Slaine heard a name being called out. That beautiful voice lured him into the depth. He slowly moved down, not realising that he was drowning. She sang as she came closer to him and pressed his face between her hands. And what a beauty she was, with green eyes making turquoise blush and hair as black as the darkness itself. She looked into his eyes as she sung and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He seemed to be under a spell as he looked into her eyes. Suddenly, he felt a strong pull and she left him as he went towards the surface of the water. He landed on the pavement beside the water and coughed.

"Jesus Christ! You frickin scared me, bro. Why did you jump when you can't swim?" Jimmy asked.
"I can swim," Slaine told him.
"Then, why didn't you?"
Slaine slowly moved towards the waters and dipped his head inside it. Jimmy just stared at him. Maybe some water went into his brain?

"What are you doing?" Jimmy asked.
Slaine moved his head out of the water.
"What is it?" Jimmy asked.
"There was someone in there."
"Let's get you treated."

Jimmy picked up the wet skateboard and began walking. Slaine walked slowly as he looked at his feet. Jimmy turned back and looked at him "Now what?"
"I could... breathe underwater."
"You're imagining things. Let's go home," Slaine fell on his feet and looked at the floor.

"Slaine?"
"I did something bad today." He took a deep sigh "And I hate this."
Jimmy sat beside him and looked at the bridge.
"Everything is shattering into pieces. I'm running out of hands and fingers to grab everything that's falling off."
Jimmy just listened to him talk about Riley and how ashamed he was of his past.

"I don't know what to feel or what to do."
"You know what to do." Jimmy passed the skateboard to Slaine "Just do what you're best at." He smiled. Slaine looked at his board.
"If you think skateboarding got you into this, I guess it's nearly time to skate yourself out of it."

Slaine looked at Jimmy "Just know that I'm with you. Remember what you said? We're a family,"
Slaine took his board from Jimmy "Fine then, accompany me."
"Where?"

. . .

Riley was cruising towards the park, suddenly Frank blocked his way.
"Riley, where's the stuff?" He took out the packet from his pocket and gave it to him but Slaine suddenly grabbed his hand, "Wait,"
Jimmy stood behind him. Riley was facing Frank but he recognised that voice.

He turned back.
"I challenge you to a match, Riley. If you lose, you'll leave this drugs racquet for the rest of your life."
Riley smirked "Fine my me. But if I win," He leaned towards Slaine, "You'll do whatever I tell you to for the rest of your life."
"Alright." Slaine agreed.

"Alright?" Jimmy couldn't believe Slaine just agreed to that, "He's gone insane,"
"Trust me, Jim. I am the best around here. No one fucks with me,"
"You had this confidence even when you were fighting me." Jimmy looked at him, "Never underestimate your opponent. Some people are amazing at throwing surprises."

Slaine nodded his head.
'You shouldn't have reminded me of that...'

He stood at the top of the ramp and looked at the other side, imagining his run. It was the big air. So, there was only one chance for each run. And three runs in total. The points were to be given for every round and the best round was considered for the final comparison with the opponent.

The one with the maximum points in his best round would win.

(Big air is a sports discipline where the competitor rides a vehicle, such as a skateboard, down a hill or ramp and performs tricks after launching off very large jumps. In most versions, there is but one large jump, and therefore only one opportunity to perform a trick.)

Riley chewed a gum as he picked up his board. The ramp looked bigger as the time to start came near. Slaine's heart was beating fast as he looked at his destination. He looked at his board, it had a tiny crack on it. Jimmy had called Axel to fix Slaine's board but it seemed as if he was running late. People were beginning to gather around the ramp since no one wanted to miss the match between the infamous Slaine Benjamin and Riley Pelvinson of the Boys on Board gang.

Slaine shot a panicked glance at Jimmy who standing beside Frank and two other men who were supposed to judge.

