Authors Notes: Um, I was going to wait a few days before I posted another chapter but I need to keep the interest going. Beside, this chapter is the shortest one in the story. Yes, this is still slash so...yeah if you don't like that sort of thing please leave. :) As usual, these characters belong to Disney, Saban, and whoever else holds that piece of paper declaring ownership. I'm not getting paid or any of that. Please, rate and review. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I really appreciate it. :)
Part 2
A couple of hours later, Rocky found himself standing around in The Juice Bar with Tanya and Kat. The three friends chatted as they patiently waited for the rest of their group to arrive.
"Where are they?" Kat said glancing at her watch.
"You said they had just woke up when you went to Adam's house? Maybe they went back to bed?" Tanya said folding her arms.
"I don't think so. They looked wide awake when I left," Rocky said.
"They better get here soon," Tanya said.
"Did you tell Tommy I asked about him?" Kat asked.
"Yeah." Rocky nodded.
"What did he say?" Kat smiled.
"Nothing," Rocky answered flatly.
"What do you mean?" Kat said with wide eyes.
"He didn't say anything. I told him what you said and he shrugged it off," Rocky explained with a shrug.
"Don't worry, Kat; his breakup is still a little fresh. Give it another week and he'll be on you," Tanya said with a wave of her hand.
"I hope you're right," Kat sighed softly.
They all perked up when they saw Adam walk through the entrance with Tommy closely behind.
"There you guys are! We've been waiting forever," Tanya said slapping Adam's arm when he got close enough.
"Ow! Sorry. We're stayed up late last night," Adam said rubbing his arm with a mock pout.
"Doing?" Kat asked.
"Just hanging out. Lay off," Tommy interjected.
"I just asked a question, Tommy," Kat said curtly with a roll of her blue eyes.
Tommy sharply glared her down, "Sure you were."
Rocky looked around to see most of the people in the Juice Bar migrating towards the entrance.
"I think we need to head towards the bus, guys," Rocky said trying to cut the tension in the air.
Without another word, the five teenagers followed the crowd out of the door of the Juice Bar. Adam boarded the bus followed by Kat Tommy Rocky and Tanya. They all walked back towards the back of the bus. Adam slid into a window seat on the left side of the bus while Kat slid into a seat on the right. She smiled brightly when she saw Tommy approaching the back of the bus. She opened her mouth to ask him to sit with her but snapped it shut when he slid into a seat next to Adam. For the first time in years, she pouted. Things were not going right. All Tommy ever wanted to do was hang out with his damn buddies. Kat was so lost in thought she didn't even feel Tanya sit next to her. The Yellow Ranger gently bumped her shoulder into the pouting Pink Ranger's.
"What's wrong?" Tanya asked with a soft smile.
"Oh, nothing," Kat said glancing past Tanya and over at Tommy.
"You didn't ask him to sit with you?" Tanya asked.
"I didn't get a chance. I know I piss him off sometime but this is ridiculous," Kat muttered.
"He's sitting with Adam, it's not that serious," Tanya said.
Rocky sat silently in the single seat behind the Tanya and Kat. He folded his arms and relaxed into the small seat. He was not a big fan of Adam and Tommy's friendship. They were always laughing and hanging out; that used to be Adam and Rocky. When did Tommy become Adam's best friend?
***
"Tommy!" Adam called from a few feet away.
Tommy turned around holding a large clear plastic bag open. Adam tossed several plastic bottles into the bag.
"Alright man!" Tommy chuckled when Adam punched the air in victory.
"When does that party start? I'm starved," Adam asked.
"Maybe when the sun goes down?" Tommy said looking at the ocean. There were a few more volunteers closer to the water.
"I need a break," Adam sighed and sat down on the ground.
Tommy wiped the sweat off his brow, "Alright. I'm almost done."
He went back to bagging up the plastic bottles from the beach clean up. The sun would be setting soon so they needed to finish bagging the items that needed to be recycled. He stopped when he felt something softly hit him in the back of the head. He turned around and looked at a plastic bottle laying on the ground. Adam sat with his hands in his lap, trying to look as innocent as possible.
"Throwing stuff at me huh?" Tommy said taking a step forward.
Adam subconsciously leaned back and held up his hands, "It was an accident, dude!"
"I bet it was," Tommy said picking up the bottle.
Adam quickly got to his feet and took off running. Without missing a beat, Tommy ran after him kicking up sand with every step. They were the two fastest Rangers on the team and it showed. Adam was known to be very evasive but Tommy is very determined. Adam was slightly out of arms reach. Tommy briefly thought about his animal spirit.
