How could this have happened? Leafs rustled and the cold wind tugged in Max clothes and hair. He sat by the big fountain on campus and glanced around but passerbyers didn't dare to look at him. Lowered eyes or whispering followed by laughter, felt like stabbing knives and Max bit his lip. People that had admired him now joked about him behind his back, like old days. In a big sigh he looked at his own skateboard and kicked it hard. Right now he hated everything he had become and it was thanks to that stupid board. To be fair he was the one to blame, not an object. A big shadow drifted above him and made him even colder. He looked up and it was the big X game air ship that covered the sun. Just looking at the X-game logo made him even more angry and sad about everything. It was two hours before the X-game's final and PJ and Bobby had cut him out from the team. Goofy didn't pick up the phone and Roxanne… well… Max assumed she was with Bradley Uppercrust in the Gamma house. Everything had crumbled into pieces and Max didn't even know when it had begun. He sighed and buried his face in his gloved hands. He had blew everything and for what? Nothing… If he only could go back in time and fix everything that had gone wrong…

Maximillian Goof had become the X-game king and the most wanted dude on the college ground. The second year had passed him like a blurry fast forward movie. He had survived every class and Team99 had also won the X-games two years in a row. Which meant that Team Gamma had lost this year as well. To see Bradley Uppercrust so mad had been a nice feeling and to hoist the cup had been so thrilling. But the best part about this whole year was that it had been parent free. No Goofy meant a lot more wild college life and much more freedom. That had fit Max perfect, he needed distance and find his own self and life. And o boy he had found himself just fine here. Skateboarding, fun parties and great people. Everybody knew him, and everyone wanted to be around him. His whole life had turned upside down and he was someone here. Which made him feel pretty sad to leave his new life and travel back home during summer. He had promised his dad to spend some time with him and with PJ and Bobby by his side, it would be a rather decent holiday. Max packed his lasts things and closed his trunk with a loud bang.

"Ready to travel home?", Max sighed and looked at his friends.
Bobby laid in his bed and lazily picked at an escaping thread on his shirt. PJ had checked his packing list one last time to be sure that he hadn't forget anything. Max felt conflicted about traveling home, he would miss this. He took a last glance at their old room and clenched his fists. He really didn't want to leave…
"Cheer up Maxboy you have Team99 backing you up!", Bobby said and eyed Max above his purple glasses, he rose up from the bed and fetched his on baggage.
"I know, but… I really going to miss this", Max said and grabbed his suitcase. "Come on, let's move"
"Hold up boys, did you three really think you could just leave this place without saying good bye? You really begging for bad karma"
Max smiled and turned around and Miss Mocha leaned at the doorframe with crossed arms. PJ was the first one to welcome here with a hug and kiss. The two was the oddest but in the same time loveliest couple Max knew of. They always stuck together and had the strangest nicknames, cute and odd at the same time. It was rather sad that they wouldn't celebrate their anniversary together. With that in mind Max gave his female friend a rather big and supporting hug after her long cuddle time with PJ.
"You'll see us soon enough", Max smiled.
"Soon is a rather individual word, Max", she said and rolled her eyes. "No one sees it the same way"
"Yeah. Yeah, you'll miss us, do you have a hug left for Bobby?" Bobby laughed and flung out with his arms and gave Mocha a hug that lift her form the ground.
Max withdrew with a laugh and listened to Mocha's and Bobby's discussion about no touching and karma. A stunning feeling crept around in Max body when he remember that he wouldn't hear them argue during the whole summer. He scratched his neck and looked down at the floor, he would really miss this place. Why had he promised dad to travel home during summer? The old man had Sylvia and everything, why couldn't he leave Max alone?
"Come on, we need to get moving", he said after a while, sooner they hit the road the better.

