JJ's JOINT
by Eri

[ Chapter 1: The Tsunami Riders ]

Tsunami Point. Very hot and humid summer; about 100+ degrees Fahrenheit. The girls were running late. Ten minutes late from the original set date of meeting with the boys.

The boys at the moment were just sitting there at the front steps of JJ's Joint, waiting for the girls to arrive. There was a new family who just moved next door to the Agarie Residence and the younger child Dan Agarie (she was actually age 20, but she was still a child to those who knew her well, regardless that she was more mature than she usually was when she was in her teenage years) was intrigued to meet the new family's only child--- 23-year-old Al Orie. The Orie Family only lived here for two weeks and Dan already decided to introduce Al to the trends and the recent ongoings all around Tsunami Point--- the smallest town ever known to anyone who lived nearby that was next to a huge, gigantic beach, famous for having the wildest surf and the most thunderous waves depending on the weather. When a storm hits Tsunami Point, the whole town got prepared for the upcoming tsunami to come and invade town. It was like living at the hottest open spots around the world where tornadoes appeared to ransack and pillage every littlest civilization existed. On the other hand, Tsunami Point hardly got any of those wild phenomena, but on the safer side, the people would rather be prepared for it than being sorry.

Dan's older brother 23-year-old AJ Agarie sat patiently, sipping through a straw of a bottle of his soda pop with the usual positive expression on his face while his other buddies--- 21-yr-old BJ Toshin, 19-yr-old CJ Chiren, and brothers 22-yr-old DJ Touma and 16-yr-old RJ Touma--- lazily sat around him waiting for the girls to arrive. BJ was softly strumming a random sweet tune on his guitar while waiting for AJ to say something that would keep the boys open and active while they wait. DJ was pondering on how he might be able to fix up their custom-built, custom-detailed slick silver pedal bikes for the next upcoming Riders' Cycle Race that was only two months away. It was a huge thing for these boys since regardless of this social clique war between the dominating popular surfers and beach bunnies known as the BC's ("beach cuties") and the infamous delinquent set of leather-clad motorcycle riders known as the Greasers. Where do AJ and these boys (not to mention the girls they were waiting to meet at the moment) fit in to these two? Nowhere, obviously. They were the only small remains of a once-trendy, once-popular united youth social clique known simply as the "riders." What do these "riders" do? Simple--- they ride bikes from up the hill, down the hill, through the sands, and all around the streets. It didn't matter what type of person you were in Tsunami Point. Anybody who was anybody can become a "rider" and all he needed to do to become one was to have a bicycle. At the moment now, the "rider" scene was dying due to recent events regarding the rise of the BC's and the sudden spawning of the delinquency of these "BC haters" known as the Greasers. The riders on the other hand, especially the certain rider group that AJ and his friends belonged to, were still struggling to get the rider scene back, but because of these bad divisions among the trends, it was going to take more than just convincing to get the rider scene restored to Tsunami Point.

The Tsunami Riders--- that was what AJ's rider set was named. AJ was the leader of this particular rider set. When the rider scene was big the Tsunami Riders were not ranked as one of the most popular among all the other rider sets existed. But despite of their low ranking among all others, these set of bike riders were proud and happy that they were still considered a rider set. It was more for the friendship and the good times than trying to get to the top to see who was the "lead" set of all the riders in Tsunami Point. AJ never believed all of that stuff. His beliefs even influenced his own friends as well without AJ himself knowing it, however, his influences were good influences and his friends always respected him for promoting his good intentions and warm influences towards anyone.

There used to be thirteen members in the Tsunami Riders, however the sudden division and new trends and styles were actually originated from this particular rider set. AJ had a best friend named Rolf Von Zip. He and Rolf had been friends ever since they were little, and they always had trust and love for one another. But when they reached puberty, many things changed between them, or rather, among their personalities--- particularly Rolf. AJ and Rolf were complete opposites of each other despite of their tight friendship. AJ was the noble and kind one while Rolf was more of the mean and selfish bully. In fact, Rolf, for some reason just liked to pick and be mean towards AJ's little sister Dan. Unfortunately, AJ was blinded by Rolf's buddy personality towards him that he did not even realized that his own sister was being bullied by his own best friend.

One day when Dan was only ten and was on the fourth grade Rolf encountered her during lunch and started demanding her to hand over her lunch money AND her sandwich set that her own brother made for her. Dan decided to get defensive by pushing him away and left. When after school came, Dan walked home by herself because AJ had to stay after school to do some tutoring with troubled kids in school. From out of nowhere Rolf appeared right in front of Dan's eyes, and the constant bullying came from him again. This time, no one was around and Dan knew that she wouldn't be able to do the same as she did back during lunch. Rolf wanted to treat her worse than he did before as part of revenge for her not handing over her lunch money and her sandwich. Just as Rolf was about to attack Dan, he felt a huge pull backward from his target and felt a force from behind that made him fall down the ground. Right when all eyes were open from both sides they were overwhelmed to see another boy--- a mysterious boy, since they never saw him around town--- standing between them. Rolf felt intimidated by this boy, for he was the one who stood between him and Dan that this boy even had the power to push someone as big and as scary as he be overpowered. Because he was too scared to fight back, he stood up from the ground and took off. Dan felt overwhelmed to see this mysterious boy just right in front of her that this boy turned his face towards her. He got closer to her and Dan felt shaky at first. But when he got closer and had the fresh view of his face, Dan suddenly felt at ease. He bent down to her and offered her his hand and said to her: "Are you alright?"

At that moment Dan glanced at this boy and answered: "Yes... thanks to you..." The mysterious boy gave her a very bright, heartwarming smile at her when he felt her hand placed upon his open palm. He took her hand gently and helped her up from the ground.

"It's not safe to walk alone by yourself now," the boy said to her. Dan nodded and sighed and told him the story about how her big brother AJ could not pick her up and bring her home because of some emergency after school tutoring program that he had to attend to and that she wanted to walk home by herself rather than waiting for AJ to come. She also told him the story about Rolf Von Zip and how two-sided he was with him acting as a bully towards her and acting as her brother's best friend at the same time. The boy nodded, knowing he understood this young girl's troubles. He said to her, "I'll walk you home if you want."

The glowing, radiant sight of that boy's face really made Dan felt warm and protected and secure all over. She did not let go of this boy's hand at all. She felt that as long as she felt this boy's hand upon hers she knew she would be safe. This feeling of a hand being held by a boy other than her brother was different to her. Though the boy is slightly older than Dan by a year or two her feeling with this boy was different from her feeling with AJ. AJ was three years older than Dan that this boy may have even be mistaken for a substitute big brother, but to Dan, it wasn't about big brothers that made her feel so secure and warm from his gentle touch. It wasn't the fact that feeling AJ's hand on hers was a bad thing, but the aura and the feeling of this boy's hand on hers made Dan realized that this boy was going to be someone special in her life. They were only kids, of course, but she knew that in the future that this boy would definitely going to change her life and make her happy for the rest of her life. She led the boy to her house, making small talk with him, just to get to know each other more at that first day.

That boy's name was Tai Mikage, who became second leader of the Tsunami Riders after AJ. And not only that Tai was the second leader after AJ, but what Dan felt that first day when she was ten when she felt this boy Tai's hand on hers had a special feeling to it was indeed special to her. Ever since she was fourteen (while Tai was fifteen) both she and Tai finally realized what true love between a boy and a girl meant, and not just between just a boy and a girl, but between the two of them. Tai turned out to be one of Tsunami Point's most popular teenaged males. He looked like a very huge teen idol so much that even a group of girls who were hopelessly devoted to worshipping this tall, puppy-brown-eyed, heartwarming-smiling cutie formed their own fan club known as "The Tall Tai Fan Club." Dan turned out average; she wasn't quite your dream teen model either, but she remained that sweet, gentle, and happy Dan that everyone knew of her. Nevertheless with the "Tall Tai Fan Club" and all, Dan was indeed the luckiest girl around. She had Tai Mikage as a boyfriend and Tai was not ashamed at what he had with Dan and truly expressed his love and devotion for his young "damsel in distress." Even if they were together as young lovers they were not classmates in any of their classes at all. That was because Tai was a year older than Dan, but two years younger than AJ. It was through Dan that Tai met AJ and his friends for the first time. Tai was very keen at remembering things and recognized Rolf the bully right away. There was going to be some rumble that was to happen between these two but thanks to AJ's positivity, no rivalries between Tai and Rolf were made within the Tsunami Riders.

As of this moment at the front stairs of JJ's Joint, there were only five boys present. You were probably asking yourself where or what happened to both of AJ's closest rider comrades. Many times he blamed himself for this "social clique war" and division among the rider scene that he wanted to correct everything and restore back to what it was before. It was like a civil war going on in Tsunami Point, but only this time, it was the clash between two different trends and two different youth cliques. The Tsunami Riders were not even one of the more popular rider sets back during the rider scene, however many who knew who were the "key" people involved in this BC vs. Greaser conflict knew where they were all originated--- right back at the Tsunami Riders. AJ took every single horrible incident that happened among the youth of Tsunami Point as his huge faults, even if everyone knew that the Tsunami Riders or AJ himself were not even involved at all. One of those horrible incidents that AJ was constantly blaming himself for was the sudden broken heart of his one and only sister two years ago. Because of him, he quoted to the rest of his rider pals, Dan lost Tai to another girl. It was bad enough that AJ lost Tai as his second leader and member of the Tsunami Riders, but Dan losing Tai as her love was even worse. AJ wanted to give more attention to Dan than ever and wanted to be there for her. At the same time he wanted to make Dan happy by looking for a potential "boyfriend material" among all his rider friends for Dan to become her new love. Unfortunately, even until now, Dan was still single, loveless, and not to mention, full of hatred for both Tai and the BC's (or so she claimed).

