Chapter One: The shot at the big time
Mac Fraser dragged himself wearily up four flights of stairs to his apartment. He shifted his coat over to his right shoulder and fumbled with his keys. When he found the right one, he forced it into the keyhole and pushed the door open.
Mac threw his coat over the back of the sofa and ripped his beanie hat off of his head, ruffling his chocolate brown hair so it wasn't so matted to his head. When he collapsed backwards onto the worn-out couch, he closed his eyes and exhaled softly. The apartment was very quiet, the only sound coming from younger kids running around and shrieking outside in the snow. Then again, that's about all he heard lately. No more loud yelling or muffled sobs. In a way, the silence was good. But then it reminded him that he was all alone. At least until he saved enough to get back into school and get to a good collage. But the chances of that happening were slim to none in his books.
As if the dam in his chest broke, he began to weep into his hand, still covered by the thick mitten he forgotten about. The tears were soaked up, but his cheeks still managed to become damp. It was strange, because he rarely cried. The only time he did were when he found out both his parents were killed in a car crash, not far from where he was a DJ at a local night club. And that was two years ago.
Sometime during his breakdown, he fell asleep and witnessed another nightmare that kept him awake at nights.
~*~*~
Mac awoke the next morning, still in his clothes from the night before. His mitten was slightly damp and his cheeks were sticky with the dried tears he cried. He shook his head violently to clear his mind and sat up. He looked at a nearby clock to check the time. Twelve twenty-six. The mountains should be open to snowboards now. And then, afterwards, he'd have just enough time to change and get to Lightning, the local club.
He stripped his clothes and stumbled into the shower, half awake as he did so. Turning on the shower, he yelped when the first drops of the cold water hit his back, sending him forwards to shelter until the water warmed up a little. When it finally did, he quickly washed up and finished. He wrapped a towel across his waist and, still dripping wet, ran to his room and flung his closet door open. Inside were a wide variety of jackets, pants, sweaters, shirts, and all kinds of winter attire.
When he found the perfect outfit, a green shirt and jeans, he fixed his hair and grabbed his membership pass, beanie, goggles and a snowboard from the front closet. Making sure he had his keys, he locked the door and raced down the stairs and out the door.
As Mac ran, he put his beanie on and placed the goggles securely over his head. He ran faster and faster until he made it to the mountain slopes at the edge of the city. He smirked and casually made his way to the gate. Holding his pass out in front of him, Mac strolled inside and trekked to the top of the mountain.
Mac set himself up on the bench nearby. With his feet strapped into the hold, he stood up and inched over to the edge. But before he jumped over, someone from behind called out his name.
"Yo Mac! Hey bro, wait up!"
Turning his body slightly so he could see just who it was, he smiled, recognizing almost immediately. "Hey Kyle! How ya been lately?"
Kyle stopped beside Mac, spraying a shower of snow to his sides. "Not a lot. I've been waiting for you. Haven't seen you in forever. Where have you been, hiding under a rock?" he joked.
"Trying to make a living, bro. You know, being the local DJ and all that good stuff."
"Yeah, well. School hasn't been the same since you dropped out." Kyle crossed his arms and blew a piece of blonde hair from his forehead.
"Can't anymore. I would if I could, but private school is just too much to afford anymore. I tried, but that first year and all, well. Let's just say my job now couldn't get me far anymore."
"Dude. I told you. My mom said she'd try and help you out."
"I don't want your charity, Kyle. I'm fine by myself."
Kyle groaned. "If this is about what your parents would do, you've gotta let it go. Hello? You're a sixteen year old, going on seventeen, living without any parents and any known relatives."
Mac turned away, his chest rising and lowering rapidly. "Shut up. You don't know what I've been through, alright? So don't bring my parents into this." he whispered.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up. But you really gotta let it go. It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was. My dad and I always got into fights, and my mom would get involved by trying to defend me. Therefore, both my parents would fight over my problem. It was the same as that day. It was my fault. I know it was."
There was an awkward silence before either spoke again. But Kyle spoke first. "Anyway, you said you were under some money problems?"
"Uh, yeah. Why you ask?"
