"It's your lucky day boss." Randy smirked, pushing open the door back to where the group had been patiently waiting. Lilian was sitting on Dave's lap, still visibly upset, while Vince and Shane were talking to themselves just off to the side. All eyes immediately came focused onto him the moment his presence came into realization.
"Is that her?" Shane questioned, gesturing to Tania who was hiding behind Randy. She had hoped to sneak out the back when he wasn't looking and totally bail on the situation. She knew she was in way over her head, but as of right now she doubted there was much she could do about it. Reaching around behind, Randy grabbed Tania by the sleeve of her shirt and pulled her forwards.
"Tania Bailey." She quietly introduced. Suddenly she reverted back to the shyness of a three year old as she inched slightly closer to Randy.
"Thank god you were still here, you have no idea how much we need your help." Vince smiled, pushing past Shane to hold his hand out to Tania. "We weren't quite sure we'd be able to find someone who could actually sing tonight."
"And with it being the fourth of July, it means something to us." To Shane it seemed like a natural thing to finish his father's thoughts.
Tania's fear suddenly turned to guilt. "It means something to me too." Tania sighed with defeat. "I'm happy to help you guys out."
Watching Shane turn back to Vince with a smile, Tania looked up to see Randy watching her with a smug grin. "Just think, all those people are going to be watching you..." Randy's smirk was wiped away an instant later as Tania jabbed him in the ribs. "What was that for?"
"Being such an ass."
"I figured you were still going to bail."
"And let down Vince and Shane McMahon? I mean it would be one thing if I weren't standing here. But I can't look at them and say no. I just can't." She hated that fact. If somebody asked her something to her face, she just had to say yes. It was the way her personality was. And she hated herself for it. Things were going to be bad, and as much as she wanted to blame Randy it all came down to her inability to say no.
Randy leaned close once again. "Would you like to go down and hold your hand for you?" He talked to her as if she was six, and if it hand't been for Vince and Shane standing in the room she would have made him regret that statement. She would have given him something to hold onto alright. "Big strong man to help little old you out." Randy pouted.
"Stick that lip out a little further and I'll bite it off."
"Threat?"
"Promise."
Turning around, she watched as Shane moved back over to the two of them. "Tania?"
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever done anything like this before?" Tania couldn't hold it in, she just had to laugh. Wouldn't Shane love to know the truth. Maybe she should just come clean and tell him that she was terrified and would most likely freeze up and ruin the entire Anthm. Then volunteer Randy for the job after she made sure he'd never be able to have kids. "What's so funny?"
Tania shook her head. "Nope. Not in my life. But I have someone to hold my hand for me..."
One of Shane's eyebrows raised at this. "I'm sorry?"
"Don't worry about it. She's just being a dumbass." Randy apologized to Shane. Bringing a hand to rest up on Tania's shoulder, he smiled up at Shane. "Can you give us a moment?"
"Sure. I still have to try and figure out wardrobe for Tania tonight and get her already for rehersal."
"Wait! Don't you want to hear if I can sing or not?" Things seemed to be going a little quick considering no one actually knew her or anything about her. And for all they knew Tania had lied to Randy about being able to sing and really she sounded worse then American Idol's William Hung. All of a sudden they were putting so much faith in a nobody?
"There's no need."
"Tania, a word?" Randy pleaded once again. This time his hand moved down from her shoulder to clasp into her hand. "Just outside the door."
Looking up at Randy as he began to pull her towards the door, Tania nodded. She had no idea what Randy wanted to talk to her about, she gave in. As long as it got her away from that room where she felt about three inches tall, she'd agree to it. Following Randy through the door, Tania couldn't help but look down at their hands. Anyone else walking by not knowing the situation would probably start assuming the wrong thing.
When the door shut, Randy reached down for her other hand and brought her chin up to look into his eyes. "Relax. Take a deep breath, you will do fine. Just go out there, give it your all then come back and continue on with your life. No big deal."
"No big deal? Being in front of thousands of people may be no big deal for you Randy...but it is for me."
"Dinner."
"What?"
Randy sighed. "If you go out there and give it your all, I will take you out to dinner. Any place that you want to go, anything you want to eat. All my treat. For being so brave."
"Why are you talking to me like I've a child?"
"I'm not."
"You are!" Tania chuckled. She wondered how many other people realized just how stubborn Randy Orton could be a times. For some reason that she had yet to figure out, her going out there and singing the Anthem meant a lot to him. "And it's actually rather funny now that I think about it."
"Why are we even having this argument?"
"Because you dragged me out into the hall Rand, that's why. Speaking of which, was there a point to this?"
Letting go of Tania's hands, Randy crossed them across of his chest. "Because I didn't like the way Shane was checking you out. And I'm sure if it hadn't been for Dave's girlfriend in the room he would have been doing the same."
Tania looked at Randy for a moment, unsure of what to stay. It wasn't until he let the small smile play at the corner of his mouth that Tania realized he was joking around. "God Randy, you're such an ass!"
"So you've stated. On several occasions actually."
"You better live up to that dinner. I haven't ate since breakfast." Tania warned, her toe pushing into against the cement floor. "You're getting me into a whole world of trouble, aren't you Legend Killer?" In some strange way, she didn't mind. It broke up the same day to day routine that she always had to follow. "And you better explain to Jake why I won't be helping out with take down."
"I think I can handle at least that much."
"You think? That's not an option there buddy." Tania warned. Turning back around to look down the hall she glanced back up at Randy. It wasn't unitl that point of time that she realized how tall he really was compared to her. It was almost troublesome considering the way that he was. Tania wouldn't put it past him to try something using his height against her. She'd be no match against her.
"Ms. Bailey?" Randy and Tania glanced back up to the door to see Shane peaking through it. "If we want to get a start on this, we need to get you fitted for an outfit."
"Ah, right. I'll see you when I get back then Randy?"
Shaking his head, Randy smiled and saluted Tania. "Yes ma'am. Whatever you wish."
Taking a step towards Shane, Tania raised her eyerbrows with anticipation. She had no idea what to expect and if she was going to be honest, she didn't want to know. As long as they could get things over and done with in a rather painless manner. "Ready when you are."
"Great, I'll show you the way." Shane smiled, offering his arm to Tania. As she took it, she couldn't help look back at Randy with an expression that matched one of someone who was getting taken off to prison. Randy found his afternoon suddenly getting a little more exciting then he had ever expected. Sure, Tania would probably try and kill him by the end of the night...but it was all worth it.
"You two seem awfully friendly."
"She's just a fresh new face to hang around with Adam. And she's one of the few people I know who will give back everything that I try to dish out. Offers a great way to pass the time." Randy didn't even have to turn around to realize who it was, he knew Adam's voice all too well.
Adam didn't seem to believe him. "Whatever you say buddy, but that's not how it looks to everyone else."
"In this case, everyone else doesn't matter to me."