Sorry I haven't updated in a while I've been so busy and stressed but now I have my results I'm okay; I got into my university so it's all good!
Strangers to each other and familiar to others, some friendships last forever…
One stranger meets another but both strangers are familiar to many, but to those who are familiar they are still strangers, what's stranger still is that strangers are sometimes familiar friends…Ha ha, try and work that little riddle out! X
Chapter 21 – Strangers
Kira glanced around the table idly; she didn't know what they were doing there really. They could have gone to the Cyber café but Conner had said that it was too busy for them to talk about ranger stuff without being over heard. They were sat outside the school on one of the benches; despite the fact school had finished Ethan was writing an essay for his English class and Conner and Trent were messing around with some new data on Ethan's laptop. Kira knew she should be working but the sun was making her tired and warm, it was hard to concentrate when your head was else where. Conner and Trent were currently arguing but Kira couldn't seem to grasp what it was actually about and Ethan didn't seem to care so she stayed well out of it.
She found herself watching a motorbike pull up and park amongst the few cars that there were still in the teacher's car park. The guy who pulled off his helmet wasn't exactly bad looking, she glanced guiltily at Trent who was none the wiser, and she turned her attention back. The guy was obviously older and was built like an athlete with broad shoulders and muscles. He looked about as though looking for someone and upon catching sight of the teenagers at the table, began to walk over with a smile on his face. The others became aware of his approach and quickly closed the laptop, turning to face him.
"Um hey guys," Kira looked up at him with an enquiring smile on her face, there was something about this guy…
"I was wondering if knew where I could find Dr. Oliver? He works here, he's a teacher." He glanced at the laptop but turned his smile back to Conner who was closest. Something almost familiar…
Conner placed a hand on the laptop as though protecting it. "Yeah sure, I think he's still in school. He'll probably be in his class room; it's the science corridor room 612 on the left."
The guy smiled and nodded in gratitude. "Thanks guys, sorry for bothering you."
"No problem." Kira replied cheerfully and watched him walk off towards the side entrance.
"Who was that?" Ethan asked. Trent and Conner shrugged.
"Whoever he was Kira was in to him!" Conner smirked at the yellow ranger who was still staring in the direction the man had gone.
Ethan laughed at that. "Hey Kira I think he was a little old for you!" He and Conner fived each other and Trent tried his best to ignore them.
Kira hadn't heard a word. "Did he seem really familiar to you guys?" The others looked at her curiously and then shrugged, getting back to their work.
Kira shook her head. "I could have sworn…I don't know." She shook her head again and smiled at Trent who was looking questioningly at her.
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Jason wandered through the school aimlessly. The place didn't look that big but he was already lost and there didn't seem to be anyone he could ask. He was quite sure that he was in the wrong place; on one side of the corridor were posters about Shakespeare and on the other was stuff about the Civil War and even posters on Egypt. Definitely in the wrong place.
He supposed he could go and ask those kids again; that was if he could find the way out and besides they hadn't looked particularly happy at being interrupted. The way they'd stopped talking as he came over and the way they'd protected that laptop. Although he did remember Tommy telling him how one boy had sent off the sprinklers around the school on his first day with his laptop. Jason chuckled, the wonders of technology; it was the kind of thing he might have done at their age although it was likely only Billy would have been able to work it and there was little chance of him using it like that.
The faint sound of music halfway down the corridor caught his attention; someone was humming along, which meant someone to get directions from. He stuck his head in the doorway and for a moment couldn't see anyone; she was stood on a stool putting books on a shelf that was too high to be useful.
He cleared his throat. "Um hi, I was wondering if-" he got no further as she gave a start at his voice and dropped the books, sending a couple tumbling from the shelf hitting her on the way down.
"Jesus!" She cursed. The stool wobbled precariously and Jason prepared to rush forward and catch her but she maintained her balance by gripping the shelf. Once it was steady she turned a face that looked a little flustered from momentary panic and possibly annoyance, to look at him. He put down his bag and went towards her.
"I'm so sorry." He apologized as he began to pick up the books.
"Its fine honestly, it's okay." She did sound a little annoyed but the tone seemed to suggest today had been a long day and the books were just the icing on the cake. He offered her a hand to get down from the school which she took after a small hesitation. It was then that she seemed to catch sight of him properly, she grinned at him.
"I know you!" She said. Jason thought she looked a lot better when she smiled; the harassment left her face and her eyes lit up. "You must be Jason!" He took the offered hand and shook it.
"You'll be looking for Tommy then." She continued before he could say anything.
"Yeah," He replied sheepishly. "I'm afraid I got lost though."
She waved a hand dismissively. "Oh it's easily done, this place doesn't look big but if you don't know your way around it just seems to expand!" She smiled up at him again. "I'll show you the way if you want?" Jason was about to say he'd help her with the books as an apology but she was already walking out of the classroom.
"Are you here long?" She made polite conversation as she led him to the science corridor. Jason smiled; polite but genuinely interested.
"It kind of depends." He replied it was a little vague but he honestly had no clue; Tommy hadn't sounded so good.
There was a few moments silence in which he noted that the posters had changed to stuff about the atom and dinosaurs. "He'll be pleased to see you." The young woman turned to look at him with a smile that looked slightly sad. She motioned to the open door, but manners dictated that ladies went first, she looked a little nervous at that and it made him wonder why she seemed unwilling to enter.
