Hi everyone :)
It's here! I repeat, IT IS HERE! The final chapter is finally here. I'll leave all the mushy good-byes until the end and before we launch into the story, we have to have reviews;
monkay-pooh : wow, thanks for the huge compliment :) I do actually want to be a writer. I've got loads of originals on various discs but at the moment I'm too into Ninja Storm to focus on anything original lol.
And a big thank you to Katy, Ranger lover, CamFan4Ever, malissa, huntersgrl13, Sabrina, Makia Durron and Moonlit Sea for all reviewing :)
The ideas in the whole of the first two sections of this chapter is totally taken from Friends so I can take no credit for it. The only original bit is the last section on the beach.
And now, without furthur ado, I present to you...The final chapter! :o
It was finally here. Evening. The time Tori had been dreading. Shane would be there any minute and then the final battle was going to happen. The battle to see who was going to hold out the longest. If she had her way, she would've just let Shane have the satisfactory of winning but she couldn't because Hunter wanted to win. She didn't see the big deal really. Did it really matter who was the first to snap? Well, it obviously did to Hunter which was the reason she now stood in front of her bedroom mirror looking at a reflection she didn't realise.
"You look great." Hunter's voice came suddenly. She looked more closely at her mirror and saw the reflection of Hunter standing by the door. "How comes you don't dress like that more often?"
"Because I hate dressing like this." Tori sighed as she turned away from the mirror and walked past Hunter through the door way and headed for the kitchen. Hunter followed her and watched as she pulled various vegetables out of her fridge and began to make a quick salad.
"Are you okay?" Hunter inquired, slightly concerned about how she was acting.
"Fine." Tori told him bluntly as she grabbed a knife and began to chop up some tomatos. Hunter simply watched as she hurridly sliced the little red balls. Suddenly, her finger got in the way of slicing and she accidently cut herself. She pulled her hand back with an annoyed "ow" and suck the bleeding finger into her mouth. She glared down at the tomatos like it was their fault until she felt Hunter pull her hand with the injured finger on it. He pulled a tissue out of his pocket and gently wrapped it around her finger. All Tori could do was look away and try her best not to cry. After tying a small knot to keep the material into place, Hunter pulled her into a gently hug.
"Calm down okay?" He murmured soothingly as he rubbed her hair. "I know you feel uncomfortable but it'll be over soon." Suddenly, they heard the front doorbell ring. Tori let out a shakey sigh and slowly pulled away. "You ready?" Hunter asked her, gently cupping her face. She nodded a little and he gave her a quick kiss on her lips. "I'll be hiding in the bathroom remember." He said as he quickly dashed out of the kitchen. Tori gave another sigh, quickly brushed her fingers against her eyes to get rid of any stray tears and blinked a couple of times. She walked to her front door and took a deep breath before opening the door...
"Okay, you ready dude?" Dustin checked as he adjusted his friends collar. He, Shane and Cam were outside Tori's apartment getting ready for him to knock on the door.
"Yeah, I'm ready." Shane nodded as he shrugged his shoulders to try and loosen up. "You'll both stay out here right?"
"Yes, we'll be here listening." Cam told him.
"Okay. Cool. Right, lets get this show on the road." Shane said as he turned to the door. Dustin and Cam quickly hid around a corner and Shane rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Tori in her girly form.
"Hey Shane." She greeted in her flirty voice.
"Hey. You look great." He said. Tori gave a faked embarrassed giggle making Shane start to think something was definately up. She took his hand and led him into the living room.
"I hope you're hungry." Tori said coyly as she turned to face him. "I've made all your favourites and for desert..." She stepped right up to him. "I'll put on something special." That was it. Shane knew something wasn't right.
"Excuse me." Shane said quickly as he dashed back to the front door. Tori gave a laugh and saw Hunter poke his head out of the door. She gave him a small thumbs up which made him grin and wink before his head disappeared again and the door shut.
"They know!" Shane gasped as he burst out of the door. Cam and Dustin emerged from their hiding places in the bushes nearby and walked up to him. "They know that we know that they know that we know."
"Good. Can I go home now?" Cam asked.
"No way. I'm not giving up." Shane insisted. "I still have the advantage! They don't know that we know that they know that..."
"Yes, we get it." Cam told him cutting him off halfway through. "I think you're past the point where that actually matters Shane. This is just a contest to see who cracks first now."
"Well it's not going to be me." Shane insisted. "I need something serious though. Something that will really freak her out. Got any ideas guys?" They all thought for a moment and then Dustin clicked his fingers.
"Dude, ask her to rub lotion on you. I saw that on a TV show. It'll definately make her snap." Dustin told him.
"Okay. Got it." Shane said with a nod. He went back in Tori's apartment and found she was no longer in the living room where he had left her. "Tor?" He called.
"Hey." She smiled as she came out of the kitchen. "Where'd you go? I missed you." She cooed as she slowly walked up to him.
"I just needed a bit of air." Shane told her. He grinned at her suddenly and his eyes took on a mischievous glint. "So, how much longer 'till we eat."
