Ch 1

Here's another taken-out-of-a-book-and-modified scene, because I'm bored, and my history homework doesn't have this kind of entertainment factor.

Again, I own everything. Including Viggo and Nate, because I stole them and they're locked in my closet. Simple enough to understand, right?

…………………………………………

Viggo was lying on his back on the floor of the lodge's living room, before the fireplace. The other racers were milling about, some out practicing, others having lunch elsewhere. Viggo thumbed through a glossy magazine he'd been trying to be interested in for the past hour. It hadn't worked for the past hour, and it wasn't working now. Frustrated, he slapped the covers together and half flung it away from him so it slid under the chair where Elise was sitting.

"Would you like something else to read?" she asked mildly, reaching under the chair and picking it up. "Something that would perhaps make you less angry?"

"Nnnnnn" Viggo growled. She arched an eyebrow.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He was lying. She knew it, he knew it, and even Griff, who'd just walked into the room, knew it.

"What's up, Viggo?" He hopped over the couch and flopped down, his foot nearly making contact with Elise's head.

"Would it kill you to walk around?" she gave Griff a stern look.

"Sorry."

"Hey, Griff, Mac was looking for you." Viggo called over to him. "Something about letting you borrow his new video game."

"Wow, really?!" Griff leaped up and raced from the room.

"Mac's gone" Elise said, flipping through the magazine Viggo had thrown. "He and a bunch of other people went into town for the day." The only ones at the lodge were Viggo, Elise, Moby, Zoe, Allegora, Nate and Psymon, everyone else had gone for the day.

"I know." They were both silent for a few minutes.

"Sure nothing's wrong?" Elise ventured again. Viggo turned away.

"I'm fine." Again, he was lying, so obviously it was painful. Viggo had been told to room with Nate, and it had been going fine, for the first few weeks. Then Viggo's ex-boyfriend had called him- they were still friends, and he just wanted the name of some place or other- and Viggo had made the mistake of telling Nate who it was.

"You have a boyfriend?" Nate had looked so shocked Viggo had been offended, and more than a little hurt.

"I did." Viggo had said shortly, going to leave.

"You like guys?" Again, Nate had sounded so surprised, it sounded almost like horror. Viggo had snarled some confirming response and slammed the door so hard he'd scared the hell out of Kaori, who'd been walking down the hall at that precise moment. After screaming at the sudden noise, she'd asked Viggo what was wrong, and he'd been lying ever since.



Viggo glared into the fire, not about to admit anything to Elise. It wouldn't have been so bad, or something he'd even remotely care about, if only it hadn't been Nate saying it. That made it important. That made it hurt.

"I don't think you're doing that great." Elise interrupted his dark musings.

"You always say that" he replied smugly.

"I mean it this time." That shut him up. "I'm serious, Viggo. What's wrong?"

"I dunno." He answered, more than half truthful.

"Now I'm really worried about you."

"Yeah?" he asked, only half interested.

"Yes. What is it?" She just didn't feel right, watching the normally vibrant Viggo be so… depressed. It didn't seem right, and she was going to fix it.

He told her about the morning, about the phone call and the conversation and the door slamming. "I don't see why you'd care" She said once he was done. "Everyone here already knew you're gay."

"I know that. And I don't care that he knows." Viggo lifted one hand in a questioning little gesture. "I just… it's not that." Their conversation was stopped short when Allegora came into the room in a huff. She threw herself onto the couch, pouting.

"Get called a little poser again?" Elise asked with false compassion. Allegora made a face at her.

"Go jump off a cliff." She stuck her tongue out at Elise, looking around for something to throw at her.

"Later, dudettes and Swede" Psymon walked out, snowboard in hand. "I'll be causing an avalanche, be back in a month." The door closed behind him. Allegora crossed her arms over her chest, clearly fuming about something. Viggo lay back on the floor, hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. He tried not to go over and over the scene from that morning, but his thoughts didn't exactly comply. The more he thought about it, the madder he got. And the more he felt like bursting into tears. He refused to give into either.

...

So, what'd everyone think? Review and let me know!

Hab Dich Liebe! Je t'aime!

wild-sunshine