Here's the new chapter! Enjoy!
Kim and Adam were laughing when they walked into Chili's. They both looked around for their friends and joined the big group surrounding tables that have been pushed together. Kim took a seat between Adam, and Rocky, sitting diagonally from Tommy and in front of Hayley. Conner, Ethan, Trent, and Kira sat at the end of the table with Aisha and Trini. Billy sat between Hayley and Trini, in front of Rocky. Zack and Jason sat at the other end.
When they sat down, the server quickly took their orders and left. Since they went there so often, most of them knew exactly what to order. The table fell into a silence as everyone kind of stared at each other. The Dino Rangers started up the chatter, talking amongst themselves while the older people all kind of stared at each other, saying nothing. Kim kept staring down and taking sips of her water.
"So...music, Kim?" Zack said, trying to break the ice. "You were always talented in music, but I thought you wanted to be a gymnast."
"Yeah..." she started. "It's a long story."
"So, how are you doing now, Zack?" Jason asked, trying to shift the attention away from Kim. He wasn't sure if Kim wanted to let the rest of them know what happened and he wanted to make sure she was out of the spotlight until she was ready to let them know.
"I'm good. Just you know, trying to get away from the stress of everything at work."
Tommy was looking at Kim. He wanted to look into her eyes, the way he used to when they were younger. But, even without the hat and without her hair in her face, she still seemed to be avoiding eye contact with him.
Kim felt Tommy's eyes on her. She didn't feel like saying anything yet. It was too early in the night. She couldn't risk bursting into tears before their food came out. She was still trying to build up her nerve to tell her old friends what happened and why she wanted to push them away.
After Zack finished his story of becoming a film producer, another awkward silence fell upon the table, except for the former Dino rangers minus Tommy.
Billy cleared his throat. "I know it's going to get a bit uncomfortable between all of us. You know, more than it already is. It's been a long time and I do miss you guys. I've actually been back on Earth for quite a while. And Tommy was the only one that I looked for when I got back, other than my dad. I'm sorry." Billy continued his story as everyone listened intently. Kim didn't say anything as the others all told Billy that it was okay he didn't look for them. "...got homesick for Earth and decided to return. I was in contact with Andros; he and I would talk to each other often. He got me in touch with Tommy."
"Billy came 'round about a couple months after we lost our powers," Tommy said, never taking his eyes off of Kim. "He hung around and these two" cocking his head toward Hayley and Billy, "got together."
"Well. we all moved to Florida," said Aisha. "Rock and Jason opened a dojo down there. It grew around the southeast. I opened a veterinary clinic down there."
"And I work as one of the engineers for the Disney theme parks," added Trini.
"That's great!" Zack exclaimed. "So you guys go to Disney World all the time? Ride roller coasters whenever you want. Must be nice."
Adam shook his head as he laughed a bit. "No big roller coasters, mostly the smaller ones. Not a big fan of that. Big fan of the shows that they have, though."
"You guys opened a dojo?" asked Tommy. Jason and Rocky nodded. "I was thinking of opening a dojo. But I'm so tied to the school that I don't know when I would have the time to be there."
Everyone quieted down as their food arrived. Rocky looked a little distraught at the sight of his food. It was piled high with ribs, corn, and vegetables. "Um, I seem to be missing a..." He stopped when he saw another plate of a baked potato, chicken crispers, and another piece of corn. "Thank you."
Billy laughed. "Two pieces of corn, Rock?"
Rocky looked defensive. "What? I love the corn here."
Everyone was silent as they ate their food. Kim looked up and watched Tommy for a bit. He felt her eyes on him and he immediately looked up at her. They held each other's gaze for a bit before she dropped it. 'She looks scared,' he thought.
"Alright, Kim," Kira said as she stood up. "Sorry, but we wanna catch that movie. I think there's like...one more showing." Kira glanced at the clock on her cell phone.
"Oh, that's fine," Kim said. She shook her head as Kira, Trent, Conner, and Ethan tried to leave their money. "Dinner's on me tonight. It's fine. Go hang out with each other. I know how much you guys missed each other."
"Are you sure?" asked Trent.
"Yeah, go. Save your money for next week's lunch or something. You guys have fun."
"Alright, see you later. Thanks, Kim," said Ethan.
"See you later, Kim." Kira gave her and Adam a kiss on the cheek before she followed her friends out the door.
"See you later, Kir." Adam called to her. "Great kid."
Tommy and Hayley nodded in agreement. "She is," he said. "Those three didn't want to be rangers. She even gave me her gem after it bonded with her. But they all grew to the challenge and loved it."
