"Afraid To Lose"
It's been two months now and just a couple of weeks ago, Tori has just started her senior year in Blue Bay Harbor University. Besides surfing and giving Hazel free lessons, Tori visited the Wind Ninja Academy during her last few days of summer to check up on her students and their new Sensei who will be taking her place for the time being. As of now, Tori's main priority was to get through one more year of college before graduating with her class, but that didn't stop the blonde from going out to the water for there was always time for surfing. On the other hand, Tori remained silent from revealing the identity that wounded her childhood life. The secret was kept between her and Hunter only, and neither of them mentioned one word about it ever since. However, there were times when she wanted to tell him but the longer she waited, the harder it has gotten and as the days go by, she painfully watches Hunter and Mr. Smith draw closer together like father and son. Every time Hunter invites her out for a bite to eat or catch a movie with his father Tori had to come up with an excuse not to. Ever since Mr. Smith tried breaking into her house and recreate the past months ago, she had to avoid eye contact or any involvement with him. The farther she is from Mr. Smith, the better and so far it's been normal.
Despite her troubles, Tori and Hunter acted more like best friends for the last few months and it's been overwhelming for the others to see how closer they have gotten. Although they weren't supposedly romantically involved, Shane and Dustin sensed a bit of an attraction between the two, but said nothing about it. They would be seen together most of the time, whether it was racing at the track or Hunter watching Tori surf from afar. Whatever it is, Shane and Dustin feel there is something going on. It was as if Tori and Hunter share something in common that created a bond strong enough to wipe out the differences and negativity they used to have with one another. Not only were the two getting along, but they were also supporting one another. It was about a few days ago when Tori dropped by at the Thunder Ninja Academy as a guest to reveal the Wind Ninja ways to his students. They were trilled to have her there, especially when they requested a battle between the two former rangers. Hunter indeed had more experience, but admitted afterwards that Tori did put up a great fight...for a girl, he would add jokingly. The following day, Hunter cheered Tori on at the beach and received a free lesson himself on surfing. They would fool around a few times and waste a good wave, but then he felt ecstatic once he got on the board and successfully rode one.
With the two spending an awfully long time together, Shane and Dustin couldn't help but question themselves. Was it possible for two people who can't seem to stand being in the same room together could somehow be secretly and romantically involved?
The thought returned through Dustin's head as he watches Tori and Hunter enter Storm Chargers just moments before he began working on a line of dirt bikes that needed fixing. He smiles towards their direction as they approach him on the counter. "Hey. What's up, guys?"
Tori learned foreword and groans, rather indolently. "I have this huge math test tomorrow that I haven't even studied for yet. If I do horrible on this, I'll probably lose my A."
"Ha! Sucks to be you." Hunter laughs playfully as she gives him the evil eye.
"I should go home and study. There are so many formulas to learn." Complained the blonde. "See you guys, later." She waves her hand overhead before exiting the store. Hunter stares at her direction and frowns.
"You're boring!" He shouted, and sighs once she disappeared. Hunter looks up as soon as he heard Dustin chuckle from behind. "What?" He shot a glance at him. "What's so funny?"
He smirks. "Nothing, dude." His head moved slightly to the side. "Don't worry about it."
"Oh come on. What is it?" Hunter curiously asks. He wasn't going to let Dustin shrug it off as he looks up and gives him a suspicious grin. The look was beginning to irritate him completely. "Dude!"
"Okay. Okay." He chuckles. "I'll tell you, but it's really not a big deal—well, maybe to you but--"
Hunter folds his arms, and beams coldly at his friend. "Spill."
"It's you and Tori." Dustin answers somewhat amusingly. The dirty blonde arches his brow as he tries to figure out the humor behind it.
"Okay...what about me and Tori?"
He scoffs. "Oh come on, dude. You two are practically like this." Dustin crosses his fingers to show him what he meant. However, he could tell by his expression that Hunter was still lost.
"Huh?"
Dustin growl as he grabs the red toolbox from underneath the counter. When he wasn't looking, Hunter quickly glances out the window. "Let's put it this way. A few months ago you purchased and fixed Tori's windows, you accompany her at the beach while she's surfing, you invite her to grab a bite to eat or catch a movie during the weekends, and even invite her to go riding with you whenever your Dad and I aren't around."
Hunter nods weakly. "Okay...and you're point exactly is???"
"My point is, it feels like only yesterday when you and Tori constantly argue and make fun of each other."
He chuckles at the obvious. "We still do, Dustin."
"I know, but it's different. You have this--this sudden connection with Tori; one that Shane and I have with her. I mean, lately she's been coming to you and not us."
Hunter wrinkles his forehead. "Is that a bad thing?"
"No!" He snaps. "Of course not. It's great to see you two get along so well. I'm just surprised to see a sudden change in Tori when she's with you. I mean months ago we all felt that she was hiding something; something that's been bothering her. And now, she seems happier than ever and more relaxed." He added.
Hunter looks down and sighs deeply. At that moment he thought about Tori's deep dark secret. "I hope you're not looking at it the wrong way. If you think I'm attracted to her, well...I'm n-not." Hunter stammers as he tries to keep a straight face. "She's been through a lot, and I just want to be there for her. You know, to make up lost time. When we first met we didn't exactly started off real well, and I want to fix it before it's too late."
"So that's it?" Dustin questions quite expectantly. "So nothing is going on between you two?"
Hunter nodded in dismay. "Nope. We're just good friends."
"Wow." Dustin felt surprised, and yet embarrassed to learn that he was wrong about them. "To be honest with you, dude...Shane, Cam, and I thought there was something going on..."
Hunter chuckles. "I should've known that you guys were going to think that." He turns around and looks out the door. "Anyway, I uhh...got to go. My Dad probably needs my help at the house. So we're going riding later? You and me?"
