New York City Friends

Season 2, Episode 11: The Truth Kills The Fairytale

Starring~ Michelle McCool, Ashley Massaro, Candice Michelle, and Torrie Wilson.

Mornings for Torrie started fairly simple for her, but on this Sunday morning Punk surprised her and took her to an early-bird morning gallery his friend was hosting.

"I wanted to invite you as a way to make our friendship stronger, by the f*cking way," Punk told her as he walked along her side.

The two stopped once they reached the entrance. They waited in line with a ticket each in their hand, when suddenly some lady just had to question Punk. "Oh my god, Phil! I mean Punk, whatever you go by, I haven't seen you in forever," The woman said, who was maybe in her mid to late 30s and had pearls even in the morning hours along with her chic glasses and perfectly tailored pantsuit.

Punk moved uneasily as the woman approached him for a casual friendly kiss on the cheek. "Well, see you around," Punk said as he moved along.

"Who was that," Torrie asked.

Punk shrugged, "Oh just an old friend," Punk responded with no further details.

That woman wasn't just an 'old friend', she slept with Punk and she was the first woman Punk ever slept with on a daily occasion... but Torrie didn't need to know that of course.

"I really like that piece, you know Ashley would so love to be here," Torrie told Punk about as she got lost in the wonderful art pieces.

Punk laughed and grabbed her by the hand, "Oh no, we are not here for the f*cking art! My friend has a small room in the back of this place and we're going to have some raving fun, he throws these every now and then... he's like the not-so-great Gatsby... but still Gatsby, just on a lower level," Punk told her as the two walked through a splatter-painted hallway.

A surprise within a surprise.

The room was playing Rihanna on blast and the place was thumping, but even then it all seemed calm. Nobody was overly-drunk or even nearly drunk and the place wasn't crowded or stuffy, it was like a mature yet fun and hip raving party.

"Oh my god, I'm actually enjoying the vibe this place is giving," Torrie admitted as she looked around the small room. The women were practically all wearing flannels and glasses, while the men were in their beanies and hoodies, it was all very relaxing... little did she know, half of them were literally high on marijuana.

After about two hours, Torrie still seemed to have no idea she was surrounded by high people.

"I'm so high off this energy," Torrie exclaimed as she ate a piece of some carrot cake.

A woman put her hand on Torrie's arm, "Oh my god, you too? Isn't it great," she told Torrie as she walked away. "Yeah, I think you two are talking about two different highs," Punk told Torrie as he chuckled.

Torrie's phone rang, but she didn't hear it over the loud music... so Brock's phone calls went unnoticed.

Unlike Brock's phone calls to Torrie, Mark's phone calls to me did not go unnoticed. He called to meet up, for some apologizing, which he so needed to do.

Mark sat right next to Michelle on her couch, the same one they used to always sit on... even slept on a couple times.

"You were such an asshole, so I want to hear you apologize," Michelle reminded Mark as she smirked.

"Look, seriously, I really wanted to apologize! Everything I said about you getting married again... to Jack, well, that's all something I need to deal with. I just feel like you were destined to be with Jack, I mean your history together is quite something... and I was just feeling like I was some guy that you just kept to kill time with," Mark admitted.

Destiny, did I believe in it like Mark? Jack and I being together, sure that's destiny... but Mark having a baby with Victoria, for some reason I didn't think of that as destiny.

Michelle softly put her hand on the side of his face, "Mark, you meant a lot to me and you still do. We have a history too and I will never forget about you, hell, I even cried in my wedding dress... partially because of hearing that you and Victoria were expecting a baby. How do you think I feel about the fact that you and Victoria will be bringing some cute baby into this world," Michelle admitted too.

Maybe it was destiny, maybe it really does exist... even if it's not in your favor and I had to find a way to accept that.

"Oh come on Michelle, you never wanted to be a mother! But you did always want to be a wife and I knew that the second I met you in 2007... you made a hell of a good damn wife, you looked stunning on our wedding day and I'm sure you'll look stunning for your upcoming one... with Jack, he's a lucky guy," Mark said as the memories came flashing back.

Michelle blushed, "Thank you! You know what, I'm happy for you and Victoria! I'm sure you'll be an excellent father and Victoria is lucky too, she get's you to be the father of her baby... out of all people! You're funny and you're charming, you're nice and you're understanding, you're protective and even as a father I'm sure you'll still be fun," Michelle complimented him as she smiled just looking at his lovely face.

