The years since her Ranger days had gone by in a flash. Reminiscence left her with images of a past that seemed disjointed from her present, and she often looked upon her memories of them now as though they were photographs, the corners sepia-toned, showing their age. Danger, adventure, romance – all of it so imbued with robust, youthful energy – seemed a lifetime ago, compared to her contented, slower-paced days now. Despite how attractive it was, her past was not something Kimberly Ann Scott thought at length about often, for she saw no use in it; the past is immutable, and only to be admired for the good in it.
Yet, recollections of yesteryears surfaced again and again on the flight to California as she gazed unseeingly out the window at the wispy white clouds and distant landscape below. Jason's hand brushed her arm; meeting his eyes, she saw a reflection of the memories in them. He grasped her hand, squeezing it gently, and she did the same back. They shared a soft smile. The flight attendant's murmur of envy at how beautiful and idyllic a couple they were went unnoticed.
A month ago, they'd received a personal letter in the mail, so rare in society with the advent of the Internet, the embossed black calligraphic lettering proclaiming its sender to be their high school friend, Thomas Oliver. Breaking the ornate seal on the envelope and taking out the card inside, Kim felt a rush of happiness at its message:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Scott,
Thomas Oliver and Hayley Ziktor request the honor of your company on 10:00 AM of June 24th, 2005 at Angel Grove's Central Park, California, in celebration of their union. Reception immediately following; location to be determined.
RSVP
Enclosed with it was a separate, short letter.
Dear Jason and Kimberly,
It's been a long time coming, and I'm sure both of you saw it from a mile away – please, no I-told-you-so's, Kim – but we're getting married! We would be honored if you could take the time out of your lives to attend our wedding. I'm hoping that you'll be my best man like you promised, Jase. Hayley's really looking forward to seeing you two again, too, though it means more to me, as it should. Don't worry about a wedding gift – it really isn't necessary.
Can't wait to see you both.
Yours truly,
Tommy
P.S. – A new blender for Hayley would be nice. She won't let me buy one for her.
The letter brought a smile to Kim's face; despite having become a great scientist and a teacher, Tommy still had some of that boyishness to him. The smile was shadowed by a faint, uncertain flutter in her heart, but that was quickly overcome by her joy on the soon-to-be married couple's behalf. She showed the letter to Jason, and they immediately began making plans to go back to that place of memories, sending Tommy their reply:
Dear Thomas and Hayley,
We'd be more than happy to attend! Though you should have given us some more forewarning than that – leave it to you to be late, Tommy. Jason would be insulted if anyone else had been your best man. In fact, he's a little insulted that you had to - hope -rather than knowing that he would, so you'd better make it up to him. We can't wait to see you two, either.
Congrats on getting ready to take the plunge! Very happy for the both of you!
Love,
Kim and Jason
P.S. – We'll get her the best. Like smoothies much?
P.S.S. – I told you so.
Tommy had shared with them the guest list – it consisted of the Dino Rangers, all able to attend as the collegiate school year had ended a month before, and Justin, for the same reason; Trini and Zack, who responded just as eagerly; Adam and Tanya, who would be there for most of the festivities after arriving late, not being able to cancel their preplanned trip to Europe; Rocky and Aisha, who would have to leave the day after the wedding for a business trip; Billy, who would be there without Cestria, the latter not able to make the trip to Earth; and a few others both had met throughout their lives, like Anton and Elsa, as well as a few of Hayley's close friends. Kim noted with a sad twinge of heart that Kat was not on the list, and Jason had murmured that it would be unlike Tommy not to extend an invitation to her, regardless of whatever else – it seemed that Kat never fully got over how her devotion had been unreturned.
The list ended there. It stood to reason that they'd kept the list short – Hayley's acquaintances weren't many, but Tommy's more than made up for it, and furthermore, with that many Rangers gathered, it would be hard to keep the secret, for it was bound to be brought up. Thus, not only was it a wedding, it was also a reunion, and both Kim and Jason could hardly wait to see everyone again.
Thoughts turning to Kat, Kim felt a distinct gladness and thankfulness, along with guilt, that Tommy had it in his heart to forgive and move on. Their friendship had withered for some time after her letter to him, but gradually, they rebuilt it anew with better foundations than attraction – with care and trust, keeping correspondence and visiting each other at mutually comfortable times. He'd even been at her wedding with Jason, and though awkwardly, Tommy had insisted to Jason that he'd be fine with being the best man. When he wished them nothing but the best, despite the fleeting look of sadness crossing his visage, which made Kimberly's heart ache with guilt, they knew it to be genuine.
