Everything was settled. They would camp that night in the same spot
the guys had before. They wanted to get to the sight as soon as possible,
so everyone pitched in- helping each other gather their things together.
First they helped Cam and then they headed over to Dustin and Shane's to
get their sleeping bags, a tent and a few other supplies.
Hunter and Blake's house was next. They came out with a few bags of food, a grill top to go over the fire and more sleeping bags. They piled it all into the van and made their way to their final destination. Tori drove to her apartment and grabbed her sleeping bag and a backpack. She came out of her apartment talking on her cell phone.
"Yes...okay...Shane, Dustin, Hunter, Blake, and Cam...You sure?...okay, we'll be there in a few." She hung up the phone and got into the van.
"Was that who I think it was?" Dustin asked smiling. Tori smiled back.
"Yes it was, and I have to stop by her house to pick up my tent," she said as he started the car. Cam knew where they were headed and Shane smiled as well, but Blake and Hunter were in the dark.
"Okay, where are we going?" Hunter asked.
"Over to my Gram's house," Tori said smiling.
"Dude, Gram makes the BEST cookies ever," Dustin said dreamily.
"Easy dude, you're like, drooling," Shane said laughing. The others began to laugh too and soon they were parked in front of a large, Victorian style blue house. A fence was around the backyard where a large pool was.
"You're Gram lives here? All by herself?" Blake asked. Tori nodded her head.
"The house has been in family for as long as I can remember. I used to live with her, but I moved out a little over a year ago. Some of my stuff's still here," she said as she opened the door.
As soon as it was opened the smell of delicious food invaded their senses. Tori smiled. "Gram?"
"In the kitchen," a voice called back.
"Sweet," Dustin said as he walked ahead of the others.
Tori shook her head and led them down a hallway into a large kitchen where an elderly woman in blue jeans and a white sweatshirt was placing items in plastic containers. "Well, I see you brought everyone," the woman said cheerfully.
"Hi Gram," Tori said as she hugged her. Dustin hugged her next, and then Shane. Cam smiled at her and waved a little. "These are my other friends I was telling you about," she said motioning to the others. "Blake and Hunter Bradley. Guys, this is my Grandmother, Leslie Hanson."
"Well, it's nice to met you all," she said as she shook their hands. She took Blake's hand last and smiled warmly. "I've heard a lot about you... all of you."
Tori's cheeks reddened a bit, but quickly went back to their normal shade when she saw a cloth bag filled with more plastic containers. "Gram...what is all this?" she asked smiling.
Leslie just shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the counter where she placed the last container into the bag. "Well, you can't go camping without food now can you?" Tori cocked her head to one side. "What? You know I always make too much," she said winking at her. "You're tent is in the garage with the rest of the camping supplies."
"Thank you," she said giving her a genuine smile. She disappeared through a connecting door and found the supplies. "Hey! Could one of you help me here?" she called.
"I'll go," Blake volunteered. Everyone in the room, including Leslie, smiled. They watched as Tori opened the garage door and she and Blake carried the supplies out to the van.
Leslie smiled. "Keep an eye on those two," she said laughing a little as she handed Shane the bag. He kissed her cheek.
"Thanks Gram," he said. She smiled and he left.
"It was nice to meet you," Hunter said.
"You boys know you're welcome back here anytime," she said. They smiled and followed Shane out.
"Thanks!" Cam said as he departed.
Dustin hugged her and kissed her cheek as well. "Bye Gram." He turned to run out.
"Dustin," she said. Dustin whipped around and saw her holding a bag for him. Dustin grinned and knew what was inside. He took it and left as she shook her head.
(((((())))))
Tori and Blake loaded her things into the van and Blake closed the tailgate. Tori leaned up against it and closed her eyes.
"Tired?" Blake asked. Tori sighed and opened them again.
"Yeah...I didn't really sleep well last night," she said. Blake reached over and touched her hand.
"If you're tired, we don't have to do this tonight. We could-"
"No, really," she said as butterflies invaded her stomach. "I'm not going to back out this time. I want to spend the night with you...and the guys," she said. At that, Blake smiled widely.
"Look Tor, what Dustin said earlier..."
Tori looked into his eyes and hoped this was going where she wanted it to.
"I don't-"
"Dude, she gave me cookies!" Dustin shouted as he and the others approached.
"Shit," Tori muttered. Blake smiled and squeezed her hand, and sent her a sweet smile that made her go weak at the knees.
They walked out and got back into the van. "We ready?" Cam asked.
"You know it!" Hunter cried. A cheer was let up from all the others in the van and they departed for their destination.
