“Ready to take a leap of faith?”
Alex Gaskarth grinned like a madman.

We were in the top of “The Gravity Pull”, a halfpipe so high that it was one way drop, a 35 feet fall above the ground. A single wrong move will surely make you end up in the ICU.

That is why the real pro-skaters or daredevils take this hair-rising challenge.

“Are you insane? I can’t do this, Alex! I’m going to break all my bones” I backed out the instant I looked at the very bottom.
“Sure you can, if you’re feeling scared. Just hold tight to me. I’ll never let you go, promise.” He surely reassured
I wish I never joined in the first place

Flashback
“Where are we going to anyway?” asking Alex, who led us through the maze of Baltimore’s cobblestone paths
“You’ll see” He replied
I was doubted that he wouldn’t take me in somewhere dangerous or unsafe, to think that he would bring be to a motel and….seriously Veronica.
By the time we got there, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

It was paradise. Somewhere that I wouldn’t ever want to leave
A skater wonderland
For anybody else, it was just an abandoned park with plenty of rinks and ramps, with a drained swimming pool, also littered with graffiti and rebellious kids with a plethora of piercings. But for me, it meant everything,

It was the reminiscent to the playground where Mark had given me his promise and had the best night of my life.

“How do you know that I like this place?” Jaw dropped in awe, still in a complete daze

“I believe that you and I first met by a very unfortunate accident that made your butt land on the floor…” He arrogantly smirked. I hate how he always does it.

“So that was the reason? Gee, thanks for making me remember” Replying sarcastically

“I’m not done. In reality, that has probably the best laugh I’d had for 3 months or so. A laugh that got me laughing my ass off; me and boys were really intrigued by you, the oh-so mysterious Veronica Di Angelo”
“Truth is, I’ve sunk all time low and been having the toughest of times, which I rather- You’d made us, All Time Low, feel alive, and pumped up once more .That is why I’m entirely thankful to you. “
“So here I am, telling you this
I know I’ve been a big jerk to you. I hope we can start all over again.”

The weight of his words went deep into the bottom of my heart. They echoed over and over again in my head, as if they were an unending whisper to my ear. I was stunned; I hadn’t expected any of this, especially coming from him.

“Sure. Why not?”
“Hi, my name is Veronica Di Angelo. The pretty pessimist” Giving out my hand, as a start for our new friendship
“The name’s Alex Gaskarth, Class A idiot by day, rock star at night” He snickered and shook my hand
“Ok, let’s cut the crap and have fun. Question is; do you know how to skate? Based from the recent event of your shame” Alex retorted
“Yeah I do. And I just so happened to be unlucky at that moment” I tugged him hard in the shoulder and scoffed

Gaskarth smiled and got something out of his backpack, 2 skateboards. One of which was the damned one I tripped on
“I knew you would say that. Here, it’s yours” Throwing me a one of his
“Oh gosh, you don’t really need to. I can just-“I was hesitating, I can’t take something like this from him.
“Take it. I have a zillion of these back home. Come on now. Do me a favor” Alex intensely persisted
Accepting it graciously, I tagged him along, by saying,
“Now we cruise”

The golden sun was up high in the sky, its resplendent rays, gives a light that never goes out. I managed to carve in the swimming pool and grind a railing. I was not a pro, but at least I have enough skills in doing so. There were a lot more better than me in the ramp, they were doing all sorts of tricks, that displayed pure awesomeness. Alex, to put it in a nutshell, was rather a master of it.

He defied gravity and as he skated, it was as if he floated in the air. Alex did a 360 degree turn in one vert, what they call a Caballerial. He ollied through the flight of stairs in the benches, his balance was immaculate of any flaw, perfect and in control. Inertia was like his middle name. A small parade of his band’s fans also came up to greet him.

I started to wonder how he could be so good in almost everything, yet as what he has stated, sunk all time low. Eyes that hide a shattered soul and a dark history, which he never reveals and I might never know.

If only I understood him more

“Hey! Do you want to check that out?” Alex, pulling me out of my thoughts, pointed to one hell of a deck.
“Over my dead body….” Acting like a chicken

Present
“Are you out of your mind? We could die from this, you know?” I blatantly reasoned
“Be brave, Veronica. Put your trust on me”
“This is so risky” Massaging my temples
“The best risks turn out to be the best memories of them all. So stop being a chicken and let’s do this”
“I’m counting on you. And if I ever hurt myself, the hospital’s fee is on you”
“Deal’s a deal” He firmly stated
“Challenge accepted” Taking a deep deep breath, I shoveled my skateboard, and stole a glare at Alex
“Trust me.” He repeated

I caught one more ratifying look below, gulping, Alex grasped my hand and held it tight.
“You are fearless, Veronica. And that’s awesome. Now let’s take this leap of faith” He whispered by the nape of my neck

In a second, I felt my blood rushing, adrenaline pumping, as we slid downwards. I attempted to gasp for oxygen, but my lungs seized at the exhilarating speed of our move.
Once we reached the top, nearing the other deck. Alex backsided and did an aerial, my heart bellyflopped into my stomach and I swear that I was going to puke at that time. Yet, as I looked at the view we had, it was something I would, in no way, ever forget.
We were 40 feet above the ground, and it was as if we were suspended indefinitely in the air. Maybe soaring into the majestic view of the skyline as it was dusking. The scene was surreal and so amazing,
We went to and fro, and afterwards, reached the other deck. Claps were handed and a few even hooted.

“Liked it?” Alex’s grinning wildly
“Liked it? I loved it. That was the most thrilling thing that I had done”
“Want to do it again?”
“Next time, for sure, my mind’s a dizzy hurricane right now”
“So, let’s go home now, shall we”
“Yes please.” I raced my fingers across the tangled mess the wind has done to my hair.
“But Principal Vic…” suddenly remembering
“We can do that lightning quick”

When we arrived at Packett, we finished the rest of the unpolished trophies, of course. It was about 8 pm when we were done. Maximum tired and worn off, he offered me a ride home, I couldn’t argue with him this time because my energy was now faltering.

As Alex drove through my street, I told him
“Thanks for today, Alex. It was fun and exciting”
“Pleasure’s mine” He bowed
There was an awkward silence for a while then we had approached my house
“I will remember this Saturday. And I’m sure the next one would be more thrilling” I said once I got out of the car, speaking through the window
“Yeah, me too”
“For today, you weren’t such of an asshole” Joking him
“Such only? I thought I did better?” he rose an eyebrow
“Okay. You weren’t at all”

He roaringly laughed, stared at me longing for something and endearingly, my stupid heart began to hammer yet I didn’t know why.
When he unexpectedly pulled me closed and kissed me lightly in the cheek.
Ever so lightly, that I noticed it only after, like he never placed his warm lips against my cold cheeks.
“Got ya. This is your payment for today and for the skateboard I gave” He annoyingly smirked.ugh pathetic me being unguarded.
“I’ll get you for this! Uhmm….Traitor!” landing a heavy punch in his chest. Full of anger and disgust
“I’d be waiting for that. See you on Monday, Miss Veronica Di Angelo, And I ain’t sorry about that” And by the next minute, he was gone
“Oh, you’d better be” I muttered and was going to wait in vain for my payback this Monday.

Damn Alex Gaskarth