Chapter 16
"But what about my family?"
"They'll meet us there tonight," Psymon said, "But you won't have a lot of time to visit with them. Seeing as you have an event tonight with yours truly," Psymon sneered, "we'll have to leave as soon as we get there,"
"Now?" Zoe stepped up, "You mean we're leaving now to go to this new lodge?"
Psymon nodded, "Where's the rest of you?"
"Viggo is in his room," Griff said, "He had a rough day yesterday,"
"Well, tell him to get his rich snobby ass up and packing. We gotta go," Psymon said, "And what about Mac?" Psymon raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kaori.
"Present," Mac stuck his head out from the back rooms and waved at Psymon. Almost as discreet as his entrance, Mac was once again back in his rooms, probably packing, I figured.
"Zo? Where's your English boy toy?"
Zoe blushed, but narrowed her eyes. "Psymon, don't go there," When Psymon only tilted his head and smiled in mock amusement, Zoe sighed, "He's on Peak one somewhere probably. He's always out practicing, I'll beep him on the M-comm,"
Psymon snorted, "Figures. Now who else are we missing?"
"Allegra and Elise,"
"Elise is out practicing," Nate said quickly, "She told me she'd be out for today yesterday. I'll beep her, she can't be that far,"
"Yep, and that leaves Allegra," Psymon mumbled. "Where has that little newbie gone to?"
At the word 'newbie', Nate, Griff and I jumped up angrily.
The word 'newbie' had sort of become a foul word for Griff, Nate, Viggo, Allegra, and I. It was used as sort of a curse and all of the actual newbies took great offense to being called that. We preferred to be called "challengers" or "non-vets".
"Yeah, yeah, so where is she?"
Zoe shrugged, "Out on the slopes too, I guess. That girl has some sick moves. She is the leader of Peak one after all,"
"Not anymore," I said quickly. "I beat her score,"
"Oh yeah, sorry kid, I forgot already,"
"You're kidding, right?" Psymon managed to say, "A little kid beat Mac and that eighteen year old tomboy?"
Kaori beamed and ignored Psymon's remark, "Now I just have to challenge your score!"
"What?"
"Well," Psymon sneered, "when you're a peak boss, people are going to constantly challenge your score, and you're going to have to defend it. I'm sure Allegra is out there practicing to beat you large,"
I gulped. "Right...I knew that..."
Nate put a protective arm on her shoulder, "Don't be too mean to her, Stark, she just became a peak boss,"
Psymon scoffed, "Right, Logan. Don't call me Stark. It can piss people off if you use their last names a lot. Am I right, Logan?"
Nate frowned slightly, but ignored him.
"Well, let's get a move on," Zoe said, clapping her hands together and breaking the tension, "Griff, go tell Viggo to beep Allegra and everyone get packing, we're going to have to transport to the Blue Station as soon as possible if we wanna meet the family,"
I grinned. Eric, Roy and Ryan were going to be there! I couldn't wait!
***
Soon enough, everyone had their stuff packed away into the airplane thingy. I still wasn't sure what in the name of sliced pineapples it was, but I was sure to find out eventually.
I boarded the plane and made myself comfortable next to Griff and Kaori. They both offered smiled and looked back at the door to see Psymon helping Nate load everything.
"That frickin' Viggo," I heard Psymon mutter darkly, "Too frickin' lazy to do shit..."
Nate nodded in agreement as they lifted several snowboards and some trunks that had someone's belongings in it.
Viggo was too busy moaning and clutching his stomach to notice what they said.
"He told me he doesn't feel too well," Griff whispered. "But I dunno, he wasn't this bad this morning,"
"Goddamn, Elise!" Psymon grunted as he shoved one of the trunks into the plane, "You think you got enough shit!?"
Elise smiled and shook her head haughtily. "A girl never has enough to accessorize,"
"Accessorize my ass," Psymon mumbled. "Over at the blue station, the lodge over there has bunk beds and tighter rooms with less space. I took the liberty of checking them out," Psymon said quickly, "So you better room with someone you're close with,"
"My family? Where will they be staying?"
"We have a separate room for them, or so I hear," Psymon said, "so you won't be able to room with them,"
"Oh..."
