Chapter 17: I'll Close My Eyes
Shane caught up with Hunter at the track. He figured that he would find him there. Hunter was sitting off to the side of the track just staring at the dirt. He was fuming. 'It's not fair that my brother always gets the girl. How am I just going to stay here and watch those two spend the rest of their lives together?' He thought as Shane walked up and sat down beside him. "Hey Shane..."
"Hey dude, you alright?"
Hunter looked up at Shane. His face was a little flushed and replied, "Man, I don't know."
Shane felt bad for him. He knew that in the passing months Hunter had fallen in love with Tori. They spent so much time together riding, hanging out, sparing, and talking. He couldn't blame Hunter for falling for Tori since he was in his shoes a couple of years ago, but that's a different story. Shane placed a hand on Hunter's shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze, "I know you love her, but she loves your brother."
Hunter gave him a faint smile as he ran a hand through his hair. Hunter didn't know what to do, but whatever it was, he just didn't want to sit by and watch those two live their lives happily ever after. Not now and maybe not until he was over her. Then an idea struck him. "Maybe, I'll just talk to Sensei Amano and see if I can move into the academy over there. He may need me there more often with the two academies combining."
Shane couldn't believe what he was hearing, "What! You're just going to up and leave like that?" He knew that Hunter was hurting, but this was ridiculous.
"No, I am not just going to up and leave. Maybe in a month or two. I don't want to make it obvious to Blake and Tori that I am bothered by their relationship. No one can know about this alright dude?" Hunter asked as he gave Shane a serious look.
"Bro, don't worry... my lips are sealed." Shane replied. "You know Blake is leaving tomorrow after all. So, there is no need to run off so quickly. You may not be able to have Tori as your girlfriend, but to have her as a friend is better than nothing. Take it from me."
"Yeah, I know. I'll just have to close my eyes for now."
Later that evening Hunter went home to find Blake and Tori cuddling on the couch in front of the TV. 'Aw man...' He thought as he walked through the front door. "Hey guys," he said dejectedly.
Blake and Tori looked up from their seats on the couch. They had been watching TV and were making out right before Hunter walked in. "Hey Hunter," the two blue rangers said in unison. Blake took his arm away from its place around Tori's shoulder and approached his brother, "Um Hunter, can we talk for a minute?"
Hunter was really not in the mood. He just wanted to go upstairs and begin planning his move to the Thunder Ninja Academy, but he could never ignore his brother. "Sure bro, let's go upstairs if that's okay with you Tori."
"Hey, no problem. You two have your brotherly moment, I'm going to run out to my car and grab my stuff." She said as she got up off the couch and headed for the front door.
Blake and Hunter headed for Hunter's room. Once the two were in the room Blake shut the door behind them. "Are you okay Hunter? You seem to be upset. Do you not want me to be with Tori or something?"
Hunter felt bad. He knew it wasn't right that he had feelings for Tori and it sure wasn't his brother's fault that he had these feelings. "No bro, I'm not mad. I guess I'm just a little jealous or something. I hope you realize that you have one heck of a girlfriend. Not too many girls would have learned how to ride the way she has just for their boyfriends. The girl barely surfs anymore. I just wish that I had someone like her in my life. Fate can be so cruel man..."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I haven't been this happy in months. I have loved spending every moment with her. I almost don't want to go back, but I have to. I only have about a year left and traveling around Europe will be an awesome way to possibly finish up my career."
Hunter was in shock. Was his brother really going to leave Factory Blue after his tour in Europe? "What, you're going to leave your career just like that?"
Blake was surprised that Hunter would not expect this from him. "I love her bro and I would do anything for her. She's willing to wait until I get back so, I could at least make this sacrifice for her."
"Blake, she loves you... she would never ask that of you. I know Tori, she'll go wherever you will go, if you wanted her to." Hunter pointed out. After all these months Hunter knew that Tori was loyal. She would tour with his brother if he asked her to.
