Disclaimer: Jordan is mine, Josh is not, and the Rangers obviously are not.
Questioning
I was very surprised when Hunter volunteered to walk me home. I don't think I had ever spent any real time alone with him. Not that I ever really spent time with any of the others either, but at least Tori or Shane or even Blake I had had random conversations with when they happened to be at Ops when I was working. Hunter had never really seemed eager to bother me when I was working.
The walk to my apartment building was silent, and to me the silence was awkward. And as I said, that was no surprise. However, Hunter finally broke the silence when we were close to our destination.
"Jordan?"
"Yes?"
"I was just wondering…if you would help me with something." he said uncertainly.
I glanced over at him and was startled to see him looking nervous. I didn't think I had ever seen the crimson ninja less than completely confident in everything he did.
"I can try. What is it you need help with?" I asked him gently.
"Well…I feel kind of bad for giving Dustin such a hard time earlier. I want to do something to make it up to him, and he sounded kind of wistful when he was talking about the factory riders…"
I smirked wryly, getting the picture. "You want me to see if Josh would mind riding with you guys when he's in town."
I was amused to see Hunter color in the semidarkness of the sidewalk. "Kind of, yeah."
I chuckled. "I'll make you a deal. I'll see what I can do with Josh if you'll tell me why you've been acting so weird all night."
"I have not." he protested.
I gave him my best I-wasn't-born-yesterday look. "Right. All that stuff at the movies? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were flirting with me."
I was surprised to see him color deeply. "Um…well…"
I studied him carefully. "You're messing with me right?"
Hunter shrugged, hands in his pockets. "You never go anywhere with us Jordan. And there's never a good time to talk to you at Ops, because you're always working."
Oh boy. If this was going where I thought it was going, I was in a pickle. "What exactly are you saying Hunter?"
He shrugged again. "Nothing."
I eyed him skeptically. "So you just decided to pick tonight to flirt with me? For no reason at all?"
"Yeah."
"Right." I drawled wryly.
That was the last thing said for the rest of the walk to my building, but Hunter spoke up when I began to go in.
"Jordan."
I turned back to look at him questioningly. "Yes?"
Hunter climbed the steps until we were facing each other, almost eye-to-eye since I was standing a step above him.
"Would you ever, I don't know, want to do this again sometime? Just the two of us?" he asked with a shrug.
Uh oh. "You mean like a date?" I asked for clarification.
Hunter shifted his weight, looking at me through his messy bangs. "Yeah."
I bit my lip. "I don't know if that's a good idea Hunter…"
I mean, Dustin may be oblivious to how I felt about him, but going out with Hunter wouldn't help the situation any. Then again, it was obvious that the Yellow Ranger had a thing for Marah, no matter how ridiculous it seemed to me…
"You never know until you try. All I want is a chance Jordan. That's all."
I hesitated, but he was right. Since Dustin's attention was already taken, maybe it was time I found someone of my own. "Well…all right. Did you have anything in mind?"
"Tomorrow night?"
I nodded. "Where do you want to meet?"
"Would you mind if we met here?"
I thought about that a moment, then shook my head. "I don't see why not. You realize of course we're never going to hear the end of it from the others."
Hunter shrugged. "Probably. Especially Dustin, considering the guff I gave him tonight."
I nodded with a sigh, biting my lip. "We don't necessarily have to volunteer our plans. I mean, we can't lie, but we don't have to advertise either."
He studied me a moment. "That really bothered you, didn't it? The teasing we gave Dustin over your plans tonight?"
I shrugged uncomfortably. "He should have thought before he answered your question the way he did, but you guys should have left it alone after he said that it wasn't a date."
"I really am sorry about that. I was just hoping that he had finally gotten over Marah."
You and me both. "Yes, but he's not going to want to volunteer that information if he's afraid he's going to get hassled over it."
"Good point. If you would feel better not telling the others outright, that's cool with me. But you know Blake's going to ask."
