Rakan: $450, $460, $470...yep. $500.

He tossed the cash onto the table while you sat back on the old couch. You were with your friends at Sett's place counting the cash that you had to spare. So far, you were good to go thanks to everyone busting their asses to do odd jobs.

Jinx: Just enough for us to enter.

Lux: And we still have a team sponsor, right?

You all looked back to Sett. The only adult in the room was still in his boxers with a white shirt that has a grease stain on it. He also wore a shaggy robe and his hair was a mess. Currently he was blending something in his blender.

Probably a drink to start the day.

Xayah: Sett?

Sett looked up at all of you confused.

Sett: What?

Ezreal: We're still competing under Sett's, right?

Sett: Oh. Uh, yeah. Yeah. When is this thing?

Y/N: Saturday. We'll have to leave early to make it to sign ins.

Sett nodded.

Sett: Sounds good. Just, uh, clean up here before you go. I don't know why I pay you kids when I should be calling the cops for you all loitering.

Rakan: You don't pay us.

Sett: Now you know why.

You all stared at him as he took the pitcher and began to drink whatever was inside of it.

Kayn: Are you drunk already?

Sett nodded as he walked back into his room.

Y/N: Well......let's get this bread?

Everyone awkwardly sat there for a moment.
---------------
RIIIIINNNNNGGGGG!!!

School was officially out for Winter break which meant a few things. Christmas was right around the corner, the skate competition was tomorrow, and you had no real responsibilities outside of those two things.

Winter cabin here you come.

Kayn: Bleh!

Kayn stuck his tounge out at the bus driver who was watching him through the mirror. You just laughed as you, Kayn, Jinx, and Ezreal held onto the rear bumper of the bus as it drove out of the school.

The kids inside watched you all from the windows as the bus driver began to try to swerve to get you all to let go.

He swerved right, so Jinx grabbed onto Ezreal who grabbed onto you and you grabbed onto Kayn. He swerved left, so you grabbed onto Ezreal who grabbed Jinx and Kayn grabbed onto you.

He then turned left so you all finally let go and allowed yourselves to get slingshot into the traffic jam. Students trying to leave school, waiting for the stop signs and traffic lights. You rode your board in the middle of the cars as some honked and others cheered you and your friends on.

Kayn swerved a bit just to make it more interesting. Ezreal tried to smack as many roofs as he could. Jinx stuck her tounge out at the people she passed by. You just rode.

The three of you sped past a particular car which held four particular girls inside.

Ahri: Isn't that the Southside crew?

Evelynn looked up and spotted you and your friends riding down the street. She smiled a bit as Akali leaned forward.

Akali: Do a kick flip!

As if she was heard, Kayn did a kick flip onto the sidewalk.

Akali: That's my man.

Kai'sa: Is he?

Akali: He is. He just...doesn't know it yet.

Ahri: They seem like they're in a hurry.

Kai'sa: Maybe they're doing Southside stuff.

Evelynn: What's Southside stuff?

Kai'sa shrugged.

Kai'sa: You're the one dating one of them.
------------
The four of you rode down the sidewalk, careful not to crash into anyone, trying to race to Sett's apartment.

Along the way at some point, Jinx managed to snatch a hat off of some dude who was sitting on a bench. She now wore the straw hat on her own head as you all reached the ocean side apartments.

Sett: About time you brats got here. Hurry up and get changed. The others already started.

Sett watched Rakan and Xayah as they practiced in the parking lot of the apartments. Lux recorded them both while they practiced their own tricks.

Jinx: Lux. Got my shit?

Lux tossed her her shirt and Jinx quickly took hers off. You tossed your bag onto the old couch and quickly changed with the others.

Y/N: Time to go.

You dropped your board and immediately got to work. Ezreal and Kayn joined you and soon, the five skaters were all doing tricks. Some worked. Some failed.

It was pretty much guaranteed that some tricks you tried out would end up with you hitting the ground. But in the end, you found that it only made your successes feel more satisfying.

Sett took a drag from his cigarette before he noticed a car pull up. Thresh stepped out and looked at you and your friends before he spotted Sett.

He headed up the steps and greeted his friend.

Sett: Hey.

Thresh: Yo. They're looking good.

Sett: Well, they've been practicing their little hearts out. Any word on our, uh, stuff?

