Chapter 33
After the New Year when everyone got back to work, Mercedes was very excited when she talked to Stephanie about Sasha Banks's journey for the Road to WrestleMania. Paul had told Colby about it and said he could tell Mercedes himself. Which he did and everyone was happy.
"I was also curious if we could do a WWE 24 with you?" Stephanie asked.
"My Road to WrestleMania?" Mercedes questioned.
"Basically, yes. I was thinking of your journey from your rape, leading up to WrestleMania. Everything that has happened in the last year and a half."
Mercedes nodded her head. She thought about it for a few seconds. "I'd love to!"
"Great. If you would had said no, I would have been okay with you."
"Thank you, Stephanie."
"Of course. We can work out the details together. We can make an outline basically and then go where we need to."
"Sounds good."
Stephanie smiled. "We'll talk about it later."
"I'd prefer it. I want to think about my own timeline/outline and put into works with what you might have," Mercedes replied.
"That's what I wanted to do in the first place. I will see you later."
"Yes, thank you."
"You're very welcome."
Stephanie smiled and then walked away.
Mercedes smiled herself. She went to find Colby.
Colby was wondering the arena with Evelyn. He was carrying her around in the sling. That was what he and Mercedes did all the time while going around the arena and talking with people.
"Hey," Mercedes said.
"Hey," Colby smiled.
Mercedes smiled. She went up to her fiancé and gave him a quick kiss. "Hi sweetheart," She said, kissing Evelyn on the head, who was currently awake.
"How was the chat with Stephanie?" Colby asked.
"Great. She wants to do a WWE 24."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's supposed to be my Road to WrestleMania, but everything over the last year and half with my rape and all of it. Basically, my journey from my rape to WrestleMania."
"Is that what you want?"
"Yes! I would love to do it!" Mercedes exclaimed. "It's another thing for an example of recovery from rape and sexual assault!" She said the last part with a little bit of an attitude."
"Okay, okay," Colby said. "I fully support you with anything with that, baby doll."
"Sorry," Mercedes apologized. "I did get a bit mean there."
"It's okay. I still love you."
Mercedes laughed as he kissed her.
"What's to happen?" Colby asked. "What's the outline for it?"
"Stephanie and I are working out our own ones separately and then coming together. But I have mine and I want to get it written down. I'll come find you later."
"Sounds good."
"Love you," Mercedes said, giving him a quick kiss.
"Love you too, baby."
"Bye, sweetheart," Mercedes said, kissing Evelyn on the top of her head. She then headed toward the women's locker room.
Once Mercedes got into the locker room, she quickly went into her bag, grabbing a notebook she always carried with her as well as a pen. She began to write her own outline/timeline of what she wanted for her WWE 24.
"What are you up, Mer?" Leah asked.
"I am doing an outline/timeline for a WWE 24," Mercedes replied, looking at her friend.
"Cool. Is it your own idea for a 24?"
"Yes! Stephanie asked if I wanted to do a WWE 24 for my Road to WrestleMania."
"That's great."
"Yes. But it is going to lead from my rape to everything over the last year and half to now and onto April," Mercedes said.
"That's a cool idea," Leah replied. "What have you written so far?"
Mercedes smiled as she handed her friend the notebook. Leah smiled and took it. This is what she read:
Journey from rape to pregnancy
Comeback
Up to WM 34
1. Start with rape - story
2. Telling people
3. Recovery
4. Setback – pregnancy
5. Courage – accepting the pregnancy, support from Colby (Seth)
6. Keeping the baby
7. Relationship with Colby (Seth)
8. Seeing rapist
9. Engagement
10. Having Evelyn/motherhood
11. Comeback – taking life back
12. Back in WWE
13. Back to TV
14. Storyline – Sasha and Seth with Peyton and Bobby Roode, add Billie and Becky
15. WrestleMania lead up
"I love it," Leah said, looking at Mercedes.
"Thanks," Mercedes said as she took the notebook back from her friend.
"I am so proud of you, Mercedes. You are truly a strong woman. You have come a long way since everything happened. I'm sure everyone tells you that and it might get annoying, but I just want you to know from me that I am."
"No, it means the world to me," Mercedes replied, getting up from her seat. She took a few steps toward Leah and hugged her.
The two hugged each other tightly and pulled back.
"I can't wait to watch it," Leah said. "And I can't wait for Rumble and WrestleMania. All the girls are excited for you."
"Thanks," Mercedes smiled.
Leah smiled. She gave Mercedes one more hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to go find Bill," She said.
"Sounds good."
Leah smiled, heading out of the locker room.
Mercedes looked over what she had written. She added some more to it. She felt great as she wrote everything as well. She was very excited to do this WWE 24. She knew there would be lots of negativity toward it with her rape. But there had been negativity since last October.
Mercedes didn't care anymore. All that mattered to her was her family, friends, her career, and helping more survivors of rape and sexual assault.
The next day, Mercedes got together with Stephanie to discuss the outline/timeline for the WWE 24. Stephanie really liked Mercedes's. Mercedes had gone into further detail with everything after what Leah had read.
"This is great, Mercedes," Stephanie commented.
"Thanks," Mercedes replied.
"You give specifics and I like that you listed the people you want to be interviewed for this. Pam, Ashley, Becky, Austin, Ettore, Kofi. Of course, Colby and your mom. But Colby's family as well?"
"Yeah, they are up for it. I want them to be interviewed for with everything that was with Colby and me talking, not talking. But also, when I moved to Davenport and was integrated into their family with Evelyn."
"Makes very good sense. We'll go with what you have here. I'll get everything together and we'll talk more later," Stephanie said.
"Awesome," Mercedes replied.
Stephanie smiled.