Chapter 6: From Sand to Snow.
Drum: This is my first time writing a race, I hope you all like it. Parry wrote the fluff in the chapter. Chapter 7 should be out by the end of spring break.
Parry: Just want to let you all know that I am still alive and kicking! Sorry I haven't reviewed, Nosymp's Angel, I've been a tad bit busy! Yuri will be updated within the week and so will Icy Paradise. Also! My birthday is this Wednesday, so all of you wish me a happy birthday! ^_^
"LIVE FROM NEW YORK! IT'S MAC!" Mac yelled as he flew over Zoe's head. The race on Metro City had already begun, the racers were already well into the first heat. Mac was currently in first place, just passing over Zoe, who had left JP in a flurry of snow. Drum was just pulling up behind Atomika, who had replaced Moby in this race. Atomika coasted along, trying to keep up with Viggo who had a pretty commanding lead in front of him. As they passed the first checkpoint of stands, the crown cheered as Rahzel announced over the mic.
"It seems Fraser is still in first, and Kaori is pulling up the rear in 7th place!" Rahzel yelled. In addition to the extra peaks, and new rankings, races also had seven racers at a time instead of the usual six.
"Come on, Drum! Show me that you deserve to be here!" Atomika shouted at Drum as he took a small jump. Drum who was beginning to get a feel for the snow took one of the larger jumps. Atomika landed ankle deep in the powder, coming to a near halt.
"SHIT!" He yelled as Drum sped passed him. Kaori wasn't having as much of good race, she had a bad start and a bad fall at the beginning and wasn't able to recover from it, Viggo wasn't fairing well either...a cheap shot from JP made sure of that.
"Damn it! It's pretty much useless now, Kaori!" Viggo yelled from in front of her, dodging a snowed in car.
"Don't say that! We can still make it! Atomika is only a little ways ahead!" Kaori screamed, she wasn't paying attention to the slope and was heading straight into a plate glass shortcut.
As she crashed into the glass, breaking through it, she slid down almost a straight down slope, trying her best to dodge street signs and other obstacles. Viggo sighed. "I guess your right, Kaori! Come on! Lets turn it up! ....Kaori? ...Kaori?" He turned around to see if she had fallen, but instead saw nothing. "Wha—whatever." Viggo turned around just in time to slam head first into a tree.
Back at the front of the pack, Mac still held onto his lead. Making sure Zoe didn't pass him; Mac used a series of hard turns to keep a constant spray of snow and ice flying back at her.
JP was so close that the tip of his board was touching the end of hers.
"Back off Frenchie!" She yelled at him, JP ignored her and tried to tip her board again. Zoe responded with a well placed skid to the side, stopping her board, but causing JP to trip over hers. She resumed her race, nodding at JP as he brushed snow off of his face. "Next time I give you a warning, you better take it!" she yelled at him, taking a small jump, doing a 180 stalefish.
Before JP could get onto his board, Drum skid passed him, giving him a fresh new layer of snow to brush.
"Oi vey..." JP said as he stood up. "Two places lost..." He mumbled.
"MAKE THAT THREEEEEEE!!!" Kaori screamed, flying seemingly from nowhere over head, holding onto her board for dear life as she pulled a "Superman" trick. Landing a couple of feet in front of JP, she pressed forward.
"Oh, no you don't!" JP yelled, trying desperately to keep up with her.
Atomika and Viggo were neck and neck, competing for the worst position.
"Let...me...PASS!" Viggo yelled, sporting a lump on his head and a little blood trickle, still trying to pass Atomika.
"No way!" Atomika took a grind on a rail, extending his lead even further.
"It seems Mac will be taking first, unless Zoe has something to say about it!" Rahzel yelled over the microphone, the crowed cheered as Mac slid across the finish line, he turned around hoping that Kaori would be behind him, he hadn't seen her all race.
Zoe and Drum were battling for the second place; Drum was ahead of her now, only be a little, he couldn't believe he was performing this well.
"Come on! Zoe! Step it up a notch!" He yelled as playfully to her as she did him yesterday, but today, Zoe wasn't in the mind frame nor mood to play games. She leaned into the straight away, coming right up next to Drum.
