Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
"Oh my gosh, you guys, we are going to have so much fun." Kim explained as she excitedly guided the blue and yellow rangers through the doors of the Angel Grove Mall.
"I'll bet," Billy sighed as he looked around at the people aimlessly walking around with their bags. Why did I agree to this? An afternoon at the mall with Kimberly. Oh that's right, I didn't agree to this. Billy grabbed Trini's arm and the two fell back slightly behind Kim. "I thought it was going to be just us. You know what happened the last time I was at the mall with Kimberly. You promised it wouldn't be like that this time."
"Shh," Trini whispered back at her blue clad companion. "She'll hear you. I wanted it to be just us, but she wanted to help. It will hurt her feelings is she finds out that we didn't want her to come."
"Come on guys," Kim cheered happily back at the two. "I know the perfect place to go to get everything we'll need to look our best at the formal."
"How did she find out about this excursion anyway?" Billy eyed the Asian beauty.
Trini braced herself for his reaction. "I kind of told her."
"What?" Billy asked incredulously. "Why on earth would you do something like that?"
"I was excited about going to the formal. It just slipped out." Trini explained, staring into his eyes.
"You're excited?" Billy smiled, raising his eyebrows at her. She's excited to be going with me. I must be dreaming.
Whoops. I didn't mean to give that much away. Maybe he won't notice how completely in love I am with him. "Well yeah, I'm always excited for school dances. They're just so much fun." Nice save Trini.
"Yeah, of course," Billy tried not to look hurt. Figures. I knew that sounded way too good to be true. Why can't she just love me the way that I love her?
"Are you guys coming or what?" Kim yelled back at the two as she eyed them suspiciously. Why can't they just tell each other how they feel? How can it be so obvious to everyone except for them? Even Bulk and Skull can see it. It's truly amazing how the two smartest rangers are also the most oblivious. I guess I'll just have to take care of this myself. "Stacie's has the best formal wear in all of Angel Grove." Kim grabbed their hands and pulled them in the direction of the store.
One Hour Later
"I really think this is the one," Kim told them as she entered the dressing room.
"Kim, you said the same thing about the last twelve dresses," Trini reminded her. We're going to be here forever.
"Yes, but this time I really am sure," Kim assured her as she closed the door.
"This is why I didn't want to come to the mall with Kim. We've been here for an hour and she's the only one we have shopped for," Billy whispered.
"I know, but this REALLY is the one," Trini nudged him in the arm.
"You don't really believe that do you?" Billy questioned. I sure as hell don't.
"No, but a girl can hope." Trini told him as the door opened and Kim appeared in a long pink gown.
"What do you guys think of this one?" Kim spun around to fully model the dress for them. The dress was a strapless, light pink, ballroom gown with lace at the bottom.
"I think I like this one better than the others." Trini told her honestly. "If you wear this you'll really blow Tommy's socks off."
"That's what I'm hoping for. Literally." Kim smirked at the pair. "What do you think Billy?"
I think that is entirely too much information. "Honestly, I thought they were all great. Although, I do have to admit, this one does have that certain star quality to it." Billy told her truthfully.
"I agree," Kim skipped back into the dressing room. "See, I told you guys this was the one."
"Finally," the blue and yellow ranger sighed.
Kim emerged from the fitting room a couple of minutes later and stared at the two. "Okay, so which one of you is first."
"I really want to just get this over with," Billy told her.
"Okay," Kim grabbed his arm and pulled him over to where the tuxedos were. "So do you want to go with the traditional black or the stunning baby blue? Then again, you would probably look good in white."
"I'm not doing white. Tommy is most likely wearing white and I don't want to match him." Billy told her. "I'll try the black and the baby blue." He took one of each and the three heroes headed back to the dressing room.
"So when are you going to stop fooling around and tell Billy how much you love him?" Kim asked her best friend once Billy had closed the door.
"Excuse me?" Trini asked disbelievingly. How the hell does she know that? I have never told her of my feelings for Billy.
