Sitting in a small café on the outskirts of the Alps, Allegra sat by herself sipping hot chocolate. This used to be one of her favourite spots for a coffee, and it had been since the first time she ever came here. However, that had all changed. She was only here because she was meeting someone. And it was only here because he was so stubborn he refused to meet her elsewhere. But she missed him, and she couldn't cut out her best friend for something like this. Hell, he didn't even know the reason she didn't want to come here anymore. She brushed her hair out of her face, more for something to do than the fact it was in her way.

As the guy she was waiting for strolled through the door, Allegra felt suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. She'd missed Viggo so much, and somehow a phone call every week didn't seem enough anymore. She so badly wanted to be back racing the circuits with him, her old riding partner, but she knew he wouldn't go in for that now. And besides, the circuits didn't even run anymore. She couldn't even bring herself to imagine what was now happening to old SSX circuits. They were probably falling into disrepair, and only being used by teenagers, breaking into the tracks for a good place to get drunk. She threw her emotions to the back of her mind, hoping they'd stay buried in the midst of other things.

'Yo, Allie!' Viggo grinned at her, flicking his mess of blond hair off his face as he sat down opposite her.

'Careful, you're starting to sound like Mac.' Allegra smirked, still a bit emotional and trying to cover it up. Viggo frowned at her, but she knew he was kidding.

'That's not cool,' He made a mental note. 'how is he anyway? Mac, I mean.'

Allegra shrugged. 'Fine. Same as usual – far as I know. I haven't spoken to him for a while.'

'Really?' Viggo asked a bit too eagerly. Even though he knew that whatever had (not) happened between Allegra and Mac was long dead and buried, and even though he himself had no romantic interest in her, there are some things you just can't bury in yourself. He cleared his throat and shook his head. 'It doesn't matter.'

Allegra smiled, but it was half dead. She still knew she had to tell Viggo about the one and only secret she'd been keeping from him. Not that it was very secret anymore. It had been mentioned on numerous occasions by DJ Atomika on Radio Big. Although, it was unlikely Viggo would have spent his time listening to Radio Big online in Sweden.

'I have to tell you something,' Allegra said quietly. Viggo could suddenly tell by the tone of her voice that this was the main reason that they were meeting. He remained silent. 'but before I do, you haven't, by any chance, been listening to Radio Big, have you?'

'A bit,' Viggo said. 'when I'm bored at night. Why?'

'Doesn't matter,' She replied. 'hang on… you, bored at night? I don't believe that!'

Viggo chuckled. 'Well, some habits die young, don't they?'

'I thought that was rock stars.'

'Same thing.'

'What brought that about?'

Viggo looked reminiscent for a moment. 'I met someone.' He said slowly, not releasing any more information. Allegra inwardly sighed. Looks like they both had something to tell.

'And?'

'And,' Viggo continued. 'she was amazing. She was a skier, really cute, funny, everything you could ever want. So, I traded going to parties for staying in and watching movies with her. It was actually perfect – couldn't have asked for anything more.'

'So, what happened?'

Viggo bit his lip, and for a minute Allegra thought he was actually going to cry. But he didn't, he seemed to snap back to reality before any sort of emotion could set itself on his face. 'She got hurt in an accident on the slopes. Brain damage.' He looked at the table before he continued. 'She doesn't remember a thing, can't even remember her own name. She can't look after herself, she's in a hospital twenty-four-seven, and will be forever, now.'

Allegra was speechless for a second. 'I'm sorry.' Was all she could bring herself to say. She couldn't even believe this, although she knew why he hadn't told her. Clearly it was hard to talk about, and it made her feel even more guilty for not telling him what she'd been hiding.

'I visit her sometimes,' He sighed, lifting his head to meet her gaze. 'and I see her parents now and then. But once I'd changed my lifestyle, I thought I ought to keep it up, if not only for her sake.'

'That's commendable,' Allegra told him. 'sure she'd be proud. What's her name?'

'Maria.' He said it in a near whisper.

'So pretty.'

He nodded and inhaled slowly. 'Anyway,' he brought his famous smile back to the surface. 'what's up?'

'Well,' Allegra started, but found that she didn't quite know the words to say it. 'I don't really know how to say this. But I was seeing someone as well, and I didn't tell you, and I feel quite guilty about it now…' She paused again.

'Don't feel guilty,' Viggo assured her. 'so long as it isn't Mac.' He added.

'It wasn't Mac,' Allegra couldn't help but smirk. Viggo smiled back at her. 'it was, erm, it was Psymon.'

Viggo almost choked on his words there. 'Psymon?' He repeated.

She nodded, suddenly ashamed of herself. 'Yeah.'

'Sorry, carry on.' Viggo told her politely, although his expression was still made of nothing but shock.

'I was seeing him for near two years,' Allegra informed him quietly. 'and, well, it's ended now. But I had to tell you. I felt so bad for not telling you.'

Viggo nodded but didn't reply. He was still trying to process all that information. It was shocking. He struggled to imagine what the two would ever have in common! He knew Allegra wasn't exactly a good girl, but she was just a bit outspoken and didn't like rules. Whereas Psymon? He was just insane!

'I understand you not telling me,' Viggo said eventually. 'I'd probably have got the first flight out to the circuit and tried to talk you round.' He smirked, although his blue eyes told Allegra that he was deadly serious about that. 'Why did it end?'

This was the tough bit. 'It got too much,' She admitted. 'we had feelings for each other that I don't think either of us understood properly. And we just collapsed under it.'

Before Viggo had the chance to say anything else, both of their attention was suddenly snapped up by something they heard on the radio that had been chattering away in the background until this moment.

'And you're back with Radio Big,' The unmistakable voice of DJ Atomika slid onto the airwaves.

