A/N: I apologize, but I had to re-post Chapter 8. I thought something came up when uploading, but it was my mistake. Sorry!


Chapter 8

"Just Ask"

It was yet another ordinary day in school and only three more days remain before the Sweetheart Valentine's Day Dance in Reefside High takes place. Lunch period has just begun as Kira walks out from the school's main building and spots Ethan James, being surrounded by a few football jocks within the grassy area. To her surprise, the game freak has become the most popular guy in school in just a matter of days.

"Joanna Bryant is such a babe." One acknowledges her beauty. "She wouldn't even consider going out with me."

"That's because you don't got game, dude. Like our man over here." All eyes turn to Ethan.

Kira watches on from behind as she crosses her arms to listen carefully.

"Heck yeah, man! You have to show me some of your moves sometime." The quarterback of the team exclaims. "What's the trick?"

Ethan grins, enjoying much of the attention and respect that he was receiving from the football players who once look down on him, like all the other geeks in school. "Yeah, of course. I mean there's nothing much to it. Just be yourself." He tells them honestly.

"Be yourself..." The captain of the football team repeats for himself. "Oh man, why didn't I ever think of that before?"

Kira rolls her eyes. 'Idiots.' She thought amusingly.

"Anyway, we have to go and get ready for tonight's game against Blue Bay Harbor High. So far they have a perfect season, and it's about time we end it."

"Oh yeah!" His teammate exclaimes. "They're going down."

"We'll talk to you later, gamer." One guy turns around and finds Kira standing in his way. "Whoa." He stops and grins as she slightly steps back due to his large, muscular figure. "Hey, there babe." She glares at him distastefully as he continues to check her out from head to toe. "Want to go to the dance with me?" He asks with a wink. "I'll show you a really good time."

Kira crosses her arms and scoffs. "In your dreams, jerk."

"Ohhhh!" His friends teased him a bit. "Rejected!" They laughed hysterically.

"That's twice today, my friend."

"Shut up!" He snaps while beaming coldly at her. "Forget you. Let's go, guys."

"Bye." Ethan waves off to his newly found football friends as he stood next to Kira.

She nods her head. "I don't believe it.

He turns to his female companion. "What?"

"How can you hang out with those arrogant jerks? They've done some pretty nasty things to you, Ethan. How can you just let it go?"

He grunted out of annoyance. "Relax. Everything is cool now, Kira."

She scoffs. "Yeah, I can see that. From computer geek to super famous in less than 48 hours is really impressive, Ethan." She comments on his growing popularity. "Conner may need to take a few pointers from you."

"Yeah, speaking of Conner..." he trails off while moving his eyes around the school, "where is he by the way?"

Kira shrugs halfheartedly. "Who knows? Probably asking some mysterious girl to the dance."

Ethan arches his brow. "You don't seem too happy about it."

"I don't care who he goes with." She retorts offensively. "I mean...why should I care?"

He drops the subject. "Okay. So..." Ethan pauses. "Any idea who sent you those flowers?"

"Nope." She deeply sighs, anxious to find out who did as it remains a mystery. "Not a clue."

"I wonder what Trent thinks about this." Ethan smirks. "Afterall, he does have some competition to deal with." Kira shoves him roughly to the side for the comment. "What? It's true."


It was late in the afternoon when Tori arrived to Storm Chargers by foot. Ninja class has ended for her and it took about two hours to walk back to the city. Once she stepped inside the building, her male friends all look up as she makes her way to the counter.

"Hey there, Tor." Dustin was the first to greet the blonde. He wiped his dirty hands with a rag and kneeled against the counter. "What's up?" Tori gives Shane a little wave from across the room, who was busy loading up a few boxes in the stock room. She then turns back to the goof who has streaks of black lines on his face from fixing and changing oil in bikes for hours now.

"Well, let's just say it sucks not having a car." She responded vaguely.

He frowned on her behalf. "You walked again, didn't you?"

"What else is there to do?" She hissed silently. "I am forbidden to use my ninja powers in public. Plus, how am I supposed to get the money for a new one? I don't even have the time to get a job."

Dustin scratches the top of his head. "Well, you can work here part time."

"Here?" Tori makes a funny face as she cringes her nose. "With you guys?"

"Yeah. With Blake out of the picture, we can sure use one more."

She chuckles at the thought. "I don't think so."

"Why not?" He scoffs.

"I can give you a million reasons why, Dustin but right now I'm just not in the mood."

The former Yellow Wind Ranger sighs. "It couldn't hurt to ask Hunter for help now wouldn't it?"

Tori shot him a glance for mentioning his name. "Who said I need his help?"

"He has a car, Tor. He gets out from the Thunder Ninja Academy same time as you do. Instead of walking for seven miles each day trying to get here by wearing yourself out, you should have Hunter pick you up."

"No way." She argues back. "I can take care of myself."

"You're willing to walk that long every day?"

Tori narrows her eyes. "I rather do that than be in a car with what's his name again?"

"Ouch, Tor." She was interrupted by the sound of someone's phone ringing as it played some funky tune. "Show a little compassion?" Hunter sticks his head out from behind the counter, revealing streaks of blue and red paint on his face. Tori grunted as she turns to Dustin irritably.

