Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers, or the settings where they have taken place. They are owned by Saban. I don't wish to get sued.
Authors Note: This is something that I have been toying around with for a while. It consists of snip-its from Kimberly's diary about her life and her friends lives. I am still going to be working the story "Are We Over" but I wanted to throw this out to you all. It'll be a lengthy story, but I hope it will be worth it. It begins when the gang starts High School. Let me know what you think! Please R&R! It will be a T/K, because that's mainly what I write.
A/N: The reasoning behind the letter…. All italicized words are the diary… It has been a hectic few weeks, which is the reasoning I hadn't been writing, and if this chapter stinks, I'm sorry. Next one will be more detailed and better!
Kimberly steps off the plane and is greeted by Coach Schmidt. "Welcome to Miami Kimberly." He says, smiling.
"Thanks Coach."
"How was your flight?"
"It was good." She says.
"Are you ready for the new chapter of your life?"
"Yeah." She says.
"Let's go get your bags and we'll head over to the apartments. Renee Weaver is your roommate. You two will share and apartment together. She just came to Miami as well. You will begin classes in September, but when you aren't in school, you are working out. Your beam and floor are amazing, and I want to get your bars and vault up to that level of excellence."
Kimberly smiles and nods, grabbing for her bags and pulling them off the conveyer belt. She has three large suitcases filled with things she didn't want the movers to take. Coach Schmidt takes two of the three bags as they make their way to his car and over to the apartment. It was fully furnished.
"Kimberly, your apartment is 206 Sunrise. All the gymnasts have rooms on the second and third floor. Here are your keys." He hands them to her.
She opens her door and sees a brunette sitting on the couch watching TV, "Hi!" She says as she turns her head, "You must be Kimberly."
"I am, and you must be Renee."
"That's me." She smiles, shaking hands with Kimberly. "It's nice to meet you. Coach has been raving about you ever since he came back from Angel Grove."
"I don't know why, I'm just as good as all of you." Kim says.
"Ok, Renee, get Kimberly settled in, and I will see you girls at my complex at 5:00 sharp." He smiles.
"Bye Coach." They say, as he closes the door.
"When he says sharp, we better be there at 4:30, so we can stretch."
"So I figured." Kim smiles. "So how is it here?"
"Not bad. I mean, I love gymnastics, so it's awesome. It can be tough though. I have been here for two weeks."
"Cool. Where is home for you?"
"Right around Philadelphia Pennsylvania."
"That's awesome."
"Yeah, I miss it, but this place is heaven."
"It reminds me a bit of Angel Grove… just more people, and no mountains." She laughs.
"Warm there?"
"The winter low is usually right around 55."
"Nice."
"Yeah it is." She smiles. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, it was the movers with Kimberly's boxes, "I didn't think they would be here till tomorrow! Mrs. Campbell must have shipped them in two days." She smiles.
"Mrs. Campbell?"
"Yeah. I was living with my friend this past year. My mom moved to Paris and my father to Boston."
"Oh."
"I didn't want to move, so I stayed there."
"Well that's good."
"Totally." Kim smiles.
"Parents are divorced I am assuming?"
"Yeah. They have been divorced since I was in ninth grade, now they are both remarried and my father and his wife have a 7 month old Mackenzie."
"Well, that's nice. At least they are happy."
"Yeah, that's what I learned." Kim smiles. "It's so hard at first though, knowing that your parents are heading towards a divorce."
"Do you have any siblings?"
"None, besides Mackenzie."
"Well, that's cool too." Kimberly and Renee head to her bedroom and begin to unpack her tings, "Who's this?" Renee asks, taking out a picture.
Kimberly smiles, "That's Tommy. He's my boyfriend."
"Still?"
Kimberly looks at her oddly, "Yes."
"He's cute."
"Thanks."
"That's a really cute picture of you two."
"Yeah, my friend Adam took it. He just got a new camera and was driving us all crazy taking pics, but after this one, I forgave him."
"These your friends?" She asks, taking out a picture of the 9 rangers, former and current.
"Yeah, they are my best friends. Jason and Rocky, Trini and Aisha, Billy, Tommy, Zack and Adam, and me of course."
"The boys in red are really cute too, actually all your friends are cute. Man, I've been living in the wrong place." She laughs.
Kim smiles, "Yeah, they are pretty cute. They all do karate, so they keep pretty fit."
"Karate eh?"
"Well, some kind of martial arts."
"And who are you gonna set me up with?" She asks, winking.
"Anyone of them but Tommy." She laughs.
