Summary: Maci is dealing with college, an abusive boyfriend and trying to manage going to work, when her best friend invites her to spend the week with her for WrestleMania, her world is about to change.
Maci sighed as she opened her car door, grabbing her purse and school work before heading into work. She hoped she could get most of her work done today if it was dead at the mall. At the age of 22 she had two years left for her college degree. She was majoring in Photography, hoping to one day work with the Indianapolis Colts, her favorite NFL team. She enjoyed work and going to school, it kept her mind off of her abusive boyfriend Josh.
Maci ran her hand through her medium brown, shoulder length curly hair as she walked into The Nike store at one of the malls in Nashville, TN where she worked. She was originally from Springfield, MO but when she was ten years old her parents decided to move to Nashville because her dad got offered a better paying teaching job.
"Maci, you'll be working at the cash register today okay?" Her boss said as she got back on the floor after dropping off her bags in the back room. She nodded as she headed over to the register, chatting away with co-workers and customers. She only hoped that Josh didn't call and chew her out for not being able to go to his friend's house with him for some dumb game in her opinion.
Two hours into her eight hour shift, she got the call from Josh.
"Welcome to Nike, This is Maci, how may I help you?" Maci's soft voice sounded through the phone.
"Maci, I told you to call in sick tonight. You're making me look like a fool." Maci hung her head as she listened to him chew her out. "I can't believe you didn't listen to me. You don't even need that stupid job. I can support you." His voice got louder.
"I can't talk to you right now Josh, goodbye." Maci replied, hanging up the phone when a customer came to be checked out. She had to forget Josh for the moment and deal with the customers. She did a pretty good job of separating the two. "Did you find everything okay?" She asked the twenty something year old man holding his son who looked to be about two.
Maci had just finished up with the man and his son when the phone rang again. She looked over at her co-worker Lisa, letting out a big sigh. "Josh?" Lisa questioned. "I'm guessing." Maci's soft voice let out. She really hoped he would leave her alone while at work. "Let me answer it." Lisa placed a hand on Maci's shoulder, letting her know she was there for her no matter what.
"Nike, this is Lisa, how may I help you." Lisa was one of Maci's closest friends. Lisa had been through the same abuse Maci was going through and reached out to Maci one night they had went out to dinner. "Josh, you can't keep calling here just to talk to Mac, I suggest you stop calling or we'll have to press charges." Lisa's facial expression changed. "Josh, go ahead and call the cops but you're the one that's blowing up the phone trying to talk to Maci when you know we have other customers so I suggest you leave her alone for the night. Goodbye." Lisa slammed the phone down and wrapped her arm around Maci, telling her she could spend the night with her instead of having to worry about Josh coming to find her.
It was two am when Maci finished up homework after getting off work and going out to eat with Lisa before going to Lisa's house. Thankfully she had tomorrow off and her class didn't start until noon because she really needed the sleep. Josh continued to call the whole night until she shut her cell phone off after dinner. Maci grabbed her phone and headed to the guest bedroom, turning her phone on in the process. She planned on silencing the phone while she slept and keeping her alarm volume on so she didn't oversleep for her class. It took a few minutes for all of her messages to come in. Ten text messages from Josh, two from her classmates, one from her mom and one from Jhen, her bestfriend who had transferred to a university in Phoenix early in their freshman year of college.
I know this is short notice babe but I was just wondering if you'd want to spend the week of Wrestlemania with me? Front row seats, axxess, hall of fame, all of that? I'll buy your plane ticket. Call me ASAP! Love ya Maci – Jhen.
Maci's heart jumped out of her chest. Wrestlemania? A chance to see her favorite sporting event FRONT ROW? She couldn't pass this opportunity up and she had enough to pay Jhen back, she had been saving up for wrestlemania next year. She immediately replied, it was only 12am there and Jhen was usually up late. You up? Sorry I didn't reply sooner, drama with Josh, as always.
Two minutes later her phone rang. She smiled when she saw it was Jhen. "Hey you."
