Chapter 5- Returns
It's been a few days since Dustin and Tori started their 5:00 am training ritual. Hunter and Blake were due back later in the afternoon from their visit to the Thunder Ninja Academy. Blake would be then leaving in two more days to go train for Factory Blue.
At the track Dustin and Tori are sitting off to the side on the grass resting from their many vigorous laps around the track.
"Dude Tor, you are getting better each day!" Dustin said as he took another sip of water from his water bottle.
"Thanks! I need to make sure that I can pull this off in six months." Tori replied. She looked out to the track and was reminded of how Blake would soon be leaving in two more days. 'I have no clue, how this is going to work out', she thought to herself.
The sudden silence did not go unnoticed by Dustin. He was worried for Tori because he could only imagine how hard it would be to keep a long distance relationship. He fell in love with Marah when she was still up in space with Lothor, but that wasn't exactly the same. "Hey Tor, you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm just thinking about Blake. Sorry."
"Don't be. We better get going if you want to catch some waves before class." Dustin said as he went to stand up. He offered his hand to Tori to help her up as well.
~*~*~*Later that day~*~*~
Hunter and Blake were on their way back to the Wind Ninja Academy. "So, are you ready to ride for Factory Blue?" Hunter turned to ask his little brother while he was driving his crimson pick up truck.
"Oh yeah, bro. I can't wait."
"And what about you and Tori?"
"I think that we'll be fine bro. If it's meant to be then it's meant to be." Blake stated as he looked over to his older brother.
"Since when were you so wise?" Hunter replied with a chuckle as he continued to concentrate on the road before them.
"A little of you must be rubbing off on me, I guess."
The two sat in a comfortable silence for a bit before something came to Blake's mind. "What do you think of Tori?
Hunter was a bit shocked by the question, but answered anyway, "She's okay, I guess. Why?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you don't feel funny about her and I being together. You always seemed like you were bothered by her."
"Bro, I'm cool with it. As far as Tori goes. She's alright. I don't know her that well, but I still call her a friend."
"Hunter, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what is it bro?"
Blake ran a hand through his black hair. How can he word this without it sounding weird. "Um, while I am gone, can you please try to get along with her? I would like it if the two most important people in my life got a long. You never know, if this all works out in the end she might end up being your sister-in-law."
"Uh, okay. I had no clue that you really felt that way about her, but I'd do anything for you. You've my got word, I'll get to know her better and try to get along with her." Hunter said, hoping that his words would ease whatever doubts Blake had going through his mind.
"Well, were here!" Blake announced excitedly.
Once Hunter parked the truck the two got out and headed towards the Wind Ninja Academy.
Inside Cam and the three Wind Ninjas were talking about the events of today's classes. The conversation ended abruptly as they heard footsteps coming down the stairs leading to Ninja Ops.
"Dude, well look who's back," Dustin stating the obvious as he pointed to the entrance. He was the first to get up to greet the Bradley brothers. Tori was trying to contain her excitement as Cam and Shane also got up to greet the two.
"Well, Tor? Aren't you going to get up and say, "Hello" to your boyfriend and his brother?" Shane asked the blond beauty.
"Of course, I was just waiting for all of you to get out of my way. Haven't you heard of saving the best for last?" Tori replied with her head held high and hands on her hips. She went to go give Blake a kiss and a hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too Tor." Blake replied with a dreamy look on his face.
Hunter on the other hand felt a little ignored and was not quite use to the whole PDA thing with Blake and Tori. So, he decided to interrupt the Kodak moment. "Ahem."
"Oh, Hey Hunter! I missed you too! She said as she went to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Hunter was shocked to say the least. He was not expecting her to even hug him let alone kiss him on the cheek. He returned the hug slightly embarrassed by the whole mushy moment.
"So, what have you guys been up to while we were gone?" Blake asked.
"Not much man, just teaching class and going to class. Dude, I thought that after we defeated Lothor, that things would settle a bit, but I think that things are totally getting crazier." Dustin stated as he ruffled he wavy brown locks.
"That's why I love college! It's not an all day thing like high school is." Shane said as he patted Dustin on the back.
"I hear that bro!" Hunter had to agree. College life was awesome. He had only a few classes a week and they were in the evenings. That way he had time to teach at the academy and still have time to ride.
"Don't worry Dustin. We only have till January. We are graduating early thanks to me, after all. " Tori put in.
"Yeah, if Tori didn't help you out and make you take all those extra classes over the summer and throughout the years, you'd be there till June." Shane added.
"Yeah, I have to say that I am in deed impressed." Hunter put in also.
"Yeah, Tori is right." Dustin started. Suddenly he felt hungry and decided to ask the group to go out for an early dinner. "Anyone one feeling hungry?"
"Yeah man, let's go!" Shane said. They all headed out of Ninja Ops and headed towards Tori's van.
"Where are we going to eat anyway?" Cam, who had been quiet this whole time decided to pipe in.
"Don't know, but since you asked, you can drive. I'm wiped!" Tori let out as she tossed Cam her keys.
