The park has always been my second home, a place where I can unwind underneath the shade of an oak tree— much like I'm doing now. I typically bolt right to the gym after school, but I felt a pull to outdoors today. Everyone is at Ernie's chatting away about the Sadie Hawkins dance. I can't pretend to sit there and be excited about this. How many stupid dances can a school have in one semester?

It's been a long day and I really needed this. I can feel the pulse of my heartbeat on my numbing lips as I hum along with my guitar. This is my escape. The only way that I can get away from the world and just be me. I don't have to push myself to be the best at it, I can just... be. My fingers dance on the fretboard of the guitar that I've had since I was seven, and for one short moment the world disappears. It's just me and Melody. Perfect name for a guitar, don't you think?

I know her so well that I don't even have to watch my fingers anymore. The smooth maple grains of her body brings me back to when life was simple. When I didn't have to pretend that my life wasn't a complete mess... back to when my family wasn't a complete mess.

My parents divorce finalization hit me harder than I thought it would. I thought that after a year I would be over it or at least used to the idea that my parents weren't going to be together anymore, but I guess I always had some sort of hope that they would reconcile. Pretty dumb now that I think about it since they're both seeing other people now. Is it bad that I'm not happy for them? I mean, I know I should be. Pascal and Isabella are great, but I can't help but feel that they kept my family broken. I guess I shouldn't feel that way... I know I shouldn't feel that way. I suppose I'm slightly bitter that I don't see my dad as much as I'd like to. He really makes an effort to see me, but going from seeing him every single day to maybe once a week has been tough. I miss him... I miss my family. I don't miss the yelling. They're better off without each other, I know that, but I guess I miss the illusion that I once had a whole family and not two halves. That's selfish of me. All of this relationship drama between my parents has trickled down to me.

Things haven't really turned out how I thought they would after Tommy rejoined the team. I honestly thought we would quickly fall into a relationship, but I guess fate had other plans.

We had a blast at the dance a few weeks ago, and that kiss we shared a few days before that felt right. I mean, I talked Trini's ear out that night. I don't think I let her go to bed until way past midnight. Anyway, like I said, I really like Tommy, and the day couldn't have gone any better. Rita actually gave us a break for once, but all of it changed after I got home. I found the final paperwork for my parents divorce on the kitchen table. My dad had signed it and now so had my mom. It all seemed so real all of a sudden, maybe because it was. I didn't see Tommy until the following Monday at school. He was waiting for me by my locker with the biggest smile that day. My heart hurts a little just thinking about how I walked right past him and into Ms. Appleby's class. He was caught off guard and I'm sorry for that. I shouldn't have done it, he doesn't deserve that.

My mom keeps asking me why Tommy hasn't been around recently. He's been busy with football practice, at least that's what I've been telling her, but the truth is that I'm scared. Tommy and I have a great friendship and I don't want to risk ruining that. What if we don't work out and we turn into my parents? I don't want that.

I know my mom suspects something's wrong between us. She keeps trying to explain love to me. I always sit down and pretend to listen, but deep down I'm rolling my eyes. What does she know about love? She was supposed to set an example, show me what true love really is, but both my parents did a terrible job at it. How am I supposed to believe in that when they've failed to do so themselves. Besides, I'm not in love with Tommy. I like him a lot, but it hasn't gone further than that. I think I'm partially to blame— okay, mostly to blame.

He's tried to reach out, I know he has, but I just can't face him. It's hard thinking about him—

"—You sound great."

My eyes spring open to the sound of his voice. Speak of the Devil.

Keeping my distance has become increasingly more difficult with him getting more and more gorgeous by the day. I mean, how dare he walk the halls looking like he does? Although Tommy is a quiet guy, he walks with so much confidence that it's hard to believe he is actually very shy. I gaze over to his athletic frame as he leans against the trunk of the tree beside me, green backpack hanging off one shoulder.

Green really is his color. His bronze tan accentuates every curve of his muscular arms, his slick ponytail keeps his mane tame and out of the way, and his long lashes leave me nearly hypnotized. Plus, I'm a total softie for guys with an undercut and— oh my god, am I biting my lip? Stop that!

"Thank you." I'm staring at him a lot longer than I intended, but this is the first time in a while that I've actually allowed myself to take a good look.

He's doing the same. His soft eyes meeting mine for the briefest of moments before we're both distracted by a herd of football loving Neanderthals hollering at him. His new teammates, of course.

He waves politely at them, ignoring the moronic kisses they're throwing our way.

"Sorry about that," he grimaces, his left hand rubbing the back of his neck.

