Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2012 16:54:37 GMT -5
I'm trying to reach something on the top shelf of my kitchen cabinet when there's a knock at the door. I let out a sigh before yelling....
"Who is it?"
the door opens and I'm about to have a shit fit when I see that it's only Jackson and he's carrying a big brown box. He shakes his head at me.
"That's really how you answer your door?"
I shrug, still trying to get at the box of vegetable thins on the top. Damn tasty snack cracker...why do you mock me by being so high? I bet it was Justin since he knows that I love them.
"I'm kind of busy if you didn't notice..."
Blaze stops walking and stands there holding the big shipping box, staring at me with a goofy smile on his face. When he does finally speak, it's coated in sarcasm. "If it helps I can get Skeez. Put you on his shoulders; a little teamwork I'm sure you'd get it."
I roll my eyes with a sigh. "for the record I'm an inch taller than the average height for a woman. sorry not every girl can be a freaking Giant like Electra Stevens!" Yeah...jealousy is still there.
Blaze walks over toward a table, setting the box down and gives me a thumbs up. "Well, you go, stumpy. Let me know how the vertically-challenged battle with those snack crackers goes."
I look up at the box, helplessly and know I have no choice. "'wait..." He stops half way to the door, looking at me expectantly, "Can you get them for me..." I half mumble it and I believe there was an uncontrollable pout added for affect. Damn it, I really had to get a step ladder.
Blaze stops, a cocky grin on his face, which is very obvious. He turns his attention toward me. "What was that? Did the completely independent, 'I can do this on my own', Miss Goddess, just ask for my help?"
I let out a frustrated sigh, "Look don't let it get to your head...yes, I'm admitting that I need help. I've been trying to get this fucking box for an hour. I've tried a freaking spatula for god's sake, I was going to use a chair but well, I have a match and I don't want to be out because I fell."
He's laughing at me. I give him an annoyed look but he seems to be unfazed by it. "That would look great. Sorry, Bliss cant make her match cause she got injured in a fight against a box of snack crackers." He continues laughing, obviously finding humour in the thought.
"Just shut your pie hole and get the damn box would you..."
He walks over and reaches up, easily grabbing the box that had tormented me for so long. He hands it over to me. "Here you go, beautiful. Damn crackers put up a hell of a fight, but we finally got 'em under control."
"Fuck you." he laughs at me. I open the top and take one out and put it in my mouth. damn that was as near close to heaven. He watches me a few minutes.... "What? haven't you ever had these?"
He just shakes his head at me again. "Well I'm glad I bring you amusement....what's with the box?"
Blaze shrugs. "I have no fucking clue. I was getting home and saw some delivery guy outside looking for your apartment. So, I thought I'd bring it over for you." His face spread into a cocky smirk, "Not that I was looking for an excuse to see you or anything."
I set the box of crackers down on the counter and moved toward the box that Jackson had brought in. The return address was my Dad's place.
"It's from my dad..." I say a little surprised.
I feel him sliding up behind me and I know he's looking at the box over my shoulder. "A package from your dad, huh? Must be important then."
I laugh. "My dad is a sentimental fool sometimes. It's probably baby clothes or my gymnastic awards. I wouldn't be surprised if he was cleaning out our rooms to make a new gym or something."
I pick up my box of crackers again and start to munch, leaning against the kitchen island. Blaze looks at me with that cocky smile still plastered on his face, "Gymnastic awards, huh? So, that's where you learned to bend like that...."
I give him my own arrogant smile, "Since I was five. I was also a cheerleader...."
I know exactly what he's thinking as he crosses the short distance and trails a finger up my arm. "Hopefully he sent you your cheerleading outfit. That'd be hot to see you in."
Knowing the suspense will kill him, I shrug. "I'll open it later."
He shakes his head. "After your dad went through all the trouble of packaging this for you, you're not even going to open it now?"
"If it bugs you that bad, be my guest. I doubt you'll find anything interesting or sexy in that box... so don't be disappointed when it's full of crap."
He doesn't need any further nudging, and he starts to tear open the box, I'm wondering what he's like at Christmas time if he's this enthusiastic over a box from home. He lifts out a stack of my old comics. Ha...great...I wondered what happened to those.
"It's a bunch of comic books. I didn't know you were a comic chick."
he sets them down on the table and goes searching some more. geez how much stuff did my dad put in that thing. he lifts out a bundle wrapped in tissue paper.
"This doesn't feel like comic books", he says feeling the package.
He slowly tears open the wrapping. I'm a little curious myself...and the fact that he's taking so much care kind of surprises me a little. Once he's got the paper off I see a mix of red and black and his eyes go wide and his mouth drops wide open. He let's it unfold in his hands and my own eyes go wide.
"Hey...it's my comic-con costume. Can't believe Dad found that...."
He looks from the costume to my face, the shock still very apparent in his face..
"You wore this? Holy fuck, Harley Quinn is only the hottest female ever introduced in the comic world. I gotta see you in this."
He looks again at the Harley Quinn costume in his hand. I know that he's probably imagining something dirty involving me wearing it, he smiles before his voice goes lower, "Oh yeah. Thank you very much, Dad."
"I'm not even sure if it still fits. I went to comic-con when I was 16. the worse part was being chaperoned by your brother who decides he's cool cuz he dresses up as the hulk. I mean it's not even the same universe." I shake my head and Blaze looks kind of bored. He's still holding up the costume.
