The Bright Side

Chapter 11 - Part 1

TRISTAN

Being back to work today was brilliant. When I woke up this morning I felt so full of energy, so full of beans again that I knew for certain that my crisis was over. I was all over the hotel all day and when all the work was done, I was still so buzzed that I practically flew home to get my board. It was only when I entered the hallway and saw the empty spot in the cupboard under the stairs that I remembered that my board is shreds. Which kind of brought me back down to my normal level of enthusiasm and I fetched my old board with the not so good trucks from the wall in my room and tried to get used to the bumpy feeling when I rode it across town to Sky's place. Every yard I put behind me my excitement grew again, and now that I'm standing in front of his door, my heart thuds erratically in my chest.

"Hey, stranger," Sky smiles as he opens the door.

Before I know it, my right arm wraps itself around his neck and I find myself in a warm and cosy hug, that seems too lax compared to how much I've missed him.

"Alright?" He carefully scans my face while his own is all shut down and I try to appear a great deal more laid back than I feel.

"Alright," I try a casual smile. "So, grab your board and off we go. I'm suffering from severe withdrawal", I shift my weight from one foot to the other impatiently.

"Just a second. I've got something for you." Sky retreats into the hallway and I can hear his quick steps up the stairs, some indefinable noises in what I assume is his room before he reappears on his front step, holding two boards in his hands.

"Here," he says and hands one over to me. I think it's awfully nice of him to lend me one of his boards, but my old one sure isn't that crappy. When I turn it around to have a closer look, I recognize my trucks and wheels attached to it.

"Sky, what the...?"

It's clearly a used board, but it's been redone. The grip tape is new and the deck is covered with a white foil and a drawing of me doing a Dark Slide.

"Think of it as some sort of orphan's pension. It's no biggie." Sky watches his feet shoving gravel from one side to the other.

It's the perfect gift. It's great, but not over the top. Nothing to make me feel awkward or indebted. It's something I can easily accept. He couldn't have given me anything better. It's perfect. As is everything about Sky. I leap towards him and hug him tight. I want to crush him to pieces from joy. He softly hugs me back, but I feel like the hug itself still isn't conveying how much his gift means to me, so I smack a kiss on his cheek.

"Oh, my God!" I squeeze him again. "You're so fricking awesome, Sky!"

"Yeah." He clears his throat and pulls back, his eyes suddenly focused on a spot behind my back.

As I turn around my eyes come to rest on a guy just shutting the garden gate behind him – no wait, what made me think it was a guy? The clean-shaven head probably, but the rest just screams woman. She's a bit taller than I am, about Sky's height and so feminine, it's overwhelming. I realize that I must've been staring at her; it's only when she starts speaking that I snap out of it.

"Hey, boyfriend," she addresses Sky, who's at her side with four quick strides and hugs her tightly. Boyfriend? I'm clearly missing something.

"Jo!" She's gifted with one of Sky's rare broad smiles and I feel a pang of envy, because I've never gotten one so easily. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know. I thought I'd check in with you on my way to Penzance." She winks at him. "But you're obviously not in need of company."

Her eyes drill into mine and I feel exposed. She has such a powerful aura, I wouldn't be surprised if she were a witch and could see right into my soul. "So, that must be Str... Tristan." She tilts her head to the side, sizing me up. That woman is making me incredibly uncomfortable.