New York City Friends
Season 3, Episode 6: My Mouth, My Words, My Life
Starring~ Michelle McCool, Ashley Massaro, Candice Michelle, and Torrie Wilson.
Once in a while, all four of us liked to meet up for an extra early 'brunch'... which some would just call breakfast, but it was always truly brunch for us. Why? Because we like brunch.
Ashley had been seeing Mickie for the past few days, she wasn't hiding it, but she also wasn't sharing it with the world. The second Ashley sat down, all three girls turned to her, waiting...
Ashley threw her arms in the air, "Yes, I'm having a fling with a woman," Ashley finally revealed.
They waited for more, "That's nice... but are you two officially dating," Michelle asked. "Yeah, honey this is 2016... we're not shocked, we would however be shocked if you were finally not single... no offense," Candice told Ashley.
Ashley hadn't been in a relationship in nearly a decade.
"'Haha', very funny... but no, we're not officially dating," Ashley responded. "I'd so love to see you in a relationship, it'd be so cute," Torrie added.
Candice handed them a pamphlet for her party that night, "Ashley bring her, Torrie you've missed all my parties, and Michelle-" but Candice was interrupted. Michelle stuck her hand out, "I haven't told Jack that I won't be moving with him, I don't think he'd like me to go partying after I tell him and you do want me to get in trouble, do you," Michelle defended her absence from the party.
"Fair enough, but out of curiosity, how do you plan on telling him," Candice asked. Michelle closed her eyes and put her hands over her face, "That's what I've been going over my head for the past few days! I feel like I'm America and I'm telling the Soviet's that I don't like their country and don't want to move there... it's very scary and critical to my marriage," Michelle told them all fearfully.
It really did feel like a Cold War.
For Torrie, the war had always been about finding her true love and finding her true identity in the world.
In the mornings, Torrie sometimes liked to take a walk around in Central Park. She loved the positive environment, there was something in the air that made her feel so lovely and peaceful. She was walking with cherry blossoms on her shoulders, when suddenly she came across an ex-boyfriend of hers- Brock.
The two had made eye-contact from about ten feet away already. They didn't smile or wave, but instead cautiously made their way to one another. "Hey, how have you been," Brock was the first one to ask.
"Great, nothing too new I suppose," Torrie responded. Brock wasn't surprised with her response, "I'm guessing you're still on your mission to find your soulmate," Brock asked.
Torrie chuckled, "I've always been looking for my soulmate, and always will be... aren't we all," Torrie turned the question back around sweetly, which he always misunderstood for naive.
The truth was Torrie's career was at it's peak. She was not only a writer for Elle, but also working on a book. So "nothing too new" wasn't the best answer.
Brock was about to ask her out, when Torrie's cellphone began to ring. "Gotta take this," she excused herself. "Torrie, meet me tonight for an important meeting! One that could change your career, I have no time to discuss it now, but trust me you won't want to miss the meeting," Torrie's publisher notified her.
"Wow, okay, I'll be there," Torrie exclaimed. He hung up and she turned to him, "Sorry, that was my publisher with some exciting promise," Torrie told Brock.
Brock smiled, but he didn't believe her one bit. "I was about to ask you out on a date, were you trying to get yourself out of it," he asked doubtfully. She laughed and put her hand on his arm, "No, I swear, it was my publisher," she insisted.
"Sure," he played along. "Anyway, if you're free tonight, I'd like to have dinner with you," Brock suggested and she smiled along.
She sure smiled, but one question was still bothering her. Why couldn't he believe that she had a life outside of him and men in general? That she actually had a career?
Michelle was still figuring out a way to tell her beloved husband that she was not going to accompany him to New Jersey. She thought a nice home-cooked meal would make the decline to move easier. So that same day, she rushed to the nearest Bodega to pick up some quick ingredients.
She was going for her signature style dish- Salmon and white rice, with smoked vegetables on the side. While going through the petite bodega, Michelle just barely brushed past her ex-boyfriend. The two didn't notice each other and carried on with their rushed shopping.
Michelle payed for her items and headed out, but she wasn't getting away that easy. "Michelle," a man yelled from behind her. Michelle turned around and there he was, Christian, her ex-boyfriend.
It looks like Torrie wasn't the only one running into an ex that day.
"Hey, what are you doing here," Michelle asked her former lover, whom had no idea she was married... until he spotted the ring. "You're married," he asked.
Michelle nodded and laughed like it was nothing, "Ahh, so you see the ring," Michelle jokingly responded. "I'm guessing you're running home to cook a meal for you and the hubby," Christian proceeded to ask.
