"Hey, what you doing here?"
"What? Can't I come hang out now?"
Doctor Oliver shrugged. "Well, no, but, aren't you supposed to be in school?" he asked.
"I got home from Salt Lake City last night," said Anabel. "That's a ten-hour drive. When the Squad is away from Reefside for competitions, especially ones that are a fair distance away, we usually get the next day off from school. It all comes down to the cheerleader. Cassidy, Laura, and Lawrence are in school, Chris is at home, so is Jeffrey."
"Aren't you worried about your GPA dropping?" Hayley asked. "Especially now you're applying for colleges?"
Anabel shook her head. "My GPA can manage one day off school," she said. "And since my mother is back at the office today, you guys get my company. What's going on? Anything exciting?"
"Nope. Just scanning the city," said Hayley.
"How did you get on without me?" Anabel asked. "Did Mesogog take the weekend off?"
Doctor Oliver chuckled. "We have one or two incidents," he said. "Nothing too much. Elsa tried blowing up Jupiter, and Ethan got cursed, but nothing major."
"Ethan got cursed?" Anabel repeated. "How?"
"Ever hear of Tutenhawken?"
Anabel nodded. "The Pharaoh from Ancient Egypt, right?" she asked.
"The very same," said Doctor Oliver. "Ethan translated some Hieroglyphics from his tomb and ended up cursing himself."
Anabel looked thoughtful. "Oh, that's right, they had the museum trip while we were away," she said, nodding. "So, wait, let me get this straight, Ethan becomes a Superhero and learns that the Mystic Realm is a real place, and yet he is still stupid enough to go and read something that was put on a tomb?"
"He was warned beforehand that the scripture was put on the tomb to ward away grave robbers and thieves," said Hayley.
"Uh, note to self, don't visit Egypt with Ethan," Anabel muttered.
Hayley and Doctor Oliver chuckled.
"Anything else happen while I was away?" Anabel asked. "What about the Jupiter thing?"
Doctor Oliver shrugged. "Another ploy to try and destroy us," he said. "Jupiter protects Earth from asteroids and comets. By blowing it up, it leaves our little planet defenceless against such attacks."
"That doesn't make a load of sense," said Anabel, screwing up her face in thought. "If Mesogog wants to rule this planet, what does he get out of blowing it off the space map?"
"You're asking me to try and understand a mutant dinosaurs mind," said Doctor Oliver.
Anabel rolled her eyes. "You got to admit that it doesn't make sense," she said, flopping down into an empty computer chair.
"Oh, I agree it doesn't make sense," said Doctor Oliver. "But, neither do a lot of things."
Anabel half shrugged. That was fair.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The trio looked around wildly as the mainframe displayed an image of Elsa somewhere in the middle of a rock quarry. She was kneeling beside a pool of gloopy-looking green water.
"What's she doing?" Doctor Oliver wondered aloud.
"Shall I call the others?" Hayley queried.
"Let's see what she's up to first," said Doctor Oliver.
Anabel watched as fed a white tube into the pool and sucked out some of the green liquid, depositing it into a storage container. Once she was finished, she looked towards the skies and disappeared into an Invisiportal.
"What was that stuff?" Hayley questioned.
"If Elsa wants it," said Anabel. "Then probably nothing good."
"There's only one way to find out," said Doctor Oliver. He turned to Anabel. "How do you feel about a field trip?"
Anabel grinned. "As long as I don't have to drive for ten hours, I'll go anywhere," she answered.
"Then let's go," said Doctor Oliver.
Jumping from her seat, Anabel followed Doctor Oliver into the bay where they stored the Raptor Riders, Cycles, and ATVs. While he prepared the black ATV, she morphed.
"You sure you don't want to ride your own?" Doctor Oliver asked, as she climbed on behind him.
"Why? Don't want a passenger?"
Doctor Oliver shrugged. "Conner did say you're the worst kind of back street driver," he teased.
"Fine. I'll take my - whoa!" Anabel squeaked and wrapped her arms firmly around Doctor Oliver's waist as he sped out of the bay, and into the woods surrounding his home.
~X~
"You should be at the poolside now, guys," said Hayley.
Dismounting, Anabel hurried across the gravel and knelt beside the pool. It gurgled and glugged, blowing white foam bubbles that popped within seconds. "Gross," she said, reaching out and slowly dragging the tip of her finger across the surface.
"Careful," said Doctor Oliver, catching her wrist and drawing her hand back. "We don't know what this stuff does, yet, and you said yourself, if Elsa wants it then it can't be for anything good."
Anabel relented and dropped her hand. "True. But it could have many different properties," she said. "Just because Elsa has it, doesn't automatically make it a bad thing."
"I still don't want you touching it," said Doctor Oliver.
"Okay. Hands to myself," said Anabel. She tensed and whipped around, just as a broad sword swiped across the air above her head. "Oh, seriously?!"
Looking around, Doctor Oliver ducked as a Tyrannodrone swiped at him, too. "Big surprise there," he said, jumping up and kicking an incoming Tyrannodrone in the chest. "You going to be okay?"
"How long have we been Rangers?" Anabel asked. She stood and leapt across the pool, blocking an attacking from a separate Tyrannodrone. She caught it's arm and used it to pull herself up, supporting her weight on her arms as she planted both her feet into a fourth Tyrannodrone.
Spinning away, Anabel pulled her Thundermax from her waist and transformed it into a sword. She looped it around her hands and then swung it at a nearby Tyrannodrone, cutting into his thigh as it raised a leg to kick at her.
