34.
I quickly dressed in my pajama pants and pulled on one of Tommy's hoodies after drying off. Walking into his room, I found his car keys on the bed side table. I grabbed them, feeling my fingers tremble as I did. Walking down the stairs, I did my best to try and calm my nerves. I made sure to grab my wallet with my driver's license in it just in case before walking out the front door. I unlocked the jeep and climbed into the driver seat. The night air was chillier now due to my damp hair and skin. The inside of the car was still warmer though, the trapped air absorbing the heat from the sun beating on it all day. Putting the key in the ignition, I listened as it purred to life. Grabbing the bar under the seat, I slid it forward so I could reach the pedals and see over the steering wheel. I clicked my seat belt in and gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"Alright." I said, nodding. "I've got this. Just go slow." I put my hand on the shifting gear and pressed my foot down on the break, shifting it into reverse. I slowly backed out of the drive way, checking both sides of the street before pulling out all together. I went north, heading for Main Street. It would be the easiest way to get there, leading directly to the line of bars the boys were at. I verbally kept reminding myself I was fine as I drove and like before, the fear trickled away. I wondered just how drunk Tommy had to be for Rocky to have to call me. I hadn't seen Tommy intoxicated since we were teenagers. At that point in time though, he was still the responsible on in the group and didn't get too drunk to make sure everyone was okay. The one time he did get drunk was for his birthday. Him and Rocky had a beer chugging contest. Tommy ended up hammered, passed out in the backyard of Aisha's parents house. It took two of us to get him up and into Adam's truck before we all got busted. We had thought about teleporting him but it would have been a bitch to explain to Zordon.
I turn down Tilden Avenue and saw the neon lights of bars along the roadway. My eyes spotted Zach's truck along the curb, parked outside of Roadway Bar. There was a large empty space across from it on the other side of the street. I did a quick U-turn and pulled into the spot. Looking around, I saw that Adam and Billy were outside of the run down looking joint. It seemed to be a dive bar that had lost it's charm a long time ago. People were grouped outside smoking while the tired sign above them swung gently in the breeze. Rolling down the window, I waved to get Adam or Billy's attention. Adam saw me first, the tall and slender former black ranger tapping Billy in the arm when he did. Both waved before jogging across the street.
"Hey, Kimmy." Adam said, stopping next to my door. "What are you doing here?"
"Rocky called me to come pick up Tommy. Is he okay?" I replied. Billy nodded.
"Affirmative. His alcohol consumption was a bit overwhelming after our arrival. Perhaps a well suited resting period will aid him to feel well." He stated. I didn't have it in me to try to understand him so I just nodded.
"I think so too. Could one of you go get him for me? I don't want to go in there."
"Understandable. I'll get him." Adam said, giving me a small smile. He checked for traffic before running across the street again, disappearing into the front door of the bar.
"How is he, Billy?" I asked, peering over at my friend who sighed.
"He appears to be experiences emotional distress about something. He refused to communicate about the issues when asked. I believe it might have something to do with the current situation of life." He replied. "Though, I do not believe he wishes to discuss it at the time."
"Of course not." I muttered. "I just worry about him though."
"Everything will be alright, Kimberly. I promise." Billy gave me a supportive smile as someone let out a loud yell behind him. Shifting, I peaked around him and saw that it had been Tommy who was being helped out of the bar by Adam and Zach.
"Let me buy another round!" Tommy exclaimed as the two helped him step down off the curb. He stumbled a bit, trying to catch is footing. Zach was struggling to assist him, Tommy coming in at over a foot taller than him. He managed it though, Adam holding Tommy up by his shoulders. Both looked equally annoyed as Tommy swung his head back and forth on his shoulders to look at the two of them. "Guys, Rocko is getting married! Can you believe THAT?"
"Yup. Sure can." Adam muttered as the group stopped by the jeep. Behind them, I saw Rocky trickle out of the bar as well. He seemed to be walking alright though I could tell that he was intoxicated. He smiled brightly at our group before running over.
