Fanfic Update! Hip Check: Two (Whip It, Babe Ruthless/Iron Maven)
TITLE: Hip Check
SERIES: Whip It
AUTHOR: Dreiser
EMAIL: dreiser7@yahoo.com
YAHOO ID: dreiser7
MY WEBSITE: http://www.dreiser.org/
CONTENT: F/F romance. F/F sex. Babe Ruthless/Iron Maven. Third fic in the Versus and Pace Line series. I can't seem to quit writing. It's problematic.
SUMMARY: Babe Ruthless thought roller derby was a lot like life, just when things are going good you're hit with a hip check.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but my enjoyment for taking naps.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you've read the book version of Whip It please don't get confuzzled. Malice In Wonderland in this fic is an original character and has nothing to do with the book version of Maggie Mayhem. I just had to use the name since it's so good. If you want to hear Maven's fictional taste in music and some good Johnny Cash songs download this.
Hip Check
By: Dreiser
Part Two...
The season was well under way with five bouts already occurring and Maven’s declaration for an undefeated season with the Holy Rollers in full effect, with them winning all of their bouts and tying them with the Hurl Scouts. Over her time with the TXRD Bliss had gained a certain talent for knowing how a season would turn out. Whether it would be fairly predictable in how things happened or it would be a series of utterly crazy events. The second championship the Hurl Scouts won was like that. Nobody could have predicted Maven breaking her arm on the track during a bout with the Black Widows, and mono taking out half the blockers on the Hot Tamales, leaving the Hurl Scouts to battle it out with the Fight Attendants for the title.
When news struck about Laverne N. Surly getting into a car accident which left her with a neck in traction and a broken leg just one week after General Anesthesia discovered she was pregnant after ten months of trying with her husband there was little doubt in Bliss’ mind this season was going to be anything but normal. With two Black Widows out of the game, for the first time in the history of the TXRD they had a team without enough players to compete. While they maintained their competitive streak on the track and at certain league events, that didn’t stop the sense that everyone in the league took care of one another and right now, the Black Widows were in serious need of some help if they wanted to keep playing throughout the season.
Bouts were put on temporary hold with apologies to the fans and they called a league meeting to try and figure out how to get the Black Widows up and skating again. The stands were filled with rollergirls with Razor and a few of the coaches up front with Eva Destruction who, as captain of the Black Widows, was leading the meeting. Bliss sat between Maven and Smashley, watching Eva clear her throat and offer that glittering smile which always served to win her so many fans.
“On behalf of the other Widows, I want to thank everybody for coming out,” Eva began. “As you know, we’ve been having a tough time of it and the way I see it, there’s two things we can do to keep playing this season. The first is having emergency try outs to find a new player, which would put the season on hold for at least two weeks. The second is to have a ringer come in, somebody to play with the Widows temporarily, just till the end of the season. Now, we’ve got somebody in town who fits the second option perfectly but we wanted to put both of these to a vote before we went and put a uniform on her.”
“We’re going to do this the informal way,” announced Victor, the coach for the Black Widows. “If you’re for the try outs to get a new permanent Black Widow, raise your hand now.” A pause and a few hands went up, around fifteen or so, then Victor said, “If you say we get a ringer and do try outs at the end of the season, raise your hand.” This time, a sea of hands rose up, Bliss and Maven’s among their numbers, and Victor turned to Eva as he said, “I guess we have our answer.”
“Somehow I knew you bitches would pick the second option,” said Eva playfully, grinning when a chorus of laughter met her remark. “Which is why I asked the ringer to come and give us a visit. For a lot of you she’ll be a new face but for some of the TXRD veterans she’ll always be the person who trained my ass.” Turning on her heel, Eva made a sweeping gesture and a svelte figure with short black hair in a pixie cut donning an all black outfit that would put even Eva to shame skated into the warehouse, stopping at the blonde’s side and offering a dazzling smile. “My former team captain, Blanche Davidian.”
“Ladies,” Blanche seemed to purr, doing a little curtsy which Bliss found absurdly charming.
She turned to Maven to ask if she knew Blanche but the question died on Bliss’ lips when she saw how Maven’s naturally tan skin had taken on a pale hue. The older woman looked like she was either going to punch someone or throw up and Bliss instantly felt a swell of panic. She’d been there when Maven had broken body parts, when she’d gotten return to sender on the Christmas card to her parents, and when she found out her little sister was moving away just as they were getting to know each other and none of those admittedly terrible events made Maven look anything like this.
“Emily?” Bliss said her name in a hush, touching her arm, her worry increasing when Maven kept her gaze fixed on Blanche, refusing to look Bliss’ way as her jaw clenched into a hard line. “Emily,” Bliss said her name again, a little louder, squeezing on the other woman’s arm until Maven finally met their eyes. Although there was very little acknowledgement for Bliss in her gaze, she looked as if her mind was in another place entirely and that place didn’t appear to be a very pleasant one. “What is it?”
Shaking her head, Maven muttered, “Not here.”
“But-” Bliss started to protest only to find her words falling on deaf ears as Maven got up and made her way out of the warehouse, pushing her way through the crowd going down to greet Blanche. She started to head after Maven but stopped when her arm was gripped by Smashley who was wearing an unnaturally solemn look on her features. “Smashley?”
“Let her go,” said Smashley, her eyes just as somber as her voice, and while Bliss could count on one hand the times that her fellow Hurl Scout was actually serious she knew that this was one of those times. “Trust me when I say it’s better for everybody here if Maven puts herself as far away from Blanche as she can get.”
“She’s right,” Maggie added quietly, a frown on her features, arms folded over her chest.
“Maggie?” said Bliss, feeling irritated by her constant questioning state but unable to stop it as she was totally lost. “Will one of you all please tell me what in the hell is going on? Why did my girlfriend just run out of here like she’s on fire?”
Smashley and Maggie exchanged a look which only served to further irritate Bliss and Jackie’s voice suddenly descended upon them, sardonic and laced with anger as she said, “This is a pile of horseshit. Eva should’ve warned Maven soon as she knew.”
“Knew what?” Bliss demanded, getting really sick of asking questions and not getting any answers.
Another look was exchanged between Smashley, Maggie, and Jackie and just when Bliss was about to erupt in total frustration, Maggie shifted uncomfortably and said, “You ought to ask Maven. We shouldn’t tell you about this.”
“Jackie,” said Bliss, turning to the Holy Roller, sure she’d take her side.
Moving her death glare away from Blanche and softening when she looked to Bliss, the other woman scratched her cheek then said reluctantly, “Maggie’s right. You need to ask Maven about it. This isn’t the sort of thing you hear from other people.”
“Yeah, man,” said Smashley wisely, nodding her head, and thoroughly annoying Bliss in the process.
“Fine!” Bliss declared, throwing her hands up in the air, a scowl etched onto her features. “I’ll ask Emily.”
