A.N.: Hi there :) I feel like I should probably say that this story has some really mild language and underage drinking in it. If that offends you, you probably won't want to read, but I hope you will because I spent a lot of time and writers cramps on this!
"Aw, man," Dustin sighed, rolling his diploma back up.
"What's wrong, dude?" Shane asked, clapping a supportive hand on his friend's back.
"Yeah, cheer up," Tori added. "Or have you forgotten? We saved the world! Lothor's army has fallen and the world is safe again!"
"Plus, none of us really thought you'd get that diploma, anyways," Shane teased.
"Ha ha, very funny," Dustin sneered. "No, it's not that…" He stuffed the scroll under his arm and surveyed the area outside the graduation ceremony. When he was sure that no one would hear, explained in a hushed tone. "Sensei put my full name on the certificate."
"Oh, harsh," Shane sympathized.
"What's so bad about that?" Hunter's deep voice rang out from behind him. Dustin whipped around to see both Thunder Rangers looking back at him expectantly.
"Yeah, how bad could your middle name be?" Blake asked, snatching the scroll out from under Dustin's arm and tossed between his hands a few times.
"Dude," Dustin made a grab for it, but it was no use. Blake smiled playfully at him. "I'm not concerned about my middle name. I like my middle name. It's my first name I can't stand."
"Huh?" Blake asked, puzzled. He began to unroll the scroll. Hunter craned his neck to be able to read over his brother's shoulder. The Thunders were barely able to stifle a laugh as Blake read aloud, "Waldo Dustin Brooks."
"Shut up." Dustin said, grabbing his diploma back. "Let's see yours then."
"Hey, no prob." Hunter and Blake pulled their diplomas out from their back pockets and opened them. "Read it and weep: Blake Matthew Bradley, Mitchell's not too bad either, bro. No shame, Waldo."
"Waldo…" Hunter and Shane shared a small laugh.
"Hey, guys," Tori interjected. "Be nice."
"Hey, feel free to make fun of mine," Shane said with a smirk.
"Easy for you to say," said Dustin, poking Shane in the ribs. "You don't have a middle name."
"Don't hate, Waldo. Oh, hey," He said, changing the subject. "What are you guys doing tonight? We should celebrate or something."
"I'm game!" Hunter said, raising his hand.
"Me, too," Tori smiled.
"I'm in," Blake grinned, looking right at Tori, who blushed in return. "How 'bout you, Waldo?"
"Don't call me that!" Dustin laughed along, this time. "Yeah, I'm in. Why don't we all meet up at my place later?"
"Why your place?" Blake asked.
"'Cause my sister has this ballet thing is Santa Monica, and my mom went with her. Over night."
"Sweet!" Shane declared, meeting Dustin in a fist bump. "Unsupervised fun!"
"What about your dad?" Hunter chimed in.
"Dude, it's all good. My dad lives in Napa. He just visits sometimes." Dustin shrugged. "So, are you guys coming or what?"
"Sounds cool." Blake admitted. "But I gotta be out by 11; I have this Factory Blue contract signing thing, tomorrow."
"Oh, right," Tori said looking at her feet. "So, when do you leave?"
"I get on the plane Monday morning for L.A.," he answered, enthused.
"Cool, it'll be like a double party!" Shane rubbed his hands together with a silly smile. "It can be Graduation-from-Ninja-School-and-Getting-Rid-of-Blake Palooza!"
"Hey, don't overdo it!" Cam called passing by. "Don't forget that you have Wind Sensei orientation at noon."
"Okay, Cam," Dustin promised, crossing his fingers behind his back.
"You wanna come too?" Tori asked politely.
"No thanks," Cam answered, waving them off. "You guys have fun."
"So my place, nine-ish?" Dustin smiled.
"The party has arrived!" Shane exclaimed, pushing open Dustin's front door.
"Yo," Dustin called from the kitchen. "Come on in, you gotta check this out!"