(((((())))))
The tents were set up in no time and soon night was descending on the rangers. Hunter and Shane put the finishing touches on the fire and sat down on logs that had been set up. Tori walked over to the van and took out the bag of food.
"Dude," Hunter whispered to Dustin, who was sitting next to Blake. Blake was in their tent getting the cooler. "Come sit over here."
Dustin understood what he was doing and sat in the vacant chair next to Hunter, leaving two chairs unoccupied right next to each other. Tori returned from the van and Blake from the tent. They took their seats and handed out everything.
"What did Gram's make us tonight," Shane wondered aloud as he opened the box. He laughed a little and took out the contents. "Fried chicken baby," he said as he dove in. Everyone else in the group took their share and laughed a little with Shane.
"You guys remember what happened the last time we had chicken," Hunter said.
"Don't remind me," Cam said. "I had a headache for a week."
"Tell me about it," Bake chimed in. Tori smirked at them and took a sip of water.
"Well, at least you guys know not to fight over a girl anymore," she said smiling at Blake. The rest of the meal was finished quickly and the rangers began to settle in.
Cam retreated to the van and returned with an acoustic guitar. "I had a feeling you snuck that in," Tori said smiling at him.
"Yeah, well I figured I could play and you could show off your voice," he said as he strummed the instrument.
"No way. I'm not getting into that again," she said laughing.
"You sing?" Blake asked, intrigued.
"Yeah man, you should hear her," Dustin said.
"I asked her to do a duet with me for Totally Talented and she shot me down," Shane said smiling at her.
"Guys, come on," Tori begged.
"Please?" Dustin asked as he stuck his lip out.
"Okay, I'll do it if you promise NEVER to do that to me again," she said to him. Dustin sank back with his soda and grinned. "Shane, help me out a little," she asked. Shane nodded.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
A small smile came to her lips. "In My Life," she said.
"Oh yeah, eighth grade Talent Show rewind," Dustin said laughing. Tori playfully hit his arm.
"You know that one Cam?" Shane asked as he remembered back to when he and Tori had last performed together. Cam nodded his head and began to play.
Shane started to sing...
"There are places I remember,
all my life, though some have changed
some forever not for better,
some have gone, and some remain,
all these places have their moments,
with lovers and friends, I still can recall,
some are dead and some are living,
In My Life, I've loved them all."
Tori joined in...
"But of all these friends and lovers,
there is no one, compares with you,
and these memories lose their meaning,
when I think of love, as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection,
for people and things, that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them,
In My Life, I love you more"
Shane stopped and let Tori finish on her own...
"Though I know I'll never lose affection,
for people and things, that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them,
In My Life, I love you more
In My Life, I love you more..."
Cam finished the last note and the others began to clap a little. Blake was awestruck by Tori as she sang the notes perfectly. During parts of it she had locked eyes with him, making his insides twist in pleasant ways.
Tori looked over and saw that Blake was smiling at her. "Tor, that was...awesome," he got out.
"Thanks," she said smiling back.
"Who's up for s'mores?" Hunter asked handing around a bag of marshmallows. Everyone partook of the sweet snack.
"So when do you head back to the thunder academy Hunter?" Cam asked.
"Monday morning," he answered as he stuffed a gram cracker in his mouth.
After some time had passed, questions were floating around. "Okay, what about the thing that scared you the most as a kid?" Dustin asked as stories were being exchanged.
"Spiders," Shane admitted quickly.
"Clowns," Cam said, receiving laughs from the others. "What? It's not that uncommon...What about you Dustin?"
"Snakes," he replied sheepishly.
"Hunter," Blake said smiling at his older brother. The others soon were laughing.
"ET...that movie is freaky! It still gives me the creeps to think about it!" Hunter said, which received more laughter than Cam's fear of clowns had. They all turned to Tori who decided to truthfully tell them what scared her when she was young.
"Surfing," she said quietly. All the laughter died down quickly and Dustin patted her arm.
"Are you serious? But you love to surf," Hunter said.
"I do now...but when I was younger I was terrified of it," she said.
"Why?" Blake asked. The others knew what was coming and took a deep breath with her.
"My father was killed in a surfing accident," she said plainly.
Blake and Hunter were stunned at the statement. Blake heard the pain in her voice as she spoke and placed his hand over hers. She placed her other hand on top of it and smiled weakly.
"I'm so sorry," Hunter said.
"Me too," Tori replied as tears threatened to fall. "Excuse me," she said as she stood and walked into the woods. After the dream that she had had last night, and the fact that Blake was right there was too much for her.
The guys were silent for a moment before Blake spoke. "Why didn't she tell me?" he wondered aloud.
"It's not really something she likes to bring up," Cam said. "He was pretty much all she had...except for her grandmother."
"What about her mom?" Hunter asked.