He gives me a little wink. "Well, you know there's only one way to know if it still fits or not..." oh for crying out loud. I knew that if I didn't do it he'd bug me about it forever and a day. I grabbed it from his hand, and his smile grows even wider. why was it whenever he did that I was suddenly reminded of the Grinch. his facial expression would give Jim Carrey a run for his money. I rolled my eyes as I stalked wordlessly past him to the bathroom.
it's a tight fit but amazingly it passes the squat test. I sigh deeply before pulling the head piece down. when I had worn this 8 years ago, I'd put in blue contacts since my eyes were mud brown. well the only inaccuracy but I doubted that Jackson was going to notice that....he wasn't going to be looking at my eyes. I took another deep breath before opening the bathroom door and strutting out.
"Mistah J!" I lean against the wall and smile. It had taken me a few weeks to master the accent.
he starts a slow walk towards me before scooping me off the ground into his arms. I let out a little shriek of surprise. Out of all the things I thought he would do, picking me a la hero was not one of them. He carries me toward the bed lays me down, sliding over and pinning my arms down. He seemed to have this thing about pinning my arms...I guess because of that time when I'd lost my head and drew blood with my nails...oops. He slowly starts to trace the outline of my body with his free fore finger. I was glad that the suit covered the Goosebumps that rose along my skin then he stares into my eyes with a wide, devilish, joker-esque smile.
"Oh, Harley girl. I want you... I want you now."
"I didn't think you were into this sorta thing..." I'm still using the accent.
He's still got me pinned to the bed as he lowers his head to my neck and bites it softly. Slowly, he comes up from my neck to my ear and whispers.
"There's a whole lot we can get into, beautiful."
~*~
I open my eyes groggily and notice that the sun has nearly set and I also notice that bed beside me is not only empty but cold. I roll my eyes and shake my head. If it had been any other guy I might have been pissed but it was Jackson and he had so much going on in his life that I wasn't surprised that he'd split after that... not that it was bad, it just turned out to take up most of the afternoon. It had been enough that I'd fallen asleep....and he wasn't the type to leave a note on your pillow either. it was the perfect relationship for someone like me. I wasn't tied down, I didn't have to answer to anyone...but part of me wondered what he would really do if I happened to hook up with someone else...I mean could he blame me if someone worth a relationship happened to walk by me? Somehow I knew he wasn't the 'going to fight for you' type....but part me couldn't help but wish...want...to say that he was solely mine....
I got out of bed and found my robe. I saw the discarded costume on the ground and unfortunately it was in pretty bad shape now. He had been a little over zealous...so it was pretty much ready for the garbage. I picked it up and walked out to my living room, dumping it in. the comics and the empty box were still on the small table. I'd look through them later.
I wrapped the rope around me a little tighter and my phone started going off. With a roll of my eyes I pick it up.
"hello?" Sure, I'm annoyed. I didn't like people calling me unless it was important and as far as I was concerned, this was far from important.
"Its Tasha Jordan..."
I flip my head back and pinch my nose. How the fuck did she get this number? Crap.
"Yeah...what do you want?"
"An interview... just a short one. Wanna talk to you about your match change..."
"Match change?" What match change?
"Yeah, didn't you hear? Xavier Daniels and Reed Zimmerman both up and quit with no notice...so now your getting paired against Zimmerman's partner..."
Really? Who was that? I wasn't stupid but I can't help it if I don't give a shit about any other matches but my own...and maybe Justin's....
"And who the hell is that?"
"Adian Caine...'
My mouth drops open. I was glad I was at home cuz that would be embarrassing.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"No..not at all...."
"First the ass feeds me drinks and now I have to fight the poor bastard. Well isn't this a fuck-tastic start to an evening. We only have a couple days to the actual match...what the hell was Adams thinking?"
"Well..."
"He could have just let us both advance...I mean we were both the clear winners in our matches anyway...."
"Bliss I don't decide that stuff, I only interview people..."
"Right, Right. Sorry not your fault... occupational hazard. Yeah I guess I owe you shit sniffers an interview...I've been kind of avoiding it for a while now....balls. Where do you want to meet?"
She said she wanted to meet at the headquarters because she didn't have time to do a whole lot of extra stuff due to the match being short notice. When I left I smiled at Jackson's door and wondered what kind of nonsense he was getting into tonight.
With an eye roll I was already down stairs and grabbing a cab. It didn't take long to get to HQ where Tasha was standing out side. I had to admire her clothes though, especially the ankle length boots.
"Hey turns out that the doors are locked. Didn't know they would be locked tighter than fort knock and its not even 9 yet..."
"That's okay, we can go somewhere else....doesn't have to be any where special...where's your camera crew?"
She took a deep breath. "Bailed on me when they saw the door was locked. Mind using my Iphone?"
I laughed. I had to admire her determination to get a story. "Whatever. I don't really wanna do this anyway..." I start to walk away and she runs up behind me to catch up. "You know you really should find yourself some more reliable staff..."
"I know...."
"And you really should talk to people before party time starts...if I hadn't just woken up you wouldn't have caught me."
"You were sleeping?" she raises an eyebrow.
"Headache." I supply. yeah a huge one.
"Oh..." we stop in front of a bar and she looks at me curiously. "Don't you think this will be too noisy?"
"Naw...it will be fine." We go in and get a couple seats at the bar. The bartenders a chick with a forehead that looked like it needed two bolts sticking out of either side. She gives us a nasty look as we sit down. I'm about two seconds away from giving her a fist makeover.
"Just get us some drinks frankenberry and stop with the dirty looks." I say. she looks a little scared and scurries away. Tasha looks at me amazed.
"You don't take any shit do you?" she asks.
"Not usually. Depends on what kind of mood I'm in. I don't go around thinking I'm the most beautiful woman in the world...I'm pretty damn close but however, I don't cause trouble unless it's caused for me first. That chick had already judged you when we walked in."
"Me?"
I smiled. I was arrogant and I was a bitch but I wasn't about to admit that a chick had an issue with me...ha....
"OH yeah. she had you pegged when we sat down. I had to make sure that when your with me, no one messes with you. Girls gotta stick together right?"
