Once Upon A Time
Disclaimer: I go through this every time, right? I've realized I don't own it. You know I don't own it. I just borrow for my own amusement.
Cast: Trish Stratus, Victoria, Lita, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, John Cena; mentions of others.
Rating: Erm, T I suppose for language
Spoilers: Not on your life, lol. Alternate Universe piece.
Summary: I've never believed in fairy tales, never believed in myths and folklore. But that would all change, and how did it change.
Notes: First things first: Alternate Universe. Meaning, I'm taking peeps from the WWE and placing them in a world, not their own. Mostly just out of the wrestling world, but you'll see what I mean. For the sake of the piece, everyone is the same age, some real names used for the piece (Victoria, Lita, maybe a few others).. Some people may be slightly OOC but, it's fiction, let me have my fun. Um, when I think of anything else, I'll let you know.
………….
From the diary of Trish Stratus:
August 3rd
I don't have much time to write, but I figured I should at least write -something- before we left. Today is the day that we -myself, and my two roommates- take off for our year of internship. You heard that right, we all applied for the internships, we all hoped we would get the approval- and miraculously the Dean approved us! We're not going -entirely- alone though. There'll be three other students there too, I think from Boston University but I'm not really sure .. Anyway, I know it will be hard, the three of us out of the Big Apple, but it should be fun-
"Trish!" Lisa Marie whined, "We don't have much time before the cab gets here, hurry up!"
Ugh! Don't they realize I'm writing? Don't get me wrong- I love these two like sisters, but geeze! Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah .. Lisa Marie, Amy and I are heading out of J.F.K. International today, bound for London, England. We would have been started our Junior year at N.Y.U, but like I said- that internship program. We're supposed to be 'studying' and 'researching' European history. I personally see it as a great opportunity to taste the nightlife -and the shopping- of Europe. I'm really-
Amy frowned, tossing a few more items into her carry on bag. "Trish, you can finish your diary entry on the plane. Come on!"
I'm really looking forward to this internship. To give some background info., we're heading over to London today, staying in London for a week before we head off to explore more of England. After that we're heading to Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Then, we head off to the mainland. We're going to France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy… and some other places. So sue me, okay? I only had a minute to read over the final itinerary before Amy snatched it out of my hands.
"Look blondie- you have five seconds .. Or I'm turning off your laptop."
From here on in, I use a notebook and do this the old fashioned way. Anyway, I guess Ames has a point, I still need to finish packing! So until next time,
-Trish.
The blonde woman let out a short sigh, shutting down her laptop quickly. "Are you two happy now?" she rolled her eyes at her roommates; the two in question finishing their last minute packing.
Amy Dumas rolled her eyes right back, "Like we've both been trying to tell you Trish .. We're gonna be leaving any minute now .. And you're not even finished packing yet!"
Trish tossed her hair over her shoulder, "I'll have you both know that my bags have been packed since last night. My carry-on is also packed, the only thing left is my laptop."
Lisa Marie zipped up her carry on, "So you're ready then?"
Trish rolled her eyes, "Duh, didn't I just say that? Geeze, you two could give me a little credit here."
Amy sat back on her heels, "Well still .. This is a big trip and-"
"I know," The blonde woman interrupted her best friend of forever, "it's not every day we get to go to London-"
"And see the rest of Europe," Lisa added then, "This is going to be so much fun."
"Precisely," Trish beamed, "So, does everyone have their boarding passes and passports?"
"Yes mom," the redheaded woman rolled her eyes good naturedly, "And Jeff said he'll ship our other stuff to us. Matter of fact, he said he'd take care of that today, so hopefully it won't take too long to get there."
Lisa raised an eyebrow, "And just what other stuff are the two of you taking?"
Trish shrugged her shoulders, slipping her laptop inside her carryon. "My CD collection, some of Amy's CD collection, some art supplies, DVD's, and-"
"And my laptop and some books." Amy finished for the blonde. "I can only fit so much in my suitcases."
Lisa just shook her head, "And what are you taking with you on the plane?"
The redhead frowned in thought, "Books, my camera and my mp3 player of course .. Oh yeah, and the PSP that Jeff got me."
Trish rolled her eyes, "I still say he bought that for you so he could 'borrow' it."
Amy smirked, "I know he did .. That's why he bought me the Playstation 2 in the first place."
The raven haired woman smirked, "Doesn't he already have one?"
