Inside Storm Chargers, Tori is looking at the merchandise, hunting for the perfect surfboard. Humming to herself, she thinks what a great day it is. It's a new beginning for all the rangers.

Well, there may be more monsters but they are all ready. Shane's all powered up and perked up too, and his battlized armour still leaves her in awe. She's never thought before but being the red ranger is the coolest-- and of course the toughest. Shane is both at once, so no wonder they will kick asses more easily in the future.

"Hey what are you up to?" Blake's voice greets her from behind.

Tori turns around to flash him a smile. She doesn't know what she feels for this guy-- admiration, crush? She doesn't know but she likes his company and is always looking forward to it...

"Hey Blake... I-- uh, I'm looking for a new surfboard. I just thought I should go for a new one. Would you help me pick one?"

Blake smiles and nods. "Cool, I will... So... um, Tori, would you like to hangout with me today then? Remember we kinda made plans that we would whenever possible."

"Yeah.." Tori nods, feeling a little awkward.

Just then her morpher beeps, reminding her of something.

"Shoot! Shane's gonna hit the trials today and I promised I'd be there for him..."

"Oh!" nods Blake, "skateboarding?"

"Yeah.." Tori bobs her head. "What else? How about we go together?"

Blake smiles at the suggestion. Tori is glad he looks excited. And Shane would like extra company for sure.

"Let's go! We can pick the surfboard later..."

She glances at the new stock Kelly's just brought through the door before walking out with Blake in tow.

***

At the skatepark--

Shane rushes to greet his friends Tori and Blake as they arrive at the skating arena.

"Hey!" he skids to a stop before the blonde girl and smiles. "I'm glad you could come, Tor. And Blake, you too! Where are the others?"

He ends up hugging her close, while bumping his fists with his male comrade.

Tori smiles back a little awkward, "er... they are on the way I think."

Now she can't tell him they might not be coming at all... he'd be crestfallen.

"Oh, but.. not enough crowd here..." she observes.

Shane shrugs. "Yeah, skateboarding isn't as cool as moto cross."

He lets out a disappointed sigh. Why are his interests so... downtrodden?

"That's not true." Tori places a hand on his arm, causing him to look at her again. "It's a cool sport, and you're always cool out there, Shane."

That brings a huge smile on his face. He takes off his helmet so he can run a hand through his hair. He doesn't know how but Tori always manages to put a smile on his otherwise serious face. And the girl is now beaming at him too, returning his smile.

"Good luck..."

"Thanks, Tori."

With a nod he puts his helmet back, and whispers-- "don't take your eyes off me."

"I won't."

Tori nods and he grins hearing at her before racing off to join the other contestants.

When it's finally his turn, the crowd errupts into cheers. Mostly it's Tori shouting on top of her lungs-- "GO SHANE!"

Pumped up, Shane pulls a few moves, and finishes the show with a back flip.

The crowd applauds. And for the first time, Shane is definitely satisfied with his performance. The selected candidates list would be put up soon-- but it doesn't matter when he does his best.

He clutches his skateboard and begins to scours the crowd for the sight of his friends, and is greeted by Tori's affectionate hug--

"Hey!" he greets her, squeezing her back with all his might.

His excitement nearly sweeps her off her feet. But who cares?

Er, certain navy ranger does. The exchange between Red and Blue Rangers only causes a wave of discomfort to come over Blake.

Why is he even here between the two of them? Blake begins to feel so out of place-- but soon the feeling is gone and he's laughing because Shane has lifted him up too in a hug!

***

The results are out. Shane has made it to the final list of candidates selected for the championship, and the friends are ecstatic. Just then the other guys arrive at the spot, smiling and waving.

Only Dustin groans-- watching the dispersing crowd-- "Oh damn, dude, I'm late! I was held up in the academy. Damn sorry, dude!"

Shane shakes his head with a smile and lets Dustin hug him.

"Would have loved to watch you, I was held up too... Man, good job!"

Hunter claps him on the back.

"Thanks guys." Shane thanks them.

