Kimberly swore very lightly under her breath. When was someone going to give her a frigging break.
"Kat," Tommy said with a warning.
"Oh come on guys, it was just a joke, relax." Kat said with a fake smile, "The audition went great by the way Tommy, thanks for asking." Kat said dismissively.
Tommy continued walking in to the circle around the campfire and with the help of Jason lowered Kimberly in to one of the chairs.
Tommy left Kimberly with Jason and Billy as he walked over to Kat, and pulled her to the side.
"Kat, that was uncalled for." Tommy said with his arms folded across his chest.
"I told you Tommy, it was just a bit of light hearted fun. Now are you going to give me a hug and greet your girlfriend properly?" Kat said through a sickly sweet smile as she opened her arms and leant in to Tommy.
Far from wanting to cause any more of a scene Tommy gave Kat a hug back, although he really didn't want too. The way she had just acted further cemented the thoughts he had been having towards their relationship.
"So, how did the audition go?" Tommy asked.
"Great, they loved me! Of course, I already knew they were going to love my routine, but I just didn't quite imagine how much they would. They've offered me a scholarship to go and study ballet in England!" Kat excitedly told Tommy, her eyes alight with passion.
"That's great, I'm really happy for you Kat," Whilst Tommy was happy for Kat that her hard work and determination had paid off, he couldn't help but feel a sting of rejection, or was it jealousy? It seemed that both Kat and Kim had been able to go off and live their adventures and pursue their dreams whilst he was stuck in Angel Grove.
"You could at least sound a little more enthused when you offer your congrats," Kat said with a screwed up face. She could sense that Tommy wasn't being completely honest with her.
"What is it? Are you worried about the distance? I've already told you this doesn't need to be an issue. I would never do what she did to you. Why don't you move to England with me? The accommodation would already be paid for, you would just need to find a job for pocket money," Kat suggested.
Tommy cast his gaze over to the group, and his eyes focused on Kimberly who was laughing at something Jason had said whilst Billy was wrapping her ankle and propping it up with some ice. He had only just got Kimberly back in his life and was enjoying rebuilding their friendship. California to Florida was already a distance, did he want to be even further away in England? Tommy blinked and reminded himself once again that he shouldn't be having these thoughts whilst he had a girlfriend, particuarly whilst said girlfriend was standing directly in-front of him.
"I can't make a decision about moving to a different continent just like that. There's so much I'd have to work out,"
Kat laughed, "Like what? These guys will still all be doing the same stuff. You won't be missing out on anything. Think of all the things we could do in England - we could travel Europe, all those lovely cities and beaches! The culture and food!"
Tommy mulled over her words. She was right, but he knew that he hadn't been happy in this relationship for a while. Did he want to isolate himself by following her there just for the daydream of travelling? He'd always enjoyed being felt needed and wanted, something Kat never failed to make him feel, but Tommy, back in the presence of Kimberly, was quickly realising that this wasn't enough for him anymore. He had always been a sucker for that feeling of purpose, perhaps it stemmed from being adopted and his biological parents not wanting him. He'd never really looked too deep in to his own feelings and needs, something he would usually avoid doing. But whilst Kat was correct, everyone else probably would still be doing the same normal things, it was the normality that he would miss. He had moved from town to town growing up, never really feeling like he belonged anywhere. That was until he got to Angel Grove, and minus a few mishaps, not to forget being turned evil and trying to end Jason's life, he really felt at home with them. His very own large dysfunctional family. Snapping out of his thoughts Tommy knew what he needed to do, but this weekend wasn't the place for it.
"Like I said Kat, I need to think about it,"
"Does this have anything to do with the past two days and your rendezvousing with Kimberly? I knew there was a reason why you were so hell bent on sticking to this weekend even though it meant me missing out."
Tommy could feel the rage bubbling inside of him. We're they really having this conversation? They couldn't have been more platonic towards each other, much to his and unbeknownst to him, Kimberly's dismay. Sure he had had some thoughts, but that's all that he had done wrong - and it wasn't like anyone else here knew that unless they were suddenly mind-readers, which he wouldn't put past Billy having come up with an invention for.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tommy asked, focusing back at Kat.
"So you mean to tell me that you haven't been sneaking off with Kimberly while i've been away? Early morning walks? Secret meetings in the bathroom?" Kat accusingly questioned, not even attempting to hide away her jealous green streak.
"Jesus Kat, do you know how silly you sound right now?" Tommy looked at Kat disappointedly.
"And yet you don't deny it."
Tommy laughed in despair, "I have nothing to deny. You've clearly had someone feeding false information back to you. I went for a jog this morning whilst Kimberly was up doing yoga, which we happened to finish at the same time. Last night she walked in to the shower block whilst I was coming out. You can even ask Tanya or Aisha, they can confirm that nothing was happening between us."