Dustin nods. "Sure, man. I'll meet you at the track by five."
"Alright. Cool. Later."
"Wait!" Hunter stops halfway to the door and turns back around. "There's something else I have to tell you now that I know there's nothing going on between you and Tori. Thank God. She doesn't know yet. We thought we should surprise her. She's gonna be so stoked and so are you!"
He wrinkles his forehead. "What is it?"
Dustin smiles. "It's Blake. He's coming back."
f l a s h b a c k
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Tori breaks the kiss as she abruptly pushes Hunter away from her face. He stumbled a bit backwards, but was able to regain his balance.
"Hold on, Tor." He raises his hands up defensively. "Let me explain."
"EXPLAIN?!" She shrieks while punching his shoulders and pushing him some more. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT?! WHY?!" Her voice projected in a furious tone. Hunter jerked his head back for he has never seen Tori this angry before. "How can you take this simple bonding friendship moment as an invitation to just kiss me?! HOW COULD YOU?!"
"Tori, I'm sorry. It was an impulse."
"SORRY?!" She yells out. "That's it?! An impulse?! Do you even realize what Blake would think about all this?! HUH?!"
Hunter rolls his eyes. "A kiss is just a kiss, Tor."
"YEAH, BETWEEN YOU AND ME! I can't believe you had the nerve to do that!"
"Can you calm down, please? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do it. This is me, you know. Hunter, who acts first and thinks later. Now that I think about it, I take it all back." Tori glares evilly at him as the two went back inside his truck without saying another word. He turned on the ignition and sighs as they stood there in awkward silence. "So I can tell by your angry silence that you're not speaking to me anymore."
She puts on her seatbelt and stares angrily at him. "NOPE."
He scoffs. "Fine."
"FINE."
In the meantime, Tori sneakily waited at the back of Storm Chargers where she parked her blue van. She smiles as soon as Hunter finally walked out and waved her hands up in the air, signaling him to come on over. "Gosh, what took you so long? I was about to go in there and kidnap you myself. But then again we wouldn't want Dustin to suspect something, now do we?" Tori smiles flirtatiously as she reaches her arm out to Hunter and pulled him in for a sincere and passionate kiss. He returned the favor by parting her tender lips with his tongue, making Tori go rampant. She begins to lose her self-control as he lifted the blonde up and situated her on the hood of the van. Suddenly, a thought interrupted their intimate moment as Hunter breaks off the kiss and looks down solemnly.
"What's the matter?" Tori asks with a worried look on her face. "Is there something wrong?"
He looks up at her and sighs. "Dustin and the guys are beginning to suspect something is going on between us." Hunter vaguely responds.
Her eyes grew larger at the thought. "What?!" She gasps.
"Well it's obvious, Tor."
"What did you say?"
Hunter stalled a bit as he lifted himself up on the van next to her. "I denied it all. It's been already a week, and they're going to find out the truth sooner or later. We can't live with our lives hiding forever."
"Okay, fine. Let them find out the truth themselves. We don't have to tell them anything. In the meantime, this is just between you and me." Tori smiles as she leaned against his shoulder and rested her head on it.
"There's more."
Tori pulled away and faces him seriously, agitated whenever Hunter had to ruin the moment with more news that could possibly make matters worst. "What?"
"It's Blake."
The sound of his name became a distant memory, and although everyone knew he was her first love, it made her feel angry whenever Hunter mentions him. Not only did it reminded her of the day Blake broke her heart, but it also reminded the many good times they shared together. "Oh God. Here we go again." She broke in with an exasperated groan before Hunter could even finish. "When are you gonna accept the fact that I'm completely over him? You're the one that I want to be with."
"It's not that, Tor."
"Then what is it?" She begins to lose her patience.
He pauses for a moment--noticing the aggravating tone in her voice. He didn't want to cause any more problems, nor give the blonde even more stress than she's already in, but he felt it was best if she knew, although he wasn't supposed to say anything. "Blake is coming back here to Blue Bay Harbor for a month."
Tori's eyes widens as she jumps off from her van and onto the pavement. "No way." She whispers breathlessly. "It can't be..."
He nods. "Yes way. He'll be arriving in a few days according to Dustin, maybe even sooner if he gets an earlier flight." Hunter looks on as Tori begins pacing back and forth anxiously.
"My God, this can't be happening..." She stops and covers her face under total stress. "You know what this means?" Tori brushes her hair back; nearly in the verge of tears. "If Blake finds out about us, it would kill him! It would ruin everything!" She exclaims ruthlessly. "How can he handle the fact that I can't stop thinking about his brother, how much I love holding him and kissing him, and be with him? How I developed this--this intimacy and bizarre relationship with the one person that once called me a little girl? And now, I can't stand being away from him for even a second!"
Hunter moves closer to Tori and gently caresses her face for comfort. "Don't worry about it." He says soothingly with a consoling smile. "I'll tell him."
"No, you can't." She refuses to go down that road. "This is my responsibility. I should be the one to tell him. The last thing I want is to ruin your relationship with Blake. It's best if he heard it from me. And who knows? Maybe he'll understand."
Hunter nods his head. "Are you sure?" He asks while rubbing her shoulders. "We can both tell him."
She takes a deep, long breath to calm her nerves. "No. I can do this on my own."
He pulls Tori in for a hug and kissed her softly on the forehead. "Everything will be okay, Tor."
She rested her head on his chest and sighs deeply. "I hope so."
'Just as long as I don't lose you." Hunter thought fearfully. 'Please don't make me lose you.'
A/N: There will be a few flashback scenes on the next chapter or two that will explain how Tori and Hunter got together. Thanks for reading and uhh...don't forget to review!