Chapter Eleven: Fraser Returns

A few more weeks passed, in the same boring, dead way the past year had gone. The SSX Tricky world circuit was just starting up for that year, the pack would be at Garibaldi in about a week. Mac knew he had to go there… maybe do something heroic and cliché like conquer his fear or something. He sighed sadly at the thought.

"I don't care about all that other stuff, I don't care about boarding… I just wanna see Brodi again…" it was sad for Mac to admit Brodi was the only thing he ever thought about. After a year of being completely alone, he was sure he had developed an obsession over the older man. His personality had also changed quite dramatically. He wasn't into DJ'ing anymore, and he had ignored all his old friends when they tried to talk to him. Mac had grown his hair out, and now it reached down past his ears. He started wearing darker colors, and secluded himself more than ever, listening to loud rock music instead of rap while sitting alone in his room. He didn't really care about himself anymore, and had even tried cutting his wrists. Mac didn't want to die; he just wanted to feel pain again. He wanted to make sure he was still alive to reassure him of the possibility of seeing Brodi again.

Mac looked down at the scars on his wrists. It wasn't a surprise that he was sitting all alone in the corner of his room again, brooding upon everything that had happened to him in his last days with his fellow boarders. But he knew relief was coming soon. He'd be with Brodi again. The previous day he had ordered a plane ticket to Garibaldi, British Columbia. In two days he'd be with him again… two days.

Two days later:

Mac literally rolled out of bed at 11 in the morning. He just laid on the floor for a while, but for once he was smiling. In a few hours, he'd be with Brodi again. But the thought of being with Brodi again made him slightly afraid. Will Brodi still like me…? What if he doesn't love me like I love him… ohh man… Mac began to worry and sent himself into a state of deep anxiety. Please love me, Brodi…

Sighing and languidly pulling on his clothes, Mac stood up and gathered his two suitcases and his board. His father had only agreed to drive him to the airport because he wanted to get rid of him. Both Mac and his father were glad to be ridden of each other.

The whole ride there was silent. There were only two words said the entire trip. "Get out," said Mac's father as Mac got out of the truck, grabbed his luggage, and kicked the door shut. Bye, dad…

Mac went through the normal airport routine, walking through all the security stops without any hassle. He got some lunch from a random airport café, sitting at the table with his head down. There were butterflies in his stomach as he waited for his flight to be called.

"Attention. Now boarding flight number 291 British Columbia, Canada." Said a woman's voice from overhead. Mac jumped when he heard the flight number and grabbed his luggage, not bothering to throw away his trash. He showed a man outside the boarding gate his ticket, and walked through into the plane. Finding his seat, Mac sat down and put on his headphones, blasting Blink 182 to the annoyance of those sitting around him.

Mac fell asleep on the plane a few minutes later, and didn't awaken until the plane arrived at its destination.

A fuzzy voice came over the speaker that awoke Mac. His CD had stopped playing a long time ago, and he groaned and stretched out.

"Man, are we there yet?" he said groggily.

A voice from beside him said, "Were you not listening to what the woman just said?" The man was referring to the voice that came over the speaker. Mac just shook his head; assuming that the man meant that they were indeed there.

"Finally…" he mumbled.

After Mac had gotten off the plane, he exited the airport and stood in front of the building. He assumed that he was probably about 10 miles from the actual course, and groaned. Damn it, how the hell am I gonna get there now… He thought to himself, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to think of a way.

"I got it!" he said out loud, gaining stares from a few people around him. As he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, he wondered why he hadn't used it during the year before to call Brodi.

He dialed Brodi's number nervously, and his hand was shaking as he held the phone to his ear. It rang.

"M-Mackenzie?"

"Uhh yeah… umm hi Brodi, I'm kinda at the airport and I need a lift to the track… can you give me one?" Mac's voice was quivering as he spoke to Brodi for the first time in over a year.

"Of course!" Brodi's voice sounded excited and overjoyed, he had missed Mac too in the year that he was gone. "I'll be right there, grasshopper, hang on okay?"

"Okay man… see ya." Mac hung up and dropped the phone into his pocket, his knees feeling a bit weak and he leaned on his silver board.

The minutes passed and no sign of Brodi yet. Mac dragged his things over to the wall of the building, sitting down there and pulling his knees to his chest. He put his head down on his knees and sighed softly. I love you, Brodi…

Just as he thought this to himself, a shadow appeared over him, and Mac looked up.

"Brodi!" he leapt up and embraced the man, squeezing him hard and crying. "Oh my God, Brodi I missed you so much…" Mac sunk to his knees, his arms still around Brodi's legs.

Brodi was a bit alarmed at Mac's enthusiasm, but hugged him back all the same. He reached down to ruffle Mac's hair as he held his legs. "I've missed you too, Mackenzie. I've missed you very, very much…" he said softly, picking Mac up under the arms and hugging him again. "Now let's go, shall we? The quarterfinals are tomorrow, and you should hit the slopes to practice before the race… but are you sure you're up to it? I mean, you do have a history with this track."

"Yeah, I'm okay, I just don't wanna go in the lodge, if that's alright with you…" Mac blushed and stared down at his feet, embarrassed and ashamed.

"Of course it's alright, Mackenzie." Brodi picked up Mac's luggage effortlessly and put it into the backseat of his silver Chevy Malibu. Mac got in the front and rested his head against the window, closing his eyes.

Brodi got into the driver's seat, leaning over and putting his hand on Mac's thigh, massaging it gently. Mac jumped at the sensation, then Brodi spoke "I'm glad to have you back again, my little grasshopper," Brodi whispered and turned on the ignition, heading off towards the mountain.

Mac fell asleep in the car, only to be shaken awake by Brodi when they arrived at Garibaldi. "Your trailer isn't here, Mackenzie, and it's been agreed that you will be staying in mine. The officials have appointed me as your… guardian, I guess; they were informed of the… err… incident last year, though they're keeping it quiet. Just in case you wanted to know why they didn't choose anyone else."

Mac nodded sleepily, but he quickly looked to Brodi, becoming completely alert when the 'incident' was mentioned. He knew exactly what Brodi was talking about, and cringed at the fact that other people knew besides Brodi and Kaori.

Brodi stepped out of the car and opened the door for Mac, then retrieved his luggage from the backseat. "Follow me, Mackenzie." Mac nodded and followed Brodi to his trailer, sitting down on the bed and folding his hands on his lap.

Setting down Mac's luggage, Brodi sat down next to Mac and put an arm around him. "You've changed, Mackenzie. Last year's events really took their toll on you, didn't they…" Brodi said sadly, kissing Mac's head and rubbing his hand over his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, now that I'm with you again… I… I love you, Brodi. I was going crazy without you, you're all I ever thought about." Mac whispered and put his arms around Brodi, laying his head on his shoulder.