A/N: Just so you know, Blake will show up later on in the story. I'm not sure what role he'll play in this case, but we'll see what I can come up with. Again, thanks for the reviews. It's nice to read some of your predictions, and most of you are all on the right track, but since I don't want to give too much away...I'll leave you to that! Enjoy!!

"Beauty In Distress"

After Hunter signed a few papers, Tori was finally release from the hospital. With a cast wrapped around her injured right arm, Hunter volunteered to help her, but being the stubborn girl she is, he backed away with his arms up in the air. "Geez, I was just trying to help." He informs her as she leaves a huge gap between them while walking towards his black truck. Once they were in front of the vehicle, Hunter took out his remote key, and automatically unlock the doors. Tori situated herself on the passenger seat and struggles to buckle her seatbelt, but managed to get it done. As Hunter prepares to turn on the ignition, he turns to Tori before proceeding. "So...where do you want to eat?"

She pursed her lips to think. "Whatever, you choose." Then suddenly the blonde had an idea in mind as a smile gradually appeared on her face. "Hmm...what about a picnic at the beach?" She suggested.

Hunter squints his eyes. "Nah uh, Tor. There's no way I'm letting you go out there to surf."

She groans halfheartedly. "I am forbidden to go surfing anyway. Besides, I can't leave my van over there."

"Okay...and what about the food?"

Tori smirks. "Have you ever heard of a nice thing called a take out before?" She stated in a way to make him feel stupid. Annoyed, Hunter looks away from her gaze and drives off to a nearest Chinese restaurant.

As soon as the duo picked up their orders, they arrived shortly after at the beach. Hunter grabbed a crimson towel from the back, big enough for the two of them, as Tori carried the food in a plastic bag to her designated spot on the sand. Once they were situated comfortably, enjoying the scent of Chinese food watering in their mouths, Tori brought up the subject of his father. Hesitating a bit to start a conversation about it, Hunter went on and mentioned a few things about him. One thing that caught her attention the most, other than the fact that he just got of jail for stealing, was the birth of his little sister--God knows where she is.

"Did you pick up her name?" Tori asks.

He nods in dismay. "No. I didn't get a chance to ask. In fact, we didn't really talk about it. To be honest with you, I'm frightened to even meet her..."

Tori frowns on his behalf. "Well, that's totally normal, Hunter. For all I know, she's a complete stranger to you."

"But what if she doesn't like me?" Hunter questions worriedly. "What if this family doesn't accept me at all? They abandon me twenty-two years ago, so why should this be any different?"

Tori scoffs. "Ugh. Stop being so negative about it. Don't forget, your parents didn't have a choice. They wanted to keep you, but they couldn't." She explains to him sharply. "You should see how it goes first before you start making ridiculous assumptions, Hunter. "

"Easy for you to say. Your life is perfect."

The blonde laughs in complete sarcasm. "My life is perfect?! Think again, my parents were never supportive of me and my love for surfing."

"At least you got parents." He mumbled, although Tori was able to comprehend at what he said. She looks at him and sighs, knowing she'll never be able to put herself in his shoes. 'He should try to fit in to mine.' She gathers her thoughts yet again about her past. None of the guys knew about it, and she tends to keep it that way. 'They will never know.' Tori repeats to herself. 'Nor understand what I've been through.' At times, the blonde would feel sorry for Hunter despite their differences. However, Tori wanted to encourage him to stop thinking about the hardships he encountered in the past, and move on. Something she should start doing as well, but then, it wasn't going to be easy.

"Look at in the bright side. You found your father."

Hunter forces himself to smile. "Yeah, who recently just got out of jail, Tor."

"People make mistakes." She argues back with a heavy sigh of disappointment. "I know I have." Hunter looks up at her with a bewildered look on his face. From that moment, he knew something was up as he watches the blonde lower her head. Perhaps, Dustin and Shane were right. What if Tori is really hiding something? Could it be Blake? It's been months since they last contacted each other, and Tori was convinced that Blake no longer has feelings for her.

"Hey..." Hunter whispers as she slowly looks up at him. Her eyes seem so lost, it made him worry a bit. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Tori couldn't get the words out as she slightly parted her lips. Just then, she spotted a crowd nearby that consists of photographers, surfers, and young ones urging for an autograph, surrounding a woman it seems. Curious to find out what or who is causing the commotion, Tori decides to see for herself, but before she could even reach the crowd, a familiar face jumped right in front of her. She jerked her head back and then smiled when it was none other than Dill with a bruised lip she gave him earlier that day. "Nice for you to show up." An evil grin appeared on his face. "I didn't think you had it in you."

