Long after the Games were over the semester had ended Ruben was welcomed back from the hospital with crutches. He was bear-hugged by all of us and his girlfriend.
Roxy was in disbelief when we were trapped in all that debris. She was okay though, that we were all okay.
The Gammas and Omegas called a truce that as long as me and Ruben were head of the houses there will be no stupid or violent rivalry.
Ruben went further in the investigation of what Wind had known about his dad and Bradley...often meeting with Deputy Larry of the district on several weekends. His dad would be in prison for forty years due to in depth investigations that he was responsible for the death of his wife Lina Vanderbilt and several illegal transactions among business partners with no bail. Bradley would be facing twenty with a $10 million bail due to his wealth. Hazel do everything to be involved and Ruben didn't stop.
Ruben felt responsible and overtime guilty for Wind's death. He would often visit the cemetery on weekends all the way up until the end of the year until everyone would go back home.
"It wasn't your fault...you had nothing to do with your dad's cruel motives. Wind always thought you were something better than just a Gamma." I told him one day. Ruben limped as he got up from the grave. I knelt down to place the X-Games trophy on his headstone.
"Wanna hear something crazy?" I asked.
"What?" He asked staring at the headstone.
"When we all thought you were gonna just die there...the debris was heavy and hot...I burned off my gloves from holding it for so so long. Hazel couldn't do much with all the fumes in her lungs... I suddenly felt that weight get light. I saw Wind next to me. He wore the exact same thing he wore that night he died. The Omega jacket and all of that. He was glowing and actually lifting the debris for us. I looked at him straight in the eye." I said. "I know it sounds crazy...but he was a guardian angel to us...if we didn't helped you up...it was all of us then. We wouldn't leave you. Gamma or Omega."
Ruben nodded. "Max I'm going to change a lot of things for the Gammas...and I think the first good thing we can start with is more teamwork. Volunteering and doing more...good stuff."
I grinned, "Is uh...Hazel influencing you?"
Ruben snorted. "Why not? She's my awesome fiancé. Wouldn't you do anything for Roxy?"
"Roxanne gives me no choice. I love her too much to say no." I said. "Only if she gives up everything to be with me...I would oppose of it."
"Aye." Ruben nodded. And that was the last conversation we had for the rest of the summer before I said bye to him and Hazel. They were going to England.
"Next year Hazel. X-games for sure." I told her as she went off with Ruben in his convertible.
/
The last few days I spent with Bobby and PJ playing video games, eating junk, and skating like old times. But that was just in a few days. By the end of the week, they packed up in PJ's rust bucket and gone back home in the city hours away.
I spent a few more days with Roxanne, studying with her as I finished my last two extra classes. But then I got a call from ESPN about joining them in a summer camp for about six weeks in California. I told Roxanne.
"You should go. I'm taking classes over the summer so I'll be too busy..." Roxanne told me, placing a hand over hers.
"You're right...I mean if you were studying abroad again I would said the same thing...I'll miss ya though." I stared at her before we closed the distance for a long kiss. We separated, outside being peaceful and nostalgic.
"It's getting late...I...would usually go study but I could use a break. How about movies again?" Roxanne smiled. That brilliant smile that threw me back far in highschool. That smile that made me swoon. That that told me no matter what we'll face...we'll get through them together.
I wrapped an arm around her, kissing the side of her head and said, "Sounds perfect."
/
Over the next few days I prepared to leave school, locking the dorm behind me and heading down stairs with my car key. Roxanne gave me a long hug as we kissed.
"Tell me how it goes. I need something amazing to write about in the summer issues.
"How do you know it's gonna go as planned?" I asked.
Roxanne nudged me. "You're Max Goof. Anything goes wrong you merely get embarrassed but it's a good laugh in the end."
I shrugged, "I supposed." As I stole a kiss.
"Take it easy. I'm gonna have Randall watching you." I smirked as she rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Get going now...you got a long drive to Cali." Roxanne said.
"I sure do." As I dreaded the long drive that would take me a few days. "I'll call you."
Roxanne nodded as I slung my duffel with my overnight clothes and pull-on with my board strapped. I went out to the garage and got my stuff in the trunk, pulling out with my new car. I looked at Roxanne once more before driving down the street to the main road and on the expressway.
