I have returned at last! Sorry about the wait-offline problems. And I still hate this new QuickEdit thing! [Scowls]
Dingo: [Laughs and claps] You got Dustin's mom perfectly! And now thanks to you, I keep picturing her as a brunette Cameron Diaz. Thanks. [Winks] Here's more of the twist, and another bulk update. They're surprisingly popular. And yes, sanity is very overrated. Bounces around for no apparent reason
Megazord Master: I'm honestly surprised no one else thought of the Power censoring the Rangers' language. Eric is my favorite example of why that has to be true, but there are so many situations the Rangers get into where 95% of the population would have cussed their head off. Shane's playing mood songs is something a girl I used to room with did all the time. I do it in my own way, by finding songs that remind me of certain people and relationships. Although thanks to someone-can't remember who said it-Hoobastank's The Reason now makes me think of Hunter/Dustin or Hunter/Cam. See how Shane reacts. Sorry this wasn't sooner, but here is it at last.
Ryouga Saiyuki: [Blushes] Thank you. I'm glad you like this so much. I haven't forgotten about Porter! Unfortunately, I still haven't seen his episode. I'm cursed to always miss the second half of the season. I have a friend recording episodes for me though, so I will be able to catch it soon. I just don't want to write him in when I don't know his character.
cmar: Thank you. Your complements mean a lot to me, and I do try to make supporting characters likeable and believable. As I told Weesta, here's some explanation on why Shane and Dustin aren't getting too close yet. By the way, more Boxed In!
Angel Spirit: [Hugs back] I updated again! Now where's more Shipwrecked? And Different Journeys, too! I just realized the other day when I was browsing the Digimon section that you wrote them both, and I've been waiting for more of both. So... [Pokes repeatedly] You don't like Dustin's mom? Dustin was close to being that airheaded in the beginning. Or am I the only one who remembers the questions about Sensei's alarm not going off in Prelude to a Storm? [Snickers] Something amiss? Read on and find out. [Winks] I wanted a fluffy moment, so Shane obsessed over Dustin. It was good. [Grins]
Dagmar: Thanks! Good to know someone agrees it's realistic to have them dancing around each other. I'm glad you liked Dustin's background and family. [Laughs] Okay, I confess Dustin likes fantasy novels partly because I can see it, and partly because I do.
Prinzessin: Your updates are pretty addictive, too. But you're doing so much Hunter/Dustin and Hunter/Cam lately! I need my Shane/Dustin fluff fix! [Pouts]
Weesta: [Giggles] I'm glad you were so happy I'd updated again. The character musings on Shane and Dustin just sort of worked their way in, but I'm glad everyone liked them. You're right, a fight between them could get serious if they lost their tempers. Dustin is a dirt magnet; in the first episode when he messes up his phase into the ground trick, and whenever he was on a bike in the beginning, he'd always get dirty. I can see him with a green thumb, too. [Laughs] Everyone's pitying Shane now because he couldn't get any. Here's part of the explanation of why I haven't had them getting too physical yet. I do agree with you there, though. They have enough problems as it is. Shane does have a spot to sit in on the show; he's always sitting next to the register, and I think Tori's used it, though I could be wrong. Blake will always be playing catch up in my world. I figured you'd like the team rally moments. Dustin's mom is supposed to be over the top actually, but in a good way. I guess you'll be finding out what's going to happen now, huh? [Winks]
CamFan4Ever: Weesta called Dustin's grandmother Satan, and it sort of stuck in my head. The Wicked Witch of the West title is claimed by someone in my life off-line. We have one of the North, too.
Wiccan-One14: Here's your next chapters to clear THAT up. [Smiles]
Nikytti: I'd be one of the obnoxious friends, too. Someone likes Dustin's mom! That's just how I wanted her to come across: a crazy, whirlwind of energy. Here's your next episode. I hope you think it's good.
Kryptonite: Thanks for the complements. I try. [Grins] Don't worry; I'm cruel, but I'm not heartless. And I haven't forgotten about Shane. It's just taking longer to figure out just what I'm going to do about him.
Enjoy, everyone!
Loss for Words
"I still don't get what the big deal is." Hunter groused. "I mean, Blake I get. But why are the rest of you so freaked out about me and Cam? It wasn't even what it looked like."
Tori couldn't help smiling at his irritation. "Because it was Cam." she answered simply.
He gave her a weird look. "If it was anyone but you saying that, I'd think you didn't believe Cam can have a love life."
She laughed, shaking her head. "That's not what I meant at all!"
Hunter folded his arms. "Then what's the problem?"
She smiled. "We've all known Cam for almost two years now, and he's always looked out for us."
He raised an eyebrow. "Cam looks out for you?"