Kat stood staring at Tommy with a face of conviction. Tommy then realised how he had overlooked how Kat had come to hear all of this in such a little time.
"Ahh... but of course. You've already spoken with Tanya. That's how you know all this."
"Well yes, at least someone here is loyal to me."
"Kat, I really don't want to argue about this, particularly here. But do you really think I would do anything that would disrespect you when I am on a weekend away with all of our closest friends?"
Kat sighed. She had always had a complexion around Kimberly. Perhaps it was due to the way that herself and Tommy had got together, so soon after Kim and him had split up. She had always carried a little bit of guilt and conflict, as she knew deep down she shouldn't have made moves on Tommy so soon. She had after all been Kim's friend and quite literally followed her in every aspect after Kim left for Florida, clothing choices, ranger choices and boyfriend choices.
"Sorry." Kat said whilst looking down kicking the dirt around her feet, like a child who had just been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
"Now do you think we can try and greet Kim a little better? She's been so stressed out seeing everyone again I don't think that would have helped. You two used to be good friends."
Kat rolled her eyes and started walking back over to the campfire. Now that the initial insecure feeling she had had seeing Kimberly on Tommy's back had worn off, a wave of embarrassment crept over her. Other than Tanya, the rest of the group probably now thought she was a psycho girlfriend. They weren't wrong.
—
"What an earth did you guys do? You were just behind us?" Jason questioned as Kimberly got lowered in to the chair. She grimaced as Billy started to unwrap the support Trini had temporarily put on her ankle.
"Ow!" Kim exclaimed as Billy mouthed sorry to her, "I just caught a lose rock I think, my footing slipped and I rolled over on my ankle and well," she pointed to her foot which had now doubled in size with the swelling, "that's what happened".
Billy continued to look at her ankle under a flash light being held by Jason. "Well the good news is that I don't think you broke anything, but you have caused a nasty sprain. We can probably fashion you some sort of crutches out of some wood for now until we can get you to a doctors tomorrow,"
Kimberly began to object waving her hands, "No way, I'm not spending the day in a doctors tomorrow. It can wait till we get back to Angel Grove. I'll just take it easy."
Billy looked at Kimberly about to plea with her but saw the look of determination in her face and knew better to try and reason with the women in the group when they had that look on them. She was old enough to make her own decisions, "Fine, but try to walk on it as little as possible. I'l get making something for you to support yourself on."
"You ladies are going to be the death of Billy," Jason laughed as Billy nodded whilst finishing the wrapping up of her ankle and handing Kimberly a bag of ice. Kimberly laughed, "But you love us really Billy boy," Kimberly teased.
"Affirmative Kimberly, but that doesn't mean I don't disagree with Jason," And with that walked off to the nearby tree's to look for some wood to fashion together a splint of sorts.
Kimberly leant back in the chair with the ice pack on her foot and sneaked a look over at Tommy and Kat. Jason went and grabbed Kim a blanket from the tent and then sat himself in the chair next to her. The other girls had opted to go have showers whilst Zack, Rocky and Adam were keeping themselves occupied by trying to get the fire going and dinner started.
"Here you go grandma," Jason said as he laid the blanket over Kim.
"So, what do you think they're talking about?" Kimberly asked Jason, nodding in the direction of where Tommy and Kat were standing.
"Definitely debating whether they think Rocky will ever get this fire going tonight," which caused Kimberly to cackle.
"Hmmm, but seriously, I don't know but Tommy doesn't look happy. He's probably embarrassed by the way that she reacted to seeing you" Jason replied watching Tommy with his arms crossed.
"He's embarrassed! I was the one stuck mid air on his back with nowhere to run or hide. I was mortified!" Kimberly said able to laugh at herself, "We had an interesting chat today out in the lake,"
"Go on.."
"I don't want to speculate, but I don't think that Tommy's that happy with the relationship"
"No.. I had got that impression from some things he had said in the past. Just, promise me Kim. Don't get your hopes up. Kat made some comments before yous got back that they would both be moving to England and all the plans she had made for them,"
Kimberly nodded. "Not sure what you're referring to there, there's nothing for me to get my hopes up about. We're just working on being friends again," Well that was a lie, and Kimberly knew Jason knew it was too.
Kimberly had hesitated on whether to go in to more detail about the small things that she had picked up on between herself and Tommy over the last two days. But what if she was mistaken and clinging on to the past? She didn't want to be made a fool of, pining after her ex-boyfriend.
"Sure Kim, luckily for you we're about to find out!" Jason said as Kat and Tommy made their way back to the chairs where they were sitting.
