Disclaimer: Power Rangers isn't mine, never was, never will be….

Author note: This is my first slash fic. Not usually into them but the story wouldn't leave me alone. Please be kind and review.

*****

Billy stood back as the others cheered Jason on. He was up next in the karate tournament. His challenger was on the other side of the ring, but Billy couldn't see because Jason was blocking the view. From the way they were talking, however, he sounded quite formidable.

"Don't worry, Jason," Trini was saying. "Remember, focus and concentration. You can do this."

"Right," Jason said. He swayed a little, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he waited to be announced.

Finally, his name was called, as was his challenger. The announcer said his name was Tommy Oliver, and as Jason stepped onto the mat Billy got his first look at the newcomer.

His heart nearly skipped a beat when he saw the long legs and broad shoulders of this mystery challenger. He was tall, and built, but not overly muscled, and his hair was pulled back over that thin sculpted face.

He felt his face getting hot and took a step back. He'd known for some time this was the way he thought, but he'd never had the guts to tell his friends. He figured there were enough things about him that made him an outcast, there was no point in adding to it when there was nothing he could do about it.

Besides, he told himself, the odds that a guy like that would happen to be the same way, and feel the same way were….well, lets just say there was a better chance of Goldar putting on a tutu and joining the New York Ballet.

He watched the rest of the tournament quietly while his friend cheered Jason on. It was a close match the whole way through and ended in a draw at the last second.

As they walked away spouting platitudes to cheer Jason up for not winning Billy looked back and saw the challenger standing on the other side of the mat shaking hands with the director. He also saw Kimberly, standing at the bottom of the stairs, her own eyes dreamily on the new stranger.

"Figures," he muttered to himself and followed the others to the table.

*****

"Hey, didn't you hear the lady? She said no."

Billy turned and saw Bulk and Skull standing over Kimberly. Just behind them was the new boy from the karate tournament, now starring down the infamous bullies.

"I think it's time for somebody else to be taught a lesson," Bulk said.

The boy then dropped his books and launched into a very impressive kata. Billy felt something leap in his chest at the grace the boy's body moved with. Even his hair stayed in place. Bulk and Skull of course went running down the hall. They were all tough when picking on someone helpless like Kim or himself, but the second anyone with the skills, or even bravery, to challenge them stood up they headed for the hills.

He stepped up to Kim then, flashing a perfect smile as she thanked him in her soft cooing voice.

"I'm Kimberly," she said, holding out her hand. "You're new around here aren't you?"

"Yeah, I'm Tommy."

He shook her and flashed another one of those perfect smiles. Billy's heart sank at the way he looked at her. He told himself it was stupid to think his feelings would be anything more than a fantasy, but it made his stomach turn with grief anyway and he turned around and walked away.

*****

Avoidance proved to be an impossible task. The last three classes Billy had that day all included Tommy. Luckily he sat in the back, whereas Billy took his usually place near the front. He was grateful he wouldn't have to look at hose deep brown eyes anymore or that long black hair or…

Stop that, dammit, he scolded himself.

But try as he might to pay attention, the knowledge that he was there in the same room was nearly too much to bear. The fact that Kimberly also shared their final hour of math didn't help. She sat just in front of Billy and kept glancing back casually for a glimpse of the new student.

Finally, sweet relief came with the ringing of the bell. Billy gathered his books quickly, and rushed from the room. He paused only long enough to squeeze by Kimberly, who was purposely stalling putting her books away so she could spend extra time starring at you-know-who, then bolted from the room. He was halfway to his locker before he felt someone tug at his sleeve.

"Billy?" said a soft voice from behind him. He whirled around a little too fast and nearly fell over. A firm hand went around his arm and kept him from falling.

"Sorry," said the voice, and Billy looked up to find himself starring into the very brown eyes he'd been working all day to avoid. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"It-it's fine," Billy stuttered. He backed away and made to turn for his locker again.

"You're Billy Cranston, right?"

"Yes," Billy said pausing. He knows my name? He thought. How is that possible?

"Mrs. Appleby said I could talk to you about tutoring. My old school was a little behind in science and math. Do you think you could help me?"

Yes! Yes, yes, yes!

"Uh…sure, I, uh, I'd be happy too." God I sound like a dork!

"When are you free?" Tommy asked.

"Uh…" His mind was a complete blank. It took a second for him to remember he had a tutoring schedule already as there were several students without the benefit of being new that needed extra help. "My schedule's in my locker, let me get it."

"Okay, cool." Tommy smiled and it took another second for Billy to remember how to use his feet.

Calm down, he told himself. It's just tutoring. No big deal! He opened the locker and consulted the calendar that was pinned inside the door.

"It looks like I have tomorrow free, around six?"

Tommy nodded. "Sounds good. I'll see you then."

Tommy took a few steps backwards, still smiling then turned away and walked through the quickly crowding hall. Billy stood watching until he'd disappeared around the corner then went back to getting his books for his own homework, a large smile spreading on his own face.