Tory's POV
I got out of the hospital yesterday night. No matter how many times the doctor said I was okay and Ben could leave, he insisted on staying. Hi, Shelton, and Ella left at lunchtime. I'm going back to school tomorrow. I get a text from Ben.
Ben- Will you meet me and the boys down at the beach?
Tory- Sure. Be right there
I throw on a pair of flip flops, and walk down the stairs. Of course, Whitney is walking up the stairs as I'm walking down. "Where are you going?" She asks in her annoying Barbie voice. "The boys want to talk. So we're meeting on the beach." She asks like an idiot, "Will Ben be there?" And then she winks. I suppress an eye roll. "Well he's one of the boys isn't he?" She frowns. "Well yeah... Just be back in an hour. Dinner will be done." I say thank God under my breath and walk out the door.
Ben's POV
I see Tory walk outside. She's seriously the most beautiful girl ever. I still remember the way her lips felt on mine the first time she kissed me at Drayton Hall. Geez, I'm sounding all girly. I meet her on her front porch to walk down to the beach with her. She slips her hand in mine like she did 2 weeks ago when she chose me over Chance Claybourne. I about had a heart attack when she slipped her hand into mine. I stop her, and she looks at me in confusion. I quickly kiss her before she says anything. I put my hands appropriately around her waist and pull her towards me. We kiss until Hi yells, "Get a room or get down here!" Tory turns tomato red. I know I do too. I scowl at him as I slip my hand back into hers. As we approach he says, "If looks could kill I'd be dead." Tory laughs and says, "If looks could kill you'd have been dead a long time ago." Now Shelton laughs. "Now that's the truth." Hi says, "Now, Shelly, you'd be dead too. I don't know why you're laughing." Shelton hits the back of his head. Hi whines, "Don't hit me there. I still have bruises from Benny Boy over there." Now I slap him. Hi yelps while the rest of us laugh. Shelton finally says, "Alright, down to business. Anyone try flaring today?" 3 head shakes. "Okay. We're going to try now. Ben, stand behind Tor. We don't need her falling and hitting her head again. Okay. Try flaring." I try hard. I reach into my subconscious. I try for a good five minutes before asking, "Anyone else having trouble?" Two nods. Tory's eyes are glowing blue. She says, "Think of something sad. I think that helps." I close my eyes and think of losing Tory. I flare instantly. I know we've only been dating 2 weeks, but I can't see my future without her. All of sudden, I hear a twig snap. We all look around.
Tory sends in our minds, 'I think we're being followed.'
Shelton sends, '45 yards to the left. 3 people. I'm pretty sure it's 2 guys and 1 girl.'
Hi follows up with, 'Gamemasters people?'
I mentally cringe, but send, 'Or other crazy scientists. Maybe they're back for the mutt.'
Tory sends, 'I never thought to give him the vial.'
I send, 'But we got our flares back. What if they're after us?'
Hi sends, 'No. If they want to snatch us, then it'd be when we're walking to the bunker. Not in plain view on the beach. Probably just observing.'
Shelton sends, 'Hi's right. They wouldn't take us right in the middle of the beach."
Tory sends, 'Snuff the powers. We don't want then to leave with anything other than what they came with.'
SNUP
I'm trying hard to not fall. I grab Tory, but as soon as I do, she starts falling. I break her fall. Shelton fell, and Hi is on his knees throwing up. I realize that Tory didn't just fall, but she fainted. She wakes up almost instantly. "Crap," she whispers. "Why the hell does that keep happening?" I answer, "I don't know, but don't worry. I broke your fall." She gives me a sweet kiss on the cheek, and goes and helps Shelton and Hi.
