Here's the next chapter! Hope you all enjoy!
A couple of days later, Kim, Adam, Hayley, Billy, and Zack piled into Zack's Range Rover and were on their way to Angel Grove. The called Kat, who was only too pleased that they were going to visit. For the first couple of hours, the ride was full of stories, jokes, and games as any other long car rise. But slowly, Zack, Billy, and Adam drifted to sleep while Hayley drove and Kim kept her company in the passenger's seat.
Kim laughed a bit, seeing the three of them sleep in her overhead mirror. "I can't believe they actually went along with the three of them in the back. It can't be comfortable."
"It's either that or one of them drives or keeps me company. Thanks, by the way. It's more fun this way."
Kim laughed. "No problem. I hate it when I'm driving and everyone's asleep. It's like, 'I want to sleep, too!' "
Hayley smiled. The two of them sat in silence for a bit, quietly listening to the radio, occupied with their own thoughts.
"So how is everything, Kim?"
"Umm...other than Aisha absolutely driving me insane these days...I'm fine. I'm good. I really am. Never been happier."
Hayley smiled and shot a quick look at Kim. "That's good."
Kim nodded. "Yeah...and I think I prefer songwriting and producing than performing. Thinking back on it, I don't know why I ever started to perform in the first place. And then I see Kira in the studio or making a music video, or especially being out there on stage. And I remember. She gives me a good shock back to reality."
Hayley laughed. "Kira is like that. She was the level-headed one between her, Conner, and Ethan. The number of silly arguments they used to get into..." She laughed again.
"Oh, she said they're going to Blue Bay to visit Tori and them. I told her we'll meet her there on our way back to Reefside. I think they're leaving tomorrow."
"Oh, okay. That sounds good. Oh, I forgot to run this by you. I know the wedding's in about a month or so, so I was thinking that I'll fly back with you and Adam next week and spend a couple of weeks there. Maybe get 'Sha out of your hair for a bit."
"Would you? That'd be great!" The two of them laughed. "No, seriously, though, I'd really love that. I know Tommy would love it too. It's like we never get to see you! Is Billy coming too?"
"No." Hayley shook her head. "He can't get time off until the week before the wedding, so he'll be flying out with Zack."
Kim nodded. "It's hard to believe that it's almost here. I feel like I've been waiting forever. Planning for the past 8 or 9 months and it's finally coming to pass. I think I'm going to be sad when it's over."
"Even with Aisha?"
"Yeah. Even with her craziness. It just wouldn't be the same without her. I know I complain about her, but I really do appreciate everything that she's been doing for me and Tommy. She's really taken out the stress of trying to plan a wedding. The only thing that I know of is how my dress looks, which is not good, and that it's costing a whole bunch of money. Oh, and the guest list. But I gave her my card and told her to go ahead and go crazy with it and she obviously really took it to heart. I don't even know how your dress looks like."
"Really? So what does 'Sha bug you with, then?"
"The guest list," Kim answered, matter-of-factly. "The only thing I'm allowed to be in charge of. But only the act of writing down the people who I'd like to invite. The whole seating arrangement is all 'Sha."
Hayley laughed. "Big guest list?"
Kim smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. We are trying to keep it semi-small. Not as small as Trini and Jason's, but...you know family, friends. We just so happen to have a lot of family and friends. I want to invite as many ranger teams that could come. They're all a part of my life even if I've never met them."
"Well, you have met the majority of them, so I think you'll be fine there. So she bothers you that much for just the guest list?"
"Yeah. And she likes to ramble on about the caterers, florists, and everything else. I'm just not allowed to get a word in, so I've taken to tuning her out and ignoring her emails." Kim suddenly turned up the radio. "It's Kira!"
Hayley looked at Kim from the corner of her eye. She looked like a proud mother. "You've really helped Kira reach new heights."
Kim shrugged and shook her head, lowering the volume. "Kira would've gotten there anyway. We just so happened to be the ones to give her that push." She pointed to a sign. "Oh, look. 20 more miles to go."
