Enchanted
Chapter 1:
Part one of The Wonderstruck Series
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the WWE, TNA, HWA or CZW. I only own the OCs.
"Why are you always dragging me to these things?" The blonde groaned as she paced back and forth in her penthouse apartment, her simple black pumps clacking on the hardwood.
"Because it's good publicity," the calm voice of her best friend and PR manager sounded through her phone. "These people are big on charities and not to mention they just invested a lot of money in some upcoming movies. You could easily land a lead roll in one of them if you play your cards right."
"Steph," the blonde sighed. "I've been working nonstop for the last year. I just got home from filming yesterday and I was really hoping to take some time off. I need a break before I have a breakdown."
"It's just a party, Allie," Steph argued back. "It's not work. Just fun and mingling, with the chance of getting scouted."
"My idea of fun right now is my couch in sweats and fuzzy slippers, watching a movie or five, while I drink a case of beer and eat an entire large pizza by myself," Allie replied in a dreamy voice with a heavy sigh. "Now that sounds heavenly."
"That sounds like a lot of calories and inactivity to burn off said calories," Steph chuckled teasingly.
"Hey!" Allie snipped. "I've been eating like a rabbit for the last 6 months so I could 'look good in my bikini'. Lack of real food and sleep has made me crabby."
"One night, Al," Steph spoke with understanding. "One night and I promise you'll get your time off."
After a long pause and a drawn out sigh from the blonde, Allie relented. "Fine, but I'm eating and drinking whatever the hell I want at this thing and if you try to stop me I'll eat your arm as an appetizer."
Steph's loud laugh made Allie smile, "Deal. I will probably join you with the eating and the drinking. I haven't eaten all day."
"How soon will you be here?" Allie laughed, as walked towards her bedroom to give herself a once over.
"Be there in about ten minutes," Steph said, after checking with the driver. "Traffic's kinda crazy."
"Are there snacks in the limo or should I bring my own?" Allie asked, completely serious, but still making Steph laugh.
"There isn't much," Steph answered looking around her. "There is a stocked mini fridge though."
"Glorious," Allie hummed in approval. "Alright, be safe. I'll see you when you get here." With that the two women said their goodbyes and they disconnected.
Allie looked at herself in her full length mirror and snorted. The cocktail dress was beautiful. The top was strapless with a sweetheart cut and was completely covered in clear stones, while the bottom was made of black satin, fanning out from her waist, down and cut off just above her knees. She had her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun and a thin black lace choker around her neck.
Her problem wasn't the dress. Her problem was the body inside that dress. Never in all her life had she been this skinny. She was skin and bones and sharp angles. It probably wouldn't bother her so much if her body was meant to look that way, but she had been practically been forced into it by the director of her last film.
"You're getting a little too thick around the middle and the hips, Allie," he had sneered at her body in disgust in front of the entire cast and crew. "What have you been eating?"
"My normal diet," Allie had answered with a simple shrug trying not to let the embarrassment get to her.
"Well, I'll be sending you a new diet plan," he snipped at her. "We can't have a fat leading lady in a bikini."
Allie had been so shocked at his words that she hadn't been able to respond before he walked away. Never in her life had she been called fat. Sure she wasn't model thin, but her body wasn't made to be.
She had followed the diet plan, though not exactly willingly. The director had threatened to remove her from the movie and replace her with a thinner more willing actress. Allie new that getting replaced in a movie was pretty much a career death sentence and had allowed herself to be forced into the diet.
She had made a promise to herself after that though, that she would never allow herself to be put into that position again. She'd be more picky about the people she worked with and her contracts would be heavily revised so that no one would ever be able to hold her career over her head again. She put up with a lot in this industry, but body shaming would not be one of those things.
Allie had recently discussed with Steph about beginning a campaign for the exact topic and Steph couldn't have agreed more. 'You're Beautiful' would be a new brand launching that would range from clothing, makeup, accessories, and shoes with all proceeds going to a support group for women and men that struggled with any aspect of body shaming. Allie couldn't wait to kick off her brand and help raise awareness for a problem that caused so many different disorders.
The sound of her buzzer drew her out of her thoughts, followed by the sing song voice of Steph. "Alicia Miles. Get your cute butt down her."
Allie laughed as she gathered up all her things and headed for the door. Hitting the buzzer on her way to let Steph know she was on her way down.
Time to get this show on the road.
Jon sat on the bed in his home that he shared with his girlfriend Renee as he watched her walk back and forth across the room getting ready.
"I wish you had told me about this sooner," he grumbled at her. They had just gotten home from tour earlier that morning and while Renee had only been on the road two days, Jon had been out for five. Not to mention that he had just returned home from the three week long European tour a week ago and still had not recovered. "I'm exhausted and I really just want to veg and sleep."