"Dude, if you weren't insistent on waking up every morning at 5:00 am, you wouldn't be so tired!" Dustin chimed in as he stifled a yawn.
"Is that why you have been sneaking out of the apartment so early? Shane questioned his yellow clad roommate. "I should have figured that you two were up to something. Wherever Tori goes, Dustin is not too far behind. I swear these two are attached at the hip!"
"Umm. Well, you see, um." Dustin tried to stumble out an excuse, but failed.
Tori was silently fuming inside from Dustin's big mouth and Shane's annoying curiosity. "What Dustin is trying to say is that he has been accompanying me to the beach each morning while I surf. You know, I made Blake a promise after the whole warp thing."
"Yeah dude, that's it! She just, uh, didn't want anyone to really know." Dustin finally sputtered out.
"Well, then let's go eat!" Cam said a little too enthusiastically, but no one noticed since Blake was so too busy thinking how weird it was to hear that Dustin was up every morning with Tori. That should be him, but he had to leave in another day. 'At least, she kept her promise.'
Shane didn't buy the whole "surfing buddy" thing, but decided to press the issue later with Dustin once they got back to their place. Hunter was indifferent. He thought Dustin was nuts to go with Tori every morning to watch her surf.
~*~*Later that night~*~
After dinner at a Mexican restaurant, the group parted ways once they got back to Ninja Ops. Cam excused himself saying that he had to meet up with someone in a chat room. Hunter went with Dustin and Shane in his truck and drove them back to their apartment. Blake and Tori headed over to the beach.
The two were sitting on a blanket, just watching the waves crash onto the shore. Tori was sitting between Blake's legs as she leaned back into his embrace. The two sat in a comfortable silence for a while.
"Do you really have to leave?" Tori asked, not wanting their time together to end.
"I don't want to go Tori, but I have dreamed of this all of my life." Blake was sad. He was hoping that she wasn't going to make him choose.
"I know it's your dream as is us being together is my dream, but I want you to be happy. You will always have my support, just promise me that you won't be away forever." Tori said as she leaned in further and turned to kiss him on the cheek.
Blake was thanking his lucky stars for having a great girl like her. He knew that keeping a long distance relationship wasn't going to be easy. The fact that he was leaving was already a hard thing to deal with, but he knew some how they would make it work. He caressed her face after she placed a kiss on his cheek and leaned in closer to give her a kiss on the lips. After few moments the two parted and Blake said, "Thanks Tor, for being so understanding. I love you."
"I love you too." She breathed out. The two sat there for a while talking and enjoying what time they had left together.
It's been a few days since Dustin and Tori started their 5:00 am training ritual. Hunter and Blake were due back later in the afternoon from their visit to the Thunder Ninja Academy. Blake would be then leaving in two more days to go train for Factory Blue.
At the track Dustin and Tori are sitting off to the side on the grass resting from their many vigorous laps around the track.
"Dude Tor, you are getting better each day!" Dustin said as he took another sip of water from his water bottle.
"Thanks! I need to make sure that I can pull this off in six months." Tori replied. She looked out to the track and was reminded of how Blake would soon be leaving in two more days. 'I have no clue, how this is going to work out', she thought to herself.
The sudden silence did not go unnoticed by Dustin. He was worried for Tori because he could only imagine how hard it would be to keep a long distance relationship. He fell in love with Marah when she was still up in space with Lothor, but that wasn't exactly the same. "Hey Tor, you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm just thinking about Blake. Sorry."
"Don't be. We better get going if you want to catch some waves before class." Dustin said as he went to stand up. He offered his hand to Tori to help her up as well.
~*~*~*Later that day~*~*~
Hunter and Blake were on their way back to the Wind Ninja Academy. "So, are you ready to ride for Factory Blue?" Hunter turned to ask his little brother while he was driving his crimson pick up truck.
"Oh yeah, bro. I can't wait."
"And what about you and Tori?"
"I think that we'll be fine bro. If it's meant to be then it's meant to be." Blake stated as he looked over to his older brother.
"Since when were you so wise?" Hunter replied with a chuckle as he continued to concentrate on the road before them.
"A little of you must be rubbing off on me, I guess."
The two sat in a comfortable silence for a bit before something came to Blake's mind. "What do you think of Tori?
Hunter was a bit shocked by the question, but answered anyway, "She's okay, I guess. Why?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you don't feel funny about her and I being together. You always seemed like you were bothered by her."
"Bro, I'm cool with it. As far as Tori goes. She's alright. I don't know her that well, but I still call her a friend."
"Hunter, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what is it bro?"
Blake ran a hand through his black hair. How can he word this without it sounding weird. "Um, while I am gone, can you please try to get along with her? I would like it if the two most important people in my life got a long. You never know, if this all works out in the end she might end up being your sister-in-law."
"Uh, okay. I had no clue that you really felt that way about her, but I'd do anything for you. You've my got word, I'll get to know her better and try to get along with her." Hunter said, hoping that his words would ease whatever doubts Blake had going through his mind.
"Well, were here!" Blake announced excitedly.