"I heard somewhere that the SSX officials were in town, trying to find someone to be in the SSX. I figured if anyone was going to get in, it was you. I mean, you are the best snowboarder this town has ever seen. So, try and do your best while your boarding. They might be by the sidelines. You never know." Kyle grinned.
Mac tilted his head. "Uh, whatever. Crazy talk. I'll believe it when I see it," he turned his board so it was ready to go downhill. "Hey, are you coming or what?"
Kyle lined up beside him and they both jumped down at the same time. Mac did his signature move, walking the dog, with a rodeo. Although it was a close call to the ground, he landed it perfectly and received a few applause. He continued to do spectacular tricks, each time landing them.
Kyle pulled up beside him and they immediately went into race mode, both going at speeds of up to seventy-four miles an hour. They both pulled into the finish mark, Mac finishing first. Kyle walked up to him, board in hand. "Oh man! That was the best run I've seen you do! You're awesome. And your signature move! Woah, I've never seen you pull that off with a rodeo. Was it a first? Never mind! Dang, if the SSX officials were here, they'd have you signed up for sure! Hey, how about we go out for some chow or something. My treat." Kyle offered.
Mac smiled, taking his board off. "Nah. Wish I could. But I've gotta get home and get ready for tonight. Bring all my stuff to Lightning and set up in time for opening. Maybe I'll see ya there?"
"Aight. I'll catch ya later bro!" he called as he walked off to another friend of his. Mac watched him leave, but his eye caught a few people dressed in uniform, pointing and staring at him rather oddly.
Probably some parents or something admiring my handiwork. Can't be social services. . . he dismissed while walking off and back home.
~*~*~
That night, Mac sat on the couch, eating his dinner and listening to his walkman on low in case someone came to his door.
The image of the people in uniform kept coming back into his head. And the fact that they were looking at him and pointing at him was a little creepy. If it was social services, why were they at the slopes and not trying to catch him at his apartment?
A knock at the door landed him back in the living room. He removed his headphones and put his food down before going to answer it.
When Mac looked through the peephole, he recognized the uniformed people whom he saw earlier. Curious, he opened it.
"Yo, what up?" he greeted.
"Yes, are you Mackenzie Fraser?" one of the men spoke.
"Uh, yeah. But call me Mac. I haven't been called Mackenzie since the second grade." he looked at all three of the men and chuckled nervously. "Oh, sorry. Would you like to come in?" moving aside so they could make their way in.
He pushed some things off of the couch so that they could sit comfortably. "Well, Mac. We saw you today at the slopes. We thought you were pretty good for someone your age." the taller of them said.
"I have been boarding for quite some time. Since I was six, to be exact." Mac bragged.
"Oh. Well, that's nice. Anyway, we got all your info on your boarding from your friend. Kyle, is it? He says you're the best of the best. And we just had to come and find out for ourselves."
"If you guys are social services, I'm not going freely. You'll have to take me kicking and screaming."
The three men looked at each other, puzzled. "Actually, we're here to ask if you wanted to be in the SSX World Circuit."
Mac widened his eyes, his mouth remaining shut. All of a sudden, he laughed. "No, you've gotta be kidding. Ok, ok. What's your relation to Kyle? Because you can't possibly be the-."
"SSX officials?" one of them cut in.
"Exactly. Wait . . . what?"
The man in the middle of the other two pulled out his wallet and showed his SSX I.D. "We're the SSX officials. We've been looking for someone with your talent to join the other SSX boarders."
"You mean, me?! Boarding with them?! I can't possibly-."
"You've got the talent. Now, all we need is your approval. And maybe your parent's permission."
Mac's stomach turned cold and his heart raced with adrenaline. "Uh . . . my parents? Their permission? Do you really think that's necessary?"
"Well, yeah. You're underage to go without a parent's permission."
"I . . . well, you see . . . I don't have any parents. Or a guardian. I've been living on my own for two years now. They died in an accident."
"Oh. We're sorry."
In an instant, an idea came to him. "Actually, can you take someone who's almost like my parent? Can you take their permission?"
"I'm sure we can make an exception. Why not?"
Mac jumped up, knocking his knee on the coffee table. Wincing, he said, "Follow me. I know exactly who can sign for that form!"