"About another fifteen minutes." Tori told him, keeping up her act on the outside but inside feeling nervous about the glint in Shae's eyes.
"How about while we wait..." He hesitated for a moment and seemed to be gathering up his courage. "You rub lotion on me?" He finished, his voice slightly cracking on the last few words. Tori stared at him in a mixture of horror and embarrassment.
"O...Kay." Tori said slowly, her act totally gone now. "I'll be right back with some then." She said quickly as she ran into her bathroom. Shane felt like punching a wall and quickly headed outside.
Once outside, Dustin and Cam emerged. Shane brought his hands to his face and ran them down his cheeks with a groan. "I thought you said the lotion thing would make her snap? She didn't snap, she's actually getting the lotion!" He muttered to Dustin.
"It didn't work? Oh yeah, it didn't work on the show either...But I thought it would definately work on Tori." Dustin told him quickly.
"Now what do I do?" Shane cried scratching the back of his neck. "I cannot take much more of this. I have never been so embarrassed in my entire life!" Once again they all thought for a moment and it was Dustin who once again came up with an idea.
"Dude, strip down to your underwear." He said enthustiastically. "There is no way that won't freak her out."
"That won't freak her out. She's seen me half naked before." Shane told him, waving his hand dismissively.
"Yeah, but not in such an intense, personal situation." Dustin reasoned. "Before it's just been on the beach and that one time where we had to change out of our wet clothes at her house when we got soaked by the rain. This time, she's gonna think you like her and it'll stop being like, an innocent thing." Shane and Cam both looked at him, amazed.
"That actually makes sense." Cam said, his voice reflecting his surprise. Dustin grinned in triumph at his idea and Shane gave a sigh.
"Okay. That's what I'll do." Shane agreed, nodding his head. He turned to Dustin and frowned a little. "Wait a minute, why are you helping? I thought you were against messing with them?"
"Dude, I just want this all to end." Dustin sighed. "The sooner you make Tori break the sooner I don't ahve to keep secrets anymore." Shane felt a small wave of guilt wash over him as he realised Dustin was in this against his will and he briefly wondered if Tori and Hunter were feeling the same things. He gave a mental sigh and walked back inside but didn't close the door again. Dustin and Cam, having a feeling things were going to get interesting, silently followed Shane inside and hide behind the door that led from the hall into the living room.
While the three guys had this conversation outside, Hunter and Tori were having their own conversation in the bathroom.
Tori suddenly burst through the door snapping Hunter out of his gaze out of the open window. He looked at her as she slammed the door shut and pressed herself against it. "What's wrong?" Hunter questioned as he came over to her.
"This is getting seriously out of hand!" She gasped, her eyes fixed to the floor, her breathing laboured for some reason. "He wants me to rub lotion on him!" Hunter gave a laugh and Tori glared at him and slapped his arm none too gently. "It's not funny!" She insisted angrily. "What am I supposed to do?!"
"Okay, this is what you do." Hunter began as he rubbed his slapped arm. "Take the lotion out there. The moment he thinks you're actually going to do it he'll crack. I know he will."
"You think so?" Tori murmured un-surely.
"I know so." He reassured. He turned and opened the medicine cabinet on the wall and found a bottle of baby lotion. He pulled it out and handed it to her. "Okay, you're all set. Go out there and make me proud." He encouraged giving her a quick kiss before opening the door and hurrying her out. Tori backed out of the door and stared at it for a few seconds before turning around. The moment she looked into the room she regretted coming out straight away. Shane stood in the middle of the room in nothing but a pair of red boxer shorts. Tori let out a small cry and snapped her head to the floor.
"Something wrong?" Shane purred suductively. Tori scrunched her eyes shut and clutched the bottle of lotion toghtly as she tried to find her voice.
"No." She managed to squeak out.
"Aren't you going to look at me then?" Shane grinned as he stepped towards her.
"I'd rather not." Tori said quickly, feeling Shane's approach and fighting every muscle in her body which was trying to make her run away. She had to stay strong. This was all pretend. They were both faking it. She couldn't give up. She couldn't let Hunter down...But he was right in front of her! She could feel his presence. She felt him lift her chin up and she reluctantly opened her eyes to see him staring down at her.
"I could kiss you right now." He whispered nervously.
Tori gulped and decided to call his bluff. "Why don't you then?"
Shane mentaly screamed. He had been hoping she wasn't going to say something like that. "I guess I will then."
"Okay then." Tori replied, knowing that this was the event that was going to decide who came out on top in this.
"Here I come then." Shane said as he began to lean down closer.
"Bring it on." Tori said with an un-sure confidence.
As the two drew closer, they were un-aware of the two doors opening slightly. Hunter, Dustin and Cam all watched with baited breath as their friends drew ever closer together. They were so close. Tori could feel Shane's warm breath and knew he was actually going to kiss her. He was actually going to go the whole way! Tori squinted her eyes shut and waited for a split second before quickly backing away and throwing her hands up in front of her.
