{Chapter 9}
“Ken,” Isabella whined. “This is not what I had in mind when I said I wanted to come hang out with you on the road.” She had accompanied him to where Raw would be airing live that night. Isabella had no idea that Kennedy planned to drag her out of bed so early in the morning though.
“Come on, Izzy,” Kennedy said smirking when he spotted Cena and Jeff already inside the gym. “A workout will wake you up.”
Isabella crossed her arms across her chest and pouted. “I wanted to sleep in,” she replied.
Kennedy sighed. “Izzy, maybe Randy will be here.” He hated that she was so into Randy Orton, but what Cindy had said really hit him. She was an adult and could make her own decisions. He just had to trust that she would make the right one. If the time came that she needed a shoulder to cry on he’d be there for her.
Isabella brightened up. “Really? Do you think,” she asked running her fingers through her hair. Her fingers then grazed the fading bruise on her cheek and she winced at the slight twinge of pain. “Ken, I can’t see him like this.”
“Izzy, you look fine. I’m sure thanks to Jeff nearly everyone on the roster knows about…” His words faltered when she paled at his words. “What I meant to say was that…”
“Jeff’s a big blabbermouth,” Isabella asked and shook her head. “It’s fine. I can’t hide this damn thing. I might as well just acknowledge it and move on.”
“Atta girl,” Kennedy said slinging his arms around her shoulders. “Trust me, Izzy, once you get past the shock factor you hardly even notice it.” He led her into the gym and met up with Jeff and Cena.
“Hey, Izzy,” Cena said smiling. His smile faltered when he saw the bruise on her face. Jeff had told him about it, but to actually see it was a different story. “HOLY SHIT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?!” Jeff elbowed him in the ribs hard and he doubled over in pain. “Right,” he gasped. “Jeff told me.”
“Way to be subtle, John,” Kennedy grumbled. “Ignore the ignoramus, Izzy.”
“Hey,” Jeff exclaimed. “Oh, wait…you mean John. Cool. I’m not the ignoramus for a change.”
Isabella couldn’t help giggling. “You guys always like this,” she asked.
“Pretty much,” Kennedy smirked. “Come on. I’ll show you where you can change.”
~*~
“So, how much longer until you get the test results,” Cena asked as he watched Isabella working out on the Stairmaster. She wasn’t into the weights like he, Jeff and Kennedy were. He frowned when Randy finally wandered over to her.
“A couple of more days,” Kennedy said setting down the weight he had been using and mopping his brow with a towel.
“She seems pretty cozy with Randy,” Jeff said motioning toward where the two were chatting.
“Look, considering what she’s been through in the past with her ex, Randy’s a fuckin’ boy scout,” Kennedy said turning his back to the two. “I don’t like it, but…she’s old enough to make her own decisions.”
Cena slapped Kennedy upside the head. “What hell is wrong with you,” he demanded. “That’s your little sister and you’re just gonna let Randy stomp all over her heart? What the fuck?”
Kennedy slapped Cena upside the head, glaring at him. “I’m trying to keep her in my life, John,” he replied. “If keeping her in my life means accepting the scumbags she’s into…then so be it.” With that he went to shower and change, having had enough of working out for the day.
Cena and Jeff followed him into the locker room. Neither man knew what to say. They didn’t like Kennedy’s newfound attitude, but didn’t want to further anger their friend.
~*~
“Hey, Ken,” Randy said seeing Kennedy in the locker room. “How’s the hand?”
“Getting better everyday,” Kennedy replied, flexing his bandaged hand.
“That’s great. Listen, I’m going to take Isabella out for lunch,” Randy said smirking smugly. “Hope that’s all right with you.”
“It’s fine, Randy,” Kennedy replied. He knew exactly what the younger man was up to and wasn’t going to give in to what he wanted. “Hope you two have a good time.”
“Oh I’m sure we will,” Randy said his smug smile growing as he left the locker room.
Cena and Jeff watched him leave before turning their attention back to Kennedy. “Dude, please tell me you’re not just gonna let him have his way with your sister without a fight,” Jeff said.
Kennedy shrugged and Cena groaned. “You can’t be serious,” he fumed.
“Just let it go, guys,” Kennedy replied grabbing his bag. With that he exited the locker room.
