"Still Gone"

Months After...

"Great. Just great!" Hunter muttered as he examines the flat tire and the heated radiator hose from the water pump area. "It's gonna take me days to fix this up!" He groans, thinking back on the spill he faced when the dirty blonde accidentally rode over a fallen tree branch. Now his bike was ruined as the result of his sudden trip. Hunter slips off from his helmet and wipes the sweat on his forehead. "Man!" He hisses angrily while kicking the tires in frustration. "This can't be happening."

Meanwhile, Blake comes riding nearby and stops before him. He takes off the window visor from his helmet and looks on at the wreckage. "Ouch, bro. That doesn't look good."

He sighs as he stretches his sore back. "Tell me about it."

Blake shrugs while getting off from his dirt bike. "First day riding too. Maybe it's that leg of yours, or perhaps, your brain."

Hunter beams coldly at him. "Don't even go there, bro. I'm fine." He murmurs stubbornly. "It just needs a bit of work. All I have to do is loosen the head clamps, and fix the carburetor."

"Don't forget to mention you have to reinstall the radiator hose and put in a new spark plug." Blake adds.

"Whatever." Hunter murmurs reluctantly. "I'm gonna have to take this back to Storm Chargers and get it fixed. You think I can get a lift back to the truck?"

"Yeah sure thing."

And Hunter hops in.

*********************************

At Storm Chargers...

"What are you doing? 3 of spades is lower than 3 glovers, so it's my turn." Shane slides the card back to Dustin and places 3 spades on the table. "Now you go." Dustin looks through his deck of cards carefully and places a pair of 4s down. "What are you doing?" Shane questions as soon as the airhead got through with his turn. "We're not doing doubles right now. You put down a single."

Dustin stares at him, puzzled. "But two pairs beat out a single."

Shane rubs his eyes in frustration. "Dude, do you even know how to play 13?"

Dustin scratches the back of his head. "Oh..." He arches his brow in confusion. "Is that what we're playing?"

The skater boy gazed at him in disbelief. "Alright. That's it." Shane smacks his deck of cards on the table. "I give up."

Dustin shrugs with an evil smirk. "Okay then, I win."

"Unbelievable."

"What? You gave up."

"That's because you didn't even know we're playing 13 the first place." Shane grunts as he began to lose his patience.

"Well, that's your problem." Dustin sneers back.

Shane rolls his eyes. "Whatever." He garbled when suddenly Kelly comes walking by.

She stops and approaches them. "So who won?" Their boss asked with a curious stare as she looks over their shoulders.

"I did. Shane forfeit." The goofball says jokingly while making a funny face to annoy him.

"No I didn't." Shane argues back, folding his arms across his chest. "I happen to be a pro at this game. You're just a rookie. A rookie that had no idea we were playing 13." He adds with a laugh.

"Hey! I thought we were playing war."

"What?! Since when do you lay two cards at a time?"

"Well! Ummm..." Dustin trails off, dumbstruck. "OH! When you have the same exact card! You have to lay them all down, right?"

"Not all, Dustin!"

"Guys!" Kelly shouts out, feeling irritated with the guy's argument over some stupid card game. "Get back to work."

Dustin and Shane groan grudgingly. "Yes, ma'am."

"Excuse me?! In the future, if you don't want to get fired, never call me ma'am!" She snaps in annoyance. "Makes me feel old."

The guys smirk as they watch their boss march off disturbingly. Moments later, Hunter and Blake arrived in the store. Without noticing their appearance, Shane drifts off into space and began wandering off. Dustin suddenly comprehended his friend's odd behavior as he follows Shane behind. "Dude...what's up?"

The skater boy slowly turns his gaze over at the concern Dustin as he leans against the counter and sighs deeply. "Nothing, man. Just thinking."

Dustin presses his lips together. "About what?" He asks, lifting himself up on the counter to listen.

Shane rubs the back of his neck and heaves another sigh. "It's been months since we last seen or heard of Tori, right?" The goofball nods as Shane continues on. "I just--" He trails off worriedly. "I'm scared that we lost her for good."

There was a sudden pause.

"Oh." Was all Dustin could say as he lowers his down melancholy at the thought of Tori. "I see." It's been quite awhile since any of the guys mentioned the blonde. Neither of them would want to bring up the subject, especially around the saddened Hunter, who himself is still in the process of healing. "I know what you mean. I can't even get a hold of Tori's parents. Dude, It must be killing them."

Shane nods in agreement. "Yup."

"Speaking of Tori..." Dustin adds on suspiciously. "I just remembered something."

Shane wrinkles his forehead. "What?"

"About Tori's pregnancy. The baby."

His eyes widened. "Shoot. I totally forgot all about that. Do you think—"

"I don't know." Dustin interrupts with a sigh. "I think so."

"What makes you so sure?" Shane arches his brow. "The doctors weren't even sure themselves."

"Well…" The goofball averts from his gaze as he bit his bottom lip uncertainly. "Think about the time when she kept throwing up. Dude, those are definitely signs of pregnancy."

Shane thought for a moment and nods. "Hmm, sex ed does pay off when you actually listen in class."

"I know huh?" Dustin felt proud of himself. "I guess that proves I'm not too much of a doofus afterall!" He chuckles.

"Okay well, say that you're right. But think about how Hunter would feel?"

Dustin looks past Shane and gulps at an unexpected appearance standing right behind him. "Um, dude." The goofball scratches his head worriedly. "You should stop---"

"And plus," Shane goes on, oblivious to what the goofball was trying to mouth to him. "He has no idea about the baby. It's gonna kill him."

Dustin shuts his eyes and lowers his head in guilt. "Oh no. Dude…" He grunts shamefully.

Shane plasters a quizzical stare. "You alright?"

The goofball covers his eyes as he points something behind him. Shane slowly turns around and faces Hunter. Oh Crap, he thought as he looks away from his gaze and stuff his hands into the pockets of his red jacket. Blake watches on nearby with anxious nerves. Great, they all thought. We're screwed.  

"Shane," Hunter folds his arms while searching his eyes carefully. "What baby?"

"Uhhh…" He exchange looks with the other guys, as they all remained speechless.