"I challenge you to a beef!"
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"Cause I have thirty thousand dollars in credit card debt. When they call, I tell them I can't pay it back yet—credit card debt. Tomorrow, I may buy myself a dining room set. Or this Boba Fett. Credit card debt, credit card debt. Credit card debt."
Well, it didn't have anything to do with a credit card, but she still had some debt, and that song from the American show Family Guy got stuck in her head because of it as she stood outside a fancy yet traditional-looking Japanese building. She was here to apply for a job. When she moved here to Okinawa, she had no specific plan besides finding work and doing her best until she got things rolling. When she explored the area, she had recently discovered other businesses and could have considered, including this cozy-looking restaurant. Still, there were reasons she decided against it. It could be a good backup option though.
Sakurayashiki Calligraphy seemed promising. True, it was an assistant job, but as an artist herself, she would have no problem keeping things organized, and she could learn more about digital art and possibly animation while she was at it. Plus the pay was very generous.
Deciding that it would be best to stop lurking outside the place, she readjusted her glasses before grabbing the handle. She would have, however, if a teen boy with blue hair hadn't grabbed at it at the same time; only he was coming out of the building instead.
"Oh, sorry." He apologized with a slight tilt of his head as he noticed her appearance.
That was fine. She was used to getting looks. At least he just seemed curious about it instead of being completely weirded out.
He held the door open for her, and she was about to thank him, but she couldn't help but notice his solemn expression. She turned to him before he could walk away.
"Excuse me but were you here about the assistant job by any chance?"
She wasn't sure if it was awkward that they were both applying for the same job or if she could use whatever he said to her advantage.
"I was but I didn't get it." He told her which explained why he wasn't all that chipper right now.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." She spoke, not entirely sure what to say about it.
"It's fine. I was denied only because I didn't meet the age requirements."
Many places refused to hire minors, so that made sense. It wasn't useful information, but seeing as though they were in the same boat about looking for a job, she spoke up.
"Eh, don't make that face." She lightly teased. "Just because this didn't work out doesn't mean that a new opportunity isn't around the corner."
She could've sworn that she heard another male yelling in the distance but she didn't have time to wonder about that. Hoping to give the kid a little encouragement, she bowed to him and wished him good luck before disappearing inside the building.
There was a sign that told applicants to head upstairs for their interview so that's just what she did. Checking the time on her phone, she saw that she was right on schedule and knocked on the door. A moment later a man with pink hair, glasses, and traditional Japanese clothing was there to greet her.
"Ah, you must be my other appointment this afternoon. Please come in."
She thanked Mr. Sakurayashiki as he led her over to a sitting area. The woman felt her heart rate increase as she settled into her seat for the interview even if it was uncomfortable. Their surroundings seemed to blur as her mind raced with thoughts about making a good impression. She took a deep breath, trying to push aside her nerves, but they continued to rise like a tidal wave. She questioned herself silently, wondering if she was ready for this moment. The weight of the unfamiliar environment only added to her anxiety.
"Let's see.. And your name is..?"
She cleared her throat and was about to answer when a feminine voice spoke before she could.
"Meli Hokuto. Age: 24. Nationality: Hawaiian."
The voice was from some device sitting on the table that formed a purple hologram of the letter C and she could have sworn that a heart appeared by the man's head as he thanked the machine for the basic information that was already listed in her application.
"Is that an a.i?" She found herself questioning, wondering if it was a Japanese version of Alexa or Siri.
"Yes, it is. She is my a.i. Carla that I programmed to assist me, and while she is a delight, I'm afraid she can only do so much."
"Wait, you made Carla on your own? That's actually really impressive." She complimented.
"I appreciate that, but let's continue with the interview shall we? What type of work did you use to do before applying here?"
"Oh, well, I was mainly a school nurse, but I did have this part-time thing at a tattoo shop." She informed him of her old jobs. "My sister owns a shop in Hawaii, and she bought some designs from me that I made."
She had some tattoos, but they weren't visible with the clothing she wore to try to appear somewhat sophisticated and presentable for this new job.
"So you are an artist?" He questioned making her rub the back of her neck sheepishly.
"Well, I'd like to think so. I've done other projects besides designing tattoo ideas, and I'm usually good at keeping things organized, so I shouldn't have any issue with any tasks you might give me."
Mr. Sakurayashiki nodded his head.
"I see. May I ask why you chose to apply for an assistant job instead of following another career that may benefit your skills better?"