"It's only one night, Jon," Renee whined at him. "Why do you have to fight me on everything?"
"I'm fucking tired, Renee!" He snapped. "Why did you agree to this without asking me?"
"Vince requested that you be there," Renee argued. "This is your chance to rub elbows and maybe broaden your horizons and get a movie roll in one of the upcoming WWE productions. You have to think about life after wrestling too, Jon."
"My life after wrestling will be spent drinking beer and taking trips around the world before I die," Jon replied with frustration. "I have no intention of becoming an actor. I'm going to retire when I'm old and can't go anymore. Then I will spend the rest of my days enjoying life. Maybe Colby, Joe and I will open that gym we've been talking about forever."
Renee stopped and turned to look at him with raised eyebrows, "You can't be serious." Her top lip had raised in slight disgust at the thought and Jon rolled his eyes. "Jon, you've made it in the WWE. Now it's time to start making it other places too."
Jon looked at her in disbelief. Getting to his feet he paced to her, stopping an arms length away. "When are you going to get it? When are you going to understand that the only place I've ever cared about making it is the WWE? I'm a wrestler, Renee. I'm a fucking wrestler and that's all I'm ever going to be. All I'll ever want to be. This is my life. I'm living my dream. It's good enough for me."
Renee went to argue, but snapped her mouth shut and took a deep breath. She closed the distance between her and Jon, wrapping her arms around his neck. He stiffened and didn't return the embrace. He knew this attempt all too well. She was going to push the subject to the side and bring it back up again later when they were home and back from the event. She knew if she pushed him he would refuse to go.
"Come on, Jon," she smiled sweetly at him. "Let's not fight, babe." She placed a brief kiss to his lips that he didn't return, but didn't pull away from. "Let's just go to the party and have a good time. Joe and Colby should be there too."
Jon's eyes widened, "Why didn't you tell me they were in town?"
"Must have slipped my mind," she murmured, moving away from him and continuing with her task of getting ready.
Jon clenched his fists in anger, before storming out of the room. He really couldn't believe this woman sometimes. He quickly gathered up his phone from the dining room table and punched Colby's name in his contacts.
He waited impatiently, bouncing on the balls of his feet waiting for the other man to answer.
"Hey, brother," Colby's pleasant voice sounded through the phone.
"Hey! Are you in Vegas?" Jon asked immediately, walking to the kitchen to retrieve a beer from the fridge.
"Uuuhhh, yea. Didn't Renee tell you?" Colby answered with a confused tone. "She told us that she would let you know that Joe and I were going to that party Vince is throwing tonight. I'm at the airport waiting for his flight to get in."
Colby heard Jon growl on the other end of the phone. "She just told me a couple minutes ago that you might be there." Jon grumbled as he plopped on the couch with his beer. "Dude, I do not want to go to this thing."
"I hear you," Colby chuckled. "I'm still beat from the Euro tour. I had fully intended to sleep for the next two days in my own bed. Not to mention I haven't seen Leighla much in the last month and I miss her like crazy. She couldn't come with me on such short notice. I'm just lucky I have such an awesome fiancé and she understands."
"I feel you, man," Jon agreed, taking a long swallow of his beer. "All I want to do is lock myself in my room with Renee on the other side of the door and sleep until my flight leaves Friday."
"That bad, huh?" Colby asked with sympathy in his voice. "Thought things were getting better."
"So did I," Jon sighed. "I thought we'd finally come to an understanding about my career and what I have planned for my life. She doesn't get it."
Colby chuckled on the other end, "You'd think she'd get it by now that you're a wrestling lifer. Just like me and Joe. That's probably why she resents us so much. She thinks we're corrupting you."
"She doesn't resent you," Jon tried to assure him, but they both knew it wasn't true.
"The hell she doesn't," Colby responded, but there wasn't even a hint of anger in his voice as he laughed. "She can't stand us most of the time. Which is why I'm going to assume that since she didn't tell you about us being here, she neglected to tell you we wanted to meet up for drinks before hand."
"Of-fucking-course she did," Jon growled through the phone. "When and where?"
"I see Joe know," Colby answered. "Let's say Frankie's in about a half hour?"
"Alright, dude," Jon answered, finishing his beer. "I'll see you guys there."
"You bringing her highness with you?" Colby snarked at him.
"Not a chance," Jon laughed before hanging up the phone.
Jon made his way back up the stairs to his shared bedroom, where Renee was just finishing getting ready.
"Are you ready?" She asked as she turned to him, taking in his appearance. "Jon, you need to put a blazer on. We're meeting Bri and Nikki at The Bourbon Room in fifteen minutes."