"I am NOT losing to a newbie..." Zoe flung her hand at Drum's face, not knocking him over, but hitting him in the face hard enough to break his concentration. Drums lead faltered to Zoe and she sped passed him, barreling over the finish line. Drum followed up behind her, his face stung from her slap, but he was more worried about what Moby said yesterday.
Had their break up really been his fault? Zoe's slap didn't really help matters, now he actually believed that he could very well be the cause of the break up of one of the most popular SSX relationships. Zoe didn't even stick around for the rest of the riders; instead she took off her board and headed into the next trolley back to the Lodge. Kaori soared over the finish line, happy that she didn't finish in last, next was JP looking very disappointed in his performance.
Atomika came in next, followed by a very light headed Viggo.
"Well! There you have it folks! Mac Fraser, Zoe Payne, and Jordan Williams will move onto Heat 2! Be here tomorrow to see the race action!"
Drum looked at the crowed, even though that were cheering Mac's name. He couldn't help to think that somewhere, someone was cheering his name as well.
~~~~
As the racers returned to the lodge, Mac and the others were greeted with the usual applause, Zoe was nowhere to be found.
"She went back to her room as soon as she got through the door" Nate stated, as he shook Mac's hand.
"Good race." he said, Mac thanked them and looked around for Kaori.
Drum had set his board to the side, plopping on the couch where Kaori had sat down.
"........Nice race...Kaori, is it?" He looked over at her, brushing his hair out of his face.
Kaori, still a little pink from the cold looked over.
"Um...hai...I didn't do so well..."
"Eh...you did fine to me..." he sighed, tilting his head back.
"....Drum?" Kaori said, looking at him oddly, and taking a cup of hot cocoa from Mac. She stood up so Mac could sit down, and then resumed her place on his lap.
Mac looked over at Drum, who didn't want to stare.
"Nice race, man" Mac nodded, taking a sip of his own cocoa.
"Um...yeah...you too." Drum responded. He began to takeoff his gloves when Kaori began to ask him some questions.
"Drum" - she asked - "How exactly did Atomika find you?"
Mac listened; he wanted to know this too.
"Well, I sent in a tape of me sand boarding. I guess it was good enough for Atomika to fly down to Florida and check me out for himself." Drum nodded. "I didn't think I was going to get in...you know...not being used to snow and all..."
Kaori smiled "I think he picked the right choice, you certainly have gotten used to the snow so far." Mac nodded in agreement.
"If you say so, Athena said that cold wasn't going to be terribly bad, but I think she was wrong...I'm freezing my toes off up here..." Drum said, standing up to stretch.
"Who's Athena?" Mac asked, looking up at him. "Oh, she is my daughter...sort of."
Kaori and Mac's eyes both widened.
Kaori blinked. "Daughter?"
Drum realized that they had misunderstood his statement and chuckled.
"No, she isn't my real daughter. She is my little cousin. But she looks up to me like a father. So I refer to her as my daughter sometimes."
Kaori sighed a breath of relief; Mac smirked.
"Well, you gave Zoe a run for her money, dawg. That ain't something most people can do."
Drum blinked and looked at Mac oddly.
"What?" Mac said.
"Its odd....your more black than I am..." Drum managed a chuckle, Mac on the other hand took it as a complement.
"See ya later, Drum" Mac said as Drum walked away towards the kitchen.
Kaori turned to face Mac.
"You won, Mackie?"
Mac nodded, setting his cup down.
"It was easy, Metro City was the same as last year, and I know the run by heart." he said, smirking at her.
Kaori frowned as she looked at his cockiness.
"I don't know the run well...I hate that course...I did so bad today." she rested her head on Mac's shoulder, Mac nuzzled his head to hers.
"You did fine babe, you just need to get a feel for the mountain..." he whispered.
He closed his eyes as he felt a slender hand on his chest, softly rubbing his muscular form.
He smiled contently, as he reached to grab her hand into his, kissing the palm. His heart beating his regular beating, and he could now know that she could feel the temptation rising inside. Opening his eyes now, he fixed his eyes into her chocolate ones, both facial expressions that wore of joy and happiness. She smiled at him, reaching out to cup his face, pressing a soft- light kiss on his lips.