She nodded. "Not just because of...everything we've been doing lately, either." She glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to their conversation. "He wasn't all that obvious about it, but whenever I messed up my lessons, he'd be the one who brought me a towel. He's never treated Dustin any differently even though he knows about his family, and he never mentioned Porter around Shane even though they went to the same school. He was rude a lot, but he encouraged us in his own way." She grinned. "Nothing makes Shane more determined than being told he's bad at something."
Hunter still didn't seem to be getting it, and she sighed. "Cam's been our big brother figure. We annoy him all the time, but he still helps out when we need him." She wrinkled her nose. "And thinking about your brother's love life like that is so wrong."
Hunter blinked. "You think of Cam as an older brother?"
"Of course." she returned with a smile. "What did you think we thought of him as? Tech support?"
"Does Cam know about this?" he asked, an odd expression on his face.
She shrugged. "I dunno. It's not like he asked or anything."
"Maybe you should say something anyway." he murmured, glancing at the clock. "I need to get back to work."
She blinked after him. "That was weird..."
She glanced up as the door jingled. Shane went straight to the office without acknowledging anyone. Dustin paused in the doorway to wave to someone. No one but her or Shane would have been able to tell that the smile on his face was fake.
She headed over to him. He started when he turned around to find her in front of him. "Uh, hey Tor. What's up?"
She stared at him, hands moving to her hips. "Well?"
He blinked. "Well what?"
She sighed irritably. "What happened? What'd they say?"
His eyes flickered over her head, and she glanced back to see that Hunter, Blake, and Kelly had all gathered around as well. Kelly was still looking protective. Hunter seemed suspicious, while Blake just raised an eyebrow.
Dustin smiled a little wider, and this time it was real. "They said they still love me."
"And?" she asked warily.
He shrugged, the smile slipping into a more clueless expression. "Mom like, apologized for everything, and we had another lunch. Oh, and Kelly, please don't like, hang up if they call anymore." He turned to head towards the repair area.
"What's wrong with Shane?" Kelly asked, frowning at his back.
Dustin paused, then shrugged and headed behind the counter, grabbing a rag. "Not sure. I don't think he's like, really ready to forgive Mom yet." He disappeared into a bike before they could ask any more questions.
Tori's eyes narrowed. "Dustin, you are the worst liar I have ever met." she muttered.
She slipped inside the office, shutting the door behind herself. Shane was staring at the computer screen. The program she'd seen him using before was open and running, but his fingers weren't moving on the keyboard. His eyes were blank, and he started when she touched his shoulder. "Shane?"
He turned to look at her, and the tortured look in his eyes broke her heart. She pulled him into a hug. He buried his face in her shoulder, squeezing back so tightly she had to fight the urge to wheeze. She forced herself to calm down, rubbing his back soothingly.
They stayed like that for a good ten minutes before he pulled away, looking off to the side and blinking rapidly for a moment. "I'm a horrible person, Tori." he said quietly.
She sat down on the edge of the computer table. "Why do you say that?"
He closed his eyes, looking pained. "Because I wish Dustin's parents hadn't showed up. He's so happy, and I wish they'd just stayed away. What kind of person wants to see Dustin unhappy?"
She bit her lip, fighting the urge to remind him of the long list of names. That wasn't going to help. "Why do you wish they stayed away?"
"Because I'm jealous." he muttered.
"Of the way they reacted, when your parents didn't?"
He looked away again. "I guess there's that, too."
She touched his arm. "Shane?"
"I don't want things to be like they were anymore!" he burst out. "Dustin's mom wants him to move back home like nothing ever happened, but it did! It's not like I can go home! And I like living with Dustin! Sure it's a pain sometimes, but it seemed like things were finally starting to be okay! And I'm just supposed to let him move back into his mom's house like it's all cool, like my entire life didn't change because of all this?!"
She stared. "Shane-"
He rubbed a hand over his face. "I don't blame Dustin." he said softly. "I couldn't. It's not his fault everything blew up with my folks. And I wouldn't give up being together just to make my parents happy, no matter what Dad tries or how Mom gets upset."
Her eyes widened. Had his father tried something? He'd seemed so out of it when he and Cam brought back the computer, and Cam had been unusually nice to him...
"It's just...he's the best thing that came out of all this. If he moves back into his mom's, everything'll be different again." he finished softly, looking absolutely miserable.
Her heart ached for him. "I..."
He waved a hand. "Don't bother, Tor. There's not really anything to say to that. Thanks for listening, though."
She nodded, eyes feeling slightly misty. Why did things have to be so hard for her friends? Shane and Dustin deserved to be happy. Why couldn't things just be okay for once? "Anytime."
