Back at the house, Jesse showed the others a picture of the Power Rangers she had started.
"You captured our likeness," Tommy said.
"It's not done yet. I don't have any supplies with me. I started it one night when I couldn't sleep."
"You're in luck," Adam said. "I may have picked you up something at the mall," Adam opened his backpack and handed Jesse a bag. She opened it. It was a box of high detail colored pencils. The kind animators use.
"Wow, thank you so much, Adam," she hugged him. "I've always wanted some of these!"
"You're welcome, I figured you would like these when you told me you didn't have any of your art supplies," he smiled. Kim looked over at Tommy and smiled. "Let's see how they look."
Jess and Adam sat down at the dinner table and she turned to a fresh page in her sketch book. "How about for this one, a picture of my new friends. Tommy, Kimberly, Adam move to the other side of the table so I can look at all of you." They did as she said and she started testing out her new pencils. After a minute, Jesse put her pencils down and looked up at her friends.
"Tommy, Kimberly, Adam… I need the truth," she started. "What happened… to the Green Ranger." Tommy got up from his seat across from his little sister, sat next to her and turned to look at her.
"The whole truth, I was the Green Ranger. Rita chose me to become the Green Ranger. But I was "green with evil." That's what we called it. Eventually, the spell was broken and I joined up with the others. But Rita had a candle and as it melted my powers went away. Eventually, I had to give them up until Zordon and Alpha could figure out how to restore them temporarily. Once they gave out my powers and the green ranger were gone. I left and went up to my uncle's cabin for a while, and while I was there Zordon gave me White Ranger powers," he explained.
"Ok," she sighed. "I'm just glad you are ok. Thank you for telling me. I remember seeing Dragonzord. It was always really cool on tv, but White Tigerzord is pretty amazing."
"Well, now we have Ninjetti powers," Tommy said. "If you saw the symbols on our suits we have animal spirits. I'm a falcon, Kimberly is the crane, Billy the wolf, Aisha the bear, and Rocky the Ape," Jesse looked over at Adam.
"And Adam?"
"I'm a frog,"
"Well, if you kiss a frog it turns into a prince," Jesse responded giggling.
The following Monday was Jesse's first day at Angel Grove High School. Jesse had to make sure Tommy was awake and ready for school on time. He was always forgetting to set his alarm. On the way to school they picked up Kimberly at her house and drove to meet the rest of the group before classes started. Jesse still had to pick up her class schedule.
The rest of the rangers were waiting outside in the parking lot. Tommy parked next to Aisha's jeep that the rest of them rode together in.
Jesse grabbed her satchel backpack and got out of the car, still really nervous about her first day.
"Hey Jesse," Adam said as stepped out of the car. "Ready for your first day?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, I guess..."
"You'll be fine," Tommy said coming around the other side of the car. "Adam, why don't you take her to get her schedule. I have something I need to do."
"Yeah, no problem," Adam responded.
"Alright, thanks, buddy. Jesse, don't worry about a thing. Your first day will be a lot better than mine... that was the day I was brainwashed."
"...Lovely..." Jesse said nervous. The rest of the rangers giggled.
"Come on, let's go get your classes," Adam said. The two of them walked away as the group watched.
"So, Adam and Jesse?" Aisha said excited to Tommy and Kimberly.
"It's not official yet," Kim said. "He is taking her to the dance though."
"Woo! Go Adam!" Rocky yelled loud enough for Adam to hear him across the parking lot. Adam tried to ignore his friend's excitement but still blushed a bit.
"That will be good for Adam and Jesse as well," Billy added.
Jesse and Adam walked down the hallway to the office where Jesse needed to grab her schedule. Adam held the door open for her as they walked in.
"Good morning, Adam," the guidance counselor said as they walked in. "Do you need something?"
"Mrs. Rodriguez, this is Jesse Oliver, Tommy's sister. She's new here and needs to get her schedule."
"Tommy asked you to show her around?" she asked.
"Yeah, he's got a meeting or something."