The airplane finally descended from the clouds; the flight was followed by a car ride filled with shared recollections amidst idle chatter between husband and wife as they drove into the city of Angel Grove.
Hayley inspected her wedding dress. Though it had seemed perfect at the time she selected it, she now realized that it was a little too much and too many – too much lace, too many frills; too much tail, too many ribbons. It was, in truth, a decent dress, neither lavish nor simple, but in her uncharacteristic jitters everything looked suspicious.
She wouldn't admit it to herself, but she had a vague, vain hope that Jason and Kimberly would not attend the wedding. She knew Tommy well, too well; she knew of his past with Kimberly, and no matter how much she tried to assure herself it was nothing, over with, she couldn't wholly dispel the nagging voice of doubt. Still, Hayley did well enough, for she had faith in Tommy – she had to, to accept his marriage proposal.
Sighing with contentment, Hayley reflected back to that exultant moment, when her heart had felt ready to burst within her chest – she, a woman of composure and quiet cynicism! – at his question. They'd been on a vacation together in the Bahamas, which Tommy initially arranged to save the both of them money – or so she had thought.
Ever since they first met, since she saw him from over the pile of books she was gathering that he'd knocked from her arms in bowling her over, rushing to a class he was late for, since she heard his concerned voice asking if she was hurt, since she felt his hand close around hers to help her up and carry the heavy textbooks, she'd been enamored of him. Hayley had not let it get to her; he didn't seem interested in her, or anyone, for that matter, and being cut of a cynical cloth, she wasn't about to let herself fall into an unrequited love. So they became close friends, so close that he shared his past with her, a show of unfailing trust.
However, it wasn't until during the days of the Dino Rangers that they'd truly gotten beyond friendship. While he was trapped in amber, she had maintained her collectedness for the sake of the teens, but she worried for him in private, forced to acknowledge that she wanted to be by his side in whatever capacity no matter what. As the year progressed and they spent more and more time together, she saw glimpses of what wasn't there before, or had been there that she'd blinded herself to – a lingering touch, a meaningful gaze, a warm smile, a caring embrace.
It was silly, but she started to let herself daydream of what could be, even if only wistfully, always accompanied by the thoughts that it could never be, knowing his unfortunate history with women and his resultant coolness towards relationships.
But by and by, he began to show signs of affection. Hayley had to keep her jaw from unhinging when a flustered Tommy showed up at her doorstep a month or so after the school year of 2003-2004, asking her if she'd like to dine with him at an esteemed restaurant where he'd gotten reservations. It had been both one of the most awkward and jubilant nights of her life, starting with an uncomfortable silence and ending with a gentle kiss years in the making.
Things moved slowly but steadily from there; they went out on dates, enjoyed each others' company, both casual and intimate, and eventually came to live together most of the time, alternating houses - neither was quite ready to give up their own - if under the pretense of saving expense at the rising cost of living. It was a peaceful time of simple contentment.
At the Bahamas, though, things were different. Infused with the islands tranquil but utterly dissimilar energy, they relaxed their usually composed personas and had fun, loose and flirting. Three days before they left, though, Tommy's mood shifted again, becoming progressively fidgety and evasive; Hayley wondered at what the cause might be. Finally, the night after, against the glimmering background of starlight reflected on shimmering water aboard a dining schooner, Tommy got down on bended knee before her, the question of her hand in marriage adorned with a fair-sized, brilliant-cut diamond ring.
Hayley had never blushed so hotly before in her life. With a soft but firm voice, she said yes and flung herself at him, hugging him close and kissing him, savoring the taste of the blush-pink zinfandel upon his lips.
And now – now they were to be married! Hayley grasped the tail, clutching it to her chest, all doubt fading in the happy bliss of the future ahead.
A/N: In addition to the song Cool by Gwen Stefani from which the inspiration for the story was derived, and the assignments of high school English classes which mostly gravitate to a – particular – subject, I have been reading Anna Karenina. I liked it. You are thusly forewarned.
In other words, this will be something like a soap opera. Sorry. BTW, constructive criticism appreciated, so I can work on improving my paltry writing skills.
OMG SUCH DISPARATE PAIRINGS IN MY FICS. Yeah, I guess I just write whatever pairing comes to mind, ha. Why am I starting another one when I can't keep up with the rest?