Sunday September 8th
Stockholm, Sweden
Bobbie Gets A Surprise
Bobbie is back in the locker room areas, changing out of her ring gear and getting her things together. The show is almost over, and all she wants to do is head back to her hotel room and get some shut eye. After defeating Mercedes Vargas and Seleana Zdunich again, she had hoped to feel better about where she was headed moving forward. But she didn’t. She couldn’t feel proud of herself, because a huge part of her felt like she got lucky in her match tonight. Mercedes and Seleana weren’t exactly the type of opponents recently that made much of a difference in your status on the bombshell roster. Considering their combined accomplishments over the years it was a pretty sad fact, but Bobbie was doing her best to just accept it and move on.
But she couldn’t shake this sadness she had been feeling lately. There was a huge void in her life at the moment, and she didn’t know when or if it would go away. That void, of course, was the emptiness left by Artie being gone. He had gone back to his family’s home in Illinois almost three months ago. Bobbie had talked to him a few times since then, but for the most part, he remained out of contact. And Bobbie had no idea when or if Artie would be coming back home…to her and their fur baby, Loki.
As she’s packing up her duffel bag, she momentarily freezes when her eyes fall on a picture of her and Artie from the day they got married. She brought the photo with her while on this tour, hoping it would make her feel better each time she looked at it. But today it didn’t. Today it just made her sadness that much worse. She reached into her duffel bag and took out the picture frame, then sunk down on the bench next to her duffel bag.
“How did things get so bad?” She says to herself, running her fingers over the photo. She had loved Artie for so long, she never thought it would be this way. “I wish you were here.”
As she stares at the photo, she is unaware that a shadow suddenly appears by the door. She closes her eyes and hugs the photo when his voice startles her and she nearly jumps out of her skin.
“Bobbie.”
He doesn’t need to say anymore. She knows his voice better than anyone else’s. When she opens her eyes and quickly turns her attention towards the door, she’s shocked to find Artie standing there with his suitcase next to him. “W-what are you doing here?” Her voice is shaky. She quickly hides the photo back in her duffel bag and stands up, but keeps her distance from Artie as things are still awkward between the two.
“Sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.” He replies, walking a few steps closer. “I’m glad I caught you before you left, though.”
“You didn’t answer my question.” Bobbie replies quickly. While a part of her was so happy to see him for the first time in almost three months, she was confused on why he suddenly showed up and in Sweden of all places.
Artie nods, and he seems…different. He has a bit of a smile on his face as he again steps closer to her. “You probably hate me right now, and you have every reason to.” He replies, reaching for her hand. She clearly wants to pull away, but as he takes her hand in his, all of the doubt she had been feeling lately quickly starts to fade.
“I…I don’t hate you, Artie.” She shakes her head as she looks down and away from his gaze. “I never could.”
“We need to talk.” Artie says. The moment he says those words, Bobbie quickly looks up to him again. Those are the four words that can be so intimidating and terrifying in any relationship. And considering the state of their own marriage the last several months? It definitely terrified her.
“Oh…Ok.” She says, voice shaky yet again. “Can we do this at the hotel? I don’t want anyone eavesdropping or anything.”
“I was going to suggest that.” He replies.
Bobbie quickly finishes packing her duffel bag, then zips it up. Before she can take it and sling it over her shoulder, Artie grabs it and carries it for her. She can’t help but smile a bit as the two head out of the locker room and out of the arena. She didn’t know how their talk would go, but she would figure that out when all was said and done. She was just happy that he was here.
*******************
The World Bombshell Championship. Wow. That is something that, honestly, wasn’t even on my radar until I saw my match this week. I mean I only recently came back from my injury and even before then I was on a bit of a downward slide. I haven’t done anything recently to really deserve to have my name and the World Bombshell Championship even in the same sentence, but I guess that is just my opinion on it isn’t it?
I’ve had opportunities at the World Bombshell Championship in the past. Those, of course, were wrestled when I was a different version of myself. A version I didn’t like. A version that no one liked honestly. That version of me was definitely not deserving of any opportunity, or even being the champion and I am glad she is gone for good. I just hope she never comes back.
But what about this current version of myself? The Bobbie Dahl everyone sees versus the Bobbie Dahl that is off cameras and experiencing stressful situations that no one else truly knows or understands? What exactly have I done to be given an opportunity to earn a shot at the top championship? I’ve been trying to figure it out for days now, and I’m a little conflicted. Well, more than a little conflicted.