Traveling home took about five hours. The trio joked and talked about plans for summer and how to fit training in their tight schedule. Max held up with their conversation but his head was filled with other thoughts. How would it be to stay home five weeks? How would it be to chare roof with his dad again? How would it be to meet people from his old school?. No, Max overthought this…
But Max became more and more anxious for every mile closer to home…
Nothing got better when they drove by their old school and nostalgia hit Max rock hard in his face. All the familiar roads and places and all the emotions they projected made Max a bad driver. PJ had to remind him about keeping distance from cars and that the middle line was there for a reason. Max tried to focus but slipped away on his nostalgia train.
There was the old music shop he had seen Roxanne for the first time. And next to it laid the ice cream bar they had have their first date…. Why did he think about Roxanne right now? Max shook his head and focused on the road again. She was an ended chapter in his life, they have had three great years but she had left the town and broken up with him. She had decided to study abroad and Max hadn't want to be the one to pin her down. Everything was cool but it was kind of understandable to think about her, it was just because of his nostalgia, nothing more… She wasn't here anyhow…
"MAX STOP!"
Max stomped on the break and the van jolted and the seatbelt pressed every ounce of air from Max's lungs. His heart drummed hard against his chest and he took deep breaths to calm down. Adrenaline pumped and Max was thankful to be alive. What had he not seen on the road? He looked up behind the steering wheel and his eyes widened even more when he saw what he had nearly hit. There, right in front of the van stood a red haired girl with big brown eyes. She held a book in a firm grip, her knuckles white of tension. She looked just as surprised and scared as Max felt. Roxanne… how could it be? She was cuter than ever with a nice white summer dress that followed her curves perfect. What was she doing here? They just stared at each other and Max waved shamefully at her, she just continued to stare at him with red locks waving in the summer breeze.
"Max you are the worst driver ever!", Bobby yelled from the backseat and he unbuckled his seatbelt so he could hit his friend in the head.
Max flinched and looked angry at Bobby who gave him a stare that could kill him on the spot. It was always frightening to see Bobby angry because he was always so cheerful and unconcerned. Max bit his lip and glanced back on the road. Roxanne was gone, had she just been an illusion?
"What did I do?", Max said goofily and Bobby respond with another smack.
"You nearly killed a girl, I take the wheel, you are prohibited to drive this vehicle any further bro"
They switched places and the three didn't speak rest of the way home. Bobby had the eyes on the road, PJ was still pale and kind of zooned out from the near crash. Max on the other hand was still confused about the girl, had it been Roxanne? He would never know. If it was her she would probably never talk to him again. Why would you talk to someone that had nearly killed you?
"Good job, Max, good job", he murmured to himself and leaned his head against the window.

"Maxie gawsh you are home!"
Max barely got out from the van when Goofy sprung out from the house and ran down the yard to greet him. Max never got the time to brace himself before Goofy welcomed his son home with a hug and a kiss on the forehead. Max pushed his dad away, but couldn't resist to smile a bit. Bobby slammed the door shut and helped Max and PJ to unload their stuff under silence. The tension from their near car crash experience still hung in the air.
"Hope nothing happened on the road", Goofy said and scratched is neck while looking at the boys.
"Max nearly got us and a girl killed", Bobby said and Max gave him a glare, traitor.
"Gawsh, Max, is that true?", Goofy said and his big eyes got even wider. "What have I told you about focusing on the road?"
"Well, I was just… it was stupid I know but nothing happened?", Max flung out with his arms, but when none said anything he just ran his hand over his face. "I'll never drive again, happy?"
"I am", said PJ closing the door, more like a joke than anything. "Promise it won't happen again"
Max nodded and the three guys just smiled towards each other, an agreement about forgiveness. The trio said good bye and went different directions. Bobby disappeared in their hippie van PJ took all his stuff and headed home, right across the street. It was sad that Peter didn't greet his son like Goofy had. But Max had not time to think about it anymore before a hand ruffled his hair and he heard his dad's hyckily laugh. That laugh impaled Max into his bones and he shivered. What had he done to himself? Five weeks with his dad? Why had he agreed to this?
"Well, we can practice driving while traveling", Goofy said and took Max's bag away from him. "I have planned the whole thing ohboy you'll like it this time…"
Max heard his dad continue talking but it turned into murmur. Had he heard right, traveling?
"Traveling?", Max repeated and he felt a slight twitch in his eyelid.
"Well of course Maxie poo, a road trip", Goofy laughed and grabbed Max by his wrist and guided him towards their house.
"Dad, didn't you learn anything last time we traveled together?", Max yelped and squirmed out of his dad's grip. "Please don't make us do that again!"
The sadness in his dad's eyes made Max feel awful and like the worst son ever. But seriously they two in a car, around the country would not work at al.
"But Max…"
"No, dad, I'm serious, if you want a travel companion, take Donald or Mickey with you, and beside I have my work at House of Mouse and…"
"Okay Max I understand", his dad said and sighed, his back hunched as always when he got sad.
"I'm sorry", he murmured. "But we can do other fun stuff when I'm home"
"I'm suppose you're right", Goofy said and Max could spot a smile in the corner of his mouth.
With that smooth prevention of a road trip disaster they went inside and Sylvia greeted them both. Max got touched buy their welcome home celebration. Sylvia had cooked an amazing dinner and the kitchen was decorated with balloons and they had hung up a banner with big red letters that spelled. "Welcome home Maxie"
Max actually felt a little guilty to disregard his dad and the planned road trip. The only thing he could do was to tell himself it was for the better. He was so filled up with emotions about today's adventure and the summer that was about to come. So much plans and so much to do. But he never really dropped the thought about Roxanne, what if she was the one he nearly killed today? He was sure of it but in the same time uncertain, how could he be sure? She had disappeared in a blink of an eye… had it been a ghost of his past?
He thought about it so much that he never noticed that while he unpacked his luggage, a red haired girl with a white dress looked up at his window across the street.