Monday: Aug. 6, 2007 11:30 P. M.
Kelly and I walk into the bar. I smile.
"Kelly, I'm so ready to get shit-faced."
"Is this a good idea?" Kelly asks.
"You let me go this far. Don't stop me now."
"I'm not."
"I'm loving this setting. The dancing. The drinking. I'm happy. Yo, bartender! I need to get a rum and coke."
"How much are you going to drink?"
"A shit ton."
"Well…"
"Kelly, go dance and find a man."
"Why?"
"You're young. When I was your age, I was a law student and helping with gymnastics during the week to make a living, but I had fun during the time I wasn't busy. Go find a man and hook up."
"Okay. See ya later."
The bartender hands me the rum and coke. I take it and start drinking. I feel pretty happy.
"Can I have another?" I ask the bartender.
I get another from him. I start drinking. I receive a text.
Chris: Are you doing okay?
Me: Yeah. I'm fine.
I finish the rum and coke. I smile as I see Kelly dancing with a cute guy. I grab a shot of whiskey. I don't even like whiskey that well.
I play with my hair. Maybe Candice was right. Maybe I didn't need it.
But maybe I did.
"I need to drink a shit ton." I mutter. "More than normal. I can not handle that shit."
I grab a whole tray of shots. I drink one shot.
Cody Rhodes walks over. He sits next to me.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
I shrug. "Just stressed. No one hanging out with you?"
"Nah. How about you?"
"Kelly came with me. Not with me now. I sent her to have fun. She still has to be having fun. Well so do you. You're still pretty young."
"I know."
"Why do you think no one is with you?"
"I don't know. But Randy has someone in his room so I think you and I can guess what he's doing."
"Damn. He is still doing that?"
"Never stopped I think."
"He needs to stop that. It's a bad habit."
"I know."
"Want a shot?"
He takes one. "Thanks."
"No problem." I take a shot. "Work has me so stressed."
"Same."
"I have a lot of shit on my mind."
"That's fine. You can talk about it if you want."
"I'm good."
"Okay. Can I take another shot of whiskey?"
"I have no problem. Take as many as you want."
"I think Kelly found herself a hookup."
I smile. "Good for her."
"How's everything with Chris?"
"Good. You got your eye on anybody? You seem bored, and I do not want to be in your way of enjoying the night."
"No. And I'm not bored."
"Okay. I think I might head up to my room soon."
"That's fine. I might too."
"But before that," I say as I hand him another shot and get one for myself. "To work stress and losing it."
We fist bump and take our shots.
I start heading to my room. I press the up button. I wait a few minutes for the elevator to arrive. As I do, Mickie stands next to me to wait.
"Hey." She says.
"Hey." I say.
"What floor are you on?"
"The seventh floor."
"I have to go there too."
"Okay."
The elevator arrives, and we get on. I press the button for the seventh floor.
"So…" Mickie says. "How are you?"
"Good."
"Good."
The elevator opens up to our floor. I head to my room. I look for room 722. I find it and go looking for my key. I start digging through my purse.
I look in the front pocket. Nothing. I look in both of the side pockets. Nothing. I look in the main big pocket of the purse. Nothing. I dump out the entire contents of the purse and start searching the pile of items. Still nothing.
"What the fuck?" I mutter to myself. "I know I had that damn key."
I start putting my belongings back in my purse. I'm not finding the hotel room key at all.
"Candice better still be fucking awake." I say as I put the last of my belongings back in the purse.
I knock on the door. "Candice!"
"Shit!" I hear her say.
"I thought you said that she was going out to the bar!" I hear a familiar man's voice say.
"She was! You know that she usually isn't back until at least two!"
"Well she's back now!"
"What do we do?!"
"I don't know!"
"Candice!"
"I'm thinking! Damn it!"
"Think quickly! She's probably getting suspicious!"
"Shut up and let me think!"
"We don't have time for this, Candice!"
"Just shut up! She might hear you!"
"If she hears me, she'll definitely hear you!"
Wait a second…I know that man's voice. That son of a bitch.
"Have you seen my clothes?!" I hear Candice ask.
"They're probably in the bathroom with mine!" The man replies.
"I got it! Hide in the bathroom! I'll answer the door!"
"What if she has to use the bathroom?!"
"Just stay in there! I'll just convince her to stay with Kelly! She's probably so shit-faced that she'll be fine with it!"
"I highly doubt it!"
"Just hide in the bathroom and let me answer the door!"
"Fine!"
I hear the bathroom door close.
Candice opens the door with just a towel wrapped around her. "Hey, Rissa…you're early…"
I smile. "Yeah…just wasn't feeling it as much when I got there."
"Where's Kelly?"
"Got herself a hookup. She's young, so I didn't stop her."
"Ah. Those were the days."
"Yeah…some people in our company never grow out of it."
"Yeah…"
"Well…I'm going to come in and put my purse down and use the bathroom. The ones downstairs are disgusting."
"I bet…" Candice says nervously.
I put down my purse and reach out for the doorknob on the restroom door. "Candice, one question."
"What is it?"
"Why is the bathroom door shut?"
"Just a habit."
"Okay. I lied. Another question. Why are you in a towel?"
"I was getting ready to take a shower."
"Okay. I lied again. Third question."
"Go ahead and ask."
I open the bathroom door. "How stupid do you two think I am?!"
"Rissa, I can explain everything! I-"
"You slept with this asshole!"
"But, Rissa-"
"But what, Candice?! There is no buts! You betrayed my trust by doing this!"
"Marissa, please-" I stop the still partially-nude man in the bathroom from speaking.
"Don't you say a damn word!"
"Rissa…baby girl-"
"Don't call me that, Randy! Hell, don't speak to me! Don't even breathe in my direction! You know what?! Just get out!"
"Rissa!" Candice says. "He isn't even fully-dressed!"
"Both of you get out!"
"Rissa! You can't kick me out!"
"Candice, I'm paying for our room this time. So yes I can. But don't worry. I'm sure your little fuck buddy won't mind sharing."
"But-"
"Grab your bags and get the fuck out! Now!"
"Fine…"
Candice quickly grabs her things and leaves still in just a towel with a partially-nude Randy trailing behind her. I harshly slam the door behind them and start crying.