The Return Journey
Chapter Three - Aisha

I watched Rocky play the pinball machine. Every other second he was either yelling at the dumb machine or "Whoo"ing because he won some points. I rolled my eyes. Then, the screen flashed "Game Over" and Rocky walked over to me and sat on a barstool next to me.
"How ya doin babe?"
"Fine. Just wish you were paying more attention to me than to the dumb game."
"I am now."
Suddenly, a memory flashed in my mind. It was me, standing in an airport, and I saw Rocky walking up to me, a large smile on his face. He came over to me and hugged me tightly. Some words were exchanged, but none that held any importance compared to the words he said last.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

"Aisha, I love you," he said gently.
I looked up, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. I couldn't count how long I had been waiting to hear those words. "I love you too."
Rocky picked me up and hugged me again, then sealed his confession with a kiss.

~*~ End Flashback ~*~

My mind flashed to the present and I saw Rocky looking at me questioningly. I shook myself out of my reverie.
"Um, good. Now, where did Kim and Tommy go?" I asked.
"I think they went to the park. I overheard Tommy talking."
"Okay. Wait a sec. If they're at the park, then why is Tommy at the door?"
"Huh?"
Rocky turned around to see Tommy walking past one of the first tables in the Youth Center. He hopped off of the barstool and ran over to Tommy. I followed him just to see what was going on.
"Tommy, what's going on?" Rocky asked in a concerned tone.
"Nothing man," Tommy responded almost angrily.
"Tommy, something is up. Now what is it?" I asked half in impatience and half in concern.
"It's Kim."
"What about her?"
"She thinks that when she left Angel Grove, the Ninjetti wasn't with her."
"Why? It was. Just because Kat-"
"That's exactly what I told her. She just pushed me away. Almost like she's denying all of the things that have happened. Every battle. Everyday that we were the Power Rangers. I don't get it."
"Hmmm. I don't know what to tell you, Tommy. As long as I've known Kimberly, she's never acted like this before. What exactly did you say?"
"I already told you."
"Alright. Then, what did she say after you told her the actual facts?"
"She said, 'I really wish it was the truth. I really do.'"
"That doesn't sound like her. You didn't go off at her did you?"
"Depends on your definition of the phrase 'go off.'"
"What did you do?"
"I told her something, then I got up and left."
"Ok. To this point I am almost tired of asking the questions. What did you tell her?"
"I told her that I loved her and always would but if she was going to deny what she was I didn't know what to tell her."
"Otherwise, you went off at her."
"Yeah."
"Listen, I'll go talk to her and you stay here, alright? Good."
I walked outside, leaving Tommy and Rocky to talk. Outside, I looked around for Tommy's white Jeep. It wasn't here. He would've needed it to get to the park, and to get back. Wait a sec. Knowing Tommy he wouldn't have been cruel to Kim. There was no way at all he would've been. Meaning, he left the Jeep at the park for her and walked here. Hah. He never could stay mad at her. Suddenly, Tommy's Jeep pulled into the parking lot and messily parked in a parking space almost directly in front of me. The driver's door opened and out walked Kimberly.