3. secrets

It was about ten in the morning when I realized Tori was missing.

Not like, kidnapped missing, just - not around. It was odd to say the least, so I nudged Dustin on one of my many trips from the backroom to the front of the store. "Dude, you've seen Tori today?" Dustin screwed up his face as he scratched his neck uncertainly. I hid a smirk and folded my arms and waited patiently.

"Umm, nah bro. Been here all morning." Well, that was actually helpful - meant I didn't have to ask Kelly or Hunter. If Dustin hadn't seen her and he'd been here, then that cut down half the searching. I asked Kelly for my break, which she gave eagerly. If I took it this early, I'd be around at lunch and everyone else could go grab food. I dug through the pile of rags in the back, attempting to find my jacket. It was only after a few minutes of searching did I realize that Hunter had rather effectively covered mine with his own. I hid his under the rags before I left, whistling to myself cheerfully even as my mind ran through the places Tori could be.

I immediately eliminated Ninja Ops after running into Shane on the corner. He'd been there all morning training and he hadn't seen Tori either. He didn't seem very concerned, like Dustin, but something nagged at the back of my mind and I knew I should probably keep hunting. I walked along the beach for ten minutes before something caught my eye. It was halfway up the cliff face on one end of the beach - a crack about the size of a car - several jagged rocks led up to it, but a normal, sane person wouldn't have chanced the climb. Fortunately, I wasn't very normal. I cast a quick glance around at the empty beach before darting up gracefully, ending up at the mouth of the large crack. My eyes immediately settled on a curled up figure on the floor of the opening.

Tori glanced up me, genuinely startled. "B-Blake? Wha- wh- how did you find me?" I shrugged, tactfully ignoring - for the time being - the tear tracks Tori rapidly rubbed away as she stood.

"Just was looking," I said simply taking a step closer. Tori's hiding, being upset, not meeting my eyes, all of it meant something, I just couldn't put together what - until that thing that had been nagging finally fell into place with a 'click'. Comprehension dawned and I sat down on the floor of the cave thing Tori had found, tugging her down along with me. "How'd the tryout go?" I asked gently, already knowing the answer. Tori had gone out for a surfing audition to grab a sponsor - she'd mentioned it only in passing, very carefully and casually. I'd only remembered once I'd found her.

"Screwed it up," Tori murmured into her arms, which she had wrapped around her knees, drawing them up to her chest. We sat shoulder to shoulder, staring at the blank, rocky wall across from us. I remained silent, knowing she'd want to say more eventually. A moment later, I was right. "Couldn't catch a thing, it got so bad I almost wanted to use my powers, but I didn't want Sensei going crazy…" she trailed off with a humorless laugh. "I thought I was good Blake, but…" she trailed off again and finally I spoke.

"You're not going to believe me," I said, turning so I could watch her profile carefully, "probably not for a few weeks, but I'm going to say this for your benefit alone. You are good Tori." There was a scoff and I smiled. "See? You won't believe me, not for awhile, but I know it. So a tryout got screwed up. It'll feel like the end of the world for a hell of a long time," I said with feeling, knowing exactly where Tori's mindset was right now. "But in the long run, it means nada." We sat in silence for awhile, me just watching the emotions flicker across her face. It was minutes before she spoke again, her tone entirely different and I knew the subject had been dropped - not permanently, but for now.

"How'd you know where to find me?" A confused look crossed her face. "How'd you even know to look?" I shrugged, though I knew she wouldn't take that for an answer.

"I just figured something was wrong. I mean, I know you don't show up to Storm Chargers every day, but, I dunno," I shrugged again, "I figured something might be up."

"Is anyone else looking?" Tori asked, looking like she hoped the answer was 'no'. I was glad I could assure her that was the case. She looked at me and smiled - even with the tear tracks and dirt smears on each cheek, I knew I would probably never see a more beautiful sight. "You found me when no one else was even looking," she said, almost incredulously and something in me warmed at the words.

"I…I will always look for you," I promised seriously, not knowing what I was really promising but knowing it didn't really matter in the end. It was for Tori and I was pretty damn sure the rest of my life would forever revolve around her.

"Even when I keep secrets?" she asked, gesturing with a sad smile at the dark, dank cave-like crack we were sitting in, side by side. I shifted so I could face her - my palms pressed flat against the wall beside her head as I knelt by her feet. I made sure our eyes met and I smiled slightly.

"Especially when you keep secrets." Tori flushed slightly and I smiled wider. "They…they don't just have to be, just…just your secrets Tor, they - they can be ours if you want." Tori glanced up at me before nodding quickly.

"I'd like that," she said slowly, her eyes searching mine. "I'd like that a lot."