Chapter One



Hallie


I awoke earlier than usual that morning. At first I thought it was some bird or radio that had disturbed my slumber, but I soon discovered it was one of those aggressive in-line skaters California is so famous for, and a male at that. And he was skating in my skate-park!

Quickly, I grabbed my sunglasses from my bedside table, putting them on. I then dashed across my apartment and down the stairs, taking them two at a time. I dusted past the computer desk, bookshelf, and windowsill in my office, and quickly unlocked and opened the door.

A blast of cool morning air hit my face, and I could hear the boy's words more distinctly.

"Val Horrigan sets it up for an inverted 540*," I heard, followed by the immediate stop of the skate clacks, and the swishing of cloth, muscle, and bone through air.

"And he makes it!" The male voice said after his skates hit the ground, now jubilant.

I smiled. More than anything, I could tell this Val boy enjoyed skating, and he enjoyed competition. It would be a shame to disturb him, but he was skating on my property without permission, and if I remember correctly, today was Friday, a school day.

Making my decision, I called, "Val?"

The clackity-clack of the in-line skates skidded to a stop. For a second, there was no sound except that of the waking city, and the cars rushing by. As quickly as the skate-sounds had stopped, they started again, receding over the blacktop of the skatepark. I heard him stoop to pick something off the ground, and then he was gone.

"Wait!" I called, but he was gone.

"Smooth move, Hal," I said to myself aloud. "You just scared off a customer."

And probably a friend.
~*~*~*~*~*~

Val


Damnit! I knew I'd get caught sooner or later, but why the hell did it have to be sooner?

I'd found the girl's skatepark about a month ago, before my eighteenth birthday, but right after the Friendship Games... right after I'd been kicked off Team X-Bladz. But what did that matter? It was close to my house, it was a bit... sterile looking but had all the makings of a skater's heaven, and best of all, neither Brink and his puppies nor Team X-Bladz knew about it... yet.

I guess I'm more like Brink and his lackeys than I'd like to admit. Just give me a few hours a day, and a place to skate, and I'm happy. The money is just a bonus...

But of course, I was too competitive that day. Come to think of it, I'm always too competitive. It's just in my nature. It's not like I can help it or anything. You know what they say, "Do unto others..."

And there'd be a lot of doing unto others today. Brink and co. unto me, me unto Brink, X-Bladz unto me, and basically me unto the world and vice versa. There's only one good thing about being at the bottom of the popularity pole. The only way to go is up.

I thought back on the girl, and smiled. Rich amber hair, eyes covered by sunglasses only a few shades darker than her hair. Perfect body, with strong lines and definite curves. She's probably a skater herself. Didn't actually look all that much older than me. Maybe I could ask her to the senior prom. Then again, with the way I've been using her property without permission, maybe not.

My watch beeped, and I looked down at it. 7:30. Just enough time to skate to school, and make it for first period. Thank God for hidden miracles.

"Then again..." I sigh. "Off to another day in Hell... excuse me, high school."


20 minutes later




I entered the maw of Hell... beg pardon, the doors of school, with about five minutes to spare, and raced to my locker.

"Oh, look there," I heard a voice behind me mutter. "His majesty, King Val, running. Ladies and gentlemen, here's one for the record books."

I stuffed my skates and lunch into my locker, scooped my books into my backpack, and turned to face bleach-blond B.J. and the rest of my former teammates.

"Look, Beej, I messed up. I completely and may have totally blown my chances for competing professionally in aggressive skating ever again, and I gave Team X-Bladz a bad name. Is that what you wanted to hear? You've been bugging me about this for the past three months, telling me I fucked up. I know I fucked up, so just leave it be. I'm sorry!" I sighed. As if life weren't bad enough already, here I was apologizing to the very boys who had become the best team in the state under my leadership. I'm such a stinkin' sap.

For a second, B.J. looked surprised. The surprise was quickly replaced by cynicism, though, and the next words out of his mouth were condescending.

"Nice try, man. Do you really expect us to believe that?" He asked, cool as ice.

I sighed. Give an idiot a pint of power, he'll fill the cup to a gallon.

