One last time
Chapter one
After defeating Divatox and saving their friends from Maligore the rangers returned to Angel Grove in time for the martial arts tournament. As Rocky was physically
injured Jason took his place along with Adam and Tommy, who ultimately won the tournament, winning a sizable charity donation to the Little Angel's Haven.
All their friends gathered around them to congratulate the winner team. Tanya jumped to capture Adam´s lips, while Kat surrounded Tommy´s neck with her arms.
Justin high fived with Jason and then Kimberly hugged him. When Tanya let Adam go Kimberly hugged him too and then turned to Tommy who was shaking hands
with Rocky, who had a cervical collar and walked with the help of crutches. She walked over to Tommy arms wide opened, but stopped when saw the harsh look on
his face.
"Great fight, congratulations" She said arms crossed over her chest
"Thank you" He answered coldly and then walked away.
"Hey Kim, glad to see you again" Rocky sighed trying to fill in the awkward silence.
"Me too Rocky, how are you feeling?"Kim asked
"Well, let´s say that this ape has seen better days" Rocky sighed
"Oh you´ll be okay don´t worry" Kimberly sighed
Later at the youth center . . .
Ernie served smoothies for everybody. Kat grabbed her strawberry smoothie and proposed a toast for the children of the shelter. Everybody lifted their smoothies.
"I propose another toast to welcome our friends" Adam said and they lifted the glasses once more.
"Thank you buddy, I must admit I missed all of this" Jason commented
Bulk and Skull stepped into in their uniforms and walked over to the rangers
"Hey babe had you told me you were back in town I would have made plans for tonight, but we can improvise" Skull leant over and whispered to Kimberly
"No thanks" She answered and turned to Jason "They don´t remember anything, do they?" she whispered to her friend
"I confess that in I missed those two a little bit" Jason sighed and everyone laughed
"Tell us what you´ve been doing" Rocky said when the funny duo walked away.
The group was amused with Jason´s stories about his life around the world, except for Kimberly and Tommy who remained in silence, hadn´t touch her smoothie,
just stirred it and glanced to Tommy from time to time, who was lost in his daze, he hadn´t drink his smoothie neither.
Adam and Tanya said goodbye and Rocky left with them as Adam had offered to drive him home, later Tommy, Justin and Kat left together and Jason and Kimberly
were the only ones left.
"It´s late, shall we go?" Jason asked Kimberly who was watching a young girl training on the beam.
"You go, I stay" Kim answered
"Okay, but don´t arrive too late" He said and kissed her on the cheek
"See ya" She said and he stepped out.
After leaving Kat at her home, Tommy drove back to the youth center. As he stepped in he saw Kimberly watching the young gymnast performing her routine.
"Do you miss the old times?" Tommy asked
"No, I don´t" Kim sighed "It just brings me back memories" she said
"I remember when you asked me to bring you here late in the night to train" Tommy sighed
A long pause filled the minutes that followed
"Well I got to go" He popped out and walked away; some steps later he stopped and turned to her again.
"Hey, um, do you want me to give you a ride?" Tommy asked her
"Sure, thank you" She answered, grabbed her purse and both left together.
Ernie watched them go and shook his head smiling
As soon as she got on Tommy´s pick up she saw Kat´s pink framed sunglasses over the glove box, which stung her a little bit.
"Why did you come?" Tommy asked upset while driving
She cocked her head to him eyes wide opened
"I wanted to see you all, is that a crime?" She answered
"But why now?" He asked
"This is the first time I take a break after the Pan Globals, so I decided to pay a visit to my friends" She answered
"The games finished a year ago, what kept you from coming? Or Who?" Tommy retorted
"What´s that supposed to mean?" Kim asked narrowing her eyes
"Nothing, I just think that "Mr loving and caring" maybe didn´t let you come before" He answered
"His name is Greg and he does not tell me what I can or what I can´t do" Kimberly stated
"Yes the competition ended, but being a gold medalist means you have to go on tour and other commitments that I could not leave" Kimberly explained
"Oh Greg" Tommy muttered, he pulled up in front of Jason´s house where Kimberly was staying
"Look Tommy thank you for the ride, but I don´t really feel like talking about this" Kimberly said grabbing the handle
"But we have to!" He said raising his voice
"I know" She sighed and turned back to him
"I´ve been thinking about this conversation since the same day I wrote that letter" Kim sighed
"Well you took a really long time to think" He commented
"I needed to find out the courage to face you, it wasn´t easy" Kim said
"And was it for me?" He retorted "Have you at least thought about how it hurt me and that maybe I needed to talk?" He continued
"I know, I know, I hurt you and I´m terribly sorry for that and about the fact that took me so long to come, but nothing of what I´d said to you would have made you
feel better. Don´t you think?" She explained
"After everything we´ve been through together I think I deserved more than a Dear John letter" He stated
"Look, I did not plan this, it just happened" She sighed
"It just happened? After all these years that´s all you have to say, it just happened?" Tommy asked
"I´m sorry Tommy, I´m sorry, what do you want me to say?" Kim started crying
"It´s late, it is too late Kim" He did not turn to her, he could not bear to see her crying.