In that second, I realized I wasn't over Mark... it took me that long to realize. I worked so hard to get over him after divorcing him and somehow, I was back at square one. However, Mark was obviously not over me either, and although it may sound a little evil...that made me feel a little better.

While nearly getting lost in each other's eyes, Michelle quickly shot the moment down. "Oh, I actually have a breakfast I have to meet the girls for," Michelle abruptly said as she got up from the couch.

"Totally, I actually have to take Victoria to a doctor's appointment, but see you later," Mark said as he went in for a goodbye hug.

In reality, I did have plans to meet the girls... but not for another 2 hours. So it wasn't really a 'breakfast', but more like 'brunch'. Either way, I had to break up the moment and any ounce of feelings I still had for Mark... Jack was my man and I had to let that sink in, while Victoria was Mark's co-parent and I had to let that sink in too, somehow.

Candice had both a marriage and a son... yet getting that all back was something she never expected. On that Sunday morning, Candice's lawyer called to tell her that her child custody battle had ended.

"Wait, wait, what do you mean it's over? I'm pretty sure we had a long way to go," Candice asked.

The lawyer threw her hands in the air for celebration, "Well, the way was long! But the father, Wade, decided to drop the case, as long as you too want to drop the case," she asked Candice.

Candice smiled and she couldn't help but to hug her lawyer. "Of course! Oh my god, thank god! Okay, well when can I see my son again," Candice asked eagerly.

"Today actually and for the next two weeks non-stop, Wade felt guilty that he kept Brooklyn away from you for nearly two months. After that however, you'll get him for 3 days and Wade for 4 days, then it flips, you get him 4 days the next week and Wade 3 days, it's a cycle," The lawyer explained as she showed Candice the paperwork.

Candice felt a heavy weight fall off of her, it was the 'best feeling' and the 'best news', she told me during our morning phone conversation.

"Well, hell, he owes me! I didn't see my son for two damn months, Wade has the money, therefore he has the power over me... I just couldn't do anything about it," Candice explained as she signed the legal papers.

"But, the past is the past and I'm just looking forward to making some fun get-together bonding plans with Brooklyn," Candice gushed about to her lawyer.

And on a much lighter subject, yet harder at the same time ironically... 'hard' referencing to Dwayne's d*ck and the desires he had to sleep with Ashley. After the embarrassing party, Ashley didn't call afterwards and she didn't pick up his calls whenever he wanted some sexual intercourse, she was avoiding him, hoping he'd disappear like her pride did on the night that he shamefully made her feel like shit.

Ashley was back to using the regular locker-rooms, which she didn't mind and she was smart enough to only come into the gym on hours she knew Dwayne wouldn't be there.

"Hey, caught you! You didn't think you could avoid me, did you," Dwayne jokingly said as he walked up from behind Ashley. He held her by the waist and he pulled her in, but Ashley walked forward and turned to him.

"Look, just back up! This was just sex and it was only sex, I have the right to ditch you, without having to give you an explanation... so just hush," she demanded as she walked away.

Dwayne followed her, "I really wanna f*ck you! I honestly thought we were having a good time, what's the problem," Dwayne asked, having no clue to Ashley's feelings.

"It was the party! Look, I get it, we're not in a relationship, I'm not your girl, I don't expect you to introduce me to your parents... but don't hide me from your friends like you're embarrassed or something," Ashley cried out.

In that moment, he realized what she knew and she realized what it was she wanted him to realize. Just like Dwayne, Ashley was also hiding him from us. It was a vise-versa scenario in which both were guilty.

"What the hell am I saying, I've never told my friends about you either, I'm such a f*cking hypocrite! Look, just forget this ever happened! I mean, maybe we can have sex another time... but not right now and I don't want to argue, because only couples do that shit," Ashley told him as she waved goodbye in his face.

Dwayne chuckled, "You don't have to tell them, I don't really care... but apparently you do, so I'm inviting you to a house-party I'm throwing, as a way to make it up to you and maybe you can blow me in the bathroom or something," he suggested as something peaked inside of his gym shorts.