Several more Tyrannodrones crept forward. For everyone that Anabel knocked down, three more took its place.
"Anabel!"
Looking around, Anabel held out her hand as Doctor Oliver sped towards her. His hand wrapped tightly around her forearm, and he hauled her up onto the back of him, firing his lasers at the Tyrannodrones in his path as she looped her arms around his waist.
The Tyrannodrones squealed as they with hit in the chest and disappeared through an invisiportal before their bodies could hit the ground.
"That did it," said Doctor Oliver, skidding to a stop and looking back.
Anabel looked from the destruction zone to her teacher. "Quick thinking using the ATV," she said.
"I'm not just a Dino expert," said Doctor Oliver.
Anabel laughed and dismounted the ATV for a second time, as Doctor Oliver stopped alongside the poolside. She took the storage container that Hayley had sent out with them from the back of the ATV, and dipped it into the pool, careful not to touch the surface.
"Let's find out what this stuff is all about," said Doctor Oliver as Anabel straightened up, and returned to him, the storage container in hand.
~X~
Anabel looked up from her phone as Doctor Oliver joined her in the kitchen. They had returned from the pool side a twenty minutes ago, and she had been catching up on the Cheer squad's group chat while Hayley investigated the slime properties.
"Well?" Anabel asked, as Doctor Oliver leaned against the countertop opposite her.
"Looks like you were right," said Doctor Oliver, arms folded. "The slime has more than one property."
"Okay. Does Hayley know how useful it can be?" Anabel asked. "I'm guessing how usefulness is different to Elsa's. We both know she's using it for some monster or scheme to attack us."
Doctor Oliver nodded.
"So how can we use it?" Anabel asked. "Can Hayley manufacture it into a weapon or something?"
"How about using it to return me too normal?"
Anabel dropped her arms to her side, her eyes widening slightly as she stared at Doctor Oliver. Her lips parted, slightly, and then she smiled. "That's great!" she said, excitedly.
"Yeah. I guess slime really does pay," said Doctor Oliver. "I mean, this is what we've been looking for all this time."
Anabel nodded. "How does Hayley intend to do this?" she asked. "When?"
"Today," said Doctor Oliver. "She's contacting the others now. They're on their way from school. I wanted you all here for this. You were the ones who broke me out of the amber, it's only fair you're all here when I demorph."
"Let's hope you don't collapse again," said Anabel, teasingly. "I may not be able to catch you this time."
"With your reflexes? Not a chance."
Anabel grinned. The idea of Doctor Oliver finally being able to demorph excited her. He wouldn't have to isolate anymore; his life could go back to normal. He could return to school and do what he loved to do - tutor kids about dinosaurs, she wouldn't have to go to school and see her father every day, not have to endure Mercer's overbearing desire to be the dad he was before he walked out.
Everything would go back to normal.
"Anabel?" Doctor Oliver questioned. He had been watching her grow quieter and quieter as her thoughts took over. He could only guess what she was thinking, and now her eyes reflected her inner most turmoil. While he knew she was happy for him, it seemed that she had finally reached the same conclusion he had as soon as Hayley had revealed what the slime could do for him.
As the smile slipped from her face, Anabel looked up and met Doctor Oliver's gaze. Yes, things could go back to normal for him, and her, in a way, but for them? Things were about to become a lot more complicated.
If they thought they had to hide their feelings for each other now, going back to normal meant going back to a civil and professional relationship as student and teacher. Doctor Oliver wasn't meant to have favourite students, and he most definitely shouldn't have been befriending them outside of the classroom. If anyone found out that he was having intimate feelings for one, there'd be hell to pay.
Granted, at the beginning of term, she had teasingly told him of the scandal if they had been caught together; and while she was still aware that something like that could happen, even now, she still couldn't deny her feelings for him any longer. She wouldn't go as far as to say she loved him, but she liked him enough.
"I know what you're thinking," said Doctor Oliver.
"I doubt that," said Anabel, shaking her head.
"That, if this works, we can't continue the way we have been," said Doctor Oliver. "That, whatever is going on between us would have to end. But -"
"Don't say it wouldn't," interrupted Anabel. "You can't say that nothing will change."
"Why not?"
Anabel scoffed and unlocked her phone. She scrolled through the messages between her and Doctor Oliver, coming to a stop on the ones from a few weeks previous. "'It shouldn't have happened. It was inappropriate. I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn't have been morphed.' - you freaked out when you were stuck like this, what do you think is going to happen when this works?"
"Anabel…" Doctor Oliver sighed.
"I can't pretend that there is nothing going on between us," said Anabel. "That I don't have any feelings for you."
Pushing away from the counter, Doctor Oliver rounded the table and cupped her face gently in his hands. "I wouldn't expect you too," he said. "You're also not the only one that'll struggle. I don't know what it is about you but trying to deny my own feelings was a mistake, and I realise more now that I don't want too, any more than you do."
"Then what are we going to do?" Anabel asked, her voice quiet, scared.
Doctor Oliver shook his head, slowly. "I don't know," he admitted. "But, I do know that no matter what happens after today, I don't want to lose you. If this works, and I get my body back, it' won't change how I feel."
Staring into his visor, Anabel let out a slow, shallow breath, and then nodded.
~X~
Doctor Oliver, Anabel, and Hayley turned away from the mainframe, as the wall leading to the tunnel rose as the others arrived at the base. The green slime that Hayley had been investigating still sat under the microscope, while the rest festered in the storage container on the desk.
"Hey, when did you get back?" Kira asked, spotting Anabel.
"Last night," Anabel replied. "I did message you this morning."