"So how'd you end up back in all of this again?" Rocky asked. "And how'd you end up with a doctorate?"
"I don't know. It all happened so fast," Tommy answered.
"A doctorate happened fast?" Zack said, with a grin on his face.
Tommy rolled his eyes and continued. "When we passed our powers on, I went to school. Didn't know what I wanted to do. Then I took a beginner's paleontology course. And for some reason, I loved it."
Rocky laughed. "Kind of like how you loved riding those dinosaur bones on Phaedos, huh?"
Tommy rolled his eyes again. "I didn't love that. It wasn't fun."
"Oh, I think your face begged to differ," replied Aisha, laughing.
Tommy shook his head. "Anyway, Anton Mercer, Trent's father took me along to an island. It exploded and I saved three dino gems. The dino gems were fragments of the meteor that took out the dinosaurs. We actually created the tyrannodrones, our form of putties. Mercer turned out to be Mesagog and the principal of the school was Elsa, one of his minions. Sort of like Scorpina. Anyway, they captured me, the kids found out about my past and I found the black dino gem in his lab and became black."
"It just always seems to find you, doesn't it?" said Jason, wryly. He laughed. "That must've been why Cole was so in love with you."
"He was not in love with me," said Tommy.
"Oh yes he was. All he wanted to do was please you."
"Nu-uh. He wanted to please you. Then you broke his little heart when you didn't shake his hand."
Everyone laughed, remembering the story. Tommy looked at Kim, surprised. He hadn't heard her laugh in a long time. He missed it. Then he glanced at Rocky. "And why weren't you there, Rock?"
Aisha, Trini, Adam, Jason, and Kim burst out laughing while Rocky got defensive again. "Shut up, guys!" he said, trying to finish his potato. "I didn't get the message, Tommy."
"And why didn't you get the message, Rock?" asked Adam.
Rocky glared at him. He looked at Tommy. "I had issues with my phone."
"What kind of issues?"
Rocky turned his glare to Kimberly. "Fine. You guys win again." He looked at Tommy. "I didn't know how to work my phone."
"Hah!" Kimberly burst out. Rocky glared at her again. She raised an eyebrow at him. "What? You didn't know how to work your phone because it was sitting at the bottom of the lake."
"WHAT?" Billy, Hayley, Tommy, and Zack exclaimed. Everyone started laughing, except for Rocky, but even he joined in after a bit.
Rocky shrugged his shoulders. "I was in the middle of eating a burger. My stupid phone kept beeping and I didn't know what to do. All I know is that it was interrupting my quality time with my burger."
Everyone laughed again. "You are so lucky you have good metabolism," Trini said.
Rocky glared at her. "I don't eat that much." Everyone laughed. Kim even let out a snort. "Okay, well, I do work out all the time, too."
After everyone calmed down, Billy cleared his throat. "So Kimberly, how did you start up in the music business? I mean, we always knew you were a great singer, but I always thought that you wanted to be a gymnast. In the Olympics, Pan-Globals, and everything. Why the sudden change?" He took a sip of his water.
Everyone turned their glance toward Kimberly. Adam rubbed her back. "Are we ever going to have another mission on the moon? I swear I'll answer my phone this time. Jason should've told me about it anyway," said Rocky. "He didn't even think to call until he was merrily on his way, riding his bike, saying, 'Hey Rocky, guess where I'm--' "
Kim looked at Rocky, knowing he was trying to save her again. "It's alright, Rock. Thanks though." Kim's heart started beating faster again and she got nervous. She looked down at her finished plate of food and felt Adam take her hand into his underneath the table. "Umm...I don't exactly know how to start this. You guys are gonna have to help me with a lot of it, though," she said looking at Adam, Rocky, Trini, Aisha, and Jason. They all nodded. Kim felt Rocky put his arm around her shoulders.
Tommy glanced at Hayley and Billy, all with concern in their eyes. Something didn't feel right. Tommy felt like he was talking to a whole new person. "Go on, Kim," he said. "We're listening."
Kim looked up, hearing his voice. It was the first thing that he'd directed to her in so long. Something in his voice gave her the strength to go on, the courage to face whatever inner fear she felt. Somehow she knew that he would understand. "I got into an accident," she said slowly and softly. "It was when you guys had your Zeo powers. I think Billy had already gone to Aquitar for a bit. It was around the time the zords were acting up." She took a deep breath. "Anyway, when I moved down to Florida, the coaches, everyone said that I was going to be the next big thing at the Pan-Globals. They foresaw a long career of gymnastics and endorsements for me. But, during a workout, I pulled my legs too fast and landed wrong."
