Chapter Two
Tommy and Kimberly walked in the Juice Bar.
"Just like old times," Zack said once he saw them.
"Us at the tables waiting as the perfect couple come strolling in late," Jason finished.
"Ha-ha-ha," Kimberly said. "I shouldn't have to say this, but you know it was all Tommy's fault."
"So much for always being on my side," Tommy joked as he pulled the chair out for Kim before sitting down next to her. A waitress immediately made her way over to them and took their orders since the others had already done so.
"Wow, this place is like a ghost town," Rocky said.
"It's a school day, Rocky!" Aisha reminded him.
"Yeah, but Rocky and I stopped by here the other day when the schools got out. There were only a few people here," Adam said.
Kim nudged Tommy. It was the perfect time to pitch his idea.
"About that," Tommy spoke up. "My mom mentioned this place wasn't doing as good. There's even talks about it closing down."
Everyone gasped. The thought of their high school hang out shutting down saddened them all.
"We gotta do something!" Trini cried.
"How about another charity tournament?" Jason asked.
"Yeah! Maybe this time, I can be in it!" Rocky said excitedly.
"That's a great idea, Jason!" Tommy said. "But I was also thinking of maybe starting up some classes here again. Summer's coming up, maybe that'll help bring more of the teens in and help out business."
"That is a great idea, Tommy!" Kat said. "Maybe I can teach dance classes as well."
"Need a partner for that?" Zack offered.
"And Kim, maybe you can do gymnastics and Tanya can do voice lessons," Trini suggested.
"And you can be the one in charge," Kim said. She knew how much Trini liked organizing things.
The group of former rangers all talked excitedly among themselves. They all decided to talk to the new owner of the Juice Bar after they finished their lunch.
"What's going on there?" Tanya asked, her eyes focused on the TV. Everyone followed her gaze. It was a breaking news report. The newscaster stood in front of the base of Angel Grove's water tower. The headline, "Vandalism on Angel Grove Water Tower" scrolling at the bottom.
"Hey, Brandon, can I have my usual?" a voice said from the bar. It caught Tommy's immediate attention.
"Nicole?" Tommy cried, as he got up and approached his sister. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at school? Don't tell me that you're skipping!"
"Okay, fine, I won't," Nicole said as she turned back to the bar. "Can you make it to go, please?"
Brandon laughed but nodded his head.
"Nicole!"
"Tommy! I'm kidding! Relax," she cried, rolling her eyes. "I got out of school."
"So you skipped?"
Nicole sighed in frustration. "I didn't need to take as many credits this year which gave me a shorter schedule and since I am a senior, who is graduating in a couple weeks, they let me take the rest of the day off."
Tommy still looked at her with disbelief.
"Would you like to call the school to confirm?"
"Tommy, come on," Aisha called. "Billy did the same thing during his senior year."
"Yeah, you're right," Tommy finally gave in.
"So, what are you up to Nicole?" Jason asked. "I thought you said you didn't like the Juice Bar."
"I don't. I mean, look at this place it's dead! But they make the most killer chocolate banana milkshakes!"
"They do?" Rocky exclaimed his face lighting up. He got up out of his seat and headed to the bar to place an order.
The gang laughed.
"Do you want to join us for lunch?" Kat asked, gesturing to the open seat at the end of the table.
"No thanks, maybe next time." She gave an apologetic smile. "I'm just gonna head over to the library and study. Finals are around the corner."
She looked up at the TV, catching on the end of the breaking news.
"Third time something's been vandalized," she told the group.
"Really?"
"Yeah, the first one happened maybe a few weeks ago. They got the highway sign for Angel Grove. Then a week and a half ago, they got the front of the Youth Center. Tagged the exact same thing, 'Evil will prevail.'"
All the ex-rangers felt chills down their spine.
"Do they know who it is"
Nicole shook her head.
"It's probably some dumb guys at school trying to cause trouble. I mean, Power Ranger days is coming up."
The group all looked an one another, not sure if they believed that explanation.
"Certainly doesn't sound like the Angel Grove we grew up with," Aisha murmured. The rest of the group heard her anyway.
"Nicole, your milkshake's up!" the guy behind the bar shouted. Nicole turned to grab her milkshake.
"Are you going to need a ride home later?"
"Maybe, but I will call and let you know."
Tommy nodded.
"Or maybe, you know, you can somehow convince mom and dad to finally get me my own car?" Nicole suggested with an innocent smile.
Tommy laughed.
"I didn't get my car until I started working to help out with the payments," he told her. Nicole rolled her eyes. "If you really wanted-"
"I know, I know," Nicole said. "I'll see you guys later."
Nicole waved her good-byes.
Tommy sighed and Kim rubbed his back.
"Worried?" Jason asked, a little amused at how Tommy acted over his younger sister.
"Guys, she doesn't want to go to college. She's been accepted by some pretty good colleges, yet she doesn't want to go."