Riley smirked, "That board might break as you skate." Slaine looked at him. Only five minutes were left for the game to start and Axel was nowhere.
"In the end, nobody came to help you." Riley grinned as he shook his head "Where are the ones you love when you need them?"
Slaine bit his lips and clenched his eyes.
"Stop it." He mumbled.
"It sucks, doesn't it?"
"Please stop."
"Knowing that you'll never be a priority."
"Who left the bag of idiots open?" Jimmy said. He and Frank were there at the top of the ramp now.
"Jimmy--" Slaine looked at him and Riley clicked his tongue.

"I've met a lot of pricks in my life but you sir, are a fucking cactus." Jimmy glared at Riley.

The horns went off and someone spoke on a mike "A match without me announcing? What a joke!" It was Tray-One of the best professional skateboarders in NYC. The only thing he loved more than skateboarding was running commentary. Beside him was Rory, Tray's best friend, who was forced to accompany his troublesome best friend.

"Hello and welcome everyone. Today is a special day when we'll be witnessing a match between Slaine Benjamin and Riley Pelvinson! What are your views about it, Rory?"
"I've heard of Slaine Benjamin among the street skateboarders." Rory was evidently an Australian, "And I think I'll know who Riley Pelvinson is after today's match."

"Wow! It looks as if we are doing something very professional!" Jimmy squealed.
"It's like we are at the X- Games." Riley said.

(The X Games is an annual extreme sports event hosted, produced, and broadcast by ESPN)

"Well, this is in fact a whole lot of pointless." Slaine looked at them.
"You sound just like Lucifer!" Jimmy said.
Riley was to start the heats. At that point, Slaine had pretty much given up that Alex would come. Jimmy asked if he should call him again but Slaine refused to disturb a busy man again.

Riley went down the ramp, and did an off axis flip thrown forwards with a 720° spin. The crowd shouted in excitement.
"The Misty 720!" Tray shouted.
"That's quite a move." Rory complimented calmly.
"Yes! It's an advanced move! Let's see how Slaine counteracts!"

The judges gave him a score of 63.5.
More and more people were joining in the crowd to see what was going on. Everyone was staring at Slaine. He had never skated in front of so many people before. It was intimidating.

He couldn't hear what Jimmy was saying anymore. He couldn't hear anything among the crowd cheers. The horns went off and it was Slaine's turn. Jimmy patted his back as he moved towards the end of the ramp. He swallowed nothing, his mouth was dry and his finger were shivering with cold sweat.

He went down at once. He could feel his board breaking. He could imagine the board snap any second. He didn't realise he was going up with such a high speed.
'I'm such to fool.' He did a full rotation in the air and landed on the wobbling board.

"A 360!" Tray shouted.
"A beginner move? I did not expect that. I expected something more..."
"Give him a break, Rory, he's only a kid."
"I've heard he's eighteen. But I guess he really is a kid from that 360 he just performed out there."
"Alright, let's look at the score. 55.2-- Not bad at all!"
"I hope we see better things coming from him in the next heat."

Slaine climbed the ramp back and Jimmy ran towards him.
"Slaine!"
"My board is breaking."
"Don't think so much!"

It was the second heat already. Riley stood beside Slaine, "Well, that was quite a move you pulled off there. I didn't know you were still a beginner." He laughed.

"You make it so hard to not punch you," Jimmy said.
"Why are you butting in?"
"Because Slaine's my friend, so I'm gonna speak for him."
"Wow, do you suck his dick too from time to time?"
"You-" Jimmy grabbed his collar but Slaine held him back.
"Stop it. He's only provoking you to create a scene." Slaine stopped him.

Jimmy left his collar reluctantly. Riley smirked "You do remember the bet, right Slaine?"
"I know."
"Repeat it for me please."
"If you lose, you'll leave the drugs racquet for the rest of your life."
"And?"
"If I lose, I'll do everything you say...for the rest of my life."

Riley leaned towards him, "Remember, everything."

Jimmy stared at him and clenched his fist because he could do absolutely nothing to help his friend

'I might actually know why you hate skateboarding and now that I know it, I hate it too.'

-To be continued

Jimmy Valentine
5500 Rebellion