"Great. I have to use the bathroom."
Kim laughed. "You should've said something earlier! I bet we could've pulled over and the guys wouldn't have even noticed a thing."
"No, it's okay. I could wait."
"Well, don't worry. Kat's place isn't too far from the exit. Probably about ten minutes, if I remember correctly."
"Good."
"I got the shoes!" Aisha exclaimed, running into Trini's house, without bothering to knock or ring the doorbell. She threw a key on the couch and put all of her bags on the floor. "Trini! Where are you?"
"What, 'Sha?" Trini asked, wiping her hands on a towel. "I was in the middle of making dinner."
Aisha waved her hand. "That's okay, Jason's gonna be late. Rocky said they were teaching a special class to a couple of their students who can't make it to the normal schedule."
"I know, 'Sha. Just so it'll be ready when he gets home."
"Yeah, okay, whatever. Anyway, here, try on your shoes. Let me know if it's comfortable to stand in and stuff."
Trini rolled her eyes as she kicked off her flip flops and waited for Aisha to pull out a box of shoes in Trini's size.
"If they fit, I'm going to dye them to match the dress."
"I know, 'Sha." Trini sat down and pulled on the shoes. "They fit."
"Walk around in them."
Trini rolled her eyes again. She walked up and down the length of the living room. "There. They feel fine."
"Okay, go to the hardwood now. Carpet feels different."
"Aisha...don't you think you're going a bit overboard with this?"
Aisha furrowed her brow. "I just want to make it the best day for Kim and Tommy."
"I know. I do too. But...you don't have to obsess over every little detail. I don't even think that you were this bad for your own wedding."
"I know...I just....I want everything to go off perfect."
"Okay. And that's understandable and all, but you know, if the ceremony happens and...it's a different floral arrangement than the one that you chose...or Rocky or Adam or Kira or Amy or somebody spills something on their clothes...or the shoes don't match the dress perfectly, you know it's gonna be all right, right? You know that all Kim and Tommy need for this day to be perfect is to end up married to each other. That would be the perfect end to that day for all of us."
Aisha sat down. "I guess I am going a little bit overboard."
"A little?"
"But don't worry, Trini. It's only a few more weeks and then I'll stop." She jumped up. "So, do the shoes feel good? Do they fit?"
Trini rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Yeah, they feel good. Keep them for me."
Aisha smiled and waited for Trini to take the shoes off. She carefully put them away and labeled the box as 'Trini's'. "I'll make it up to you. I'll help you with dinner."
"Only cuz you don't want to cook for Rocky!" Trini laughed. "Good thing I have extra."
Aisha followed Trini to the kitchen, continuing to talk about the wedding. "I think everyone's pretty much already RSVP'd. So we just need to finish up the seating plan. Only a few people RSVP's no. And there are a few bringing dates and stuff. So we could just figure it out later."
"We?"
"Okay, Trini. I'll fix it the seating plan." Aisha rolled her eyes. "Am I really that bad?"
Trini nodded and smiled. "Yes. You are that bad."
"Every time I come here, I always feel like I'm that girl from Angel Grove High," said Kat. "And technically...I am still that girl from Angel Grove High."
Everyone laughed. Kim, Adam, Hayley, Billy, and Zack sat around a table, next to Kat, at the Youth Center.
"You'd think we'd get over coming here," replied Adam.
"Aw, it's all about the nostalgia and the memories," said Kim. "We've had a lot of good memories here." She pointed. "Like that's where I confronted Tommy about being the green ranger," she whispered.
"You call that a good memory?" Zack said. Everyone laughed again. "No, remember mine and Bulk's dance-off. Now that was funny!"
"That was funny," Billy said, picturing the whole sequence in his mind.
"I can't believe Bulk did the split!" exclaimed Kim. "Or something close to it, at least."
"He's a different person now, Bulk," said Kat. "He's really changed since...well, you know."
