Bandages

Intervention

The Muse Sway

Disclaimer: Do not own any of these cool characters EA Sports Big does so. Don't sue!

Mac came back from his morning run at the Crow's Nest. He was early for lunch but it couldn't be helped that his stomach kept growling for sustenance. He arrived toward the commune and already there were fans awaiting his arrival. He wiped of some sweat from his fore head before getting off his board. After the half hour distraction of fans he made it towards the cafeteria. To his surprise the Canadian riders Elise Riggs and Psymon Stark had arrived and were now also being bombarded by the newbies of the SSX tournament. He was considerably happy for this because this time he can at least have a peaceful lunch while all the others were distracted greeting Elise and Psymon. As he sat down to his table the familiar voice of Elise bellowed out to him.

" Hey Mac, too shy to say "Hello" even to an old friend?" she yelled as she waved for his attention. Mac turned and gave her a nod before shaking his head and giving her an odd shrug with weird hand gestures.

" Umm you seem a little preoccupied but "Hi" anyways!" he said as he took his seat at a long table. He ate by himself for a small amount of time in peace until Psymon threw a peanut bag towards him to get his attention.

"Hey Mackie no greetings and salutations for ol' Psymon?" Psymon sat next to him his tray full of the most oddest food items. A slice of sardine pizza, macaroni and cheese, rise pudding, a biscuit and three chocolate milks. Mac scooted away from him while he also examined Psymon's food items.

"Hey Psymon, so you what made you decide to sit next to me?" Mac said as he started to eat his mashed potatoes in a faster pace.

"Why, because I'll tell you why. Because little Mackie looks a lot lonelier without his little annoying female companion, that's why!" He said as he gave a strange shiver as he mentioned female companion. Mac turned to look at him straight in the eye. To be perfectly honest he didn't give much thought about Kaori Nishidake. He took one final gulp of his mashed potatoes then turned away to answer him.

"Why does everybody think that me and Kaori are that tight? Yeah I mean we're pretty good friends but I haven't spoken to her since the last tournament." listening to his answer made him feel pretty lame.

"Aww so poor Mackie isn't so hot with the ladies after all…." he then started laugh madly out loud. Everyone around the perimeter turned to look at the pierced snowboarder continue his laughter before they went back with their own business.

"Hey there, can I sit hear?" it was Allegra with her tray of food, however she wasn't accompanied by Viggo Rolig. Mac and Psymon looked up at her apparently shocked by her sudden appearance. Mac just shrugged as to Psymon let out big grin and stood up.

"Why sure pretty lady." he then sat back down and continued to eat as if he they were complete strangers. Mac felt odd by the strange quietness and decided to break the ice.

"So Allegra where's Viggo?" she was opening her coke while she looked up and gave a slight frown.

"Oh he's just hanging with Elise Riggs." she ended in a tone of disgust. Mac took a brief look around to see if anyone else had heard her say Elise's in such a manner. Psymon brows seemed to reach his forehead but obviously was interested by the statement also.

"So what's wrong with Elise, I mean she seems to be pretty nice girl?" he said in a lower tone, he knew Elise pretty well actually but didn't want to let Allegra know more than he wanted her to catch on.

"Oh nothing, just that she looks all stuck up because she's like the reigning queen of the SSX! Besides who cares about her and Viggo…….so how's your day?" she said ending in a rather girly manner. Mac was taken aback by the sudden change of topic. He looked back at Psymon who was now preoccupied with the lumpiness of his rice pudding. He kept looking back and forth thinking of an answer to the simple question.

"Yeah my day has been pretty alright." he said feeling the answer was actually better than he thought he regain his calm slick composure. She smiled brightly before turning to Psymon.

"So Psymon…..you are like know as like the craziest SSX boarder in history. Tell me how is it living up to that rep?" Mac took the opportunity to keep on eating his luke warm lunch. He continued to watch Psymon and Allegra talk about cool tricks, and career highlights. Finally after a while Mac was finished and found a moment in their conversation to announce that he was done and leaving.

"Oh hey Mac are you planning to go boarding again?" Allegra added in before he was about to turn.

"Yeah, I'm going to the R & B, why?" he said as if he really didn't know but somehow loved it when a girl asked him these kind of things.

"Well I was wondering if I can join you, you know a one on one private session." she said as she stood up with one hand on her hip. Mac took a brief glance and noticed that Psymon had a perked brow as he also looked at him, before suddenly returning in gulping down his rice pudding.

"Yeah sure, why not. I'll meet you there at five thirty." he said as he gave her a small nod and walked off to disregard his tray. He walked off in a slight strut hoping that no one took notice of his grin as he passed. He couldn't help but remember Psymon's remark about him not being hot with the ladies. He knew he's probably eating up his word right with his lumpy rice pudding.

0.00.0

He met up with Allegra at the R & B, he was glad she dressed a little warmer than she did with a snow vest and a red sweater underneath. They stood their just examining the course for a while before they started to talk about who can do what and what path they planned on taking. After a brief ten minutes they started their small race amongst themselves doing their best to show off while the other just passed by in the snow. After a couple of minutes they made it down Allegra had got to the end first. They waited there out of breath for a while before taking the lift back up and doing it over once more.

After a couple of runs through the course night had completely fallen and then some as it was eight thirty. They decided to board back to the lodge. They were only glad to make it in as it was starting to lightly snow. They got in and sat in the lodge before Viggo yelled out to Allegra.