He touched her other hand that remained frozen upon his face as he nuzzled her nose with his, lovingly. Creating a soft giggle coming from her.
"You're number one to me," he told her, kissing her nose. Her hair coming loose, spreading around wildly around her face. But he fixed all that, as he began to brush away the few strands away, placing them behind her ear. She wrapped her hands around his neck as she began to smile as he pulled her closer and rested his head on her shoulder and sighed contently. "I love you, Kaori,"
"And I love you, Mackie..."
~~~
Upstairs, Nate, Atomika and Elise were watching today's race.
Nate was on the edge of the seat, watching how Mac was using the flurry of snow
"Smart move..." Nate commented, Elise sitting between them.
"Yeah, If you can't see, you can't race." Atomika said, eyes locked on the tape. Elise looked positively bored.
"Yeah...I guess..." Elise looked around the room, not really paying attention to the video.
Nate clapped as Kaori flew over JP's head.
"Nice trick! I have to ask her where she found that shortcut.."
Elise stood up, taking off her jacket, she was only wearing a tank top under it. Nate and Atomika didn't even look up at her. Elise plopped down between them, sighing.
The video ended, and Nate turned to Elise.
"So, did you like the race? It seems you were right when you said Mac was going to win...Elise...Elise?"
Elise had fell asleep on the couch, Atomika was looking over character profiles on his M-Comm. Nate shook her gently, "Elise...yo...Elise...wake—" -Elise now slumped to the side, her head landing on Nate's lap – "—up.."
Atomika looked over and saw the sight.
"Heey...whoa, you want me to leave you two alone?" he looked, wide eyed.
"It's not like that...she fell asleep...come on, its Elise man." Nate told him, lifting her up a bit.
"Hey, whatever, just don't push her my" - Elise's hand now rested on Atomika's lap – "..Oh gosh.." Atomika blushed slightly.
Nate couldn't help but to chuckle at the scene. He then got up, trying to help Elise off of the couch to take her in her room, the position the three of them were in was not at all suitable for the situation.
Atomika and Nate's eye both widened in horror as the door opened.
Eddie stood there...jaw hanging.
Nate and Atomika exchanged glances, but before either of them could say I word-
"Just...dont...tell me anything...I'll go...you know...burn this image from my mind.." Eddie said, rubbing the bridge of his nose and closing the door.
"God, this girl is one hard sleeper!" Atomika yelled, they had finally set Elise back up on the couch.
"I'm gonna go ahead and get outta here before the whole circut thinks we were doing the hanky panky in the vid room." Nate got up and headed towards his room, Atomika was soon after. Elise was still laying on the couch..
"...........Damn it!" Elise woke up and stood. "Gentlemen! I had to crush on the GENTLEMEN! Not even a kiss goodnight, or a peck on the cheek, they didnt even steal a peek!" Elise yelled at no one, disappointed about Atomika and Nate's good behavior.
Elise plopped back down on the couch.
"Gentlemen....grr." She mumbled one last time.
~~~~
As Kaori walked into her room, she tried to be as queit as possible. Zoe had already closed her curtain divider, and had her music on.
On Yuri's bed, sat Griff and Yuri. Kaori smiled at her friend and her new boyfriend, Griff was relaxing on her bed, playing a game on his M-Comm, while Yuri was laying next to him, her head resting on his shoulder as she watched him.
"Hey Kaori..." Griff absent mindedly said, not taking his eyes off of the game.
Yuri offered a weak wave in Kaori's direction. Kaori decided it would be better if she came back to her room later, so she turned around and headed towards the Kitchen.
"So what were you saying about last night?"
"Well, I ran into Mr. Moby Jones himself," Yuri said quietly, making sure Zoe didn't hear her.
"Really? What happened?" Griff sat up and stared at her after shutting off his M-Comm.
"He was a bit—um—angry,"
"Angry?" Griff raised an eyebrow and grinned, "Moby? Just angry? C'mon, Yuri, everyone's talking about Zoe and Moby,"
"Shhh!" Yuri clamped her hand over Griff's and glared at him, "Zoe's over there,"
Griff shrugged and turned his M-Comm on again, checking his messages. "So what exactly happened?"
