Disclaimer: Please see previous chapters.

To: JLangley at Factoryblue . com

From: BlueSurferChick at bbhcomm . net

Re: OMG

HUNTER ASKED ME OUT!!!

To: BlueSurferChick at bbhcomm . net, HBradely at Thunderacad . org

From: BBradley at FactoryBlue . com

Re: Friday Night

Have Fun!

Love to the both of you,

Blake & Janine

Hunter had just finished his three o'clock class and dismissed them with a wave when he noticed that Dustin, Shane and Cam were walking across the practice field with grim determined looks on their faces. Fearing the worst, Hunter quickly approached them, "What's up guys?"

"Aren't you going to tell us?" Shane asked.

Hunter looked from one to the other a bit confused, "Tell you guys what?"

"About your big date tonight?" Shane continued.

Hunter blinked at them at a loss for words. "I think this should be done in my office."

"How about your rooms, instead," Cam said with a wry smile, "You still do have to get ready."

"Okay," Hunter said drawing out the vowel sounds as he turned and led the way to his rooms in the main building of the Thunder Academy. He noticed that there were a number of worried looks as students and teachers watched Hunter flanked by three Wind Ninja instructors walk across the filed, into the building and through the corridors until they reached his room.

They filed in silently and Cam shut the door firmly behind them his lips twitching in amusement as he noticed the curious students and teachers in the hallway. Having grown up at an academy all his life, he knew that right now, the halls would be full of speculation. Getting his features in order, he turned to face Hunter who was standing in the center of the room a little stiffly as he eyed Shane, Dustin and he.

"You could have told us," Dustin accused. He had been fidgeting in the silence and clearly could no longer hold in what he wanted to say. Cam and Shane sighed in joint exasperation. "I mean, totally, bro, we had to find out from Marah and Kapri wasn't too happy that she told and Cy knew, he was just sitting at the computer smirking and acting all proud of himself and, dude, we're like your best friends and stuff."

Hunter sat down onto a cushion on the floor by the low table. He had kept the tradition of a Japanese style room and furniture in his rooms. He placed his elbows on the table and dropped his head into his hands, "Yeah, and here comes the inquisition," he said sarcastically, "Dudes, I totally knew you all bagged on Blake about this whole Tori thing. I was trying to avoid that."

"Well, we're going to bag on you anyway," Shane said.

"I didn't do anything, yet!" Hunter protested. "Tonight is our first 'date.' I don't even know if she's going to get into the whole liking me thing. Dude, I wouldn't be worrying about me hurting her." He absently rubbed the heel of his right hand over the center of his chest.

Cam, ever the observant one noted, "You're more worried that she's going to hurt you?"

"Yeah, well, I don't know, maybe?"

Shane sat down next to Hunter and gently whapped him on the back of the head, "Of course she likes you, you doof."

Hunter glared at Shane but was then forced to smile in response to the grin that broke across Shane's face, "Yeah, I mean, we're friends and all, but dude, I think I'm in deep."

"No problem," was Dustin's advice as he took a cushion across the table from Hunter, "Just don't do what Blake did. That's how Marah and I got together."

Everyone looked at Dustin for a stunned second. Then, almost as one, all the guys shook their heads to clear their minds. Dustin had an odd knack of doing the right thing, saying the right thing, or being at the right time, however, never all three at once. Most times, the guys would hear what he said, but just not choose to comment on it, like now.

"Guys I appreciate that the witch hunt has turned into a support group session, but I think this is something that I have to handle, you know, just between me and Tori," Hunter said with a small grin.

"Yeah, well, we just, you know, wanted . . ." Shane broke off waving a hand aimlessly in the air.

"To let you know you are going to get your butt thumped if you mess with her like Blake did," Dustin jumped in with an excited bounce as if he was just waiting for Hunter to mess up and because he did not get a chance at Blake, Hunter would just have to do for both of them.

Cam just rolled his eyes, "Let's go, guys. Hunter's stressed out enough over this. You guys don't need to help."

Hunter shot a quick grin at the three guys and walked them to the door. Ritual hand bumping and male hugs with back-slapping commenced before Hunter said, "Thanks, guys."

