Monday March 23, 1987
Randy pulled his motorcycle into the student parking lot. Chevonne pulled off her helmet and climbed off the bike. She grabbed their book bags off the back of the bike. She pulled her brush out of her bag, trying to fix her hair.
"You know dad wants to meet this new boyfriend of yours? He knows Jimmy and Jey but hasn't met Roman yet." Randy said.
"Of course I am introducing my boyfriend to Papa Orton. What kind of girl do you take me for?" Chevonne smiled.
"Come on, let's get to homeroom." Randy said.
They grabbed their book bags and headed into the school building. They were barely through the door when their group of friends hurried up to them.
"Where have you guys been? The whole school is talking about Nikki's murder." Naomi said.
"Well you had to expect that." Randy said.
"Hi Roman." Chevonne kissed his cheek.
"What else are they saying?" Randy asked as they walked through the hall.
"Apparently she was stabbed and had her throat cut." Cody said.
"Oh that is terrible. That is so brutal." Chevonne said.
"Do they know who did it yet?" Randy asked.
"Right now the police are focusing on John. He was alone with her all evening. But Alex Riley is backing his alibi that they found Nikki together." Kristin said.
"John must be going through hell." Ted said.
"Well are there any suspects besides John? I mean he is not a killer." Chevonne said.
"I am sure the police will move on soon." Brandi said.
"But they have no other suspects." Jey said.
"It is scary to think a killer is on the loose in town." Naomi said.
"Chevonne, I don't want you going anywhere alone for a while. Make sure you are with me or Roman. If Mama Judi is working late, you can stay with my parents." Randy said.
"Good idea Randy, we all need to keep a close eye on the girls until the lunatic is caught." Jimmy said.
"Do you think maybe it was a drifter? Just someone passing through? Like that guy in Texas that confessed to murdering all those people while traveling a few years back?" Chevonne asked.
"I guess anything is possible." Cody said.
"I heard Nikki is having a private funeral. Family only." Ted said.
"School has some counselors coming in for anyone that would like to talk." Brandi said.
"We better get to homeroom." Randy said.
"Yes, Mr. Leyfield has a fit if we're late." Chevonne said. She kissed Roman and hurried with the twins to their homeroom.
Friday March 27, 1987
Everyone had decided to go to the Carter High School baseball game that Friday night as a way of releasing some of the tension everyone had been under the past week. Nikki had been laid to rest at a private funeral. Randy had spent a few evenings with John, wanting to be there for his friend. The police had not charged John with anything for lack of evidence and everyone was on edge that a killer may be loose in town. Meanwhile Roman and Chevonne had eaten lunch together every day, sat together in history class and he had taken her home a few evenings after school.
Chevonne and Roman were sitting with Brandi, Kristin, Brett and Naomi at the Chieftains home game. The Orton's were sitting a few rows behind them, and the Knight's were seated at the top of the bleachers with the Uso's.
"This game is so close. I swear you can see Coach Simmons' mind working." Naomi said.
"We are behind by one run, but you know me. I ain't happy if it isn't a 10 run blow out." Chevonne said.
"You'll have to excuse Chevonne, being Randy's sister has made her a huge baseball fan and there are times I think she is the only one cheering for the Atlanta Braves." Kristin told Roman.
"Hey, I refuse to be a band wagon jumper. Besides, I cheer for other teams too." Chevonne said.
"Yeah, we hear all about Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, she still loves Pete Rose and thinks George Brett walks on water. And despises Billy Martin like he is Satan himself." Brandi said.
"This from the woman who has a major crush on Jose Conseco." Chevonne laughed. "Why am I always catching grief for being a Braves fan?"
"Now there are three people I never thought would be at a baseball game. This doesn't seem like their kind of crowd." Naomi motioned towards the concession stand where Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper were standing.
"Maybe they just wanted a fun evening too. They might be a little…odd but I am sure they have felt the sadness around here the past week." Chevonne said.
"Who knows but I am still surprised. I don't think I have ever seen them at a sporting event before." Kristin said.
The Chieftains got the third out and the teams began changing up as 'Dancing on the Ceiling' blared over the loud speakers. The girls waved at the boys as they headed into the dugout. Chevonne turned and waved at the Orton's.
"This is the bottom of the 8th. Chieftains need to make something happen." Chevonne said.
"Calm down, Jey, Ted, Ziggler then Randy is up." Brandi said.
"You two coming out with us after the game?" Naomi asked Roman.
"You know it. Between Chevonne and the twins I was barely given an option." Roman laughed.
Jey got a single to left field. When Ted got up, he was walked which pushed Jey to second.
"Okay we have the tying run in scoring position." Chevonne said.
"I don't think Ziggler can stop shaking his hips long enough to swing the bat." Kristin laughed.
"Exactly who is he impressing when he does that? I don't see too many girls fawning over him." Naomi said.
