Always a Frog, Never a Prince
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Adam stared at the pink ranger, a vacant expression spread over his face, "Hey?" the word uttered by him was more of a question than a greeting.
Unfortunately now was the time for Kimberly's nerves to once again kick in, now faced by the black ranger she couldn't think of what to say to him. To mend the damage that she might have already inflicted on his obviously tortured soul.
Luck seemed to be on her side though, a grunt emanated from the bed behind the door and the two listened to Rocky mumble something about one of the yellow rangers. Neither really paid his words much notice, both were too fixated on each other.
"Uh…" Kimberly desperately wanted to break the tension that was like a wall between the two friends preventing any kind of communication from taking place. "I didn't wake him did I?" Kimberly already knew the answer to her question but it was nice to say something instead of standing there like an idiot.
Adam shook his head, "He'd sleep through an apocalypse," he gestured with his head towards Rocky, Kimberly also noticed that his hand was still firmly placed on the door barring her entry.
She ignored it and smiled slightly, "Good, I wouldn't want to wake him. We all know how grumpy Rocky gets when he's woken up," it was an attempted joke but Adam stared blankly back at her.
"What do you want Kimberly?" his words weren't harsh or full of anger, they were soft and gentle, but even so they still seemed to cut the pink ranger, her nerves and doubts growing more and more prominent inside.
Eventually she decided to get it over and done with, "I need to talk to you."
A moment of confusion flickered across Adams face, "I was under the impression that we were done talking."
"Please Adam," she was practically begging him, "I want you to hear what I have to say," he didn't seem convinced, "It's important."
There was a short pause before the reluctant black ranger stepped out into the hall and closed Rocky's door behind him with a low click. Following the pink ranger back towards his dorm was torture for him, thoughts ran through his mind, so many that he couldn't seem to grasp or understand what any of them were saying.
His eyes registered the light inside of his room and he turned his attention back to the pink ranger who was closing the door behind him. She shifted uncomfortably in front of him, her eyes firmly averted to the ground and once again she was back chewing the bottom of her lip.
'This should be interesting' his mind remarked snidely.
Kimberly faced him and gestured to the bed, "Please, sit down," he'd rather have stood but not wanting to cause any more friction between the two he did as she asked and took a seat on the edge of the bed. Entwining his two hands together he glanced back to Kimberly who looked like she was once again lost in thought, her head lifted and she stared at him for a moment before taking a seat on the bed next to him.
"Adam," she started, her voice almost a whisper, "You have to promise me that once I begin you'll let me finish. Can you do that, please?"
'Begin what?' he was confused.
"Ok," he hadn't even realized he'd said anything until he heard his own response.
"Thank you," standing back up again Kimberly paced a little, back and forth in front of him, each movement making him more and more anxious. He quickly squashed that part as she stopped in front of him, "Okay, here goes…"
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"All my life I used to dream about the man I'd fall in love with, dashing, charming, the kind of guy you used to hear about in fairytales you know?" Adam didn't, he had a vague recollection of Mother Goose but he didn't remember any handsome men in that. "My first crush was Jason," the surprise on Adams face must've showed due to the pink rangers cheeks turning a slight shade of red, "I used to follow him around like a lost puppy dog, I remember one time because I was staring at him so much in class I went to sit down and missed my chair," she chuckled at the memory. "I used to think that he was the only man in the world, the only one who could make those butterflies in my stomach flutter in that way," Adam remained quiet, "I finally made the decision to ask him out, conveniently enough it was the same day he was competing at a local martial arts tournament."
"The tournament where you first met Tommy, before he became the green ranger," Adam surmised.
Kimberly nodded, "Exactly, from the moment I saw Tommy all the feelings I had for Jason went flying out the window. Which, thinking back, is a good thing because he was more like a big brother to me, I don't think he ever thought about me in that way. Anyways, you know the story. Tommy became the green ranger, he and Jason fought, Jason destroyed the sword and with Rita's grip over him broken Tommy was free."
Adam was beginning to dislike where this was heading, until he snapped, "Does this whole thing have a point?"
Kimberly could see he was uncomfortable, and so didn't take his words too personally, "I'll get to that," she started back up her pacing, "Mine and Tommy's first date was at a school dance, I remember like it was yesterday. All of the girls staring my way, they were jealous of course, every girl in school wanted a date with Tommy." Kimberly realized that she was beginning to sound like some sort of ego crazed cheerleader and put the brakes on. "What I'm trying to say Adam is that Tommy and I were together for a while. Then he left, that broke my heart. And just when I'd started to move he came back as the white ranger, I couldn't believe how happy I was. Everything was perfect again." Kimberly took a deep breath and forced back the tears that were threatening to break free, "Then I got the chance to enter the Pan-am Games. It was an amazing opportunity, but to do it I'd have to go to Florida with my folks. I had to decide what was more important, my dreams as a gymnast, or my life in Angel Grove. And I chose, I wrote Tommy the letter, packed my bags and left." By now tears were streaming down the pink rangers face, but she carried on, "I always knew that Tommy would move on, I mean I never expected him to pine over me forever and die alone, but when I saw him and Kat together. It was like, he'd replaced me with a substitute me. And I know that's not how it is between them but I can't help but feel that I drove the only man I ever loved into the arms of a girl he'd never have met if I hadn't decided to leave. Tommy wasn't just my boyfriend though, he was my best friend, and I'd lost that forever once I got on that plane."
