Skater Squad

Chapter 8

Evan
A deafening squeal attacked my ears. I shut my locker door before I realise the source of the annoying sound.

Craig was bolting towards me, the sound roaring from his throat that was painted with a maniacal grin and a paper in his hands.

He continues to squeal when chest to chest with me. Stars glowed in his eyes as he slaps me with the coloured paper.

"LOOK."

I read the paper with wide eyes. It told the information for LAST, the skating tournament that Craig kept pestering me about.

"The start of the Tournament is this week and I was wondering if you'd wanna join me," Craig asks quietly, a grin plastering on his face.

I felt baffled but honoured. I point to myself with an unsteady smile. "Me?? I'd love to but do you really want me to come? I'm not very good. I wouldn't want to embarrass you.."

"Embarrass me?? Evan, you're my friend! You can't embarrass me, we're joining the Tournament for fun! And if we place in the high ranks we can try out for competitive skating!"

"Fine. I'll do it. but I'll need to practise if I want to stand a chance in the tournament," I state, guiding Craig to our first class.

"I can teach you some new tricks!" Craig proposes with a wild smile.

"That's okay, I know you want to train yourself for LAST. I can find someone else or just watch some tutorials."

Craig's smile softens, looking away and bumps his hip to mine. "You're a really good friend Evan."

I giggle my reply. "I know."

-•-

After school, I decided to take a small ride down to the beach. I lightly brush the brick wall as I travel down the footpath. My earphones were humming in my ears as I waved to surfers and sunbathers on their way to the sand and ocean.

The streets weren't as filled with people and cars as it normally would, so I made the footpath my own personal runway. Skating was so natural now, I didn't fall nor wobble. I could see why skating was so loved.

My quaint stroll was soon interrupted by a familiar ball of fluff sprinting from an alley. I skid to a halt and the patchy dog paused and ran to me. I inspect the pooch and realise why he looked so familiar. It was Davids dog.

"Hey, buddy how you been?" I greet, letting the canine lick my face. "Where's David?"

I nestle the small dog into my arms, picking him up and scanned around. I jump at a loud Irish voice calling from the alley. "Joe!!!"

I peep down the alley and the face of David meets my eyes. He stops his sprinting when he sees me, sliding to a quick halt, almost crashing into me.

He takes a moment to pant before growling breathlessly. "You again, why do you always find my dog?"

"Why do you keep losing him?" I retaliate at his hiss. My scrunched face softens as David gags for air and fans his beet-red face. "Are you alright?"

"Does it look like I'm alright? I just ran thirty miles for Joe!"

"Jeez okay, you don't have to be so mean about it."

David grumbles a sorry, his dry throat croaking his voice. I lightly touch Davids face, my fingers burning from his skin. David jumped at my touch but only turned away.

"Cmon, I'll get ya something to drink and eat, you must be exhausted running all that way," I propose, sticking my board into my school bag.

I kept the dog Joe in one hand and grasped Davids wrist in the other, tugging him down the sidewalk.

-•-

David chugs the frosty bottle of water down his throat as soon as the employed lady hands it to him. I took the teen to a small Chinese shop that I was familiar with. We sat by the window on stools with Joe hidden under the countertop.

I watch the people go by through large window before dropping a few bits of meat from my bowl of noodles to Joe who happily gobbled them up.

A man in an apron zig-zags around the shops tables and places a bowl of rice and chicken in front of David. The teen widens his eyes at the plate and quirks a brow to me.

"Why did you buy me a plate?"

"All that running must've of tired you out! I couldn't just let you starve until you walk back home!"

David silences himself and stares longingly at the plate. "Why do you care? I was nothing but mean to you since you arrived. I would've thought you loathed me by now."

"Loath you??" I snicker loudly, almost choking on the noodles. "Don't be silly! Besides, it was me who got in your way most of the time. I always thought you just hated me for competition-wise."

"I could never hate you for such a reason!" He declares boldly before clearing his throat. "I mean that's stupid."

I feel a sudden warmth burst in my chest as I gaze at the handsome boy. He had always interested me from day one. I assumed he was just a hot-headed bad boy who put people down and was way too competitive. Now all I see is a misunderstood kid who fears to express who he really is and wants. David stares at the plate of rice and chicken as if he were reading a book.

David was very intriguing and I felt myself wanting to be around him more and find out more about him.

"Can I take you up on that offer?" David questions randomly, his eyes meeting with mine.

I hum in confusion. He huffs and adds. "About you teaching Joe commands and manners? I don't wanna run a marathon next time he's off his leash."

I nod in agreement. "Okay, but you'll have to do something for me."

David gulps, a light pink brushing his cheeks. "W-What?"

"I teach you and Joe and you'll be my skating coach."

David flops backwards as if his soul was being sucked from his body. "You want ME to teach you to skate??"

"Is that so bad?"

"Huh? No, no! Course not, but you really want me to do it?"

I shuffle a bit closer. My heart beats fasten as our knees touched and I was sure about my decision.

"Okay. Deal," David proclaims shyly, outreaching his hand. I happily took it and shook it.

"Now eat your food, I don't want to hear that you passed out from hunger on the walk home," I demand sternly, pointing to his untouched plate of rice.

My stomach churns with butterfly's as David smiles fondly, a smile of happiness and dug into his meal.