Meanwhile

[Cory]

Trish Stratus: You know, Natalie. I really can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.

The best friends, and tag team partners, were headed down the hallway of the Pepsi Center toward an unspecified locker room. Natalie had secured a private changing area for she and Trish, and Trish, e ager to regain her position as dominate EBWF diva, didn’t question it. Natalya scoffed, she thought nothing of it.

Natalya: As if you're going to change with the rest of the girls. Sounds like a bunch of hens in there today. Cluck cluck cluckcluckcluck.

Trish Stratus: No, no. Not the room. I meant getting mixed up in this whole Trish versus The Mean Girls business in the first place. I…

She seemed to hesitate for a moment.

Trish Stratus: I just thought you had your mind on other things right now.

Natalya: Trish, honey. I love an excuse to get in the ring with you any day. Just wanted to give you some space, it's overdue that they feature you again. Besides, Wes and I are busy... but it's good. You know?

Trish Stratus: No. What do you mean? I mean, I know Wes can be busy. It’s just seemed like maybe you were distancing yourself from the ring.

Natalya: I don't think I'll ever fully give it up. Maybe one day before I look a hot mess and gravity does its damage. But as long as I'm still the second prettiest lady on the roster I'll still wrestle.

Trish Stratus: That’s good to hear. I had kind of thought you’d settled into that domestic life until you were booked earlier this month.

Natalya: I'm definitely trying to find the balance. There was a time where I felt like I couldn't wrestle again, but I'm learning to delegate so I have more time on my hands.

Trish Stratus: You two have been together so long I have to imagine that being married isn’t all that different, huh?

They found the room that was assigned to them, and went inside. Natalie was pleased to find a couch, an en suite bathroom, and a fruit basket with ample water waiting for them. Trish closed the door behind them. Natalie hung her bag up on one of the provided wall hooks and grabbed a bottle of water.

Natalie Neidhart: You know, I was pretty sure I was going to marry TJ, 7 years ago. I knew exactly the kind of wedding we would have, I knew where I wanted it and what colors we'd use. The way Wes and I got married would have floored 26 year old Nattie. Everything Wes and I do seems to be varying degrees of different.

Trish Stratus: TJ was pretty safe, if not a little chauvinistic. And yes, you and Wes are pretty backward, right down to not seeming like a very good match. But that’s mostly because you aren’t supposed to mix lit matches and gunpowder.

Natalya: Well, NOW you tell me.

Trish laughed.

Trish Stratus: I just… you know you can talk to me right? I feel like this last 18 months or so, well, I’ve been so needy. And a total mess. I don’t want to be one of those people who just takes, and takes, and takes. And I feel like, maybe there’s been some times over the last year and a half where I could have been a better friend to you, but I was too busy making a mess of my life.

Natalie smiled as she sat down near her. She took a drink from her water bottle and set it down beside her.

Natalya: You would have been there right away if I had asked you to be there. I know that, even if the guys you dated turned out to be a couple of jack asses. I'm still a huge Trish Stratus fan, I hope you know that.

Trish Stratus: I do. I know that. I guess I’m just letting it get to me. The hype. How good Sasha is. How prominently featured those girls have been. And you. I’m happy for you, but I can’t help but be a tad jealous.

Natalya: Trish, I'm not going to lie. I'm happy. You're going to be happy too, I can feel it. You're overdue for some happy. Way overdue.

Trish Stratus: It’s not even about being happy anymore. It’s just about… finding that balance like you said. I’m a terrible friend. I’m terrible at my job. I’m a terrible mother.

She paused, letting that last tid bit sink in for a moment.

Trish Stratus: I want to be good at everything, and I can’t make any of it work.

Natalie mulled that over for a moment.

Natalya: None of those things are true, even if you want to think they are. You need to remember your worth, girl.

Trish Stratus: And it’s entirely awful that I feel like I could do that… if I could just get Adam to talk to me.

Natalie nodded, having not made that connection until she mentioned it.

Natalya: Adam... ah. He can't be holding a grudge still, can he?

Trish Stratus: He’s not holding a grudge. He just doesn’t care anymore. That’s worse.

Natalya: I feel like Adam is just tone deaf most of the time. Maybe... just make yourself available to him, but don't look like you're making yourself available to him.

Trish Stratus: What? What does that even mean? If TJ covertly made himself available to you, would you care?

Natalya: I guess it would depend. If he started small talking with me and started acting like an adult, I might be open to being friends with him. It'd have to be baby steps.

Trish look dumbfounded. Then she snorted and laughed out loud.

Trish Stratus: Like Wes would ever be okay with that.

Natalie waved that off.

Natalya: No, no. This is about you. Not me. I think Adam would talk to you if you started slow.

Trish Stratus: This is Adam we’re talking about…

She groaned and finally sat down.

Trish Stratus: I don’t want anything from him. I just want him to stop walking the other way when I’m around. But more importantly… isn’t the real issue that… it starts with me. Doesn’t it? Why do I feel like I need him in the first place?

Natalya: I don't know, girl. Adam's a great guy. A bit of a bonehead sometimes, but he's a great guy.

Trish stood up again, and reached toward the floor to shoulder the bag she’d laid at her feet.

Trish Stratus: I’m not sure if I believe that, either.

She shrugged.

Trish Stratus: I’m going to go get ready for our match. Find out who is interviewing us, okay?

Natalie nodded. Trish moved past her and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her, and leaving Natalie to wonder if she’d said too much.