The Great Escape

AN. Thank you to lift-me-up, xxchasingdreamsxx, John Cena's Field Hockey Star, xHalosandwings, Grits0205, Tiffyxox, xTwistedxImperfectionx, quteash & TJ Sparkles for reviewing the last chapter.

Thanks very muchly :)

Chapter Thirty-Four – Happiness

TED

"So Cody, did you ever call the doctor to get the results of that STI test?"

It was all Ted DiBiase could do not to give away the smile he was hiding behind his glass of coke as his comment, casual as ever when asked, drove away the two girls who'd been sitting opposite them in Rick's diner; he really was beginning to love the little tricks that conveniently got people to disappear.

He loved it, even if his best friend was now turning to him with a familiar glare in his eyes. While he took another noisy sip of his drink through his straw, Cody Rhodes shrugged his shoulders at him. "Was that really necessary? I was getting somewhere with the blonde one."

"Oh yeah? What was her name?"

"... Tiffany?" The guy sounded unsure in his answer, but rolled his eyes in frustration at the chuckle he received. "Whatever – it definitely began with a T. What does it matter anyway? I was in there with her... and you totally could have had her friend!"

"So maybe I could've 'had' her—the thing you have to realize, Cody, is that I'm not you." He explained, dousing his last fry in ketchup and eating it. "When I eventually get into a relationship, I really don't want the start of our story to begin in the bedroom."

"Whoa! Who said anything about a relationship?" Eyes widened and jaw dropped, Cody looked as though his worst nightmare had just come true. The mention of commitment was clearly too much to handle. "All I wanted was the perfect present today. Where's your Christmas spirit?"

Sitting in the local diner on that special morning and guzzling down a very unhealthy meal, trying to chat up a couple of girls in the meanwhile, he obviously wasn't aware that this tradition of theirs wasn't anything like that of other people's; Ted, on the other hand, was nothing if on the dot about their plans.

"Okay, fine. While you go and play the Christmas cougar, I'm going on that run I said I would go on an hour ago. It's time to work off all the fat I've just devoured."

"Fine, go ahead and be boring. Either I haven't seen this in you before, or Mickie really has tamed you into some... some uninteresting person. You should really be more productive like me."

Midway through getting out of his seat and the whole place, the blonde paused. Were they really going through this again—or better yet, was she really being used again to point out the obvious differences between them? Despite his mood, he had to smile – Mickie James had managed to do the one thing to Cody that no other girl had done, and that was to confuse him.

He and Mickie's friendship had been questioned severely in the early days by him; Cody simply hadn't understood how two members of the opposite sex could be friends without any benefits whatsoever. While yes, there had been a crush developing in the early days, it was soon put on the backburner when a real, great relationship between them formed. This, more than anything, didn't make sense to his friend.

It was simple to him: the brunette had quickly become his girl best friend. His guy best friend just didn't understand that.

"Whatever – have fun finding a girl who's willing to come out on Christmas day. I'm going home to spend it with my family."

Cody got over his crisis to ask, "I thought you were going for a run?"

"Maybe I'll jog back," smirked the college student, finally standing to his feet. "Have fun being a loner."

The accusation alone was enough to paint a sour expression on his friend's face, and Ted had no problem looking at it until he reached the exit—or at least there was no problem until, on account of not looking where he was going, he bumped into someone at the door.

This someone wasn't just anyone, it seemed.

With long tresses of blonde hair cascading down her back and a distinctive French accent, heard only when she almost fell into him and began cursing, he was sure that the stunning girl in front of him was familiar for a reason.

He apparently couldn't help his smile as he apologized, steadying her and then quickly pulling his hands back to his side. He felt more than stupid for this error.

She gave him a smile that he'd seen before. It warmed him. "I didn't know you lived around here, Ted. I'm Maryse... we have a couple of classes together."

Maryse, that was it. He smiled again. "Yeah, I remember now. So, what are you doing here on today of all days?