"Nothing, I guess," Yuri said, "I'm just worried about him. You know...no one's seen him since yesterday. I hope something didn't happen to him,"
***
In the kitchen, Psymon, Mac, Viggo, and Allegra were all sitting at the table. Kaori pulled up a seat next to Mac and listened in on the conversation.
"Psssh. I can beat that.." Mac stated. "One time, when I was like...10 I think, I was learning to skate board for the first time, and I fell off going downhill. 18 stitches and a week out of school." Mac looked proud of himself, they were obviously trading battle tales.
"Nothin, during the off season I decided to take my old sled out, I hit a pretty steep jump and ran right into some power lines!" Psymon cackled, and began imitating the shocking sensation he had received.
"So, what's so bad about that?" Viggo asked.
"...it was raining" Psymon added.
Viggo and Mac eyed each other.
"You win" they both said simultaneously.
Allegra was sitting next to Viggo, dipping a rag in a bowl of cold water and wiping away some of the blood still on his forehead.
"God, if you keep hitting those goddamn trees, you won't even remember you own name, Vig." she muttered, dipping the cloth in the water.
"Well, if you keep babying him every time he gets a little bump on the noggin, he is never going to want to leave the lodge" Psymon spat, Allegra instantly dropped the rag in the water and glared at Psymon.
"I'm not babying him! Just taking care of my riding partner, isn't that something YOU should be doing? Or did Zoe just happen to break up with you as well?" She said coolly to Psymon. Mac and Kaori decided they had best not put their two cents into this argument.
"Nah, Zoe is a tough chick. I betcha by tomorrow she will have forgotten all about Brit Boy." Psymon shrugged.
"I don't know what she even saw on him, honestly. The guy is a bigger asshole than you, Psymon." Mac spoke up, Kaori would of said that no one could be a bigger asshole than Psymon, but Allegra cut her off.
"Maybe it was the accent?" she said, taking a sip of her soda.
"Nah, That accent always sounded a little fake to me.." Mac said.
"Speaking of fake.." Viggo muttered, then nodded in the direction of JP, who was approaching the table.
JP was walking towards them, his shades actually off for once. Allegra seemed to ignore him as he opened the fridge.
"Yo, JP. Whaddup?" Mac asked, breaking the silence.
"Nothing...just trying to carbo load for ze challenge" JP said, not looking up from the fridge.
All of the riders at the table looked at each other akwardly. They knew nothing of a challenge.
"What are you talkin about, Frenchie?" Psymon snorted.
JP smiled and winked. "Check your M-Comm.."
The riders looked at their M-Comms, Allegra stared at her blankly, her jaw hanging open.
"I.." Kaori said, "..don't see anything."
"I do.." Allegra muttered.
Viggo looked up at her. "Well?"
"...JP are you mad!?" Allegra yelled. "Where do you get off challenging me to a God Challenge!?" she yelled. Viggo spewed his water all over the table.
"HE WHAT!?" Viggo yelled as well. Allegra was standing looking at JP with rage.
JP just smiled coolly.
"You don't have to accept if you don't want eet.." he said and headed back to his room.
Allegra stared at her M-Comm. Looking at it she read it out loud.
"I am sorry for the other night...to make it up to you...I am risking my Snow God status to you. If you accept, meet me at the top of Blizzard Pass tomorrow....signed JP Aresnault."
JP smiled again, winking at Allegra.
"JP..I--" she started.
"No!" JP interrupted her. "Don't give me your answer here, tell me by your actions tomorrow...I'll be waiting."
JP walked off to his room.
The whole table locked onto Allegra.
"...Are you going to accept?" Kaori whispered.
"JP must be crazy! If he loses Allegra gets his status!" Mac chimed in.
Allegra just looked at the M-Comm and flopped down into the chair.
"..I don't know yet..." she stated calmly not blinking. Viggo scoffed.
"He is probably doing it to get into your pants, you know.."
Allegra nodded. "Yeah...I know.."
Allegra got up and headed into the hallway...soon as she was out of sight of the group, she turned a deep shade of red.
"...and I think it might work..." a small smile crawled across her face.
