Disclaimer: I own Renee Oliver, Chad McKnight, Jade Scott, Frank, Meagan, and Tyler and Carter Smith.
Summary: Like I said, I'll explain the whole Jason and Kat thing, and Chad witnesses something so shocking, he has to go to Tommy to tell him.
Chapter 2 I Want to be More Than Just Friends
Chad glanced over his shoulder in English to find Renee's boyfriend, Frank. What he saw shocked him so much that he had to do a double take.
"No, way," Chad gasped. Frank was kissing the hand of what Chad thought to be Frank's cousin, Meagan. "Cool it, McKnight. They're just cousins, nothing more. He wouldn't cheat on Renee in front of me."
"Meet me at the park after school," Frank whispered, but Chad heard.
Then he saw something that he was going to get up and kick Frank's ass right in front of the class. Frank kissed Meagan.
"What the hell," Chad yelled to himself.
That was it. Chad could not take it anymore. He wrote a pass for the teacher to sign and walked out of class.
"Cousin's my ass," he said under his breath as he walked out the door. He took a deep breath as he walked into the restroom. Chad looked at himself in the mirror after washing his face. "Sorry, Renee."
xxx
Renee met Chad outside of her dad's classroom for lunch. Chad had not gotten out yet, so she walked in.
"Hey you two," Renee smiled, unknown to her what was happening.
"Chad has informed me of some disturbing news," Tommy said.
"News about what, Dad?" Renee asked.
She had no clue what her father was talking about.
"Can I tell her at lunch, Mr. Oliver?" Chad asked.
"Sure, I'm meeting Kim for lunch anyway," Tommy said.
Tommy turned back to his desk to grab his briefcase.
"Tell Mom hi for me, Dad," Renee said.
"Will do, Renee," Tommy laughed. Renee tiptoed and kissed her dad's cheek. Tommy stopped behind Chad and whispered something in his ear when Renee was walking out. "Take care of her when she gets the news. If she's anything like Kim, she's going to have a nervous breakdown."
"Sure thing," Chad said.
"Come on, Chad," Renee yelled.
"Coming, Renee," he said.
Chad turned back to Tommy and sighed.
"Enjoy lunch," Tommy said.
"I'll try my best, Mr. Oliver," Chad sighed.
xxx
Chad and Renee sat across from each other during lunch. Renee looked up at Chad, who was picking at his food.
"Are you really nervous about telling me your news?" she asked with a laugh.
"You're going to think I'm crazy when I tell you, but I need to tell you," Chad sighed.
"Then just tell me, Chad," Renee said.
"Frank is cheating on you with Meagan," he snapped.
Renee leaned back in her seat in shock. Was she hearing Chad correctly?
"Yeah right, Chad. They're cousins," Renee cried.
There was a little laugh in her voice as well.
"That's what he wants us to believe. I saw them kissing during English. I'm not making this shit up, Renee," Chad said.
"Prove it then," she snapped. "Show me he is."
"They're going to the park after school. I'll prove it to you then," Chad said.
Renee turned from Chad and rested her head on the palm of her hand.
"We'll see then," she sighed.
"You got to believe me," Chad begged.
"Right now, I'm not going to say I do," Renee said.
"Oh, come on. I'm your best friend damn it. I'm only protecting you," Chad said.
"And that's what's making me believe you more than Frank," Renee replied.
Renee smiled as she leaned over the table and kissed Chad's cheek.
"But I thought…" Chad began.
"I may not fully believe you, but I do more than Frank," Renee said.
xxx
Chad could hardly hear the radio over his thoughts.
"I would never do that to her. I love her too much. Oh my God! I do. I do love her. I love Renee," he said to himself.
Renee let out a sigh as the truck came to a halt.
"It's funny," she said.
Renee reached down to hold her dad's necklace that her mother had given her on her sixteenth birthday last year.
"What's funny?" Chad asked.
"I can feel my dad when I wear it," Renee said.
"The necklace?" Chad asked.
