Hey guys, school's been out for a few weeks. I'm going to try and focus more on my stories. Enjoy ^-^

Recap of chapter 1-6:
While surfing with her close friend, Rick4983, Cheyenne discovers a bracelet inside of an old glass bottle. Determined to track down the owner, Cheyenne continues to run into a red penguin named Maxie who seems to have a connection with Macey the owner of the bracelet. Someone breaks into Cheyenne's house, prompting Cheyenne to stay at her other best friend's house for a few days. Max tells Cheyenne about his past and how he believes he's responsible for Macey's disappearance. Before Cheyenne can focus on finding Macey, the server's National Surf Competition is here.

Surf's Up or Surf's Down?

"And today looks like a great day for some surfing!" Exclaims one of the mc's at the National Surf Competition.

"It sure is Tim. The sky is clear with the high temperature of around 76 degrees Fahrenheit and the low of around 63."A simply perfect day for someone to break a record." Agrees the other mc as the two penguins sit in the watch tower, overlooking the beach.

"And now for a few worlds from our sponsors," Tim adds, before an advertisement for puffle shampoo comes on.

"Nervous?" A familiar voice asks me as I put my number on the front of my shirt.

"Yeah" I admit, as I take a look at my competition.

A purple penguin with her brown hair in a ponytail waves to the audience with a smile. Rachel1494, returning champion of last year's nationals. A light blue penguin flexes his muscles as fan girls approach him. DavidM23, an emerging movie star actor and third generation surfer in his family. There are a lot of other well-known surfers and between those penguins and the newbies...I'm somewhere in the middle.

My focus suddenly turns over towards the newbies. I watch as the silver penguin that I saw yesterday, begins to wax their board. They look up as if to take a quick break and then they spot me. Our eyes meet and they give me a friendly smile. Embarrassed, I quickly look away.

"Don't worry about it," Rick reassure me. "You're going to do fine. Besides you've got that special trick up your sleeves."

I nod. I've made it this far...yes, I can do this. In this competition, only the top three make it to the Internationals..and I have a lot of competition to beat. The competition is split into two groups the intermediate and advanced sections. These are based on your standings from previous competitions. I am in the advanced section. This is honestly my first time making it to the advanced level. Rick has been in the advanced section for several years. In fact, he is the one responsible for my knowledge on surfing.

"I sure hope so" I whisper to myself.

I'm sure other places do surf competitions differently but for our place, that's how it is. The advanced section is the real competition. It's going to take several hours before it begins though. The intermediate section begins their competition but before I can even watch the first wave, Rick suggests we go for a walk.

"We should keep ourselves warmed up for our competition," he informs.

I nod, still feeling jumpy. Rick gives me a reassuring smile and then we head off onto the boardwalk.

"I hate waiting," I state as we walk. "It just builds up the tension."

Rick nods.

"I'm sure you're going to do just fine," he remarks.

"Says the penguin who hasn't ever made it past the first heat," I smile.

"Hey!" Rick snaps, "just relax. I promise, you're going to do well. When You're out there on the wave, it will just be you and the wave. Don't think about the competition. Just focus on what you planned to do."

"Yeah," I remark.

After ten minutes or so, we head back to the beach. I watch as an orange penguin on their wave as they attempt to do a snap maneuver. Nice, they did it without falling! I smile. It is almost lunchtime when the advanced section starts. I watch as the first waves commence and then by some chance both Rachel and David are in the same heat. This is going to be epic.

Everyone watches as the two surfers start to paddle out into the ocean. A medium size wave approaches but neither one dares to ride it.

"What are they waiting for?" Someone asks.

That's when I feel it. The wind is picking up. Uh oh...I know what their waiting for. I glance over at Rick, who's staring intently over the horizon. Some penguin gasps and I snap my gaze at the waves. A huge wave is building up and both Rachel and David are racing for it!

"This is major competition right here, folks." Tim announces, "both Rachel and David are racing toward that humongous wave!"

"That's right. Whoever succeeds in catching this wave will get serious points if they can finish." The other mc agrees.

Everyone watches in anticipation as both penguins start to paddle, trying to catch the wave. Now it is only a matter of who gets up first.

"Cheyenne" Rick exclaims, still watching the heat. "Promise me, you won't go for one of those big waves today."

I turn to look at Rick in shock. Why would he say that? Catching a huge wave would definitely boost my score. Rick doesn't give me any reason so I'm left confused. I look back at the ocean. Both surfers get up on their surfboards, however Rachel stood up seconds before David. So he, sadly, had to forfeit the wave or gain penalty points.

"Looks like Rachel1494 has caught the wave first. Now let's see what performance she has to offer," the second mc declares.

I watch as Rachel starts off with an easy re-entry maneuver followed a tail side trick. She does a few more ticks before ducking into cutback. I marvel at her amazing performance, it certainly is nothing like my intended performance. A few minutes later, another wave comes but it's not as huge as the first. David takes this one and he starts with an Alley oop followed by a floater.

I'm impressed that he started off with such a difficult move.

"He's got great balance and speed when he started off," Rick remarks.

I nod as I continue to watch his surf. I'm very impressed. Once the heat is over, David's score beats Rachel's by one point. A few heats happen before it's my turn.

