"Realization"

It was a typical warm and sunny afternoon in Angel Grove. Tommy, Jason and Rocky and I were doing some practice sparring lessons for our respective martial arts classes inside the Juice Bar. Jason and I were sparring partners and we were just finishing up our sparring lesson.

"Adam, that was some good practice, man," Jason said slapping hands with me.

"It's all good practice, especially for some of the upcoming classes," I said setting aside my sparring gloves.

"So you're holding up okay?"

Jason nodded.

"Yeah, Zordon and Alpha had me worried with those tests."

"I can totally understand."

"Right, I'm just thankful all the tests came back negative, otherwise I don't know what I would have done had they been anything else."

"Hey, Jason don't think about it. You got a clean bill of health so that's all that matters right?"

He nodded. "You're right, I shouldn't have anything to worry about," he said with a smile.

I nodded wiping away the beads of sweat from my damp forehead.

"I don't know about you but…I'm definitely ready for a break," I said reaching over into my bag grabbing a towel.

"That's it…let's try one more set," said Tommy.

"I see those two are still at it," Jason said turning his attention to them.

I turned my attention over to Tommy and Rocky; the both of them were still doing practicing sets on punching bag over in the adjacent area. Rocky was going about pacing himself, doing a set of double-fisted punches every two seconds while Tommy was timing his pace.

"So Adam," Jason said turning to me.

"What's up?"

"Let me ask you something,"

"Okay," I said feeling a bit suspicious of what he was going to ask me about.

"So…what's the deal with you and Tanya?"

"What?" I asked being taken completely off guard by Jason's inquiry.

"What…do you mean?"

"C'mon man you know what I'm talking about," Jason replied.

"No, I don't."

I really had no idea what the heck Jason was talking or where this was coming from.

"Adam, you two do spend a lot of time together…so I just thought that maybe you two were…more than friends."

"Jason…Tanya and I are just good friends nothing more nothing less."

"Right," Jason quipped.

"What? I'm serious."

"So…you're saying that you don't like her like that?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't think of anything to say. I really didn't have an answer. So I just said the first thing that came to my head.

"Of course I like her…" I said trailing off before I could finish my speech. Once I realized what I had said a wide grin was spread across Jason's youthful face.

"So…you do like her then?"

"That's not…what…I…"

"Like who?" called Rocky interrupting me.

"Yeah what're guys talking about?" asked Tommy as he and Rocky made their way over to us.

"Jason thinks that I'm more than just friends with Tanya. Can you believe this guy?" I said pointing over at him.

Rocky and Tommy remained quiet. If there was any indication of their thoughts on the matter, it was the silence that lingered between the four of us.

"Guys…" I said turning to Rocky and Tommy.

"Well, I thought since you were spending a lot of time with her that maybe you liked her," Rocky said.

"Rocky…it's not like that," I said in protest.

"You sure about that buddy?" Tommy asked.

His question seems to set something off in my mind, as it started repeating several times inside my head. I really didn't have an answer to the question. The more and more it repeated inside my head the more and more aware I started becoming of some hidden feelings that I had been suppressing for quite some time over Tanya.

"Guys…it's not like that…I swear," I said trailing off.

I peered over at my friends, looks of disbelief were written all over their expressions.

"Adam, man I'm not sure who you are trying to fool but we aren't buying it," Jason said smiling.

"Yeah, we're your friends and you don't have to lie to us," Rocky chimed in.

"Huh?" I cried.

"Buddy, you realize it's okay if you like Tanya," Tommy said wrapping his arm my shoulder.

"Tanya is one of the prettiest and most popular girls in school…I can guarantee that she wouldn't stay single for too much longer. I mean if she is single that is," said Jason glancing over my way.

"I'm pretty sure she's single," Tommy said.

"Well, if anyone would know Adam would?" said Rocky.

"Is she single?" Jason asked.

At this point I was agitated really agitated at this point with all their accusations.

"Guys, please stop this…I don't like Tanya like that," I said throwing my hands up in defense.

"Sure you don't," Jason remarked.

"I don't…really," I said in hopes of getting them off the subject.

"C'mon man, no guy spends that much time alone with a girl…that they aren't dating," Jason said.

"I don't spend that much time alone with Tanya."

"Sure you do," said Rocky.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, you do…the private martial arts lessons, always studying after school together…" he said trailing off.

"She had just become a ranger so she wanted to better her skills, and we have very similar schedules…" I said stopping and realizing where it sounded like I was going with this. It was not my intention at all…then again maybe it was all their accusations were really started to play with my head.

Jason snickered shaking his head.

"Guys can we please drop this I don't like her like that," I said peering at my friends.

Their expressions made it clear that they didn't believe a word I said but there was nothing I could do about how they perceived my answers so I just decided to throw in the towel on the subject.

"Hey let's go grab…" I said as I ceased my speech glancing over at the juice bar.

"Speaking of," Jason said whispering loudly.

There Tanya was coming down the stairs with her best friend Katherine.

"Hey ladies!" Tommy said.

"Hey guys," Kat said in her usual sweet airy tone.

"Hey everyone," Tanya said.

