Ordeals of Life

Chapter Two: Several Differences

"Tori, don't you think that you are trying just a little too hard?"

"I don't happen to think like that Blake? Is it a crime to try to include Cam in the outside world?"

Blake and Tori were talking right outside of the Storm Chargers store. The topic of this particular discussion was Cam. It had been a week since Blake talked to Cam before he went on one of his night strolls, and he had not kept his promise about being more social. If they didn't know better, they would have sworn that Cam was more isolated than before. The rest of the guys were just about ready to give up hope, but Tori refused.

"I'm not saying it's a crime, but you have to admit, getting Cam outside is like prying teeth from him. I know you are trying your best, but maybe Cam is right, he's an introvert."

"Listen Blake, everyone has some desire in their heart to just go out and hang with real friends once in a while. There was once this library nutcase at my elementary school who never went out during recess time. All he said was that he hated being around a people and was an introvert, just like what Cam said. However, I refused to give up and once asked him to play kickball with me. Before you know it, recess was the only thing on his mind," Tori said with a look of proud victory on her face.

Blake rambled on, "Well, this isn't elementary school anymore. Cam is a grown person. Maybe, just maybe, being alone is now a part of him. Maybe, after years of being an introvert, he's stuck being that."

"I refuse to believe it. You'll see, Blake. I helped someone once, and I can do it again."

"Alright, it's your decision Tori," Blake said as he started to walk away. "However, don't expect a miracle. He is one of the most stubborn people I have ever met." On that final word, Blake disappeared on his way back to Ninja Ops to see Hunter.

Tori looked ahead for a couple of seconds before thinking, 'It's not just that I want Cam to be more involved, it is because I'm starting to worry about him. I can't quite place my finger on it, but I feel like there is something seriously wrong with Cam. There is something about him that was different than before. I know I'm probably just paranoid, but I could have sworn that every time I looked into his eyes, I couldn't see anything good. It was as if it was dull, cold, and full of pain, the same kind of eyes that Melissa had before..."

Tori stopped abruptly. She didn't want to back to the past. That part of her life was still painful to bear. Tori tried to wipe the tears that were beginning to fall from her eyes.

"Get a hold of yourself Tori. I need to get past this. After all, it was a while ago. Besides, that can't be what's happening. I know Cam. He would never do something like this."

Tori headed inside Storm Chargers to talk with Dustin and Shane. She made a vow to get Cam involved, not just for kindness, but because of a promise made in the past.

'I can't fail Cam like I did Melissa," Tori said, this time unable to stop her tears from flowing. 'Sometimes I wonder, what could I've done differently to have saved her. People said I tried to hard, but obviously it wasn't enough. I don't want this to happen to anyone again. But then again, it's not like Cam would ever to something like that. At least........I hope not.'

Hunter watched Cam practice some his moves down in the training room. Hunter pretty much deduced that Cam was the best fighter out of the entire team. The other rangers movements were so abrupt and rigid, while the samurai's was agile and graceful, yet it also was the most forceful. However, he began to notice some things that were different.

'Lately, Cam seems to be different in his techniques. Not just in training, but also when we have been fighting Lothor's monsters. He's slipping in his training. I can see it. It is as if his energy is draining. I can also see circles under his eyes. I know that Cam is not the type to sleep a lot, but even then, he at least looked lively. What's going on with him?'

"Hunter, are you alright?" Cam asked. "You're usually not the type to be actually thinking."

"I'm alright. It is just something I have been noticing lately."

"Is it something I can help with?" Hunter thought about his response a little bit. He knew that something was going on with Cam, but should he ask him about it? It could be absolutely nothing at all, and yet, it also could be something seriously wrong. In the end, he decided that the only way to find out what was going on with Cam was to ask him himself.

"Actually, it might be. I want to know. Are you okay, Cam? I mean, is there anything wrong you want us to know about?" Cam looked confused. This wasn't what he was expecting.

"I don't get what you mean by that." "I mean, are you feeling okay? Has anything happened lately?"