"I said when are you going to stop fooling around and tell him how much you love him?"
"Yeah, I heard what you said. I just don't believe it. Why do you think I love Billy?" Trini asked stunned. Am I really that obvious?
"I can just tell," Kim smiled at her. "Everyone can. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how much you two love each other."
Oh God I am. "Kim, that's ridiculous. I don't love…." Trini began but stopped when Billy stepped out of the dressing room in the black tux.
"Wow, look how handsome you are," Kim circled around him and then turned to Trini. "You'll have to fight all of the other girls off with a stick."
"Won't I," Trini agreed. "It really looks good on you Billy."
"You really think so?" Billy looked to Trini for confirmation. "I feel kind of preposterous."
"Yeah, you look really amazing Billy." Trini smiled at him.
"If you say so," Billy shrugged, heading back into the dressing room. If Trini says I look good, who am I to argue?
"Now, back to our conversation," Kim began once Billy had closed the door. "Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"
"Kim, I'm not in love with him." Trini lied to her. Please just drop it.
"Liar," Kim accused. "Like I said, everyone can see it. Well everyone except Billy apparently. We all see how you two look at each other. It's not just that either. You two are always working on projects together even when it's not required. You're always doing homework together. You're always the first ones to come to the others defense. You always sit next to each other at lunch"
"Kim we're friends. That's why we do those things."
"That's bullshit and you know it," Kim scolded her. "Besides, since when do friends sleep together?"
"Kimberly, we are not sleeping together," Trini scolded her, stunned that her friend would have such an idea. Where did she get an idea like that?
"Get your mind out of the gutter Trini. I didn't mean sex. I meant the way you two always sleep cuddled up next to each other at our ranger sleepovers." Kim told her.
"We're just keeping each other warm with body heat," Trini tried to explain to her friend.
"Again. Bullshit." Kim told her. "Come on Tri, even Bulk and Skull can see it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, why do you think Bulk stopped asking you for dates?" Kim asked her.
"Because I threatened to castrate him," Trini guessed.
"He thinks you're dating Billy. The whole school does." Kim answered.
"The whole school?"
Before Kim could confirm, Billy stepped out in the baby blue tux. "What do you guys think?"
"Billy, I think this one is my favorite," Trini circled him this time. "I think I'll need something bigger than a stick."
Billy blushed at the compliment. "Thanks. If you think this is the one then I'll go with it."
"What about my opinion?" Kim asked.
"I'm not going with you," Billy told her heading back into the dressing room.
Trini turned to her once the door was closed. "Besides, even if I did like him, which I don't, he doesn't like me back."
"Trini have you not been paying attention to our conversation?" Kim asked. "He does love you back."
"He does?" Could it be true? Could he love me back? He's given me no indication that he does, but Kim seems pretty sure.
"Yes," Kim smiled at her. "Did you notice how your opinion was the only one that mattered? He only cares about how he looks to you."
"Well we are going to the dance together," Trini reasoned. "Maybe that is all there is to it."
"It's not," Kim told her. How can I convince her? "He told Tommy that he is in love with you." A little white lie never hurt anyone. Besides, I do know that he loves her.
"And if I were to ask Tommy?"
"He won't tell you," Kim told her. "Billy told him in complete confidence."
"Then why would Tommy tell you?" Do you really think I'm that gullible?
"Tommy and I agreed never to keep secrets from each other," Kim stated simply. "Come on Trini. If you don't tell him, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Not only that, you'll be missing out on a great guy."
Maybe she's right. Maybe I should tell him. Then again, if I tell him and he doesn't feel the same way, I would be devastated. Kim says he loves me, but how can I be sure? I don't believe or one second that he told Tommy anything. I know when Kim is lying, she's horrible at it. "I'll think about it," Trini told her.
Well that's better than no I guess. Maybe I'll have better luck with Billy. "It's a start," Kim told her as Billy emerged from the dressing room.