Thresh nodded.

Thresh: You were right. The moment those things hit the shelves they were flying off them. Turns out, these kids still have plenty of influence on the Southside. They're gonna have a lot of fans supporting them tomorrow.

Sett smiled.

Sett: That's what I like to hear.
-------------
You all ended up skating back to Ezreal's to say hey to his mom after practice. You felt confident for tomorrow. Everyone did.

That's exactly what you needed.

Lux followed on her bike while Jinx followed on her own board. Hopefully she'll be able to join on the next competition.

You know. If there is a next competition.

You all laughed and joked around before Ezreal spotted his house. His smile faded away when he noticed Ryze's car parked out front. He looked at it for a moment before he realized that Ryze was strapping down some of his stuff onto the roof of the car.

Some more of his stuff was sitting next to it, ready to get packed.

Ezreal: Hey, Ryze!

Ryze looked over to see you all heading his way. He sighed and headed back towards the house.

You all came to a stop, Ezreal being the only one now quiet, and headed towards the door. However, everyone began to notice the clothes thrown across the lawn and the broken CD cases.

Ezreal watched as one Ryze's friends walked out of the house with the TV. He greeted the kids as he walked towards the car. Your friend then headed inside to see that the place was mostly cleared out. The only stuff that remained was whatever he and his mom had prior to Ryze moving in.

Ezreal's mom sat on the couch, cigarette in hand.

Ezreal: Hey.

His mom looked up at all of you and quickly smiled, as if nothing was wrong. She stood up and you all noticed that she was wearing her usual bikini top with her wrap around her waist.

Katarina: Oh, wow. You kids look bad as shit.

She walked over to her son and looked at his shirt. Lux had gone and made a few personal modifications to them. They all not had your initials on the sleeve and a personal emblem on the opposite one.

She looked at her son's shirt while the rest of you looked around the room. She hugged her son before she turned to the rest of you. While she talked to you all and offered whatever was in the fridge, Ezreal looked around the living room.

More evidence of a wicked fight.

Katarina: Go ahead. Eat whatever. I need to go shopping anyway.

You and the others all headed for the kitchen, clearly unsure about what to say, while Ezreal stayed in place. He looked at his mother who stayed silent. He gestured to the room, as if to ask what happened, but his mother said nothing.

She just walked over to her son and hugged him tightly. She shook her head and sat back down on the couch. She resume smoking while Ezreal looked over to his mom's room.

He walked over towards it and found Ryze still packing his stuff. Ryze looked up as Ezreal shoved his hands I his pockets. The boy leaned against the dresser and looked at the man, clearly expecting an explanation.

Ryze stopped what he was doing and sniffed before he found the words he wanted to say.

Ryze: She's...she's crazy, Ez.

Ezreal: But that's why you love her. Right?

Ryze didn't answer. That moment, Ryze's friend walked into the room. He stopped when he noticed the two and looked over to Ryze.

Ryze: Uh, just grab a load and give us a minute, please.

The friend nodded and picked up two more bags. He headed back out which left the two alone. Ryze walked over and noticed the new additions to Ezreal's shirt.

Ryze: You look good. You know?

Ezreal just stood there.

Ryze: Come on, man. Let me see the back.

Ezreal didn't say anything. He just turned around and showed off the back of the shirt. He turned back around almost as quick.

Ryze: I like it. Suits a pirate like you.

While Ryze was smiling, trying to ease the tension, Ezreal was unsure of how he felt. He was angry, that was for sure. But he was also sad.

The man who had been like a father to him for the last five years was leaving. Just like that. Right before a competition.

Ryze gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

Ryze: You'll always be my boy. Don't worry about that. I'll always be there if you need me.

Ezreal still stayed quiet. Ryze looked over at his surf board and smiled. He walked over and picked it up before he turned back to Ezreal.

Ryze: I want you to have this. That way you're not messing up your good board, you know?

Ezreal didn't respond. Ryze knew he wasn't going to get much if a reaction out of him, so he set the board down next to him. Ryze then nodded and left the room to finish packing.

Ezreal stood there for a moment in silence. He then pushed the board to the ground and headed back into the living room.

He grabbed his skateboard just as Lux walked out of the kitchen. With no warning, Ezreal walked out of the house and dropped his board.

