Behind the Scenes

[Kamden]

OOC: Just background into Michelle's life, eventually this'll lead to work with my main partner in crime :P


Who’s this Ryan Clark person? Jesus, I don’t even know how word of this got out. This is bullshit.

Michelle shook her head in grief as she read the article from ewrestlingnews.com. The phone was from her personal trainer, Steven Carmichael.

Michelle: It’s true, yeah, but is it really necessary to speculate? It’s making me out to be the bad guy.

Steven: But you are the bad guy.

Michelle: I’m being serious, Steven. I’m not like that outside the ring. I’m a normal human being, with limits, just like everyone else. I’m far from perfect. I think you of all people know that.

She forced a small smile and chuckled as she took a sip of her iced tea then set the glass down gently on the table after she handed the phone back. Then her demeanor shifted as she asked her friend a question.

Michelle: You don’t believe what they’re saying, do you? That I’m going through with this because of what happened with the WWE and Vince?

Steven: No, not at all. It doesn’t even make sense. What happened then has nothing to do with what’s going on now between you and Mark.


*7 months ago*

Michelle: Can’t you at least here me out, Vince? You know I don’t mean any disrespect. But it’s how I feel.

Vince McMahon: Michelle, I understand why you feel the way you do, but I’m not putting money into something that could fail. That’s too much of a risk.

Michelle: Wow, no faith at all, thanks.

Her tone managed to get over the CEO.

Vince sighed as he sat back down in his leather office chair, folding his arms over his chest.

Vince: Ok, I’ll give you one more chance to explain what you want to me, and that’s it.

Michelle remained standing in front of his desk, leaning over one of the cushioned wooden chairs where she would’ve sat, but she was too caught up to sit. She took a deep breath in then exhaled silently before starting over. She normally had more patience than this, but she’d already tried three times before to convince the chairman to implement at least one aspect of her idea.

Michelle: I want to be given the chance to prove myself, that I’m not on some pedestal here and powered to the top just because of my husband. Look, I came back my shoulder injury a few months back, Mark is out on personal time right now, I feel like this is the perfect chance. He’s not around, I can make it clear that I can do this on my own. Let me go for the title, I’ve already been working with Alicia on a way to get there. She’s going to be parting with the company soon anyway, it’s all right there, ready to be put into action, I just—

Vince shook his head in disagreement and stood up from his chair as he walked to the corner of his desk, putting his hands in his coat pockets.

Vince: I don’t feel comfortable with this.

Michelle: What are you talking about?

Her eyes narrowed a little bit at the statement as she inquired, not exactly sure what she was about to hear next.

Vince: You wouldn’t be in this company, where you are right now, if it weren’t for Mark. You didn’t win the Diva’s Talent search, but he made the connections and managed to bring you up. It just wouldn’t be right, it would be a going against it all.

Michelle: Are you hearing yourself right now, Vince? That doesn’t make any sense at ALL. Is that what you truly believe? All of that backstage bs? You know, I didn’t have this job handed to me. I worked my ass off to get where I’m at. I’m no charity case, if that’s what you’re getting at. I don’t need someone to help me do my job—

Vince: Now Michelle, I—

Michelle: No, Vince, I get it. You’re stuck and don’t wanna budge. That’s cool, but I won’t be made for a girl that made it big by getting handouts from her superstar husband and his busy body boss. That’s not me.

Vince: I’m sorry you feel that way.

Michelle: Really? Ok then. Guess it’ll be left at that. Sorry you wasted my time…

She huffed then turned around and left the office upset and fuming, but kept it all inside. No tears were shed, no anger was shown, she looked calm and collected. It wasn’t like her at all to lose her cool, and to others her exchange with Vince would have been considered mild in the means of confrontation.

Back in his office, Vince let out a sigh and sat down once more before picking up his phone and dialing talent relations.

Vince: I’ve got a storyline for you to get in, as quick as possible…

A few minutes passed as the conversation continued.

…….

Vince: Yes, that will be Alicia’s final match and exit from the company, and Michelle will get the win...
---------------------


Michelle: People really will take any little thing and run with it.

Steven: That’s what you signed up for, the “glamorous life.”

Michelle nodded in agreement with a smile.

Michelle: You’re not wrong, but you’re not right either Steve. I know what being a professional athlete would lead to, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. It shouldn’t be this bad.

He shrugged.

Steven: So when are you going to file for the divorce? Have you talked to Mark at all lately?

She hadn’t. It had been a few weeks since they had contacted each other. Mark Calaway, better known to the world as The Undertaker, wasn’t one for conflict or causing a scene. He preferred the quieter way of going about things, like Michelle. And articles written by the Dave Meltzer’s of the wrestling news world didn’t help that. He was probably just as bothered with it as Michelle was.