Kimberly and Renee talk and instantly become friends. About 20 minutes before they have to leave for gymnastics, she calls Tommy. She leaves a message knowing that they were probably out fighting or working out, "Hey Tommy, its Kimberly. I got here ok, and I know you are probably busy with something, but I'm here. If you think of it, give me a call back, or I'll talk to you soon. I'll write you too. Tell everyone I said hi. Love you, bye." And with that she hangs up.
"Come on girl, we need to get ready for the gym."
"Alright." Kim smiles. They quickly get ready and head to the complex. It is only a five minute walk, so they walk every day.
"So, what do you go by?"
"Huh?" Kim asks.
"Kimberly, Kim, Kimmy, what?"
"Oh." She laughs, "Kimberly or Kim, it doesn't really matter. It's pretty even between the two."
"Cool. I'm Renee, or you'll hear some of the jokers call me 'Nee."
"Good to know. So how many do we have going to Pan Globals?"
"Sixteen, eight girls, eight guys. That includes alternates though. The main ones are You, me, Lindsey, Tara, Jamie, and on the guys there's Cooper, Shawn, Mike, Dan, Jack, and Matt. They are who should be competing. The alternates are Lori, Leslie, Chase, and Alex."
"Ok, cool."
"I think you'll really like it here." Renee smiles.
"I think so too." Kim replies.
The first day, they all get weighed again, not so much to check for weight loss, but to check fitness and healthy lifestyles. Below a certain weight for your body limit is unacceptable, according to the Coach. Kimberly watches the girl's routines. They were really good, but she expected that. She was going to have to work extremely hard in order to get up to their quality.
Kimberly works hard for the rest of the summer, talking to Tommy twice a week, and writing to Aisha. School begins, and the team goes to the local school in the morning for a few hours, and then they head straight to the gym. They are practicing almost every day for four hours. December comes around and Kimberly has a chance to head home. It was a wonderful and well needed vacation, but as the time went on, she began to not want to come back to Florida. She didn't want to leave the home she has known and loved. It was a great vacation, the six friends spend all day together, and in the evening Tommy and Kim were together. Katherine was back in Australia during this time.
She came home on January 2, and met her roommate, "How was your trip?" Renee asks Kimberly.
"It was wonderful." She smiles, "I was sad to have to come back."
"How's Tommy?"
"He's great! Couldn't be better."
"I bet it was hard leaving him."
Kim sighs, "Yeah, but I'll see him again."
Renee nods, and turns to go into her room, as Kimberly heads into hers.
January 2, 1995
Dear Diary,
Well, the past week was the best week of my life! I spend the entire time with Tommy and the gang, and on Christmas my mom came back from France! I was so excited to see her! She looked great! I was a bit bummed out during the day because I couldn't see her, but Tommy really made it better, and after a long time of being interrupted under the mistletoe, he was able to kiss me properly. Then mom came, and… ugh, I'm rambling. I don't even know where to begin…
Katherine wasn't around this holiday. She was back down in Australia, so I really didn't get the chance to see her, but I did want to, I really did. I don't know why I get a bit apprehensive around Katherine, but I do… it's kind of strange, don't you think? I gave this girl my powers, and she is a great friend, but I still feel replaced. I wonder if Trini, Zack and Jase felt this way… maybe I should ask them, or maybe I should just keep my big mouth shut. It's probably just me.
I am not going to lie, but I almost expected Tommy to be different around me, but he was the same loving and caring guy I left in July. We were able to spend quality time together, which was what I really needed… I felt relieved that he still cared about me.
Anyway, I have to work on a few papers before school on Wednesday, so until then!
Love,
Kimberly
January 10, 1995
Today was a really nice day. I had a tough time in practice this evening, but I got to hang with Matt. It was almost 9:00, and Coach told us all to leave, but my floor routine didn't go well at all, so I asked him if I could stay. He of course said I could, but he had to be working in his office on paperwork, so he couldn't spot me or critique me. Matt said that he would stay with me while I worked out. He needed to get a few passages done anyway.
I haven't really talked about Matt here, but he's a pretty cute guy, about 5'10, short dark hair and brilliant blue eyes. He's become a really great friend the past few months. He reminds me a lot of Tommy.
Anyway, we ended up working out till about 10:00, he watched my routine and I watched his, then we went out to dinner. I wanted to pay for my own, but he paid for the both of us. He's nice like that.
We talked about a lot of things, our homes, my relationship with Tommy, his relationship with his ex. She cheated on him, so he dumped her. I don't blame him. I would have done the same thing if I were in his shoes.
It was just a really nice night. All in all, I had a great time. He is a really nice guy.
I better get some homework done.
Love,
Kimberly
Three days later, Kimberly was at the gym and decided to try Tommy during her break.