I sighed inwardly, but nodded. "I figured that Blake would know. I'd just prefer the others not know unless it comes up."
Hunter nodded. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow night then. Seven okay?"
"Seven's fine. Good night Hunter."
"Night Jordan."
Questioning
I was very surprised when Hunter volunteered to walk me home. I don't think I had ever spent any real time alone with him. Not that I ever really spent time with any of the others either, but at least Tori or Shane or even Blake I had had random conversations with when they happened to be at Ops when I was working. Hunter had never really seemed eager to bother me when I was working.
The walk to my apartment building was silent, and to me the silence was awkward. And as I said, that was no surprise. However, Hunter finally broke the silence when we were close to our destination.
"Jordan?"
"Yes?"
"I was just wondering…if you would help me with something." he said uncertainly.
I glanced over at him and was startled to see him looking nervous. I didn't think I had ever seen the crimson ninja less than completely confident in everything he did.
"I can try. What is it you need help with?" I asked him gently.
"Well…I feel kind of bad for giving Dustin such a hard time earlier. I want to do something to make it up to him, and he sounded kind of wistful when he was talking about the factory riders…"
I smirked wryly, getting the picture. "You want me to see if Josh would mind riding with you guys when he's in town."
I was amused to see Hunter color in the semidarkness of the sidewalk. "Kind of, yeah."
I chuckled. "I'll make you a deal. I'll see what I can do with Josh if you'll tell me why you've been acting so weird all night."
"I have not." he protested.
I gave him my best I-wasn't-born-yesterday look. "Right. All that stuff at the movies? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were flirting with me."
I was surprised to see him color deeply. "Um…well…"
I studied him carefully. "You're messing with me right?"
Hunter shrugged, hands in his pockets. "You never go anywhere with us Jordan. And there's never a good time to talk to you at Ops, because you're always working."
Oh boy. If this was going where I thought it was going, I was in a pickle. "What exactly are you saying Hunter?"
He shrugged again. "Nothing."
I eyed him skeptically. "So you just decided to pick tonight to flirt with me? For no reason at all?"
"Yeah."
"Right." I drawled wryly.
That was the last thing said for the rest of the walk to my building, but Hunter spoke up when I began to go in.
"Jordan."
I turned back to look at him questioningly. "Yes?"
Hunter climbed the steps until we were facing each other, almost eye-to-eye since I was standing a step above him.
"Would you ever, I don't know, want to do this again sometime? Just the two of us?" he asked with a shrug.
Uh oh. "You mean like a date?" I asked for clarification.
Hunter shifted his weight, looking at me through his messy bangs. "Yeah."
I bit my lip. "I don't know if that's a good idea Hunter…"
I mean, Dustin may be oblivious to how I felt about him, but going out with Hunter wouldn't help the situation any. Then again, it was obvious that the Yellow Ranger had a thing for Marah, no matter how ridiculous it seemed to me…
"You never know until you try. All I want is a chance Jordan. That's all."
I hesitated, but he was right. Since Dustin's attention was already taken, maybe it was time I found someone of my own. "Well…all right. Did you have anything in mind?"
"Tomorrow night?"
I nodded. "Where do you want to meet?"
"Would you mind if we met here?"
I thought about that a moment, then shook my head. "I don't see why not. You realize of course we're never going to hear the end of it from the others."
Hunter shrugged. "Probably. Especially Dustin, considering the guff I gave him tonight."
I nodded with a sigh, biting my lip. "We don't necessarily have to volunteer our plans. I mean, we can't lie, but we don't have to advertise either."
He studied me a moment. "That really bothered you, didn't it? The teasing we gave Dustin over your plans tonight?"
I shrugged uncomfortably. "He should have thought before he answered your question the way he did, but you guys should have left it alone after he said that it wasn't a date."
"I really am sorry about that. I was just hoping that he had finally gotten over Marah."