The problem with this was getting a hold of her first which Bliss found incredibly difficult that day and then when she did see her the day after that Maven wouldn’t tell her anything. She would only give vague allusions as to why she had an issue with Blanche even after Bliss insisted she knew it had to be something more than that. Going back to Smashley, Maggie, and Jackie did little good as they were adamant in their unified stance on not betraying Maven about whatever it was having to do with Blanche. And so the season went on and Bliss remained utterly and completely frustrated while experiencing a distance forming with her girlfriend that hadn’t existed since they admitted their feelings for one another. It was almost like being back in the old days when she first joined the league only Maven wasn’t being overtly hostile to her, she was avoiding her and was perpetually sullen. It was at times like this that Bliss truly despised the portion of Maven’s personality that seemed to block her ability to talk about her feelings. Especially when it seemed to Bliss that trend was nothing more than the older woman just not giving a shit. She could see how worked up Bliss was about this, how worried she was, but she did nothing to explain nor reassure.
It all came to a head when the season started up again with Blanche making her debut with the Black Widows in their bout against the Hot Tamales. Further enforcing Bliss’ belief that no matter what Maven said something had gone on between her and Blanche was the fact that the older woman didn’t attend the bout even though she went to every bout when physically able. By way of an excuse, Maven said she was busy with a back piece at the shop and that much Bliss knew was true as she had stopped in and saw the customer that Maven was speaking of who was doing a portrait of their deceased father.
Determined to get to the bottom of this invisible drama, Bliss went to the party at ‘Bout Time meant to celebrate Blanche’s return to the league which was in full swing with plenty of exuberant Black Widows celebrating their victory over the Hot Tamales. She made her way through the crowd with a purpose, eyes narrowing until she found the figure of Blanche at the bar with Eva. There was a battle of the glittering smiles between the two women and watching them Bliss wondered if roller derby wasn’t the only thing that Eva learned from Blanche. They shared the same glamorous aura that seemed to draw in admirers like flies to honey and their reaction to it was very similar although Blanche appeared much more welcoming to any advances than Eva.
Walking up to them, she touched Eva on the small of her back, smiling when the blonde turned to her. Jerking her thumb to her roommate who was chatting with Johnny Rocket, she said, “Rosa wants you.” She would have felt bad for lying but Bliss knew for certain that just mentioning Rosa’s name would ensure Eva’s departure as she had a habit of jumping to attention whenever the other woman was involved. As predicted, Eva immediately went in the direction of Rosa, leaving Bliss alone with Blanche who focused that trademark glittering smile on her. “Blanche Davidian,” Bliss began, not sure how to start this conversation.
“Babe Ruthless,” replied Blanche, her voice a purr, and a twinkle in her eyes. She leaned towards the shorter woman as she said, “Aren’t you going to congratulate me on the win?”
“Congratulations,” said Bliss dryly. Resting against the bar, she arched an eyebrow and said, “But from what I hear winning is pretty normal for you. That’s how it was when you were in the TXRD before moving to LA and joining the Derby Dolls, isn’t it?”
“Someone’s been doing their research on me,” Blanche chuckled, her fingers tapping lightly on her glass of rum and coke. Pointing a perfectly manicured finger at Bliss, she continued, “I heard you’ve been sniffing around.”
“Oh?” questioned Bliss cautiously. Beyond the charm and the flirting, she still wasn’t sure what to make of Blanche and that made her more than a little wary considering the reaction Blanche caused in Maven. “What else did you hear?”
“Nothing much,” said Blanche casually, moving forward to sidle up to Bliss, close enough that the younger woman blushed at their proximity. “Just that you were curious about the good old days.”
“Something like that,” Bliss admitted, wishing her blush would go away but knowing it just wasn’t.
“I also hear you’ve got a thing going with Emily,” continued Blanche and there was a glint in her eyes that made Bliss feel as if she was an insect caught in the other woman’s spider web. It made her altogether nervous to say the least.
“It’s not a thing,” Bliss frowned, wondering about Blanche's use of Maven's real name. “We’ve been together for almost two years.”
Releasing a clucking sound that was somehow both sexy and derisive at the same time, Blanche reached out to curl a lock of Bliss’ hair around her finger. “Two years,” Blanche repeated, looking thoughtful and sliding closer yet to the other woman. “That’s a decent amount of time.” A smile formed on her lips, slow and easy, and it had a mocking tinge to it. “How’s it going?”
“Good until you came along,” said Bliss harshly, pulling away from Blanche, her frown returning.
“Me?” asked Blanche, wearing a coquettish expression and despite herself Bliss thought it suited Blanche well. “What did I do?”
“Look,” said Bliss with certain irritation. “I just want to know what went on with you and Emily. She won’t tell me anything but I know something had to have happened from how she’s acting so please…”
Blanche paused to study Bliss for a long moment then she said, “You really care about her, don’t you?”
“I’m in love with her,” corrected Bliss, a stern look on her features.
Chuckling at this, Blanche took a drink of her rum and coke then set it on the bar with a thud. “So was I,” she revealed sardonically.
“What?” Bliss said, her eyes going wide, her chest suddenly tight and her stomach gaining a sick feeling.
“Three years, five months, and nineteen days we were together,” Blanche said, finishing off her drink. She wore a taunting look on her sharp features and said, “Do I have you beat?”
“It’s not a game,” said Bliss in hard tones.
“Never said it was,” replied Blanche easily, waving down the bartender for another drink. Fixing her gaze back on Bliss, she said, “It was fantastic while it lasted but when it fell apart it was a huge mess.” Dipping her index finger into her newly arrived glass of rum and coke and stirring it around, she continued, “You know what I mean, right? Or else you wouldn't be here. Once Em clams up she does it good and there’s nothing you can get out of her and it’s like you’re dating a robot.” Blanche chuckled and added, “A really hot robot that’s bitchy and can fuck the hell out of you but still a robot.” Bliss started to protest this but Blanche cut her off and said, “No point in denying it. I can tell she’s doing it to you now or we wouldn’t be talking like this.”
Despite herself, Bliss could feel her attitude towards Blanche shifting much like it did with Malice. She understood where Blanche was coming from and while she didn’t like the comparison of Maven to a robot she did know where it was emerging from because Maven had been treating her with that same cold indifference that Blanche had described for the past few weeks. Moving forward, drawn to Blanche and desperate to understand, she asked, “How do I fix it?”
Blanche started to reply but the words never left her lips as they were suddenly flanked by the Holy Rollers. “Well,” Blanche chuckled again, picking up her rum and coke and giving them a salute with her drink. “That’s my cue to leave.” Her lips quirked into a charming smile and she nodded at Bliss as she said, “Nice talking to you, Ruthless.”
Faced with the Holy Rollers, Bliss was thoroughly annoyed that her conversation with the one person who bothered to give her an honest answer was at an end because of their interruption. “What?” Bliss demanded, hands on her hips. “Now you all want to talk to me after I’ve been after you for weeks now?”
“Maven,” Jackie started only to find herself silenced by a furious Bliss.
“Won’t talk to me! Don’t you think I’ve tried? She spends half her time avoiding me and until now I had no clue why!” Bliss burst out, all of her frustrations erupting at once. “And I still don’t know exactly why but at least Blanche gave me some sort of answer.”
“You shouldn’t trust her,” warned Jackie, frowning.
