Chapter 67: Unfriendly Encounter
Randy's POV; The next day
Buzz . . . buzz . . . buzz
"Even when I put it on vibrate, my phone still manages to wake me up in the morning . . ." I grumble to myself as I slowly open my eyes to see the bus' ceiling right above me. After WrestleMania, we boarded the bus to head straight for San Diego, but we got caught in the middle of a huge traffic jam by the time we all went to sleep, well, besides Hal. I turn my head to look out the window to see that we had already arrived at the arena overnight, which was a little shocking to me considering that we got stuck in traffic as soon as we drove past the Santa Clara city lines. To be honest, I didn't think we would arrive at the arena till the middle of this morning, but somehow Hal manages to shock me once again.
Buzz . . . buzz . . . buzz
The reason I woke up in the first place instantly gets my attention; my eyes turning left to see my vibrating phone on the small counter next to the bed. I grab it and look at my screen, scowling when I saw that it was Rochelle who was calling me . . . again.
"What the hell does she want with me?" I say as I shake my head. I look down to see that my phone never disturbed 'Manda. She was still well asleep, her head resting in the crook of my neck as I felt her even breathing hit my skin. Her left arm was wrapped around my waist, as if she was cuddling me like I was some big teddy bear. She looked so serene curled up so close to my body, as if she didn't have any care in the world.
"Hmm . . . you look so at peace right now . . ." mumbled the Viper as he quickly took a photo of the two of them. As soon as he finished making sure that the photo wasn't blurry, he groaned when his phone began to vibrate again, Rochelle's name blaring across the phone screen like an annoying homing beacon. ". . . You have got to be kidding me. Why won't she just leave me alone?"
"Are you talking about Rochelle?"
"Hmm . . ." I say as I look down at 'Manda to see that she was staring back at me with those tired bright blue eyes of hers. I watch her as she climbs onto me, sliding her leg around my waist and pulling herself up so that she was now sitting on top of me. Her eyes go straight to my phone, and I knew from the look in her eyes that she was expecting me to answer her question. "Yeah . . . yeah, it's Rochelle. She's called me seven times in the past hour alone."
"What are you going to do?" she asks me curiously as she raises an eyebrow. "She'll probably keep calling your phone unless you answer it."
"I could turn off my phone, but then she'll probably figure out another way to contact me . . . She always had her ways," I grumble as I look at my phone's screen. "What do you think I should do 'Manda?"
"Asking your own fiancée for advice on what to do next concerning the woman who basically ruined your military career . . . nice," she tells me as a sheepish look comes across her face. "Well baby, you're going to have to confront this specter from your past someday, and you should probably do it sooner rather than later. If you put it off till later, it'll more likely come back to bite you in the butt . . . I would suggest talking to her, but not in a way that she'll be reminded of what happened between the two of you when you were cadets."
"Yeah . . . I have a pretty good feeling that she hasn't forgotten those days at all . . ." I tell her as my phone rings again. "But you're right 'Manda. I got to confront her sooner rather than later . . . You know what? I'll answer her right now."
"I'll leave you to your call then . . ." she tells me as she quickly departs from my body, but I grab her by her ankle to prevent her from leaving the bed. ". . . You want me to stay for this?"
"Yeah . . . I do," I tell her as I sit up. "If you're here, I'll be more likely to stay in a calm state of mind and less likely to tear apart our room, even with our twins in here with us."
"Oh we definitely don't want that happening . . ." Amanda tells me quickly as she slides back onto the bed. She wraps an arm around my waist before pecking my cheek. "I'm definitely staying then."
"Good . . ." I say as I look at my phone. "Well then, here goes nothing . . ."
I tap the green phone icon before bringing the device to my ear, and as soon as I hear the light feminine chuckle hit my eardrums, I let a scowl come across my face.
"Well, well . . . it took you long enough to answer your phone Randy," she tells me as she lets out another chuckle. "I was beginning to think that you had forgotten all about me."
"Like I could ever forget about the person who ended my military career . . ." I say back as 'Manda wraps her other arm around my stomach. "You're not that hard to forget Rochelle, no matter how much I try to."
"Well . . . that just puts a smile on my face," she tells me back, her tone sounding mildly sarcastic. "I saw your match at WrestleMania yesterday. It was very impressive."
"You watched my match . . . I thought you weren't a wrestling fan . . ."
"I'm not, but when I found out that the WWE was going to be in California for the week, I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to see you in action, live and in person, for myself."
"So . . ." I say as this new piece of information hits me like a ton of bricks. "You were actually at the stadium yesterday. You were in the crowd . . ."
