Chapter 9: Tension
The lodge was quiet; no one wanted to talk to anyone. They were all in silence as the sun rose over the peaks, sunlight shining on top the snow as the second heat of riders. Nate, Mac, Eddie, Allegra, Psymon, Kaori, Zoe, and the newly appointed Moby boarded the over.
"I can't even believe Rahzel...it just doesn't seem right that Drum gets the shaft because of Moby" Mac commented, walking alongside Kaori as they boarded the plane.
Kaori nodded, she agreed with Mac on nearly everything, but even on this, she knew that it was wrong.
"Oi! You two still back thea whining about fatass? He broke the rules, so he needed to be punished!" Moby grunted, helping Zoe into the plane. Zoe took his hand, and for a split second remembered who it was and snatched it away, Nate gave a gruff chuckle from the background.
"Seems like the two lovebirds are back together, huh?" Psymon snorted, making kissy faces at Zoe as she crossed the plane and took her seat. Mac and Kaori sat together as usual, Eddie, who had kept quiet most of the circuit sat next to Nate, giving him a distasteful stare. Nate looked over at Eddie, for the past couple of days Eddie had been giving those stares to him, never sure fo where exactly they came from.
"....Yo...Edster--" Nate began.
"It's Eddie, to you." Eddie snapped, looking away.
"...Did I do something to upset you?" Nate blinked, not sure that he did.
Eddie just looked back, watching the plane take off.
"Just shut up, country boy."
Nate shrugged, and gave up. He wasn't going to look to start an argument if he didn't even know what it was about. The plane began to fly, Psymon clinging to the pole by habit, he hated flying.
Moby looked out the window, and laughed.
"What's so funny?" Zoe grumbled, she was sitting next to Moby, but it was still obvious that she only sat there because all of the other seats were taken.
"Fatass" Moby pointed down, Drum was skidding along Peak 1, obviously heading under the plane, following them, he was taking small jumps and grinding along fallen trees.
Kaori squealed when she saw him, Mac gave a small yell.
"He has gotten so much better! I wonder why he is following us for?" Kaori clapped.
"He probably wants to see what real boarders can do.." Zoe sighed hotly, her eyes hidden behind the shades.
Kaori snapped back, "He IS a real boarder!"
Zoe chuckled, "No, he isn't. He is just some lucky tank who got a break when Atomika had to weed out a group of posers."
Kaori started to thin her lips, "But he was the best!"
Zoe shook her head, "Being the best out of a group of the worst doesn't make you the best at shit, Kaori."
"Damn, what's with you are your sudden hate for newbies?" Mac spoke up, stopping Kaori from getting angry.
"Theres nothing sudden about it, I was fine back in the first circuit when everyone was new, then on the tricky tour we had to get that new load of people. Messed up the chemistry everywhere. I mean, why do you think Hiro didnt come back?" Zoe nodded over at Psymon and Eddie.
Psymon simply gave Zoe the finger, Eddie ignored her.
"Oh, that hurt babe..." Psymon mocked pain, still clinging to the ride pole.
Mac even looked sort of hurt, "You weren't like this last time, you seemed fine up until you and Moby broke it off.."
Moby and Zoe both jumped, and looked at eachother. "So? People change. Maybe you should drop the bubblegum bitch over there and get a real woman, Mac."
Zoe chuckled, scooting away from Moby.
This wasn't the real Zoe, Zoe was mean...but she was never that mean. Kaori occupied herself by looking out of the window, hiding her tears from Mac.
====
"Oh come ON, the guy is a dick, Yuri" Griff mumbled, following Yuri around her room. Yuri paced back and fourth, watching the race happen.
"No he isnt, he is just a little misunderstood, Griff." Yuri whispered, watching Moby take first place, after knocking down Mac, Zoe, and Kaori.
"The guy has been on Drum's case since the start of the damn circuit. Hell, I don't even like Drum all too much, but I mean they didnt even treat US this bad."
Griff flopped down on Yuri's bed.
"I don't see why you sympathize for him, he is obviously only in this for himself." Griff moaned, bored with the whole argument.