Lux: Ez?

Ezreal began to skate off while Lux ran out of the house.

Lux: Ez!

Her words fell on deaf ears.

Your friend just wanted to be left alone right now.
-------------
You and Kayn sat back, full on the food you ate, while your mom yawned. She had offered to take you both out to dinner when she came home to the two of you watching TV.

She wanted to make up for not being able to go watch you compete tomorrow.

Xayah, conveniently, worked at the same place so your mom greeted her like a daughter. She talked to you all a bit before she had to get back to work with busting tables.

Your mom picked up the check and smiled while Xayah collected the plates from the table next to you.

Mom: You cut the check. Thanks, love.

Xayah looked up and around to make sure her boss wasn't around. Your mom realized her mistake and silently apologized before she brought out her purse.

She reached in and grabbed whatever money was inside of it, silently counting it.

Mom: Y/N, hon, do you have any money on you?

You chewed on the toothpick that came with your burger and turned to Kayn. Kayn reached into his pocket and handed you his debit card with a wink. You then handed it to your mom.

She looked at it, then at you.

Mom: I can't take that.

Y/N: No, no. Look. It has Kayn's name on it.

Xayah smiled a bit as did Kayn. Your mom smiled sweetly as he reached over and pinched Kayn's cheek.

Mom: I love you boys.

She gave the card to Xayah who took it to cash you out.

Y/N: So, uh, if one of us wins tomorrow, we might get enough backing to still be able to enter that surf competition.

Mom: Really? Far out. And you guys are wearing the same shirts?

You nodded.

Mom: I can clean it once we get home.

Y/N: No. I can do it. You need to sleep. You have double shifts tomorrow, right?

Your mom nodded. She looked tired.

And you hated it.

Tomorrow, you were going to give it your all.

You'll win that $500. You'll bring home that trophy. You'll get the support for the surf competition.
------------
Kai'sa listened to her music as she went for her jog. She would've liked to have done this earlier, but Ahri insisted that they go to the new Cafe. The same one that you and Evelynn went to when you met her parents.

But, it was better late than never.

She reached the beach and slowed down to watch the sunset for a moment. However, she ended up spptting someone she recognized sitting in the sand.

Ezreal stared out at the water as he allowed himself to think. Everyone had texted him to see if he was okay, but he didn't really want to talk to anyone. Not right now, at least.

He needed to get back in a good head space for tomorrow.

Kai'sa: Hey.

Ezreal looked over his shoulder to see Kai'sa walling towards him. She had noticed that he had his shirt on his board. She never knew that anyone besides Jinx had tattoos in your group.

In reality, Ezreal and Jinx were tied with having the most. You and Lux only had one while Rakan and Xayah had three and Kayn had four.

All different.

All unique.

Ezreal: Hey.

Kai'sa noticed the tone of his voice immediately. He was usually a jokester, but not now. She figured something had happened, but she also knew that she wasn't close enough to him to get into his personal business.

Kai'sa: You okay?

Ezreal shrugged.

Ezreal: No. But I will be. Eventually.

Kai'sa looked at the boy for a moment before she looked back at the sunset.

Kai'sa: Nice weather, huh? It hasn't gotten too chilly yet.

Ezreal: No. Not yet.

Kai'sa: Kayn said something about you guys heading to some cabin for winter break?

Ezreal nodded.

Ezreal: It his family's place. They let us go up there to hang out. They know we take care of it.

Kai'sa: That's cool. Me and the girls are going to Ahri's cabin. Maybe we'll see each other.

Ezreal: Maybe. Seems like you guys are always around these days, anyway.

That was true. Maybe it was because you were dating Evelynn. Or maybe because Kayn and Akali had a thing. Even Jinx seemed to be getting closer to Ahri.

Kai'sa: Hey, I was going to go get a milkshake. Kinda a winter tradition of mine.

Ezreal looked over to the girl with a raised brow.

Kai'sa: You wanna come? Maybe it'll cheer you up.

Ezreal debated it in his head. He figured there was no harm in it, so he stood up and grabbed his shirt.

Ezreal: I mean, if you're buying.

Kai'sa: Would be rude to invite you and have you pay.

Ezreal smirked a bit.

Ezreal: Lead the way.

Maybe he'll be okay by tomorrow after all.