Chapter 26

My name was finally called, ten minutes after my starting time. I walked out of the tent and was momentarily stunned. The crowd was at least twice as large as when the mystery guy was surfing. And they were cheering. For me!

But trying not to get distracted, I walked by, calm and cool, ignoring their hands waving and the calling of my name.

I signaled to the judges that I was ready; I put on my sunglasses and sauntered to the edge of the water. I stood there for a moment, letting the waves lap at my feet, getting a feel for the water, connecting with it.

I walked in, blocking out the cheers of the crowd behind me.

As I paddled further out, I went over my routine in my head. But the second half of it was blank.

Crap. Crap, crap, crap, crap. I was starting to freak out. I tried to breathe deeply to get my heart rate down, and I was so focused on this that I lost concentration on everything else.

I could hear the crowds again. And that was apparently just what I needed.

One voice, though, stood out from all the others. Cassidy was doing her own little cheer at the top of her lungs. "Ellie, Ellie, she's our chick, if she doesn't win, y'all can suck my-!" Someone, presumably my mother, cut her off before she finished, but I think I, along with the rest of California, could tell what she was about to say. Several people were laughing.

Then my mom, Jay, Cassidy, and some other voice called my name "Go, girl. C'mon, Ell!" I risked a glance toward shore. Brett was there with my family!

The presence of him and the rest of my family at the front of the crowd erased my nerves and I could remember my entire routine once again. I scanned the horizon and waited for a wave.

I stumbled onto the shore, the adrenaline wearing off and being replaced by exhaustion.

For fifteen minutes, I had executed near-perfect rodeo flips, 360s, alley oops, and back/frontside airs. I had not stumbled or fallen. And I was very proud of how I did, but I still felt that I had not quite measured up to the mystery surfer.

The cheers coming from the crowd in front of me told me otherwise. They were shouting, clapping, and cheering my name.

I grinned and waved, all the exhaustion suddenly gone. Cassidy had somehow managed to get around the guards and tape boundaries holding back the grounds and she rammed into me, squeezing me tight.

"Oh. My. God. You were fantastic!" she squealed.

I coughed. "Can't breathe," I said, but hugging her back all the same.

She gasped.

"What?"

"Turn around," she said, excitement in her voice. The judges had stood up from their seats and were giving me a round of applause.

Oh my god. The judges were giving me a standing ovation. I couldn't help it, I started jumping up and down, still clinging on to Cassidy.

The next thing I know, my mom, Jay, Jess, and Brett were all hugging me too.

And then everything went black.

"Melissa. Melissa!" Somebody was calling my name. And they wouldn't shut up.

I opened my eyes only to find that all I could see was white. "What?" I asked, feeling quite grumpy.

"Oh my god, she's awake. She's awake!" Cassidy's face popped into my view.

"Of course I am, you idiot," I said, trying to sit up. Oh no, bad idea. I quickly lay down.

My mom leaned over me. "You passed out honey," she said, and put a cool cloth on my forehead. Once she did that, I noticed that I was clammy all over.

"The doctor said you were extremely dehydrated and had minor sunstroke," she told me. I groaned mentally.

After a few minutes and some gross tasting substance that the doctor practically forced down my throat, I was feeling a little better.
I sat up and was grateful the room was not spinning. "Oh man I feel..." I paused, trying to think of the right word. "Hung over. "
Cassidy laughed. "She's back to normal," she announced in relief.
"You gave us and the crowd a scare," Jay said.
"Great. Everybody probably thinks I'm some anorexic athlete," I said, groaning.
That comment greeted me with another laugh and Cassidy went on to explain that the crowd had tried to get past all the barriers to get to me and make sure I was okay.
I smiled. Don't get me wrong; I liked my privacy as much as the next person, but all this attention made me feel amazing. It boosted my confidence like you wouldn't believe.
"Come on. We're going to go meet your fans and let them know you are okay," Cassidy said.
"I expect her home in one piece, Cassidy," my mom warned my best friend.
The person in question smiled innocently. "Who, me?"
My mom rolled her eyes and gave me a quick hug. "I guess it's up to you to be the responsible one," she whispered. "Be home before midnight, no drinking, no going to stripper bars to celebrate, no animal rituals, no getting pregnant," my mom said in a louder voice. "Be responsible. And with those last words of wisdom and warning, we're leaving. Oh. And drink plenty; we don't want you getting dehydrated again. But make sure it has no alcohol."
And with that cheery comment, she whisked Jay and Jessica out the door and left Cassidy and me to our own devices.
"So. What do we do now?" I asked, getting out of the chair.
"I was serious when I said you had to go see fans," Cassidy said, smirking gleefully.
"Ohhh no," I said.
Cassidy grinned. "Ohhh yeah. "