"Sorry. My phone didn't charge overnight," said Kira. "I left it at home today."
Anabel nodded in understanding.
"So, what's the big emergency?" Conner asked.
Anabel glanced at Doctor Oliver. He met her gaze and nodded. "We may have found a way to demorph him," she said, smiling.
"What?"
"Really?"
"That's amazing!"
"How?" Ethan asked.
"With a little help from this slime," said Hayley, indicating to the storage container. "It should act like a synthesising agent that should return Tommy to his normal state."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Conner asked.
Hayley nodded and set to work setting up the equipment she would need. Meanwhile, Kira joined Anabel at the mainframe, digging into her backpack and withdrawing a wad of paper.
"That's all the homework I could get from the classes we shared together," said Kira, handing it over to Anabel. "Cassidy said she could get you what you needed from Journalism and Spanish, and I spoke to your AP teachers, they said that they could email you any work you missed, or you can just collect it tomorrow."
Anabel nodded and briefly glanced through the homework in her lap. She and Kira shared Science, English, Math, Social Studies, and World Culture. "Anything that's due next week" she asked, noticing that each of the essay's needed for the current pile had a two-week due date attached.
"Not from what we share, no," said Kira. "I don't know about your other classes."
"Thanks, Ki, this means a lot," said Anabel. "Tell me. How's your time being spent with Clarice? He treating you okay?"
Clarice Richards was Kira's new music agent. He had approached her the day of her gig at Anabel's home in Beverly Hills. His first impression was that he hadn't seen young talent like Kira in such a long time, and he was eager to start collaborating with her.
"It's going great," said Kira. "We only started speaking about possible record producers last week, but my mum has met him, too, and she thinks he'll be good for me. He wants to take me to New York when I finished school. How cool is that?"
Anabel beamed. "That's impressive!" she said. "You'll be famous before you know it."
Kira laughed.
"Are you guys ready?" Hayley called from the other side of the lab. She was standing beside a large cylinder, which had a risen podium inside
Leaving the mainframe, Anabel and Kira watched as Doctor Oliver climbed into the case. He took a deep breath as Hayley loaded the slime into the generator beside him and reached for the switch.
"I hope this works," said Hayley.
"You're not the only one," said Doctor Oliver.
Hayley flipped the power button and the generator whirled to life.
"Good luck, Doctor O!" said Conner.
"Catch you on the flip side," Doctor Oliver replied. He looked around at each of his students, just as the latch at the top of the case opened, dispensing slime down onto his head. The green gunk rolled down his helmet, over his shoulders onto his chest, and arms.
Anabel clutched Kira's hand as the slime curled around Doctor Oliver's wrist, over his morpher and dripped onto the floor,
There was a flash and the black Ranger suit disappeared.
"Uh, where's he gone?" Conner asked, looking at Hayley in confusion.
Hayley huffed, shaking her head. She was just as confused as the others. All her calculations pointed to this being the right strategy they needed to reverse the effects of Tommy's morphin' malfunction. So why hadn't it worked, and where was her friend?
"Wait, I can feel something," said Anabel, edging around Kira and stepping closer to the machine. She grabbed a grey towel from the stool and unfolded it. She held it out, gasping as she felt something brushing against her hands.
"Woah," said Kira, her eyes wide as the towel Anabel was holding lifted into the air.
"Doctor Oliver?" Trent asked.
"Yeah, I'm here," said Doctor Oliver, rubbing down his shoulders and chest with the towel. "Hayley, any ideas as to what's going on?"
Hayley shook her head. "It looks like the slime made your Dino gem of invisibility kick into overdrive," she explained.
"Great. I got my body back, but now no one can see it," said Doctor Oliver.
"An invisible science teacher," Ethan grinned. "That is so totally graphic novel."
Anabel smiled.
"I'm glad you find it funny, Ethan," said Doctor Oliver, a chuckle in his voice.
"Wait, so if he's invisible," said Conner. "How come Anabel knew he was still there? I mean, can she see him, somehow?"
Hayley shook her head. "I think it's the same thing as how she was able to sense Trent was around when the White Dino Gem was evil," she answered. "Anabel's sensing ability can pick up anyone who holds a Dino Gem."
"I guess that's a good thing," said Kira, watching as Anabel continued to stare at the spot she could only assume Doctor Oliver was still standing. To her, it looked like an empty corner of the lab, but Anabel was staring with intent and purpose.
"Is there anything you can do to make him visible again?" Conner asked.
"This is a tough one," said Hayley. "I have no idea how to counteract that agent."
The team sighed.
"Don't worry, Doctor Oliver, we'll figure something out," said Trent, reassuringly.
"I know you will," said Doctor Oliver. "But there is nothing you can do now. Hayley and I'll work on it."
Conner shrugged. "I guess now is as good a time as any to give Ethan is makeover," he said. "Hey, Anabel, think we could use your place?"
Anabel frowned and whirled around. "Why are we giving Ethan a makeover?" she asked.
"Because he has a date," said Trent.
"Ooh. You and Cassidy progressed to the first day already?" Anabel asked, grinning with excitement.
Ethan groaned. "But I -" he started.
"Nope. Too late," said Anabel, holding up her hand. "Mum's working from the office today. I'll call Silver and his team; he can meet us at the house."
Kira grinned as Ethan started to protest while Conner and Trent escorted him from the lab.
~X~
Silver Bordey was one of L. A's hottest fashion designers. He was a 5ft 3, African American with short, almost scalped hair, brown eyes that were usually hidden behind dark sunglasses, and long, golden acrylic nails pressed to each finger.