Ziggler hit a fly ball to center field that was caught but allowed Jey and Ted to move up.
"Randy is up next. Hopefully he can tie up this game and hit Jey home." Kristin said.
They watched as Randy took two bad pitches. The catcher called timeout and went to talk to the pitcher on the mound. When the meeting on the mound was over, Randy stepped back in the batter's box. Randy caught a piece of the next pitch and fouled it over the fence.
On the next pitch, Randy made solid contact with the ball and they all watched as it cleared the outfield fence. The crowd came to its feet, cheering for Orton's homerun. Chevonne jumped up and down screaming like a banshee, hardly noticing as Jey and Ted crossed home plate.
"He got a homerun did you see that?!" she yelled, as she hugged Roman and kissed Brandi on the cheek.
"I think she got that backwards." Brandi laughed as Roman smiled at her antics.
Chevonne stood on the bleachers still yelling as Randy crossed home plate and his team celebrated on the field with him. Bob and Elaine were cheering and chuckling at how excited Chevonne was for her adopted brother.
"You know, you don't have to worry about Randy and Chevonne. They really are siblings in every way but blood." Kristin told Roman, worried Chevonne would make Roman uncomfortable.
"Oh I know that. I figured that out my first week here." Roman chuckled.
(End of Game)
As the game ended, the Chieftains winning because of Randy's homerun, the crowd cheered. Chevonne was still hyper and happy for Randy.
"It will take the guys a bit to shower and clean up." Brandi said.
"Come on Roman, I want you to meet my adopted parents." Chevonne grabbed his hand. "We'll catch up with you guys."
Chevonne and Roman walked a couple of rows back, moving through the crowd and found Elaine and Bob Orton.
"Papa Orton!" Chevonne hugged him.
"There is Randy's biggest fan." Bob chuckled. "Saw you cheering for your brother."
"I wanted to introduce you guys to my boyfriend. This is Roman Reigns; he is the twins' cousin." Chevonne smiled. "Roman, this is Bob and Elaine Orton. They are Randy's parents and my adopted parents."
"Nice to meet you." Bob shook Roman's hand.
"You too. Chevonne talks about you both all the time." Roman smiled.
"Chevonne he is very good looking." Elaine whispered to her.
"I think so too." She giggled and hugged Elaine.
"Chevonne told us she had a boyfriend. Glad we could meet you." Bob said as the ladies chatted.
"She has told me you are like her father." Roman said.
"She is my daughter, I might not have sired her but she is mine….which also means you hurt her you answer to me." Bob gave Roman a stern look.
"I understand…and Randy gave me a similar speech." Roman said.
"Just respect her, that is all I ask." Bob said.
"I will, I promise." Roman said.
"I am sure you will. You come from a great family. I have known Fatu for years." Bob smiled.
"Roman, we need to get going." Chevonne told him.
"I want both you kids to come to the house for dinner soon." Elaine smiled. "And Roman, don't let Bob scare you. He might growl but he is really a big teddy bear."
Roman smiled. "Nice meeting you both. See you soon."
Chevonne and Roman waved goodbye and headed back into the crowd to catch up with their friends and go to the Brick Oven for a late dinner.
(One Hour Later)
The friends had pushed two tables together at the pizza parlor so they could set together and had ordered several pizzas.
"Randy is the hero of the night. You could totally work this to your advantage and have any girl you want." Cody said.
"Or at least line up a prom date out of it." Ted said.
"I don't think so. The only girls that would go along with that are gold diggers and airheads." Randy said.
"So what's the problem?" Brett asked.
"You can only be in lust with a body for so long before the mind gets bored." Randy said.
"Besides, we already have the cutest baseball fans in the county." Ted said. "He isn't gonna find anyone better than these four ladies."
"Kristin, I think we're being buttered up." Naomi said.
"I think Ted is just trying to get lucky." Brandi said.
"I am glad things are getting back to normal." Roman said.
"Me too. Been a bad week. Tonight was just what we needed." Chevonne said.
"So how about tomorrow night we go out, just you and me." Roman asked her.
"I would love to." She smiled.
"I figured it was time I take my girl out on a proper date." Roman smiled.
Chevonne smiled big, making the other girls notice.
"Girl, what did he say? You have the dumbest look on your face." Brandi laughed.
"Nothing, it's silly." Chevonne answered, blushing a bit.
"Guys, we better head out soon. The cops are really enforcing the student curfew after last week." Jimmy said.
"I still think it was a drifter." Chevonne said.
"You may be right. After all, Walkerton is a boring place." Jey said.
"Let's finish up. Coach Simmons will have a fit if one of us gets arrested for breaking curfew." Cody said.
"Chevonne, is Mama Judi working night shift tonight?" Randy asked.
"No, she will be home tonight." Chevonne said.