Chapter Eleven

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Dustin walked around the Academy ground slowly, trying not to think of everything that had been going on lately. He'd found himself thrust into life as a teacher pretty quickly, and was having a lot of trouble catching up with what he was supposed to be doing. And the year hadn't even really begun yet.

"Dustin!" he heard a strangely familiar voice shouting his name and just as he turned around he recognized it.

"Marah?" he asked. "What the hell are you doing here?"

She smiled brightly and walked up to him. "I'm joining the school! Isn't that the best?"

"What? Really?" Dustin shook his head. "Okay . . . you are joining the Ninja Academy?"

She nodded. "Yeah. What do you think?"

"That's awesome!" he said, grinning. "I gotta say it's surprising though. Where'd you come up with this idea?"

She shrugged. "Well, I figured if I was gonna turn my life around I'd better do some serious work. You busy?"

"What? Oh, no, not right now," he said. "Why?"

"Well, I know you're a teacher and all now," she said. "So I wanted to make sure I wasn't interrupting anything."

"Nah," he said easily. "Not at all, you need anything?"

"No, I just thought I'd catch up on things." Marah paused. "Is there a rule against teachers and students being friends like this?"

"Of course not," Dustin said. Then he paused. "But, is that really what you would call us?"

"Well . . ." she trailed off. "I guess I do have a lot to make up for, huh?"

"You could say that," he admitted.

She sighed. "Dustin, I'm really sorry about everything I did to you guys—especially you. I want to make up for it all, I really do."

Dustin shook his head. "I know, Marah, it's okay. I'll give you a fresh start, I was just saying we're hardly friends yet. We don't even really know each other."

"Oh," she said. "Okay. That makes sense." She paused. "Well, you think we could get to know each other a little more?"

"Sure," he said easily. They started walking and Dustin watched Marah closely. She sure had changed a lot. She wore the uniform of a beginner student and her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, but she still looked beautiful. Something about her . . . probably the same thing that drew him to her in the first place.

Marah looked over at him. "So . . . I heard you and Hunter are—together, now. Is it true?"

Dustin felt his face flush a little and he didn't look at her. "Uh . . . who told you that?"

"Is it wrong?" she asked. "God, I'm sorry if it is—"

"It's okay," he cut in. "No, it's true. As of a few weeks ago."

"Really?" she asked. "I never would have guessed."

"That's what we'd prefer." He looked at her carefully. "You all right with it?"

"Of course," she said quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, a lot of people aren't," he said. He shook his head slowly. "You know, I don't even know why anymore."

She nodded. "Well, it could take some getting used to, but it's cool."

"Thanks," he said sincerely. He laughed. "God, you have no idea what it means to have you know and not give me that look!"

"What do you mean?" she asked. "Are people being real asses about it?"

"You have no idea," he laughed. "Whatever you do . . . don't mention me or Hunter to Shane, he'll probably freak out on you."

"Shane?" she asked. "I wouldn't have expected that."

"Me neither," he admitted. "But believe me, it's not good." He sighed. "So, what's Kapri up to?"

"Same thing as me," Marah said. "We joined together."

"Why am I not surprised?" he asked, smirking.

"I know," she said. "I don't know if she's really serious about it though. I think she might have just joined cause I did."

"Well," he began. "She'll figure it out soon enough, it has to be right for you. Believe me, I almost didn't make it."

"I think a lot of people will say I'm not cut out for it," she said. "I mean, who wouldn't?"

Dustin shook his head. "You have no idea how many people said I wasn't cut out for it. I think some people still think that. Just forget about them. I didn't really succeed until I did. Course it helped that I had some great friends for support, but even they doubted I was really serious about it."

"So much for great friends, huh?" she asked wryly.

He shrugged. "They've been there for me."

"Really?" she asked.

"Well, they always have been before," he said slowly. "Things are just screwed up right now. And it's not like no one's sticking around, only Shane and Tori are having any trouble, and Tori's doing her best."

"You don't have to justify them to me, Dustin," Marah said. "Seems to me they're all messed up, it's not like this really changes anything."

"I guess," he said. Then he smiled a little. "I never thought you would understand like this."