"Girls ALWAYS take long... do they really have to put on makeup just to meet us here during the daytime??" The ever impatient CJ Chiren complained while resting himself against the railing of the entry stairs. "AJ, guys, how can you guys be so patient just waiting for them?"

"BC girls take even longer than this, you know," DJ grinned with a little smirk on his face. "Our girls ain't like that, CJ."

"BJ, what do you think?" CJ asked the ever quiet and calm (not to mention adoringly cute) guitar-strumming BJ Toshin. BJ looked up at his rhythm guitar buddy and gave a small shrug.

"Man... I don't wanna be mean AJ but life without Tai ain't the same..." CJ sighed, staring at AJ at the same time, who was just sitting there with a faint smile on his face, patiently waiting for his sister and friends to arrive. "Now, I don't mind Rolf ditchin' us 'cuz he's got some cocky attitude anyway, but Tai... man, he was waaay better than Rolf was... AJ, you've got the worst taste in making friends, you know that?"

"CJ, don't say that!" DJ exclaimed in shock. "It's bad enough that we're falling apart, you know? Though I agree with you... losing Tai was worse than losing Von Zip... and not just that, Dan lost Tai too..."

"I can't believe he dumped our Dan! Come on, man, she's like the cutest girl ever to exist in Tsunami Point!"

"And not to mention the most violent since Tai broke her heart in two..."

"Man, she oughta stop being so mean and stingy all the time.... back then she wasn't like that! She was like the female version of AJ back then... now no guy don't even wanna get near her..."

"Shhh..." Both boys were interrupted by AJ's soft hushing. The two felt frozen in nervousness when they saw their leader hushing right at them. After a few seconds of silence, AJ just gave them his confident smile.

"I don't get you, AJ... everyone knows you're down... and yet you still remained smiling..." CJ said. "Why...? What is it that made you feel so motivated like this...?"

AJ continued smiling and looked ahead towards the very blue sea right across the street from where they were right now. He answered to CJ, "Someone said this to me that in order for something good to happen, something bad must happen..."

"Wha...?" CJ and DJ gasped in confusion to hear what AJ just said to them. They knew AJ since they were little and they knew exactly what kind of person this young man was. He was the type who always believed that nothing was impossible in life. The only thing that was missing, AJ said to them one time, was that in order for that impossible to become possible was to make it happen. To no avail, he was right. He was the type who was out to inspire those who simply did not understand how the world turned. Everyone who knew him were awed with inspiration by this young man, filled with hopes, dreams, wishes, and positivity towards the world.

"In other words, nothing is impossible."

"This is our AJ, guys.... you know that," DJ's younger brother RJ responded from behind, looking as if he was a little high on something. Being the drummer of their small band, RJ was always found looking a little high, only because he caught a few vibes and cool beats that may have a huge advantage to the music they play. "Guys.... sing something.... something that'll keep us sane while we wait..."

"AJ, I swear, we need to grab some ex-rider or something and make him join the Tsunami Riders... heck, we need a GOOD-LOOKING GUY in our rider set, AJ! Come on, Tai was our best-lookin' rider and... and... you know how it is that chicks dig him and then whenever they wanna look for him, they always come to us?" CJ got up and started to get really excited. It had been awhile that too many girls from the outside kept hunting every single Tsunami rider just so they would know where Tai may be hanging out at the moment. Obviously back then he was always with Dan, and whenever he was alone with Dan, no Tsunami Rider ever dared mentioning to them where exactly their local idol may be at the moment. To CJ, whenever there were girls, there were more chances that he and his buddies would score a girl of their own. Apparently among seven males in the once-thirteen-member Tsunami Riders that only AJ and Tai were able to get them their own girlfriends. At the moment, AJ's current girlfriend, Kei Ayumi, was overseas studying at an exclusive boarding university to earn her degree at some intellectual practice. AJ was way ahead of everyone. Last summer he just received his degree and teaching credentials so he could become a schoolteacher. At the moment he worked as an assistant librarian at their high school library, which was more than enough for now. It was summer season anyhow and everyone who worked in schools were all on vacation, which was why he was here with his buddies.

"CJ, you're silly, you know that?" AJ laughed while all the others chuckled softly. "We still got one more 'good-looking rider' in our set left..." AJ nudged at BJ while randomly strumming his guitar and grinned at him. "BJ here is quite a looker himself... he was just too shy admitting it. I've seen all these random chicks from both the riders side and the BC side checking him out!"

"Ha ha!" RJ laughed, patting BJ on the shoulder. "BJ, you're gonna help us score some chicks, since you can totally pass for an idol... like Tai, you know?"

BJ ended up chuckling softly and lowered his head in embarrassment. "You did it again, AJ... look, you made him all look embarrassed," DJ joked with their leader.

"Sorry about that... are you okay, BJ?" AJ placed his arm around BJ, patting him at the same time. BJ looked up, still remaining smiling, and just nodded at him. "You know we're just joking, right?" BJ nodded again in return. "Good! Just keep your head up, keep smiling, just make sure that everything's a-okay despite that it's actually not okay, okay?" BJ gave AJ a thumbs up while AJ returned his gesture with another pat on his shoulder.

"How 'bout we bring BJ to one of them salons or something, then probably them ladies are gonna give him the 'idol makeover'... in that way, he can score some girls and have them come to us and when they do---- HEAVEN!!" CJ gasped through his daydream while the Touma Brothers laughed at his reaction. BJ laughed along while shaking his head at the same time.

While the boys were just laughing along, they heard a few voices nearby coming towards them. AJ knew right away as to who these voices were. He could tell because of the distinctive girlish giggles he always heard whenever they were having their own meeting altogether as one rider set. He got up and ran at the fork of the road and waved along them. The rest of the boys stood up from their seats and ran after AJ to see who was coming towards them.

"IT'S THE HONEYS!!" CJ exclaimed happily while DJ nudged him on the elbow. "OW... WHAT WAS THAT FOR??"

"BC chicks may be hot in their bathing suits, but their beauty cannot be compared to those of the rider honeys like the ones we have...." DJ murmured softly with a huge smile on his face

"Oh, heaven... heaven indeed... cool beats... cool waves... COOL CHICKS..." RJ sighed, looking high again as usual.

"Perverts..." AJ chuckled, shaking his head at the same time and glanced right at BJ. "Can you believe those three? They're making it sound as if we're desperate for women or something..." BJ gave a small smile and shrugged at the thought.

There were six girls biking their way towards where the boys were standing. The group of these girl bike riders was lead by a slender yet somewhat diminutive short bowl-shaped haired girl who had a small trace of AJ's face within her. There was another girl whose hair was as long as black threaded silk ready to be woven in to the finest silk cloth perfect for an elegant formal dress. The face was obviously familiar to AJ, which was no surprise to him. He observed every single girl under his command and felt proud, however once he glanced at the fifth girl, he was surprised to see the sixth and final girl biking along with the other five. The sixth girl looked totally different from the other five. Though she was riding a bike herself, her medium-lengthed raven hair was only shoulder-length and she was even wearing a thin-strapped summer dress in which its white skirt was flying softly along with the gentle summer breeze as she rode along. She wore white flat sandals, which looked a little risky for injuries on the rider, using it to pedal on her bikes. The riders rode at the highest speed as they can get and if this girl were to join them, she had better wear the right attire and the right shoes.

As the girls pass by them, AJ stretched out his hand as the female rider set lead by his short-haired sister Dan and her friends, Sam Sawara, Jack Bliss, Randy Aino, and Joe Hayes gave hi-fives to their leader. The girls braked right in front of where the rest of the guys were standing while the sixth girl gently clutched her brake gears on her bike handles and stopped gently and slowly as to not ruin her dress or her sandals. The girls got off their bikes slowly and gently as they headed right towards where the boys were standing. "You're late," AJ said with his arms crossed. "What took you so long...?"

Dan went up to AJ and gave him her usual sisterly embrace. "Al would like to be more presenting to you guys, AJ..."

"Al....?" AJ blinked in confusion, scratching his head.

"AL???" The other boys gasped, looking dumbfounded obviously.

"Al!" Dan giggled and head right towards the summer-dress-wielding young girl. She took the young girl's hand and gently dragged her along and presented her to AJ and the boys. "Al, these are the guys..." Dan introduced every single one of them to this summer dressed-girl named Al Orie. She stood shyly right in front of the boys while AJ gave her his usual friendly smile. "This is Al Orie... well, her real name is Alisa, but we all call her Al for short!"

"You're Dan's brother--- AJ? It's nice to meet you..." Al lowered her head and shyly murmured her first words towards Dan's tall yet friendly-faced brother.

"Nice to meet you too, Al," AJ offered her a handshake as she shyly accepted it and shook hands. "And welcome to JJ's Joint!"

"JJ's.... Joint...?"

