Post by Drunky McGee on Apr 4, 2012 18:05:30 GMT -5
PART 1: THE REPLY
Rick,
Hi!
Im sorry I dont really know where to begin with everything you said. It was very nice to hear from you. I have been doing well. Ive been living in Virgina but I guess you know that since somehow you found my address to send this to me. Im working as a waitress. The money is ok, alot of people remember me from my wrestling days and it does help me get tips. Though some assholes say asshole things, but I guess thats just how men are these days.
Your right that we never hated each other and everything and I could never hate you. We were never a bad couple. Our relationship just kind of faded away. I dont even remember what point we stopped loving each other. It wasnt one specific event or anything like that. It was just as if one day I woke up and realized we hadnt loved each other for a very long time.
Ill be blunt, we cant talk again because of you Rick. I dont know how to write this without sounding like a bitch but have you seen a doctor yet? I feel like you need help.. you say all this about wanting to be friends and knowing we could never get back together. But we both know the second we looked into each others eyes for more than two seconds youd think it was magical, destiny, youre already probably flipping out over the fact I sent you this letter. Im sorry Rick Im trying to be nice here by replying and I think you deserve that but youve never been able to let the past go. Youre the most nolstalgic, rose tinted glasses wearing man I have ever met.
I dont hate you, please never think that, I dont hate you. But I love you too much to try and see where friendship would take us, because it isnt anywhere good.
Good luck in your match, I saw you won last week. You looked good.
Please dont take that the wrong way.
Love,
Danita
PART 2: SUN
Rick hadn't even entered his house. He read the letter right there at his mailbox, his hands trembling. He didn't know what to think. She knew him too well... she pegged him completely. Just the feeling he got when he read her name on the return address of the envelope... He realized, way too late, that he had had no idea what he had expected to come from the letter he'd sent her. He had meant everything he had said sincerely, but if he didn't want to rekindle the relationship, why had he bothered? He didn't THINK that had been what he wanted, at any rate, but perhaps his sub conscious had been keeping secrets from him about his true intentions.
Rick sighed to himself, mumbling "fuck" under his breath. He refolded the letter and put it carefully back into the envelope before beginning the trek back to his house. Unlike last time we saw Rick, today was a sunny, beautiful day. Perhaps the only thing stopping Rick from deeping completely into melancholy, in fact. The sun provided some kind of artificial antidepressant, it seemed, providing something to hope for without actually providing anything at all.
Rick stopped short at his door, deciding not to go back inside. It was too damn nice, and something inside him told him that this was not the time to isolate inside the walls of a house. He sat down on a patio chair on his porch, picking up the book he had left there. Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac. Rick wished he had read more when he was younger, or engaged in any of the crazy adventures of the characters of the book. A second after that thought he realized how silly that was, and that he'd had more than his fair share of "adventures" in the wrestling business. But the grass always seems greener on the other side.
PART 3: THE CALL
The familiar tone of Rick's ringtone began playing, startling Rick awake. He had fallen asleep, his book laying across his chest. Trying to get his bearings, he quickly put his bookmark back in and hit the button to accept the call, neglecting to notice who it was that had called.
Man: Rick? Hey.
Rick Mad: Ah, hey. I'm sorry, who is this?
Man: Really? Come on, Rick. It's me, Zach.
Rick Mad: Oh! Hey, Bob, what's up?
The Zach in question was actually Zach Davis, Rick's long time friend and current WCF announcer. As a bit of an inside joke (and a nod to how they first met back in PCW) Rick sometimes calls him Bob, pretty much just for the hell of it.
Zach Davis: Eh, you know. Working longer hours lately. I don't feel like talking about it TOO much since most of my life is already consumed by work, but you know how it goes over here.
Rick Mad: Heh, yeah. You get time to see my UWA debut last week?
Rick sits back, relaxing. He looks at the sun, which began to set a few moments ago.
Zach Davis: I did, actually. That's why I'm calling you. I was impressed! REALLY impressed. When was the last time you wrestled for a company besides WCF before that?
Rick Mad: You know, I don't even remember. Years, obviously.. four or five, I guess. I haven't really thought about it.
Zach Davis: Yeah, well I'm glad to see this might work out for you. I've been saying for a while you need something good like this in your life-
Rick Mad: Let me cut you off right there. Did you call me for some kind of pep talk lecture kind of thing?
Zach Davis: Hah! Nah, Rick, I didn't, I really didn't. Sorry.
Rick Mad: So why did you call then? What's going on?
Rick beat around the bush, but what that question really meant to him was "are you going to give me something to do besides nothing before Rush Hour?"
Zach Davis: I was thinking of coming into town and seeing if you wanted to go out for a drink or something, you know. Catch up and all.
Rick Mad: Well-
Something stopped him; his brain started making his mouth say things he really didn't want to say-
Rick Mad: - I don't think I can, like.. not this week, you know? I have a big match and - I just - I'm so busy, and-
"No, you idiot!" Rick thought. "What is wrong with you?" But the idea of all that work, anxiety, and effort it would take to go out... he just didn't feel up to it. Too drained...
Zach Davis: Oh, no, that's fine, man. Big match huh?
Rick sighed. Zach knew him better than anyone else in the world, besides Danita maybe; he probably knew that Rick was bullshitting and that he just wasn't feeling up to it. But he was nice enough to change the subject and let Rick get away with his lie.
Rick Mad: Well, I'm up against another woman this week. Her name is Joanne Canelli, she calls herself the Jersey Devil Diva I guess. Anyway though, the more important part of that is that she used to be the UWA World Champion, first of all!
Zach Davis: Wow! Wrestling a former Champ already?
Rick Mad: Yeah, exactly! But second of all is that it's a contendership match! For the Rush Hour Championship.
Zach Davis: Damn. That is a BIG deal. Seriously, forget last time you wrestled for another company, when was the last time you were in a high profile match like that?
Rick Mad: I KNOW. I've got a chance to finally show I really do still have what it takes... man I can't wait.
Zach Davis: You think you can beat her, Rick? Don't get too cocky now.
Rick Mad: I can. I KNOW I can. But of course, I know she can beat me, too. It is going to come down to who just happens to beat who tonight. She's a former World Champion, I have to realize I'm facing an equal at the VERY least. She has an impressive record here. This isn't going to be easy. But I'm confident.
Zach Davis: What else do you know about her?
Rick sighed.
Rick Mad: I'm at a disadvantage here, maybe. I don't know much, I'm still new here. But by that same token, she doesn't know much about me, either. She will after tonight, of course. We both will.
Zach Davis: Sounds good, man. Hey I'm gonna let you go, but I was just wondering. Have you talked to Corey at all lately?
A pang of jealousy hit Rick, he bit his lip.
Rick Mad: No... I don't really know if we're cool or not, I'm sure he realizes what went down in WCF was mostly just business and all, and-
Zach Davis: I hear he's tearing it up in IWF. Hell, he was just our World Champ not too long ago, and-
Rick Mad: Sorry Zach, I really do have to go. I do want to hang out soon though. Tell you what, win lose or draw, after my match with Canelli, we'll do something, okay?
"There," Rick thought. "I made a plan, and I certainly don't break my obligations. Now I'll HAVE to get out of this damn house sometime, besides to go to work."
Zach Davis: Sure! Sounds good. I'll see you then, talk to you later.
And then, the standard click of the phone connection being severed. Rick smiled to himself, leaning back in his chair. He watched the sun fade down past the horizon, but tonight the hope that he'd taken from it did not fade as well.