EJShaun.com

Aliyah waved at the camera, lying flat on the concrete. Her shorts came up high on her thighs. The cameraman circled her once then panned to the surroundings. A group of skaters gathered around her. The winner of the high jump worked the crowd in the background. He took off his shirt and spun it over his head. A woman in the stands whistled. He had a muscular build that cast some defined shadows.

While the audience cheered, he hopped on his board, skating toward Aliyah. His shaggy hair blew in the wind. He was only supposed to jump over her, but Trey couldn’t resist putting on a show. At the last second, he flipped his board, soaring over her with room to spare. The crowd erupted.

“Cut it there,” he said, “Yeah, that’s perfect.”

The IT guy chuckled. “I can’t believe you heel-flipped her. ¿Que estúpido?”

The two huddled around a laptop in the media van. They reviewed the footage from the high jump, editing some of the shots. Trey wanted two clips for himself. One was him winning the competition, and the other was him jumping over Aliyah.

With all the equipment, the back of the vandidn’t offer much space. The generator hummed in the corner. A series of monitors lined one wall with a bulky control board underneath. Some wrappers cluttered the floor from lunch.

The IT guy paused the clip after the camera panned back to Aliyah. She stuck her tongue out to tease the viewers. Trey leaned in for a closer look. She was so fine. The laptop shined on his rugged face.

“Do you know that guy she’s with?” he asked, “From the video, That’s my Boy?”

“Nah, man, lo siento. I’m seen the video, but…”

Trey glanced at the monitors on the wall. The screens switched among different angles of the live stream. He checked the judges’ booth then the VIP lounge. Aliyah and her team had just finished lunch, cleaning off the table. She and her boyfriend were hugging goodbye.

He usually didn’t care about celebrity gossip, but something about that relationship didn’t sit right with him. Was the guy really just a fan?

Trey peeked at the time. The street competition started soon, so if he wanted to ask, now was the time.

He stood up. “Yo, I gotta go.”

His buddy handed him a flash drive. “Yeah, man, no problema. Thanks for bringing me lunch.”

They bumped fists before he stepped outside. A rush of ocean air washed away the smell of the van. It stunk of sweat and greasy food.

He spotted Aliyah across the parking lot. She and her manager headed for the faculty tent. Her bodyguard lumbered behind them. Trey watched them go inside as he made his way to VIP.

A security guard paced at the bottom of the stairs. He dragged his baton along the scaffolding, tapping on the metal. The burly man had a thick beard and dressed like a cop. Trey hated cops. He showed him his lanyard without making eye contact.

Upstairs, he found Aliyah’s boyfriend by the railing. The lounge had emptied since lunch. Staff members cleaned the tables and restocked the tiki bar. Trey approached with caution.

“It’s Calvin, right?”

The kid startled. At the next table, his bodyguard went on alert. A bag of chips crinkled in his hand.

“Sorry about that. I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Trey. I skate for the shop here.”

“Yeah, no, I recognize you. You won the high jump, right?”

“Oh, snap. Someone’s been paying attention. I guess we know each other already.”

He laughed. “I guess so.”

They shook hands.

“Did I get that right, Calvin?”

“Yeah, close… It’s Kelvin.”

Below, the first round of competitors warmed up. The announcer called their names over the intercom. Trey heard his but ignored it. He and Kelvin turned to the guardrail, both leaning on their elbows. Behind them, his bodyguard continued to snack on his chips.

“So, what’s the story here?” Trey asked, “You and Aliyah, are you two a thing, or? I don’t mean to be blunt, but doesn’t she usually go for guys more on her level? No offense.”

He laughed again. “No, none taken. Yeah, she’s definitely slumming it with me. Being her boyfriend will probably be the biggest I ever get.”

Trey furrowed his brow. “Nah, man, for real. What’s the story here?”

“Not much, really. We just click. I shot my shot at a signing, and I’ve been holding on ever since. I’ve been a fan for a while, so I figured I kinda knew her. I took some guesses, of course, but I just told her how I felt. No games. No tough guy shit. She sees through that, anyway.”

“So, it’s true then? Aliyah Gavins is really dating a fan.”