"Dude, you are at least brining her flowers, right?" Dustin said as Cam and Shane were practically dragging him down the hall. "She likes lilies."

Hunter knocked on the door of Tori's apartment and shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as he waited for the door to open. He held his breath and smiled as he heard footsteps approaching the other side of the door. He extended the hand that held the bouquet of lilies and was started when the door opened and a flash went off in his face temporarily blinding him. "Awww, he brought her flowers!" Marah squealed and she quickly took another picture of him, once again blinding him before the flowers were plucked from his hands.

"Woah, Marah, those are for Tori!" Hunter protested following her in blinking and shaking his head.

"We know that," Kapri said meeting Marah and Hunter in the living room taking the flowers from Marah and heading into the kitchen, "Good thing we brought over a tall vase." Marah nodded giving Hunter a beaming smile before she brought up the camera to take a picture of Kapri arranging the flowers in a vase.

Hunter followed them, "What are you guys doing here? Where's Tori?"

"Oh, she's getting ready. We helped," Marah said as she turned to him and took another picture.

"She'll be out in a second," Kapri said with a smile.

"Maybe I should go check on her," Marah said and she practically skipped out of the room.

Hunter watched her leave in a bit of a daze. Maybe girls' getting together before going on a date was some odd female ritual that he was sure he would never understand. He was startled by Kapri's suddenly harsh voice.

"You do know what will happen if you hurt her, right?"

Hunter laughed, "Yeah, all the guys were over earlier and ambushed me after classes."

"Oh, I'm not talking about them," Hunter looked at Kapri and was surprised by her serious expression, "Marah and I may be on the side of good, now, but we were evil space ninjas. If you hurt Tori, at all in any way, the guys are the least you have to worry about. See, Tori was always nice to us. Treated us like girlfriends, helped Marah and Dustin get together after the whole beevil thing and accepted us without any reservations after we joined the school. She even let us dress her up again after that crazy camera shoot we did." Kapri's mouth now curved into a small smile.

Hunter walked up to Kapri and pulled her into a gentle hug. "I'm going to do my best not to do anything to make you mad at me." He said, "I don't want to hurt Tori, but sometimes, in relationships, that just happens because two different people getting together is hard. I tell you what, though, if I ever hurt her and need to be taken apart for it, I promise to tell you first, before the guys can get their licks in, how's that?"

Kapri giggled and poked him playfully before stepping back, "I'm holding you to that, buster."

Hunter and Kapri heard Marah clearing her throat and they both looked over towards the hallway. Tori, with a bit of a self-conscious smile on her face stepped out of the bedroom and walked down the hall. They stopped at the doorway to the kitchen and Marah pointed out happily, "He brought you flowers."

"Look at you," Hunter breathed as he looked his fill. Her long blond hair was curled and while most of it was piled on her head, strands fell around her face and shoulders. Her face was lightly dusted with make up, enough that her skin looked flawless and her blue eyes were accented. She wore a flowing blue kerchief top over a slim denim skirt that ended just above her knee. Black strappy sandals with a heel displayed her toes, manicured pink for the evening.

"You don't look too bad yourself," Tori smiled as she walked up to Hunter and tugged on the lapel of the dinner jacket that he wore.

"Well, were off!" Kapri said as she dragged Marah who was taking pictures of Hunter and Tori as they smiled at each other.

"Thanks," Tori called, not taking her eyes from Hunter. The door closed on one last snap shot and a giggle and Tori and Hunter were alone. Suddenly a bit nervous, Tori bit her bottom lip.

Hunter smiled and asked, "Do you know what I want to do when you do that?"

"Do what?" Tori asked.

"Bite your bottom lip."

"Nervous reaction," she said.

"Yeah," Hunter leaned in and was pleased when Tori moved in closer, lifting her face until their lips met for a long sweet moment. He broke the kiss and whispered, "I've wanted to do that for a long time."

"Yeah, that was pretty good," Tori said a little breathless.

Hunter pulled back and took Tori's hand and pulled her towards the door, "Dinner?"

Tori couldn't stop the bright smile that came across her face, "Yeah, I can't wait."

"Neither can I."

END

A/N: Thank you to all those who have been reading and reviewing this story. I appreciate the feedback and comments.