"You have got to be kidding me," I said as Cassidy led me right into the heart of the festival.
"I don't kid," Cassidy said, mock serious. "Let's go."
I had changed out of my wet swimwear and into a cute white sundress and left my hair in the braid. I had wanted sunglasses since the clouds were finally disappearing, but Cassidy had whisked them off my face, claiming that people wouldn't know who I was. I rolled my eyes, but relented.
As soon as we stepped into the crowd, I was surrounded.
Now you would think surfing is not like football or soccer with the fan base, which it totally wasn't. But these were people who came from all over the country to come see this competition, all the sports magazine readers who saw me and took an interest in me or the other big surfers or were from the coast and had people from their home state competing. Either way, it was a lot of people. I had to remind myself how to breathe.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, mentally psyching myself up.
After a second or two I opened my eyes and a wide grin spread across my face.
"Ok who wants an autograph?" I heard myself say. I was answered with a chorus of agreement. I walked over to a chair near a concession stand. I was going to need all of my energy for this and I wasn't about to waste it standing.

Two hours later Cassidy saved me. "Ok you're killing her here," she said to the crowd. I shot her a look.
"Cassidy!" I said.
She returned the look with one of her own and turned to face the crowd. "You, you, and you," she said, pointing out the next three people in line. "Y'all are the last in line. Sorry, but we've got someplace to be."
The people behind the lucky three groaned and slowly dispersed.
When we were down to only a few stragglers, who were watching me sign various items, the crowd who was previously gathered around me let out a collective gasp.
I looked up to see that the mysterious surfer had entered the carnival.
He was still wearing a baseball cap and glasses, even though it was starting to get dark. But to my relief, he had changed from his swim trunks into a graphic tee and baggy jeans, despite the fact that it was extremely humid out. I didn't mind, since the less clothing he had on, the more places my mind seemed to be. I could see his hair this time, too, which made me even more optimistic that I could find out who it is. Bright blonde hair pokes out from under the backwards cap in the front and curled slightly upwards. Hmm. Still no idea.
I hurriedly signed the last person's notebook they held out to be and stood up.
"I need to meet him," I said to Cassidy. She nodded as I took off at a brisk walk.
I was a few yards away from him when he turned to sign a fan's hat and he looked up and spotted me. His whole demeanor changed, he went from friendly and energetic to stiff and cautious.
Ok, weird much?
He said something quietly to the crowd and turned on the heel of his loafer and mall walked away, in the direction of the cabanas.
Oh no he didn't. I increased my speed, determined to reach him. He turned a corner when he go to the rows of cabanas.
I turned the same corner a few seconds later, only a few more steps from breaking into a run to catch him.
But he was nowhere in sight.
I sighed and stomped my foot in frustration, getting even angrier when my gladiator sandals filled with sand.

