Page 84 of Tailwhip
49
Anthony
Find My Way – P.O.D
As I am standing talking to Noah and Mateo about their street rides, I hear over the system the announcement for all the Pro Riders to make their way to the deck for the start of our street competition.
“I’ll talk to you guys in a bit!” I tell them all and turn to head for the stairs, but I stop and turn around to face Ashlynn. “Don’t leave–I want to see you after I am done.”
She gives me a puzzled look at what I just said to her because she has already told me she was going to watch me, but I don’t expect the response she gives me. “I’m not the one who leaves.”
Damn, that was like a shot to the heart. I nod my head once and walk away.
As I walk away, I hear Neha of all people coming to my defense. “Dang, Ashlynn, that was a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
I barely register Ashlynn’s response to Neha. “I don’t know why I said that shit!”
As I take the first step down the stairs to grab my bike, I feel Ashlynn gently grab my wrist. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that. I shouldn’t have.”
I turn to face her. “I deserved it. I did leave you when I knew I should have stayed.” I take a step up on the stairs, to the point Ashlynn takes a step back. I put my arm around her waist and pull her into me. Her hands instinctively go to my shoulders, and I look in her eyes, telling her again, “DON’T LEAVE!”
I turn and go down the stairs before she can even reply to me. I know she is going to make things hard for me, but I wasn’t expecting to be on the returning end of her sarcastic smart-ass comments. I am also trying to tell myself to be patient and try not to come off desperate, wanting her back. I lost my cool on the stairs, though.
I push thoughts of Ashlynn out of my mind because now it's time to ride and showcase the new tricks I've been working on. I have had trouble landing one in particular and am using it as my closing trick, so I send a prayer to the BMX gods that they help me land the damn thing! I make it up on deck and stand by Nash. Jax sat out this competition and just wanted to watch the team.
“Everything ok with you guys?” Nash asks.
I look at Nash and just shake my head. “She is going to make me work for it; she is such a smart ass, and she’ll be stubborn as hell, too–just to mess with me.”
Nash laughs at me, patting me on the back. “Were you expecting her to just have open arms for you?”
I look over at him, all serious. “Kind of, yeah!”
After that, they announce Nash for his run and he does a clean run, with double back flips, clean decades and manages to get enough air to do an impressive superman and finishes with a clean rail ride to a bar spin. Nash gets near perfect scores for his run. After Nash, several other riders go through the street setup and I just keep glancing over to the crowd to make sure that Ashlynn is in fact still there–which she is. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Finally, it is time for me to start my run. I make my way on a taller ramp for my drop-in. I put my helmet on and pull my gloves on and wait for them to announce my start.
“Let’s hear it for the last Pro Rider for the street competition, Anthony Ville, rider and owner of Overbear!” The crowd erupts in cheers and my new song blares over the speakers queuing me to start. I start with a Flipwhip drop-in, to some filler tricks of tailwhips, and decades over the hip. My next big trick is a wallride to flair whip; once I land, I get my speed back up to do a frontflip no handed flair. From what I know, no one has yet done that combination in any BMX competition. At this point, the Overbear team riders have mastered the flair in different variations. Once I come down on my landing, I head to the rail, and this is my final and hardest trick I have had trouble with. I come up and do a double peg grind up the rail to a front flip. I land it with no trouble. I get back up on deck. Nash immediately comes to me and smacks my helmet.
“Holy fuck, dude! That was an insane run!”
I look over at the crowd and at our friends; they are all standing and going crazy. Ashlynn has moved to the rails, with the biggest smile on her face. I nod and smile at her, lifting my gloves so she can see them. She puts her hand over her mouth once she sees that they are the ones she got me, and they still say “Always, Always” on them.
Nash took second place, and I took first for the Pro Rider street competition. I am starting to head back to the stands where everyone is, but I get stopped by a guy who wants to ask a few questions for an article. “Congratulations on your win today, but none of us are really surprised that you won! How did you come up with those new trick variations?”
I smile and chuckle. “Lots of practice and patience. I hadn’t yet landed the last trick, so I was a bit hesitant today, but luckily, I was able to pull it off.”
I wait for the next question; this kid seems a bit unorganized. He must be new at this. “There has been a lot of debate as to what exactly the meaning of ‘Always, Always’ means that is written on your gloves. You have worn these in a handful of your last contests. Can you or are you willing to tell us what it stands for–let us all in on the secret?”
I was not expecting that question; I let out a small laugh, but can also feel that I am getting choked up a bit. So, I make it short and tell him, “It is for someone who is special to me, that’s all I want to say about it.”
After that, we wrap it up and I quickly ride away before he can ask anything else or if I would elaborate on what I mean.
Once I ride off, I decide to not go to the stands and go behind the ramps and try to steady myself. I wasn’t expecting to get choked up over a simple question, but she is here. I know what I need to do now, and I am freaking out. Deep down, I know she will forgive me, and things will be okay. However, I don’t know what the hell I am going to say to her. I know I need to apologize, but what else should I say? I could really use Nick and Chase or–hell–even Nash or Heath to talk to right about now. I look around a ramp, making sure no one can see me. Everyone has left, other than Ashlynn. She is waiting for me, but I just can’t face her right yet. I need to compose myself. I look back out and catch her retreating figure going down the stairs. Right then, I get a text from her.
The stands fully clear out, and I sit on the ramp’s edge for a while, getting my thoughts in order. I slide down and grab my bike and ride to our tent. Once I get there, everyone is sitting around, eating pizza and just catching up with each other. When Mateo sees me, he starts to shout, “There is the winner!!”
All our friends decide to cheer and clap loudly as I walk up. I take the seat that is open across from Ashlynn. She is talking animatedly to Nash about who knows what, but I just sit there and steal glances at her. I love how she is no longer trying to hide her scar on her face; she is relaxed and having fun. Right then, she catches me staring and I quickly avert my eyes and try to look at anything else, but my eyes look back to her and she is smirking at me.
“Anthony, this is Cora! I couldn’t introduce you earlier.”