---------------------------------------------------
QUICK SUMMARY: Dustin confronts Hunter as things start getting nastier. "Eyes Don't Lie"During the ride back, Hunter and Natalie lingered in awkward silence for the remainder of the trip. Hunter's mind was elsewhere and completely lost. He felt confused and stunned at the kiss he shared with his ex-girlfriend, which brought him to the feeling of discomfort towards Natalie. On the other hand, the audacious brown head seem to not worry one bit. She wanted this to happen and it was just the beginning of her cruel intentions to break up the inseparable couple.
---------------------------------------------
7:15 pm
"Man..." Tori was sitting next to Cam at Ninja ops, waiting for Hunter. "What's taking him so long?" She looks down at her watch and sighs.
"Maybe he's stuck in traffic, or I don't know." Cam shrugs. "What do you expect really? He and Dustin are always late."
She pursed her lips. "I guess so."
---------------------------------------------
Moments later...
"Okay." Hunter finally pulls over on the driveway and turns off the ignition to his truck. "Here we are." Natalie unbuckles her seatbelt and stares at the dirty blonde with a smile.
"Want to come inside?" She asks, pressing her lips together.
Hunter sighs as he looks over at Tori's house from across the street. The lights were all shut so he assumed that she wasn't home. He turns back over to Natalie and nods his head in dismay. "I don't think that's a great idea considering what just happened."
"It's not like we're going to do anything." She pouts. "How about a drink? Or something to eat?"
"No, I'm fine." He says in annoyance. "Look, I should be getting back. I have work tomorrow."
"But wait." Natalie pulls his shoulder towards her. "You're not mad are you?" She plasters her sad puppy dog look.
Hunter rubs his eyes and smirks. "No, I'm not. Just...I don't know." He shrugs. "Surprise and a bit stressed out right now."
"How about a massage then?!" She squeals excitedly. "It will help you relax more!"
He presents her a weird stare. "That would be nice, but how about...no." Hunter tells her piercingly. She frowns. "Good night, Natalie."
"Hey. Don't think I'm getting out of this truck." She crosses her arms with a grin. "Not until you come inside and accept my offer."
Hunter groans. Great, he thought. "Well, I guess I have no choice, but to do the unthinkable." He says, getting out of the driver's seat.
"The unthinkable?" She questions him as he walks over to the other side. "What's that?"
"This." Hunter immediately pulled Natalie out of the truck and lifted her up on his shoulder.
"Ahh!" She shouts out with a giggle. "Put me down, Hunter."
"Ha! I don't think so." He grabs the key to the house from her hand and inserts it in the lock.
"You are so going to pay for this!" Natalie warns him as she began smacking his back playfully, upside down.
"Hey! Watch the hair." She giggles as Hunter finally pops the door open and sets her down on the floor. The dirty blonde dusts himself off as he looks at Natalie and smiles. "Okay, night now."
"Wait!" She stops him once more.
Hunter slowly turns around and sighs. "Yes?"
"Thanks again…for everything." Natalie smiles while moving her way towards the door. "I had a great time."
He pursed his lips. "Me too, except for the whole kissing thing. That wasn't cool." Hunter adds with a chuckle.
"Yeah." She forced a smile. "Sorry again."
"Night, Natalie." Hunter slowly steps to the side and made his way out of the house.
"Bye..." She sighs deeply as she watches him go back inside his truck and turn on the ignition in wonderment. "One day..." Natalie began talking to herself quietly as she leans against the open front door. "One day you'll be all mine, Hunter and you'll soon forget about that blonde rat of yours." Natalie grins evilly as Hunter drives away.
---------------------------------------------
8:00pm
"Argh!" Tori suddenly gets up angrily. "That's it. I'm going home." She says, grabbing her jean jacket from the table. "He probably forgot all about it."
Cam looks at her remorsefully. "I'm sorry, is there anything I can do?" He asks in concern.
She shrugs. "No. I'll be fine. If Hunter shows up by any chance, tell him I went home. I just can't take any more of this waiting."
He nods. "I will. Drive safely now."
"Thanks again. Night, Cam." Tori leaves Ninja ops.
He stares at her direction and sighs.
---------------------------------------------
"What am I going to do?!" Dustin began pacing back and forth nervously in the kitchen of his apartment. "Maybe it was somebody else." He hopes. "Or or, two people that look exactly like Hunter and Natalie! Yeah!" The goofball smiles. "That's it." He stops to think for a bit and then pouts his lips. "No." Dustin began fake crying. "I wish that was the truth!"
The front door of his apartment suddenly unlock as Hunter walks in. Dustin stood up and faces him. "Are you okay?" The dirty blonde asks as he made his way towards the dining room. "I heard horrible crying."
Dustin smiles. "Uh no…you didn't." He replies, scratching his head.
"Uh yeah, I did." Hunter chuckles. "You're not watching anymore of those recorded soap operas are you?"
The goofball rolls his eyes. "No."
"Okay." He smirks. "Whatever, dude."
"Hey, where were you today?" Dustin imposes him suspiciously.
He shrugs his shoulder off as if it was no big deal. "Oh, I just took Natalie around." Hunter responds while getting a drink from the fridge. "Stopped by at some shops, visited parks, and then the beach." Dustin shuts his eyelids and sighs. Man, so what I saw is true. He thought to himself. Hunter continues, "And then I dropped Natalie off home."
"Did you guys do anything?" He questions out of nowhere.
Hunter suddenly chokes on his drink. He slowly places the soda can down and faces him. "What do you mean by that?" He asks.
"Oh you know…do anything that would hurt Tori." Dustin answers clearly. "But I know you would never do that right?" He adds with his arms folded.
Hunter stares at his unusual roommate carefully. Why is he acting like this? He thought. Hunter began to feel something was up and he was about to find out. "Of course I would never hurt Tori. Dude, what is this really about anyway?" The dirty blonde asks in curiosity.
"Oh nothing." Dustin plasters a fake smile. "It's just funny how much you say you love Tori and would never do a thing to hurt her when I believe I caught you and Natalie making out at the beach!" He exclaims angrily.
Hunter opens his eyes wide. "Oh my God. You saw us?!"
Dustin rolls his eyes. "Well it is after all a public beach. But heck yeah I saw you while I was riding!"
"Listen dude, let me explain."
"Oh no." He nods his head in dismay as he slowly backs away from him. "That kiss explains everything!"
"Look, the kiss didn't mean anything. I swear it didn't!" The dirty blonde snaps back.
"Didn't mean anything?" Dustin peers at him with a laugh. "Oh yeah, the fact that you two were playing tonsil hockey with your mouths really didn't mean anything. Right, man!"
"Dustin, she kissed me okay!" Hunter exclaims uneasily.
"But I saw you kissed her back!" He retorts.
"Yes, I kissed her back. I'll admit that, but only because I thought she was Tori for a moment." Hunter explains as Dustin rolls his eyes. "Her image suddenly appeared. Don't ask me how, but it did! Dude, you have to trust me on this!"
"And why should I?! That's just the most craziest cover up ever."
Hunter sighs as he slowly calms down. "Because I'm one of your best friends, remember?"
Dustin groans and looks away, scuffing the back of his neck. "I can't believe this."
"Neither can I." He adds staring down at the ground. "But you have to believe me."
The goofball gazed at him apologetically. "What are you going to do?" He asks. "I mean are you going to tell Tori?"
Hunter places his head down on the counter and sighs. He had no idea what to do.
NOTE: How will Tori take it when Hunter tells her about the kiss he shared with Natalie during their time together? And what is coming to him when he finds out that he forgot about his dinner date with Tori? Hang in there for the next chapter! =]
