A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews!! I am glad you liked it! For whoever wants the original version...I can send it to you through email. I guess if you want to read it....click on my email in my profile and drop me a line..or a dime..or whatever lolol well..heres the next chapter...
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Somewhere between the sun coming up this morning, and now, I had fallen asleep. What time is it? I roll over in my bed to look at the clock. Those bright red numbers. 11:47??? No way!! Uuggghhhh!!! I am so dead!
"Oh, man, Kelly is gonna filet my ass!" I jump out of bed and run to the bathroom. What? The door is locked?
"Dude! I'm on the shitter!" Shane's voice echoes from behind the door.
"Shane! I'm so late for work it's not even funny!" I yell back at him. This would be just my luck. All these random events of lets-fuck-with-Dustin.
"I'm sorry bro, I'll try to hurry up." As Shane yells back at me, I lean my body up against the door. I slowly slide down onto the floor, where I sit with my head buried in my hands. I catch a slight reminder of last night, as I breathe in, faintly, Tori's scent still on my fingers. She smells like the sweetest of roses mixed with a little mango..or pineapple...something sweet and juicy....just wanna eat it up....
But, oh dude! I could so throw myself out of a window right now! And Sensei would be way pissed if that was the case. He'd feel like he failed me because I'm still such an ass after all his training and wisdom. But I'd be a dead ass. Bloody and dead. Maybe Tori would care then....
Suddenly, the door opens and I fall onto Shane's feet. "What the- " Shane says looking down at me. I look up at him with almost the same look I gave Blake...almost...
"Dude..you okay??" Shane asks, helping me to my feet , " I sprayed and everything! I even flushed!" He pats me on the back.
"You know, Kelly is going to murder me." I say.
"That's not my fault you woke up late, bro. Hey, at least you got some sleep." Shane always tries to shine light on a dark, nasty situation.
"Yeah, like two hours...that's a nap.. I'm tired and cranky..and..uugggghh!! Dammit!!" I pull at my hair.
"What's going on with you, man?" Shane looks on, confused.
"I gotta see this girl today! Fuck! I am so tired and...oh man!" I say.
"Ivette? You're seeing her today? Oh, that's what I'm talkin' about!" Shane slaps my arm, harder than I'd seen it coming. Ouch... I rub the pain out.
"Dude, I look and feel like shit!" I whine.
"Well, you can change that, now go take a shower and lets get you looking super-hot-motocross-guy!!! And lets not forget super-hot-motocross-guy-with-the-super-hotter-skater-friend!!" Shane gloats, pushing me into the bathroom, closing the door.
"Good one!" I yell out to him. I hear him cackling as I take a piss.
Me and Shane sprint from my car to Storm Chargers as fast as we can. I swing open the door, Shane trailing behind me. Noticing me running up to her, Kelly places her hands on her hips, looking at her watch.
"Do you know what time it is?" She lightly scolds.
"Kelly, I can totally explain-" I begin.
"It was my fault, Kel..not Dustin's. I'm sorry." Shane covers for me.
"Hey, Shane, you want a job?" Kelly asks. What? Oh, man, I am so done for!
"Huh?" I let out a squeal. My face drops to the floor. Oh, man. She is totally firing me!
"Not your job, silly! I need an extra set of hands around here." Kelly smiles.
"Oh!! Oh, dude, I thought I was canned!" I laugh a laugh of pure relief.
"Yeah, Kel!! Oh, yeah, Kel thanks!!" Shane hugs Kelly.
"No problem. Shane. Always looking to help out a friend." She smiles.
"So, where do I start?" Shane jumps up, eager to work.
"Bust out those massive shipment boxes. Dustin will show you. You both can work on them together. I'll work on the ladies swimsuits and surf gear." Kelly says, pointing to the usual shipment.
"Yes ma'am!" Shane salutes his new boss.
"Oh..and Dustin, you got a call today- A bike is coming in this afternoon from a guy named Frank – He needs an oil change and a few minor adjustments, so when that comes, you can do your thing. That's it so far with the bikes. So far." Kelly informs. I nod, surprised, so far, I only have one bike coming in today.
"Oh, and uh..Dustin." Kelly says.
"Yeah Kel."
"Next time, give me a call and let me know you're going to be an hour late." Kelly smirks.
"No problem. You're the best, Kel!" I suck up.. I mean it.. but I so suck up.
"yeah, yeah...love ya too.." Kelly says, walking away.
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"So..." She speaks in a slight whisper.
"So..." I don't know exactly what to say. Or what she wants me to say.
"How's work going so far?" She asks.
"Not bad...not bad at all... Actually, I was an hour late.." I say. I keep a lookout for any customer that might need my help. Shane is on a food run and Kelly is in the back on an important phone call.
"Ooh... I was wondering if I should've woken you up this morning or not." She says.
"It's ok... Shane works at Storm Chargers now." I tell her the good news.
"Wow! Woah, how'd that happen? I mean, it's about time!" She giggles , "He's in there enough!"
"Yeah..." I say. I mean, it's not weird. Not really... but it is. She's Tori...she's my best friend. But talking to her right now is just so...different.
"You sound busy." Tori asks. I'm guessing in response to my silence.
"No, not at all, actually...the store's basically dead." I say, playing with a surfboard keychain.
"Yeah.. it's dead over here, too. I don't know, I'm guessing later it'll probably pick up. The Thursday night rush. Hopefully, I'll be gone by then." Tori sounds unenthusiastic. Woah...big word.
"What...you work until 7?" I ask.
"Yup..and you get out at 9. See, I know your schedule by now." I hear a smile in Tori's voice, "So, about tomorrow..."