Everyone did know. They knew that Kat was referring to the 'near the end of the world' time, when she and a few others were captured by evil forces that threatened to take over the universe. Only this time, they had a number of casualties, at least more than any before.
"You're looking really good, Kat," Kim said. "How are you feeling, anyway?"
"I'm doing a lot better," she answered. "I still have stiffness in some parts of my body, so I still go to therapy for that. Only once a month, though. But I can't dance anymore. But teaching's been a lifelong dream of mine and even though I didn't imagine that I would be teaching high school, it is very fulfilling. And I love it. Even though I know those kids don't give a damn about history. I try to make it fun."
"Well, that's good. I'm glad you're getting better."
"Yup." Kat nodded. "Getting better everyday. So I will most definitely be able to make it out there for your wedding, Kim. I must say, it is about time, don't you think?"
"Yes," interjected Billy. "You guys probably don't remember, but I was there for the entire Kim and Tommy drama."
Everyone rolled their eyes, except for Hayley. "We were all there for it, Billy."
"Okay, enough about this," said Kim. "We so don't have to talk about this." Everyone laughed again.
"So, is there anything in particular that you guys wanted to see or do while you were here?" Kat asked. "I know I don't have to give you the grand tour of Angel Grove, considering three of you were born and raised here, one of you moved here before I did, and Hayley's been here before."
Zack shrugged. "Nothing in particular. We just came up to hang out with you and see how you were doing."
"Thanks guys. I do miss you all. It makes me sad sometimes, being here, especially being at Angel Grove High. Those kids remind me so much of ourselves, except for the whole saving the world part."
"Unless they are saving the world and you just don't know it," said Adam.
"Oh yeah, that is true," said Kim. "We did think we were pretty slick, hiding it from the teachers. And hey, I like to think that we did a pretty good job."
"Well, the world's still standing," replied Zack. "So we must've done something right."
"Don't tell Tommy though," joked Billy. "It'll get to his head. He was a part of so many teams that he's probably thinking it was all because of him."
Everyone laughed. "So has he gone back to the power since I've seen him last?" Kat asked, laughing.
"Not unless he's hiding it from us!" exclaimed Kim. "He better not be!" Everyone laughed again.
"So, you guys want to go see a movie?" Zack asked. "That new one that came out today is good."
A chorus of "sure's" echoed around the table. The six of them scooted their chairs back and waved bye to Ernie behind the counter and walked out.
"Do you have any work you need to get done, Kat?" asked Kim. "Don't let us stop you, you know we're fine just hanging out at home with you."
Kat shook her head as she unlocked the doors to her car. "No, I finished everything already. I was excited to see you guys so I'm with you for the next 48 hours. Or at least until you guys leave."
"Great," replied Kim, getting into the passenger's seat of her car. "Cuz you're stuck with us for the next 48 hours."
"Wait up," Zack said, trying to get into Kat's car as well.
"No, my car's for the girls, only!"
Kim and Hayley laughed in response.
"Besides," continued Kat. "Isn't that your car, anyway?" She pointed to the Range Rover.
"Yeah, but I think it would be so much more fun if we squeeze into your car."
"No, Zack. There's no room. Girls only."
"Yeah, boys are smelly," added Kim.
"Real mature, Kim."
Kim shrugged. "Do you expect anything more?" She laughed as Zack walked dejectedly back to his car. The girls laughed even more when they saw him kick Adam out of the driver's seat and into the back seat.
Hayley laughed as she got into the back seat. "I must say, you guys must have dealt with an extraordinary amount of testosterone, hanging around all those guys back then."
"Oh, why?" asked Kim, jokingly. "Does it show?"
The three of them laughed again.
"Yeah, it was hard," said Kat. "But, I mean, I had Kim, Aisha, and Tanya, so it wasn't too bad."
"Yeah," agreed Kim. "I feel bad for Kira and especially Tori. They were the only ladies around those guys. At least Kira had you, Hayley."
Hayley nodded. "She used to remind me all the time."
"Of course," said Kat. "Sometimes the guys behaved more like little whiny girls than we did."
