight was a commercial free Raw, something that Lora's never had to run before, and the fact that John wanted to hit the gym before the show, I would be at her door, banging it down until I saw her face.
But I wasn't; instead, I was getting ready to fulfill my duties as Raw Superstar, seeing as my place in the WWE Universe eyes was changing slowly. I was no longer booed and jeered when I entered an arena, and people cheered when I went into my pattoned "Viper" mode before performing my finisher, the "RKO". I had to admit, even though I did feed off of the boos and jeers, it was a nice change to be cheered for, to be backed up. It had been a long time since Vince had allowed my character to change. I threw on the first shirt my hands found, and left my room, heading for the meeting with Vince and Adam.
Either I was late, or they were both early, because they were already there when I got there. I'm going to assume early, to make myself feel better, as I made my way in the room, taking a seat next to Adam. I saw him looking over at me, but I refused to meet his eye. He got to have Lora's company. I ignored the voice in my head that said that I could have her company as well if I wasn't so damn ignorant. I listened to Vince as he announced that Adam and I got to pick each other's opponent's tonight for Raw in a thing called "Pick Your Poison". But the trick was, neither of us would know who it would be until match time.
"Now Adam," Vince said, "You're going to think that Randy's pick is going to be Christian, and you're going to fight him, but Randy will come on the titantron, and make an announcement that he was not his pick."
I smirked over to Adam, who made a face, but, Vince spoke up, "And Randy, during your match, Adam will interrupt and spear you, leaving you in the middle of the ring." I rolled my eyes. I was so tired of getting speared. It was like riding a roller coaster, and having that feeling of leaving your stomach behind you; without all of the fun. I nodded, thinking of people I could ask to fight Adam, and walked out of Vince's office. I was already halfway down the hallway when I heard my name being called out.
"Randy!" Adam yelled from behind me. I turned around to see him walking slowly towards me.
"Yeah?" I didn't really have time for chitchat. John and I had a gym session in thirty minutes and he got angry if didn't get there on time.
"How are you?" Really? I raised my eyebrow at him. Adam was never the type person to ask about your feelings. That was John's style. "Yeah, I know. It's just that I see that you're miserable. And I see that she's miserable too."
I groaned. I really didn't want to talk about this right now. "Look, you don't understand. I've got to go."
"No, Randy. I don't think you understand," Adam said. I waved him off, and turned to walk away. Why wouldn't anyone just leave me alone about this? Everyone giving me advice and no one was actually in my shoes. But the next words out of Adam's mouth stopped my world short.
"He beat her, Randy." I froze. I stopped walking. It felt like I stopped breathing. I saw Adam's face come into view as he walked back in front of me.
"What?" I gasped, but my voice barely registering to myself.
"Erik, he beat Lora." And with those words, I knew I was the biggest prick on the whole planet. Because this whole time, I was making this about me, not even thinking that it could be about something bigger than myself, and my idiotic problems. Not even stopping to think for one second that Lora had problems of her own that she needed someone to help her get through them with.
"And she told you this?" I asked, just knowing that I had screwed up royally, and I didn't know of any way to fix this.
"Not really," Adam said, shuffling his feet, "she sort of yelled it when she was telling off Erik after he named himself her fiancé."
"Oh God," I groaned. I leaned against the side of the wall, burring my head into my hands. I tried not to let horrid images of my Lora, black and blue, swim into my mind, but they broke the barrier anyway. It made my stomach flip over and churn in a nauseous way. They also made my blood do dangerous things; like speed up and boil with anger. The very thought of Erik Gilbert caused a black screen to come over me and the only comfort that came to me was visions of him screaming in pain.
"Listen Randy, you really need to give Lora a chance to talk--" I exploded at his words.
"Don't you think that I know that? Don't you think that I feel like the biggest ass on this planet right now? She's not the only one lying awake at night, not sleeping well, not concentrating on the right things! Don't you know that I know this is all my fault?" I yelled, letting some of my frustrations out, albeit out on the wrong person. I should be doing this to myself in the gym.
"All I'm saying, Randy, is go to her. Talk about this. Go to her."
oo
I didn't tell John right away what Adam had told me. John felt strongly for Lora, like her brother, and there surely was a reason that she wasn't openly telling anyone about Erik. And I didn't want to be the one to spread it out. If Lora wanted people to know, she would tell them. But I nearly exhausted myself in the gym, pushing myself to the extreme limit, punishing myself. With every strain of my muscles, I saw her face, and pushed my body harder, faster, trying to rid it of all the pain that I was responsible for. I would have been a fool though if I thought John didn't notice that something wasn't wrong.
