I wracked my brain nonstop trying to figure out how to continue The Jock, the Cheerleader, and the Outcast and came up with nothing until last night. I asked myself- "why don't I just do what I did with my other triad ship Package Deal?"

Create a collection of one-shots that is.

And here we are.

It would be better if you read The Jock, The Cheerleader, and The Outcast, as it sets this collection up but you can skip it if you want to go right to the triad pairing. One other thing, there is no set order for these one-shots. I'm making chapters as I have ideas (or get suggestions) so there is no actual chronological order and most will likely be independent of each other.

Enjoy.

"Jason, we have got to have a sit down about your musical tastes." Kimberly shook her head as she fiddled with the dials and buttons of the radio. The music playing was nothing Trini recognized, but she wasn't' really paying all that much attention.

"What's wrong with my music?" Being stopped at a red light, Jason took the time to turn his head to see what his girlfriend was doing. "Hey! Be gentle! I don't need that breaking too."

"Not sure how much more broken down this clunker of yours can go before it just flatlines." Trini added from across Kimberly at the window seat.

"Ha!" Kimberly jabbed Jason in the leg with her finger. "Even our girlfriend has you pegged, Jason!"

Our girlfriend, two deceptively simple words that still threw Trini for a loop whenever she heard them. Not that it wasn't nice, Trini didn't have to hide her affections for her two friends quite so much, but the whole deal was still just… weird.

Poor Jason probably had it worst. The guy was just so noble, so loyal. He had full permission to do couple things with another girl and he had the hardest time getting that. Kimberly found it adorable and endearing. Trini had to agree, not that she would admit that out loud.

On the reverse, Kimberly had it the best. No shocker seeing as how this whole arrangement was her idea. Despite her difficulty with being touched, Trini had been the target of many hugs from Kimberly. These were not the quick we're-just-close-friends kind of embraces either. More like holding tightly and not wanting to let go. To Trini's own bewilderment, the Latina found she wasn't quite as appalled by physical contact when it was from Jason or Kimberly.

Then there were the kisses! Dear lord, Trini at first thought Kimberly was making it her mission to make Trini blush as hard heavily as possible. The pink ranger didn't even need to use full lip contact kisses either. Head, temple, cheek, none of these places were sacred. As much as Trini loved getting payback, Kimberly had the additional superpower of turning Trini into a flustered mess with a look.

When Trini asked Jason about this, with Kimberly way out of earshot, the red ranger just told her Kimberly was just being playful. Kimberly apparently rather enjoyed her girlfriend's reactions.

Much to the irritation of Kimberly, the trio did have to hide quite a bit but not from each other. It had only been about a week and a half since their mutual confessions out by the mines, but even the three of them knew they couldn't exactly go shouting their relationship from the rooftops.

None of their parents would have been exactly accepting, but Trini shuddered just imagining what her mom would say or, heaven forbid, do. All it took was a single tiny implication that Trini might have a girl she liked and boom, the Kwan family moved again. While the last time this happened was years ago, Trini did not want history repeating itself.

Jason and Kimberly understood Trini's need for secrecy, but Kimberly made it no secret how much she hated the sneaking around. Jason did too, but the red ranger was a little cooler headed compared to their girlfriend.

Most of the town knew about Jason and Kimberly, so they didn't have to hide a thing. Only when Trini was concerned did they dial down the PDA. There were still slight gestures though, a hand on her back there, a quick kiss on the cheek here, things like that.

Due to the newness of this little relationship, and the secrecy, the three rangers had yet to have an actual date together. Although as far as Trini was concerned, one of their campfires out by the mines should have counted but Kimberly shot that down.

"A date is the three of us together, none of our other friends." Kimberly had said a week ago. She and Jason were the experts, Trini had almost zero dating experience. Hell, before Jason, she didn't even know she was interested in the opposite sex.

Their first 'real date' was the exact reason Jason, Kimberly, and Trini were crammed in the cab of Jason's new, more like ancient and about to fall apart, truck. School had just let out, and Jason had finally put his foot down and decided they needed to do something.

Seeing as how Krispy Kreme was still a ruined wreck, their first option was off the table. Pity, Trini had enjoyed those few times she and Kimberly spent time there. With option A gone, option B was their destination. Another similar shop, but the donuts were lousy and Trini didn't even remember the name of the place. Still, as far as first date destinations go, it was a good start.

Jason, cliché knight in shining armor that he was, immediately paid for all three of them. Kimberly tried to say something but Jason silenced her with a finger to her lips and a comment about taking his girlfriends out.

The gentlemanly behavior was unnecessary, but not unwelcome.

They had only just placed their orders when Trini hit her first snag. Jason and Kimberly immediately took their seats at a booth across from each other, but Trini didn't know who to sit by. Jason must have sensed her unease, he took hold of the sleeve of her hoodie and pulled her to sit beside him. Thankfully, Kimberly had been looking out the window and saw nothing.

Okay, Trini had made it to the date location without any actual major screw-ups. Not bad for her first real date since… ever.

Of course, Trini's winning streak came to an abrupt end shortly later. Kimberly and Jason seemed to be having an alright time talking, with the occasional input from Trini, but otherwise Trini remained quiet and focused on her donut and drink.

Trini wanted to be part of the conversation, but couldn't help this nagging feeling she shouldn't be here. She'd never actually been a third wheel, but it probably felt a lot like this.

Maybe it was the conflicting personalities? Being ex popular crowd, Jason and Kimberly knew how to chat and be social, knew how to act around others, especially the ones they were dating.

What did Trini know? How to avoid said chatting and social interaction. She didn't know how to act around her boyfriend or girlfriend. All she was doing up until this point was nodding her head and offering a word or two here and there. It made Trini feel like a crappy girlfriend.