Tasha nods. She wasn't going to get some bubble gum pop princess when she was talking to me. No way.
Usually it was the boobs that got dirty looks from other girls...and yes...theses were real. Only thing I've done to myself was the tattoos....and I had a lot of them. I just invested in really good bras....but let em all eat their hearts out.
The waitress gave us our drinks with barely a word. I didn't tip her. I knew that she wouldn't be giving me...ahem...us any more dirty looks. I'm sure that her first impression was that I was a stripper....seemed that my clothing wasn't exactly strip friendly, and if I wasn't mistaken for a stripper I had guys stopping on the road asking me my going rate. I wasn't going to lighten up my appearance because guys were horny. I had two very horny guys in my life right now. One of them I wanted more of, the other could go fuck himself with a light socket for all I cared.
"So..." Tasha presses a button on her phone and I take a big sigh. I couldn't be 100% bitchy Bliss on TV...wasn't cool but i wasn't going to not be myself either....maybe just tone down the swearing a little...just a little. "So this will be your first singles match since joining MPW, your first being in a tag match with your partner Siren."
"That's right. And we kicked ass as a tag team....now too we've got some very influential backing...not that we needed it but every little bit counts you know? that Pussy Drake and the sausage king didn't know what hit him....and look Clash...I just got him all warmed up for you and ready to kill....your welcome...."
"Isn't your new manager married to Johnny Clash?"
"Yeah, I don't give a shit who she's married to. What goes on in the goddess factor, stays with the goddess factor. We had a deal, me and her...I wasn't going to walk on any eggshells when it came to her little TWI buddies...just like I wouldn't expect the same for Justin. This is a dog eat dog world out here and you have to fight for your own survival. Having allies is great...you need them to go anywhere but in the end, when your out there on your own...you gotta fight it on your own. No one is going to go out there and fight my battles anymore. NO-ONE."
"Are you referring to someone in particular? Justin perhaps?"
"No. As you know I'm the youngest of 5 kids and the 4 are all boys. I've grown up my whole life being dominated by my brothers. Having them tell me what to do, what to say, who to date and I'm done. I told Jeremy were to go and now, they all let me do my own thing. Justin tries but he knows better. Jeremy used to think that I couldn't do this myself but he was mistaken, just like anyone out there that thinks that I'm not going to give this match my all is mistaken."
"How did you feel hearing the news that your opponent Xavier Daniels has dropped out?'
I laughed. I put out a hand and held my side in mock hysterical laughter. "Wait Wait... I'm sorry I ...are you serious...." then I got straight faced in the camera. "Give me a break. He just didn't want to get beat by a woman that could knock him down with a breath. I mean come on....he couldn't come up with a better nickname? 3 seconds? Really? I've said my piece about that dick face and it seems that it worked a little too well...not that I wanted to face a guy who couldn't even get the guts to say something to my face....if he thinks that's noble he's dead wrong. "
"So what about your new opponent, Adian Caine?"
I take a deep breath. "Okay lets get one thing straight right off the bat. We're not friends by any means. I went out to a bar with a bunch of people from the company with the idea that we had a temporary truce....that's all. He knows as well as I do that we're not even close to being in the same league. No offence cowboy but this is my show and the only one ridding off into the sunset will be me. Besides, what the hell are you even in this you honour hog....didn't you just win a bloody belt anyway? Shouldn't there be like some kind of law about that.....I mean come on, greedy winner or what? If you don't want the North American belt I'll gladly take it from you."
I take a sip of my drink.
"We've never actually had a chance to see a real confrontation in regards to your opponents before...."
"I look at it this way Tasha, I only talk about opponents that are worth my time. Drake and Kried were not worth my time. They were simply taking out the garbage...." she puts up a finger to silence me a minute.
"Have you gotten a chance to check out Trey Baxter's interview? He has some pretty nasty things to say about you and Jackson Blaze..."
"Like what...let me see this." I pull out my phone and skip past some boring spots and then...the words are shouted at the poor girl interviwing him.
I start to laugh.
"What's so funny about that?" Tasha looks confused.
"After I said that he was a no good husband he comes back with saying that I'm a lousy kisser, a ho and I have STD's....really that's all he's got? Please." I roll my eyes. "I was called worse at the grocery store. You know Trey, I'm starting to think your losing your nerve...I mean I guess I can't blame you for you know...choking against a superstar like Jackson.... but to think that after I insulted your little dead wife...you know, the one who was lying dead by the highway for hours before you got your worthless caucus over there. You wanna come after me with insults Trey then why don't you do it...instead of using pathetic useless kindergarten excuses. You wanna be a real man? Get in my face in that ring. And don't worry I wouldn't Dream of interrupting your match...unlike you I have confidence in my friend's abilities and I know that he's going to make sure you join your little wife. Funny, you said you can't turn a ho into a housewife...who the fuck wanted you for a husband.... and I wouldn't marry you if you were the last disease ridden flea infested dirty scum bag that every walked the strip. And for the record, it was you that wasn't a very good kisser, I was only reacting the lack lustre performance and if I remember correctly, you were the one that kept persisting when I told you to buzz off. and I think you pouted too...Awww" I made a mock pout face at the camera. "Don't play with the big boys son, your bound to get burnt."
I took another long swig this time. What had started out as not being hot headed about it turned into a little more heat then i intended. I continued on after Tasha had interrupted me.
"Now Caine....hmm that's a hard one. I have no doubt this guy is going to bring his A-game and I know that he has no qualms about beating up a woman....but I supposed we don't have to bring up Electra Steven's match a few weeks ago when he beat her up so bad she went whining home to Toronto. Come on Caine...you really believe her lies when she says the only reason she went back was for her sister? She came from NYCCW with a belt and then faced you, gave her heart and soul and you turned her into mince meat." I smiled. "But on the other hand, taking on Electra isn't exactly a hard task. She's almost 6 feet of sappy girly meat...but you like that don't you."