“Why?” Bliss challenged and when Jackie faltered, she threw her hands up and focused on the approaching figures of Rosa and Eva. No doubt Rosa had witnessed the scene and was coming over out of concern for her roommate. “Eva,” she said, looking at the Black Widow expectantly. “Tell them that Blanche isn’t the devil.”
“What? Of course she isn’t,” Eva laughed, looking to Jackie. “What have you been saying to her?”
“Nothing, it’s what your old captain has,” retorted Jackie with a scowl. Focusing back on Bliss, her features calmed slightly, and she stepped closer and said, “I know Maven hasn’t been talking but you know how she gets. Just keep trying.”
“Jackie,” Bliss sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead, feeling a headache forming. “I just want to know what’s going on and I can’t do that if she won’t speak to me. Don’t you see my problem here?”
The Holy Rollers exchanged a look then they turned back to Bliss, looking as unified as ever and Smother Theresa declared, “We’ll talk to her. Make her spill everything to you.”
“Yeah,” Princess Slaya nodded emphatically.
“You all don’t have to do that,” protested Bliss though she was appreciative for any help at this point.
“The captain’s being stupid,” enforced Mary Jane Pain, scowling as she thought about it. “We gotta stop her.”
“We’re having lunch tomorrow at the Hickory Street Bar and Grill on Congress at noon,” informed Jackie. “We’ll make sure she’s there and give her a talking to. You just show up around one, okay?”
“Okay,” said Bliss, looking at the Holy Rollers, smiling gratefully. With that, they exited and Bliss focused on Rosa and Eva. In particular, the Black Widow who appeared distinctly uncomfortable. “Eva,” Bliss began. “You were around when they dated, weren’t you? Blanche and Emily?”
“I was,” admitted Eva and she bit down on her lower lip, something that Bliss had heard from Rosa was a clear sign of Eva experiencing more than a little anxiety. “What do you want to know?”
“You mean you’ll tell me?” asked Bliss wryly, snorting humorously when Eva looked at her with surprise. Shaking her head, she murmured, “Forget it.” She started to walk away but stopped when she felt a soft hand wrap around her wrist, turning back Bliss saw Eva looking at her with an expression of veiled worry. “Eva?”
“I care about Blanche,” said Eva simply. “She’s the one who got me into derby and she’s the one who taught me everything I know about skating but Jackie’s not exactly wrong when she says you should be careful around her.”
Instead of pursuing it further, sensing that somehow that was all she would get out of Eva at the time, Bliss nodded and feeling thoroughly exhausted, she decided to head back to her apartment. Making her way through the club, she spotted Blanche who met her gaze and waved her over and despite herself, Bliss found herself heading the other woman’s way. “Let me guess,” said Blanche with a smirk, lifting a perfectly shaped eyebrow, her bow lips forming an ironic smile. “They all warned you about me.”
“Yes, they did,” said Bliss, unable to help the laughter that escaped her. Tilting her head, she questioned, “Why is that?”
“I’m dangerous?” Blanche suggested, forming a silly expression on her sharp features, causing Bliss to shake her head and laugh again. Giving an elegant shrug of her shoulders, Blanche said, “Em’s the one who stuck around and I’m the chick that ditched Austin for LA. To the victor goes the spoils. But don’t worry,” Blanche drawled, leaning towards Bliss, putting their faces just a breath apart, her face lighting up with that glittering smile she produced so effortlessly. “It doesn’t hurt my feelings.”
“Somehow I think nothing much does,” said Bliss drolly.
The tip of a pink tongue darted over Blanche’s lips in an altogether natural but entirely erotic gesture and Bliss found herself somewhat mortified by the fact she was getting turned on. Jerking away from the other woman, she gave a nervous smile and started to pull away but found herself stilled by Blanche’s hand resting lightly on her shoulder. “Relax, Ruthless,” she said genially, her hand sliding down Bliss’ arm before putting it on her leather clad hip. “I don’t bite. Not unless you want me to.”
“I have to go,” Bliss enforced, backing away from the other woman quickly, but not quickly enough to witness the appearance of Maven in the club only to be followed by her immediate departure upon seeing Bliss with Blanche.
Pushing her way through the crowd, Bliss did her best to forget that predatory gleam in Blanche’s eyes but she couldn’t just because it unsettled her in a way that was impossible to shake off. Suddenly all those warnings she had gotten about the other woman weren’t so needless.
--
Anxious to have the situation resolved after over a month of unrest, Bliss arrived exactly at one o’clock, walking into the Hickory Street Bar and Grill and immediately locked her gaze onto the table where the Holy Rollers sat. Maven saw her approach and she wore that sullen look that Bliss had gotten more and more familiar with over the past few weeks and she got up, leaving the table just as Bliss arrived. Sighing at this, Bliss looked at Jackie who had a scathing look on her features that Bliss hadn’t seen since she first started dating Maven and Jackie was convinced she would do something to hurt her.
“Jackie?” asked Bliss with genuine confusion. “What’s going on?”
“I warned you about Blanche, didn’t I?” demanded Jackie, rising to her feet, and Bliss would have felt the desire to back away from how angry the other woman was but she felt her own anger rising in response. “Why didn’t you listen?”
“I listened! I didn’t do anything with Blanche,” Bliss protested and she formed a disturbed expression as she recalled their final encounter at the club. “She was really creeping me out. I think she was trying to hit on me.”
“That’s what Maven thinks too,” said Smother Theresa and for the first time Bliss looked at the rest of the Holy Rollers and she was reminded by her initial impression of them when it came to Maven. That they would go after her like a pack of wolves if she ever did anything to hurt her and suddenly it seemed like that scenario was all too likely.
“Wait,” said Bliss, her eyes going wide. “Emily was there? For how long?”
“Long enough,” stated Princess Slaya icily.
Wearing a scowl, Bliss started to offer a retort but she felt a soft touch at her arm and looked down to see Malice peering up at her. Out of all of them, it was the newest Holy Roller who had the calmest expression on her face. “None of that matters,” she said quietly and she jerked a thumb at Maven who was slouched at the bar, drinking a beer and picking at its label. “Go on.”
Nodding her head and swallowing hard, Bliss made her way through the restaurant and in the back of her mind she wondered how things had become so difficult between her and Maven. She meant it when she told Rosa that she and Maven didn’t have a fairy tale romance but she thought they had a good one all the same. That they truly loved and cared for one another and while Maven was abrasive and she could be downright rude, she was always so sweet to Bliss when it really counted but lately it was as if all that just went away. It wasn’t as if Maven returned to being how she was in the beginning, being cruel just for the sake of it and letting her jealousy rule her behavior, but she was distant and she was cold and Bliss sometimes wondered if Maven even loved her anymore from how she was acting. Stopping next to the older woman at the bar, she climbed onto a bar stool and studied the clenched line of Maven’s jaw and reached out to touch her only to have Maven block her hand.
“Emily,” Bliss sighed, torn between concern and anger over the situation. “We need to talk about this.”
“I saw you with her, Bliss,” Maven said in a bitter accusation, though her eyes remained fixed on the beer bottle as she continued to remove the label.