"I guess, we'll see in due time. Hunter, thanks for keeping your promise. I'm glad to see that you two are getting along better."
Now Hunter was really feeling guilty. "Sure bro, no problem."
Blake had one more thing to ask his brother before he left to go join Tori downstairs, "Hunter, can I ask you to promise me one more thing?"
'Now what? My first promise put me in this mess in the first place.' Hunter thought to himself. "Yeah, what is it?"
"I'm going to be gone for a while, promise me that you'll watch over Tori for me. I know that she can take care of herself, but just please take care of her. I love her and I don't want her to ever feel alone. Just be there for her, but please don't be too obvious. You know how she gets when she feels like we're protecting her." Blake said with a chuckle.
Hunter had to laugh at that thought too. He could imagine Tori's face whenever she would get upset at one of them for treating her like she was a helpless little girl. "Yeah, Tori would definitely have it in for me if she knew."
"Thanks bro, that really means a lot to me," Blake finished as he gave his brother a hug. "Well, I better get going. There is a pretty lady waiting for me downstairs." Blake said and then left. Hunter rubbed his hands against his face in frustration and went back to planning his move to the Thunder Ninja Academy.
The next morning came fairly quickly. Tori spent the night at the Bradley house with Blake and everyone else showed up bright and early to bid their farewells to their friend. Tori drove Blake to the airport alone this time. They were sitting by the gate as the boarding call to his flight was announced. "Déjà vu huh?" Tori said as her and Blake got up from their seats.
Blake looked into Tori's beautiful blue eyes. He wanted to memorize her every feature. This would be the last time that he would see her for a long time. "Yep." He replied. He then cupped Tori's face in his right hand. He moved in and kissed her. They broke apart and looked deep into one another's eyes and then kissed again, but more passionately this time. This would be their last kiss for a while. "I love you Tori with all my heart."
Tori felt tears stream down her face. She couldn't stop herself from crying. "Blake, I love you too. Please promise me that we'll be okay and that you will come back to me after this tour in Europe is over."
Blake took Tori's left hand into his and twirled the ring that he gave her around her finger. "Tor, you see this ring... this a token of my love and promise to you. I will write, email and call you as often as possible. We have made it this far. We've just got to trust that fate will keep us together."
"Final boarding call for Flight 2230 for Tampa, Florida," was announced over the PA system. Blake and Tori both took a deep breath and met for one last kiss. "I'll wait for you, Blake Bradley. You can trust in that."
"I promise, I'll be back for you. I've got to go. I will call you once I am in Florida. I will only be there for a couple days and then I am off to Europe. I will call again before I leave for there. I love you." Blake said as the two quickly inched closer to the gate.
"I love you too. Take care..." Tori said as she watched Blake pick up his bags and leave to give his ticket to the attendant outside the gate.
With one last look he boarded the plane. Tori felt the hot tears start to stream down her face again as she let out a quiet sob. Her shoulders started to shudder as she let out her sadness. She thought that she was going to double over from the force of her feelings when she felt strong arms pull her into a firm hug. She looked up into a set of brown eyes. "Hunter... what are you doing here?"
"You shouldn't have to go through this alone. You're not the only one that's going to miss him you know." Hunter said as he pulled Tori back into his embrace.
Tori caught a glimpse of a tear that escaped his eyes before he pulled her back into his arms again, "Thanks for always being there for me, Hunter. I don't know where I would be with out you."
The two stood in the airport like that for a while. Blake's plane finally took off. Hunter placed his arms around Tori and led her to the parking lot. The two had no idea how much their friendship was going to be tested in the next few days...
AN: There it is, the next three chapters to Twists of Fate. I have a side story for this particular chapter called, "Don't Want To Run Away". Check it out and let me know what you think.
What's going to test Hunter and Tori's friendship? Stay tuned and find out!
Please don't forget to review, the more I get the more I will update! As always thanks to all of you for reading and reviewing. You guys are awesome!
