Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the WWE, none of it's stars, their names, their any things. I own one Ms. Celeste Michaels. The muse for my lead is Toccara Jones from America's Top Model and The Ultimate Merger. I am one to r/r not one for actually writing so this is my first outing actually attempting to do this. I wanted to say thanks to LotusPowerbombxx, Kaybee80, and AshleyBabe86 for being my guinea pigs for this writing excursion for me. They were all encouraging and helpful. So here goes.

Chapter 1

Celeste Michaels sighed quietly to herself while she gazed out the car window at the passing scenery. This would very well be one of the last road trips for her and for a number of individuals on the WWE talent roster. Everyone on WWE's talent roster from the main roster all the way down to the developmental team had all been on their best behaviors lately; minding their p's and q's. Several times a year, the WWE would do "spring cleaning" and get rid of certain employees: those who were poor workers, those who weren't progressing fast enough, some who lacked star quality, and others had proved in some way or another that they had no business being in the wrestling industry.

Celeste's redeeming quality had always been her great work ethic, further accentuated by trainers attesting to what a talent and hard worker she was. However, WWE Entertainment mirrored Hollywood's environment and rarely made use of some of their more talented Black females.

Celeste felt pigeon holed being the muscle for smaller Divas. Her primary role was to keep the title on the current Diva Champion at all costs, similar to the "always a bridesmaid, never the bride," type of storyline. She never had title shots let alone a storyline to call her own.

In wrestling, like in life, people obtain personas based largely on their appearance. Some people received the title "bitch" based solely on the fact that they look capable of stealing a friend's love interest. Others acquire the "nice" label because they have a girl-next-door appearance. Celeste was generally written as an ugly, evil battleaxe of a woman who tortured the virtuous, more attractive Divas of the WWE. A permanent sneer or an evil look was a permanent mask she wore.

At 5'11 with a curvy, coke-bottle figure, Celeste could see how she would be perceived as intimidating. In the ring, she rarely had gear that displayed her feminine form. She received instruction to keep her wardrobe basic with no bells and whistles devoid of sexiness. The powers that be wanted the focus to be on her wrestling ability and play down her attractiveness. However, Celeste desired to be like the Divas on the main roster. She envisioned herself with hot storylines, title shots, interviews, and magazine covers. A small part of her always hoped an insightful writer would also take the time to portray her as beautiful and sexy in addition to athletic.

Alas her storylines remained undeveloped and plain ignorant. Her role, ranged from playing bullies, chasing someone on the male roster for some unrequited love, or acting like a hoodrat from around the way. Regardless of the storyline, Celeste tried to do her best and remain a team player while she languished in the developmental pond of the WWE.

Typically, developmental was not a bad place to be, however being there for 2 years could pose a different problem. Young talent received the opportunity to learn/improve upon their wrestling, develop characters, and work the mic skills there. In developmental, Celeste was a little fish in a big tank. She outwrestled many Divas and was close to the caliber of Nattie Neidhart or Tamina Snuka who both came from wrestling family royality. Nattie and Tamina were on the main roster, but much like Celeste couldn't catch a break.

She did all that was required of her and really sparkled, but her efforts were for naught. The owners of the company showed very little desire to improve the Divas division and seemed focused on male tag teams and working on their mid card talent all the while neglecting the female division.

All the Divas were promised a change was coming, they too would be taken seriously and have matches lasting longer than several minutes. Week after week, Celeste observed there was no opportunity to show off her new talent, or grow more as a performer. Promises of moving to the main roster buzzed about her ears, meaning airtime on TV, better storylines, and more publicity opportunities. However, all Celeste encountered was frustration as she saw flickers of change breaking through. Change would come to Divas with thinner appearances, many less talented than she, but bore witness to having the "right look." Pushes to the main roster and all she desired were promised to her, but bestowed to others leaving Celeste to remain in obscurity.