My liquid courage coming a little more violently down my throat.
"Oh I know what your going to say....'you were the one that gave me her number...you wanted me to call her....blah blah blah' yeah I do a lot of stupid things...I consider it an endearing quality of mine....besides that you were sitting on twitter whining about how much you wished she hadn't left and how much you wanted to get to know her...for the love of god I felt bad for you...that and I was tired of listening to it. You know that thing when kids cry for something and eventually after so many times of saying no you finally give in just to shut em up? yeah that was me...only I was telling myself no. Lexi knows I don't like her. She's known since I was 12 years old when Justin brought her home. She hasn't changed. She's still pathetic, but you'll learn that on your own."
Tasha takes a drink of her own glass....she looks a little scared of me. not that I minded.
"is there anything else you want to say?" she asks.
"What? are you kidding? I could talk all night but I know that you have a supposed life so I'll try and wrap it up quickly. now that I've touched a little on how it's going to be fun watching you wrapped around that blonde bimbo's finger from now and until she decides that you, like Drake are nothing but a waste of space, I'll leave it alone for another day....but I haven't even begun to touch on our match. yes a match that we were both just 'thrown' into with no real thought or concern. why because that loser Zimmerman bailed on you as well....but to be honest I think it was a token match you know. Did that guy really think that was going to beat you...with all that grease and hair? Yuck...talk about nasty. the only way he would have one was if he'd rubbed his head on the mat and made you run in it. however now, you and I are left from that disaster and for once they're will be a match that will showcase some real talent around here. I'm going to stop you at the chase there buddy though because if you so much as make a comment about my clothing, my behaviour or even the way I walk I will make sure that you won't have anything left to take to your new Girlfriend in Toronto, got me? None of those things have anything to do with our match. This is about talent bucko. You don't see me making fun of your ears or your lack of fashion so we'll let it drop right there. not asking you to like it though."
Tasha is about to talk and I cut her off.
"this match is about who is going to advance into the finals to get a shot at a contract to have a shot at the World heavy weight championship belt. Wow...must be pretty exciting for you ain't it? I bet. Am I excited? No, not really. Why? Because I know I'm going to win...plus I'm not a stooge. I'm not a poster girl for MPW. I'm not going to skip around the ring like some girl off her rocker. I'm not going to try and flirt with you....like I said before, your not my type. All I'm going to do is go out there and make sure that you get your money's worth. I am a bitch and I do what I have to, to win. I'm not a cheater...now that shit drives me crazy but that doesn't mean that I will not hit a man when he's down and it doesn't mean that I won't use every single move in my arsenal to come out of this victorious. and in the end...at least you have your North American right? now I'm pretty sure I've graced you enough of my gorgeous face. Deny all you want Mr. Adian Caine, we may not be right for each other but that doesn't stop you from lusting after me....and maybe in another life, I might have actually wanted a 'gulp' relationship with someone like you...but alas that ship has sailed."
Tasha turns off her Iphone and takes a long swig of her drink, her eyes wide.
"What's wrong Tashy...more than you bargained for?"
"Your a pistol...that's for damn sure..."
"Hey...I'm rubbing off on you. By the end of the night I'll have so many dirty words in your vocabulary you'll make a Sailor jump ship. another round Frankenberry." I raise my empty glass up to the woman who tries to avoid a dirty look but I notice.
"Listen there Frank. I told you...."
"Shut up you skank...I...." She didn't get another word out before I was across the bar and pounding the shit out of her. Ahhhhh, all in a days work I guess. Super Bliss, ready to take out bar hags across the country.
~*~
I tried to persuade the cops to not press charges for my beat down of Frankenberry the bartender...turns out she had been drinking herself and so I got off on a warning. that was good...didn't need another mark on my record, but my knuckles hurt like hell. She must have steel plates in that enormous head of hers. It was okay, it was just a preview of what I was going to do on Monday night. I wasn't drunk...no I'd only gotten in one beer before that trash whore had started with the dirty looks again. and after that, Tasha didn't feel like sticking around. I'm not drinking alone...that was just sad.... so here I was, 11pm at night and I was actually coming home. Damn that was pitiful. I got to my door and started to open it and I heard a door behind me and I turned, hoping to see Jackson but instead I see Skeez.
"Hey beautiful, what you doing home so early?" he's smiling. there's music inside and he probably has some friends over.
"Ah nothing." I wave him away and his eyes go wide at my busted up knuckles.
"What you do?" he asks. He comes out of the shelter of the door frame and walks over, reaching up and pulling my hand down to his eye level....in doing that he's wrenched me over at an odd angle. "Pretty nasty looking..." He let go and I straightened.
"Beat up someone." I supplied.
"Are you drunk?" he asks with a mirthful smile and I know he's a had a few himself.
"Not in the least. It's depressing."
"why because the boss isn't home?" he's still smirking. "I can send him over when he gets home if you like...although from what I heard this afternoon, it was pretty eventful...." he wiggles his eyebrows and I roll my eyes in disgust.
"Doesn't he keep anything from you?"
he shrugs. "I'm a dirty boy...I like dirty stories."
"I'm sure you do. No, don't tell him to come over. I'll probably see him tomorrow. Goodnight Skeez."
He waves and goes back into the apartment. I guessed he wasn't all bad.....who was I kidding, he was a horn dog but he was a cute horn dog. Kind of like Jackson. I smiled to myself and then it turned to a grimace when I had to throw a pair of good shoes in on top of the costume...damn Frankenberry, not only did I end up with some open knuckles I ruined a perfectly good pair of heels.
