“No, it’s okay, I just…”
Handing the book back to me, “No I am sorry that was a jerky thing to do. I was trying to be playful…”
I start to walk over to my spot and he follows, but at a distance. I lay out my blanket and toss down my bag. Then I reach for the hem of my tank top and lift it above my head and let it fall to the blanket and them I shimmy out of my shorts and kick them to the tank top. I’m wearing my pale blue ruffle bikini, it’s not sexy, but it shows off most of my body. I like to think it is somewhat tasteful as swimsuits go. “Ready when you are.” Where did these balls come from?
“Well alright! Let’s go,” He holds out his hand but I don’t take it. I am really trying not to be rude, but it’s not right either. So I play it cool, well as cool as I can possibly be and run past him right into the ocean. The waters cool temperature catches me off guard and I let out a little yelp and he shakes his head at me. God, he is so attractive.
“Little chilly for ya?” He asks with a smirk.
I hold up my forefinger and my thumb to show him “a little bit” and I go in as far as I can to cover my body up, but also not too far where the waves won’t knock me over. As he starts to come out a little further, a couple of attractive women call his name and he hugs them.
Figures as much.
It shouldn’t bother me, I have Josh. Josh. But Josh would never come down here to have fun with me. He is too busy with work and class and now preparing for his internship. I start back in for the shore, I avoid the excited girls bouncing about in the water talking to Derrek. I go right behind him so he doesn’t see me sneaking away either. I make it to my spot and grab my towel and wrap it around myself. As I’m slipping my flip flops back on I hear my name being called from the water’s edge, I don’t look I just go.
Lucky for me I have a spot right in the front by the walk and hop in and as I am backing up I look towards the beach and I see Derrek standing there with his arms open and a confused hurt look on his face.
Don’t look at him Margot. It’s trouble.
I get back in the apartment and I find Maddy alone on our brown suede sofa watching some mindless television show. We differ on entertainment purposes, she likes show the Kardashians and I am a reader and so very proud … those Kardashians…oh boy.
She sees me carrying in my beach bag, “What didn’t want to invite me?”
“Um, you were a little occupied with Michael…” I remind her.
“Oh, right,” She smacks her head. I really hope she hasn’t already seriously forgotten about him or if it were any other guy from not even twelve hours ago. I just eye her in shock and she tells me, “I am kidding Margot. God, take a freaking joke.” Her attitude taking over again. She used to be so pleasant when we first met. We were really close and did a lot together, she even got me into the diner without needing to apply.
We would go to the beach and go sight-seeing, she would show me around. Watch movies, movies are cool in my book they at least have a script and decent real actors. Now? Well I think we kind of intentionally choose our schedule so we don’t have to work together and when we are home I just seem to live in my room. Where all of my book friends and boys live. I know it must sound like I am a cat lady or a middle aged divorcee who reads countless cheesy romance books with Fabio on the cover. I like to think I have more taste than that and I don’t own a single cat.
“What are you doing tonight?” She asks without looking at me, “Oh wait it’s Saturday night, nothing right? Or do you have a shift?”
I stick my tongue out at the back of her head, “No, I’m going out later.”
That catches her attention enough to turn and look at me, “Out? Where?” She has a raised eyebrow.
I am not telling her, because I haven’t fully made up my mind yet about the derby thing yet. “Oh, it’s not much…”
“Yeah,” She rolls her eyes and turns back to Kim’s big butt. That’s all it takes and now I am going. I push my way through my door and whip my bag open and pull out the flyer and read it over:
The Betty Dames vs. The NC Hammers
At Wheels in Durham
Doors 6:30 – First whistle 7:00
Durham? I have heard of it obviously, but I’m drawing a blank on how far it rally is from me so I turn on my phone’s mapping app and type in the address. Ugh, it’s three hours away! That’s a haul and doors open in well three hours. Why bother? My luck I would get turned around and be there even later.