Yuri sat next to him, she was wearing one of his chain bracelets, and she played with his fingers. "I just think people are making a little bit of a big deal over him and Zoe..." Yuri sighed, setting her M-comm up on the side of the bed, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Well, they WERE good couple, but he did deserve it, I mean. Just look at the both of them..."
Yuri seemed to pause as she contemplated something. Then, without hesitation, she stood up and walked towards the desk, grabbing a slip of paper and began writing hastily with a mechanical pencil.
"Hey..." Griff said slowly, "What're you doing?"
"I'm writing to Ryan."
"Ryan?"
"Yeah...I just...wanna talk to someone."
"You know," Griff said quietly, coming up from behind her and placing two hands on her shoulders, "I'm here,"
Yuri frowned and looked down at her paper. "I know. I just...guess I wanna talk to someone else right now."
====
JP and Allegra sat happily in the kitchen, Allegra happily speaking to JP in French. Since they were the only two who really understood it, they adopted it as their own secret language of sorts. JP looked up and smirked as Viggo stepped in. Viggo wasn't as big of a mess as he was earlier, but something WAS wrong...his hair was still in wildly tosses, his beard was gritty and nasty, and his eyes were hung low and bloodshot. Viggo was obviously getting over a hangover.
"Rough night?" JP snorted, looking over at Viggo.
Viggo didn't even hear him; he rummaged around the counter and took out a loaf of bread, piling slices into his mouth. Allegra looked away at what Viggo was doing to himself. The hover plane was heard touching down outside. It seems the race was already over. Outside people could be heard cheering for Zoe; it seemed she took first place this time around, followed by Mac and Moby.
Nate was the first one to set foot in the lodge, Viggo ran by, trying to get dressed and Nate wafted his hate to get rid on the smell.
"Good lord, boy...what HAVE you been rolling in!?" Nate called out to Viggo as he ran by.
Allegra spoke up, to JP's surprise. "He is drunk..." she looked down at her hands, even though she shouldn't feel bad, she knew it was somehow her fault.
Nate nodded, and headed off towards Viggo's direction, if anybody as going to pull him out of this rut. It was going to be him.
Viggo was slumped over on the side of his bed. Even though Viggo had a Slopestyle today...he didn't even look like he wanted to see a snowboard, let alone ride on one.
"...Arrrgh...." Viggo moaned, pulling on a shirt. Nate kicked the door down, stomping in and looking at the sad puddle of man that was Viggo.
"Damn, kid. What did you do to yourself?" Nate took off his hat, waving the smell of hard liquor away from himself.
Viggo looked up at Nate, "Geddout of my room!" Viggo pointed, on eye open.
Nate sighed, and promptly punched Viggo in the face, sending Viggo flying off of his bed and onto the floor. Viggo cried in pain as Mac and Atomika ran in, trying to break up the fight. Nate pushed them away, grunting to bring Viggo to his feet.
"Believe me! This is for his own good!" Nate grunted, dragging Viggo outside into the snow, everyone outside watching. Nate grabbed Viggo by the collar of his shirt, taking his hand and slapping him hard across the face, sending him spiraling back into the snow face down.
Psymon watched, to this the whole thing was hilarious, but to everyone else it made Nate look like a bully. "Nate, stop that!" Yuri yelled, standing behind Griff. Nate rubbed Viggo's face in the snow.
"BELIEVE ME, THIS IS DOING MORE GOOD THAN BAD!", Nate yelled, making everyone stand back and watch as Viggo laid face down in the snow.
Viggo twitched lightly, and then got up, his face and hair covered in snow...his hair all wet, and a nice cut forming under his eye. Nate grabbed Viggo by the collar, dragging him to his feet and pointed at the Peaks behind them.
"What do you see out there?" Nate said, still pointing.
Viggo stammered, and looked around, a little embarrassed.
"I..I...uh...I see Big Mountain..." Viggo finally answered, looking down at his feet.