"Hey Allegra, I see you've been boarding with Mr. Fraser…..but as you were doing that I met another cool person I would like you to meet." he said as he gave a small nod to Mac as Allegra started to walk towards him and he too left through the doorway. Mac took off his goggles and deciding to go to the cafeteria to get some hot cocoa. He thought about the moments when Allegra pulled off incredible tricks. He was sure she was going to be good competition. He made it back to the lounge area and noticed it was once again crowded with locals for the exception of Elise and Nate sitting on sofas opposite of each other. Elise who was reading Elle fashion magazine, Nate who was reading a book, and Allegra who was now making her way towards him. He stood up taller as she came towards him, she was smiling before she began to talk.

"Oh is this for me?" and she grabbed his cup their fingers fighting for what little room that they called the paper cup. "May I?" she said with a girlish giggle. Mac defeated let go of the cup. She began to drink some hot cocoa before returning it.

"So who's the cool person Viggo wanted to meet?" he said as he took hold of his hot cocoa.

"Oh just this other boarder I think she's the last one to be here, talk about being late. Like three days late. Oh well she seems pretty nice but rather ditzy and girly if you ask me." she said as she stood there looking back at his hot cocoa. Mac gave a small grin and looked back down at her.

"Say please and I'll let you have it." he said as he raised it up above his head.

"Aww come on now." she said as she tried to jump up and grab it. All of a sudden Viggo came in the room he paused blocking traffic for those who were behind him.

" Okay, Pleeeeease." she said he looked back down at her with a big grin. He then made her reach a couple of more time until Viggo continued to walk down towards them. He then finally handed Allegra the cup of hot cocoa.

"Ahem, Sorry to interrupt your little game but we have a guest." Both Mac and Allegra tried to stop giggling before resting their attention on Viggo with big smiles upon their faces. He held his smile even as he stared at Viggo waiting to introduce who it was. They made eye contact for a brief second before he suddenly took a side step revealing the small five foot Kaori Nishidake she was bending a little as to fit perfectly behind Viggo which she successfully did. His eyes widen as he saw his long awaited friend stand up straight as she clapped for a couple of seconds before she bowed down to greet him.

" Konbanwa Mac-kun!" she blurted out before taking another bow and small wave. Mac eyes lit up as he returned his bow to her.

" Kaori! I'm glad you made it." he then walked up and gave her nice long hug. Allegra eyes widen and her eyebrows was in danger of heading past her hair line. Viggo looked back at the whole situation with a smug expression. Mac and Kaori let go of their hug.

" So how long have you been here?" he said as he backed away to face her without having to strain his neck looking completely down.

" Oh not verey long." she gave a big smile before tilting her head and looking up at Allegra. She then blushed before bowing down to Allegra as well. "Aye, so sorrie Aregra-san, Konbanwa to you too." she said as she had bowed down to her. Allegra smiled and bowed down she then took another sip of cocoa before forcefully handing it back to Mac.

"Ahem, well I guess I better leave you guys …..to it." she said as she walked away passed Kaori. Kaori's face expression suddenly became very solemn as she watch Allegra walk off.

" I see, I think I may have interrupted something…." Kaori let out as she looked off towards the side and bit her lower lip. Mac glared at Viggo and to his surprise he was glaring back before he let out a small smile his expressions betraying him as he walked off after Allegra. Mac watched Allegra and Viggo stroll out of sight before looking back down upon Kaori her face expression still very solemn of the whole situation. Mac stood their trying to think of some way to cheer up his friend. He then looked around to see if anyone was watching before he reached out his arm and tilted Kaori's chin with thumb and index finger.

" Um, heh, don't worry about them Kaori you didn't interrupt nothing. So how's Japan?" he said urging the change of atmosphere. He looked to the side he couldn't help but notice the pressure in just standing here talking to a friend than out boarding in the snow while others watching him. Kaori kept her solemn expression for a moment before looking up with a wide smile.

"Ah, It is very good! I'm so happy that you bring up Japan because I bought you something." she continue to smile before remembering she did not have the gift with her. She then frowned. "Ah, I'm so sorry Mac-kun I don't have it right now." she said as her shoulders slumped a bit.

"Hey that's okay, you can give it to me later." he said as he stylishly patted her shoulder a couple of times. Kaori looked smiled once again taking notice of his hot cocoa. Mac noticed her eyes and remembered he was holding the cup with his left hand the whole time. All of a sudden her stomach growled. A very loud growl that was heard even through the small ruckus. He looked back at his cup and then back at Kaori.

"Hey let's go get some dinner, how bout it?" he said as he started to steer her to the dining hall. He then found a trash can on the way and threw the cup of what little hot cocoa was left.

"Ahhh, I don't think you would want to drink from that cup anyways." he said as Kaori looked puzzled as he threw away his cup. They made it towards the buffet area and started to eat their dinner talking about what they did the past years.

.: Crappy way to end a chapter I know. Thanks for all those who reviewed, as you see I actually wrote these two chapters rather fast. I'm glad all of you like it so far! I do want to keep characters "IC", that's the whole point. I do not plan to please everyone of course but keep the SSX fans happy still, I hoped you like it so far. Oh yes I love this chapters title by the way if you don't know what it means I recommend you look it up.:.