Author's Note: Thanks to readers/reviewers! Sorry this chapter took a while. It's kind of short, but I think this chapter is going to be important. Also, I know it seems that I'm skipping around with the plots, and I'm sorry for that. I'm just trying to make things more concise so this story doesn't drag on and get boring with things that could be summed up easily to move on.

Somewhere Only We Know: Chapter X

Conner didn't stop. He saw Krista again, and again, and Kira was pretty that they were on a date that very moment while her writer's block was annoying her to hell as her music notebook sat open and empty on the table at the Cyberspace Café. So, she had basically told him to go out with Krista again. Never did she actually think that they would continue to see each other. She mentally kicked herself for putting this drama, this stupid mess onto herself.

Who needed Conner anyway? Let him do whatever he wanted.

Kira smirked at the thought that at least she had been right about Trent. Trent was now just plain old Trent. They had been able to change him back to his old ways and rid the curse of the White Dino Gem to turn him to the good side. Trent was one of them now, and that made Kira triumphant, never giving up on that chance that Trent could be a good ranger, just like her. Not to mention, if Conner could do his own thing, so could Kira. It helped that when Conner was gone, Trent was there.

At first she felt badly because she didn't want Trent to just be a replacement. But after thinking about it, Trent wasn't a replacement at all. What was she replacing after all? Conner was just a friend, a fellow ranger, nothing more. Trent was an addition, a bonus, not a replacement. It's not as if Conner had disappeared off the face of the planet. That statement wasn't such a bad idea either.

Conner would always be Conner, and she would always be herself. Even if being a Power Ranger changed their lives significantly with weight on their shoulders to protect the town and even the world, none of that meant that they were supposed to act any different otherwise. They did what they wanted; they believed in what they believed in; they lived their own separate lives, only coming together when their duties were called upon. It sounded a bit selfish and rude, but that was reality.

"Kira, I'm closing up soon," Hayley notified Kira as she was cleaning up behind the counter.

"I'm fine. Thanks, Hayley," she said as she gathered up her things to let Hayley finish her cleaning.

"You need a ride or anything?" Hayley asked. Kira stopped for a moment.

"It's fine, Hayley, really. I can walk. I'll see you tomorrow," Kira said as she waved and headed out the door.

Kira stepped out into the night. She stood still for a moment; she felt, lonely. Of course, it was a silly thing to say when she had friends and family. But it was that moment that she felt lonely. It was just, different.

Oh no, I am not going to back to that again. I am done with that.

She wanted it absolute. She wanted it final. She wanted it done and completely over. She never wanted to think about it again.

No more Conner.

Soccer practice had been out for a while, but Conner still stood on the field, bouncing the soccer ball up and down. Things have been going great for him. With the new Triassic Morpher and the Battlizer Armor, the rangers were really given a boost in fighting the monsters that Mesogog threw at them. They needed it as well. The stakes had been rising and the monsters weren't as easily fought off as they used to be. It was a good thing they had Doctor O back in form again as well. Not that it was helping Conner's GPA that much, but he personally was relieved from all the duties and responsibilities of being the leader of the rangers after Doctor O returned. Now he was able to concentrate on other things.

Perhaps he did revert back to his old ways now that they weren't completely relying on him anymore. Plus, they had Trent, the new White Dino Ranger, to marvel over. All the cool new tricks and skills he brought along with his ranger powers were somewhat of a benefit to the team. After all, it was a team, a team effort. Conner had heard that word so many times he was seriously going to puke. Not only did he need to be a team player on the field during soccer practices and games, but he needed to be a team player when battling monsters. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Conner got it; he needed to work with the others, together, as a unit, as a team.

Conner was just, tired of it all. Conner smirked to himself. Since when did everyone have to use the word 'tired' as a synonym for annoyed, upset, not in a good mood, or just plain pissed off? Then Conner had definitely gone back to his old self, being 'tired' all the time. It was a good thing that he was good at pretending. Sometimes, he just didn't want to put up with it anymore. Why was it his job to be this hero, save the people? He only touched the gem out of curiosity. He never applied for the job; it chose him, fortunately or unfortunately. He had been so ready to give the job up only after a few days of becoming the Red Dino Ranger as it interfered with his soccer practices. He eventually found a way to make it work, and therefore kept the job after much persuasion from Ethan and Kira.

Conner almost rolled his eyes at the thought of Kira these days. Even he didn't know he could hold grudges this long. Things between didn't return to normal after their little fight about Trent's loyalties back when he was trying to kill them off. Not that anything with Kira had ever been normal to begin with, but Conner felt that the change was more obvious than ever. At first, the only thing on his mind after that fight was the fact that she chose Trent. Call it love at first sight, or blind faith, or whatever, but it was obvious Kira had found something, or rather, someone, to attach herself to. So, Conner was rude.

I am rude, Conner thought. Other than being a Power Ranger, when have I ever been genuinely nice?

But that was a lie, and Conner knew it. He may be popular at school, especially with the girls, but that didn't mean he had the right to rule over everyone and make them bow at his wishes and commands. And then there was Krista, who completely knocked down those walls and stereotypes. Contrary to what Conner had planned and believed, things with Krista were working out in different ways than expected. Conner wasn't sure if it was a good thing yet, but it wasn't exactly bad either. Krista was obviously different that what he was used to, but maybe that's exactly what Conner needed. Maybe he needed a change. Maybe, everything he had previously been setting up for wasn't what he needed, but rather, just what he thought he wanted.

What did he want then?

One image flashed in his mind: Kira. Conner shook out of it when a car honked at him.

"McKnight! Are you coming or not?" his friends shouted from the car.

"Yeah, wait up!" Conner shouted back as he stuffed the soccer ball in his bag and headed towards the car.

No. He was wrong. That wasn't what he wanted.

He hoped it was absolute. He hoped it was final. He hoped it was done and completely over with. He hoped that he didn't have to think about it ever again.

But he understood because he had grown, and had possibly known for quite a while now.

What he hoped was not always what was given to him. In this case, it may have already been given away.

Conner was sure of it when he sat in the car along with his friends and saw Kira and Trent holding hands a distance away. Then, before the car sped away, he was able to see Trent lean in to kiss Kira.

He should've known; the best thing that could've happened to him was squandered by his stupidity and ego.

He had lost.

And now he felt just that: lost.