'Cause I'm a broke ass bitch and need money fast.'
She didn't actually say that out loud but that was sadly the case. She needed a job with a good paying rate that would allow the payments of her debt to go more smoothly. She tried to come up with some other answer, though, that wouldn't make her seem desperate.
"You're a bit of an artist yourself, aren't you?" Meli questioned him. "Our art styles might be different from each other, but I can appreciate creativity when I see it, and I don't mind helping out. Also, I just moved here, so when I saw that you were hiring, I figured I would jump at the opportunity to get my life on track here."
Hopefully, that didn't sound like she was just going in blindly with the first thing she came across without thinking it through first. It wasn't the first business that she noticed, but it was the first to catch her interest, so she was going to give it her all if he decided to hire her.
They hadn't been sitting that long but she already wanted to reposition. Being on her knees for an extended period was uncomfortable. She knew that she would have to speak up about her condition sooner or later, but what if he looked at her differently because of it, and it was the reason he turned her down? It really wouldn't interfere with her working all that much but she's had people treat her as if she was weak before. She hated it. She wasn't weak.
"I have to say that you are the most promising applicant that I've come across today." He crossed his arms over his chest as he closed his eyes in thought for a moment. "Would you be able to meet tomorrow to discuss your schedule and all the tasks that I expect you to keep track of?" He questioned as he opened his eyes and looked at her expectantly.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"I-I mean yeah, of course! Does this mean that I got the job?"
She didn't want to seem too eager in case this was only phase one but things were looking good for her so far.
"We'll see how things go tomorrow, but so far, I'd say that it is as good as yours." He smiled at her.
Meli couldn't contain herself. She pumped her fist in the air and excitedly yelled out, "Yes!" before she realized that might not be appropriate and cleared her, throat awkwardly.
"I mean that sounds great, thanks. So what time do you want me to be here tomorrow?"
"Hmm. Why don't we meet for lunch tomorrow around noon? There is a restaurant I usually recommend for my clients when we meet to discuss business but I am more than happy to treat you and help you get more comfortable with the idea of us working together."
Meli was almost caught off guard by his generosity, considering her former boss had been a bit stingy. A lot stingy. She wasn't one to pass up free food though so she politely accepted his offer.
"That sounds like a good idea. Now which restaurant were you thinking of?"
"Sia La Luce."
When he said that, Meli instantly recognized it. It was the same restaurant she possibly would have considered applying to if this didn't work out. Sia La Luce was an Italian restaurant and she wanted to be able to try the food someday, but was afraid that she wouldn't be able to afford it so this was a pleasant surprise. She would be sure not to order anything too expensive though. She didn't want to come off as greedy when this man was offering to do something nice for her.
"I do believe I know of the place. I look forward to giving it a try." She smiled politely hoping that it seemed genuine despite the cramping she was feeling in her thigh.
Luckily for her, the interview seemed to be wrapping up so she went to stand just as he had. Her movement was a little slow and she wobbled for a second which didn't go unnoticed by Sakurayashiki.
"Are you alright?" He questioned, noticing the uncomfortable expression on her face for a slight moment before she recollected herself and smiled once again.
"Good. I'm good. My leg was just starting to fall asleep from sitting so long."
It really hadn't been that long and while her tense tone was a bit strange, he just simply nodded to appease her wishes not to discuss it any further and escorted, her to the door.
"It was a pleasure meeting with you, Miss Hokuto. "I look forward to seeing you again."
He had bowed to her and the next thing she knew, she was back outside and walking down the street.
"Okay Mel, you got this. The interview had gone as good as it could have."
It would probably be best that she stop talking to herself before someone hears her. Still, though, it felt as if she were able to start breathing again. Sure the situation with her debt would still be slow going but at least things were beginning to look up. Pulling out her phone, she saw it was still late in the afternoon and she had no idea what she was doing for dinner. Looks like now would be a good time to visit her roommate and let him know how her interview went. Luckily he worked just around the corner.
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As Meli pushes open the door, a small bell chimes above her head, announcing her arrival. The shop is small and cozy, crammed with skateboard decks, wheels, and all sorts of skate-related gear. The walls are covered with brightly colored skateboards and graffiti art, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Dope Sketch was a nice little skateboard shop. She had meant to stop by and see how her friend was doing with his business since she had moved to Okinawa last week but didn't get around to it until now.