Ashley panicked, "Oh my god, hide that! That's rock solid," Ashley whispered as she threw her towel on it. "I'll see you there... and please hide that," she told him as she walked away.

As I sat for brunch, waiting for the girls, I discovered that nothing could surprise me more than how much I've been surprising myself lately, not even the woman with two whole human being babies who sat at the table next to me surprised me.

Michelle tried looking over the menu before the girls could join her, but she had a war in her heart. Torrie and Candice walked in together, they searched for Michelle and finally found her troublesome.

"My child custody battle has ended," Candice exclaimed to Michelle as she sat at the table. "That's right! I'm seeing my son for the first time in two months and I already have the entire day planned," Candice said as she picked up the menu.

"Oh my god! That's amazing, finally he stopped giving you a hard time," Michelle responded after lifting her head up.

Torrie shook her head and stopped her, "What's going on? See, I'm getting better at reading people and I can tell you're upset," Torrie questioned.

I could tell them or I could keep it in, however, I did need somebody to talk to about my feelings. God knows Jack and Mark fall very last on my list and I know it's wrong, but dear lord I am a woman in love, not some goddess with perfectly arranged feelings.

Michelle opened her mouth to talk, but nothing came out, she literally looked at them with her mouth open for a couple of seconds before finally coming clean. "Okay, Mark's back and he's expecting a baby with Victoria... and I think I have feelings for him... again, and I know I practically set aside like 3 whole months just to get over him, but apparently I'm still not over him! I'm such a bad fiancee and such horrible human being... but I'm sorry, I don't know what to do and my heart breaks for Jack, who I still love very much by the way," Michelle rushed the words out as she rested her head on her palm.

"Well, as long as you haven't done anything with Mark... don't tell Jack or Mark about your feelings! Their feelings, we all have them and we push them aside all the time, we're not hurting anybody by keeping what only exists within ourselves," Candice advised.

Torrie jumped in right away, "Well the person holding back the feelings and pushing them aside is being hurt, it's not healthy! Isn't life about living and loving, even through trial and regretful mistakes," Torrie argued passionately as she waited for Michelle to respond, but Michelle didn't.

Instead Candice did, "You know Torrie, some people are just so broken and frail that they no longer can break any more and keeping feelings inside isn't that much more damaging than the other shit the person has been through... I'm at a point in my life, where I'd rather hurt myself than anybody else. I'm being serious," Candice admitted.

Candice had feelings for Cody, she developed them over time and didn't realize it, or it didn't want to at least. What was just fun, was now real. She feared hurting him and that's why she stayed away from him, the problem wasn't about being with a younger man anymore... it was much deeper than that now.

Candice paused and she figured, the least she can do is tell them about Cody. "Okay, I've been seeing this guy for about 2 months! He's 25 and he is part of the cast of my musical, I was feeling down and he was there for me... for fun I thought, but now I really do think I 'like' him! Except that when he wanted to be my girlfriend, I pushed him away, I didn't mean to, I'm just not ready quite frankly," Candice told them as she fixed her hair in the travel-sized mirror she carried, which was to take away from the vulnerability of the situation.

"Oh my god! Candice, don't be afraid, put your divorce behind you! It's time you move on like Wade did," Torrie advised as she put her hand on Candice's arm.

Candice lightly took Torrie's hand off, "Yeah, no! Right now, I am focused on Brooklyn! I guess the timing just didn't work out! Now that I think about it, it's all about timing and he just happened to be there at the right time, when I needed him and now I don't, I have my son," Candice reassured herself.

Candice was pushing Cody away again, within seconds she flipped just like that. Meanwhile, I was being pulled in by Torrie's words and maybe it was time for me to move on too. Jack and I were getting married and that was my love life

"I'm over Mark! Even if I'm not, that's what I'm believing and that's what I'm saying from here and on! Oh and Candice, give the guy a chance," Michelle abruptly picked back up on the conversation after going dead silent for minutes.

Torrie's phone rang, but she let it ring and soon the call was on her history log, but she was focused on the present. Something Punk taught her, a good friend and they had a good time... something she couldn't say about Brock unfortunately.