"Now that we're all here--- come on in!" AJ gave his inviting gesture as the boys lead the girls back inside this very small lounge-like diner/ice cream shoppe/hangout known as "JJ's Joint." Once when she reached the door, she noticed the sign posted: "Closed till Dark!"

"'Closed... till... dark...'?" Al blinked, staring at the sign on the door.

"Oh... well, this is different... I'll tell you more when we get inside over some refreshments, Al. You see... JJ's Joint only opens at night."

"At night....? But why, AJ?"

Finally, this is where AJ told Al the whole "history" behind JJ's Joint. Before JJ's Joint was first constructed many many years ago the place where they were standing now used to be an old yet popular hangout for rider teens in the old days known as "The Riders' Roar". AJ and Dan's uncle and foster parent, JJ Agarie, used to be the business partner of the original owner of this place and worked there. However, the owner suffered from a rare disease and eventually passed away, leaving JJ with the place and their assets they earned from their place alone. His partner's last words were to take care of their place and make the place as his own. JJ kept his promise to his partner that he decided to change everything and make this whole place "his own." Thus, the name and the concept of this place was changed from "The Riders' Roar" to "JJ's Joint." It was also perfect at that time because it was only six months after AJ and Dan's mother (who was their last parent) died. JJ took both AJ and Dan to his custody, knowing neither of them would ever be lonely again after their huge loss of their loved ones (and of course, his business partner) if they lived together. At the same time, all three of them would be able to run this new establishment. They knew they had a very good location, so whether it was rain or shine at night they had the option of holding parties inside the place itself or right across the street--- which was the Tsunami Point beach. AJ and Dan practically grew up with JJ as their mother, father, uncle, and friend at the same time. AJ was only four and Dan was barely one when their father perished at that horrible car accident not too far from the beach area. Then few years later (AJ was only eight and Dan was only five), their mother lost her life to a rare cancerous disease. Even if Dan didn't remember much of her parents since she was so young, AJ was probably the one who was somewhat traumatized. But as he grew older and made new friends, he eventually got over his traumatic state and learned to look forward ahead of his time and to be confident that nothing in life is impossible if you make everything happen. When JJ's Joint first opened, JJ knew that business would not be going well if it was daytime since this was a popular spot for young people. During weekdays, obviously everyone would be in school or at work, and because of time schedules JJ knew exactly the right hours this place should open. Therefore, instead of having the business open from daytime till early at night that he decided to open the place during nighttime where there will be good times, good food, good entertainment, and good friends (and lots of people, of course).

Lately when AJ's generation of riders spawned when AJ reached fourteen, for some odd reason the rider scene became "divided" and formed different groups with different names. And for each rider set formed, there was a "signature" hangout for them all around town. Though AJ did not understand why there were these different rider groups forming all over the place he decided to make his own rider set with his friends and to those who were not part of a "rider set." After the formation of the Tsunami Riders (named after their town, obviously), they made JJ's Joint as their official hangout of the Tsunami Riders. Any other riders from "outside" rider sets were allowed to come and visit any designated hangout, however the only thing that they needed to keep in mind was that they have to respect that place and to not make the particular rider set who was designated with that hangout upset or else there would be trouble. There were very few rider sets who came to JJ's Joint during those times because of its remote location (across the beach), however regardless of their low profile, AJ and the Tsunami Riders had the time of their lives. However, everything for them slightly started to go down for them when AJ was 20-yrs-old. This was the moment as to why AJ blamed himself for having all this "BC vs. Greaser" division war taking place at the moment for almost two years now.

"This place is so cozy... I mean... it's small, but very spacious..." Al got up and stood around the central open area of JJ's Joint. It was the area where the kids would get up from their tables and dance to the music being performed by the Tsunamis--- JJ's Joint own band consisting of (you can take a guess from here)--- the Tsunami Rider boys lead by AJ (again). She glanced right at the stage area and stood on top and glanced right towards the open area where all the kids were going to be at, watching them play and sing and perform while some other kids get down at the dance area to swing along with the music. "A stage! Wow!"

RJ got up and stood right next to Al with a huge grin on his face: "Yup... we provide the music... us.. the guys.. Tsunami Rider boys... heh..."

"YOU'RE IN A BAND??" Al gasped in such an awe and glanced again right towards AJ. "A band!"

AJ nodded and grinned shyly. "Yes... the Tsunamis... obviously... the remaining Tsunami Riders now form the band..."

"That's so cool! You gotta tell me what instrument you guys play!"

CJ decided to join in and introduced the boys as band members to Al: "Obviously AJ there is our leader--- he plays bass though. That's RJ over there--- he's our drummer. DJ here plays the keyboard, piano, and sax all at once.. well, not at the same time but you know what I mean... BJ there, strumming his guitar, is our lead guitarist there. I play rhythm guitar."

"So cool!!"

"AJ here is our lead singer in most of our songs but when it comes to the soft and slow romantic stuff..." CJ started patting the silent BJ on the shoulder once more. BJ got up and just smiled a bit. "This boy BJ here is the romancer of a singer here... girls go nuts on him everytime they see him on stage, singing them love songs and stuff."

Al waved slightly at BJ as he returned his wave. She turned immediately to AJ looking a little confused regarding BJ's silence. "He.. doesn't talk much, doesn't he...?"

"Oh, he's just shy.. the poor guy," AJ smiled, patting Al on the shoulder. "He can talk, don't worry... it's not like he's got a disorder or anything like that.. he's just quiet like that... but he'll talk." He turned to BJ and said "Right, BJ? You're gonna have to speak to this sweet young lady here... she's one of us now!" BJ gave his warm smile and just gave him a thumbs up.

Al giggled when she felt a soft tap on her shoulder. She glanced her head and saw the short-haired tomboyish-looking yet feminine Dan Agarie smiling right at her. "Oh... Dan! What's up?"

"Um.. there's one slight thing that my brother forgot to mention regarding the rules and regulations here at JJ's Joint," Dan said, giving the usual grin right towards her brother.

"Th-there is...? Um.. don't worry, I'll try my best not to make a mess of everything in this place!"

"No, that's not what I meant, Al... I wanted to emphasize AJ's remark about anyone who was anyone can come here at JJ's Joint... well.. not quite!"

"No...? You mean not anyone is allowed in here...?"

The silky long-haired slim babe Sam Sawara, Dan's best friend, joined in the conversation and made a small remark: "in Dan's terms, there are certain people who are not allowed in this joint..."

"Sam, quiet," Dan glared at Sam while her best friend just chuckled along. "Anyhow... Al, whatever you do, DO NOT make any form of encounter or contact with any BC boy or Greaser boy EVER!"

Al jumped back to a surprise when her new friend warned her of who was not supposed to be allowed in this place. She got back to her feet and got a little closer to her. "No BC... BC...?"

"Beach cutie, as they were also known as," Sam interrupted once more while crossing her arms. "I suppose Dan hasn't told you about this stupid ridiculous civil war between the BCs and the Greasers..."

And it's all my fault.... AJ's voice whispered within him as an added remark to what Sam told Al regarding the BC's and the Greasers. I should've been smarter... but I was too damn naive to even realize it... first Tai and now Rolf....? What a disaster I've caused...

"That includes the LEADERS of those two ridiculous cliques, especially!" Dan added with a serious tone. "Seriously, you don't want to get mixed along with any one of them--- they're nothing but trouble!"

The boys reacted to Dan's seriousness in her small lecture to the new girl in town. They knew exactly what was going to happen next everytime they heard those same words from Dan. In fact, they knew right away as to why Dan acted the way she did, which was pretty obvious to them. She had been like this since her first love (and probably the only love that she had ever in her life) left her for another girl in the dominating BC clique. Though AJ thought that this whole thing was his fault, none of his fellow riders including his sister ever accused him of anything. What just happened two years ago had happened and it was still happening until now and there was nothing they could do to change everything back to what it was before.

"Oh... I don't know about that, Dan..." 19-yr-old Jack Bliss, one of Sam's closest friends since childhood, stepped up and joined in the conversation. She nudged Dan slightly and continued, "Some of these BC guys are really nice, you know...?"

"Jack, what are you saying...?" Dan gritted her teeth as Jack continued to babble on to Al regarding the boys in the BC clique.

"I'm just saying that not all guys are like Ta---" Sam immediately covered her friend Jack's mouth and hushed her. Jack removed her hand and went on. "Anyhow, what I'm trying to point here, Al, is that regardless of all this civil war going on with two youth cliques that had nothing to do with us riders that you can be friends with whomever you think is worthy of becoming your new friends, simple as that. Besides, like AJ said, more or less we kind of have a connection with both the BC's and the Greasers. We're definitely not involved with their petty little conflicts, however at times we feel ourselves in the middle."

"Why's that, Jack?" Al sure had so many questions to ask. It was typical for a new girl like her to ask questions anyway. She wanted to know the do's and don'ts at Tsunami Point, who were the most trustworthy and who were not, and so on and on. "I don't understand... what is all with this divisions among us? I mean we're not as young as we used to be, since I'm assuming most of us are in the late teens or early twenties, but... why are Tsunami Point kids like this...?"

"It's a long story, Al... today's not the right time to explain everything all at once," Dan sighed. "BUT I'M STILL WARNING YOU, AL! Even if you do make friends with some of them--- especially BC guys--- I suggest you DO NOT get involved with them..."