Nate snapped Viggo's head back up towards the peaks, "No, you don't see Big Mountain, you see your life. This shit you are doing right now? Getting drunk and stuff over her?" He snapped his head over towards Allegra, who just turned around to go back inside, JP following her. "This stuff is just STUPID! Now. I want to repeat after me..." Nate looked Viggo in the eyes, Viggo almost tearing up.
"I am a frickin' idiot." Nate said, truthfully, Moby and Psymon sniggered.
Viggo shook his head, "I'm NOT an idiot...I won't say it!"
Nate raises his fist, aiming to punch Viggo again, but stopped.
"Good boy, now go strap on your board, you have a slope style to go win." Nate ruffled Viggo's hair, and Viggo slunk inside, everyone following afterwards.
====
"Look at 'em, He must think he is bettah than the rest of us" Moby scoffed, walking past Drum in the main room.
Zoe shrugged, "He is just a newbie,"
Drum lets the book he was reading drop, and stood up. "If either of you have something to say to me, I would rather either of you say it to my face instead of saying it behind my back."
Moby laughed. "I guess we should say it to ya face, because if we say it behind ya back it well take three houas for the message to get around to ya head."
Zoe cracked a smile, by this time, Drum was already accustomed to jokes from Moby, but seeing Zoe stoop so low was something he wasn't prepared for.
"Okay, I have been nice to everyone on this tour since I got here, but you two seem to be snobbish enough not to like me." Drum's voice grew louder attracting the attention of Atomika.
Zoe spoke up, getting in Drum's face. "There's nothing in my fucking contract that says I have to like you, I don't like you, or any of the others newbies. And there isn't shit you can do about it."
Moby opened his mouth, but Drum got to speak first. "Moby, shut the fuck up, this is between me and the 'Royal Payne'", Drum spoke, stepping up to Zoe. Zoe didn't back off, waiting what Drum could possibly say. "So? Since I made it here on my own, and I don't look like the normal snowboarder I am suddenly not worthy of your respect? Is that what you are saying?" Drum spoke, trying to keep his voice calm.
Moby took the hint and got out of the conversation, giving Zoe some breathing space. "No, I don't like you, I don't like your style, I don't like your moves, I don't like your tricks, and I don't like the fact that you got in here because of a free ride because Atomika felt sorry to send your fat ass back to the minor leagues where you belong!" Zoe bumped Drum away, still talking. "There isn't a goddamn thing you can do to prove to me that you belong here, all you will be is some big ass newbie who got a free ride in my eyes!" Zoe said again, ripping her shades off as if she thought Drum was going to hit her.
Drum took a couple of steps away, Mac and Kaori watching from the stairwell above. Drum took in a deep breathe, sighing. "So, there's nothing I can do to prove myself?" Drum asked.
"Not a goddamn thing." Zoe repeated.
"Fine then...." Drum muttered, defeated, and turned around.
Moby decided it was prime time for him to step back in. "A'IGHT THEA FATASS! JUST KEEP WALKING!" Moby laughed, Zoe even chuckled, she enjoyed putting a newbie in his place.
Drum stopped, that was the straw that broke the camels back. Drum turned around, and made sure he didnt take his eyes off of Zoe. "Fine! If I can't win your respect, I'll take something else from you." Drum motioned.
"What the hell could that be?" Zoe smirked.
"I challenge you for your Snow God rank." Drum spoke, clear as a bell.
Moby's face went from a smile to a gasp, Atomika dropped the cup he was holding and everyone fell silent.
"...Say again?" Zoe said, not sure if she had in fact heard him correctly.
"You heard me the first time, you talk all of your shit, why dont you back it up? Prove once and for all that I dont belong here. Race me." Drum spoke, knowing he had Zoe on the ropes.
Griff and Yuri had chosen that time to step outside of the room, both quiet as they approached the stair rail slowly. Yuri looked down from Drum and to Moby, then down at Zoe, who just blinked in pure shock. Griff shifted his weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably, folding his arms across his chest. "Maybe...maybe now Drum will set Moby where he belongs."
"I dunno," Yuri whispered to Griff only, their voices hushed so no one heard. "I think Zoe needs to be taught a lesson. She gave us hell last circuit, Griff, because we're newbies. I think it's high time somebody stood up to her."
