CHAPTER 4 – The"Circle"
True to her words, from that night on Fresia was constantly around him. She watched all his matches, shouting her approval, between the smiles and smirks of all the backstage. She then waited for him, when he got back from the ring, and proceeded to tell him exactly all the emotions she felt during the match, watching him fight. Her strategy was to enjoy the shows like the huge fan that she was, and then try to involve him in her feelings, pushing him to answer her questions. She escorted him a little, till he was at his locker room, then she said hello, inviting him to visit her at the hair stylist department to make his hair.
Sometimes, during a break, she sat in the empty arena, before the show, watching Mark warm up for his match. Many times Jessie joined her to observe Glen. The two men, by now, couldn't take a step without having the girls at their heels. Glen, who was a polite man, limited his reaction to indifference. Not that he could manage… Fresia caught him several times, staring at her blond friend when he thought to go unnoticed.
Mark, to the other hand…. Well, if looks could kill Fresia would have been reduced to ashes. Another woman, in her shoes, would have forgotten about Mark, but not Fresia. In the end, she didn't bother him with useless chitchat, especially when he needed concentration. She always approached him when he was stress-free, like during the bus traveling from town to town. Or throughout the long hours spent in international airports.
Actually, she wasn't getting achievements. He didn't look at her; if he answered her questions, it was with a grunt; when she said hello to him, he simply nodded and then turned his back to her… It's pointless to say that he never showed at the hair and make-up department, to do his hair.
In the meantime, Fresia had became friends with a lot of people. They all often dropped by her area, both Divas and wrestlers. Some of them were really lovely people, like Shawn Michaels, Dwayne Johnson, the Hardy's and Amy alias Lita, Paul Levesque, Rick Flair, Paul Wight alias Big Show. A special friend was Kevin Nash, who saved her from a bad encounter with Scott Hall.
Scott was in her department one afternoon, to shorten his hair, and he was tipsy. At some point, Fresia answered a phone call. It was her friend Nora, alias Molly Holly. Scott recognized her voice and began to insult Nora, calling her "fat ass". Fresia was really angry and told him to stop or leave. Scott jumped on his feet, raising his voice and calling her "little bitch". In that very moment, Kevin Nash appeared at her door, he grabbed Scott and threw him out of the room.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Nash – she said breathless, holding a bottle of colored spray for hair – another step and I should have dyed his head pink!"
He laughed and then sat on an armchair.
"Scott is becoming a real problem, he drinks too much and I can't hide the damages he produces anymore. Then I don't like how he treats women. Hey, what does he do to make you so angry?"
"He said horrible things about my friend Nora"
"Nora as Molly?" he asked
"Just her. She is a wonderful girl and I can't stand to hear someone offend her with no reason at all"
"If I had known he was talking bad about her, when I came in, I should have punched him. Nora is fine, he is an idiot".
Fresia was startled. Well, what a surprise! – She thought by herself, brushing his mane – Big Sexy is attracted to Nora. Very interesting. I wonder what could she think about this. I will ask her later. Of course Nora flushed, very pleased and Fresia understood that her friend had a soft spot for Nash.
The episode was a big turning point not only for Nora, but for Fresia too. In fact the same evening, after the show, she was in the same spot in the backstage, waiting for Mark. She was, as usual, very thrilled about the match and chatted cheerfully, accompanying him at his dressing room. Mark, as usual, was walking wordlessly, longing for a warm shower.
When they reached his door, however, before entering the room he said, with his low and deep voice:
"If Hall will bother you again, I want to know it. Good night, Squirrel".
Then he disappeared in the dark room.
Fresia was puzzled. Damn, not only he spoke to her, but with a few words he managed to make her feel safe. A heat was spreading all inside her body, from head to toe. She wasn't acquainted with this kind of stuff, but she knew immediately that her crush was developing into something more strongly.
Should she tell Mark?
Yeah, so he can point and laugh she thought.
Anyway, she felt like she should do something. So she chose to take her destiny in her hands. She couldn't wait for his first move anymore; she had to take action, starting right now.
The next morning, she walked for an hour, like she used to, then, after a quick shower, she went to the hotel's restaurant to make breakfast. It was still early, so just a few people were sitting at the tables. She went round the buffet and poured herself a mug of the, orange juice, two big muffins and marmalade.
With the tray in her hands, she turned to sit at a table and stopped abruptly. Behind a column of the room, partially hiding from view, stood her tattooed dream, Mark Calaway, engrossed in devouring one of the biggest breakfasts she's ever seen: toast, butter, scrambled eggs, bacon and coffee. The amount was enough to feed a football team!
Good Lord, have mercy, she sighed, admiring him.
He had on a pair of blue jeans that gave the impression to be made just for him; a sleeveless, tight T-shirt that hugged his torso perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders. In broad daylight, his tattoos were even more disconcerting. A blue bandanna was fixed on his forehead, but this time his long hair was down, way past his shoulders, begging to be touched. She would have eaten him, instead of her breakfast!
Now this is the right opportunity to land the first attack, Fresia thought, heading towards his table.
"Do you mind if I sit with you, Mr. Calaway? You know, I don't like to eat alone" she began with a pretty smile.
Mark was aware of her presence, since the minute she came in the dining room. He always could, because of that delicious perfume of hers. Damn, the girl was relentless but she had guts, she never backed down, even if he didn't deign to speak to her. He liked bravery. She had personality, as well. She wasn't one of those silly girls wandering around, trying to slip into the bed of a superstar.
He fixed his eyes on her, making Fresia quiver, and with a nod gave her permission to sit with him.