Tory's POV
After helping Shelton and Hi, they both leave for dinner. I still have 15 minutes until I have to go. Ben asks me, "Are you going in?" I answer, "Not yet. I still have 15 minutes of freedom." I plop down on the sand. Ben just kind of stands there, like he wants to sit, but is too afraid. I pat the spot next to me. "Want to sit with me?" He doesn't answer, just sits down next to me. "So, tomorrow after school, I was wondering, uh, if you'd like to go to the movies with me?" He asks. I smile. "Sure. I'd love to. What's out?" "Well, there's a movie called The Stars and Beyond that came out. It's kind of scientific. And it's supposed to be good and romantic and I'd thought maybe you'd want to see it." He rambles. It's cute. "It sounds good. But," He cringes, "I think I need to come back here and change. I don't want to go to the movies in my Bolton Prep uniform." He smiles, and then kisses me. He walks me back to my complex, gives me one more kiss, and walks away. Kit looks up at me when I walk in. "Hey, Tor, you mind setting the table?" I'm happy about Ben asking me to the movies, so I say, "No I don't mind at all." After we set the table and get our food, I start talking to Whitney. "Hey Whitney?" She answers in her Southern accent, "Yeah honey?" I say, "So Ben asked me to the movies, and even though we hang out a lot, and we're dating, and he's seen me in my normal clothes, I want to look better than normal. I don't want to go all out, but I want to look better. Will you help me pick out something?" She screeches, "Yes! I'd love to!" I say, "Thanks. It really means a lot to me." She smiles.
Ben's POV
I walk into my complex smiling like a Cheshire cat. I gets out my phone and text Hiram.
Ben- I asked her to the movies
Hi- And?
Ben- She said she'd love to. Then we kissed
Hi- Awww my little Benny Boy is growing up
Ben- You're lucky I'm not standing anywhere near you
Hi- Shelton just texted me. Video chat at 9. He's apparently found something
Ben- Great. See you later
Tory's POV
I'm sitting on my bed while Whitney is going through my closet. "Do you think you could fit in my clothes?" She asks.
"I don't know. Maybe."
"I'll go grab some clothes."
"Not too dressy!" I call after her.
She comes back with a blue American Eagle shirt, and dark wash jean shorts.
"What size show do you wear?" She asks me.
"7 or 8."
"Perfect!" She runs back to her room and comes back with a pair of sandals. She gives them to me, and then makes me try the whole outfit on. I come out of the bathroom, and she screeches, "It's perfect! You look beautiful!" I blush. "Thanks Whitney." My phone vibrates. It's Shelton, and he says I need to get on iFollow. I say thanks to Whitney again, then close the door and lock it. I change into a black tank top and light blue shorts. I pull out my Mac and log onto iFollow. I'm the last one on the screen. Before I even say hey, Shelton starts talking.
"As soon as I got home, I did some research. I also went through some of Karsten's old files. He said that the DNA in the virus is reoccurring. But, it also says that he had started on the cure and never finished. The only reason Ella didn't flare is because the vial was made for their type of virus. Even though they're so similar, it didn't completely wipe ours out. I also found out the DNA slightly alters when it reocurrs. He was trying to find a cure for every kind of parvovirus there is, because that would've made big bucks. When Chance reverse engineered the virus for the cure, it was the one he made. That's why it didn't come back, and it completely wiped it out, so it won't come back to them. Thank God."
I rub my eyes. I'm tired. "Thanks Shelton. That's good. I'm sorry, but I'm tired. Let's talk again tomorrow."
"Okay, bye," they say in unison. I log off and shut my laptop. I'm on the edge of sleep when I get a call. I don't even look at the Caller ID, I just answer.
"Hello?"
"Hey Tory, it's Ben."
"Hey Ben."
"Sorry, I couldn't sleep and I was thinking about you. Were you sleeping?"
"Just about it but it's okay."
"What are you doing?"
"On the edge of sleep."
"I'll go then."
"No! Just listen to me go to sleep. Then, maybe you can fall asleep."
"Okay."
I'm on the edge of sleep when he says, "I love you."
I whisper, "I love you too."
