"I'm really sorry about last night."

Alyssa barely had her door open before Randy managed to etch out that apology. He was holding out the complimentary chocolate from his hotel room that he knew was her favorite. Taking it into her hand, she smiled. "Are you feeling better now?"

"A bit, I just have a hangover."

"Nothing breakfast can't fix."

"Yeah, wanna go get some with me?"

"I'd love to, but I got plans already."

He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Oh?"

"Yeah," she said, thinking, please don't ask questions.

Randy retracted easily. "Alright. Well…I better go feed this hangover."

"You go do that," Alyssa smiled. "Thanks for the chocolate."

"No problem." Randy held out his hand to give her a hug.

And for some reason, Alyssa was hit with a feeling of guilt. Unsure why, she hugged her best friend like usual, then brushed her thoughts away as she retreated back into her room.

John was going to pick her up in thirty minutes, and she still needed to get ready. Prior to Randy knocking on her door, she'd spent a good twenty minutes trying on different outfits. She couldn't seem to be satisfied with her appearance, when usually, she didn't care. But something was different today, and it all started last night. It all started with John.

Finally, she decided on khaki shorts and a teal sleeveless button up. Since they were going to spend all day together, she figured it'd be best she wear flat sandals. She continued to get ready, and before she knew it, another knock came at her door.

"Fuck," she cursed to herself. She hadn't done final touches on her make-up. Taking in a deep breath, she walked towards the door and opened it.

"Hey there," John greeted, his eyes set on hers.

Suddenly, Alyssa didn't care how she looked. The way he looked at her made her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world.

"Hey," she smiled offering herself to a hug.

He placed both arms securely around her waist as she reached for his neck. The two stayed in this position longer than they anticipated, but neither of them were complaining.

"You ready to go?" John said into her ear.

She pulled away just enough to look up at him. "Yeah, but is my make up alright? I didn't finished putting it on."

John chuckled. "You shouldn't even be wearing that junk."

She pouted.

"But yes." John swiped a finger across her forehead to move some hair out of the way. "You look beautiful, just like always."

She let go of him and smiled. "And you're wearing a white shirt and some khaki shorts."

John looked down at himself then back at her. "Yeah, I am."

Holding onto her smile, she said, "I remember saying that was my favorite combo on you."

Nodding with a cheesy smile of his own, John winked and said, "I remember, too."

The two laughed in unison before making their way through the hallway. They waited in front of the elevators in silence, forcing Alyssa to stare.

"What?" John asked, not taking long to catch her. He was just about to stare, too.

"I'm admiring your dimples," she answered.

John chuckled, feeling warmth and redness flush his cheeks. "You commented on them the first day we met."

"I did, I did. They're cute on you," Alyssa complimented. "That's something I've always known."

John quickly picked up on what she said. "Anything new you know now?"

A loud ping announced an empty elevator's arrival which both of them walked into. The doors closed a few seconds after John pressed a button.

"Well," Alyssa looked at him straight in the eye. "I'm still tryna figure that out."

John nodded. "Maybe you'll know by the end of the day."

"If it takes me that long," she smiled.

It was obvious what both of them were referring to.

It was also becoming obvious to Alyssa that John's looked at her as more than a friend for much longer than a day. She, on the other hand, always saw him as a great man, but him being Randy's other best friend automatically put him in the off-limits zone. Now that she thought about it, that reason seemed trivial.

It was becoming clear to her that she would've missed out on a good thing if she hadn't crossed that line last night.

Another ping came, this time announcing they were in the lobby. The two walked out in silence, managing their way through the throng of people. They knew people were staring, but they weren't sure if it was because John Cena was there or because he was with Alyssa. Either way, the two just wanted to get out of there and be alone.

"Where are we going?" Alyssa asked once they got into his car.

John smiled as he backed out of his parking spot. "Think of the first time we met."

"Randy, I just broke up with my boyfriend, let me have some fun will you?" Alyssa threw sand to his chest before taking a seat on the ostrich chair beside him.

"You are having fun, aren't you?" he laughed, dusting off the debris she'd laid on him.

"Yeah but not if you keep messing with every guy that talks to me." She felt good in her pink two-piece, but her best friend managed to deflate her bubble.

"That last one could fit into your skinny jeans!" Randy gladly pointed out. He nudged her side with his elbow. "Is that what you want, huh? Is that your type? Was that your dream man?"

"No!" Alyssa pouted. She pushed her sunglasses a little higher on her nose bridge. "But still."

"Relax, relax." Randy placated. "I'll introduce you to a good friend of mine. I met him during training a few months ago."

"Is he cute?"

"He's off-limits."

"What the-"

"You told me you didn't wanna date a wrestler, right? He could be your other best friend, though. You know, when I'm not around?" Randy smirked.

"You're so full of yourself."

"You love me."

Alyssa looked at him through her shades, her lips stiff. "Unfortunately."

He was about to nudge her again but an interruption came from behind them.

"Randy!" someone called out.