"Well, that's awfully nice of you, Mr. Park," the guidance counselor said as she rummaged through her papers looking for Jesse's schedule. "Jesse here is your class schedule. And I hope you will like Angel Grove High School as much as your boarding school. One day you will have to explain to me why you were there without Tommy though."
"We were adopted to different families. Tommy finally convinced me to come here," she said grabbing her schedule and looking over it.
"I see, well if you need anything you can always come to me," Mrs. Rodriguez said.
"Thank you," Jesse looked over her classes. "Looks like English, history, math, creative writing, and science."
"Creative writing?" Adam asked. "When? That's one of my classes," they looked over it together. "You're in my class!"
"Oh good, at least I have one class with a friendly face," she smiled.
After school, the rangers met up at the juice bar. "So how was your first day?" Billy asked.
"Well, I was pretty nervous, but Adam walked me to all my classes. And we have creative writing together. So at least I wasn't alone all day."
"How were your classmates?" Kimberly asked.
"Would be better if the guys would stop hitting on me… I can't count the number of times I got asked to the dance," Jesse sighed.
"You made sure to say you have a date already… didn't you?" Adam asked nervous. Jesse looked over to Adam.
"Yeah, let's just say the guys are not happy with you, Adam."
"I can take them," everyone laughed.
"So, now that everyone is here, let's go to the command center," Billy said. "Zordon wanted to talk to Jesse." The group got up from the table and walked to the secluded hallway. Jesse teleported with Adam again hanging on to his shoulder as they materialized into the command center seconds later.
"Jesse, rangers, I'm glad you all could be here to witness this special event," Zordon said when they arrived.
"Event?" Kimberly asked.
"Yeah Zordon, what's going on?" Rocky added.
"Well rangers," Alpha started. "It is a special day. Billy has finished Jesse's communicator and we have a surprise of our own," Billy walked over to Alpha, retrieved the communicator from the droid and walked it over to Jesse.
"Thank you, Billy," Jesse took the communicator from its box and clipped it on her wrist. She took a moment to look at it on her wrist. This made it even more real.
"Jesse, please step up," Zordon said. Jesse looked around at her friends. They all nodded and smiled.
"Go ahead," Tommy said when she looked at him. Jesse took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Jesse," Zordon started. "As a new part of the Power Rangers team, Alpha and have chosen to bestow upon you a special responsibility. First your very own power coin. This power coin is different from the ranger's coin. While this will not make you a Power Ranger, it will give you access to the Command Center at any time. This power coin together with the next item will be of even greater use to you and to the rangers. The next item we have chosen to give you is invaluable," Alpha took a box over to Jesse. Jesse opened it. It was a hand-held computer with several gadgets. A headset, power cord and several other devices.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Jesse, this is the greatest invention in the history of Power Rangers," Alpha said. With this device, you can monitor the rangers power levels, communicate with them, find enemies weaknesses and spot them anywhere in the area. It links up with your communicator and will inform you of anything going on. The best part is that you can look at this at any time and no one without a power coin can see what is really on the screen. It will look like you are doing school work on it to anyone without a power coin. Speaking of your power coin is on the bottom of the computer."
Jesse took the computer out of the box it was in and flipped it over.
"An owl?"
"Owls symbolize wisdom," Zordon responded.
"Jesse is an Owl! Just like Dulcea." Kimberly said.
"Congratulations on joining the power team, Jesse." Zordon said. "We welcome you with open arms. We know you will be a valuable asset."
"Thank you, Zordon. I won't let you down, any of you."
The next week Jesse adjusted to her new life in Angel Grove. It was different than living with her adopted family in Florida. She was happy to have her new friends and have a new relationship with her brother. It helped her transition easier. Every morning Tommy, Jesse and Kimberly drove to school together then they would meet up with the rest of the Power Rangers before school started. Adam would walk her to class. After school, they would go to the Youth Center. Jesse would watch the boys practice karate and Kimberly practice gymnastics. She was given manuals for the computers in the Command Center that she studied at home. What she didn't understand Billy would go over in the Command Center.
After they all finished their work out on Friday, Kim told Jesse that she was going to the movies with Tommy if her and Adam wanted to join them.
"Actually, Adam wanted to take me out," Jesse responded. "He just went home to change first."
