A Love that can Last
Disclaimer: Same as before.
A/N: I hope you like this chapter and please review!
Chapter 13
The next couple of days passed uneventfully. Adam and Trini spent of lot time together, as did Tommy and Kat. Jason spent a bunch of time with Dustin and helping Rocky with his project. It was just about finished and Jason couldn't believe all he'd learned. But he still hadn't gotten up the nerve to tell Rocky how he felt. Zack had spent most of his time at the Youth Center, setting up some new Hip Hop Kido classes for kids. He had really missed teaching it while he was gone.
Tanya had spent most of the time keeping to herself, which worried the others, especially Kat. She was regretting promising Tanya to help with her plan more and more.
By the time she got to the Youth Center on Thursday afternoon, she had made up her mind to try and talk her out of it.
When she reached the table that Tommy and Zack were sitting at, she greeted Zack warmly and gave Tommy a quick kiss before sitting down. Ernie came over and she ordered a salad and juice. After Ernie left, she turned to Tommy. "Where's everyone else?" She asked.
"Not here yet," Zack answered before Tommy could speak.
Kat rolled her eyes, trying to hide a grin. "Thank you for that information, Mr. Obvious," she replied. "Like I couldn't already see that."
Tommy giggled. "Very funny, Zack," he told him. "Trini had to run an errand for her mom and Adam went with him, Jason went to get his cousin, Rocky's putting the finishing touches on his project and will be here in a little while, Billy's at the Power Chamber, and I have no idea where Tanya is. I looked for her after school, but I couldn't find her."
"So did I," Kat told him. "I didn't see her either."
"She sure has been acting strange lately, not to mention avoiding us," Tommy mused. "I getting worried. Kat, maybe you should go to her house and try to find out what's going on."
"Hey, give her a break," Zack cut in. "She's had her heart broken, courtesy of Adam. She probably can't stand to see him and Trini together."
Kat looked at him in surprise. Since when was he Tanya's great defender? "True, but Adam told her that he didn't like her in that way. She just didn't listen."
"It's not that easy, Kat, and you know it," Zack countered. He knew that first hand after all his time pursuing that bitch Angela before finally realizing that beauty did only run skin deep in her case. "Especially after the way Adam led her on."
Kat looked at him incredulously. How in the blazes would he know if Adam had led her on or not? He'd only been back four days!
"Zack, Adam never led her on," Tommy told him before she could say the same thing. "He was too busy missing Trini and being sad to lead anyone on to anything."
"Not to mention being a ranger," Kat added.
"And even if he wasn't, Adam's not that kind of person who would do something like that," Tommy went on. Kat knew that was true. Adam was too shy around girls to lead any one on. Until Trini, that is. But after observing them for the past three days and hanging around them, she knew he didn't have to lead her on. They had been in love since they'd met.
"Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact that Tanya is hurting a lot right now," Zack replied.
"I know she is, Zack," Kat told him.
"I just wish she'd let us help her," Tommy said.
"I know," Kat replied sadly.
Just then Adam and Trini joined them and greetings were exchanged. Then Adam and Trini ordered juices from Ernie.
"So, Trini, are you getting back into the swing of things at school?" Tommy asked once they were settled.
She nodded. "Definitely," she said with a smile. "I am so glad to be back."
"Me, too," Zack agreed.
"I mean, I really enjoyed t he Peace Conference, but there definitely is no place like home!"
"Hear, hear!" Zack added.
"Has anyone seen Tanya?" Adam spoke up. I haven't spoken to her in days and didn't see her after school."
"I looked for her too," Tommy replied. "And I haven't even seen her at lunch either. It's like she's avoiding us or something."
"I know she's mad at me, but that's no reason for avoiding you guys," Adam said.
"Adam's right," Tommy said. "I'm beginning to get really worried."
Kat stood up. "I'm going to go give her a call and see if she'll join us." She headed for the pay phones.
"I hope she does," Zack said. "She needs to be with her friends right now."
"Zack's right," Trini spoke up.
Before anyone could reply, a new voice spoke up. "Hey, guys!"
They all turned to see Jason walking up with his cousin.
"Hey, Jase!" Tommy exclaimed happily, giving him a high five. "Hi, Dustin."
"Hi," Dustin replied, sounding a little shy. He sat down as the others greeted Jason.
"So, Dustin, Are you enjoying yourself so far in Angel Grove?" Trini asked warmly.
"Definitely!" He replied happily. "Jason's the best!"
Jason blushed and ruffled his cousin's curly hair. "Do you guys know what he does now?" He asked excitedly.
His friends all exchanged looks. "No, what?" Tommy replied.
"He races motocross!" Jason exclaimed.
"Seriously?" Kat asked.
"That's awesome!" Zack told him.
"You can do that at his age?" Trini wanted to know.
"You can do it younger," Dustin told her before Jason could speak. "Younger kids can race smaller bikes called minibikes."
"What do you race?" Tommy asked.
"A 125cc Kawasaki," He replied. "I just started competing several months ago."
"Sweet!" Zack told him.
"Have you won any races yet?" Kat asked him.
Dustin smiled. Four thirds, two seconds, and my first win two weeks ago!" He answered excitedly.
