7. The Girls and Their Distractions

"I can't believe I let you convince me to go to the gym with you."

Maria pouted and stepped out of the car, dragging her feet along the ground for emphasis.

"Come on Maria." Eve rolled her eyes, locking the car door and tossing her bag over her shoulder. "You've been texting me non-stop about how bored you are sitting at home, so why not get a nice, invigorating work-out in? We both need the distraction."

"Yeah, because nothing says 'mindless distraction' like an hour at the gym."

"More like an hour and a half."

Maria stared at her friend in horror while Eve grinned and linked her arm through hers, dragging her through the car park despite her protests.

It probably said a lot about the state of Eve's affairs that while bumping into Mike Mizanin at the grocery store the day before was probably the most exciting thing to have taken place in her life post-graduation, the opening of a new gym a short drive away from her home came in as a close second.

"Today's chick day," the Latina said as they entered the Believers gym. "We're gonna have a good workout, grab some lunch and then meet up with the others and spend the rest of the day curled up with a ton of junk food, cheesy movies and several bottles of wine. So cheer up chica; I'm sure you can make it through one session at the gym!"

"I know," Maria said with a sigh. "And I'm looking forward to today. But I guess I'm just a little distracted right now..."

Maria's sentence trailed off as she and Eve's attention was turned to the reception desk at almost the exact same time.

"Whoa," Maria breathed, her mouth agape. "Speaking of distractions..."

The most gorgeous man either woman had ever laid eyes on stood by the desk, speaking with the young woman working behind it. He wore a sleeveless shirt, exposing a muscular armful of elaborately designed tattoos laid against light brown, glistening skin. His long mane of dark hair was tied back into a ponytail and his strong jaw line, dotted with stubble, moved in an almost hypnotising fashion as he spoke.

"Lord have mercy," Eve whispered. The two women turned to look at each other and burst into laughter as their eyes met.

"I think I'm starting to get the appeal of going to the gym."

Eve nudged Maria's arm and continued dragging her through the entrance hall, shaking her head as her redheaded friend mimed drooling at the mysterious man who had caused a stir and distraction to their morning.

Elsewhere, Alicia and Kelly were over at a nearby mall distracting themselves in the one way they knew how; through a little bit of retail therapy.

The night before Alicia had taken Kelly to a late-night diner, plying her endless amounts of ice cream while she listened to her discuss Justin's alleged infidelity, while Alicia herself was still on cloud nine over Wade's marriage proposal. She figured she would keep the news firmly to herself until Kelly's own personal issues were at least semi-resolved, and besides, the news of her move to New York had come as a major shock to the girls, so she could only imagine how revealing her engagement would go down. There was still more than enough time to let them all know before she moved to New York; she would just have to keep her excitement – and diamond ring – hidden away for a while.

"This is pretty cute – right Kells?"

A grinning Alicia held a silk blouse up against her slim figure, turning this way and that to model it to her friend.

"Yeah, I guess," Kelly replied as she continued flicking through a clothing rack. Alicia sighed and put the top down, grabbing hold of Kelly's arm and pulling her over to the seats in the shoe section.

"Kelly, this is ridiculous. We came out this morning to get your mind off of all this stuff with Justin."

Kelly's lip quivered at the mention of his name and Alicia put her head in her hands and groaned.

"Kelly Blank!"

"I'm sorry, Leesh," she sniffed. "I just... I just can't get all of this out of my head. I could barely stand to kiss him last night, or have breakfast with him. I don't know what I'm going to do!"

"Kelly..." Alicia sighed. "At least talk to him. Ask him what the truth is. You're not going to fix anything by avoiding him, or crying every time you hear his name."

Kelly let out another sniffle and nodded.

"I know. You're right Alicia. Have you been talking to Kaitlyn or something? You're starting to sound exactly like her."

The two women laughed and Alicia brought Kelly in for a sympathetic hug.

"Chick night tonight should be fun," Alicia said. "I can assure you that by tonight, Justin and this woman will be the last thing on your mind."

Kelly smiled and nodded.

"You're right. Today is going to be all about the girls so who cares about... you know. First thing tomorrow I'm going home and sitting him down and I'm going to get the truth out of him."

Alicia grinned.

"That's my girl! Now let's get out of here before I have no choice but to buy those heels over there – they've been taunting me since the second we walked in!"