"Oh, yeah..tomorrow..the party..yeah, how's that going down?" Yes, the party... I hope this goes well. We still haven't even discussed who was invited.
"I dunno.... I told everybody to be at our place by like 7-ish... I guess. Or later, whatever." Tori says.
"Who's everybody?" I really want to know who to expect at this party. No more surprises, please.
"You know, people from work..the 'Pac Sun' crew!" Tori giggles, "And Vanessa and the girls of course!"
"I think you might have gone way over your 6 people limit. That's cool, though....cuz I really didn't invite anyone anyway." I say, nonchalantly.
"Dustin.." Tori's voice grows serious. Oh no..what's she gonna say..that she hates me? I know she hates me...
"Yup." What else can I say?
"Are you ok?" Tori asks.
"I'm fine." I say. I don't really feel like talking all this mindless crap that we both don't care about to cover up the things we really wanna say. And at the same time, I don't really wanna say the things I really wanna say...
"You sure?" Tori insists.
"You'd know if something was wrong. Trust me." I say.
"Ok." Tori seems like she's trying to tell me something but she doesn't know how to say it.. but I'm not going to ask.
Silence.... I have to break it... I can't stand it...
"This party thing is underprepared." I say. Silence, broken.
"What? It's a little on the spur of the moment, but it's definitely not under prepared!" Tori barks back.
"Ok...ok..call it what you want...as long as my Shaney pooh is there, I'm good." I laugh.
"Oh.. ok then." Tori laughs right along with me. Good, we're actually conversing like we're best friends again.
"Wow.. yeah I really didn't invite anyone. I'll do that today." I say.
"Well, talk about your last minute." Tori mocks.
"Yeah, yeah..."
Just then, someone rings the assistance bell at the counter.
"Oh, Tor, I gotta go." I say walking over to the counter. Don't wanna make Kelly mad at me again today.
"Ok, call me later." Tori says.
"All over it."
"Later."
"Peace."
-click-
I slip my cell phone into my cargo pocket of my pants. There, at the counter stands this tall, diesel looking dude with wild curly hair. The look on his face isn't pleasant. I hesitantly walk up to him.
"Uh, hi..can I help you?" I ask, fearing for my life.
"Yeah... I called about getting my bike fixed." His voice wasn't all that scary. I felt a little better.
"Oh," I say, noticing the bike next to him, "You must be Frank.. yeah...ok.. I'm the mechanic, what seems to be the problem?" I bend down to take a quick look at his black and red, tribal painted machine. "Wow...bro, this bike is sick!" I say, studying the custom paint job.
"Wait," Frank interrupts my excitement, "You're the mechanic?" He questions. I stand up to face him.
"Yeah.." I say, not sure what the problem is.
"You're Dustin Brooks aren't you?" Frank asks.
"Yeah." Weirded out, I look at him, confused. My guard, heavily up.
Frank starts to laugh. I cross my arms infront of my chest. What's so funny?
"What's so funny?" I ask, out loud.
"Wait, so you're the guy that can't even land a freestyle jump!" Frank bursts into laughter. He is starting to piss me off. As he catches his breath, he continues, "So, how the hell are you gonna fix a bike if you can't even ride one?"
I clench my fists, my face is steaming. The only other customer in the store is staring over at us, wondering what's going on. I can't really do anything. I can't really say anything. Man, if I assault a customer, Kelly would kill me. Not to mention I'd be out of a job. And I can't afford to lose my job over some random asshole.
"I assure you, sir, I know what I'm doing." I say trying to smile. Trying to brush off the insult that would usually get a dude beat down. Nobody bags on my riding....
"Nah, that's ok..." Frank says, evily smirking at me. He grabs his bike, "I'll take her somewhere else... where the mechanic isn't a complete pussy."
What? What the hell did he just call me??
"Did you just call me a pussy??" I say, enraged.
"I didn't stutter." Frank threatens.
The front door to Storm Chargers flies open. Shane walks in with two big bags of Taco Bell and 3 sodas.
"Hey man! Got the killer munchies!!" He says, suddenly noticing the not-so-friendly event. Dropping the food, He quickly runs over to where me and Frank are about to rip each others heads off.
"Hey bro, what's the deal?" Shane's voice becomes serious. Threatening. The former Red Wind Ranger stares hard at Frank.
"Who's this guy, your body guard? Get the hell outta here!" Frank sarcastically laughs.
Shane growls and I hold him back. He looks at me. I shake my head.
"No way, dude...we'll both get canned!" I say, angered to all hell.
"True..we're better than that." Shane tries to relax. Now with Shane here, it's way easier to do just that.
"Whatever.. Yo Brooks, I'll see your faggot ass at the track!!" Frank yells out. Instinctively, I go to run at him, but Shane holds me back. Frank laughs as he wheel his bike out of Storm Chargers.
"I'm gonna clock out right now and go bust his ass!!" I say walking behind the register. I am so pissed right now!!
"No you're not!" Shane grabs my shoulders. He leads me from behind the counter and sits me on the couch, "You're taking a break. I got you some food...and you're gonna relax and eat." Shane brings over my 2 soft tacos , chicken quesedilla and my raspberry iced tea. What would I do without Shane?
My nerves are so shot! It's gonna take a while before my appetite comes back. And in the midst of all this, I can't stop thinking about last night. I know, I know, I'm supposed to just forget it ever happened. I promised I would. But it keeps haunting me. It's like, hey you can say whatever you want, dude... but I finger banged Tori last night!!... I am so wrong...But I just wish it could've been more....way more...