Sail along

Chapter 10

"What?!" Peter said, looking again. He finally saw Mike, sitting down with his bag and pulling out two roller skates from it.

"Oh," was all Peter could say.

"Well, should we go over and say hi?" Davy asked, smirking.

"No need." Micky said as they watched Mike get his skates on and go around the rink once then make his way over to them.

"Hi," Mike said with a slight smile.

"Is this what you've been doing this whole time?" Micky asked in an almost mocking manner, raising his eyebrows amused. "Wow."

Mike sighed and looked down.

"I knew you'd laugh at me."

"Why would we laugh at you?" Peter asked "Are you any good?"

"I'm alright." Mike said, looking down again.

"He's been getting a lot of money from this, remember," Davy said. "And he was offered for the traveling team."

Peter lit up.

"That's so cool!" He said excitedly. "Are you competing tonight?"

"Uh...yeah," Mike said awkwardly, not taking his eyes off the floor.

"Well, we'll be cheering you on." Micky smiled and patted Mike's good shoulder.

"Thanks guys." Mike said as another guy came skating over to him.

"Hey Nez, who are your friends?" He asked.

"Oh, Davy, Micky, Peter, this is Paul, he's on my team. Paul, these are my friends and band members."

"Hi, nice to meet you guys finally." Paul said, shaking their hands in turn as they introduced themselves.

"Guys, I got to go." Mike said as a guy with a striped shirt came out.

"Okay, good luck." Davy said.

"Please be careful." Peter said worry in his voice.

"Nes here is always careful," Paul said "It's Danny you need to be concerned for."

"Well, tell Danny to be careful as well." Micky said "We'll meet you out by the car when we get done."

"Sounds good." Mike said as he skated away.

The guys watched as he and Paul went off to go warm up and prepare.

"Well, then!" Micky said with a slight laugh. "I never would've thought..."

"We got so worried," Davy added and Peter let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm glad he's found something he likes," Peter smiled at the other two.

Davy sighed, but it wasn't from relief or pleasure.

"I almost destroyed my friendship over roller skating..." he muttered in a low voice. "That sounds ridiculous when I say that out loud."

"Because it is," Peter said quietly, hoping not to cause another argument.

"Can Mike come home now?" Micky asked, smiling.

"Yeah, if he wants to." Davy said as they got out of the rink. They watched as everyone lined up and got into their positions. A whistle blew and a wave of skaters pushed forward.

"Go MIKE!!!!" Peter screamed as Mike knocked into someone to overtake them. Davy winced as Mike got elbowed away and lost his balance and fell on his elbow and rolled.

"Mike!" Peter gasped, having to be held back by Micky to keep him from running up to the rink.

"That's okay, Mike," Micky said. "Just get up, you can do it."