On the other side of the door, Dustin resisted the urge to slam his fist into the wall. What was he supposed to do now?
Dingo: [Laughs and claps] You got Dustin's mom perfectly! And now thanks to you, I keep picturing her as a brunette Cameron Diaz. Thanks. [Winks] Here's more of the twist, and another bulk update. They're surprisingly popular. And yes, sanity is very overrated. Bounces around for no apparent reason
Megazord Master: I'm honestly surprised no one else thought of the Power censoring the Rangers' language. Eric is my favorite example of why that has to be true, but there are so many situations the Rangers get into where 95% of the population would have cussed their head off. Shane's playing mood songs is something a girl I used to room with did all the time. I do it in my own way, by finding songs that remind me of certain people and relationships. Although thanks to someone-can't remember who said it-Hoobastank's The Reason now makes me think of Hunter/Dustin or Hunter/Cam. See how Shane reacts. Sorry this wasn't sooner, but here is it at last.
Ryouga Saiyuki: [Blushes] Thank you. I'm glad you like this so much. I haven't forgotten about Porter! Unfortunately, I still haven't seen his episode. I'm cursed to always miss the second half of the season. I have a friend recording episodes for me though, so I will be able to catch it soon. I just don't want to write him in when I don't know his character.
cmar: Thank you. Your complements mean a lot to me, and I do try to make supporting characters likeable and believable. As I told Weesta, here's some explanation on why Shane and Dustin aren't getting too close yet. By the way, more Boxed In!
Angel Spirit: [Hugs back] I updated again! Now where's more Shipwrecked? And Different Journeys, too! I just realized the other day when I was browsing the Digimon section that you wrote them both, and I've been waiting for more of both. So... [Pokes repeatedly] You don't like Dustin's mom? Dustin was close to being that airheaded in the beginning. Or am I the only one who remembers the questions about Sensei's alarm not going off in Prelude to a Storm? [Snickers] Something amiss? Read on and find out. [Winks] I wanted a fluffy moment, so Shane obsessed over Dustin. It was good. [Grins]
Dagmar: Thanks! Good to know someone agrees it's realistic to have them dancing around each other. I'm glad you liked Dustin's background and family. [Laughs] Okay, I confess Dustin likes fantasy novels partly because I can see it, and partly because I do.
Prinzessin: Your updates are pretty addictive, too. But you're doing so much Hunter/Dustin and Hunter/Cam lately! I need my Shane/Dustin fluff fix! [Pouts]
Weesta: [Giggles] I'm glad you were so happy I'd updated again. The character musings on Shane and Dustin just sort of worked their way in, but I'm glad everyone liked them. You're right, a fight between them could get serious if they lost their tempers. Dustin is a dirt magnet; in the first episode when he messes up his phase into the ground trick, and whenever he was on a bike in the beginning, he'd always get dirty. I can see him with a green thumb, too. [Laughs] Everyone's pitying Shane now because he couldn't get any. Here's part of the explanation of why I haven't had them getting too physical yet. I do agree with you there, though. They have enough problems as it is. Shane does have a spot to sit in on the show; he's always sitting next to the register, and I think Tori's used it, though I could be wrong. Blake will always be playing catch up in my world. I figured you'd like the team rally moments. Dustin's mom is supposed to be over the top actually, but in a good way. I guess you'll be finding out what's going to happen now, huh? [Winks]
CamFan4Ever: Weesta called Dustin's grandmother Satan, and it sort of stuck in my head. The Wicked Witch of the West title is claimed by someone in my life off-line. We have one of the North, too.
Wiccan-One14: Here's your next chapters to clear THAT up. [Smiles]
Nikytti: I'd be one of the obnoxious friends, too. Someone likes Dustin's mom! That's just how I wanted her to come across: a crazy, whirlwind of energy. Here's your next episode. I hope you think it's good.
Kryptonite: Thanks for the complements. I try. [Grins] Don't worry; I'm cruel, but I'm not heartless. And I haven't forgotten about Shane. It's just taking longer to figure out just what I'm going to do about him.
Enjoy, everyone!
Loss for Words
"I still don't get what the big deal is." Hunter groused. "I mean, Blake I get. But why are the rest of you so freaked out about me and Cam? It wasn't even what it looked like."
Tori couldn't help smiling at his irritation. "Because it was Cam." she answered simply.
He gave her a weird look. "If it was anyone but you saying that, I'd think you didn't believe Cam can have a love life."
She laughed, shaking her head. "That's not what I meant at all!"
Hunter folded his arms. "Then what's the problem?"
She smiled. "We've all known Cam for almost two years now, and he's always looked out for us."
He raised an eyebrow. "Cam looks out for you?"