"She died when Tori was, like, two I think," Dustin said. "Tori doesn't even remember her."
Blake stood up and took off after her.
Hunter and Blake's house was next. They came out with a few bags of food, a grill top to go over the fire and more sleeping bags. They piled it all into the van and made their way to their final destination. Tori drove to her apartment and grabbed her sleeping bag and a backpack. She came out of her apartment talking on her cell phone.
"Yes...okay...Shane, Dustin, Hunter, Blake, and Cam...You sure?...okay, we'll be there in a few." She hung up the phone and got into the van.
"Was that who I think it was?" Dustin asked smiling. Tori smiled back.
"Yes it was, and I have to stop by her house to pick up my tent," she said as he started the car. Cam knew where they were headed and Shane smiled as well, but Blake and Hunter were in the dark.
"Okay, where are we going?" Hunter asked.
"Over to my Gram's house," Tori said smiling.
"Dude, Gram makes the BEST cookies ever," Dustin said dreamily.
"Easy dude, you're like, drooling," Shane said laughing. The others began to laugh too and soon they were parked in front of a large, Victorian style blue house. A fence was around the backyard where a large pool was.
"You're Gram lives here? All by herself?" Blake asked. Tori nodded her head.
"The house has been in family for as long as I can remember. I used to live with her, but I moved out a little over a year ago. Some of my stuff's still here," she said as she opened the door.
As soon as it was opened the smell of delicious food invaded their senses. Tori smiled. "Gram?"
"In the kitchen," a voice called back.
"Sweet," Dustin said as he walked ahead of the others.
Tori shook her head and led them down a hallway into a large kitchen where an elderly woman in blue jeans and a white sweatshirt was placing items in plastic containers. "Well, I see you brought everyone," the woman said cheerfully.
"Hi Gram," Tori said as she hugged her. Dustin hugged her next, and then Shane. Cam smiled at her and waved a little. "These are my other friends I was telling you about," she said motioning to the others. "Blake and Hunter Bradley. Guys, this is my Grandmother, Leslie Hanson."
"Well, it's nice to met you all," she said as she shook their hands. She took Blake's hand last and smiled warmly. "I've heard a lot about you... all of you."
Tori's cheeks reddened a bit, but quickly went back to their normal shade when she saw a cloth bag filled with more plastic containers. "Gram...what is all this?" she asked smiling.
Leslie just shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the counter where she placed the last container into the bag. "Well, you can't go camping without food now can you?" Tori cocked her head to one side. "What? You know I always make too much," she said winking at her. "You're tent is in the garage with the rest of the camping supplies."
"Thank you," she said giving her a genuine smile. She disappeared through a connecting door and found the supplies. "Hey! Could one of you help me here?" she called.
"I'll go," Blake volunteered. Everyone in the room, including Leslie, smiled. They watched as Tori opened the garage door and she and Blake carried the supplies out to the van.
Leslie smiled. "Keep an eye on those two," she said laughing a little as she handed Shane the bag. He kissed her cheek.
"Thanks Gram," he said. She smiled and he left.
"It was nice to meet you," Hunter said.
"You boys know you're welcome back here anytime," she said. They smiled and followed Shane out.
"Thanks!" Cam said as he departed.
Dustin hugged her and kissed her cheek as well. "Bye Gram." He turned to run out.
"Dustin," she said. Dustin whipped around and saw her holding a bag for him. Dustin grinned and knew what was inside. He took it and left as she shook her head.
(((((())))))
Tori and Blake loaded her things into the van and Blake closed the tailgate. Tori leaned up against it and closed her eyes.
"Tired?" Blake asked. Tori sighed and opened them again.
"Yeah...I didn't really sleep well last night," she said. Blake reached over and touched her hand.
"If you're tired, we don't have to do this tonight. We could-"
"No, really," she said as butterflies invaded her stomach. "I'm not going to back out this time. I want to spend the night with you...and the guys," she said. At that, Blake smiled widely.
"Look Tor, what Dustin said earlier..."
Tori looked into his eyes and hoped this was going where she wanted it to.
"I don't-"
"Dude, she gave me cookies!" Dustin shouted as he and the others approached.
"Shit," Tori muttered. Blake smiled and squeezed her hand, and sent her a sweet smile that made her go weak at the knees.
They walked out and got back into the van. "We ready?" Cam asked.
"You know it!" Hunter cried. A cheer was let up from all the others in the van and they departed for their destination.
(((((())))))
The tents were set up in no time and soon night was descending on the rangers. Hunter and Shane put the finishing touches on the fire and sat down on logs that had been set up. Tori walked over to the van and took out the bag of food.