Out of everything, I was ready for Adian Caine. Fr-enemy or not.
"Who is it?"
the door opens and I'm about to have a shit fit when I see that it's only Jackson and he's carrying a big brown box. He shakes his head at me.
"That's really how you answer your door?"
I shrug, still trying to get at the box of vegetable thins on the top. Damn tasty snack cracker...why do you mock me by being so high? I bet it was Justin since he knows that I love them.
"I'm kind of busy if you didn't notice..."
Blaze stops walking and stands there holding the big shipping box, staring at me with a goofy smile on his face. When he does finally speak, it's coated in sarcasm. "If it helps I can get Skeez. Put you on his shoulders; a little teamwork I'm sure you'd get it."
I roll my eyes with a sigh. "for the record I'm an inch taller than the average height for a woman. sorry not every girl can be a freaking Giant like Electra Stevens!" Yeah...jealousy is still there.
Blaze walks over toward a table, setting the box down and gives me a thumbs up. "Well, you go, stumpy. Let me know how the vertically-challenged battle with those snack crackers goes."
I look up at the box, helplessly and know I have no choice. "'wait..." He stops half way to the door, looking at me expectantly, "Can you get them for me..." I half mumble it and I believe there was an uncontrollable pout added for affect. Damn it, I really had to get a step ladder.
Blaze stops, a cocky grin on his face, which is very obvious. He turns his attention toward me. "What was that? Did the completely independent, 'I can do this on my own', Miss Goddess, just ask for my help?"
I let out a frustrated sigh, "Look don't let it get to your head...yes, I'm admitting that I need help. I've been trying to get this fucking box for an hour. I've tried a freaking spatula for god's sake, I was going to use a chair but well, I have a match and I don't want to be out because I fell."
He's laughing at me. I give him an annoyed look but he seems to be unfazed by it. "That would look great. Sorry, Bliss cant make her match cause she got injured in a fight against a box of snack crackers." He continues laughing, obviously finding humour in the thought.
"Just shut your pie hole and get the damn box would you..."
He walks over and reaches up, easily grabbing the box that had tormented me for so long. He hands it over to me. "Here you go, beautiful. Damn crackers put up a hell of a fight, but we finally got 'em under control."
"Fuck you." he laughs at me. I open the top and take one out and put it in my mouth. damn that was as near close to heaven. He watches me a few minutes.... "What? haven't you ever had these?"
He just shakes his head at me again. "Well I'm glad I bring you amusement....what's with the box?"
Blaze shrugs. "I have no fucking clue. I was getting home and saw some delivery guy outside looking for your apartment. So, I thought I'd bring it over for you." His face spread into a cocky smirk, "Not that I was looking for an excuse to see you or anything."
I set the box of crackers down on the counter and moved toward the box that Jackson had brought in. The return address was my Dad's place.
"It's from my dad..." I say a little surprised.
I feel him sliding up behind me and I know he's looking at the box over my shoulder. "A package from your dad, huh? Must be important then."
I laugh. "My dad is a sentimental fool sometimes. It's probably baby clothes or my gymnastic awards. I wouldn't be surprised if he was cleaning out our rooms to make a new gym or something."
I pick up my box of crackers again and start to munch, leaning against the kitchen island. Blaze looks at me with that cocky smile still plastered on his face, "Gymnastic awards, huh? So, that's where you learned to bend like that...."
I give him my own arrogant smile, "Since I was five. I was also a cheerleader...."
I know exactly what he's thinking as he crosses the short distance and trails a finger up my arm. "Hopefully he sent you your cheerleading outfit. That'd be hot to see you in."
Knowing the suspense will kill him, I shrug. "I'll open it later."
He shakes his head. "After your dad went through all the trouble of packaging this for you, you're not even going to open it now?"
"If it bugs you that bad, be my guest. I doubt you'll find anything interesting or sexy in that box... so don't be disappointed when it's full of crap."
He doesn't need any further nudging, and he starts to tear open the box, I'm wondering what he's like at Christmas time if he's this enthusiastic over a box from home. He lifts out a stack of my old comics. Ha...great...I wondered what happened to those.
"It's a bunch of comic books. I didn't know you were a comic chick."
he sets them down on the table and goes searching some more. geez how much stuff did my dad put in that thing. he lifts out a bundle wrapped in tissue paper.
"This doesn't feel like comic books", he says feeling the package.
He slowly tears open the wrapping. I'm a little curious myself...and the fact that he's taking so much care kind of surprises me a little. Once he's got the paper off I see a mix of red and black and his eyes go wide and his mouth drops wide open. He let's it unfold in his hands and my own eyes go wide.
"Hey...it's my comic-con costume. Can't believe Dad found that...."
He looks from the costume to my face, the shock still very apparent in his face..
"You wore this? Holy fuck, Harley Quinn is only the hottest female ever introduced in the comic world. I gotta see you in this."
He looks again at the Harley Quinn costume in his hand. I know that he's probably imagining something dirty involving me wearing it, he smiles before his voice goes lower, "Oh yeah. Thank you very much, Dad."
"I'm not even sure if it still fits. I went to comic-con when I was 16. the worse part was being chaperoned by your brother who decides he's cool cuz he dresses up as the hulk. I mean it's not even the same universe." I shake my head and Blaze looks kind of bored. He's still holding up the costume.
He gives me a little wink. "Well, you know there's only one way to know if it still fits or not..." oh for crying out loud. I knew that if I didn't do it he'd bug me about it forever and a day. I grabbed it from his hand, and his smile grows even wider. why was it whenever he did that I was suddenly reminded of the Grinch. his facial expression would give Jim Carrey a run for his money. I rolled my eyes as I stalked wordlessly past him to the bathroom.
it's a tight fit but amazingly it passes the squat test. I sigh deeply before pulling the head piece down. when I had worn this 8 years ago, I'd put in blue contacts since my eyes were mud brown. well the only inaccuracy but I doubted that Jackson was going to notice that....he wasn't going to be looking at my eyes. I took another deep breath before opening the bathroom door and strutting out.