Kaitlyn sighed as she gave AJ one last hug before waving her off into her car and back on the road to New Jersey. It had been a great week with a woman she considered one of her best friends, and now that it was over it was right back to life back home in Connecticut. Still, there were several things coming up for her that served to, at the very least, distract her from right now. First there was the long anticipated chick night with Eve, Maria, Kelly and Alicia that would be the first time in a while that all of them would get together to catch up (or gossip), eat a load of food (or binge on wine) and just have the kind of carefree, silly night that always took place whenever they got together.

And then there was the promise of Kaitlyn and AJ's latest grand scheme; to move to Iowa with Big E. They had tossed the idea around last night, discussing all the practicalities even through their excitement, but the more they thought about – especially after a long Skype conversation with Ettore – the more it became very possible and very plausible. As AJ had predicted, E was over the moon. The three of them had enjoyed a great friendship during college, and all three agreed that being roommates even now that they had graduated was something they had all thought about at some point or another. It worked for everyone. Ettore had his job all lined up, and Kaitlyn and AJ had nothing. Both had struggled to find jobs in their hometowns, and both had eventually agreed that there was no harm packing up and trying elsewhere.

The idea was still in its early stages but all three had a feeling it was bound to happen. It was a big step for Kaitlyn to take. Of course, at this moment she wanted nothing more than to move away from Hartford, Connecticut, but the thought of finally moving back home and quickly being taken away from her girlfriends again was daunting. It was bad enough that Alicia was moving to New York in less than a month. It would probably break Eve, Maria and Kelly's hearts to see Kaitlyn move away so soon too; especially if the three of them were still stuck in Connecticut, struggling to bring their own plans to fruition. Kaitlyn had not expressed this fear to AJ or Big E, knowing the friendship she had with the girls was probably difficult to understand if you weren't part of it, but when AJ suggested they wait a little while and take some time to check out jobs in the area, she had definitely found herself pleased. They had already made plans to drive down to E's hometown in the next few weeks to scope the place out, so no one would feel as if they were rushing into anything.

Now that AJ was gone and Kaitlyn was back at home in her mother's house, she had forced herself to find something productive to do with her morning. For now, a brief run would have to suffice. Within fifteen minutes of AJ leaving, Kaitlyn was already back out on the streets of Hartford, running along the route she had discovered back in high school; taking her through her suburban neighbourhood, past more quiet residential areas, through downtown and even looping around her old high school.

Right from when Kaitlyn was at school, she had loved running. A star on Springfort High's track team, running had been a welcome distraction from her own romantic dramas as well as the breakdown of her parents' marriage. Even to this day, when she found her mind racing, she would thrown on her running shoes and hit the road.

Stopping at the local park that signified the half-way point of her route, Kaitlyn took a seat on a park bench and closed her eyes, soaking in the remnants of the summertime warmth. After giving herself a few minutes to recharge, Kaitlyn stood again to set off, but quickly found herself distracted by the sight of a familiar face.

The blonde man seemed to recognize her too. He was also in running clothes, appearing just as sweaty and high on adrenaline as Kaitlyn was. The two stood a short distance away from each other in the park, as if debating whether or not to approach each other. It was him that made the first move, jogging over to her with a friendly smile.

"Kaitlyn Bonin. Hey."

Dolph Ziggler flashed his signature grin as he came to a stop just before Kaitlyn, towering over her by just a few inches.

"Dolph Ziggler. Wow."

They both began laughing and looked away from each other, before looking back in disbelief.

"Does this feel as weird to you as it does to me?"

Kaitlyn nodded, still giggling hesitantly.

"The last time I saw you me and the girls were sat in Kelly's room making a dartboard out of your yearbook photo."

He laughed.

"Yeah, I guess that's probably the least I deserved."

He looked down at the ground and kicked against the gravel, his dimpled cheeks, still flushed from his run, touching each end of his smiling mouth.

"But I guess that's in the past now," Kaitlyn added quickly. "After all, high school's over, right?"

Dolph nodded in agreement and appreciation.

"Yeah, and thank god for that."

Kaitlyn murmured her agreement and they both returned to looking over at each awkwardly.

"How is Kelly these days?" Dolph asked, trying to cool the tension.

"She's doing great. She's dating this awesome guy she met at college; they're living together here in Hartford, actually."

"That's good to hear. I'm happy for her. If there's anyone who deserves something good it's Kelly Blank."

"She doesn't need your pity, Dolph." Kaitlyn said back quickly, although quickly regretting the malice in her voice soon afterwards.

