Disclaimer: Saban owns Power Rangers and the characters within, not I.
Friends
Jason sat looking at the chemistry homework in front of him. His eyes were on the pen in his hand as it was pressed against the notebook paper. His eyes were on it, but he found he wasn't really seeing it. In his mind he continued to picture only one thing. Or rather only one person.
"Kimberly.." Jason said quietly and absentmindedly as a smile formed on her face.
"Um.. no.." A voice from his right startled Jason and he turned to see who the intruder was. Instead of seeing his usual visitor he saw a different girl.
"Trini.. h.. what.. did you come in the window?" Jason asked as his eyes went past his new teammate to look behind her.
"Yeah I did bossman." Trini replied as she started looking around his room. Jason watched her with a bewildered look on his face as he tried to come to terms with what Trini may be doing in his room.
"I... um.. I told you not to call me that." Jason responded as he watched a playful smile come across Trini's features before she finally settled her eyes on him and away from her surroundings. "What are you doing?"
"I was talking to Kim... she might have mentioned her visits into your always open window..." Trini began as she plopped down on the edge of Jason's bed.
"So.. you thought... you'd just.." Jason interjected with an amused look on his face.
"I did." She replied with a cheeky grin.
"Well.. okay.. um.. did you have a particular reason you wanted to see me?" He asked as he closed the textbook and swiveled around in his chair to face Trini. He could tell from her expression that she did indeed have a reason for her visit, but was having an internal struggle on how to word it to him.
"Actually.." Trini began. "My mom was um.. we had a bit of a blow up and I just wanted to get out of the house for awhile."
"Oh.." Jason responded as he watched her fidget nervously with her hands for a moment.
"Also.. I guess I did want to talk to you about something.." Trini continued, raising her gaze up to meet Jason. Jason was very intrigued by her body language as he was not used to seeing the usually very outspoken new friend of his seem so unsure of herself.
"Shoot." Jason said as he sat up in his chair and leaned forward.
"It's.. well... here's the thing bossman." She started.
"Trini.." Jason interjected at her choice of words.
"Well.. aren't you?" Trini countered.
"What?" He questioned.
"The boss... leader or whatever." Trini clarified.
"Um.. well.." Jason searched for the best way to answer. Truth was, he was the leader, but it was not a role he was entirely comfortable with yet. In his eyes the rest of the team was just as capable as him and he was still struggling to understand what made him fit to be classified as the leader. "I... Zordon.."
"It's okay Jason." Trini said. Her saying his name prompted him to stop and smile slightly. "You are a good leader."
"I don't think.." He began a rebuttal.
"No.. I know you aren't sure you are cut out for it... but I do.. and so does the rest of the team." She informed him. "Yes even Zack."
"You think so?" Jason questioned with a slight chuckle as the yellow clad teen has read his thoughts.
"I know so.. he told me." Trini explained. "And that's why I'm here Jason."
"What is it?" Jason questioned as a troubled look came over her face.
"I... um.. I'm.." Trini hesitated. "Scared."
"Scared?" Jason repeated.
"Yeah.." Trini responded before she stood up and made her way over to his window. Jason watched as it looked as if she just wanted to jump out of it and bolt. He stood up to walk over to stand beside of her. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you scared of?" Jason questioned softly as Trini turned to face him.
"Everything..." Trini responded vaguely.
"I'm.. can you clarify what that means?" Jason questioned.
"Rita said there would be others.." Trini replied. Jason nodded in response as he started to understand that her fears were the same ones that he and Kimberly shared. "And Jason.. what if she comes back too?"
"Well.. I mean... I don't think she will but if she does.. we stopped her once." Jason responded.
"Yeah.. but.." Trini searched for her words.
"We'll stop her again if she does.. we'll stop anyone if they come for the crystal." Jason stated. Trini searched his eyes to try to determine if he believed his words. She smiled after a moment and shook her head.
"See... this is why you are the leader." Trini said punching him lightly on the arm.
"What?" He asked.
"This... here I am thinking we got lucky.. but you.. you don't think that at all." Trini explained.
"I don't." Jason replied as he turned to sit on his window sill. "I've always believed in us."
"Well... I mean we did save the world." Trini said with a grin as she turned to sit on the sill next to Jason.
"Yeah we did." He responded as he turned to her. She nodded and they sat in silence for a few moments. Trini turned behind her to see the sun starting to set and she turned back to Jason.