I have to beat three other women for this chance, which of course is a challenge in and of itself. But then let’s say that I do walk away with the win and become number one contender. Then I move on to face Kayla Richards at Violent Conduct, and is that something that I am truly ready for? Deep down, this is what I have been working for my entire career in SCW. This is what is truly my ultimate goal, but isn’t it everyone’s? To be considered the top Bombshell in the company? Yes, it’s what I want…eventually.
But now? I don’t know. I wish I knew. I wish I had it all figured out, but maybe by the time Climax Control rolls around I’ll know. Maybe once that bell rings and I’m face to face with those three other Bombshells, I’ll have it figured out.
Maybe…
*****************
“My parents are getting divorced.”
Bobbie and Artie are sitting next to one another on the bed in her hotel room. Artie is looking down to the floor, heartbroken as he reveals this information to Bobbie. She had expected it would be the logical outcome given his mother had been having an affair, but she was still surprised and even heartbroken herself.
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” She says, rubbing the center of his back as comforting as she can be. “Was there really any chance that they’d stay together, though?”
He shrugs. “I think I was trying to get them past this. As broken as Dad is, I think he was willing to try, but…” His voice trailed off and he started to get angry again. He stands up and walks a few steps away, trying his best to calm himself down.
“But what?” Bobbie considered not asking and just allowing Artie to continue when he was ready. But she needs him to know she is there for him.
“My mom just wasn’t able to take responsibility for what she did.” He finally answers after what seems like an eternity of silence. He turns around to face Bobbie again. “She was so set on placing all the blame on Dad, when she was the one who made the choice to have an affair instead of going to counseling or something.”
Bobbie remains silent. She wanted to say something, anything, that would help but as the situation was unfamiliar to her, she was lost for words. Artie walks back up to her, his face covered with regret.
“I haven’t been fair to you, Bobbie.” He says. She looks down and sighs, trying to understand why he felt he had to leave for the couple of months that he did. “I couldn’t trust anything after I found out what my mom did, and I took it all out on you in the worst way.”
She shrugs and shakes her head. “I mean, I get it.” She says. “I looked up to both of our parents marriages because of how long they’ve been together and how much they loved each other. So..it was kind of a blow to me, too.”
Artie sits back down next to Bobbie. “I know. I just needed to time to sort everything out and in a weird way, going back to Illinois helped.” He says letting out a sigh of his own. “I’ve missed you. And Loki, too.”
Bobbie smiles. For the first time in months, she felt a sense of relief and that everything was going to be okay. “We’ve missed you too.”
Artie wraps his arm around Bobbie, giving her a loving hug. It was what she missed the most. “So I have a chance to earn a shot at the World Bombshell Championship next week.” She says, changing the subject if only for a few moments.
He nods. “I know. Since I’m still your manager I got a phone call about that. I knew I had to be here to support you.”
“I’m not ready for it, Artie.” She replies, much to his surprise. She shakes her head thinking about everything that has happened. “I’ve been so back and forth the last few months. I’m just coming back from an injury. Mentally I’m just not ready.”
He slowly nods, understanding how she feels. “I can understand that, but is anyone ever truly ready? I just don’t want you to hold yourself back because of what I’ve put you through these last few months.” He nudged her arm gently with his elbow trying to encourage her, but she shakes her head.
“It’s fine, Artie.” She starts, fibbing slightly. “I mean I’m not backing out of this match or anything, I just don’t think so deserve it or that I’m ready for it right now. I still want to be World Bombshell Champion one day, but..not quite yet.”
“Well, we’ll see what happens.” Artie replies. “But I’ll be out there supporting you and cheering you on no matter what.”
She nods and finally feels better about the status of their marriage. It still wasn’t back to where it was before all of the drama started, but with hard work, she knew they’d become stronger than ever. For now, though, she was ready to shower and get some rest.
“We can talk about this more tomorrow.” She says, standing up from the bed. “I really need to take a shower and just get some rest the remainder of the night.”
“Oh..one more thing.” Artie says, stopping her before she heads into the bathroom. “I, uh, kind of told my Dad he could move in with us for a bit.”
Bobbie freezes where she stands with her back turned to Artie. He runs his hand through the back of his head and waits for it. She slowly turns on her heel to face him and the look on her face says it all.
“You did what now?”
Artie just lets out an awkward laugh as Bobbie just stares at him.