"Nothing that I know about. Everything is the same. Why did you ask me that?" Cam asked with a sort of suspicion and shock in his voice.

"Forget it. It is probably nothing. It's just that, you seem very tired lately. You have dark circles under your eyes which I think the team has noticed now, and when you fight and train, it is as if you have no energy.

"Listen, with being a ranger and running Ninja Ops being both of my duties, I just don't have time left to get good enough sleep." So, why don't you let Cyber Cam run Ninja Ops? I thought that was the main reason you made him in the first place." "I already told your brother that I still don't fully trust him with this kind of responsibility." "And you think that you can run Ninja Ops in the state your in?" "I don't have a state. It is just lack of sleep that makes me like this. Just don't worry, alright. I plan to make my twin take control, I'll get some rest, and then I can hang out with you and Blake and the others."

At first, Hunter didn't take him seriously. Cam promised to be social to the entire team, and he had yet to fulfill his promise. Then again, he knew Cam, and he knew that he wasn't one to go back on his word. So he decided to still lay his trust in him.

"Alright, just promise me you'll at least take a nap today. A ranger with no energy is useless." At that moment, Blake entered the room. The brothers were going to go with the winds to eat out. All of them wanted to invite the green samurai, as they wanted to do for almost the past month.

"So, the rest of us are going to go out to this fancy restaurant to celebrate the school break. Do you want to come with us?" However, he didn't need to wonder what Cam's reactions would be.

"I am sorry, but I need to upgrade your zords, and then I am going to go take a nap like Hunter made me promise."

"You made him promise to take a nap?" Blake said jokingly.

"Of course, look at him. He needs a week's worth of naps."

"You are probably right. He does look sickly."

"Guys, do you realize that I am physically right here in your presence, capable of hearing everything you said?"

Blake and Hunter laughed uncontrollably at Cam's usual sarcastic remark. At least they know that Cam was alright. After a few more words, Blake and Hunter went to Storm Chargers to meet the other three rangers.

Cam smiled back at the Thunders until they left, where his facial expression immediately changed to a frown.

'Damn it. I knew that somebody would start to suspect something. I just didn't knew it would be Hunter. Well, no matter. They still don't know anything. Good thing I could get off. The last place I need to go is a restaurant. However, I need to make sure that I seem normal. I'll just need to be more discreet. I can't believe it. They act all worried about me, but they still poke a little fun. I know that with any other person, they would laugh along with it, but right at the moment, I am nowhere near the mood for it. Some friends they are. Wait, I don't think they were friends to begin with. But hell, I don't need them. I don't need anyone!!!"

After his internal outburst, Cam went back to train. 'Hunter was right. I don't usually get tired this soon.' Cam started to do a drop kick went the world started to spin. 'What is going on? I am so tired and my head is throbbing. I better stop before I pass out.'

Cam came to rest near his computer, catching his breath. Maybe he could train a little better after he slept a little bit.

"I don't want to sleep yet. What can I do to pass the time up."

Cam thought about it. Right now, there was nothing to do. And when one of those times came up, all he could do was think about the bad times he had growing up. Also, his mind went to the other five rangers. He wanted so badly to hang with them, but even if he did none of them would truly accept him like they did with the others. They would always be tight, and he would yet again be the outsider. With all these thoughts, Cam slowly started to break down. One tear started to fall from the other, until it became a waterfall. "God, I just want to be truly liked and loved. Is that really so hard to ask? Why does the cruel world have to be extremely cruel? And why is it only like that to me? Will I ever have real friends, will I ever have a real family, or am I doomed to stay like this forever?"

Pretty soon, Cam couldn't stand the pain. He hated drowning in sorrow with no one there to save him but himself. After a while, since his father was outside meditating and everyone else left him to go eat, he decided to get rid of the pain the best way he knew how. He walked down through the hallway, to his bedroom, then to his bathroom, turned on the shower and sinks to stifle noises from the outside, went to the toilet, prepared his finger, and went on helping and disciplining himself with one of his counseling 'sessions.'