AN: Thanks for all the reviews and for hanging in there with me and my
stories!
Chapter 12: Another Manic Monday
It was now Monday morning and Dustin was showing Tori a few trick jumps to do off the ramp. Tori was watching intently. She really missed Blake and felt that riding somehow kept her close to him. He had emailed her last night and mentioned that he might be coming home earlier than expected. She couldn't wait. He would be so proud of her if he could only see how much she had accomplished with her riding in the short amount of time he had been gone. Time really flew by while he was gone. She was pretty busy with her riding nowadays. It seemed like she did that more than surfing. She didn't mind so much since she really grew to like the other sport. She had also been busy with teaching her classes at the academy and hanging out with the guys especially, Hunter. She didn't know why, but for some reason when she spent time with him, it filled the void she felt after Blake left. They hung out a lot, talked often, sparred and rode together whenever possible. They had really grown closer as Hunter opened up to her more throughout the passing months. He no longer seemed so brooding as he had in the past. It was like he was a different person. She had been so lost in thought that she didn't even notice that Dustin was right in front of her waving his hand in front of her face.
"Hey Tor, knock, knock anyone in there?" Dustin said for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Oh, sorry Dustin. I was just lost in thought." Tori replied sheepishly.
"Yeah, lost is how I would describe it too. Were you even paying attention to me up there?" He said as he pointed towards the ramp.
"Yeah, of course I was. I just have a lot on my mind. Sorry."
"So, do you want to talk about it or should I guess." Dustin said, as he kind of knew what could be going through her mind.
"Blake emailed me last night, he might be home by the end of the week for a few days." Tori said as a smile spread across her face.
"Oh, so that's why you have that dreamy look on your face! That's cool Tor, I'm excited for you. I can only imagine how hard it has been without him here." Dustin said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, but all this riding and stuff has kept me busy. So, it doesn't feel like he's been gone for almost four months."
"I can't wait for him to see you ride dude! You are totally awesome now and you can do a few tricks too. He's so gonna be blown away!" Dustin added as he patted her on the back.
"You and Hunter have helped me tremendously. I really owe it to you guys." Tori said as she smiled and gave Dustin a small hug.
Something was tugging at the back of Dustin's mind. He just had to ask her if she had feelings for her boyfriend's brother. They had spent a lot of time together during his absence after all. "Hey Tor, how do you feel about Hunter? I mean you guys are a lot closer than before."
Tori was surprised that he would ask this, but it was ironic at the same time since she was just thinking about the cute crimson clad man. 'Cute? Where did that come from?' Tori shook the thought out of her head and stared at Dustin for a moment. "I think Hunter and I get along real good. He's not so broody anymore and that makes it easier to be around him. Why do you ask?"
"I was just curious. I mean with all the time that you two spend together, I thought maybe you or him would start having feelings for each other." Dustin responded.
"Dustin, you know that I love Blake and as for Hunter, he's like my new best friend. I think that it's great that we are closer friends now. This will really make Blake happy." Tori said as she thought about it for a moment. 'Do I feel something for Hunter? Probably nothing more than I feel for the others in the group. Dustin is just being overly worried.' She thought. "Let's call it day here okay?" She asked as she gathered up her stuff.
"Okay," Dustin said as he too went to gather up his stuff.
The day passed by and was pretty uneventful. Cam was inside Ninja Ops checking his email when he felt someone sneak up behind him. "Hey Tor." He said to the figure that was now behind him.
"What! How did you know?" She asked in shock.
"Oh come on Tori, we're ninjas remember? That and I can see your reflection from my computer screen." He said as he laughed at the expression on her face. "So, what's up?"
"Nothing, just debating whether or not to go riding or surfing. What are you reading anyway, is it another email from Leann?" She asked her Samurai buddy.
"No, Leann has not had a chance to reply to my email yet... Hey, wait how do you know about Leann and me? I haven't told you guys anything." Now Cam was worried, did Leann tell Hunter?