“I know, they told me,” said Bliss and she wanted to say more, she wanted to work this out, but she wasn’t sure anymore that they could. At the very least she knew it wouldn’t happen in public, not with how Maven was behaving. “If I come over to the loft tonight will you promise to be there?” Maven didn’t reply, she simply nodded, and this time Bliss moved with determination, her hand gentle but firm on Maven’s cheek, turning her head and looking into her eyes as she said, “I love you.” The kiss was brief but powerful and Bliss could only hope that it would leave some impression on her wayward girlfriend.
--
Upon exiting the restaurant, the first thing Bliss did was call Smashley and Eva. She knew both women’s schedules well enough to realize they wouldn’t be working and asked, as politely as she could manage, for them to come over to her apartment. This had gone on for long enough, she was sick of the silence and the secrecy and if she was going to get anywhere with Maven then she needed to know the whole story. The pieces that Maven was hiding from her and would continue to stay hidden unless she could manage to drag them out of the few people in the league who were around to know what really happened.
Part of Bliss felt ashamed for wanting to invade Maven’s privacy but at this point she didn’t believe the older woman would ever tell her the truth of what went on between her and Blanche. While she had gotten some knowledge from Blanche herself, Bliss didn’t trust her, and the more she thought back to their encounter at ‘Bout Time the more she felt something was just off about it. Blanche was charming and genial, yes, but it was as if there was an ulterior motive behind it and that feeling unsettled Bliss enough that she felt it was necessary to call Smashley and Eva to get some definitive answers about Maven’s past.
Once everyone was gathered at her apartment, with Rosa as an actively interested spectator, Bliss glared at Smashley and Eva who sat on her couch looking very similar to children waiting to be punished by their school principal. “Spill it,” Bliss commanded. “No excuses, no avoiding, just tell me what the hell went on between my girlfriend and Blanche Davidian. If either of you give the smallest shit about me and my relationship you’ll tell me because you know that Emily won’t.”
“Way to guilt trip,” remarked Smashley, sounding thoroughly bummed out as she said this.
“You know what? I don’t care, this has gone on long enough,” said Bliss irritably, sitting on the chipped coffee table and staring the women down. “I get why you kept quiet, you were trying to protect Emily, respect her privacy, and I love you both for that but I can’t let it go on like this. I need to know why she’s acting the way she is if I’m going to even start to fix things.”
“Blanche and Maven were together before Maven joined the league, before Blanche even joined,” Eva said in soft but solemn tones and Bliss focused her attention on the blonde. “From what I hear, Blanche played for maybe a season then Maven joined.” She drifted her gaze over to Smashley who had joined the TXRD well before Eva. “Is that right?”
“Yeah,” said Smashley reluctantly, nodding her head. Bliss looked to her teammate who groaned and released a tiny howl of frustration as she ran her fingers through her hair. “This is wrong, man!” she cried. “Maven would get so pissed at us gossiping.”
“Smashley, please,” Bliss entreated, somehow knowing her anger wasn’t going to help the other Hurl Scout to get over her desire to protect Maven by keeping her mouth shut about whatever happened in the past. “I’m not doing this to piss her off. I’m doing it so we can be happy again. I don’t know how much you pay attention to me and her, seeing as you find us disgustingly cute, but we haven’t been right… not since Blanche got into town and I need to know why.”
Smashley studied Bliss before hitting her forehead with the palm of her hand as she proclaimed, “Fine! If I’m gonna spill I’ll spill it all. That way at least Maven’s getting pissed over something good for once.” Bliss started to thank her but the other woman waved it off and said, “Eva’s right. Blanche joined the league first, made a huge fucking splash with the Widows, was hell on wheels and then the next season Maven tries out. Back in the day, the Holy Rollers, they were like we used to be before you joined the team. Didn't give a shit about winning but Maven worked her ass off and the next thing you know, the Holy Rollers are winning every bout, including the ones against Blanche and the Widows.” Scratching the back of her head, Smashley squinted and continued, “I don’t know how long they were together before they joined the league. Maybe two years?”
“That’s what Blanche told me once,” Eva revealed.
“I dunno what they were like before they joined the league but once Maven showed up and started kicking everyone’s ass? Including Blanche’s?” Smashley shook her head and had such a grave look on her face it would have been comical if it wasn’t for the fact that what she was saying was utmost importance to Bliss’ relationship with Maven. “It wasn’t good.” Smashley squinted at Bliss again, seeming to be in deep contemplation as she said, “Sorta why I wondered why she dated you at first. I mean, I know you got mad at me for saying you guys would break up but I figured with how things ended with Blanche that Maven wouldn’t do anything but friendly fucks with somebody in the league. That’s how it was until you came along.”
“They broke up because Blanche was jealous of Maven for winning?” asked Bliss, thinking back to that night early in their relationship, where she asked Maven why she had been so mean to her and discovered jealousy involving roller derby was the cause.
Eva and Smashley exchanged a look and for a moment Bliss became angry as she expected them to make excuses once again but instead Eva shook her head and said, “They broke up because Blanche cheated on her.”
“Lots,” agreed Smashley, nodding her head solemnly.
“Lots?” Bliss echoed. “What do you mean by that?”
“Lots means lots, Ruthless,” said Smashley as if Bliss was an especially slow child. “Means once they split anytime Maven so much looked at another chick boom! Blanche would move in and suddenly that chick wasn’t Maven’s anymore. I guess you could say since Maven wasn’t with Blanche anymore she wasn’t cheating, those chicks were, but whatever.” Shrugging, she plopped back on the couch and said, “Maybe Blanche figured if she couldn’t beat Maven on the track then she’d do it off.”
“That’s fucked up,” Rosa finally spoke up, looking utterly disgusted and fixing her attention on Eva who looked abashed when Rosa focused on her. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about this when you were going on and on about your old captain?”
“Rosa,” Eva sighed and looked at the other woman plaintively. “I know what she did was wrong but she’s not a totally bad person, all right? Blanche is just really warped when it comes to Maven for some reason.”
“That’s one way to call it,” said Rosa, sounding disgruntled.
If there was one thing Bliss knew for certain about Maven it was that she was a proud person. She wasn’t someone who liked to admit weakness and what she had gone through with Blanche, what Blanche had done to her, Bliss realized instinctually that Maven would think she was weak for letting all that happen to her. Much less allowing herself to continue to be effected by it and suddenly Bliss understand all too well why Maven had been acting the way she had.
“Why,” Bliss muttered, staring helplessly at Eva and Smashley who looked at her in joint confusion. Blinking back the tears and swallowing, trying to calm herself by holding onto the anger she felt towards Blanche, she said, “Why would she date me after all that? It must’ve been like seeing a repeat of what happened with Blanche in the beginning except being on the other side of the fence. I don’t think I would’ve dated me after going through that.”
“Maven thinks you’re hot,” offered Smashley, wearing a huge grin and looking strangely pleased with herself when Bliss stared at her with wide and disbelieving eyes at her apparent insensitivity. “Plus she loves you and stuff.”
“And stuff is right,” Rosa remarked humorously. “Girl,” she put her hands on Bliss’ knees and gave them a good shake. “Don’t put yourself in a fix about this, thinking about the why and the how. You know what you need to now go and fix things, you hear?”
“Okay,” said Bliss, taking a deep breath and nodding her head, mentally preparing for what was ahead.
