Hey guys, sorry for the delay in chapters. I've known since I started this venture how I wanted the story to play out exactly. The timetable is to have all 20+ chapters done by the end of the year, but that may be a little ambitious. I appreciate all the support, though, and if you have any questions about anything feel free to ask them in the comments below!
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I turned on a burst of speed as we rounded the last corner. Isabelle wasn't about to just let me coast to my first victory as she began to match me stride for stride. I put my head down and fought through the pain as I pushed myself farther than I ever had before... And beat her by three steps.
Bent over in exhaustion, I was wiped from the little over two mile race we had just completed. Isabelle walked up with a small grin covering her face and I quickly found myself matching it. It was the first time I had ever beaten her in anything. I was definitely proud. She had her hands over her head, gasping for air, and a full smile reached my lips.
"Only took me three weeks before I could beat you in a race, Iz, in another three I'll be able to kick your ass." I playfully shoved her.
"Please," she joked in between gasps, "It will take at least four more weeks for that to happen."
I laughed and grabbed a towel as we headed towards the locker room. Life had been pretty good the past few days. I'd finally gotten my first win. And it had even been against a veteran. Veronica flushed in the face every time she saw that silver bikini hanging in my locker. Needless to say, after all the cruelty I had endured the past few weeks that silver trophy was shown off repeatedly. That is until Alex told me to stop.
I smacked Isabelle's ass when we made it to the locker room and ran off to shower to get ready to go out. Our friend group, which was pretty bad ass to start with, was off to celebrate. Kayla had toppled Irene the night before and everyone was ecstatic. Mira claimed that she'd gone straight for her shower head when she'd gotten home that night. I forced myself to push the image out of my mind as I hurried to avoid being late.
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Everyone around the table coughed and then took a deep breath as we finished our eighth round of Grey Goose. We were all drunk off our asses and having a good time. Jillian and Kayla were going shot for shot trying to drink the other under the table. Including the shots we'd shared they were on drink number fourteen. Eve, who had just discovered her Irish accent, was spouting off to whoever would listen. Mira had "accidentally" left her phone in the car and she, Alex and Whitney were in an intense game of 'Never Have I Ever' while Veronica and I were laughing as if we'd been best friends for years.
"Don't you worry. I kicked her ass," Kayla was clapping out every word, "And then I fucked it! Your tiger has been avenged!"
Jillian slammed her next shot glass down, "Fuck, I might as well stay this drunk. I have to get the tattoo tomorrow. I still don't even know where I want to put it."
"Why would you get a tattoo if you don't even know where you want it? Seems stupid to me." Veronica tapped my arm and I snorted and caught a case of the giggles.
"They're called tattoo bets, and they're somewhat common throughout the league." Isabelle answered from up above me.
"Isabelle!" I looked straight up, stupidly, "You're here! I'm so happy you came!"
She smirked as she started playing with my hair, "Whitney invited me."
"Uh, excuse me. Who are you?" Veronica butted in.
"She used to be Whitney's trainer," Eve answered in her Irish accent, "now she trains Cara."
Veronica threw her hands up, "Well you have your work cut out for you. That's a lost cause if I've ever seen one."
Alex put a hand on my elbow to stop me from replying. Instead, I got up and went over to the bar. I wasn't drunk enough for this. A hand slipped up around my waist and before I could protest I saw two emerald green eyes peering back at me.
"You just missed Isabelle insulting Veronica. It was a thing of beauty, if I do say so myself."
"I hate that bitch, Whit, I really do. I can't stand her." I sighed, "What is a tattoo bet, anyway? When Jillian and Irene were wrestling everyone was screaming about tigers and Yorkies. The past week Jill has been lamenting about tigers and now Izzy and Jill are talking about tattoos. I'm confused."
Whitney looked up in contemplation, "It started back in season two. You know how wrestlers can place anal bets? Like the loser gets fucked in the ass? Well tattoo bets are similar, but a step farther. The loser has to tattoo the winner's favorite animal onto her body. If Jillian would have won then Irene would have to get a Yorkie tattoo. Instead, she won, so Jill has to get a tiger. It can be anywhere on your body.
"A tattoo guy comes in twice a month to do them. People who lost usually have that week off so they can honor their bets. Fortunately for Jillian, Irene now has to tattoo a panda somewhere on her body since Kayla beat her last night."
"Oh, so do they have to be big? And do they happen all the time?" I shuddered at the thought of ending up with tattoos covering every inch of my body.
"Not really." She turned around and lifted up her hair. Sure enough at the base of her neck was a two inch tall picture of a baby panda. "It just has to be recognizable."
My alcohol influenced brain was slow on the uptake, "Does this mean you lost to Kayla, too?"
"Almost everyone lost to Kayla last year. She made it to the finals."
"Does that mean...?"
"Yes, Jillian lost in the semis to Kayla. She has a panda on the back of her right calf. And to answer your earlier question: no, they're not that common. Really only happen on special occasions. Like if two wrestlers despise each other. Or if two wrestlers are both highly ranked. In the case of Kayla and Irene it's both. Irene's a cunt. But, sometimes, people do it just to do it. Still, when the tattoo guy comes there's usually at least eight to ten girls waiting for him."
"How many tattoos do you have?
"Come on now, Cara. You saw me naked. There was this whole thing where we wrestled, then had sex." The corners of her mouth were twisted up as she goaded me.
I refused to let the issue rest "I was trying to NOT look at your body. I was already way too turned on as it was!"
Sober me wouldn't have said that. She had one of those full-fledged trademark Whitney grins on her face. "I've been in five tattoo bets. I won two and lost three. If you want to see them all you'll have to wait til next time." She was never going to let me live this down.
My shots had finally arrived and I handed one to Whitney, "So does this mean I won't have to make a tattoo bet?"
She let out a loud laugh, "Oh Cara, our group has a ladies' agreement. If we ever have to face each other it's an automatic anal and tattoo bet. No exceptions." I felt myself being steered towards the table as a look of horror spread across my face.
"But, I don't want tattoos!" I protested loudly.
Mira grabbed a shot and made a pseudo-toast, "Then pray you don't draw Kayla," and threw it down the hatch.
I turned towards Whitney, "Did you ever beat Isabelle in a race? Only took me three weeks!"
"No, she never did." Isabelle had swung around to our side of the table to join us.
"I came close. I think by the end she was only beating me by like seven minutes give or take. Whitney and Izzy looked at each other then busted up laughing.
"Well, I can beat her in wrestling, too!" My drunk self proudly proclaimed.
Iz looked at me coyly, "Oh, is that so?"
"Yep!" I pronounced assuredly.
"How about we make a bet out of this," she said as she looked me up and down, "Make it worth our while."
"Cara-" Whitney tried to say.
I stuck my hand out, "Deal, but no tattoos. I don't like that."
"The winner will get the loser for the rest of the night. We'll start tomorrow at two. Make it two-thirty so you won't be hungover." She grabbed my hand and we shook.