"Dude," Hunter whispered to Dustin, who was sitting next to Blake. Blake was in their tent getting the cooler. "Come sit over here."
Dustin understood what he was doing and sat in the vacant chair next to Hunter, leaving two chairs unoccupied right next to each other. Tori returned from the van and Blake from the tent. They took their seats and handed out everything.
"What did Gram's make us tonight," Shane wondered aloud as he opened the box. He laughed a little and took out the contents. "Fried chicken baby," he said as he dove in. Everyone else in the group took their share and laughed a little with Shane.
"You guys remember what happened the last time we had chicken," Hunter said.
"Don't remind me," Cam said. "I had a headache for a week."
"Tell me about it," Bake chimed in. Tori smirked at them and took a sip of water.
"Well, at least you guys know not to fight over a girl anymore," she said smiling at Blake. The rest of the meal was finished quickly and the rangers began to settle in.
Cam retreated to the van and returned with an acoustic guitar. "I had a feeling you snuck that in," Tori said smiling at him.
"Yeah, well I figured I could play and you could show off your voice," he said as he strummed the instrument.
"No way. I'm not getting into that again," she said laughing.
"You sing?" Blake asked, intrigued.
"Yeah man, you should hear her," Dustin said.
"I asked her to do a duet with me for Totally Talented and she shot me down," Shane said smiling at her.
"Guys, come on," Tori begged.
"Please?" Dustin asked as he stuck his lip out.
"Okay, I'll do it if you promise NEVER to do that to me again," she said to him. Dustin sank back with his soda and grinned. "Shane, help me out a little," she asked. Shane nodded.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
A small smile came to her lips. "In My Life," she said.
"Oh yeah, eighth grade Talent Show rewind," Dustin said laughing. Tori playfully hit his arm.
"You know that one Cam?" Shane asked as he remembered back to when he and Tori had last performed together. Cam nodded his head and began to play.
Shane started to sing...
"There are places I remember,
all my life, though some have changed
some forever not for better,
some have gone, and some remain,
all these places have their moments,
with lovers and friends, I still can recall,
some are dead and some are living,
In My Life, I've loved them all."
Tori joined in...
"But of all these friends and lovers,
there is no one, compares with you,
and these memories lose their meaning,
when I think of love, as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection,
for people and things, that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them,
In My Life, I love you more"
Shane stopped and let Tori finish on her own...
"Though I know I'll never lose affection,
for people and things, that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them,
In My Life, I love you more
In My Life, I love you more..."
Cam finished the last note and the others began to clap a little. Blake was awestruck by Tori as she sang the notes perfectly. During parts of it she had locked eyes with him, making his insides twist in pleasant ways.
Tori looked over and saw that Blake was smiling at her. "Tor, that was...awesome," he got out.
"Thanks," she said smiling back.
"Who's up for s'mores?" Hunter asked handing around a bag of marshmallows. Everyone partook of the sweet snack.
"So when do you head back to the thunder academy Hunter?" Cam asked.
"Monday morning," he answered as he stuffed a gram cracker in his mouth.
After some time had passed, questions were floating around. "Okay, what about the thing that scared you the most as a kid?" Dustin asked as stories were being exchanged.
"Spiders," Shane admitted quickly.
"Clowns," Cam said, receiving laughs from the others. "What? It's not that uncommon...What about you Dustin?"
"Snakes," he replied sheepishly.
"Hunter," Blake said smiling at his older brother. The others soon were laughing.
"ET...that movie is freaky! It still gives me the creeps to think about it!" Hunter said, which received more laughter than Cam's fear of clowns had. They all turned to Tori who decided to truthfully tell them what scared her when she was young.
"Surfing," she said quietly. All the laughter died down quickly and Dustin patted her arm.
"Are you serious? But you love to surf," Hunter said.
"I do now...but when I was younger I was terrified of it," she said.
"Why?" Blake asked. The others knew what was coming and took a deep breath with her.
"My father was killed in a surfing accident," she said plainly.
Blake and Hunter were stunned at the statement. Blake heard the pain in her voice as she spoke and placed his hand over hers. She placed her other hand on top of it and smiled weakly.
"I'm so sorry," Hunter said.
"Me too," Tori replied as tears threatened to fall. "Excuse me," she said as she stood and walked into the woods. After the dream that she had had last night, and the fact that Blake was right there was too much for her.
The guys were silent for a moment before Blake spoke. "Why didn't she tell me?" he wondered aloud.
"It's not really something she likes to bring up," Cam said. "He was pretty much all she had...except for her grandmother."
"What about her mom?" Hunter asked.
"She died when Tori was, like, two I think," Dustin said. "Tori doesn't even remember her."
Blake stood up and took off after her.