"You hurt your legs? Or your ankles?" asked Billy. "Your spine, even?"
"Umm, almost. More like my head and my neck."
Hayley gasped. "Were you alright?"
Kim shook her head. "I was doing really bad."
"Trini and I flew down to Florida. She was in and out of consciousness for about three days," added Jason.
Tommy's head snapped towards Jason. "You knew? You knew and didn't tell me?"
Kim held up her hand. She shook her head. "Don't blame him, Tommy. Don't blame Trini, Aisha, Rocky, or Adam. I made them swear to me that they wouldn't tell you or anybody else other than us. My parents don't even know. Not even to this day."
"Kim..." Tommy looked at her. She dropped her gaze when she knew he was looking at her.
"Anyway," Kim continued. "About a week after the accident, I sent you the letter, Tommy." Kim's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry." Her voice broke. "I didn't know what to do. I didn't want you to abandon the world. I didn't want you to worry." She looked up at him, tears finally falling from her face. "I was so lost." Adam rubbed her back again. He handed her a napkin to wipe her eyes.
"Kim..." started Tommy. "I wish you called me. I would've wanted to be there."
"Me too, Kim," added Billy.
Kim shook her head, wiping her tears before continuing on. "I was so lost. I felt...I don't even know how I could explain it. I fell into this deep, deep depression. I didn't want Trini or Jason or Aisha to take care of me. They shouldn't be taking care of me when it was my fault. It was my fault that I left Angel Grove, that I broke up with you, Tommy, and why I no longer wanted to do gymnastics.
"Why did you break up with me, Kim?"
Kim took a deep breath. "You could stop, you know," Adam said quietly. "You don't have to--"
Kim shook her head again. "No, I want too." Kim looked at Tommy and then back down at her plate.
"We probably shouldn't be here for this," Rocky whispered to Aisha awkwardly because his arm was around Kim.
Aisha nodded. "But better than getting no story from Kim later on," she whispered back.
"I didn't deserve you, Tommy," she said, almost whispering. She didn't even noticed that she was surrounded by all her friends and one person that she had just met. "You should've had someone who was there. We barely even got so say hi to each other. It was always goodbye."
Tommy's heart sank when he recognized the song that Kim had sang earlier. He remembered how she looked, so vulnerable, so hurt. "Just hearing your voice once a day was fine for me."
"Once a day, once a week, once a month, once every so often. That's what it turned to. And it wasn't fine for me. And everytime I heard from you or one of the guys, it was always about some fight that you guys did. Rita's father came to town. You guys got new powers. I wasn't there. I wanted to be, but I wasn't. I wished that I hadn't given up my powers."
"You shouldn't have--"
"Stop, Tommy. I know I shouldn't have felt like that. I should've called you guys more often, whatever. It's all in the past, anyway. And besides," Kim said looking at Tommy. "You had someone there who wanted you. Who could be there for you because I wasn't."
"Who are you--"
"Kat. I knew she wanted you from the day she saw you."
"Kim, she never--"
"And then when Jason dragged me back to Angel Grove, you two were together. You were together when Jason was gold."
"When I saw you--"
"But, no, whatever. It's in the past, right?"
"Does that mean that you're over me?"
Kim paused. "Does it matter?"
"Gosh, where's our server? Been gone a mighty long time. I think I'm quite ready for that chocolate molten cake," Rocky said, trying to break the tension that was quickly filling the air.
"Aisha moved to Florida," Kim continued, her voice growing stronger with every word. "And so did Rocky and Adam. There was a problem with my retina and I had surgery. It's okay now, but anything that may hit my eye, depending on the pressure, may cause it to tear or pop."
"So that's why you cover it all the time," Zack said.
"Well...yeah. The lights, the stage lights and the camera lights sometimes make it ache when they flash it too brightly. And I just don't really like the publicity sometimes. I mean, when we were rangers, the town and the world was so in love with us."
"Yeah, remember Power Rangers' Day?" said Billy.
Kim nodded. "Yeah. But you know, those were the ranger and we were us. Two separate identities, even though we were really one. I don't want to be recognized. It's just better like that. Could you imagine what would've happened if Angel Grove knew our identities?"
Zack nodded. "I get you. That's why I preferred to be behind the cameras than in front."
Jason nodded also. "TJ said that they could barely go anywhere in public in Angel Grove without creating a mob scene."
"There she is. There's no way she's cheating me out of my molten," said Rocky, standing up.