She nodded again, "Yes, I can cook now... well one dish really, but I'm picking up on more recipes and... it's nice... enough," Michelle told him all about. Christian did not believe her, not even one bit, he could see right through her transparent wall.
"I can tell, you sure look excited to start cooking for a man," Christian added. Michelle wanted to roll her eyes, but she just shook her head and faintly laughed. "Well, for him and me, a girl's gotta eat" she checked him.
I wasn't going to also tell him that this man I married was trying to drag me to another state. He couldn't see my independence, but I had it... somewhere.
"It's funny how we both ended up. I wanted kids and I wanted to settle down, but you didn't," Christian reminded her. "You wanted adventure and fun... yet you're married and I'm the one with the adventure now, I'm actually heading to a club where foam falls from the ceiling."
Michelle froze, she didn't know what to say. Everything he was bringing up from the past was making her do some serious questioning. "Cool, well, I have to get back to my life... so goodbye and enjoy your little club thingy," Michelle dismissed herself abruptly.
She quickly got herself away from there. Swinging her purse and shopping bags with all her will. She felt his eyes pierced on her from the little bodega, judging her and feeling better about his own 'adventurous' life.
Ashley and Mickie were more than just 'friends', they never went on 'dates' or anything, but it was obvious to everybody around them how much they liked to flirt with each other. Dolph attempted to set up a 'double gay date', but Ashley turned him down because she wasn't really sure what she had with Mickie.
She was too shy to ask Mickie what they were.
"Hey girl, what are we doing tonight," Mickie asked the second she showed up to Ashley's doorstep. Ashley shrugged, "Nothing," Ashley replied. She could see the bored look on Mickie's face, so she chuckled and gave her another answer. "Just kidding, we are going on a double date with my friend and his boyfriend," Ashley told Mickie.
Ashley ran to get dressed and Mickie chased her around her loft- the two laughing and Ashley telling Mickie all about Dolph. The sun was beginning to set by the time they headed out the door, the dirty clouds were beginning to cover the orange sky.
It was all fun & games.
The two met up with Dolph and Johnny after finally leaving Ashley's loft, "Hey, finally you took on my offer," Dolph teased. The four sat down at their table, "I'm not good with cheesy couple things... like 'double dates'," Ashley admitted.
Mickie turned to her in confusion, "Woah, this is a 'date'? And I didn't know we were a 'couple'," she wondered, almost offended.
And suddenly it wasn't all fun & games.
The four laughed to ease the tension, but Ashley was burning up and she was beginning to regret the stupid date. "And suddenly I have to go to the bathroom," Ashley said. Ashley excused herself from the table, with her head boiling out of anger. The three watched as she rushed off.
Candice's own life was looking very pink. She wanted to start assigning themes to all of her parties, her current party was being dubbed 'Think Pink'.
The Hampton's all quieted down for Candice's over-the-top, pink, splashing, beach-house takeover party. Pink everywhere. A giant pink carpet led up all the way to the front doorstep, flamingos were standing by each step.
Inside the beach-house the floor was all covered in pink feathers and pink balloons were flying up into the high ceiling, even the pool was dyed pink with pink lights inside the pool giving it that radiant pop of color. Pink lights were in the bushes too, in the ceiling, and all wrapped around the palm trees- the human eye could only take so much of the shimmer.
The human mouth however, could take in a lot. The food was also all pink- chocolates, pretzels, and all types of sweets, covered in a pink, sweet coating. The drinks were all most definitely pink- pink champagne, pink margaritas, pink lemonade... the list went on.
The party was like none other, but Candice's dress stole the show. It was a Chanel cocktail dress, with ruffles on the bottom of the sides and most shockingly- it was a white eggshell color. Her hair was straightened and her body was all bronzed up for the night, with a touch of Chanel Coco on her glowing skin.
"This is too much... I doubt she can afford this," one of the women in the corner whispered to the other. "I know, where does she get the money... because from what I heard, it was her husband who had the money," the woman told the others in the small circle.
One of them had a breakthrough moment, "I figured it out! She has a spending problem and that's probably why her husband left her!" They all laughed, drinking from their glasses of champagne... champagne Candice bought. "I saw that dress at Barneys and it was almost like 1,000 dollars, plus look at how young her hair makes her look... that for sure cost her a lot, or maybe she had something done to her face," they chattered on and on about Candice's private expenses all throughout the night.
The truth was that Candice has never had any surgery to her face and she got her dress on discount... and as for her hair, well that was just a lucky hair day. People talk all the time, it was only natural that people with a boring life would come after somebody as fabulous as Candice.
