Chapter 13 - Competition
“All right, kids. Listen up!” Spike yelled, ignoring the scoffing teenagers who refused to be called kids. “In about ten minutes you’re gonna be out there, yeah? And remember, if the wave is too big – don’t hesitate to pull out, no one will see that as a weakness. Now I know that you all behave really good so I assume that I don’t need to warm you to not get into any fights out there, okay? Don’t mock with anyone even if they’re mocking with you.”
A few of the older guys rolled their eyes and Spike sent them a deathly glare. “Do it or do not do it. As soon as you stand up and takes your hands off the rail, you’re ride has begun. If you hesitate just before the wave, you’re just losing points. An incomplete move will not be scored, and you only have 10 waves to show the judges that you are the best. Now, you will compete three at a time. And don’t steal other participators’ waves, I don’t want any snaking. The heats are 20 minutes long and – “
“No offence, coach,” one of the soon to be competing boys said, sighing. “But you told us all of this already and we know. You don’t need to go through it again.”
A girl who was standing beside him nodded in agreement and Spike just shook his head and with a sigh he mumbled to himself. “Well, you never learn…”
“Hey!” A guy, who just had been sitting slightly bored in the sand said, looking offended.
“Yeah, right, guys,” Spike said, running a hand through his hair and then placing them at his hips. “I know you’re excited about this but I do know that you’re nervous too. Seriously, I wouldn’t let you compete if you weren’t. That would just be weird. And even if you act like you’re not right now; you will be once you’re paddling out in the water but don’t lose your head out there cus if you do, you know you’ll bloody well loose. All right? You’ve got ten waves and don’t paddle around and try to take every single one of them at the same time, it’s better to wait for the right one. And as you see,” Spike continued, gesturing towards the sea, “the weather is perfect, well perfect for surfing at least,” he added with a shrug. “Anyway, I know you’ll do great. You’re all really good at what you’re doing. If you don’t win the heat – it’s fine. The world doesn’t end just because of that. You’re young and you will have lots of other chances. So… What do you say about getting out there?”
Buffy watched Spike pepping his team from distance, leaning on a big rock. She didn’t want to disturb them during such an important time. She observed how they stood up, slowly singing some cheering songs and walking towards the beach where the competition would be hold.
Buffy straightened up and started to walk in the opposite direction, towards Spike who was still standing where he had held his pep talk just a minute earlier.
Spike turned around at the sound of someone walking in the sand and smiled as he gazed at Buffy. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Buffy said and returned the smile as she stopped in front of him, hands clasped in front of her. “How’s it going?”
“Fine, had to calm them down a bit though. Some of them are too sure they’ll win all this without even lifting a muscle and others are completely the opposite. They’re nervous all of them.”
Buffy tilted her head with a grin. “They… Or are you the one who’s nervous?”
Spike scoffed and frowned at her. “No!” He said, unconvincing and let out a sigh in defeat. “Fine, I’m nervous as hell. Happy?”
“Very,” Buffy replied, walking up to him and giving him a friendly hug. “I think they’ll do great, no wait, I know they’ll do great. They have you as a coach. Did you forget that?”
Spike couldn’t help but feeling slightly hot in her embrace and he swallowed hard so he wouldn’t scare her away. Instead he gave her a bright smile back. “Thanks.”
“Ahm,” a voice behind him suddenly said, causing the couple to jump away from each other in an instant. Behind Spike stood Connor with his board safely tucked under his arm.
“Connor, you missed the pep talk,” Spike said.
“I’m sorry,” Connor replied, looking everywhere but at Spike. “I overslept.”
“No problem. You ready for this then?” Spike asked, patting him on the shoulder only to see Connor’s face turning completely blank. “What’s wrong?”
Connor glanced down at the ground to hide from Spike’s confused frown. “I-I’m nervous,” he replied.
Spike let out a relieved breath and shrugged. “That’s only natural, like I said to the others – I wouldn’t let you compete if you weren’t.”
Connor shook his head. “It’s not that, it’s…” Slowly he raised his head to meet Spike’s eyes. “I don’t think I can do it, but I can’t just let it be. My friends would think I’m a total geek.”
“Why would – “
“Connor,” Buffy began as she moved to stand beside Spike. “You shouldn’t do this if you don’t want to. No one’s gonna get disappointed in you if you back off.”
He shook his head and glanced past them to the competing area, suddenly a little more determined. “I want to. I will.” And with that, he left the duo watching after him as he walked towards the competing area.
“Connor?” Spike called out. “Connor!” He was just about to walk after him when Buffy grabbed his arm and stopped him from moving further. A worried frown graced Spike’s features which didn’t go unnoticed by Buffy.
“It’ll be okay, Spike,” she assured him. “It’s just nerves, everyone’s nervous right now. Even I.”
Spike let out a sigh in defeat as he glanced away from Buffy, towards Connor’s slumping back. “I hope you’re right.”
“And with that, Connor Reynolds is out of the competition. Ouch, that gotta hurt,” the speaker informed the audience and Spike gave out a sigh and rested his head in his hands while Buffy bit her lip. This was not good.
