Memories -Chapter 6 : Growing Up

By: Angellwings

ONE YEAR LATER . . .

Maurhee hurried through the revolving doors and raced across the company's lobby. During the past year Maurhee's passion for art had turned into a very profitable career for her. She had very quickly become one of DC Comics most sought after illustrators. She had drawn and designed various things for Batman, Wonder Woman, Teen Titans, Justice League of America, and She was currently working on Birds of Prey.

But this morning she was here on an entirely different matter. Today was the annual pre-fall season art department meeting. Today her fantasy could very well become a reality. She had submitted two original works to be considered for the fall season, and she knew very well that they could pick at least one of her comics.

She commuted three-times a week to L.A. from Angel Grove, and three times a week she had lunch with Rocky, just as friends of course. She had admitted to her self long ago that she was still in love with Rocky, and had forgiven him for his impulsive reaction to her leaving just as he had forgiven her for hiding it from him. But she had decided to put her mind ahead of her heart and leave the relationship pegged to "just friends".

Here lately her self-control had been failing her. She had caught herself more than once dwelling on thoughts of saying something to him about her feelings, an admission of sorts. She had caught her self day-dreaming about being with him again. She couldn't tell how much longer she had before she lost all control.

"Focus, Maurhee, Focus" She mumbled to herself as she headed to the elevator. She was already late for this meeting, and thoughts like these distracting her would not make things any better. Finally the elevator doors opened and she stepped inside. She waited impatiently for her floor mumbling various phrases to herself along the way. The doors reopened after what seemed like an eternity.

"Thank God!" She exclaimed in exasperation. She briskly marched out of the elevator.

"Morning, Marge" Maurhee greeted as she passed the receptionist's desk.

"Morning Ms. Peterson, late again?" The middle aged woman teased.

"It seems to be becoming an ugly habit" She answered.

"Here is your coffee, boss." Her assistant said as he sped up to match her pace.

"Thanks Driggers, you're a life-saver." She told him as she approached the board room. She quietly opened the door, and tip-toed in. She sat in the first seat available.

"Morning, Maurhee, so glad you could join us" Her boss said sarcastically. "you're lucky that you didn't miss anything important. I hold in my hand the two comic books that have been selected to premeir during DC Comic's fall 2000 season. They are Gaurdian Angel by Maurhee Peterson and . . . Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers also by Maurhee Peterson. . . . Well, congratulations Maurhee. I must say your comics are very impressive, and not to mention original. They are quite good. All right, now on with business, there have been a few schedule changes . . ."

Her manager's words faded away as the gravity of what happened finally hit her.

"oh my gosh" she whispered to herself. "I can't beleive it . . ."

As the meeting dragged on Maurhee compiled her lists of illustration and writing staff. Once that was done she began to get restless, 'it's now 11:30 a.m. how much longer can this meeting last?' she thought to herself. They were finally released at twelve o'clock. She sighed contentedly as they were dismissed, and as she left the board room Driggers caught up with her.

"Maurhee, Mr. DeSantos is waiting in the lobby for your lunch date"

"Tell him I'll be right down" She said as she collected her things and headed downstairs to meet him.

It had been a year since she walked out of the Youth Center, a year since Rocky, Billy, Kat, Adam, and Kim found her and stated their belief in her story. And it had also been a year since she lost faith in her lifelong friend, Tommy Oliver. Was it so hard to believe? After everything they had been through was her story that hard to believe? She didn't think it was. She had tried her best to just leave that day behind and forget, but it still gnawed at the back of her mind. And there was one thing that worried her the most. It had been a year since Ooze tried anything. He has to be planning something big, and with his lust for revenge that was never good.

The elevator door suddenly slid open, and she almost immediately spied Rocky waiting patiently at the front desk.

"Hey!" she called to him excitedly as she walked his way.

"You're in a good mood" He said as he chuckled good naturedly.

She grinned and hugged him.

"Well, I just received some very good news. So naturally, I'm in a good mood."

"And what news is that?" He asked.