"Welcome! I can help you in just a sec." A voice called out and Meli turned her head to see a red-headed teen attempting to hang a board on a display on the wall.
Attempting was the keyword since he was only doing it with one hand while his other arm looked to be wrapped in bandages. It wasn't catching right on one end so before he could slip off the crate he was standing on, Meli walked over, and while she had to stretch her arm up a bit, she grabbed one side and helped lift it so it was on the rack correctly. The boy wasn't expecting someone to appear beside him so when he went to turn to see who it was, he lost his footing and would have toppled over if Meli hadn't placed a firm hand on his back and given him a slight push for him to stay upright.
"Easy there. Don't need to be injuring your other arm."
"Yeah, Oka might of had a point for me to wait before doing this on my own." The teen spoke as he hopped off the crate properly before turning to see who had entered the shop.
A look of surprised interest came across his face for a slight moment before he offered his best welcoming smile.
"Sorry about that. What can I do for ya? You looking to try out a board?" He questioned with interest, seeming fully prepared to give her a small tour of all the options she could choose from if he had to.
While his excitement to try and sell her on a board was kind of amusing, she had to unfortunately disappoint him.
"I was actually hoping to speak to Oka. Is he still here by chance?"
There was that look again. She supposed that he wasn't expecting some woman to come in and want to speak with the manager directly, but he just nodded and told her that he was somewhere in the back. While he went to fetch him, Meli took another look around the store. As she turns her gaze toward the skateboards stacked near the door, one particular one catches her eye - a long, wide deck shaped like a surfboard. She approaches it, her fingers tracing over the smooth surface. It didn't currently have a set of wheels, probably so that the customer could pick them out themselves, but that just made it look even more like a surfboard. She can almost reimagine carving through the waves on a beautiful summer day, the wind in her hair, and the salt spray on her face.
"Wasn't expecting you to come by."
Meli was snapped out of her mini trace as she heard Oka step into the room. She gave a playful roll of her eyes before she turned towards him and walked up to the counter he was standing behind.
"What? A girl can't visit her roommate?" She questioned with a teasing smile while a look of shock came across his employee.
"Roommate? You never told me about this!" The redhead looked back and forth between the two, his mind seeming to make assumptions as Oka shook his head.
"Since when did I need to update you on my personal life?"
"But I thought you were into that daycare chick?" He recalled that his manager had been bummed that he hadn't lucked out with her yet, but here he was with another woman he had no clue about until now.
"Whatever conclusion that pea brain of yours came up with isn't true." Oka crossed his arms. "Meli here is just a good friend and I'm letting her crash at my place for a while since she just moved here recently."
"Meli?" The boy repeated. It was definitely from another nationality cause he never heard a name like it before around here.
"What did I tell you about stacking inventory up high?" Oka gave a lecturing tone when he saw the crate which was a giveaway that the boy had been standing on it. "I told you I could handle that, Reki."
Oka was immediately met with an annoyed expression.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I was working for my mother." Reki replied sarcasticly which caused Oka to sigh.
"Hey, I'm just looking out for you. I would prefer that my only employee doesn't have another mishap." He spoke as he nodded towards Reki's bandaged arm.
"At least he still has a good work ethic." Meli piped in which Reki thanked her for taking his side.
"Well, if you are sure that you don't need a break, can you start gathering up the supplies needed for the customer's board?" Oka asked as he handed Reki the paper that had all the customization notes written down.
Reading it over, Reki raised his brow before he shrugged and disappeared into the back to make sure that they had the correct color of spray paint needed.
Meli then felt something soft brush against her leg and she suppressed a squeal as she carefully bent down to pick up the fennec fox that had come out of his house that had been built for him behind the counter.
"Hey Sketchy, I missed you, buddy." She smiled at the little guy as she held him close to her.
"You literally saw him just this morning." Oka reminded.
"It's been far too long." Meli dramatically replied, giving a little scratch behind Sketchy's ear.
Oka gave a light chuckle as he leaned against the counter.
"I take it that your interview went well?"
"Don't want to jinx myself, but I think I have this job in the bag," Meli smirked confidently. Maybe if she kept up this front she would be able to manifest everything going smoothly.
"Good to hear. I was considering asking you for a favor, but I gave the job to this kid looking to make a quick buck instead."
Meli raised a brow at that, already having an idea who he was referring to.
"Did he happen to be a blue-haired boy around Reki's age?"
"You know him?" Oka answered her question with his own seeming surprised that she already met him.