Torrie was home, with all these men pulling her from three different sides. Her publisher wanted to meet up with her, an old friend was at an airport leaving the city, and an old flame wanted to charm Torrie that night.
Torrie played it safe- she wore an outfit that could casually go with whatever she would end up choosing. She was the true definition of a 'City Princess'- A 'City Princess' is a woman who has her career in front of her and a man on the side waiting for her.
The 'City Princess' put on a pair of slim-fit black jeans, with converse and an overcoat just to add the small touch of glamour. She curled her hair and put on a natural amount of makeup, it made her look presentable and clear... yet her actual mind was far from clear.
The three options were all taking place at the same time, it was the universe's way of testing her true desire. Alicia sneaked up on her and patted her on the back, "Don't go with what feels right... go with what feels new, and darling that would be the meeting with your publisher," Alicia reassured Torrie.
Torrie looked at her through the mirror, with a blank stare. "Punk is leaving and I never got to have that emotional goodbye with him and then Brock and I broke up for reasons I've grown past, we can really work this time," Torrie explained to Alicia.
Alicia didn't want to argue, so she faintly smiled and walked away.
It was Torrie's decision, but if a man influences a person emotionally. Is that really living your own individual life?
"Brock, I can't make it to our date, I have a meeting with my publisher and no, I'm not making that up," Torrie left a message on his voicemail. She then dialed Punk and did the same thing, "You were my most bestest friend, but if you taught me anything it's that I can't let a man rule my life... goodbye Punk," Torrie said her goodbye... through a voicemail.
Torrie was a changed woman, with a book soon to be out in stores. Her publisher gave her the news in that meeting and Torrie called us all yelling with excitement and determination.
For a while, the skies were patchy- a fading orange sky, with blotches of grey clouds beginning to show up. It began to pour, the entire city was covered in rain. Michelle usually liked warming up to Jack on rainy days, but she knew he wouldn't want to even look at her after what she was about to say to him. The dinner she cooked was prepared and warmly set on the table.
Like always, Michelle set up the table for the two. Jack poked his head out and smiled, "I will never get tired of rice and salmon, and you know that," Jack told his wife as he walked in the kitchen with a suitcase in one of his hands.
Michelle looked at the suitcase and then at him, "That's my suitcase," Michelle uttered. "What are you doing with my suitcase," she asked him with her tone going up a few notches.
And suddenly I found myself in a situation I feared ending up in- a man on top with the power, a man I loved doing something so vicious.
"I'm packing your things, duh, we're moving, did you forget," Jack told her with an easy-breezy attitude. Michelle felt her stomach turn and the room began to spin- seconds later food came up and out her throat.
She vomited all over the newly prepared meal- all of the food she spent cooking was now covered in her vomit. Jack didn't understand, until it hit him. "You're not moving, are you?"
Michelle shook her head as she wiped her mouth clean. Jack lost it then and there, "Michelle, we're married! You can't not move with me and stay here, I'm sorry, but life is tough and there are decisions that are tough, but come on I thought you were grown enough to drop your silly little girl obsession for this city and I thought you were grown enough to leave your little 'bffs'... you're married now and marriage is about sacrifices Michelle, sometimes life takes you in new directions and I don't think you're tough enough to try new directions," Jack argued with her.
Everything I was going to fight for he shot down. I felt powerless, more than I have ever felt.
"What about work," Michelle brought up. "Most of your work can be done from home and if you do need to come in person you can, it's only like forty minutes away," Jack responded.
The second he calmed down, she went in and picked up the torch of fire. "And leaving this city and my friends isn't about being a silly, little girl- it's about leaving a huge part of my life, which I care about and I'm not weak Jack, I've taken many new directions in my life... I just don't like being pushed and forced into a direction," Michelle roared at him. "The point is... it's my life Jack," she told him as she walked away.
Ashley messaged Dolph from the restroom, "I have to go, don't say anything until I'm out of the building."
She tiptoed out by casually sneaking past the tables on the other side of the restaurant. Dolph got the message and looked up to see her rushing out of the restaurant. Mickie caught him looking, she turned around and caught Ashley running away.
"What's going on," Mickie asked Dolph. Dolph shrugged, he really didn't know what to tell her. Mickie knew Dolph wouldn't give her an answer, so she was going to find out for herself. She got her stuff and hustled out after Ashley.
Mickie pushed the door and ran out into the rain, where Ashley was. Ashley was desperately waving her hand for a cab, Mickie took her hand and pulled her. "Why are you freaking out, is it because I'm a woman and you're scared of being with a woman," Mickie asked.
