No Skateboarding Allowed

Chapter 9: Making Repairs

My life was like one big, void, black hole. Nothing really mattered anymore. 

I realized that I couldn't survive without Brady. He kept me in line and kept my feet on the ground. I think that's why I got so carried away that week in Los Angeles. Without him, it's hard for me to act like myself instead of Superstar Ripper.

 I figured I could try to train for Aspen, but I figured there was really no point anymore. I didn't find joy in skateboarding, at least not without Brady.

I messed around at NSBA for four hours on Saturday and made no progress. I didn't even know what I was going to do for the judges in Aspen. There was a lot riding on this, and I had to make my fans proud.

After a long, sweaty day of failing I walked inside my house and sat at the counter. Mom was cooking dinner.

"So," she said, "how's your routine coming?"

I scoffed. "It's not called a routine."

"Whatever."

We hadn't spoken much since the whole incident with Brady's mother. Seems like she would have felt partially responsible for pushing me so hard at that party. She hasn't said anything.

I flipped through a magazine sitting out on the counter.

"You should talk to him, you know," she said, looking up from the bowl, "you two need to fix this."

I smiled. "I don't think he really wants to fix it, mom. He made it pretty clear how he feels."

Mom put down the rag that was thrown over her shoulder and turned off the stove. She walked around to sit next to me.

"I can tell."

I looked up. "You can tell what?"

She raised an eyebrow.

I sighed. "Mom, what are you talking about-"

"You like Brady," she said, "Isn't that right, Joey?"

I looked down at the ground. I eyed my mom.

I nodded.

"Well, honey, if that's how you feel, then you can't take no for an answer. This is something you want Joey. Last I checked, you're not a girl who gives up on things she wants."

I looked up at her again. Her eyebrows were raised.

"I don't know," I said, "he's in a bad place right now."

She put a hand on my arm. "So are you."

"What do you mean? No, I'm not."

Her shoulders slumped and she made a face. "I saw you fall on your butt in the backyard yesterday. Jo, Aspen is coming up in two weeks. You can barely execute a clean kick flip without crashing. Brady supports you more than you know, and you need him."

I laughed. "I didn't think you even knew what a kick flip was!"

"You'd be surprised," she said, winking at me.

I rolled my eyes and she got back to her cooking. 

I decided I would go on a jog before dinner. I used to do this a lot to keep in shape, but lately I hadn't been getting around to it. 

I ran down Witacker Street, made a circle at the dead end, ran along Jones Avenue, and made a left onto South Beach Drive. I knew this route like the back of my hand. I didn't even have to think about it anymore.

I stopped in the middle of South Beach. It occurred to me that while I was on this running craze, I was constantly going to Brady's house afterward, because he lives on South Beach. I would run to his house, drink something, eat something, and run back home. I caught my breath and moved over for a car.