"Tommy, look. It's Kimberly." He said as I slid out of the jeep. Tommy's head turned towards me, his eyes taking a moment to adjust. When they finally did, he let out an excited cry and stepped forward. It caused Zach and Adam to stumble and loose their hold on him. I was able to catch him before he face plants, his arms wrapping around me in a loose hug.
"Well hello, Beautiful." He said, looking down at me. "Did you come to hang out with us?"
"No." I replied, giving him a smile. "I'm here to drive everyone home."
"Aww. But the night is young! You told me to go have some fun. Here I am!" He pouted.
"I know but everyone is going home. We all have a big day ahead of us. There will be more fun tomorrow. I promise."
"Okay. Do you want me to drive?"
"No." I said quickly, Zach helping me walk Tommy towards the front of the jeep. "I can. I had all those lessons from you. I think I can handle it." I pulled open the passenger side door and we helped him slide into the seat.
"Ohhh. When we had all that sex at my house! Lets go back there. I liked it there better. It was fun. Can we? I can drive. I wanna have sex." He said loudly. I pursed my lips and closed my eyes as I slammed the door shut. Opening, I saw that all the boys were doing their best to not make eye contact with me. Well, besides Rocky.
"Shit. I called it!" He said, grinning from ear to ear. I rolled my eyes, walking back over to the driver side door. I pulled it open, hearing Tommy sing along with the music on the radio.
"I'm taking him back to Billy's and then taking a bubble bath with a toaster. I will see you all tomorrow. Billy, do you want a ride?" I asked. He shook his head.
"My assistance it needed in preparations of the groomsmen. I will call in the morning about the plans."
"Alright. Go home, guys. Tomorrow is a big day. And do me a favor and pretend you didn't hear that." I hopped up into the seat and shut the door. Leaning out the window, I smiled over at them. "Or else, I'll sick Aisha on all of you."
"Hear what, exactly? I didn't hear a thing." Zach said, shrugging his shoulders. The other guys nodded, faking looks of confusion.
"Smart boys. Drive safely and let me know when you get there, alright?" I called as they headed towards Zach's vehicle.
"Yes, ma'am!" Rocky called out, waving. I watched as they climbed in, shutting the doors. I turned back and looked over at Tommy who was flicking at the tree shaped air freshener that was hanging from the mirror.
"I like trees." He said, smiling. "They're pretty."
"Good lord." I muttered, pulling away from the curb.
I drove slowly, not wanting to cause him to barf everywhere. That was one job I wasn't planning on doing. The entire ride home, Tommy would play with things in the cup holders or poke me. I rolled his window down half way and he stuck his head out, enjoying the fresh air on his face. At one point, he had his head and his shoulders out the window like a dog. It reminded me of Sugar and Spice when they would ride in Marcus's cousin's car with them. I thought back to my drunk moments, trying to remember if I had been anything like this at those times. I couldn't recall, probably because of the alcohol. I didn't think I acted like this though. They do say that different types of alcohol make you react differently. Apparently, tequila makes Tommy act like a three-year-old with ADHD.
Back at Billy's house, I pulled into the driveway and turned the ignition off. Pocketing the keys, I slid out of my seat and shut the door. Walking over to his side, it dawned on me that I would not be able to get him inside by myself. He was almost two feet taller than me and weighed twice my weight. What was I going to do? Knocking him out and dragging him wasn't quite an option. I wondered if Billy had a wheel barrel somewhere that I could use. I opened his car door and leaned across him, undoing the seat belt. He lazily turned his head to look at me.
"You're so pretty." He said, smiling.
"And you're so drunk." I replied, sighing. How the hell was I going to do this?
"I like your eyes. And your nose. If we have babies, I hope they look like you." He said, turning to look up at the sky. I paused, glancing at him. Was that what this was about? Was Tommy drinking to ignore the fact of what was or wasn't going on between us? Shit. I really had fucked with his head while in Angel Grove. This was my fault. He had gotten hammered because of what I swore I wouldn't do. I felt anger in my chest at myself as I forced a smile.