Shane walked down the hall, past pictures of Dustin and his sister, Lexi, through childhood. He paused to examine one in particular. The adolescent faces of himself, Dustin, and Tori stared back at him. Shane thought he looked pretty good, considering it was the first day of high school. Tori's unruly blonde hair and silver braces contrasted with the girl he knew today and Dustin… Well, to Dustin's credit, he had let Tori cut his hair earlier that week. He chuckled to himself before setting the picture back on the hall table and heading back towards the kitchen.
Hunter and Blake were already there, standing with Dustin around the kitchen counter. Dustin moved a little so Shane could see the case of beer they had been looking at.
"Dude! How'd you swing that?" Shane asked, fighting a smile.
"A ninja knows when to keep his secrets."
Hunter scoffed, and Blake just looked confused.
"No, really, where'd you get that?" Blake asked.
"You swiped it from the staff graduation party, didn't you?" Hunter said with a disapproving look.
"Dude," Dustin hit Hunter's chest. "How'd you know?"
"Hello?" A feminine voice from the front hall called out. "Guys?"
"In the kitchen, Tori!" Shane called out. "You bring the tunes?"
"Like I could forget," She answered walking into the kitchen and catching sight of the beer. "Oh. Is that really such a good idea?" She asked, pointing towards the case.
"Oh, lighten up, Tori," Blake said, ripping the cardboard and tossing her a can.
"Well, I guess you're right," She reasoned. "I mean, I'm a senior and I've never even tasted this stuff. This is what normal non-super-powered teens do, right?" She flipped the metal tab back and took a small sip. "Ew. You guys actually like this stuff?"
"No, but that's why I don't drink it." Hunter answered plainly.
"It gets better," Shane assured her. He put an arm over her shoulder and began to guide her to the living room, but not before grabbing a can for himself.
"I'm going to miss this," Blake sighed, joining them. "It's gonna be all work and no play for a while."
"Yeah, but you'll be riding factory, bro!" Dustin said taking a seat on the arm of the couch. "Totally worth it."
Suddenly, Tori became very thirsty at the thought of Blake's departure. She brought her can to her lips and proceeded to chug the rest of it.
"Whoa, easy there," Hunter pulled the can from her face and placed it on the coffee table. "Come on, sit down," he took a seat on the small yellow sofa, pulling Tori down with him.
"So, Blake, do you start racing right away?" Shane asked.
"Pretty much. I think my first race is— oh, what did he say? Thursday?"
"Yeah," Hunter confirmed, putting his arm over the back of the seat.
"You'll be great, Blake," Tori piped up. "I know it. They'll probably have you riding the major circuits and signing kids' helmets or whatever in no time flat."
Hunter gave her a skeptical, sideways glance.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothin'."
Four beers later, Blake was out like a light in Shane's lap. Shane was passed out, with one hand resting on Blake's neck and his head thrown over the back of the couch.
"Dude." Dustin slurred, having had one too many himself. "We gotta get a picture of this for Blake's new factory friends."
"Dustin, you're totally wasted, and it's like, midnight." Hunter laughed. "You should get some sleep, bro."
"Nuh-uh. We gotta get proof!" He fished in his pockets for his phone and flipped it open. He tried to take a picture before giving up with a fit of laughter.
"What time is it?" Tori cried. She had stopped after the first beer, deciding the buzz wasn't worth the taste of feet. However, she still felt a little woozy. "I gotta be home by 12:30!" She stood up and raced for the door.
"Tor, give me your keys," Hunter demanded.
"What? No, I'm fine. Honest." She insisted.
"Tori." Hunter said firmly. "Did you drink, tonight?"
"Oh, come on. That's not fair. I had one beer and I don't feel it!"
"Did you drink, tonight?" He asked again.
"Yes." She answered reluctantly.
"Now, did I drink, tonight?"
"No!" Dustin laughed from the floor. "You were a total wuss about it!" This sent him into another laughing spree.
"So, look's like I'm the total wuss that's going to drive you home tonight." He smiled as her keys came flying at his face.
A.N.: Please review! You'll be my favorite :)