New York City Friends
Season 3, Episode 9: Put Your Boxing Gloves On
Starring~ Michelle McCool, Ashley Massaro, Candice Michelle, and Torrie Wilson.
It was a chilly Tuesday afternoon, many were pushing through to keep the day going and unfortunately many more were giving up on the day too. Michelle sure didn't, she was sitting underneath the massive City skyline in Central Park.
The trees swayed and the leaves all danced around in the swooshing air. She sat on a bench and watched as Mark walked towards her with his baby daughter in a stroller. He waved to her and she waved back with a smile, it was quite lovely to see a friend all grown up.
"Look at her, she's so precious," Michelle said. The baby was still very young, only about five months old. She had deep hazel eyes and a cute little nose, chubby pink(ish) cheeks, and just enough hair on her little head.
Mark sat by Michelle, he pulled the stroller and faced it towards his body. "Life is wonderful," he blurted out. "I have some great news, Victoria and I agreed to start patching things up real good, and I'm really fighting for us... especially for my little girl," he told Michelle.
Mark got in the ring, leaving me behind and I don't think he noticed that and I also don't think he remembered promising me that he would never leave my side.
Michelle and Mark stayed silent for a while, just watching the innocence of the little baby. She had her little beanie on and a warm blanket wrapped around her in love, Mark and Victoria both wrapped that one up.
"That's good to hear," Michelle finally told him. "I'm really happy that you're happy, and you shouldn't give up, you have an innocent girl depending on you to fight hard," she reminded him.
Mark smiled as he softly ran his fingers across the side of the baby's face, "I actually was coming to take her to the Zoo, so goodbye Michelle," he said as he got up. "Goodbye Mark," she replied.
He never said it, but it was implied that he would have to leave me behind for another fight. I don't blame him, his little baby was well worth the fight and any other fight.
After breaking up with Mickie and after recently turning 37, Ashley was ready to go back onto the field. Despite going out with a woman, Ashley was only playing for one team.
The makeup was out, the different outfits were layed out, and her own personal stylist was ready to start getting some shots of her. Ashley joined a dating site, called 'Hot or Not', and she wasn't ashamed. Dolph had insisted that she join Tinder, but she went with the sister app. Dolph was highlighting her face, meanwhile Ashley tried looking at his facial reaction through the mirror.
He stopped once he noticed, "What," he asked. Ashley shook her head, but finally responded. "I feel like you're judging me, you probably think I'm a desperate loser," Ashley admitted.
Dolph laughed, "Nope, you're not getting any judgement from me," Dolph reassured her, "I'm the one who told you to join a dating site, and it was my idea to have a fucking photoshoot for your profile pictures."
"Hoe, you just wanted an excuse to turn me into a fabulous drag-queen," she jokingly responded. "And you probably just thought I was a lonely soul, with no chance of ever finding somebody, I mean I let my relationship with Mickie fall apart and I didn't even fight to keep it alive," Ashley cried out.
Those worth fighting for you will fight for without even second-thinking. Mickie just wasn't that person for Ashley, she still had a long way to finding that special person.
Dolph put his hands on her shoulders, to ease her. "Look, you and Mickie just weren't meant to be. Once you find him, you'll know, because he will make you feel safe and at home, trust me," Dolph advised her.
"For now though, I'll be a hoe on this app... because no offense, but I highly doubt I'll find 'him' on here," Ashley said while laughing. "And thank you! I literally feel like Britney fucking Spears, I feel so fine, now take the pictures," Ashley told him.
The camera began flashing, Ashley posed in 'casual areas'. She walked along the street, posed by doorways, extended her arms to give the illusion that she was just taking some casual selfies. She had her makeup full on, but her hair wasn't touched up, to make it seem more casually messy. She wore a polka dot poofy skirt, a grey sweater, and some fierce high-heeled booties. It was important to have balance, according to Dolph.
A little ways later, in that same art studio of Ashley's, Torrie dropped by after Ashley invited her for a book cover photoshoot. Torrie hopped in a cab during her lunch break and crossed the bridge.