"So... WHAT is up with you and Kim?" She questioned with a huge grin on her face. Jason could feel his cheeks redden and he let out a little burst of nervous laughter.
"What.. wha.." Jason began to answer. "What'd she say?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Trini responded teasingly. Jason shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
"I mean.. I like her." He responded.
"Yeah.. I don't think that was a secret bossman." She said with a laugh. He smiled at her response and continued.
"I guess she likes me too.. so.." Jason suggested.
"Mmhmm." Trini reacted with a nod. "Sooo what happens during these nightly visits I wonder?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" It was Jason's turn to tease now.
"Well played." She responded before standing up and turning to face the sunset. "Well.. for what it's worth I'm rooting for you guys."
"Thanks Trini.. it's worth a lot actually." Jason replied earnestly as he too stood up and turned to face the sunset as well. They stood and watched as it lowered out of sight and darkness began to creep up the side of the house. Both were startled slightly by a noise to their right and they turned to see Billy coming into a view.
"Oh.. hey.." Billy said as he stopped in front of the window.
"Billy what.." Jason responded as he turned to Trini and then back to his new visitor.
"Kimberly mentioned.." Billy began but stopped when Jason put his hands up and began to laugh.
"Come on in Billy." Jason said as he stepped aside and motioned for Billy. Billy smiled and then climbed into the window and landed between the two.
"Hi Trini.. did you come because of Kimberly too?" Billy asked as he turned to her.
"Yep." She replied as she walked over and sat down on the edge of Jason's bed. Billy looked around the room for a moment before his eyes fell on Jason's homework. He walked over and sat down at the desk and turned to Jason.
"I love chemistry." He stated before turning to see what Jason was working on. Jason just smiled and turned to Trini who simply shrugged her shoulders.
"So.. what.." Jason began but was stopped when a sound from him left interrupted him.
"Knock knock." Zack said sticking his head in through the window. He saw Trini and gave her a smile and wink before turning to Jason. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah." Jason replied as Zack made his way inside and over to the bed to sit next to Trini. "Kimberly?"
"Yup..." Zack replied. "She says the window is open if we need to talk."
"Well.. yeah.." Jason said as he found an empty chair and sat down. "So.. what do we do now?"
"Hey Jason.." Kimberly's voice from the still open window echoed into the room. She stuck her head in and then turned to Jason and gave him a sympathetic look as she saw his room full. He motioned her on in.
"Hey Kimberly." Billy said looking up briefly from the textbook before busying himself with it again. Kimberly looked around for a place to sit and when she didn't see one she walked over and sat down in Jason's lap. The action shocked Jason, but not in a bad way. He smiled as she got comfortable. He then looked up to see Trini and Zack grinning widely at the couple.
"I didn't think they would all show up at once." Kim turned to Jason and whispered. "I merely mentioned how talking to you had made me feel better.."
"Yeah.. it's okay." Jason replied his eyes tracing her beautiful features.
"So bossman... what is our next move?" Trini asked, garnering Jason's attention.
"Um.. well.. as Rangers I think we umm.. are done for now." Jason responded. He then looked around at each of them. "As friends though.. I could go for pizza how about you?"
"As long as it's pepperoni." Billy said sticking his head up from the book and looking around at the group. They laughed in response, prompting a smile from him.
"You got Netflix?" Zack asked as he motioned over to the tv at the foot of Jason's bed.
"Um.. yeah.." Jason replied as he took the remote and tossed it over to Zack.
"Cool." Zack responded as turned the tv on and began searching Netflix for something for the group to watch. Soon he and Trini were playfully arguing over what to watch, while Billy was chiming in with his thoughts on each of their suggestions.
"So I guess... um.. everyone knows about us now?" Jason said quietly as he looked up at Kim.
"Yeah.. they do." She responded with a smile before leaning down to kiss him. "You okay with that?"
"I love it." He responded as their lips were still pressed together lightly.
"Would you like us to leave you two alone?" Trini teased, getting the couple's attention. They straightened themselves out and laughed.
"No.." Kim responded for the couple.
"Good.. cause I think we finally settled on what to watch.. so how about we order that pizza?" Trini suggested smiling as she had won the war on what to watch.
"Okay.. pepperoni good with everyone?" Jason asked as he retrieved his phone from his pocket. He smiled as a chorus of "yeahs" rang out across the room.