Adam had no clue to what Kimberly was going on about, but whatever it was he felt it important to stay quiet and listen to what she had to say. However his heart won out over common sense, standing he approached the pink ranger who had by now turned away from him to prevent her tears from showing.
Kimberly was shaking, she felt Adam lay his hands gently on the tops of her arms, it was a comforting feeling to say the least. Turning slightly she almost instinctively leaned into him his body easily supported hers. Wrapping his arms around her Adam remained quiet. He was just held her.
"Adam," he heard her loud and clear.
"Yes?"
"Tell me again."
"Tell you what?"
"That you love me," he remained silent, "Please."
Adams heart melted, and he knew that he was going to hate himself for repeating those three dreaded words that had torn his life apart, none the less he pulled away and looked down into those big bright eyes and stated honestly, "I love you."
For a moment Kimberly just stared at him, that confused the black ranger who started to feel a little uncomfortable, "Do you mean it?" like so many questions she'd asked that night Kimberly already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from him.
"Yes."
Now Adam was really confused, his head told him to flee the room but almost instinctively he reached up and cupped the side of her face. He watched Kimberly close her eyes and lean into his hand, he could feel her shaking, "What is it Kimberly?" he asked softly.
The pink ranger sniffed slightly, "I've wrecked everything that I've ever cared about Adam, and I couldn't stand it if what happened between me and Tommy happened to us. I wouldn't be able to go through that pain again. The way I feel for you isn't like I did for Jason, or the way I felt about Tommy. It feels…different," she paused, "I feel safe."
"Kimberly, what are you trying to say?"
Opening her eyes the pink ranger lifted her head from Adams hand and stared straight at him, she needed to look at him one last time to make sure. She saw what she expected to see, him.
"I'm in love with you Adam Park."
To Be Continued
By Boulder
Authors Notes
It is officially my birthday today. And I am 19 healthy years of age (and looking pretty damn good if I do say so myself). Coming back to America next week, looking forward to that. Anyways on with the story. Once again I have spent many torturous hours reading over this chapter, hoping to get the right amount of emotional involvement needed. I hope I got it right. And I hope you all enjoy it, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up, possibly a week. As always suggestions and whatnot are always appreciated.
Regards
Boulder
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Adam stared at the pink ranger, a vacant expression spread over his face, "Hey?" the word uttered by him was more of a question than a greeting.
Unfortunately now was the time for Kimberly's nerves to once again kick in, now faced by the black ranger she couldn't think of what to say to him. To mend the damage that she might have already inflicted on his obviously tortured soul.
Luck seemed to be on her side though, a grunt emanated from the bed behind the door and the two listened to Rocky mumble something about one of the yellow rangers. Neither really paid his words much notice, both were too fixated on each other.
"Uh…" Kimberly desperately wanted to break the tension that was like a wall between the two friends preventing any kind of communication from taking place. "I didn't wake him did I?" Kimberly already knew the answer to her question but it was nice to say something instead of standing there like an idiot.
Adam shook his head, "He'd sleep through an apocalypse," he gestured with his head towards Rocky, Kimberly also noticed that his hand was still firmly placed on the door barring her entry.
She ignored it and smiled slightly, "Good, I wouldn't want to wake him. We all know how grumpy Rocky gets when he's woken up," it was an attempted joke but Adam stared blankly back at her.
"What do you want Kimberly?" his words weren't harsh or full of anger, they were soft and gentle, but even so they still seemed to cut the pink ranger, her nerves and doubts growing more and more prominent inside.
Eventually she decided to get it over and done with, "I need to talk to you."
A moment of confusion flickered across Adams face, "I was under the impression that we were done talking."
"Please Adam," she was practically begging him, "I want you to hear what I have to say," he didn't seem convinced, "It's important."
There was a short pause before the reluctant black ranger stepped out into the hall and closed Rocky's door behind him with a low click. Following the pink ranger back towards his dorm was torture for him, thoughts ran through his mind, so many that he couldn't seem to grasp or understand what any of them were saying.
His eyes registered the light inside of his room and he turned his attention back to the pink ranger who was closing the door behind him. She shifted uncomfortably in front of him, her eyes firmly averted to the ground and once again she was back chewing the bottom of her lip.
'This should be interesting' his mind remarked snidely.
Kimberly faced him and gestured to the bed, "Please, sit down," he'd rather have stood but not wanting to cause any more friction between the two he did as she asked and took a seat on the edge of the bed. Entwining his two hands together he glanced back to Kimberly who looked like she was once again lost in thought, her head lifted and she stared at him for a moment before taking a seat on the bed next to him.
"Adam," she started, her voice almost a whisper, "You have to promise me that once I begin you'll let me finish. Can you do that, please?"
'Begin what?' he was confused.