"Ok, well then I will see you tomorrow to help you get ready. Tell Adam Tommy is going to pick him up before six," she walked off to get ready to go out with Tommy.
Adam met Jesse ten minutes later at the Youth Center. "Hey, sorry about that. I wanted to look a little nicer," He said running up to her. Adam had changed out of his sweaty karate gi and into a black button up shirt with a white t-shirt under it and jeans and even fixed his hair because Jesse had worn a purple button up shirt and jeans.
"Well, you look great," she responded. Adam smiled and took her hand as they headed out of the Youth Center.
"So do you," he said nervously.
"Well what do we have here, Adam?" said the Angel Grove student police Bulk and Skull as they walked up to them. "Who is this little beauty?" Skull asked pushing Adam out of the way and looking Jesse over. "You're new here," he grabbed Jesse's hands. "How would you like to dump this loser and go out with a real guy?" Jesse broke his grip and took a step away as Skull tried to act smooth. Which didn't work.
"Bulk, Skull, this is Jesse Oliver. Jesse this is Farkas Bulkmiere and Eugene Skullovich. They're more trouble than they're worth," Adam said annoyed.
"It's Bulk and Skull," Skull responded.
"Oliver?" Bulk asked nervously. Starting to break a sweat. "Any relation to Tommy?"
"My brother," she responded glancing over at Bulk.
"You got a date for the dance?" Skull asked getting in Jesse's face. Adam wedged himself in front of Jesse and put his arms out slightly to protect her.
"Yeah, it's me," Adam said defensive.
"It's true," she said softly placing her hands on Adam's shoulders and peering over them. "I'm sorry… but… uh, we were just leaving," Jesse said grabbing on to the back of Adam's shirt and slightly pulling him back. Adam turned around and lead Jesse out putting his hand on her back while continuously looking at Bulk and Skull behind him. He saw them act this way with Kimberly. Tommy always got them to back off her. He was worried that he couldn't live up to Tommy in this aspect, Tommy defended Kimberly against them on a daily basis. Now, he had to protect Jesse from them.
"Are you alright?" Adam asked when they got outside.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I can usually handle that kind of stuff. Guys tried it back home. But, ever since Rita and Zedd… I can't defend myself anymore. It's like… I don't know who I am. I used to be this strong person who could defend herself and stand up to bullies. Now I just cower away. You must think I'm pathetic."
"Well, Bulk and Skull are nothing like Rita and Zedd. They're just troublemakers. Harmless ones," Adam said. "I don't think you're pathetic at all. You've been through so much recently and you've shown you are strong by fighting through it all. Specially handling yourself against Zedd. But if you ever need someone, the Black Frog is always here for you," Adam said taking her hand again and as they walked down to the park.
"You really are my prince, aren't you?" she said.
"This is the Angel Grove park. We like to come here and hang out, train, have picnics. There's the lantern hut over there," Adam pointed to the opening down by zen garden and Chinese hut with lanterns hanging around it.
"It's so pretty. Can we got look at the lanterns?" Jesse asked.
"Sure," they walked up to the hut. Jesse admired all the different lanterns.
"I've always loved these types of lanterns. They're so pretty. So… full of history," she said looking out on to the lake below the hut.
"I still have one thing to show you," he said. "A place I really like going, if you like this scenery you'll love my spot," Adam took her to the peaks overlooking the beach that he liked to train at. "This is it. I practice here because the view is amazing, the air is crisp, its quiet and peaceful."
"It really is, this is breathtaking," Jesse sat down on the edge holding her shoulder.
"Are you alright? Are you still in pain?" Adam asked sitting down next to her.
"I'm fine, this is just all too weird," she said as the wind started to blow. "Being captured by Rita and Lord Zedd. Being tied up by my hands, arms, legs, ankles, and torso. Being saved by the White, Pink, and Black rangers. Seeing and moving in with my brother. Finding out who you guys really are. Changing to a new school. Making new friends. Joining the team. And you."
"I'm weird?"
