Disclaimer: yup, so I still don't own the rangers..Poop on that..but however, I do have this next chapter for ya...thanks for reading my story and giving it a chance!! it is far from over.......

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Ahhh....The last of the boxes are finished...well, at least for now. I mean, I still have some of my own piled on the floor in my new room.

Tori wanted the bigger room, so we compromised. Actually, I just gave in and said ,'Ok..sure..anything you want'. So that's where I am now, going through a box of mine. It's full of Motocross tapes , pictures and magazines. It would be cool if I remembered which box my V.C.R. was in. But for now, it's just tapes and magazines falling apart everywhere. Tori was always so much more organized....

Shane decided to take a little trip to his mom's house. So, here I am, by myself, attempting to make sense of my room. I lean over my bed, which at the moment is nothing more than two mattresses' stacked on the floor, to catch a glimpse of the time. Wow...it's 11 o'clock and Tori isn't home yet. I'm feeling really lonely and pathetic, here in my dimly litted room, and not so cozy. Not to mention, sitting here in silence. I can't find my radio.. It's in one of these boxes that I'm too lazy to open. My T.V. sits on the floor, blank, and not plugged in. We don't have cable just yet, but we ordered a DirecTV, so it should be here in a couple of days.

I'm drowning in my thoughts and memories – good and bad. And I really can't take how it's making me feel. Kinda like a completely empty glass that used to be spilling over with milk. Yep...used to be...until girls and life took over. I thought I might have never felt this bad ever again. I thought Euyi totally drained me of that. I was completely wrong...as usual. And I'm starving!!! But there's nothing in this place to eat!

"Screw this." I say out loud. I get up and scrounge around for my sneakers.....Found 'em! I throw them on and head for the door, only to realize that I failed to swipe my keys.

"Duh, dumbass!" I sigh and walk back to my room..Oh wait! No! I threw them on the kitchen counter...I'm starting to realize how much I truly do suck as I grab my keys with my 'Pussy Wagon' keychain. Makes me smile every time... gotta love Tarantino...

Heading for the door, I trip over myself, almost stumbling to the floor. "Nice!" I say sarcastically, feeling as if every single person on earth totally just saw that and all at one, started pointing and laughing hysterically at me. The door is in front of me now, but it seems so far away. With a deep breath, I extend my hand over the doorknob. Suddenly, it starts turning by itself. What the? Creeped out, I jump back fast, immediately breaking into ninja pose. I'm ready to bust someone's ass, as the door opens. And all I see is long blonde hair.

"Tori?" I say, relieved, in one way – Angry in another. "What the – I thought you were some sick robber dude, or something!" Dropping my fists, I run a hand through my hair. I know I should mind my business. I know I shouldn't say anything.

"Well, what are you doing right near the door anyway?" Tori giggled, closing the door behind her. She leaned against the door and crossed her arms, smiling at the fact that she scared the shit out of me. And I'm glad that she finds this so damn funny.

"No, I wasn't standing in front of the door for my health, if that's what you were thinking.." I say, ticked off, jiggling my keys nervously.

"Ok.... I was just kidding Dustin....you know that." Tori smiles. God, when she smiles I just can't be mad. At anything.. The world becomes the most beautiful place. The brightest, most tranquil place. And I never want to leave.

"I know.." I look down at my feet, embarrassed at myself for being snappy with her. I lose my words and I could swear I feel my insides turn to mush.

"So.." Tori lightly taps my chin with her finger, so I look up at her. My cheeks, hot and tingly. I'm trying not to smile like a love-sick puppy...

"So..." I look at her. Then quickly look away.

"So, what were you doing, silly?" Tori places one hand on her hip and the other on the door.

"Well, I was just about to go for a ride. Maybe get some food. I'm way starved. But, you already ate, so..." So trying my hardest to avoid yelling and spilling how harshly I hate this whole Blake situation.

"Yeah.." Tori sighs. This silence is craziness! Tori clears her throat, "So..where's Shane?"

"Visiting his mom. I'm just here.....alone." The self pity and sarcasm in my voice is as thick as the mud stuck in my tires after a rainy day at the track. From the corner of my eye, I notice a slight frown on Tori's face. Guilty, almost.

"I see you finished unpacking." Tori breaks the subject. For some reason, I'm finding it insanely hard to keep my eyes on her. I glance around the room, trying to keep from catching her eyes.

"yeah..me and Shane busted it out after work."

"Looks...great." Tori still sounds guilty.

"Well, I hope you like it. I tried to decorate it the way you would, but I probably did a bad job. It's ok...we can fix it."

"Dustin, didn't you just hear what I said?" Tori takes a couple of steps towards me until she's directly in front of me. She tilts her head to catch my wandering eyes, and I can't help but look right back at her. "It looks great. Thanks so much."

