A/N: This will be a songfic chapter. Lyrics are from the song "Perfect World" by Simple Plan of their latest CD, which is awesome by the way! Don't forget to leave a review on your way out! Thanks a bunch!

"Surrendered Truth"

I never could have seen this far

I never could have seen this coming

It seems like my world's falling apart

Why is everything so hard?

I don't think I can deal

With the things you said

It just won't go away

"Hunter, haven't seen you all day, man. What's up?" Dustin greeted the dirty blonde at the door of Storm Chargers. He walked past him and forces a weak smile. "Working?"

He looks down before meeting his gaze. "No, man. I'm just here to pick up my check." Dustin arches his brow due to Hunter's melancholy behavior. He and the others have noticed a change in him since Blake's arrival, but none of them could exactly point it out.

"You alright, dude?"

He scratches the top of his head. "Yeah. Um...listen, have you seen Tori?"

"She's probably with Blake at the beach. Why?"

Hunter bit his lip. "No reason. Just wondering."

Dustin nods--suspecting right away that something was wrong. "Hey, man. You've been out of it lately. Are sure you're okay?" He asks worriedly.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well, you and Blake haven't really hung out since he got here, not to mention, you being all...I don't know. Weird?"

Hunter chuckles at his response. "Dude, I'm fine. Don't worry. I'll catch you later, k?" He grabs the envelope from the counter with his name written on it and waves goodbye. Dustin leans against the clothing racks and watches on as he leaves the store. 'Okay, Bradley. No more games.' He thought suspiciously. 'Something is up, and I'm going to find out.'

"Hey." Shane arrived shortly after for work. "I just saw Hunter. He seemed pretty down."

Dustin shrugged. "Yeah. I know, man."

"Any idea what's up?"

"Nope, but want to find out?"

Shane arches his eyebrows curiously. "What do you have in mind?"

Tori walked around the beach, using much of her time to be alone before she meets with Blake. The cold water went above her ankles as she enjoys the touch of moist sand beneath her feet. Tori looked at her reflection in the water carefully--studying her face with every detail. Then at one point, Blake's reflection appeared right next to her. Once the vision of him gradually disappeared, Hunter's face suddenly showed up with a faded smile. Tori looked away from the water and sighed deeply. She has yet to tell Hunter about Hazel and the real reason why his father was behind bars all those years. Then there's Blake, who suddenly walked back in to her life expecting a second chance, or so it seemed. The two did spend some quality time together, and there were moments when Hunter secretly followed to make sure he didn't make a move on her. And then Tori had to do some sneaking around herself to get to Hunter without Blake even knowing. It felt like a game of hide and seek as they try to run away from their problems, but they knew they can't hide forever.

So as Tori continue to walk on shore after a few laps around, she spotted Blake from afar with a lovely picnic set for two. She smiled in awed and sighed depressingly at the same time. 'I have to tell him.' The blonde thought as he begins approaching her. "There you are beautiful." He grins. "I was getting worried there."

"Worried?" She laughed with contempt. "I'm not exactly defenseless, Blake. There's nothing to worry about." Tori took a seat next to him on the navy-colored blanket, noticing the food that was placed around them. There were red roses, apple cider, two plastic fancy glasses, a basket filled with fresh fruits, homemade chicken, salad, and rice. She cringed her nose and faced him. "Does this look kind of familiar to you?"

He winked, hoping it would get her attention. "Yup. Our first date." She pressed her lips together and looked down uncomfortably. "We had a picnic right on this very spot. Good thing I remembered though." He chuckled as their eyes met.

Tori sighed at the reincarnation of their first date. Every moment of it was beginning to kill her as she took a deep breath to soothe her nerves. "Blake, there's something I have to tell you." She finally said.

He wrinkles his forehead due to her nervous tone. "Oh...this sounds serious. What's up?"

She stalled a bit before answering. "Well, you understand we're not together anymore right?"

He could feel his heart yearning in pain at the thought. "Yes, but--"

"Then what is all this? Why put your time and effort--"

"Tori." He interrupted her sentence with a finger to her delicate lips. She pauses and looks up at him sincerely. "I'm still in love with you."

Her eyes grew larger. "Really?" She softly whispers.

He smiles while stroking her face with his thumb. "Really."

In a perfect world

This could never happen

In a perfect world

You'd still be here

And it makes no sense

I can just pick up the pieces

But to you this means nothing

nothing at all

"Dude, I'm itching like crazy here." Shane muttered while rubbing the back of his neck viciously. "Is this your idea of a brilliant plan?" He and Dustin were hiding behind a nearby bush, watching and listening to their conversation. "Why are we spying on them anyway? They have nothing to do with Hunter."

Dustin shot a glance at him. "How would you know? He's been asking me for Tori."

"So?"

"So, he must be here somewhere."

"This is ridiculous." Shane whispers. "We might get fired if Kelly finds out that we've snuck out the store. Not to mention Tori kicking our butts for spying on her!"

Dustin groans in annoyance. "She won't. Now shut up will yah." Shane glares at him and listens.

I used to think that I was strong

Until the day it all went wrong

I think I need a miracle to make it through

I wish that I could bring you back

I wish that I could turn back time

Cuz I can't let go

I just can't find my way

Without you I just can't find my way

"Hold on!" Tori moved her head back once Blake attempted to kiss her. Shane stares at Dustin, who was about to close his eyes at the scene. Blake, however, arches his brow bewilderedly as she struggles to say something in return. "I umm...have to go to the bathroom. Be right back!" She got up from the ground and ran quickly to the ladies room. Shane and Dustin exchange quizzical looks and sneakily ninja streak to her direction. As soon as she reached the rest area, Tori begins pacing back and forth nervously in front of the small building--trying to collect her thoughts. "Oh God, what am I going to do?" She asks herself anxiously. "I have to tell him." Just then, a shadow hovered above her as she quickly turns around and gasps at his unexpected appearance. "Hunter!" She shrieked frantically.

He places a hand over her mouth and pulled her behind a tree. "Shh! I don't want anyone to know we're here."

She nods while pulling herself together, and at the same time feeling elated to see him. "What are you doing here?"

"Sorry, I had to see you." He says as he gently cups her face. "So did you tell him yet?"

She looks down and sighs, knowing she failed to do her part. "I've tried, Hunter. I have!"

He grunted at her response. "Have you really?"

"What?" She whispers in disbelief. "I just need some more time."

"Tori, if we wait even longer it's just gonna get harder."

"But--"

"Look, if you can't tell him. Then I will."

She slightly parted her lips due to the seriousness of Hunter's voice. The two were off to their own world, arguing like a couple as they try to figure something out that would lead to a possible solution. They were unaware of their surroundings, which is a shame because they would have known Blake was standing behind them. "What is going on here?"

Tori and Hunter jumped up in surprise as Blake folded his arms and eyes them suspiciously. "Blake..." The blonde stammers while exchanging nervous looks with Hunter. "We were just..."

"Arguing?" He retorts. Tori averts from his gaze. "What about?" Blake took a step closer while stuffing his hands into his pockets. His eyes shift back to Hunter, who was looking as nervous as Tori. Cold silence cast over them when suddenly the two brothers were staring at each other immensely, creating tension between them.

I don't know what I should do now

I don't know where I should go

I'm still here waiting for you

I'm lost when you're not around

I need to hold on to you

I just can't let you go

"Us." Hunter finally had the courage to say as Tori slowly shuts her eyes, and waits to face the consequences. "We were arguing about us." Blake turns to Tori, who could hardly even look at him. He then faces Hunter with strong intensity in his eyes. "We're an us now."

A/N: Sorry, I just had to leave a cliffhanger.