48
Ashlynn
Bigger – Fazerdaze
T he book tour has flown by. One minute we started out in Colorado Springs and now we just landed in San Francisco to wrap it up. Everyone I have met has been great, with the biggest question I have gotten is if I will be writing a second book. I never really thought of it to be a series, but since I left the story on such a big cliffhanger, I could easily make it into a two or three book series to wrap up the story line. The more I think about it, I am starting to really like the idea of making it into a series.
After the signing is over, Heath and I go have a celebratory dinner and then we go to the airport to pick up Cora. I've been talking nonstop to Cora this whole time, making sure we plan out her arrival perfectly. That way, we can just hang out together with Heath. Once back at the airport, I spot Cora instantly because there is a good size crowd around her, asking for pictures and autographs. She doesn’t see me get out of the car, so I walk up behind her and say, “Oh my god! CORA HENDRIX!!!!”
She turns around with wide eyes, looking embarrassed, even though I am sure some of these kids said the same thing! She wraps her arms around me. “You are such an ass. I am not giving you an autograph or picture!”
We both just look at each other and laugh. Back in the car, we head to our hotel in Santa Cruz.
“I am so excited to watch this competition for BMX and skateboarding. I’ve never been to one like this–only snowboarding–obviously.”
Heath gives Cora a puzzled look. “You never been to these types? That’s so strange to me. I am used to them now since Ashlynn and Neha drag me to them. The guys are cool, though!”
We all get quiet for a bit until Cora asks, “so, Ashlynn, have you seen Anthony yet?”
I just shake my head. “I won’t see him until we get to the competition. However, that won’t be until tomorrow. Tonight, we are meeting Neha and hanging out at the beach. They should have a couple big bonfires going. It should be fun to just chill.”
“Yes, I love the beach and ocean. I really should have been a surfer,” Cora says.
I look back at Cora, “You have never even tried surfing!”
Cora just shrugs, “How hard could it honestly be? It seems like snowboarding; you steer with your back leg. I think I can do it!”
Heath interjects, “I am pretty sure surfing is nothing like snowboarding. Though I don’t know how to do either one!”
We make it to the beach and park at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Neha still hasn’t shown up yet, so we decide to hit as many of the rides as we possibly can. I let Cora and Heath hit the roller coaster without me. I am not a roller coaster rider! As I am waiting for them to finish up, I move toward the rail and look out at the ocean; it’s then I notice the giant dirt jumps on the street for the competition. There are three sets of jumps; right as I am looking a rider appears and does a clean double back flip, then a tailwhip, and a tuck no hander for the last set. I am lost in watching the rider. I don’t notice Cora and Heath come up next to me.
“Oh my gosh, that was so awesome looking!” Cora says, pulling me out of my daydreaming.
I look over to her with a smile. “Wait until you see what Anthony and the Overbear team are made of. They blow these competitions away!”
Cora giggles like a schoolgirl. “I can’t wait!”
Once we finish watching the few riders, we head down to the beach and find a spot to sit and wait for Neha.
About an hour later, we hear Neha being as loud as she can be. “I am here bitches and Heath!”
Heath puts his face in his hand and just shakes his head. How he has dealt with us girls the last few years on his own is beyond me, but Heath has been with us through thick and thin. “Sorry, I am late, you guys! I interviewed a few skaters; that way, I can watch all the competition.”
It is on the tip of my tongue to ask if she has talked to or seen Anthony, but Neha reads me like no one. “I talked to him, and when I told him I was coming to meet you, his eyes lit up, Ashlynn. I also brought the team with me!”
I look around because no one from the team is here with her. “Where are they?”
Right as I say that, I hear them all and turn to see Mateo and Noah heading straight toward me. I stand up right as they reach me and both give me a big hug! I pull back and smile at them. “Hi you guys!”
Right as I say this, the rest of the team makes it to the fire we are sitting by. I say hi to everyone and notice Clay and Grady are still gone. We introduce all of them to Cora, Noah and Mateo start to tell her about their brief try at snowboarding and how hard of a time they had.
“Come on, it's not that hard!” Cora jokes with them.
I keep glancing back to where everyone came from and there is no sign of Anthony or Chase. “He’s not coming tonight, Ashlynn.” I hear Nash say.
I smile at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am not looking for anyone in particular!”
Throwing his arm around my shoulder, he says, “Yeah, sure you’re not!”
We all stay at the beach until around midnight and finally, we start heading our separate ways.
“Don’t forget it starts at two tomorrow.” Mateo reminds me.
“I wouldn’t miss it, Mateo. We will be there, and be the loudest like last time!”
It’s time to head to the competition finally! I feel like this one has been talked about forever and now it is finally here! As we make it into the venue, they have tents everywhere for food, drinks, and clothing companies.
“Where should we go first?” Cora asks me.
I look around and don’t see the Overbear tent. “Let’s go look for the guys. More than likely, they will be by the tent for Overbear.”
We walk around for a while and finally spot the Overbear tent and sure enough, the team is there with all their bikes. We start to walk over to say hi to everyone, when Heath leans in. “Are you ok? You look a little nervous.”
I take a deep breath and stop walking. I turn my back to the tent, and Heath and Cora stand in front of me. “I don’t know why, but I am beyond nervous right now. What am I going to say to Anthony? Do I say ‘Hi, sorry I never responded to your text?’ I think I am freaking out a little here.”