"Cheyenne" Rick states before I head out to sea. "Don't ride the big waves. You'll fail if you do."

I don't know why but I got angry at that statement. Only moments ago, he was telling me how I was going to do fine. We both know that the only way I'm making it to the Internationals is by catching a big wave! I head out, not looking back.

As I float on my board, looking for the perfect wave, I notice my competition is a bunch of new faces. Newbies or experienced? Determined not to let them beat me, I head for my first wave and no one follows. It's not a huge wave but it will at least help boast my score. I begin with a top-turn and then a snap. I take a deep breath and then continue with a tail side and a cutback. I end my performance with a re-entry.

Other surfers catch other waves but I wait patiently for the perfect wave ad then...it comes. From my viewpoint, I can tell the wave will be at least six feet. I smile, this is it. This is the one. I start to paddle and I notice another surfer has also taken interest. Not today, I slowly start to stand but the other surfer is faster. I growl in frustration before leaving the wave. \

The next wave comes and I manage to catch it. It's not as big I want but it will do. I began with a bottom turn followed by a floater. I did a few more maneuvers before I start to count. One...Two...Three...Four...Five...Then I attempt an alley oop...and I land it! I finish and then surf back to shore where the crowd is cheering.

"I told you not to take any big waves," Rick reminds me as I walk up.

"I know but..." I start to reason.

"I'm glad that, that other surfer got it before you did." Rick remarks.

I look at him, no longer able to contain my anger.

"Did you want me to lose? Am I competition to you now?" I yell.

Rick gives me the "just shut up and look" face as he popints to the scoreboard. I look and sea that I have the highest score out of the surfers in my heat.

"I made it?" I exclaim, "I made it to the second round?!"

I smile as I turn to look at Rick. He smiles back and then I remember that I'm supposed to be angry at him.

"Why?" I ask, "why did you tell me not to go for a big wave?"

Rick looks at me a little shocked and confused.

"I thought you knew." He remarks, "you had been practicing that alley oop on the smaller waves, had you done it on a bigger wave that you're not use to...you would have panicked when your timing was off. You wouldn't have landed it."

Ohhh...I get it. I'm dumb.

"Sorry for getting mad at you." I apologize, "I wasn't thinking ahead like that."

"That's okay," he answers.

A few more heats and then it's Rick's turn. His is the last heat and then the second round will begin.

"Good luck!" I call as he starts to swim farther into the ocean.

I scan his competition and smile. I already know how experienced Rick is. I know that he can make it. That's when I spot them, the silver penguin. So they weren't a newbie...but I've never seen them before. I look on nervously as the heat begins. A few minutes in and I start to realize that something is going on, apparently so does the mcs.

"Whoa dudes, there's some serious competition going on between Rick and that silver penguin." Tim exclaims. "What's his name, Sam."

"I believe it's Dyllan18," she answers.

"No way, man. He's never shown his skills at a competition, why now?" Tim remarks.

Yes, why now? I glance anxiously at the clock as both Rick and Dyllan 18 are tied at a score of seven. Another wave came but they both don't go for it. A lime green penguin takes it with only 3 points behind. Another wave...and they still don't take it. What are they waiting for?

I anxiously look at the clock. Oh no..that's when I see it. A huge wave, just like the one during Rachel's heat. Rick and Dyllan18 both race for it. Come on Rick, I know you can get it! Dyllan18 is up first. My heart sinks. It will take a miracle for Rick to win now. I watch as Dyllan18 starts off with a cutback and then a tailside, followed by a re-entry. I look on as he finishes with an Alley oop. I glance at the board. The only way for Rick to beat him is by doing...one of those flips. Those are nearly impossible and only experienced surfers stand a chance of landing it. I've watched Rick practice the Rodeo flip but...can he land it now?

I hold my breath as Rick waits for the right wave. He's gonna do it! I see Rick's head turn to look at the clock. I do as well. He's not going to have much time left. A wave comes but it's not the right one and it's his only chance.

"Don't!" I whisper to myself, wishing that it would carry over to him.

Rick goes for the wave as well as Dyllan18. Is he trying to throw off Rick's game? I watch on anxiously. Rick manages to claim the wave first. What is he going to do now? Rick starts off with a re-entry and then a floater. Rick then does a cut-back maneuver. No don't...please. I start to count, knowing exactly what he's about to do. I watch as he flies in the air and begins to the Rodeo flip.

"Is that what I think it is?" Asks Tim.

"Yes it is." Sam confirms.

Time seems to slow and I close my eyes. The timing is just a tad off, he's going to lose his balance. I force myself to look as his board hits the wave. Rick's stance wavers. He's going to fall. He's not going to make it!

This is intense! Is Rick going to land his trick? And who is Dyllan18 really? Why did he mysteriously show up to surf now? Who's going to win the National Surf Competition and make it to the International servers?! Find out, June 16th.

On a side note, I know I've been basically a ghost for the past several months. Sorry about that. I promise, I'm trying to make a comeback and keep to a regular posting schedule. It's just been a little difficult with school work, work, and other activities that have been keeping me busy. See you next time, friends!