"C'mon, Handsome. Let's get inside, okay? We can talk babies in there."
"Okay." He put his hands on the door and I helped him pull himself out. He carried most of his weight on his own, me just guiding him into the front door. I tossed his jeep keys onto the dining room table as we passed him to the stairs. It was a struggle to get him up them, both of us bouncing off the wall and the banister like a pinball. We managed though, neither one of us tumbling to our doom. It felt like a mile long walk to his room, the sixteen or so steps dragging him. Finally, we pushed his door in and he stumbled through the threshold. I helped him over to the bed where he fell down, face first onto the mattress.
"Can you sit up, please?" I asked, rolling him on to his back. I grabbed his arm and he barely helped as I yanked him into a sitting position. Sweat was pouring down my face now from lugging on him and I knew I would need to shower again. He sat on the edge of the bed, swaying back and forth slightly. I stepped closer and unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it off of him and leaving his t-shirt. He let out a giggle as I did, smiling up at me.
"You're so pretty."
"So I've heard." I replied. "How about we take your pants off?"
"Okay!" He slurred excitedly. He fell backwards and tried to unbutton his pants. He could grasp the button though so I assisted. I pulled his dress pants off along with his dress shoes. While he was laying like that, I yanked a pair of sweat pants on him. It was a struggle, sliding his ass into them when it was planted firmly into the mattress. How the hell had he managed to do this for me when I was passed out? Though, he could lift me with one arm. Once he was dressed, I yanked him back up to where he was sitting up again.
"Stand up." I grunted, pulling on him. He did, him staggering as he did. I pushed him around to the head of the bed, shoving him back down. He laid back into the pillow, closing his eyes as he rolled over. I pulled the sheets over him, making sure he was covered up. I also made sure he was face down and would be staying in that position. No one would be choking to death on my watch today.
"Will you sleep with me?" He asked, not opening his eyes. I felt a small smile cross my lips as I picked up his pants. I pulled his wallet and phone from the pocket before draping them over the side of the chair in the corner. I set his things on the dresser, putting his shoes with his pants. He would need them for tomorrow.
"I'll be right here when you wake up." I replied.
"Okay." He let out a sigh of content before slipping off to sleep.
The deep sounds of Tommy breathing made me look up from his feet. He was sound asleep, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath he took. Sighing a sigh of relief, I yanked his boot off and tossed it with the other. I know realized just how annoying it was to take care of a drunk person. He wasn't even as gone as I had been the two times he had to take care of me before I broke everything I could get my hands on at the Glenmore. I had a new founded appreciation for him as well as everyone at the Glenmore for dealing with my ass when I was like this.
Standing, I shut the light off on the bed next to him. I knew what kind of pain he would be in store for tomorrow and I was not envious of that. I would have to rummage through Billy's medicine cabinet to see if there were any headache relief pills in there. He would be needing them. I also slid the waste paper basket over from the desk to the edge of the bed. If he was anything like me, Billy would be grateful I was prepared. God only knew what kind of trouble those boys were possible of causing right now. My prime example? The drunk passed out former Ranger leader in front of me. If only Zordon could see us now. I wonder if he would still think we were the more elite fighting team on the planet that were destined to save Earth. Probably not.
Walking around the bed, I spotted his wallet and his cell phone perched on the dresser where I had left them. Picking up his phone, I looked around for the charger. He would need this tomorrow for the wedding. We were put in charge of transporting the groomsmen. I spotted the cord hanging from the outlet next to the bed. Walking over, I picked it up and pushed the end of it into the slot. The screen lit up brightly and I saw he had a missed call. I told myself to put it down but like I do with most people who give me good advice, I didn't listen. I pressed the okay button and it revealed that the missed call was from Jason. Had he called Tommy's phone looking for me and Tommy was too drunk to answer?
