A Shoulder To Cry On

[🐝BumbleBree]

Chaos has just gone off the air. Astrid Sedin was walking towards the exit once again, holding her head low as she was feeling defeated once again. The tears were slowly running down the length of her nose before falling off the top like a cliff diver. And she was so upset, she didn’t hear her name being called.

"Hey, Asti!" Brianna shouts from behind Astrid.

Brianna was a few feet back from Astrid, and she started to jogging to catch up with her as Astrid kept walking.

“Hey, Astrid!” she shouts louder as she gets closer. “Wait up!”

Astrid’s head snaps and turns, seeing Brianna run towards her out of the corner of her eye as she tries to wipe the tears from her eyes, but they were still red and slightly puff. Just as Brianna catches up, Astrid turns around and forces a smiley upon her face.

“Hey Bree… sorry I didn’t get to see your match. I was trying to handle some business.”

“No problem. From the looks of things, I’d say an unsuccessful business meeting with a certain… someone?” Brianna asks.

Brianna looks around peeking over Astrid’s shoulder.

“Where is Deveena?” Brianna asks. “Isn’t your bodyguard usually around? She taking care of some unfinished business or something?”

“I left her at home because I didn’t think I needed her. I had a meeting with Pudding about a new contract, provided copies that I was mentally sound but he wouldn’t give me one. Called the legitimacy of the documents out and said I would have to come into the ISM offices.”

Brianna reaches out and pulls Astrid into a hug.

“He is such an idiot, I don’t know why Josh keeps him around,” Brianna says, then puts Astrid at arm's length. “Look, I know that you and… well… the jerk haven’t seen eye to eye lately. Is there any chance you could go to him with the issue?”

“Yeah… tried that. But I got emotional, gave him the changed title to the car I got him as a wedding present… and my rings.”

She holds up her naked left hand and starts to tear up again.

“I didn’t want it to come to his. I really didn’t. But now I got to drag myself into ISM, try to get into our home so I can pack my belongings. He wants me out but said that he’s ‘too busy’ to give me an answer on when I can. Not like I can even fit all my things into the new place anyway.”

Her breathing becomes slightly stifled as she shifted the weight of her bag on her shoulder.

“Do you want me to come with you? When you go to get your,” she pauses, “crap? There is a few things I’d like to say to that jerk off.”

Brianna bites her lip in concern.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have called him that, I know its a sensitive topic, and that wasn’t very sensitive.” Brianna says with an apologetic tone. “You could aways store what doesn’t fit in your new crib in my guest room. It’s not big, but it will fit a lot of boxes.”

“I don’t want to put that burden on you. I can’t afford much of anything big since I don’t have a contract anymore. Not even sure if I even get investor money anymore. But some of the stuff will be getting shipped back to Pennsylvania because it is my sister’s things. So it’ll be me in the loft by myself til my shrink feels like I can head back.”

“Head back to what? Pennsylvania?” Brianna asks.

Briannas face turns to that of horror.

“You can’t go back to Penn State! You’re the only other person on the roster whos not a bloody bludger!” Bri shouts. “If you go back, I’ll be all by me lonely!”

Brianna starts pacing back and forth.

“I have nothing left here Bri… no job… no husband. He is… was my family and now that is all gone. I tried appealing to him, hoping that maybe my apology would be enough. But he made it clear last chaos there is no more us. I love him to death and it kills me to leave. It kills me to see him with these other girls. All I’ve wanted was to compete in the ring and after meeting him it was that and having the love of someone that truly did love me back. He’s the love of my life, the first man I’ve seen myself growing old with. But… I fucked up. Though I’m not even quite sure exactly what I did. It’s all such a blur.”

“That’s something that I don’t quite understand about him. What is up with all of these women he is suddenly surrounded by? Something just seems off, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I don’t even know the bastard and I don’t want to know him, but he doesn't seem to be acting like the Josh everyone else seems to know and love," she says with sarcasm.  " Look, I’m sorry you’re going through all that, but well, if you need anyone I’m here for you. You know that, don’t you?” Bri asks her.

“It kills me because he’s doing things with them that he would never do with me. But yeah, i agree with you in that this isn’t the Joshua that I love and most people hate. And thanks… I know you’re here for me I just… after what happened with Stasi I really, really am finding it hard to open up to people and all that.”

She sighs a little bit.

“I was even doing good but… I’ve slipped back though I need to keep acting like I’m OK or I won’t get a new contract or my Television Championship shot.”

“Your Television Championship shot? You planning on holding on my title for me?” Brianna asks. “Just kidding. Yea, you deserve it, I just hope you end up sticking around for it. You’d be great. Hey, listen, I know you’re not ready now but I have an idea.”

Brianna reaches in and covers her mouth as she whispers something in Astrid's ear that the audience can’t hear. She pulls back, smirking at Astrid, and flipping her hair back.

“Just think about it, alright?”

“I will keep it in mind and give you an answer when I know if I have a new contract or not. I’d invite you to dinner or something but I don’t want you to have any issues with Corey.”

“Corey doesn’t control me, Asti. He’s fine with me making my own decisions. Look, since Deveena isn’t here, do you want to grab a drink somewhere and talk more privately?”

Brianna then points to the cameras and the live audience.

“Out of hearing range from these meatballs?”

You can hear the audiences reaction.

“Yeah that sounds like a good idea. I have my own car here so I can wait out there for you and we can go somewhere. Don’t know how much fun I’ll be… but we’ll see how it goes.”

“That’s fine, Corey can take the jeep back to the condo, and I’ll make up for ditching him later,” Bri tells her. “Just let me go grab my purse and help him load the car with our bags and let him know I’m going out for a bit. Meet ya in the garage.”

“See you in a few.”

Astrid turns and heads for the exit. As Astrid makes her way to the door, Brianna shouts out to her again.

“Yo, Asti!” Bri shouts.

Astrid turns around.

“We’re going to let loose tonight, so I hope you brought your drinking cup.”

She then winks and heads off. Astrid forces a smile on her face as she pushes open the door and heads to the outside, the scene fading out to black.



       **Astrid Sedin**                 **Brianna Rissi**