"Get two," said Aisha.
"And extra spoons," added Trini. "And extra scoops of ice cream." Rocky nodded and rubbed Kim's shoulders before walking off.
"I started writing and playing my guitar, again," continued Kim.
"Again? I thought--" said Tommy before getting interrupted.
Kim shook her head. "I stopped after the accident." She looked around and continued her story. "I got a meeting with some record executives who were visiting Florida. I got a deal and asked Adam to be my manager." She elbowed him softly. "He's helped me a lot with my music." Adam smiled at her.
"They're musically inclined with one another," added Aisha.
"Kim..." started Billy. "I..."
Rocky sat down next to her again. "They're coming!"
Kim shook her head at Rocky and then looked at Billy. "You guys don't have to say anything. It's not your fault. I just had to get it off my chest. Something I had to do, you know. I'm sorry." She looked at Tommy. They held each other's gaze for a few seconds.
"Still," continued Tommy. "I wish you called me to let me know--"
"It's okay." Kim looked around and gave a small smile to everyone around. "I'm sorry I didn't call you guys. I just...I didn't want to worry you. But it's alright. It really is."
Jason smiled at her. So many years of depression and pain and Kim seemed to be coming around full circle.
Kim exhaled and looked at Hayley. "So, how did you come to know..." She looked at Tommy and Billy on either side of Hayley.
Hayley looked a little surprised at being spoken to by Kimberly. "Um, well, Tommy and I met in grad school."
"She was the brains behind the Dino Rangers," Tommy added, still looking at Kim.
"And Billy and I met when he moved back to Earth. We started dating almost a year ago."
"Two chocolate molten cakes. And here are some extra spoons." After the server put the two plates down, Rocky immediately grabbed one and pulled it toward himself. "This one's mine. That's for you guys." He pointed to the other one. Aisha and Trini both hit Rocky as they reached for spoons.
"Whatever, Rock," said Kim. She picked up a spoon and cracked the chocolate shell on "Rocky's" cake.
Rocky looked horrified. "Kim, that's my favorite part! You always take that happiness away from me!"
She laughed. "I know." Then she scooped up a big piece of Rocky's cake while he looked more and more horrified. "Help yourself, guys," she said to Billy, Hayley, Tommy, and Zack, the only ones who have not grabbed a spoon. "To this one, preferably," she pointed to Rocky's. He glared at her and began taking big scoops of the ice cream and the cake.
Zack, Billy, and Hayley reached for a spoon, while Tommy sat there, staring at Kim. There was no doubt about it, but he missed her. He missed hanging out with her. He saw the closeness between her, Rocky, Adam, Aisha, Trini, and Jason. And he was kind of jealous about it. He wnated to have been the one to help Kim after her accident, after her depression. He wanted to be the one who was scolding Kim for cracking the shell on his cake. He wanted to be the one who helped Kim out with her music career. But he wasn't there. Because she didn't want him to be. 'Well, at least she's happy now,' he thought as he watched Adam casually drape his arm around Kim. She looked back at him and smiled as he whispered to her. 'I just wish it was with me.'
"Hey, you okay?" Adam whispered to Kim, leaning close to her.
She looked up at him, smiling. "Yeah, I really think so."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. Seriously. No lie. I think I got over my initial shock of seeing him."
"Alright, then." Adam smiled at Kim as they softly knocked heads with one another.
"I need to use the bathroom," Kim announced. "I'll be back." She stood up.
"I need to go too," added Aisha.
"Me too," said Hayley and Trini in unison.
"What is it with girls and always having to use the bathroom together?" Zack wondered aloud.
"Shut up," said Kim, Aisha, Trini, Rocky, Adam, and Jason together.
"We learned out lesson from saying that all the time," Adam said, answering the blank looks on Billy, Tommy, and Zack's faces.
"Well, that was awkward," Kim said as the girls walked into the restroom. Hayley headed towards the stalls, having to actually need to use the restroom. "I wish I could've said, 'alright, those in Florida, let's break.' "
Trini pointed to the stall where Hayley was. She glared at Kim with wide eyes. Kim shrugged. "It was awkward, though," agreed Aisha. "Not really a conversation you want to have in public."
"Exactly," Kim said. "I have to hand it to Rocky, though. He did try to make it lighter."
Aisha laughed. "Even if it were for his own personal benefit." The girls laughed again. "But I have to hand it to you, Kim. You did good."