I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and dialed his number quickly. After three rings, it cut to the voicemail message. I swore under my breath. It was probably too late now. He was more than likely sleeping. I moved to put Tommy's phone down when it vibrated in my hand. Jason's name appeared on the screen. I froze, unsure of what to do. Did he just not know my number? I had left it clearly on each message I left. The phone stopped vibrating. I picked up mine again, calling Jason. This time, it was sent to voicemail after only two rings. I tried again, thinking I had called too soon and he was leaving a voicemail for Tommy. It happened again, the call getting cut. Taking a deep breath, I pressed send on Tommy's phone. The call went through and I heard it ring. Bringing it to my ear, I unplugged the cord and ran out of the room as quietly as I could.
"Tommy, where the hell have you been, man?" Jason's voice said in my ear when he answered on the second ring. "Kimmy's been calling me all night. I thought you were going to talk to her this morning."
I stood, dumbfounded in the hallway. He had answered. He had finally answered. Not for me though. For Tommy. And Tommy was supposedly supposed to talk to me about something. Something he had told Jason he was going to do prior to today. Meaning he had been in contact with Jason since our arrival back here in California. Also meaning that Tommy had lied to me since we got here.
"It's not Tommy." I said, my anger now bubbling over. There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Oh what? Because it's me, you can't speak now? Let me save you the trouble then. What. The. Fuck. I came all the way out here to see you and make things right and you act like I'm going to give you the plague if you talk to me. I've been calling you for an entire week now, trying to speak with you and you can't even give me the common courtesy to tell me to drop dead? I get it, Jase. I really do. I get what I did was fucked up and I deserved to be ignored but at least have the decency to tell me you don't want to talk to me anymore. At least tell me that you don't want me in your life. It's all I ask for. I wouldn't have come here if I had known that. I wouldn't have uprooted everything I had in Florida to come back."
"Kimmy, it's not like that." He said, softly. "You don't understand. Tommy and I-."
"Have been lying to me this entire time." I finished for him. "At least Tommy has at least. Don't worry. You can explain it to him tomorrow when he rolls out of bed why I'm gone. I know where I'm not wanted. It's clear to see now that this was a huge mistake. I'm sorry I bothered you, Jason. I hope you have a good life."
After my verbal attack on Jason, I packed my things in a rage fueled frenzy. I shoved everything I could back into the suitcase and dragged it down the stairs. I didn't bother to wake Tommy, even when I was in his bedroom. I ruffled through his things until I found my plane ticket. Then, I went through the rest of his phone. I saw that he had been in contact with Jason since we arrived in California. Between phone calls, the two would text about it. He had even met up with Jason the day the guys had gone to get their tuxedos. I glared over at him while he slept, his big dumb drunk ass snoring softly away as he slept. I wanted to smack him in the face and scream at him, asking why the hell he had lied to me so much. I didn't though. It would add more drama into this equation.
I took my plane ticket and called the number on the back of it. The woman I spoke to told me that she could exchange my ticket for an earlier flight but I would need to do it in person at the airport. She requested me to arrive at the airport around eleven and she could help me then. I told her I would be there and thanked her for her help. As the sun began to rise, I wrote out a note to Billy. I asked him to explain to Aisha and Rocky that I had to go back to Florida. I didn't leave a reason why. Tommy and Jason could tell them that. The two of them seemed to know the answer for everything. Why would this be any different? It was there fault I was running. They could tell them what they had done and how they had hurt me. Knowing my luck, the whole group knew already. I was probably the butt of their jokes. After I'm gone, they would be laughing it up about me.
As eight rolled around, I listened intently for any sign of life from Tommy's room. There was nothing though, him still passed out. The tequila had done it's job. I shoved my bags under the bench on the front porch where no one would be able to see them. It was easier that way than having to lug them out quietly. I didn't want to chance waking Tommy and having to face him. Assault charges didn't sound the best and I didn't have as much glassware on me as I did at the Glenmore that night. I pulled my phone from my pocket, finding the phone book under the counter top of the kitchen. I looked under taxi cab services, trying to find one that would take me to LAX.