ONTO PART THREE
SERIES: Whip It
AUTHOR: Dreiser
EMAIL: dreiser7@yahoo.com
YAHOO ID: dreiser7
MY WEBSITE: http://www.dreiser.org/
CONTENT: F/F romance. F/F sex. Babe Ruthless/Iron Maven. Third fic in the Versus and Pace Line series. I can't seem to quit writing. It's problematic.
SUMMARY: Babe Ruthless thought roller derby was a lot like life, just when things are going good you're hit with a hip check.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but my enjoyment for taking naps.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you've read the book version of Whip It please don't get confuzzled. Malice In Wonderland in this fic is an original character and has nothing to do with the book version of Maggie Mayhem. I just had to use the name since it's so good. If you want to hear Maven's fictional taste in music and some good Johnny Cash songs download this.
Hip Check
By: Dreiser
Part Two...
The season was well under way with five bouts already occurring and Maven’s declaration for an undefeated season with the Holy Rollers in full effect, with them winning all of their bouts and tying them with the Hurl Scouts. Over her time with the TXRD Bliss had gained a certain talent for knowing how a season would turn out. Whether it would be fairly predictable in how things happened or it would be a series of utterly crazy events. The second championship the Hurl Scouts won was like that. Nobody could have predicted Maven breaking her arm on the track during a bout with the Black Widows, and mono taking out half the blockers on the Hot Tamales, leaving the Hurl Scouts to battle it out with the Fight Attendants for the title.
When news struck about Laverne N. Surly getting into a car accident which left her with a neck in traction and a broken leg just one week after General Anesthesia discovered she was pregnant after ten months of trying with her husband there was little doubt in Bliss’ mind this season was going to be anything but normal. With two Black Widows out of the game, for the first time in the history of the TXRD they had a team without enough players to compete. While they maintained their competitive streak on the track and at certain league events, that didn’t stop the sense that everyone in the league took care of one another and right now, the Black Widows were in serious need of some help if they wanted to keep playing throughout the season.
Bouts were put on temporary hold with apologies to the fans and they called a league meeting to try and figure out how to get the Black Widows up and skating again. The stands were filled with rollergirls with Razor and a few of the coaches up front with Eva Destruction who, as captain of the Black Widows, was leading the meeting. Bliss sat between Maven and Smashley, watching Eva clear her throat and offer that glittering smile which always served to win her so many fans.
“On behalf of the other Widows, I want to thank everybody for coming out,” Eva began. “As you know, we’ve been having a tough time of it and the way I see it, there’s two things we can do to keep playing this season. The first is having emergency try outs to find a new player, which would put the season on hold for at least two weeks. The second is to have a ringer come in, somebody to play with the Widows temporarily, just till the end of the season. Now, we’ve got somebody in town who fits the second option perfectly but we wanted to put both of these to a vote before we went and put a uniform on her.”
“We’re going to do this the informal way,” announced Victor, the coach for the Black Widows. “If you’re for the try outs to get a new permanent Black Widow, raise your hand now.” A pause and a few hands went up, around fifteen or so, then Victor said, “If you say we get a ringer and do try outs at the end of the season, raise your hand.” This time, a sea of hands rose up, Bliss and Maven’s among their numbers, and Victor turned to Eva as he said, “I guess we have our answer.”
“Somehow I knew you bitches would pick the second option,” said Eva playfully, grinning when a chorus of laughter met her remark. “Which is why I asked the ringer to come and give us a visit. For a lot of you she’ll be a new face but for some of the TXRD veterans she’ll always be the person who trained my ass.” Turning on her heel, Eva made a sweeping gesture and a svelte figure with short black hair in a pixie cut donning an all black outfit that would put even Eva to shame skated into the warehouse, stopping at the blonde’s side and offering a dazzling smile. “My former team captain, Blanche Davidian.”
“Ladies,” Blanche seemed to purr, doing a little curtsy which Bliss found absurdly charming.
She turned to Maven to ask if she knew Blanche but the question died on Bliss’ lips when she saw how Maven’s naturally tan skin had taken on a pale hue. The older woman looked like she was either going to punch someone or throw up and Bliss instantly felt a swell of panic. She’d been there when Maven had broken body parts, when she’d gotten return to sender on the Christmas card to her parents, and when she found out her little sister was moving away just as they were getting to know each other and none of those admittedly terrible events made Maven look anything like this.
“Emily?” Bliss said her name in a hush, touching her arm, her worry increasing when Maven kept her gaze fixed on Blanche, refusing to look Bliss’ way as her jaw clenched into a hard line. “Emily,” Bliss said her name again, a little louder, squeezing on the other woman’s arm until Maven finally met their eyes. Although there was very little acknowledgement for Bliss in her gaze, she looked as if her mind was in another place entirely and that place didn’t appear to be a very pleasant one. “What is it?”
Shaking her head, Maven muttered, “Not here.”
“But-” Bliss started to protest only to find her words falling on deaf ears as Maven got up and made her way out of the warehouse, pushing her way through the crowd going down to greet Blanche. She started to head after Maven but stopped when her arm was gripped by Smashley who was wearing an unnaturally solemn look on her features. “Smashley?”
“Let her go,” said Smashley, her eyes just as somber as her voice, and while Bliss could count on one hand the times that her fellow Hurl Scout was actually serious she knew that this was one of those times. “Trust me when I say it’s better for everybody here if Maven puts herself as far away from Blanche as she can get.”
“She’s right,” Maggie added quietly, a frown on her features, arms folded over her chest.
“Maggie?” said Bliss, feeling irritated by her constant questioning state but unable to stop it as she was totally lost. “Will one of you all please tell me what in the hell is going on? Why did my girlfriend just run out of here like she’s on fire?”
Smashley and Maggie exchanged a look which only served to further irritate Bliss and Jackie’s voice suddenly descended upon them, sardonic and laced with anger as she said, “This is a pile of horseshit. Eva should’ve warned Maven soon as she knew.”
“Knew what?” Bliss demanded, getting really sick of asking questions and not getting any answers.
Another look was exchanged between Smashley, Maggie, and Jackie and just when Bliss was about to erupt in total frustration, Maggie shifted uncomfortably and said, “You ought to ask Maven. We shouldn’t tell you about this.”
“Jackie,” said Bliss, turning to the Holy Roller, sure she’d take her side.
Moving her death glare away from Blanche and softening when she looked to Bliss, the other woman scratched her cheek then said reluctantly, “Maggie’s right. You need to ask Maven about it. This isn’t the sort of thing you hear from other people.”
“Yeah, man,” said Smashley wisely, nodding her head, and thoroughly annoying Bliss in the process.
“Fine!” Bliss declared, throwing her hands up in the air, a scowl etched onto her features. “I’ll ask Emily.”