I go to toss it in the trash can by my dresser and stop. Justin will be there… I shyly smile at myself, especially when I think about those muscles. He was so sweet and funny, I could use a laugh right about now. I suck in my bottom lip and flick it, tapping the blue paper I finally toss it on my dresser by my fox and rush to my closet.
What do you wear to one of these things? I don’t have many options so I grab a plain black tank top, skinny jeans and my gray converse. But then I decide to jump in the shower fast to get the sticky salt water off my skin first. I’m in and out at record speed, drying my hair and throwing makeup on. I grab my small little brown leather bag and toss my wallet and phone in it and I rush out the door not giving Maddy the chance to comment.
God knows she would. I just wish I knew what had changed so much even in the past couple of weeks.
I just filled up Blue Belle yesterday so I am good to go. I look at my directions and head for the highway. I’m excited and nervous to see what this is all about. I have heard about it of course, that it’s a bunch of women in pretty much their underwear skating in circles, beating the wits out of one another. I wonder if any of that is true…
One thing I did when I got Blue Belle was I bought a used CD player and had it installed, so I pull out the CD’s that Justin suggested and I go with Three Days Grace. I tear into the plastic wrap and peel the sticker label off while sitting at a red light. I slip the sleek disk into the machine and I am greeted with guitars and drums and lots of angsty energy. I love it. Then a song comes on that really makes me feel a million emotions at once and I wasn’t expecting to get this feeling from any song, I haven’t ever before. Song number four: Home. The feeling of not belonging in your home and feeling like you would just be better on your own. That’s why I left and started new, it started great when I got out of…No, I won’t let this bring down tonight I am too excited about this.
Once one CD ends I start with another that Justin gave me. I think I am now hooked on rock, the words mean so much and I love the tempo and just everything. People told me it’s crap and has bad messages in it, well I completely disagree right now. I have never felt so grounded. I find myself tapping my fingers on my wheel and bobbing my head. I am at the place before I even know it, I think I had a bit of fun on the way.
I check my makeup in the rearview mirror and take in a deep breath. I make my way to the door where people are filing in and showing their tickets or purchasing them. Once I reach the window I tell them exactly what Justin told me too and I blush doing so, “Just-in-yo-mama sent me…” The guy smiles and shakes his head and asks for I.D. and instructs me to hold out my right arm. He sticks a purple wrist band on and tells me to enjoy the show.
“Thanks,” I tell him and I move in with the crowed. I look around for Justin but I don’t see him anywhere, I look to the time on my phone and I have five minutes till first whistle, and I assume that’s the start of the game? I am not sure what it’s considered. I walk around trying to find a spot to stand so I can see the rink. The lights go down and the mirrored disco ball is illuminated and shooting light in every direction. Then I see him, I see Justin holding a mic.
“Alright, alright! Who is ready for the Bout of the night?” He holds his free hand to his ear and the watchers hoot and holler. “I can’t hear you! Are you ready?” My heart skips a beat and I have a huge grin on my face. There is a ton of energy in the place.
“I am Just-in-yo-mama! I am your MC for tonight’s main event! The Betty Dames versus The NC Hammers! Come on o
ut ladies! Give it up for these sexy vixens on four wheels!” He does a body builders show off stance to show his incredible muscles. My breath escapes me in a quick exit and I nearly stumble back. He is in a form fitted light gray shirt that hugs every ripple on his body and in dark wash jeans and black high-top Vans.
People in the crowd are cat calling the girls and howling, even the women! I have to peek around a larger male in front of me, who nearly knocks me out with his elbow, “Hey buddy, watch out for the ladies around you, you would have gotten boxed if you elbow check the beautiful lady behind you.” He points in my direction and I blush when people look my way and the guy turns and apologizes and explains that he is a little excited. I hold up my hands and smile and tell him it’s alright. I look back out to the floor and Justin winks at me.