"You doing alright?" John asked as we sat on the cool down mat, stretching out our muscles after the grueling workout. I long since learned that it did no good to lie to him.
"I was thinking of going to Lora tonight," I thought out loud. Which was skirting around what I learned earlier, but was really what I was thinking about.
John smiled. "About damn time." I rolled my eyes at the sheer humor on John's face; bit back the story that was on my tongue. The one where I wanted John's help in finding this Erik, and beating him within an inch of his life. Because, other than Lora herself, which was the only thought that brought a true light to my being right now. "Just, listen to her, okay?"
I groaned. "Yeah, okay. I've heard that so many times in the past few days, I dream about those words."
"That's because you won't listen to them," John retorted. "Now, I've never been in the spot you are now, but I'm sure listening is the answer. Or at least that's what Casie drills into me every night, and I listen to her, so…" John broke off with a smile, and I returned it, thinking of Casie, and picturing her ranting to John about me, and lecturing him to have this talk with me.
"I'd be with her now, if it wasn't for the commercial-free Raw tonight, and we both know how hectic the last one went," I said, standing up from the mat. I was going to regret the excruciating work out later. I was already beginning to feel sore; especially not knowing who Adam was going to choose for my match tonight.
oo
As it turns out, I was going to see Lora sooner than I expected. She was going to be in a meeting with me and Vince and Adam for my titantron appearance after Edge's match with Christian. And I had to tell her who I picked for Adam's match, so she could have the music ready. I had picked the Undertaker. For many reasons, some because story lines in the past between him and Edge had been some of the gruesome and on-going. It seemed a good choice to the WWE Universe, which is what I wanted. But, another reason was because Lora had once said that the Undertaker was one of her favorites, and I thought by choosing him tonight, it might take her mind off of things.
Our meeting wasn't in a room. Raw was about to start, and people were running around us, checking papers, checking equipment. Adam, Vince and I were already standing in front red curtained area, with WWE logo, surrounded by cameras, were I was to do my titantron shoot. I was already dressed and ready for it. I heard running heel clicks on the concrete, and I turned my attention to see Lora practically jogging down the hall. She wore grey dress pants and pale purple shirt, with the purple shoes that I had bought her. I smiled to myself, thinking that she at least didn't hate me enough to throw away shoes yet. Her long dark red hair was straightened out, but I could tell that she was frustrated, because it was tangled in parts, and getting frazzled. The flush on her cheeks could have come from the jogging, or the hectic activities of the evening. She didn't bother with too much make-up, a little eyeliner and mascara and barely any gloss on her lips. She was beautiful.
"I am so sorry that I'm late! I had to wait on my second to relieve me before I could leave," Lora exclaimed, brushing her hair out of her face.
"No worries," Vince said, smiling at her, pulling her by the arm into the group. She stood in between Adam and Vince, directly across from me. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. No matter how hard I tried. I was drawn to her like a moth to a bright light. "Okay, we don't have much time. So, listen up. Adam, after you finish what you think is Randy's pick, Christian, Randy will come on," Vince pointed to me, and then behind him to red curtain and I nodded. "You will say what you need to say, and Lora will have both views of you two set up right over there at a table, while the second in command works from her room, and when Randy says his cue line, Lora, he'll hit Adam's real competition entrance," I watched as Lora nodded towards Vince. I refused the pains in my chest that she was forcefully going out of her way to not look at me.
"Good, Adam, go get ready for your match. It's the first match of Raw, of course, Chris Jericho comes out to run his mouth, and we all know how long that takes," Vince chuckled, and I saw Adam give me a long look before turning away for the locker room.
"Vince, not that I want to spread anything about anyone or anything," Lora began, wringing her hands together. "But am I going to be able to control my room from those controls on that table? Because, and I'm sure David is a nice enough guy, but he's just not… well, good."
I cast glances between Vince and Lora, and I watched as Vince tried to hide his amused smirk. "Yes, as long as he can load Adam's opponent's music there, you should be able to override him here. By the way, Randy, who is Edge's opponent going to be?"
I looked back to Lora, her eyes were on Vince. I sighed to myself, but I tried to speak directly to her "The Undertaker."