"Are you ready to find your dress?" Billy asked Trini.
"Yeah," Trini smiled at him and the three headed back to the gowns. "What do you guys think of this one?" Trini held the silky, pale yellow gown up to herself.
"I think it would look amazing on you," Billy smiled at her. "Then again, you look amazing in everything." Did I really just say that?
Trini blushed. Is he flirting with me? Could Kim actually be right? "Thanks,"Trini grabbed the spaghetti strapped gown and headed for the dressing room. "I'll only be a minute," Trini told them a she closed the door.
"So Billy, Trini looks really pretty today, doesn't she?" Kim asked.
"Trini always looks pretty," Billy answered.
"You like her," Kim accused. "Why don't you tell her?"
"Am I really that obvious?" Billy looked at his friend.
"To everyone but her," Kim answered. At least he's admitting it. "So make her aware."
"I can't do that," Billy shook his head. "Telling her would only cause problems."
"Oh yeah," Kim crossed her arms at him. "What kind of problems?"
"Where should I start?" Billy asked as Trini emerged from the dressing room.
"Tri, you're a knockout," Kim complimented her friend. "What do you think Billy?"
"I think I'll need Jason's power sword to keep the guys away," Billy told her. "It looks beautiful on you Trini."
"It really matches Billy's tux as well." Kim told her. "What a good looking pair you two will make."
Trini smiled and headed back inside. What is she up to?
"Now, these problems?" Kim turned back to Billy.
"Well for one thing, our friendship means a lot to me. I don't want to do anything that might ruin that." Billy explained. I'd rather have Trini as my friend then to not have her at all.
"That won't happen. A romantic relationship would only make your bond stronger." Kim reasoned. "They always say friends make the best lovers."
"And where did you hear an idea like that?" Billy asked.
"I don't exactly remember, but I know it is true."
"Okay, but what about the team? If Trini and I were to get together it could mess up team chemistry. I don't want to put everyone at risk." Billy told him.
"Billy, team chemistry would be fine.
Kim told him. "Tommy and I manage just fine. The team hasn't suffered since we got together."
"Yeah, because he wasn't always here. It's different for Trini and me. "Billy explained.
"You're just looking for excuses not to tell her." Kim accused him.
Billy shook his head. "Why are we even discussing this? Even if I had the courage to tell her, what good would it do? She only sees me as a friend."
"That's not true," Kim told him. "Trini loves you."
"As a friend."
"No, as more than a friend."
"Kim, please don't lie to me."
"I'm not," Kim defended herself. ""Why do you think Trini turned down every guy that invited her to the formal?"
"Trini turned Gabe Nichols down because he only wanted to get her in bed. She told me herself." Billy explained.
"Yeah," Kim agreed. "What about all the other guys Trini turned down?"
"What other guys?" Billy questioned. "She said Gabe was the only one who asked her."
"She lied." Kim told him plainly. "Stephen Dawkins, Grant Howard, Greg Sawyers, and Alex Richards all asked her."
"They did?"
"Yeah, but she wanted to go with you. That's why she turned them down," Kim enlightened him. "She always does this."
"So Trini always goes to dances with me because she feels sorry for me?" Billy asked dejectedly.
"No. She goes because she loves you. You are the one she wants to spend time with."
"And you know this how?"
"Trini told me as much. She told me she loves you." Okay, so she didn't exactly say the words, but she all but did. She stopped denying what I know to be true. It's the same thing really.
"She told you she's in love with me?" Of course she told her. They're best friends. They tell each other everything.
"Yes," Kim patted him on the back. "Tell her how you feel. I promise you won't regret it and it would make both of you happy."
"I don't know Kim. I'll have to seriously think about it." Billy told her as Trini came out of the dressing room.
"Are you guys ready or not?" Trini asked.
"Yeah, let's go," Kim told her and the three headed to the register. Hmm. So neither is willing to tell the other. It looks like I'm going to have to take more drastic measures.