"In other words," Sam continued from where Dan left off, "DO NOT fall in love with any BC guys EVER! They're the worst kind! They're more of the charmers than those loser Greaser guys... they see you, they flirt with you, they make you think they're interested in you, but when the right time comes, they'll just tear your heart in to pieces and leave you... and even if you finally accepted rejection, they will never... ever.. EVER... speak to you again. They will only treat you as if you never existed at all!"

"Is that for real...?" Al scratched her head in confusion.

"Sam, Dan, you guys are overdoing it..." DJ frowned with his arms crossed. "Come on, man, not all guys are like that. They don't even pick on us riders... and besides, most of them USED to be riders like us!"

"Yeah, well so are the Greasers, DJ, don't forget that..." CJ glared angrily, tightening his fist. "And what's worse? Both leaders of the BC's and the Greasers USED TO BE WITH US TSUNAMI RIDERS!!" AJ lowered his head, trying to hide his shame from all this while all the others sighed deeply.

18-year-old Randy Aino and 19-yr-old Joe Hayes skipped along towards where the girls were and tried to change the subject. "Though we have to admit--- most of the BC guys are REALLY CUTE!" Randy sighed happily and nudged Dan. "Dan, you wouldn't mind Joe and I swooning over 'you-know-who', right...?"

Dan shrugged while rolling her eyes. "Be my guest... he means nothing to me anyway."

"Nothing...? Who...?" Al continued to look completely oblivious as to what everyone was talking about in the scene. She sighed deeply and murmured: "Oh, this is so difficult to understand... I'll never get along with this town... this is so overwhelming... divisions here and there..." She looked up and gazed right towards the rest of the Tsunami Riders. "Why can't we just all get along...?"

"Hey, what's with all the commotion down there.... AJ? Dan? Are you there...?" A more mature-sounding male voice spoke from out of nowhere, tracing back right somewhere at the balcony area inside the diner. Everyone was startled and traced the voice right at the balcony, where they see a taller, casual-looking adult male standing at the railing, overlooking the younger riders from above. "About time!"

"Sorry we're late, Uncle JJ!" Dan called from below and waved at the steadfast adult male. AJ and Dan's uncle and foster father (and mother as well), Jonathan James "JJ" Agarie nodded right at his young niece as he climbed down the wooden stairs that connected the balcony area towards the first floor of the diner. Ever since JJ took over the old Riders Roar Diner after his partner died he made a lot of renovations to this place. This place used to be a small quaint hangout for a few riders who didn't mind riding their bikes all the way out to the shores (for some reason, most bike riders were afraid of the water or the beach itself), but since JJ promised his partner to make this place way different from their old current diner (just so anyone who often hangs out at that place will not have a sad reminiscent of the original owner everytime they step in to this place). Because he and his nephew and niece were so unfortunate to lose their loved ones--- JJ losing his older brother and his wife (AJ and Dan's parents) when AJ was only eight-years-old and Dan at a mere age five. JJ was even more unfortunate because he was widowed at such an early age, never even had a chance to experience how it felt to be a first-time father, witnessing his wife giving birth to their first child. When his brother and wife were killed at that very fateful stormy night in a car accident, leaving their two young children behind, JJ knew that this was his chance to experience the event that was supposed to happen to him during his marriage to his late wife. Before anyone else decided the fate of his brother's children he decided to step in between and declared that he is the main legal guardian of these children. After numerous conflicts, JJ gained his victory and AJ and Dan were now officially under his custody. Being a single guardian/acting parent was tough, but JJ anticipated the difficulty of being a single parent. He raised both AJ and Dan as if they were his own children; disciplined them and taught them both the good and bad things in life and what to do when they get in to situations that may be overwhelming to them. JJ was a busy man, but that did not mean busy enough to spend time with his nephew and niece. He brought his kids along with him during business hours at JJ's Joint, which was actually another main reason why he decided to keep JJ's Joint closed on daytime and in business during nighttime. He wanted to be sure that the kids were well-maintained with their well-being and with their school homework before he headed off to this place and work. Ever since then, the Agaries became successful in surviving and JJ's Joint was even way more popular and active in business than the Riders' Roar diner was back in the old days.

When AJ and Dan became of age and had their own rider set known as the "Tsunami Riders" there seemed to be some favoritism going on between the Tsuanami Riders and the JJ's Joint staff including JJ himself. When AJ pondered about which one of his pals would take the role of second leader in case he had to be absent at the moment. He actually had two choices--- his longtime best friend Rolf Von Zip who seemed to be a two-faced bullying jerk or his sister's longtime love Tai Mikage, who wasn't only popular, handsome, and charming, but intelligent, wise,and cunning overall as well. JJ gave AJ the words "Sometimes in order for a team to succeed, one's own skills must be preferred more over one's own friendship. In that way, everything would be fair." Knowing how wise his uncle was, he decided to follow his advice--- by choosing Tai over Rolf as second leader. AJ remembered how Tai reacted when he picked him as second leader instead of Rolf. Tai was always a bit nervous around AJ because of the fact that he was his love's older brother. But AJ, always as nice and as wise and as kind as everyone had known him, was delighted that there was someone who was willing to take care of his sister other than him or his uncle. Dan was happy that she and Tai were together as well as their other friends. JJ always preferred young Tai over the unruly Rolf and often asked his nephew how or why he ended up having a misbehaving brat for a best friend when Dan's lover was even more appropriate than Rolf was.

JJ's personal dream was already fulfilled with JJ's Joint, but he still had a yet bigger dream to be fulfilled. Like said before JJ wanted to be sure that both AJ and Dan grew up to become caring, open-minded, and well-rounded to the world around them as well as to be content with what they have and earned. He was already at ease when AJ graduated with a bachelor's degree in Education in college just last summer. It was Dan's turn to earn the same goal as AJ did, regardless if she may have struggles along with her goals or everything else was just smooth sailing for her. He was completely approved of seeing his only niece with another boy, especially with a popular, charismastic, yet warmhearted boy named Tai Mikage. When Tai left both Dan and the Tsunami Riders to join the "dominating" class, JJ was even more traumatized by the absence of his favorite rider than AJ was. At times he would forget that his niece and Tai were no longer lovers that he would ask Dan the same question: "How is Tai, Dan...?" Dan gave many reactions to her uncle's forgetfulness, but her most common reactions was either she would yell at him saying "TAI MIKAGE MEANS NOTHING TO ME!!", stand up and walk away and say nothing, or end up bursting in to tears of heartbreak. The third choice would be more appropriate towards her uncle and even her brother, showing that regardless of what Tai may have done to break her heart that she still has a lot of love left over within her. In other words, she didn't feel her heart completely free. Even if Tai was already with another at the moment, she still felt that he still held her heart. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how one sees it, she also felt that his heart was still his. The only problem was that she wanted to show to everyone how strong she was and that the painful act that her one and only love cannot penetrate her from being who she was. Though she kept reminding to everyone that she no longer had any love or any other feeling left over for Tai, the others knew within themselves that her love overall for Tai will continue to live--- even stronger than it was before. The only thing that they needed to know was if Tai ever felt the same way for Dan. At least, a little bit.

---

"Mina, I didn't know how serious my father was with all this unity among the classes stuff back then. I mean he was a nice guy and everything but I never knew that he was serious with all this... " PJ interrupted me just as I was about to get to the best part of our little storytelling. I was about to show my friends how Mom felt back then after Dad dumped her for another back then. Mom had a lot of pride within her all of a sudden. When she was with Dad she was always humble and kind. I guess her heartache completely changed her from a sweet girl everyone loved to hang out with to some bitter girl no one would even dared want to get near to. After thinking about all this I realized how cruel it was that Dad had to fall for some empty-headed bimbo and dump a beautiful, smart, and kind girl like my mother for her. But that was the past. Somehow both of them successfully hung on to the love that they shared for so many years since childhood. Their love was way too precious to be broken. Dad must have been blinded with something that made him break my mother's heart. But it didn't matter. This was what JJ's Joint was about--- true love lost but rekindled. Everyone was there to witness it, and because that story must be very special to each person's eyes, heart, and soul of Tsunami Point that Uncle AJ decided to devote his time as a full-time writer while working as the owner and operator of JJ's Joint. He used to be a professor in college, then later turned in to a high school teacher. When Granduncle JJ retired (still alive, by the way, just not working), Uncle AJ took over. Uncle AJ also had his own share of sweet experiences in the series too, even if he was more focused on my parents' romance. I know it was mentioned that Uncle AJ had a girlfriend named Kei Ayumi who was currently studying overseas, however, it wasn't his romance with Kei that was memorable for him. It was more of his hopes and dreams and intentions of breaking the divisions between the BC's, Greasers, and Riders that changed everyone's lives forever (okay, that sounded a little cheesy). Of course, there was his sweet romance with Aunt Midori, in which I had to spoil anyone who was listening and paying attention, she was a BC. I would just say that in some ways Aunt Midori was one of the keys to rekindling the love lost between my mother, Dan Agarie, and my father, Tai Mikage.

"He never believed in all this stuff, PJ," I told him with a smile. "You should be grateful that there were still people like him who thought of more positive things in life than most teenagers nowadays."

"I know..." PJ said, repositioning himself on his spot to make himself more comfortable. "Gosh, Mina, you make the whole book series more understandable. Sometimes I was confused as to what was Dad was trying to say in his books, even if he insisted that his writing was easy to understand."

