"I think that about does it, fire her up," Jason called out over the hood of Tommy's Firebird.
"Got it," Tommy responded from inside the car. He turned the key and the engine roared to life. He smiled and looked up at Jason who shut the hood and grinned himself. Tommy revved the engine a couple of times the sound echoing throughout the surrounding garage. Satisfied, he shut the engine off and climbed out.
"Sounds great, bro," Jason replied wiping his hands on a nearby rag.
"Yeah it does," Tommy agreed. He walked over to Jason. "Thanks for helping me out."
"You kidding?" Jason reacted. "You know I love messing around under the hood."
Tommy nodded and smiled.
"Plus it is always nice to get to hang out with you, seems like we don't get much time to do that anymore," Jason continued. Tommy furrowed his brow as he considered the subject.
"Yeah..." Tommy agreed. "Hey..."
The hesitation from Tommy got Jason's attention to him.
"Listen... you know I had my heart set on UCAG..." Tommy continued.
"Yeah," Jason responded.
"But uh..." Tommy began to wipe his own hands off on another nearby towel. "Kat she uh... well she has heart set on studying abroad."
Tommy sighed as he turned and rested his back up against a workbench. Jason studied him for a moment.
"I see..." Jason replied. "So what are you thinking?"
"That's just it," Tommy turned to him. "I honestly don't know what to think."
"Have you guys talked?" Jason asked turning to mimic his friend's stance resting up against the workbench.
"I mean... not really... just been brought up in passing a couple of times," Tommy answered. "Honestly, I think we have both been kind of avoiding it."
Jason focused on the car in front of them as he gathered his thoughts to give his friend some advice. He started to talk but Tommy got to it first.
"What about you... are you still going to Angel Grove?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah... I think so," Jason responded.
"And Kim?" Tommy inquired.
"Same..." Jason replied. "I mean that was the plan the last time we talked about it."
"That's good," Tommy said. "I just... I want to be with her but to uproot myself like that you know?"
"Yeah I get it," Jason agreed.
"But honestly," Tommy paused. "I don't think I can do long-distance again."
There was a silence that hung over the room for a second. Slightly awkward but not in a confrontational way, rather just neither man unsure of how to keep the subject flowing.
"I mean... considering what happened, I can understand that," Jason finally said. "I'm sorry."
"It's water under the bridge, bro," Tommy shrugged. "But you know, I did learn from that experience."
Jason straightened his posture, prompting Tommy to follow.
"Look... I know you are crazy about Kat, but only you know if you can handle being away from her like that," Jason stated. Tommy nodded.
"Can I be candid?" Tommy asked.
"Sure," Jason answered.
"With Kim... when she left..." Tommy took a breath. "It didn't bother me that much... I mean looking back that was probably a sign... but I was so wrapped up in my life here that I didn't give it much thought... now... with Kat..."
Tommy shook his head.
"I can't imagine not seeing her every day," Tommy confessed as the two began to walk out of the garage and down the driveway to Jason's truck. Both stopped at the door. Jason turned to his friend and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I think you kind of already have your answer," Jason said with a small smile. Tommy considered his words and felt himself smiling as well.
(****)
"Oh my gosh... I forgot in what kind of shape you have to stay in as a Ranger," Kimberly said between breaths as she attempted to keep jogging pace with her taller blonde companion.
Katherine laughed as she glanced slightly behind her at Kimberly. She slowed her pace so the two were running next to each other again.
"Like you are not in great shape," Kat responded.
"I am out of practice," Kim said with a slight laugh. The two girls came upon a nearby park bench and Kat pointed to it.
"Rest for a bit?" Kat asked.
"Don't have to ask twice," Kim replied as the two stopped their pace and melted into the bench. Kat glanced over at her as both attempted to catch their breath.
"You know... I don't usually go this long," Kat said. "It is nice to have a companion to keep me company."
"Thanks," Kim replied. The two fell into a comfortable silence as they watched the other park-goers going about various activities.
"Hey... can I talk to you about something?" Kat asked. Kim turned to her.
"Sure," Kim replied.
"It is about Tommy," Kat clarified. Kim nodded.
"Go on," Kim urged her, putting her at ease.
"Things have been kind of odd between us lately," Kat confessed.