Drum: This is my first time writing a race, I hope you all like it. Parry wrote the fluff in the chapter. Chapter 7 should be out by the end of spring break.
Parry: Just want to let you all know that I am still alive and kicking! Sorry I haven't reviewed, Nosymp's Angel, I've been a tad bit busy! Yuri will be updated within the week and so will Icy Paradise. Also! My birthday is this Wednesday, so all of you wish me a happy birthday! ^_^
"LIVE FROM NEW YORK! IT'S MAC!" Mac yelled as he flew over Zoe's head. The race on Metro City had already begun, the racers were already well into the first heat. Mac was currently in first place, just passing over Zoe, who had left JP in a flurry of snow. Drum was just pulling up behind Atomika, who had replaced Moby in this race. Atomika coasted along, trying to keep up with Viggo who had a pretty commanding lead in front of him. As they passed the first checkpoint of stands, the crown cheered as Rahzel announced over the mic.
"It seems Fraser is still in first, and Kaori is pulling up the rear in 7th place!" Rahzel yelled. In addition to the extra peaks, and new rankings, races also had seven racers at a time instead of the usual six.
"Come on, Drum! Show me that you deserve to be here!" Atomika shouted at Drum as he took a small jump. Drum who was beginning to get a feel for the snow took one of the larger jumps. Atomika landed ankle deep in the powder, coming to a near halt.
"SHIT!" He yelled as Drum sped passed him. Kaori wasn't having as much of good race, she had a bad start and a bad fall at the beginning and wasn't able to recover from it, Viggo wasn't fairing well either...a cheap shot from JP made sure of that.
"Damn it! It's pretty much useless now, Kaori!" Viggo yelled from in front of her, dodging a snowed in car.
"Don't say that! We can still make it! Atomika is only a little ways ahead!" Kaori screamed, she wasn't paying attention to the slope and was heading straight into a plate glass shortcut.
As she crashed into the glass, breaking through it, she slid down almost a straight down slope, trying her best to dodge street signs and other obstacles. Viggo sighed. "I guess your right, Kaori! Come on! Lets turn it up! ....Kaori? ...Kaori?" He turned around to see if she had fallen, but instead saw nothing. "Wha—whatever." Viggo turned around just in time to slam head first into a tree.
Back at the front of the pack, Mac still held onto his lead. Making sure Zoe didn't pass him; Mac used a series of hard turns to keep a constant spray of snow and ice flying back at her.
JP was so close that the tip of his board was touching the end of hers.
"Back off Frenchie!" She yelled at him, JP ignored her and tried to tip her board again. Zoe responded with a well placed skid to the side, stopping her board, but causing JP to trip over hers. She resumed her race, nodding at JP as he brushed snow off of his face. "Next time I give you a warning, you better take it!" she yelled at him, taking a small jump, doing a 180 stalefish.
Before JP could get onto his board, Drum skid passed him, giving him a fresh new layer of snow to brush.
"Oi vey..." JP said as he stood up. "Two places lost..." He mumbled.
"MAKE THAT THREEEEEEE!!!" Kaori screamed, flying seemingly from nowhere over head, holding onto her board for dear life as she pulled a "Superman" trick. Landing a couple of feet in front of JP, she pressed forward.
"Oh, no you don't!" JP yelled, trying desperately to keep up with her.
Atomika and Viggo were neck and neck, competing for the worst position.
"Let...me...PASS!" Viggo yelled, sporting a lump on his head and a little blood trickle, still trying to pass Atomika.
"No way!" Atomika took a grind on a rail, extending his lead even further.
"It seems Mac will be taking first, unless Zoe has something to say about it!" Rahzel yelled over the microphone, the crowed cheered as Mac slid across the finish line, he turned around hoping that Kaori would be behind him, he hadn't seen her all race.
Zoe and Drum were battling for the second place; Drum was ahead of her now, only be a little, he couldn't believe he was performing this well.
"Come on! Zoe! Step it up a notch!" He yelled as playfully to her as she did him yesterday, but today, Zoe wasn't in the mind frame nor mood to play games. She leaned into the straight away, coming right up next to Drum.