"Hunter and I figured it out the other day. Every weekend you're gone and every weekend he invites her to come down here and she says that she already has plans. Plus you two are always checking your email in between breaks. He and I just compared notes and came up with that conclusion. So, how long has it been now?" Tori said satisfied with the look of shock that she received from Cam.
"Three months, but I've known her since we were kids. Our father's are friends after all. I've had a crush on her forever and I fell more in love with her when I saw her here training Blake on the Thunder Blade." Cam finished as he thought of the object of his affection.
"So, what's with all the secrecy then?' Tori inquired.
"It just makes it more fun, but I guess you guys were bound to find out sooner or later. I am going to propose to her on Saturday, Valentine's Day."
"Wow, you don't think that it's a bit quick?" Tori couldn't believe her ears.
"Nope, I think its destiny. Father and I have been talking about what our possible union can do for the two academies. We could possibly join the two schools together and make them one. Don't you think that would be awesome?"
Tori thought about it for a moment. "I guess it would be cool. It would be like fulfilling some ancient ninja prophecy huh?"
"Exactly," Cam added. "So, how are you and Blake?'
"We're doing fine. He may be home by the end of the week for a few days." She replied.
"Does Hunter know yet?"
"I don't know, but I will be sure to tell him if I see him tonight."
"You guys sure have been hanging out a lot huh?" Cam was curious. He had been talking with Shane and Dustin and he couldn't help, but see the same thing that the Earth and Air ninjas noticed.
"What is with everyone? Hunter and I are just really good friends, is that a crime?" Now she was annoyed, was everyone out to get her to admit feelings for Hunter? 'I feel nothing for him in that way... right?' She thought. "You know what, I've gotta go. If anyone is looking for me, I'll be riding at the track." She turned on her heel and stormed out of Ninja Ops.
"Wow, did I just strike a nerve?" Cam asked to the air as he turned back to his computer to check and see if Leann had emailed him yet.
Chapter 12: Another Manic Monday
It was now Monday morning and Dustin was showing Tori a few trick jumps to do off the ramp. Tori was watching intently. She really missed Blake and felt that riding somehow kept her close to him. He had emailed her last night and mentioned that he might be coming home earlier than expected. She couldn't wait. He would be so proud of her if he could only see how much she had accomplished with her riding in the short amount of time he had been gone. Time really flew by while he was gone. She was pretty busy with her riding nowadays. It seemed like she did that more than surfing. She didn't mind so much since she really grew to like the other sport. She had also been busy with teaching her classes at the academy and hanging out with the guys especially, Hunter. She didn't know why, but for some reason when she spent time with him, it filled the void she felt after Blake left. They hung out a lot, talked often, sparred and rode together whenever possible. They had really grown closer as Hunter opened up to her more throughout the passing months. He no longer seemed so brooding as he had in the past. It was like he was a different person. She had been so lost in thought that she didn't even notice that Dustin was right in front of her waving his hand in front of her face.
"Hey Tor, knock, knock anyone in there?" Dustin said for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Oh, sorry Dustin. I was just lost in thought." Tori replied sheepishly.
"Yeah, lost is how I would describe it too. Were you even paying attention to me up there?" He said as he pointed towards the ramp.
"Yeah, of course I was. I just have a lot on my mind. Sorry."
"So, do you want to talk about it or should I guess." Dustin said, as he kind of knew what could be going through her mind.
"Blake emailed me last night, he might be home by the end of the week for a few days." Tori said as a smile spread across her face.
"Oh, so that's why you have that dreamy look on your face! That's cool Tor, I'm excited for you. I can only imagine how hard it has been without him here." Dustin said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, but all this riding and stuff has kept me busy. So, it doesn't feel like he's been gone for almost four months."
"I can't wait for him to see you ride dude! You are totally awesome now and you can do a few tricks too. He's so gonna be blown away!" Dustin added as he patted her on the back.