"That's right . . . I was a few rows away from the barrier that separates the ring from the fans, but I still had a great view of the festivities . . ." she tells me as I look at Amanda in disbelief. "Your match was my favorite, if you were wondering . . . The way you took down Rollins with that RKO. It took my breath away."
"Can it Rochelle . . ." I say as I shake my head. "Why have you been calling me? I highly doubt it's to congratulate me for my win."
"Oh Randy . . . I have honestly forgotten about how irritable you can get when something drags on. You really were one for being straightforward and not beating around the bush," she tells me in a disparaging tone. "I do have a reason for calling you. I want to talk to you about something, but I'm not going to do it over the phone . . ."
"You want me to meet with you?" I ask as I let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Fat chance I'm going to see you again after what you did to me."
"Aw, don't be like that Randal . . ." she tells me as she lets the small hint of a sarcastic whine show in her voice. "If you aren't coming to meet with me, I won't mind coming to you instead."
"Don't you even try it!" I warn, but she just laughs it off as if I said some corny joke.
It'll be nice . . . you can show me around where you work and introduce me to your friends and coworkers," she tells me in a nonchalant tone. "I especially want to meet your family. I heard you've become the father of twin girls. Congratulations! I bet Alanna loves being a big sister and all . . . Plus, the Anaconda must be an amazing mother I'm assuming . . . You two are getting married soon right? It's all over the wrestling blogs on the internet."
As she continues to ramble on, I can't help but let the look of shock show on my face. The idea of her coming to where I work is one thing, but the idea of her meeting my family was on an entirely different level of wrong in my book. The thought of Rochelle meeting 'Manda and our little girls just makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.
With her hearing being just as good as mine, I knew 'Manda was hearing every word that Rochelle was spewing out of her mouth. I turn to see her reaction, but all she does is shoot me a blank look, her eyes looking distant. I didn't need to be a mind reader to tell that 'Manda was thinking about the idea of Rochelle coming to see her and our daughters right now. I could read it from just looking at her eyes.
"Uh hello . . . Are you still there Randy?"
"Yeah . . . I'm still here Rochelle . . ." I say as I finally get out of my silent stupor. "Rochelle, we both know that I would never allow you to come close to my family right?"
"I figured you would say that . . ." she tells me as I hear the slight hint of superiority in her tone. "In other words, you're going to meet me after all, right Randal?"
". . . Yeah, I am . . ." I say rather reluctantly. I can see 'Manda looking at me with a curious look on her face from the corner of my eye, but I try to pay it no mind. "Where do you want me to meet with you?"
"When you come out of the arena parking lot, turn left and make your way five blocks down the road till you reach a café named Milo's. I'll be waiting right out front . . ." she tells me as I hear her chuckle from her end. "And you better get here quick Randal. You know I don't like to be kept waiting for too long right?"
"Of course I remember . . . I'll see you in an hour Rochelle," I tell her before hanging up my phone, not even bothering to wait for her response as I threw my phone back onto the counter. "Well . . . that went better than I expected, except for the part where I have to meet her in an hour."
"How are you feeling?" 'Manda asks me, the first thing she said to me since before I answered my phone.
"I feel very reluctant to go meet with her. I don't want to see her at all. . ." I tell her as I lay back down on the bed. "However, if I don't go, she'll come to me, and I don't want her anywhere near you or the girls."
"Then that means you better get moving then . . ." 'Manda tells me sheepishly as she picks up the pair of jeans I wore yesterday from off the floor and drapes it across my chest. "We don't want to keep the manipulating witch waiting now do we?"
"Manipulating witch?" I ask with a small smirk on my face as I start to get dressed, one pant leg at a time. "Okay 'Manda, we both know you wanted to use a harsher word that 'witch' in that sentence."
"And I would have used a harsher word, preferably the one that rhymes with witch, but starts with the letter b," she tells me with a shrug before turning to the twins' crib. "But I couldn't, considering that we both know how irritated I can get when someone uses bad language around our little babies."
"Even when the cursing offender is the twins' own mother?" I ask with a smirk as she hands me my shirt from yesterday.
"Even when the cursing offender is the twins' own mother," she tells me with a smirk as I quickly slip my shirt on before moving on to my sneakers. "Here's a word of advice babe: Don't let Rochelle get under your skin. I have a feeling that nothing good will happen if she does find a way to make you mad."
"I'll keep your advice in mind . . ." I tell her as I pocket my phone and my wallet. "Umm, this may be a random question considering the current circumstances that surround us, but I'll ask it anyway. Do you want me to pick up some breakfast while I'm gone?"