"Goodbye Tommy and I wish you to be happy with Kat" She said and walked out.
"Holy crap!" Tommy cursed and hit the wheel
Kimberly tip toed through the living room towards the kitchen, took a tissue and wiped her tears. She heard some steps approaching
"Sorry its late, I did not mean to wake you up" She whispered
"It´s okay I was thirsty anyway" Jason whispered back "Are you okay?" He asked
"Yeah I´m fine. I´m leaving tomorrow" She stated
"What? but we have just arrived" He said
"Yes I know, but I need to go back" She said
"What happened?" He asked narrowing his eyes
"It happened what it was supposed to happen and it turned out the way I thought it would" She said and broke up in tears
"I´m so sorry Kim" He sighed and hugged her
The following morning Jason met Tommy at the youth center, he was hitting at the training punching bag in anger.
"Hey, easy buddy!" Jason sighed
"Hey Jason" He greeted his friend took his towel and dried his sweat.
"You have so much energy for this time on the morning" Jason commented
"Yeah bad night"Tommy answered, but Jason didn´t need further explanation
"Good morning!" Tanya and Kat greeted in unison
"Hi girls" Jason answered
"I thought you´d pick me up this morning" Kat told Tommy
"Oh sorry I forgot, damn it" Tommy said
"Don´t worry Adam drove us here and he also offered himself to take us to the Mall later today" Kat answered with a smile
"Jason would you mind asking Kimberly if she wants to join us for going shopping?" Kat asked
"Of course I don´t mind, but she left one hour ago" Jason answered
"What you mean?" Tommy asked scowling
"She is in a plane back to Florida right now" Jason explained
Tommy got speechless
"I thought she´d stay longer" Tanya commented
"She didn´t even say goodbye, that´s weird" Kat sighed "Don´t you think?" She cocked her head to Tommy, but he was wrapped up into his daze
"Tommy? Tommy!" Kat insisted
"What?" He asked
"Are you okay?" Kat asked concerned
"I´m fine! He simply said and walked outside
On the plane Kimberly´s mind swang between Florida and Angel Grove
Flashback to Kimberly´s apartment in Florida
She opened the door and a tall dark haired guy entered. She turned round and walked back to the kitchen
"Hey Kim wait" He begged and grabbed her wrist
"Greg . . . "She sighed looking down
"Look I know I haven´t been so much understanding lately, I´m so sorry" He said, she faced him looking at his blue eyes
"I freaked out when you told me you were leaving, I don´t wanna miss you" Greg told her looking into her eyes
"Greg this is something I need to do" Kimberly stated
"I´m so sorry for not understanding this before, I love you" Greg sighed grabbing both of her hands
"Kim . . ." He said
"Yeah?" She said
"Would you marry me?"Greg finally asked, she froze
"I, um, I ´ve got to think about it" She answered
"But Kim, do you love me?" Greg asked
"Yes I do, but I´m leaving in two days and I´m so stressed right now to make such a decision, sorry" Kim said
"Okay, you don´t have to answer right now, think about it in your trip and we´ll talk when you come back" He said and kissed her
Back to the present time on the plane, Kim watched through the window thoughtful. Tommy last words echoed into her head
""It´s late, it is too late Kim"
Tears running down her cheeks
To be continued . . .
I hope you like my new fanfic, thank you for R&R