Page 3 of Tailwhip
“So, it is all set. You will meet me at my house Friday morning, and we will pack up the car and head out on I-70 toward Denver.”
“Sounds like a plan! Hey, Ashlynn, thank you for coming with me.”
After hanging up the phone, I decide I need to keep my mind busy and off a certain someone. I moved into my new house a little over 2 months ago and still have some boxes to unpack. Connecting my iPod to my Bluetooth speaker, I hit random and start to unpack. I start with the box labeled books and when I open it, I get a big smile on my face. All my notebooks with my book ideas and poetry are in here; I haven’t read these in forever. I pick one up that doesn’t have anything written on the front, so I assume this is just a new book that hasn’t been used yet. Flipping to the middle of the notebook and shock takes over me. In the middle of the page is Anthony’s cell phone number, which he gave me the last time we saw each other at a Hawthorne Heights concert. Instantly, I get a flashback of that night. It was after we had broken up. Neha doesn’t know about this, but we ran into each other at the show and watched it together. He was holding onto me like we were still a couple, and I did not object. At one point, he leaned into me and grabbed my ass, stating that it was his with hunger in his eyes. If this isn’t a sign to go to that damn tour, I don’t know what is.
After a little over an hour, driving on I-70, we are in Denver. I park the car in the area where the event is taking place, and I am awestruck at all the tents, vendors, and stages that are set up for this tour. It almost looks more like a rock festival than an Extreme Sports tour. I might actually have a good time. I know I will have a good time once I spot the Whiskey tent! Once Neha checks in with her supervisor, we set off, looking at everything they have to offer. We are making our way to the skatepark area for her first interview, and I am feeling the excitement in the air.
3
Anthony
Rite of Spring – Angels & Airwaves
Sitting in my hotel room, looking out the window at the mountains, all I can think about is how I can’t wait to be back home in Greenville. Colorado is my home in a way since I am from here, but it honestly doesn’t feel like it anymore. My phone starts ringing, which breaks my train of thought. Looking at the screen, it is my good friend Nick. “Hey man! How’s it going?”
“Feeling pretty good. You ready to kick this tour’s ass?” Thinking to myself, I am ready to get this done with! I haven’t toured the Denver stop in four years for the Extreme Tour. I’ve never told anyone the real reason and I am not about to.
Forgetting Nick is still on the phone and talking away, I catch the last part of his sentence. “So, yeah, man, you remember Neha from high school, right? She is going to be here to interview the top athletes of the circuit and probably talk to some new kids, too.”
Instant dread is taking over. I knew Neha would be here to interview because she requested to interview me. I, of course, agreed since we know each other but made specific rules prohibiting personal questions. The sport gets lost to personal shit and I like keeping my life under wraps.
“Yeah, I heard she would be here. She requested to interview me before or after either of my events. Are you going to be interviewed by her?” I asked Nick.
He’s silent, but that’s short-lived as he says, “Hell fucking yes, I am talking to that girl. As soon as they said someone named Neha wants to talk to you, I was like, ‘Say no more.’ That girl can have all my time if she wants!”
Of course, he would say that. He has been hung up on that girl since they hooked up one night at a party. However, she is not the one slowly taking over my thoughts. What if Ashlynn is with her? She must be a writer, too, along with Neha, but I don’t know anything about her anymore. She has no social media and Neha is private, so I can’t even snoop around and see.
“Did the magazine state if anyone else will be with her, or is she just by herself for the interviews?”
Finally getting what I am talking about, Nick says, “Man, you don’t want to go down that road again. I don’t want to see you in that state again. You know how difficult it was to get you back on your bike once we made it to Greenville? Don’t do that to yourself.”
He is right, but being back home brings back certain memories, some good and some bad. The best is a 5’3”, curvy brown hair, hazel eyed girl that I always see in my dreams and sometimes my daydreams, even. “Yeah, man, you are right. That girl straight curb stomped my heart and that shit hurt. I’ve come too far to let it fall apart. Thanks for talking some sense into me.”
“That’s what I am here for. Besides, you are with Mika. She’s been with you from the start.” Yeah, Mika. My current girlfriend who I met when I was low. Though she helped me get back to being myself, it never feels right with her. Something is missing with the relationship, not to mention I am pretty sure she is now only with me because of the money. All she cares about is how much I make from each event. That is another thing I need to figure out.
Getting my train of thought back on track, I ask Nick, “What time are you gonna be at the hotel to pick me up?”
He quietly thinks and finally says, “I am almost there, my guy.”
Heading outside, I start laughing as soon as I spot Nick pulling up in his old Jeep CJ 7 from high school. “Man, I cannot believe you still have this thing and that it still runs. You were brutal on this vehicle!”
Laughing and shaking his head, Nick says, “Dude, I would never get rid of this thing. My brother has been keeping it while I do all my tours. Plus, it still runs just fine!”
Finally making it to the event, it is bigger than I imagined this stop to be. I’ve always heard Denver was a big turn out, but this is beyond my wildest dreams. As soon as we park, I head over to my sponsor tents along with my own tent for my company, Overbear, which makes BMX parts and apparel. Stopping and talking to the manager, Chase, who runs the company, I ask how everything is going and if they are set up to look at some of the newcomers about possibly getting some onboard as a part of the Flow Teams or Pro Team. He fills me in on a few guys he is looking at who will be riding today alongside me, so I know who to watch. After going over everything, I head over to do a couple of interviews, all of which revolve around the main question: why did I finally decide to come tour Denver after four years of being a big part of the Extreme Tour? I tell them it was time for me to check out one of the bigger stops and that I wasn’t aware how large it was, but that I am happy to be here to ride and meet some fans.
Heading back over to Nick, I let him know I am going to head over to the park section to get some practice runs in before the event finally starts. As we part ways, I stop dead in my tracks, as if a brick wall is in front of me. With her back to me, I spot her. Ashlynn is right there at a whiskey tent, waiting in line. She has no idea I am here, just a few tents behind her. She is here–fuck me, this is going to be a day if we cross paths. Taking the long way around to the park to avoid her, I try to keep my eye on her a bit, just to see what she looks like. Still curvy as ever, I would know those curves anywhere and fuck, she looks good. Only that girl can get a reaction like this out of me. Hopping on my bike, I hightail it out of there before she turns and sees me. After a few practice runs, the events start for the day! The excitement in the crowd is full-blown out of control.
My first and second runs for park are flawless. This is what I live for. I feel free out here on my bike. This is my peace of mind. After my runs are done for the park event, I hang out with the other riders to support them. There is a lot of talent here and there are a few kids I want to talk to about riding for Overbear either as a pro or the flow team. I need enough riders to complete a video of hitting some of the best parks across the country. I want to give as much opportunity to them as I got when I was starting at the bottom. What is the point of having your own company and a little of pull if you cannot help others out? After park wraps up and announces the place holders, I got 2nd place, which is not too shabby for me. I have a couple hours before my main event with dirt starts, so I decide to head over to the street section and watch Nick tear up the street competition. He is still just as good as when we were younger–a natural at skateboarding.
Once Nick is done with his first run, he spots me on the side and tells me to come and chill with him until he gets ready to start the second run.
I tell him, “Good job man, I saw the first run; everything looked awesome!”
“Thanks, man! How did your park runs go?” Nick asks.
I smile and he knows how I feel about them: it is the same feeling he gets when he is on his board. “I took 2nd overall. There are some good riders out there–really good riders. I talked to a few about coming to Overbear.”
“Man, I knew you would kill it. Sorry I missed it. I will be at the dirt runs though; I won’t miss you riding dirt. You always fucking kill that shit.”