Mac Fraser dragged himself wearily up four flights of stairs to his apartment. He shifted his coat over to his right shoulder and fumbled with his keys. When he found the right one, he forced it into the keyhole and pushed the door open.
Mac threw his coat over the back of the sofa and ripped his beanie hat off of his head, ruffling his chocolate brown hair so it wasn't so matted to his head. When he collapsed backwards onto the worn-out couch, he closed his eyes and exhaled softly. The apartment was very quiet, the only sound coming from younger kids running around and shrieking outside in the snow. Then again, that's about all he heard lately. No more loud yelling or muffled sobs. In a way, the silence was good. But then it reminded him that he was all alone. At least until he saved enough to get back into school and get to a good collage. But the chances of that happening were slim to none in his books.
As if the dam in his chest broke, he began to weep into his hand, still covered by the thick mitten he forgotten about. The tears were soaked up, but his cheeks still managed to become damp. It was strange, because he rarely cried. The only time he did were when he found out both his parents were killed in a car crash, not far from where he was a DJ at a local night club. And that was two years ago.
Sometime during his breakdown, he fell asleep and witnessed another nightmare that kept him awake at nights.
~*~*~
Mac awoke the next morning, still in his clothes from the night before. His mitten was slightly damp and his cheeks were sticky with the dried tears he cried. He shook his head violently to clear his mind and sat up. He looked at a nearby clock to check the time. Twelve twenty-six. The mountains should be open to snowboards now. And then, afterwards, he'd have just enough time to change and get to Lightning, the local club.
He stripped his clothes and stumbled into the shower, half awake as he did so. Turning on the shower, he yelped when the first drops of the cold water hit his back, sending him forwards to shelter until the water warmed up a little. When it finally did, he quickly washed up and finished. He wrapped a towel across his waist and, still dripping wet, ran to his room and flung his closet door open. Inside were a wide variety of jackets, pants, sweaters, shirts, and all kinds of winter attire.
When he found the perfect outfit, a green shirt and jeans, he fixed his hair and grabbed his membership pass, beanie, goggles and a snowboard from the front closet. Making sure he had his keys, he locked the door and raced down the stairs and out the door.
As Mac ran, he put his beanie on and placed the goggles securely over his head. He ran faster and faster until he made it to the mountain slopes at the edge of the city. He smirked and casually made his way to the gate. Holding his pass out in front of him, Mac strolled inside and trekked to the top of the mountain.
Mac set himself up on the bench nearby. With his feet strapped into the hold, he stood up and inched over to the edge. But before he jumped over, someone from behind called out his name.
"Yo Mac! Hey bro, wait up!"
Turning his body slightly so he could see just who it was, he smiled, recognizing almost immediately. "Hey Kyle! How ya been lately?"
Kyle stopped beside Mac, spraying a shower of snow to his sides. "Not a lot. I've been waiting for you. Haven't seen you in forever. Where have you been, hiding under a rock?" he joked.
"Trying to make a living, bro. You know, being the local DJ and all that good stuff."
"Yeah, well. School hasn't been the same since you dropped out." Kyle crossed his arms and blew a piece of blonde hair from his forehead.
"Can't anymore. I would if I could, but private school is just too much to afford anymore. I tried, but that first year and all, well. Let's just say my job now couldn't get me far anymore."
"Dude. I told you. My mom said she'd try and help you out."
"I don't want your charity, Kyle. I'm fine by myself."
Kyle groaned. "If this is about what your parents would do, you've gotta let it go. Hello? You're a sixteen year old, going on seventeen, living without any parents and any known relatives."
Mac turned away, his chest rising and lowering rapidly. "Shut up. You don't know what I've been through, alright? So don't bring my parents into this." he whispered.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up. But you really gotta let it go. It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was. My dad and I always got into fights, and my mom would get involved by trying to defend me. Therefore, both my parents would fight over my problem. It was the same as that day. It was my fault. I know it was."
There was an awkward silence before either spoke again. But Kyle spoke first. "Anyway, you said you were under some money problems?"
"Uh, yeah. Why you ask?"