Ashley didn't want to look her in the eyes, "No, you're the one who doesn't want to be with me," Ashley helplessly responded. "I like you and I've liked many other people, all whom have been men... and they've all rejected or turned me down, I don't need that again," Ashley cried out.
The rain poured on the two, Ashley finally did look up and she saw Mickie's sorry face.
Ashley never opened up, she had her heart very locked. To whomever she desired, she somehow would always wait for them to come to her. She wanted a relationship, with someone who happened to be a woman.
"I want to be your girlfriend, I want us to be a couple, an exclusive couple," Ashley straightforwardly admitted. Mickie smiled and nodded while crying, "I'm sorry I was such a jerk in there," Mickie apologized. "And we're so a couple, and I am sure of that," Mickie told her.
She pulled Ashley in for a kiss, while the rain fell on them so beautifully. It was like a movie. A taxi cab quickly stopped for them, most likely a turned on cab driver, but nonetheless the cab stopped just like Ashley stopped to smell the roses.
Ashley could have been rejected right then and there, but she wasn't of course. However, unfortunately, that is a possibility and that's just how life works. It's your life and nobody can stop you from building walls, but if you want to invite people, you sometimes have to risk them hurting you in some way.
The rain was pouring, and unfortunately it was also pouring in the Hampton's. Despite the weather, the party kept its edge and Candice kept her cool. Although, she had a few to drink and didn't care as much as she would if she were sober.
The beach-house was packed with people, all enjoying themselves. Sweaty bodies everywhere, but sour mouths were also present. The critics were gunning after Candice's expensive dress and her drinking problems, but Candice was clueless until she overheard a little peep from a bird (a crow).
The words about Candice came out, except they weren't coming from Candice's own mouth.
"What's worse than her shopping addiction is her drinking problem, it's sad honestly, I feel so bad," the vile woman told her posse. Candice gasped the second she heard the unpleasant woman, even drunk she wouldn't sip any of her words and let it slide.
Candice tapped her on the shoulder, "Excuse me, but don't show up to my party and then talk shit about me! You're killing my vibe bitch," Candice told off the woman. "Now why don't you and your little friends just leave," Candice shut the dreadful group of women down.
The women were all upper-class housewives- all happily married and happily rich, with their worries revolving around keeping their husbands happy and taking their sons to soccer games. Candice and them did not mix.
The women, five, all rolled their eyes and turned around to head out. "But seriously, I feel sorry for you and you need help," the woman repeated to Candice one last time. Candice chuckled and ran in front of her, "Actually, I feel bad for you, because you don't have a life... literally, you belong to your fucking conservative lifestyle and you need less help, because your life is all uptight and controlled by your fucking husbands... oh and most importantly, I feel bad that you will never experience my parties ever again, because from now on my parties are going to be very exclusive," Candice let them know as she showed them the door.
Some might argue that Candice is living a glamorous life with all these parties, or that she might be a grieving, lonely woman. Either way, it was absolutely her life and she sure owned up to it.
That rainy day I was running with my life and for my life. It felt mine, yet it really wasn't if a person was causing me to do all of this.
The married couple cooled down in separate rooms- Jack in the bedroom and Michelle in the bathroom. She stayed in there contemplating everything, but she finally figured it'd be easier to just run away from it all. Michelle picked up her purse and added a couple of snacks for the night, she stepped outside quietly but she picked the wrong day. Michelle ran for a coat, she threw it on and she threw on a red beanie and some black finger-less gloves and off she went with her polka dot umbrella and a half-charged phone.
She ran down the black slippery staircase, almost slipping at one point. However, the rain didn't bother her one bit, not as much as the control she felt she was losing. The streets of her neighborhood were nearly empty, just a few cabs and cars passing by every now and then, with their little yellow headlights shining through the cold and silent neighborhood.
Michelle hailed the nearest open cab, which was two blocks away from her place. She ran through the cold, just to get away into the... well the cold, metaphorically speaking. "Where to," the cab driver asked Michelle.
I panicked, I really didn't have nowhere to go. So why and where was I running to? I gave the cab driver Ashley's address, because it was the nearest place I could think of.
Michelle was shaking- both out of coldness and out of distress. But strangely enough, she felt safe in that cab. She felt even safer once she got to Ashley's place, and even more safer when all of her girls meet up at Ashley's place the next morning.
And then I realized it was my life that I was running to and for. Even if it ain't going anywhere, it's mine, even if it's all little and broken, it's mine.
Special Guest Stars~ Brock Lesnar, Christian, Mickie James, Dolph Ziggler, Johnny 'Fandango', Alicia Fox, and Jack Swagger.
Published On May 7, 2016.
