The J Team

The Last Huzzah

"Really? This is what you wanted to do? This is all we ever did as kids. I thought you would pick something interesting."

"'Did' I think is the keyword there."

"Exactly, come on, this was the best. We had the best times here!"

"What exactly is this?"

"Babe, it's an old bike hangout we had as kids."

"Who made this?"

"Jojo, there is quite the engineer and Ajax's dad always had spare lumber for us to borrow... or I guess keep."

"That, and with all of Adonijah's tools, we built whatever our little hearts desired."

"A boat, a fort, ramps, a ninja warrior obstacle course. We had lots of little places like these."

"Wow, babe, I didn't know you could do all of that, all of this."

"Not surprised by that," TJ whispered, tugging on her leather jacket.

"You wouldn't." Jojo said quickly hearing TJ "Babe, I kinda grew out of it. It got a little boring."

"Yeah rig-"

"Alright, guys!" I said, cutting TJ off, "Come on." I jumped onto my bike and rode quickly down the slope, picking up speed before going up the one curved slope, redirecting all the momentum and speed to the other before being sent directly on a ramp. I stuck the landing, rounded the loop, and caught up a stick covered in hardened spray foam.

I looked up at the J Team plus Michael and smiled, "or are you all chicken to face the champion?"

June mounted her bike with a wide radiant smile and bright freckles giving her pale face color. "Maybe I hit your head too hard last time because I remember claiming that title." she started down the small slope tossing dirt and grass on the rest watching; with her almost orange hair, green t-shirt, and blue jeans she was like a blur of spring. She went through the slopes and jumped the ramp with a small trick of clapping twice, clapping her elbows, and clapping twice again before landing. She grabbed her own foamed stick and pulled up next to me.

Jojo and Tj had smiles on their faces too.

"Adonijah Smith! You lost to June bug? I've got to see this." TJ jumped on her bike and sped down faster than either of us, she didn't do any tricks though; the white divide between her eyebrow, which was always contrasted against her olive skin gave her an ache whenever she thought of trying any tricks. She didn't join us, choosing instead to ride past with her foam stick.

Jojo was right behind TJ with her own bright smile, she skidded next to us picking up her stick and some dirt for some war paint, when her face art was done she flashed a warrior's smile and raced after TJ. Unlike June Jojo was like a blur of a deep forest with her dark green shirt, brown skin, and curly canopy of hair.

I looked up to Ajax and Michael. Michael was cleaning the dirt off his camera and watched after Jojo with his face all scrunched. And I didn't have to be next to Ajax to see him rolling his eyes at us.

I kicked off on my bike not bothering to plead. He had come, that was enough.

June on the other hand wasn't going to allow that, "Come on Ajax, I need our gladiator!"

I glanced back and saw Ajax nod at that like it was the most obvious thing and jump on his bike. I came to the curve and started around and watched as Ajax jumped the ramp letting go of his bike in the middle of the air before grabbing it again and landing.

I sighed and ignored his antics, pushing harder on the pedals of Smoothrock, which hummed healthy as I gained on Jojo and Rockslide which shined, and TJ and Flowbrake who were in the lead. I heard behind me the tires of Brochmena and Telamonian. I glanced behind, Ajax was in front and June was catching up. Ajax's stormy eyes were focused on me and he pushed hard on Telamonian, which wined in protest.