"I am NOT losing to a newbie..." Zoe flung her hand at Drum's face, not knocking him over, but hitting him in the face hard enough to break his concentration. Drums lead faltered to Zoe and she sped passed him, barreling over the finish line. Drum followed up behind her, his face stung from her slap, but he was more worried about what Moby said yesterday.
Had their break up really been his fault? Zoe's slap didn't really help matters, now he actually believed that he could very well be the cause of the break up of one of the most popular SSX relationships. Zoe didn't even stick around for the rest of the riders; instead she took off her board and headed into the next trolley back to the Lodge. Kaori soared over the finish line, happy that she didn't finish in last, next was JP looking very disappointed in his performance.
Atomika came in next, followed by a very light headed Viggo.
"Well! There you have it folks! Mac Fraser, Zoe Payne, and Jordan Williams will move onto Heat 2! Be here tomorrow to see the race action!"
Drum looked at the crowed, even though that were cheering Mac's name. He couldn't help to think that somewhere, someone was cheering his name as well.
~~~~
As the racers returned to the lodge, Mac and the others were greeted with the usual applause, Zoe was nowhere to be found.
"She went back to her room as soon as she got through the door" Nate stated, as he shook Mac's hand.
"Good race." he said, Mac thanked them and looked around for Kaori.
Drum had set his board to the side, plopping on the couch where Kaori had sat down.
"........Nice race...Kaori, is it?" He looked over at her, brushing his hair out of his face.
Kaori, still a little pink from the cold looked over.
"Um...hai...I didn't do so well..."
"Eh...you did fine to me..." he sighed, tilting his head back.
"....Drum?" Kaori said, looking at him oddly, and taking a cup of hot cocoa from Mac. She stood up so Mac could sit down, and then resumed her place on his lap.
Mac looked over at Drum, who didn't want to stare.
"Nice race, man" Mac nodded, taking a sip of his own cocoa.
"Um...yeah...you too." Drum responded. He began to takeoff his gloves when Kaori began to ask him some questions.
"Drum" - she asked - "How exactly did Atomika find you?"
Mac listened; he wanted to know this too.
"Well, I sent in a tape of me sand boarding. I guess it was good enough for Atomika to fly down to Florida and check me out for himself." Drum nodded. "I didn't think I was going to get in...you know...not being used to snow and all..."
Kaori smiled "I think he picked the right choice, you certainly have gotten used to the snow so far." Mac nodded in agreement.
"If you say so, Athena said that cold wasn't going to be terribly bad, but I think she was wrong...I'm freezing my toes off up here..." Drum said, standing up to stretch.
"Who's Athena?" Mac asked, looking up at him. "Oh, she is my daughter...sort of."
Kaori and Mac's eyes both widened.
Kaori blinked. "Daughter?"
Drum realized that they had misunderstood his statement and chuckled.
"No, she isn't my real daughter. She is my little cousin. But she looks up to me like a father. So I refer to her as my daughter sometimes."
Kaori sighed a breath of relief; Mac smirked.
"Well, you gave Zoe a run for her money, dawg. That ain't something most people can do."
Drum blinked and looked at Mac oddly.
"What?" Mac said.
"Its odd....your more black than I am..." Drum managed a chuckle, Mac on the other hand took it as a complement.
"See ya later, Drum" Mac said as Drum walked away towards the kitchen.
Kaori turned to face Mac.
"You won, Mackie?"
Mac nodded, setting his cup down.
"It was easy, Metro City was the same as last year, and I know the run by heart." he said, smirking at her.
Kaori frowned as she looked at his cockiness.
"I don't know the run well...I hate that course...I did so bad today." she rested her head on Mac's shoulder, Mac nuzzled his head to hers.
"You did fine babe, you just need to get a feel for the mountain..." he whispered.
He closed his eyes as he felt a slender hand on his chest, softly rubbing his muscular form.
He smiled contently, as he reached to grab her hand into his, kissing the palm. His heart beating his regular beating, and he could now know that she could feel the temptation rising inside. Opening his eyes now, he fixed his eyes into her chocolate ones, both facial expressions that wore of joy and happiness. She smiled at him, reaching out to cup his face, pressing a soft- light kiss on his lips.
