((Roxy Cotton wakes up in Los Angeles. The sunlight already bright and filtering through the white silk curtains. As she stretches and rolls to her side, her body curves instinctively towards a man in her bed – but there is no man there. She knows no one is there, but the instinct persists. A thousand nights falling asleep next to someone and waking up alone have created an almost smothering need to sleep later and later, as if to avoid waking up at all. In fact, only one man had ever been there when she woke up in the morning.))

Vinnie…

((She uttered his name through a subdued smile as she pulled herself into a sitting position and looked at the picture of him on her bedside table. There he was, grinning ear to ear, holding Roxy tight to his side like he always did, and his signature in black marker with a comically sized “XOXO Forever” underneath. Even when just giving a gift to his favorite l, he did it like he was giving an autograph to a fan. Roxy takes the photo and smiles, planting a kiss onto the glass before setting it back down and grabbing her cell phone from the charger on the table. Her face beams when she sees Loverboy has called, and sent a few text messages as well.))

Hey girl! Call me.

((Roxy’s face crumples into disappointment as she realizes she slept through a chance to talk to Loverboy, but she knows it’s too early to call him back. Instead, she rises from her bed and starts getting ready for the day, walking to her vanity mirror.))

I’ll call him after lunch… I bet he spent all night partying after War Games and wants to tell me about the big win.

I should watch the show before I talk to him. He’ll know if I didn’t see it.

((Looking into the mirror at her newly woken visage, Roxy brushes at the wild strands of blonde hair strewn across her face, smoothing them down and checking the encroaching darkness of her roots. She frowns at the realization that she’ll have to dye her hair again soon.))

((The face in the mirror is a blank canvas. This is Roxy Cotton before she becomes Roxy Cotton. She is missing the perfected arch of eye shadow, the precise lip lines, the subtle dusting of body glitter. Roxy is also without her dazzling smile. Every morning she wakes up and puts the smile onto her face as if it were another bit of makeup, the expression being nothing at all resembling a reflection of her inner emotions but in fact just another mask to show the world. The happiness is as fake as her tan, tits and hair color.))

((Slowly, Roxy begins the process of becoming the bubbly sexpot the world has come to know. By the end of the process, the tired, lonely, sad girl is gone like a shadow in the night, replaced by a stunning centerfold. Roxy Cotton lives again.))

((Her daily process complete, Roxy finally turns to her television and sets up the TiVo device to watch the show.))




((Later in the day, Roxy, now dressed in a tight and revealing purple mini dress and glittering spiked heels, finally dials Loverboy’s number as she walks down Sunset Boulevard.))

Yo.

Baby!

Roxy… what the fuck, man? Where have you been?

I’m sorry, baby… you know I’ve been doing a lot of work lately, trying to get my site up and running.

Yeah. Yeah, I know. Sorry. I’m just feeling like shit today.

Are you hungover?

No. Haven’t had a sip, dude. Did you see War Games?

Yeah. I’m sorry, baby. It wasn’t your fault, though! You did awesome!

I know. I just… you know, after what happened with Guppy, now losing this match against that fucker Pest… I don’t know what’s going on, man. I thought we had them beat. I really did.

I know baby.

I mean… that shithead Simon? Can you believe that fucker? All week long the worst that chump could do to me was call me “Vannie Lome” and he gets a pin in an XWF that should have belonged to me?

Vannie Lome?

Yeah. That’s what he called me. Stupid, right? It’s not even funny. Grade school shit, like Scully says.

It’s pretty lame, baby.

Yeah, for real. On top of that, I barely laid a finger on Peter Gilmour. I really wanted to soften him up for our match on next week’s Madness. I’m gonna need every advantage I can get, you know?

Oh, baby, I know you can beat him! He’s not even half the man you are. And his ugly skank wife probably gave him dickrot by now anyway.

You don’t get it, dude. Yeah, Pete’s not on my level, but this is a handicap match. His partner is a former Universal Champion, man, and he’s huge. He’s the toughest guy in the whole fed, and I’d be lucky to beat him one on one. Against both of them? And with shithead Pest as the ref? I’ve got no chance.

Don’t say that, Vinnie! You can win this thing! Do you want me to come out for the show? I’ll come to the ring for you.