"Oh?" Kim reacted.
"Yeah, but I think I know why," Kat continued. She sat up straighter. "It is because I have mentioned my desire to study in London."
"London... wow that sounds great," Kim replied.
"I think it would be yeah," Kat agreed. "But I know Tommy wants to go to college here."
"Oh," Kim responded.
"Every time the subject comes up we kind of just brush over it but..." Kat shrugged. "It has kind of put some tension between us."
"I can imagine," Kim said. "So you haven't talked about it?"
"Not really... not in any type of meaningful way," Kat replied. "It's just... I have had my heart said on London for a while now... the classes, the opportunities..."
"I mean if that is what you want..." Kim began. "You have to go for it."
Kat turned to her.
"Take it from me... if you don't you will probably regret it," Kim continued.
Kat considered her words for a moment.
"I mean... I know you are right of course but..." Kat stopped.
"Are you sure he wouldn't want to go with you?" Kim asked.
"I don't know for sure... but like me has been planning as well and it seems our plans are in conflict," Kat replied.
"I am probably the worst person to talk to about a long-distance thing," Kim replied. "I proved I kind of suck at that."
There was a beat of silence before they made contact and began to laugh. Both were glad to be able to share that moment and to find it was not awkward.
"I don't think Tommy is very fond of them either," Kat replied still laughing.
"I might take some of that blame," Kim giggled.
The girls laughed and for a moment Kat forgot what was troubling her and she suddenly felt very close to the girl she succeeded as a Ranger. She gestured to the path in front of them.
"Feel like finishing the course?" Kat asked.
"Yeah... I think I might have my second wind now," Kim replied with a grin as the two got up simultaneously and made their way back to the path.
(****)
Jason stepped out of the shower running a towel through his hair. The cool air from the bathroom hit him but despite the shiver it gave him, he felt much better having cleaned up from an evening spent under the hood of a car.
He wrapped the towel around himself and walked to stand over in front of the mirror over the sink. He glanced down at the stubble on his face and reached for his razor. He had just gotten it in his hand when he heard the bathroom door creak open behind him. He glanced up in the mirror to see Kimberly resting against the door frame smiling at him.
"Hey," Kim greeted him returning his smile but also stealing a quick glance down at his bare torso in the mirror. It made her smile wider.
"How was your run?" Jason asked.
"Exhausting," Kim replied. She made her way into the bathroom and over to a shelf on the wall. She retrieved a black towel from it. "Did you save me any hot water?"
"Uhh... maybe?" Jason shrugged.
"You'd better," Kim replied laying her towel out.
"I was really dirty," Jason responded. "That stuff is hard to get off."
"Uh-huh," Kim teasingly replied. She walked over to stand next to him, content to watch him as he began to shave. "Hey."
Jason looked up to make eye contact with her through the mirror.
"You and I... we..." Kim paused. "We are both going to UCAG right?"
Jason cocked his head slightly, remembering his discussion with Tommy and now suspecting Kim had had a similar one.
"If that is what you want," Jason replied.
"What do you want?" Kim asked nudging him slightly with her shoulder.
"I want to go there but you know..." Jason put down his razor and turned to her with dabs of shaving cream still on certain parts of his face, the sight causing Kim to smile. "If you wanted to go somewhere else and felt strongly about it... and you know wanted me to come along... I think I'd probably go."
"Would you now?" Kim asked.
"Probably," Jason replied, his tone teasing.
"Probably?" Kim played the teasing game with him.
"That is the best I will give you," Jason said. Kim eyed him up and down. She turned and walked over to the shower and turned on the water. She felt her hand under it for a moment until she felt the warm water take over. She smiled and reached down to lift her shirt over her head, glancing over her shoulder at Jason.
"The best you can give me huh?" Kim asked as she continued to remove articles of clothing, sneaking peeks at a very interested Jason all the while. He was trying to keep a poker face but there were subtle hints he was failing.
"I mean..." Jason cleared his throat. "You know I could... I think that is..."
Kim stepped under the shower, turning to face him.
"You know you aren't winning this game," Kim replied with a grin.
"Oh... I don't know... Jason walked over to her. He stuck his head under the water and gave her a kiss. "It all depends on your definition of winning."