She calls his phone and a female voice picks up, "Hello?"
Kimberly looks at the number before answering it, "Hello?" She asked, curious to the voice.
"Kimberly?"
"Kat?" She asks, hearing the accent in the phone.
"Yeah, how are you?"
"Good how are you?"
"I'm fine!"
"Why are you answering Tommy's phone?"
"We're doing a project, and he ran downstairs for a second to get something to eat. I heard the phone ringing and picked it up. It is so good to hear from you!"
"You too Kat. How's Ranger life treating you?"
"So far so good. Tommy's a great teacher. He's been working with me a lot to enhance my skills, and the others." She says, before she says, "Hang on Kim…"
Kimberly makes out a man's voice, before hearing the familiar, "Hey Kimberly."
"Hey Tommy." She smiles, "How are you?"
"Busy, but good. You?"
"I'm doing well." She smiles, "Just glad to talk to you. I miss you."
"You too." He says, before cutting Kimberly off to have a brief chat with Kat. "So how's Florida?"
"It's ok. Practice is hard. How's Angel Grove?"
"It's alright." Tommy says, before his communicator goes off, "Kim, we have to get going. Duty calls. I'll talk to you soon though ok?"
"Alright." She sighs.
"Bye!" He says, hanging up before she could say it.
"Bye." She says to herself. "I love you too Tommy," she mumbles to herself. That was the last time she talked to him on the phone.
It was February. Tommy and Billy were busy working out. "So, have you heard from Kimberly lately?" Billy asks.
"No, we have been so busy we keep missing each other's phone calls. Between her practices, our battles, and both of our school work, plus the three hour time difference, it's no wonder we miss each other."
"Do you write?"
"Occasionally, but Aisha is usually the one who gets the letters." He says, shrugging, "I'll try her tonight."
Billy nods his head, and spots Tommy lifting the weights.
February 2, 1995
Dear Diary,
Mat and I are kind
of getting close. I have Cooper and Renee who I consider my best
friends, but Matt's a bit different. I don't know, but I think I
kind of like him. He reminds me a lot about Tommy, and since I
haven't talked to him in a while, Tommy that is, I've been
hanging with Matt. I have been with Tommy for so long, but maybe
everyone is right. Maybe long distance just doesn't work.
Who knows what's gonna happen in the next week.
Love, Kimberly
February 3, 1995
I feel really guilty for writing about Matt. I love Tommy with all my heart, it's just, we haven't been able to talk for a while. It's really getting to me. Every time I call him he isn't home. He has been spending a lot of time with Kat too. Aisha says that Kat is great, and she is doing everything right. I gave her my powers, why am I so jealous? I hate feeling this way!
What is wrong with me? I know what it is… I haven't talked to any of my friends in a while. It seems like it's been forever, and Kat's there. Why need Kimberly when Kat came. She is gorgeous, and Tommy would be right to find her attractive. Maybe Renee is right, long distance relationships just don't work.
There's the phone,
maybe it's Tommy, but I doubt it. Kim
"Hello?"
"Kimberly, it's Aisha."
"Hey girl what's up?" Kim says smiling brightly.
"I need to tell you something… first of all, have you heard from anyone yet?"
"About what?"
"The Rangers?"
"HUH!" Kim asks confused.
"Ok, I'm guessing no, well, we ended up turning into kids, and Billy didn't and we had to go on a trek."
"Aisha, slow down, what the heck are you talking about?"
"Ok, our powers are gone… well, they were. We lost them."
"OH MY GOD!"
"Yeah, everyone was really upset, especially Kat. I mean, she just learned how to use her powers, and then, POOF they are gone. Tommy was really supportive though… Anyway! We were turned into kids and had to go on a trek to find our crystals."
"What crystals?" Kim says, shocked at the words Kat, Tommy and supportive in the same sentence.
"Zeo Crystals. Well I went home to my heritage, Africa and all, and there were all these sick animals. Kim, you wouldn't believe all of them. The people there don't know what is going on with them, and with my background of animals and working in the vet, I decided to stay."
"Stay where!"
"In Africa." Aisha says, quietly, not knowing how her friend would take the news.
"AFRICA! What about the Zeo whatever!"
"I found it, but I gave it to my cousin Tanya… I didn't even know I had a cousin Tanya, how cool is that! She said that she'd gladly do it, and I'm staying here. I've been here almost two weeks Kim, and I love it."
"Well…that's great." She sighs, slowing feeling her line to Angel Grove diminish. She is hurt that her best friend didn't tell her sooner.
"Thanks. I just wanted to let you know that I moved. I mean, before you heard it from anyone else."
"Thanks for letting me know."