Shane caught up with Hunter at the track. He figured that he would find him there. Hunter was sitting off to the side of the track just staring at the dirt. He was fuming. 'It's not fair that my brother always gets the girl. How am I just going to stay here and watch those two spend the rest of their lives together?' He thought as Shane walked up and sat down beside him. "Hey Shane..."
"Hey dude, you alright?"
Hunter looked up at Shane. His face was a little flushed and replied, "Man, I don't know."
Shane felt bad for him. He knew that in the passing months Hunter had fallen in love with Tori. They spent so much time together riding, hanging out, sparing, and talking. He couldn't blame Hunter for falling for Tori since he was in his shoes a couple of years ago, but that's a different story. Shane placed a hand on Hunter's shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze, "I know you love her, but she loves your brother."
Hunter gave him a faint smile as he ran a hand through his hair. Hunter didn't know what to do, but whatever it was, he just didn't want to sit by and watch those two live their lives happily ever after. Not now and maybe not until he was over her. Then an idea struck him. "Maybe, I'll just talk to Sensei Amano and see if I can move into the academy over there. He may need me there more often with the two academies combining."
Shane couldn't believe what he was hearing, "What! You're just going to up and leave like that?" He knew that Hunter was hurting, but this was ridiculous.
"No, I am not just going to up and leave. Maybe in a month or two. I don't want to make it obvious to Blake and Tori that I am bothered by their relationship. No one can know about this alright dude?" Hunter asked as he gave Shane a serious look.
"Bro, don't worry... my lips are sealed." Shane replied. "You know Blake is leaving tomorrow after all. So, there is no need to run off so quickly. You may not be able to have Tori as your girlfriend, but to have her as a friend is better than nothing. Take it from me."
"Yeah, I know. I'll just have to close my eyes for now."
Later that evening Hunter went home to find Blake and Tori cuddling on the couch in front of the TV. 'Aw man...' He thought as he walked through the front door. "Hey guys," he said dejectedly.
Blake and Tori looked up from their seats on the couch. They had been watching TV and were making out right before Hunter walked in. "Hey Hunter," the two blue rangers said in unison. Blake took his arm away from its place around Tori's shoulder and approached his brother, "Um Hunter, can we talk for a minute?"
Hunter was really not in the mood. He just wanted to go upstairs and begin planning his move to the Thunder Ninja Academy, but he could never ignore his brother. "Sure bro, let's go upstairs if that's okay with you Tori."
"Hey, no problem. You two have your brotherly moment, I'm going to run out to my car and grab my stuff." She said as she got up off the couch and headed for the front door.
Blake and Hunter headed for Hunter's room. Once the two were in the room Blake shut the door behind them. "Are you okay Hunter? You seem to be upset. Do you not want me to be with Tori or something?"
Hunter felt bad. He knew it wasn't right that he had feelings for Tori and it sure wasn't his brother's fault that he had these feelings. "No bro, I'm not mad. I guess I'm just a little jealous or something. I hope you realize that you have one heck of a girlfriend. Not too many girls would have learned how to ride the way she has just for their boyfriends. The girl barely surfs anymore. I just wish that I had someone like her in my life. Fate can be so cruel man..."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I haven't been this happy in months. I have loved spending every moment with her. I almost don't want to go back, but I have to. I only have about a year left and traveling around Europe will be an awesome way to possibly finish up my career."
Hunter was in shock. Was his brother really going to leave Factory Blue after his tour in Europe? "What, you're going to leave your career just like that?"
Blake was surprised that Hunter would not expect this from him. "I love her bro and I would do anything for her. She's willing to wait until I get back so, I could at least make this sacrifice for her."
"Blake, she loves you... she would never ask that of you. I know Tori, she'll go wherever you will go, if you wanted her to." Hunter pointed out. After all these months Hunter knew that Tori was loyal. She would tour with his brother if he asked her to.