Despite what was circulating in the press, the decision to split was mutual. At least, that’s what they agreed to say it was. There were more disagreements than there were agreements over big decisions. Children, where to live, her signing with the EBWF. That seemed to be the last straw for the two of them. She felt like she was being held back, and he didn’t believe the way she was going was best for her. And that was that. They agreed to disagree, and decided to part ways.

Michelle shook her head.

Michelle: No, I haven’t heard from him since all these articles started popping up. I guess he’s not too excited about them either.

Steven: Do you plan on making anything public?

Michelle: I don’t know. I’m obviously not gonna air all our dirty laundry, I’d never do something like that. But I just might have to say something to get media to stop conspiring.

Steven: The Undertaker and Michelle McCool have dirty laundry? That’s a story in itself.

Michelle let out an exaggerated sigh as she held her head in her hands, looking down at the table before clenching her eyes shut.

Michelle: Really, Steven? Anyways, it’s nothing… You know, bad. It’s just typical of a dying relationship.

She lifted her head up and sat back in her chair, looking at her friend.

Steven: Now you’re telling me your relationship was dying? Come on Michelle, what are you not telling me?

He also sat back in his chair and took a swig of his beer, the bottle clinking on the table as he rested it on its marble top. Michelle raised an eyebrow.

Michelle: You don’t know? Not even a guess? The man is 48 years old. I think that says enough for a GUY.

Steven pondered the thought in his mind for a minute before he let out a laugh.

Steven: No more boom boom from the groom of doom? Oh wow Michelle that’s shallow. Shit.

Michelle: Hey now, don’t have too much fun with that.

She shook her head and chuckled as she played with her hair, letting strands of it dangle and run through her fingers.

Michelle: You’d say the same thing if you were going through that! I mean, I’m younger, I need to be satisfied, he wasn’t always up for it…

Steven: Oh god. Stop. Just stop right there.

Michelle: Weren’t you just laughing two seconds ago?

Steven: Yeah, but it was funny then, now it’s just… Urgh.

He shuddered at the thought, then waited a few seconds for the mood to settle, and put all jokes aside.

Steven: So there were other problems too, not just the disagreeing about major decisions?

Michelle nodded, not wanting to really verbalize herself about what went on in her and her soon to be ex-husband’s relationship. Steven took the hint.

Steven: So what’s next?

Michelle: It’s all a waiting game. Once I file I just have to hope all of this gets done and over with as fast as it can. Then maybe I won’t be so stressed.

Steven: Yeah, then I won’t be so stressed.

Michelle: Steven, you act like I give you hell. All the time. I’m a diva yeah, but not everywhere I go.

Steven: If that’s what you think, Mrs. “I don’t wanna work out”. All day. Every day.

Michelle: That is so not me!

Steven: Right.

He nodded and finished off his beer during an awkward few seconds of silence. Then it was broken.

Michelle: Thanks for lunch. I really needed this, you know.

She smiled and he took his hand out of his pocket in one swift movement, slapping it on top of hers as soon as she placed it on the table.

Steven: Ya know I’m here for you.

Michelle: Ow, hey! That kind of hurts you know..

She pulled away her hand rubbing at the newly formed red spot on top of it, and he let out another laugh. She couldn’t help but laugh a little too. It was the first time in a while she had really laughed. It wasn’t forced or an act. A break from the turmoil she’d been experience with all the transitions; the move back home, the signing to a new company, the matches, all the things going on in her life. She wasn’t sad about what was going to happen, she was more overwhelmed than anything.

Steven: I’m being serious, though, I’ll be right here if you need anything. I know this divorce business isn’t fun, but it doesn’t need to be complete hell.

Michelle: You’re right, I just hope it doesn’t go too far out of control.

She sighed and picked up her clutch, before standing up. Steven got up from his seat on the other side of the table too, and both walked over to the front door of his home.

Michelle: I guess I’ll see you next week? Gotta get ready for that world tour coming up, you know. Don’t let me stray off course because of all of this.

Steven nodded and wore his signature goofy grin he would have when he was buzzed.

Steven: Don’t worry, there are no off days when I’m around.

Both of them let out a laugh before she opened the door and stepped out, walking down the walkway and to the driveway.

Michelle: See you soon, Steve.

Steven: Later, McCool.

And then everything was calm, back to normal. He stood in the doorway a few moments after shutting the door, taking in the conversation he was just engaged in. Then he shook his head and blinked his eyes a few times.

Steven: Man, that girl is somethin’ else.

He shook his head with a smile then made his way to the couch, before taking a seat and embracing the silence, and drifted off to sleep.