"He tried applying to the same place I am, but didn't luck out." She explained. "What job were you offering?"
"Just a quick delivery since Reki can't drive currently and I'm busy that night."
Oka stopped to look at Meli as if he were contemplating something.
"If you're trying to check me out, I'm not interested."
"Pff. As if." Oka scoffed playfully. "No, I was wondering... Do you have any plans tonight?"
"Besides a hot bath and continuing to read my book? Not really. Why?"
"I saw the way you were looking at that skateboard." Oka pointed out. "It reminded you of your old board, didn't it?"
Meli shifts her weight slightly, feeling a tad uneasy with the topic of conversation. She subconsciously tightens her grip on the tiny creature in her arms. Her face is impassive, but anyone familiar with her would notice the subtle signs of unease - the slight furrowing of her brow, the pursing of her lips. Despite her outward coolness, she was feeling anything but comfortable.
"That life is behind me now and what does it have to do with tonight?"
"Okay, my bad. Didn't mean to reopen old wounds." Oka spoke apologetically, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "But let's face it. You've lost your spark, but I might know of a hangout spot where you could retain what you're missing."
Meli wasn't sure if she liked the gleam in his eye. Nothing good could ever come from it.
"Oka you know I'm supportive as hell, but I don't think I'm going to suddenly bounce back by watching you and your buddies at a skatepark."
"This is bigger than some park and you could always give skating a try yourself you know. It's about time you tried a new hobby and I can't think of anything better."
At 24 years old? The saying that it was never too late to try something new felt meaningless in this sense. Skateboarding was something that was better discovered in your teens and even if Meli were to consider it, it would be twice as hard with her condition. It just didn't feel like an option.
"I appreciate you wanting to help me get out there, but.."
"Okay. I expected you would be stubborn about this so how about we make a deal?" Oka persuaded with his smirk returning.
"You know I can't take you seriously when you make that weird face."
"Rude." Oka gave a slight roll of his eyes. "But hear me out, okay? I will deduct your half of the rent next month completely if you at least come with me to check the place out."
Damn, he was serious. Oka was already being very generous and gave her a great deal so she could afford to stay in his two-bedroom apartment with him so she could focus on her other finances, but getting a month off from rent was very tempting. It probably wouldn't hurt to just look at the place, right..?
"...So what is this place called?" Meli found herself asking which gave Oka the satisfaction of knowing he had won this little argument."
"It's known among the best of skaters as S.."
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The first and probably only rule about S was not to talk about S. Oka had made it very clear that the races that took place in the abandoned mines were top secret. It wasn't like she had any other friends to gossip about it to anyway so keeping her mouth shut wouldn't be a problem. After he had gotten out of work, Oka went to grab a sticker for Meli so she could get through the gates saying that he knew a guy while Meli met him back at the apartment where she got dinner started.
As the hours tick by, Meli's initial reluctance to go tonight gives way to something unexpected: curiosity. She had been against the idea at first, but now she finds herself wondering what this infamous skating scene is really like. The fact that it's at midnight adds to the intrigue, and she can't help but keep checking the time. When it came closer, Meli threw on a pair of black leggings and a teal sweatshirtq. Not knowing what to expect, she ditched her glasses for contacts. She wasn't a fan but used to wear them when going to the beach all the time so she grew used to putting her finger in her eye.
"Mel, we need to get going!" Oka calls from down the hall.
"Coming!"
Meli didn't have time to fix her hair so she just left it loose. Saying bye to Sketchy on her way out, Meli put on her shoes before heading out the door and meeting Oka in his car.
"You're lucky that we aren't going to be late for a beef tonight," Oka told her as he started the car before taking off down the road.
"Beef? Oh you mean the races that take place there?" Meli questioned, remembering some of the details he had shared with her earlier.
"Exactly. There isn't one specifically scheduled till the day after tomorrow, but sometimes random ones can happen in the heat of the moment, and trust me when I say that there's still a lot to see."
He seemed so confident that she would like what she saw. They glided past storefronts adorned with flickering neon signs and empty streets illuminated only by the dim glow of a few yellow street lamps, before turning onto a secluded dirt road. For a few minutes, it was quiet with only the sound of the tires crunching under the dirt as Meli looked down at the sticker Oka had given her. It was an S with an arrow through it. She wondered who came up with the design.