"Breakfast takeout sounds like a good idea . . ." she tells me with a smirk as I help her off the bed. "And since this is usually the time of day when breakfast is usually cooked and eaten, I did not find your question random at all."
"That's good to know . . ." I tell her as I wrapped my arms around her slim waist. She looks up at me with those bright blue eyes of her and I instantly get lost in them, their depths absolutely endless as I leaned down to her face. She responds to me on instinct, her eyes closing and her mouth slightly parting as I closed the small distance between us lips first. I start out slow, tasting and relishing in the feel of her soft lips against mine before deepening the kiss. I bring her body even closer to mine before pinning her against the bus wall, a small smirk forming on my face as I begin trailing kisses down her chin and toward her neck. ". . . I . . . I really should get going right?"
"You should . . ." she tells me in a breathless whisper as I begin to nibble one of the sensitive spots on her skin, getting a small hiss of pleasure out of her in response. ". . . But I am really reluctant to let you leave right now."
Her answer sends chills right down my spine, but I knew I couldn't let this go any longer, especially when I had my evil blast from my past waiting for me down the street. I place one last kiss on Amanda's prone lips before letting go. Her eyelids flutter open to look at me in shock before settling to a look of understanding.
"You think we can continue this later?" she asks me with a sheepish look on her face as I place a kiss on her forehead.
"Maybe, if I'm in a good state of mind afterward . . ." I tell her. My tone was meant to be kidding, but it sounded strained instead. "I'll see you later baby . . ."
"Bye, and say goodbye to the twins before you go . . ." she tells me with a smirk. I return it with a smirk of my own before walking over to the crib, and instead of verbally saying my goodbyes to the sleeping duo, I kiss them right on their foreheads, somehow managing not to wake them in the process. "And don't you dare forget to bring back breakfast when you return."
"I won't," I say with a chuckle as I grab hold of the doorknob. "I'll see you later baby . . ."
And with that, I walk out the door to go meet with Evil Incarnate.
Normal POV
The Viper walked out the room and closed the door behind him with a soft click. He turned to the bunk beds to see that Nate was sleeping soundly in his bunk while Hal was out cold in the bunk under Nate's. He let out a small breath before walking down the bus. Once he was finally off the vehicle, he followed the directions Rochelle gave him, walking out of the parking lot and turning left to walk the five blocks to the designated location. He took his time, thinking about the different directions the conversation he would have with Rochelle would go, most of them negative. When he spotted the name Milo's written in curly white script on the front of a maroon awning above a storefront that was across the street on the next block, he stopped and took in a deep breath, his eyes going straight to the person standing under the awning, her vibrant red hair blowing gently in the California breeze.
"Alright . . . here goes nothing." grumbled the Viper as he checked for traffic before crossing the street. When he reached the block where the café was at, he looked up to see that the person he was meeting was staring right at him, a catlike grin spreading across her porcelain face.
"Randal Keith Orton . . . long time, no see huh . . ." said the woman, her voice taking on a small purr as the Viper reached her with a scowl on his face. "Aw, what's with the scowl on your face? Aren't you happy to see me again after all this time?"
"No, no I am not happy to see you. Like hell I am!" Randy told her rather indignantly as he looked around the street to see if anyone was staring their way. He let out a small breath when he saw that Rochelle and him were the only ones currently on the street.
"Oh Randal, you don't mean that . . ." said Rochelle as her smile remained on her pixie-like face. "C'mon, you know you missed me."
"Why would I miss the woman that killed my military career?" Randy asked her spitefully as he shot her a glare.
"Oh come on . . . what's in the past is in the past. Besides, things have been working out for you quite well these past few months I see," said Rochelle as she waved his question off. "You have a nice long-standing career with the WWE, living out your days doing the thing you love to do. You're raising three beautiful girls, and you're engaged to be married to the best friend you've known since you were a baby . . . Ms. K.O., nice choice, very nice choice my friend. I'm shocked that it took you so long to propose to her, but nevertheless, it's a good choice indeed."
"C'mon Rochelle, we both know that you're not here to exchange pleasantries . . ." grumbled the Viper as he crossed his arms. "What's the real reason behind this meeting?"
"Straight to the point as always . . . Walk with me Randal. I'll talk as we go," said Rochelle as she placed a hand on his shoulder. She had to look up at him since she only reached up to his shoulders height-wise. "Randy . . . I want to make you an offer."