My gaze drops down to the floor and I hear a couple of girls talking behind me, “I am sure he will be trying to get with that later.” I stunned I turn and my mouth gaps open at them. They notice and give me a “We’ve been caught, oh well,” Kind of look.
“Okay for the first timers to derby, here are the cliff notes, the object of the game is for the teams to score the most points by lapping the opposing team members on the flat track. A game here of roller derby is called a bout and each bout consists of multiple Jams. A Jam is a two minute period, where teams attempt to score points. Are you still with me?” Everyone cheers, even me. “Good, I shall continue to enlighten you, there are five players of each team on the track. One Jammer she’s the lovely lady with a big star on her helmet, she will be scoring the points, three blockers which will be defending the Jammer, in other words watch your backs ladies and one Pivot, she plays defense and is the leader of the pack and she calls the shots! The Pivot has the black strip on her helmet and the blockers make up the team and their job is to stop the other guys from breaking through the pack and scoring, all while helping their Jammer advance. Once the Jammer exits the pack and makes a lap then every opposing team member she passes earn the team a point. A Jam will end then the two minute period is over or the Jammer calls it off.
“Still there? I can’t hear you!” He yells away from the mic and his voice is very commanding, not scary or demanding, but calling for an answer and he receives it. This tone makes me a little weak in the knees. “Now, any blocking from the elbow down, tripping, making a block above the shoulders, charging from behind or blocking a player is out of bounds which gets a penalty and boxed. That is it for the lesson this evening, let the bruising begin! Ladies!” He waves them onto the flat oval track.
He steps back onto the side lines and lets the girls in skates onto the track along with a couple of referees in black and white strip shirts. One team’s colors are white and red, red shirts, red helmets, white knee socks with black pads. One has a big red star on her helmet that is part of a black cloth cover. The opposing team is in black and bright blue. Black shirts, blue helmets, blue and black stripped stockings. They also have a member with a star, hers is black with a blue star. They all make up of different body shapes, hair colors and tattoos. They all stand at different places on the track which are marked with tape. They get into a starting stance, almost like a runners start, but how are they going to get momentum in skates?
The whistle blows and they are off! Holy crap they start fast too! I jump when I hear Justin’s booming voice over the speakers again and now he is calling out every move, jab and fall. You see a couple girls go down and they look pissed already. I would not want to be the one who has to deal with her after the bout.
I am in awe of how structured it looks. I thought it would be a random kind of game, but they obviously practice and develop strategic game plans. They are even going a lot of jumping, which amazes me even more. How on earth?
I take my eyes off the brutality for a moment and I see Justin looking around the crowed keeping them entertained and informed as well and his eyes meet with mine again. Damn it! I don’t think my blood pressure can take any more of this. Between him and this game I am peaking.
A whistle blows and the first Jam is over. The girls go to their benches and grab water bottles and I see other member there as well, probably back up for when one gets hurt, because I am assuming it happens a lot. Justin speaks up again, “Alright you derby freaks, how about I introduce your coaches for the evening?”
I hear more girls then men hoot and holler, what the heck? I would think women coach women right? “For the Betty Dames give it up for Allen Tom Cat!” A scruffy looking guy who looks like he is in his mid-thirties steps out to the floor, waves and eagerly gets back to his girls and they are huddled together, probably going over the next plan.
“And I know you ladies are excited about NC Hammers leading man, the man in charge, the legend himself and I am sure he refers to his penis the same way,” He laughs at his own jokes, bends over and holds his stomach. “Deeeeeerreeeeeeek Mann!” And the girls erupt in screams and whistles and yelling marry me or fuck me baby.
I try to get a good look but people are shifting and girls are bouncing, who is this guy? When the man in front of me turns to see me struggling once again he offers to switch spots so I can see the track finally and I see him.
Derrek. Derrek is the coach for the NC Hammers!
