Author's note: I wrote this a long time ago and somehow forgot to post it.
-x-
Trini felt a little pang as she watched Tommy walk Kimberly to class. It was sickeningly sweet the way he doted on her, even going so far as carrying her books for her.
To be perfectly honest, she was a bit jealous. Not only had Kimberly found a heart-stopping passion in her relationship with Tommy, that "fairy tale romance" was taking away the time Trini had always used to talk to her friend. And while she didn't necessarily mind being stuck with the guys before class everyday, she just couldn't talk to them about the same things she discussed with Kim.
Like the fact that she didn't have a date for the upcoming holiday dance. The boys just wouldn't understand why that was a problem the way Kimberly would.
Jason wandered over to where Trini was leaning against her locker, seemingly not perturbed in the least by the lovebirds' very public displays of affection.
"Hey Trini," he said brightly, his expression darkening when he saw the look on her face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she protested, but she could never lie to him for long and ended up admitting, "I might be a little upset because I don't have anyone to go to the dance with."
"What about Richie? You're all he seems to talk about lately," Jasone remarked nonchalantly. "I don't think he's got a date yet."
For a moment, Trini didn't respond. This was just... What had just happened? She gave him a sidelong glance. "Jase, are you trying to fill in for Kimberly?"
"She's busy, so someone's got to, right?" he asked.
Unbidden, an image of Jason wearing Kimberly's Pink Ranger uniform flashed in Trini's head. Stifling her giggles as best as possible, she told him, "That's very sweet of you."
"Just trying to help," he said, grinning.