Kat glared at Tommy before she turned towards Kim, "Hi Kimberly, I'd like to apologise for my earlier comments, apparently they hadn't come out as the joke that they were intended to be. Sorry," Kimberly thought to herself that she had never heard such a disingenuous apology but didn't want to have the tag team of Tanya and Katherine against her this weekend. Kimberly could see the rest of the girls making their way back from the shower block.
Kimberly swallowed the original and a lot more sassy response she would have preferred, "It's no problem Katherine. How have you been?" Kat sat in a chair on the opposite side of the circle to Kimberly. Kimberly was grateful for the distance between them and once the other chairs inbetween them had been filled they could put to rest the awkward small talk.
"Excellent, thank you. I just got accepted in to one of England's top ballet schools. Tommy and I will be starting a new life there soon!" Kat exclaimed and clung to Tommy's arm pulling him in to the chair next to her. Kimberly rolled her eyes, and if she wasn't mistaken heard Jason mutter something along the lines of 'good grief' under his breath.
"Uh Kat, we just agreed that I wasn't making any decisions yet," Tommy said pulling himself from her arm, filling the air with an awkward silence.
Kimberly cleared her throat, "Uh wow. Well I'm happy for you both. What an amazing opportunity." and turned her attention to Rocky who was making a mockery of keeping the fire alight.
The returning girls thankfully filled the air with chit chat, and Kim, Jason, Tommy and Kat weren't held hostage to the silence for too much longer. Jason got up to put Rocky out of his misery and managed to get a roaring fire going to warm the group throughout the evening. Trini and Aisha slotted in to the chairs next to Kimberly and huddled in so that they could fit under the blanket Kimberly was sat under. The three of them nattered away until dinner was served to them on Walmarts finest paper plates. Kimberly took the chance whilst everyone was focusing on their foods to steal a glance at Tommy. He was sat next to Kat still, whilst she was engrossed in a conversation with Tanya. Kimberly didn't know if she was reading in to it too much but she thought he looked really downcast sat there. Barely involving himself in conversation and just staring at the fire, his eyebrows in a slight frown, deep in thought. Billy sat on his other side then leaned over to ask him a question which brought his gaze up causing Kimberly to look away straight away.
"Girls, do you mind helping me to the showers in a bit? Could really do with a rinse off after being in that lake today," Kimberly asked Aisha and Trini.
"Of course we will. Do you think you'l be alright standing up in the shower?" Trini asked.
Before Kim had a chance to reply Aisha in a very low hushed tone quipped, "If not I know just the person to ask to help you," and winked nodding in Tommy's direction.
"Oh for... not you as well," Kimberly said as she face palmed her head.
"I know we should be impartial to this all, but you two are just meant to be. He hasn't kept his eyes off of you this whole time, well apart from this evening. Everyone can see it." Aisha replied.
"Everyone?" Kimberly said with a slight panic, worrying that she may yet to have round 2 of Kat on her hands.
"Well, near enough. We haven't exactly gone round with a questionnaire asking everyone... yet" Aisha said as Trini laughed.
"Kim, don't worry. We know you wouldn't do anything whilst he's with Kat. But you can be honest with us, you've enjoyed seeing him again haven't you?" Trini probed.
Kimberly took a moment staring in to flickering fire, watching the flames dance about, much like she was dancing around her own feelings.
"Ugh, you two are the worst. But of course, look at him. He's still just as dreamy. But that's it. He's with Kat. Nothing's going to happen between us, and I'm fine with that," Okay, small lie Kim.
"That's what I said about Rocky, and look at us.." Aisha admitted.
"Ahh-ha! So you do admit there's something more there between you two," Trini asked.
Kimberly laughed, enjoying the spotlight being removed to Aisha.
"Wo, wo, woah. Hang on a minute their, this is interrogation Kim time. Not Aisha, Kim." Aisha chuckled as she pointed to Kim.
"Nah, I'm with Trini on this one. So has he asked you out on a date or anything?" Kim asked seeing her opportunity. She didn't like the risk involved sitting so close to other people having the conversation on her.
"He may have asked to take me out when we get back home next weekend. I told him we'l see how well he behaves this weekend," Trini and Kimberly clapped and squealed with excitement, which Aisha hushed, "Shh guys. Jeeze this is why I hadn't told you. Ya'll get too excited." But secretly Aisha was feeling very content and happy. She of course would be telling Rocky yes, but it never hurt to keep a boy on their toes.
Trini and Aisha helped Kimberly up with her makeshift crutch courtesy of Billy, and walked her to the shower block where she was able to stand up, without the need to Tommy much to Aisha's dismay, and got herself ready for bed.