Kim gave her a little smile. "Thanks. I was just not sure if I was ready to see him after so long. And I miss Billy and Zack, too, but at least with them I don't have that same history as I do with Tommy. I think I would've been fine if it were just Zack. Looks like Billy's been in Tommy's life a little bit longer."
"You were fine with all of them, Kim," Trini said. "They are all your friends. It wouldn't have been right to keep it from them. It wasn't right to keep it from them before." Kim just glared at her, hearing this argument over and over. They heard the toilet flush and Hayley walked out, heading towards the sinks. The girls moved out of the way to let her through.
"Kira talks about you, a lot," Kim said to Hayley. "Said you were the smartest person she knew and made the best smoothies she's ever had."
"Thanks. She speaks highly of you, too." Hayley grabbed some paper towels. She looked at Kim and smiled. "You and Adam make a very cute couple."
Kim looked disgusted. "Ew. He's my brother." Hayley glanced back at her after looking at herself in the mirror. "I know we're close and we may look like we're together because of how much time we spend with each other, but no. Ew. Adam's my brother. He's dating one of Aisha's co-workers, Amy."
Hayley smiled. "He still loves you, you know." Hayley moved in front of her. "I don't think he ever stopped." Kim looked at her, tears forming in her eyes. "And I think you still love him, too." She walked towards the door, about to open it. "He thinks the two of you are together." She walked out of the bathroom.
When Kim, Aisha, and Trini returned to the table, they saw all the plates empty and the guys and Hayley were chatting to each other. Hayley gave Kim a smile as she returned to her seat, which Kim tried to return.
"I'm really tired," Kim said, forcing a yawn. She looked at Adam.
"The server's grabbing the check right now," he said.
Kim nodded and pulled out her card as the server came back. She stuck her card in, not looking at the amount. A chorus of "thank you's" echoed around the table. "Don't worry about it," Kim said as she smiled at them.
As soon as the server returned, Kim left a big tip and everyone stood to leave. They all exited the restaurant, making small talk with one another.
"It was fantastic seeing you all, again," Billy said, giving Trini and Aisha a hug. "How long will you all be in town?"
"I'm leaving in a couple of days," answered Trini. "Everyone else is here for the rest of the week."
Adam nodded as he gave Billy a hug. "Kira asked if it was alright if she could hang out with her friends for the rest of this week. I figured it would've been a good break for all of us."
"Yeah, who knew that we'd see each other again," said Aisha.
"We have to hang out tomorrow," said Zack. "I'll take the day off and we should head up to Angel Grove or something. I miss you guys."
"Yeah, you got my number, right?" asked Trini.
Zack nodded. "Yeah, I got yours and Adam's. What about the rest of you guys?"
"Call Trini, we'll be with her," said Rocky. "And Adam's got Kim." Tommy glanced at Kim and Adam standing next to each other.
"Yeah, and besides, who knows where Rock's phone'll be when you call him," said Jason. Everyone laughed.
"Cool, you in, Tommy? Billy? Hayley?" Zack asked.
"Sure," answered Billy. He looked at Hayley, who nodded.
"Uh, yeah, I'm in," answered Tommy.
"Cool, I'll call everyone in the morning," said Zack. "It was great seeing you all again."
"Wow, what an awkward night, huh?" said Adam. He buckled his seatbelt as Kim settled in next to him.
"Yeah." She closed the door. "I can't wait for tomorrow," she said sarcastically.
"You should seriously talk to him, though. Just the two of you. Without us around. Clear some stuff up."
Kim nodded, absently. "Yeah, that's what Trini and Aisha said I should do. I forgot that you guys were even there."
"Cuz you should. And I could tell." Adam glanced at Kim. "What's up?"
"Hayley said something in the bathroom. Well, she said a couple things."
"What are they?"
"First of all, she and Tommy...and probably Billy, too then, thought we were together."
Adam snorted. He laughed. "I hope you corrected them. That's disgusting."
"Yeah, I told Hayley. So, hopefully she tells him."
Adam looked at her with raised eyebrows. "You know you should be the one to tell him." Kim looked skeptical. "Seriously. I think Tommy still loves you. You could tell the way he was staring at you. And how awkward it was tonight. If you two were really over each other, the night would've been a breeze."
Kim furrowed her brow. "That's what Hayley said," she said slowly.
"They are together, aren't they?" Tommy said sadly. Billy glanced between Hayley and Tommy.
Hayley didn't say a word, she merely smiled and looked out the window.
Hope you liked that! And I think you could all tell how much I go to Chili's. One of my best friends' favorite thing to do is crack that chocolate shell and my other friends and I always try to get to it before he can.