"Cooking gone wrong back at home." The French girl giggled. "This is the only place I know that's open that I can collect from."

"Oh right. Well I better go; I have to get back to my house. Again, I'm really sorry for bumping into you."

"I believed you the first time." She accepted his apology. "Maybe I'll see you around?"

"Yeah, maybe." He nodded. As she brushed past him, he couldn't help but feel like their conversation wasn't over. "You know," he turned and spoke before he really knew what he was doing. "Cody's having a party tomorrow. You could come along to that if you like."

"That would be great." She answered.

And as he quickly reached inside his pocket for a pen and something to write on—not only to give her the address, but his number too—Ted DiBiase was certain of the lingering look that passed between them. Though he didn't know what, it was a sure thing that something between him and Maryse was going to happen.

The smile on Mickie's face couldn't be ignored for any longer.

It had been a permanent feature throughout the day, starting from the moment she got out of the shower and realized how perfect everything seemed to be and staying until this moment, in which her friends were eyeing her warily. Even her family were surprised to see her so happy at the dinner table, as she grinned her way through the main course and dessert.

And now in the comfort of her bedroom, opened presents scattered about at the bottom of her bed, Eve and Maria were still looking at her in suspicion. The latter of the two started off the inevitable questions. "Does Phil really make you this happy?"

"Are you telling me," continued Eve, "that the ultimate put-school-work-in-front-of-stupid-guys girl... is smiling like an idiot because of Phil?"

She glanced in-between the two, shaking her head. "I know it may come as a shock to you, but this smile is all down to him."

Maria didn't need convincing. "I'm really happy for you, Mickie!" She exclaimed suddenly. Of course, the idea of love to her was magical and wonderful—the fact that one of her close friends had found it only excited her more. "That is so sweet."

"Thank you." The brunette smiled and leaned back to rest on her pillow. The other two were sitting idly around her room but both in ear-shot of her and anticipating the story to come. "I know I told you about him coming all the way from Chicago just to be with me for a day, but I can't get over it. No guy has ever made such a commitment to me before."

"Me either, sweetie," smiled the redhead. "It's just so cute."

"I mean, he flew all this way just to tell me that he wanted to be with me. I can't stop smiling because every time I think about it, my feelings for him just grow stronger. God, I can't wait until we get back to college. It's just going to be me and him... and, well, a few thousand other students and classes in-between, but is that really the point?"

Eve laughed. "I guess not." Then, a beat later, added, "And you can count on Christian and Chris to make fun of you for it."

"Oh whatever. I'll either be too happy with Phil or too busy laughing at them – two guys who haven't had a girlfriend in ages, by the way, and are still drooling over Trish – to care. Life is sweet."

It was the first time she'd actually thought this way. Sure, it wasn't all great—Ashley popping up into her mind reminded her of this, and then the sudden loneliness that touched her, despite finding Phil, soon after; it just wasn't the same with three girls instead of four—but for now, she was happy. That was all that mattered on this special day.

"And I have a new phone to celebrate. Now that's sweet." Eve nodded approvingly. "Have you seen what it can do? Free internet access anywhere and cheaper minutes on the weekend. I'm in love. Sorry Mickie, I might just have you beat on this one."

"You know, if Ashley were here, she'd be kicking your ass for that comment."

"Of course she would," smiled Mickie, agreeing with Maria. "iPods are allowed to be considered God in technologic fashion, but phones? Eve, you really have to set your priorities straight."

After laughing, the Latina settled. "I guess that's true. Call me crazy, but I miss that... that fun-eater a little bit."

She'd said it before, but it didn't make it any less true. The dynamic just wasn't the same. Where were the scathing remarks tossed back and forth, and the ever-growing pessimism?

Mickie mused over this as she stood to her feet and made her way over to her computer to put some holiday music on. The memory of telling Adam about Ashley's rape and then having her walk in and find this out still haunted her to this day, but she felt a little better about herself for it each time. She'd taught herself not to regret what she did—as far as she was concerned, if the truth hadn't been revealed when it did, her best friend would only have gotten worse. She was glad to have taken a step forward.