"For a frog," they laughed. "What I mean, is that, you know, I had dates back home. But nothing ever lasted. The entire time I would wonder why me and Tommy had to be separated. I needed a big brother to protect me. I knew he could scare them off just by showing his black belt. My adopted family only had me. It's kind of weird seeing Tommy every day, but at the same time, it's nice. We talk a lot and Kimberly comes over pretty much every day. Sometimes, she hangs out with me more than Tommy. And he comes and jokes with me that I'm stealing his girlfriend. But he always joins us. Kim tried to put makeup on him the other day," she giggled.
"That's funny, what did Tommy have to say about that?" Adam laughed.
"He said 'you've taken one too many blows to the head if you think I'm wearing that.' Obviously half joking. But he lets Kim do his hair. He kind of has to with his hair being that long."
"So, adjusting is taking its toll on you?"
"Yeah, without mom and dad here it's just not the same. But I have other family I need to spend time with. Tommy goes to college in a couple years. So, I don't have much time with him."
"It'll get easier. You lucked out to move to a place with family. When Rocky, Aisha, and I moved here, we didn't have family. We only had the other rangers. And we had to get to know them fast. We've all been in your shoes. None of us were from Angel Grove originally."
"I can't thank you enough for being here for me, Adam," he looked away and smiled.
"Anytime… It's starting to get chilly out here," Adam said as the wind started to blow harder. "Let's get out of here. Can I take you to dinner?" he asked.
"That sounds wonderful."
The next day Kimberly came over to their house around 3:00. Tommy answered the door for her.
"Hey, beautiful," he said kissing her at the door. She smiled.
"Hey handsome, Jesse here? I need to help her get ready," she said bringing in her suitcase of makeup, jewelry and hair accessories inside.
"Yeah," he said helping her carrying it. "Don't make her too beautiful," he joked.
"And Tommy," Kimberly said as Tommy set her suitcase down. "I promise you will have my full and undivided attention tonight," Kimberly kissed him.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight," he gently squeezed her hand before she ran off to help his sister get ready for the dance.
While the girls got ready Tommy got ready and went to pick up Adam. At 6:00 the girls were almost ready. Kimberly had straightened Jesse's hair, pulled half of it back and helped her with some subtle makeup to help bring out her best features. Kimberly had also fixed her hair letting it hang down on her shoulders after straightening it. The boys knocked on Jesse's door.
"You ready?" Tommy asked. Jesse went to the door and opened it for them. They both cleaned up great. Tommy wore brown pants and a white long sleeve button up shirt. Adam wore black slacks, a matching coat with a white shirt and black tie.
"Almost, Kimberly is deciding on her jewelry. I just have to put on my bracelet." Jesse said and walked over to her bedside table.
"I think I can help with that," Tommy walked over to Kimberly who was sitting at Jesse's vanity mirror. "Close your eyes," she did as Tommy said. He took the necklace from behind his back and carefully hooked it around her neck moving her hair out of the way. "There, look,"
she opened her eyes and smiled. "It's beautiful. Thank you, Tommy."
Meanwhile Adam walked over to Jesse. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks, you look great too. I just need to put my bracelet on."
"Oh wait, I have something for you," Adam pulled a small jewelry bag out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Open it," Jesse smiled and opened the bag and poured it on to her hand. It was a silver frog charm for her bracelet.
"A frog," she giggled.
"This way, you'll always have something to remind you of me," she smiled.
"Thank you, Adam. But, you definitely aren't a frog," she took a step forward and lightly kissed Adam on the cheek and smiled turning away to put her new frog charm on her bracelet. Tommy and Kim walked over to them.
"What was that?" Kim giggled. Jesse showed Kimberly the charm. "Every time he says that he gets kissed."
"Hey, it works," he joked. Kimberly walked over to the vanity mirror and grabbed the two boutonnieres she got for the guys to wear. They were white roses tied together at the green stem with a shiny satin white ribbon. She handed Jesse Adam's and started pinning Tommy's on. Jesse smiled as she measured where to pin it on Adam's coat.
"Oh gosh, I've only done this once," she started. "I went to a friend's wedding last year. And I ended up pinning all the boutonnieres on the groom's men. I wasn't even in the wedding. I was just the only person who could figure out how to do it and most of the guys were friends of mine," she finished pining Adam's jacket. "Perfect."
