All I Am (Wattys2015) (ON HOLD)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

The days passed slowly. Blue got up and ran, then came home and did school. Sometimes she saw Maddy out practicing during her run, but not always. They occasionally texted, but hadn't been in communication that much. Her parents worked during the day like normal, and then her mom sat on the couch watching TV or using her phone.

One day Blue's parents were out for a walk and Blue was at home studying for a math final. She looked up and out the window. Her parents had been out a lot lately, especially together. But at least they were together instead of leaving at different times to different places.

Blue's phone dung, shaking her out of her thoughts. She got up and walked over to the kitchen counter in annoyance. Picking up her phone, she saw Maddy's name lighting up the screen.

come to my house. now.

What? Why would he want her at his house? She looked up at the kitchen clock in confusion. 2:51. Blue walked downstairs and into her room, where she slipped on her Vans and grabbed her polarized black sunglasses. She looked down at her black leggings and hoodie and rolled her eyes - it would do.

Leaving her phone and wallet, Blue left the house quickly and put her sunglasses on. She shook her hair out and decided to enjoy the walk to Maddy's house, rather than getting hung up on his cryptic text.

Eight minutes later Blue came up to Maddy's house. Her mom and dad were leaning against the side of the house, and Maddy was sitting cross-legged in the bed of his running truck, the tailgate open.

"What's going on?" Blue called out loudly, excitement lacing her voice. She couldn't imagine what was happening.

Maddy looked up and grinned, waving her over. She walked over quickly and looked up at him, then at her mom and dad. "What's going on?" she repeated.

"Maddy's taking you to Auckland," her mom said, dropping the bomb.

"What do you mean? I'm utterly confused!" Blue exclaimed.

Piri smiled down at Blue. "Your mom and I decided it's time you got a board."

Blue's jaw dropped. She glanced quickly from her mom and dad to Maddy, then back again. "I...That's amazing! Thank you both - so much!" she practically yelled, hugging her parents.

When Blue pulled back from her embrace, Sage started speaking. "We don't know the first thing about surfing, and we trust your friend here," she nodded at Maddy, "so he's taking you to Auckland to get a board. Unless you'd rather revise for that maths final?" she teased.

"No! No way! Oh gosh, I'm so excited! Thank you both so, so much! And thank you, Maddy! Thank you," Blue gushed as Maddy jumped out of his truck and hugged her.

Ten minutes later Maddy reversed out of the driveway quickly, then shifted into drive and started accelerating down Marine Parade N. Blue glanced over at him. He was wearing polarized sunglasses too, and had an arm on the window arm rest. He turned left and followed the road down into town.

Once out of town Maddy stepped on the gas, driving up the winding, inclined road at an insane speed. Blue's parents would definitely not approve of her riding with him if they knew how he drove.

"So tell me a little bit about surfboards," Blue suggested.

Maddy smiled as he put his right blinker on. "There are 3 main surfboard categories: longboards, which are usually 9 plus feet long. Then there are shortboards, which are usually 7'4" or less. Longboarding is much more relaxed, and you the maneuvers are more focused on what you do on the board, not with the board. For example, cross-stepping is a pretty basic longboarding maneuver. Shortboarding is much more aggressive and competitive - and dangerous. The maneuvers focus on what you can do with your board, such as verticals and aerials.