Chapter 11
"Go after him!" Zoe hissed, "You know he's reckless and pissed! And you know what that means!"
Moby sighed, "Do I have to?"
Zoe nodded and glared at him. "It's your fault."
Moby groaned as he took off soon after.
Kaori and I exchanged glances. Zoe looked back at us and shook her head, "Just leave Elise alone. She's really embarrassed. Moby was being a jerk,"
I nodded, and retreated back to my room with Kaori. When I opened the door, I gasped.
All of my stuff...all of my half of the room...was completely thrashed...
Kaori stifled a squeak and stared at my room. All of the drawers had been taken out of the dresser and my clothes were strewn across the floor carelessly, my desk was completely out of order, but what upset me the most was my picture of me, Roy, Ryan, and Eric.
It was smashed through the center and Griff had torn it in half.
Anger like I had never felt before surged up inside me, and I couldn't wait to get my hands around Griff's neck. I didn't care if he was my roommate and it was stupid to start a bad relationship with someone you'll be living with for the rest of the winter, I just wanted to kill him.
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists, but suddenly, when I looked back at my picture, I felt an overwhelming sadness to take over me. I collapsed on the floor and began to cry quietly. Kaori was shocked to see me crying, but she kneeled beside me and comforted me nonetheless.
"It's okay, Panda Bear, it can be cleaned up," she whispered soothingly.
"No-" I choked back the tears inside of me as I pointed to the smashed picture, "Those are my cousins and my brother...they are my family. And-Griff-broke-it!!" I sobbed loudly, now clutching the picture.
Elise opened the door slowly and saw me.
"Yuri?"
I looked back at her, eyes red and wet from the tears and sobbed even more. "He broke my picture!"
Soon enough, I had Zoe, Kaori, and Elise around me, trying to comfort me.
I only cried harder...
"Ryan...Eric...Roy..." I murmured, "They are my only family...."
Suddenly, it was like everything went blank. I couldn't hear anything. I was so angry...I was so angry...
I was going to find Griff and kill him myself.
I violently shoved everyone off of me and grabbed my goggles and board. Despite everyone's cries of "come back", I put my bucket hat over my head and ran out of the door. I didn't know where I was headed, but I sure as hell hoped I could find Griff. And slowly kill him!
***
Kaori's Point of View:
She was angry...
That was the first time we've ever seen her get so angry...
I told her not to go...that her leg wasn't that healed enough to handle her weight while she boarded...but she left despite our wishes.
Poor Griff...I knew how he was feeling. The poor baby was picked on ever since he came because of his age. But that gave him no right to do that to Yuri. It was all Moby's fault...and Ellie. If she hadn't overreacted...
***
I narrowed my eyes and pushed out, slowly gliding along the path. I passed a few courses, but no sign of anyone. Moby and Griff had to be around here somewhere. The weight on my leg grew heavier, but not painful, thank god.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, I could see Moby in the distance.
"Moby!" I shouted, waving him down. He stopped and took off his sunglasses as he stared at me in mock amusement.
"What're yeh doin' here, girl? You pitchin' to get yer other leg mangled?"
"No," I said, irritated already, "Have you seen Griff?"
Moby shook his head and sighed, "I dunno where the little blighter could be...I looked everywhere on Peak One..."
"You don't think...?"
Moby shrugged, "It's possible. Nate and Griff are very close, y'know. He could be on Peak Two,"
"What do we do? I mean, we can't go on Peak Two,"
"Yeah, we don't want you gettin' into any more trouble, now do we, eh?"
"You know," I muttered darkly, "I think Kaori should have just LET Griff strangle you. I think we all would've been happy."
Moby snorted, "Ah, you know you don't mean that,"
"Actually, I do," I mumbled, "Look, I'm going back to the lodge. There's no use looking for him now. He's probably out somewhere on Peak Two..."
Moby nodded, "I'll come with yeh then. But whattayah say about a little showdown at Happiness?"
My jaw dropped. This wasn't good. My leg wasn't exactly all that healed, and besides, I was to challenge THE Moby Jones? Sure, he was an asshole, but I was going to race Moby Jones.
"What's wrong, bugger, you don't wanna race? Little too big for yeh, eh?" Moby teased.
"Nothing like that," I said, "It's just..."
"What? Your leg? Trying to make up excuses now, huh?" Moby had a good little laugh about that.
I glared at him, "Okay, Moby, but if I win, you apologize to Griff and tell him that it wasn't me who told you that he liked Elise. And," I continued, "You stop being such an asswipe!"
Moby blinked.
"Agreed?"
