Hell's Belles Read Online Free

low and wide for stability, with her knees deeply bent and her bum lifted as high as she could get it.
    After a few laps, she could feel her lower back protesting with an ache that radiated throughout her entire core. She’d been working underused muscles and she was feeling it. Her thighs burned, too. Even though Annie was in good shape from gymnastics, roller derby required a completely different kind of strength. She was demanding new things of her body, but the pain was strangely satisfying.
    Coach Ritter gave a blast on her whistle. “Pace line,” she directed.
    The girls easily arranged themselves into a tidy single-file line.
    Annie giggled, thinking that derby had its own kind of supercharged choreography.
    Annie found herself bringing up the rear, but that was actually good news. As last in line, she would be the first to execute the drill, which consisted of weaving in and out of the swiftly moving line, like a human slalom course.
    â€œLet’s see what you’ve got, Turner,” Coach hollered.
    Annie didn’t have to be told twice. She picked up speed, gaining on the girl directly in front of her, who happened to be Sharmila.
    With her glossy raven-colored hair and striking green eyes, Sharmila was one of the prettiest girls on the team, but she was every bit as tough on the track as her derby name — Sharmila the Hun — suggested.
    Annie deftly cut in front of Sharmila and just as quickly darted out and forward, weaving back into line behind Carmen.
    Carmen Atcha’s eyes were as dark as the expensive cocoa Dad used to make his chocolate torte, and they positively sparkled with mischief.
    â€œ Hasta la vista, señorita!” Annie called as she flew past.
    Carmen laughed. “Your accent needs work, chica,” she hollered back. “You sound like Kate Middleton ordering tacos at Taco Bell!”
    Annie grinned as she continued her fluid weaving motion, in and out, down the line. She came up on Holly, who was in the zone, her head low, her eyes straight ahead. Picking up her speed a bit, Annie wove past her red-haired teammate.
    Liz was at the head of the line.
    Annie approached, noting the definition of the muscles in her captain’s arms and calves. Liz looked over her shoulder and grinned, showing Annie her chipped front tooth. She was waiting until after derby season to get it fixed.
    She’d told the team she thought the broken tooth made her look dangerous. But with such a friendly face, Liz was about the least scary-looking person Annie knew.
    Now, Annie bent low and glided fast, rounding her captain in a smooth sweep to get in front and take the lead.
    â€œNot bad for a freshman,” Liz teased. “And a British freshman at that!”
    â€œHey! I’m half American!” Annie called over her shoulder.
    â€œThat must be the half that can skate!” Liz yelled back.
    The pace line continued until each Belle had had her turn weaving in and out and Annie was once again last in line.
    They spent the next several minutes doing hot laps for speed training. Annie was exuberant, flying around the track as though she had wings on her skates. Only Liz and Holly could keep up with her speed.
    When Coach finally called a break, Annie’s heart was pounding and she was a sticky, sweaty mess. So was everyone else.
    Lauren T-stopped beside Annie and wiped her damp brow with the back of her hand. They followed a handful of Belles to the water fountain and waited their turns.
    Annie had just finished drinking when she heard chanting coming from the far end of the rink. She looked up to see the High Rollers approaching from the locker room, ready for the second half of their practice.
    TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT . . .
    WHO WILL WE ASSASSINATE?
    BELLES!
    BELLES!
    â€œDon’t they ever quit?” Lauren muttered.
    The answer, apparently, was no, because the High Rollers went right on cheering:
    TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT . . .
    MAYBE YOU SHOULD LEARN TO