I went out at 9:30 AM wearing a long sleeve black shirt with my sleeves rolled up, and slim jeans. I got up with my cruiser when PJ stopped me.

"Where you going so early?" PJ groaned as he threw on a blue shirt.

"Meeting someone at the cafe." I grinned. "She's an ex-skater...but maybe I can convince her to do it again."

"I knew it! Maximillion got a giiiirrlll." Bobby howled. "I wanna see her man."

I chortled. "Soon maybe. Gotta get going guys." As I headed out the door and down the hall.


I skated down the road along with other skaters that always welcomed me out. I eventually ran into Wind, who even offered a race.

"One race with the champ. And I let you have some of the..." As he flashed a capsule. I raised a brow.

"Gotta stay clean for the games. But I'll take your dignity." I grinned. "First one to the café."

He shrugged as he got on his cruiser. His buddy Hector signalled as he countdown from three.

"3, 2, 1, GO!" He yelled as both of us kicked off. We swerved left and right crossing paths.

Wind was ahead of me for a while until I took a short cut through the back way to the theater where the art kids would practice and cut through their open back doors. They yelled and cursed as I skated through their stage where they practiced and exited stage right. The door leading outside lead to a sidewalk where I skated downhill and cut in front of Wind, curving left. He yelled as I pushed off several times and swerved around others crossing the street. The café was less than 200 feet away and Wind caught up. We were neck and neck until some careless kid crossed the middle of the street. We swerved around him opposite ways but Wind ended up tripping off his board and into the bushes. By then I skidded to a stop by the entrance to the café.

"Hey man you okay?" I skated up to him as some glanced by checking to see if he was alive. He gave me a thumbs up as I pulled him one-handed from the bush.

"You weren't the champ for no reason, Max." He cheered as others around us agreed.

"You still beat my old man by a long shot... That's why I wanted you on my team." I grinned as we fist pumped. I met Wind after my old man's graduation where he asked if he join the team. We tested him and saw he was a pretty decent guy...and later to be Bobby's hookup. Overall he was a cool dude.

"See you at practice later." As he skated off elsewhere. I entered the café, realizing I was probably sweaty and my hair was damp.

I saw Hazel waiting at a table in the far back corner of the café as I walked over and sat across from her.

"Skaterboy is on time today." Hazel said amusingly. "Why so tired though?"

I snorted. "I just skated like...five blocks. Well...I was racing actually." I told her truthfully.

"From the looks of it you seem pretty triumphant." Hazel guessed.

I laughed, "Wind almost got me...almost. So, about that cup of coffee?"

Hazel chuckled, "Depending how I feel I'm more of a frappe...latte girl."

I raised a brow, "I'm an espresso guy."


"After a few refills of warm drinks I learned a lot about Hazel. She respectively loved art and skating just about the same. She was a B-average student but really hated math. And I could relate because the only thing I learned was the Pythagorean theorem.

"So...I see you and Ruben aren't great pals." Hazel said. I stared at her wide eyed.

"Half the school knows...and even more about your...past relationship with Roxanne. Things are rough ain't it?" Hazel asked.

I sunk, defeated in my chair. "Yeah...but I have to be the stronger guy. For my varsity...my friends...the Omegas. I have a reputation to uphold."

Hazel smiled, "Seem pretty hardworking aren't you. I like that Max."

I chuckles nervously as my hand accidentally brushed over hers. Instead, she didn't mind as she reach to grab mines.

"You're not like other girls, Hazel. You seem...rebellious." I smirked. "I...always liked different."

Hazel raised a brow, "Is the X-games champ flirting with me?"

I shrugged. "I mean, why not?"

Hazel laughed, "You're too cute..."

"That's a first...I would get called a Goof." I accidentally hyucked, covering mouth.

"That's why. You're pretty bashful." Hazel said. Then she got up looking at the time.

"My art class starts in ten minutes. I'll see you in class, Max." As she reached over and kissed my cheek. I blushed furiously as I watch her exit the café.

Then the guys pull up at the table with grins on their faces as they nudged me.

"Aye ayeeee." Wind, PJ, and Bobby grinned from ear to ear.

"Who's that foxy young one man?" Bobby checked her on the way out.

"Eyes off boys. I got my eye on her." I told them. "Her name's Hazel."


Later that day continued our practice for the X-Games. It got me thinking like Hazel that maybe I could try doing other things than sports...

The Gammas were just leaving when we arrived. They harshly snarled as us as I pushed past Ruben. I didn't glance at Roxanne once. Yet why did I get that burning sensation in the back of my head that made me want to turn around?

"The qualifying round starts soon Max, what are we gonna do?" Acen asked. I looked down at the freshman as I ruffled his hair.

"We're training...like always. Relax guys...its like a walk in the park. You have to zone everyone else out." I told them.

"But be sure your evil ex girlfriends or dads or moms show up chanting you embarrassingly." PJ told them, recalling a bad time that his dad came to watch him at a game.

"Damn right PJ. We worked hard as freshman to beat these chums. As freshman players...you will have to carry that torch as well. We want to let the Gammas know they don't own this school!" I roared as Randall cheered as well as Acen, Leroy, and Fox.

"To Team 99!" We cheered all for one.