Adam and Tommy also had to give them the corsages. Kim's were pink roses and baby's breath on a silk ribbon Tommy had to wrap and tie on her wrist. Jesse had white roses on a purple rhinestone bracelet.
"Now we're ready!" Kimberly said excited. "Let's go," Tommy took her hand as they four of them walked out to the car. Instead of taking his jeep they took his parents black 1993 Cadillac Allante. They always let him borrow it for special occasions.
"This is going to be so much fun," Kim said as they drove down the highway. "Our dances are great."
"Yeah," Tommy added. "And all of our friends are going to be there."
"I'm just happy to have a date who is actually nice. My last dance I left early because my date was awful… found out the next day after I left he just hooked up with another girl," Jesse hung her head.
"Well, tonight will be much better," Adam immediately said. "I promise." Jesse looked over at him and smiled.
"I know," she said as they pulled up to the parking lot at the Youth Center. They piled out of the car and the two couples walked to the Youth Center. "Now it's time to see if you can keep up with my moves," she joked.
As they entered the gym they saw it was decked out in spring decorations and colors. Lots of bright colored streamers hung from the ceiling and walls, colorful flower petals were spread out on the tables. The whole gym was covered in pinks, blues, greens, yellows and purples with music hitting every corner. Ernie was busy making fresh fruit punch and small snacks for the students.
Rocky, Aisha and Billy were standing by a table talking and laughing with some of their classmates. They joined their friends. Aisha was wearing a yellow off shoulder ankle length dress. Billy wore dark blue slacks with a matching coat, white button up shirt and royal blue tie. Rocky had on a red button up long sleeve shirt and black slacks.
"Hey, glad you guys finally made it," Aisha said.
"Fashionably late," Kim joked as Ms. Applebee walked up to the group.
"Oh, you all look so great!" she said. "Come together for a picture," The team came together. Tommy, Rocky, and Billy stood in the back. Kimberly stood in front of Tommy. He had his hands wrapped around her waist. Jesse and Adam stood next to Kim. Adam wrapped his arms around Jesse's shoulders and she place her hands on his arms. Aisha stood at the end with one arm resting on Billy's shoulder. Ms. Applebee snapped the picture, "Wonderful!" and walked away to snap some more pictures of the students.
"Now we dance!" Kimberly yelled as an upbeat song started. The team broke out their best dance moves and enjoyed their fun time, dancing, laughing and having a good time. The rest of the night they continued their fun. Not worrying about tests, fighting villains, or anything but having fun dancing with friends.
"This is the last song of the night," the D.J. said later in the night. "And its lady's choice. Go find your favorite guy," he said starting a slow song.
"Tommy," Kimberly said. He took her hand and walked back to the floor.
"Let's dance," Aisha said to Billy. They followed Tommy and Kim.
Rocky's date from the other night grabbed him for a dance.
"Adam… dance with me?" Jesse asked nervously. Adam took her hand.
"Anytime," he smiled as they walked out to the dance floor and started dancing. "Better than the last time?"
"Definitely. Thank you for bringing me, Adam," Jesse said.
"You're welcome," he quickly kissed her cheek as their friends danced around them.
It was the perfect ending to a very strange time. Everyone was looking forward to what was coming next. A new part of the ranger team. A new family member. A new person to spend time with. A lot of new happened very quick. But that lot of new was welcomed by everyone.
FIN
I hope everyone enjoyed "Tommy's Secret." Make sure to leave a review. And if you liked the story follow me for the upcoming sequel "Faithfully," which takes place in Zeo and follows Adam and Jesse's relationship as Jesse starts realizing how much danger the Power Rangers actually put themselves in on a daily basis. Can she handle watching her boyfriend put himself in danger? How does this ultimately affect their relationship?
And if you aren't so much into this pairing then go check out "The Prophecy" which is a Tommy/ Kimberly story and continue following me for more upcoming Power Ranger stories. If you have any ideas for a story shoot me a PM.
IT'S MORPHIN TIME!