"Are you not gonna get that," Michelle asked as her eyes ran across the phone screen. 'Missed Call from Brock' read the phone screen. Torrie pushed it away and smiled. "It's nobody... Okay, It's Brock and I purposely don't want to answer him! We didn't have a fight or anything, but Punk invited me for a small cruise on a boat by the Wall Street pier and I kinda wanna go... no offense to Brock, but our relationship isn't the movie one I imagined when getting back together with him," Torrie admitted as she hid her phone in her purse.

Candice chuckled, "Oh 'miss perfect' over here! You're gonna have talk to him, you do realize that right young blonde ghandi," Candice teased as she finally looked over the menu, for real this time.

"I'm gonna talk to him," Torrie insisted. From the door came Ashley, "Speaking of talk, I have to tell you all something," Ashley said as she walked over while waving to them.

If Dwayne had the nerves to invite her to a party, with all his big-time NBA friends in attendance... Ashley figured she could tell her 3 middle aged friends over at some Manhattan cheap-priced morning diner.

"I've been f*cking some hot Knicks player and I've been hiding that from you all out of shame! I met him at the gym and it's the best sex I've had, call me a whore or call me a woman who happens to be alive," Ashley blurted out with no hesitation.

Candice dropped the menu, "Well that's something I don't believe! Knicks as in Manhattan's basketball team, the ones who play for the actual NBA," Candice asked and Ashley simply nodded. "Wow, well I thought me sleeping with some 25 year old was hot... but you win," Candice added.

"Well, you missed a lot... but apparently we did too, literally! How the hell do you find a Knicks player and not tell us about it! I'd be bragging all over town," Michelle teasingly said as she made room for Ashley to sit.

Torrie raised her arms up in the air, "Okay, from now on! We are telling each other everything, no more secrets, even if their shameful, we share everything and we try our hardest not to judge," sweet Torrie demanded as she took the leading role of the group.

She was right and we never again hid anything. Not our fears or our raunchy secrets or our unfairtyle feelings, no shame and no judgement was our motto in the city of fears and secrets.

"Okay, well, let's order," Michelle finally said as this time she actually did look over the menu.

Candice wasn't expecting on seeing Cody ever again, except, of course they worked together.

Cody approached Candice cautiously, but nonetheless, he went right up to her. "Hey, I thought it was kind of f*cked up of you to just ditch me like that the other night! I get that you don't want to be my girlfriend, but you don't have to ignore my messages and calls, I thought I was you friend and I was always there for you," Cody confronted Candice about.

Candice chuckled, but she could tell he was being serious, so as the older one she got serious too. "You're young, you have all your friends and all these young girls in your life, you'll be fine," Candice told him.

"So I was just your young hot stud, who you only used when you needed it in times of your pain! Whatever, but you're gonna have to eventually open your heart up again... even if you were divorced and broken, even if you were scarred and lost everything, which I guess 'I don't understand' right," Cody mocked as he walked away.

Candice grabbed him by the arm, "It's not like that, I still want to be friends! I just need time, my son is finally back in my life and I want to focus on that," Candice explained to him.

Cody turned around and looked her in the eye, "You're a grown woman, you have your friends and you have all these men that must want you, you have a son and you buy fancy expensive label clothing, oh and you live in some Park Avenue penthouse... you'll be fine! Thousands of people go through divorces, cut the bullshit and grow up," Cody gave it to her as he finally walked away.

Candice was only hurting herself and she was only depriving herself from the possibilities Cody had to offer, she couldn't use her divorce as an excuse anymore. She had her son back in her life now and she had the opportunity to rebuild her love life... but she wasn't ready and that was alright for her now.

Becky overheard and she just had to stick her nose in it. "Wow, how pathetic! Cody obviously has a major crush on you, I hate to admit it, but he does and he never shuts up about you! But go on, 'Miss. Too good for him', go on to your Park Avenue little penthouse and hide from your life because some man left you months ago," Becky dissed Candice, this time trying to actually help her in a way, or Cody for the most part.

Candice looked at Becky, but then she looked away. Without replying, Candice walked away.

If I couldn't tell Jack about Mark, the least I could do is talk to him about the marriage I once had with Mark. I opened an album of pictures and I reminisced to him about the old in my life, little did he know it was still very much part of my life.

"There I was, how naive, but how in love," Michelle admitted as she softly ran her finger across the picture of her and Mark on their wedding day.

Jack smiled, "Well, not naive anymore! You're wise now and so am I," Jack added in as he looked at the pictures with her.