"I heard somewhere that the SSX officials were in town, trying to find someone to be in the SSX. I figured if anyone was going to get in, it was you. I mean, you are the best snowboarder this town has ever seen. So, try and do your best while your boarding. They might be by the sidelines. You never know." Kyle grinned.
Mac tilted his head. "Uh, whatever. Crazy talk. I'll believe it when I see it," he turned his board so it was ready to go downhill. "Hey, are you coming or what?"
Kyle lined up beside him and they both jumped down at the same time. Mac did his signature move, walking the dog, with a rodeo. Although it was a close call to the ground, he landed it perfectly and received a few applause. He continued to do spectacular tricks, each time landing them.
Kyle pulled up beside him and they immediately went into race mode, both going at speeds of up to seventy-four miles an hour. They both pulled into the finish mark, Mac finishing first. Kyle walked up to him, board in hand. "Oh man! That was the best run I've seen you do! You're awesome. And your signature move! Woah, I've never seen you pull that off with a rodeo. Was it a first? Never mind! Dang, if the SSX officials were here, they'd have you signed up for sure! Hey, how about we go out for some chow or something. My treat." Kyle offered.
Mac smiled, taking his board off. "Nah. Wish I could. But I've gotta get home and get ready for tonight. Bring all my stuff to Lightning and set up in time for opening. Maybe I'll see ya there?"
"Aight. I'll catch ya later bro!" he called as he walked off to another friend of his. Mac watched him leave, but his eye caught a few people dressed in uniform, pointing and staring at him rather oddly.
Probably some parents or something admiring my handiwork. Can't be social services. . . he dismissed while walking off and back home.
~*~*~
That night, Mac sat on the couch, eating his dinner and listening to his walkman on low in case someone came to his door.
The image of the people in uniform kept coming back into his head. And the fact that they were looking at him and pointing at him was a little creepy. If it was social services, why were they at the slopes and not trying to catch him at his apartment?
A knock at the door landed him back in the living room. He removed his headphones and put his food down before going to answer it.
When Mac looked through the peephole, he recognized the uniformed people whom he saw earlier. Curious, he opened it.
"Yo, what up?" he greeted.
"Yes, are you Mackenzie Fraser?" one of the men spoke.
"Uh, yeah. But call me Mac. I haven't been called Mackenzie since the second grade." he looked at all three of the men and chuckled nervously. "Oh, sorry. Would you like to come in?" moving aside so they could make their way in.
He pushed some things off of the couch so that they could sit comfortably. "Well, Mac. We saw you today at the slopes. We thought you were pretty good for someone your age." the taller of them said.
"I have been boarding for quite some time. Since I was six, to be exact." Mac bragged.
"Oh. Well, that's nice. Anyway, we got all your info on your boarding from your friend. Kyle, is it? He says you're the best of the best. And we just had to come and find out for ourselves."
"If you guys are social services, I'm not going freely. You'll have to take me kicking and screaming."
The three men looked at each other, puzzled. "Actually, we're here to ask if you wanted to be in the SSX World Circuit."
Mac widened his eyes, his mouth remaining shut. All of a sudden, he laughed. "No, you've gotta be kidding. Ok, ok. What's your relation to Kyle? Because you can't possibly be the-."
"SSX officials?" one of them cut in.
"Exactly. Wait . . . what?"
The man in the middle of the other two pulled out his wallet and showed his SSX I.D. "We're the SSX officials. We've been looking for someone with your talent to join the other SSX boarders."
"You mean, me?! Boarding with them?! I can't possibly-."
"You've got the talent. Now, all we need is your approval. And maybe your parent's permission."
Mac's stomach turned cold and his heart raced with adrenaline. "Uh . . . my parents? Their permission? Do you really think that's necessary?"
"Well, yeah. You're underage to go without a parent's permission."
"I . . . well, you see . . . I don't have any parents. Or a guardian. I've been living on my own for two years now. They died in an accident."
"Oh. We're sorry."
In an instant, an idea came to him. "Actually, can you take someone who's almost like my parent? Can you take their permission?"
"I'm sure we can make an exception. Why not?"
Mac jumped up, knocking his knee on the coffee table. Wincing, he said, "Follow me. I know exactly who can sign for that form!"