"Oh, I know. I didn't mean that to come out that way. I guess it's just me trying to convince you I'm not nearly as big a dick as I was in high school."

Kaitlyn cocked her head, looking at him sideways.

"Do you do the same with everyone you bump into from Springfort, or just your exes' friends?"

"I remember you being sharp-tongued," he said in response, "but I definitely don't remember you being funny. Did college make you a qualified comedian?"

"Nope. Just qualified to sniff out bullshit."

The two stared each other down for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Wow," Dolph said with a sigh. "I hope Kells doesn't still hate me as much as you seem to do."

Kaitlyn shrugged, still grinning at him.

"Trust me, she's moved on. Her new boyfriend is gorgeous. South African, in great shape, a total gentleman..."

"So everything I'm not, excluding being gorgeous and in great shape?"

Dolph smirked, enjoying the feel of Kaitlyn's eyes quickly dart downwards to check out his undeniably 'gorgeous' body.

"Good to know college didn't treat you humility," she muttered, looking down at the ground.

"Hey – I'm just kidding. But on the off chance you agree, I'd love to take you out to dinner sometime."

Kaitlyn's jaw dropped, struggling to believe what she had just heard. Dolph Ziggler really had some nerve. He kept eyeing her, still smirking as he tried to scope out her reaction.

"Yeah," she said finally. "That is definitely never going to happen."

He shrugged, to her surprise.

"Well, I tried. I guess I'll let you get back to your run."

She nodded and started to walk away from him, still frowning to herself.

"You're looking great, by the way," he called out to her. In response to her stopping in her tracks, he continued. "College did you wonders."

Rolling her eyes she set off on a light jog, eventually transitioning back into her usual running pace as soon as she hit the sidewalk again.

"Dolph Ziggler has got some nerve," she thought to herself as she continued her run, and later when she had returned home and got into the shower.

By the time the girls had all gathered in Eve's house – which her parents had graciously left to her for the evening – the drinks and conversation had begun pouring instantly. Maria had curled up on the sofa with Kelly and Alicia, already recounting to them the story of the mysterious, handsome man she and Eve had encountered in the gym earlier. Eve, coming out of the kitchen with a collection of glasses, rolled her eyes as an eruption of giggles burst out of the three.

"Has she told you guys about the part where she went over and spoke to him and asked his name? Oh yeah, she didn't."

Maria poked her tongue out at Eve in protest.

"This is Maria we're talking about," Kaitlyn chimed in as she entered the living with the pizza she had just collected. "If she's crushing on someone there's definitely no way she'll even dare breathe in their presence."

"Aw, don't be so mean guys!" Alicia stroked the top of Maria's head, giggling at the pout on her face. "This is adult Maria we're talking about; if she wants it she goes after it, right?"

"Of course," Maria nodded, defending herself. "Next time we go to the gym I'll talk to him."

Eve snorted.

"What do you mean, 'next time?" This morning I had to practically drag you out of bed to get you to go to the gym."

"Yeah, but now that she wants to drag hot guy of the week into bed..."

Kaitlyn's jokes were stopped by Maria darting a cushion in her direction.

"Guys! I don't get why you still think I'm the same loser I was in high school. I mean, yeah, I don't have the best record with men, but you'll never guess who I bumped into at Call It Classic yesterday? Phil Brooks! It's like a sign! I'm going to go for it for real this time and I'm going to get it right, I promise you guys that."

The other four women gaped at Maria's big reveal.

"Oh my god!" Kelly breathed, shaking Maria in excitement. "That's crazy! I thought he moved to Chicago!"

"I don't know, but he's still in Hartford, which means I have to make a move."

Kelly, always the romantic, couldn't help but swoon at Maria's story.

"I read something once that said something about people coming in and out of your life being like a sign of destiny. I mean, what are the odds that you bump into Punk now of all times, all these years later?"

Kelly and Maria squealed while Eve and Kaitlyn shared a knowing-but-not-really glance.

"Well, you moved on from the gym buff pretty quickly," Eve joked, trying to change the subject.

"Come on Eve, we can't play around with destiny," Alicia said, pouring herself a glass of wine.

"Easy enough for you to say, Miss 'moving to New York with the man of my dreams'," Maria joked.

Alicia shrugged and took a sip out of her glass, smirking as she did so.