She walked in and froze, "Wow, you look insanely gorgeous," Torrie told Ashley. Dolph felt proud of his work, he waved to Torrie from the back of the room and she waved back at him. "So, what's going on here," Torrie asked.
"Well, I joined a dating site and Dolph insisted that I needed amazingly awesome profile pictures, so we basically set up a photoshoot station, blah blah blah... anyway, then I remembered how you weren't giving up on your book's god-awful cover and here we are, ready to take some pictures for your book," Ashley explained to her.
Torrie pushed and shoved for her book to be perfect, including the book cover. Her publisher finally cut a deal with her, one that involved Torrie taking the cover picture with her own time and money.
The touched friend put her hand over her heart, "Aww, thank you," Torrie told the two. "And don't worry, I won't take too long, I'm not really picky," Torrie promised them. The three began brainstorming a couple of ideas and then got right to taking the pictures.
What was meant to only last a few minutes, went on for hours. Ashley and Dolph glanced at each other, both ready to take a long nap and let Torrie play with the camera on her own.
Ashley leaned her head on her palm, with her eyes closed. Dolph leaned his back against Ashley's back, the two were nearly asleep. "Oh my god, I got it, I got the shot," Torrie exclaimed and woke the two up.
The two ran to Torrie and looked over the 'golden' picture, it was a simple picture of a pair of stilettos laid by the doorway with an umbrella by the side. Torrie was more than excited to have the picture
Dolph and Ashley secretly wanted to strangle her for taking so long to take that one picture, but they didn't. As friends, they recognized the victory of a fellow friend, even if the match seemed small and pointless, it was a victory for a friend and therefore worth the time.
Dolph jumped in and began editing the picture, Torrie would tell him every little thing she wanted done. Meanwhile, Ashley's notifications blew up and with the help of Torrie she had a date set up that same afternoon.
In the Hamptons, it was a very windy day too and the white clouds were all set in the baby-blue skies. However, Parties never stopped in the Hamptons, especially in the Summer. The tropical palm trees stood high, the champagne was out, and the waiters were all out and about serving small appetizers.
The theme of Candice's party was dubbed 'Tropical Florida' in the e-vites she sent out. The weather wasn't looking too tropical, Candice was beginning to feel guilty about taking two days off from a children's hospital and that she just talked to Brooklyn about her problems, none of her main friends could make it, and the world in general seemed to be against her throwing the party.
The hostess had her newest Valentino dress on. It was a sleeveless crew neckline dress, painted in sparkly metallic gold. It reached to her mid-thighs, and despite the cold winds, Candice's body fought to wear the hell out of that dress. She wore a very thick bra, just in case the coldness made her nipples pop up.
The people were giving her glances, observing and critiquing the socialite that seemed to have it all. The big party was booming, her dress was glimmering, and her head was high up. As she walked through the crowded people, the things she was hearing about herself were starting to become much more amplified.
"She's such a gold-digger." "She totally has a major drinking problem." "I heard she's sleeping with the Hamptons King to climb up socially." "She's so desperately trying to be the queen of the Hamptons." "That dress looks so bad on her." "From what I heard, she has a son who she forced off to boarding school." "Her husband left her for her spending problems, and that's probably when she started drinking." "She once had a musical, but rumor has it that she stole the idea."
Candice felt so out of place at her own party, regardless, she kept on owning it. For a while, she put off drinking, but realized she wanted a drink and could have one if she wanted to.
And after a few more delicious drinks, Candice learned that she wasn't going to stop being herself for others. She couldn't keep picking out the people that were judging her, so she learned to deal with it. She danced happily in the middle of the dance-floor and oh how she didn't care.
There are those you meet in your journey that talk and only talk, then there are those who actually fight you in a ring. Those that just talk aren't worth your energy, you need the energy for those who you'll actually be fighting.
Ashley's date took place in a nice restaurant, those restaurants that have wine and bread-sticks set out on the table in a small basket. With chandeliers hanging, tables perfectly rounded and decorated, waiters dressed in tuxedo vests, and menus with food names that one can't even pronounce.