As I searched through them, something on the wall above me caught my eye. Glancing up, I saw that it was a group picture of us at the Youth Center. It had been the day our parents had come down to see your club activities. I saw my mother standing there next to me, smiling. Billy's father was beaming next to him. Next to Trini, I saw her parents as well as her grandparents. Jason was there with his father, Zach with his mother and Tommy with his parents. The picture was old, all of us wearing god awful red t-shirts. It had been a good day and I can still remember the way Trini's grandmother laughed when Trini showed her the flowers from the gardening club. The two had always been close, her grandmother passing away the summer before we started tenth grade. Her grandfather passed a short time later, right before she went with Jason and Zach to Switzerland. Trini had always said she was thankful she had been here to be able to attend his funeral and spend those last days with him. They were two people in this world that she valued more than anything.
I closed the phone book and shoved my phone back in my pocket. I couldn't leave yet. I haven't accomplished everything that I told Dr. McAvoy that I would do. Shoving shoes on my feet, I walked out of the front door and down the stairs. Taking a right, I headed up the street towards the intersection. There was some minor traffic going, people heading to summer weekend activities and work. I kept walking, heading through the middle of town and eight blocks passed the former Youth Center. It was warm out today but the sky was dark and heavy with rain. It looked as if the sky could open at any moment, gallons of water waiting to pour. I pulled my jean jacket around me tighter, veering off of Main Street and heading down Abraham Ave.
At the end of the road, I spotted a gate with cast iron letters attached to the top of the archway. Angel Grove was spelt out here, a smaller sign reading CEMENTARY underneath it. I glanced around, seeing if anyone was there. When I saw no one, I walked faster up the paced portion of the road. Angel Grove Cemetery was constructed more than a hundred years ago. It's grown so large that there was a need to purchase more land to make up free space. It had originally been just fifteen head stones on a small hill for those who were coming to California to settle for gold. It expanded every year since then, their headstones still the original ones in the grass covered memorial sight. I passed their burial grounds, a gated off section of the cemetery.
Taking a right hand turn, I went off the paved road and on to a dirt path. It was a familiar one, a path I had taken with Trini before. It winded down a hill, going deeper and deeper into the cemetery. Trees began to line the outskirts of the area as I walked. Small trees like birch and crab apple sprouted here or there along the path, causing me to duck when I came too close. I rounded a bend in the road, the tree line coming closer. I was surrounded now, the headstones thinning out. I spotted a large grey stone up ahead, Patel engraved into the back of it with big bold letters. My steps slowed now as I came closer. These were Trini's grandparents. I had come with her a number of times after her grandmother died and had made the trip myself for Trini when her grandfather died. She would ask me to leave flowers and a positive feeling so they would know she was okay. As I walked around the stone, I saw that there fresh flowers on their grave, bright pink and purple blossoms. Her grandfather was listed on the left part of the stone, his dates under it. Her grandmother took the right side, the writing looking as if it had always been apart of the garnet.
I stopped here, taking a look around. If Trini was buried here, it would be with them. It was something we had joked about in person, especially when Tommy was the evil Green Ranger. She always said something about be buried here. I turned, trying to see any of the headstone with names on them that would match hers. Both sides were filled up with individuals who were already laid to rest long before Trini did. She had to be here somewhere. It wasn't like I could ask for a map of the area. Sighing, I turned back around and that's when I spotted it. Perched about ten feet away, I saw the stone underneath the branches of a willow tree. I knew without seeing the name that it was hers. Taking a deep breath, I stepped towards it, dried leaves crunching under my feet as I did.
The headstone was a beautiful slab of black granite, flakes of gold and silver dancing on the surface. The grooves from the engraving were a grey color, swooping and bending with the curves of the words written on it. Trini Kwan; Beloved friend, fiancé and daughter. The dates were written under there, a time frame that was much too short for my own liking. There was a small oval shaped picture on her attached to the stone, covered in a protective film like the rest of the stone. There was also a carving of a rose on the right side of the stone. That was Trini's favorite flower, especially in yellow. Bending down, I set my hand on top of the base of the stone.
