No Skateboarding Allowed

Chapter 8: An Unfortunate Discovery

I had the most fun I'd ever had my entire life that night. 

I got so much positive attention, more than I had ever gotten from my mom or Paul. I didn't let any of my problems from Malibu slip into my mind. I forgot about everything, drank a glass of champagne, and had a nice time.

"Brad?" I said, "I really like you, you know that?"

He raised his eyebrows. "You like your boyfriend? I'm glad."

I leaned over and kissed him a bunch of times.

"Smile!" I heard, and I turned my face to smile at the camera.

I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I was mid laugh when I turned around to see someone I thought was a legend.

"Hi," he said, "nice to meet you, Joey, I'm Tony Hawk."

My mouth hung open. Once I got my bearings, I stood up and shook his hand.

"Wow, um," I started, "Tony Hawk. It's, uh..."

He raised his eyebrows expectantly. "Yeah?"

"It's really great to meet you. You're such an inspiration to me, wow..."

"You've actually inspired me, Ripper," he said, smiling, "you've accomplished so much at such a young age, it's amazing."

I didn't know what to say. Tony Hawk said I was an inspiration to him. I knew, right there, that I had officially made it.

We got into taking about different tricks that he'd picked up and ones that I'd picked up and different techniques and things. It was so fun to talk to a real professional skateboarder. 

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I mentally rolled my eyes. Whoever it was could wait. I never wanted this conversation to end.

I clicked deny without even looking at who called.

And it almost never did. I ended up talking to - I can't even believe it - Tony Hawk for the rest of the night. It got really late, and around 12:30 my mom told me we were leaving. 

"Hey, it was really great to meet you, Ripper," he said, "good luck in Aspen. I'll be cheering you on."

I smiled and waved goodbye. "Bye, Tony. I really enjoyed talking to you."

Brad and I left with Paul and mom and I was completely happy. For the first time in my life, I felt like there was no pressure to do something with myself. When it wasn't getting good grades in school, it was being successful in skateboarding. Tony Hawk showed me that skateboarding doesn't just have to be a career and a hobby, but a lifestyle.

The rest of the vacation was the best week of my life. I went on Ellen, had an interview with her, and I had never felt like such a celebrity. I got along great with mom and Paul, and I was willing to do whatever they told me. I was actually starting to enjoy the plan.

When it was Friday, I really wasn't ready to leave.

"Let's visit," I told mom, "we can come back next week!"

She laughed. "I wish, honey. Besides, you need to get home and train. And check on Brady. How's he doing."

It was like everything came crashing down. I hadn't called Brady all week. 

I immediately turned around and called him. It rang and rang.

I got voicemail. 

I tried again. Voicemail.

I ended up calling him fifteen times before Paul finally told me to get in the car so we could leave. I told Anthony to step on it on the way home.