Tori rolls her eyes. "What does that supposed to mean?"

He chuckles. "Don't you get it, Tor? I mean look at you. You're all bandaged up now."

"So? You think I'll cry over it?"

Dill shrugs with a smirk. "Maybe, when you find out there are Billabong sponsors out here looking for fierce female surfers. Not to mention granted a four year contract to be part of the U.S. Action Games for surfing." He grins. "Isn't this what you always wanted?"

Tori stares at him wide-eyed. "What?!" She gasps in disbelief. "You're kidding."

"No, I'm not. And too bad for you...my sister was the first person they noticed." He stated proudly. "While you were at the hospital getting your arm patched up, she was rippin' out there like a pro. More than you ever could." Dill was enjoying the moment as he shoves the news down her throat. On the other hand, Tori could feel her lifelong dreams shattering before her as she watches Rayna drive the crowd to her attention. Dill's sister was only a year younger than Tori, and the two have been rivals since high school. Despite their competitiveness, the girls were able to get along. However, losing to Rayna was pure defeat. Tori wanted this more than anything, and to see her chances fall out of reach was definitely an upset to her and her career.

Shaking her head, she looks up at Dill and uses the best of her ability to show no sign of intimidation. She didn't want him to think that she was a quitter and a complete disgrace to a world of female surfers. Tori felt determined to prove him wrong as she puts on her game face to show that it was on. "It aint over yet, dude. Not by a long shot." With the exact same words that came out from his mouth the last time they spoke, Tori stepped forward and brushes her shoulders against his abruptly, making him stumble a bit. He turns to her direction and watched as the blonde ripped the cast off her arm and tosses it on the garbage. Tori hisses in slight pain, but managed to walk further away.

"What do you think you're doing?" Hunter questions her once she arrived back at their picnic spot. He noticed her cast was off as she struggles to stretch her arm out due to the soreness pinching her down to the bone. She grunted and continued on with the Chinese food without answering his question. "Uh Tori?"

The blonde looks up. "What?" She mumbled with a spoon full of food shoved in her mouth.

"What was that all about?"

Bewildered, she gives him a blank stare. "What was what all about?"

Hunter groans impatiently. "Forget it."

He was wondering why there was so much rivalry between Tori and Dill. From what he was told by one of the guys, the two were attracted to each other at one point, till Blake showed up in the picture. Ever since they arrived in Blue Bay Harbor, Tori stopped hanging around with Dill and began hanging out with the Bradley's. Hunter figured he became bitter about it and decided to piss Tori off for his amusement. 'That's low, even for him.' He thought.

"ARGH!" Tori yells out of frustration. "I don't believe this!"

Hunter arches his brow, surprise with her sudden outburst. "What's wrong with you?"

"EVERYTHING!" She screams. "I just ruined a chance of a lifetime! That could've been me out there, and should've been me!" Tori was referring to Rayna as Hunter glances over at the direction she was pointing at.

He nods. "You know, she's pretty hot."

"I DON'T CARE! The point is she's better than me. She won, and I lost. End of story."

Hunter narrows his eyes, displeased with her change of mood. "Since when do you care about losing, Tori? Surfing isn't a game. You do it because you love it, not because you have to prove that you're the best in front of everyone else."

She buries her face in hand and sighs. "Maybe I'm pushing myself too hard."

"You can say that again." He chuckles.

"Hey, you know what's weird?" Tori looks up to meet his gaze.

"Hmm?"

"We're actually holding up a decent conversation."

It didn't take long for Hunter to notice. In fact, it didn't surprise him at all. Usually, it's either a simple hi, what's up, or bye whenever the two cross paths, but this time--they lasted more than a few minutes--talking about whatever comes to mind.

He smiles warmly at the thought. "Yeah, I guess we are. You know, you're usually the one that starts most of our stupid arguments."

Tori scoffs excessively. "Nah uh. That's where you're wrong. I happen to be much nicer to you than you are to me."

"What?!" He laughs. "Oh man, there you go again. Trying to blame it all on me."

"Hey, you brought it up."

"I know. I'm just testing you." He grins playfully. The blonde stares at him from the corner of her eyes and smiles. Ashamed to admit, despite her arm injury and Rayna's sponsorship, Hunter was making her day feel a whole lot better.

A/N: Don't forget to review, guys!!!