"You didn't tell me he was here." She muttered.

He shrugs his shoulders. "I didn't think you'd care."

Hunter jumps over the counter and heads their way. Tori heaved a deep sigh while trying to avoid his gaze. "So how's the poster coming along?" Dustin asks his dirty blonde friend.

Hunter steals a quick glance of Tori before answering. "Great. I um...have to take this. Be right back." He puts his cell phone on hold as he heads out the door. Tori groans out of frustration as she looks over her shoulder and watched him leave.

"You know, one of these days you're going to owe him big time." He smirks. "He's only trying to help."

"That's because he feels sorry for me."

Dustin rolls his eyes at such none sense that was coming out from her stubborn mouth. "Tor, Hunter doesn't feel sorry for you. He's just being an honest, caring friend."

"Why are you taking his side?" She questioned sharply.

"I'm not taking anyone's side." He groans in response. "I just..." Dustin lost his train of though, "I just want you to see where he's coming from that's all."

Tori folds her arms and glares at him. Just then, Marah and Kapri entered the store. Dustin turns to the side and smiles at her appearance. "Hey there, dirt boy." The pretty brunette grabbed him by the collar and takes him by surprise with a kiss. "Miss me?" Kapri immediately looks away as Tori's mouth fell open.

"You know it." Dustin whispers seductively once their lips parted.

"Ugh." Kapri thought in disgust as they continue to make out in front of them. "He's not even clean, Marah."

Tori chuckles while facing the pinkhead. "I think we should leave the two love birds alone."

"Good idea." Tori and Kapri began walking towards the vacant couch.

"So it's official then?" The blonde asks shockingly, surprised with Dustin and Marah's unexpected moment, which was bound to happen sooner or later. Tori, however, didn't think it'd happen now.

"Oh yeah." She whispers. "He came by last night and surprised her with chocolate, a bouquet of roses, and sernade her with the sax."

Tori smiles in awed. "How sweet! And it's not even Valentine's Day."

"Well, he planned it all along."

"You knew about it?"

Kapri nods her head. "Uh huh."

"Do any of the guys know?"

"Nope."

Tori scoffs. "How come he didn't come to me? He usually asks me for help."

"That's because you don't know Marah as well as I do." Kapri smirks as she glances over at the happy couple, who were now laughing and flirting nearby without the care in the world.

The blonde smiles while looking their way. "Yeah..." She sighed. "I guess you're right."

Kapri's eyebrows furrowed. "What's wrong, Sensei" She asks due to her melancholy behavior. "Sorry, I mean...Tori."

She shrugged. "It's nothing."

"Nothing? There's obviously something in your mind."

She looks up. "I think I''m gonna hit the waves. I'll see you later, k?"

"But-"

Tori turned her heel and headed out the door with her blue duffel bag while waving the others goodbye along the way. Kapri sighed when suddenly Hunter came in from the back of Storm Chargers a few moments after. The pinkhead turned around and smiled. "Hey!"

"Kapri, where's Tori?" He asks anxiously.

"Ah. You just missed her."

"Damn." Hunter muttered with his teeth clenched together. He ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair and sighed deeply. "Alright. Thanks anyway."

"Why? What's up?"

Hunter bit his lip. "It's Blake. He just called to inform me that he'll be stopping by tomorrow."

Kapri noticed his lack of excitement on the news as she gives him a weird funny look. "Well...that's great...right?"

"With his girlfriend." Hunter says as he begins taking a few steps back towards the counter.

She follows. "Oh."

"But don't say anything. Yet!" He looks over his shoulder and gasps. "Whoa!" Without looking where he was going, Hunter accidentally ran into Marah and Dustin who were suddenly making out in front of them. Their lips quickly parted as Hunter's mouth fell open in surprise. "What the..." Dustin and Marah broke apart and blushed as a playful grin spread across his face. He chuckled, torn between feeling awkward and amused at the moment. "I don't know anything," he softly muttered, "so I'm just gonna pretend I didn't see that." Hunter glances over at Marah's shy eyes before turning his gaze over to Dustin with a wink. 'Right on, dude.' He mouths to him with two thumbs up to the side so none of the girls would notice. The goofball smiles.

"We'll leave you two alone now. Come on." Kapri pulls Hunter along with her towards the exit.. "Oh and next time, get a room. You're scaring all the customers away."

Once they disappeared out the door, Marah's fury eyes narrows from behind. "Oh, you're scarying all the customers away. Boohoo." She mocks her sister as Dustin caught his girlfriend from the corner of his eye and chuckles.

"What was that all about?"

She shrugged. "Eh, whatever. So you ready to go?"

He scratches the top of his head. "Yeah, just about."

"Take your time." Marah slowly walks over and plants a soft kiss on his tender lips. "I'll wait for you."

He smiles. "Hmm...I like that."


Meanwhile, Tori was a mile away from reaching Blue Bay Harbor's community beach when suddenly a red car stopped at a curb next to her. Tori, who was never fond of complete strangers following her around, ignored it and continued walking as the car moves right along her pace. The blonde nervously looks over from the corner of her eye as the familiar gentleman rolled down his window. "Hey!" He sticks his head out to reveal himself. "What's the rush?" Tori stopped on the sidewalk and turned to him. "Eric?" Her eyebrows furrowed.

