I am so sorry for the wait. I have moved house and been without any kind of internet/wifi/ I've also started university again and life has been hectic. But here it is; Chapter 9. Let's see what Carol has to say about it all. And what about those other rangers? Please excuse any mistakes, I wanted to get this up so I have skimmed through as a proof read. I will redo it again in a few days, just wanted you guys to be able to read it!
Warnings: Profanity.
Falcon Dreams
Chapter 9
Chance
"Violet, you're never going to believe who I just ran into at the park!" Kimberly was in a great mood. She had bounded into her apartment, kicking off her running shoes and pulling her hair from the tight ponytail atop her head. "I was out running and I got a little lost-"
"Kim-" Violet tried.
"And Thomas, you remember I told you about him?" Kimberly continued, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. Violet couldn't help but notice a different kind of glow on her friends flawless skin, a different kind of smile graced her features. "He's engaged to Katherine, the girl that knows me or at least knew me." Violet nodded, defeated. "Well he was out running too and we talked for a bit and he walked me home."
"Kimberly, wait-"
"And it was crazy because it was like finally connecting with someone after years and years of feeling invisible." Kimberly took a sip of her water and beamed at her oldest friend. "Obviously I have you but this was different. Like connecting on a whole nwq level and I know that sounds weird because we've only just met or whatever but maybe it's this place." Kimberly took a breath for a moment before concluding; "It's nice to be home… After all this time."
"I have to tell you something…" Violet half whispered, half cried. The emotion evident in her voice. Kimberly sensed it instantly and moved to comfort her friend.
"What's going on? Are you okay?" Please forgive me. Violet thought. "Has something happened?"
"Hello, Kimberly." A shrill confident voice carried itself through the room and caused the hairs on the back of Kimberly's neck to stand on end.
"What have you done?" She demanded from Violet, betrayal dripped from her voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do." Violet answered quickly reaching for her friend who pulled away in disgust in return.
"Talk to me before you call the woman that has lied to me for the past seven years maybe?!"
"Excuse me young lady I-" Carol attempted to calm her only daughter.
"No." Kimberly spat in return, with fire in her eyes that Violet had never seen before. A fire saved for those she didn't trust. Kimberly was furious and Violet was afraid that she had made a grave mistake. She couldn't lose her best friend.. "Don't you dare patronise me." Kimberly continued pointing a accusing finger at her mother. Carol was unfazed by her daughters outburst and anger. and Violet noted how utterly bored she looked already with this whole situation.
Maybe this was a mistake.
"Violet told me how much of a disgusting liar you are." Kimberly continued picking up her mothers handbag and thrusting it into her empty arms, a clear get out written across her face.
"Now, you just wait a little minute here-"
"This is my home, Carol." Kimberly shouted exasperatedly. "Everything you've ever told me has been a lie." Angry tears flushed Kimberly's brown eyes and Violet couldn't quite believe how emotionless Carol could really be. "If you think that you're just gonna rock up to my apartment like you're mother of the century then I'm ever so sorry but you can get out."
"Kim, maybe you should listen to what she has to say." Violet tried, surely Carol has something worth hearing about this whole messed up situation?
"And you." Kimberly snapped at her friend with such disappointment, if Violet could have just disappeared into the floorboards, she would have done. "If you are going to be just as dishonest, then I'd rather run the boutique on my own."
"Kimberly Anne Hart." Carol scolded, grabbing her fiery daughters arm, pulling her so she had to listen to her mother.
"No. I have lived in the shadows for so long. This place, Angel Grove has finally shed some light." Kimberly explained wiggling out of her mothers grasp. "I will not let either of you ruin this for me." Kimberly said calmly, the rage that bubbled in her veins slowed and pity and disappointment took its place. "Violet has told me enough. I just want to get on with my business and my life."
Violet placed a hand on her friends shoulder trying to avoid her disappointed eyes before speaking again.
"There are some lose ends in this whole story Kimberly and I can't give you the answers." Violet began. "But she can."
"What lose ends?" Kimberly asked, throwing her arms in the air with defeat. "What else could there possibly be to tell me?"
"The reason you wanted to come home. And the reasons that I lied about it." Carol said as a matter of a factly. Violet winced at the pride in Carols voice… She was proud of her lies and Violet felt even worse knowing the truth before Kimberly.
"You know?" Kimberly asked her.
"I do now. You're mom told me everything." Violet admitted, hanging her head.
"Oh great, I so glad that after seven years you know the whole truth about my life and as always I know absolutely fuck all."
"Maybe you should sit down." Carol gestured to a chair receiving a scoff from her daughter in return.
"Maybe you should leave and just let me get on with my life, mom." Kimberly suggested and Carol brushed off the remark as though it meant nothing to her. "It's been months and I've finally made something of myself. Why cant you just let me be happy?"
"I want you to be happy, Kimberly." Carol admitted. "But I don't want you to make the same mistakes as before."
"What mistakes exactly, mom?" Kimberly asked in disbelief. Surely this woman wasn't serious? Surely she wasn't so deluded as to thing she could come here after months and control her life again? "How am I supposed to make them again when I don't ever remember making them in the first place?"
"When you were visiting Katherine Hillard at her home, apologising and planning her dresses, two people came into the store asking for Carol." Violet began.
"So?" Kimberly snapped.
