I know it's been so long since I last updated. I'm sorry for everyone that has been waiting for the next chapter. I'm doing an online course which has been keeping me busy as well as working full time. I hope this chapter makes up for the long wait, I will try to update sooner. If not, please bear with me.
Sky punched the gym bag chastising himself.
'I kissed her! Why? What the hell were you thinking Tate!'
After she'd asked him why he'd been looking for her. He hadn't wanted to say anything about her ex in front of Bridge and Syd, especially Syd. Bridge must have sensed something, as he quickly ushered them all back. Sky had thought Syd wouldn't let it go but thankfully she had.
Z found him there, several hours later, dripping with sweat. She stood and watched him for a moment as she touched her lips, the feel of him still lingered. His firm lips against her soft ones, even for only a moment, had sent her heart soaring.
"Hello Ranger Z,"
Z was startled out of a trance by a young cadet. She nodded, blushing a little as she greeted the cadet. She looked back over to Sky, but he was no longer hitting the bag. She asked a male cadet, exiting the shower room, if Sky was inside. He shook his head and told her he had collected his things and then left.
She decided to go back to her room and change. Syd was sitting on her bed lost in thought. She watched Z get changed.
"Z, if I ask you a question, will you answer honestly?"
"If I can." She sits on her bed looking at Syd expectantly.
"Do you think Sky likes you?" Z's heart stopped in her chest.
"What do you mean? of course he likes me. We're friends."
Z knew that sounded stupid and childlike, but she couldn't think of anything else to say. Her mind raced and her heart fluttered.
'Could Sky like me? That would explain the kiss, right?'
"You know what I mean Z. It didn't look like mouth to mouth to me, and he was so frantic when he was looking for you. He shouted at me and said some awful things."
Z sighed; Bridge had told her as soon as they got back to the base.
"Bridge told me." Z stood up, took a deep breath, and faced her friend. 'The thing is Syd, I think he's right," Z held her hands up for her to listen when Syd looked like she was ready to shout.
"I haven't known Sky as long as you two have, but I know he always does what's right. These last few years you both did more apart than you did together. If, and I mean if, he did start having feelings for someone else isn't it better that he ended it with you. Would you rather he cheats on you, or stay with you and both of you be miserable? I have no idea if he ended things with you for any other reason, but I think it's for the best. You both can find someone new, someone that you have more in common with."
Syd looked like she was seriously thinking over what Z said. A flicker of hope started to rise in Z's chest, a small hope that this drama was going to be over.
"... But I love him Z." She pouted, sounding like a petulant child who refused to accept the truth.
"I know you do Syd, but I don't think you're in love with him, at least not like you used to be."
Syd looked at Z like she had grown two heads.
"That's the same thing Z!"
"No Syd. Being in love and just loving someone is different. You can love family members, friends even pets. When you are in love with someone that's the romantic, head over heels, passionate love that takes your breath away. You almost lose yourself to them.
You love Sky like you love Bridge, or Jack. You used to blush and giggle every time he sat next to you or spoke to you. When you knew he was coming to pick you up, you were a storm of nerves and excitement. You spent every moment together and would annoy the hell out of me with your sighs and dreamy eyes. However, the past year you've barely spoken to him, hung out with him or even slept with him."
Syd scowled at her.
"How would you know how being in love feels? You've never had a boyfriend before."
"I have," Syd's eyes widened.
Z turned to the door.
"Wait! where are you going?" Syd demanded. Syd wanted to know who it was. She had a feeling she was talking about Sky.
"I need to find Sky and find out why he was looking for me,"
Z quickly left before Syd could ask any more questions. First, she looked in the common room and then in the control room. Sky wasn't in either places, so she decided to try his room.
Sky was out on his balcony when Z let herself in. She gasped when the moonlight bounced off his bare skin. He stood shirtless with his sweatpants hanging low. Her cheeks flamed and her heart skipped.
"Sky!" she called out once she was sure her cheeks were no longer red. He jumped at the sound of her voice.
"Z? What are you doing here?"
She stepped out on the balcony, the kiss flashing through her mind.
"I've been looking for you," she said looking down at his bare chest. Her throat became very dry. He followed her gaze and blushed, he quickly walked inside and put on a top. Z followed and was slightly disappointed to see he had covered his chest up.
"I er … wanted to know why you were looking for me and …. Why … you kissed me?"
Sky paled, his palms started sweating, he had been hoping to avoid this.
"Well…. Erm …. I was looking for you because Bridge said he'd seen someone watching you whilst on patrol. He said that his energy seemed off, like he was going to hurt you. After what you told me about your ex, I was …"
Sky couldn't finish that sentence. He turned around to avoid looking at her.
"You were what Sky?" Z pressed him.
Sky took a deep breath and turned around.
'Come on Tate! You're the red ranger! Man up and tell her!'
"I was worried, I thought something bad had happened to you. Especially when you didn't answer any of my calls."
Sky moved to his bed and sat down with a heavy sigh.
'It's now or never!' he thought.
"I was scared that something bad had happened and that you were no longer in my life. That someone had taken you away before I could tell you how I felt."
Z stood motionless, to dumbstruck to respond or move. Sky reached over and grabbed both of her hands, pulling her closer to him. He stared up at her and she stared wide-eyed at him.
"Z, I'm in love with you! I've been in love with you for a long time."
Z gasped at his confession, her mind and heart reeling. Sky stood up causing Z to go from looking down at him to looking up. He brought his right hand up and gently cupped her cheek.
Sky slowly lowered his head, closer and closer. Z stood frozen, not quite believing what was happening. When his lips finally touched hers, she gasped into his mouth.
Hearing her gasp Sky instantly pulled back fearing he'd gone too far. Z was still silent, she looked like a deer caught in headlights. Sky's heart dropped at the same moment as his hands did. He moved around her.
"I'm sorry Z, I shouldn't have said anything."
Sky collected his jacket and was about to leave when one of Z's clones blocked his exit. Z pulled his arm forcing him to turn around. She jumped up, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Sky instinctively caught her and for a moment was too surprised to respond until the shock wore off. He then kissed her back just as passionately as she kissed him. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he moved them back into the room towards his bed. Z pulled back and looked into Sky's eyes.
"I love you too Sky, I have for years. It killed me when you and Syd started dating but you both looked so happy, so I tried to ignore my feelings. After you broke up, I decided to continue to deny my feelings. I didn't want to hurt Syd or push you."
"... Oh! My! God!"
Both turn to the door, eyes wide and mouths open.
Syd looked equally as surprised as they did. Z slowly unwrapped her legs and arms from Sky. He in turn slowly let her go. Syd's eyes watched their movements carefully before turning and walking away without another word.
"Syd!" Z called out.
She looked back at Sky, who looked just as worried as she did.
"This isn't good is it?" she asked him. He sighed and shook his head.
What will happen? Will Syd let it go or will it come back to bite them? Love or hate let me know.