A/N: Sorry that took such a long time, I had a whole lot of studying to do as of lately. But I'm on break now, so hopefully I'l get some good work in on this story.
Hailey picked at the greasy tray of "Disco Fries" set in the middle of the table, dipping a fry in extra cheese before popping it into her mouth.
"This is where I went on my first date, with some frumpy guy named Steve," Elise mused, peering around at the typical diner interior decorations.
Hailey took a swig of coke. "Garibaldi's your hometown, right?" she asked.
Nodding, Elise replied, "I actually learned to board on the old course that got ripped apart and redone for our circuit a couple seasons ago."
Eddie scooped up a couple fries off the tray, gulping them down whole.
"Would you kids like anything else?" the blonde waitress skated over, skidding to a halt next to their table.
"I think we're good." Elise glanced around the table for nods of approval. "Just bring us the check."
"Okay," she smiled, grabbing a couple dishes before skating off.
"I'll pay for you ladies, cause I'm a manly man," Eddie assured the two girls, winking and fishing around the back pocket of his striped pants. His wardrobe and massive pumpkin afro didn't fit in all too terribly with the 70's decor of the small diner.
"You don't see many rollerblading places around. I think this is the only one I've ever been to," Hailey commented, watching their waitress depart for the kitchen.
"It's a Canada thing," Eddie replied simply.
Sipping at her iced tea, Hailey listened as Elise and Eddie got into a heated debate over the best places to eat worldwide. Elise had a pretty good point about the classiness of French food, and Eddie seemed to be more of a cheeseburger and fries kinda guy. Personally, Hailey couldn't wait to try the sushi bars in Japan.
Hailey passed the rest of the meal in relative silence, constantly biting on the end of her straw and occasionally tossing a couple words into the conversation.
"Oh put on some clothes, will you? Nobody here wants to see your Latina ass in just a bikini."
Marisol wrinkled her nose, clutching the terry-cloth towel tighter around her body. "We were in the sauna," she defended coldly.
But contrary to Elise's words, a few of the men spread around the lodge didn't much seem to mind Marisol's lack of clothing. Kaori's eyes even seemed to linger, holding an expression that showed much more shock then excitement.
"Hey Marisol, let's just get upstairs, no need to blow a fuse or some shit," Seeiah nodded towards the staircase. "Let's all be chill."
"Kaori, repeat after me. SLUT. S-l-u-t, slut," Zoe tore her eyes away from that evening's showing of CSI: Miami to preach loudly to Kaori.
"Don't repeat that," Brodi chimed in calmly from his Indian style position on the floor.
"No matter how true it may be," Zoe added gruffly. "But yes, your quite right. What would Marisol ever have done to deserve to be called a slut?"
Eddie began to silently tick off his fingers.
"Oh shut up you disgraceful cow," Jp snapped at Zoe, stepping forward to defend Marisol. He wore a pair of swim trunks, and his t-shirt was damp. "We'll see whose laughing tomorrow when you screw up a trick and fall on your ass, like usual."
Zoe raised her eyebrows, licking her upper lip. "Is that so? Well let me tell ya Frenchie, we can take this outside."
"Ima squash you like a little bug," Luther gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
"Oh can it, fatty," Seeiah said in a bored voice, leaning against the wall and beginning to preen her nails.
"For goodness sakes, what have I told you lot about shutting the fuck up?" Rahzel angrily threw aside his newspaper, jumping up out of his armchair. "I could've just pretended you weren't arguing, but no, you need to go on and on and on. Now get your little white asses to bed, it's 11:50."
Seeiah harumphed and led the way up the staircase.
"Is it always like this?" Hailey sat cross-legged on the couch, grinning in amusement from over her magazine. Elise nodded, stretching out her arms and yawning.
"Well, the way I see it, we have to constantly put Marisol in her place," she said, just loud enough for her comment to reach its target's ears.
"Cat fights are hot," Mac mumbled as he walked by with Kaori. The Japanese girl didn't seem to really notice or care, and looked oddly at Zoe as the punk boarder exited through the front door.