You and me both. "Yes, but he's not going to want to volunteer that information if he's afraid he's going to get hassled over it."
"Good point. If you would feel better not telling the others outright, that's cool with me. But you know Blake's going to ask."
I sighed inwardly, but nodded. "I figured that Blake would know. I'd just prefer the others not know unless it comes up."
Hunter nodded. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow night then. Seven okay?"
"Seven's fine. Good night Hunter."
"Night Jordan."
----------
I wasn't particularly surprised to find Dustin at my door the next morning as I got ready to go to Ops. "Morning Dustin."
"Morning. So what was up with Hunter last night?"
I sighed inwardly. Figures he would have noticed that. "What do you mean?"
Dustin gave me a Look. "Don't play dumb with me Jordan. I'm better at it than you are. He was flirting with you last night."
I sighed out loud. "I know."
"So?"
"So what?"
"It was obvious that he was trying to get you alone."
"He wanted to ask for my help with something." It was partly true at least…
"That's it?"
"What do you mean 'that's it?' What do you want to hear, that he kissed me?"
Dustin got the strangest look on his face. "Did he?"
I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "No."
I could have sworn that he breathed a sigh of relief. "Well there must have been something else. He could have asked you about that project at Ops."
"Dustin, what's with the Spanish Inquisition?" I sighed.
"I just thought it was weird, the way he was acting. That's all."
My eyes narrowed in hurt. "What, a guy can't want to flirt with me? Is that it?"
"No! That wasn't what I was saying."
"Then what are you trying to say?" I demanded crossly.
Dustin held up his hands in defense. "Nothing. I just didn't think you and Hunter were that close, that's all."
I rolled my eyes. "Stranger things have happened Dustin. Now can we please talk about something else?"
"Sure. Hey, I still have those movies we were going to watch last night. I'll bring the popcorn." Dustin offered.
I winced. "Tonight?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I can't tonight."
Dustin blinked in surprise. "Why not?"
"I already made plans."
"Oh. What are you doing?"
"I don't know. We didn't really talk about it. I think we're just going to play it by ear."
"We?"
I gave him a curious look. "Yeah, we. What, did you think I was washing my hair or something?"
He shrugged. "I've heard stranger things about you girls."
"Oh, thanks a lot."
"You know what I mean. So tomorrow night then?"
"It's a plan." I sighed in relief.
Dustin looked at me curiously. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just that I was worried that you would be upset that our movie night got postponed again."
"Why would I be? It's not like we had already decided to have movie night tonight. Besides, it's not like it's going to become a regular thing. I mean, it's not like you have a date or anything."
I winced. "Um…"
Dustin stopped in his tracks. "You have a date tonight?"
"Is that so surprising?" I asked in annoyance.
"Yes! I mean, no. I just…" his voice trailed off and I knew he knew by the look on his face. "Hunter?"
I was really beginning to get annoyed now. "Yeah, so?"
"So, it's Hunter. You guys haven't spent but maybe five minutes together the entire time you've known each other."
"So? Maybe we just need to get to know each other. Honestly Dustin, I'm surprised at you. You were the one who told me that I needed to get out of Ops more."
"Yeah, but…"
"But what? Can't you just be happy for me? It's not like I've had guys beating down my door you know." I said quietly. Damn it, it hurt that he was harping on this.
Dustin was quiet a long time, studying me intently. "You're right, I'm sorry. I guess I just took for granted that…I'm sorry."
I wished I knew why he looked so sad. I mean, it's not like I wasn't going to hang out with him anymore. And his reaction to finding out about the date really surprised me. I knew it wasn't cool to choose a date over a friend, but he acted so…jealous. But that was ridiculous…wasn't it?
========
And so the plot thickens…I'm evil, I know. But I just couldn't resist throwing a little jealousy into the mix. With Jordan so sure that Marah was in the picture, and Dustin beginning to think that Hunter had taken his chance, will the two ever figure out how much they mean to each other? Even the author doesn't know. Lol. But she'll find out eventually. Thank you for reading my little story here, and please remember to drop a line or two so I can know what I'm doing right/wrong/horribly wrong.