Ashley sat across the guy she just met on Hot or Not, the two matched by swiping right and Ashley liked what she read in his bio and he was an attractive man... but nothing is ever what it seems.
The man was Chris Jericho, he was a woman-hater. He loved women, but he also had a passionate hate for them that rooted from his insecurities.
Everything seemed fine at first, but an innocent date turned into an internet sham. "Uh, look at that man checking out that woman," Chris grunted. "If I were in that woman's place he wouldn't even be looking at me, the gender inequality is so getting so out of hand," Chris stated.
And then suddenly Ashley realized why the man was on a dating app, and not out in the real world. "So, what does Chris Jericho like to do," Ashley asked.
He shook his head as he took a big aggressive bite out of his bread-stick. "Do you know what is bullshit, how if I were to punch you in the face the entire room would attack me, but if you punched me in the face it would be 'empowering'," he blurted out.
For a second Ashley was scared he might actually strike a punch, but she knew he wouldn't. Chris was known as a 'little bitch'- a man who is a 'little bitch' usually tries to start fights and usually cries about being the 'victim'.
Ashley didn't know what to tell him. "Or, a better idea... nobody should punch nobody, let's just not be violent," Ashley suggested. He rolled his eyes while Ashley looked over the menu.
The morning people of the park left, new ones came along, and then those left. It was like a metaphor for life, people coming and going... all while Michelle stuck by.
Michelle ripped a piece of her baguette and ate it, she watched as the kids played around her in the park. The parents all watched so happily, the park was so green and the solitude seemed so peaceful.
The skyline surrounding the park seemed more calm than ever, for some reason the sun gleamed on the City's tall skyscrapers so perfectly. Usually the skyline of the big melting pot can be intimidating or overwhelming.
It felt so peaceful to sit on a bench in Central Park, and then heading back into the city was the opposite of that, it was a rush. Only New York could kiss you and then slap you.
She spent most of her day in Central Park that day. After Mark left, she stayed on the bench for a few minutes, she then took a walk around the park and got a quick lunch. Michelle then picked up a baguette and sat on the same bench.
Michelle was partially contemplating going back home. Her thoughts at that point had somewhat quieted down, all she could really hear was the swooshing wind around her.
I was fighting to stay.
A little bird flew by her, it was an Eastern Bluebird. It stood on the bench for a second, it then spread its wings and went off towards the freeing city. The wind blew Michelle's hair all over the place, regardless, she kept her eyes on the little bird and fell in love.
The party at the Hamptons was continuing to rave through the afternoon. The skies were shaded in the depths of orange, the winds were still blowing, but Candice's party was just getting started.
People were dancing in their own little cliques, grinding and sweating just to feel themselves living so recklessly. The drinks were pouring, the money was on display by the socialites who were wearing designer labels.
It was flashy, fun, and the place to be. Meanwhile, the hostess sat in her little secret corner. Candice chugged her drink down and poured herself more from the big green bottle that sat by her side. She leaned her head on the wall beside her and just sat there in boredom. The party's life died a long time ago for her.
And just when you think you've hung up the boots and put the gloves away, a moment makes you tie those boots back up and put those gloves back on.
Candice no longer cared for the party, she lost interest. She watched the blank wall in front of her, but when the entire party stopped in one single moment to turn one direction, Candice had to look too. It was Hugh Hefner.
He stood by the door, with his sunglasses on and his iconic robe on, just looking in on the crowded mansion. He took his sunglasses off and winked at everybody, he walked inside with one playmate by each arm.
"Oh my god, it's Hugh Hefner," Candice gasped. Despite being wasted, she had a clear enough mind to comprehend the insanity of it all.
Everybody froze as he joined, but after finally letting it sink in, they gradually went back to raving the way they were before. Meanwhile, Candice ran to the bathroom to 'pretty' herself up.
She came out to have fun and to take it all in, the party she fought to throw and keep. "Hello, I'm Candice Michelle," Candice introduced herself. Hugh simply nodded, "Yes, I know who you are," he told her and Candice played it cool.