The problem with this was getting a hold of her first which Bliss found incredibly difficult that day and then when she did see her the day after that Maven wouldn’t tell her anything. She would only give vague allusions as to why she had an issue with Blanche even after Bliss insisted she knew it had to be something more than that. Going back to Smashley, Maggie, and Jackie did little good as they were adamant in their unified stance on not betraying Maven about whatever it was having to do with Blanche. And so the season went on and Bliss remained utterly and completely frustrated while experiencing a distance forming with her girlfriend that hadn’t existed since they admitted their feelings for one another. It was almost like being back in the old days when she first joined the league only Maven wasn’t being overtly hostile to her, she was avoiding her and was perpetually sullen. It was at times like this that Bliss truly despised the portion of Maven’s personality that seemed to block her ability to talk about her feelings. Especially when it seemed to Bliss that trend was nothing more than the older woman just not giving a shit. She could see how worked up Bliss was about this, how worried she was, but she did nothing to explain nor reassure.
It all came to a head when the season started up again with Blanche making her debut with the Black Widows in their bout against the Hot Tamales. Further enforcing Bliss’ belief that no matter what Maven said something had gone on between her and Blanche was the fact that the older woman didn’t attend the bout even though she went to every bout when physically able. By way of an excuse, Maven said she was busy with a back piece at the shop and that much Bliss knew was true as she had stopped in and saw the customer that Maven was speaking of who was doing a portrait of their deceased father.
Determined to get to the bottom of this invisible drama, Bliss went to the party at ‘Bout Time meant to celebrate Blanche’s return to the league which was in full swing with plenty of exuberant Black Widows celebrating their victory over the Hot Tamales. She made her way through the crowd with a purpose, eyes narrowing until she found the figure of Blanche at the bar with Eva. There was a battle of the glittering smiles between the two women and watching them Bliss wondered if roller derby wasn’t the only thing that Eva learned from Blanche. They shared the same glamorous aura that seemed to draw in admirers like flies to honey and their reaction to it was very similar although Blanche appeared much more welcoming to any advances than Eva.
Walking up to them, she touched Eva on the small of her back, smiling when the blonde turned to her. Jerking her thumb to her roommate who was chatting with Johnny Rocket, she said, “Rosa wants you.” She would have felt bad for lying but Bliss knew for certain that just mentioning Rosa’s name would ensure Eva’s departure as she had a habit of jumping to attention whenever the other woman was involved. As predicted, Eva immediately went in the direction of Rosa, leaving Bliss alone with Blanche who focused that trademark glittering smile on her. “Blanche Davidian,” Bliss began, not sure how to start this conversation.
“Babe Ruthless,” replied Blanche, her voice a purr, and a twinkle in her eyes. She leaned towards the shorter woman as she said, “Aren’t you going to congratulate me on the win?”
“Congratulations,” said Bliss dryly. Resting against the bar, she arched an eyebrow and said, “But from what I hear winning is pretty normal for you. That’s how it was when you were in the TXRD before moving to LA and joining the Derby Dolls, isn’t it?”
“Someone’s been doing their research on me,” Blanche chuckled, her fingers tapping lightly on her glass of rum and coke. Pointing a perfectly manicured finger at Bliss, she continued, “I heard you’ve been sniffing around.”
“Oh?” questioned Bliss cautiously. Beyond the charm and the flirting, she still wasn’t sure what to make of Blanche and that made her more than a little wary considering the reaction Blanche caused in Maven. “What else did you hear?”
“Nothing much,” said Blanche casually, moving forward to sidle up to Bliss, close enough that the younger woman blushed at their proximity. “Just that you were curious about the good old days.”
“Something like that,” Bliss admitted, wishing her blush would go away but knowing it just wasn’t.
“I also hear you’ve got a thing going with Emily,” continued Blanche and there was a glint in her eyes that made Bliss feel as if she was an insect caught in the other woman’s spider web. It made her altogether nervous to say the least.
“It’s not a thing,” Bliss frowned, wondering about Blanche's use of Maven's real name. “We’ve been together for almost two years.”
Releasing a clucking sound that was somehow both sexy and derisive at the same time, Blanche reached out to curl a lock of Bliss’ hair around her finger. “Two years,” Blanche repeated, looking thoughtful and sliding closer yet to the other woman. “That’s a decent amount of time.” A smile formed on her lips, slow and easy, and it had a mocking tinge to it. “How’s it going?”
“Good until you came along,” said Bliss harshly, pulling away from Blanche, her frown returning.
“Me?” asked Blanche, wearing a coquettish expression and despite herself Bliss thought it suited Blanche well. “What did I do?”
“Look,” said Bliss with certain irritation. “I just want to know what went on with you and Emily. She won’t tell me anything but I know something had to have happened from how she’s acting so please…”
Blanche paused to study Bliss for a long moment then she said, “You really care about her, don’t you?”
“I’m in love with her,” corrected Bliss, a stern look on her features.
Chuckling at this, Blanche took a drink of her rum and coke then set it on the bar with a thud. “So was I,” she revealed sardonically.
“What?” Bliss said, her eyes going wide, her chest suddenly tight and her stomach gaining a sick feeling.
“Three years, five months, and nineteen days we were together,” Blanche said, finishing off her drink. She wore a taunting look on her sharp features and said, “Do I have you beat?”
“It’s not a game,” said Bliss in hard tones.
“Never said it was,” replied Blanche easily, waving down the bartender for another drink. Fixing her gaze back on Bliss, she said, “It was fantastic while it lasted but when it fell apart it was a huge mess.” Dipping her index finger into her newly arrived glass of rum and coke and stirring it around, she continued, “You know what I mean, right? Or else you wouldn't be here. Once Em clams up she does it good and there’s nothing you can get out of her and it’s like you’re dating a robot.” Blanche chuckled and added, “A really hot robot that’s bitchy and can fuck the hell out of you but still a robot.” Bliss started to protest this but Blanche cut her off and said, “No point in denying it. I can tell she’s doing it to you now or we wouldn’t be talking like this.”
Despite herself, Bliss could feel her attitude towards Blanche shifting much like it did with Malice. She understood where Blanche was coming from and while she didn’t like the comparison of Maven to a robot she did know where it was emerging from because Maven had been treating her with that same cold indifference that Blanche had described for the past few weeks. Moving forward, drawn to Blanche and desperate to understand, she asked, “How do I fix it?”
Blanche started to reply but the words never left her lips as they were suddenly flanked by the Holy Rollers. “Well,” Blanche chuckled again, picking up her rum and coke and giving them a salute with her drink. “That’s my cue to leave.” Her lips quirked into a charming smile and she nodded at Bliss as she said, “Nice talking to you, Ruthless.”
Faced with the Holy Rollers, Bliss was thoroughly annoyed that her conversation with the one person who bothered to give her an honest answer was at an end because of their interruption. “What?” Bliss demanded, hands on her hips. “Now you all want to talk to me after I’ve been after you for weeks now?”
“Maven,” Jackie started only to find herself silenced by a furious Bliss.
“Won’t talk to me! Don’t you think I’ve tried? She spends half her time avoiding me and until now I had no clue why!” Bliss burst out, all of her frustrations erupting at once. “And I still don’t know exactly why but at least Blanche gave me some sort of answer.”
“You shouldn’t trust her,” warned Jackie, frowning.
“Why?” Bliss challenged and when Jackie faltered, she threw her hands up and focused on the approaching figures of Rosa and Eva. No doubt Rosa had witnessed the scene and was coming over out of concern for her roommate. “Eva,” she said, looking at the Black Widow expectantly. “Tell them that Blanche isn’t the devil.”