Despite those in charge giving then retracting opportunities that Celeste felt she'd earned, she still had a few people in her corner. She did her best to stay in the game for the simple love of wrestling. She'd been a fan as a kid, and had enjoyed watching and learning about the sport. Celeste wanted to help spread that joy, while simultaneously representing for the females. She wanted to be the essence of talent and beauty for the girls who were always told, "You have such a pretty face…now if you could just lose 20 pounds..." or "Girls can't do that; isn't very ladylike…" The woman often wondered often when her luck avoiding "spring cleaning" would run out; and was currently debating whether or not she should quit the business before it quit her.

Celeste snapped out of her thoughts as a friend, Naomi Knight banged on the car door, "You have to get out of the car to get this food. Ain't no one serving you a plate like there's brown skin service around here!"

Naomi chuckled as her friend rushed to get out of the rental car and catch up with their other road companion. As Naomi held the door open so Celeste could enter the restaurant, she tried to focus on enjoying the time with her friends, instead of dwelling on a problem that would be resolved in the next day or two; one way or the other.

"Well, your dark match went well against Tamina. You two had a good showing tonight," Naomi tried to make her friend feel better about the lack of success in her wrestling career.

"I know...stellar job on my five minute match aka the bathroom break, aka let's get snacks at the concessions time." Celeste casually yawned as she shook the stiffness out of her legs.

They stopped at the greeting station and sat down, waiting to be seated. "Celeste Michaels, stop acting like that. You never know, you could get called up to go on RAW tomorrow night," Naomi attempted to be positive to a negative Celeste.

Celeste scoffed as she looked away, scouting out where they'd end up eating…there was a good chance that they'd be seated next to the kitchen or bathrooms. "If only you could whisper that into God's ears, I would be forever in your debt."

The reigning WWE Diva's Champion, Eve Torres took a step away from Celeste, "Blasphemous much?"

Celeste squinted her eyes, "Seriously...was it really?" She was truly surprised Eve would say such a thing.

Naomi tightened her full, red colored lips, "Yeah. A whole 50 shades of Blasphemous. You need to take a moment and pray about that one."

"This way ladies," their greeter grabbed some menus and silverware and led them to a table next to the bathroom.

Celeste leaned into Naomi, "The kitchen or the bathroom, like that's the only place we can sit. It's everywhere we go. I just know that's where he's going to seat us."

Eve pointed to a different table that was near neither location, "We'd like to sit over there."

The three ladies followed their greeter as he led them to a table not so easily seen."So you ladies are with the WWE? My older brother LOVES watching you all!"

Eve leaned in towards the young, college age boy and flirted, "So you're not a fan? Pity." She sighed leaning back into the pleather booth.

"I...I...I recognize you, Eve. I watch WWE a little but it's hard to do with my studies and working 2 jobs and all," he stated placing silverware in front of each woman. "Naomi? Wow! You too? You are an amazing dancer. I really like how you and Cameron enter the ring. Is she here too?" he inquired searching the restaurant for the other half of the Funkadactyls.

"No, she's back at the hotel getting her beauty rest. Occasionally we're not joined to the hip and I get to escape her sometimes," Naomi playfully joked.

The waiter glanced at Celeste trying to place her face, she tried to be nice and rescue him. "Yeah you wouldn't know me I...do the makeup for the superstars."

He looked a bit disappointed but focused his attention back to Naomi and Eve. "I know this is a bit out of place, but do you think I can get an autograph? "

Eve smiled brightly, while she unwrapped her napkinf and took the pen from his hand. "Who should I make this out to sweetie?"

The waiter blushed a bit, "Jason. Can you make it out to Jason? And Naomi would you mind signing it too? My friends are never going to believe this!" Naomi smiled as she scribbled her name on his napkin. "Thanks ladies! Let me get your menus and some water."

"Okay why did you lie and say you're a makeup artist?" Eve's grey eyes sparkling as she spoke.

"Please Eve, he wouldn't know a thing about me. Hell, neither of you would know jack about me if we didn't travel together or if we hadn't trained together. It's not like I'm going to be on Monday Night RAW or Smackdown any time soon. Unlike some people -like your skankasourous rex friend Cameron- I don't feel the need to pretend to be something I'm not. Where is she anyway?"