Candice's parties were officially 'the shit' and Hugh Hefner was the proof of that.
It was an eventful evening for many, including Torrie. After sending the new book cover to her publisher, Torrie's book was officially complete and it would be up in the stands within a week.
Her publishers were proud and so was Torrie, they were so proud that they insisted on throwing a last minute dinner party.
The long fight finally payed off.
The dinner party was thrown at some fancy restaurant in the Upper East Side. The lights were dazzling all pretty inside the restaurant, the giant charcoal table was filled with food and candles, everybody had some type of fragrance to show off and everybody had a chic little dress and/or suit. And in the middle of all of that, Torrie's book was on display in the middle of the table.
"Torrie, our debuting published author, may you have success with this new book of yours," the man toasted, with his glass up in the air. "Thank you, and thanks for coming everybody, I worked hard on this and I really pushed to make all of this happen the way I dreamed it happening," Torrie told them all and then sat down.
There was about twenty seven people at the table, but Torrie's plus one was no-show. She had invited Brock, so that the two could finally have their date, but he didn't show his face.
Torrie waited and waited, she would make small talk with a few fellow writers about her book, but every now and then she would look down at her phone to see if Brock at least called or messaged her... but he didn't and he sure lost an opportunity.
Torrie launched her book online that same night, but she wasn't going to launch a third try with Brock.
The newly author eventually called another man to be her plus one, Dolph. She felt she needed to thank him for helping her with her book cover and for tolerating her style of wrestling the obstacles that were placed in front of her.
What seemed to take forever, finally came to an end. Ashley had enough of this misogynist man.
He kept blabbing about his religious beliefs, according to him he was an atheist. After that, he went on to talking about how white heterosexual men have it harder than any other group nowadays, and then he started talking about how one day he was going to be filthy rich with a business idea... that he still didn't have.
The man even compared himself to Steve Jobs, oh, and he didn't shut up about being a vegan or about his workout schedule.
Ashley put her hands over her ears, "Okay, okay, shut the fuck up, like oh my god," Ashley finally had enough. Chris rolled his eyes and just when he was about to say something else, Ashley shoved a bread-stick in his mouth.
She took out a 100 dollar bill and threw it on the table, "Now try to bitch about women, they once cooked your meals and now they're paying for your meals! You're welcome bitch boy," Ashley said as she walked off.
Ashley beat him with a strong punch, but the truth was the man was punching himself the entire time.
After a very long fight, I finally put my fists down and that was the toughest part of the entire match.
Michelle's apartment was empty, boxes were stacked up by one corner and Jack leaned against them while he waited for his wife. Michelle turned off every light, she checked to make sure every window in every room was tightly shut and off she went.
Jack smiled the second he saw her, "A whole new life is waiting for us," Jack promised her. He got up and helped her with her bags, his car waited outside for them. Jack waited for Michelle at the bottom of the metal black staircase Michelle would always excitedly run down, and now she was going to leave all of that. Her apartment would be put on the market once Michelle got her boxes of things out of there, and as she locked the door she really did feel the end of an era.
It was a goodbye I wasn't prepared for, I had lived in that apartment for nearly a decade and so many memories were shared there.
Michelle started walking down those old black steps she was so used to, Jack stuck his hand out and Michelle jumped to him. The two walked to the car, hand in hand.
Instead of looking out the window, Michelle turned and faced Jack the entire time to remind herself of why she was leaving. He made her laugh and their conversations had so much optimism, that was comforting for her.
The two drove down under the Lincoln Tunnel and then up the New Jersey Route 495, they even drove over the Hackensack River to get to their new 'home'. After about thirty minutes, they finally reached a little town known as Kearny.
I was fighting to stay... to stay by my heavenly man. Sometimes you have to just let go, even if you don't know what might happen, because some people are just worth it and no matter how hard you try to fight it, your heart always comes back around to loving.
Special Guest Stars~ Mark Calaway, Dolph Ziggler, Chris Jericho, and Jack Swagger.
Published On June 1, 2016.
