Title: After Hours (drabble)

Pairing: Cassidy/Ethan/Devin

Dialogue: "One word for you: oil."

Disclaimer: Nope, Power Rangers still aren't mine.

Dedication: Casey

Intent on perfecting her tan, Cassidy chose the prettiest day of the year to head for the beach, dragging Devin along for the company (not that he minded). She glanced around as she laid out her towel and spotted a familiar figure strolling along the nearby sidewalk. "Oh no, I forgot something."

"What could you have forgotten, Cass?" he asked, eyeing the large pink duffel bag at her side that held every skin care product known to man.

"One word for you: oil. Would you please run to the store for me, Dev? I can't risk my skin if I'm going to be on camera at all." She turned on her smile, feminine and helpless to the core.

"Of course I will." The thought of turning her down never even crossed his mind, and he strode away toward his Vespa.

He returned scant minutes later to ask Cassidy what brand she wanted, but he discovered Ethan James, King of All Geeks, kneeling next to Cassidy and accepting a full bottle of suntan oil. The smile she gave him was one Devin had seen a hundred times before though it was always directed at others, never him. A flirty smile designed to seduce even if Ethan was already under her spell. Devin watched bitterly as Ethan placed a surreptitious kiss on her bare shoulder and Cassidy stroked his face affectionately.

He hated the intimacy of the moment, but all the pieces of the last few weeks fell into place. The school projects and the numerous doctor appointments that had worried him so – it was suddenly ridiculously clear. He walked away.

The next day, Cassidy practically bounced up to him, glowing with internal happiness. "What happened to you, Devin?"

"Sorry. After hours of searching, I couldn't find any oil." Had she known that he really meant he couldn't find a reason to stay, her smile might have faded instead of turning up in wattage.

"That's okay. Anyway, I had an idea for a news report . . . "

"I'm resigning as your cameraman."

"What?"

"Good luck, Cassidy." As his words sunk in, he saw her look to Ethan for support. The boy was already beginning to replace Devin as her support system – perhaps this way it would go quicker. In spite of deep sadness, Devin couldn't help the rising feeling of freedom within his heart as he let go of the girl.