Final chapter before the end... This should be interesting...

Not much else to say...

Anyway... the Disclaimer...

Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers Ninja Storm or it's characters. All I own is Celea and a few other OCs... and the Academy she goes to, and it's moves.

Celea

"Come on."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Why not?!"

"Because I won't be able to stomach it."

"It's just one!"

I groaned as I looked at Dustin from where I was scraping the remains of one of his batches of the day clean after everyone else went home. "I will not eat sushi with you, Cam and Shane tomorrow!"

"Just one bite. That's all!" He insisted.

I groaned, why did the brothers have to be visiting their grandma for the whole weekend and not bring me along?

"Please!" Dustin got on his knees before me, "I won't ask you to do anything else for the next month!"

I sighed heavily as I spoke, "Man am I gonna regret this….." I looked at him and breathed out, "Alright, fine."

"Yes!"

"But." I held up a finger, "On one condition."

"Anything!" He nodded.

"You get me tickets so I can go Angel Grove to see the Joe Nichols concert. Two tickets." I stated my terms.

"But! They're almost sold out!" The Yellow Ranger reasoned, "I couldn't possibly…."

"Those are my terms." I folded my arms, "Take it or no deal."

He groaned before saying, "Okay, fine! Deal!"

We shook our hands and I smirked.

"I take it we'll be at Shane's?" I figured.

"Yep." He nodded.

"This'll make for a fun weekend." I noted.

The next day...

"A delay at the airport?!" I groaned, I forgot Hunter and Blake were traveling by air encase I needed the truck, and so they didn't scare their grandma.

"Yeah… we won't make it back till Monday… but we'll have a freshly baked Apology Cookie with us." Blake insisted.

The sound of the phone being grabbed made me pull my from my ears a bit.

"You think you'll be okay by yourself?" Hunter asked, his voice laced with worry.

"…Yeah." I lied, "I'll have Kelly and Tori over so I'll be fine."

"Cel!" They both complained and I laughed softly.

"Relax, I'll have everything the same as if you were never gone when you get back." I assured.

"Alright… bye." They sighed.

"Bye." With that, I hung up.

"What's up?" Shane frowned as I rolled another sushi with him.

"Oh, there's a flight delay in Albuquerque, where the brothers are." I exhaled.

Shane looked over at me, "Man… that's gotta be rough with you."

I raised a brow at him, "For me?"

"Well… I thought Hunter would've told you that he—"

Dustin rushed in and put a hand over Shane's mouth, "That he… really misses you." We both gave him confused looks. "Well… you know how protective he is since you do all these crazy misadventures with us."

I nodded slowly, "Funny thing is… I think I liked it better when Hunter wasn't so protective over me… and it gets worse with every one of those misadventures… it's like he doesn't trust me with anyone but himself… who does that?"

Cam walked over, "Maybe someone in—" He glanced at the others then quickly rephrased himself, "In… pain… yeah. In pain."

I blinked and looked at the others, who were in awkward casual positions, before I looked back at Cam, "Am I missing something here?"

"No." They chorused.

I sighed, "Guys, come on. I'm spending almost half the night with you, the least you guys could do is be honest with me."

"Yeah… but see… if we were honest with you on this, Hunter would-" Cam and Shane wrapped their arms around Dustin's mouth before he could finish.

I sighed, "Guys, really?"

"He'll tell you when he's ready." Cam sighed as they let Dustin go.

I rolled my eyes before we all took some plates out to the living room, "Fine…. Now… can I leave yet?"

"Nope. Deal was you had to take a bite from one sushi." Dustin replied.

I groaned. I hate sushi… and someone had to tell these guys, which means I'm gonna have to face up to it.

We put the plates down and sat around them.

"Alright… we're gonna play a game…."

"That's not a good sign." Cam and I whispered to each other at what Shane said.

"The game we're gonna play is simple." Shane continued, "It's called Two Truths and a Lie. Every time one of us gets all three right, the one they'd guessed from has to eat a sushi."

I paled as my eyes slowly widened, and I felt my stomach turn at the thought. I wasn't allergic to Sushi, or anything from the sea for that matter, but… I just didn't like the taste.

"Who wants to start?" Dustin clapped his hands.

I shook my head profoundly, but that just made them smile at me, "Darn it…." I took a deep breath, "Alright…" I thought my two truths and one lie through. "I cooked before I went to Japan. I like the color orange. And I always try to get out of training."

The three tapped their chines before Cam smirked, "I got it! You first truth is; You cooked before you went to Japan… it just wasn't a hobby. Your second truth is; You always try to get out of training. And the lie is; You like the color orange!"