"Listen," I grit out from between clenched teeth. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the other three guys on the team, two of whom I don't know, step back, and I couldn't help but smirk. I've still got the touch.

"I know you don't believe it, but take it or leave it. Me, I'm leaving right now. If I don't start getting to class on time, Miss Lebert will skin me alive, and you're obviously not man enough to step down. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"No, man, I won't. You talk and act as if you're still captain of X-Bladz, man, and let me tell you, you're not. You blew your chances at skating; you betrayed the team and me, who only wanted to be your friends and most of all you lost your pride. You've got nothing, man," BJ said, meeting my eyes with a cruel stare.

"That's where you're wrong, man," I sighed, thinking of the mystery girl. MY mystery girl. If thoughts of her skate park weren't what was seeing me through the day, why not thoughts of her?

"That's where you're wrong," I repeated. "Now, get out of my way. Please."

~*~*~*~*~*~

B.J.


I couldn't help but stand in the middle of the hallway, mouth agape. I glared at Val's receding back. Did that idiot just apologize, then blow me off?

"Cuhner, Baltsic," I commanded the two newest members of Team X-Bladz. I could tell that although they were afraid of Val after his little display today, they had no sense of loyalty to him. Not like Hunter.

"Yeah, Beej," they chorused.

"Make Horrigan's life miserable. Start at noon, today," I ordered.

Baltsic and Cuhner nodded, and raced off toward their respective first period classes.

"B.J?" Hunter asked. "Are you sure that's a good idea? Couldn't you just let the 'Soul Skaters' deal with him?"

What an idiot! I grit my teeth against saying so, and turned to Hunter.

"Hunter," I began in my most conciliatory tone. "How much do you value your position on Team X-Bladz?"

~*~*~*~*~*~


4th period


Gabbie


I hate to say it. I really hate to say it, but it's true! I pity Val Horrigan. Yes... I, Gabriella Dellama, pity the boy who has risked my life, risked my aggressive in-line career, and done nothing but make my life miserable for the past six years. I suppose that's a sign of maturity, but if it is, I'd rather be stuck with the maturity of an eight-year-old forever. It makes life so much simpler.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, and turned to face one of my closest friends, Jordy. Yup, just Jordy. He had a last name long, long ago, but... well, I guess we all forgot it. Ah, well... that's life. Anyway, Jordy tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to look at him.

"Check Brink out," he whispered, and pointed to another blond-haired boy sitting two rows in front of us. About that "maturity" comment... can I take it back?

Ah, yes. Andrew "Brink" Brinker, fearless leader of "Team Pup-'N-Suds", the Soul Skaters, winners of the Friendship Tournament, or whatever it is that guy kept calling it. But you know what? Three months later, the title just doesn't hold the same ring. I suppose it's because I've known Brink since before I first strapped on in-line skates (at about age six), hell, he taught me about "Soul Skating", but he has matured by only fractions since then.

Take now, for instance. At this very moment, Brink was chewing a spitwad while our homeroom monitor had his head toward his next class's assignments. His target: Val Horrigan, nemesis of the Soul Skaters as recent as yesterday evening. Normally I'd snigger behind my hand, give Brink my encouragement, and think no more about it. But you know what? It's getting old. I mean, this mini-war has been going back and forth since we were in... er... sixth grade, give or take a year, and still no one has won. I've given up trying to figure out what Brink's trying to prove. Val's been banned from competing at least temporarily and Brink was offered his position as captain of X-Bladz (just between you and me, not that I'd want Brink to leave us or anything, but he makes a much better captain than that B.J. creep. Hell, Val was just competitive. B.J.'s absolutely insane!). Plus, all the girls that used to be fawning over Val have now turned their attention to Brink. (Okay, okay, you got me. Some of them are taking an interest in Jordy and little Petey too, but who am I to complain? Especially with a much larger roster of guys to choose from?) What more could Andy do to break Val?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Val


I knew it was coming, same as it has every study hall since the Monday morning after Championships. At first it used to be worse... more people used to join in. Now, though, it's just "Brink". As if life weren't bad enough already, that arrogant son of a... wait, who am I kidding? It was my fault I got kicked off Team X-Bladz, just like it's my own fault if I get kicked out of the skate park after this afternoon. Hell! That means I'll have to go back to the Pit and session by myself, right beside Brink's little skateboarder friends. Ugh. But back to this afternoon. Until the homeroom monitor... Mr. Kanner or something... made the class stop jeering and caterwauling at me about six weeks ago, it was open season on my butt. Hell, outside of the classroom, it still is. That's why I was so happy to find the unknown skate park, owned by the girl with amber hair and sunglasses about two shades darker...