"Maybe it needed to be translated in a more simpler language, don't you think?"

"Maybe... Dad will understand." Uncle AJ would definitely understand, that's for sure. PJ, in some ways, was like me, but sometimes he was unsure of himself whether what he was talking about (regardless of the subject). That was okay, I thought. We were still young and still have many other things to learn about life, after all. "Anyhow... let's keep going."

"Sure thing!"

---

"Uncle AJ, this is Al--- Al Orie. Well, her real name is Alisa Orie, but she insisted we call her Al for short!" Dan presented the new girl in town to the manager and proprietor of JJ's Joint. JJ climbed down the stairs to take a closer look at the new girl.

"Another male-nicked lass, eh?" JJ got closer to Al and offered her a handshake. "Welcome to JJ's Joint, Al!"

Al took his hand and shook it with a nervous smile. "N-nice to meet you, Mr. Agarie..."

"Call me JJ... I can never get used to all that formalities stuff. Besides, everyone calls me JJ... they know me well that way... and hey.. it's JJ's Joint! As part of the Tsunami Riders, you're most likely going to hang out here most of the time during your little outings, Al! Just don't get intimidated with what's goin' on with the kids here... just make yourself at home. And if anyone starts pickin' you just because you're new, just ride on back here, okay? I know it's closed for business during daytime but Tsunami Riders are welcome in here anytime... you just use the back door to enter or just knock."

"We'll hang out everyday, since it's summer!" Dan announced with a smile, patting her new friend at the back. "As a new local girl of Tsunami Point you have to be wise and knowledgable as to who is who around town, who is deemed cool, who is deemed uncool, that sort of thing! We don't stereotype, but it's good to be careful anyway!"

"I'll just take your words for it, Dan," Al smiled humbly. "Besides, I've learned my lesson from the past about Jonamar... heh..."

Everyone present froze right when they heard another name floating around them. "Jonamar...?" Dan wondered with an eyebrow raised up. "Who's.... that...?"

"My future ex-boyfriend!"

"Whoa... rewind!" Dan pointed her finger and got closer to her. "You never told me about having a boyfriend..."

"Back in the East when I used to live... boy, um... if I had known better regarding guys like him taking one different girl every night at his house just to spend time with him and have a good time, I would've been smarter and left him---"

"YOU DIDN'T SLEEP WITH HIM, DID YOU??" Sam, Randy, Jack, and Joe exclaimed with shocked faces.

"No no no... nothing like that!" Al giggled and hushed the rest of the girls. "I never spend time alone with a boy, regardless if it's someone whom I love the most!" After a short series of giggling she sighed deeply and said "I'm still with him... I want to break it off, but... I just don't have the guts to do it..."

"Al, I'm sorry..." Sam sighed and gave her a small embrace. "He must mean so much to you..."

"It's not that!!" Al shrieked with a serious face this time. The boys who were just minding their own business decided to eavesdrop a bit, even if all these were all "girl" issues. "It's just that... my parents... well... my parents preferred me going for wealthy families' sons, since my family is... well, not my parents and I, but our relatives... we moved here because we wanted a simpler life and..." As Al continued to babble and babble more about random things regarding herself, her situation, and her family, AJ walked up to Al and gently placed her down on a chair. "Oh... AJ...?"

"Why don't you sit down and we'll serve some refreshments for you, okay? Besides, you're new here... you have to leave the past behind and live the present!" AJ smiled humbly. "Rich families' sons, you say...? Well, we have ONE wealthy family living here in Tsunami Point... um..." He turned right at CJ, snapping his fingers at the same time. "CJ, help me out here!"

CJ stepped up and sat at a chair next to AJ: "Well, what AJ was trying to say is that if you do break up with this Jonamar rich kid guy, your parents wouldn't have to worry because Tsunami Point has one family who was considered the most powerful, more or less intimidating family in town!"

"There is...? Oh, personally I don't care who I end up... I'm not materialistic... all I want is..." Al sighed deeply again and lowered her head. "I don't wanna disrespect my parents because of their preferences... I'm afraid... I'm afraid of them... and..."

"Well, anyway," CJ cleared his throat, "you oughta let your parents be introduced to the Tsurugino Family Clan! The oldest of the family has a son, but to be honest no one's seen him or met him ever up close!" The others listening along nodded in agreement.

"Really...? That name 'Tsurugino'... sounds familiar to me... but I'm not sure though..."

"He's twenty-two, slightly younger than AJ here, no one's seen or met him before, but I heard that he's a rather lonely guy in need of friends who live in the same town as he! His parents only would let him make friends with other rich folk outside town for business or money issues or something like that. During school days he's out overseas attending some fancy-shmancy college or something, then he comes back home during the summer, sometimes during winter break and stuff..." CJ continued to provide more information to the new girl. "Heck, no one even knows his first name, but at least, everyone knows him with the last name Tsurugino..."

"CJ, where'd you get all that info?" DJ wondered, scratching his head.

"Knowing CJ, I wouldn't be surprised," RJ smirked. "Come on, DJ, CJ knows his way around town and with people.. he's like a super spy or something!"

"If Dan and the other honeys here would let me, I can tell you who's who within the BC's!" CJ grinned. Dan smacked him behind his head with a glare on her face. "OW... WHAT??"

"Mention about the 'heads' of the BCs and I'm going to kill you!" Dan growled right at CJ as the talkative, slightly short young man slowly backed away from her. CJ sighed and frowned, pondering a few things regarding his friendly leader's younger sister. He was still not used to hanging out with the "new" Dan ever since she and Tai parted their ways. Back in the past since the day he knew her for the first time she was always as sweet and kind and always happy, regardless if she was encountering a close friend or a stranger. She never slapped or hit any one whenever someone may have said something that Dan may find offensive. CJ felt that she was felt with love all that time, and the maximum amount of that love that she gave to everyone in her world was triggered by her pure love with Tai. Two years passed and CJ never stopped hoping that Dan and Tai would get back together again. He never knew for sure when he'd give up that hope within him.

"Um..." Al scratched her head shyly, smiling humbly at the same time. "M-maybe you can tell me some other time... let me have some time to get acquainted with the world of Tsunami Point."

"Heh... sorry 'bout that!" CJ chuckled along while his eyes glared right at Dan. He walked away from the ladies to join AJ and the boys warming up their instrumental skills on the stage.

"Rehearsal time, Honeys!" Sam called out towards Randy, Joe, and Jack as they gathered together and climbed up the stage area. Al heard Sam's voice and her eyes followed them right at the stage area along with the boys. Her eyes were very fascinated at the scene that she decided to get closer towards the stage. Dan followed her from behind as both girls sat at the table close to the stage.

"A band?? You guys??" Al exclaimed with excitement on her face. "I LOVE LOCAL LIVE BANDS!! I didn't know you guys are a band too!"

"The Tsunamis and the Honeys, baby!" CJ winked while the very silent BJ glanced at CJ and just smiled. "We're the Tsunamis and the chicks over there are the Honeys! They're a girl group--- sometimes they perform during business hours here at the joint, but we do most of the performin'... right, BJ?" BJ remained smiling while nodding at the same time. CJ patted his friend on his shoulder as BJ went back to adjusting his strings of his guitar.

BJ never really talks, doesn't he...? Al heard a few thoughts in her head regarding the mysterious yet incredibly handsome lead guitarist. There must be some mysterious aura around this boy, but right now, it was too much to learn about the other members of this Tsunami Rider set. So many questions to ask, so many to learn about her new home, and yet so little time. Maybe I can get him to talk later...

---

"Mina, question..." the ever enthusiastic yet charming young man Brian Toushin interrupted me again. I was just getting along well with my own version when people started to interrupt me with so many questions. I just wished I was convincing enough for them to bug their parents or at least start reading the book series when they can so they can just enjoy the whole story without even asking curious questions.

"Yes, Brian...?" I asked. The other kids around me looked restless with the exception of Donna. She seemed to be enjoying Brian's company, even if he asked a stupid question or not. Not that I thought that his question would be stupid anyway.

"My dad wasn't like that when he was around our ages.... right...?"

"What do you mean, Brian?"

"You know.... mute...?" Why did I had the gut feeling he'd ask me about his dad's mysterious silence...? "My dad was always open to me..."

"I guess my dad described him as the silent, quiet type, Brian," PJ said, stretching his arms at the same time. "I was even surprised too that your old man didn't say much back then..."

"Guys, if you don't stop bugging me I won't be able to explain to you why Uncle BJ hardly talked the first time Kou's mom appeared!" I crossed my arms while the rest of the group was about to start complaining regarding this small petty issue.

"Come on, man, it's getting late and the story's gettin' good too..." Arisa said, yawning at the same time. "Quit buggin' Mina!"

"I still want to know why my dad was so silent..." Brian still insisted to have his question answered.

"Brian, shut up already!" Ken raised his arms out with a frustrated expression.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry!" Brian answered with his eyes rolling at him.

"Shhh..." From out of nowhere, Kou hushed softly and said, "We don't want the folks upstairs to wake up... we've got celebrities upstairs, remember!"

"Shhh...." Donna repeated Kou's hushing, only because she wanted to say something. "This is so interesting, Mina. Half of us here are actually half-rider, half-BC!"