Connor had kept himself calm till he was out in the water. He missed the first wave and fell even before the second when he paddled sideways and got hit by the wave. He seemed to forget the basic stuff the moment he stood up. Spike couldn’t help but blame himself for this, he shouldn’t had let Connor compete. Even though Ryan was one of his students from the team, he couldn’t concentrate on feeling happy for him. The crestfallen and blank expression on Connor’s face worried him too much.
“Donald Brian and Ryan Baylor move on to the final. We move to the next heat with Sarah McDonald and Susan Thornton…”
“I should go and check how he’s doing,” Spike shouted to Buffy, trying to not let his voice get drown by the people in the audience who cheered when the next couple got out in the water.
“Spike, don’t you think you should let him get himself together before you go there?” Buffy asked and Spike stopped, half standing and thinking it over. She was probably right. If he were Connor, he wouldn’t want anyone there to witness his breakdown.
Sitting down again as in defeat on the bench he let out a sigh. “I hope he isn’t too messed up.”
“He’ll deal,” Buffy assured him, putting one hand over his. “I don’t think the bruises from the missing waves will hurt the most though…”
“You’re probably right. I’ll make sure to talk to him later,” he said and relaxed in his seat. Just then, Buffy suddenly jumped up in the air in shock when she felt her cell vibrate against her leg.
“So much for the relaxation,” Spike mumbled with a slight grin and Buffy looked at him sheepishly as she picked up her cell from her jeans pocket.
“I’m sorry, I’ll just turn it – “ The words fell from her mouth when she glanced at the display to see who was calling. Cordelia Chase.
That’s weird. Cordy wouldn’t call if it wasn’t an emergency.
“-off… I think I have to take this.”
“You really can’t make up your mind today, can you?” Spike joked and Buffy gave him a half hearted smile, because honestly this was making her nervous. Spike noticed the anxious look that appeared on her normally so happy and carefree face. “What’s wrong?” He frowned.
“It’s my friend Cordelia, she wouldn’t call if it wasn’t something important. Is it okay if I take this?”
“’course, Buffy,” he replied and watched her step away a few meters to take the call. She picked it up and pressed the button.
“Cordy?”
“Buffy, thank god you answered!” Cordelia screamed at the other end of the phone so high that Buffy had to make some distance between her ear and the phone.
“Gee, thanks for the tinnitus, Cordy,” Buffy said sarcastically.
“Buffy, I’m so sorry, I had no idea!” She continued and Buffy’s heart sank. Something wasn’t right.
“What’s wrong? Oh, god, is it my mom?” Buffy stammered, feeling the panic start to well up in her chest. “What happened to her?”
“Shit, Buffy, I’m so sorry!”
Buffy shook her head at Cordelia’s rambling nonsense and put a hand up in the air while she raised her voice to make her friend listen to her and earning a few glanced from the people around her at the same time, including Spike who had a frown written on his face. “Cordelia, will you quit that and tell me what the hell is going on?”
But Cordy didn’t seem to notice that Buffy started to become pretty irritated with her. “Arg, why am I so stupid? He just came…”
“Who? Doyle?” Buffy frowned. Did she and Doyle had a fight? Then why would she call Buffy and say ‘sorry’ for it?
“No not Doyle!” Cordelia exclaimed with a frustrated growl that quickly took up the previous panic. “He just told me it was okay,” she continued. “He’s a lying fucking bastard and I believed him!”
Buffy was seriously freaking out right now. “Cordy, if you don’t tell me now I swear I’ll – “
“He told me he had talked to you and that your cell went dead before he got your number, Buffy.”
Buffy frowned. “What? No one has called me except you and – “ Buffy trailed off running a hand through her hair. “Shit.”
“He said you were back together,” Cordelia continued, the regret filling her voice to the hilt. “I told him were you were and gave him your number, Buffy! God, I’m so sorry… It was - ”
Buffy closed her eyes in denial and cut her off with an annoyed tone. “Angel.”
“Glad to see you too, Buff.”
A/N: How Angel got there while Cordy still was one the phone with Buffy will be explained in later chapters, just so you know :)
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Author's Chapter Notes:
So here's the next chapter, promised it wouldn't take too long, didn't I? :)
I just wanted to tell you that I really don't know much about surfing, I was watching a show (which I don't remember the name of) where the competition was like it is in this story. I also read some stuff on the internet about it so I hope it doesn't sound too much like a book or something :)
Thanks for the reviews, I'm really glad you still like it! And look, over 100 reviews!! :D
Thank you so much Buffymon for making four awesome banners for Twisted Fate! I couldn't decide which I wanted to have in the story, so I've used all of them :) Thanks!
I just wanted to tell you that I really don't know much about surfing, I was watching a show (which I don't remember the name of) where the competition was like it is in this story. I also read some stuff on the internet about it so I hope it doesn't sound too much like a book or something :)
Thanks for the reviews, I'm really glad you still like it! And look, over 100 reviews!! :D
Thank you so much Buffymon for making four awesome banners for Twisted Fate! I couldn't decide which I wanted to have in the story, so I've used all of them :) Thanks!