"I'll write you soon Kim, but I have to go."
"Sure…"
"Kim?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry I didn't have more time to tell you. I'm gonna miss you."
"What's the difference between me moving from Angel Grove to Florida, or you from Angel Grove to Africa?" She says with a bit of spite in her voice.
"I just wanted you to know. I didn't expect it, or I would have told you before."
"Well, I didn't expect to come here, so we're even."
"Yeah… ok, well I'll write you." Aisha promises.
"Ok." Kim says with doubt in her voice, "Talk to you soon Aisha."
"Bye Kim." Aisha says, hanging up the phone.
Kimberly hangs up the phone and brushes tears away from her cheek, only to be replaced by more. She hears a knock at her door, and calls for them to come in. It was Matt, "Hey Kim, wondering if you were coming to dinner…. Are you ok?" He asks, noticing her crying?
"Yeah, fine, and I'm not that hungry."
"What's wrong?" He asks, sitting down on the bed next to her.
"It's nothing, really… it's stupid."
"Kim… talk to me."
"I just got a phone call from Aisha…"
"Your best friend?"
"Yeah… well, she was, I guess…"
"And?"
"She's moving to Africa."
"When?"
"She's already there." Kim says, a whole new batch of tears forming in her eyes as Matt wraps his arm around her, "She didn't even tell me. She moved and didn't tell me, no one told me. She's my best friend Matt, how could she not tell me she was moving, and already moved? How could Tommy not tell me?"
Matt hugs the girl, "I don't know Kim, but she did tell you didn't she?"
"Two weeks after the fact." Kim says, wishing she could tell him about the Zeo Crystals.
"Was it sudden?"
"Very."
"Job?"
"Yeah" She lies, "Her father moved, but she could have called me sooner and told me. I lived with her for like four months! We were best friends, and then she up and moves to Africa without telling me! NO ONE TOLD ME MATT!"
He didn't know what to do to make her feel better, so he let her vent. She cries and he sits with her, "Some friends eh?" She asks him, finally wiping her eyes.
"There must be a reason Kim. Maybe she couldn't get a hold of you…"
"It doesn't matter anymore. She left, she isn't around anymore, and me sitting here crying won't change the fact that she left and I didn't get a chance to say good bye. That no one told me, even though she's been gone two weeks."
"do you want to get something to eat?" He asks, changing the subject.
"I just wanna stay here." She sighs.
"Do you want company?" He asks, "We could call out for pizza or Chinese or something."
Kim smiles, "Sure."
It was now the beginning of March, and Kimberly hasn't actually talked to Tommy in about a month. She calls, but he is never home, she tells herself that he is busy with Ranger things, but it is beginning to wear on her. Most of the times, when she does call, she gets his parents and he is either out with Katherine, or with the group, and she doesn't know what to make of it. Renee feels bad for Kimberly, every time she calls and he doesn't return. She sighs, and decides to have a talk with her.
"Hi Mr. Oliver, its' Kimberly." Renee hears as she comes to the door. She decides to wait and have the conversation with Kim later.
"Hi Kimberly, how are you honey?"
"Good you?"
"Great. Let me guess, you want my son."
"The thought crossed my mind, is he home?"
"No he is actually out with Kat..." He begins, as she hears a distinct pause, "And the gang."
"Oh, alright, well just tell him I called." She says, fighting back the tears.
"Will do honey, talk to you soon."
"Bye." She says, hanging up the phone. She sits back on her bed, staring blankly at the wall, before Renee walks in.
"Hey."
"Hey." Kim says, fighting back the tears.
"Are you ok?"
"I'll be fine."
"Kim…"
"He wasn't there again." She sighs, "His dad said that he was out with Kat, then paused and added, and the others."
"I'm sorry Kim… do you think…"
"I think I… I don't know what to think."
"Kim, I know this is hard, but you haven't talked to him on the phone in ages. Long distance relationships are tough… and most times…"
"Don't Renee, please." She says, as the tears begin to flow down her cheeks, "I can't…"
"You may have to say enough's enough. And you can easily find another guy. Matt has been wanting to go out with you for a while Kim."
"Please, stop Renee." She cries, as she turns her back on her roommate and cries.
March 3, 1995
Dear Diary,
I have a huge decision to make… and I just don't know what to do. I haven't talked to Tommy in ages, and I don't know what to do. Every time I call, he's with Kat, or not there. What am I to think? Should I let him go or tie him up? Does he still want to be in a relationship? He sure as hell isn't showing it.
I know how hard long distance relationships are, but we use to talk a couple times a week, then once a week, then once a month, now it's been two months. What do I do? I love him so much, but if he wants to be with Kat, then… I guess I'll have to let him go.
Matt, is this guy on
our team really likes me, and I kind of like him, I'm not going to
lie. He is a really nice guy, and honestly, reminds me of how Tommy
was… is, I have no idea. Do I like Matt? I guess I do. Do I love
Tommy? Yes, with all my heart, which is why I think I have to break
up with him. I need to make sure he is happy, and maybe I'll be
happy. Our relationship is not a relationship anymore. God,
I am babbling… I just don't know what to do.
God help me,
Kimberly
Three days later, Kimberly calls Tommy three times, getting his mother once, who says that he was studying with Kat, then his father who told her that he was still out, and finally the answering machine. She took that as a sign and while it killed her to do so, picked up a pen and started writing. That was the last straw for her.
Dear Tommy,
You don't know how much I love you, and that is why…..
She crumples up the letter,
Dear Tommy,
This is…
Crumples up another letter, then another. The tears were flowing, and wetting the paper as she finally found the words to tell him. It wasn't entirely true yet, but it could be.
Dear Tommy,
Hi! How are you!
I'm doing really well. I have been practicing extremely hard and
am looking forward to the competition in May. It's a lot of hard
work, but it is really paying off. Tommy, this is the
hardest letter I ever had to write, but I really need to do this. I
found someone else. I never meant for this to happen, but it did.
He is really kind, and nice, just like you. I really think you'd
like him.
Tommy, you have always been like a brother to me, and I will never forget all the time we have shared together. I'm so sorry.
Kimberly
She was crying hard, as she licks the envelope and addresses it. It was short and to the point, but it had to be done. She had to let him go. It wasn't fair to him, and if he likes Kat, he can go to her easily.
"This is the only way." She says, burying her face into the pillow crying.
"Kim?" Renee says, walking into the room, "Kim what's wrong!"
"Can you mail this please?" She asks.
"Is it…"
"Yes." She says.
"Are you sure?"
"I like Matt, maybe it will work for us…"
"Kim, I'm sorry."
"So am I. Please Renee, mail it."
She nods and walks out the door, running into Cooper, "She did it."
"She did what?"
"Broke up with Tommy, for herself and for Matt."
"Jeeze… how is she?"
"Crying. I have to mail the letter."
"Do you think she and Matt will last?"
"Honestly, I am not sure. I think she just needs to get him off her mind…" Renee says, "I better mail this."
"Yeah…" Cooper sighs, walking to his apartment.
March 7, 1995
Dear Diary,
I addressed it to the Youth Center, the letter that is. I needed him to get it, and I know that Ernie would give it to him. I called him my brother… I don't know what the rest of the guys are going to say about this… I don't want to find out. Maybe I can just totally shut out my life back in Angel Grove and start a new one here.
I want him to call me. I want him to yell at me, or better yet, beg me to come home, but he would have already. He should have gotten it by now, and no one has called. I don't think they will. I don't think anyone of my friends will, but then that's no different from normal. I haven't heard from anyone, except Aisha, and now she is in Africa. I'm happy for her, I really am, but I guess I feel cut off from the group now. Not even my boyfriend… my brother… Tommy called me that often. They forgot about me. I did the right thing. I know I did. I had to do this. I have nothing back in Angel Grove, and Tommy can have Kat. Who wouldn't want her, blonde, tall, gorgeous… STOP IT! You made your choice… now leave it alone.
God, what did I do…
what the hell was I thinking. What the hell is going to
happen? Kimberly
Back in Angel Grove
"Tommy? I have a letter here for you." Ernie says, "It's from Florida."
"Great Ernie, thanks a lot."
"Who does he know in Florida?" Tanya, the newest yellow ranger asks Kat.
"Kimberly." She says, "His girlfriend."
"Oh, I forgot." She smiles bashfully.
"Read it for me Adam." Tommy says lifting the weights, smiling.
"Ok." He says, opening it, "She writes…"
'Dear Tommy,
Hi! How are you!
I'm doing really well. I have been practicing extremely hard and
am looking forward to the competition in May. It's a lot of hard
work, but it is really paying off. Tommy, this is the
hardest letter I ever had to write',
Tommy sits up and rips the letter out of Adam's hands, and continues reading 'Tommy, this is the hardest letter I ever had to write, but I really need to do this. I found someone else. I never meant for this to happen, but it did. He is really kind, and nice, just like you. I really think you'd like him.
Tommy, you have always been like a brother to me, and I will never forget all the time we have shared together. I'm so sorry.
Kimberly
"I don't understand…" He says, "She was just here… she didn't mention any guy when she was here. What…"
"Tommy." Kat says.
"I gotta go… I'll see you all later."
"TOMMY!" Kat calls after him again, starting after him.
"Kat, don't, he needs to be alone…" Billy says.
"He need's a friend." Kat says, following him out of the youth center, quickly loosing sight of him as he raced through the park. "Damn." She sighs, "Where is he?"
She finds him by the lake sitting on a rock, looking out across the lake, "Tommy?" She calls, causing him to turn a bit, "Are you alright?"
"I just need to be alone right now Katherine."
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok."
"Please Kat, I just need to be left alone."
"Alright." She says, patting his shoulder, "But let me know if you need anything."
He sighs, "Bye." He searches his mind for something that he did to her, "Did she say anything to me? Did she tell me about a guy? Did I do something wrong for her to break up with me? She was fine in December, perfectly fine! I don't get it… what happened!"
He sits and thinks of
all the good times they had. He loved her… he still loves her.
"It's what she wanted. I love her, I have to let her go."
He comes to the decision. He never wanted to do anything to keep her
away from her dream, but he never thought it would interfere with a
dream of his own. He leaves the lake and heads to his house. He
comes in and re-reads the letter. He just can't believe it. He
tries several times to pick up the phone and call her, but he gets to
the last number needed to dial and hangs up, telling himself, "This
is what she wanted. Let her go." He looks at his phone number
post-it on his desk and dials up his best friend, "Jase?"
"Hey Tommy, what's up?"
"Did I wake you?"
"No, it's only midnight." He smiles, "What's up?"
"Not much, just calling to say hey."
"Something about your voice says different." Jason says, noticing the tone, "Are you ok bro?"
"No. Kimberly broke up with me…"
"WHAT!" He says, shocked, causing Zack to look over from his desk, "When?"
"I got the letter today… she says she found someone else. Have you talked to her?"
"No, not in about two weeks, and she seemed fine then. She broke up with you? In a LETTER? What did she say?"
"I JUST TOLD YOU!" He says, raising his voice.
"She just found someone!"
"Yes."
"Did you talk to her?"
"I…" He says, stopping, "I tried Jason, but I can't bring myself to finishing her number. I love her too much, and if she found someone who can make her happy, then, I want her to be happy. That's all I ever wanted is for her to be happy, and I thought she was with me, then she needed her dream, so I told her to go after that, and now, the new guy. I just hope he can make her as happy as she can be."
"Man, Tommy, I'm sorry bro. If I knew anything I'd tell you, but…"
"I know… I just needed to tell you."
"Listen, I'll call her when I get a second and talk to her. I'll let you know what is going on in that head of hers."
"Alright, thanks."
"No problem. I'm going to bed now, but tell everyone I said hi."
"I will, tell Zack and Trini the same."
"Will do bro, night."
"Night." Tommy sighs.
Rocky and Adam were back at the Youth Center, sitting around, waiting for Kat or Tommy to come back.
"I don't know why she did it." Rocky says, furious at his friend down in Florida. "What the hell is the matter with her?"
"I don't get it either." Adam says, "At least you didn't have to read it."
"Kimberly and Tommy's relationship was solid! Then she goes and finds a new guy. I never heard anything about a new guy. She seemed perfectly happy with Tommy when she came home this December! What the heck could have possibly changed in three months? How could she do this to him?"
Adam shrugs at his best friend, before turning his attention back towards the weight bench, "Spot me." He asks Rocky, as he puts on his desired weight and lifts.
Fifteen minutes later, Kat walks in, "Kat!" Rocky says, "Did you talk to him?"
"He didn't want me around." She shrugs.
"Can you blame him?" Adam asks, setting the weight back up at the starting position. "His girlfriend just dumped him in a letter…"
"How cold can someone be!" Tanya asks, scowling.
"She's not, that's the problem." Billy says, looking at his friends, "I don't know what happened."
"Did you ever think the reason why is the reason she put in the letter? She doesn't love him anymore?" Kat asks, shrugging her shoulders.
Billy sighs, not wanting to believe that reason, "I don't know…"
"Tommy's gonna need us, and we're going to be there for him. Our friend is sitting wherever with a broken heart." Tanya says.
"Maybe Aisha knows." Adam says.
"I doubt it… who knows if Kim even knows if Aisha is in Africa or not. None of us have heard from her in a while." Billy replies.
"Can we stop talking about Kimberly and figure out what we're going to do about Tommy?" Kat says, angry with Kimberly for breaking up with him, but now that she was gone, she couldn't help but think that they could possibly end up together, before feeling guilty about her thoughts, "Skiing… let's take him skiing. He like snowboarding and all."
Billy agrees, "I'm in."
"I'm not much of a skier." Tanya says, "I lived in Africa all my life."
Rocky laughs, "No sand skiing for you?"
"No." She smiles.
"Let's go this weekend." Kat smiles.
"That's a good idea Kat. I'll call him up tonight and ask."
"I can't go this weekend." Rocky says, "Babysitting the munchkins."
"Can't you get out of it?"
"Hmm, I'm the oldest of six, what do you think?"
"Alright, so Rocky and Tanya are out, what about you Adam?"
"No, I have to work on a paper this weekend."
"So it looks like you me and Tommy." Billy says to Kat.
"Yeah." She smiles.
"Someone should talk to Kimberly too." Billy replies, seeing the stony faces of his friends, and feeling the same way. No one wants to talk to her right now, and he can't blame them. Tommy was the one who was there, so they went with his feelings. No one knows exactly what Kimberly was thinking or feeling, and they won't know. They have to go by her letter.
March 9, 1995
Dear Diary,
I can't get him out of my mind, and I broke up with him! Today was awful at practice. I couldn't focus…
Kimberly's alarm goes off at 6:00am. She gets up and grabs a shower, trying to wake herself up. She didn't sleep for the past few days, and was exhausted still as she stood under the warm water. Renee has been worried about Kimberly. She hasn't been eating well, so she makes them waffles for breakfast, "Eat." She commands the short brunette.
"I'm not hungry…" Kimberly says.
"You need to eat Kim. You aren't gonna practice your best if you don't eat."
Kimberly sighs, but knows she's right. They sit down and eat in silence. The girls walked to the gym which was only about five blocks from their apartment, but it was still a good 5 to 10 minute walk. At 6:45, the girls began to stretch. Kimberly gets called back by the trainer to wrap her ankle that was giving her a bit of trouble.
"How is she?" Cooper asks Renee.
"Awful." Renee says. "She hasn't been sleeping, she hasn't been eating right, and she cries. I don't know what to do for her. Tommy hasn't even called to ask what happened."
"Did you expect him to? Kimberly hit him with this out of nowhere…"
"BUT, he didn't call anymore, he didn't return her phone calls… it was almost like he took for granted their relationship." Renee says.
"Has Matt been able to break her out of her shell?"
"He's been around Cooper, but she is still really upset. God, I wish I could help her. She waits by the phone almost like he is going to call, but he never does. Maybe he was done, and maybe this was a blessing that she sent him the letter. We won't ever know. None of her friends have called."
Cooper just shakes his head and continues stretching.
The coach came out at 7:00, and smiles at his three gymnasts.
"Are you ready to work?" the coach says with his thick accent.
"You bet Coach." Renee smiles.
"Good." He says, "Kimberly, Beam, Renee Floor."
"Ok." Kim smiles.
"I'll be working with the two of you today on these for the morning. In the afternoon I want Kimberly on Bars and Renee, you will be on Beam." The girls sigh at these. They are their most hated events. "Is there a problem?"
"No Coach Schmidt."
"No." Kim says, as they walk over to their respected areas. Kim couldn't get Tommy out of her head at all this morning. She couldn't get out of her head what she did and what he must be going through, or worse yet, what he wasn't going through, so her routines faltered. Her very first mount she slipped off.
"Kimberly! What was that!" The coach boomed.
"Sorry, I slipped."
"You need to concentrate! I don't need you back in the hospital because of your lack of concentrating."
"I'm sorry." She sighs.
"Do it again. I only want your mount. Ten times, before you can move on."
"Right." She says, and completes her ten mounts.
"That's more like it. Now, you may continue." He says, getting his stopwatch. Her routine can only be five minutes, no longer. If it is longer, she will get deducted. Her routine was almost six minutes long, "Awful! Just awful Kimberly! I have NEVER seen you do so horrible. Your routine lasted 5 minutes and 56 seconds! Where is your head today? It is obviously not in your footwork. Your legs were bent, your dismount took you five seconds to complete, not to mention a simple back handspring combination that you have been doing since you were ten! I want you to get your head into your practicing and continue. You are not going to be getting the gold this way. I'd be surprised if you even medaled! What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I'm sorry." She sighs.
"Sorry isn't going to get you the gold Kimberly."
Cooper watches his friend from over at the rings, he shakes his head, "Come on Kim, get your mind into practice."
"Again Cooper." The assistant coach says, as he helps him up onto the rings.
After an hour and a half on the beam, the coach is furious with her, "Get off the beam Kimberly, you are disgusting me. Go take a break and get your head into practice. If you can't you better get out of the gym. You are better than this Kimberly! What ever is bothering you better stop because I am sick of watching you throw away your practice time. You have fifteen minutes, afterwards you better be back on this beam practicing. Renee, let's see it!" The coach calls, as he hears her music start.