She moved back into reality a minute later after realizing she'd been staring at the screen for a little too long. "So, who's up for some Mariah Carey?"

"Classic!" Maria beamed. "I love Christmas. I love the classic music, the presents, the day, the... everything!"

"Ladies and gentleman, my best friend." Eve pretended to announce to the room. "Always the one who has too much eggnog."

All three laughed as Mariah's catchy cover of "All I Want For Christmas" piped up from her computer's speakers. Even without Ashley, they could make a good time work... right?

"Mariah Carey, really? I should have known you guys would pick that trash." From the doorway, Ashley appeared, one hand on her hip and a light smirk curving her lips.

It took only a few seconds of muted surprise for them to realize just who was confronting them, and then they all made the expected reactions. Maria's grin only grew wider at the insult, though she felt warmed inside that her friend was here, and Mickie's smile dropped just a little bit. She wasn't disappointed in the slightest bit... just cautious.

It was Eve who had the strongest—and strangest—reaction. Rushing over to the blonde, she wrapped her arms around her. "Oh, you're here – the depressing fun-eater is here!"

And a few seconds later, she pulled away and gasped, "What am I doing?", at the same time Ashley grimaced and said, "What are you doing?"

The brunette attempted to casually walk away and pretend like the hug didn't happen, while Mickie turned down the volume of the Christmas tune and turned to face her best friend. She swallowed when she realized the girl was staring right at her, and that her smirk had turned into the smallest smile.

"Surprise." Ashley shrugged up her shoulders. Letting out a nervous laugh, she explained herself. "It was lonely in the halls all by myself, and I couldn't take looking at Eve's poster of Ian Somerhalder for another day."

"He is the most perfect human being—"

Maria quickly silenced her best friend, pressing a hand onto her wrist. "We'll just get out of your way. Go downstairs and find the stash of cookies or something..."

"No, don't," said the blonde and looked in-between all of them. "I guess you all have to hear me out for what I'm about to say." Then she turned back to Mickie, who was still shocked to see her and failing to keep it covered up. "This might seem sudden to you... and I really don't blame you considering we haven't spoken in so long, but I'm just so sick of not being friends with you. You know I'm not good with the whole making-up thing so I'll keep it short and simple: I miss you, I forgive you and I want you in my life again. It's not the same without you."

The brunette felt like she ought to have said more, but in that moment all she could really say was, "About time." And bounding over to her best friend, she squeezed her into a death-hug so hard that only she was allowed to do to her. "I've missed you, too. And I am sorry about what happened with Adam. I just thought... I guess I just thought he deserved to know."

"Yeah, I know. I've accepted that now."

The two smiled at each other for a moment or two longer, and then Mickie reminded herself that there were other people in the room. Still, an overbearing amount of happiness touched her as she turned to the other two. "And hey, even Eve's missed you."

She scoffed. "Whatever. I totally haven't."

"Good – because I haven't either." The blonde replied. "Though it was getting a little quiet without your stupid music and gossip and feelings around." Just as Eve's lips curved into a little smile, she pointed a finger at her. "But if that ever leaves this room, I won't hesitate to hurt you."

"Oh! Everything's the same again!" Maria clapped her hands together and rushed over to the computer to turn up the volume again. In her own magical world, it appeared that music helped the atmosphere. "Today has totally exceeded all the expectations I had."

Mickie couldn't help but to agree. She had so many questions for her best friend—about Adam, about her family—but as they sat down on the bed together, all she could think about doing was catching up with her. Their friendship was still as strong as ever, and though she knew it would be, she was still so grateful for it.

She'd come home with two problems and now they'd both been solved. All was back on track—or it would be—with Ashley, and she was finally in a good relationship with Punk.

Happiness.

It was great to finally have it.

So there's the next chapter. Please review :)

Up next is the girls' chapter.