June 21, 2009 12:30 A.M. (Marissa P.o.V.)

I lie in bed not being able to sleep. Randy has been asleep for hours. I've tried, but I just couldn't. I kept thinking about the day I first met Michelle. The day I thought I made the closest friend I had in this company.


Flashback to July 15, 2004

I walked around backstage in the arena. Tonight I make my first appearance on WWE television because I was a finalist in the first ever Diva Search, in which Randy Orton, who I've known since I was twelve, had talked me into applying for. I told him I was a finalist, so he agreed to met up with me and show me around. And where is he now? Nowhere to be found. The only other person I knew personally was John Cena, and he wasn't around either. I sat down at a table in Catering, picking at my salad, getting lost in my own thoughts.

"May I sit?"

I look up to see a woman who was a few inches taller than me and had blonde hair and blue eyes. I didn't recognize her from TV, so she must also be a finalist in the Diva Search.

"Um...sure." I say.

"Thanks." She holds out her hand. "I'm Michelle McCool, one of the Diva Search finalists."

I shake her hand. "Marissa Smith, also a finalist."

She smiles. "Nice to know at least one of the people I'm competing with is kind."

"Same here. It makes you not as nervous."

We both pick at our salads before she speaks again.

"Have you met any of the actual wrestlers yet?"

"None except for the ones I already knew before today."

She gasps. "You know some of them."

"Yeah, but I only consider Randy Orton and John Cena friends."

"You know them?"

"Randy is good friends with my older brother and cousin, and he introduced me to John."

"Lucky. John Cena is hot."

"I don't think of him like that. I'll put in a good word for you."

"Does this mean we're friends then?"

"Yeah, friends."

Randy and John finally decide to show up at this very moment.

"Sorry I didn't find you earlier, Rissa." Randy says. "A certain John Cena wouldn't leave me alone."

I glare at John. He looks sorry. "Sorry, Rissa." He says. "But at least you made a new friend because of it. A hot new friend."

Michelle turns a bright red and turns away. Randy notices and looks at John. "See what I mean, John. You already have embarrassed one of the new girls."

John look at her. "Sorry. What's your name?"

Michelle looks at him. "M-Michelle."

"Michelle? That's a pretty name. Let me show you around, Michelle." He leads her away. She looks back at me. I give her a thumbs-up.

"Five dollars says they're dating by next Saturday." Randy says.

"You're on."


Back in Current Day

As I remember the rest of that day and other major events in our friendship I begin to wonder…

"What happened to that really nervous girl I met back in 2004?"