To Catch A Star

Chapter One

The news went viral in a matter of seconds.

During a random episode of Monday Night Raw, the programme was interrupted. Paul Levesque's face appeared with a black background, WWE Logo in the centre, stating that they had an announcement. Paul said that WWE had plans to house thirty people for twelve months in a bid to promote good health and abolish obesity.

Andi, who had been an avid fan of WWE since the age of three, froze with a spoon of cookie-dough ice cream half lifted to her mouth. This was huge! No big-name company had ever done anything like this before.

Paul discussed the ins-and-outs of how it was going to work and details of what was expected, all whilst an e-mail address was running across the bottom of the screen for applicants to apply. 'Lucky people' she thought, lifting the spoon the rest of the way to her mouth.

Sure enough when she picked up her phone during an ad break, the news had blown up on all social media platforms. She felt sorry for the person who had to go through those emails! Andi soon forgot about it though, enjoying the rest of the show and whooping when Seth Rollins curb stomped The Miz for the third time.

(She'd be too scared to apply anyway. Being social and away from home was not her forte).

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A couple of weeks went by. Same old routine, normal, just how Andi liked it. That was, however, until she returned home from the shops with her husband one Sunday.

Jason was clutching Andi's hand tighter than usual when they entered their home, shifting nervously. Andi gave him an odd look before pushing the door open to their living room. There, sat straight-backed and tense, where her parents and her more relaxed daughter. She eyed them suspiciously.

"What's going on?"

Her mother proceeded to answer and that's when the shit hit the proverbial fan...

"WHAT?!"

Andi was red in the face and almost hyperventilating.

"You know he means well..."

Her mother placated.

"I think it's awesome!"

Her daughter chimed in.

"How dare he!"

Andi stormed up the stairs, tears filling her eyes and panic filling her chest. Her oh-so-lovely brother had filled in an application form to the WWE programme. He KNEW how anxious she was!

Suddenly, she couldn't breathe. She gasped for air whilst simultaneously choking on her own sobs. Panic attack activated... All of a sudden arms were wrapped around her shoulders. Her daughter, she recognised her scent. Hands lifted her face and her mother's face appeared.

"Come on now, breathe with me. In, out. In, out. That's right, good girl. In, out."

A couple of hours later, Andi had calmed enough that her breathing was more or less evened out. She still clutched to her daughter but the pain in her chest was subsiding slowly. Her mother pressed a glass of cold water into the hand that wasn't attached to her daughter's arm. She took it gratefully; her throat was so dry!

"Mum..."

"Just give her a minute..."

"No! She needs to hear this! She needs to listen!"

Rosalie exclaimed. Taking a breath, she spoke more softly,

"Mum, I know it's scary but think about this logically. If you get selected, this could be life changing for you. There's only so many timed you can make lists of targets, stick to them for a few days and then go back to the usual. You heard the doctor's mum. A mini-heart attack! You can't expect me to sit here and watch you die; I need my mum!"

Andi stays silent, unmoving. After several minutes pass by and a lot of thoughts running all at once through her mind, she spoke,

"You're right... I'm sorry. You're right."

Rosalie tightens her grip; her mother lets out a breath she'd apparently been holding. Andi admits,

"I'm scared."

"I know."

Rosalie responds simply.

"We're here for you, always."

Her mum adds, softly.

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A couple of days later, after a lot of reassurance, crying and sleep, Andi goes to the doctors for a health and fitness assessment. Rosalie kept a firm grip on her hand. Whether that was to reassure her or keep her from bolting, Andi didn't know. She learns that there has been zero improvement in any aspect of her health, weight or blood pressure. No shock there...

Rosalie mentions the programme that she'd been entered in and Andi glares, but Rosalie carries on talking to the doctor as if she doesn't notice. The doctor approves; however, he mentions how slim the chances are of getting chosen and proceeds to hand over leaflets to various local bootcamps to consider. On the slim chance she is chosen he prescribes 10mg beta blockers to go along with her already prescribed Sertraline, 'just in case'.

That stuck with Andi... the chances of getting selected are slim to none! She relaxes at that reminder. She sleeps more soundly that night with thoughts and fears of travelling to another country and living with strangers far from her mind... slim to none...