Zoe looked around, thinking that maybe someone would try to talk Drum out of it...no one spoke. Moby finally stepped up, most likely in a feeble attempt to win some points back with Zoe. "Oi, thea be no need for that. Ill take you on myself!" Moby grinned.
"I dont need you fighting my battles, Moby. Contrary to what you think. We still aren't together." Zoe spat Moby reeled, his eyes squinting and he stormed off, most likely off to find his board. "You want me, newbie? You got me." Zoe stated, patting her Snow God pass.
"Good. You can even name the race." Drum smiled, this was his change to prove himself.
"Ill do you one better, Ill name the race, and I will even use your own board. Getting beat by me, and on your own board should be enough to keep you quiet for a long time." Zoe stated, offering her hand to shake it.
Drum extended his hand, just as Zoe pulled back and give him the finger, then turned to walk away.
"Ugh...that was just disgusting", Elise added, shaking her head.
Eddie was just about to open his mouth right when Atomika chimed in. "Yeah, very unsportsmanlike." Atomika added. Eddie decided not even to bother, pulling his goggles over his eyes.
Psymon clapped a couple of times. "Woo, tomorrows race is going to be a hoot. We have the Chocolate Pillsbury doughboy against Miss Menstrual Payne. What a fight."
Everyone tried to hold back, but eventually everyone began to break into a small chuckled, even Drum.
Elsewhere, after everyone was asleep, Moby was in the board storage, looking for his board...then he found something completely new. He had found Drum's snowboard. ".....Ill make sure the little grommet doesn't even make it to tha finish line..." Moby whispered, and grabbed Drum's board. He reached in his pocket and took out a small screwdriver and loosened the screws on the binding of Drum's board, and replaced it back like nothing happened. Quite pleased with himself he left the room, and headed back to his.
As the door closed, someone in the storage room walked out from behind the board rack, holding his board over his shoulder, he had just saw everything Moby did, that person, was Psymon.
AN:
Parry: Perfect ending, wasn't it?
Drum: Ooooh, intense. You know the drill, read 'n review.
The lodge was quiet; no one wanted to talk to anyone. They were all in silence as the sun rose over the peaks, sunlight shining on top the snow as the second heat of riders. Nate, Mac, Eddie, Allegra, Psymon, Kaori, Zoe, and the newly appointed Moby boarded the over.
"I can't even believe Rahzel...it just doesn't seem right that Drum gets the shaft because of Moby" Mac commented, walking alongside Kaori as they boarded the plane.
Kaori nodded, she agreed with Mac on nearly everything, but even on this, she knew that it was wrong.
"Oi! You two still back thea whining about fatass? He broke the rules, so he needed to be punished!" Moby grunted, helping Zoe into the plane. Zoe took his hand, and for a split second remembered who it was and snatched it away, Nate gave a gruff chuckle from the background.
"Seems like the two lovebirds are back together, huh?" Psymon snorted, making kissy faces at Zoe as she crossed the plane and took her seat. Mac and Kaori sat together as usual, Eddie, who had kept quiet most of the circuit sat next to Nate, giving him a distasteful stare. Nate looked over at Eddie, for the past couple of days Eddie had been giving those stares to him, never sure fo where exactly they came from.
"....Yo...Edster--" Nate began.
"It's Eddie, to you." Eddie snapped, looking away.
"...Did I do something to upset you?" Nate blinked, not sure that he did.
Eddie just looked back, watching the plane take off.
"Just shut up, country boy."
Nate shrugged, and gave up. He wasn't going to look to start an argument if he didn't even know what it was about. The plane began to fly, Psymon clinging to the pole by habit, he hated flying.
Moby looked out the window, and laughed.
"What's so funny?" Zoe grumbled, she was sitting next to Moby, but it was still obvious that she only sat there because all of the other seats were taken.
"Fatass" Moby pointed down, Drum was skidding along Peak 1, obviously heading under the plane, following them, he was taking small jumps and grinding along fallen trees.
Kaori squealed when she saw him, Mac gave a small yell.
"He has gotten so much better! I wonder why he is following us for?" Kaori clapped.