Jen
I wasn't particularly surprised to find Dustin at my door the next morning as I got ready to go to Ops. "Morning Dustin."
"Morning. So what was up with Hunter last night?"
I sighed inwardly. Figures he would have noticed that. "What do you mean?"
Dustin gave me a Look. "Don't play dumb with me Jordan. I'm better at it than you are. He was flirting with you last night."
I sighed out loud. "I know."
"So?"
"So what?"
"It was obvious that he was trying to get you alone."
"He wanted to ask for my help with something." It was partly true at least…
"That's it?"
"What do you mean 'that's it?' What do you want to hear, that he kissed me?"
Dustin got the strangest look on his face. "Did he?"
I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "No."
I could have sworn that he breathed a sigh of relief. "Well there must have been something else. He could have asked you about that project at Ops."
"Dustin, what's with the Spanish Inquisition?" I sighed.
"I just thought it was weird, the way he was acting. That's all."
My eyes narrowed in hurt. "What, a guy can't want to flirt with me? Is that it?"
"No! That wasn't what I was saying."
"Then what are you trying to say?" I demanded crossly.
Dustin held up his hands in defense. "Nothing. I just didn't think you and Hunter were that close, that's all."
I rolled my eyes. "Stranger things have happened Dustin. Now can we please talk about something else?"
"Sure. Hey, I still have those movies we were going to watch last night. I'll bring the popcorn." Dustin offered.
I winced. "Tonight?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I can't tonight."
Dustin blinked in surprise. "Why not?"
"I already made plans."
"Oh. What are you doing?"
"I don't know. We didn't really talk about it. I think we're just going to play it by ear."
"We?"
I gave him a curious look. "Yeah, we. What, did you think I was washing my hair or something?"
He shrugged. "I've heard stranger things about you girls."
"Oh, thanks a lot."
"You know what I mean. So tomorrow night then?"
"It's a plan." I sighed in relief.
Dustin looked at me curiously. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just that I was worried that you would be upset that our movie night got postponed again."
"Why would I be? It's not like we had already decided to have movie night tonight. Besides, it's not like it's going to become a regular thing. I mean, it's not like you have a date or anything."
I winced. "Um…"
Dustin stopped in his tracks. "You have a date tonight?"
"Is that so surprising?" I asked in annoyance.
"Yes! I mean, no. I just…" his voice trailed off and I knew he knew by the look on his face. "Hunter?"
I was really beginning to get annoyed now. "Yeah, so?"
"So, it's Hunter. You guys haven't spent but maybe five minutes together the entire time you've known each other."
"So? Maybe we just need to get to know each other. Honestly Dustin, I'm surprised at you. You were the one who told me that I needed to get out of Ops more."
"Yeah, but…"
"But what? Can't you just be happy for me? It's not like I've had guys beating down my door you know." I said quietly. Damn it, it hurt that he was harping on this.
Dustin was quiet a long time, studying me intently. "You're right, I'm sorry. I guess I just took for granted that…I'm sorry."
I wished I knew why he looked so sad. I mean, it's not like I wasn't going to hang out with him anymore. And his reaction to finding out about the date really surprised me. I knew it wasn't cool to choose a date over a friend, but he acted so…jealous. But that was ridiculous…wasn't it?
========
And so the plot thickens…I'm evil, I know. But I just couldn't resist throwing a little jealousy into the mix. With Jordan so sure that Marah was in the picture, and Dustin beginning to think that Hunter had taken his chance, will the two ever figure out how much they mean to each other? Even the author doesn't know. Lol. But she'll find out eventually. Thank you for reading my little story here, and please remember to drop a line or two so I can know what I'm doing right/wrong/horribly wrong.
Jen
