Fang
What was I thinking when I said yes to Nudge and Iggy's invitation to the Cheer Worlds? The only thing that I found good about them was the fact that the beach was usually empty because the tourists would rather watch a bunch of people throw each other around then actually do something worth their time. Like, say, surfing.
But I wasn't going to worry - too much - about next week for today. I had a competition coming up in a few weeks, just a non-important practice one before competitions got serious and started, well, mattering. So Iggy and I were heading to the beach, since we were both doing the competition, to catch a few waves and just chill out.
"The waves are looking good," Iggy said, pointing out the window of my truck as we passed an area where we could see the beach.
The waves weren't the biggest I'd seen them, and they certainly weren't as big as they would be once bigger competitions got started, but there were a few barrels and the water was choppy. It would be good practice to just try and keep up with the direction of the water for this. It was pretty windy, so Ig and I would have to stay on our toes all day today. Which, together, we sure as hell wouldn't.
I parked in the sand parking lot and got out of my truck, slamming the door, which rocked the whole frame. I handed Iggy his surfboard, grabbed my own, and then we jogged toward the beach.
I fell down in the sand and put the leash from my board around my ankle, and then Iggy and I stood on the edge of the water. I bit the inside of my cheek, squinting my eyes against the sunlight reflecting off the water, and checked out the water.
"I'm seeing the most barrels over here," Iggy finally blurted, pointing slightly to the right. He was right - I'd seen all those monster waves too. One was just forming, going about halfway to the beach before it collapsed back, sending water flying.
"Yeah, but the wind's starting to come in stronger from the left," I said, arguing with myself. Go with the big barrels now, go and wait for the super-big barrels. "Let's head that way."
Iggy was practically bouncing up and down on his toes, just wanting to be in the water. Plus, the guy has energy. Lots of it. At my ninth birthday party we had a bounce house, and my uncle literally had to pull Iggy out by his feet because it was cake time. All of us kids were exhausted, and Ig was just getting started.
"Let's make it a contest," Iggy decided smugly. He was a competitive guy. "I'll go out to the right, you go to the left. Whoever gets the most waves without falling has to buy the other Wendy's whenever they want it."
"You're on." I grinned.
While Iggy dived forward, paddling quickly in hopes of getting the soonest barrel, I stuck my board in the sand and pulled my shirt over my head, putting my sandals on top of it so it wouldn't blow away. Then I dived into the water and paddled out as far as it would work, ignoring the burn in my arms.
By the time I was out there, small waves were beginning to gather, and I just sat through them. Iggy had already gotten two waves, but he was on his third when he wiped out. So this was my chance.
I glanced behind me, saw the first sign of a wave forming, and started to paddle forward. I jumped up, got balanced, and rode the wave. It curled over me into a barrel, the first I'd had in a while, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I turned sideways. I squatted down, making myself as small as I could bee inside the tube of water, and some of it splashed onto my face and chest. But I finally broke out, and I saw Iggy smack the water as he saw the huge barrel I'd just gotten.
"Oh, yeah, Ig," I shouted at him, nodding and being, okay, a little cocky. "You should always listen to me!"
"Oh, shut up!" Iggy yelled, but across the distance and over the sound of the water I could just barely hear it.
I laughed and shook my head, jumping in the water and then getting back on my surfboard to paddle back and wait for more waves.
Iggy and I ended our contest a little over twenty minutes later, when he finally gave up, realizing that the waves in his area were gone and mine were still coming strong. I'd gotten six waves, and he'd gotten four.
We were floating on our surfboards on our backs, way far off of shore. Iggy was jabbering on about something that I'd stopped listening to about three words into it, and I was just laying back, my legs dangling off my board, an arm slung over my eyes, soaking up the sun.
Actually, it was about nine o'clock, so the sun was gone. And the beach was empty. It was quiet, except for the lapping water and, obviously, Iggy going on and on and on.
Finally I decided I should get up and head back to the beach to get my phone and see if anybody had called or if Mom needed me. I sat up, groaning as my back and neck popped, and glanced over at Iggy.
Iggy was lying on his stomach on his board with all of his limbs dangling off, and his annoying never-ending story had been replaced with a light snore.
Quietly, I reached over and shoved the sleeping Iggy into the water. He came up, sputtering, not long later, and shot me a death glare as he pulled himself out of the water and onto his board.
"Not even cool, man," Iggy muttered. "Water got up my nose."
I looked back at the beach, which wasn't as far away as I'd thought. To my dismay, there were four outlines on the beach, all of them small and easily identifiable as girls. And cheerleaders.
And how could I tell they were cheerleaders? Well that, my friends, is a very good question, that is very easily answered.