He looked back and nodded. "Ay, you guys brought beer!"

"How could we not?" one of the guys said.

Alyssa looked at each of them, seemingly uninterested. She'd met two of the guys, and one of them was taken. The other simply gave her the chills and not the good kind. She'd caught him stare so many times, she was beginning to wonder if he's ever seen a woman before.

Then she noticed the third man.

That's probably the guy Randy was talking about, she thought. Not bad. Not bad at all.

She stood up and walked up to them. "Hey."

Randy welcomed her into the circle. "You guys know Alyssa right?"

John, the third man, looked at her. He's seen many pretty faces before and this was another one.

"We haven't been introduced," Alyssa said to Randy, her eyes on John.

"His name's John," Randy said plainly. "And this is Alyssa."

"Nice to meet you." John extended his hand, but instead of shaking it, she took it as an invitation for a hug.

"Woah, you comfortable there, Al?" Randy commented, his facial expression showing no signs of approval.

"Oh, get that stick outta your ass." Alyssa jabbed his arm.

John couldn't help but laugh. "That stick gets thicker and thicker every day."

Randy shook his head and took the first beer. "I have asses as friends."

"You love my ass," Alyssa winked.

Randy didn't deny that fact as he closely watched her mingle with the new guy he'd introduced her to.

It took John and Alyssa until they got situated on the sand to finish reminiscing. They were sitting close, but not touching.

"So John, tell me."

He looked at her, unsure as to what she meant. "Tell you what?"

"When did you know?"

Furrowing his brows, John asked, "know what?"

"Was it the night I looked after you when you were drunk? Or those days I took care of you when you were sick? Or was it when we played that prank on Randy?"

A soft chuckle escaped his lips. A bit shy, he looked down before looking back at her. "Oh, it was way before that."

Curious, Alyssa simply looked at him and said nothing. Her silence was her way of urging him to continue.

"I was definitely attracted to you right away. Physically of course, since I didn't really know you back then. But uh," John paused as if he were running their history in his mind. "It was the second week, when we went hiking."

"Oh?" she had trouble recalling this event.

"You fell and got the biggest, deepest, meanest cut on your leg and yet, you still had the most fun."

"Oh gosh! I was trying so hard to distract myself from the pain."

"Well you did a good job," John commended. "It was so good you distracted me, too."

"Oh yeah? Cena has pain?"

"Hell yeah, I do."

"You're damn good at distracting yourself too, then. I never hear you complain."

John picked up some sand then sifted it through his fingers. "Well, I never saw the need to complain. Especially when I'm talking to you."

Alyssa blushed. "Even when you don't talk to me, you still cheesin."

"What can I say, you leave that much of an impression," John winked.

"Oh shut up," she laughed.

John laughed too. "Is this weird?"

"Us?"

"Yeah."

"I don't feel weird."

"Neither do I," John said, smiling.

And that feeling stayed for the remainder of their day.

John couldn't believe he was actually on a day-long date with Alyssa: the girl who's had his heart even before she wanted it. He wasn't even sure if she wanted it now, but by the way she held his gaze and massaged the back of his hand as he held hers, he was almost sure she was getting there.

And she was. Going on this date with John turned out to be the best decision she's made in a long time. She just couldn't decide which surprised her more: this date or how long it took to happen. Whichever it was, she was glad to be there. She was glad to offer a part of herself she never knew existed.

John contently replayed the date as he walked himself to his room. They hadn't kissed, but the vivid images of her smiling up at him, holding him, laughing with him, was enough to get him through until the next time he saw her. Which, they had decided earlier, would be at breakfast.

His thoughts were interrupted when someone hollered his name. He knew instantly who's voice it belonged to. It was Randy's.

"Hey man, I haven't seen you all day."

John nodded. "Yeah, I've been out. You feelin any better from last night?"

"Eh sure… I was pretty crazy wasn't I?"

"Hell yeah. What was that all about? You tried to kiss-"

Randy interjected before John even finished. "I don't remember what happened, okay?"

John didn't say anything. He studied Randy's face.

"You know I was drunk. I don't remember anything," Randy repeated definitively.

John's mouth stayed firmly shut. He carefully assimilated these words, wondering why Randy felt the need to repeat himself. Who was he trying to convince? For a person who claimed to not remember anything, he was coming off more defensive than he should. What was he trying so hard to conceal?

John's curiosity was amplified when Randy repeated himself for the third time. "I really don't remember what I did, so let's not ever bring that up. I'ma head to bed now."

Randy's sudden dismissal didn't ease John's mind one bit. He watched him walk away, tension clearly present in his posture. He wasn't sure what to make of the conversation but something told him that Randy wasn't telling much of the truth.

Well, what'd you guys think? I love and appreciate feedback! Thanks to SandraSmit19, therealchamps, Playdohx, wickedly-pure, my time is now, and EveCandiceCenaOrton4lifee for reviewing! Next chapter, the trio will be face to face once again (: