Ch 11: Antonio's Apartment Sleepover Part 1

Normal POV

Traci keeps running through the forest till she is far enough away from the Shiba House to help her forget how she let everyone down - especially her mom. Those constant thoughts distracted her so much that she didn't see the tree root on the path a few feet in front of her till she trips over it, and groans as she rolls onto to her back and hears a ripping sound as she slides her right foot out from underneath the knot in it. Once her foot is free, she looks down to see a small rip in the fabric right above the ankle.

"Great, this was my favorite pair of jeans," Tracy grumbles.

She stands up and starts to run again. As soon as her right foot touches the dirt path she winces in pain. She realizes that her only choice is to walk or limp deeper into the forest.

Meanwhile at the Shiba House, the Rangers finished their game of Shoot and Ladders. They put their zords back on the start circle. Kevin reshuffles the cards and sets them on the designated spot on the board.

"Do you guys think that Traci might want to play this time?" Emily asks.

"Maybe Emily, I'll ask her," Mia says.

Mia leaves the group and walks down the hallway to Traci's room. She knocked on the door but didn't hear Traci say anything.

Maybe, she is taking a nap. She is a very heavy sleeper, Mia thinks.

She opens the door, and her eyes instantly widen in disbelief seeing the empty room. She walks over to the bed and sees Traci's morpher onto of it.

"Guys, come here quick," Mia shouts.

The others sprint into the room. They share Mia's sense of disbelief seeing Traci's empty room. Kevin walks over to Mia.

"I knew she was upset about what happened earlier, but I never thought that she would run away," Kevin says.

"Me either, but how come we didn't hear her," Mia asks.

Mia picks up Traci's Samuraizer. Kevin looks up and sees the open window. He jumps onto the bed, goes over to the window to close it. The blue ranger looks down to see a huge puddle underneath it before closing it and slowly turning back around. He jumps back down onto the floor.

"She used one of her symbols to make a huge snow pile under her window," Kevin says.

They walk over to the others who gathered around the desk. Jayden picks up the note and Traci's zord. "Come on everyone, we need to tell Ji,"

Antonio's POV

I'm doing my evening hike through the forest. It was going exactly like it did yesterday till I see someone unconscious on the path. I run up, and I'm in shock seeing who it was. I immediately bend down and place Traci's head on my lap and gently shake her to try to wake her up.

"Traci, wake up, are you okay?" I ask.

I let out a sigh of relief when I hear her let out a soft moan and see her eyes begin to flutter. A smile when I see her beautiful blue eyes open completely.

"Hey, Antonio, I'm fine I just lost for a second," Traci answers.

I help her up, and we walk over to a hollow log near us. While we were walking, I notice that she is limping. We sit down, and I ask,"Why are you limping,"

"While I was running away from the Shiba House I tripped over a tree root," Tracy answers quickly.

"Can you say that again a little slower," I say.

"I was running away from the Shiba House, and I tripped over a tree root," Traci says.

"Why did you run away?" I ask.

"It's a long story," She answers.

"How about we go back to my apartment, and you can tell me there," I say.

Traci nods. We get up, and Traci tries to walk. She starts to lose her balance, so I catch her in my arms before she hits the ground.

"Why don't I give you a piggy back ride back? I don't want to faint from trying to walk all the way on that ankle."

"I don't have much choice since my ankle has already decided that I'm not walking anymore right now," Traci says.

I chuckle as I help her to her feet. She sits back down on the log. I crouch down in front of her. Traci climbs onto my back. I slowly stand up and begins to walk down the path.

Normal POV

The Rangers walk into the kitchen and see Ji is setting the table. Kevin sets Traci's morpher down. Ji looks over at the blue ranger and sees his mouth is closed, and his lips were tight.

"What's wrong?" Ji asks.

"Traci ran away," Kevin says.

"She left a note," Jayden says.

"Can I see it," Ji asks.

Jayden hands the note to him.

"What does it say," Mia asks.

"That she believes that the team is better without her," Ji says. "Also, she appreciated that we made the Shiba House feel like home to her."

"Why would she acknowledge that we made this place feel home?" Mia asks.

"Maybe, after her parents separated, Traci's dad could have kicked them out, and they've been living in a homeless shelter for a while," Kevin says.

"Come on, Kev, that's crazy," Mike says.

Ji sets the note down on the table. Everyone looks down at it and sees a some of the words were hard to make out, and some of the letters are backward.

"Wow, she has terrible handwriting," Mike says.

"Mike, be nice, she was upset when she wrote it," Emily says. "Why does she think that she wouldn't fit in?"

"We all grew up with two parents that loved us. While her mom raised her singled handed," Jayden says.

"I'm sure her mom made sure that she trained hard up till she got the message arrow," Kevin says.

"She's only been training for a year," Jayden says.

"She is a quick learner if she mustered all her symbols in that short amount of time," Kevin says.

"We need to look for her," Emily says.

"You can't it's going to be dark soon," Ji says.

=A Dyslexic Ranger=

Antonio walks up to the front door of the apartment complex.

"Antonio, I think my ankle is okay to walk on," Traci says.

He crouches down and Traci climbs of his back. She takes a few steps and starts limping again. She makes it to the door before she loses her balance again. She falls backward, and Antonio catches her in his arms again.

"I think you shouldn't try to walk on it, yet," Antonio says.

"Maybe your right," She says.

"Here put your arm around my neck," Antonio says.

Traci slowly puts her arm around my neck. He places his arm around her waist. The automatic door slides open, and they walk into the lobby. Antonio's parents get up from their chairs and walk up to them. Antonio's mom, Camila, has hazel eyes, long, curly, brown hair. She is wearing a flower print t-shirt, a nice pair of slacks, and a pair of black flats. Antonio's dad, Levi, has brown eyes and short black hair like Antonio. He is wearing a button-up blue plaid shirt, a pair of dark blue jeans, and a pair of loafers.

."Hello son," Camila says.

"Hi, mom," Antonio says.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Garcia," Traci says

"Hello, young lady, what's your name?" She asks.

"Traci De La Rosa, Ma'am," Traci says.

"Traci, you can call me Camila," She says.

"How about we continue this conversation at my apartment," Antonio says.

"Okay," Levi says.

Antonio's POV

We walk to my apartment. I give dad the key from my jacket pocket. Dad opens the door and Traci, and I walk inside. My mom and dad go to the kitchen while I help Traci over to the couch. She sits down. I pick up a pillow and place it underneath her right ankle.

"Thanks," She says.

"You're welcome," I say.

I place my hand on her shoulder. She looks over at me and our eyes meet. I hear her let out a long sigh before she says, "I have something that I've meant to tell you,"

"What is it," I ask.

"I like..." Traci says.

"Antonio, I hate to interrupt but could I see you in the kitchen," Mom calls.

"Yeah, I'll be right there," I call back.

I walk to the kitchen and see my parents smiling.

"Traci was just about to admit her feelings for me," I snap.

"Sorry, sweetie, but I thought she might need an ice pack for her ankle." mom says.

Mom hands me an ice pack from the freezer that she wrapped in a towel.

"Also, I'm going to make Mexican Lasagna for dinner,"

"Sweet, thanks," I say.

"You're welcome,"

I go back to the living room. I put the ice pack on Traci's ankle. I look up at her, and our eyes meet again.

"I like you," Traci blurts.