A few weeks later:

Things had been going well with Tori and Blake. Dustin had even found that he and the Bradley brothers had something in common. Motocross. Hunter still didn't like the idea of Blake and Tori being an item, even though they claimed they weren't together, but he had dealt with it. Shane and Dustin just went along with whatever Tori said not wanting to get on her bad side. Hunter had somewhat starting hanging out with Shane and Dustin in the midst of all the hub-ub.

Tori and Blake went out on casual friendly dates here and there getting to know each other better. Blake was perfectly content just being around Tori and she obviously began to feel the same way around him after the first week or so.

Slowly Tori came around to the fact that Blake was actually a decent guy. In all honesty Tori had begun to realize that her and Blake had both done what they did out of pain, fear and sheer stupidity. It didn't mean Tori wanted to quit sometimes it was a rush to see what she could make guys do, but then again she wouldn't be in high school forever.

The duo never kissed Tori fearing that it would lead them down a path they or better she wasn't ready to take. Blake was just understanding in giving her the space she needed. As the days and weeks passed they slowly fell into a comfortable routine like relationship.

"So we on for dinner at Burger Joe's tonight?" Blake asked Tori as they worked on a lab assignment in Mr. Kline's class.

Tori looked over smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

"Well I was thinking after maybe we could get a tub of ice cream and just watch some good movies over at your place." Blake suggested.

"Are you like my gal pal or something?" Tori asked jokingly.

"No!" Blake exclaimed.

Tori patted his shoulder slightly. "Calm down there killer I was just kidding. Yes ice cream and movies sound fun." She said with a sweet smile.

Across the room Shane, Dustin and Hunter were talking. "Tori's really happy. I haven't seen her smile like that since Nate was around." Dustin commented seeing his friend smile sweetly at Blake.

"I know what you mean." Shane said.

"What are you dude's talking about?" Hunter asked being thoroughly confused. Nobody had offered up any explanations on Tori to Hunter.

Shane and Dustin both kind of sighed. "Well Tori had this boyfriend named Nate and two years ago he just ups and leaves. Not a word, no call, no note and this was after dating Tori for two years. Well about a year ago he sent her a dear john letter saying that he found someone else, but he still loved Tori and yadda, yadda…Tori was crushed." Dustin informed him.

Hunter felt awful. The whole reason he disliked Tori was because he thought she was just like Jessica, but in truth she was the one who got hurt. "Right after that is when she started the whole bet thing." Shane said. "We thought it was keeping her happy, you know just to have a little fun. But we started to wonder if she was doing it more along the lines of revenge for her pain than anything."

"Did she sleep with all of them?" Hunter asked.

"There have only been four and no. Just Blake, because Eric told her he could get him to make an easy bet on their sleeping together." Dustin said.

Hunter nodded. "Do I even want to know what she did to the others?"

Shane shook his head. "Probably not."

"Well I guess I owe Blake an apology." Hunter sighed.

"Dude why?" Dustin asked.

"We got into a fight a couple weeks ago and I said some things I probably shouldn't have. And seeing how happy he is now I feel kind of bad." Hunter explained.

Shane patted his shoulder. "Be glad you get along with your brother. Mine is insufferable."

"And be glad you don't have a younger sister who's like going through that phase were it's all boys all the time. I don't think I can take hearing about another popular boy at the dinner table." Dustin joked with them making all three crack up into hysterics.

"What's going on over there?" Tori asked hearing the guys over in the corner roaring with laughter.

Blake smirked and turned his head back to hers. "With them who knows." He said. "So I had another thought."

"You seem to have a lot of those lately. "Tori said teasingly.

Blake just grinned. "Well I was thinking about that dance coming up in two weeks and I thought maybe…"

"Are you asking me to a school dance?" Tori asked incredulously.

Blake scratched at the back of his head nervously. "Uh yeah." He said shyly.

Tori smiled. "Well finish asking me." She coaxed.

"Will you go to the dance with me?" Blake asked a little less nervous.

Tori nodded. "Sure." She answered kindly with a gentle smile.

"Cool." Blake replied.

Movie Night:

"I can't believe you didn't think that was cool." Tori proclaimed.

Blake shrugged sitting with his arm slung around her shoulder on the couch. "Eh it just didn't have to same allure that the original double o sevens had."

Tori giggled faintly. "You're just mad cause Pierce Brosnan is cuter then you are."

Blake gaped at her. "No way is he cuter then me."

"You feel threatened." Tori mocked.

"Do not." Blake argued back playfully.

"Too."

"Not."

"Do too." Tori teased.

"Ok that's it!" Blake exclaimed as his fingers began an assault on her ribs. Tori cried out in peals of laughter.

"Stop!" She managed to get out before continuing laughing as they fell onto the floor next to Rox. Rox jumped up and growled at Blake who was straddling Tori to the floor tickling her. Blake paused and looked up at the dog.

Tori looked up at the dog and then at Blake and grinned. "Get up or she'll bite." She said smugly. Rox let out a snarled bark.

Blake smirked at Tori and stood helping her up in the process. "Damn dog."

"Hey!" Tori protested. "That damn dog lives here. You're a guest." She said looking him over with a teasing grin.

Blake smirked at her even wider. "Are you checking me out?" He asked dubiously.

Tori shook her head. "Nope just checking to make sure you have all your body parts." She said denying his allegation. Well part of its true. Tori told herself.

"Uh huh sure. I'll believe that when pigs fly." Blake said mocking Tori's statement back to the day he had run into her on the beach.

Tori rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Whatever. I think it's time for you to go now." She said this as she pushed him towards the door.

