Marcus pulled the car over to the side of the road. Paul glanced over at him to make sure he was okay.
    "Hey, we're not there yet."
    "I know, just resting."
    "I'll drive the rest of the way."
    After eight hours of driving to the next event, Marcus was glad to get in the passenger's seat, even though he thought Paul was the worst driver in the world.
    "You know, Paul, do you ever wish that we could just - get away from it all?"
    "What do you mean?"
    "I mean, run away. Be free. Actually live like a normal person does."
    "Every damn day. Who knows? Maybe one day you'll meet a woman who will totally sweep you off your feet."
    "Or spend my money in the process."
    "Yeah, well, I have a feeling you'll be changing that tone real soon."

    "Laurel, honey, calm down, it's just a wrestling event."
    Katerina said to her enthusiastic friend. Her other friend, Dakota, sighed.
    "She won't calm down, already told her that."
    Katerina rolled her eyes. Her two best friends had agreed to come to the event, and she began to think that inviting Laurel was a big mistake.
    "Sorry, but, FRONT ROW! I can't believe this it's like a dream come true!"
    "Well, while you calm down, I'll go sit down."
    Katerina made her way to the front row. She plopped down in her seat and propped her elbows against the guardrail. Maybe coming here was a big mistake.

    Marcus pulled the curtain back to see who was sitting in the front rows. He scanned over a few fat men, some attractive women, and children. Finally, his eyes fell on the most beautiful creature he ever saw. She had wavy long black hair and gorgeous golden-colored skin. Her arms were gracefully propped on the guardrail as her forest green eyes reflected boredom and sadness. She was sitting next to the ramp, only feet where he watched her. Paul waved his hand five times in Marcus' face to snap him back into reality.
    "Yoo-hoo, you awake?"
    "Wow - she's the most - I've never seen anyone like her."
    Paul questionably looked in the direction Marcus was and he too set eyes on the woman.
    "Whoa, talk about your knockout!"
    "I want to meet her."
    "Now?!"
    "No, after the event. Get a stagehand to give her a backstage pass and my room number."
    "You got it. Shouldn't you be getting ready?"
    "Oh, yeah, gotta look the part."

    Katerina couldn't fight the overwhelming feeling that she was being watched. Dakota and Laurel quietly waited for the event to begin when a young girl with a yellow shirt approached the young women.
    "Excuse me, Miss?"
    Katerina glanced at her friends, who were just as confused as she was.
    "Yes?"
    "I was told to give you this. It's for after the show." She handed Katerina the pass and the slip of paper with the room number on it.
    "Uh, thanks, I guess."
    The young girl left quickly. Dakota examined the pass.
    "It's real, all right. Looks like someone's interested in our young, beautiful Katerina."
    "Guess all that going to the gym really did pay off." Katerina said, surprised.
    "Arg! Some people have all the luck!" Laurel said. "Kat, I hope you like him." Laurel's remark met only silence.
    The event passed quickly. Katerina watched the matches with no interest. In fact, she was downright nervous. Who was this person? What did he - if it was a he - want from someone with no significant value whatsoever?
    "Um - Kat - the Undertaker is staring at you."
    "Laurel, stop kidding around." Dakota kicked Katerina.
    "Look for yourself!"
    Sure enough, the Undertaker had stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of the ramp, and boring right into her. Katerina gulped. He turned and began his walk to the ring again. She looked at the backstage pass - could it be from him?
    "Katerina, get it together." She told herself.

