California Friends

Season 3, Episode 1: The California Return

Starring~ Melina Perez, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Eve Torres, and Nattie Neidhart.

It's been more than one year since you last heard of the girls, their stories didn't really end... but they sure changed. California stayed being home to some, but it's been 2 years for others since they last called California home.

"Oh California, how much I've missed you," the blonde woman with the light pink streaks on her hair said as she made her way down the airport. The sunny paradise didn't seem to recognize this woman, but she sure did and I'm sure some of you do too... that's right, Nattie was back.

Natalya felt the fresh nostalgic California air push up against her, but nonetheless, she held onto her optimistic hopes... after all, that is why she came back.

While walking to find her car-for-rent, Nattie noticed a group of women gathered up to take a picture after finally reuniting. "It's good to be back with my California girls," the young redhead woman yelled as they got in closer for a group shot.

"Aww, how cute! But the original bitch is back," Nattie said under her breath as she dragged her suitcases by her side.

California remained home to the other girls, but it wasn't the same for some. After exposing the controversial affair Vince was having with her cousin Aj, Vince fired her, Layla, and even Aj. Ever since then, Melina has not stepped foot into that ring... which was renamed after Stephanie took Vince's place, 'NXT' they call it now.

Melina rested her chin on her hand as she distracted herself by staring helplessly at the television screen in front of her. The women were up, or as they were called in the big leagues, the 'divas'. Melina couldn't help but to only dream about herself one day being in that ring... again.

"Melina, don't fucking get all ditsy on me... please concentrate on making sure my insurance customers are taken care of," Melina's boss yelled from his office. And suddenly the dream was vanished into dust as reality awoke her.

"I'm sorry sir, I'll get right to work," Melina promised him as she continued to watch the wrestling match through the side of her eye.

From a small little insurance office near a ghetto freeway, to a huge unimaginable arena with thousands watching... how could you ever connect the two, but you could.

Melina's former co-wrestler, Nikki Bella, had a match that night in that arena and she was putting quite the show. After being hired by the WWE in December of 2014, they slowly worked her into the title picture and on the summer of 2015 they made her Diva's Champion.

The rack attack was executed and it stole the show yet again. 1...2...3, Nikki Bella was victorious yet again. She held her arms far up into the sky as she felt the crowd's energy, with the Diva's Champion over her head and the spot so many 'divas' could only dream of.

Nikki seemed to have it all, she was on top of the world and everything seemed pretty-picture-perfect from a person's outside perspective. Not everything is what it seems, even for a champion.

As Nikki tried to make the people leave that arena satisfied, Eve on the other hand was trying to get the people to enter and find their satisfaction under the roof she was selling. After spending months in the hospital trying to get her legs to work, literally, after the car accident Eve seemed to have lost something and she changed. Eve hung up her wrestling boots and she switched to real estate, now instead of trying to sell moves, she was trying to sell houses.

Eve had her fancy blazer on and her perfectly tailored pencil skirt, "Okay, follow me into the master bedroom," Eve told the clients as she lead the way into the gorgeous room. "Isn't it lovely!"

"We really actually want to see the nursing room," The man said excitedly as he looked lovingly into his fiancee's eyes. "We're actually planning on having kids," he gushed about with his fiancee by his side.

Eve smiled and put her hand over her chest, "Well, that's just sweet," Eve said to the couple. "Just walk a little more down the hallway and you'll find the nursing room," she told them.

As they walked out, Eve could feel something inside of her want what they have. That's what changed inside of her, her heart became more loving and nice... and now she wanted a man to share that with.

Nattie also found something inside of her that changed, but she had to run away from California to find that. It took her a while, but she was finally back home and she missed it.

She opened the door to the gorgeous house she used to walk in so carelessly through. "Oh gosh, the dust... how long has it been," she whispered to herself as she felt the cold emptiness of the house bring chills to her. The second she ran her finger across a nearby furniture piece she saw her finger turn grey with dust.

"Well I'm back," Nattie whispered as tears ran down her cheeks. "I'm back, I'm back... why is nothing happening, why isn't this state welcoming me," she cried out. By 'state', she meant the people that used to be part of her life.

Her friends, her former fiance that decided to move to a smaller apartment, wrestling, that feeling she had before she left, and everything else that she used to know about sunny California.

She opened the back door and she stepped out into her backyard, in which the grass was more dead than the warm welcome she got from California. Then suddenly, she lifted her head up and she felt that recognizable warm touch on her face, it was the orange dramatic sun she only knew existed on the afternoons of California.

Suddenly, everything came rushing back to her and California felt just enough... but still not completely right.

Melina was also trying to feel California like she used to feel it, but it just wasn't happening. She made an appointment with the executive of a wrestling promotion, hoping something would come out of even that small little indie wrestling promotion.

Melina waited there in the small office, with her hands patiently over her lap as she waited for an answer.

The executive finally walked back in with a disappointed look on his face. "Sorry, we have decided against signing you... but good luck," he let Melina know. Melina was shattered inside, but she kept it inside and just walked out of there like nothing had happened.