"Half-rider, half-BC...?" Ken wondered. "Half of us...?"

"Donna, don't spoil the story, come on... let Mina do her storytelling magic!" Arisa nudged at her cousin slightly with a smile on her face. "Besides, I know that you're one, Donna!"

"And I can name the rest--- Mina herself is half-rider, half-BC... so's PJ and Kou!" Ken interrupted with his finger pointing upward.

"Okay, you guys, come on," PJ chuckled. "Who cares about us being half-rider, half-BC, we're still us, you know? Okay, Mina, carry on!"

"No more interruptions from you goons, okay?" I laughed silly as I went ahead with my little condensed version...

---

"I believe that our own style of music would help us reunite all of the youth in this town, Al," AJ spoke while adjusting his strings on his bass guitar. "We're going to play tonight when the joint opens!"

"Oooh, I can't wait!" Al gasped with sparkles on her eyes. "Dan, why didn't you tell me that they're a band too...?"

Dan chuckled slightly and said "Oh... I thought it wouldn't be that relevant... I thought you'd just discover it on your own... but you're in luck--- among all the riders back in the days that were a band too in their own hangouts, ours is the best and still IS the best! Every night, tons and tons of the remaining riders and former riders who didn't join either the BCs or the Greasers come here, not because they just want to hang out, but to listen to the band! We've had this band ever since the rider scene started!"

"We were even way better two years ago..." From out of nowhere, RJ, who was just warming up with his rapid drum-beating skills on the wall (before he could even start beating the actual drum set) when he overheard Dan making that remark about their signature band.

"What are you talking about? You guys still rule!!" Dan got up from her seat and called out in response towards RJ's remark. "You totally rock with the drums, you know that!"

"I was only a replacement, remember?" RJ sighed. "Look, I know I love my drums but remember that I was a replacement..."

"Replacement...?" Al scratched her head in confusion. She already knew that she had another question to learn regarding the Tsunami Riders in general. There was so much mystery around this set that Dan or anyone else in the Tsunami Rider set did not reveal to her clearly. What is the connection of these Tsunami Riders towards these BCs and Greasers war...? Why is AJ blaming himself for this crazy feud between the BCs and Greasers...? Why does Dan hate these BC boys so much...? I wonder about that Tsurugino son too, even if he's not a Tsunami Rider... and also, how come BJ never says anything at all...? I wonder if he was born mute or just refused to talk at all...? How is RJ a replacement? Who used to be the riders' drummer in the band? I'll never fit in at all if I don't know everything, but this is just way too overwhelming... I guess I'll never get the concept at all...

"It's a long story, Al," Sam joined in the conversation as she pushes her long silky hair back after it fell forward, almost covering half of her face. "It is confusing at first but you'll definitely going to get it pretty soon!"

Al nodded in agreement at Sam while Dan interrupted them once more. "I'm repeating this again, Al. If you want to break up with that no-good boyfriend of yours from the East, first thing you need to do is find a good man--- a WAY BETTER MAN than that jerk! However, keep this in mind, Alisa Orie--- NO BC BOYS! DO NOT LET THEM CHARM YOU THEN DROP YOU IN THE FUTURE... YOU'RE WAY BETTER THAN THAT, AL!"

"Oh no, here we go again..." Sam sighed while she and the other three girls walk up towards Dan and Al. They decided to rehearse later, leaving the boys to warm up themselves before rehearsal. "Dan, if you don't stop telling her the same old story again Al would be so annoyed out of her mind..."

"Aww, don't be such a meanie-poop, Dan," Joe sighed deeply, batting her eyelashes at the same time. "Not all BC boys are like that, Dan..."

"Oh yes," Jack sighed deeply along with her friend Joe. She started to wander off on the air and murmured, "especially the 'legendary noble surfer of Tsunami Point'..."

"He is such a hottie... those eyes... that sweet smile... oh that incredibly cute face.. and what a HOT body!" Randy shrieked happily, imagining the description of this one certain BC boy.

"Huuuuh..." Joe, Jack, and Randy simultaneously sighed in bliss just thinking about the description of this mysterious BC boy...

"TRAITORS!!" Dan growled right at her own friends. "THAT IS HOW YOU GIRLS GET LURED BY THEIR LYING, CHEATING CHARMS!! THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU, AND WHEN THEY GET TIRED, YOU WILL BE COMPLETELY MISERABLE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!"

Sam crossed her arms and glared at the other three as well. "What are you three drooling over about? You've never even seen how this 'legendary noble surfer' guy looks like in the first place... were you describing you-know-who-again??"

"'Legendary Noble Surfer of Tsunami Point'...?" Al started to think of those words from the girls' conversations. Another question added in her long list of questions regarding the mystery of the Tsunami Point Young Social Life.

"Don't pay attention to it," Sam chuckled, "Al, another thing you need to get used to--- for some odd reason and I could care less anyway--- everybody just loves to gossip about the BCs here and there, regardless if they're riders or none of the above. They just loooove to gossip about the most popular BCs among the BCs of this town--- a lot! That 'legendary noble surfer' mumbo jumbo thing was something that the BCs started. It basically refers to their best wave surfer of the moment or something like that--- CJ knows more about the BCs for some odd reason than what a lot of people think. And you know one thing that's really sad...?"

Al sat back down on her seat and rested her elbow, supporting her chin. Dan and the Honeys (Sam, Joe, Jack, and Randy) joined them at their table. "What is it?"

"Most of these BCs used to be riders," Sam sighed. "That was how the rider scene started to decline two years ago... I mean we've got a handful of riders left, but there's no more divisions and stuff like that. The reason why we still got our set name because every single rider knows that we're the only 'riders' hangout' left standing."

Okay, Al, another question to be added... Al thought to herself while listening to Sam's story. "What happened to these other hangouts...?"

"The rider decline brought all these hangouts out of business... some of them were quote-unquote 'taken over by the BCs' and some were 'torn down by the Greaser scene'... but to sum it up, these rider hangouts around town were all driven out of business because of the rider decline. No more riders to hang out there anymore because of three things--- #1 - they quit. #2 - they became BCs. #3 - they became Greasers if they don't like either being a BC or being stuck as a rider."

"Wow... that's..." Al could not even search for the right word as Sam continued.

"The only reason why we're the only one still standing--- and not driven out of business by these BCs or these stupid Greasers--- was because for one thing, us Tsunami Riders never quit--- we're still around. And second was our location."

"What's location got to do with us still surviving...?"

Sam stood up and signaled Al to follow her. They went to the main window of the joint and Sam pointed right across the street. "What do you see across from us, Al?"

"A beach.... a beautiful, sunny, white sand beach, Sam!" Al smiled calmly, enjoying the sweet view of the bright sun and the calm rolling of the tides against the shore. "I still don't understand..."

"The BCs are mostly found hanging out at our coastal beach, Al," said Sam. "They've got some legend or something that they made up regarding the best spot for surfing, sunbathing, and of course, swingin' and dancin' and romancin'--- a certain spot at our coastal beach that they wanted to take over and make it their official hangout. The Greasers, for some odd reason, also wanted that certain spot of the beach to be theirs--- probably just so they can annoy the hell out of the BCs or something like that. They call that certain spot 'Curl Point.'"

"'Curl Point'?" Sam nodded in confirmation. "Well... I still don't understand the significance between that beach and JJ's Joint..."

"Well... first of all, when the Agaries obtained this property, it was also said in the deed that the beach across from us was also included, so the beach across from us also belongs to JJ's Joint--- under JJ Agarie's name!"

"Wow... really!" Al continued to glance at the beach across from them and sighed deeply in awe. The beach was just so filled with color, brightness, and cheerfulness that it was very tempting to just run out there and have fun just wading at the shore.

"JJ's Joint holds beach parties sometimes and a lot of these riders show up and just have fun. Also... this is the reason why AJ was very concerned and serious about uniting both the BCs, Greasers, and riders altogether as one again like before. We may not succeed in returning the 'rider scene' back, but being united together, getting along with one another despite different interests and backgrounds, is what AJ is shooting for." Al nodded in agreement. "Anyhow.. to answer your question before you can even ask--- OUR beach, known to us riders as 'JJ's Beach', is the BCs and Greasers' so-called 'legendary Curl Point Beach.' It's our beach, 'JJ's Beach', is what the BCs and the Greasers have been fighting over for almost two years already. The only reason why neither of them can ever set foot to our beach is because they know that the beach they wanted belongs us, the Tsunami Riders!"

Okay, now that answered my first question about the Tsunami Riders' connection towards this BC-Greaser feud... Al thought to herself, nodding at the same time. I wonder if that also answered my second question about AJ blaming himself--- was it because of the fact that his family--- his uncle, to be exact--- owns that beach? No... that's a stupid reason... there's got to be more than just the Tsunami Riders being right in the middle of this ridiculous feud... "I understand now... well.. at least this one, Sam..."

Sam patted Al on the shoulder gently and gave her a sweet smile. "Don't worry, Al, you shouldn't think of this so seriously... only weirdo nuts take everything seriously about them... the fanatics of the BCs, as I call it... although there is one little problem..."

"There is...? More problems?" More questions... Al frowned once more while sighing in distress with so many questions to be answered.

"Lately the Greasers have been coming in here at the most unpredictable times to pester us," Sam said. "In fact, Von Zip, AJ's ex-best friend and head of the Greasers, has been trying to convince AJ to take his side so we could get rid of these BCs. In fact, they normally show up during daytime when the joint is closed!"