"He probably wants to see what real boarders can do.." Zoe sighed hotly, her eyes hidden behind the shades.
Kaori snapped back, "He IS a real boarder!"
Zoe chuckled, "No, he isn't. He is just some lucky tank who got a break when Atomika had to weed out a group of posers."
Kaori started to thin her lips, "But he was the best!"
Zoe shook her head, "Being the best out of a group of the worst doesn't make you the best at shit, Kaori."
"Damn, what's with you are your sudden hate for newbies?" Mac spoke up, stopping Kaori from getting angry.
"Theres nothing sudden about it, I was fine back in the first circuit when everyone was new, then on the tricky tour we had to get that new load of people. Messed up the chemistry everywhere. I mean, why do you think Hiro didnt come back?" Zoe nodded over at Psymon and Eddie.
Psymon simply gave Zoe the finger, Eddie ignored her.
"Oh, that hurt babe..." Psymon mocked pain, still clinging to the ride pole.
Mac even looked sort of hurt, "You weren't like this last time, you seemed fine up until you and Moby broke it off.."
Moby and Zoe both jumped, and looked at eachother. "So? People change. Maybe you should drop the bubblegum bitch over there and get a real woman, Mac."
Zoe chuckled, scooting away from Moby.
This wasn't the real Zoe, Zoe was mean...but she was never that mean. Kaori occupied herself by looking out of the window, hiding her tears from Mac.
====
"Oh come ON, the guy is a dick, Yuri" Griff mumbled, following Yuri around her room. Yuri paced back and fourth, watching the race happen.
"No he isnt, he is just a little misunderstood, Griff." Yuri whispered, watching Moby take first place, after knocking down Mac, Zoe, and Kaori.
"The guy has been on Drum's case since the start of the damn circuit. Hell, I don't even like Drum all too much, but I mean they didnt even treat US this bad."
Griff flopped down on Yuri's bed.
"I don't see why you sympathize for him, he is obviously only in this for himself." Griff moaned, bored with the whole argument.
Yuri sat next to him, she was wearing one of his chain bracelets, and she played with his fingers. "I just think people are making a little bit of a big deal over him and Zoe..." Yuri sighed, setting her M-comm up on the side of the bed, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Well, they WERE good couple, but he did deserve it, I mean. Just look at the both of them..."
Yuri seemed to pause as she contemplated something. Then, without hesitation, she stood up and walked towards the desk, grabbing a slip of paper and began writing hastily with a mechanical pencil.
"Hey..." Griff said slowly, "What're you doing?"
"I'm writing to Ryan."
"Ryan?"
"Yeah...I just...wanna talk to someone."
"You know," Griff said quietly, coming up from behind her and placing two hands on her shoulders, "I'm here,"
Yuri frowned and looked down at her paper. "I know. I just...guess I wanna talk to someone else right now."
====
JP and Allegra sat happily in the kitchen, Allegra happily speaking to JP in French. Since they were the only two who really understood it, they adopted it as their own secret language of sorts. JP looked up and smirked as Viggo stepped in. Viggo wasn't as big of a mess as he was earlier, but something WAS wrong...his hair was still in wildly tosses, his beard was gritty and nasty, and his eyes were hung low and bloodshot. Viggo was obviously getting over a hangover.
"Rough night?" JP snorted, looking over at Viggo.
Viggo didn't even hear him; he rummaged around the counter and took out a loaf of bread, piling slices into his mouth. Allegra looked away at what Viggo was doing to himself. The hover plane was heard touching down outside. It seems the race was already over. Outside people could be heard cheering for Zoe; it seemed she took first place this time around, followed by Mac and Moby.
Nate was the first one to set foot in the lodge, Viggo ran by, trying to get dressed and Nate wafted his hate to get rid on the smell.
"Good lord, boy...what HAVE you been rolling in!?" Nate called out to Viggo as he ran by.
Allegra spoke up, to JP's surprise. "He is drunk..." she looked down at her hands, even though she shouldn't feel bad, she knew it was somehow her fault.