"Yup," the redhead shouldered her carryon. "But he claims its necessary to have one here, for whenever he visits."
"Which is often," Trish put in wryly, "I swear, last semester- he was here almost every night."
"That's because he knows that one of you will always cook for him." Lisa informed the two with a smile, "How long have you three known each other anyway?"
"Like we've told you before," Trish frowned in thought, "We all met .. When we were three. Our mom's knew each other through work, set up play dates and the rest is history."
The redhead nodded, hazel eyes sweeping over the living room. "Cab should be here soon, so why don't we just wait downstairs?"
"Sure, that works." Lisa grasped a suitcase in either hand, her carry on already in place. "Jeff's gonna keep an eye on things here, right?"
"So he says," Trish grasped her own suitcases, her carry on resting near the door. "And if not, then Dawn also agreed to keep an eye on things."
"Right, soo.." Amy sent on last glance around their New York City apartment. "If we're all packed and ready.."
"Which we are."
"Then let's go."
The three women fell silent then, filing out of the door one by one, with Trish the last to exit. As Trish had mentioned, she and Amy had known each other since childhood. They grew up together, went to the same summer camps and the same schools together. They applied to the same college, and logically became room-mates. They had met their third roomie at orientation day. And while for that year, Lisa had lived on campus, she had spent enough time with the two childhood friends that it only made sense for her to become the third room-mate. The first week had been slightly difficult as Trish and Amy had already established their 'home' routine. But, soon enough, Lisa adapted to it and adapted the other two to her own routine. Everything since then had been smooth sailing.
……….
Two hours later found the three settled on an international flight to London. Trish found herself between her two room-mates; Lisa taking the aisle seat while Amy took the window. The raven haired woman was currently removing her sweater and a book from her carry on, while Amy was adjusting one of the thin pillows behind her back. The redhead also had a book with her, and much to Trish's disdain, it was one of those stupid fairy tale volumes.. Again. Last semester, Amy had taken a course in General European Literature. The redhead was currently pursuing a double major in European Studies and Anthropology. Exactly why, Trish still wasn't sure, but Amy was happy with it and that's what mattered. The point was, she had taken the course in European Literature and had become fascinated by the folklore and myths of Eastern Europe.
"Ames, when are you gonna grow up and get your head out of the clouds?"
The redhead rolled her eyes, "Cut me some slack Trish- have you ever read this stuff?"
Trish shook her head, "Ames- get real. It's all fantasy, make believe .. Stuff we stopped believing in when we were like six years old."
"But have you really read this stuff?" Amy gestured to the book in her hand, "Call it what you will, but this stuff is great."
"Whatever," Trish sat back in the chair, the blonde woman biting back a sigh. "I just think it's-"
"What book is that?" Lisa queried from her seat, "Last I knew, you were still caught up in the adventures of Beowulf."
Amy grinned, "This is Dracula .. I've got a comparative guide in my bag too."
"Do you have anything useful?" Trish raised an eyebrow, "Like actual guidebooks or something?"
"Yes," Amy rolled her eyes, "I have guidebooks in there .. Plus some off the road ones."
"You didn't bring one?" Lisa sent a questioning look to the blonde woman. "I'm shocked."
"Of course I did." Trish reached for her bag, "It's in there somewhere if you want to look at it."
The dark haired woman grinned, taking the bag from the blonde with a smile. "Thanks."
"So," Amy sent a look to her two friends. "We're off for the full academic year ."
"With three other people," Trish put in then, "I hope we aren't stuck with sticks in the mud .. That would totally suck."
"Well all we really know, is that they're from Boston U." Amy shrugged, resting her mp3 player on the armrest. "And even if they are sticks in the mud, we're going to Europe. Unsupervised."
"Not entirely," Trish reminded her then. "We're still under the guidance of a faculty advisor.. Remember? This is an internship, we check in the advisor every week and-"
"I know," the redhead smirked. "But for the most part, we are unsupervised."
"Yeah," the blonde woman conceded, "But this isn't all fun and games, Ames. I mean we still have research projects to conduct and essays to write."
"Hey Trish.." Lisa's voice broke into the conversation then, the plane beginning it's trek to the runway. "Why do you have your yearbook?"
Trish blinked, "Huh?"
"Your high school yearbook," Lisa stated matter of factly, "Senior year to be specific."
The blonde woman frowned in thought, "I must've been looking at it when I packed or something.."