"Mistah J!" I lean against the wall and smile. It had taken me a few weeks to master the accent.
he starts a slow walk towards me before scooping me off the ground into his arms. I let out a little shriek of surprise. Out of all the things I thought he would do, picking me a la hero was not one of them. He carries me toward the bed lays me down, sliding over and pinning my arms down. He seemed to have this thing about pinning my arms...I guess because of that time when I'd lost my head and drew blood with my nails...oops. He slowly starts to trace the outline of my body with his free fore finger. I was glad that the suit covered the Goosebumps that rose along my skin then he stares into my eyes with a wide, devilish, joker-esque smile.
"Oh, Harley girl. I want you... I want you now."
"I didn't think you were into this sorta thing..." I'm still using the accent.
He's still got me pinned to the bed as he lowers his head to my neck and bites it softly. Slowly, he comes up from my neck to my ear and whispers.
"There's a whole lot we can get into, beautiful."
~*~
I open my eyes groggily and notice that the sun has nearly set and I also notice that bed beside me is not only empty but cold. I roll my eyes and shake my head. If it had been any other guy I might have been pissed but it was Jackson and he had so much going on in his life that I wasn't surprised that he'd split after that... not that it was bad, it just turned out to take up most of the afternoon. It had been enough that I'd fallen asleep....and he wasn't the type to leave a note on your pillow either. it was the perfect relationship for someone like me. I wasn't tied down, I didn't have to answer to anyone...but part of me wondered what he would really do if I happened to hook up with someone else...I mean could he blame me if someone worth a relationship happened to walk by me? Somehow I knew he wasn't the 'going to fight for you' type....but part me couldn't help but wish...want...to say that he was solely mine....
I got out of bed and found my robe. I saw the discarded costume on the ground and unfortunately it was in pretty bad shape now. He had been a little over zealous...so it was pretty much ready for the garbage. I picked it up and walked out to my living room, dumping it in. the comics and the empty box were still on the small table. I'd look through them later.
I wrapped the rope around me a little tighter and my phone started going off. With a roll of my eyes I pick it up.
"hello?" Sure, I'm annoyed. I didn't like people calling me unless it was important and as far as I was concerned, this was far from important.
"Its Tasha Jordan..."
I flip my head back and pinch my nose. How the fuck did she get this number? Crap.
"Yeah...what do you want?"
"An interview... just a short one. Wanna talk to you about your match change..."
"Match change?" What match change?
"Yeah, didn't you hear? Xavier Daniels and Reed Zimmerman both up and quit with no notice...so now your getting paired against Zimmerman's partner..."
Really? Who was that? I wasn't stupid but I can't help it if I don't give a shit about any other matches but my own...and maybe Justin's....
"And who the hell is that?"
"Adian Caine...'
My mouth drops open. I was glad I was at home cuz that would be embarrassing.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"No..not at all...."
"First the ass feeds me drinks and now I have to fight the poor bastard. Well isn't this a fuck-tastic start to an evening. We only have a couple days to the actual match...what the hell was Adams thinking?"
"Well..."
"He could have just let us both advance...I mean we were both the clear winners in our matches anyway...."
"Bliss I don't decide that stuff, I only interview people..."
"Right, Right. Sorry not your fault... occupational hazard. Yeah I guess I owe you shit sniffers an interview...I've been kind of avoiding it for a while now....balls. Where do you want to meet?"
She said she wanted to meet at the headquarters because she didn't have time to do a whole lot of extra stuff due to the match being short notice. When I left I smiled at Jackson's door and wondered what kind of nonsense he was getting into tonight.
With an eye roll I was already down stairs and grabbing a cab. It didn't take long to get to HQ where Tasha was standing out side. I had to admire her clothes though, especially the ankle length boots.
"Hey turns out that the doors are locked. Didn't know they would be locked tighter than fort knock and its not even 9 yet..."
"That's okay, we can go somewhere else....doesn't have to be any where special...where's your camera crew?"
She took a deep breath. "Bailed on me when they saw the door was locked. Mind using my Iphone?"
I laughed. I had to admire her determination to get a story. "Whatever. I don't really wanna do this anyway..." I start to walk away and she runs up behind me to catch up. "You know you really should find yourself some more reliable staff..."
"I know...."
"And you really should talk to people before party time starts...if I hadn't just woken up you wouldn't have caught me."
"You were sleeping?" she raises an eyebrow.
"Headache." I supply. yeah a huge one.
"Oh..." we stop in front of a bar and she looks at me curiously. "Don't you think this will be too noisy?"
"Naw...it will be fine." We go in and get a couple seats at the bar. The bartenders a chick with a forehead that looked like it needed two bolts sticking out of either side. She gives us a nasty look as we sit down. I'm about two seconds away from giving her a fist makeover.
"Just get us some drinks frankenberry and stop with the dirty looks." I say. she looks a little scared and scurries away. Tasha looks at me amazed.
"You don't take any shit do you?" she asks.
"Not usually. Depends on what kind of mood I'm in. I don't go around thinking I'm the most beautiful woman in the world...I'm pretty damn close but however, I don't cause trouble unless it's caused for me first. That chick had already judged you when we walked in."
"Me?"
I smiled. I was arrogant and I was a bitch but I wasn't about to admit that a chick had an issue with me...ha....
"OH yeah. she had you pegged when we sat down. I had to make sure that when your with me, no one messes with you. Girls gotta stick together right?"