He beamed as Anabel opened the door to her home, and hurried inside, his team following behind him. "Anabel, honey, you're looking fabulous!" he said, cheerily, grabbing her in a hug. "Tell me, darling, how do you maintain this flawless look!"
"Don't be modest, Silver, you know I wouldn't look half this good without you," said Anabel, laughing.
"You tease," said Silver. He clapped his hands and followed Anabel into the kitchen. "Where are you friends, darling?"
Anabel gestured to the veranda where Conner, Ethan, Kira, and Trent were lying by the pool. "You remember Kira?" she asked, as they stepped out of the sliding glass doors.
Silver's eyes lit up and he rushed forward, grasped Kira's face, and started to kiss each cheek. "Darling, I've missed you!" he exclaimed.
Kira laughed as her face burned with a dull blush. Anabel had already explained that Silver wasn't interested in women as romantic partners, and his full-on nature was sometimes hard to come to terms with, especially when first meeting him.
"You look as beautiful as you did the last time we met!" Silver said, dragging Kira to her feet. "Spin for me! Oh, yes! Perfection! I am loving the rock look."
Anabel laughed as Kira stopped spinning and dropped back into her chair, slightly more breathless than before.
"Now, who are the rest of your friends, Anabel?" Silver asked, looking over at Conner, Ethan, and Trent. "Why are they so yummy?"
Kira and Anabel laughed at the panicked looks on the trio's faces.
"Look at this," said Silver, pulling the three boys' to their feet and shuffling them around on the veranda. He moved around them, straightening Conner's jacket, ruffling Trent's hair, and tilting Ethan's face around to get a better look. "Magnificent, and so handsome!"
"Silver, you remember Conner, surely," said Anabel.
Silver looked Conner in the eye. "Oh, my lord," he gasped. "Boy, you're more handsome than you were the last time I saw you."
Conner chuckled. He still wasn't used to Silver, even after knowing him for almost four years.
"Where is the first dater?" Silver asked.
"That'd be Ethan," said Anabel, pointing at the boy in blue. "You remember my friend, Cassidy? Yeah, she's his date for this afternoon. They're having a picnic up on the point."
"Ooh. Romantic," said Silver, grinning. He pulled Ethan away from the others and prowled around him, pulling at his clothes, and shaking his head. "Nope. No, definitely not."
"What?" Ethan asked.
Silver stopped in front of Ethan and, holding his hands out in front of him, palms up, gestured to the whole of Ethan's outfit. "All this has got to go," he said.
"But -"
"All of it!" said Silver, clicking his fingers. "Follow me. The rest of you sit here and look pretty, we'll be back with an ensemble that is to die for."
Anabel high-fived Silver as he led Ethan back into the house. "Smile," she said. "You're in safe hands."
Over the next hour, Silver paraded Ethan around like a carnival show monkey, showing off his elaborate clothing lines. Each one was more fashionable than the last, but neither screamed "casual first date."
Ethan grimaced as he stepped out onto the veranda wearing blue shorts, a white fish-net shirt, a blue flat cap, and sunglasses.
"Ehh, Cassidy is a little higher end," said Anabel. "You turn up wearing that then she's going to run for the hills."
"Fair. Fair," said Silver. He snapped his fingers and turned on the spot, pointing into the house over Ethan's head.
Ethan sighed and followed him.
"Have we considered any other routine that Ethan should need while on a date?" Kira asked. "I mean, I know they're going for a picnic, but what else do you need for a first date?"
"Flowers?" Trent asked.
Anabel shrugged. "Flowers couldn't hurt," she said. "Cassidy's favourite flowers are wildflowers. Ethan would do well to grab some on his way to the date. Wildflowers from a florist are haphazard with Cass."
"You know her really well, don't you?" Kira asked.
"She and I have been good friends for a long time," said Anabel.
Kira smiled. "It's hard to see Cassidy being friends with anyone who's not entirely like her," she said. "With the exception of Devin, I mean. She's a total Queen B."
"It takes a Queen B to deal with a Queen B," said Trent.
Anabel rolled her eyes.
"Attention! Attention!" Silver called, returning to the veranda. "This is the most basic ensemble I have put together. It's not entirely my taste for a first date, but I feel it would fit your boy better than nothing."
Ethan stepped out onto the veranda. He was wearing blue denim pants, a button down light blue shirt which were cuffed off at the elbows, basic white trainers, and he had the option of wearing a blue flat cap, which was toying with in his hands.
"So, what do you all think?" Silver asked.
Anabel whistled. "It suits you, Ethe," she said.
"Yeah!" Kira agreed.
Silver clapped his hands together cheerfully. "Stunning! Absolutely stunning!" he said. "My work here is done. Anabel, has always, doing business with you is amazing. You're friends with such amazing and flawless individuals. How do you do it?"
"I don't know, Silver, when I figure it out, I'll let you know," said Anabel, standing from her sun lounger. She rounded the pool and followed Silver back into the house, leaving Ethan outside with the others.
Reaching for her purse, Anabel stopped as Silver placed a hand on her arm.
"Consider this one a freebie," said Silver. "First dates are always awkward, and your friend seems really…"
"Awkward?" Anabel asked, laughing, "Ethan's never been on a date before, which is why I called you in. Are you sure you don't want anything for your services?"
"Absolutely, honey, you wish him luck for me, alright?"
Anabel nodded. "I'll make you a deal," she said. "I'll take this freebie, if and only if, you agree to suit us all for Prom at the end of the year?"