    "I knew I shouldn't have come back here!" Katerina said to herself as she followed a guide to the room where she was to go to. The wrestlers backstage were much bigger than Katerina's 5'10", 135 pound frame. She was glad that she had worn jeans, but a long sleeved top would have been better than the red tank top she had on. 
    "Someday I'll find out why they keep this arena so darn cold."
    "Here we are, miss." The stagehand opened the door for Katerina.
    Sitting on the couch was a short, rather fat, funny looking man flipping through the channels of the television. Katerina recognized Paul Bearer, who couldn't miss him? The stagehand closed the door after Katerina had entered. She looked back. No way out now. Paul smiled at her.
    "Well, here she is, more lovely in person."
    "Uh, no offense, but - what the hell am I doing back here?"
    "Well, he said he had to meet you."
    "Who's he?"
    The Undertaker."
    Katerina gasped. "Will you pinch me?"
    "Why, my dear?"
    "So I know that I'm awake."
    "That's nonsense. You are very much awake. By the way, what is your name?"
    "Katerina."
    "That's a very pretty name, Katerina."
    "Thank you."
    "I hope you're hungry, because I'm starving. Mark takes forever in the shower." Paul Bearer looked impatiently at his watch.
    Katerina gulped. She was glad that Dakota and Laurel wasn't there to see her scared half to death to meet another human being. Paul went to the door.
    "Wait here. I'm going to see what is taking him so long."
    Katerina let out a sigh of relief when he left. She sat down on the couch and crossed her arms. Hopefully this would be over soon. Marcus paced the floor, trying to think of his first words to her. Paul quickly entered the room and noticed that Marcus was tense. He laughed.
    "What are you laughing at?" Marcus declared.
    "I've never seen two people so nervous to meet each other in my life."
    "She's nervous too?"
    "Yes! I would be too if a strange man asked me to come to his dressing room for no apparent reason whatsoever. I'm sure that she's never dated someone a foot taller than her either."
    "What's her name?"
    "Katerina."
    "How old is she?"
    "Aren't these questions you should be asking her yourself?"
    Marcus took a deep breath. "Okay, I think I'm ready."
    Katerina stood at the click of the doorknob. Paul opened the door, and was followed by a very tall man. His auburn hair seemed almost black and his face and skin the color of porcelain. He wore a black short sleeved t-shirt along with black jeans. But Katerina could not take her eyes from his. They were a deep emerald green, almost as green as her own. Marcus cleared his throat to wake himself from the daze he was in.
    "Hello."
    Katerina stuttered. "H-h-h-hi."
    "Hungry?"
    "A little. Okay - a lot. I was too nervous to eat before the event. I try to avoid the arena food; lord know what they put in that chili dog."
    Marcus laughed. Paul Bearer frowned.
    "I like those chili dogs, thank you very much."
    Marcus smiled at Katerina, and she returned it. Maybe this wasn't such a bad night after all. Katerina looked across the table at Paul stuffing as many rolls in his mouth as possible. Marcus gave Paul a threatening look and shook his head in frustration.
    "Never mind me, you two talk." Paul said between mouthfuls.
    Katerina looked at Marcus. "So - you're the Undertaker. Must be bliss."
    "Bliss?"
    "Yeah, you know - having money, fame, excitement added to a once seemingly dull life-stuff like that."
    "I wish. With the fans everywhere, I have no privacy, let alone time to myself."
    Katerina sighed. "Well, being normal isn't all fun and games too. You got tax season, bills, bosses, friends, work: everything that makes you dream of the high life of fame." She looked away.
    "Guess each is painful."
    Marcus glanced over at her shyly. "It also gets lonely on the road."
    "Really? I thought you wouldn't have time to be lonely."
    "You believe in soul mates?" Marcus leaned toward her and asked in earnest.
    "I never contemplated the idea, why?"
    "I believe there is someone out there, somewhere she's feeling the same way I am - alone and sad - and she's waiting for me, like I'm waiting for her..."
    The conversation was interrupted with the waiter bringing the food (to Paul Bearer's delight!). They continued to talk casually, the conversation dotted with jokes and occasional pauses. It was about 1:00 AM when Katerina finally arrived home. Marcus walked her to the door.
    "It was nice meeting you, Katerina, even under unusual circumstances."
    "I'm glad you did, the feeling's mutual." She smiled. "Call me Kat. The people close to me always do."
    "Okay, Kat."
    "Will I ever hear from you?"
    "Do you have a computer?"
    "Yep."
    "Internet?"
    "I use it a lot for work, but I can make a few adjustments."
    The two exchanged phone numbers, e-mail addresses, addresses, every thing that you could use to communicate to another person. Katerina gave Marcus one last smile and went inside. She closed the door and leaned against it, feeling like she shouldn't let him leave. Marcus sighed as he walked back to the limo. He just met this incredible, beautiful, charming woman six hours ago and already he felt his heart sink. He quickly got into the limo beside Paul.
    "Well?" Paul asked in curiosity.
    Marcus just smiled.

     Copyright 1999 by Lady Destiny

  Back to the Reading Room