"Don't feel bad about earlier. What's going on with Josh?"
"I had to work tonight and he got all pissed off and kept calling work and texting my phone. I don't know what to do Jhen."
"Do you even have feelings for him anymore?" Jhen questioned.
Maci sighed, "Not really." Her voice broke. "He used to be so sweet to me when we first started dating, you know that and it's like as we've gotten older he's changed. He never tells me he loves me and he always has something negative to say to me."
"Maci, you have to get out of the relationship. You can't keep getting treated like shit. I won't allow it. You're already getting down on yourself at times. I know you are, I can tell by your text messages and emails. He's making you believe all those negative things."
"I need to get away from him, like a break. Maybe it will help determine everything. How are you and Chase?"
"We have our moments but it's going pretty good." Jhen wasn't about to tell her that they were engaged, she didn't want to make things even worse. "So, wretlemania Maci? You wanna come?"
"I'd love to come! I have enough to pay you for my part of it. I don't want you to feel like you have to pay for all of it."
"Maci, my grandparents surprised me with this. I think my best friend deserves a vacation where she can relax and enjoy her favorite sporting event. Plus you can test out your photography skills!"
Maci was speechless. "Jhen, I have to pay you. I don't care what it takes, I'm going to pay you."
"Pay me by coming with! That's all I want. No worry on anything else Maci, seriously. Hakuna matata."
Maci let out a big laugh at her favorite Disney movie quote. "Okay, I guess I'm coming to Phoenix in a week!"
A week and a lot of stress later, Maci arrived in Phoenix by herself. She had basically ended things with Josh unintentionally. He made a big deal about her going to Phoenix for a week, claiming he couldn't trust her since she had always been one to steal his friends from him. Maci told him to fuck off if all he was going to do was start drama to make him look and feel better. She had better things to be worrying about. That was three days ago and she hadn't heard anything from him. She wasn't worrying about it too much, seeing as he hadn't called and she had a whole week ahead of her of relaxation.
She headed to baggage where she was supposed to meet Jhen at. Maci pulled out her phone and sent a quick text message to her best friend. "Just arrived, heading to baggage. See you in a few babe!" Maci couldn't wipe the smile off of her face. She was so excited for this opportunity to spend with her best friend at their dream event. It felt like a dream. She couldn't believe that in the next few days she'd meet some of her idols and favorite wrestlers. Maci was finally content with things and she didn't think anything could get as bad as they were.
Five minutes later the best friends were heading out of the airport. "I'm so excited you came!" Jhen said as she hugged Maci for the billionth time. Jhen was about an inch or two taller than Maci, she had black hair, brown eyes and dimples anybody would die for. She was naturally tan and looked beautiful in anything. Maci was jealous of that. She only looked good in select colors and she was definitely far from tan.
Maci noticed something on Jhen's left ring finger. "Left hand, now." She demanded, smiling over at her best friend of almost six years. Jhen blushed but obeyed. "A ring?" Maci asked. "Since when? When were you planning on telling me?"
"Two weeks ago then we both got caught up in mid-terms and all the Josh stuff, I couldn't find a right time to tell you." Jhen honestly felt really bad for not telling her right away. She knew if Maci had gotten engaged, she would have told her right away. That was just Maci though.
"Congratulations Jhen! Where is Chase at anyway?" Maci questioned," Hakuna matata about not telling me also." Hakuna matata was their own little inside joke about how they told each other it was okay.
"We'll meet him for dinner once we get you a hall of fame dress since you couldn't find any before you left."
Maci didn't know that her whole world would change at dinner that night.
Sorry this chapter seemed a bit rushed and very short. I wanted to introduce most of the characters and explain some of the stuff in the first chapter and it not be super long. Maci and Josh's relationship will be explained soon so don't expect him to go out of the picture just yet.
And sorry I've been absent lately. A lot of family stuff happened but now I'm back so don't expect me to leave anytime soon. Hope everybody enjoys the draft tonight. Please R&R. Much appreciated, helps me grow more as a writer!