"I guess, we'll see in due time. Hunter, thanks for keeping your promise. I'm glad to see that you two are getting along better."
Now Hunter was really feeling guilty. "Sure bro, no problem."
Blake had one more thing to ask his brother before he left to go join Tori downstairs, "Hunter, can I ask you to promise me one more thing?"
'Now what? My first promise put me in this mess in the first place.' Hunter thought to himself. "Yeah, what is it?"
"I'm going to be gone for a while, promise me that you'll watch over Tori for me. I know that she can take care of herself, but just please take care of her. I love her and I don't want her to ever feel alone. Just be there for her, but please don't be too obvious. You know how she gets when she feels like we're protecting her." Blake said with a chuckle.
Hunter had to laugh at that thought too. He could imagine Tori's face whenever she would get upset at one of them for treating her like she was a helpless little girl. "Yeah, Tori would definitely have it in for me if she knew."
"Thanks bro, that really means a lot to me," Blake finished as he gave his brother a hug. "Well, I better get going. There is a pretty lady waiting for me downstairs." Blake said and then left. Hunter rubbed his hands against his face in frustration and went back to planning his move to the Thunder Ninja Academy.
The next morning came fairly quickly. Tori spent the night at the Bradley house with Blake and everyone else showed up bright and early to bid their farewells to their friend. Tori drove Blake to the airport alone this time. They were sitting by the gate as the boarding call to his flight was announced. "Déjà vu huh?" Tori said as her and Blake got up from their seats.
Blake looked into Tori's beautiful blue eyes. He wanted to memorize her every feature. This would be the last time that he would see her for a long time. "Yep." He replied. He then cupped Tori's face in his right hand. He moved in and kissed her. They broke apart and looked deep into one another's eyes and then kissed again, but more passionately this time. This would be their last kiss for a while. "I love you Tori with all my heart."
Tori felt tears stream down her face. She couldn't stop herself from crying. "Blake, I love you too. Please promise me that we'll be okay and that you will come back to me after this tour in Europe is over."
Blake took Tori's left hand into his and twirled the ring that he gave her around her finger. "Tor, you see this ring... this a token of my love and promise to you. I will write, email and call you as often as possible. We have made it this far. We've just got to trust that fate will keep us together."
"Final boarding call for Flight 2230 for Tampa, Florida," was announced over the PA system. Blake and Tori both took a deep breath and met for one last kiss. "I'll wait for you, Blake Bradley. You can trust in that."
"I promise, I'll be back for you. I've got to go. I will call you once I am in Florida. I will only be there for a couple days and then I am off to Europe. I will call again before I leave for there. I love you." Blake said as the two quickly inched closer to the gate.
"I love you too. Take care..." Tori said as she watched Blake pick up his bags and leave to give his ticket to the attendant outside the gate.
With one last look he boarded the plane. Tori felt the hot tears start to stream down her face again as she let out a quiet sob. Her shoulders started to shudder as she let out her sadness. She thought that she was going to double over from the force of her feelings when she felt strong arms pull her into a firm hug. She looked up into a set of brown eyes. "Hunter... what are you doing here?"
"You shouldn't have to go through this alone. You're not the only one that's going to miss him you know." Hunter said as he pulled Tori back into his embrace.
Tori caught a glimpse of a tear that escaped his eyes before he pulled her back into his arms again, "Thanks for always being there for me, Hunter. I don't know where I would be with out you."
The two stood in the airport like that for a while. Blake's plane finally took off. Hunter placed his arms around Tori and led her to the parking lot. The two had no idea how much their friendship was going to be tested in the next few days...
AN: There it is, the next three chapters to Twists of Fate. I have a side story for this particular chapter called, "Don't Want To Run Away". Check it out and let me know what you think.
What's going to test Hunter and Tori's friendship? Stay tuned and find out!
Please don't forget to review, the more I get the more I will update! As always thanks to all of you for reading and reviewing. You guys are awesome!