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Chapter Fourteen: Kevin's Mistake

A/N: Hello! Sprry about the wait. I was without the internet. Anyways, there are some implied mature themes here. Fair warning. Enjoy!

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost

The rain was was so unbearable it was pretty much coming down sideways. For most people, a simple rainstorm wasn't a problem. But when you're a life guard at an outdoor pool, someone might as well have pulled a fire alarm. Kevin didn't even try to get out of his chair as people ran screaming to get inside.

"You know!" Jeff yelled to Kevin above the storm, after the stampeding had stopped. "I think they forgot they're all in bathing suits!"

"Yeah!" Kevin agreed. He followed his co-workers inside the building and shook his head. He went to his locker and grabbed his towel out if it. "Someone made the big man upstairs angry."

"You're telling me," Jeff agreed. "It's been over a hundred all week, and now it's a downpour!"

"I wasn't aware it was monsoon season," Izzy growled joining them. "On the plus side it's supposed to continue-" just then the power cut out and the three of them heard screaming from the main lobby of the building. "Jesus," Izzy sighed, putting her head on her locker.

"Great," Jeff drawled sarcastically. "Now what?"

"We wait until the crowd leaves and go home," Kevin said. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm taking the extra sleep time. I'm exhausted."

"Well if you stopped working so many double shifts," Izzy started.

"You're worse than my friend Mia. I'm fine ok. Just a little tired."

The emergency light came on, casting the room into a dim light. Jeff grabbed his bag and slammed his locked shut. "I'm out of here."

"Right behind you," Kevin said grabbing his own stuff. The two of them left the locker room via side door and into the rain. Kevin sighed and wrapped his arms around himself. He put his head down as he sprinted for home. The sidewalks were already soaked and no less than three cars splashed him as he ran. He neared his apartment building and stopped as he got closer.

Through the haze he could make out someone standing under the small doorway of his building. He got closer, and gasped. "Brooke?!" he asked in disbelief.

Brooke looked up and saw him. "Oh. Hi."

"What're you doing here?!"

"My car broke down, and I was hoping to go inside and find some shelter, but..."

Kevin shook his head. "You need a key to get in." Upon closer inspection he discovered that she was soaked to the bone. "Come on. You can come up to my apartment and get dried off."

"I think not!"

"It's ether that or stay out here and get hypothermia. Take your pick."

Brooke shivered as if to prove his point and sighed. "Fine."

Kevin nodded and let the two of them into the building. They left wet, footprint-shaped marks on the carpet as they went to the elevator. Only once they were inside the enclosed space did Kevin realize how awkward the situation was. Here he was soaking wet, his clothes conforming to his body worse than his ranger suit, with his ex-girlfriend who had on an equally conforming wet leotard. It didn't help that the only part of her leo that he could see was the top half. He looked away awkwardly, trying to be a gentleman.

They got off at his floor and Kevin lead the way to his apartment. He unlocked the door and tried to flip the light on. "Forgot, power's out. Hang on." He shut the door and wandered blind around his apartment until he found a flash light. He turned it on and shone it on Brooke. "I'll find some candles."

"Kind first old fashioned," she remarked.

Kevin shrugged. "Better than sitting in the dark. Ignore the mess," he added as he looked around. He found some candles and matches. "Come into the bedroom," he said. "I think I'll only have enough to barely light one room."

"My fiancée will freak if he finds out I was in your bedroom," Brooke remarked following him.

Kevin felt a twinge in his heart at her words. "Fiancée?" he asked setting the candles down in various places around the room.

"Yeah, for like four months now."

"Oh... Good for you." Kevin started lighting the candles. "I'm sure he's a great guy."

"He is. He's a gymnast and kind and-"

"Ok, I get it," he interrupted. He knew he sounded petty, but he didn't care. He wasn't in the mood to listen to her talk about her new guy. He finished lighting the candles and ironed around. He tried not to look at her directly. "Uh..." He went to his dresser and rummaged around. He found an old pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. "Here," he said, tossing them to her. "You should probably get out of your wet clothes."

"Thanks," she muttered. Kevin turned around she could change and found some sweats for himself. He mumbled under his breath as he changed quickly; throwing his wet clothes into a pile. "You done?" he asked.

"Yeah."

Kevin turned around his breath caught in his throat. He remembered back a few years ago when he'd thought Brooke was beautiful. Looking at her now he realized she still was. Even with her hair wet and wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt too big for her. "You can...sit down."

"Thanks," Brooke replied. She sat down on the edge awkwardly. Kevin sat down on the other side. There was a couple of minutes if awkward silence. "So..."

"What?"

"How've you been?"

"Ok, I guess. You know, working as a life guard and training."

"Cool. Have you been with anyone?"

"Honestly...no."

"Oh."

"Yeah." Kevin sighed. "Brooke, I think maybe we should lay all our cards out on the table."

"What'd you mean?" she asked, looking at him sharply.

"We both know everything is tense between us and we both know why."

"So?"

"So, I think it's time to clean the air between us."

"Clear the air? You broke my heart. That's not something you can just wave away like perfume."

"I'm sorry," Kevin said. "Brooke I really am."

"I thought you loved me!"

"I did! But I was leaving, and I wouldn't be able to keep in contact with you. I'm sorry that it worked out like that."

"Well you didn't seem sorry when you were dancing with Tiara."

Kevin blinked. "What you mean at the dance?"

"No at the barn raising. Yes at the dance!"

"Brooke we only danced together because nether of us had dates! She's a good friend who wanted to make sure I had a good time. You're the one who over-reacted!"

"You're the one who ended us in the first place! You start showing up to school with her everyday, then you dump me, then I see you guys dancing together. What the hell was I supposed to think?!"

"So this is all my fault?!" Kevin yelled, standing up so they were eye-to-eye.

"In a way yes!"

"Well here's the thing, maybe I started this. Maybe! But I did it because I loved you. Because I was trying to protect you! If you'd just trusted me-"

"Trust you?! After you broke my heart I was supposed to trust it was for a good reason?!"

"Preferably yes! Brooke, you're the first girl I ever loved!" He moved forward and put his and a in her shoulders. "And I think maybe I still do."

"Kevin don't-"

"You remember what it was like. Right? That magical feeling whenever we were close. Dreaming about the Olympics and kissing...do you remember the kissing. How sweet and wonderful everything was? I loved that." He leaned forward and kissed her. He fully expected her to punch him or something, but she didn't. I teased she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. "Remember that?" he whispered pulling away.

Brooke could only nod. She kissed him and they pulled closer together. Kevin suddenly started pulling Brooke toward's the bed. She practically tackled him down onto it. They kept kissing as he started to undress her. And for once, the blue ranger didn't even bother to think about the consequences of his actions.