It might be for the best if Trini just left. Jason had driven them, but the jog back to the other side of town was nothing to a ranger like them. The only real concern would be…

There it was again. That stupid desire to flee, to just run away whenever something threatened those thick steel walls Trini built up around herself for her own protection. What was running going to accomplish here, anyway? Absolutely nothing, even if Kimberly and Jason could easily run her down again, Trini couldn't escape from her own heart.

God, how Trini wanted this to work!

No, no more trying to escape. Trini was staying, and she was going to figure this out damn it!

"Trini? You okay?" Trini realized too late that Kimberly had asked her something but she wasn't attentive enough, and now the pink ranger was eying her with pure concern.

"I'm fine." Trini flashed what she hoped was a placating smile, but the look on Kimberly's face made it obvious her girlfriend was not convinced.

"You can tell us anything. You know that, right?" Jason draped his arm over the seat behind Trini, but made sure to keep his limb a comfortable distance from Trini herself. Had he actually touched her, Trini wasn't sure she wouldn't have welcomed the contact.

"Of course, I do." Trini's face fell, no point in trying to keep up a charade with the two people most likely to see through it.

Kimberly said nothing more, but Trini felt her girlfriend's eyes boring holes through her. Whatever it was she was searching for, Trini had no clue.

Next thing Trini knew, Kimberly's hands were on the table palm up. Understanding the gesture, Trini moved her own hands into Kimberly's. The grip tight enough for Trini to feel, but weak enough she could pull away the moment she wanted to.

"Talk to us." Jason ever so lightly touched his fingertips to Trini's far shoulder. Just like with Kimberly, if Trini wanted to, all she had to do was move less than an inch to be away from the contact.

"I just…" Trini sighed and leaned slightly into Jason's touch, hoping he would get her meaning. The red ranger did, because his next action was to fully drape his arm across Trini's shoulders. Just as the Latina was hoping, the physical contact with Jason calmed herself better than anything. "I want this to work, ya know? And I'm just… ugh, how do you two do this to me?"

"Oh, Trini." Kimberly's lips turned upward in the smallest of grins as she shook her head. "You don't need to try so hard."

"What's that mean?"

"She means, don't try so hard." Jason gently shook Trini while his arm moved lower to encircle her middle. "There isn't anything you're supposed to do other than be you."

"I know he can sound like a hallmark card sometimes, but he knows what he's talking about." Kimberly squeezed Trini's hands softly. "Just hear him out."

Trini stayed quiet, but turned her head to face Jason, making sure her boyfriend knew he possessed her full attention.

"Being in a relationship isn't about doing anything right." Jason began. "We want to spend time with you as you. There is no right way, no wrong way. Just… be you. Stop worrying about trying to do everything right."

Trini stared at him for a moment until she found her voice. "Kim's right, you do sound like a hallmark card."

Kimberly, meanwhile, had chosen a poor time to lean over for a sip of her drink. Trini's last comment made the pink ranger nearly choke on the beverage when the laugh came unbidden. Trini was about to ask if she was okay before Kimberly jerked one hand away to give a thumbs-up.

"I know, but I've never really done this before." Trini swallowed hard.

"Think any of us have?" Kimberly scoffed, coughing and slapping her chest as she got her breathing back under control. "I mean, come on. Whoever thinks they will have a boyfriend and a girlfriend without cheating involved?"

"No, it's not that." Trini bit her lip. "The whole dating thing."

"Wait, so you've never had a girlfriend before?" Jason looked utterly baffled.

"Uh… kinda?" Trini didn't think their first date would be going this direction. Seeing as how Jason and Kimberly literally chasing her down led to their confession mutual feelings, Trini really shouldn't have been surprised. "I mean, a few girls have caught my eye before, but none of them went anywhere. The few that started to…"

"You mom would make you move." Jason finished with a solemn nod. "I get it."

"So… we're technically your first girlfriend and first boyfriend?" Kimberly took one of Trini's hands in both of her own.

"I guess."

"Wow." Kimberly brought Trini's hand up to kiss her knuckles softly. "Well, what Jason said still stands. You don't do anything right, you do what feels right."

"What feels right." Trini repeated, her inner skeptic hesitant. "Sound way too easy."

"It actually is." Jason shrugged. "So just take things slow, and follow what your heart tells you."

"I keep telling him he needs to put in a job application with the card people, but he just won't do it." Kimberly giggled. She might be ruining the moment somewhat, but she knew when Trini wanted to escape the mushier stuff. She'd reached her quota for the day, thank you very much.

"Pity, I bet he'd make a fortune." Trini smiled, much more genuinely this time.

"Hey, if I shared this with the world, how would you two take advantage of my great wisdom?" Jason took the change of subject in stride, laughing right along with his girlfriends.

"Dear lord, he's turning into Zack!" Kimberly gasped in mock horror. "Bring out the pitchforks."

"And torches." Trini supplied.

"No fair, you two can't team up on me!"

Trini and Kimberly shared a look before replying with perfect unison. "We can."

"As fun as this has been, what do you two say we get out of here and go see what trouble we can find elsewhere?" Jason frowned at his only partially eaten donut in front of him. "These things taste terrible, anyway."

"Thank you!"

I think the reason I was having so much trouble was my inability to come up with a concrete plot. The one-shot collection solves that problem quite handily.

Reviews are appreciated more than I can say, and just as before I am very open to suggestions. You can leave them in reviews or PMs. If I can make it work, all suggestions will be added.

I've also toyed with the idea of an M chapter, but if I do it will be separate form here and the first one.