These are short stories written in response to the Ars Amatoria Ranger Romance Theme Challenge for the couple Hunter/Tori. They are set around three months after the finale of Ninja Storm.

I recommend listening to Shiver by Natalie Imbruglia while reading this. Enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review!

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"Friends"

It happened…it really happened. He actually did it. I mean, it's not like him. They were so strong, so happy, and suddenly it happened.

I remember when they first met; they couldn't take their eyes off each other. It was sickening, bit I was okay with it. Sure, she was taking my brother away from me, but I wanted him to be happy. It was okay for him to have a crush, right? It took them forever to confess their feelings for each other. It was a mutual attraction for so long that I felt myself aging.

It was me who convinced him to ask her out. Me, of all people. I know what you're thinking: 'why would Blake's dark and brooding brother be remotely interested in matchmaking?' I shocked myself to tell you the truth.

After a while, after they'd been dating for months, I began to feel jealous. Was it because Blake had a girlfriend, or was it because that girlfriend was Tori?

The answer was the latter, though it took me a while to realise The Nile isn't just a river in Egypt.

Why her? Stupid question.

She's, well, to put it plainly, amazing; independent, funny, loyal, kind, not to mention beautiful. I'd never met a girl like her. Plus, she was an awesome surfer.

But, more importantly, I was jealous, of my own brother.

I disgusted myself.

I was in love with his girlfriend!

Things couldn't get any worse.

I became more and more moody, more brooding. I drifted away from everyone, except Dustin. I confided in him. He was and still is my best friend. He's tried to convince me to talk to her, but I always said there was no point, I couldn't face her.

I'm a coward. A low-down, yellow-bellied, craven coward.

And then, just as I thought my life was over, it happened.

Blake announced he was leaving to tour the globe with Factory Blue for six months. I suppose he expected Tori to be thrilled, especially when he asked her to go with him.

She declined his offer in more ways than one. Her life was in Blue Bay Harbour, with her friends, her family and her beloved surfboard. I've always thought Blake to be sensible, until now.

He left, without a single word to Tori, he left. I never thought he'd do it.

And finally, I saw that glimmer of hope I'd been waiting for, the one that'd relight my life and put me back on track.

So now, I've got the chance to woo the woman I love, and starting this moment, I'm going to make her see me the way I see her. How hard can it be?

But for now, we're friends…

…just friends…