“Or should I say Man Up Mann?” Justin spits off his nickname, causing even more uproar from the women in the rink. Not wanting to see him right now, from what I had seen earlier with the two other girls I start to sink back when the next jam whistle sounds. I start to head for the restroom to compose myself then I feel a hand on my lower back and a body at my side.
Startled I pull away fast and my back is up against a wall, I slam my eyes shut and my head gets light. Don’t, don’t, is all I can think. When I feel a hand on my cheek and a voice in my ear I shoot open my eyes.
“You’re shaking, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” The voice says, but the figure is slightly blurry from my head rush. My head is spinning and I am brought back to the moment and not to where it was I went to just now in my mind. I’m not used to a lot of physical contact, I told Josh about it and Maddy and they both accepted it and never tried to sneak up on me or grab me fast … Well Josh has when he is angry, which only makes this complex even worse.
I shake my head attempting to clear it and to get my blood pressure back to a healthy level. “Um, hi.” Is the only thing I can seem to formulate under this brain fog.
“Hey, yourself, are you alright?” Derrek asks. Derrek is in front of me, nearly nose to nose. He is looking me dead in the eyes, but why? “Your pupils are tiny as hell, are you okay?” His face is stern.
I bring a hand to my face and rub my eyes, “I’m fine, and you just startled me. You really shouldn’t sneak up on someone like that.” I shoot him an accusing look.
“Sorry, I just saw you in the suicide seats and was stunned as hell to see you and here of all places.”
“Suicide seats?”
He bobs his head to the side and looks like what he had just told me was common knowledge, “You know the seats or spots right on the edge of the track, the best place to experience derby and where you can get knocked into.”
“Oh.”
“So why are you here? I mean I’m not complaining. It’s just, you took off this afternoon faster than a bat out of hell and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why.” He really does look clueless and that’s even worse. But with him being this close to my body, my breath hitches again, which seems to happen a lot around him.
I look into his deep green and gold eyes and suck in my lip and begin to nervously flick it with my tongue, when his eyes go from concerned to dark, my core clenches and I don’t know what to think about it. I only get that feeling when I am reading a racy part in one of my books. His eyes set on my mouth and then they close and he takes in a deep breath and pulls away.
“I’m sorry…” He grips a handful of that beautifully untamed blonde hair of his. Now my eyes are set on his hands. They move to his pockets in hi
s black slim fit jeans and I can see a tiny movement where his hand rests. I release my lip and my jaw drops open and he smirks shyly. “So, what are you doing here?”
“I uh, saw a flyer back home and I have been wanting to try something new … or need to, is more like it.” I confess, but I drop my tone on the last part. I think I am still trying to convince myself that it’s okay to venture out of my comfort zone.
Taking a step closer back at me he puts one hand on the wall by my head and tells me, “Well derby is a great way to start.” He smiles and pulls back, giving me some space, “What do you think so far?”
“It is very interesting.”
“Well, I should get back in there, the jam should be done any second and I need to talk to the girls. Want to join me?” He offers a hand and I need to play this safely.
“Thing is I am seeing someone and he doesn’t know I am here and if he found out I took the hand of another guy…” I stop and think what Josh would actually do. He has never had any competition for me or had to fight for me. Would he even fight?
He waits for me to finish and when I don’t he tries to fill in the blank, “He would have me killed? Hand me my ass?”
“I actually don’t know.” I look down with my eyes and furrow my brows together.
Entering back into my personal space he lifts my chin with the knuckle of his forefinger, I slowly lift my gaze to his, “He would be an asshole if he didn’t get pissed. If you were my girl and a guy were to look at you in ... this way, well I am sure as hell he wouldn't be walking for a while.”
My chest starts to pound and I can feel the heat in my cheeks start to flare up. Who says that to someone? At least in real life?
“You don’t even know me.”
He is nearly nose tip to nose tip with me, his breathing sound and steady. “I know you enough that you want to take a risk and that you need a change. You’re right though I don’t know you, but I sure as hell would love to.”
About Time Page 6