I nod before brushing some grass off my jeans and gently rest my guitar at the base of the tree beside me. He takes the open spot next to me, planting his back right up against the tree like I did.

There's so much he wants to say. I can feel it in my bones. We let a few heartbeats go by before he asks, "So where have you been hiding?"

"Hiding?"

"Yeah," he gives me that smile that I always melt over, "I feel like I haven't really seen you around."

I nod again, but don't give him anything else for a response. I can't really say that I've been purposefully avoiding him.

"So," he clears his throat, "Have you heard about the dance tomorrow?"

My dead hamster has heard of the dance.

"It's the talk of the school," I tell him. "Kind of hard to not hear about it."

"Yeah, I guess that's true," he chuckles nervously. "Are you going?"

Under normal circumstances I would have asked Tommy to be my date on day one, but with everything going on with my parents I haven't been feeling up to much.

"I'm not sure yet," I shrug. "You?"

"Well, Lisa from homeroom asked me to go with her..."

Lisa? The amazonian! Wow, why does it feel like I just got the wind knocked out of me? I know Tommy isn't going to sit around for me to get over this thing— in fact, Tommy and I aren't officially anything right now and he's welcomed to date whoever he wants, but why does it have to be with her?

He's still talking to me, but I hear no sound. Nothing except for my heart breaking into millions of shards. Geez, dramatic much? And the Oscar goes to...

"Oh, sounds like fun," I add flatly before I even let him finish talking.

I hope she gets a zit.

"I haven't said yes," he adds, his voice soft.

I wave my hand at him dismissively, "You don't have to explain yourself to me."

He doesn't respond right away and I'm not sure if it's because I'm right.

"Well, I just thought that we had so much fun at the last dance that maybe you'd like to go with me."

There's a hint of hope behind his voice and it didn't go unnoticed by me. I know what he wants, but I'm not ready to give it to him yet. I know I should be honest and it would probably be less painful for the both of us, but I'm not thinking straight right now. All I know is that today is about to get more complicated.

"Isn't this girls ask guys?"

His mouth opens a couple of times. I think he's almost speechless because I've never said anything as snotty as this. "Yeah, I— are you alright?" He pauses for a moment, correcting himself, "I mean, are we okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine," I nod

I've never seen him look this confused before.

"Are you sure because it sounds like you're upset with me or something and I can't quite figure out what I did wrong."

Doesn't that sound familiar? I think I may have said the same thing to him when he was under Rita's spell.

"You didn't do anything, Tommy," I take a deep breath, knowing that the next couple of words are going to be ones I regret. "Look, I... this thing between us. I just don't think it's a good idea, okay? You go to that dance with Lisa and have a great time. I don't need you to worry about me or whatever you think that we had."

Crap. That came out a lot worse than I meant it to. I honestly can't believe I said that. If there was ever a time that I wanted to turn invisible, this was it. I didn't even look at him during my dumbass speech, but now that I'm awaiting his reaction I can't help but look at him.

He's fiddling with a rip in his jeans. Most likely contemplating why he even came to see me in the first place. His gaze is off into the horizon, purposefully avoiding me.

It didn't take much longer before he was off the ground and on his feet, his backpack once again hanging off one shoulder.

"Right," He gulps as he finally faces me and I'm left saddened by the hurt in his eyes. "See ya."

My legs somehow find the strength to stand and I'm calling out to him before I can even think of what to say. All I know is that I don't want him to leave. "Tommy wait."

He pauses, but doesn't turn around to face me. I honesty don't blame him. He's hurt, I get it. I don't think I would want to look at me.

I know I need to open up to him. This is it. It's sink or swim from now on.

And I have about 2 seconds to start talking before I chicken out of this, "I—"

And just like fate would have it the devils ringtone came in the sound of a six beep chime from the communicator.

I can hear him sigh as hard as I did, his head dropped before he turns on his heels to face me.

Our eyes meet and we leave so much left unspoken lingering between us.

"Go ahead, Zordon," he sighs into the communicator.

This is a conversation that's going to have to wait.

Author Note: Whoa, hey there! Its been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry for the lack of updates but I'm back now! I never intended to be gone for as long as I did, but life happens. Anyway, this is a short three part story that I wrote to ease myself back into writing. I'm sorry if its not my best, but it's a lot harder to get back into the groove of things than it looks. The next chapter of Protectors of the Right is coming very soon. Thank you to everyone that kept sending me messages wanting me to return. Also, be on the lookout for the next two parts of this short story. I hope you guys enjoy this new story/chapter and be sure to let me know what you guys think in the review section or in a PM. I always love reading what you guys think. See you soon!