"Hey, Trini." I whispered. "I'm here. Sorry it took so long for me to get here but I'm finally here." The rain started to fall now, drops of it trickling down her headstone like tear drops. I took a deep breath, feeling it catch slightly in my chest. "I should have been here sooner but you know me. I make all the wrong decisions before I settle on the right one. I guess I need to work on that more, huh?" I pulled my jacket around me tighter, shivering from the cold that wasn't there. "Where do I even start, Tri? I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry I told you I didn't want to come back for Thanksgiving. I'm sorry I didn't come back for your funeral. I'm sorry I let my life take such a dive. I am so sorry."
A tear slid down my cheek. Everything in my life that has been spiraling out of control all started the moment I got that phone call in October. When I discovered my best friend had been stolen from me, it was like someone took me and stuck in a blender on high. Now that I stood here in front of her final resting place, I somewhat felt like she was standing there with me. That she knew I was here and was listening to me. I knew it was stupid sounding but I couldn't shake the feeling.
"What did I do, Trini?" I whispered. "I messed everything up. I turned my back on everyone, even Jason. And then Tommy came down to save me and I can't even tell him how I feel. If you were here, you would just tell me to suck it up and act like a grown woman. I haven't felt that brave since you left. I wish with everything inside of me that I could go back and change everything. I would tell you that I wanted to come home for the holidays. I would tell you not to take that night class. I would have stopped you from going. Or I would have at least come back to be with Jason. To help him deal with everything instead of running like the chicken shit I am."
"Why is it that after everything we faced as rangers, I am the biggest enemy I have to face? It seems like I'm fighting an uphill battle where I'm at the top throwing shit down on top of me. No matter how hard I try to fix things, I end up fucking them up even worse. You should be here instead of me. You had the dreams I didn't dare to have. You were making something of yourself while I settled for good enough down in Florida. You had the ambition to change the world, to stop cancer, to save us from ourselves. I can't even find the strength to fight myself anymore. Why do I deserve to be here more than you do? It's not fair, Trini. I would trade my life for yours in a heartbeat. You deserve to live. You had a purpose on this Earth. I don't. And I don't know if it's God or some divine power but they got it wrong when they took you." A sob escaped my lips as I felt my body tremble.
"It's not right. Or fair. Or logical that you were killed. I just want to find that guy and kill him myself. I think about it all the time. I want to hurt him like he hurt you. I don't care if he has a family or whatever. He took you from us. He took you away from Jason. He destroyed something beautiful with a stupid decision that he was able to walk away from. How is it that someone so young and full of life gets to just die because of that? How is that at all right in this world? How is it that everyone can move on with their lives like nothing happened? That they get to enjoy life while you're here, under the ground. It makes me want to scream and cry and hurt something. But it doesn't matter. No matter how hard I do any one of those things, you still won't come back. Even trying to drink myself to death didn't stop the pain of losing you. I tried every night. Sometimes, I would see you. It wasn't you though. It was just something my mind wanted me to see to try to survive. I don't know if I can though. If I keep fucking shit up in my life, I won't have much of a life to live." Sighing, I looked up towards the sky.
"Do you remember when we first became rangers? We made a promise to not let the boys over take us since we were outnumbered. I don't know why we thought they would. We both know that we could have taken Billy. And then when Tommy joined the team, we repeated that promise because there was yet another penis in the mix. When I told you about Tommy and I kissing, I don't think I've ever heard you squeal so hard. You were my go to person. I was terrified you wouldn't like the idea of us together but you did. And you supported us even after you and Jason and Zach left the team. You supported me in everything I did, even the stupid shit you tried to talk me out of. I wish I had listened more. If I had, I never would have broken up with Tommy. I would have been here. Maybe you would be alive. I need your words of wisdom here. I have to fix things." I closed my eyes, more tears slipping down. "I don't know what to do, Trini."
"I thought I'd find you here." A voice said behind me.
Oh boy! Tommy has been lying this whole time and Kimmy is ready to run back to Florida. What about the wedding? What about Jason? What about her plan to get sober? And who found her?
Guess we'll have to wait and see!