In The City

[Allegra]

A young girl stood in the finishing area. She imagined everything. The crowd cheering for her, yelling her name at the tops of their lungs. The adrenaline that would be in the air, in her blood.

But for now, the stands were empty, there was no excitement or adrenaline in the air. She stood there, her snowboard at her feet, her faded, baggy jeans blowing against her shins in the breeze, and her strawberry blonde pigtails floating happily behind her.

Not long now until this is your big moment at the bootom of Peak One, Season Champion. You can do this Allegra. Just keep your eye on the prize, and all willl be fine

she sat down on the snowy ground, flinching slightly as the cold attacked her backside. She saw someone approach, so she rolled up a snowball and threw it at them. She had no clue who it was, but she'd hit them square in the face.

[Jessi]

The figure picks up a snowball as well throws it at Allegra, making sure NOT to hit her in the face. The snowball lands on Allegra's left shoulder.

Hey, chill, it's just me.

Jessi walks into sight of Allegra while wiping the rest of the snow off her face. She boards the rest of the way down to Allegra then takes her board off and stands beside the sitting girl.

So, how's the weather down there?

TBC: Allegra

[Allegra]

Bloody cold! But thanks for asking!

She stood up, feeling the wet backside of her jeans against her, making herr shiver. She was more relaxed than she had been before though. Knowing who the rider was.

Sorry I hit you in the face, by the way.

She looked sheepish about it, but Jessi just laughed.'

Outside the finish line, you could hear the humdrum of the city. Cars goin by, people shouting and babies crying.

She knew she shouldn't be thinking about the outside, that's not where they really belonged whilst on the circuit. But hearing it all reminded her of her hometown, where something was always going on. Jessi saw this and immediately snapped her out of it.

Give you a race. Betcha I win.

[Jessi]

The two girls slap hands as they head to the top of the run. Jessi lags behind for a second and picks up another snowball. She throws it a Allegra and it hits the back of her head. The girls chuckle for a minute and continue on.

So, what made you decide you wanted to get into snowboarding?

The girls continue walking as Jessi waits for Allegra's reply.

[Allegra]

Allegra stops for a second when this question is asked. partly to rub her head. As much as the incident was amusing, it was a bit sore.'

She thought for a minute, trying to think of a good place to start her explanation. Then she smiled, remembering the day her father had screamed at her...again. Then proceeded to explain.

My dad had a screaming match with me while I was staying with him when I was 14. I had too much energy, and the letters were sent out to him. I'd got my fourth one that month for causing trouble. So my dad phoned my mum after screaming at me for twenty minutes. And they both decided I should take up a sport. I thought they meant like soccer or something.

But they took me to a ski club and booked me in for snowboarding lessons. And I really enjoyed it. I've a lot of energy, so it was a good release for that, so I calmed down in school. So, more by force than anything.

Allegra grinned at the memory of the day she'd been drafted. She turned to Jessi and relayed the question to her as they reached the top of the run

[Jessi]

Jessi thought for a moment, then looked at Allegra and smiled.

I surfed when I lived in Australia. When I moved here, I lost my passion for surfing and loved the snow. The feel of the cold, the crunch sound, the quietness, everything about the snow. My parents, before my mother died, took us to a local ski resort and they were out of skis. So I said I'd take a snowboard. My first time down the slopes I fell in love with it. I loved it more than dancing. When we returned to the city, I wanted nothing more than to return once again. The following winter, my mother died, and this is my first time boarding since then.

Jessi looks down at the ground and laughs a little.

I've never told that to anyone.

They stand for a moment soaking in the conversation.

[Allegra]

Allegra hadn't really known what to say on hearing that Jessi's mother dying was the reason she had almost hung up the board for good. But she was glad that was not the case. She rather liked Jessi.

She was hiding a secret though. Her father had fallen out with her when she had been drafted to the circuit. He had said the sport was only meant to be release, not someting to take to a professional level.

Allegra lightly prodded the Australian girl in the back with her snowboard and they proceeded to walk up the hill. The conversation to the halfway mark where the lift was covered childhood school, and most other random topics used when getting to know someone.

I win, you buy me a beer! You win, I buy you...something

There was a moment's pause before the two girls pushed off, theie first race down Metro

[Jessi]

Jessi thinks for a minute while enjoying the wind in her hair.

Sounds good. I'll think about what you could buy me if I win.

Jessi pushes off as she blows raspberries at Allegra. She turns forward again and looks up into the night sky.

WHOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Allegra]

Allegra blew a raspberry back, and pulled a face as Jessi sped ahead. She crouched lower, willing herself to go at the fastest possible speed. She laughed on hearing Jessi's cry of happiness. She'd obviously missed the snow.

Allegra caught up and asked if she would enjoy losing and shoved her lightly. Jessi wobbled slightly, but enough to let Allegra take a small lead

gonna beatcha! she yelled, not turning her head.

[Jessi]

Jessi crouches as well to catch up with Allegra, but she sees a shortcut and veers off to the left. She heads down a small slope and when she appears again, she's neck and neck with Allegra.

How's that for ya? There ain't no way I'm gonna let you beat me.

Jessi cuts off Allegra and gets in front of her, riding there for a while.

[Allegra]

Allrgra had the biggest grin on her face as they continued to ride downn the hill. Sure, the sudden reappearance of Jessi was unexpected, but that was part of the game, expect what you wouldn't normally.

And there ain't a hope of you beating me!

She reckoned she did a pretty good imitation of her Australian friend. She crouched lower, trying to put more speed into her run. It was quite obviously startin to fail, and she pulled a face as Jessi became neck and neck with her again.

[Jessi]

Jessi hits a jump and pulls an Indy 360. She finds a rail and begins to grind it, pulling ahead of Allegra a bit. She jumps off and begins buttering a bit down the slope before crouching again. The finish line is now in sight of the girls.

*Yells without looking back*

You're not so bad for a Sheila. How 'bouts you buy me some lollies when I win? If you win, which I doubt, I'll buy ya a shout of piss.

Jessi keeps her eyes on the finish line as they edge closer and closer.

[Allegra]

Allegra had to laugh at the Aussie slang being used. She took a wild guess at what it meant.

She remembers the long rail that runs for about fifty metres to the finish line that she had found while freeriding just to her left. She cut past Jessi and did a Method onto the rail, making the 90 degree turn into a FS Rail. She crouched and lent forward, passing Jessi after about half the rail. She rememebred she knew a bit of Scottish slang from having family in Aberdeen.

*shouts without looking*

Aye, oan ye go, n try tae bet me! Cuz itll no happen, A ken that fir sure hen!

[Jessi]

Jessi crouches as low as she can to keep up with Allegra

What happens if we tie?

With that, Jessi moves up with Allegra again. Who will win this race.

[Allegra]

Allegra starts to panic a little as Jessi catches up again. She's never had a close race since she could board at a decent pace. She crouches lower still. She also wonders what happens if they tie? It was looking more and more likely with each passing second.

The end of the rail was five seconds away. Allegra resisted the urge to doo a Misty, knowing that would definitely cost her the race. She slid off it easily pulling off a measly 180 so that she wouldn't lose the race but got a bit of adrenaline to push her ahead a little more