Her eyes flashed up to mine for the first time all day. It was the first time since last Tuesday I had seen her green eyes. At first, there was that excitement in them, the unusual happiness I saw in her eyes when she talked about something, or heard something that impressed her. I had only ever seen it when she would speak about or watch her favorite wrestlers from the past. And it made a warm spread from my chest, slowly, all over my body.
"So, I'll just leave you two at it then?" Vince asked, eyeing the both of us. I nodded, and watched him walk away from the corner of my eye. She dropped her gaze and immediately went to her table, setting up for the titantron appearance. I saw her take a walkie-talkie out and page her second, telling him to load the correct music, and have it ready. I watched as she got the monitors working and worked together with all of the camera-men around us. I had to speak with her, and not just stare at her in silence. I stood up from a chair, and walked quietly behind her.
"Hello, Lora."
She jumped backwards, bumping hard into my chest. "Oh God, Randy! Don't do that!" I couldn't help but smirk softly at her. She turned around and glared up at me, her brows knitted in anger.
"I was just wondering, if I could come by your room tonight?" I asked, losing all humor in my voice, and looking her dead in the eye. She seemed to since the seriousness of my tone as well, and I watched as all the anger drained from her eyes, replaced by a look that I couldn't quite place.
"What?"
"Well, you wanted to talk, and so do I. I just want to know that if I come to your room tonight, that you will let me in, and not leave me standing out in the hall," I said each word soft and slow, making sure she heard each word. I stepped closer to her, so she wouldn't have to strain to hear me. Which I couldn't, nor wouldn't, blame her if she did lock me out. She was staring at me with wide eyes, as if she was stunned in silence. I willed her with my eyes, my thoughts, to say anything.
"Okay," she whispered. And the lead that had started settling in my chest eased the slightest bit. She was giving me a chance. I nodded at her, backing up slowly, before I took her in my arms and forgot all about any titantron appearance.
oo
The thought of being in the same room with Lora, alone, for the first time in seven days consumed my thoughts. If I hadn't been at this business for as long as I had, I wouldn't have been able to be prepared. And even with all of my experience, there were things that I missed while my mind was tortured by a certain redhead; like taping up my wrists my black tape. Or shaving. It wasn't until I was standing right behind the entrance to the ramp, running my hands over my head and face, that I felt the prickle of short hairs that aren't usually there. Damn, I thought. But I couldn't let it throw me off my game. Tonight was going to be my night, despite the oncoming spear from Adam, ending my match.
I heard my entrance music, and pushed everything out of my mind, and switched into "Viper" mode. I slowly made my way down the ramp, entering the ring, and remembered that I didn't know who I was facing. I had forgotten that I didn't get to know until right this moment. And as I stood in the center the ring, the center of everything that I built my life around, I wondered who Adam choose for me. And then his music began to play. I closed my eyes in a groan. I thought that this was going to be my night.
I opened my eyes, and watched as Jack Swagger came to the ring. I narrowed my gaze, biting back the bile threatening to leave my stomach. This was not the time for me to be facing this man, not after what I learned about Lora earlier. He had near enough joined the club Erik was in, and I get the luxury to legally getting to lay my hands on him. And that I did. As soon as the bell rung, we locked up together, but Jake was proving to be as much as a push-over as he once was. I was going to have to pull out everything I had. Soon I had the tables turned, and I got the crowd revved up with "coiling of the Viper". But I knew that Adam, or Edge, was coming out soon. And sure enough, he came, right before I got an "RKO" on the Neanderthal. As I uselessly went for one on him, he countered, shoving me away, but I saw an opportunity to hit my "RKO" on Swagger anyway, before I got speared in the stomach, nailing me on mat.
oo
After the pointless match, I paced back and forth in my room. Lora had already given me the green light to go ahead, and come to her room. But now that I had no other obstacles in my way, I was scared. There was no other word for it. I was scared that she was angry with me. She had every right to be. But I couldn't let my nerves stand in the way. I took a deep breath and made my way for the door, yanking it open, only to come face to face with Lora herself. My breath caught in my throat, and I was taken totally off guard. She was wearing an over-sized shirt and her favorite pair of shorts. And the way she breezed past me and into my room, her hair flew about her in a crazed, wet fashion.
"Lora?" I asked, perplexed. Wasn't I supposed to meet her in her room? She held her hand up at me, spinning around to meet my eye. There was sheen in them that I didn't recognize. I closed the door behind me, and crossed the room, watching her all the while.