We both were thinking about divorce already, well at least I was. Was I insane to test this wild roller-coaster all over again?

"I'm scared! I'm scared okay, I haven't talked to you about it! But I am constantly just stressing myself out about this," Michelle cried out as she slammed the album of pictures down.

Jack grabbed her by the face softly. "I'm scared too! I have my doubts, then again, I have my doubts about everything in life! We both think too much, it's not a bad thing... but it get's exhausting," Jack reassured her as he held onto her hand.

"I just feel so much pressure and I feel so confused, overwhelmed and it's all too much," Michelle whispered. "I don't know if I could do this! I can be with you and I want to be with you, but I don't know about this whole marriage thing, I just don't know," she came clean about.

Michelle got up and she left, she left everything and she knew she could possibly lose it all after this.

I could taste divorce, so I had to walk away. It was all because of some little light, A light that both ruined the fairytale for me and a light that still pulled me left & right- Left to Jack, but then Right back to Mark.

Ashley was in between the hot sex and the romantic love, being pulled left & right too. She was at Dwayne's cool house-party, but she realized that she was just the 'other woman'.

"Enjoying the party," A tall black man asked Ashley as he drank from his red cup of beer.

Ashley nodded and smiled. "Sure, but it could be better," she admitted as she looked over at Dwayne flirting with a gorgeous model-like woman.

The tall man pointed to Dwayne and the drop-dead gorgeous woman, "Those two are the ultimate couple! It's an on-and-off kind of relationship," he said about the two.

"I could tell! It's obvious their flirting and you can right away see a connection... it disgusts me," Ashley said.

The man laughed, "Well, don't worry, the woman isn't too bright, Dwayne's a great guy, but the man enjoys his sex and that's the reason why they always break up! She's insanely gorgeous though, has been in all types of magazines, I remember her telling me about her photo-shoot for Maxim," he told Ashley all about.

The truth was very much killing the fairytale. Not the average fairytale of course, but the one of a confident bold woman being the sexy mistress of some rich NBA player... it wasn't looking too bright now, or ever really.

The two watched as Dwayne's face turned red and as he playfully teased the beautiful lady. Sooner than later, Ashley's prettiest nightmare walked over to her.

"Oh my god, she's coming over here," Ashley exclaimed as she turned her face around to appear natural and uninterested in the life of these glitzy stars.

Her smile was perfect, too perfect to be true. She had these bright white teeth and her eyes seemed to sparkle even in the dimmest shades of light, which made Ashley hurl.

"Hey, Titus where's Andrew, Dwayne's telling me how he's still doing cocaine... and I want in, I'd figure you'd know where he'd be," The woman asked as she looked over at Ashley without a clue on who she was. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm being rude! I'm Gretchen, do you do coke too," Gretchen asked Ashley.

Ashley shook her head, she was too intimated to even say anything to this bombshell woman who Dwayne seemed to love.

The woman didn't know she was talking to the very same person who was f*cking her on-and-off again love. Either way, the woman was winning, she had the sacred place in Dwayne's heart. Ashley simply thought, "At least I don't do cocaine".

The truth killed some other fairytale too, but it was really the reality of the two people speaking up.

Torrie finally went over to Brock's office, she tried looking for him at his loft, but he wasn't there. "So you're here! Sorry I haven't been taking your calls, I was just 'busy', but it's good that you're back, how was your business trip," Torrie asked. It was the first time she really didn't care.

Brock chuckled lightly, "Torrie, I'm a busy man, but apparently you are a busy woman too and I don't see this working," Brock admitted as he sat up in his high-power black leather office chair.

Torrie didn't know what to say, she was left speechless, but she knew she didn't want to cry over this breakup.

"I really was trying and you know I gave it my all! I was really hopeful for this second time around, but it just wasn't the same," Torrie told her now ex-boyfriend... for the second time

Brock got up for a hug, "It's all on me, I'll take the blame... but you pushed a little too hard too. There's nothing wrong with that though, it means you really want something and that's why I'm breaking up with you, I just don't think I fit in your life and you deserve to have what you want," Brock insisted as he hugged her tightly.

Torrie cried and she embraced the breakup, more than usual.