The girls stood in a line brushing their teeth. Kimberly spat out the last of her tooth paste and turned to the girls to the left of her,
"Now that Kat's here, do you think Tanya will get off my back a bit?"
"What do you mean?" Trini asked, Aisha keeping quiet. Aisha had been caught in the middle of it all, being Tanya's cousin but also Kimberly's best friend. In Kat's absence, Tanya had been clinging to Aisha.
"She's just said a few comments here and there over the last two days. Mainly how I was being disloyal to Kat and making moves on Tommy."
"I'm so sorry Kim, I didn't know you were having to handle that as well." Trini said reaching an arm out to her.
"I've been a bit shit haven't I?" Aisha said putting her tooth brush away, "I didn't realise she had actually said things to you. She had mentioned a few things to me in passing but I had shut it down, kinda just buried my head in the sand with it all, opting to stay out of it. I'm sorry,"
"Don't be silly. It's not been anything THAT bad, just you know. For someone I had never met before she sure had cast a lot of opinions on me,"
"I think she just was trying to be protective of Kat, I'm sure now that Kat's here to defend herself she will back off." Kimberly nodded.
"And next time tell us, I'm not afraid to tell her a thing or two" Trini threatened, jokingly throwing her fists up.
"Haha, that's what I was worried about," Kimberly laughed. "I'm so thankful to have you two back in my life, I really am." Aisha and Trini took the opportunity to go for a group hug and share the love.
"And you're never getting rid of us again!" Aisha said into Kim's ear.
The girls returned back to the group, and as some of them had over-done it the night before, everyone else started turning in for an earlier and soberer night. Kimberly had known it was going to happen since she had seen Kat with the group when they returned from the lake, but seeing Kat going in and out of Tommy's tent, and now loudly calling it 'their tent' sent a flutter of nerves to the pit of Kimberly's stomach. She had quite enjoyed the little bubble that they had been in since they had arrived, and since Kat's appearance that bubble had slowly deflated.
Kimberly was safely tucked up in her sleeping bag with her ankle raised, helped by Jason who if anything Kim had felt had been a bit too mothering. As Kimberly laid their listening to the rustling of the neighbouring tents as her friends got themselves in to their sleeping bags etc. Jason got himself in to his bed.
"What happened out on the lake today?"
"What do you mean?" Kimberly asking, temporarily forgetting the near panic attack she had had earlier in that day, the evenings events taking over her most recent memory.
"Tommy seemed concerned, said you freaked out after hearing the swimming race start?"
Kim exhaled, "Oh great, now everyone knows how I acted like a great baby. 'The original Pink Ranger screams in despair at the slightest scare'" Kim said mocking herself.
"No, no, you've got it wrong." Jason quickly corrected her, "When you went over to the showers with the girls he came and sat next to me and asked me quietly. He was genuinely concerned, he didn't bring anyone else's attention to it." Jason paused allowing Kimberly to feel a small bit of gratification that Tommy had at least not sold her out in front of her friends, "Does this have to do with what you saw in Florida?"
"I just panicked Jase, it was so embarrassing. I really thought he had got one of yous." Kimberly admitted.
Jason moved out of his sleeping bag and perched on the edge of Kimberlys bed.
"I promise you, we are going to get this all sorted. As soon as we are back that's my priority." Jason had held Kim's hand, squeezing it gently. Kimberly struggled to smile, but she couldn't help feeling a little bit better about the situation. She finally had the support of her friends back - not that it had ever really gone, Kimberly just hadn't allowed them to be there for her.
"Promise?" Kimberly asked.
"Pinky. I've already rung Mum and Dad and they are going to extend their stay in San Fran so you don't have to worry about them either. First thing we are doing when we are back is getting rid of that car of yours" Kimberly was relieved to hear this and nodded in agreement to the last part.
"Good, that makes me feel somewhat better."
"Good. I'm not going to pressure you in to doing anything surrounding this, but I do think it might be beneficial letting the others in on it. They will be able to help, and if anything it's just another set of eyes and ears around."
"I'l think about it," Kimberly said, knowing that Jason was right. She just hated regressing back to the one who always needed help. As a ranger she was always having Jason or Tommy running to her side in the smallest incident, and she had always felt that she didn't need that level of protection. Now though, she may have to admit that the help was needed, but it didn't help her from feeling those same emotions from her late teens.
Jason lent down and gave Kimberly a hug good night and then made his way back to his bed. Kimberly left thinking about her younger days fighting Ivan Ooze and their quest to Phaedos, which surprisingly she found comforting. She certainly wouldn't have thought at 16 that she would be looking back on those days fondly. Eventually Kimberly drifted off despite the dull ache in her ankle, and for the first time in a while, whether due to sheer exhaustion or a certain level of emotional comfort, had a relatively peaceful nights sleep.