"Don't mention it. Shane helped. And it was no big deal anyway. I live here too, so, ya know.." I wish I could speak and act normal in front of her, but I can barely breathe. An awkward silence fills the room again, and oh man, it feels like forever and a week. Then Tori finally speaks...

"You know... Dustin...I'm really, really sorry for the way Blake acted today. I –"

"Why should you be sorry? Tori, don't apologize for him!" Without thinking, I blurt out. Raising my voice, but so not meaning to.

Tori's eyes widen, "Let me finish, please." Tori's hand chases my face, trying to get me to look her way. She sighs, "Would ya look at me?"

Uneasily, I find her eyes and we lock stares. I could kiss her right now and everything would be alright.

"Sorry...go on." I say in a whispered breath.

"I completely flipped out on him! It was totally unnecessary for any of that today!" Tori's brow crinkled. She has her 'mean face' on.

"You flipped?"

"Yes!! No one talks to you that way but me!!!" Tori laughs. "But seriously, Dustin, he said he is so sorry. He feels horrible. He doesn't know what got into him. He was having a bad day." Tori totally sticks up for him. Whatever.... I wonder if she noticed the immediate stank look on my face.

"Well, you know what," I say, crossing my arms in front of me, "He can come to me and say that himself."

"You're being unfair." Tori shakes her head.

What? Me, unfair??? Are you for real?? Stank turned to utter disgust...

"What? Dude, Blake totally chumped me in front of everyone!! He disrespected me so lovely, and I'm being unfair??? Oh, please Tori, excuse me for being a slight bit bitter..."

"Ok, ok , you're absolutely right for feeling angry, but you guys are friends and you can't let this stupid thing come between that."

"Did I start this? Hell no! I didn't say one remotely rude thing to him at all and he bugged out. Not my problem, Tor. So, why don't you go talk to your boy about it, not me!" I walk towards the couch, so heated right now.

"My boy???" Tori follows me, "My boy??? What the hell is that supposed to mean???" Tori hovers over me angrily as I sit on the couch.

"Ok...you know what...." I rethink and realize everything that I'm about to say. And I don't want to argue. Not with her. Not about this.

"What, Dustin? What?" Tori's arms flail.

I take a deep breath to calm my nerves, "You're right." I say, standing up to face her,"This is stupid. I guess I overreacted. I'm sorry."

"Really?" Tori sighs with a slight smile. Deep down inside, I have to swallow everything. Swallow my pride. Swallow my feelings. As usual...

"Yes.. I accept Blake's apology. I'm sure he really never meant for all of that to happen the way it did. It's cool." UUUUGGGHHHH!!!! I wanna slam my head through a wall! My cheesy smile sugar coats my ailing. I am such a loser...

"Oh Dustin!" Tori jumps at me, locking her arms around my waist, "I'm so proud of you! You're really maturing!"

My instinct is to hold her in my arms and never let go. God I never want to let go. My heart Is racing, my mouth feels like a dessert. I catch a whiff of her hair and I swear I've never wanted anyone more in my life. She smells so amazing. We are still in each others arms, and I can't bring myself to let her go. Not yet. She doesn't seem to mind. At least I can only hope so. She wiggles a little. I ease my grip and look down at her. She's grinning at me with warm eyes. Oh man, if I could wish for anything right now it would be for her to say those three words and mean it the way I want her to mean it. The way I mean it.

"Awe.....you poor thing!!!" Tori says,"You must be starved! Your stomach just growled at me!"

And all thoughts of this ever being a 'moment' are instantly crushed. Oh boy, this is gonna be tough... "Yeah.. I really am. I haven't really eaten anything today at all. But I did drink a shit-load of Gatorade." I squint , trying to remember what I ingested for the day. Not eating is way weird for me. I'm a human garbage disposal!

"Wow!" Tori touches my forehead, playfully, "You feelin' ok?" She laughs.

"Ha! I know right!" I join her. Dammit! So I really can't be mad at her. I'm such a sucker.

"Lets go food shopping!!!" Tori's face lights up as she jumps up and down, "Ooohhh! Yes! Our first food shopping on our own! C'mon, D!!! Please! Please!! We need food in this place!! Please!!!"

Tori knows how tired I am right now. She's jumping up and down, still begging me. I wonder if she also knows that I can't say no to her at all..As hard as I try...

"Don't you think it's a little late to go food shopping?" I say, looking at my cell phone.

"C'mon Dustin, please!! With sugar on top and..." Tori thinks, "Motocross bikes!!!!!"

"Well since you put it that way.." I wrap an arm around her shoulders and we walk out of the door, shutting the light on our way.

"Alright! So much fun!" Tori squeals. Her voice rings throughout the long hallway to our apartment building.