Really? You said you’d never do that, though. You said it would look like a commitment.

I’ve been thinking about that, Vinnie. I want to talk to you about maybe making this thing for real, you know? Not seeing you this long has made me really miss you, and made me really consider what matters most to me. No guy has ever made me feel the way you do, baby. This is special.

I think you’re right, Roxy. Really. We should talk about it more – why don’t you go ahead and book a flight for Chicago? We can hook up and talk about things while I get ready. I think you might be just the thing I need to get me through this.

Really, baby? Oh, that’s perfect! I’m so excited!

Do me a favor though? Can you go to Gilly's website and scope him out a little for me? You're the best at finding little vulnerabilities in people and he always uploads his matches there. It's PeterFnGilmour.web

He has a .web address? That's weird. I'll check it out, and I’ll get the flight booked for tomorrow night. Tonight I promised the Brit I’d go with her for a girls’ night on the town.

Yeah? That’s cool, man. I’m gonna hit the gym and work out a little bit of stress. There’s this new chick in the fed, Jill Lorder? I’m trying to figure out when she does her legs so I can post up at the adductor machine and watch her thighs flex during my set.

Vinnie… you’re such a perv. You know I love you for it, though.

((There’s a long pause, and Roxy bites her lip, thinking she may have pushed it too far. This was still very new, after all, even though they’d been through so much already.))

I love you too, baby.

((Roxy’s smile comes back like the sun from behind a cloud. The lovebirds finish their conversation as she keeps walking down the road to meet her friend.))




((That night, Roxy and her sexy friend Brit met for drinks and dancing at the famous Viper Room. Crowded as always, the pair had a difficult time hearing one another over the din of the room. As they grind together on the dance floor among a throng of staring guys, they manage to slip in some conversation.))

Girl, this place is crazy!

I know! I really needed to get out and get turnt though!

Brit I need another drink… do you want one?

No, I’m good! I think I’m gonna go home with one of these latinos, though… what about you?

I’ll tell you about it when I get back, Brit… I think me and Vinnie are gonna make it official!

Hell yeah! Hurry!

((Roxy sidles over to the bar while Brit stays behind and keeps dropping it low. Before she can order, though, a handsome guy walks over and gets between Roxy and the bar.))

Hey there. I saw you out on the floor with your friend. You guys looked hot!

Oh, hey, thanks! Yeah, Brit is a little crazy.

Only thing crazy I saw was how crazy sexy you look.

Haha, thanks again…

Let me get you a drink?

I don’t think so, look, I’m dating –

Just a drink! Relax, girl, I’m just offering to buy you a round, okay?

((Before she can answer, the man turns around to the bartender. Roxy looks back to the floor for Brit, but sees she’s found a young latino to rub against, so she’s on her own. She turns back to the bar, and the guy is already standing and holding two drinks, pressing one towards her.))

Oh… ok, thanks… but just the one drink, ok?

Yeah, it’s cool. I just wanted to meet you, you know? I felt weird just staring and not introducing myself.

((Roxy drains the glass and smiles. The guy doesn’t seem so bad after all, she thinks. She felt a little guilty for putting the bitch routine on him so quickly.))

Hey… thanks. I’m Roxy. Sorry.

Oh, no worries, Roxy. I get it. Random guy in a bar, checking you out.

It’s not that I’m a bitch all the time, really. You’re cute. I just have a boyfriend now, and I can’t just hook up anymore.

((Roxy stumbles slightly, and she steadies herself by grabbing the guy’s arm.))

Oh! I’m sorry, I kinda lost my balance a little there.

No problem… I’ve got you.

I don’t really understand… I haven’t had that much to drink…

Are you sure you’re okay?

((Roxy falls forward, clutching at the guy to keep from hitting the floor. The bartender looks disdainfully at her as she tries to keep her composure.))

My shoes… I think it might be my shoes…

((Again, she lurches forward. This time the guy catches her in his arms as she goes limp.))

Okay… sorry man, she’s had too much. I’ll get her out of here. Come on Roxy, let’s get a cab.

No… I don’t…

Come on.

((The guy heads for the door, half dragging the fading Roxy behind him.))