"Goodbye Brock," Torrie felt herself uttering, for the second time. This time, there was no rain and no Hampton's beach-house, just an office on the 17th level of an office building near Central Park and some of the chilly winds of November blowing her hair all over her crying face.

The truth killed Candice's faiytale a long time ago and she learned to accept that, but her son was still a huge part of her heart and without worrying about anything else, Candice enjoyed every second of her evening with her son.

Candice watched as Brooklyn dressed himself up, she was already dressed and everything else was already planned by her hours ago. "First, I was thinking dinner, whatever you want! And then, maybe a movie... don't worry, this is just what I have planned for today," Candice assured him.

"It's fine mom! I missed you... how have you been," Brooklyn asked.

The last time he saw his mother, she seemed to be on top of the world. Candice didn't know how to tell her own son that she in reality fell through the cracks within the 2 months in which he last saw her.

Candice shook her head, "I've been good! Better now, but I've been good," Candice responded or at least forced herself to.

Brooklyn smiled in joy, hearing that her mother was doing good, even though he worried and thought about her from time to time. "Well, that's good! I'm doing good too, my grades are great and I'm trying out for the soccer team at my high school," Brooklyn went on about. "How's your musical," He thoughtfully asked.

Candice paused, "Baby, I'm so proud! I know you'll make it by the way," Candice told him as she hugged him tightly. After a long pause, she finally answered. "My musical is doing good by the way, it's about to wrap up actually! But I'm still pulling off the lead role perfectly, it's tough, but your mom is pulling through," Candice lied about to her own son.

Candice lied, but she'd figure it was the only way to protect him from getting hurt. She didn't want her healed son to hear about her dark empty messy life.

"Let's go, the dinner is reserved and the movie starts right after that," Candice said as she grabbed her purse. She put her arm around her son's shoulders and off she went with him.

That same evening, Ashley had enough of the lies she was putting herself through. She saw how infatuated Dwayne was with that model beauty and she quite frankly didn't fit in that picture, other than being the 'other woman' he slept around with.

"I'm gonna leave," Ashley told Titus, the man who she spent the entire party talking to.

Ashley headed for the door, she looked back and gave one last glance to Dwayne and his woman as they flirtatiously chatted. "Don't worry, You're a rad girl too, call me... and I'll let Dwayne know that you don't want to see him ever again," Titus told her as he waved goodbye.

Ashley nodded and smiled, "Well off I go and thank you," Ashley told Titus, as she secretly wanted Dwayne to stop her or at least notice her leaving through the back door.

Ashley left through the back door, this time because she wanted to or at least because she realized she had to. In New York walking through an unknown neighborhood on a very late afternoon is probably never a good idea, especially if you're alone.

As Ashley closed the door behind her, she felt the chilly winds and they gave her goosebumps. She walked past the trashcans, when suddenly her goosebumps again appeared. A man slowly walking towards her put Ashley in fear and suspicion. The man walked faster and faster the closer he got to Ashley, he was breathing heavily and he was dressed in all black. He stomped his way to Ashley at this point.

"Give me your f*cking purse bitch," The man said as he blocked Ashley's way with his big chest.

Ashley trembled as this man stood over her, about 6 feet taller than her and about 100 pounds bigger than her. "Oh my god! Oh my god, okay, here you go, please just take it and leave," Ashley begged with her shaky voice.

The man grabbed the purse and he shoved Ashley against the wall, "If you say anything about this to anybody, I will f*cking find you and shank you," he threatened her as he pulled out a switchblade.

The tip of the sharp blade just barely touched Ashley's gut, "Please, please, please don't! I won't say anything, just don't, please," Ashley helplessly begged as she held her breath.

The man had Ashley's credit card and a couple 20's and her phone too, the rest was useless to him. Ashley's life hanged from a thread for a second.

The man heard a door open, so he ran off. Ashley was left shoved by the trash-cans, as she cried and held herself together with her own shaky scared hands. Ashley took off, she ran as fast as she could home. With no money for a cab or a phone to call anybody, she ran as fast as her feet could take her. Trembling as she helplessly searched for a familiar face, but nobody on the streets seemed interested in pausing for her.

Just another heartbreak in the city of dreams and just another mugging in the city of melting pots. Both were the ugly truth of this city, something you rarely hear about in the movies.