"Hey what's up?" Rocky said.

"How's it going?" Jason said.

I smiled but remained quiet with my focus on Tanya.

"Hey Adam," Tanya said reaching over brushing her hand across my shoulder.

"Hey Tanya," I said feeling my face grow warm.

"What are guys up to?" Tommy asked.

"We just stop by to see if you guys wanted to go over to Ernie's luau today?" Kat said.

"That's today?" asked Jason.

"Yup, sure is," said Tanya.

"Sure, sounds like fun," Jason replied.

"I'm game for that," replied Rocky.

I turn away from Rocky and see all their attention was turned on me.

"Sounds like fun."

"Great," Kat said turning away and heading to the juice bar with Tanya following her lead.

The ladies both took a seat at one of the tables near the foot of the stairs.

"Hey Adam so you going to ask Tanya to go with you?" Jason asked.

"What? I thought we had killed this conversation?"

"Yeah, this is your chance," Tommy added.

"Guys will you please drop it," I said stepping ahead of them and heading over to their table.

As I approached their table, Tanya pulls out the chair next to her.

"Thanks," I said taking the seat next to her.

"What's this?" Tommy asked pointing over at four tall red cups on the table.

"Protein shakes," said Tanya.

"Yeah, we figured you guys probably could use one after your sparring practice," Kat said sliding one of the drinks over at Tommy.

"Thanks ladies," Tommy said with a smile as he took a swig of his shake.

"Thanks," Rocky replied as he grabbed one of the shakes.

"Appreciate it," Jason said taking another one.

"Here you go," Tanya said sliding the last cup over to me.

"Thanks."

"No problem," she said smiling.

I couldn't help but to reciprocate with one of my own, I'm not sure why I failed to ever notice what a beautiful smile she had. I continued that thought as I picked up my shake taking a drink from it.

"What time does the luau out begin?" Rocky asked.

"Around six I believe," Tanya said.

"What time is it now?" asked Rocky.

"A quarter till four," Kat said glancing down at her pink watch.

"I for one would like to clean up first before heading out there," Tommy said.

"In that case you should probably head out now," Jason remarked.

"Hey what is that supposed to mean?" Tommy asked peering at his best friend.

"Tommy…you're not exactly the most punctual person in the world," Kat said snickering.

"Whatever…that is so not true," Tommy countered.

"Says who?" Tanya said laughing.

Everyone started snickering with laughter at the pun at Tommy included me it was quite hilarious because everyone knows that Tommy has this propensity for showing up late.

"Haha…laugh it up guys…I will meet you guys at the luau," Tommy said standing to his feet.

"Yeah, how about we just meet you guys there, after we get cleaned up and whatnot," said Jason.

"We don't mind waiting," Tanya said glancing over at Kat.

"No, not at all," she replied.

"You sure?" Rocky asked.

"Positive," Kat said smiling.

"Cool, you ladies are the best," Tommy said stepping away from the table.

"Hey…aren't you guys coming?" I turned to Tommy as did the others.

"Yeah, but we're just giving you a head start," Jason said snickering.

"Whatever!" Tommy cried heading over to the locker room.

We all shared a collective moment of laughter once again.

"So we shall catch up with you guys in a little while," Rocky said standing to his feet.

"Alright…see you guys," Kat said. I stood to my feet heading towards the locker room.

"Yo, man so you going to ask her out?"

"I thought we dropped this already?"

"Why not Tanya is totally digging you," he continued.

This struck me particularly hard; the thought started swirling in my mind. Could there be a possibly that we shared a similar feelings for one another?

"You really think so?" I asked turning to Jason.

He nodded. I glanced back and there she was sitting there flashing that iridescent smile over my way. She threw up a hand waving it at me. I smiled waving back; that was totally an involuntary action. I had reacted before I even had time to realize what I had done. I turned my attention back over to Jason and Rocky.

"Adam…likes Tanya…Adam…likes…Tanya!" Rocky cried teasingly as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we made our way to the juice bar locker room…


"So, you ladies all ready to go?" Rocky called stepping over to our usual table.

"Sure are," Kat replied.

Jason and I make out way over to the table joining up with gang.

"Let's go," Tanya said standing to her feet.

"Hey where's Tommy?" Kat asked looking around.

"Do you even have to ask?" Jason said snickering.

"Right," Kat replied nodding. Everyone including myself shared a collective moment of laughter at Tommy's perpetual tardiness.

"Everyone ready to go?" Rocky asked looking over at us.

"Yup," Jason replied.

"Let's go," Tanya said leading the way out of the juice bar.

"Hey man here's your chance to ask her," Jason said whispering in my ear as we made our way out of the juice bar.

He was right, I suppose now probably was the best time to ask her if I could escort her to the luau. I sucked in a long deep breathe and started pacing ahead to catch up with her, just as I was about to call out to her someone beat me too it.

"Hey Tanya can I ask you about something?" Kat asked pulling her in closer to herself.

"Of course," she replied leaning in closer to her best friend. I sighed, sinking back behind everyone else when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry Adam you will have your chance," Rocky said.

"Sure," I said feeling defeated.