"Aw but Tori it's still earlier we can watch another movie. "Blake said with an impish gin.

Tori chuckled. "Why don't you ever want to go home?" Tori asked. He had done this since that first time she made him walk home.

"A. I've had enough exercise the last few weeks to last me a lifetime. And B. I'm avoiding Hunter." Blake said.

Tori looked at him oddly. "Why are you avoiding Hunter?"

"Because he's a jerk." Blake said a little aggravated

Tori took him by the wrist and walked him back over to the couch. They sat down and Tori turned to Blake and looked him directly in the eye. "Does this have to do with me?" Blake nodded. "Did you guys get in a fight about the fact that we might date?"

Blake nodded again. "He's just a big jerk who doesn't know what the hell he is talking about."

"Blake you can't fight with your brother about a girl. Girls they come and go but your brother is always around when you need him." Tori said.

Blake sighed. "But he doesn't like you he thinks your gonna be just like Jessica and break my heart."

Tori shook her head perturbed by this whole thing. "Look technically we aren't even dating, but I'll talk to Hunter and clear some things up with him." Tori suggested.

"No my brother's a stubborn jackass it wont matter what you say, he'll still think the same way that he does and no ones gonna change his mind." Blake said.

Tori chuckled. "You're a stubborn jackass too. Look go home and talk to Hunter. Make him see that I'm not the wicked witch that he thinks I am."

Blake grinned at her for a second before mustering all his courage and leaning in quickly to capture Tori's lips in a kiss. Tori pulled back and looked at Blake for a second before returning to his lips hungrily. Blake wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer as her hands went through his short black hair. This is so wrong. Tori thought to herself. Then why does it feel so right? Her other side argued.

A light sweep of Blake's tongue on her bottom lip made Tori moan letting his tongue slip in to gentle meet hers. As they continued to kiss Tori felt Blake lead her to lie down on the couch. She didn't hesitate to let him do that, but stopped when she felt his hand run up her bare back. Tori pulled away. "Blake don't." She said a bit warily.

Blake took a second to catch his breath and figure out why she had said that. Then it hit him where is hand was. "Sorry habit I guess." He joked it away.

Tori smirked. "I bet." Tori felt Blake move his hands from her back and then felt him cup her face. She smiled softly as he leaned in and took her lips in his once again. His tongue quickly found its way into her mouth meeting no resistance and Tori let out a soft series of moans when she felt his velvet tongue dance with hers. Blake parted from her lips and kissed down to her neck as Tori's hands found their way to the back of his head and tenderly scratched.

Sensations Tori had never felt before, in another's arms, seemed to chorus through her. I can't be falling for him. Tori thought silently as Blake continued to caress the silky flesh of her neck. I'm still in love with Nate. How can I be falling for Blake? And then it hit Tori like a ton of bricks, Nate had left her and she had fallen for him. Did that mean Blake would leave too. Tori didn't want him to she had never felt this good. Not even with Nate. Did she love Blake or was she mistaking affection and warmth for love. Tori was all sorts of confused. This feels so good and so right. Tori admitted to herself.

After a while Blake brought his lips back to Tori's and kissed her passionately. Tori was to lost in the feel of Blake's luscious lips upon hers to think anymore and felt as if she might explode with sheer joy right then. Tori hadn't allowed herself to get caught up in Blake back when she was playing him, but now it was different. Now really mattered because now he could hurt her. Tori didn't want to be hurt again and that's why she kept Blake at arms length. That's why she had done everything she could to keep Blake out, build up walls, and kept their relationship plutonic. But now all of that was out the window, she was falling and falling fast.

Blake felt like his world was turning around. All he had known for the last two and a half years was casual bets and sex with different girls every once and a while, but Tori was different. I can't believe how fast I've fallen for her. And it all started because she used me well we used each other. He told himself. Tori was something special obviously to make him feel the way he was, on cloud nine. A generous surge of desire rose up in his gut. Blake wanted to know Tori, feel her, taste her; he hadn't wanted any of that in so long. Granted after what they had already done, he had already done all that. But not really, not technically, Blake hadn't fallen for that Tori he had fallen and was still falling for the actually real Tori. The Tori who had fears like his own of loving someone and that someone not returning your love. She was different. Tori could make him feel right again. Here and now feels so good. Blake thought to himself.

They slowly broke away from each other's lips in a silent stupor. Tori lay beneath him stunned and just gazing at him and Blake had a satisfied smile on his face. "Wow…" Blake breathed.

Tori giggled faintly. "Yeah that comes to mind." She whispered.

"Tori I…" Blake was cut off when the phone rang. Tori attempted to reach up and over the couch for it on it's table stand but failed miserably. Blake grinned and grabbed the phone and handed it to her.

Tori smirked at him and answered the phone. "Hello?" She said brightly and Blake bent down to her neck again. "Speaking." She said softer. Tori push Blake up to stop him and he saw the look of panic on her face. "Is she alright?" Tori's went wide. "Yeah I'll be in immediately. Thank you." Tori hung up. "Blake move." Tori said abruptly.

Blake got off of her and she quickly rose and ran to her room. When she came back out she had her mini blue jansport back pack and her car keys. "Is everything ok?" Blake asked. Tori seemed kind of dazed.

Tori looked at him. "No, no, my sister was in a car ac...accident." She stammered tears in her eyes. "I know we don't get along but I didn't want…"

"Tor it's ok…come on I'll drive you. You don't look so well." Blake said gently. Tori willingly handed him her keys and they walked out of the house leaving Rox alone and locking the door.