Silver all-but squealed and clapped his hands to his mouth. "Oh! Prom, darling, you'll be the belle of the ball when I'm through with you," he said. "Send me your friends details. We'll sort them out, too. Good-bye, babes. Mwah, love you."
"Love you," Anabel said, waving him out. She chuckled as she closed the door and returned to the balcony, where Conner was attempting to teach Ethan to dance.
With one hand on Ethan's shoulder, one hand on Conner's waist, both boys held their other hands together and were marching back and forth to a fast-paced tango beat. Returning to the sun loungers, Ethan dropped Conner down onto the soft cushions, and threw his hands up above his head, like a ballerina.
"What next?" Ethan asked, looking around at his friends. "Or is your little boot camp over?"
"That depends," said Conner.
"On?"
"Your manners."
Ethan furrowed his brow. What did his manners have to do with anything?
"I don't know if it has escaped your knowledge, but Cassidy is pretty high maintenance," said Anabel. "How you act during this date will determine whether you get another one or not."
Ethan cocked his head the side. "What are you going to do?" he asked.
"Come with me," Anabel said, motioning to him with her finger. She led them all into the kitchen and patted the island as she stepped behind it, reaching beneath and pulling out two plastic tumblers. "Technically since we're all minors, and my mum would freak if she found out we were breaking into the champagne, even if it is for a good cause, we're going to do this next exercise with sparkling cider." She opened the fridge and removed a long-necked bottle from the door.
"Do you need some help with this?" Trent asked.
Anabel nodded. "Sure. I'm guessing Dad would've taught you all the proper etiquette of being an elitist," she said.
"All the dinner parties were enough to learn," said Trent.
"Tell me about it," said Anabel. "Don't get me wrong. I love being Mum's plus one to all these important events, but after a while, you just want to grab a cheese platter and escape to a room and eat in peace. Small talk is boring after a while."
Trent chuckled.
Taking one of the tumblers, Trent hand it to Ethan. "Hold it at the bottom," he instructed.
Ethan moved his hand to the bottom of the glass.
"Once you've uncorked the bottle," said Anabel, twisting off the cap. "If you don't a cork opening, just get the twisty, they're easier and storage is better. Anyway, when you pour it, hold the bottle here, not here -" she wrapped her fingers around the middle of the bottle instead of the neck, "try not to hit the rim of the glass and twist as you finish."
Ethan pursed his lips, nodding. He gulped the sparkling cider down as Anabel let out a shriek.
"What are you doing?" Trent asked.
"Mhm?" Ethan murmured; his cheeks puffed up with cider.
"First, cheers," said Trent, clinking the second tumbler against Ethan's.
"Then you drink," said Anabel. "Remember, manners."
Ethan swallowed and sighed. This was a lot to remember. When did dating get so complicated? Or was it always this complicated? He shook his head.
"You think you're ready?" Kira asked.
"Yeah, I think so," said Ethan, nodding. "I can do this. I can do it." He stood, walked halfway out of the kitchen then turned around and strolled back, flopping into the stool with a flounce. "I can't do it!"
Anabel recapped the sparkling cider and placed it back in the fridge. "Look, yes, Cassidy is high miniatous," she said. "But, she's still a human. Be yourself, ask about her, and make a fuss of her, if you can, and you'll be fine."
"But what if we have nothing in common?" Ethan asked.
"Well, you've got something in common or you wouldn't have lasted this long," said Anabel. "If she mentions the big game on Saturday, which she is covering, by the way, tell you're thinking of going but you're worried you won't understand the rules and unable to participate."
"But I don't like basketball," said Ethan.
"Football," said Anabel. "Letting her know that you could potentially be there this weekend will cheer her up. She's real nervous about covering the game, it's her first big assignment as a reporter."
"Really?"
Anabel nodded. "She used to doing little stories around the city, but the football game is a huge deal for her," she said. "Just make a fuss. Everything else will fall into place."
Ethan took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. Be myself and make a fuss," he muttered. "Okay. I can do that."
Beep. Beep.
Ethan groaned and looked down at his morpher.
"Oh, you lucked out," said Conner.
Abandoning the island, Anabel led the others to the door and out into the garage where the cars were stored.
"I'll check in with Doctor O," said Trent, climbing into the back seat of Anabel's car. "You mind dropping me off?"
Anabel shook her head and glanced over at Kira. "You riding with us?" she asked.
"Sure," Kira said, occupying the passenger seat, as per usual.
~X~
"Giant thorny thing," said Conner, slowing his Raptor Cycle to a halt as the latest monster crossed his path. The other three stopped either side of him, each one considering the monster before them with their own eyes.
"Hey, didn't your mother ever teach you to play nice with others?" Anabel asked.
"I'll show you what she taught me," said the monster. His fingertips glowed luminous green as he traced a circle in the air above his head before he swung his hand at the teams, lassoing them inside four thick green vines.
Kira gasped as her arms were pinned to her side. "Oh no!" she cried, struggling, but the vines only seemed to get tighter. "Now what do we do?"
"Lasers!" Conner said, reaching for his blaster in its holster. He twisted it upwards, firing off a shot at the monster. Three other blasts hit at the exact same time, and the monster stumbled away in surprise.
Losing his concentration, the vines around the Rangers fell away, disappearing as they hit the ground.
Once free, Conner summoned his Tyranno Staff and leapt into the air. He struck down with the staff, but it became wedged in the monsters hand as he raised a claw to block. With a roar, the monster shoved, has hard as he could, and then swung a fist at Conner, hitting in him the chest and whacking him through the air.
"Conner!" the others called, crowding around him.
"Let's attempt my swing," said the monster, setting down a medium size ball and lining it up, using Conner's staff as a club.