I was so lost in my thoughts, I barely even noticed when Brink's spitwad hit the back of my neck. Still, I half-flinched and looked up at Mr. Kanner, trying to determine if he had noticed anything. When I saw he hadn't, I pulled the sticky paper wad from my neck and turned face to face with the only guy still bold enough to piss me off.

"You, me, the amphitheater, lunchtime," I hissed, barely loud enough for Brink to hear me. When his eyes narrowed in recognition. I looked over his shoulder, and saw his lackeys; Gabbie, Jordy, and Pete, exchange confused glances. I turned back to Brink.

As an afterthought, I added, "alone."

Brink gave me a confused glance.

"What's the matter?" I asked, still using undertones. "Scared?"

"No," he whispered back.

"Well, then, meet me," I muttered. "And don't worry. I promise not to break you."

Brink scoffed.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Brink


"Fine," I clipped, just as the bell rang for lunch.

Who the Hell does he think he is? First, he gets us all in trouble when he was on X-Bladz, after getting worked up over a harmless prank (he's always been too high-strung). Then, he works me half to death when I'm filling in for Boomer before the Invitational. Finally, he gets himself kicked off X-Bladz after Championships when he used an underhanded trick to force me off the downhill course. Whatever he gets, he has coming to him.

I still met Val at the amphitheater. He was sitting halfway up the seats when I arrived, staring at his hands.

I cleared my throat. He looked up.

"Why're you so late?" He asked. "Take a while to lose the puppies?"

"They're not puppies, Val. They're my friends. Something you obviously know nothing about," I shot back.

"We're not here to discuss my social life, but thank you for your concern. We're here to talk about the spitwads you toss at me in study hall everyday, without fail," he said, opening the argument.

"You know what? Whatever you get, you brought it on yourself. Boomer's right. You never think. If you had, we'd probably still be enemies, me and my friends would have still beaten Team X-Bladz, and you'd still have your position as captain!" I shouted.

His eyes narrowed, and he took a menacing step towards me. I've only twice seen him like this before, and from what I've seen both times, I have only two words to say: Oh, shit.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Val


"Listen, buster," I scoffed, getting right in his face. "You aren't exactly free of guilt yourself. You don't always think ahead, either. If I remember correctly, you came to join X-Bladz of your own free will. You made a good impression on Jimmy, of your own free will. And, damnit, you made me so jealous I worked you into the ground during those weeks. Are you happy? I was jealous of you. Of your talent. Of your unadultured love for the sport. Of your friendships. I was alone, I was unhappy, and I didn't care who I hurt, so long as I held onto the only concrete thing in my life at that moment... the fact that I was captain of Team X-Bladz. I was scared... no, I was beyond scared. I was terrified! Are you happy now? Now that you know that I was scared shitless by you? Are you happy?"

Why the Hell did I just say all that? What a move for a wuss like me to make, especially feeling like I do right now. First, I freak when that amber-haired girl finds me in her skate park. Then, I actually apologize to B.J. And now I confess my one weakness to Brink! I must have the flu or something.

"Listen, man, I'm sorry. I'll lay off the spitballs. I didn't know most of the stuff you did was from intimidation. I'm just the way I am, and I can't help it. You know how it is," Brink was saying.

"Yeah, I know how it is. Now, I think I better get my butt to the nurse's office. My stomach's telling my body it didn't like my lunch, and well... you know how it is," I said, and stood to go.

"After you, man," Brink said, stepping away from me and waving me on.

I don't really have to ralph, but I need to get out of this hellhole. I think I've done enough damage for one day. So let's see here now... what should I tell the nurse? With everything that's going on this time of year... flu-like symptoms would be best.