"Ok," he hadn't even realized he'd said anything until he heard his own response.
"Thank you," standing back up again Kimberly paced a little, back and forth in front of him, each movement making him more and more anxious. He quickly squashed that part as she stopped in front of him, "Okay, here goes…"
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"All my life I used to dream about the man I'd fall in love with, dashing, charming, the kind of guy you used to hear about in fairytales you know?" Adam didn't, he had a vague recollection of Mother Goose but he didn't remember any handsome men in that. "My first crush was Jason," the surprise on Adams face must've showed due to the pink rangers cheeks turning a slight shade of red, "I used to follow him around like a lost puppy dog, I remember one time because I was staring at him so much in class I went to sit down and missed my chair," she chuckled at the memory. "I used to think that he was the only man in the world, the only one who could make those butterflies in my stomach flutter in that way," Adam remained quiet, "I finally made the decision to ask him out, conveniently enough it was the same day he was competing at a local martial arts tournament."
"The tournament where you first met Tommy, before he became the green ranger," Adam surmised.
Kimberly nodded, "Exactly, from the moment I saw Tommy all the feelings I had for Jason went flying out the window. Which, thinking back, is a good thing because he was more like a big brother to me, I don't think he ever thought about me in that way. Anyways, you know the story. Tommy became the green ranger, he and Jason fought, Jason destroyed the sword and with Rita's grip over him broken Tommy was free."
Adam was beginning to dislike where this was heading, until he snapped, "Does this whole thing have a point?"
Kimberly could see he was uncomfortable, and so didn't take his words too personally, "I'll get to that," she started back up her pacing, "Mine and Tommy's first date was at a school dance, I remember like it was yesterday. All of the girls staring my way, they were jealous of course, every girl in school wanted a date with Tommy." Kimberly realized that she was beginning to sound like some sort of ego crazed cheerleader and put the brakes on. "What I'm trying to say Adam is that Tommy and I were together for a while. Then he left, that broke my heart. And just when I'd started to move he came back as the white ranger, I couldn't believe how happy I was. Everything was perfect again." Kimberly took a deep breath and forced back the tears that were threatening to break free, "Then I got the chance to enter the Pan-am Games. It was an amazing opportunity, but to do it I'd have to go to Florida with my folks. I had to decide what was more important, my dreams as a gymnast, or my life in Angel Grove. And I chose, I wrote Tommy the letter, packed my bags and left." By now tears were streaming down the pink rangers face, but she carried on, "I always knew that Tommy would move on, I mean I never expected him to pine over me forever and die alone, but when I saw him and Kat together. It was like, he'd replaced me with a substitute me. And I know that's not how it is between them but I can't help but feel that I drove the only man I ever loved into the arms of a girl he'd never have met if I hadn't decided to leave. Tommy wasn't just my boyfriend though, he was my best friend, and I'd lost that forever once I got on that plane."
Adam had no clue to what Kimberly was going on about, but whatever it was he felt it important to stay quiet and listen to what she had to say. However his heart won out over common sense, standing he approached the pink ranger who had by now turned away from him to prevent her tears from showing.
Kimberly was shaking, she felt Adam lay his hands gently on the tops of her arms, it was a comforting feeling to say the least. Turning slightly she almost instinctively leaned into him his body easily supported hers. Wrapping his arms around her Adam remained quiet. He was just held her.
"Adam," he heard her loud and clear.
"Yes?"
"Tell me again."
"Tell you what?"
"That you love me," he remained silent, "Please."
Adams heart melted, and he knew that he was going to hate himself for repeating those three dreaded words that had torn his life apart, none the less he pulled away and looked down into those big bright eyes and stated honestly, "I love you."
For a moment Kimberly just stared at him, that confused the black ranger who started to feel a little uncomfortable, "Do you mean it?" like so many questions she'd asked that night Kimberly already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from him.
"Yes."
Now Adam was really confused, his head told him to flee the room but almost instinctively he reached up and cupped the side of her face. He watched Kimberly close her eyes and lean into his hand, he could feel her shaking, "What is it Kimberly?" he asked softly.
The pink ranger sniffed slightly, "I've wrecked everything that I've ever cared about Adam, and I couldn't stand it if what happened between me and Tommy happened to us. I wouldn't be able to go through that pain again. The way I feel for you isn't like I did for Jason, or the way I felt about Tommy. It feels…different," she paused, "I feel safe."
"Kimberly, what are you trying to say?"
Opening her eyes the pink ranger lifted her head from Adams hand and stared straight at him, she needed to look at him one last time to make sure. She saw what she expected to see, him.
"I'm in love with you Adam Park."
To Be Continued
By Boulder
Authors Notes
It is officially my birthday today. And I am 19 healthy years of age (and looking pretty damn good if I do say so myself). Coming back to America next week, looking forward to that. Anyways on with the story. Once again I have spent many torturous hours reading over this chapter, hoping to get the right amount of emotional involvement needed. I hope I got it right. And I hope you all enjoy it, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up, possibly a week. As always suggestions and whatnot are always appreciated.
Regards
Boulder