"Whenever You Call"
"Hey, it's Tori. I'm not in right now, but leave a message after you hear this..." *beeeeeeeep*
Hunter sighs as he held the phone to his ear. "Tori, I know you're there. Pick up. Please?" Still, there was no answer. "Well, call me if you get this. I need to talk to you. Bye." He hangs up the phone.
Tori sat on her living room couch holding a pillow close to her. She gazed on the phone carefully, debating whether she should call back or not. It's been exactly 2 days since the break up, and neither of them has said a word to one another. The blonde clenches the pillow even tighter as she closes her eyes and thinks back on it. This has been the longest time she'd gone through without speaking to Hunter and it was definitely killing her as the day goes by. She desperately wants to talk to him, but knowing about his drunken moment he shared with Natalie stopped her from doing so. Moments later, the phone starts ringing again. Tori continues to look at it as she fights back the urge to answer it after every ring tone. Suddenly, Marah walks in as she stood against the wall with her arms crossed.
"He's not gonna give up you know." She says as the blonde looks up.
Tori pursed her lips as she gazes back down and sighs.
"Hey, it's Tori. I'm not in right now, but leave a message after you hear this--"
"Hello?" The blonde finally picks up as she held the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Tori?"
She wrinkles her forehead. This isn't Hunter, she thought with a frown. "Who's this?"
The voice on the other line gasps. "You don't recognize who this is? It's Blake." He chuckles.
"Oh." Tori slumps back on the couch. "I knew that. So what's up?" She asks reluctantly.
There was a brief pause. "Nothing, just wanted to make sure you're alright."
"Oh." The blonde looks down. "Gee, thanks." This made her smile a bit.
"Listen, you've been hiding yourself from everyone else lately and I don't blame you." He stops for a moment and continues. "Anyway, I'm about to go out and I was wondering if you'd join me for lunch or something. We haven't done that in awhile."
Tori looks up to think about it. It all honesty, she didn't want to go and start media attention, but at the same time, she refuses to say no. She pursed her lips and nods. "Yeah. Of course."
"Great! Um...I guess we meet at Storm Chargers? That cool?"
"Uh huh."
"Alright!" He says excitedly. "I'll meet you there in an hour."
"Okay. See you then." Tori presses her lips together as she hangs up the phone. She stops for a moment and sighs.
"Well?" Marah waits for a response as she stares at the blonde in curiosity. "What's up?"
Tori rubs her eyes wearily as she stood up and stretches. "That was Blake. I'm going out to lunch with him. Want to come?"
Marah opens her eyes wide. "What?!" She stares at Tori in disbelief. "You're kidding right?"
The blonde lifts her eyebrows. "Um...no. Why?"
She lets out a small chuckle as she places a hand on her hips. "You blew it off with Hunter just so you can get it on with Blake?" Marah suddenly blurts out. "You're some player."
Tori opens her mouth wide. "What?! NO!" She snaps back urgently. "Oh my God...I can't believe you would even think that."
Marah just shrugs. "I don't know. Just a thought since he still has a thing for you."
Tori wrinkles her forehead and smirks. "What? No way."
She rolls her eyes. "Oh my God. It's so obvious, Tor. Why would he even ask you out to lunch the first place after your break up with Hunter huh? Why didn't he even ask you before then?"
Tori grunts in annoyance. "A coincidence? I don't know." She shrugs. "But that doesn't mean anything, Marah. He's just being a good friend."
Or more than a friend, Marah thought. "Alright. Whatever you say." She smirks while averting away from her gaze.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunter rested his head on the dining table as he stares right at the telephone vigilantly that was situated in front of him. He blew strands of hair away from his eyes as he drags the phone towards him. Dustin came walking in as he stops Hunter from picking up the phone. The dirty blonde looks up and sighs.
"Listen," He starts off as he pulls out a chair next to him. "Let's forget about Tori right now and go riding." The goofball suggested as he pushes the phone aside.
Hunter stares back at it and frowns. He wanted to talk to her after attempting a few times, but no one would answer. However, he wasn't about to give up. Hunter slowly looks up at Dustin and sighs. "I gotta talk to Tori."
"I understand that, but dude," he pauses for a moment and adds on, "she isn't answering."
The dirty blonde groans as he rubs the back of his neck. "Let me try this once. Please?"
Dustin looks away to think for a bit. "Fine." He answers. "Only if you promise to go riding with me afterwards."
Hunter smiles with a nod. "Sure." The goofball pats his shoulders as he rises up and leaves the room. This made Hunter feel warm inside, for it has been awhile since the last time they went riding together. After the devastating break up, Dustin felt nothing but great sympathy for the both of them, and since then, the apartment was filled with dead silence. He knew there was no point in questioning the dirty blonde, but to instead, support him and be the best friend that he is.
Hunter drifted off to space for a quick moment as he shook his head and reaches for the phone. He presses the redial button and held the phone to his ear.
*brrinnnnnng*
*brrinnnnnng*
"Come on." Hunter murmurs. "Pick up the phone."
*brrinnnnnng*
"Hello?"
Hunter's eyes began to glow as he jumps up in surprise. "Tori?!"
"Hunter?"
"Yeah?"
"Oh sorry. It's Marah. Tori is in the shower right now."
Hunter sits back on his chair and sighs deeply. Damn, he thought. "Okay then. Can you tell her I called please?"
"As always." She replies. "Bye now."
"Thanks. Later." He hangs up the phone and sighs.
