Title: Better Than Me
Author: heart2handgun
Summary: Based on song by Hinder. How Randy truly feels after their break-up. OrtonOC
Disclaimer: I do not own any one you recognize. Title and lyrics belong to Hinder.
Pairings: OrtonOC partially

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"I think you can do much better than me."

He couldn't get the pained, teary gray eyes out of his head, no matter what and how hard he tried. The hurt in her eyes that night was unbearable, and to think of it, six days later was tearing him apart.

Randy never thought it was possible to inflict this much emotional pain in one person, and after that one night, he knew it was possible. And it killed to him to do it to her.

Landen wasn't just any girl. In Randy's eyes, she was, and still is the greatest person to ever enter his life. With Sam leaving him just a week prior to his mentor, his grandfather's death, he needed a shoulder to lean on, and Landen happened to be just that person. They had always been friends, seeing as though Landen was in charge of his music and entrances, but neither thought of the other in that way. The way that led them to eight months of happiness, all for Randy to believe his lies were too much for her to have to deal with when she had a three year old son, Miller, at home to worry about.

He figured she shouldn't have to worry about his ways, which when they first got together he promised would change. Instead, Randy found himself at clubs almost four days out of seven without his girlfriend. His best friend and close friends could tell something was wrong with their situation, and it took a sit down conversation about their entire relationship with Landen to finally figure it all out.

And the decision that Randy came to was that they shouldn't be together. His exact words were "You deserve so much better than me. Someone who can truly take care of you and Miller." But with almost a week to think alone about the situation, the more the days numbered, the more pain was caused. The more his heart ached. The more it felt as though tiny needles were being stabbed into it.

The more he missed holding onto her until she fell asleep in his arms. The more he missed listening to her on speaker phone with her son.

He knew what he did was stupid, but being the stubborn pain in the ass he was, he wouldn't say it to her. Or to anyone for that matter. HE knew it was clear to everyone that he was going through a hard time without Landen around, but they weren't allowed to do anything about it.

While dating, the divas took Landen in as one of their own, so since the break-up, they've had nightly sleepovers, trips to the nail salon, shopping trips and the occasional telling Landen he didn't deserve her. As well as telling Randy off every time they saw him. They'd be in the middle of telling him how much of a heartless jackass he was and all he wanted to get out of them was how Landen was doing.

"Amy, please. How is she?"

"You're a real class act, Orton. I feel bad for her that she ever thought she saw something in you."

"Amy. I'm begging you to tell me how she is. That's all I want, and then you can try to tear me with your words even more."

Amy looked towards the ground, her red locks falling over her shoulder. "Randy, she isn't good. She can't get over you, no matter how hard we try. I'm sorry but you fucked up. And if you even think as much as getting back with her, I will not hesitate to kill you."

"Just tell her I'm sorry, please. I never meant to hurt her."

"I'm not gunna tell her that." The redhead looked up to the St. Louis native. "And ya wanna know why? 'Cause I don't think you're bein' honest with me, Orton. If you love her as much as you claim to, you would have never done any of the bullshit you did." He let out a sigh and looked away from Amy. "You have no idea how hard this has been on her. Randy, I had to listen to her talking to Miller on the phone that night. I had to listen to her lie about where you were. Both of them love you to death and you blew it all to pieces."

"Amy, I already feel bad enough. You don't need to go on."

"No, I do. I remember times when she talked to that little boy and he would ask where you were. It was one of those nights you decided to act single and went out to the bar to dance with some ring rats. I remember her saying, 'Randy isn't here, sweetie. But he sends his love.' So if you even think of tryin' to get her back, get your shit together, grow some balls, and act like a man. Do somethin' to get her trust back. And it's gunna take more than a dozen roses."

Randy ran his hands over his face as he sat on the edge of his bed, in the hotel room that he knew was six rooms down from Landen's. He turned to the edge of the bed, where before they left for the evening, she always placed her pajamas so she could slip right into bed when they got back.

Even six days later, he was forgetting the feeling of her being in his arms. He could slightly remember the way her long brown and blonde locks would surround his face every morning. And never once could he get more than two hours of sleep. Every night he spent almost the entire time laying awake, thinking of what she was doing at that very moment. And it pained him to know she was probably doing the same as he was, staying awake, thinking of him as he was her.

He knew he had to do something. Something, drastic.

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End Chapter.

I've been playing around with this story idea quite a bit over the past three to four days. I know what you're all thinking "Another story..." Yeah, but this one will be like Little Moments, only four to five chapters.

'Til Next Time

-A.J. a.k.a. Heart 2 Handgun