I groaned, "Correct, correct…. And correct."

"Yes!" Cam cheered.

"Now… you have to eat one of the sushi." Shane smirked at me.

I took one of Cam's and lifted it to my lips before I took a deep breath and took a bite.

The wrap, then the rice, then the tuna touched my tongue and I tried not to recoil in disgust as I swallowed it. I finished the sushi, as much as I hated it, and sighed, "Alright… I've got nothing better to do… so I guess the game with me can continue."

"Yes!" The boys cheered.

I sighed heavily, this was gonna be a long night.

5 hours later….

I walked into the Motel room with Tori and Kelly in tow.

"Alright… just for tonight, then you guys gotta pack up." I sighed.

They nodded, "Who's bed do we get?"

"Tori, Blake's, Kelly, mine." I shrugged, and they both smirked at me, getting me a little more than annoyed, "Alright, The guys already looked at me like that earlier, is something going on that I don't know?"

"Nope." They shook their heads, but their smirks turned int grins.

"Guys, seriously. What's up?!" I complained.

"How does she not know?" Kelly whispered to Tori, and I barely caught it.

"I don't know, but we can't tell her." Tori whispered back.

I resisted the strong urge to break something.

15 hours later...

I was waiting in the airport parking lot for the brothers, my arms folded.

I've been waiting for them the last twenty minutes and I was starting to lose my patients.

"Where are they?!" I hissed to myself.

I started pacing, and I ended up running into someone and I felt them drop some bags. "Sorry." We chorused.

I helped them pick up their things, and handed them back, and I actually got a good look at them… them being a guy.

He had short dirty blond hair with brown eyes and a bright smile.

I cleared my throat, and shook my head a little, "Uh… I'm just waiting for a friend..."

"Ah… so am I." He nodded, then held out his hand, "I'm Ralph. Ralph Everest."

"Everest?" I chuckled as I took his hand, "Well… I'm Celea Palensa."

"Believe me," He smiled as he let our hands go, "I've gotten the 'Everest' question a lot."

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling my cheeks heat up, before I cleared my throat, "Well…. I should probably get back to waiting for my friends."

'Ralph' shook his head, "Well… you're gonna be waiting a while, almost all of the planes coming in are still at their original place."

I groaned, "No..."

"'Fraid so." He nodded, "I could wait with you if you want… I've got no one to wait for, so I'm good."

I smiled, "I'd like that… thanks."

"Pleasure." Ralph assured before we sat down on a bench, and waited for Hunter and Blake to get here.

Hunter

"Cel's gonna be so mad." I groaned as we were just getting on the plane to Blue Bay. It took about three extra hours than wanted, and I was worried.

"You didn't tell her?" Blake gave me a look from where he sat on the other set of seats across the aisle.

"There's a lot of things I didn't tell her!" I snapped.

Blake scuffed, "Yeah… like you kissed another ch-"

"Shut up!" I hissed, "She does not nor will she ever find that out."

"This is Celestina Palensa we're talking about. She knows all." Blake retorted.

I groaned and hit my head on the back of my seat. "She's gonna kill me… isn't she?"

"Well… it could be worse." He noted as the plane finally took off.

"How so?" I rolled my eyes.

"It could've been someone other than Loren." Blake chuckled, "Now, good luck explaining that to Celea."

I banged my head against the back of my seat and groaned again.

2 hours later...

I grabbed my bags and rushed out to the parking lot where I saw Celea… but she wasn't alone.

She was laughing with some guy with blond hair, and I growled.

"What's….. woah… check out the dude she's talking to." Blake stopped beside me, and I could hear the smirk in his voice.

I gritted my teeth before I looking over at him, "Get the Apology cookie…. we'll meet you back at the Motel."

He glanced at me before sighing, "Alright… but don't be in such a bad mood when you do." He continued on his way out of the Airport.

I walked over to Celea and the other guy as calmly as I could… which was saying a lot because I wanted to yell and break something just at the sight.

"….kept looking at him, though I tried everything I could to get him to blink and…. I still lost." She smiled softly.

The boy laughed before I cleared my throat, and they both looked over at me.

"Speak of the winner." Cel joked before standing up, "Hey, Hunt."

I nodded, but I kept looking at the boy, "Who are you?"

"Uh… Hunt, this is Ralph Everest. Ralph, this is one of the two I've been waiting on, Hunter Bradley." Cel introduced us.

"Nice to meet you." He held out a hand.

I, begrudgingly, took it and shook it, "You too."