Once Hunter parked the truck the two got out and headed towards the Wind Ninja Academy.
Inside Cam and the three Wind Ninjas were talking about the events of today's classes. The conversation ended abruptly as they heard footsteps coming down the stairs leading to Ninja Ops.
"Dude, well look who's back," Dustin stating the obvious as he pointed to the entrance. He was the first to get up to greet the Bradley brothers. Tori was trying to contain her excitement as Cam and Shane also got up to greet the two.
"Well, Tor? Aren't you going to get up and say, "Hello" to your boyfriend and his brother?" Shane asked the blond beauty.
"Of course, I was just waiting for all of you to get out of my way. Haven't you heard of saving the best for last?" Tori replied with her head held high and hands on her hips. She went to go give Blake a kiss and a hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too Tor." Blake replied with a dreamy look on his face.
Hunter on the other hand felt a little ignored and was not quite use to the whole PDA thing with Blake and Tori. So, he decided to interrupt the Kodak moment. "Ahem."
"Oh, Hey Hunter! I missed you too! She said as she went to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Hunter was shocked to say the least. He was not expecting her to even hug him let alone kiss him on the cheek. He returned the hug slightly embarrassed by the whole mushy moment.
"So, what have you guys been up to while we were gone?" Blake asked.
"Not much man, just teaching class and going to class. Dude, I thought that after we defeated Lothor, that things would settle a bit, but I think that things are totally getting crazier." Dustin stated as he ruffled he wavy brown locks.
"That's why I love college! It's not an all day thing like high school is." Shane said as he patted Dustin on the back.
"I hear that bro!" Hunter had to agree. College life was awesome. He had only a few classes a week and they were in the evenings. That way he had time to teach at the academy and still have time to ride.
"Don't worry Dustin. We only have till January. We are graduating early thanks to me, after all. " Tori put in.
"Yeah, if Tori didn't help you out and make you take all those extra classes over the summer and throughout the years, you'd be there till June." Shane added.
"Yeah, I have to say that I am in deed impressed." Hunter put in also.
"Yeah, Tori is right." Dustin started. Suddenly he felt hungry and decided to ask the group to go out for an early dinner. "Anyone one feeling hungry?"
"Yeah man, let's go!" Shane said. They all headed out of Ninja Ops and headed towards Tori's van.
"Where are we going to eat anyway?" Cam, who had been quiet this whole time decided to pipe in.
"Don't know, but since you asked, you can drive. I'm wiped!" Tori let out as she tossed Cam her keys.
"Dude, if you weren't insistent on waking up every morning at 5:00 am, you wouldn't be so tired!" Dustin chimed in as he stifled a yawn.
"Is that why you have been sneaking out of the apartment so early? Shane questioned his yellow clad roommate. "I should have figured that you two were up to something. Wherever Tori goes, Dustin is not too far behind. I swear these two are attached at the hip!"
"Umm. Well, you see, um." Dustin tried to stumble out an excuse, but failed.
Tori was silently fuming inside from Dustin's big mouth and Shane's annoying curiosity. "What Dustin is trying to say is that he has been accompanying me to the beach each morning while I surf. You know, I made Blake a promise after the whole warp thing."
"Yeah dude, that's it! She just, uh, didn't want anyone to really know." Dustin finally sputtered out.
"Well, then let's go eat!" Cam said a little too enthusiastically, but no one noticed since Blake was so too busy thinking how weird it was to hear that Dustin was up every morning with Tori. That should be him, but he had to leave in another day. 'At least, she kept her promise.'
Shane didn't buy the whole "surfing buddy" thing, but decided to press the issue later with Dustin once they got back to their place. Hunter was indifferent. He thought Dustin was nuts to go with Tori every morning to watch her surf.
~*~*Later that night~*~
After dinner at a Mexican restaurant, the group parted ways once they got back to Ninja Ops. Cam excused himself saying that he had to meet up with someone in a chat room. Hunter went with Dustin and Shane in his truck and drove them back to their apartment. Blake and Tori headed over to the beach.
The two were sitting on a blanket, just watching the waves crash onto the shore. Tori was sitting between Blake's legs as she leaned back into his embrace. The two sat in a comfortable silence for a while.
"Do you really have to leave?" Tori asked, not wanting their time together to end.
"I don't want to go Tori, but I have dreamed of this all of my life." Blake was sad. He was hoping that she wasn't going to make him choose.
"I know it's your dream as is us being together is my dream, but I want you to be happy. You will always have my support, just promise me that you won't be away forever." Tori said as she leaned in further and turned to kiss him on the cheek.
Blake was thanking his lucky stars for having a great girl like her. He knew that keeping a long distance relationship wasn't going to be easy. The fact that he was leaving was already a hard thing to deal with, but he knew some how they would make it work. He caressed her face after she placed a kiss on his cheek and leaned in closer to give her a kiss on the lips. After few moments the two parted and Blake said, "Thanks Tor, for being so understanding. I love you."
"I love you too." She breathed out. The two sat there for a while talking and enjoying what time they had left together.