"Would you mind?" Lisa held up the aforementioned book. "I mean I don't want to pry.."
"Nah, s'okay." Trish shrugged, "Go right ahead Leesie."
"Cool." the raven haired woman smiled, opening the yearbook then. "You were homecoming queen?"
Amy snickered, "And she was Prom Queen .. And Spring Fling Queen."
Lisa let out a whistle, "Handsome king there too.."
Trish spared a glance to the yearbook, "Oh .. That's my ex.. Nobody special."
The redhead snorted incredulously, "So you say now.." she sent a look to the dark haired woman. "That's Randy Orton .. He and Trish were high school sweethearts- class couple, Prom King and Queen . You get the picture.."
Lisa Marie raised an eyebrow, "Sounds serious.."
"Something right out of a fairy tale," Amy confirmed with a smile. "But well.."
"So what happened?" Lisa sent an expectant look to the blonde. "If you two were so tight, what happened?"
"Graduation, that's what happened." Trish glanced to the yearbook again. "He said he was taking a year off before heading to college .. I was already set to head off to N.Y.U, so we just agreed to break it off. That's all."
Lisa frowned, "That's so sad .. How could you two just give up after being together for that long?"
The blonde woman shrugged, "It happens Lisa .. We all grow up." a soft sigh escaped her then, "I haven't seen him since graduation."
The raven haired woman raised an eyebrow, but chose not to comment. Instead she continued to look through the yearbook, and as the plane started to ascend into the sky .. Dark eyes fell on a picture tucked in the back.
"Who's this?"
Trish sent an idle glance to the picture in question, "That's .. me, Randy, Jeff, his girlfriend Beth, Ames and John.. Right before Senior Prom actually."
Lisa sent a mischievous smile to the redhead, "And how come I've never heard of John?"
The redhead rolled her eyes, "Because it's not a big deal. He was my best friend .. Like Trish and Jeff."
"And Randy." Trish put in then, "The five of us grew up together. Me and Amy were next door neighbors, Jeff was next door to Ames, while John and Randy both lived across the street."
"You look awfully cozy for being 'just friends'." Lisa pointed out then, a pointed look sent to the redhead. "So tell me the truth."
"There's nothing to tell." Amy shook her head, sweeping her hair from her face. "We were just friends."
"Trust me on this one Lisa, that's all they were." Trish rolled her eyes, "But they could've fooled anyone otherwise."
"You're telling me," Lisa let out a low sigh, "I mean, just by looking at this picture-"
"What about it?" Amy broke in, her voice defensive. "It was for the Senior Prom."
"But it wasn't just that," Trish interrupted with a sly smile, "It was every other dance -all throughout junior and senior high- every party, plus the 'non-dates'? I mean come on Ames, you two.."
"Were friends." Amy persisted. "Just friends, that's all there is to it."
"So, what happened to you two?"
"Graduation." Trish supplied as the redhead buried herself in her book. "After graduation, we lost contact with Randy and John. Randy managed to talk John into joining him for this stupid road trip or something .. The two of them left a day after graduation."
"That little twit has my yearbook."
Trish raised an eyebrow, "What the hell is he doing with your yearbook?"
"Because I have his," Amy rolled her eyes, "Remember? He was supposed to give me my yearbook back after gradation 'cos he hadn't signed it yet."
Trish rolled her eyes, "Well that's just silly.. So why do you have his?"
The redhead cracked a sheepish smile, "'Cos I didn't know what to write to him."
Trish smirked, "Hopeless.. That's what the two of you are .. Just plain hopeless."
The three fell silent, Amy losing herself in her book while Lisa Marie occupied herself with a game of solitaire. And for her part, Trish opted to watch the in-flight movie. The mini trip down memory lane had left her feeling slightly disturbed. Not that she minded talking about the past, but that was just it. It was the past. Regardless if she and Randy had the 'fairy tale romance' it was in the past. As she had told the raven haired woman, they hadn't seen each other since graduation. The chances of seeing him again were little to none, and as such .. Trish had done her best to just bury that part of her life away. Cynical? No not really, the blonde woman preferred to call it being a realist. Just as Amy was eternally optimistic about certain things, Trish was eternally realistic about certain things. Things like happy endings and storybook romances. Things that the redheaded woman loved and dreamed about. Things that her childhood best friend secretly hoped for and harbored behind her sarcastic bent. Amy might believe in it all, but Trish, certainly did not.
