Disclaimer: I don't own them, Saban does
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Chapter Fifty-Three: Repercussions and Flying
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you enjoy this chapter on a full stomach! Please review!
"The difference between school and life? In school you're taught a lesson then given a test, in life you're given a test that teaches a lesson. -Tom Bodett
"Where's Kevin?" Tiara asked at lunch.
Brooke shrugged. "Dunno. Jayden and Lauren are missing to."
"Antonio told me the two of them are sick," Tiara lied easily.
"Hm, that's too bad. I'm sure sickness spreads through that house like wild-fire."
"I'm sure."
"Ahola, chicas," Antonio greeted sitting down with them. "Where's Kevin?"
"No one knows, apparently," Brooke replied.
"You still fighting with André?" Tiara asked Antonio.
"No so mush fighting. More like not speaking too."
"Why aren't you guys talking? I thought you were friends?"
Antonio sighed. "Because he's being stupid."
Tiara smiled. "He's not the only one."
Antonio shot her a quick smile. He gasped when someone grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him to the ground. He winced, still a little sore from the battle the day before. He sighed in exasperation when he saw Brett. "Getting real tired of you," the gold ranger remarked standing up.
Brett pushed him back to the ground. "Now is that any way to address your betters?"
"My betters?" Antonio replied, amused. "You spend all day terrorizing people, and you're better than me, how?"
Brett scowled and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "You'd better shut up or-"
"Or what? You'll punch me? Go ahead. You'll beat me? I hate to break it to you, but some other people, have already done it. Everything you can think to do has already been done."
Brett growled and threw Antonio back to the ground. "Watch your back, Garcia. You won't be so lucky, next time."
"Yeah, I'll remember that," Antonio muttered. He was glad they'd decided to sit outside and eat. If they'd been in the café that certainly would've drawn a lot of attention.
"You ok?" Tiara asked.
"Yeah, you should dump that jerk by the way," Antonio advised. He sensed someone and turned around. He saw André with Diego and Lily, sitting a few tables away. The three of them certainly would've heard the conversation between Antonio and Brett. Antonio turned away from their gazes, hoping to finish his lunch.
-Samurai Ranger High-
Emily smiled at Belle as she climbed up the back of the rock wall. "Come on Belle! You're almost there!"
Belle laughed nervously. "Uh...c-can I c-come d-down."
"You have to go down the zip line."
"But I d-don't kn-know if I c-can- ah!" Her arms spasmed and she fell from the metal rings. Emily quickly slanted back as the top caught her friend. Belle was breathing quickly as she hung in her harness.
"You ok?!"
"Yeah. E-Emily. I-I d-don't th-think I ca-n-n d-do th-this."
"Come on Belle. I know you can do it! Right guys?" she asked the other girls.
"Totally," Savannah said flipping her hair. "You'll like, climb up and fly. Like a freaking bird man."
It briefly crossed Emily's mind that the girl was possibly high. After the drugs bust earlier, it wouldn't surprise her. "Ok," she said drawing the word out a bit. "Come on Belle. Do it for me. Please!"
Belle fake pouted. "N-no f-f-fair."
Emily grinned. "Come on. Just get back to that wall."
Belle took a deep breath and grabbed the metal rings. She held in tight and pulled herself up. Her rams and legs shook with the effort she needed to give as she climbed. It was reassuring that Emily was at the end of the rope; and said rope didn't have any slack. She risked a glance down and saw the ground was a ways away. She looked back upwards. She was almost to the top.
Emily smiled as her eyes followed Belle in her ascent. "Woo hoo!" she cheered when the other girl pull herself up to the top.
"Off belay!" the teacher shouted from the top.
Emily and the other girls started pulling the carabiner back down the wall. As soon as it was at a level height Emily unclipped herself and hooked the carabiners together. The three girls dashed to the front of the wall to watch Belle. Emily shaded her eyes and saw her standing on the small platform. "Come on Belle!" she shouted, waving her arms.
The teacher said something to Belle and she walked closer to the edge. Emily watched as she took a leap of faith and stepped off. In seconds she whisked past the groups on the ground. Emily heard her shriek I ether fear or delight; possibly both though. She walked closer as they caught Belle's feet and helped her get out of the carabiner. She laughed as Belle shook slightly coming down the ladder.
"Was that fun?"
Belle nodded eagerly. "Y-yeah. I-it wa-s-s am-mazing!"
"I told you it was!"
Belle laughed. "Th-thanks f-f-for en-co-ouraging m-me."
"No problem. What're friends for?"
Belle smiled.
"Belle, that was great," Savannah said. "You were totally like, a freaking majestic bird."
"I-I h-highly d-doubt it w-was maj-majestic."
"We…yeah, but still."
"Th-thanks."
Savannah nodded. "Come on girls, let's go watch the boys scream like there are monsters under their beds."
Emily and Belle smiled as they followed Savannah; both feeling like they'd conquered and gained something today.
-Samurai Ranger High-
Mia was anxious for the last bell to ring. She wanted to find Kevin wicked bad. All day she'd been hearing tons of whispers and rumors about something he'd done; or hadn't done. And things he'd had on him; or with him. She looked everywhere for, him but couldn't find. She jumped when she ran into someone. "Sorry I- oh, hey Em."
Emily smiled as she picked her bag up from the ground. "Oh, hey Mia. Have you been hearing-"
"Yeah. That's why I've been looking for Kev."
"Kevin? I was talking about Mike."
"Mike too?!" The pink ranger shook her head. "Something wrong is going on here."
"I know. I would never believe that they get involved with that."
"Plus," Mia said, as they walked together to meet at the gate, "we live with them. And they'd never be able to hide something like that from Ji in a million years."
"Yeah," Emily nodded. She saw Antonio and Tiara were waiting for them. No Kevin and Mike though. "Hey, guys," she said.
"Hey," Tiara said.
"Ahola."
"You look irritated."
"Oh, I am."
"Why?"
"I got called to the principal's office today."
"Why?"
"Apparently some of the kids that got their hands caught in the crack jar today said that I was their dealer."
Mia and Emily looked at him in shock. "What?"
"Yeah."
"Why would they say that?" Mia asked.
"I don't know. Something very wrong is going on at that school. It's full of messed up, spoiled brats."
Mia laughed. "Being bitter is not like you."
"We'll, it's hard to think positive when you're being stereotyped down to something you try with every fiber in your being to be the opposite of."
Emily nodded. She could see why this would but the gold ranger. "I, sorry Antonio."
"It's ok, chica."
"They wouldn't just accuse you just because you're...you know...Hispanic, would they?" Tiara asked.
Antonio shrugged. "I don't know. It's happened before. Some people are like that."
"What did you say when they asked you if you were selling drugs?" Mia asked.
"I told them that I certainly wasn't. I said I didn't do drugs, and I certainly didn't know any one who did. And then, they said that my foster brothers had been suspended for drugs, and asked if I'd supplied them!"
"What?!"
"Mike isn't an addict!" Emily exclaimed. "He is many things, but a druggie isn't one of them."
"That's what I said. But apparently they found a gram or so in each of their lockers."
"Damn," Tiara said. "That's some pretty damning evidence."
"Yeah. I really want to get home so I can ask them why they told the principal I was selling them drugs!"
Mia shook her head. "They wouldn't have said that."
"They also wouldn't have had drugs in their lockers," Tiara pointed out.
"Who's side are you on?"
"I just refuse to believe it," Emily said. "I know Kevin and Mike. They aren't like this. Nether are you Antonio."
"Gracias Amiga."
"We'll talk to them when we get home," Mia said. "I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this."
"I hope so" Antonio said. "For our sake, and theirs."