"Hey," Griff beamed and put a hand on my shoulder, "Don't worry about it, we can be roommates still!"
I grinned, "That's cool,"
"Alright, where's everyone else?"
"The only person we're missing is Allegra," Mac said, "She must've forgotten to check her M-comm,"
Psymon shrugged. "Her problem. Let's go,"
***
It was pretty uncomfortable riding in that thing with everyone and their stuff. Viggo kept complaining about the bright lights and dizziness until finally it seemed like Psymon snapped. "Viggo," he had muttered darkly, "you say just one more word about your health and I swear to God I'll make you so numb you won't even be able to FEEL anything. Clear?"
Viggo nodded his head shyly.
It was horrible listening to Elise talk to Nate about Allegra, though. She wouldn't stop yammering about how Allegra had shoved her during the vets vs. newbies race. What bothered me the most, however, was the fact that Nate was actually listening and paying any attention to her. I don't know what exactly bothered me about it, but it bothered me nonetheless. Unfortunately, Psymon didn't care. He was too busy trying to hold back his own sickness. He had been threatening to throw up the whole time and that wouldn't be too nice. He was sneering at everyone and would moan quietly and clutch his stomach like Viggo as he leaned on Kaori.
"Kaori," he hissed, "help...me..."
With a shriek, Kaori had leapt up and landed in Mac's arms. Psymon's sickness seemed to disappear for a while as he laughed, but when the plane took a sharp turn, he was quiet once again.
Moby and Zoe were busy talking about mountain bikes and racing to even notice the awkwardness in the plane.
I was really uncomfortable because Mac kept on staring daggers at me. He really hated me, I knew that, but it wasn't my fault I won. I wasn't even expecting to win. Nate had just helped me out and seeing as Mac was the one who challenged me, I didn't think he would lose. He was so confident in all his abilities, but he was just too eager to charge at somebody and challenge them.
Nate noticed the direction Mac's eyes were glaring at because Nate coughed loudly several times. Finally, when Nate got fed up with Mac not noticing his coughs, he tapped his head and muttered, "Whatcha lookin' at?"
Mac quickly averted his gaze and stroked Kaori's hair, who was laying down on his lap smiling contently as she slowly drifted into sleep.
In other words, the plane ride was complete hell.
***
"Panda?"
I groaned sleepily and slowly opened one eye.
"Panda? Are you awake?"
I nodded and sat up. I looked back at where I was sleeping and noticed that I had been sleeping on Griff's shoulder. I shuddered. Griff was asleep, too. He didn't seem affected in any way by me sleeping there, so I shrugged and turned my attention to Kaori.
"PB, the plane landed." Kaori whispered. I looked around and noticed that all of the boarders were sleeping, save for Kaori, me, Mac, Elise, and Psymon.
Psymon looked relieved that the plane had landed but otherwise was fighting the sleep away as he tried to push himself up.
He paused, waiting for something. "ALRIGHT YOU LOT! WAKE UP!"
Almost immediately, everyone jumped up and shouted in alarm.
Nate bumped heads with Elise, who was now fixing her hair and grumbling angrily. Viggo was the only one that wasn't disturbed by Psymon's yell.
"What the hell was that for?" Moby bellowed angrily, "A simple tap on the shoulder would've done nicely, mate!"
Mac snickered and Kaori rolled her eyes.
"Let's get going, we gotta get our stuff unpacked," Psymon ignored everyone's threats and rude gestures and instead began lifting up everyone's things along with Nate. I picked up my backpack and my small suitcase and headed inside, prepared for the worse.
The lodge wasn't that bad. There wasn't a breakfast nook, however, and the fire was a little smaller. The kitchen was just about the same with the exception of a big window that overlooked the Super Pipe area. Psymon had told everyone on the plane that the rooms were "first come first serve" so I chose the room that was all the way in the back hallway. Griff followed me and left his stuff and the door with me to claim the room. We both grinned and gave each other a high five for getting the best room. The rooms were a little smaller and the bunk beds were small and narrow with a small desk in the corner. The only difference in this particular lodge was the horrifying fact that there was only one bathroom.
Mac and Kaori's room was right across from ours and we could see them getting everything fixed, but when Mac saw me and Griff waving at Kaori, he slammed the door in our faces much to our dismay.