'Who turned this over?' Viggo asked. Allegra shrugged and they both resumed listening.

'My guest today,' Atomika continued. 'is ex-SSX boarder, Zoe Payne!' Both Viggo and Allegra felt a sudden surge of warmth on hearing her name. For a moment Viggo forget the arguments and small rivalry he shared with Zoe, and simply missed her as a part of the whole experience.

'Hey, Atomika!' Zoe sounded just like she always did, she was always so full of life.

'So, Zoe, what have you been doing since our little SSX family broke up?'

'Oh, this and that. Done some dirt biking, bit of rallying, that sort of thing… bit of motor-bike racing.' She added the last one like it was some sort of inside joke, but evidently Atomika didn't get it, as he didn't comment upon it. 'But, I want to go back to my roots.' She continued.

'Oh?' Atomika asked mono-syllable.

'Yeah,' Zoe replied. 'I want to start the old circuit. I want everyone back. I'm just gonna go out and make this appeal right now, that if any of the old SSX competitors are listening – you know you loved snow-boarding better that whatever you're doing now. Just wanted to put that out there. Just letting everyone know that Snowboard Super Cross isn't dead just yet.'

And the radio frequency must have slipped, as Zoe's voice turned into static.

'As if she's really doing this.' Allegra muttered, suddenly forgetting she wasn't alone.

'I know, right?'

She snapped back into reality. 'Might tell I'll do it, you know.'

'Really?'

'Why not? I've got nothing better to do. You should do it, too.'

Viggo laughed. 'Not a chance. I said goodbye to that once, I'm not going to go back on my word.'

'But you only stayed there for one season! You never got past rookie status. Even Griff stayed longer than you did.'

'Allie, I'm twenty-six, I have to find myself something permanent to do. I've got a job teaching at my parents' ski academy, and I'm happy doing it.' He told his best friend firmly.

'Okay,' Allegra sighed. 'just thought it would be nice for us to be back on the course together.'

'It would, Allie, it really would. But it's not going to happen. You know you're welcome to come stay at my parents' lodge whenever you like.'

'I know,' She smiled at him. 'and thanks.'

'So, you're really going to ask her?'

'I don't know,' She sighed. 'I'll think it over. Guess if it's going to happen then it will.'

'Alright,' Viggo nodded. 'let me know so I can come watch you, though, yeah?'

'Obviously,' Allegra grinned back.

Meanwhile, back over in the US, Zoe was already taking phone calls from ex-competitors. She didn't realise exactly how many people were going to put their names forward, but they were all the people she didn't want to call her. Her phone rang again.

'Zoe Payne,' She answered with a sigh.

'Hey Zoe, it's Skie!'

'I'm sorry?'

'Skie… Skie Simms? I was on the course last time it was open?'

'Oh,' Zoe remembered her vaguely. 'yeah, sorry, Skie. I've been busy, I'm not thinking straight.'

'No problem,' Skie said happily. 'I heard your interview on the radio, and I just wanted to let you know that you can add my name to the list. I mean, how's this working? Can we just sign up or is it 'don't call us, we'll call you' kind of situation?'

'Er,' Zoe stared at the other names on her list. 'you'll get a call if you're in.' She told her.

'Oh, okay,' She sounded suddenly disheartened, but tried to stay bright nonetheless. 'sure. Well, it was nice talking to you, Zoe.'

'Yeah. Bye.' And she hung up. She was sick of rookies who competed on one circuit and thought they were worth her time to bring back to the new one! She wanted someone she actually respected to call. Even if it was Elise.

Her phone started ringing once more.

'If you've only done one circuit, you may as well hang up.' She answered.

'Oooo, sorry, Zoe.' Mac Fraser's cool voice told her.

'Mac! Thank God. I was starting to think I might as well start up a rookie circuit!' Zoe couldn't stop herself grinning.

'Had a lot of calls then?' Mac's laugh was more than audible.

'You could say that,' Zoe sighed. 'but who wants Skie Simms and the like on the course?'

'Damn straight!' Mac echoed her view. 'Speaking of rookies, has Viggo called?'

'Nah,' Zoe told him. 'I might have actually considered letting him in, you know.'

'What? No, Zoe!' But she could tell he was kidding. He hadn't called anyway, so it was irrelevant.

'You're in then, right Mac?' Zoe said, writing his name down before he'd answered, she was that confident he would be in.

'Sure thing,' Mac answered casually. 'and if you want a bit of help, I know where to look. Just saying.'

'Oh, really? What makes you think I need help?'

Mac laughed for a moment. 'You need the best of the best, Zoe, not just the old dogs from the game. You need the fresh talent, too.'

'Rookies?' Zoe nearly spat out. 'Find me one who's not self-obsessed, over-confident and skipping class to be here.'

'Not talking about Grommet there, are we?' Mac smirked, though Zoe couldn't see it, she could sense it. 'You called him about this? You know how he gets when he's not included.'

'Nah,' Zoe shrugged. 'I didn't like him. I don't want him back.'

'Well, that's fair, I suppose. I hated sharing a room with him when he was a kid. Mind you, I hated sharing with Viggo as well.'

'Yeah, but Viggo was a good kid. Griff seems messed up now.'

'Call him anyway, he'll probably say no.' Mac tried to convince her. He knew that Griff would find out eventually, and it would be better for everyone if that didn't happen. He was a deceptive kid, but now he had the potential to be a very powerful enemy.

A/N: Not really sure where I'm going with this. If there's characters who aren't on the game that you think would make a good asset to this then please say so in reviews, and I'll think on it (because I'm not entirely happy with the actual in-game characters of SSX 2012, either.) updates might be slow, but I haven't forgotten:)