"Golf?" the team questioned.
Swing the staff over its shoulder, the monster hit the ball at an angle, smashing it at the Rangers with a tremendous force. It then split into four separate balls, each one colliding with a different Ranger.
Anabel coughed as she hit the ground hard.
"See you in the clubhouse!" the monster called, disappearing through an Invisiportal.
Smacking a hand to his head, Ethan jumped to his feet. "Oh no! I'm late for my date!" he cried, running off and leaving his friends behind.
"Good luck!" Kira called after him.
~X~
"You didn't have to go through all this trouble," said Cassidy, twirling her hair and smiling. "I'm glad you did though."
Conner grinned. "My man, earning big points there," he said.
"Aw, how cute is he?" Kira cooed.
Anabel rolled her eyes with a smile. "Yes, it's cute, but am I the only one who finds the surveillance, creepy?" she asked.
"Just making sure he's okay," said Trent. "Monitoring's not so bad."
"Sure. Just makes you wonder who else you'd consider creeping on while they're on a date," said Anabel, taking out her phone.
"Don't worry. We won't watch you," said Trent. "Especially after your last conversation with Ethan about…kinks?"
Anabel giggled. "He actually told you about this?" she asked.
"Yeah. When you were inside with Silver," said Trent. "He's kind of weird, by the way."
"He's not weird. He's gay," said Anabel. "He's still got the hots for you, Conner, even though he's been married now for almost four years."
Conner rubbed a hand over his face. "Don't remind me," he grumbled.
Kira shook with silent laughter. She had to agree with Trent when he said that Silver was a little 'weird,' but she also agreed with Anabel about him being a great person. He was fun and lively, and loved his work, no matter who his models were.
"Looks like I'm not the only excellent teacher around here," said Doctor Oliver, drinking from his water bottle.
Anabel rolled her eyes. "Big head," she muttered. She shrieked as Doctor Oliver poked her in the side. "Okay. Okay, I'm sorry."
Doctor Oliver's fingers withdrew, and Anabel let out a shaky breath, trying to conceal a smile as she met Kira's gaze from the corner of her eye.
"Let's eat," said Ethan, setting up the chairs near the cliff.
Glancing up from her phone, Anabel surveyed the scene, a questionable frown on her face. She watched as Ethan set out the picnic blanket, the boom box, the candles, and the food he had packed; but there was something missing.
"Hey, didn't anyone actually tell him to take flowers?" Anabel asked, glancing at her friends.
"Oh. Not me," said Trent, shaking his head. "I thought you would."
Anabel shook her head. "I was busy with Silver, remember?" she asked.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," said Conner, waving the concern away. "I mean, I never got you flowers on any of our dates."
"Not from the lack of trying," said Anabel. "I mean, I'm not a big flower kind of girl, but one would've been nice. Do you even know what my favourite flower is?"
Conner shook his head.
Anabel tsked and shook her head.
"What is it?" Kira asked.
"African Daisies," said Anabel. "I saw them once in a florist in France and absolutely fell in love. You can get different shades and colours, they're really beautiful."
Kira smiled. "I don't really have a favourite flower," she said.
"Have you ever seen an Aster?" Anabel asked. "They're a purple flower with a yellow centre. They're my mum's favourite. I get her a bouquet every year for Mother's Day and her birthday."
"My mum likes lilies," said Kira.
Anabel smiled. "They're really sweet flowers," she said.
Kira nodded.
"This is just the perfect day for a picnic," said Cassidy. "Don't you just love being outside in the fresh air?"
"I guess it's okay," said Ethan. "I'm not really an outdoorsy person. I spend most of it inside gaming."
"Gaming?" Cassidy questioned.
"Playing games online. The other day, I was playing this one called Battle Station Extreme, and I was up against all these other players, and they had way more weapons than me…"
"No!" Conner groaned. "I told him specifically not to go into Geek mode."
"We also told him to be himself," said Anabel, grinning at her phone. She had been waiting for this to happen, and Ethan had not disappointed. "What did you expect to happen?"
"… then I hacked into security and busted right into their forcefield," Ethan sniggered. Proud of himself.
Cassidy's face was enough for Anabel to know she was not impressed nor amused, although her attempt to downplay her lack of understanding wasn't missed by Ethan, as the enthusiasm slid from his face.
"But, I bet you don't want to hear about that stuff, huh?"
"No, it's really, interesting…" said Cassidy, awkwardly. "Oh, hey, speaking of Games, I'm covering the playoff on Sunday, you gonna go?"
"Wait, Anabel told me about this… that's football, right? Although she said it was on Saturday, but you're the one covering it, so you'd know more than her."
Anabel groaned as Cassidy's face dropped. "Rule number one of dating, Ethan, never mention another girl's name when you're on the actual date. Even if they're just a friend," she said.
"Cassidy does not look impressed," said Trent, shaking his head.
"She looks sad," said Kira. "It's kind of heart-breaking."
"Um, yeah, it's a Sunday. Anabel should be there, being head cheerleader and all that. Are you going to go support her? As her friend?"
Ethan shrugged. "I'm not really a fan of football, or basketball," he said. An awkward silence fell, without partners looking around, trying to find something to say. Suddenly Ethan lurched forward, seized a tumbler of sparkling cider, and swung it around at Cassidy. "Hey, how about some sparkling cider?"
The liquid sloshed up the sides and all over her pink shirt.
Cassidy gasped.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Ethan apologised, shaking the drink from his hand. "Your sweater is ruined."
