Skateboard Cafe

Chapter Two

The music was blaring in my ears and my eyes were going funny from all the flashing strobe lights. The smell of alcohol was stronger towards the back of the house and it made me want to gag.

"Where are we going?" I looked up at Silvo, his chocolate coloured eyes framed with long, dark lashes.

"It's a surprise." He said warmly, hand still clutching mine.

The kindness in his tone made my insides go all tingly and I was still in shock at the fact that I was with Silvo Rainer at a party and he was holding my hand. Butterflies were flitting in my stomach even though I had reassured myself I didn't find Silvo attractive.

He led me down a small, winding path to a large tree strung with softly glowing fairy lights.

"Isn't it just magical?" Silvo sighed.

"How do you know about this place?" I was curious to how he knew his way in Clara's sprawling, overgrown garden.

"I've been to many a party at Clara's house. They're always the best ones." He tugged on my hand gently and pointed up to the lower part of the tree. "Also this is one of my favourite places. I come here every time I'm at Clara's."

A hammock emerged from the velvety, green leaves.

To my disappointment, Silvo dropped my hand and started to clamber into the hammock. When he was nestled safely into the cream hammock, he offered a hand to me. Cautiously, I stood on the lowest branch and using his hand, pulled myself up too.

The hammock was wide, so we weren't lying to close together, but to my surprise, he wrapped a tanned, toned around around me.

"Lois, you are beautiful. I can't believe I never had the courage to speak to you before tonight." He whispered softly in my ear.

The butterflies in my stomach started going crazy and my heart started pumping at double to speed. I was so happy Silvo knew who I was. And he had been to scared to talk to me. I had always thought I was invisible to the 'In-crowd' at Madison Vale High. But it turned out I was wrong.

I let out a small giggle and got closer to him.

"You're not to bad yourself." I said softly.

I heard him chuckle and we fell asleep to the sound of each other breathing.

~

The blaring sound of my alarm clock woke me up, but I didn't care. I would be seeing Silvo today, the boy who thought I was beautiful. A smile was tattooed onto my face, so wide, even my lazy, unaware brother asked me what was going on. My replies were the same to my whole family: "I had good lessons today at school."

After getting dressed in record speed (usually I was still half asleep and could hardly see what I was doing), I climbed into my black Ford Focus and started the engine. Today would be a good day I could tell.

Smile still stuck to my face, I pulled into my usual parking space in the student parking lot and walked into school, a new found spring in my step. I smiled at every person I passed and didn't even care when Stephanie Adams laughed when I walked past. She may be head cheerleader, but she hadn't spent the night with Silvo Rainer.

As usual, Ella was slouched by my locker, still half asleep.

"Morning sleepy head." I chirped as she jerked out of her nap.

"You're in a good mood today. What's new?" She asked wearily.

"Nothing. I just had a really great sleep last night. Anything new in the land of Ella?"

"No. Jessie took the top I wanted to wear and she I beat her until she gave it back, but then my mum walked in and took away my car keys and said I had to walk. I'm pissed Lois. I'm very pissed. I would stay away from me for at least two hours if I were you." Her eyebrows furrowed and she looked down the hallway at a group of boys sauntering down the middle of the corridor. "Look at them all. They're just perfect. Especially Charlie Jenkinson. The things i'd do to that boy."

I laughed at Ella until I spotted Silvo walking at the front of the group, his head held high and a grin plastered on his face. Feeling a wave of joy wash over me, I gave Ella a quick wave goodbye and made my way towards him. He started waving and I waved like a lunatic back. He spread his arms wide open, skateboard still in hand and I was ready to embrace him, when he walked straight past me. To my dismay, and to add to my total humiliation, I knocked the skateboard from his hand and it went clattering to the floor, causing one hundred pairs of eyes to turn around and stare.

"What the fuck?" Silvo bent down and stared at the bent skateboard on the floor. The hallway stood in silence, waiting for his next move. Everyone knew how much his skateboard meant to him and they were all ready for a showdown.

"You broke my deck. You broke my fucking deck." He growled.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled, hoping to get away quietly and without a fight.

"Sorry isn't good enough." He had started to raise his voice. "My deck is broken." He was shouting now. If this had been a cartoon, I would have been able to see smoke coming from his ears. "Buy me a new one."

"What?" I was puzzled. I knew nothing about skateboards.

"But me a new one." He hissed slowly.

"How much are they?"

"$100."

I was taken aback. I could not afford $100 for my carelessness.

"I can't. I'm sorry." I stammered.

"Sorry isn't going to fix my deck. Buy me a new one or you'll be sorry." He glared at me. I could hear Stephanie Adams giggling behind me.

"Um okay...Ill try and find the money."

"Meet me after school today. I don't care if you have plans, this is much more important." He gave me one final smirk and sauntered off.

I had just got myself into quite a pickle.