Speaking of Von Zip and the Greasers, loud thunderous noise of motor suddenly rolled in from out of nowhere. Though it may be from the distance, the screaming screeches of the tires and the growling sound of pumping motors were getting really close to where they were located now. Everyone in JJ's Joint already knew what was about to happen.

"They're heeeere..." CJ lowly murmured, whistling at the same time, while adjusting the strings on his rhythm guitar. Those who were warming up their instruments suddenly became silent. AJ sighed deeply with his head lowered while the others hummed and shrugged away.

The other riders moaned with sarcasm as they lazily went back to what they were doing before. The curious Al slowly backed away from the door to be sure that she didn't get caught or something. As the riders waited, the door was slammed open by two bigger-looking leather-clad Greaser boys. Though the way the door was opened seemed intimidating, none of the people present in the joint even nudged a single move. Right behind these two big Greaser boys stepped in a shorter-heighted slightly chunky young man completely leather clad from head to toe, followed by many more leather-clad comrades in the Greaser group. The two big Greaser boys closed the doors gently after their leader entered. The shorter-heighted chunky Greaser boy who just entered crossed his arms and shouted his first word: "ANTHONY J. AGARIE!!! I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE!!"

Everyone looked up slightly and glanced right at the Greasers, particularly their lazy-looking leader. JJ ran towards the Greasers who just entered and scolded: "WHATTA YA DOIN' HERE, BOY? WE'RE CLOSED!! WE AIN'T OPEN YET!"

"Hey, come on, JJ, we ain't here for soivices, we here to have a little chat with yer nephew--- ya know--- my forever best friend?" 22-year-old Rolf Von Zip, the former member of the Tsunami Riders and AJ's former best friend now-turned delinquent leader of the Greasers, answered to JJ's unwelcoming message. "Come on, man, I thought we still cool, since we all shared roida memories, yenno? Heh..."

JJ shook his head and sighed: "Oh boy, what am I going to do with you, Von Zip... you pester my niece and you break my nephew's heart just so you can devote your time to get revenge on that poor misled boy Tai--- then again that Tai boy also broke both my kids' hearts too... BUT THAT'S ASIDE THE POINT! I DON'T WANT ANY MONKEYIN' AROUND AT MY JOINT, YA HEAR??" JJ headed right towards the stage where AJ and the others were. He opened himself to AJ and said "AJ, this is getting to be pointless... you really have to do something to get rid of these Greasers out of our joint! With them around we'd lose customers and they're gonna drive us out of business!"

CJ nodded along with JJ: "Your uncle's right, AJ, this has got to be our final meeting with those losers... you can't let Von Zip walk all over ya just because you still think that best friends can be forgiven regardless.. blah blah.... we're tellin' ya--- we'd RATHER have TAI MIKAGE back as a rider than idiots like him!"

AJ glanced to see where the Greasers were and just glared. He was about to jump down from the stage while DJ stopped him from behind: "AJ... this is getting to be ridiculous... for once listen to us! The Rolf Von Zip you knew is no more!"

"AJ, I'm worried about you..." JJ said with a very huge concern.

"I'm used to it, DJ, Uncle JJ... thanks for your concern." AJ patted both DJ and JJ on the hands with a smile as he jumped down from the stage.

Meanwhile, the girl riders decided to taunt their former Greaser-transformed rider buddy just for the fun of it: "Whoa... been awhile, Von Zip!" Sam smirked while the others went along with the smirk. "How you been?"

"I ain't talkin' to ya, Sawara! I'm here for AJ Agarie... personal mano-a-mano business!" Rolf pointed his finger right towards the young, long-raven-haired beauty, who just greeted him. "I know ya too well for me to fall for that stupid so-called friendly gesture of yers..."

"You gained weight, Von Zip!" Now it was DJ's turn to have his shot. "See what happens if ya replaced the good ol' bike for a motorized lazy bike?"

Rolf Von Zip glared right at DJ, who just taunted him with his current figure and appearance. He pointed right at him and said, "YOU--- SHADDUP! I AIN'T TALKIN' TO YA!"

"He ain't talkin' to ya!" The other Greasers repeated what their leader just said. DJ decided to keep quiet and shrugged away.

"Where is AJ anyway? I gotta talk to him!" The impatient leather-tight-clad capped Greaser leader sat lazily on one of the seats of the chairs while all the other Greasers felt free to take their seats at the same table as their leader.

BJ shot a very intimidating glare towards the Greasers at first, but right when AJ was about to approach them, his glaring expression turned to the worrying side. CJ noticed BJ's reactions and patted him on the shoulder: "Come on, BJ, AJ's gone through this thing with Von Zip tons of times already. He ain't gonna do anything to him, so don't worry, 'kay?" BJ sighed deeply and went back to his position to adjust the strings of his guitar. CJ decided to keep an eye on the whole situation. In the meantime Sam hushed Al to keep quiet while the female riders glanced at the Greasers the same way as CJ.

AJ stood right in front of the table where the Greasers were sitting. He stood and crossed his arms with a very bored expression on his face. Rolf got up from his seat and pointed right towards AJ: "Ya thought about my idea on how we can REALLY get back the rider scene back like it was before? Aw come on now, knowin' ya since we were in diapoys, ya always think through, yenno? Besides, everytime I tell ya to take your time thinkin' and start having that thinkin' thunk, everything's all good... right?"

"Do I have to repeat myself to you again, Von Zip?" AJ answered Rolf's little opening statement towards him. "Which part of NO don't you understand?"

"Jeez Louise, AJ! I thought ya always get yer thinking thunk all the time! Don't ya know what the BCs are gonna do when they finally have a plan to lead all ya roidas to their trap and drive you out of business like they did with the other roidas? That Tai jerk just dumped your sweet sister Danielle over there for some BC bimbo! What makes ya thinks Tai ain't gonna drive you all outta business, eh?" Rolf continued to be persistent but AJ still has his pride.

"YOU'RE THE ONE TO TALK!" Dan yelled out from the side tables, replying to what Rolf just said. "I'M THROUGH WITH TAI AND I'M THROUGH WITH YOU! DON'T USE IT AS AN EXCUSE JUST TO DRIVE US ALL AWAY FROM JJ'S JOINT!"

Rolf suddenly turned his eyes towards the very angry Dan. Suddenly, his expression turned in to a sunny smile, "Aww... dear baby, look at you... miserable as ever... that Tai bum did this to ya... ya don't deserve goons like him... ya need a real man..." He then pointed to himself with a grin, "... like me!"

"YEAH.. LIKE HIM!" The other Greasers repeated after their leader.

Dan gave him a disgusted look and turned her head around: "I don't care if I end up as an old maid, Von Zip, there ain't no way you're gonna have yer way with me, buddy!"

"Oooh... busted." Sam grinned with an evil look while Rolf shot another glare at the long-haired model look-alike.

AJ decided to take Rolf's attention away from his sister and back to him again: "Why are you even so concerned about JJ's Joint anyway? You're not even a rider anymore.. you only come here just to pester us Tsunami Riders... that driving out of business bit, I'd say it's more of YOUR thing than the BC thing... I haven't encountered or met any BC at all since Tai left us! You, on the other hand..." AJ suddenly paused and started to contemplate. He must have had lost his thought, but he knew that he would end up repeating himself once more.

"Sheesh, Von Zip, don't you know how to give up?" CJ decided to join in the argument. He jumped down from the stage and headed right next to AJ. "You're gettin' annoying already! We don't need all your goody-goody act here--- we stand true while you lost your faith as a rider! You even call yourself a rider? You look really ridiculous in leather! Only desperately seeking lowlives wear leather like that!"

Rolf gave that same glare right at CJ and pointed right at him. He glanced right towards the rest of his Greaser crew and said, "Him, I don't like!"

The Greasers glared right at CJ the same way as their leader did and repeated what he said: "YOU, HE DON'T LIKE!"

CJ rolled his eyes, crossed his arms and said in return, "Whatever..."

Rolf returned back to AJ and said, "Come on... so what if I ditched ya all to deal with Tai and his pathetic little BC crew hangin' out down there at the beach... that don't mean we ain't friends no more, right, AJ?"

"And... your point...?" AJ answered to his remark and shook his head. "If we're still friends then you shouldn't be continuing to convince me to join you guys because there is NO WAY I'm taking YOUR side and there is NO WAY we're letting you have JJ's Beach to yourselves! Isn't that why you're always here for? Come on--- JJ's Beach--- that's family property!"

Rolf grunted with a high-pitched grunt and threw out his words, "WHO'S FAULT IS IT THAT WE'VE GOT THIS STUPID WAR WITH THEM ROTTEN SOIFAS AND THEIR BUNNIES, HUH? WHO'S FAULT IS IT THAT MY CREW HERE DON'T LIKE 'EM SO MUCH THAT WE WANNA IRRITATE 'EM, HUH? YOURS, AJ!! IF YA DIDN'T HAVE TO TEACH THAT LITTLE JERK TAI HOW TO SOIF TWO YEARS AGO THEN NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!!"