Cel clapped her hands, "Great… now…. Hunter…." She grabbed my jacket sleeve and pulled me out of the Airport parking lot, my bags being dragged behind me, "Why didn't you…. Tell me?!" She motioned to her head with her free hand.

"I was gonna." I rolled my eyes, "But Blake kept badgering me and I never got the chance."

Truth was, I totally forgot to tell her…. I was busy in Albuquerque with my grandma and Loren.

Cel sighed, "Alright… I believe you… now let's go..."

"Sure you wouldn't want to spend more time with 'Ralph'?" I questioned bitterly as we started walking together again.

She stopped and turned to me, "Hunt… look, I'm upset with you as is. Can we please just get back to the Motel?"

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever."

She frowned before we started walking side-by-side.

1 hour later...

"Forget the Apology cookie for me." I hissed to Blake as Celea hummed to herself while cooking, "I'm not apologizing till she apologizes for being with that guy!"

"Dude… don't be jealous."

"I AM NOT JEALOUS!" I shouted, causing Celea to look up alarmed.

"Hunter?" They looked at me, Celea out of clear worry.

I took a deep breath, before I shook my head, "I need to be alone…." I walked out and got on my bike before I sped off.

'Hunt?' Celea called out gently, but I ignored her. 'Hunter… please talk to me….' I ignored the prickling feeling in my eyes, and continued to ignore her still.

Half an hour later...

I saw Ralph talking to a girl with dark red hair, and laughing as I came to a stop.

Sighing, I took off my helmet and saw that it was Loren he was talking to.

"Oh no..." I groaned softly when they saw me.

"Hunter! Hey!" They walked over to me.

I quickly started up my bike again, and continued on my way, trying to get away from them as fast as possible.

1 hour later…

I stopped outside the Motel and took off my helmet before I looked and saw Celea standing at the door.

"Hunt…" She was about to say, but I walked right past her and into the room. 'Hunt!'

I walked over to my bed and got finishing unpacking my things, still ignoring her.

She sighed, "Blake's out, talking to Tori…. I already told Kelly you were back…" I heard her walk over to me, and I grabbed her arm before she could touch my shoulder.

"If anyone should be upset about not being told something before hand, it should be me about you!" I snapped, "You could've said you were worried!"

"Oh, and what? Not hear the end of your stupid 'I should be the worried one' speech?!" She snapped back, "Hunter, what the heck has gotten you so into being worried about me?! We're not together or anything anymore."

"You think I don't know that?!" I bit, "Celea, I was worried about talking to you, because I was with someone else."

"Who? That Thunder Blade Champion Loren? Blake told me you saw her in Albuquerque an hour ago." She rolled her eyes, "What he didn't need to tell me is you have feeling for her. I saw it in the way he kept chuckling when I asked what happened."

"You think I was worried about that?!" I snarled, "That you'd find out I kissed her?! Well I wasn't! I was worried you'd've met someone, and stopped being around me."

"Oh, so you want a say in who I hang out with?! Hunter, you're not my dad! Nor are you Quincy. Who you seem to be turning into!" She growled.

"Don't you dare say that!" I seethed.

"Well it's true, isn't it?!" Cel sneered, "You've been hanging out with Quincy so much, I think I've lost you, and you know what?! I don't care anymore!"

"YOU'RE THE WORST!" We yelled at each other.

We stared at each others eyes before I turned and left the Motel.

"Why did I fall for her in the first place?" I hissed softly.

Ty

I heard their argument from my room next door… it helped that I had my ear to the wall, but anyway… it wasn't a good thing… I mean, Cel and Hunter argue, sure…. But not this badly.

I rushed out when I heard Hunter getting on his bike, and got in front of it, "You're not leaving."

"You can't control me." He spat and I took a deep breath.

"Hunter Bradley, believe me… I can do a lot of things, one of them controlling you, but…." I sighed, this was gonna be a rough night if I didn't fix this now, "Alright, you know what? Stay in my room tonight… I'll be at Kelly's anyway. Just… don't be mad at Celea."

"Why shouldn't I?!" He snapped.

"Because you two have been through too much to forget that now." I replied, before he got off his bike.

Hunter growled, "Fine." He stormed into my room, slamming my door behind him.

"Okay… one part saved… slightly…." I walked into the Bradley and Palensa's room, and heard sobbing coming from the bathroom, "Now for the more fragile one…." I walked over to the door, and knocked.

"Go away!" Cel's voice yelled though.

I sighed, "Cel? It's Ty… can I come in?"

"No!"

"Great." I opened the door and saw her cowering in a corner. "Whoa…."

She cried into her knees, "Just leave me alone…."

"Sorry… that's not in the job description of being a best friend." I reasoned as I sat beside her.