Tasha nods. She wasn't going to get some bubble gum pop princess when she was talking to me. No way.
Usually it was the boobs that got dirty looks from other girls...and yes...theses were real. Only thing I've done to myself was the tattoos....and I had a lot of them. I just invested in really good bras....but let em all eat their hearts out.
The waitress gave us our drinks with barely a word. I didn't tip her. I knew that she wouldn't be giving me...ahem...us any more dirty looks. I'm sure that her first impression was that I was a stripper....seemed that my clothing wasn't exactly strip friendly, and if I wasn't mistaken for a stripper I had guys stopping on the road asking me my going rate. I wasn't going to lighten up my appearance because guys were horny. I had two very horny guys in my life right now. One of them I wanted more of, the other could go fuck himself with a light socket for all I cared.
"So..." Tasha presses a button on her phone and I take a big sigh. I couldn't be 100% bitchy Bliss on TV...wasn't cool but i wasn't going to not be myself either....maybe just tone down the swearing a little...just a little. "So this will be your first singles match since joining MPW, your first being in a tag match with your partner Siren."
"That's right. And we kicked ass as a tag team....now too we've got some very influential backing...not that we needed it but every little bit counts you know? that Pussy Drake and the sausage king didn't know what hit him....and look Clash...I just got him all warmed up for you and ready to kill....your welcome...."
"Isn't your new manager married to Johnny Clash?"
"Yeah, I don't give a shit who she's married to. What goes on in the goddess factor, stays with the goddess factor. We had a deal, me and her...I wasn't going to walk on any eggshells when it came to her little TWI buddies...just like I wouldn't expect the same for Justin. This is a dog eat dog world out here and you have to fight for your own survival. Having allies is great...you need them to go anywhere but in the end, when your out there on your own...you gotta fight it on your own. No one is going to go out there and fight my battles anymore. NO-ONE."
"Are you referring to someone in particular? Justin perhaps?"
"No. As you know I'm the youngest of 5 kids and the 4 are all boys. I've grown up my whole life being dominated by my brothers. Having them tell me what to do, what to say, who to date and I'm done. I told Jeremy were to go and now, they all let me do my own thing. Justin tries but he knows better. Jeremy used to think that I couldn't do this myself but he was mistaken, just like anyone out there that thinks that I'm not going to give this match my all is mistaken."
"How did you feel hearing the news that your opponent Xavier Daniels has dropped out?'
I laughed. I put out a hand and held my side in mock hysterical laughter. "Wait Wait... I'm sorry I ...are you serious...." then I got straight faced in the camera. "Give me a break. He just didn't want to get beat by a woman that could knock him down with a breath. I mean come on....he couldn't come up with a better nickname? 3 seconds? Really? I've said my piece about that dick face and it seems that it worked a little too well...not that I wanted to face a guy who couldn't even get the guts to say something to my face....if he thinks that's noble he's dead wrong. "
"So what about your new opponent, Adian Caine?"
I take a deep breath. "Okay lets get one thing straight right off the bat. We're not friends by any means. I went out to a bar with a bunch of people from the company with the idea that we had a temporary truce....that's all. He knows as well as I do that we're not even close to being in the same league. No offence cowboy but this is my show and the only one ridding off into the sunset will be me. Besides, what the hell are you even in this you honour hog....didn't you just win a bloody belt anyway? Shouldn't there be like some kind of law about that.....I mean come on, greedy winner or what? If you don't want the North American belt I'll gladly take it from you."
I take a sip of my drink.
"We've never actually had a chance to see a real confrontation in regards to your opponents before...."
"I look at it this way Tasha, I only talk about opponents that are worth my time. Drake and Kried were not worth my time. They were simply taking out the garbage...." she puts up a finger to silence me a minute.
"Have you gotten a chance to check out Trey Baxter's interview? He has some pretty nasty things to say about you and Jackson Blaze..."
"Like what...let me see this." I pull out my phone and skip past some boring spots and then...the words are shouted at the poor girl interviwing him.
I start to laugh.
"What's so funny about that?" Tasha looks confused.
"After I said that he was a no good husband he comes back with saying that I'm a lousy kisser, a ho and I have STD's....really that's all he's got? Please." I roll my eyes. "I was called worse at the grocery store. You know Trey, I'm starting to think your losing your nerve...I mean I guess I can't blame you for you know...choking against a superstar like Jackson.... but to think that after I insulted your little dead wife...you know, the one who was lying dead by the highway for hours before you got your worthless caucus over there. You wanna come after me with insults Trey then why don't you do it...instead of using pathetic useless kindergarten excuses. You wanna be a real man? Get in my face in that ring. And don't worry I wouldn't Dream of interrupting your match...unlike you I have confidence in my friend's abilities and I know that he's going to make sure you join your little wife. Funny, you said you can't turn a ho into a housewife...who the fuck wanted you for a husband.... and I wouldn't marry you if you were the last disease ridden flea infested dirty scum bag that every walked the strip. And for the record, it was you that wasn't a very good kisser, I was only reacting the lack lustre performance and if I remember correctly, you were the one that kept persisting when I told you to buzz off. and I think you pouted too...Awww" I made a mock pout face at the camera. "Don't play with the big boys son, your bound to get burnt."
I took another long swig this time. What had started out as not being hot headed about it turned into a little more heat then i intended. I continued on after Tasha had interrupted me.
"Now Caine....hmm that's a hard one. I have no doubt this guy is going to bring his A-game and I know that he has no qualms about beating up a woman....but I supposed we don't have to bring up Electra Steven's match a few weeks ago when he beat her up so bad she went whining home to Toronto. Come on Caine...you really believe her lies when she says the only reason she went back was for her sister? She came from NYCCW with a belt and then faced you, gave her heart and soul and you turned her into mince meat." I smiled. "But on the other hand, taking on Electra isn't exactly a hard task. She's almost 6 feet of sappy girly meat...but you like that don't you."