“What? Of course she isn’t,” Eva laughed, looking to Jackie. “What have you been saying to her?”
“Nothing, it’s what your old captain has,” retorted Jackie with a scowl. Focusing back on Bliss, her features calmed slightly, and she stepped closer and said, “I know Maven hasn’t been talking but you know how she gets. Just keep trying.”
“Jackie,” Bliss sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead, feeling a headache forming. “I just want to know what’s going on and I can’t do that if she won’t speak to me. Don’t you see my problem here?”
The Holy Rollers exchanged a look then they turned back to Bliss, looking as unified as ever and Smother Theresa declared, “We’ll talk to her. Make her spill everything to you.”
“Yeah,” Princess Slaya nodded emphatically.
“You all don’t have to do that,” protested Bliss though she was appreciative for any help at this point.
“The captain’s being stupid,” enforced Mary Jane Pain, scowling as she thought about it. “We gotta stop her.”
“We’re having lunch tomorrow at the Hickory Street Bar and Grill on Congress at noon,” informed Jackie. “We’ll make sure she’s there and give her a talking to. You just show up around one, okay?”
“Okay,” said Bliss, looking at the Holy Rollers, smiling gratefully. With that, they exited and Bliss focused on Rosa and Eva. In particular, the Black Widow who appeared distinctly uncomfortable. “Eva,” Bliss began. “You were around when they dated, weren’t you? Blanche and Emily?”
“I was,” admitted Eva and she bit down on her lower lip, something that Bliss had heard from Rosa was a clear sign of Eva experiencing more than a little anxiety. “What do you want to know?”
“You mean you’ll tell me?” asked Bliss wryly, snorting humorously when Eva looked at her with surprise. Shaking her head, she murmured, “Forget it.” She started to walk away but stopped when she felt a soft hand wrap around her wrist, turning back Bliss saw Eva looking at her with an expression of veiled worry. “Eva?”
“I care about Blanche,” said Eva simply. “She’s the one who got me into derby and she’s the one who taught me everything I know about skating but Jackie’s not exactly wrong when she says you should be careful around her.”
Instead of pursuing it further, sensing that somehow that was all she would get out of Eva at the time, Bliss nodded and feeling thoroughly exhausted, she decided to head back to her apartment. Making her way through the club, she spotted Blanche who met her gaze and waved her over and despite herself, Bliss found herself heading the other woman’s way. “Let me guess,” said Blanche with a smirk, lifting a perfectly shaped eyebrow, her bow lips forming an ironic smile. “They all warned you about me.”
“Yes, they did,” said Bliss, unable to help the laughter that escaped her. Tilting her head, she questioned, “Why is that?”
“I’m dangerous?” Blanche suggested, forming a silly expression on her sharp features, causing Bliss to shake her head and laugh again. Giving an elegant shrug of her shoulders, Blanche said, “Em’s the one who stuck around and I’m the chick that ditched Austin for LA. To the victor goes the spoils. But don’t worry,” Blanche drawled, leaning towards Bliss, putting their faces just a breath apart, her face lighting up with that glittering smile she produced so effortlessly. “It doesn’t hurt my feelings.”
“Somehow I think nothing much does,” said Bliss drolly.
The tip of a pink tongue darted over Blanche’s lips in an altogether natural but entirely erotic gesture and Bliss found herself somewhat mortified by the fact she was getting turned on. Jerking away from the other woman, she gave a nervous smile and started to pull away but found herself stilled by Blanche’s hand resting lightly on her shoulder. “Relax, Ruthless,” she said genially, her hand sliding down Bliss’ arm before putting it on her leather clad hip. “I don’t bite. Not unless you want me to.”
“I have to go,” Bliss enforced, backing away from the other woman quickly, but not quickly enough to witness the appearance of Maven in the club only to be followed by her immediate departure upon seeing Bliss with Blanche.
Pushing her way through the crowd, Bliss did her best to forget that predatory gleam in Blanche’s eyes but she couldn’t just because it unsettled her in a way that was impossible to shake off. Suddenly all those warnings she had gotten about the other woman weren’t so needless.
--
Anxious to have the situation resolved after over a month of unrest, Bliss arrived exactly at one o’clock, walking into the Hickory Street Bar and Grill and immediately locked her gaze onto the table where the Holy Rollers sat. Maven saw her approach and she wore that sullen look that Bliss had gotten more and more familiar with over the past few weeks and she got up, leaving the table just as Bliss arrived. Sighing at this, Bliss looked at Jackie who had a scathing look on her features that Bliss hadn’t seen since she first started dating Maven and Jackie was convinced she would do something to hurt her.
“Jackie?” asked Bliss with genuine confusion. “What’s going on?”
“I warned you about Blanche, didn’t I?” demanded Jackie, rising to her feet, and Bliss would have felt the desire to back away from how angry the other woman was but she felt her own anger rising in response. “Why didn’t you listen?”
“I listened! I didn’t do anything with Blanche,” Bliss protested and she formed a disturbed expression as she recalled their final encounter at the club. “She was really creeping me out. I think she was trying to hit on me.”
“That’s what Maven thinks too,” said Smother Theresa and for the first time Bliss looked at the rest of the Holy Rollers and she was reminded by her initial impression of them when it came to Maven. That they would go after her like a pack of wolves if she ever did anything to hurt her and suddenly it seemed like that scenario was all too likely.
“Wait,” said Bliss, her eyes going wide. “Emily was there? For how long?”
“Long enough,” stated Princess Slaya icily.
Wearing a scowl, Bliss started to offer a retort but she felt a soft touch at her arm and looked down to see Malice peering up at her. Out of all of them, it was the newest Holy Roller who had the calmest expression on her face. “None of that matters,” she said quietly and she jerked a thumb at Maven who was slouched at the bar, drinking a beer and picking at its label. “Go on.”
Nodding her head and swallowing hard, Bliss made her way through the restaurant and in the back of her mind she wondered how things had become so difficult between her and Maven. She meant it when she told Rosa that she and Maven didn’t have a fairy tale romance but she thought they had a good one all the same. That they truly loved and cared for one another and while Maven was abrasive and she could be downright rude, she was always so sweet to Bliss when it really counted but lately it was as if all that just went away. It wasn’t as if Maven returned to being how she was in the beginning, being cruel just for the sake of it and letting her jealousy rule her behavior, but she was distant and she was cold and Bliss sometimes wondered if Maven even loved her anymore from how she was acting. Stopping next to the older woman at the bar, she climbed onto a bar stool and studied the clenched line of Maven’s jaw and reached out to touch her only to have Maven block her hand.
“Emily,” Bliss sighed, torn between concern and anger over the situation. “We need to talk about this.”
“I saw you with her, Bliss,” Maven said in a bitter accusation, though her eyes remained fixed on the beer bottle as she continued to remove the label.