"No, it's okay, it's only cashmere," said Cassidy, wiping aside the droplets that had already soaked into her clothes.
Conner roughly tugged at his hair. "He's having a complete meltdown," he groaned.
"This is so sad to watch," said Trent, shaking his head.
Kira turned to Anabel. "Isn't there something we can do?" she asked.
"Like, what?" Anabel asked. "I can text Cassidy and let her know that Ethan's trying his best, but then she's going to know that we're watching her. Them not knowing his creepy enough. Besides, everyone does things differently on a first date, and there is a reason they're the awkwardest of them all. They're about slowly getting to know one another and seeing if there is any common interests there."
Kira sighed. "I know, but there's got to be something," she said. "Doctor O, any ideas?"
Silence.
Kira, Trent, and Conner turned away from the monitors and towards the spot where Doctor Oliver had been standing, albeit invisibility, no less than ten minutes ago.
"Doctor O?" Kira asked again.
More silence.
"Where did he go?" Kira asked, looking around at the others.
"He left about ten minutes ago," said Anabel, glancing at her phone. She was still messaging in the group chat she shared with the rest of the cheerleaders.
Trent furrowed his brow. "Where'd he go?" he asked.
Anabel shrugged. "How should I know? I just know he left," she said.
"You're the one that can seemingly track us by our Dino Gems," said Trent. "Can't you tell where we're going, too?"
"No, doofus," said Anabel, rolling her eyes. "I can tell when bad things are about to happen - like an invisiportal or a regenerative rain cloud. I know when the Dino Gems are close or far away, but I can't tell where the owner is taking them."
Cassidy's giggles brought the teams attention back to the screens. Her eyes were trained on the candles, which were suddenly alight. A puff of smoke blowing away in the breeze.
"How did you do that?" Cassidy asked, impressed.
"They're uh, trick candles?" Ethan asked, offering a weak explanation.
"Oh, cute," Cassidy cooed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Anabel drew her bottom lip between her teeth as a bunch of wildflowers floated behind Cassidy, dropping onto the ground between her and Ethan. "At least someone thought of flowers," she said.
"Uh, these are for you," said Ethan, presenting the bundle to Cassidy.
Cassidy's face lit up and she lifted the flowers to her nose, inhaling deeply. "How did you know wildflowers were my favourite?" she asked.
Ethan shrugged. "I guess you could say that I paid attention," he said.
"Nice cover," said Kira. "I guess we know where Doctor Oliver went."
"Mhm," the others nodded.
The play button on the boom box clicked down, and a familiar song started to play over the speakers.
"I love this song!" Cassidy exclaimed.
"Do you want to dance?" Ethan asked.
Cassidy smiled. "I would love, too," she took Ethan's offered hand and stood, place her left on on his waist, and clasping her right one in his palm. The pair faced one another, smiled, and just as Cassidy stepped back an invisiportal appeared, depositing a horde of Tyrannodrones onto the cliff top.
A collective gasp echoed around the base.
"Oh! We gotta help them!" said Kira, jumping from her seat
A second monitor beeped, showing the thorn monster from earlier reappearing downtown alongside the white ranger clone.
"We got to deal with these guys first," said Conner.
Tossing her phone onto the desk, Anabel turned and followed the others into the centre of the room.
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
"White Ranger, Dino Power!"
"Dino Thunder, Power Up!"
~X~
Anabel flipped over and landed in the middle of the street, cutting off the white clone and Thornox's access to the rest of the city.
"Tyrannodrones!" Thornox called.
A second invisiportal opened and deposited a handful of Tyrannodrones between the Rangers and the clone, and Thornox.
"Get them!"
Fighting her way through the mindless foot soldiers, Anabel ducked as a white Drago blade swung at her throat. She rolled out from under the White Clone, pivoting on her left leg as she kicked around with her right.
With a growl, the white clone clenched his fist and punched forward. Anabel blocked it with her hand, twisting it down towards the floor and kicking up with her leg. The clone blocked and tugged away, drawing Anabel with him.
Fighting free, Anabel kicked up twice, each foot being knocked down by the clone as he backed away from her. Gritting her teeth, Anabel jumped back and swung her fist at the clone's head. He laughed and caught her wrist, flipping her over his shoulder.
Anabel groaned as she hit the ground near to where Conner and Kira had landed.
"This is too easy," Thornox said.
"We're just getting started," said Conner.
The white clone laughed and pointed his Drago blade at the trio. "Try -" he broke off as the ground behind and beneath him exploded, throwing both him and Thornox into the air.
Anabel gasped and looked up, surprised to find Ethan soaring towards her on a blue bike, the wheels of which were rotating beneath him. "Woah, cool artillery. When did he get that?" she asked Conner and Kira.
"Hayley made it for him while you were in Salt Lake," Kira answered. "Did Doctor O tell you that he got himself cursed?"
"Yeah, Tutenhawken or something, right?"
Kira nodded. "The Hovercraft Cycle was supposed to be a normal bike, but he needed to break the curse and destroy Tutenhawken in the air, so Hayley modified it so it could fly," she explained.
"Sweet. But, it begs the question - when are you and I getting new toys?" Anabel asked.
Kira shrugged.
Dismounting his Hovercraft, Ethan joined his friends. "Who wants to go?" he challenged the clone and monster.
"Nice entrance," said Kira.
"Thanks."
"Let's take it to the next level," said Conner.
Anabel nodded and crossed her arms over her chest. "Super Dino Mode!" she called, drawing her arms down to her waist. There was a burst of energy, and she felt her suit increase with power, as the spikes along her arms and legs enlarged, and sharp claws grew from her fingernails.