That morning, she wore a pair of blue cotton, low-waist trousers with a matched blouse. It crossed in the front and tied up on the left side. Her hair was up, in a high French twist; a pair of golden drop-earrings with Swarovski completed the outfit. She wasn't a beauty, but Mark thought she was a pretty little thing.
"Maybe you need a bigger table – she joked, referring to the amount of food filling up two trays – You burn up a lot of energy, don't you?"
A hint of smile appeared on his face, for just a brief moment. It was short-lived, but enough to set her in a good mood. She covered a muffin in marmalade and sank her teeth into it with gusto.
Mark studied her, sipping his coffee. "You know what I do for a living. Squirrel", he replied lazily. Fresia snorted, he always called her with that silly nickname. He had never said her first name. It wasn't that she hated the pet-name, but she would have preferred "darling".
"I saw you walk in the hotel's garden, this morning – he said – Good pace, excellent to spend all that sugar you're devouring".
Was he looking at me? Oh God, he was looking at me! She thought, her heart exulting. She wanted to jump on the table and dance, but remained calm, eating her breakfast.
"It's the only stuff I like. It's not easy for me to get used to American food. Too much meat, too many greasy sauces. Luckily the hotel rooms have a kitchenette so I can cook my own meals. Italian style, of course!"
"Maccheroni e mandolino, right?" He said in a terrible Italian, making fun of her.
She got upset. "I cook pasta, yes, with homemade sauce…. Complex sugar that will be used by your body gradually. It's way better than all that fatty food you're tearing apart!" She replayed brusquely. Mark didn't want to offend her, and tried to rectify his words.
"Calm down, Squirrel. I didn't mean to upset you. I love Italian food, and try to choose it every time I can". He realized to be trapped the moment he saw the sly expression on her face.
"Really? Do you want to sample some good homemade Italian dishes? You know, I'm really good in the kitchen. We could do tomorrow night, after the show, What do you say?"
He said nothing, looking at her threateningly.
"Look, I don't bite. There's no need to be afraid!"
He folded his arms, signaling his impatience.
"Let's make a bet: If you'll not like my dinner I'll never bother you again – she said, drawing a cross on her heart with a finger – But If you will like it, you have to invite me out. Maybe you can change my mind about American food. Deal?" She asked, stretching out her hand to seal the bet.
Mark was amazed. That tiny girl got him for good. However, he had to admit that a homemade meal was really tempting. And then he could seize the opportunity to make her understand why he wasn't the man for her. At the end of that dinner it would have been her to cut off every sort of relationship with him.
He wiped his mouth and stood up, in all his height. She felt like a mouse before the elephant and stood up as well, trying to lessen the gap between them. He took her hand and shook it.
"Deal", he said.
"Very well. See you tomorrow night, Mr. Calaway".
He nodded his head and left, while Fresia stood there, admiring the wonderful view of his bottom.
She made it! She had a date with Mark Calaway!
Jesus, I'm going to faint, she thought, sitting down at the table again. Then, in a few moments, she was run over by a twister. Jessie and Stephanie, who had observed the scene from a table behind hers, were astonished and were talking at the same time, hugging her. They were almost more excited than Fresia! Nora arrived at the restaurant just in the middle of all that chaos.
"Hey you, What's up?"
"Fresia has a date with the Deadman himself" answered an agitated Stephanie. Nora squeaked with joy. She was so happy for Fresia. They had a strong friendship and with Jessie and Stephanie, they forged an indissoluble bond, like a Circle.
"So, your strategy is working... Who would have said it?" said Jessie.
"What strategy?"
"Make him exhausted and then get him" replayed Stephanie, laughing.
"Better say I will catch him by his stomach!... Oh, God, I have to fetch some ingredients, dinner is tomorrow night and there's so much I have to organize…"
"Don't worry, we will help you. We have nothing to do till this afternoon" Nora stated.
"We all will come with you, so we could help you to get ready for the afterwards" said Stephanie, teasing.
"Afterwards? Oh mamma, I was so surprised he said yes that I didn't think about it at all… Well, I think it's early to talk about after-dinner, until this morning I didn't even have a real conversation with him…"
"In my opinion, with a man like that you have to expect something after-dinner, at least a goodnight kiss, do you agree?" said Jessie.
"I can manage a goodnight kiss, of course… But what about the rest? I need advices… I'm… Well I don't know much about this kind of things" said Fresia, leaning towards her friends and speaking in a low voice.
"Well, I'm not the right person to give you advices about sex – remarked Nora, blushing – What I know is what I read in books"
"Right, or what I saw in some stolen porno movie. My brothers had a few of those" confirmed Jessie.
The girls turned to Stephanie.
"Hey, don't look at me! I'm in no better conditions"
The girls looked each other in disbelief, then burst out laughing.
"Now we are an authentic Circle…. I declare that this one is the Virgin's Corner!" said Nora.
The girls put their hands one on top of the other, like the Musketeers, her friendship stronger than ever. They exited the restaurant arm in arm, chatting. Then they reached the Center of the town in search of the stuff for the Italian dinner, so Fresia could capture her dream man.
They didn't notice the icy blond woman, with long legs, sitting to the other side of the column, that heard every word the girls exchanged. Stacy Kiebler was shocked: Mark Calaway accepted to see that insipid girl, when he didn't even deign to drink a glass of water with her or with one of the other Divas. Well, if that hairdresser thought to catch the Deadman with a simple dinner, she was damn wrong. Calaway wanted more from his women, both physically and sexually. He wasn't a patient man and that girl would have discovered it soon, at her own expense.