She sob softly, "I… I can't believe Hunter… I can't believe he'd….."

"Hunter's an idiot." I informed her, "He should know better than to hurt you like that."

"I… I was just… I was worried about him…" She whimpered.

"You should be more worried about yourself." I was trying to rail her up to get defensive with Hunter… I've seen it work in the movies before.

"H… Hunter's my best friend though…." Sh reasoned, "Er… he was…."

I sighed, "How many arguments do you guys get into? Daily wise."

Cel looked up at me, her eyes a little more puffy and red than ever, "W…. well… one every now and again..."

"But everyday… two weeks ago?" I asked gently.

"…I was being the mediator between the brothers." She reminded me, then breathed a soft laugh, "But they really knew how to apologize for being total jerks with me all over their stupid argument."

"And who, pray tell, started that argument in the first place?" I reasoned.

Celea sighed, and leaned her back and head against the wall, her legs dropping, "Hunter."

"He made a big deal about nothing, right?" I pried.

Cel groaned, "Yeah… I see your point… but he did something with Loren, who I've never met…"

"So you're jealous?" I raised a brow.

"I… I guess." She replied.

"No guessing." I informed her, "Either you are or you aren't. Which is it?"

Cel looked ahead of her, "…I'm jealous…"

Celea

2 hours later…

I knocked on Ty's door, knowing Hunter was still in there. "Hunter? We need to talk…"

There was no reply so I knocked again.

This time, there was grunting, and growling, before the door opened and Hunter stood on the other side.

"About?" He rolled his eyes.

I took a deep breath before I showed him the Apology cookie behind my back, "How much of an idiot I am."

He stared at me before we walked into the room together and I sat the cookie on the table.

'You're not the idiot, Cel… I am.' He grabbed my hand gently then said aloud, "I should've thought it through before I got angry with you… I know it was stupid of me to be jealous… and I know you'd never try to do it on purpose… I was just stressed out…"

I nodded before I turned to him, "And I'm sorry I got mad over you being worried about me…. it's just… you do act a lot like Quincy when you are… and I can't stand it when Quincy's worried about me..."

Hunter smiled softly, before letting my hand go, "Friends again?"

I smiled before I hugged him, "Best Friends, Hunter. Best friends."

"Yes!" I heard him cheer softly before I felt him hug back, getting me to giggle softly.

We pulled apart and I started to cut the cookie, before we sat down and shared it.

"Oh… before I forget." I pulled out two tickets, "I made a deal with Dustin… if I helped him, Shane, and Cam make some sushi, then eat one while playing a game, he'd get me tickets to the Joe Nichole concert in Angel Grove."

Hunter grinned, "That's great…." He then frowned, "Who's the other for?"

"Well… they're blond, have blue eyes…." I trailed off, a mischievous grin on my face.

"Oh… hope you and Tori have a good time." He pouted.

I laughed and shoved his shoulder, "I'm talking about you, ya crimson freak!"

He grinned and laughed softly, "You're really wanting me to go?"

"Yeah." I nodded, "Besides, you're the only one that gets my…. Slight" -I rolled my eyes, still smiling when he scuffed at that- "Obsession with Country Music."

Hunter smiled and took one of the tickets, then my hand, "I'd love that… when is it?"

I smiled softly and rubbed the back of my neck, "Tonight… at seven."

"Oh..." He nodded slowly before his eyes widened and he pulled my arm over, "It's five right now… we should be there by then…."

I took my arm back, smiling still, and nodded, "Yeah."

5 hours later...

"That…. was awesome." I smiled as we walked back into our motel room after the concert.

Hunter nodded in agreement before we laid on our beds, '…..Hey, Cel?'

I turned and looked over at him, "Yeah?"

'Thank you for forgiving me… though I don't think I deserve it.'

I got up and moved over to his bed, "Of course you deserve it… I should be the one thinking otherwise."

I heard him breathing a laugh, 'Let's just agree to leave it at that.'

I smiled and nodded, "Yeah."

I was about to go back to my bed, when Hunter pulled me onto his bed, getting me to yelp in shock.

'Please stay… I… I really don't think I'll sleep without you right here...' He requested.

I pursed my lips, remembering back to the few days we'd spent in Oakland…. Not my top favorite.

I sighed and got into a more comfortable spot with him, "Alright… but just for tonight."

'That's all I ask.' I could hear the smile in his voice, and I smiled back.

Man… do I like him.

Alright... Here ya go.

Man... I can't believe that in two weeks this story will be finished... Time sure flies...

Anyway... Next Week, Next Chapter.

In the meantime, please review and please no flames.