"You'll never get rid of this thorn in your side," said Thornox.
"You're definitely new to this if you think you stand a chance," said Anabel.
The white clone scoffed. "Words are pointless anyway," he said, tightening his grip on his blade and darting forward. He cut through Conner, Ethan, and Kira, making a beeline for Anabel.
Anabel ducked and rolled forward to avoid the collision course that the White clone had set for them. Rolling back to her feet, she turned and swung her arm up, blocking the clone's punch and grabbing his wrist with her free hand, twisting it down.
The clone tugged back, but Anabel held fast.
With a cry, Conner swiped along the back of the white clone, causing him to arch upwards and howl in agony. He tugged himself free of Anabel's grasp and stumbled away.
"You okay?" Conner asked.
Anabel nodded. "Better than he will be," she said. "Compy Claws!"
"Tyranno Staff!"
Taking a running leap, Anabel raised her claws above her head and swung down, dragging the sharp talons down the clone's chest. He sparked and stumbled back as she jumped up, planting her boot into his chest.
"Anabel, move!" Conner yelled.
Anabel threw herself aside as Conner swung his Tyranno staff around in a complete circle, like how she had seen Doctor Oliver do with his Brachio Staff.
"Energy Orb!" Conner called out, drawing the staff over his shoulder and, like a bat, swinging it at the orb, sending it soaring into the clone.
There was a spark and an explosion, and the White Ranger fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
"Don't think this is over yet!" the White clone said, glaring at the Rangers.
"Trust me, we don't," said Anabel.
"But it will be after this," said Conner. "Put 'em together!"
"Z-Rex Blaster! Fire!"
A large orb soared towards the two. At the last second the white clone jumped aside, and the energy ball hit Thornox square in the chest. He was lifted into the air before exploding into dust.
~X~
"How does Silver make a living if he just gives away his help for free?" Trent asked, curiously. "That impromptu fashion show with Ethan should've cost quite a bit."
Anabel shrugged. "He doesn't not charge everyone, just his favourites," she said. "Besides, he and I have a deal, of sort. I get some of his services for free while he then designs clothes for me on special occasions. For example, Conner has a custom-made soccer jersey that Silver created, it's a one of a kind."
Conner nodded. He never wore the jersey that Anabel had gifted him last year for his birthday, it was in a glass box and hung on his bedroom wall.
"What special occasion is he designing you stuff for this year?" Kira asked.
"Prom," Anabel answered. "Which reminds me, you all need to give me your sizes so that I can give them to Silver. Preferably before Christmas, would be a good time."
Trent frowned. "Why would he want our sizes?" he asked.
"How else is he supposed to custom make your tuxedo?" Anabel asked. "He can't just do it at random."
"What if we aren't going to Prom?" Kira asked.
"You're going," said Anabel. "I'm not normally a pushy sort of person, but you are not missing the biggest event of the year. It symbolises our last year as high schoolers. Even if I must drag you there myself, I swear, you're all going to turn up."
Conner chuckled as Trent and Kira shared a worried look. "Anabel has been dreaming about Prom since freshman year," he said. "Nothing is getting in her way of enjoying it."
"Exactly," said Anabel, patting Conner's shoulder. She turned to Trent and Kira. "So, sizes, the sooner the better."
The four pushed through the double doors into the cafe, surprised to find Ethan sitting at one of the tables playing a game on his laptop.
"Hey, dude, what are you doing here?" Conner asked, leading the way over. "Aren't you going to finish your big date?"
"Oh that," said Ethan, shaking his head. "You know, Cassidy is great, but today I realised that she and I really have nothing in common."
"I could've told you that," said Kira.
Anabel closed his laptop, effectively ending his game as she perched herself on the edge of the table. "So, what? You're just going to sit here and pretend that everything that happened between the two of you, didn't?" she asked.
"What else am I supposed to do?" Ethan asked. "I don't know how to tell her it's over. She really likes me."
"Which makes ghosting her, all the worse, Ethan!" said Anabel, whacking his shoulder. "If I know Cassidy as well as I know I know her, she's not going to be sitting around waiting for you to tell her it's over. She'll come here looking for you if you try and ghost her."
"But what should I say?" Ethan asked, sounding hopeless.
"Tell her everything you just told us," said Anabel. "That, you think she is great, but you can't see the relationship going anywhere. Remain friends if you need to. No need to make a drama out of it."
Ethan sighed, considering her words. He then nodded and pushed away from the table. "You're right," he agreed. "I can't hide from her indefinitely."
"Great, because, here she comes," said Trent, patting Ethan's shoulder. He looked up at Conner and Kira. "I'm going to go see if Hayley needs some help in the back"
Trent walked away as Anabel slipped from the table. "Good luck," she whispered to Ethan, squeezing his shoulder. "Come on, you two," she added, dragging Conner and Kira away.
The trio reached the far end of the bar just as Hayley arrived from the back room. She slid two apple juices across the bar to Conner and Kira, and placed a water, along with a long-stemmed orange flower with a purple and black centre inside a tall bottle, beside Anabel.
"What's this?" Anabel asked, picking up the small card that accompanied the flower.
"I was asked to give it to you," said Hayley. "From your not-so-secret-admirer."
Anabel furrowed her brow at the older woman, and then looked at the card in her hand. She opened it between her fingers, reading the inscription inside.
"What's it say?" Kira asked, noticing the curving of a smile on Anabel's lips. She leaned forward, her hair falling over Anabel's shoulder.
Whatever happens next. I promise you; nothing will change how I feel.
-T