Just then Hunter's cell phone Buzzes. It's Kelly. He attends the call and turns to face the group--

"Hey guys, this is great news... urgh! Too bad, can't hang out long here, but there's a trial run at the track-- a new bike has arrived. Say who's excited?"

"Me?" answers Dustin with a grin.

"Me too.." Blake says resignedly, and turns to Tori. "uh.. So another time? Or maybe you could come watch us?"

"No. I'm going back to Kelly's... you know to resume... uh, sorry..." says Tori. "I'll be there to watch ya guys next time."

Blake nods and the three guys walk off. Tori's left alone with Shane, wondering why she just turned down Blake.

"You didn't want to go?" asks Shane.

Tori shakes her head. "Didn't feel like it. What about you?"

Shane shrugs, "It's a trial run, isn't it? Seems fun, but there's something I must do right now..."

The far away look on Tori's face strikes him odd-- he adds--

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just... I promised Blake I'd hang out with him.. And it didn't happen. Maybe he felt bad.." says Tori with a sigh.

"Aw.. come on, you can do that later... How about you come with me now? What I gotta do involves you too.."

"Oh, it does?"

"Yeah, now come on!"

Tori smiles. It's hard not to smile around Shane when he's got such a gentle smile on his face.

Shane tosses his skateboard and helmet in her van, and in the next instant the two of them are running down the street, hand in hand.

"To storm chargers we go!" yells Shane.

"Hey, storm chargers?! The guys would be there too--" Tori reasons. And they just refused to go there--

"Naah, they'd be on the track-- we're going to the store," says Shane.

"Why aren't we taking the van?"

"No!" He laughs. "Cuz this is more fun!"

"Haha!" Tori nods and the two of them continue their run.

***

Storm Chargers--

Kelly greets the two friends with a smile as they rush into the store.

"Oh, Shane! Just in time... I was just about to step out for a bit."

Shane nods and takes a deep breath. Tori catches her breath too.

"And the parcel you asked for has arrived this morning!" Kelly adds before slipping out.

"Oh yeah!! Awesome!" Shane throws up a fist in the air.

All Tori can do is watch the duo with confusion as he heads to the back of the shop.

"What's this parcel--"

Tori's words die on her lips as Shane arrives back in the shop-- "uh?"

Shane's parcel is really huge-- that thing-- it can only be one thing by the looks of it--

"A surfboard?" Tori exclaims. No one else does surfing and this is--

"It's a gift for ya. Go on, open it.."

Tori does, and is in awe seeing a rather cute, abstract patterned surfboard before her eyes.

"This is-- custom made in the U.S.?"

She turns to look at him, jaw slightly dropped open.

Shane nods. "Yeah, I've been saving some bucks, you know and I thought I should give you something nice.. For... all that you do.. And uh, I just felt maybe you needed a new surfboard."

Tori shakes her head, eyes swimming with emotion.

"Oh Shane!" she exclaims, clapping a hand to her mouth-- "I only thought of it this morning and you-- you've thought of it weeks ago?!"

Shane can't understand what she's saying. He raises a brow-- he's nervous now. Did she like the gift? Was it a bad idea? He's spent all her savings on this one. And he felt he had to do this, after he'd missed her birthday--

"Tor-- I just thought--"

His words are cut off, so are her worries as she sets the board aside and leaps to hug him tight.

"Thankyou, Shane..."

Shane brings his arms around her, hugging her close like he always does...

But something feels... different... Does Tori feel it too?

Tori pulls away conscious of the fact that she hugged him too tight. Maybe it's Shane, maybe it's the gesture-- she's moved to tears--

"Hey Tor... I couldn't say it properly on your birthday, but... happy birthday... I promise I'd never miss a celebration in the future."

Does he want her to make her cry?

She reaches out to brush a stray tear on one cheek, and he does it on the other--

"I'm happy.. No.. I'm honored by your gift. Thanks, Shane.."

Shane smiles, and suddenly he's too bright to look at and yet she can't look away.

What's this feeling?!

***

Ah, this didn't take me long to write... plus it was fun to write... and I need fun in my life!

Please VOTE... and COMMENT COMMENT... comment what you liked in the chapter.

Tysm! Silent readers, please comment... don't be silent

See you all with more~~