"Alright, mate, you got me. But I won't be doing any apologizing, girly! I don't intend to lose,"
***
I tightened the strap on my goggles and made sure my braid was secure underneath my baby blue bucket hat. I made sure my gloves were on good and tight.
I also prayed for a miracle.
Moby was next to me, squaring things away like I was. Finally, when everything was all set, Moby nodded.
(Okay,) I thought hopefully, (maybe I'll just die a quick death before I'm humiliated...)
I breathed in through my nostrils deeply and slowly exhaled through my mouth. This was going to take some work...
Moby was gripping the side handles in his gate as I was. He began pumping his arms when the countdown began.
Red light...
Red light...
Red light...
Goddamn red light...
Yellow...it was yellow now...
I know my colors...
Green!
I pushed out, but somehow Moby had gotten ahead of me. The wind stung my face as I leaned forward in my stance.
I didn't dare swing at Moby. He was huge...and I was just some little kid compared to him. Slowly but steadily, I was catching up to him. It was odd, boarding without my music. I guess I had been in so much of a hurry to murder Griff that I had forgotten my music...my motivation.
Nevertheless, that didn't stop me from putting up one helluva fight. Moby growled in frustration as he attempted to lose me. I was determined to win this race. I was gonna show Moby what I was made of! I couldn't wait to tell everyone that I raced Moby Jones! Eric is never gonna believe this!
...Eric...
His picture...was...broken.
I shook my head. No, I had to remain focused.
"Alright, bugger, you wanna tail me? Tail this!" Moby swerved suddenly and then...he was gone.
I frantically looked in every direction, but I couldn't find him. Moby had used some shortcut...that I didn't know about.
No! This can't be! If I don't win, then Griff is going to think that I told Moby he liked Elise! And that means Griff will never talk to me again! As much as I wanted that the first couple of days on the tour, I couldn't do that. Griff and I were friends and I still...
I sighed.
Griff broke Eric, Roy, and Ryan. They were my family.
But, it wasn't Griff's fault. Moby had done this. It was Moby's fault. If Moby hadn't done something that stupid, then Griff and I would still be friends.
I gritted me teeth and scanned the track around me for some shortcut.
There was more on the line than some stupid points or award. This was a matter of pride and friendship. Moby Jones may be one of the most famous boarders in the circuit, but I was gonna show him that you don't mess with Yuri Yoshioka.
"Go after him!" Zoe hissed, "You know he's reckless and pissed! And you know what that means!"
Moby sighed, "Do I have to?"
Zoe nodded and glared at him. "It's your fault."
Moby groaned as he took off soon after.
Kaori and I exchanged glances. Zoe looked back at us and shook her head, "Just leave Elise alone. She's really embarrassed. Moby was being a jerk,"
I nodded, and retreated back to my room with Kaori. When I opened the door, I gasped.
All of my stuff...all of my half of the room...was completely thrashed...
Kaori stifled a squeak and stared at my room. All of the drawers had been taken out of the dresser and my clothes were strewn across the floor carelessly, my desk was completely out of order, but what upset me the most was my picture of me, Roy, Ryan, and Eric.
It was smashed through the center and Griff had torn it in half.
Anger like I had never felt before surged up inside me, and I couldn't wait to get my hands around Griff's neck. I didn't care if he was my roommate and it was stupid to start a bad relationship with someone you'll be living with for the rest of the winter, I just wanted to kill him.
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists, but suddenly, when I looked back at my picture, I felt an overwhelming sadness to take over me. I collapsed on the floor and began to cry quietly. Kaori was shocked to see me crying, but she kneeled beside me and comforted me nonetheless.
"It's okay, Panda Bear, it can be cleaned up," she whispered soothingly.
"No-" I choked back the tears inside of me as I pointed to the smashed picture, "Those are my cousins and my brother...they are my family. And-Griff-broke-it!!" I sobbed loudly, now clutching the picture.
Elise opened the door slowly and saw me.
"Yuri?"
I looked back at her, eyes red and wet from the tears and sobbed even more. "He broke my picture!"
Soon enough, I had Zoe, Kaori, and Elise around me, trying to comfort me.
I only cried harder...
"Ryan...Eric...Roy..." I murmured, "They are my only family...."
Suddenly, it was like everything went blank. I couldn't hear anything. I was so angry...I was so angry...
I was going to find Griff and kill him myself.
I violently shoved everyone off of me and grabbed my goggles and board. Despite everyone's cries of "come back", I put my bucket hat over my head and ran out of the door. I didn't know where I was headed, but I sure as hell hoped I could find Griff. And slowly kill him!
***
Kaori's Point of View:
She was angry...
