"So, how was that whole visit with Blake?" Kelly asks, holding her clipboard.

I pause, snapping out of my daydream, "Huh? Oh….yeah…that…um…believe it or not, it wasn't bad. He's… I dunno.."

"Well, I'll tell ya what…. You've got balls to face him like that. After all that's happened." Kelly jots something down.

"Yeah…" I open a box of shipment and rummage through the papers and packaging, "Awe, dude… not more of these things!! As if we don't already have overkill! Blah!"

I love how I place an order for these sweet skateboard trucks that Shane uses, and they send more of the bootleg ones that we already have a ton of that aren't selling!! Morons!

"What is it?" Kelly peaks into the box, "Oh boy.. not again."

"Dude, I am seriously gonna call these guys up and complain! Hardcore!!" Uggghhh!!! I don't think I've ever been this stressed at work. Maybe it has a lot to do with the fact that its not just for fun and extra cash. It's for rent, food, gas, insurance, electric, cable, phone – oh man, too many bills… living on your own only gets harder…

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You know, " Tori speaks, "I totally didn't even ask you how it went with Blake yesterday. I guess , in a way, I really don't even wanna know."

"It was ok." I hold my cell phone to my ear with my left hand while I skim through a motocross magazine with my right.

Tori pauses on the other end, "Ok? Why doesn't that sound too kosher?"

"Well, he seemed cool. Collected. But… I don't know.." I sigh.

"Well, you already know how I feel about all of this. I don't trust him. And I don't think he can ever regain any of it back. Ever again."

"Yeah… I know."

"You are a really strong, kind hearted guy to forgive a friend who literally back-stabbed you in the shoulder!!!" Tori barks.

"Huh? Wow Tor…. That just made absolutely no sense, dude!" I laugh. Tori giggles into the phone. Her laugh soothes me.

"Whatever, Dustin!" I hear a smile in her voice. I've never been this happy. And neither has she.

"You workin' hard?" I ask.

"No."

We both laugh. Hey, my girl is honest….

"Good for you." I say.

"Hell yeah! I'm so tired all the time. Too much work!" Tori complains.

"Well that, too, I guess." I say, "I mean, sex takes a lot out of you. And we fuck like rabbits. Not that I'm complaining… but that could be it."

"Maybe.. yeah, we do don't we??" She giggles, " And I want another round as soon as we get home tonight!!"

"No objections here!" I excitedly blurt.

"Ok then, see ya in a little bit.." Tori says.

"All over it..literally.." I smirk.

"Oh yes!!" Tori blurts, "Oh, I can't wait!!! Damn you, Dustin!!"

I laugh devilishly, "Yeah.. I know.. I'll see ya soon, babe."

"Okay, bumcake! I love you!" Tori blows a kiss into the phone.

I send a kiss right back to her, "Love you."

"Later."

"Later."

-click-

I slip my phone into my pocket, leaning up against the counter. I smile, replaying the conversation over again in my head. Dude…as if anything can be more perfect. I don't honestly think I've ever been this happy in my entire life. This relaxed. For once, I am so relaxed. So at peace. I smile when I wake up in the morning. Well, now I do, cuz me and Tori turned her room into 'our' room. So now, when I wake up, she's there next to me. Beautiful as ever. I'm doing so much better at the track. Dude… like, it's sick how fast I'm getting. Not to mention landing my last couple of freestyle jumps. And you know, that dude frank sure isn't talking all that shit anymore. And making peace with Blake was a positive. I guess. I mean, as weird as it was, I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I faced him. Tori doesn't think that any of this makes sense. She doesn't think that we can all just be friends the way it was back before all of this. Back when we were just a bunch of dudes saving the world. When we were all the closest of friends. Yeah, those days. They're gone, she says. She'll never trust him again. At all. She doesn't feel safe around him. I don't even bring up the situation unless she asks or comments. And maybe I don't feel threatened or scared of him because technically, he's locked up. There's no reason to worry with that dude locked away in that creepy, smelly place. I know Tori is dreading the day when she has to face him again. And maybe subconsciously, so am I. I never did tell her that Blake said 'Hi'.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Sorry if there are any mistakes..once again i am lazy lol thanks for the reviews :)