Viggo was unpacking his things in a one person room and waved at me and Griff when we passed by. "Hey, Viggo, how come there's only one bed in here?"
"Because I'm bunking alone," Viggo said proudly, "I don't need a partner,"
Griff rolled his eyes and we moved on to see who was with whom.
I was surprised to see that Elise and Nate had gotten a room with each other. Nate saw me watching and waved happily. I smiled and waved back, but Griff winked and started making crude noises. I elbowed Griff lightly in the stomach and he groaned. "I take it you don't like Elise anymore?"
Griff shook his head, "Apparently, Nate's the one that's got the hots!"
For some reason, that upset me thinking that Nate and Elise would be sharing the same room. "What makes you think that?"
"Well, for one, she's always talking to him and now they're sharing rooms!" Griff exclaimed as we passed Zoe and Moby's room and waved.
"So? Maybe they're just good friends,"
"Aw, c'mon, admit it,"
I sighed and shook my head. "Whatever," I stopped suddenly and froze. "Griff..."
"What?"
"Do you realize that everyone has a partner except for Psymon?"
"Yeah, and?"
"Well, who ELSE doesn't have a partner?"
"I dunno, who?"
"Allegra," I whispered.
"You're saying...Allegra and Psymon?"
"Together sharing a room?" I finished.
Griff gasped and ran for the door where Psymon was busy balancing a suitcase in one hand and pulling a trunk in the other.
"PSYMON!" we both shouted in unison.
"WHAT!??!"
"You have to bunk with Allegra!" Griff yelled.
"You're the only one without a partner!" I said after Griff.
Psymon froze and dropped everything. "What?"
"You're bunking with Allegra because everyone else has a partner."
"Hold on..." Psymon muttered fiercely as he marched to the rooms in the lodge.
Suddenly, Viggo came flying out of the back rooms with a suitcase right behind him.
"THERE!" Psymon said proudly, dusting his hands off, "That right there is Allegra's partner,"
"Newbie," Mac grinned, leaning over Viggo, "you should know that Psymon ALWAYS bunks alone,"
"But what about my family?"
"They'll meet us there tonight," Psymon said, "But you won't have a lot of time to visit with them. Seeing as you have an event tonight with yours truly," Psymon sneered, "we'll have to leave as soon as we get there,"
"Now?" Zoe stepped up, "You mean we're leaving now to go to this new lodge?"
Psymon nodded, "Where's the rest of you?"
"Viggo is in his room," Griff said, "He had a rough day yesterday,"
"Well, tell him to get his rich snobby ass up and packing. We gotta go," Psymon said, "And what about Mac?" Psymon raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kaori.
"Present," Mac stuck his head out from the back rooms and waved at Psymon. Almost as discreet as his entrance, Mac was once again back in his rooms, probably packing, I figured.
"Zo? Where's your English boy toy?"
Zoe blushed, but narrowed her eyes. "Psymon, don't go there," When Psymon only tilted his head and smiled in mock amusement, Zoe sighed, "He's on Peak one somewhere probably. He's always out practicing, I'll beep him on the M-comm,"
Psymon snorted, "Figures. Now who else are we missing?"
"Allegra and Elise,"
"Elise is out practicing," Nate said quickly, "She told me she'd be out for today yesterday. I'll beep her, she can't be that far,"
"Yep, and that leaves Allegra," Psymon mumbled. "Where has that little newbie gone to?"
At the word 'newbie', Nate, Griff and I jumped up angrily.
The word 'newbie' had sort of become a foul word for Griff, Nate, Viggo, Allegra, and I. It was used as sort of a curse and all of the actual newbies took great offense to being called that. We preferred to be called "challengers" or "non-vets".
"Yeah, yeah, so where is she?"
Zoe shrugged, "Out on the slopes too, I guess. That girl has some sick moves. She is the leader of Peak one after all,"
"Not anymore," I said quickly. "I beat her score,"
"Oh yeah, sorry kid, I forgot already,"
"You're kidding, right?" Psymon managed to say, "A little kid beat Mac and that eighteen year old tomboy?"
Kaori beamed and ignored Psymon's remark, "Now I just have to challenge your score!"