She was brought back to the reality of her surroundings when she heard a car horn in the distance. Looking out her window, she saw a ton of skaters begin to pass by them with some dressed in costumes while others went for a more casual fit. She had been eyeing four women with butterfly masks when a light suddenly shined right in her eyes and she had to squint to see that a man with a red cap was standing right outside her window with a flashlight as they slowed to a stop right outside the gates.
"Show him your sticker," Oka advised as he did the same with his.
Doing as she was told, the man nodded in approval before waving them through and turning to the next group waiting to get in.
"Any thoughts so far?" Oka questioned as he scanned for a parking spot.
"It's.. Very bright and colorful."
Meli wasn't sure what to make of it. For a place that was deemed top secret a lot of people sure knew of its existence. Oka parked next to a pink car and Meli was about to step out when Oka spoke up.
"Oh, by the way, your soon-to-be boss comes here."
Hearing that, Meli immediately got back in the car and put her seatbelt back on. She turned to Oka looking flabbergasted.
"The hell you mean Mr. Sakurayashiki is here?!"
"He keeps his skating life completely separate from his work life, but thought I would give you a heads up in case you saw him."
Oka reached over to undo her seatbelt but the stubborn woman just clicked it back in again.
"Heads up? You waited until after we already got here to tell me! What if this somehow jeopardizes me getting the job?"
"That would be very hypocritical of him if he didn't hire you because of this." Oka sighed seeing that Meli still wasn't budging. "Okay fine. If you're that worried here.."
Oka reached into the backseat behind him where he grabbed a plain black mask and handed it to Meli.
"Noting spectacular, but it'll cover the lower half of your face and part of your neck." Oka tried to convince her to give it a chance. "And it's not like you'll be putting on some performance where everyone will be watching so as long as you play it cool and just observe like you planned, you'll have nothing to worry about."
"...Fine." Meli puffed out her cheeks as she took the mask and put it on. "But if anything goes south we abort the mission immediately and you'll owe me."
Finally getting out of the car, Meli took a glance around. She definitely wasn't in Kanas anymore. They were still close to the entrance, but hearing a crowd hooting and hollering in excitement further down, she had a feeling this place was a lot bigger on the inside. Meli walks alongside Oka, taking in the sights around them. There are groups of skaters practicing their tricks nearby, and now and then, she catches a glimpse of one of them successfully nailing a complex move. It brings back memories of her surfing days when she would feel the same rush of adrenaline and satisfaction as the board glided smoothly beneath her feet. She can't help but feel a pang of nostalgia as she watches the skaters, their movements fluid and graceful. Meli can almost feel the saltwater spray on her face and the sun beating down on her skin.
"And this is the part of Crazy Rock where a lot of people sometimes fight over whose turn it is on the halfpipe," Oka explained as they reached one of the upper sections that seemed like a popular hangout spot.
Meli watched as a woman caught a bit of air as she skated up the halfpipe before reangling her board with her feet and gliding back down. She didn't have any history with skateboarding but that sense of familiarity remained.
"Hang tight for a sec," Oka told her as he spotted a redhead in the distance trying to nail a trick he had learned recently. "I gotta go lecture my employee."
"Hey, wait!" Meli began to call out for him not to leave her alone but he told her that she would be fine for a minute as he stepped away.
Now that it was just her, Meli took a breath and told herself that everything would be fine. Just continue watching the pretty skater like everyone else. She would have, however, if her attention wasn't turned to a group of girls nearby squealing loudly in excitement that made Meli nearly want to cover her ears.
"Look, it's Joe!"
"He's finally gracing us with his abs again!"
"It's only been a couple of weeks, hasn't it?"
Who? Meli narrowed her eyes in confusion at their strange comments as she followed their gaze where she caught a glimpse of a buff green-haired man walking by with a woman on either of his side. He was smiling as he talked to them, but there was a hint of smugness in his expression that sort of rubbed Meli the wrong way. Despite the reactions that all these women were giving as if they were lucky to breathe the same air as him, Meli didn't feel all that impressed.
"It's been a while since Joe has been in a beef. Do you think he'll win his next one?"
"We'll of course he will! That's a silly thing to ask! Joe is the best!"
Meli found herself scoffing and rolling her eyes at that. She thought no one would notice, but she was highly mistaken. One of the fangirls heard Meli and narrowed her eyes at her.
"Excuse me, but what is your problem? You think we're wrong or something?"
"Maybe she's just team Cherry?" Another suggested but then quickly added. "But that gives you no right to disrespect our Joe!"