My liquid courage coming a little more violently down my throat.
"Oh I know what your going to say....'you were the one that gave me her number...you wanted me to call her....blah blah blah' yeah I do a lot of stupid things...I consider it an endearing quality of mine....besides that you were sitting on twitter whining about how much you wished she hadn't left and how much you wanted to get to know her...for the love of god I felt bad for you...that and I was tired of listening to it. You know that thing when kids cry for something and eventually after so many times of saying no you finally give in just to shut em up? yeah that was me...only I was telling myself no. Lexi knows I don't like her. She's known since I was 12 years old when Justin brought her home. She hasn't changed. She's still pathetic, but you'll learn that on your own."
Tasha takes a drink of her own glass....she looks a little scared of me. not that I minded.
"is there anything else you want to say?" she asks.
"What? are you kidding? I could talk all night but I know that you have a supposed life so I'll try and wrap it up quickly. now that I've touched a little on how it's going to be fun watching you wrapped around that blonde bimbo's finger from now and until she decides that you, like Drake are nothing but a waste of space, I'll leave it alone for another day....but I haven't even begun to touch on our match. yes a match that we were both just 'thrown' into with no real thought or concern. why because that loser Zimmerman bailed on you as well....but to be honest I think it was a token match you know. Did that guy really think that was going to beat you...with all that grease and hair? Yuck...talk about nasty. the only way he would have one was if he'd rubbed his head on the mat and made you run in it. however now, you and I are left from that disaster and for once they're will be a match that will showcase some real talent around here. I'm going to stop you at the chase there buddy though because if you so much as make a comment about my clothing, my behaviour or even the way I walk I will make sure that you won't have anything left to take to your new Girlfriend in Toronto, got me? None of those things have anything to do with our match. This is about talent bucko. You don't see me making fun of your ears or your lack of fashion so we'll let it drop right there. not asking you to like it though."
Tasha is about to talk and I cut her off.
"this match is about who is going to advance into the finals to get a shot at a contract to have a shot at the World heavy weight championship belt. Wow...must be pretty exciting for you ain't it? I bet. Am I excited? No, not really. Why? Because I know I'm going to win...plus I'm not a stooge. I'm not a poster girl for MPW. I'm not going to skip around the ring like some girl off her rocker. I'm not going to try and flirt with you....like I said before, your not my type. All I'm going to do is go out there and make sure that you get your money's worth. I am a bitch and I do what I have to, to win. I'm not a cheater...now that shit drives me crazy but that doesn't mean that I will not hit a man when he's down and it doesn't mean that I won't use every single move in my arsenal to come out of this victorious. and in the end...at least you have your North American right? now I'm pretty sure I've graced you enough of my gorgeous face. Deny all you want Mr. Adian Caine, we may not be right for each other but that doesn't stop you from lusting after me....and maybe in another life, I might have actually wanted a 'gulp' relationship with someone like you...but alas that ship has sailed."
Tasha turns off her Iphone and takes a long swig of her drink, her eyes wide.
"What's wrong Tashy...more than you bargained for?"
"Your a pistol...that's for damn sure..."
"Hey...I'm rubbing off on you. By the end of the night I'll have so many dirty words in your vocabulary you'll make a Sailor jump ship. another round Frankenberry." I raise my empty glass up to the woman who tries to avoid a dirty look but I notice.
"Listen there Frank. I told you...."
"Shut up you skank...I...." She didn't get another word out before I was across the bar and pounding the shit out of her. Ahhhhh, all in a days work I guess. Super Bliss, ready to take out bar hags across the country.
~*~
I tried to persuade the cops to not press charges for my beat down of Frankenberry the bartender...turns out she had been drinking herself and so I got off on a warning. that was good...didn't need another mark on my record, but my knuckles hurt like hell. She must have steel plates in that enormous head of hers. It was okay, it was just a preview of what I was going to do on Monday night. I wasn't drunk...no I'd only gotten in one beer before that trash whore had started with the dirty looks again. and after that, Tasha didn't feel like sticking around. I'm not drinking alone...that was just sad.... so here I was, 11pm at night and I was actually coming home. Damn that was pitiful. I got to my door and started to open it and I heard a door behind me and I turned, hoping to see Jackson but instead I see Skeez.
"Hey beautiful, what you doing home so early?" he's smiling. there's music inside and he probably has some friends over.
"Ah nothing." I wave him away and his eyes go wide at my busted up knuckles.
"What you do?" he asks. He comes out of the shelter of the door frame and walks over, reaching up and pulling my hand down to his eye level....in doing that he's wrenched me over at an odd angle. "Pretty nasty looking..." He let go and I straightened.
"Beat up someone." I supplied.
"Are you drunk?" he asks with a mirthful smile and I know he's a had a few himself.
"Not in the least. It's depressing."
"why because the boss isn't home?" he's still smirking. "I can send him over when he gets home if you like...although from what I heard this afternoon, it was pretty eventful...." he wiggles his eyebrows and I roll my eyes in disgust.
"Doesn't he keep anything from you?"
he shrugs. "I'm a dirty boy...I like dirty stories."
"I'm sure you do. No, don't tell him to come over. I'll probably see him tomorrow. Goodnight Skeez."
He waves and goes back into the apartment. I guessed he wasn't all bad.....who was I kidding, he was a horn dog but he was a cute horn dog. Kind of like Jackson. I smiled to myself and then it turned to a grimace when I had to throw a pair of good shoes in on top of the costume...damn Frankenberry, not only did I end up with some open knuckles I ruined a perfectly good pair of heels.
Out of everything, I was ready for Adian Caine. Fr-enemy or not.