Torrie's day was surely filled with many ups and downs, but she kept riding the crazy November waves. According to her, "My friends give me that excitement I so need and Punk is one of those friends" she told me during our phone conversation later that night.

Torrie zipped up her jacket as she looked out at the beautiful waves crashing in such an odd peaceful way. "Wow, so your friend just let's you use his boat whenever," Torrie asked as the city's skyline lights reflected on the blue dark evening waters surrounding her and Punk.

Punk poured some champagne into her cup, "Here you go! And yes, I have rich friends... I mean my job actually pays well, believe it or not, that's just not my lifestyle," Punk admitted as he drank his cup of champagne.

"I could tell... you invited me to some cocktail party, in which I re-met Brock and Brock's pretty successful... too successful for me I guess," Torrie said as she took a sip of her champagne.

Punk laughed as he shrugged. Torrie could tell Punk didn't want to hear about Brock, so she let it go and moved on.

The boat sailed off feet away from the pier and Torrie felt her feelings for Brock leave too. He was in the past and she didn't have such a hard time moving on, she was literally moving on.

"This is fun, right," Punk said as he played some little music, 'Forever Young' played in the background. "Oh and that's Tim, don't worry, he won't eave-strap," Punk jokingly said as Tim laughed from the boat's steering wheel.

"You're a good friend and I hope I am too," Torrie told Punk under her breath as she hugged him. Punk didn't mind Torrie hugging him, after all, it was freezing and the hug was a friendly one. The peaceful sound of the waves gave them a calming feeling, even the ruckus of the city couldn't be heard from the boat. The night was beginning to get old, a beautiful dramatic dark sky arose in the background and the lights of the city kept the boat alive. However, the friendly bonding love between Punk and Torrie gave the boat a sweet rocking.

For that night, Torrie was simply riding the waves. Wherever they took her, she freely went along, with her friend Punk along for the ride.

After a 5 hour walk, well after an hour walk and a 4 hour shopping trip, I finally went back to Jack's place.

"Hey, I'm sorry, I just ran out and I didn't mean too! It's just a lot is going on and it's all overwhelming for me," Michelle told Jack as she hugged him.

Jack hugged her and he pulled her into his place without saying anything for a moment. "I'm scared too Michelle! I proposed over a decade ago and that didn't happen, next thing you know my life fell apart! Here we are, all over again and I'm scared that it might blow up in my face... but I know I'm marrying you and that makes it better," Jack reassured her as he pulled out the ring he's been keeping away from her for the past few weeks.

Michelle saw him pull it out and she gasped. "Here you go, this is for you! It's real and it's happening, we both need to stop fearing it, you never know, it might not be so bad... the past is the past, let's make our own version of a fairytale, even if we both know it really won't be a fairytale! Life in general isn't a damn fairytale," Jack said as he opened the ring box.

It was a Vera Wang ring, the diamonds were shiny, but so was this man and I saw potential. I was running away from this so-called sacred moment in a woman's life, but Jack always stuck by and he continued chasing.

"Apparently it's Vera Wang... that's how much I know you," Jack calmly whispered as he carefully put it on her ring finger.

Michelle got teary and she couldn't help but to let the moment finally set in. She really did feel 'engaged' now and it was happening, she was absorbing it all in. "This is really happening, us, getting married and I love it! I love it because I love you and I know we'll make it work, I'm not so afraid hearing that you're also afraid," Michelle admitted as she held onto his hand.

Jack shrugged, "I'm just as afraid, which is why, I planned a honeymoon for this December! There's a lot of pressure behind weddings, so I'd figure we can have a honeymoon before, just to do things differently in our own way," Jack suggested.

Michelle felt safe in his arms, she felt secure and she felt confident that this would all work out somehow.

Nothing much puts fear in this New York woman and a marriage wasn't going to be some big scary monster to me anymore. It wasn't the ring or the dress or anything else really, it was about trusting that the man you found really did belong with you and that he would fulfill all of your wildest dreams... even if he let's you down, you can know that you'll learn something and yes I had that thought in the back of my mind, but I still labeled this chapter a 'fairytale'.

Special Guest Stars~ CM Punk, Mark Calaway, Dwayne Johnson, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Jack Swagger, Titus O'Neil, Brock Lesnar, and Brooklyn Barrett.

Written & Created By Jonathan N.

Published On November 28, 2015.