Eve tossed her hand and rolled her eyes thinking about their scandalous companion, "She is probably under some wrestler right about now. I hope it works out for her so she can ride with them from town to town instead of us!"

Celeste threw up her hand in agreement, "Preach!" she sang as they all grabbed one another's hands with bowed heads and stated, "Amen!"

The waiter returned to take their drink orders and give them time to peruse the menu. "So Celeste...I brought up something on our car ride here that you didn't want me to say in front of Cameron. What's going on, hun?" Eve inquired stirring the ice in her glass with a straw.

Celeste's mood changed to somber, "I guess I may as well come clean...I'm asking for a release."

Naomi narrowed her eyes and trying to adjust to this unwanted surprise, "What the hell do you mean you want a release? As in a release from your contract? Have you just lost it all together? Taken one too many bumps or just had your head knocked off from your trainer, Daniel Bryan one too many times?"

The waiter returned much to Celeste's relief, anything to take the heat off the ire of her friends. "Ladies may I take your order now or do you need to take a few more minutes?"

Eve gathered up the menus giving them Jason, boring her eyes into Celeste, "Everyone will have a grilled chicken salad. I will take ranch with mine, Naomi will take French dressing with hers and our friend here will take Italian. Please leave the croutons off of everyone's salad and place the dressing off to the side please."

Jason nodded and scurried away to put their order in. Eve's glare found Celeste's sad face, seeing she already felt bad. Eve softened her approach, "Honey what is this about?"

"Eve, this has been a long time coming. My career is going nowhere and has been going nowhere for the longest time. I keep seeing wrestlers like Kaitlyn, gotta love that kid, but she's been doing some major botch jobs in her matches lately and she just filmed a Slim Jim commercial last week. It's freakin' ridiculous! AJ has soared up the ranks just this last year and is a top Diva right up there with you Eve."

Eve rolled her eyes at that statement, there was no love loss between the two women. Before Eve could go into a tirade about AJ, Naomi thought it best to change the subject back to the matter at hand. "But they got lucky and it was just their time. Right place and time. Your time will come soon."

Celeste shook her head in defiance, "Naomi I know you mean well, but I already gave management my resignation. All they have to do is sign it and then I'm done. I gave it to them last week. This will be my last week with you all."

Eve's eyebrows furrowed to the center of her forehead, "You've known about this and haven't said a word!" she yelled.

Naomi patted her hand to calm her down and remind her they were in a public place. "Celeste, this has been your childhood dream. You can't just let this go. Don't you remember how in Florida Championship Wrestling we had these big plans to change the Divas division and bring honor back to it, no offense Eve."

"None taken Mimi," Eve shook her sad face as she started playing with a napkin for a distraction from the news.

Naomi continued on, "We wanted to bring back true wrestling ability that they used to have in the Attitude Era."

Celeste interrupted, "It was a nice dream to have but the reality of the situation is that I'm not the image of Diva in the WWE's mind. Bottom line because I said so."

Eve leaned forward with a slight aire of aggression, "There are a lot of people who are not the typical WWE Superstar...Look at CM Punk or Daniel Bryan. Management eventually caved in and look at how successful they've become!"

"They are also men, let us not forget. They have a whole different set of rules that apply to them but not us. The shelf life of a in the WWE is short. You reach a certain age, and then everybody starts looking real close, trying to figure out how long you have before you boobs and ass begin to sag. After you hit that magical number, then it's bye, bye, bye," Celeste accentuated each bye with her hand going across her chest in a right to left motion.

"Really? We're going to take it back to some NSYNC ish? Ew and more ew!" Naomi's chuckle chopping through the tension in the room.

"Look you both have been my girls through this whole thing and I will be forever grateful for your encouragement and support. Your driving most of the time due to my tendency to get lost at the drop of a dime. Being my human barricades so that I don't stomp the hell out of Cameron for being a mean and to me...You both are like family to me and I am so going to miss these times...so let's just make the most of this time we have left, ok?"

Celeste raised her glass and waited for the others, "To friendship." Naomi and Eve slowly brought up their glasses and clanked them all together. "To friendship," All 3 repeated.

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