She stepped in but paused as if unsure what to do; Jason cleared his throat, he didn't want to stand there forever. Tommy seemed to spring out of his seat, pulling off his glasses; Jason wanted to laugh at how nervous his friend was, it was almost a miracle he hadn't fainted in fright.
"Grace." Jason noted that he sounded surprised, but Grace quickly intervened before Tommy could say something else.
"You have a visitor." She hurriedly stepped to one side, letting Jason through the door.
"Jase?" Tommy looked shocked but almost immediately a grin split his face. He strode forward and clasped Jason's arm. "Oh man it's good to see you Bro!" He said, he sounded relieved. Jason couldn't help but smile; he felt the same way too. The atmosphere changed almost instantly as Tommy remembered the woman in the doorway, he opened his mouth to say something but she gave a nervous smile to them both, not meeting Tommy's eyes before closing the door behind her.
Jason watched Tommy; he looked slightly crestfallen and wore that look he had that suggested he was mentally kicking himself. Jason sighed; it looked as though he had a lot of work to do.
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Tommy put the plate of lasagna down in front of his friend and grinned when he caught sight of his face; Jason looked surprised and perhaps a little wary.
"Bro you learned to cook?"
"Well I had to at some point, and as you can see now I can do it without burning down the kitchen!"
"And it's safe for me to eat?" Jason poked the food dubiously.
"Well if you're not hungry…" Tommy made to take away the plate, laughing when Jason pulled it back.
"You've got to be kidding me, I'm starving! I was starting to wonder what a guy had to do to get some food around here!" He grabbed a fork and attacked his food with relish but then quite suddenly stopped and glared at his friend.
"If this gives me food poisoning Tommy I'll kick your ass."
Tommy smirked. "I'd like to see you try."
Before Jason could reply the door bell rang and Tommy gave a knowing sigh. "Here comes trouble." He said and went to answer it.
He came back moments later with four teenagers in tow; Jason smiled as he recognized them as the teenagers from outside the school. Tommy pulled out four extra plates, motioning for them to sit down and help themselves.
"Friday's lasagna night." He said with a shrug. "It's Rocky's family recipe." Jason nodded; that explained its popularity. Tommy turned back to the teenagers who were all staring at Jason with curiosity. "Guys this is Jason. Jason this is the team."
There was a few moments silence. "Holy shit!" The one dressed in red said quite suddenly, Jason grinned at his reaction.
"You must be Conner." He turned to the others. "So I'm guessing you're Kira, you're Trent and you must be Ethan?" Each member nodded their head and extended a hand in greeting.
"This is surreal." Kira said with a shake of her head. "I knew I'd recognized you from somewhere; it was Dr.O's video on the history of the power rangers."
"I can't believe this!" Conner could barely sit still in his excitement. "You were the first red ranger, this is unbelievable! I have so many questions to ask you-" Jason watched as Kira put a restraining hand on her friend's arm and Trent gave the tiniest shake of his head, Kira's eyes flickered over to Tommy and then back to her plate.
"So," Ethan covered hurriedly. "How long are you planning to stay here? I mean is this just a visit?" Jason glanced at Tommy who was flicking his food around his plate.
"Um, I haven't really decided, I just needed a break so I thought I'd come and see an old friend. How long I stay depends on how long Tommy is willing to do my laundry for!" Tommy looked up and laughed at that.
"What makes you think I'll do any of it?"
The four teenagers had finally left although Conner had almost had to be dragged away by his fellow team mates. Tommy had looked exhausted after they left and Jason could see lack of sleep was taking its toll on his friend; he had suggested calling it a night but Tommy had seemed a little reluctant to go so they sat talking. From what Jason could guess being a mentor was starting to wear Tommy out and having four young power rangers around all the time must be exhausting. The lair was open for them at all times and the house too, Tommy seemed to barely get any time to himself; he helped them with homework, discussed rangering, trained them and then fought monsters with them. Most of it seemed to be at Tommy's insistence as well; constantly afraid he wasn't doing a good job, that his lack of interest would get them killed. He'd seen the furtive glances at dinner; the team was aware that Tommy wasn't having such a good time and they seemed to be worried about his self esteem, if their reaction to Conner's request was anything to go by. Tommy had already told Jason how bad he felt about not giving Conner more encouragement, or for not solving Trent's problems and not being able to understand Kira more.
Jason understood the worries but none of them were really Tommy's fault; Kira had Hayley, Ethan seemed a relatively straight forward guy and Conner was just a little over enthusiastic. Trent was a little more problematic but from what he could tell Tommy had done the best he could; no one had ever been able to solve Tommy's problem with being evil so it was unlikely Tommy himself would know all the answers. His friend was being too hard on himself; what with teenagers to look after, bad dreams and lack of sleep, a new and mysterious ranger and to top it off it seemed he was having some problems with women!
A/N Jason to the rescue! This chapter didn't really go the way I wanted it to but I had to give Jason all the information as quickly as possible otherwise we'd have like seven chapters on how craply (yes I know that's not a word) things are going for Tommy! That would only be interesting if you didn't already know that, so you see what I'm saying? As usual read and review! Xxx