Kimberly quickly makes her way into the locker room. She sits down on the floor with her back against her locker and runs a hand through her hair, "Come on Kimberly, snap out of it." She thinks, "Get him out of your mind. This is your dream, you chose to leave all the things familiar to come here. You chose to write the letter." Then the tears begin, "Why can't I stop loving him?"
Lindsey come into the locker room to see how Kimberly is, "Kim?"
"Yeah." She says, quickly wiping her eyes.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm just not into practice today." She says.
"Renee told me…"
"Who hasn't she told."
"Come on Kim, you would have eventually told me." Kim sighs, Lindsey was right. She was almost as close to Lindsey as she was to Renee. "You better get out there Kim, and really work your butt off, because Coach is pissed."
"I know." She sighs, standing up. She heads out and works as hard as she can at her routine. She thought it ended pretty well, but the coach wanted her to run through it again.
"Now that is what you left with. Thank you!" He says to her, when she dismounts, "I can see that your dismount has been worked on."
"A bit yesterday."
"How bout your bars?"
"I worked on them a bit yesterday."
"Well, after lunch we'll practice with them."
"Ok." She says.
But the day really changed when Matt came over. I was cleaning up my room, well, more like trying to rid it of my memories of Tommy and the rest of my friends. I still can't believe NONE of them called me! I know they all know. Why haven't they called me!
Anyway, Matt and I went out tonight, I guess this would be officially our first date, and I got a goodnight kiss…
They all go to lunch and are back at practice by 1:00. The rest of the practice was tiring, and when she gets home, she goes into her room, and gets a box to put away all reminders of Tommy. Matt comes over and tries to get her to open up, "Hey."
"Hi." Kim says, putting pictures away.
"What are you doing?"
"Just cleaning up my room a bit." She says, taking off the pictures or any reminder of Tommy from her desk, carefully placing them into the box.
"Can I help?"
"No."
"Alright." He sighs, looking at everything she is putting in the box. He watches her wipe away some angry tears, "Come on."
"What?" She says, as he gently pulls her up off the floor.
"We're going out. Let's go grab dinner ok?"
"I…"
"I won't take no for an answer. You need to get out of this room, and away from everything. Let's go."
She nods, and agrees to go with him. For the first time in four days, Kimberly laughed.
Matt really took her mind off of Tommy for the time being, and she really felt like she could talk to him about things she couldn't really talk to anyone down in Florida about. Matt knew that she broke up with Tommy to set him free, but it was nice to also know that he had something to do about it. She was choosing him, and he felt honored. Kimberly and Matt came back to the apartment complex and he kissed her goodnight. It took her completely off guard, but she didn't pull away. She even leaned in to give him another quick peck before they said goodnight and she heads inside.
The kiss was different than Tommy's, but I'm not quite sure how yet. I needed a night of forgetting him and Matt did just that. I laughed for the first time in a few days, and I really love how I feel around him right now.
I have to finish cleaning the room.
Kimberly
March 15, 1995
Dear Diary,
I thought I was
getting over breaking up with Tommy, but the other night I couldn't
sleep. I went out with Matt the night before and I felt so guilty
about it! It was completely different from what I felt before. I put
everything away in a box that Tommy gave me, or anything that I could
possibly remember him by, and I found myself searching for one
article, the tiger that he gave me when I was sick. I just couldn't
sleep, and for some reason that still helps me. Am I going
crazy? My friends have all ditched me, I broke up with my boyfriend,
and I have a new boyfriend, yet I am still upset about my old
boyfriend… god, I confuse myself. What am I doing! What do I want
to do! I just don't know anymore. Matt takes the pain away, but
sometimes I think that is the only reason I am with him. Yesterday
when I kissed him, I thought I was kissing Tommy, and that is never
good.
Did I just throw away the best thing that I ever had? I know that he hasn't called me, and I know Kat is there… he's probably with Kat right now. They probably have been together for a while, and my so called friends were too worried about how I would react to tell me. Maybe it's my imagination running wild… but if I were a guy, I'd think Kat was pretty. She has it all, especially now that she has Tommy.
How is my life going to turn out?
TBC…
Forgive the small mistakes or if it sucks, I just started a new teaching job, so that has been my main priority. The next chapter will be better, I promise.
Well? What didcha think? I'm going to be taking it all throughout High School, college and adulthood, snip-its of the diary through out the entire story.
Please R&R! I'd really appreciate it. It helps me to know what you all want or don't want to see in the story.
Don't forget about my other story "Are We Over!"
Thanks!
LUNA