Ch18

Alanna sat in the car as her mother drove her back to Dogtown. She looked at the exit signs.

Venice

Under the words Venice someone had spray painted 'Dogtown' under it. Which didn't sound very appealing to tourists but to them it sounded just fine.

Her mother turned off the highway in the black Mercedes, and entered the town by the Zephyr shop, as she passed it she saw Stacy on his bike, but she quickly turned away when he stopped to see if it was really her. Deciding it was he began to follow the car.

Damn it. She didn't mind people seeing her in the Mercedes it's just that she didn't want to see anyone right when she got back. Well that plan failed.

Nadia turned the corner, and pulled up the hill that Alanna's house stood on, it faced the beach where Alanna and her mother were both looking out. Her mother stopped and parked the car.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you?" Nadia asked looking over at Alanna with a nice smile on her face.

"I'll be okay mom, if I need anything, I'll find somewhere to call, or I'll come right over," Alanna said reaching right over and hugging her mother.

"Alright sweetie. I love you," she said to Alanna still holding on to her.

"I love you too mom," Alanna said pulling away, grabbing her bag, and exiting the car. She closed the door, and stood outside, and watched as her mother drove away with tears on her face.

Alanna hoped in her heart that she'd see her mother again.

"Alanna!" she heard someone yell. She turned to see Stacy hopping off his bike and running over to her. He engulfed her in a hug, "We were so worried about you."

And by we, Alanna knew exactly who he was talking about...

...within the 5 minutes Alanna was Stacy decided to drag Alanna to the Zephyr shop. The one place she didn't want to go. They one place where she need to go.

Alanna skated slowly on her board next to Stacy who was on his bike, they talked about Alanna's mother and the situation with her and Jay.

"He is gonna be there you know," Stacy said to her, as they rounded the corner to the shop.

"I might as well get it over with. I've got to see him sometime," Alanna said skating up to the door. Stacy went in first, and Alanna followed him. It was a party. With a whole bunch of people Alanna's never seen before.

"This'll give you a good chance to hide, and find Skip. He needed to talk to you," Stacy said, and Alanna nodded he walked into the crowd. Alanna didn't even get to take one step before she was called.

"ALANNAAA!" she heard a man yell her name, and she turned around to see a certain nappy haired Mexican running up to her.

"Hi Tony," she said hugging him back. He pulled her back.

"Where did you go? We were all worried sick" Tony said, and just then Alanna noticed Jay in the back with a beer looking her way, but he turned away.

"I went to see my mom," She said flatly, and caught Jay looking at her again, she rolled her eyes, "I've got to go find Skip. I'll talk to you later," Tony nodded and she walked away, but when Tony was about to walk away he saw Jay heading his way, past him, and after Alanna. He smiled...

Alanna walked around the back of the shop, in was somewhat dark, as she walked down a little hallway that had Skip, Chino, and Montoya's offices down it. All were gradually messier than the next.

Alanna sighed.

"Skip?" she called out, she sighed again turning around only to crash into another person, but the slithered their hand around her waist to catch her fall, "Jay."

"Lanna," he said smiling at her, he let go of her, and she stood there uncomfortably.

"I've got to go find Skip," she said trying to get around him but he moved in front of her, "C'mon Jay, I don't have time for games."

"I'm not trying to play games, Lanna. Will you just listen to me for a minute?" he said blocking her exit.

"What?" she said frustratedly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have run out, and left you like that," Jay said giving her a puppy dog look. She nodded her head.

"Apology accepted, can I get through now?" Alanna said just wanting to get away from him.

"No," Jay said getting closer to her.

"C'mon Jay, I don't have all day for this you know," Alanna said rolling her eyes.

"What happened to you Alanna? What happened to Lanna who used to be open to hear what I needed to say. The one who used to hug me for no reason at all, or tell me I was a great person, the Alanna everyone used to know," Jay asked trying hard to lock eyes with Alanna who's stare was pointed towards the ground, "Do you even know where she is?" No answer, "Well let me know when you've found her. I wanna see the girl I used to love."

Alanna looked up and watched him walk away from her leaving her alone in the dark hallway. When Alanna realized that he was gone, and so was she, she got up looking for Skip, and the only thing she did have left.

Her skating. According to Skip there's a competition tomorrow in Huntington Beach where he wanted Alanna to go with them. She agreed decided to go home deciding that she needed to get some sleep.

But none came that night until 1 am when Alanna got up and decided to go surfing to regain her train of thought.

It was 5 a.m. when Alanna went home took a shower and went to sleep for 5 hours more. A very restless sleep...

Alanna sat in Skips car, undoubtably placed between Jay, and Stacy. Stacy, Jay, Tony, and Skip talked throughout the whole car ride, and Alanna was silent fidgeting with the wheels on her board. The whole time. Jay noticed how quiet she was, and couldn't help but feel responsible for it. He knew she couldn't be her normal self when she was like this so he nudged her arm while the other three were talking.

"Smile for me please, I can't be happy if you're not," he said smiling at her. She looked at him for a minute and smiled a bit.

"Shut up Jayboy," she retorted smiling back bigger, and ribbed him in the side a little.

"I said smile, not abuse!" he said throwing his arm around her. She laughed a bit.

That's a little weight lifted off. Now the competition...

...Alanna got out of the car behind Jay with her board in her hand she placed it on the ground while Skip went to go sign them up. She closed the door and looked around the place. There were other skaters, some even looking at her with big smiled on their face, and just skated up to Jay and linked her arm in his for protection.

"Don't take it too seriously Jayboy, you're my protection for the day," Alanna said and then skated ahead of Jay, and up to where Tony, and Stacy were doing little random tricks to get ready for their performances. Jay watched as Alanna joined in and did the same as them.

She's almost there.

A/N : Yeah, so how'd you guys like it. The story's getting a little to dramatic for my taste. Time to change it up. :

Nat