"I'm not going," Jon answered as he cuffed up the sleeves on his grey dress shirt and straightened his black and silver tie.
"Excuse me?" She asked with wide eyes. "Yes you are. They're expecting us. John and Bryan are going too. Now go get your jacket."
"I said I'm not going," Jon responded with a growl. "But by all means, you go right ahead. I'll see you at this party."
"And where the hell are you going?" Renee bit at him.
"I'm meeting Colby and Joe," he responded with a shrug. "Which was the original plan. Wasn't it?"
Renee stammered for a moment before responding. "It must have slipped my mind."
"The fuck it did," Jon bit at her, making her jump. "Let me tell you something Renee. If you're out to ruin this relationship then you're well on your way to success. So unless you want to be out on your ass and back on your way to New York, I suggest you get your shit together."
"Jon, I-" Renee began walking towards him, but was stopped when Jon stepped back from her.
"I'm done with this," Jon said turning towards the door and making his way out. "I have to meet my brothers. Maybe I'll see you at the party."
"Jon, you have to be there," she argued, her voice wracked with emotion, as she rushed out of the room and leaned over the railing as he walked down the stairs.
"I don't have to be anywhere," Jon responded, never stopping and never looking at her. "If I decide to go, it'll be for the company or for Joe and Colbs. Not for you. Later."
He was out the door with a loud slam, before she had the chance to respond.
"He said he'll be here," Colby reassured Joe as they sat at the bar waiting on their friend.
"Bet they got into it again," Joe grumbled under his breath. "That woman is gonna put him in an early grave."
Colby chuckled, just as voice came from beside them and body dropped into the stool next to Joe. "That's why there's alcohol, my friend," Jon let out a frustrated huff, before motioning to the bartender and placing his order."
"So you managed to escape?" Colby teased, earning a middle finger from Jon as he chugged down about half his beer in one go. "Guessing the conversation went well."
"She's something else," Jon growled and shook his head, before finishing the beer and ordering another. "I swear she just thinks I'm another accessory that she can flash around."
"She does realize that if it wasn't for you, she would've been fired ages ago," Joe rumbled in anger.
"Joe-" Colby began to chastise his, but was cut off by Jon.
"No, he's right," Jon sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. "I went to bat for her back at the beginning of our relationship, telling everyone she was just misunderstood and deserved a chance. She never got better and thinks that she can act how and do what she wants because I'll come to the rescue every time."
"So stop coming to her rescue," Colby responded. He had done his fair share of playing nice with Renee, solely because she was Jon's girlfriend and his best friend loved her. But he couldn't deny that he was tired of the crap she put him through.
"I just wish I didn't love her so damn much," Jon grumbled into his beer. "I issued her a warning. Hopefully she takes it and turns this shit around."
The three friends turned the conversation to more lighthearted subjects and began talking about the party.
"Cena said there are suppose to be some pretty big names at this thing," Joe smiled. "Wonder if any actresses will be there."
"Don't know about actresses," Colby chuckled at his friend. "But I heard that a lot of directors will be there. Vince wants to start production on a few films really soon."
"Yea," Joe smiled wickedly, wiggling his eyebrows. "But what about the actresses."
The three friends laughed, before Colby said excitedly looking at Jon. "Do you think Alicia Miles will be there? She lives in Vegas doesn't she?"
Jon snorted out a laugh, "Yea, you should've heard Renee when she heard about that." He shook his head as he remembered, "I did everything I could to save that poor girl from being suckered in by Renee. I think Renee said she's been out of town for filming though."
"So you've met her?" Joe asked with raised eyebrows.
"No, no," Jon shook his head. "I, unlike Renee, respect other people's privacy. She saw her at Starbucks once and I had to practically drag her out of the place before she could pounce."
"God, she'll do anything for a photo op won't she?" Joe sneered in disgust. He had witnessed her do the same thing to Jon on several occasions when his brother wanted to simply love his life quietly and out of the public eye.
"Let's stop talking about Renee," Jon smiled at his friends. "It'll only ruin our night and any potential fun at the party."
"Speaking of which," Colby said, checking his watch. "We should probably head out or we'll be late."
After paying their bartender and leaving a hefty tip, the three men left the bar and made their way to the hotel the party was being held at. Jon just hoped Renee wouldn't do anything to embarrass him. He didn't think he could forgive her or defend her this time.
A/N: Hey guys! This is part one of Wonderstruck! Jon beat out AJ for the lead in this series, which after thinking it over probably is going to work the best. Each part will probably be 2 or 3 chapters. Hope you enjoy and please leave me your feed back!
For those of you that wanted AJ, don't worry, I'll be writing a one-shot for our AJ fix. :-)