Chapter Nine: Homeward Bound

Week after week passed, and Brodi and Kaori could only visit Mac two more times in the hospital before the SSX Tricky boarders headed off to Japan. Brodi promised that he'd win every race, just for Mac. And if he failed, Kaori would win instead.

Mac was sad to see the only two people who really cared about him leave. His father was informed of his condition, but the man didn't care. Mac's father was an abusive alcoholic, and Mac didn't really want his father to come anyways. But soon he'd have to go home again, weak and broken, at the mercy of his father. Mac cringed at the thought.

It had been nearly three months since Mac's suicide attempt, and he had been under close observation by the doctors and nurses at the hospital. He was dreading the day he'd have to go home, but of course, it came. Mac came out of the hospital on crutches, sighing when he saw his father standing by his beat up old truck, waiting to take him home. Mac's arm and shoulder had healed, and there was only a faint scar on his forehead, but his leg was still broken and in a cast.

He knew his father would be insanely angry, for having to drive all the way to British Columbia, Canada to get his good-for-nothing son and take him home. Mac pulled himself into the backseat of the truck, resting his leg across the seats. He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the window and waiting for his father to interrogate him.

"So, Mackey, how the hell did you get so banged up?" His father said in a cold, mean voice that reminded him strongly of Luther.

"I didn't land right."

Mac's father laughed. "Shoulda known that was coming, you talentless brat. So are you gonna quit yet?"

"No."

"Well you're going to have to go back to school."

"Fine."

Conversation ceased from there. Mac missed Brodi already. Despite the heartbreak Brodi put him through, he still loved him very much. He knew that Brodi loved him too. Mac longed to lie in Brodi's arms, to kiss him and be with him again… But Brodi was halfway across the world by now. Mac sighed as a tear slipped down his cheek; he didn't know how long it would be until he could join back up with his fellow boarders again.

"Brodi…" he whispered softly to himself.

"What'd you say?" his father asked and Mac cupped his hand over his mouth, his eyes wide with fear that his father would find out he was gay.

"Um, nothing sorry dad!" He said hastily, panting and letting his head drop back against the window again. Mac eventually fell asleep in the truck, not stirring until they finally arrived at his house. His father got out of the truck and opened the door on Mac's side, smacking him hard on the head.

"Wake up, brat," he said coldly as Mac rubbed the spot on his head where his father had hit him. He couldn't take living with his father, he knew he had to somehow get back to boarding or he would go insane.

Mac stepped out of the truck on one leg and shook his head, blinking a few times. He was drowsy and tired, wanting nothing more than to collapse on his bed and take a nice long nap. He grabbed his crutches from inside the truck and closed the door, making his way up to his house. When he got inside he ignored his father, going straight past him and into his room. Laying his crutches on the floor he got into bed, covering his entire body with blankets and closing his eyes.

When Mac awoke it seemed as though he had only fallen asleep a few minutes ago, when it was in fact Monday morning. His alarm clock was buzzing and he reached blindly over to the bedside table, knocking the clock off onto the floor where it shut off.

"Ohh…" Mac moaned groggily and sat up in bed, swinging his legs over the side and stretching. "School… ugh…" He stood up on his right leg and hopped over to his closet, grabbing the nearest shirt and pants. It took him a good ten minutes to dress himself, his arms still hurt a bit and he had to find a baggier pair of pants to pull on over his cast. Thank God he would be getting it off in a few days, he couldn't stand being on crutches anymore.

Mac didn't get anything for breakfast, instead just headed out the door and grabbed the keys to his father's truck. Driving with a broken leg would be pretty hard, but he only needed his right foot anyways. He got inside and turned it on, driving away towards school even though he didn't have a license.

After he got to the school and parked, Mac grabbed his bag and slung it over his good shoulder. He walked into his school on the crutches, receiving plenty of stares from his old classmates. He assumed everyone had heard about the accident, they all knew Mac was a professional snowboarder and over half the school idolized him. The rest hated his guts.

Mac went through the day miserably, sleeping or daydreaming though every class. All he could think about was Brodi. Every day was the same, and Mac felt as if he were to go insane any minute…