"No!" She cried as she came to a stop, her hands still held up in front of her defensively. "No no no! I can't kiss you!"
"And why not?" Shane asked triumphantly.
"Because I'm in love with Hunter!" Tori cried defiantly. Shane's mouth dropped open and so did Cam's, Dustin's and Hunter's. "That's the reason I can't kiss you! Because I love Hunter!" Cam, Dustin and Hunter slowly emerged from their hiding places. Hunter carefully approached Tori, a small, disbelieving smile on his face.
"You love me?" Hunter gasped quietly.
"Yeah." Tori confirmed, shocked at herself for actually plucking up the courage to say it. "I love you Hunter." Hunter gave a small laugh and wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you as well." He gushed as he gently pressed his lips to her's.
"I thought you guys were just messing around. I never knew you were in love." Shane smiled, meaning that to come out as an apology. Tori and Hunter broke the kiss but kept their arms around each other. "Congratulations guys."
"Thanks." Tori smiled looking at him. She cleared her throat a little and looked down at the floor. "Shane, you're naked." She reminded him.
"Oh, dude!" he gasped as he grabbed his near by shirt and quickly pulled it on. They all smirked at him before turning their attention back to the happy couple.
"So, you're a real couple now." Dustin said happily. "Now that you're out in the open and everything I mean."
"Yeah, but we have a favour to ask you all." Tori told them.
"We'd really appreciate it if you don't tell Blake if you talk to him. I want to be the one to tell him the next time I go and visit." Hunter explained. Cam and Shane nodded but Dustin gave a groan.
"You mean I have to keep another secret?!" He moaned. "Dude, that sucks."
It was mid-night when Tori and Hunter could be found walking hand in hand along the beach. They had spent most of the evening with the others after the whole scenario with Tori and Shane had ended and they had eaten all the food Tori had made. Now, they were finally alone and just enjoying each others company. The part of the beach they were on was where their whole relationship had begun. That night all those months ago. It seemed like an eternity had passed since then, so much had happened. The couple came to a stop at the shore line and stared out at the sea.
"What a day." Tori sighed as Hunter hugged her from behind.
"And it's my fault. I'm sorry I pushed you so hard Tor." Hunter murmured, his warm breath gently tickling her neck.
"It doesn't matter." Tori assured leaning back against him. "I knew how much you wanted to win and who am I to hurt your macho pride?" She grinned, reaching around and poking him in his tickly spot. He flinched away and smirked before pouncing on her and beginning a tickle fight. For several minutes they just rolled around, trying to pin each other. After a while, when Tori was on top of Hunter, they calmed down and just looked into each others eyes. Hunter smiled up at her and gently kissed her lips. Tori smiled back weakly before looking away, the smile fading from her lips.
"What's the matter?" Hunter asked as she moved off of him and he pulled her into his arms. Tori hugged him back and buried her head in his shoulder.
"I'm going to miss you." She murmured. Hunter gave a sigh and gently stroked her hair. In a couple of days, he'd be leaving for a month to visit Blake. He knew how she was feeling, he was going to miss her as well. He kissed the side of her head and gently pulled her head up to look at him.
"It's only for a month." He whispered. "I'll be back before you know it. And it's not like we won't have any contact. I'll call you everyday." Tori gave him another weak smile and kissed him lingeringly. She slowly pulled away and rested her head against his chest.
"I love you." She murmured softly. A huge smile appeared on Hunter's face and he took a brief glance down at her.
"And I love you." He replied with equal softness. He looked back up and stared out to the moonlit sea again.
If you had asked either Hunter of Tori a few months ago if they were happy, they probably would have just shrugged and given some vague answer that neither confirmed or denied they were happy. If you asked them that question right now, you probably wouldn't be given an answer, not that you needed one anyway. It was obvious from the content smiles both shared that they were both happier than they had been for ages...Because they were no longer alone and the game was finally over.
Sniff...There you have it. My first ever series has finished...sniff...There will be no epilouge because one isn't needed...sniff...I'd like to thank everyone who has read this including those who will read it in the future after it's been completed and been sitting around for months...sniff...Dude, I'm so emotional lol. As you may have noticed, I've left things in there that can be used in a sequel but they're nothing so major that just in case I don't write a sequel you'll be wondering what the heck is gonna happen. It looks like a sequel is highly demanded so there will be one unless my mind just totally draws blank lol. Before I write the sequel though, I'm gonna write a Tori/Blake and/or a Tori/Dustin. I've been seeing a lot of episodes where there are major Tori/Blake hints and it's in my system now so I need to let it out before I can concentrate on Tori/Hunter. Also, I've only just realised how great a character Dustin is and, 'cause I'm not keen on Marah, I'm gonna try and pair him off with Tori :) I would try pairing him with Shane or Hunter but I'm terrible at writing slash lol.
Well, that's all I've to say. Take care 'till next time ya'll :)
Huggles
Wings of a Dream