Cheap Skate [Tori]

[Clement Evans]

In Clement's journals were a great many lists. Lists of people he particularly hated, places he wanted to go, things he wanted to try, and so on and so forth, in both fantasy and reality flavors. One of the lists regarded the things he'd buy for fun if he ever got rich, since that was the only situation Clement ever thought would facilitate wants past needs. For most kids, the list was overly simple, but for a kid who'd once gotten four Matchbox cars for Christmas period, a yo-yo was as unattainable as an iPad. One of the things on that list had been a skateboard.

So that he had one now was blowing his mind a little. It hadn't been an expensive model and it wasn't anything fancy, but it was a durable, sturdy model with a plain black grip tape top and yellow wheels. A trip to the art rooms for some advice got him his name, 'C. Evans' stenciled on the black underside in white spray paint. Dorky, maybe, but Clement wasn't going to get the thing stolen for lack of a name on it. Along with the board he'd gotten a helmet and a pair of kneepads, the latter of which had proved themselves good investments less than three minutes into their use.

However inadvisable it was for both wheels and landscaping, Clement was learning on the grass. It meant the board didn't go as fast, and it gave him something softer to land on when he fell. Clement didn't know how people who skateboarded started off, what they learned first or if there was something specific to do, so he just put one foot on, pushed off with the other, and tried to stay on as long as possible.

During his last try the board had shot out from under him when he'd tried to take his foot off to push again, Clement falling back and the board darting forward.

[Tori Peterson]

The sun had begun to go down in the sky. The offensive heat of the day was wearing off, and the temperature was beginning to become suitable for outdoor activities once more. Tori had been itching to skate for a week or so, and had run outside with her extensively stenciled and stickered board the first chance she got after classes that day. She brought her backpack, which was was empty except for a water bottle and a few snacks. Maybe she would stake out somewhere and watch the sunset.

Tori had been skateboarding for a few years, so she didn't really need kneepads or a helmet anymore. Her mom would beg to differ, but she worried about everything, as moms do. Regardless, her mom wasn't anywhere nearby to police her use of kneepads, so it didn't matter either way. She was cruising past the grassy courtyard, daydreaming about the badass stunts she could do once she got some flight training. Maybe she could take off and fly from a jump, or glide several yards and land back down on her skateboard! Maybe she could get a trainer who skateboards too and-

She glanced to her left to witness a boy epically failing even to take off on the ground. Well, that was sure a contrast from her vivid daydreams... She flipped her board up and grabbed it while dismounting and walked closer. "Need any help?" she called out.

[Clement Evans]

The fall wasn't a bad one, and it was cushioned by the grass and the fact that Clement was short and didn't have far to fall in the first place, but he still felt those three terrible seconds of pain when his back (and backside) armored up as it thumped against the ground, dissipating a few seconds later. The armor was a consideration Clement had not taken into account, though it was going to be a terrific deterrent to falling. As it was, he was probably going to have to see Dr. Nik after he finished for a can of Ensure if he kept this up. Sitting back up, Clement looked for his board and squinted when a girl walked up to him, carrying her own board. "Um. No."

Getting up, he started to walk toward where he thought it had gone, and it hit him that she knew what she was doing. He did not. Turning back, he looked at her, considering. She'd offered help (though not of the teaching sort), but that meant she probably wouldn't make fun of him if he asked. Might even have a pointer or two.

"...H-How did you start?"