He smirks. "No, I'm Conner, Eric's twin brother. Remember me?"

"Of course." The blonde smiles in relief as she walks over to his car. It has been only a week since they've last seen each other, and it seemed like a lifetime. "So what brings you here to Blue Bay Harbor?" She asks out of curiosity.

Conner shrugged as he rested his arm on the steering wheel. "Well...just driving around and visiting my brother." He answered.

"You sure you're not just stalking me?" Tori playfully questions with an evil glare.

He chuckled in response. "No. Can't a friend just stop by and say hi?"

She crosses her arms and smiles. "Fair enough."

"So...do you need a lift?"

"Actually..." Tori trails off in mid-sentence while looking afar to her destination. She could see the shore from where she was standing. "I'm almost there." The blonde tells him. However, he couldn't take no for an answer.

"Come on. Get in."

"What? No, I'm fine." Tori stated reassuringly. "You go right ahead."

"I'm gonna be driving next to you like this the whole way if you don't get in." Conner argues back. "I mean it's the least I can do." Tori pursed her lips to think. "Come on."

Defeated, she rolls her eyes and grunted. "Alright, if it makes you happy." The blonde says as she walks over to the passenger seat and gets inside the vehicle for his sake. Tori turns to the side and smiles at him. "Thanks for doing this." She says while putting on her seatbelt.

"No problem. Where to?"

"The beach."

The ride took about five minutes long as they discussed random things about life in general through the process of getting to know one another. Once they've reached Blue Bay, Conner parked his car at an empty lot where he dropped her off. Tori thanked him once again before heading out. "I owe you one." She shuts the door behind and peeks through the open window. "Thanks."

"Wait, Tori."

The blonde turns back around. "Yeah?"

"Actually..." He trails off with something in mind. A flier, advertising the Sweetheart Valentine's Day Dance, was lying on the floor below him as he takes his eyes of it and faces her. "There's a big favor I want to ask you..."

She tilted her head to the side. "Okay, spill."


Loud standing ovation applause filled the cafe after another one of Kira's flawless performances. The musician smiled gratefully to her audience before bowing casually. "Thank you." Kira jumped off the stage, only to be greeted, afterwards, by Trent with a glass of apple juice as her reward.

"You did great out there, Kira."

She flashes him a pleasing smile as she takes her drink and rested the guitar on the floor beside her. "Thanks, Trent." The two situated themselves at a table as people began patting Kira on the back while passing by. She looks around the room as her mind trails off on Conner, who left right after school to visit his twin brother Eric. It was one performance he missed, but his trip to Blue Bay Harbor must have been important. Caught in her own world, Trent continues to stare at his female companion as he studies her carefully. Kira catches him from the corner of her eye after a brief moment. "What?" She laughed, feeling a bit uncomfortable for being stared at for quite some time.

The lone artist looks down and chuckles uneasily. "Nothing. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Kira smiles. "I like it when you look at me."

Trent presses his lips together as their eyes slowly met. They smiled at each other and laughed despite the awkwardness. "So..."

"Yeah..." She sighed in relief. "So..."

"Everyone is talking about the dance."

Kira rolled her eyes. "So what else is new?" Trent averts from her gaze as his heart begins pounding rapidly. 'Come on.' He thought anxiously. 'Just do it, already.' Kira's eyebrows furrowed due to his ill at ease gesture as he begins to sweat out of nervousness. "Trent?" He jolted up to face her. "What's wrong?"

He forced a weak smile once he looked at her again. "Nothing. J-Just..." He stammered on his sentence. "Just nervous."

"Why?" She thought.

Trent takes a deep breath to soothe his nerves, which didn't help at all as the beat of his heart increases in speed. "Well...uhh...I always feel nervous when I'm around you, Kira, especially right now." He finally says.

"Well, what am I doing that's making you feel nervous?" She asks curiously.

"Looking more beautiful everyday."

Kira looks away in pleased embarrassment, utterly flattered by his compliment. "That's sweet, Trent." She could feel butterflies in her stomach and her cheeks turning feverish red. However, it didn't stop Trent from feeling idiotic at that point, thinking he just made a complete fool of himself in front of the most attractive thing that has ever stepped foot on earth. But then again, it had to be the scariest thing he has done thus far aside from his ranger duties. 'Okay, that sounded lame.' He thought angrily to himself. 'Idiot, just do it already!'

"Kira, there's something I've been meaning to ask you all this week..." Trent trembles as his breath got caught in his throat. He swallowed hard, feeling rather worst at the moment as his hands and feet begin to shake. "Will you..." He pauses nervously as he holds the thought for a bit longer, making Kira feel even more anxious and that given point. 'Oh my God...' She thought with great anticipation as her heart begins to race with mere excitement. Trent, then, takes a deep and relaxing breath before finally asking.

"Will you go to the dance with me?"


A/N: Hope you guys like it! (This one took me awhile)Review please, and I'll get right to the next chapter.