“I know, they told me,” said Bliss and she wanted to say more, she wanted to work this out, but she wasn’t sure anymore that they could. At the very least she knew it wouldn’t happen in public, not with how Maven was behaving. “If I come over to the loft tonight will you promise to be there?” Maven didn’t reply, she simply nodded, and this time Bliss moved with determination, her hand gentle but firm on Maven’s cheek, turning her head and looking into her eyes as she said, “I love you.” The kiss was brief but powerful and Bliss could only hope that it would leave some impression on her wayward girlfriend.
--
Upon exiting the restaurant, the first thing Bliss did was call Smashley and Eva. She knew both women’s schedules well enough to realize they wouldn’t be working and asked, as politely as she could manage, for them to come over to her apartment. This had gone on for long enough, she was sick of the silence and the secrecy and if she was going to get anywhere with Maven then she needed to know the whole story. The pieces that Maven was hiding from her and would continue to stay hidden unless she could manage to drag them out of the few people in the league who were around to know what really happened.
Part of Bliss felt ashamed for wanting to invade Maven’s privacy but at this point she didn’t believe the older woman would ever tell her the truth of what went on between her and Blanche. While she had gotten some knowledge from Blanche herself, Bliss didn’t trust her, and the more she thought back to their encounter at ‘Bout Time the more she felt something was just off about it. Blanche was charming and genial, yes, but it was as if there was an ulterior motive behind it and that feeling unsettled Bliss enough that she felt it was necessary to call Smashley and Eva to get some definitive answers about Maven’s past.
Once everyone was gathered at her apartment, with Rosa as an actively interested spectator, Bliss glared at Smashley and Eva who sat on her couch looking very similar to children waiting to be punished by their school principal. “Spill it,” Bliss commanded. “No excuses, no avoiding, just tell me what the hell went on between my girlfriend and Blanche Davidian. If either of you give the smallest shit about me and my relationship you’ll tell me because you know that Emily won’t.”
“Way to guilt trip,” remarked Smashley, sounding thoroughly bummed out as she said this.
“You know what? I don’t care, this has gone on long enough,” said Bliss irritably, sitting on the chipped coffee table and staring the women down. “I get why you kept quiet, you were trying to protect Emily, respect her privacy, and I love you both for that but I can’t let it go on like this. I need to know why she’s acting the way she is if I’m going to even start to fix things.”
“Blanche and Maven were together before Maven joined the league, before Blanche even joined,” Eva said in soft but solemn tones and Bliss focused her attention on the blonde. “From what I hear, Blanche played for maybe a season then Maven joined.” She drifted her gaze over to Smashley who had joined the TXRD well before Eva. “Is that right?”
“Yeah,” said Smashley reluctantly, nodding her head. Bliss looked to her teammate who groaned and released a tiny howl of frustration as she ran her fingers through her hair. “This is wrong, man!” she cried. “Maven would get so pissed at us gossiping.”
“Smashley, please,” Bliss entreated, somehow knowing her anger wasn’t going to help the other Hurl Scout to get over her desire to protect Maven by keeping her mouth shut about whatever happened in the past. “I’m not doing this to piss her off. I’m doing it so we can be happy again. I don’t know how much you pay attention to me and her, seeing as you find us disgustingly cute, but we haven’t been right… not since Blanche got into town and I need to know why.”
Smashley studied Bliss before hitting her forehead with the palm of her hand as she proclaimed, “Fine! If I’m gonna spill I’ll spill it all. That way at least Maven’s getting pissed over something good for once.” Bliss started to thank her but the other woman waved it off and said, “Eva’s right. Blanche joined the league first, made a huge fucking splash with the Widows, was hell on wheels and then the next season Maven tries out. Back in the day, the Holy Rollers, they were like we used to be before you joined the team. Didn't give a shit about winning but Maven worked her ass off and the next thing you know, the Holy Rollers are winning every bout, including the ones against Blanche and the Widows.” Scratching the back of her head, Smashley squinted and continued, “I don’t know how long they were together before they joined the league. Maybe two years?”
“That’s what Blanche told me once,” Eva revealed.
“I dunno what they were like before they joined the league but once Maven showed up and started kicking everyone’s ass? Including Blanche’s?” Smashley shook her head and had such a grave look on her face it would have been comical if it wasn’t for the fact that what she was saying was utmost importance to Bliss’ relationship with Maven. “It wasn’t good.” Smashley squinted at Bliss again, seeming to be in deep contemplation as she said, “Sorta why I wondered why she dated you at first. I mean, I know you got mad at me for saying you guys would break up but I figured with how things ended with Blanche that Maven wouldn’t do anything but friendly fucks with somebody in the league. That’s how it was until you came along.”
“They broke up because Blanche was jealous of Maven for winning?” asked Bliss, thinking back to that night early in their relationship, where she asked Maven why she had been so mean to her and discovered jealousy involving roller derby was the cause.
Eva and Smashley exchanged a look and for a moment Bliss became angry as she expected them to make excuses once again but instead Eva shook her head and said, “They broke up because Blanche cheated on her.”
“Lots,” agreed Smashley, nodding her head solemnly.
“Lots?” Bliss echoed. “What do you mean by that?”
“Lots means lots, Ruthless,” said Smashley as if Bliss was an especially slow child. “Means once they split anytime Maven so much looked at another chick boom! Blanche would move in and suddenly that chick wasn’t Maven’s anymore. I guess you could say since Maven wasn’t with Blanche anymore she wasn’t cheating, those chicks were, but whatever.” Shrugging, she plopped back on the couch and said, “Maybe Blanche figured if she couldn’t beat Maven on the track then she’d do it off.”
“That’s fucked up,” Rosa finally spoke up, looking utterly disgusted and fixing her attention on Eva who looked abashed when Rosa focused on her. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about this when you were going on and on about your old captain?”
“Rosa,” Eva sighed and looked at the other woman plaintively. “I know what she did was wrong but she’s not a totally bad person, all right? Blanche is just really warped when it comes to Maven for some reason.”
“That’s one way to call it,” said Rosa, sounding disgruntled.
If there was one thing Bliss knew for certain about Maven it was that she was a proud person. She wasn’t someone who liked to admit weakness and what she had gone through with Blanche, what Blanche had done to her, Bliss realized instinctually that Maven would think she was weak for letting all that happen to her. Much less allowing herself to continue to be effected by it and suddenly Bliss understand all too well why Maven had been acting the way she had.
“Why,” Bliss muttered, staring helplessly at Eva and Smashley who looked at her in joint confusion. Blinking back the tears and swallowing, trying to calm herself by holding onto the anger she felt towards Blanche, she said, “Why would she date me after all that? It must’ve been like seeing a repeat of what happened with Blanche in the beginning except being on the other side of the fence. I don’t think I would’ve dated me after going through that.”
“Maven thinks you’re hot,” offered Smashley, wearing a huge grin and looking strangely pleased with herself when Bliss stared at her with wide and disbelieving eyes at her apparent insensitivity. “Plus she loves you and stuff.”
“And stuff is right,” Rosa remarked humorously. “Girl,” she put her hands on Bliss’ knees and gave them a good shake. “Don’t put yourself in a fix about this, thinking about the why and the how. You know what you need to now go and fix things, you hear?”
“Okay,” said Bliss, taking a deep breath and nodding her head, mentally preparing for what was ahead.
ONTO PART THREE