"My mom is Callie Pierce, and she's forty-nine. She met my dad, Patrick Pierce, in college at the University of Georgia. He's fifty-three. I got my green eyes from him. They had three children, including me, two girls and one boy. My older sister is Zoey, she's twenty-nine. She hates wrestling. Mainly because my brother and I used to put her in the moves when we were little. Then there is me, Lora Jade. Then my little brother, Mark, the one I'm closest too. He's twenty-two. We grew up on wrestling, and tortured Zo with it. We had a dog named Potts, but about two years ago, she got hit by a truck. Although, we do still have that cat Zo had to have, that I absolutely hate. Precious, is its name. Believe me, the feeling is mutual between the cat and I."
I gaped at her. I was at a loss for words. She had just summed up her family for me, and I was doing my damnedest to take it all in. This was one huge step for her, and I was not going to let it be for nothing.
"Randy? Say something. Please," Lora whimpered. I closed the empty space between us within seconds. I gazed upon her face, judging my movements in eyes. I slinked one arm around her waist and I felt her shiver. But she wasn't done speaking. "Randy, I'm sorry about Erik."
My whole body tensed at the sound of his name, including the arm around her waist. She looked up in my eyes, and saw the clouds that had swept in. She felt the animosity in my body tighten in my chest. "You know, don't you?"
I stepped back slightly, only to look down at her, "Why didn't you tell me?"
She sighed, running her hands through her hair, "Because I didn't want you to look at me that way."
"What way?"
"I didn't want you to look at me, and feel sorry for me, and see some girl that's been broken and is fragile to the touch, when I'm not!" Lora said fiercely. "Erik did not break me! I'm not stupid. I didn't wait around to let it happen more than once. But once was enough, thanks very much." She turned away from me.
"That's what you've been worried about?" I nearly laughed. "Lora, I never thought those things. When I found out about it, the only things I thought about was getting my hands on both you and Erik; albeit, both situations were totally different." I walked up behind her, wrapping my arms around her chest, pulling her back against mine. "I knew you weren't broken. No one here thinks you are. If you were broken, you wouldn't be able to put up with me."
I felt her shoulders shake, and for split, I thought she was crying, but she turned in my arms, and I saw the bright smile on her face, and I found out that it was laughter that had her shoulders shaking. I returned her smile, feeling that light inside me burn bright.
"Too right you are Orton. Too right."
I removed my arms from her body, only to grasp her face with both hands. I heard when she stopped breathing, because it was the same time I did. Since we had basically fasted from each other for seven days, I decided to ease back into this, and I just brushed my lips over hers. But when I heard her soft moan of happiness, I lost all thought or comprehension, and pulled her to me. I tangled my hands in her hair, and her hands found their way under my shirt. Our lips only were parting for air and pants of each other's names. God, it felt amazing to have her body so close to mine again. To have her be all mine again.
"Can, I ask something, and it not ruin this moment?" I asked, trying to not pant like a dog with no water, when we decided to cool it down for a few minutes. She nodded against my chest, still playing with my fingers. "Well, the abusive thing with Erik. Is that why you're hesitant to… sleep with me?"
She stopped twirling my fingers and leaned out from my chest to look me in my eyes. And for a moment I thought I had just ruined the moment, but Lora, sighed, and closed her eyes.
"Erik, was well… he had a particular way he wanted it. It was always, always, about him. And really, that was usually fine for me. The quicker the better. It would shut him up, and leave me alone. But he was my first, so I really don't know any other way…" Lora trailed off, ducking her head, hiding behind her hair. I wasn't really surprised, not after everything I've heard from Adam and from Lora. It just added to my anger for Erik. I sighed, and reached out, cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at me.
"Lora, you need to know, that it's not like that. Not always. It's a two player game. Give and take. It's not something to dread, if done right, with the right person. And I know I'm the not the spokesperson for this, but still. You need to know that is not how it is."
"I know," Lora said, but there was hesitancy in her voice. I shook my head and smiled at her, pulling her back into my arms. We had been through too much to have this conversation right now.
"Like I said before, worth the wait." And brought my lips back to hers with my groan of satisfaction.
A/N
I told you you would like this chapter! Yay! Happy days are here again! Sorry for wait, I say that a lot don't I? lol but wasn't it worth it? Anyways, Over the limit this Sunday! GO CENA! GO ORTON! WOO!
Thanks to my reviewers! And to readers, new and old, REVIEW!
Love you guys!