"Hey, are they tough in there," the bold young woman asked. Melina turned to her and the woman had an impressive gimmick going on for herself, "It won't be so bad for you," Melina told her.

The sun was going down like Melina's hopes and the darkness mirrored Melina's feelings. She walked to her car with sorrow, with her dreams slowly slipping from her fingertips... more than before.

Eve's dreams never slipped away, she never had them to begin with, but she was searching.

Cherry got out her In-N-Out burger and she handed Eve another one. "So tell me, how did your clients react to that beautiful house," Cherry asked her friend. Cherry and Eve became very close in the past year, Cherry helped Eve get back on her feet... similar to how Eve has been there for Cherry through her battle with cancer.

Cherry hid it from Eve for a couple of weeks, but Eve finally found it and ever since then Eve's been there.

"First, before anything else... how was your mammogram," Eve asked as she took a bite of her California style burger.

Cherry shook her shoulders, almost dancing in a way that seemed to make everybody else's troubles seem small. "It went well, they didn't find anything new... unfortunately, I obviously still have what they originally found months ago," Cherry explained as she shrugged almost helplessly.

Eve stared into her friend's eyes, with compassion and hope for her friend. "I know it's been months... but you know it's still hard for me to talk about anything else after we talk about the 'big C', but I know that's what you want," Eve said. "So, onto another topic... I want to settle down," Eve admitted to herself and to Cherry.

Cherry nodded and smiled, "I get you... believe me, I do too and I really do believe Randy is the guy," Cherry said softly with those words up in the air. Cherry and Randy were still together, it's been more than a year and they have kept their love alive... but there was a doubt inside of Cherry's tired heart that waited in a corner.

Eve had doubts too, but Cherry sure gave her the strength to stay at it. "Randy is the guy and you are the girl... I believe in you two, most importantly I believe in you," Eve told Cherry as the two picked through the french fries.

Brie and Nikki also kept each other strong, but Nikki's strength weakened Brie and Brie felt it boil inside of her. Nikki was Diva's Champion, while Brie was the sidekick jobber.

The twins had a photo-shoot they had to do for WWE, but before even getting the chance to make it there a bunch of fans couldn't help but to freak out. "Nikki, oh my god, Nikki can I take a picture with you," a fan yelled from the crowd.

"Oh my god, it's the Diva's Champion Nikki Bella... please sign my shirt, oh please you must," an energetic young woman from the crowd yelled to overwhelmed Nikki. Nikki didn't hesitate to take the pen away from the wild woman and she right away signed her name, it was an autograph that was so desired by many in that crowd. So Nikki of course had to try and sign some merch for them all, she took dozens of pictures and she put a smile for all of them. Her fans adored her and she felt the love, a love she couldn't caress into whenever she happened to be feeling lonely in her hotel room.

Brie stood in her shadow, literally, the lights nearby were over Nikki's figure and her shadow reflected on the pavement... in which Brie happened to be standing in. "I love you too Brie," one distant voice yelled from the other side, but it seemed forced and Brie simply waved with a faint smile.

"Okay, we have to go guys, but it was nice seeing you and I hope you enjoyed the show," Nikki told them all as she walked away with the shiny championship around her arm and her dim sister by her other side.

"Here's your jacket," Brie told her sister as she handed over Nikki's personal customized jacket.

After the photo-shoot, Brie headed to her hotel room and she was exhausted. Ironically, Brie didn't have a match that night and they even decided not to use her for the photo-shoot after all... but she remained exhausted, emotionally and mentally exhausted.

"Fuck," Brie whispered under her breath as she threw herself onto her lonely bed. A year ago, she had all these men and they all caused her trouble... but that was in the past, breakup after breakup, even stalking and legal action involved... yet she still seemed to feel tired.

"I just want to die," Brie whispered helplessly as she lied on her bed with her hair all over her tired face. Sooner than later, Brie was asleep and she didn't really know what she was going to wake up for... after all, she is rarely ever needed.

While some were giving up, others were holding on. Melina went to train with Lita, even two years later, Melina still trained with her and that was the only wrestling she got.

"So they rejected me... yet another wrestling promotion rejecting me, I'm just not hot anymore, not as good anymore I guess," Melina complained to Lita as she tied up her old wrestling boots.

Lita shook her head, "You can't fucking say that and then wonder why they keep rejecting you," Lita told her. "Be confident and just keep training. Ironically, even though you're not signed to any company, your skills have improved so much, it's unbelievable and you have to believe that one day you'll get the chance to show them that," Lita advised Melina.

"Come on, let's get to the ring until we're sweating at 11 PM," Melina fiercely roared as she stepped into the ring that made her feel alive.

Melina smiled, it wasn't the same shy smile you heard about one year ago. It was one that had been trough crap, one that got rejected and thrown away, but one that kept pushing with motivation still by her side.

Written & Created By Jonathan N.

Published On January 8, 2016.