Kim laughed. "We never whined!"
"Of course not," Hayley replied in a voice that sounded like she didn't really believe Kim. She giggled, trying to hide her laughter in the back seat.
"This is really good," Jason said, chewing and swallowing his food. "Thanks, baby." He leaned over and kissed Trini on her cheek.
"You're welcome," replied Trini.
Rocky gave her a thumbs up while Aisha nodded. "But I can't wait for dessert!" Aisha exclaimed.
"Oh, did you make it?" asked Rocky.
"No...I just watched Trini bake it. It looked really good. I got to lick the spoon afterwards."
Trini rolled her eyes and everyone laughed. "Anyways...why didn't one of you call Tommy to come over? His roommate and his girlfriend are both gone."
"Girlfriend?" scoffed Rocky. "Don't you mean fiancee?"
"Or, in a few short weeks, it'll be wife!" Aisha practically squealed.
"Did you ever think the two of you would be married before Tommy?" Trini asked.
Rocky and Jason looked at each other and back at Trini. "No," they answered in unison.
"Jeez," said Jason. "It's about time those two settled down."
"And that's you talking, Jay." Aisha laughed.
"It is about time they've settled down," agreed Rocky.
"Hopefully nothing bad happens before or after this wedding..." Jason trailed off.
"What are you talking about?" Aisha asked sharply.
"Oh, you know..." Jason gestured around the table. "Look around. After your wedding, Adam and Kira left to go help the overdrive team. Before our wedding, that whole thing with Mayari and Rita's mother. So, hopefully nothing involving the power will get in the way of this one."
"Man, I was a wreck the morning of our wedding," Aisha said.
"You were a wreck the morning of our wedding, too," said Trini, gesturing between her and Jason.
"And you'll probably be a wreck the morning of Kim and Tommy's wedding," said Jason. "Maybe even for the whole day. At least till the reception's done."
"Oh, that reminds me, did Kim talk to you already?" Aisha asked Jason.
Jason looked confused. He raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
Aisha's eyes widened and her voice came out in an extremely high pitch. "She hasn't spoken to you, yet? The wedding's only in a few weeks! Why hasn't she said anything? Ooh, she's in trouble now." Aisha pulled out her phone and immediately started punching the keys.
"Wait, wait, 'Sha," Jason said, reaching over to stop her. "I'm just kidding. I didn't know you were gonna get mad at her." He started laughing. "That was kinda funny, though. But yeah, Kim's talked to me already and everything's good, everything's fine."
Aisha grinded her teeth together and looked at Trini, who smiled and nodded. She gestured as if to say, "go ahead." Aisha immediately started hitting Jason's arm. "Why'd you freak me out like that! Stupid! Hello!!!! It's a few weeks till the wedding! Do you have any idea how much that would've changed the plans that we've already had in place for how long!"
Jason looked at Trini and Rocky for help. Both of them avoided his gaze, laughing too much.
"Nah, man," said Rocky. "You should've known better than that."
"Okay! Okay!" Jason tried to block Aisha. "I'm sorry, 'Sha! I didn't mean it!" He leaned as far away from Aisha as he could get. "Shouldn't you be worrying over some other random detail over the wedding? I think you should let Kim know that I might not live to see the wedding. Make sure Tommy knows he needs a new best man!"
Aisha got in one last punch and exhaled, taking a seat.
"All better, honey?" Rocky asked, still laughing.
She nodded. "Yup, all better. And Tommy does not have to find a new best man. Nor does Kim have to walk down the aisle alone."
"Well, thanks for sparing my husband," Trini said, still laughing. "Even if the dummy deserved it."
"No problem. Can't do anything that messes up the wedding plans."
"Well, hopefully by then, all of this will be forgotten," said Jason, rubbing the spot on his arm where Aisha continually punched him. "That really hurt."
There's that chapter! Hope you all enjoyed! And coming up in the next chapter: the wedding between Tommy and Kimberly (finally! haha).