She smiled. "You'd be surprised at a lot of things about me, Dustin. I'm really not as bad as I seem."

"I know," Dustin said. "I always did."

--

Hunter grabbed the phone as soon as it rang, hoping it was a certain someone. "Hello?" he answered.

"Hey Hunter," came the voice he'd hoped for.

He smiled. "Dustin. How's it going?"

"Pretty good here," he said. "What about you?"

"Same." He paused. "I was really hoping you'd call."

Hunter could almost see Dustin's smile, and he could easily hear it in his voice. "Yeah? I don't have much time, so I can't talk long, but I've been thinking about you like non-stop!"

"Same here," Hunter admitted. "So, teaching's agreeing with you, then?"

"Yeah, so far," Dustin said. "Hey, guess what? Marah and Kapri are students here now!"

"Really?" Hunter asked, not sure of the feeling that arose from that. He remembered what Marah and Dustin had before, when he fell for her and she stabbed him in the back. She might be playing the 'I've changed' card, but he wasn't inclined to believe her. "Have you seen much of them?"

"Not Kapri," he said. "But Marah came over and we talked for a while. Man, she's a lot different. It's gonna be weird teaching her."

"You just watch yourself, okay?" Hunter asked, knowing Dustin probably wouldn't. No doubt he thought Marah was converted and good now.

"Sure," Dustin replied absently. "I'm not worried about her."

"Neither am I," Hunter said. "I'm worried about you. You be careful, don't get hurt like last time."

There was a pause, then Dustin spoke. "I won't. It was just good to talk to her, that's all."

Hunter sighed. "Well, I'm glad you're happy. I just don't want to see anything happen, not now."

"It's cool, really," he said. "It's not like we're doing much, we just talked. You're not jealous, are you?"

Hunter smiled a little. "Of course not." Dustin would bring that up. "Should I be?"

"As if," Dustin said lightly. "So, anyone over there you talk to at all? Or are you being your usual self?"

"I'm not that bad," Hunter said. "There're a couple other teachers here that are okay, but I've been too busy to talk much with anyone anyway."

"Why am I not surprised?" Dustin joked. Hunter heard someone's voice, and then he continued. "I've gotta go, I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he said. "I'll talk to you soon."

"Yeah," Dustin said. "Call me tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure," he agreed.

There was an uncomfortable pause, then Dustin cleared his throat. "Um . . . love you."

Hunter smiled. "I love you too," he said, hoping the hesitancy didn't come through in his voice. "Take care."

"Bye," he said.

"Bye, Dustin," he answered.

He hung up the phone and jumped when he heard a voice behind him. "Who was that?"

Hunter turned to see Kara in the doorway, and felt his face flush a little as he stood. "What's it to you?"

She shrugged. "Just wondering."

He took a breath. "What do you want?"

Kara raised an eyebrow. "I just came by to visit. I wasn't eavesdropping or anything, I came in just as you said goodbye."

"Right," he said. "Well, come in if you want."

She came into his room and sat down in a chair quietly, watching him. "I don't know if I should bring this up," she began. "But . . . that sounded pretty, I don't know, personal."

"So?" Hunter asked, steeling himself, knowing what she was getting at. He tried to remember his exact words, what she must have heard. Did he give anything away?

Kara paused. "Was that your . . ."

"Look," Hunter said, straightening. "I don't know what you think you heard or what you're getting at, but it's really none of your business, so I'd appreciate it if you'd stay out of it."

She blinked, staring up at him. "I'm sorry."

She knows, Hunter thought. How could she not now? I'm just making it worse.

Kara looked at him a moment, then stood. "Hunter, I didn't mean to sound like that, I just heard something and I got curious. I'm really sorry."

He nodded. "It's fine," he said, knowing it didn't sound sincere and not sure he wanted it to. "I'd just prefer it if you kept yourself out of my business from now on. My being a power ranger, who I'm with or whatever, doesn't have anything to do with you."

"I know," she said. "I didn't realize you were so sensitive."

Hunter paused, resenting the words but not sure how to respond. "I just like to keep my business to myself, that's all. Call it what you will." He looked at her. "You're so curious about me, why don't we talk about something we're both willing to share? Starting with you."

Kara frowned, but nodded. "Okay."

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