"Yeah. Sometimes, it gives me the strength to do some things I never thought I would be able to do," Renee said.
"Like what?" Chad asked.
"Breaking it off with Frank," Renee sighed.
His eyes widened.
"But I thought…" Chad began.
"Chad, I was stupid to have ever doubted you. Besides, we're best friends, right? You were only protecting me," Renee smiled.
As Renee got out of the truck to find Frank, Chad looked down and shook his head.
"I want to more than just friends," he said.
xxx
Renee watched as Frank and Meagan kissed. Frank's face went pale when he saw her.
"Renee," he gasped.
"You didn't think I'd find out sooner or later? Funny," she laughed.
"But…" Frank started.
"Oh my God. You honestly think I'm going to believe anything that comes out of your mouth about this. It's over," Renee yelled. She took the ring that he had given her and threw it at him. "I hate you!"
Renee turned around and began walking back to the truck.
xxx
Chad was a bit shocked when he saw Renee enter the truck.
"No crying?" he asked.
Renee surprisingly smiled at Chad's words as she closed the door.
"Why should I be? I knew what I was going to find," she sighed.
"Told you," Chad laughed.
"Can you ever forgive me for being such a bitch?" Renee asked.
"Bitch? You're not even close to being a bitch. You love… loved the guy," Chad said.
"Loved," Renee laughed. Renee smiled and threw her arms around Chad. "Thank you for being here."
"Always," Chad smiled.
"I guess I'll have Jade looking over me too now," Renee laughed.
"Why do you say he's your cousin anyway?" Chad asked.
"Well, I've always called Jason and Kat Aunt and Uncle," Renee said.
"Did they start dating the same time your parents did?" Chad asked.
"It's kind of a funny story. No one knew they were even together until Aunt Kat got pregnant with Jade two months after my mom got pregnant with me," Renee laughed.
Chad also began to laugh along with Renee. He was glad to see her in such high spirits.
"They were secretly dating?" Chad asked.
"They started dating shortly after Aunt Kat moved back from London," Renee said.
"Why didn't they want anyone to know?" Chad wondered.
"As of that point, Mom and Dad were the only 'power couple', as they put it. Having two more former rangers dating would just make things just weird I guess," Renee said.
"Weird? Remember my parents were dating as Power Rangers," Chad replied.
Renee realized that that was true. She never really understood the reason for it.
"I really don't know. That was just my thinking," Renee said.
xxx
Kim was walking back and forth in the living room.
"Tommy, I'm getting really worried about Renee," she sighed.
"Don't worry, Kim, she's with Chad," he assured her.
"I'm worried about how she's taking everything," she said.
Tommy laughed as he pulled his wife to his lap and kissed her.
"If she's anything like you, she'll be fine. Maybe take it hard at first, but she'll get over it," he said.
"I guess we'll find out sooner than later," Kim sighed. She looked at the widow as she saw Chad's truck pull up. Tommy and Kim got up and opened the door. "There they are."
Kim quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter.
"Mom, I'm all right. Really, I am," Renee laughed.
"You don't look like you've been crying. Chad must have prepared you well," Tommy said.
"I was ready to face the truth," Renee replied.
As Chad was walking out the door, Tommy followed.
"You love her… don't her?" he asked.
"Excuse me, Sir?" Chad asked.
Chad could not believe what he was hearing. Was he really that obvious?
"I see the way you look at her. Even though it's hard as a father to say that, I'm comfortable knowing it's you," Tommy said.
"And why's that, Mr. Oliver?" Chad asked.
"I know your parents, I know how you act, and most of all… I know you'll take care of her," Tommy said.
"That really means a lot to me," Chad smiled.
"Just don't try any funny business right now. It'll take time to…" Tommy began.
"No problem, Mr. Oliver. I totally understand," Chad said. "But what if she..."
"I don't want to think about that, but that's her choice," Tommy replied.
AN:
An old friend returns. The question is… who is it?