One of them was tumbling - literally, of course - down the beach. She landed on my stuff and fell down, plopping on her butt in the dirt.
Iggy and I looked at each other, sighed, and headed toward the beach.
Max
Even though Daytona Beach was only about an hour from Orlando, my legs were sore when I stepped out of Amber's mom's car in the sand parking lot. Probably from all those toe touches and stretches today. We'd done a lot more than usual.
Beth and Amber hooked their elbows and walked alongside each other, talking about whatever, and Lissa and I did the same. Most of the team was really close, and we were all good friends, but Beth and Amber got along better, as did Lissa and I.
"Look at that sexy car," Lissa said sarcastically, pointing at a faded blue truck that was rusting, well, everywhere.
I just nodded, trying to roll my shoulders as we headed down to the water. I was sore everywhere tonight. I'd have to stretch before practice tomorrow.
The beach was empty, which surprised me. Yeah, it was nine, but I'd assumed there would be little bonfires lining the beach with teenagers like in all the movies. But I, of course, really needed to stop getting some of my basic knowledge from movies.
"Lissa, Max," Amber hissed from a little ways behind us. We turned to look at her. "Look!" She pointed out toward the water.
Not far off, we could see two figures laying down. I couldn't tell if they were just floating in the water like dead bodies or what, but I figured that they probably had a surfboard or a floatie or something. I could tell, even from this distance, that they were guys, which is probably why Amber told us.
"Cool. Whatever, we'll flirt when they come in," Lissa said.
She took off her shorts so that she was in her swimsuit, and she took off her sling bag and handed me a videocamera.
"Record me?" she asked.
"Sure."
I turned the camera on and fixed it on Lissa, and I followed her as she did a few back handsprings into a layout. When she landed on the hard-packed sand, no doubt stunning the nerves and muscles in her feet, she hopped around for a moment to get them back going.
"Anyone else want recorded before I shut this thing off?" I asked, turning to Beth and Amber.
"Sure," Beth said, kicking off her sandals and pulling her hair into a sloppy ponytail. "I'll try a full."
I thought Beth was getting a little cocky, doing a full on the beach when it was obvious Lissa's layout had hurt, but who was I to argue? Beth was without a doubt one of the best tumblers on our team, with some of the best double fulls I'd seen from a cheerleader, so I knew she wouldn't hurt herself.
I followed Beth with the camera as she did a round-off, two back handsprings, and finally a layout with a full twist. She landed right on a pile of something I couldn't see in the dark, and flew backward and landed on her butt.
We all froze, afraid for a second that she'd hurt herself. But when she saw that she was just bright red with humiliation we all doubled over laughing. Lissa had to hold onto my arm to keep herself from falling over she was laughing so hard.
"It wasn't that funny, guys," Beth said furiously as she stood up, wiping sand off her butt. "I would've landed it if I hadn't tripped on..."
"My stuff," a new voice said, from behind Lissa and I.
We all turned to see two guys. They were about the same height, but the blonde one was a little bit scrawnier, and I wondered if he was a local, because he sure as hell wasn't tan. The other, on the other hand, was very tan, and he had a muscley build that I swear he was showing off, since he was only wearing some swim trunks. They both had surfboards under their arms.
"Oh." Beth scratched her head awkwardly. "Uh, sorry about that."
"It's no big deal," the blonde guy said. "My buddy Fang here just gets a little grumpy when he's hungry." He patted the taller guy, Fang, on the arm.
"Oh, thanks for reminding me, Iggy. Wendy's is sounding pretty good right now." He smiled smugly at the blonde one, Iggy.
"Screw you, man," Iggy said, punching Fang playfully and then grabbing his surfboard and jogging away.
Fang crouched down, scooped up his things, and then he walked away too.
Did I imagine that sidelong glance he flickered at me? Oh, yeah, I must've. I don't get all silly like Lissa over guys. No way.
And there you go!
I realize that I had a few mistakes in chapter one, because I wrote it late and I don't, you know, think past midnight, but I went back and corrected it all. I think.
Anywho, I move tomorrow! So nervous! :s
Again, I'm not exactly a surfer so...please forgive me if any of my surfing vocab or knowledge is, you know, wrong.
PEACELOVINGIRL: Nope, I'm not moving there. Unfortunately. I'm moving all the way to Georgia! :(
Shayna-18: Yeah, I might try Blur after this. It'd definitely be something I've never tried before, but it would be a fun challenge. :)
ISuckAtUsernames:I have literally no clue what any of that in the first paragraph of your review meant. Jeezums. Well I sure hope all the surf stuff is right!
Okey doke. Got 26 reviews for chapter one. All I'm gonna ask for is 25 because A) I'm super-nice, and B) everyone knows the first chapter gets more reviews than the rest. :)