EA Big owns all characters and locations, but they can't take my dignity!... no... wait... there it goes...

Chapter 14: Pre-show jitters
Zoe walked through the door of the lodge quietly, not wanting to let Psymon know she was home, if he was in. She quietly headed for the living room as she heard the television faintly. She stuck her head around the corner and see Psymon's feet up on the armrest of the sofa. She crept to the side of the sofa and looked down at him. He laid asleep wearing only a pair of black camo cargo pants. She turned off the television and made her way to his side. She knelt down and ran her fingertips along his scalp. In a lightning fast movement his arms shot up around her and pulled her in tightly. She yelped and then laughed, returning the tight hug.
"Missed you to." she said softly, Psymon nodded.
"You have no idea how much I've missed this." Zoe enjoyed the hug and neither of them spoke for several seconds, then Psymon eased up on her enough for her to sit on the sofa next to him. "Where have you been? I've been trying to get a hold of you, Brody's not returning my calls, I-"
"Brody and I… well… it didn't work." Psymon frowned.
"Oh, princess." Psymon pulled her back in for a hug, then sat up next to her. "What happened?" Zoe sighed and shrugged.
"I don't know. Like, I always liked how laid back and mellowed out he was, but it got to be ridiculous." Psymon nodded. "Like, every decision we ever made we had to 'consult Buddha'." She put her hands in the air and waved her fingers as she spoke in a mocking tone. "Like, even picking out drapes for God's sake. It just got to be too much, and we agreed it wasn't working, so… we called it all off." Psymon nodded.
"I'm sorry babe. Are you alright?" Zoe nodded and made a strange face.
"I'm fine, if anything I feel more free." Psymon smirked. "Sorry to keep you worried like that, I had to turn in my M-Comm when I left, and I deactivated my cell phone when Brody and I got married and-"
"I'm just glad you're here and okay." Psymon interrupted. Zoe smiled and sighed a bit of relief. She looked down at his forearm and dragged her finger along the red-haired angel that was tattooed down.
"This is new."
"Yeah… I missed ya… needed something." Zoe looked up and smiled.
"So, Rahzell has brought me up to speed. It's you, me and Moby in the last race." Psymon's face was cold.
"Oh man, he's actually putting Moby on our team?" Zoe shrugged.
"Apparently he had no say in it, that Banks guy made the decision." Psymon rubbed his head.
"Well at least I'll have you there with me."

Banks smiled ear to ear as he spoke to Rahzell on the phone."Are you serious? Zoe's back? Rahzell this is even better than I could have hoped! One night only, the Misfits are back together IN FULL to fight for SSX! Rahzell we're sitting on a goldmine, even if you DO go out of business you'll be set for life simply from the gross this event will get us. Pardon? No, no I meant nothing by that I just meant IF you lose. Yes I'm aware of Moby and Psymon's past together, but I don't think Moby would be stupid enough to turn on those two, and even if he DOES I'm pretty sure Psymon would be signed immediately by XCL even with their past, he's a money-generator. The others? I'm sure XCL will scoop up your bigger names, your lesser ones will probably have to pay their dues all over again, but that's business right? Hello? Hello? Rahzell?"

Psymon pushed himself harder every day that passed. With Zoe back he felt re-energized and had trained with more focus then ever before. It was the night before the event, and he tried to fight away his anxiety. He slid to a stop at the base of peak one and stopped his stopwatch."Summit of peak three to the base of peak one in six minutes, fourteen seconds, not bad." he thought to himself, not letting himself gloat at his new record-shattering.
"Psymon!" he heard a young man call. He looked away from his watch as a young boarder skidded to a stop. Psymon nodded to Paul Diamond as the XCL boarder approached. "Man, you passed me up there, you were flying." Psymon smirked and shrugged, he had been going faster than he had ever moved in his life and must have completely missed it when he passed Paul. Paul looked a little nervous but pushed a smile. "You ride like that tomorrow and there's no way we can beat you." Psymon returned to a straight face and nodded politely.
"Well." Psymon started. "If that's the case, just give me the word and I'll get Rahzell to write you up an SSX contract tonight if you want." Paul grimaced and looked around.
"Thanks man, but you know I can't do that." Psymon gave Paul a pressing look. "I mean, if I jump ship, I'll be a sell out. XCL gave me a chance when no one else would, and I can't turn my back on them. Plus if I jump ship and then XCL wins, there's no way I can go back." Psymon nodded.
"And if SSX wins?" Paul sighed and looked uncomfortable.
"Well, if we lose, then I'll accept whatever future I'm given. If you guys want me, awesome, but if not, then that's the result of my choice and I'll have to accept it." Psymon smiled.
"Kid, you're wise beyond your years." Paul smiled. "I admire that man, you're for real and you have a good head on your shoulders." Paul looked up at the peaks.
"Thanks, Psymon."
"What's wrong?"
"I dunno man. You're so cool to me where some of the other SSX boarders aren't, and you encourage me, I guess I'm not used to it." Psymon nodded. "It just bums me out that we can get along so well tonight, but tomorrow we're going to be enemies." Psymon put his hands in his pockets and sighed.
"We're enemies tonight." Paul looked up with a worried face. "But enemies can respect one another, and I have a lot of respect for you kid, on and off the track." Paul looked relieved again. "I really do hope someday we can no longer be enemies, whether it be in SSX or XCL." Paul nodded. Psymon put out his hand. Paul hesitated, but then took Psymon's hand and shook it. "Good luck tomorrow, kid." Paul nodded and looked over his shoulder. "I know, no one should see us together, people will talk." Psymon nodded and turned to walk away.
"Psymon." Paul called, Psymon looked back. "Good luck man."

Next chapter is the last, it'll be long to, so grab a glass of lemonade and make yourself comfortable.