CHAPTER 3: The Date

Wes pulled up to Karone's apartment at 6:30. Before getting out of his Black Audi A4, Wes took a moment to think about Jen. He wondered what she was doing. How she was. It had been a month since he'd heard from her.

Wes had thought his love life was over, until he had met Karone. Over the last two weeks, they had caught up for coffee another time and had gone out for drinks, along with Andros, Ashley, Carter, Dana and Eric. The two were the last to leave, talking to the early hours of the morning. On top of this they'd been working together on the Morphers (along with the others) and been training together. They made an amazing team.

And now two weeks on, they were going on their first date. Wes was dressed in a navy blue, three-buttoned suit with brown dress shoes and a no tie. He approached her mahogany door on the second floor and knocked. The door opened to reveal Karone in a short pink dress with her hair down to her shoulders, slightly curled.

"Wow. Karone, you look amazing." Wes was stunned.

"You don't looked too bad yourself," she winked.

Wes offered her his arm and with that, they left for their date, a date that would be the first of many.

XXX

When they arrived at the restaurant, one of Silver Hills' finest, they were greeted by the owner.

"Mr. Collins!"

"It's Wes, Jarrod. Mr. Collins is my father." Wes grinned.

With Karone on his arm, he followed Jarrod to their table, offered Karone a seat and then sat himself down. They sat at a table for two, overlooking the city, up in the literal hills of Silver Hills.

"So, we've talked work, personal lives and both of our god-awful issues. Tell me about your parents," Karone prompted.

"Well, my mom died when I was 10. She was really kind-hearted and after that, dad kind of became work-obsessed. He was always pressuring me to work hard, which I did and it got me where I am today, so I guess I can't complain."

Karone smiled. "Me neither."

"What about you?"

"I don't really remember my parents to be honest." Her face dropped a little.

Wes didn't like how things were going, but luckily things did pick up from there on. As the night progressed, Wes started to realise just how much he was starting to feel for Karone. Karone laughed at Wes and Wes did everything he could to make her smile. She in turn wowed him with her kind heart and stories of humanitarian aid, which she had been conducting for the past year and a half. Wes also discovered that she had moved to Silver Hills in order to be close to her brother and Ashley.

"So, what about relationships?" She questioned him. "Any skeletons in your closet?"

"Just the one. Jen." He told her.

"The Pink Time Force Ranger, right?"

"Yeah."

"So what happened between you two?" Karone asked him tentatively.

Wes decided to tell Karone. He could trust her. They hadn't known each other long, but he felt something strong for her. Maybe not as strong as he'd felt for Jen, not yet. But she was definitely someone he could trust. "She was from the future, like the other Time Force Rangers." He began. "But we can never be together. We spoke about a month ago. She told me that she'd worked things out with her ex and that they were getting married. She said she'd moved on, learned to let go and maybe I should too." Wes lowered his head and stared at his lap.

Karone took Wes' hands in hers from across the table. "Wes, I'm sorry things didn't work out between you two. I truly am." She wasn't sure how she felt about this. Did he still love her? Was she just a rebound girl?

Wes looked up at her and smiled. "Don't be." He told her. "If that hadn't happened, I would never have been on this date with you tonight." He squeezed her hand gently.

She returned his smile and they amicably agreed to talk about something much lighter.

"So, what movies are you into?" Karone asked. "I'm catching up on heaps myself."

"I love comedy, wild westerns and don't mind romantic movies to be honest." Wes responded.

Karone smiled. "Those are my favourite genres too. I love comedy. Got any suggestions?"

"Heaps," Wes grinned.

XXX

When it was time for the night to end, Wes once again offered Karone his arm and led her back to the car. The drive back to Karone's apartment was mostly silent, but eventually Karone broke the comfortable quiet.

"Wes?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For showing me that there's redemption for everyone. For being the kind of person that I can be myself around."

"Anytime" He told her.

Wes walked Karone right to her door. After she opened it, she turned back to him.

"Isn't this the part where the guy usually kisses the girl?" She asked, her blue eyes sparkling.

Wes obliged and placed his hands on her thin hips. In return, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm happy to play the part," Wes grinned. He drew her into a deep kiss and Karone again felt the feeling she had felt at the café, but largely elevated.

"You know, I don't think I've ever felt this way about anyone" Karone said, smiling up at Wes. "So are we really doing this?"

"Depends exactly on what 'this' is, doesn't it?" Wes teased.

"You and me, together. In a relationship. I know it's only our first date, but honestly Wes, I don't want to wait and see where this is going. I want us to take charge. All my life, I've done what people have told me, but now I have the opportunity to make something of my own. What do you say?"

"Take control of our own future? I like the sound of that." Wes grinned. He drew her into another kiss, this one shorter, but just as deep.

After a few more minutes, Wes left for home. He couldn't wait to tell Carter, Dana and Eric.

End of chapter 3. Don't forget to leave a review :)

A/N: I've got my exams coming up for school, so I'm not exactly sure when the fourth chapter will be up. It's done, the first draft anyway, but I have a heap of revising to do.