Nate nodded, and headed off towards Viggo's direction, if anybody as going to pull him out of this rut. It was going to be him.
Viggo was slumped over on the side of his bed. Even though Viggo had a Slopestyle today...he didn't even look like he wanted to see a snowboard, let alone ride on one.
"...Arrrgh...." Viggo moaned, pulling on a shirt. Nate kicked the door down, stomping in and looking at the sad puddle of man that was Viggo.
"Damn, kid. What did you do to yourself?" Nate took off his hat, waving the smell of hard liquor away from himself.
Viggo looked up at Nate, "Geddout of my room!" Viggo pointed, on eye open.
Nate sighed, and promptly punched Viggo in the face, sending Viggo flying off of his bed and onto the floor. Viggo cried in pain as Mac and Atomika ran in, trying to break up the fight. Nate pushed them away, grunting to bring Viggo to his feet.
"Believe me! This is for his own good!" Nate grunted, dragging Viggo outside into the snow, everyone outside watching. Nate grabbed Viggo by the collar of his shirt, taking his hand and slapping him hard across the face, sending him spiraling back into the snow face down.
Psymon watched, to this the whole thing was hilarious, but to everyone else it made Nate look like a bully. "Nate, stop that!" Yuri yelled, standing behind Griff. Nate rubbed Viggo's face in the snow.
"BELIEVE ME, THIS IS DOING MORE GOOD THAN BAD!", Nate yelled, making everyone stand back and watch as Viggo laid face down in the snow.
Viggo twitched lightly, and then got up, his face and hair covered in snow...his hair all wet, and a nice cut forming under his eye. Nate grabbed Viggo by the collar, dragging him to his feet and pointed at the Peaks behind them.
"What do you see out there?" Nate said, still pointing.
Viggo stammered, and looked around, a little embarrassed.
"I..I...uh...I see Big Mountain..." Viggo finally answered, looking down at his feet.
Nate snapped Viggo's head back up towards the peaks, "No, you don't see Big Mountain, you see your life. This shit you are doing right now? Getting drunk and stuff over her?" He snapped his head over towards Allegra, who just turned around to go back inside, JP following her. "This stuff is just STUPID! Now. I want to repeat after me..." Nate looked Viggo in the eyes, Viggo almost tearing up.
"I am a frickin' idiot." Nate said, truthfully, Moby and Psymon sniggered.
Viggo shook his head, "I'm NOT an idiot...I won't say it!"
Nate raises his fist, aiming to punch Viggo again, but stopped.
"Good boy, now go strap on your board, you have a slope style to go win." Nate ruffled Viggo's hair, and Viggo slunk inside, everyone following afterwards.
====
"Look at 'em, He must think he is bettah than the rest of us" Moby scoffed, walking past Drum in the main room.
Zoe shrugged, "He is just a newbie,"
Drum lets the book he was reading drop, and stood up. "If either of you have something to say to me, I would rather either of you say it to my face instead of saying it behind my back."
Moby laughed. "I guess we should say it to ya face, because if we say it behind ya back it well take three houas for the message to get around to ya head."
Zoe cracked a smile, by this time, Drum was already accustomed to jokes from Moby, but seeing Zoe stoop so low was something he wasn't prepared for.
"Okay, I have been nice to everyone on this tour since I got here, but you two seem to be snobbish enough not to like me." Drum's voice grew louder attracting the attention of Atomika.
Zoe spoke up, getting in Drum's face. "There's nothing in my fucking contract that says I have to like you, I don't like you, or any of the others newbies. And there isn't shit you can do about it."
Moby opened his mouth, but Drum got to speak first. "Moby, shut the fuck up, this is between me and the 'Royal Payne'", Drum spoke, stepping up to Zoe. Zoe didn't back off, waiting what Drum could possibly say. "So? Since I made it here on my own, and I don't look like the normal snowboarder I am suddenly not worthy of your respect? Is that what you are saying?" Drum spoke, trying to keep his voice calm.