He touched her other hand that remained frozen upon his face as he nuzzled her nose with his, lovingly. Creating a soft giggle coming from her.
"You're number one to me," he told her, kissing her nose. Her hair coming loose, spreading around wildly around her face. But he fixed all that, as he began to brush away the few strands away, placing them behind her ear. She wrapped her hands around his neck as she began to smile as he pulled her closer and rested his head on her shoulder and sighed contently. "I love you, Kaori,"
"And I love you, Mackie..."
~~~
Upstairs, Nate, Atomika and Elise were watching today's race.
Nate was on the edge of the seat, watching how Mac was using the flurry of snow
"Smart move..." Nate commented, Elise sitting between them.
"Yeah, If you can't see, you can't race." Atomika said, eyes locked on the tape. Elise looked positively bored.
"Yeah...I guess..." Elise looked around the room, not really paying attention to the video.
Nate clapped as Kaori flew over JP's head.
"Nice trick! I have to ask her where she found that shortcut.."
Elise stood up, taking off her jacket, she was only wearing a tank top under it. Nate and Atomika didn't even look up at her. Elise plopped down between them, sighing.
The video ended, and Nate turned to Elise.
"So, did you like the race? It seems you were right when you said Mac was going to win...Elise...Elise?"
Elise had fell asleep on the couch, Atomika was looking over character profiles on his M-Comm. Nate shook her gently, "Elise...yo...Elise...wake—" -Elise now slumped to the side, her head landing on Nate's lap – "—up.."
Atomika looked over and saw the sight.
"Heey...whoa, you want me to leave you two alone?" he looked, wide eyed.
"It's not like that...she fell asleep...come on, its Elise man." Nate told him, lifting her up a bit.
"Hey, whatever, just don't push her my" - Elise's hand now rested on Atomika's lap – "..Oh gosh.." Atomika blushed slightly.
Nate couldn't help but to chuckle at the scene. He then got up, trying to help Elise off of the couch to take her in her room, the position the three of them were in was not at all suitable for the situation.
Atomika and Nate's eye both widened in horror as the door opened.
Eddie stood there...jaw hanging.
Nate and Atomika exchanged glances, but before either of them could say I word-
"Just...dont...tell me anything...I'll go...you know...burn this image from my mind.." Eddie said, rubbing the bridge of his nose and closing the door.
"God, this girl is one hard sleeper!" Atomika yelled, they had finally set Elise back up on the couch.
"I'm gonna go ahead and get outta here before the whole circut thinks we were doing the hanky panky in the vid room." Nate got up and headed towards his room, Atomika was soon after. Elise was still laying on the couch..
"...........Damn it!" Elise woke up and stood. "Gentlemen! I had to crush on the GENTLEMEN! Not even a kiss goodnight, or a peck on the cheek, they didnt even steal a peek!" Elise yelled at no one, disappointed about Atomika and Nate's good behavior.
Elise plopped back down on the couch.
"Gentlemen....grr." She mumbled one last time.
~~~~
As Kaori walked into her room, she tried to be as queit as possible. Zoe had already closed her curtain divider, and had her music on.
On Yuri's bed, sat Griff and Yuri. Kaori smiled at her friend and her new boyfriend, Griff was relaxing on her bed, playing a game on his M-Comm, while Yuri was laying next to him, her head resting on his shoulder as she watched him.
"Hey Kaori..." Griff absent mindedly said, not taking his eyes off of the game.
Yuri offered a weak wave in Kaori's direction. Kaori decided it would be better if she came back to her room later, so she turned around and headed towards the Kitchen.
"So what were you saying about last night?"
"Well, I ran into Mr. Moby Jones himself," Yuri said quietly, making sure Zoe didn't hear her.
"Really? What happened?" Griff sat up and stared at her after shutting off his M-Comm.
"He was a bit—um—angry,"
"Angry?" Griff raised an eyebrow and grinned, "Moby? Just angry? C'mon, Yuri, everyone's talking about Zoe and Moby,"
"Shhh!" Yuri clamped her hand over Griff's and glared at him, "Zoe's over there,"
Griff shrugged and turned his M-Comm on again, checking his messages. "So what exactly happened?"