"I'll tell ya later. Right now all I wanna do is eat." She said as she began to drag him to the door.

"Hey that's my line." He said with a laugh.

"How many?" The hostess asked cheerfully.

"Two" Rocky replied.

"Right this way, Sir."

Maurhee and Rocky followed closely as the woman led them to their table.

"Here ya go" Rocky said as he pulled out Maurhee's chair for her.

"Thank you" She replied with a gracious smile.

"Okay, so what's with the mood?" He asked as he sat down.

"Well, you know those sample comics that I let you read? The ones I was submitting to my boss for series consideration?"

"Yeah, what about 'em?"

"They liked them. Both of them. You are looking at an official DC Comics author." She said with an excited grin.

"That's awesome, congratulations" He said with a warm smile. "So, you did it, you achieved that goal you set in high school. You'll be, pretty much, the only person at the ten year reunion who actually did what they set out to do in high school."

Maurhee chuckled and replied, "Surely not, not the only one"

Soon after the waiter arrived the conversation became small talk about trivial things. After receiving their food the conversation became serious.

"Umm, Maurhee," Rocky said nervously. "I have to tell you something . . . important."

"Sure, Rocky, what is it?"

"Well, I've been training to be a fireman . . ."

"You have? Rocky that's great!"

"Yeah, but that's not the something I'm trying to tell you."

"It's not?"

"No, Rhee, I got a job at a firehouse in New York. It's on the Search and Rescue team."

"In New York?" Maurhee asked quietly.

"yes"

"Search and Rescue?"

Rocky nodded.

"So you'd be running in to burning buildings? and walking around in them? In a burning collapsing building?"

"Don't think of it like that" He said gently.

"How should I think of it?" her tone was concerned but not angry.

"I think of all the people I'll help."

"All the people you'll help? You just can't stay away from danger can you?" She asked gently with a secretive grin.

"I guess not" He replied with a smirk.

"When do you leave?" She asked growing serious again.

"Three weeks"

"That soon?" She asked sadly.

"I put it off as long as I could. Look, it's not for forever. It's just until I raise enough money to open my own dojo."

"Rocky, the time you'll be doing it for isn't what I'm worried about. It's a very dangerous job."

"I know" He said quietly.

They finished their meals in silence, Each contemplating what to say next. Once both of them were finished Maurhee cleared her throat to speak.

"Well, you'll have to come and see me every now and then, and call somebody every once and while. You can't let yourself disappear this time." She said with a small smile.

"So, you're okay with this?"

"As okay as I can be under the circumstances." She said with a grin. "I mean we're just starting to become friends again, and now you're moving to New York."

"You talk like we're never gonna see eachother again" He said with a gentle chuckle.

"Well, that's what seems to happen when one of us goes out of town." She said softly.

"Maurhee . . . that's not gonna happen this time, I promise" he said gently as he placed his hand on hers.

The waiter brought the bill, and the two of them each paid for their meals then left the restaurant. They quickly got into Rocky's truck.

"Maurhee, I know you've gotta work and all, but I was wondering if you would like to hang out? We could watch a movie at my place or something." He asked cautiously as he started the car.

"umm . . okay, sounds good just let me check in with my assistant." She said as she pulled out her cell phone.

"Hello?" A voice on the phone said.

"Driggers, It's Maurhee"

"Afternoon, boss, how was lu-"

"Nevermind, just cancel all my afternoon appointments" she whispered into the phone.

"Yes ma'am, right away"

"Thanks" She said urgently as she hung up the phone. "alright, all set let's go" She told Rocky with a warm smile.

"Really? You mean you're free for the day?" He asked sounding shocked.

"Yep, just checked."

Chapter Seven comming soon! Now that it's summer I'll be writing and submitting more often! So plz keep reading! and review plz it's nice to know I'm appreciated or maybe I'm not appreciated I like those reviews too! -angellwings

DISCLAIMER: I know NO ONE attached to POWER RANGERS. I know NO ONE in POWER RANGERS. So there, ya can't sue me. HA!