"Congratulations!" Tommy exclaimed. He held up his hand and Dustin slapped him a high-five. The others congratulated him as well.
"It was awesome, but I'm only in the beginner level," Dustin told them.
"That's still awesome, man." Tommy replied.
"Just remember to be careful out there, okay?" Trini put in.
"I do," Dustin assured her. "Plus you wear all these pads and protective clothing." He went on and explained about all the gear he wore in his races.
"Just like football," Zack pointed out.
"Exactly," Dustin replied.
"I'm finished!" A voice announced triumphantly behind them.
Adam, who was seated directly in front of him, jumped a mile. "Jeez, Rocky, give a guy a heart attack!"
Rocky gazed at his best friend for a moment. "I think you'll live," he told him. Jason giggled.
"Very funny," Adam replied dryly. Rocky just laughed and pulled up a chair.
"Man, we're getting crowded," Zack said as Rocky squeezed in between Adam and Jason.
"No problem," Jason told him. "We'll pull up another table if we need to."
"That's right," agreed Adam. "Anyway, Rocky, guess what Jason's cousin does?"
Rocky smiled. "Motocross."
Adam's mouth dropped open. How in the world had Rocky known that?
"How in the world did you know?" Kat asked before he could say anything.
Rocky grinned. "Jason told me yesterday," he answered proudly.
"He did?" Tommy asked quietly. He didn't understand this. Why was Jason telling Rocky things like this before him? He and Jase told each other everything! What was going on?
"Tommy, are you okay?" Kat asked him worriedly.
Dustin started cracking up before Tommy could answer. "Dudes, you guys look like someone just told you the moon was made of green cheese or something!" He exclaimed.
"Or that hippos could fly!" Rocky added.
Jason burst out laughing. "Could you just imagine that!"
"That would be like, totally weird!" Dustin told him.
"Way weird," Rocky agreed. He turned toward the counter. "Hey Ernie, can I get a juice? With extra beets?"
Behind the counter, Ernie smiled, Rocky usually always got the same thing. "Coming right up!"
"Ugh," Trini said in surprise. "Did you just say beets?"
Rocky nodded. "Yeah."
"He always drinks weird and outrageous juices!" Adam told her. "Most of which are totally disgusting!"
Rocky spun to face him. "They are not!" He said indignantly.
"Hey, I've tried a couple and they were actually pretty good," Jason put in. He smiled at Rocky, who smiled back. Jason felt his knees go weak and his heart start to race.
"Huh? You always told me that you thought those kinds of drinks were gross," Tommy told him, confused.
Jason looked at him. "That's because I never tried them, bro," he replied. "It's good to try new things. You end up discovering that you like new things." Just then Ernie sets Rocky's juice in front of him.
"Thanks Ernie," Rocky said and gave him some money. Then he took a long drink. "Ahh, that tastes good."
"Can I taste it?" Jason asked. Then, without waiting for an answer, he picked up Rocky glass and took a big drink. This was a different juice than the ones he'd tasted so far. But Rocky was right. "This is good," he announced, putting the glass back on the table.
Rocky smiled at Jason. "I told you guys!" He said smugly.
Trini shivered. "No, thanks!"
Adam squeezed her hand. "The same goes for me."
Rocky shook his head. "You guys don't know what you're missing!"
"That's okay," Tommy told him. "Hey Jase, do you want to come over tonight?"
"Oh, that remind me," Rocky spoke up before Jason could answer. "Dustin, have you been to the beach yet?"
"Jason showed it to me yesterday, but we didn't swim or anything," he replied.
"Well, then how about you and Jase come with me tomorrow?"
"Yeah, cool!" Dustin exclaimed excitedly.
"That sounds awesome, Rocky, I'd love too!" Jason agreed. He just hoped he would be able to control himself when Rocky took off his shirt!
"Then it's settled," Rocky said happily, with a huge grin on his face.
Jason just gazed at him adoringly. The more time he spent with Rocky, the harder he was falling for him!
"Hey, Jase, did you hear me?" Tommy asked more loudly.
Jason jumped, startled. "Huh? What?" He asked. Then remembering Tommy's question, he answered. "Oh, sure. Dustin's going somewhere with his parents so I'm free." He smiled at Tommy and turned back to Rocky.
Tommy couldn't believe it. Jason hadn't asked what time or about what they'd be doing! What was happening to him? He almost felt like Jason wanted Rocky as his best friend instead of him!
Kat saw Tommy's face all filled with sadness and confusion and was about to say something when her phone rang. Pulling it out of her pocket, she looked at the called I.D. and felt a feeling of dread come over her. It was Tanya.
"Hey, Kat, who is that? Are you okay?" Tommy asked her.
Kat stood up quickly. "Yeah, but I have to take this in private. I'll be back!" And before anyone could say anything more, she hurried off.
"That was weird," Rocky stated.
Tommy forgot about his own worries for the moment. "Very," he agreed.
Meanwhile, Kat dashed into the bathroom and lock herself into a stall. "Hi, Tanya," she said, answering her phone.
"It's time Kat."
A/N: So what did you think? I would love to hear your opinions so please REVIEW on you way out! BTW, on my next story, Should I pair Hunter with Dustin or Cam?