“Yeah, but I’ll be honest with you. We’re not actually dating. Everyone just thinks it because of that video. I doubt I could ever get that close to her in real life. If I did, I don’t think there’d be any coming back from it, you know?”

The crowd gasped. One of the skaters fell in the halfpipe. He walked it off with a limp.

Trey cleared his throat. “I dated an actress once. Last year. She was no Aliyah Gavins, but still. Cool chick. I just couldn’t handle her job. The second I saw her making out with another dude, I was out.”

“Yeah, I bet.”

Across the lounge, the bartender shouted for more ice.

“Is she as cool as she seems?” he asked, “Aliyah? She was dope in Triple Flip.”

“Yeah, she was. And she is. Cooler, actually. I recommend Boss Babe if you haven’t seen it. She’s a lot like that.”

“Thanks, I’ll look into it.” He checked his phone, noticing the time. “Hey, man, I gotta bounce. The park’s calling my name. Literally.”

“Yeah, I heard. Good luck down there.”

“Thanks, man.”

The two bumped fists as they said goodbye. His bodyguard nodded then inhaled another stack of chips. The crumbs flaked onto his suit coat.

Trey headed downstairs in a hurry. A staff member blocked his way, carrying a bag of trash. At the bottom of the steps, he spotted Aliyah’s manager leaving the faculty tent. She disappeared around back with her nose buried in her tablet.

His curiosity got the best of him. He knew he shouldn’t, but…

He jogged over, ducking inside the tent. “Excuse me, Aliyah Gavins?”

“Take a number,” she said, hidden in the far corner.

A bunch of young skaters swarmed her. The little monsters were trying to get her autograph. They stood in line with their helmets and skateboards ready. Her bodyguard towered over everybody. He was even bigger than the other one.

“Come on, guys,” Trey said, “The meet-and-greet’s later.”

“It’s cool,” she said, “It’ll only be a minute.”

The line moved like a conveyor belt. The kids all raced out afterward, shouting for their parents.

Aliyah smiled until she saw him. “Oh, it’s you.”

Trey flinched. “What’s that mean?”

“Cute little kick-flip you did over me. My manager wanted to rip your head off for it.”

“It was actually a heel-flip.”

The light shifted across her face. She glared at him under the bill of her beanie. The temperature in the tent dropped about ten degrees.

“I didn’t mean to upset anyone. I just wanted to put on a show. I skate for the shop here, so that’s kinda my job.”

She rolled her eyes. “I guess I can’t be mad at that. No harm, no foul.”

Her bodyguard bent over and whispered something in her ear. She mumbled something back before waving it off. The big man snickered.

Trey fiddled with his lanyard. “Anyway, I just wanted to come by and say thanks for taking the gig. I’m a big fan myself. I remember seeing Triple Flip in theaters.”

She folded her arms. “In theaters, huh?”

“Okay, maybe it was my home theater, and maybe it was just last weekend, but the fan part’s still true.”

She snorted.

“Speaking of fan,” he added, “What’s the story with you and your buddy? I talked to him upstairs, and he said you’re just friends. What’s that about? If it were me, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops.”

She leaned against the table. “He said we’re just friends, huh?”

“Yes, ma’am. He told me the skate video pushed you into it. And that you guys aren’t really dating.”

She sighed. “Well then, maybe we’re not.”

He huffed like she punched him in the gut. “Ouch… Does that mean you’re available? I know it’s direct, but if you’re into it, I’d love to take you out sometime. A lot of good spots around L.A. Skating or not. We could leave the cameras.”

The corner of her lips ticked up. She scratched her brow to hide it.

“Nothing against what you got going on, but I’m in no place to be seeing anyone right now. Not even my buddy. I start a new job next week, and it’s pretty demanding. So, I’m all booked up.”

Once more, a voice came over the intercom, announcing Trey’s name. It was his final call.

“I think that’s you,” she said.

He hung his head. “I think you’re right.” His bangs fell in his face.

“Good luck out there. I’ll be watching.”

He tucked his hair behind his ear. “The honorable Judge Gavins,” he joked.

“You know it.”