Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.
A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates on "Season of Love" recently! This story happened to give me my first serious case of PR fan fic writer's block this week, but things are back in working order now! So anyway, the last time we saw Tori… (if you don't know what's going on, go back and read chapters 6 & 7)
Ch. 11: The One
Takes place a few days after the last chapter
"So Blake hasn't returned any of you calls," Tori heard Hunter respond discouragingly.
"Yeah," said Tori glumly. "I am worried if I leave any more messages, he'll write me off as a stalker. Hunter, have you talked to Blake at all about the argument we had after…" Tori couldn't bring herself to say the words.
"…after you guys slept together?" finished Hunter gently. "No I haven't, but we both know he's really hard to get with in touch out on the motocross tour."
The two walked in silence back to the Wind Ninja Academy dorms. Noticing Tori's look of utter dejection, Hunter put his arm around Tori's shoulder in hopes of offering her some sort of brotherly comforting considering his own brother was breaking her heart.
"Tori, are you ok with everything that happened between you and Blake?" spoke up Hunter quietly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"What's there to talk about?" replied Tori bitterly. "I slept with one of my best friends after having not seeing him for months, and then proceeded to have fight a mutual scream-fest that including me telling him to give up the sport he adores if he actually wanted to be with me."
Pausing at the entrance to the Academy dorms, Tori rested her hand on the door as she felt the tears that had been all-too-familiar within the past week biting at her eyes again. As Tori started to sniffle again, Hunter wrapped his arms around her tight and kissed the top of her head sympathetically.
"Why don't you try sending Blake an e-mail?" suggested Hunter over Tori's tears. "Blake will be too curious to delete it. Plus I know he checks his account frequently. That's the one sure way I've been able to get in touch with him this past fall."
"That's a really good idea," responded Tori, wiping her eyes. "Thanks, Hunter. You're a really good friend."
"I've been trying to be a better at that for everyone lately," chuckled Hunter as he saw Kapri approaching. "Howdy, Cowgirl!"
"What's up, Blondie?" retorted Kapri, putting her hands sassily on her hips.
"I could say the same to you!" joshed Hunter, poking her playfully in the stomach and causing her to squeal like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.
"Hunter, stop flirting with me!" demanded Kapri, rolling her eyes in mock disgust. "You ready to get out of here?"
"Where are you two going?" asked Tori teasingly.
"To the Academy kitchen," replied Kapri. "I'm teaching Hunter to how make Triple Chocolate Surprise!"
"She said I did so well during her Macaroni & Cheese Class that I could move on to desserts," said Hunter proudly. "Hey, what's in Triple Chocolate Surprise anyway?"
"That's the surprise!" cried Kapri, feigning exasperation. "You know you really need to learn to be patient, Hunter!"
"Again, I could say the same to you!" laughed Hunter. "When did we suddenly have so much in common?" laughed Hunter, squeezing Kapri's shoulder as they walked off toward the kitchen. They were so engrossed in enjoying each other's company they didn't even notice Tori still standing there.
"You know if Kapri and Hunter can learn to get along, there's got to be hope that Blake and I work things out," thought Tori hopefully to herself as she made her way back to her room. Sitting down at her computer, Tori opened her e-mail account and starred lost at the screen. She wanted to write Blake the perfect apologetic explanation for her recent actions. Instead what her fingers started to produce was random rambling:
Hey Blake,
How's the tour going? I heard you won again. What is that now, eight straight victories? Why couldn't you have been this consistent when we were fighting Lother? Just kidding.
Everything's pretty much going as usual back here in Blue Bay Harbor. Oh except Shane's finally stopped going on those dumb, blind dates, and in even more miraculous news, Hunter and Kapri are actually friends now! I'd like to tell you what was up with Cam, but I haven't seen him around in days. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Kelly either. They're probably off having hot, passionate sex somewhere. (Haha, like that would ever happen! Lol)
Tori sighed: this was not what she had wanted to write. Swallowing hard, Tori realized that she needed to lay her heart out on the line – or the computer screen more appropriately.
It's so hard for me to write this. My hands are literally shaking as I typing. It's funny 'cause I've always been so upfront about everything, except when it's come to talking about my feelings for you. Who would have thought that after all of Lothor's we've fought, the working things out with you and with myself regarding our relationship has been the toughest battle I've faced.
A lot of feelings have been left unspoken between us over the past year, but I do admit and admire that you've put aside your fear on certain occasions to tell me what was on your mind and in your heart. You were the one who first admitted on the beach that you liked me. You were the one who kissed me on the hilltop. You were the one that shared openly how you truly felt about the situation between us all throughout our last visit together.
Closing her eyes tightly, Tori knew she owed Blake at least that same level of honesty that he had given her. It HAD to be done to finally put an end to all the ambiguity surrounding their feelings for one another. Tori hoped she could be strong in front of Blake while letting the vulnerability of her feeling for him finally show through.
I didn't know how to react the next morning at the race track the night after we slept together. It was like in one day all my dreams about us being together came true. Then to hear you express doubt if we could make a long-distance relationship last, I freaked out and didn't want to listen to anything else. Including the part where you told me I was the girl you cared for the most in the world.
Tears of both fear and release streamed down Tori's face as she typed what came next.
The fact is Blake, you're the One. I think I've known it on some level ever since that first time we met in Storm Chargers. Every time you're near, you help me be a stronger person while making me weak in the knees at the same time. I care for you so much at points it scares me. The thought that I might have to deal with a reality where there's no chance I could be with you – especially after the amazing night we spent together – felt like an iron weight destroying dreams that I had held on to for so long. That's the reason I reacted the way I did at the track that afternoon.
So now after all this time, you finally honestly know just how I feel about you. So if you could just maybe call me sometime or even write back to just let me know that you got this, it would mean a lot after everything we've been through as teammates, friends and more. No matter how you react to this letter, you'll always be in my heart.
Yours Always,
Tori