Heath and Cora look at each other and start laughing at me. “Ash, you will know what to say and do once you see him. You guys are each other’s person.” Heath tells me. “Stay here and come over when you are ready.” Heath tells me this and walks by me to go say hi to the team.
I stand there for a while, trying to calm my nerves when I feel Cora tug on my tank top. “Oh, my goodness! Look at that guy over there. He is…I don’t even know how to describe him!”
I look over my shoulder and notice Chase standing there, looking right at us. “That would be Chase.” Cora quickly looks away, almost embarrassed. “You know, Cora, you are allowed to look. You are no longer with Brock, right?”
She is quiet for a moment. “You are right, I can look. I am single and allowed to mingle.”
I laugh at what Cora just said, “Come on, let’s go. I need to do this.”
Cora nods her head, and we walk toward the tent. Right away, I spot Anthony, kneeling and fixing something on his bike, not caring about what is going on around him. I stand there for a minute, looking at him.
“Go say hi, he has been waiting for you.” Nash whispers to me.
I look over at him and smile, then he nudges me to move.
“Hi!” As soon as it is out of my mouth, I am yelling at myself in my head for being so awkward. Really, that was my opener after months of not seeing each other? All I can say is ‘Hi?’ Anthony drops the tool in his hand and stands up. He turns to face me, and everything fades away once our eyes lock.
Finally, I hear him over everything. “Hi, Sweetheart!”
I look down at the ground, trying to hide my big smile on my face, but I soon feel Anthony grab my jaw to look back up at him. I look into his hazel eyes, and I instantly throw my arms around his neck. At the same time, his arms pull me into his body in a tight hug and he lets out what seems like a sigh of relief. I start pulling away, but he is not letting me go just yet, “Are you going to watch me ride in both competitions?”
I pull back slightly and look at him. “Of course, I am going to watch you. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Anthony pulls away and lightly grazes his lips across my forehead. “Good!” He says and turns around, starting to work on his bike again. Before I go say hi to Chase, Anthony turns to me. “You should head to the stands; Noah and Mateo are going to start soon! I’ll see you up there.”
I turn around and say a quick hi to Chase. Then, I grab Heath and Cora to head to the stands. Once up there, we see Neha and Nick waving at us and saving us seats.
“Ashlynn! It’s been forever since I’ve seen you. How the hell are you?” Nick asks me as soon as I make it up to the seats.
“Hi, Nick! It’s good to see you!” After talking for a bit and sitting for over an hour, the street competition gets under way.
Both Noah and Mateo are riding for Overbear for the Pro Rookie class. As it starts off, so far, all the riders are good. Us girls get very excited when we see that there is also a girl competing with the boys. From what we can tell, no one in the crowd has cheered for her, so we made sure to do it ourselves. I, of course, want Noah and Mateo to come in the top spots, but this girl can ride! Once she finishes, she has near perfect scores from the judges. Noah is next. He rides the street with the same tricks he did a few months back and ends it with his triple flair, which has the crowd going crazy! Noah gets great scores as well. Mateo is ready to drop in for his run; he also does a smooth ride through the street section and surprises everyone by ending his on a triple flair too! Right at that time, Anthony and Chase take a seat in front of us and both are surprised that Noah and Mateo decided to end with the same trick. I also overhear them talk about possibly sponsoring the girl rider. At this time, all the rookies have completed the street competition. We are all awaiting the announcement for the winner.
Sitting anxiously, they finally start to announce the top three winners. The announcer starts. “In third place, riding for The Overbear team, is Noah Oliver. In second place, riding for The Overbear team, is Mateo Cooper. Our first-place winner for the Rookie Pro Class Street competition is MaHailey Gordon. Our very own Santa Cruz local.”
Once the winners are announced, Mateo and Noah make their way over to all of us in the stands. I walk down to Mateo and give him a hug and tell him congratulations. He pulls back. “Ashlynn, I think I am in love! MaHailey is not only amazing at riding, but she is so pretty, and we talked before and have a lot in common. Like no family to support us.”
Right as he says this, I remember him telling me his brother was going to be here, but I haven’t seen anyone for him.
“She did kind of blow you boys away!” I tell Mateo.
He just smiles at me. “Yeah, she did!”
We go and sit down. “Why did you both end your runs with a triple flair? Mateo, I didn’t even know you had been working on that!” Anthony says.
“We thought that would make us stand out. People will know the riders of the Overbear team are the first to pull a triple flair!” Mateo says.
“I can’t argue with that!” Anthony tells them.
We sit in the stands for another hour before the Pro Riders start doing their practice runs. With each trick they are practicing, Cora jumps with excitement next to me, “Oh shit, did you see that one? Oh my gosh, what was that one called?! This is crazy what they are doing on their bikes.”
I laugh at Cora, “These are just practice; wait until they actually do their tricks that are planned!”
Right then, I hear Chase tell Cora, “Wait until you see what Anthony has been doing. Nothing we have seen before. A few new tricks he has had trouble landing them. I am certain he will get it here. Right, Ashlynn?!”
Chase looks over to me, I nod my head, “He’s always the standout of these competitions!”
Cora and Neha both roll their eyes at me. “You are just saying that because he is your guy!” Neha says.
I look over at Neha. “You know it’s true!”
She sighs, “Yeah, it really is. Anthony is on another level when it comes to BMX!”