"What?"
"Well," Psymon sneered, "when you're a peak boss, people are going to constantly challenge your score, and you're going to have to defend it. I'm sure Allegra is out there practicing to beat you large,"
I gulped. "Right...I knew that..."
Nate put a protective arm on her shoulder, "Don't be too mean to her, Stark, she just became a peak boss,"
Psymon scoffed, "Right, Logan. Don't call me Stark. It can piss people off if you use their last names a lot. Am I right, Logan?"
Nate frowned slightly, but ignored him.
"Well, let's get a move on," Zoe said, clapping her hands together and breaking the tension, "Griff, go tell Viggo to beep Allegra and everyone get packing, we're going to have to transport to the Blue Station as soon as possible if we wanna meet the family,"
I grinned. Eric, Roy and Ryan were going to be there! I couldn't wait!
***
Soon enough, everyone had their stuff packed away into the airplane thingy. I still wasn't sure what in the name of sliced pineapples it was, but I was sure to find out eventually.
I boarded the plane and made myself comfortable next to Griff and Kaori. They both offered smiled and looked back at the door to see Psymon helping Nate load everything.
"That frickin' Viggo," I heard Psymon mutter darkly, "Too frickin' lazy to do shit..."
Nate nodded in agreement as they lifted several snowboards and some trunks that had someone's belongings in it.
Viggo was too busy moaning and clutching his stomach to notice what they said.
"He told me he doesn't feel too well," Griff whispered. "But I dunno, he wasn't this bad this morning,"
"Goddamn, Elise!" Psymon grunted as he shoved one of the trunks into the plane, "You think you got enough shit!?"
Elise smiled and shook her head haughtily. "A girl never has enough to accessorize,"
"Accessorize my ass," Psymon mumbled. "Over at the blue station, the lodge over there has bunk beds and tighter rooms with less space. I took the liberty of checking them out," Psymon said quickly, "So you better room with someone you're close with,"
"My family? Where will they be staying?"
"We have a separate room for them, or so I hear," Psymon said, "so you won't be able to room with them,"
"Oh..."
"Hey," Griff beamed and put a hand on my shoulder, "Don't worry about it, we can be roommates still!"
I grinned, "That's cool,"
"Alright, where's everyone else?"
"The only person we're missing is Allegra," Mac said, "She must've forgotten to check her M-comm,"
Psymon shrugged. "Her problem. Let's go,"
***
It was pretty uncomfortable riding in that thing with everyone and their stuff. Viggo kept complaining about the bright lights and dizziness until finally it seemed like Psymon snapped. "Viggo," he had muttered darkly, "you say just one more word about your health and I swear to God I'll make you so numb you won't even be able to FEEL anything. Clear?"
Viggo nodded his head shyly.
It was horrible listening to Elise talk to Nate about Allegra, though. She wouldn't stop yammering about how Allegra had shoved her during the vets vs. newbies race. What bothered me the most, however, was the fact that Nate was actually listening and paying any attention to her. I don't know what exactly bothered me about it, but it bothered me nonetheless. Unfortunately, Psymon didn't care. He was too busy trying to hold back his own sickness. He had been threatening to throw up the whole time and that wouldn't be too nice. He was sneering at everyone and would moan quietly and clutch his stomach like Viggo as he leaned on Kaori.
"Kaori," he hissed, "help...me..."
With a shriek, Kaori had leapt up and landed in Mac's arms. Psymon's sickness seemed to disappear for a while as he laughed, but when the plane took a sharp turn, he was quiet once again.
Moby and Zoe were busy talking about mountain bikes and racing to even notice the awkwardness in the plane.
I was really uncomfortable because Mac kept on staring daggers at me. He really hated me, I knew that, but it wasn't my fault I won. I wasn't even expecting to win. Nate had just helped me out and seeing as Mac was the one who challenged me, I didn't think he would lose. He was so confident in all his abilities, but he was just too eager to charge at somebody and challenge them.
Nate noticed the direction Mac's eyes were glaring at because Nate coughed loudly several times. Finally, when Nate got fed up with Mac not noticing his coughs, he tapped his head and muttered, "Whatcha lookin' at?"