Who the hell was Cherry? Meli was inwardly cursing Oka as she finally turned her body towards the crazy fans.
"I don't know who you're referring to and I don't have any interest in finding out so if you'll excuse me.."
She was about to just be on her way and find Oka when she felt a tug on her curly black hair that pulled her back and caused Meli to wince.
"You've stepped foot in this place and you don't know who the legends of S are? You're clearly a newbie and not much to look at if you ask me." A woman looked Meli up and down as if she were gum scraped off her shoe.
Meli's eye twitched. She wasn't going to take that. With a huff, she marched forward and gave a shove to the woman who had insulted her causing the others to gasp.
"Like you're any better! I don't see you with a board either so if you can't even back up your claim maybe you should just shut your trap and walk away."
She probably shouldn't be picking a fight right now with a brunch of crazied fans but they started it and she was only standing up her herself. The woman that Meli had called out was about to say something when someone beat her to it.
"What's going on over here?"
Shit. Their squabbling had gotten the attention of the man himself who had made his way over. The other girls had all stepped to the side so that Joe's line of vision landed on Meli in the middle who wanted to shrink from how out of hand this had gotten.
"Joe!" The girls squealed as if their handsome knight was there to save them.
Dumb damsels.
"This mean girl called you a terrible skater!"
Meli resisted the urge to roll her eyes. If they were going to tattle on her they could at least do it right.
"Don't put words in my mouth. I never said that," Meli replied. "If you're great at skating good for you, but how can I agree that you're some "legend" when I don't know who you are?"
Meli used air quotes around the word legend. She hadn't been trying to smack talk him, but she might consider doing so if he winked flirtatiously at her. Joe's reddish brown eyes met with her olive green colored ones. His facial expression had remained neutral as he listened to what she had to say, before what she supposed to be a charming smile appeared.
"Can't argue with that, I suppose. Even if you did know where my skills lay, you're not entitled to obsess over only me when there is plenty of talent to go around here."
She had been tempted to stick her tongue out at the other girls and yell "Ha!" that he wasn't falling for their bull, but that cocky grin returned as Joe made his way closer to her until he was directly in front of her.
"But that doesn't mean that I won't try to convince you firsthand who's really the best around here.."
Meli raised a brow suspiciously as she leaned back away from him as if she would be poisoned if he were to lay a hand on her. Joe wasn't that kind of guy, but he was still confused as to why this woman seemed rather annoyed than the reactions he was used to where women fawned over him. Sure some women were more into Cherry, but he wasn't used to getting that look she was giving him.
"You're not from around here, are you babe? You wouldn't happen to know your way around a board, would ya?"
"Not in the way you're used to." Meli found herself saying; still not falling for his charm.
"Oh, well color me intrigued. If that's the case then why don't you show us what you got?"
Huh? What started as pointless banter quickly escalated into something Meli hadn't prepared for. The girls surrounding them all gasped as they excitedly began to talk about getting a chance to see Joe race again, but other skaters among Crazy Rock were quickly getting word of what was going down as well.
"You mean you want to race against me?"
Meli's nonchalant attitude began to falter. She hadn't expected anyone to challenge her. She was a former surfer, not a skater. She didn't know the first thing about skating despite being friends with someone who was a manager in a skate shop. But even if she was more educated in the sport, there was no way she could skate on a whim considering-
"How disappointing." Joe noticed her hesitation and frowned. "I was up for a race, but it looks like you won't be able to hack it. It's too bad though cause you seemed like a worthy opponent. Guess I was wrong."
Meli's eye twitched again. He didn't even know of her condition but it still felt like he was treating her like she was beneath him. She hated people who didn't think she was capable of so much more. The logical part of her brain must have been on vacation cause she felt the need to prove this bastard wrong. Prove that she wasn't weak. She folded her arms across her chest as she took a confident step forward.
"The only one who's going to be eating their words is you," Meli spoke as the surrounding crowd began to whisper to each other that a beef was most likely about to go down.
It was Joe's turn to raise a brow now. As amused as he was, he wasn't expecting this woman to be so bold.
"You sure you know what you're getting yourself into? The rules of S state that once someone steps on a board out here, they will have to race, but you seem to be lacking one."
That little setback wasn't going to stop her.
"Oh, just you wait. I will get myself a skateboard." Meli declared assuringly. "You best meet me at the starting line Mr. 'cause I challenge you to a beef!"