"DON'T BE BLAMIN' ALL THIS ON AJ, VON ZIP... THE REASON WHY HE LEFT 'CUZ HE COULDN'T STAND THE SIGHT OF YOU ALWAYS FOOLIN' AROUND BEHIND OUR BACKS!" CJ continued to join in while AJ hushed CJ to stay quiet.

Rolf continued on his persuasion: "You can be leader again, AJ... we's gonna restore Tsunami Point back like it was before.. just as you said... you want everyone to get along again, yenno? Together, once we get rid of the BCs, you can become leader again--- everyone will look up to you again! You are going to be a LEGEND of Tsunami Point!"

"Rolf, seriously, you'd better stop this nonsense," AJ gave a warning to him. "I'm not up to being a leader of any group at all, anyway, so you deal with this BC problem of yours and just leave us out of it!"

"YEAH!!" CJ, DJ, and RJ joined in the "mano-a-mano" ranting between two group leaders. The Touma Brothers left their positions on stage and joined in along with CJ and AJ.

Rolf looked out right towards BJ, who was only remaining on stage and yelled out to him: "YO BJ... YA LOOK LONELY UP THERE... YA BORED?" BJ heard the Greser leader's voice and looked forward towards the leader. "'Eeeey... you don't look happy... whatsa matter? Ya don't talk no more... was it 'cuz ya miss those good ol' rider days too?"

The others present looked right towards BJ, hoping he might speak for the first time aloud. Alas, there were no words that came out from his mouth. Instead he gave Rolf his answer by shaking his head. His facial expression may not look content, but he was definitely furious at the Greasers for their pestering of the riders. "Hey, leave BJ alone, don't get him involved!" DJ demanded with a glaring look. "Why don't you just leave us alone and pretend that the riders don't exist?"

"Don't get us involved with the BCs too!" Dan joined in once more. "We don't wanna deal with you OR the BCs--- and why don't you both groups just make a truce or something and fight over somethin' else 'cuz neither of you are gonna get JJ's Beach!"

Rolf was distracted and slowly turned his head right towards Dan. "You hate that jerk now, do you...? Well... this is your chance..." Immediately he got closer to Dan while the steamed young girl crossed her arms and shot another glare at him. "With you by my side, dear Danielle, we can topple down the BCs and you shall have yer revenge, see? Ya gotta show him yer better than him, yenno?"

Dan stood up from her seat and answered, "Don't get ME involved in this too! What I do with my own messed up lovelife--- or if I even have any--- is my own business and you stick your nose somewhere else!"

Sam ran and stood between Dan and Rolf: "GET YOUR PAWS OFF DAN, YA HEAR? YOU COME NEAR HER AGAIN AND I'LL KICK YER---"

Before Sam was about to start another confrontation, AJ stepped in between, trying to stop the two from having another conflict. "Come on, you two, we're not here to fight..." Before anyone knew it, all hell broke lose with one Greaser making a complaint, then another rider making another complaint. Right at that start, both sides blurted out all their words like dogs and cats and ironically, like the BCs and the Greasers themselves.

With all the opposing commotion going on inside the still-yet-not open for business hangout, somewhere around the corner of the building was a stranger who seemed to have been witnessing this whole ordeal between the riders and the Greasers. With everything out of control the stranger looking around the corner stood up, revealing as a moderately-heighted yet very fit and slim, creamy-skinned, chest-lengthed long dark raven haired, sweet-faced young lady wearing outside sandals, very tight and short white shorts, and a white bikini top. Also around her neck is a small white necklace of tropical shell pieces. She bore a face and figure so attractive and so distinctive that every male passing her by easily got distracted just by a small glimpse towards her. The only question that came within our minds at the moment was why was she hiding--- or spying--- at JJ's Joint? How long had she been there? What was her purpose of witnessing this whole situation. Right when the door was opened abruptly, the girl around the corner sat back down to hide herself and started watching again...

"WE GO!!" Rolf shouted, pointing his Greasers to their motorbikes. He glanced right at the door and said "I'VE WARNED YA--- IT'S A FINAL WARNING, AJ!! THE BCs ARE GONNA COME EVENTUALLY AND DRIVE YOU ALL OUT OF BUSINESS--- THEN YOU WILL BE BEGGIN' FOR MY HELP!!"

AJ exited the door and said "GOOD LUCK TO YOU TOO AND YOUR LITTLE FIASCO WITH THE BCs, VON ZIP! I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU HERE AGAIN!!"

And that was that. The Greasers rode off and AJ went back inside. The girl spying on both sides stood up and glanced right at the door, then through the open window. Her eyes were targeted right towards AJ.

AJ? Why AJ? Wouldn't she be looking at the Greasers instead?

Slowly, she backed away from the joint and ran off towards the other side of the street and right on to the sandy beach at "JJ's Beach," turning her way towards the right. Just a few meters from the beach she caught a glimpse of a small group of surfer boys with their surfboards and other girls in bikini clad and started waving at them.

"Where have you been?" one of the beach girls wondered with a smile, waving in return.

"JJ's Joint," the girl answered her friend. "The Greasers were there."

"Oh? What's the news?" A surfer boy wondered, scratching his head.

"The Greasers are picking on the Riders too..." she answered. "I swear it... I have to tell Crow and Little Shark about this!"

The other beach kids gasped in shock to hear all these from this particular girl. Another one of the girls jumped up to her and said "Does Crow or Little Shark or any of the elites know about you hanging out at that place? Girl, you're like the Surf Princess and everyone's looking up to you 'cuz you're the only honey who can surf with the rest of the cuties but for anyone to know that you've been hanging around at JJ's Joint...? What's so special about that place anyway? Are the elites going to try and take over that place so we can take over Curl Point? You know all the insider info--- you're one of the elites, Honey Bear!"

It figured right away. This girl was a BC... A "BC" meaning "beach cutie." In Tsunami Point, any youngin' who earned a somewhat "strange yet cutesy" nickname was definitely a BC. The Greasers had their own nicknames as well but it wasn't as "cutesy" or "mellow" as what the BC's had. The girl called "Honey Bear" stood like an islander princess with such rare beauty that shined more than the shiniest jewel and a smile that glowed more than the rays of the summer sun. She was not just the only female among the female BCs who can tame the waves but she was also the "perfect beach girl" every single beach guy ever dreamed of.

"There was a boy..." Honey Bear murmured softly. Her eyes started to wander out in to her own world. She must had seen someone in particular today. Was she trying to change the subject just to throw off her fellow BCs?

"Honey Bear, this isn't the time for girl talk!" one of the female BCs frowned at her with her arms crossed. "You gotta stop hanging around JJ's Joint all the time... if Crow or Little Shark or any of the elites found out about you then---"

"There was a boy... in JJ's Joint... whom I have been watching over for... quite sometime..."

"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!" The girls screamed in shock while the surfer boys who were hanging around with them ran off to catch some more waves. Obviously the boys did not want to hear any one of their small girl talk and off they went. The girls grouped around her with huge smiles and giggles. "WHO???"

Honey Bear sighed deeply and murmured: "I don't know... but... he's really sweet... and cute... and... it's not fair that we don't haev that many BC guys that are like that... he never gets intimidated at losers like Von Zip at all!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW HIS NAME??"

"Honey Bear, promise we won't tell the elites--- YOU HAVE TO GO TO JJ'S JOINT TONIGHT!!" one of the girls giggled excitedly, nudging Honey Bear at the same time. "Come on, girl, I bet that boy you've been looking at will be there!"

"Um.. he plays guitar... I don't know which one but.. I've seen him rehearse with his friends up on stage... gosh he looked so cute and so adorable... with his gentle friendly gesture... his eyes... his smile... sometimes it makes me feel so sad to see him sad..."

"Honey Bear, how long have you been spying on JJ's Joint? You've been hanging out there outside just to look at that boy?? Whoever he is..." another joined in the conversation. "Girl, you really have to go there tonight!"

Honey Bear stood up straight and chuckled softly like an innocent little girl. "I have been... planning to go there one of these nights... I don't know what riders do, so.. I'm just gonna show up with a regular dress on! Most rider girls wear those really neat simple dresses!"

"THEN GO!!! LET CROW AND LITTLE SHARK AND ALL THEIR ELITENESS PEOPLE FIGURE OUT FOR THEMSELVES!!" The girls cheered behind Honey Bear while the popular girl just laughed along with them.

The plan was set. This girl "Honey Bear" was going to come to JJ's Joint....

Tonight.

---

"Hmm.. seems like everyone's asleep..." I chuckled softly after I realized that practically everyone were sound asleep. I yawned deeply myself, stretching my arms at the same time. I did notice PJ with his eyes open, but lying down on his back on his sleeping bag. It looked like he had a lot of things in mind.

"Honey Bear...?" I heard PJ whisper softly of the name of another new character in the story. "For some reason I've heard of that name before."

"Really?" I wondered. I scooted my sleeping bag next to him and also lied myself flat on the back.

"I heard Kou's dad mentioning of that weird nickname one time when he was over at the joint, talking to my dad. Hmm.. I wonder which rider boy she was looking at during that time....?"

"You should know, PJ. Trust me."

"Well... it's too late anyway... gotta go to sleep." PJ turned around away from me and yawned. "Goodnight, Mina."

I giggled softly at my cousin. Until now poor PJ still did not have a clue. Oh well... I just love to spoil people in stories anyway.

"Goodnight, PJ. Sweet dreams, you hear...?"


// TO BE CONTINUED... //