Here's chapter four. Shoutouts to Chylea3784, Zeopurple, Lonly Girl and Destiny45. Thanks for reviewing the previous chap. :)
I hope everybody's okay with this chapter.
Ready? Here we go...
(Next Saturday)
It was now a week later and Trini was having lunch with Zack and Aisha Taylor at a cafe located on the outskirts of Angel Grove. The three former rangers were in the outside sitting area, enjoying good conversation and food.
Aisha looked down at her plate, then, up at Trini. "How you holding up, Tri?" Of course, everyone now knew of Trini and Steve's breakup.
"Well, I'm still sort of shocked that he's not who I thought he was. Disappointed, of course. But, for the most part, I'm doing okay. Thanks to you guys and the others," Trini said with a smile.
Zack flashed his megawatt grin at his lifelong friend, reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "You know we love ya, girl."
"I love you all, too, Zack," she said truthfully. Then, she sighed and shook her head. "It just really is too bad that Steve's-"
"A jackass?" Aisha supplied, cocking an eyebrow.
"I'm with wifey on this one, Tri," Zack said, draping his arm around Aisha's shoulders.
Trini laughed. "Actually, I was gonna say "so irrational". But jackass works just fine," she said- causing her friends to laugh.
"I know we've said this a million times already, but, you deserve so much better," Aisha said.
"And you'll get better, Trini. You're a great catch. Steve's stupid. He's obviously been sniffing some of that gunpowder or something," Zack said- causing his wife and friend to laugh.
"Leave it to you to have me grinning like a maniac nonstop, Zachary. Never change, please," Trini said.
"No problem there," he said seriously.
Trini grinned. "Good. Now, why don't we change topics?"
"I'm all for that. What do you wanna talk about?" Aisha asked.
"How about you two? Do you guys have anything planned for tonight?" Trini asked.
"We're gonna do a little dance, make a little love... pretty much, you know, get down tonight," Zack said, mock serious. Aisha rolled her eyes and Trini laughed.
"We're having dinner at that new Italian restaurant," Aisha told her predecessor.
"And, afterwards, I'm thinking a drive up the coast," Zack said.
Aisha grinned at him. "We haven't done that in a while! And tomorrow, how about the IHOP for breakfast?"
"That works, baby. I don't care where we eat. As long as you're with me," he said, smiling at her.
"Aww," Aisha said, leaning into him. He kissed her nose and Trini couldn't help smiling at the sweet exchange.
"Hey, are Jase and Kim coming back from that bed-and-breakfast tomorrow morning or night?" Zack asked Trini.
"Night," she replied.
"We should go on a romantic getaway, baby," Aisha said to Zack.
"That's a great idea," Trini said, nodding.
"It is. Where'd you like to go, Ishe?" Zack asked.
"I don't know..." Aisha said.
"I have a few ideas if you're interested," Trini told her friends. Then, they spent the next half-hour discussing possible locations.
Billy put his car in 'park' after pulling into a spot in Java Land's parking lot a few hours later. Java Land was a coffeehouse in Stone Canyon. The former blue ranger got out of his car, closed and locked the door and was about to head towards the building until...
"Billy! Hi."
He turned to see Trini hurrying up to him. An easy grin lit his face. "Hi, Trini."
"So, you're in a decaf mood as well, huh?" she said with a smile.
He laughed. "Affirmative."
Trini nodded, then, laughed. He raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that whenever you say affirmative, I start thinking of the looks on Zack, Kim and Jason's faces when they heard you say it for the first time."
The memory floated into Billy's mind and he laughed once again. "Yeah. It was always pretty humorous when they turned to you for translation of 'Billy-speak'," he said.
"Definitely," she agreed with a light laugh.
"I have to say, Trini... to this very day, a part of me is still stunned you guys became my friends," he said as they entered the coffeehouse.
"You shouldn't be, Billy," she said gently. "But, to tell the truth, I didn't think I'd find four close friends in kindergarten, either."
It'd been awkward that first day of kindergarten. Billy'd been too nervous and shy to say anything to anybody and Trini had calmly sat at a table by herself. Jason, Kim and Zack had known each other already because they'd attended preschool together- so the three of them had sat together.
But Kim and Zack- being the sociable, energetic people they were- had struck up conversations with both Billy and Trini. Jason had joined in as well. Next thing they knew, the five of them were at the same table.
"Twenty years," Billy said as they sat at a table together.
"It really doesn't seem like it's been that long," Trini said as a waitress came over. After relaying their orders, Billy looked at his friend.
"I apologize if you're tired of hearing this, but... how are you?" he asked.
"It's all right and I'm all right. I don't feel like doing cartwheels at the moment-" Trini was saying.
"But that's to be expected," he said.
"I was just about to say that," she said. They shared a grin. "But, as I said before, in time... everything will be fine."
"Yes, it will," he said, nodding.
The waitress returned with their coffee moments later.
"So, do you have any plans tonight, William?" Trini asked.
"I have nothing but a long night of boredom ahead of me, Trinity," he said with a chuckle.
"Maybe we should be bored together, then. Would you like to come over and watch a movie or two and just keep each other company?" she asked. It'd been quite awhile since she'd hung out with Billy one-on-one anyway.
"That sounds great. Congratulations. You just saved me from sheer tedium. You are a heroine," he teased.
"Fantastic. Will there be a statue of me in Angel Grove Park?" she quipped.
"I'll make a few calls," he quipped.
They both laughed, then, proceeded to talk about anything that came to mind.
Steve sat at his desk in the Angel Grove Police Department, wearing a thoughtful expression on his face. Other detectives kept shooting him wary looks. No surprise there. Steve'd been jerky and snappish all week long.
Farcus 'Bulk' Bulkmeir and Eugene 'Skull' Skullovitch came over and Bulk smirked at Steve.
"What bug inched its way up your butt, Knight?"
Steve looked at them. "Mind your own business for a change, Bulkmeir."
"What is your deal, dude?" Skull asked, scoffing.
"Will you two mush brains get lost? I've got a lot on my mind," Steve said in an agitated tone.
Bulk and Skull snorted and headed off. Steve sighed and sat back in his chair. He'd been doing a lot of thinking and... maybe he had made a bad move by breaking up with Trini. They'd been happy together. They'd really connected.
'I have to get her back. I'm gonna get her back. I'm sure I can. After all, it's only been a week,' he thought.
Besides, she hadn't wanted to break up anyway. So, it'd be easy. Cake. Steve wasn't giving up on the "living together" thing, though. He just knew it was a good idea. She'd see it his way eventually. He'd make her see it. He was determined... .
That's all for now.