Author's Note 2: This chapter has had some minor editing done to it; hence the re-post for those who have been following this story.

Chapter Two

"I don't know, Adam," Aisha followed Adam out of Ms. Appleby's last class. "There's just something about her that I don't trust."

Adam stopped and turned around to face his high school friend. "Just give her a chance, Aisha. She seems nice and she's new. No one should have to go through the first day at a new school alone."

Aisha watched Adam continue down the hall. She wished the boy would stop leaping before he looked when it came to girls. She knew he was jealous of the relationship Tommy and Kim had, though he would never admit to it. Ever since the Ranger had become a teenager and developed an interest in the opposite sex, he had done one of two things: been too shy to speak up and lost his chance, or jumped in too quickly and ended up hurt in one way or another. Aisha was afraid this one would result in the latter. But maybe the Asian teen had a point. Keeran was new to the school. Aisha remembered her first day at Stone Canyon High. It hadn't really been a day to write home about, but it had left her feeling pretty lonely. Until the day she met Adam and Rocky. She also remembered hearing Adam's horror stories of attending new schools; maybe he didn't want the same thing that happened to him to happen to Keeran… And maybe Keeran really had been so many different places that she couldn't decipher one from the other.

But still, the Yellow Ranger couldn't shake this feeling from the pit of her stomach. She was torn. Trust Adam or trust her gut? Either way, she hoped Adam would be careful.

-0oOo0-

As promised, Adam was standing at Keeran's locker when she came down the stairs. She smiled upon seeing him.

"You came," she said, going through her locker combination.

"Of course," Adam replied. "I never break a promise."

Keeran opened her locker and put her books inside, using the act to hide a blush. She didn't quite understand why he was being as nice as he was. He barely knew her; she was the new girl. Wasn't it custom for the new student to be singled out, picked on?

"Did you get that assignment you had to do done?" His soft voice brought her out of her reverie.

"Oh, yeah," she answered. "And sorry about that earlier. I'd completely forgotten, then realized it–"

Adam's understanding smile made her stop. "It's okay," he said. He adjusted his bag on his shoulder and rocked on his heels slightly. Keeran could see a question steaming in his mind.

"Um," he stammered, "would you mind if I walked you home?"

Keeran's blush deepened; she did nothing to hide it. "Not at all." She closed her locker and followed Adam out of the school.

"What was it like?" Adam asked, "moving around so much?"

"It was interesting," Keeran replied. "I never really had a chance to get to know anyone."

"How long will you be in Angel Grove?"

Keeran paused a second. She prayed the teen didn't catch it. "Until something changes, indefinitely."

Adam's bright smile told her he'd missed her pause. "I hope you don't move again too soon. I just met you."

She looked at the teen beside her, pausing, processing what she had heard. "No one's ever said that to me before."

Adam looked at her in disbelief. "You're kidding."

Keeran shook her head. "No. Everywhere I went, nobody ever cared about the new kid. And I usually didn't bother trying to get to know anyone because I never stayed long enough to make any friends."

"You mean, you've never had a friend before?" Adam asked.

Keeran looked at him sheepishly. "No…"

"Do you mind if I'm your first?"

Keeran started at him in astonishment. "Serious?"

Adam nodded. "Serious."

A grateful smile spread across the girl's face. "Thank you, Adam."

"Everybody needs a friend," Adam smiled. "Even if it's only one."

Keeran smiled, fighting back yet another blush. She still didn't understand why he was being so sweet to her. She wasn't anything special. She was the new girl, no one was ever nice to the new girl. But she

was glad he had become her friend. She'd never had a friend before. She liked the feeling that came with knowing she had someone who cared enough about her to stop the school bullies from humiliating her, someone kind enough to walk her home from school. Someone who liked her for who she was…

She'd never felt this way about anyone; she'd never experienced anything like this. She wanted to get to know him.

-0oOo0-

The two stopped in front of the door of Keeran's townhouse flat. It was near the back of a large complex in an older part of the city near the park. The bricks of the houses were the colour of dried mud and the doors were a couple of shades darker.

She turned around to face the Asian teen with a blush. "Thanks for walking me home, Adam."

"You're welcome," Adam replied with a smile. "Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah," Keeran said, feeling a little disappointed. "I'll see you tomorrow." She watched him walk back down the path towards the street. She didn't understand how someone could be so nice to someone they knew next to nothing about, nor did she understand how she could be so comfortable with someone without needing to have a conversation. Some of the walk had been silent, but comfortable, enjoyable, like just having the company was all that was needed.

She liked that. She liked all the feelings that came with having a friend: the happiness, the comfort, but most importantly, the acceptance. He accepted her for who she was, even her flaws.

"Everybody needs a friend," he'd said only ten minutes ago. "Even if it's only one."

She'd only known the teen for maybe four hours, but already she knew he was someone she could count on; someone she could confidently call a friend.

"Bye Adam!" she called after him.

Adam whirled around. He gave her his bright Adam Park smile. "Bye!" He waved, then turned and continued on his way.

"Thank you," she whispered.

She turned and unlocked her door, ascending the stairs to her flat. She tossed her backpack onto the worn out couch, and moved into the kitchen. She opened the fridge. A carton of eggs sat on the top shelf next to two one-litre cartons of milk. Scrambled eggs sounded good. She pulled out what she needed, setting it on the counter.

"Keeran."

The girl cringed at the high, scratchy, irritating voice behind her. Slowly, she turned around. Rita Repulsa was standing in her living room.

"You have chosen well," she said, "the Black Ranger is a fine choice."

"Yes Empress." Keeran wanted to take those words back the moment they hit the air.

"Now he needs to be captured."

"In due time, Empress," Keeran said. "I will need–"

"Now listen," Rita cut in sharply. "You will go to the park with Adam tomorrow after school. I will send Rito with some Tengas to cause a little chaos, and you will nab the Power Puke." She laughed loudly, scratchy.

Keeran didn't want to accept what she was being told. "But–"

"No buts!" The sorceress interjected harshly. Her face softened and she smiled. "You have done so well, Keeran. Zeddy and I are very proud of you."

The girl smiled. Her masters were happy with what she had done. Any concern she'd had for the Black Ranger melted away. "Thank you, Empress," she said. Her voice was dark. "You will have your Ranger by tomorrow evening."

"Do not disappoint me!" Rita ordered and vanished in a ball of red flame.

"I won't," Keeran said aloud.

She already had that Ranger; he was practically gift-wrapped. Simply because he had befriended her.