"Damn him!" I was pacing back and forth in my cabana a few minutes later with Cassidy packing up my stuff for me.
Cassidy had already tried to calm me down, but seeing as that was going to be an impossible task, settled for getting my stuff and putting it in my car for me.
"Okay Melly," she said, using the nickname she had saved for me for when she had to talk to me like a scared little kid who got herself backed into a corner. "Let's go. We'll get him tomorrow if it kills me." She handed me my board and we walked to my car.
"What. Are. You. Doing?" Cassidy hissed through her gritted teeth as I pulled into the parking lot of the local bar.
"What?" I asked, a picture of perfect innocence. "My mom said no stripper bars. This bar clearly has no strippers," I said cheerfully, gesturing around me at the dozens of bikes, muscular tattooed bikers, and their whore-ific girlfriends who would have looked more in place at the local Hooters rather then being their biker boyfriend's arm candy until 3:00 am.
Cassidy growled and glared at me. "I'm in charge of you tonight and you are not going to get me in trouble by sneaking into a bar. Turn this car around and go home, Ellie."
"I don't need a babysitter, Cass. If you don't want to have some fun tonight, then by all means call a cab and crash at my place. But I am here to party!" I cheered, but silently I wondered what had gotten into me.
Cassidy was silent for a minute and I thought I had won. But I should have known better. "Go home right now or so help me, I will call your mother."
Damn. I sighed and put the car in reverse. Cassidy smiled triumphantly.
For the rest of the ride we were silent, her, quietly basking in her temporary glory of achievement and me, being pissed at her.
It was pitch black when I pulled into an old abandoned lot a couple miles from home. Cassidy stirred from where she was resting her eyes, curled up in the corner of the passenger seat and the door.
"Ellie," she said, wariness filling that one word, immediately making me feel like this was a mistake bringing her here. I should have just dropped her off at my house and snuck out without her.
"Chillax," I told her. "No one over twenty-five will be here tonight. And they only serve alcohol occasionally."
"And where, exactly is here?"
"Mean Teen. It's a club for teenagers and only the employees are allowed to be over twenty-five. It's awesome. Hot music, dance floor, food, and guys," I said excitedly.
"And you go here?" Cassidy asked doubtfully.
"Yeah, loads of times. I was just here last week. And thankfully someone had brought alcohol that night. I was in dire need of something strong. The employees turn a blind eye whenever someone brings alcohol. They don't care as long as no one brings any when an inspector is there to well, inspect."
Cassidy let out a long sigh while I looked at her hopefully.
"Fine. But two hours. No more." I squealed and hugged her, then reached under the back seat. I handed Cassidy a pile of clothes.
"Here. We need to be dressed appropriately."

A few minutes later, we were strutting towards an old and crumbly brick building.
I had let my braid out so my blonde hair bounced on my shoulders in perfect waves as I walked. I had changed from my sundress to tight skinny jeans with numerous tears, black gothic spike heels, and a baby blue tank top with a baby chicken in a block of ice on it with the phrase *one cool chick* in jeweled cursive that hugged my every curve.
Cassidy, much to her dismay, was wearing a jean mini skirt with frayed edges and a fraying tear on her left butt cheek, red pumps, and a red and white silk kimono top that hid most of her curves, but cinched at the waist to let everybody know she had them. It was too late to do anything impressive with her hair, so it was pulled into a high ponytail on the top of her head, her straight hair having the same sexy effect that mine had, only in a completely different way.
When we reached the door, I knocked on it four times. It opened to reveal a guy a few years older than me, with several piercings, dyed black hair that was spiked into a faux-hawk, and baggy black clothing with chains
I immediately broke into a grin. "Garrett! Hey I didn't know you were working tonight!"
Cassidy gave me a look that either said, you know this guy? Or do you really expect me to go in there if they all look like this? I couldn't really tell, but either way I ignored it.
"Yeah. I'm filling in for Danny. He broke his ankle so he had to cancel his shift since he was at the hospital. Whose your friend?"
"Cassidy, Garrett. Garrett, Cassidy. She's my coach person for the comp today," I explained.
" Yeah how did that go?" he asked, intrigued.
We went on like this for another minute or so but I noticed Cassidy kept glancing nervously at Garrett.
Garrett must have noticed too, because he said, "Don't worry. I'm not as scary as I look," he told her, winking. He smiled when she turned bright red when she realized she was caught. "And again don't worry. I'm not your type," he said, laughing.
Cassidy looked confused. "Garrett's gay," I explained with a smile. "But Garrett we really do have to get in, my friend has a stick up her ass that told me I only have a few hours here."
We walked past him and into the club, immediately surrounded by pulsing music and teenagers.
"Tonight's a wild one!" I heard Garret shout to me as we walked away.
"Huh?" Cassidy asked, taking it all in.
"He means someone brought alcohol so it's gonna be a little outta control," I said, walking over to the bar and sitting on a stool. I nodded to the bartender and turned to Cassidy who was staring at the bar like it had a deadly disease.
"I usually survey the place first," I told her and patted the stool next to me. She sat down. "And by the time I'm done, someone usually asks me to dance."
And sure enough, two minutes later two adorable guys who obviously knew each other came up to us and asked us if we wanted to dance.
My best friend and I looked at each other.
"Sure," we said in unison. And we abandoned our drinks and headed to the dance floor.

A/N- i have been on vacay so sry i havent uploaded earlier! i was done this ch a week or so ago but didnt have access to a comp to put it up...i should be done another ch within the week! review :)