"You know what's funny though?" Kaitlyn stretched out across the beanbag on the floor, picking up her own glass. "I remember years ago, right before we graduated from high school, we joked that as long as Alicia's found her future husband by the end of college, we'll all be fine. So if we're talking about destiny, you don't have anything to worry about Maria."

Maria gave a satisfied grin as Alicia blushed.

"Two out of five isn't bad," Eve added. "At least Alicia and Kelly have got their dream men nailed."

Kelly remained quiet, nervously sipping her wine as Alicia watched her out of concern.

"Okay," she said, again diverting the subject. "Can we leave your depressing love lives alone now so we can drink, eat and be merry?"

The others agreed and started passing pizza boxes and wine bottles around. After a while Kaitlyn excused herself and went to the kitchen, under the guise of retrieving a fresh bottle of wine. Frowning as she watched her, Eve also got up and went to the kitchen.

"So," Eve said from behind Kaitlyn, making her jump. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

Kaitlyn sighed and took a seat at the kitchen island. Eve followed, doing the same.

"Do you really believe that stuff that Kelly and Maria were saying? Like, do you think Maria should take running into Punk as a sign or something?"

"You can't ever really know these things," Eve said with a sigh of her own. "It is some weird, crazy luck that she ran into him like that, but we both know what Maria's like. I love that girl like a sister but she is so headstrong and impulsive that you can't ever really know what's going on in that head."

"What would you do if you were to run into an old face from high school at this point? Someone who you sort of know you aren't ready to see in the flesh just yet, even after all these years."

"Well, I'd probably cough and splutter trying to talk to them and then somehow find myself accepting a lunch invitation from them."

"That was oddly specific."

Eve gave a wry smile and drank from her glass.

"I guess me and Maria have in common recently bumping into our high school ghosts."

Kaitlyn's eyes widened in shock.

"No way. Who?!"

"The awesome one himself."

Kaitlyn snorted.

"Oh god, of course. I bet he must think he's such a big shot now. Does he still spike up his hair? And please don't tell me he was wearing a fedora..."

"No, he actually looked pretty... normal. Like, a decent adult man. He looked pretty good, if I'm being honest."

"No way, Evie. Don't tell me those feelings are coming back."

"No! Not at all. Yeah, we're going out to lunch, but just as friends. He was really nice and just so different when I saw him yesterday. And besides, he supposedly has a super hot girlfriend now, so..."

Kaitlyn shook her head in disbelief.

"People can change, Kait. We're not in high school anymore."

"I'll believe it when I see it," she muttered under her breath.

"So come on, your turn," Eve said, folding her arms across her chest. "Who is it that you bumped into?"

"How do you know I bumped into someone?"

"You wouldn't have brought all this up if you didn't. Let me guess, Derrick Bateman? Oh, better yet, Johnny Curtis?"

Eve's grin faded as a grimace spread across Kaitlyn's face.

"Even worse. D-"

"Hey guys!"

Kelly bounced into the kitchen, stopping Kaitlyn dead in her tracks. She cleared her throat and looked up at her friend with a warm smile.

"Hey Kells," Eve said. "You want a refill?"

Holding up the bottle of wine, Eve stood and beamed at Kelly. Kelly shook her head 'no'.

"No, I'm good. We were just wondering where you guys got to; we're about to put on Bridget Jones."

"Oh, awesome! We just got to gossiping a little."

Kelly nodded with a smile and went to leave the kitchen. Eve and Kaitlyn followed behind, as Eve shot Kaitlyn the 'You better tell me later' look. Kaitlyn gave an unsure shrug, heading back to the living room with her friends.

Alicia and Maria were still sat on the sofa, Maria's head resting on Alicia's shoulder. Kelly returned to her spot beside them, while Eve and Kaitlyn took to the floor in front of the sofa.

As they all settled in to watch the movie, each of them were still half focussed on the various things causing their minds to race. Kaitlyn, Eve and Maria were all still stewing over the earlier discussion the girls had had about that magic word; destiny. All three girls had, in the past couple of days, been forced to come face to face with the past, no matter how much they had found to keep them rooted in the present and the future. It was killing Kelly to not be open with her friends about her relationship, but she just couldn't bring herself to admit that she may be heading to the worst; whereas even Alicia, who was preparing to enter her own exciting future, felt the same anxious energy as her friends. Needless to say, for all five women, there was something rather comforting about watching Bridget Jones's misfortune in love play out on screen on a night like tonight.