Cena and Jeff exchanged glances. “Are we gonna just leave this alone?”
“Hell no,” Cena replied. “She’s too good for Orton and you and I both know it. I’m gonna do everything in my power to make her see that.” Jeff nodded in agreement as he followed Cena out of the locker room.
~*~
Randy spotted Cena and Jeff chatting in the hallway later on that night. Raw had just started and they were all waiting for their respective matches to start. Kennedy was showing Isabella around until it was time for his match.
“John, Jeff,” he said smirking. “How’s it going, guys?”
“What do you want, Orton,” Cena asked, not in the mood for Randy and his cockiness.
“Man, I hope I have enough energy for our match later, Jeff,” Randy said ignoring Cena’s tone. “Isabella…man…she’s just…amazing.”
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell, Randy,” Jeff said not liking the gloating.
“Jeff, no one’s ever accused this joker of being a gentleman,” Cena said.
Randy chuckled shaking his head. “Is that jealousy, John,” he asked.
“What the fuck would I have to be jealous of,” Cena demanded, feeling close to just clocking Randy.
“Oh I don’t know,” Randy replied the smug smile seemingly permanently plastered on his face. “Maybe the fact that I spent the most amazing afternoon with a beautiful, sexy woman in my bed.” He sighed dreamily as if he were reminiscing in his mind. “She is an amazing woman, fellas. You don’t know what you’re missing.” With that he strutted off.
“It would be a real shame if Ken were to find out what Randy’s saying about his little sister,” Cena said, his hands balling and unballing at his sides.
“It really would,” Jeff said.
“Hey, what’s going on,” Kennedy asked seeing that Cena was pissed.
“Randy’s been sharing about his afternoon with Izzy,” Jeff replied.
“Speaking of Izzy, where is she,” Cena asked.
“I left her with the Divas,” Kennedy replied. “Thought it might do her some good to hang out with some women for a change.”
~*~
“So, was that Randy Orton I saw you getting all snuggly with earlier,” Melina asked Isabella as she primped in the mirror.
“Yeah, he’s a sweet guy,” Isabella replied smiling. Candice snorted. Ashley snickered shaking her head. Maria arched an eyebrow. “What?”
“Honey,” Beth Phoenix said. “Randy Orton is…well…he’s a man whore.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that,” Isabella asked.
“Because it’s true,” Mickie James replied as she fixed her tights.
“He’s either slept with or tried to sleep with all of us at one point in time,” Ashley said.
“He’s the hit it and quit it type of guy,” Melina said remembering her one night stand with the Legend Killer.
“Definitely,” Candice agreed. “The Legend Killer will never change.”
“He might,” Isabella said. “Maybe he just hasn’t met the right woman yet.”
“Yeah and monkeys will fly out of my ass,” Beth said snickering.
“It was just a thought,” Isabella replied. “So, he’s a man whore. That must mean he’s pretty good at what he does, huh?”
“You’d have to talk to them about that,” Ashley said pointing to Mickie, Melina and Candice.
“Yeah, cocky assholes aren’t my style,” Beth said.
~*~
Cena and Jeff stood at the end of the hall smirking, proud of themselves. They had been sure to share Randy’s choice words about Isabella, embellishing here and there. They now watched as Kennedy stalked down the hall toward where the Legend Killer was being interviewed by Todd Grisham.
Kennedy was too much of a professional to let his emotions interfere with business. He waited patiently until the interview wrapped. The camera crew cleared out and Grisham headed off for his next assignment. Orton saw Kennedy standing there, but the older man's face was unreadable.
“Hey, Ken,” he said smiling moments before Kennedy’s fist connected with his face. “WHAT THE FUCK,” he exclaimed, holding his eye.
“Get one thing straight, Orton,” Kennedy growled. “I don’t like you even looking at my sister, but if I want to stay in her life I need to keep out of her personal life.”
Randy pulled his hand away from his eye, it was already bruised and swollen. “Great! How am I supposed to explain this?”
“Brag about sleeping with Izzy again and I’ll do more than give you a black eye,” Kennedy said and stalked off.
Randy watched him walking away, his eye slightly swollen shut. A small smirk curled his lips. He now had a weapon to use at his will against the older man. It was going to be fun playing mind games. With a snicker he headed off to find some ice for his eye.
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