"Nothing, I guess," Yuri said, "I'm just worried about him. You know...no one's seen him since yesterday. I hope something didn't happen to him,"
***
In the kitchen, Psymon, Mac, Viggo, and Allegra were all sitting at the table. Kaori pulled up a seat next to Mac and listened in on the conversation.
"Psssh. I can beat that.." Mac stated. "One time, when I was like...10 I think, I was learning to skate board for the first time, and I fell off going downhill. 18 stitches and a week out of school." Mac looked proud of himself, they were obviously trading battle tales.
"Nothin, during the off season I decided to take my old sled out, I hit a pretty steep jump and ran right into some power lines!" Psymon cackled, and began imitating the shocking sensation he had received.
"So, what's so bad about that?" Viggo asked.
"...it was raining" Psymon added.
Viggo and Mac eyed each other.
"You win" they both said simultaneously.
Allegra was sitting next to Viggo, dipping a rag in a bowl of cold water and wiping away some of the blood still on his forehead.
"God, if you keep hitting those goddamn trees, you won't even remember you own name, Vig." she muttered, dipping the cloth in the water.
"Well, if you keep babying him every time he gets a little bump on the noggin, he is never going to want to leave the lodge" Psymon spat, Allegra instantly dropped the rag in the water and glared at Psymon.
"I'm not babying him! Just taking care of my riding partner, isn't that something YOU should be doing? Or did Zoe just happen to break up with you as well?" She said coolly to Psymon. Mac and Kaori decided they had best not put their two cents into this argument.
"Nah, Zoe is a tough chick. I betcha by tomorrow she will have forgotten all about Brit Boy." Psymon shrugged.
"I don't know what she even saw on him, honestly. The guy is a bigger asshole than you, Psymon." Mac spoke up, Kaori would of said that no one could be a bigger asshole than Psymon, but Allegra cut her off.
"Maybe it was the accent?" she said, taking a sip of her soda.
"Nah, That accent always sounded a little fake to me.." Mac said.
"Speaking of fake.." Viggo muttered, then nodded in the direction of JP, who was approaching the table.
JP was walking towards them, his shades actually off for once. Allegra seemed to ignore him as he opened the fridge.
"Yo, JP. Whaddup?" Mac asked, breaking the silence.
"Nothing...just trying to carbo load for ze challenge" JP said, not looking up from the fridge.
All of the riders at the table looked at each other akwardly. They knew nothing of a challenge.
"What are you talkin about, Frenchie?" Psymon snorted.
JP smiled and winked. "Check your M-Comm.."
The riders looked at their M-Comms, Allegra stared at her blankly, her jaw hanging open.
"I.." Kaori said, "..don't see anything."
"I do.." Allegra muttered.
Viggo looked up at her. "Well?"
"...JP are you mad!?" Allegra yelled. "Where do you get off challenging me to a God Challenge!?" she yelled. Viggo spewed his water all over the table.
"HE WHAT!?" Viggo yelled as well. Allegra was standing looking at JP with rage.
JP just smiled coolly.
"You don't have to accept if you don't want eet.." he said and headed back to his room.
Allegra stared at her M-Comm. Looking at it she read it out loud.
"I am sorry for the other night...to make it up to you...I am risking my Snow God status to you. If you accept, meet me at the top of Blizzard Pass tomorrow....signed JP Aresnault."
JP smiled again, winking at Allegra.
"JP..I--" she started.
"No!" JP interrupted her. "Don't give me your answer here, tell me by your actions tomorrow...I'll be waiting."
JP walked off to his room.
The whole table locked onto Allegra.
"...Are you going to accept?" Kaori whispered.
"JP must be crazy! If he loses Allegra gets his status!" Mac chimed in.
Allegra just looked at the M-Comm and flopped down into the chair.
"..I don't know yet..." she stated calmly not blinking. Viggo scoffed.
"He is probably doing it to get into your pants, you know.."
Allegra nodded. "Yeah...I know.."
Allegra got up and headed into the hallway...soon as she was out of sight of the group, she turned a deep shade of red.
"...and I think it might work..." a small smile crawled across her face.