"So they knew you, Kim." Violet continued. "They were asking for Carol because they knew you."
"This isn't such a big town, I'm sure that some of the locals are going to recognise me, Violet." Kimberly glared daggers at her so-called best friend. "I did grow up here after all."
"They weren't just casually asking, Kimberly. They were asking for Carol because they wanted answers, they wanted to know why their best friend was back in town after seven years."
"Well we all want answers Vee, but my ever elusive mother ensures that none of us can have it." Retorted back sarcastically.
"Kimberly Ann Hart. You will not speak to me with that tone." Carol raised her voice in her best motherly tone. Violet could see that Kimberly was unimpressed and if she was being honest with herself, she was also less than impressed.
"And you will not speak to me as though you have any kind of authority over me." Kimberly replied, and Violet had to hide the smile that crept onto her face. "You lied. It is as complicated and as simple as that."
"I lied so you wouldn't chase some foolish schoolgirl crush and ruin your chances at becoming someone great." Carol snapped. "A bridal boutique compared to the Olympics. You must see it from my perspective Kimberly. I wanted the best for you." Kimberly could almost feel the disappointment dripping from her mothers fingers, slithering along the floor and trying to claw up her legs, trying to drag her down.
Not this time. Not again.
I am Kimberly Ann Hart. I am twenty five years old. I was in an accident when I was 17. Regardless of my past, I make my own future. I know what is best for me.
"This is what is best for me mother. I am happy. I am settled. I will not apologise for the person I am." Kimberly shrugged,. "I am not the trainee olympian anymore."
"Evidently." Carol's reply was snide and if Kimberly wasn't so angry at her mother, it might have hurt her feelings.
"Urgh. Do you know what, Carol?" Kimberly walked towards the door, grabbing Carols arm and pulling her along. "Whatever foolish schoolgirl crush I may or may not have been coming home to is irrelevant." Kimberly opened the door and crossed her arms across her chest. "This is my life now. If you cant accept it and be proud of me, the door is right there."
"That's not strictly true…" Violet piped up quietly.
"What?" Kimberly snapped, what else could there be left to say?
"The boy you loved-"
"I wouldn't stretch that far." Carol scoffed. "Puppy love at most. A handsome, polite young man, yes. Did you have a future together? Doubtful." Kimberly rolled her eyes in return, choosing to ignore her mothers snide return.
"The boy that loved you… He was here earlier with another one of your school friends." Violet continued and Kimberly felt a rush of emotion overcome her.
The boy… Her falcon? He was here? Safe in Angel Grove?
"He was here?" Kimberly asked breathless, pushing past her mother, to grab her best friends hand. Surely she wouldn't lie again. "Tell me." Kimberly pleaded and Violet gave Kimberly's hand a squeeze.
"His name is Tommy. Tommy Oliver…" Violet began. "Katherine's fiancé."
—
"I can't believe she's really here." Billy's voice portrayed everyone's thoughts. Five friends sat around a table in a quiet local bar, each having traveled their own separate ways to hear the story. They were all living their lives as scientists, coaches, businessmen, vets, teachers… and now they were here, back in Angel Grove for one soul purpose.
She was here, their friend Kimberly. Their very own pink ranger had come home.
"I can't believe we didn't try harder to find her. I mean, we all knew that the letter she sent you was off. That wasn't the Kimberly we remembered." Adam took a sip of his cool beer, and he knew that all of his childhood friends felt the same guilt he did.
As if Kimberly would just drop off of the radar. Yes, perhaps she couldn't face Tommy after breaking his heart but not speaking to Aisha? Not speaking to him or Rocky? There was no way. It was as though seven years of fog had suddenly cleared from their vision.
They should have known better.
"I tried contacting her mom." Rocky admitted. "When Trini had the accident… I tried contacting her so Kimberly could at least come to the funeral." Aisha felt the weight of a heavy heart pull and she had to fight the urge to vomit in front of her friends. Losing Trini had been awful. Not having her best friend by her side to say goodbye to her other best friend had been worse. "I got nothing." Rocky finished and Tommy clapped him on the back gently for some kind of support.
"What does Kat think of it all?" Billy asked curiously causing Tommy to pull his hand across his hair in frustration. He was tired and conflicted, they could all see it.
"She's not that thrilled that Kim is home." He admitted.
"Understandable." Adam offered and Tommy nodded in return.
"How do you feel about it Tommy? Where does this leave you now?" Billy asked the question that lingered on all of his friends minds. What did this mean now? They all knew that Tommy loved Kat, there was no doubt in their mind… But Kimberly Ann Hart was a different kind of love… A once in a lifetime kind of love that had run out of time.
"I have no idea."
Except here she was. In their lives once again…
How many once in a lifetime kind of loves gets a second chance?
—
Carol's a bitch, right? Hello other rangers! Next chapter: More rangers, Carol and Katherine, and maybe some Tomberly.
100 reviews! Wow I cant believe it, thank you so much. You guy's don't understand how much it means to me. Such an amazing feeling to know that you are enjoying this story, I am really enjoying writing it. I guess from here on out, it all gets a bit exciting.
Possible unpopular opinion: Who else is amazingly disappointed in the new power rangers movie? Really though? Not sure that's who you should be kissing, Kimberly.
I'll write more as soon as I can.
See you soon!
Abs.