That was the first time we've ever seen her get so angry...
I told her not to go...that her leg wasn't that healed enough to handle her weight while she boarded...but she left despite our wishes.
Poor Griff...I knew how he was feeling. The poor baby was picked on ever since he came because of his age. But that gave him no right to do that to Yuri. It was all Moby's fault...and Ellie. If she hadn't overreacted...
***
I narrowed my eyes and pushed out, slowly gliding along the path. I passed a few courses, but no sign of anyone. Moby and Griff had to be around here somewhere. The weight on my leg grew heavier, but not painful, thank god.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, I could see Moby in the distance.
"Moby!" I shouted, waving him down. He stopped and took off his sunglasses as he stared at me in mock amusement.
"What're yeh doin' here, girl? You pitchin' to get yer other leg mangled?"
"No," I said, irritated already, "Have you seen Griff?"
Moby shook his head and sighed, "I dunno where the little blighter could be...I looked everywhere on Peak One..."
"You don't think...?"
Moby shrugged, "It's possible. Nate and Griff are very close, y'know. He could be on Peak Two,"
"What do we do? I mean, we can't go on Peak Two,"
"Yeah, we don't want you gettin' into any more trouble, now do we, eh?"
"You know," I muttered darkly, "I think Kaori should have just LET Griff strangle you. I think we all would've been happy."
Moby snorted, "Ah, you know you don't mean that,"
"Actually, I do," I mumbled, "Look, I'm going back to the lodge. There's no use looking for him now. He's probably out somewhere on Peak Two..."
Moby nodded, "I'll come with yeh then. But whattayah say about a little showdown at Happiness?"
My jaw dropped. This wasn't good. My leg wasn't exactly all that healed, and besides, I was to challenge THE Moby Jones? Sure, he was an asshole, but I was going to race Moby Jones.
"What's wrong, bugger, you don't wanna race? Little too big for yeh, eh?" Moby teased.
"Nothing like that," I said, "It's just..."
"What? Your leg? Trying to make up excuses now, huh?" Moby had a good little laugh about that.
I glared at him, "Okay, Moby, but if I win, you apologize to Griff and tell him that it wasn't me who told you that he liked Elise. And," I continued, "You stop being such an asswipe!"
Moby blinked.
"Agreed?"
"Alright, mate, you got me. But I won't be doing any apologizing, girly! I don't intend to lose,"
***
I tightened the strap on my goggles and made sure my braid was secure underneath my baby blue bucket hat. I made sure my gloves were on good and tight.
I also prayed for a miracle.
Moby was next to me, squaring things away like I was. Finally, when everything was all set, Moby nodded.
(Okay,) I thought hopefully, (maybe I'll just die a quick death before I'm humiliated...)
I breathed in through my nostrils deeply and slowly exhaled through my mouth. This was going to take some work...
Moby was gripping the side handles in his gate as I was. He began pumping his arms when the countdown began.
Red light...
Red light...
Red light...
Goddamn red light...
Yellow...it was yellow now...
I know my colors...
Green!
I pushed out, but somehow Moby had gotten ahead of me. The wind stung my face as I leaned forward in my stance.
I didn't dare swing at Moby. He was huge...and I was just some little kid compared to him. Slowly but steadily, I was catching up to him. It was odd, boarding without my music. I guess I had been in so much of a hurry to murder Griff that I had forgotten my music...my motivation.
Nevertheless, that didn't stop me from putting up one helluva fight. Moby growled in frustration as he attempted to lose me. I was determined to win this race. I was gonna show Moby what I was made of! I couldn't wait to tell everyone that I raced Moby Jones! Eric is never gonna believe this!
...Eric...
His picture...was...broken.
I shook my head. No, I had to remain focused.
"Alright, bugger, you wanna tail me? Tail this!" Moby swerved suddenly and then...he was gone.
I frantically looked in every direction, but I couldn't find him. Moby had used some shortcut...that I didn't know about.
No! This can't be! If I don't win, then Griff is going to think that I told Moby he liked Elise! And that means Griff will never talk to me again! As much as I wanted that the first couple of days on the tour, I couldn't do that. Griff and I were friends and I still...
I sighed.
Griff broke Eric, Roy, and Ryan. They were my family.
But, it wasn't Griff's fault. Moby had done this. It was Moby's fault. If Moby hadn't done something that stupid, then Griff and I would still be friends.
I gritted me teeth and scanned the track around me for some shortcut.
There was more on the line than some stupid points or award. This was a matter of pride and friendship. Moby Jones may be one of the most famous boarders in the circuit, but I was gonna show him that you don't mess with Yuri Yoshioka.