"Isn't Zoe's room that way?" Kaori pointed to the staircase.
Mac looked out the window, watching Zoe traipse through the thin layer of powder coating the grounds as she advanced towards Psymon's trailer. Looking at Kaori, He shook his head and began to climb upward. "We'll save that for another time."
Rahzel picked up the crumpled newspaper, smoothing it out across his lap. "10, well now 8, minutes to curfew," he snapped at Hailey, Eddie, Brodi and Elise.
"Can I make you a cup of herbal tea? You seem stressed," Brodi offered.
Face obscured by the newspaper, Rahzel grumbled a reply, "You still have to be in your room by curfew."
"I just laid a Mac-Smackdown on Canada!"
"Oh can it already, whitie, you only won by 12,000-"
"No, Canada was owned. I OWN CANADA!"
"Hey, I resent that!"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, they might be recording this!" Rahzel stomped his foot, cussing out the three winning boarders who stood up on the podium. He stalked though the snow from his announcer's tower, approaching the trio. "Now Mac, quit slouching and no more bragging, Elise, zip up your shirt a little, and Seeiah, do you have to wear those sunglasses? You look like some kind of insect."
Elise adjusted her posture, standing up a little straighter on the third place spot so that she still towered over Mac, who continued to slouch and periodically kiss his shiny gold medal. Seeiah reluctantly perched the purple shades atop her bald head, eyes squinting from the afternoon sun and the relentless flashing of cameras aimed at the medalists.
Psymon watched the festivities from the sidelines, heavily muscled and mercilessly tattooed arms folded across his bare chest. Spitting at a small group of fans pushing at the blockades holding them back, he began to pace.
"You did good. Honestly," Zoe approached slowly, resting a gloved hand on his shoulder. "You'll nail that trick next time."
Psymon nodded, keeping his face in the shadows. "You know, I don't really give a fuck."
"But you do," insisted Zoe sweetly. "Or you wouldn't be acting all emo on me."
"Emo?" Psymon stood still, repeating Zoe's words before throwing his head back in laughter. Zoe grinned, smudging the thick red war paint across her cheek as she scratched at her eye.
Continuing to chuckle slightly, Psymon headed off for a gap in the stands. Ducking under the lowest row of vacant seats, he slipped out of the stadium without another word. Zoe stood and watched, slowly bending down to pick up the tiny slip of yellow paper Psymon had casually let slip out of his fingers.
"So... Is Moby always so glum as he was earlier?" Hailey asked from over the sudoku puzzle in her lap. She gnawed on the end of her pen, looking down the row.
"Him and Zoe go way back to the original SSX Tour. Then Psymon came along, and, well, you know," Elise replied, peering around for eavesdroppers. "Actually, I think Zoe's just playing her cards right so she can have both."
Eddie shook his head. "She probably just can't make up her mind. I mean, the Brit, or the Psycho? What a choice."
The SSX racers sat in their plushy airline seats, munching on their complimentary peanuts as the whopping eleven hour flight to Japan ticked by.
Elise opened her mouth to protest, but Zoe shuffled by their seats towards the bathroom, so she just smiled.
"How much longer is the flight? Maccie and I lost count after just six," Kaori turned around, yelling back a few rows to the trio. Hailey shook her head.
"It's not nice to yell in public places. Okay?" Rahzel said slowly, enunciating every syllable as he scooted down the aisle. "But for your information, we're landing very soon."
Kaori squealed with excitement and began to babble in fast Japanese, and Mac nudged her with his elbow. "Shush, Kay. I'll, uh, go shopping with you once we get to Japan if you play the silence game with me."
Nodding excitedly, Kaori pursed her lips together and grinned expectantly up at Mac.
"Cute kids. Wonder when he's gonna teach her the anatomy game," Elise smirked, settling back into her seat.
A/N: Please just drop a quick review before you go, some concrit on the progress of this would be nice.