"Oh no; stop right there . . ." said Randy as he held back a low growl. "Do you really expect me to enter a deal with you? One of the biggest things I learned from my time with the Marines is to never make a deal with you. It just leads to trouble, like the trouble you caused for the entire camp during my tenure there."
"Oh yeah . . . the Marines; I left that life behind a year after I got you discharged. It wasn't fun there with you not being there anymore." said Rochelle as she did a small shrug.
"Oh, so you left because you missed me?" Randy replied sarcastically as he shook his head. "Now that's an absolute riot."
"In my opinion, you were the best piece of eye candy at camp. With you gone, things weren't that interesting to me anymore, so I just left the service," said Rochelle. "With the connections I made in camp, it was quite easy to discharge myself from military service."
"Yeah, considering you were basically running the camp singlehandedly," grumbled the Viper as he looked at her from the corner of his eye. "And don't try to baby me up with the eye candy stuff. It's not going to work."
"I was hoping it was. You were so easily charmed by a girl if she complimented you back then . . ." Rochelle said absentmindedly as the two reached a street corner. "But I guess that's not the case now since you're engaged and all. Am I invited to the wedding by any chance?"
"Hell no!" Randy exclaimed as the two crossed the street. His reaction just brought a smile on Rochelle's face. "You are never welcomed to my wedding, or anywhere near my family for that matter!"
"Aw . . . I guess you're not one to forgive and forget I guess," said Rochelle as she let out a small sigh. "I understand your negative feelings toward me, but I was hoping that you could push those feelings aside to hear what I have to say."
"Which is?" growled the Viper as he began to shoot daggers in her direction.
"I've made a few enemies that really know how to hold a grudge, like years-ling grudges," Rochelle told him simply as she turned to face him. "I was hoping to ask you for your assistance in taking them out."
"You have got to be kidding me . . . Nice try, but I'm not falling for that," said Randy as he shot her a cold look. "You're trying to play the sympathy card on me in order to get what you want. You have another reason for wanting my help to take out your enemies."
"Damn, you are really good at reading people . . ." Rochelle told him sarcastically as she placed a hand on her hip. "I was hoping the sympathy route would win you over . . . You really are not the dim-witted, cocky, eighteen year old I used to know."
"Yeah . . . Basically, I grew up, and you didn't," said Randy as he looked Rochelle straight in the eye. "Now, either you tell me the real reason behind why you want my help, or else I'm leaving."
"Fine . . . I'll tell you," said Rochelle as a devilish grin came across her face, which sent a cold chill down his spine. "I've always been a girl that dreamt big. And what I'm dreaming about now is having the ability to control the West."
"The West? As in, you want to control the entire western section of the United States?" Randy asked her in absolute shock.
"And the western parts of Canada and Mexico. I like to think big remember?" said Rochelle as she did a small shrug. "Think about it Randy. The vampire covens of the west aren't as structured and organized as the covens of Midwest, South, and the East. Their connections are the weakest compared to the rest of the country. They're ripe for the picking. One by one, they'll all fall under my control"
"I'm guessing you already have a group of followers that's behind this scheme of yours?" Randy asked her as he shook his head.
"I've gathered many friends onto my side since you left the military Randy. That's a long time to make the necessary allies and connections necessary for my plans," said Rochelle as she crossed her arms. "So, are you in or not?"
"Definitely not," Randy practically growled in her face as he vehemently shook his head. "I'm not going to risk my life all because you want to control a chunk of North America for whatever reason you may have. This plan probably won't even work considering how crazy it sounds already, as well as the fact that the covens of the west are some of the most powerful ones on the continent . . . Rochelle, unlike you, I have a life. I have a job. I have a family to take care of. I have a beautiful fiancée that I can't wait to get married to . . . I'm not going to throw it all away just so I can do your stupid bidding. I wasn't a follower of yours back in our military days, and I'm not a follower of you now. Get some other crazy dumbass to do your bidding. We're done here!"
"Oh Randy, your words hurt me . . ." said Rochelle in a mocking tone as she took out a small, fist-sized, giftwrapped package from her pocket. "Fine, don't join my group, but don't worry, this won't be the last time you hear from me. . . Here, take this."
"Why are you giving me this?" Randy asked her as he tentatively took the small package from her.
"Your 35th birthday is in a couple of days after all . . . I thought it would be rude to not get you a gift," said Rochelle as she stepped away from him. "I'll see you around Randal. This won't be the last time we'll talk."
Randy let out a snort as he watched as Rochelle walked down the block. Once she turned the corner and disappeared from view, Randy looked down at the small blue package in his hands. He let out an irritated growl before putting the small package in his pocket, cursing under his breath as he walked back the way he came.
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