How would a falcon catch a slippery, elusive frog?
Tommy ran as fast as the sand would let him before reaching out his hands and grabbing Adam midsection. Adam's back slammed right into chest and Tommy's arms went around his midsection in a tight bear hug.
"Gotcha," Tommy said panting in Adam's ear.
Adam laughed, "Alright alright: uncle!"
Tommy chuckled lowly, "You're fast, you know that?"
"And you're strong, I can barely breathe," Adam chuckled tapping Tommy's hands that were locked across his abdomen.
"Oh. Sorry," Tommy said losing the bear hug into a firm embrace. It was nice to hold someone again. He liked a warm body pressed up again his. The lonely nights since Kimberly left for Florida were making him crave contact from anyone.
'What's wrong with hugging him?' Tommy thought.
"Tommy," Adam said quietly.
"Yeah?" Tommy said in Adam's ear.
Adam tried to pull away from the hold Tommy had on him. He tried to shake off Tommy's arms but to no avail. He was stuck.
"Come on T, let go," Adam said with a nervous laugh.
"What if I don't want to?" Tommy said slyly.
Adam felt himself being quickly spun around. Tommy looked at the half guarded half scared look on Adam's face. Leaning down slightly, Tommy pressed a soft kiss against Adam's lips.
Adam violently balled his fist up. He felt like he should hit Tommy for what he was doing. He clenched and unclenched his fist at his side. He is a martial artist. He could have already gotten Tommy off of him but instead opted to kiss back. He hadn't had many kisses in his life so when Tommy slipped him the tongue, he quietly moaned.
Adam's fist relaxed into an open hand. It made its way up Tommy's arm and gently squeezed the taller man's shoulder. Their lips smacked when Tommy end the kiss.
"Bro, I'm sorry," Tommy said finally letting go of Adam's waist.
"You kissed me," Adam said with a confused frown. He didn't even bother to step away from Tommy.
"Sorry," Tommy said nervously rubbing the back of his neck.
"Why?" Adam asked.
"I just…" Tommy reached out to touch Adam's chin. He was surprised that Adam didn't recoil. "…I don't know."
"What are you guys doing down there?!"
The sudden call made Tommy drop his hand. They watched Rocky descend the hill trying to balance a paper plate with a ridiculous amount of food piled upon it.
"Huh?" Adam babbled.
Rocky arched his left eyebrow slightly, "Why are you guys way out here?"
"I thought we left a trash bag out here; had to come get it. What are you doing out here?" Tommy sneered before could stop himself.
"Kat wouldn't stop asking where you two were. I was elected to come find you guys. They already got the fire going and everything. The food's real good too," Rocky said eating something off of that humongous pile of food.
Thank God he didn't see that kiss.
"Did you leave any for us?" Adam quipped walking in Rocky's direction.
"Well duh. There's still some left."
Tommy watched Rocky and Adam start to walk up the hill. He stuffed his hands into his pocket and silently followed the Green and Blue Rangers back to the main site.
***
Rocky talked but Adam was only half listening. He was silently watching Kat and Tommy on the other side of the bonfire. When they had arrived back at the main site Kat insisted on making Tommy's plate and eating with him. She liked Tommy; everyone knew that when she joined the team.
"Aren't they cute?" Tanya asked from Adam's left side.
"I guess," Adam shrugged softly.
He continued to watch and half listen to Rocky's long winded rant. His lip curled in disgust when Kat held Tommy's hand in hers and smiled with content.
"Pink and red - a match made in heaven," Tanya said.
"Is anybody listening to me?!" Rocky yelled.
Adam looked at his best friend, "All ears, Rocko."
"Well…I forgot what I was saying. Thanks," Rocky said shoveling a forkful of food into his mouth.
Adam nodded and went back to watch Tommy. Their eyes locked for a moment. Adam would bet his life that his face was growing green. He lost his bet when Tommy went back to talking to Kat.
"This sucks. Is it time to go yet?" Adam said.
"No, what's wrong?" Tanya asked
"I just want to go home," Adam answered.
"I think something's up, guys," Rocky said.
The three teenagers looked across the fire to see Tommy and Kat standing. Tommy gestured towards his communicator. Adam's jealousy instantly faded as duty called. Tanya Rocky and Adam stood up and quickly made their way over to Tommy.
"That was Zordon; we need to get outta here," Tommy informed his team.
"A night attack? That's different," Tanya said quietly.
"I know, let's go," Tommy said walking away from the site.
Personal feelings had to be set aside for the greater good. Adam would fight along side Kat and Tommy but that does not mean he had to like it.