Mac quickly averted his gaze and stroked Kaori's hair, who was laying down on his lap smiling contently as she slowly drifted into sleep.
In other words, the plane ride was complete hell.
***
"Panda?"
I groaned sleepily and slowly opened one eye.
"Panda? Are you awake?"
I nodded and sat up. I looked back at where I was sleeping and noticed that I had been sleeping on Griff's shoulder. I shuddered. Griff was asleep, too. He didn't seem affected in any way by me sleeping there, so I shrugged and turned my attention to Kaori.
"PB, the plane landed." Kaori whispered. I looked around and noticed that all of the boarders were sleeping, save for Kaori, me, Mac, Elise, and Psymon.
Psymon looked relieved that the plane had landed but otherwise was fighting the sleep away as he tried to push himself up.
He paused, waiting for something. "ALRIGHT YOU LOT! WAKE UP!"
Almost immediately, everyone jumped up and shouted in alarm.
Nate bumped heads with Elise, who was now fixing her hair and grumbling angrily. Viggo was the only one that wasn't disturbed by Psymon's yell.
"What the hell was that for?" Moby bellowed angrily, "A simple tap on the shoulder would've done nicely, mate!"
Mac snickered and Kaori rolled her eyes.
"Let's get going, we gotta get our stuff unpacked," Psymon ignored everyone's threats and rude gestures and instead began lifting up everyone's things along with Nate. I picked up my backpack and my small suitcase and headed inside, prepared for the worse.
The lodge wasn't that bad. There wasn't a breakfast nook, however, and the fire was a little smaller. The kitchen was just about the same with the exception of a big window that overlooked the Super Pipe area. Psymon had told everyone on the plane that the rooms were "first come first serve" so I chose the room that was all the way in the back hallway. Griff followed me and left his stuff and the door with me to claim the room. We both grinned and gave each other a high five for getting the best room. The rooms were a little smaller and the bunk beds were small and narrow with a small desk in the corner. The only difference in this particular lodge was the horrifying fact that there was only one bathroom.
Mac and Kaori's room was right across from ours and we could see them getting everything fixed, but when Mac saw me and Griff waving at Kaori, he slammed the door in our faces much to our dismay.
Viggo was unpacking his things in a one person room and waved at me and Griff when we passed by. "Hey, Viggo, how come there's only one bed in here?"
"Because I'm bunking alone," Viggo said proudly, "I don't need a partner,"
Griff rolled his eyes and we moved on to see who was with whom.
I was surprised to see that Elise and Nate had gotten a room with each other. Nate saw me watching and waved happily. I smiled and waved back, but Griff winked and started making crude noises. I elbowed Griff lightly in the stomach and he groaned. "I take it you don't like Elise anymore?"
Griff shook his head, "Apparently, Nate's the one that's got the hots!"
For some reason, that upset me thinking that Nate and Elise would be sharing the same room. "What makes you think that?"
"Well, for one, she's always talking to him and now they're sharing rooms!" Griff exclaimed as we passed Zoe and Moby's room and waved.
"So? Maybe they're just good friends,"
"Aw, c'mon, admit it,"
I sighed and shook my head. "Whatever," I stopped suddenly and froze. "Griff..."
"What?"
"Do you realize that everyone has a partner except for Psymon?"
"Yeah, and?"
"Well, who ELSE doesn't have a partner?"
"I dunno, who?"
"Allegra," I whispered.
"You're saying...Allegra and Psymon?"
"Together sharing a room?" I finished.
Griff gasped and ran for the door where Psymon was busy balancing a suitcase in one hand and pulling a trunk in the other.
"PSYMON!" we both shouted in unison.
"WHAT!??!"
"You have to bunk with Allegra!" Griff yelled.
"You're the only one without a partner!" I said after Griff.
Psymon froze and dropped everything. "What?"
"You're bunking with Allegra because everyone else has a partner."
"Hold on..." Psymon muttered fiercely as he marched to the rooms in the lodge.
Suddenly, Viggo came flying out of the back rooms with a suitcase right behind him.
"THERE!" Psymon said proudly, dusting his hands off, "That right there is Allegra's partner,"
"Newbie," Mac grinned, leaning over Viggo, "you should know that Psymon ALWAYS bunks alone,"