No one knew what to say.
"I mean," Tommy continued on anyway. "It can't be because of Darren, right? Did he even go?"
Everyone shrugged.
"I honestly don't even remember him," Zack said. "You guys?"
They all shook their head.
"She'll be fine, Tommy," Kim said. "You gotta accept that your sister is growing up and making her own choices now."
"Well, I think she's making some pretty bad ones right now."
"And she'll learn that eventually," Aisha said. "It's all a part of growing up."
"Big brother doesn't want his baby sister growing up," Rocky teased, causing everyone to laugh. Tommy only glared at him.
"He just wants the best for her," Kat said.
"I don't think Tommy will ever think any guy is good enough for her," Kimberly said smiling at her boyfriend.
"You're right about that!"
"Come on, Tommy. Don't you want Nicole to experience the same feelings that you and Kim share with one another?" Jason asked.
"It'd be better if it wasn't with him."
"How long have they been together anyway?" Adam asked.
Tommy shrugged.
"We don't know anything about him do we?" Zack asked.
"Which means you should probably get to know him before deciding anything," Kim told Tommy.
"We should all go do something then," Jason suggested.
"No, I think Tommy should get to know him first," Trini said. "It might be a bit overwhelming if all us tried to know more about him."
"Let's do a double date!" Kim suggested. "Then maybe we can do a picnic in the park and invite him along!"
Everyone agreed in unison.
"I guess it's worth a shot."
.-~*~-. -~*~-.-~*~-.-~*~-.-~*~-.
Nicole entered her house, knowing that her parents were waiting on her for dinner.
"Nicole?" came her mom's voice.
"Yes, mom, I'm coming."
"Where have you been?" her dad asked the second she entered the dining room. She made her way to the chair that sat her across Tommy.
"I lost track of time at the library," she told them.
"The library closed half an hour ago," Thomas said.
"Well, it takes about half an hour to walk from there to here."
"I could've picked you up," Tommy said.
Nicole wasn't in the mood to argue. She quickly apologized and promised that she'd call next time. She ate in silence as Tommy revealed the plan he and his friends had regarding the youth center.
"That's a great idea!" their mom exclaimed.
"Nicole," Tommy said. "If you're looking to make some money, I'm sure you can help the girls out with some of their classes. Maybe if we get enough people coming down, you can see if you can help with the waitressing."
Before Nicole can shoot down the offer, Tommy continued, "It'll help to go towards your car fund."
"What car fund?" Thomas asked.
"Well, I was telling Nicole about how I didn't get my car until I started working to help pay for it. Maybe she can start doing the same?"
Thomas and Patricia looked at one another. Ever so slightly, Patricia gave him a nod.
"I'll tell you what," Thomas said. "We'll see how your brother's proposal goes over with the youth center. If they decide to give it a go, I'll match whatever you make in wages and we can put that towards your car fund."
Nicole smiled.
"But obviously, we might have to just put in volunteer work first before they can start officially paying us," Tommy quickly said.
"That's fine," Patricia joined the conversation. "Nicole still has school to worry about. Maybe the time school's out, things will be official with the youth center."
Nicole let out an excited squeal. She thanked her parents and then her big brother. Once their dinner was finished, Tommy and Nicole were appointed the dish washers.
The siblings huddled around the kitchen sink.
"Thanks, Tommy!"
"No problem. I figured you could use some good news." Nicole looked at him. "Yeah, I know the look. You stressed over finals?"
"Yeah," Nicole sighed. When she didn't off anything else, Tommy decided to share his good news number two.
"So, Kim and I were talking-"
"You're getting married?"
"Wh- what?!" Tommy sputtered.
Nicole laughed. She knew Tommy would react that way whenever someone brought up marriage.
"I'm kidding, Tommy. What was it that you and your girlfriend were talking about?"
"She thinks I need to take the time to get to know your boyfriend." Tommy noticed the way Nicole stopped rinsing the dish she had for a second before continuing. "You two free sometime this week to do a double date with me and kim?"
"Uh, well, I'll have to see when he's free," Nicole said.
"You two okay?"
Nicole sighed.
"Don't tell dad, but we got into another argument."
"What do you two argue about?"
Nicole shrugged.
"Nic, Darren is a few years older than you. Sometimes-"
"I don't need another lecture Tommy. I get enough from dad as it is. Darren's just been busy with work lately and helping his dad out, that's it."
"Where does he work?"
Nicole shrugged.
"How long have you two been together?"
"Just six months," Nicole shrugged again.
"How did you two meet?"
Nicole rinsed the last dish and handed it to him.
"I don't really feel like being interrogated about my boyfriend, especially when I am in a fight with said boyfriend," Nicole said. "Good night Tommy."
Tommy watched as his younger sister exited the kitchen. He sighed. He really didn't like her boyfriend.