Moby took the hint and got out of the conversation, giving Zoe some breathing space. "No, I don't like you, I don't like your style, I don't like your moves, I don't like your tricks, and I don't like the fact that you got in here because of a free ride because Atomika felt sorry to send your fat ass back to the minor leagues where you belong!" Zoe bumped Drum away, still talking. "There isn't a goddamn thing you can do to prove to me that you belong here, all you will be is some big ass newbie who got a free ride in my eyes!" Zoe said again, ripping her shades off as if she thought Drum was going to hit her.
Drum took a couple of steps away, Mac and Kaori watching from the stairwell above. Drum took in a deep breathe, sighing. "So, there's nothing I can do to prove myself?" Drum asked.
"Not a goddamn thing." Zoe repeated.
"Fine then...." Drum muttered, defeated, and turned around.
Moby decided it was prime time for him to step back in. "A'IGHT THEA FATASS! JUST KEEP WALKING!" Moby laughed, Zoe even chuckled, she enjoyed putting a newbie in his place.
Drum stopped, that was the straw that broke the camels back. Drum turned around, and made sure he didnt take his eyes off of Zoe. "Fine! If I can't win your respect, I'll take something else from you." Drum motioned.
"What the hell could that be?" Zoe smirked.
"I challenge you for your Snow God rank." Drum spoke, clear as a bell.
Moby's face went from a smile to a gasp, Atomika dropped the cup he was holding and everyone fell silent.
"...Say again?" Zoe said, not sure if she had in fact heard him correctly.
"You heard me the first time, you talk all of your shit, why dont you back it up? Prove once and for all that I dont belong here. Race me." Drum spoke, knowing he had Zoe on the ropes.
Griff and Yuri had chosen that time to step outside of the room, both quiet as they approached the stair rail slowly. Yuri looked down from Drum and to Moby, then down at Zoe, who just blinked in pure shock. Griff shifted his weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably, folding his arms across his chest. "Maybe...maybe now Drum will set Moby where he belongs."
"I dunno," Yuri whispered to Griff only, their voices hushed so no one heard. "I think Zoe needs to be taught a lesson. She gave us hell last circuit, Griff, because we're newbies. I think it's high time somebody stood up to her."
Zoe looked around, thinking that maybe someone would try to talk Drum out of it...no one spoke. Moby finally stepped up, most likely in a feeble attempt to win some points back with Zoe. "Oi, thea be no need for that. Ill take you on myself!" Moby grinned.
"I dont need you fighting my battles, Moby. Contrary to what you think. We still aren't together." Zoe spat Moby reeled, his eyes squinting and he stormed off, most likely off to find his board. "You want me, newbie? You got me." Zoe stated, patting her Snow God pass.
"Good. You can even name the race." Drum smiled, this was his change to prove himself.
"Ill do you one better, Ill name the race, and I will even use your own board. Getting beat by me, and on your own board should be enough to keep you quiet for a long time." Zoe stated, offering her hand to shake it.
Drum extended his hand, just as Zoe pulled back and give him the finger, then turned to walk away.
"Ugh...that was just disgusting", Elise added, shaking her head.
Eddie was just about to open his mouth right when Atomika chimed in. "Yeah, very unsportsmanlike." Atomika added. Eddie decided not even to bother, pulling his goggles over his eyes.
Psymon clapped a couple of times. "Woo, tomorrows race is going to be a hoot. We have the Chocolate Pillsbury doughboy against Miss Menstrual Payne. What a fight."
Everyone tried to hold back, but eventually everyone began to break into a small chuckled, even Drum.
Elsewhere, after everyone was asleep, Moby was in the board storage, looking for his board...then he found something completely new. He had found Drum's snowboard. ".....Ill make sure the little grommet doesn't even make it to tha finish line..." Moby whispered, and grabbed Drum's board. He reached in his pocket and took out a small screwdriver and loosened the screws on the binding of Drum's board, and replaced it back like nothing happened. Quite pleased with himself he left the room, and headed back to his.
As the door closed, someone in the storage room walked out from behind the board rack, holding his board over his shoulder, he had just saw everything Moby did, that person, was Psymon.
AN:
Parry: Perfect ending, wasn't it?
Drum: Ooooh, intense. You know the drill, read 'n review.