She nodded. "Not just because of...everything we've been doing lately, either." She glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to their conversation. "He wasn't all that obvious about it, but whenever I messed up my lessons, he'd be the one who brought me a towel. He's never treated Dustin any differently even though he knows about his family, and he never mentioned Porter around Shane even though they went to the same school. He was rude a lot, but he encouraged us in his own way." She grinned. "Nothing makes Shane more determined than being told he's bad at something."
Hunter still didn't seem to be getting it, and she sighed. "Cam's been our big brother figure. We annoy him all the time, but he still helps out when we need him." She wrinkled her nose. "And thinking about your brother's love life like that is so wrong."
Hunter blinked. "You think of Cam as an older brother?"
"Of course." she returned with a smile. "What did you think we thought of him as? Tech support?"
"Does Cam know about this?" he asked, an odd expression on his face.
She shrugged. "I dunno. It's not like he asked or anything."
"Maybe you should say something anyway." he murmured, glancing at the clock. "I need to get back to work."
She blinked after him. "That was weird..."
She glanced up as the door jingled. Shane went straight to the office without acknowledging anyone. Dustin paused in the doorway to wave to someone. No one but her or Shane would have been able to tell that the smile on his face was fake.
She headed over to him. He started when he turned around to find her in front of him. "Uh, hey Tor. What's up?"
She stared at him, hands moving to her hips. "Well?"
He blinked. "Well what?"
She sighed irritably. "What happened? What'd they say?"
His eyes flickered over her head, and she glanced back to see that Hunter, Blake, and Kelly had all gathered around as well. Kelly was still looking protective. Hunter seemed suspicious, while Blake just raised an eyebrow.
Dustin smiled a little wider, and this time it was real. "They said they still love me."
"And?" she asked warily.
He shrugged, the smile slipping into a more clueless expression. "Mom like, apologized for everything, and we had another lunch. Oh, and Kelly, please don't like, hang up if they call anymore." He turned to head towards the repair area.
"What's wrong with Shane?" Kelly asked, frowning at his back.
Dustin paused, then shrugged and headed behind the counter, grabbing a rag. "Not sure. I don't think he's like, really ready to forgive Mom yet." He disappeared into a bike before they could ask any more questions.
Tori's eyes narrowed. "Dustin, you are the worst liar I have ever met." she muttered.
She slipped inside the office, shutting the door behind herself. Shane was staring at the computer screen. The program she'd seen him using before was open and running, but his fingers weren't moving on the keyboard. His eyes were blank, and he started when she touched his shoulder. "Shane?"
He turned to look at her, and the tortured look in his eyes broke her heart. She pulled him into a hug. He buried his face in her shoulder, squeezing back so tightly she had to fight the urge to wheeze. She forced herself to calm down, rubbing his back soothingly.
They stayed like that for a good ten minutes before he pulled away, looking off to the side and blinking rapidly for a moment. "I'm a horrible person, Tori." he said quietly.
She sat down on the edge of the computer table. "Why do you say that?"
He closed his eyes, looking pained. "Because I wish Dustin's parents hadn't showed up. He's so happy, and I wish they'd just stayed away. What kind of person wants to see Dustin unhappy?"
She bit her lip, fighting the urge to remind him of the long list of names. That wasn't going to help. "Why do you wish they stayed away?"
"Because I'm jealous." he muttered.
"Of the way they reacted, when your parents didn't?"
He looked away again. "I guess there's that, too."
She touched his arm. "Shane?"
"I don't want things to be like they were anymore!" he burst out. "Dustin's mom wants him to move back home like nothing ever happened, but it did! It's not like I can go home! And I like living with Dustin! Sure it's a pain sometimes, but it seemed like things were finally starting to be okay! And I'm just supposed to let him move back into his mom's house like it's all cool, like my entire life didn't change because of all this?!"
She stared. "Shane-"
He rubbed a hand over his face. "I don't blame Dustin." he said softly. "I couldn't. It's not his fault everything blew up with my folks. And I wouldn't give up being together just to make my parents happy, no matter what Dad tries or how Mom gets upset."
Her eyes widened. Had his father tried something? He'd seemed so out of it when he and Cam brought back the computer, and Cam had been unusually nice to him...
"It's just...he's the best thing that came out of all this. If he moves back into his mom's, everything'll be different again." he finished softly, looking absolutely miserable.
Her heart ached for him. "I..."
He waved a hand. "Don't bother, Tor. There's not really anything to say to that. Thanks for listening, though."
She nodded, eyes feeling slightly misty. Why did things have to be so hard for her friends? Shane and Dustin deserved to be happy. Why couldn't things just be okay for once? "Anytime."
On the other side of the door, Dustin resisted the urge to slam his fist into the wall. What was he supposed to do now?