"You and Hunter have helped me tremendously. I really owe it to you guys." Tori said as she smiled and gave Dustin a small hug.
Something was tugging at the back of Dustin's mind. He just had to ask her if she had feelings for her boyfriend's brother. They had spent a lot of time together during his absence after all. "Hey Tor, how do you feel about Hunter? I mean you guys are a lot closer than before."
Tori was surprised that he would ask this, but it was ironic at the same time since she was just thinking about the cute crimson clad man. 'Cute? Where did that come from?' Tori shook the thought out of her head and stared at Dustin for a moment. "I think Hunter and I get along real good. He's not so broody anymore and that makes it easier to be around him. Why do you ask?"
"I was just curious. I mean with all the time that you two spend together, I thought maybe you or him would start having feelings for each other." Dustin responded.
"Dustin, you know that I love Blake and as for Hunter, he's like my new best friend. I think that it's great that we are closer friends now. This will really make Blake happy." Tori said as she thought about it for a moment. 'Do I feel something for Hunter? Probably nothing more than I feel for the others in the group. Dustin is just being overly worried.' She thought. "Let's call it day here okay?" She asked as she gathered up her stuff.
"Okay," Dustin said as he too went to gather up his stuff.
The day passed by and was pretty uneventful. Cam was inside Ninja Ops checking his email when he felt someone sneak up behind him. "Hey Tor." He said to the figure that was now behind him.
"What! How did you know?" She asked in shock.
"Oh come on Tori, we're ninjas remember? That and I can see your reflection from my computer screen." He said as he laughed at the expression on her face. "So, what's up?"
"Nothing, just debating whether or not to go riding or surfing. What are you reading anyway, is it another email from Leann?" She asked her Samurai buddy.
"No, Leann has not had a chance to reply to my email yet... Hey, wait how do you know about Leann and me? I haven't told you guys anything." Now Cam was worried, did Leann tell Hunter?
"Hunter and I figured it out the other day. Every weekend you're gone and every weekend he invites her to come down here and she says that she already has plans. Plus you two are always checking your email in between breaks. He and I just compared notes and came up with that conclusion. So, how long has it been now?" Tori said satisfied with the look of shock that she received from Cam.
"Three months, but I've known her since we were kids. Our father's are friends after all. I've had a crush on her forever and I fell more in love with her when I saw her here training Blake on the Thunder Blade." Cam finished as he thought of the object of his affection.
"So, what's with all the secrecy then?' Tori inquired.
"It just makes it more fun, but I guess you guys were bound to find out sooner or later. I am going to propose to her on Saturday, Valentine's Day."
"Wow, you don't think that it's a bit quick?" Tori couldn't believe her ears.
"Nope, I think its destiny. Father and I have been talking about what our possible union can do for the two academies. We could possibly join the two schools together and make them one. Don't you think that would be awesome?"
Tori thought about it for a moment. "I guess it would be cool. It would be like fulfilling some ancient ninja prophecy huh?"
"Exactly," Cam added. "So, how are you and Blake?'
"We're doing fine. He may be home by the end of the week for a few days." She replied.
"Does Hunter know yet?"
"I don't know, but I will be sure to tell him if I see him tonight."
"You guys sure have been hanging out a lot huh?" Cam was curious. He had been talking with Shane and Dustin and he couldn't help, but see the same thing that the Earth and Air ninjas noticed.
"What is with everyone? Hunter and I are just really good friends, is that a crime?" Now she was annoyed, was everyone out to get her to admit feelings for Hunter? 'I feel nothing for him in that way... right?' She thought. "You know what, I've gotta go. If anyone is looking for me, I'll be riding at the track." She turned on her heel and stormed out of Ninja Ops.
"Wow, did I just strike a nerve?" Cam asked to the air as he turned back to his computer to check and see if Leann had emailed him yet.