Kira was sitting in her room. Her parents were at work and Connor was still at school. She was utterly bored. Suddenly the phone rang. She picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey." Came Connor's voice. Kira smiled.
"Hey. What's up?" She asked. She knew it was lunchtime. Connor must've been using his cell phone.
"Nothing really. Actually, someone wants to talk to you." He said. Kira waited while she heard Connor passing the phone to someone.
"Hey." Came Naomi's voice.
"Hey. What's up?" Kira asked.
"I just wanted to tell you I gave my article in today."
"You finished it in one night?" Kira asked, surprised. Naomi laughed.
"What can I say, I had some mega motivation." Naomi said. Kira smiled. Naomi was being such a great friend. She wished there was a way she could repay Naomi's kindness. "Anyway, Connor has this look on his face that says he's going to rip this phone out of my hand if he doesn't get to talk to you." Naomi joked. Kira laughed as she heard Connor sound insulted in the background. "I'll give you back to him. See ya."
"OK. Thanks again, for the article. It really means a lot to me."
"No problemo." She said. Naomi handed the phone back to Connor.
"Hey." He said. Kira smiled.
"Were you really going to rip the phone out of Naomi's hand?" She asked innocently. Connor laughed. She heard him say something to Naomi, and she figured Ethan as well, then he got quiet. "Connor, you there?" She asked.
"Yeah, sorry. Naomi and Ethan left to go to class."
"Don't you have class, mister?" Kira chastised.
"It wouldn't hurt if I'm a little late." He said. She could hear the smile on his face through his voice. Kira laughed.
"Anyway, so were you really going to tear the phone away from Naomi?" Kira teased.
"I have a feeling Ethan would've pounded me if I tried." He said.
"What's that mean?" She asked.
"Don't tell me you haven't picked up on it, Ethan's totally crushing on Naomi." Connor said. Kira lay back in her bed, getting comfortable.
"I guess I did. But I just thought it was me misinterpreting Ethan just being friendly to a new girl who happens to share his interests."
"Trust me, I know the signs of total crushing." Connor said. Kira picked up on that tone, the tone saying he was in Ethan's position. Kira couldn't help smiling as she twirled the cord of the telephone in her fingers.
"And how do you know this, Mr. McKnight?" She asked.
"I just know, Ms. Ford." He replied. Connor sighed. "I actually really should get to class." Connor said regrettably. "Dr. Oliver wouldn't particularly like it if I cut his class." Kira nodded, understanding, then realized she was on the phone with Connor and felt somewhat silly. She gave an understanding "uh huh" instead.
"Tell him I said hi." Kira said.
"Will do. So, do you want me to come over tonight?" He asked. Kira's smile faded. Talking to Connor was fine, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to face him after yesterday quite yet.
"Uh, I'm supposed to be going out to dinner tonight with my parents. Sorry." She said.
"Oh, that's ok." Connor said. "I understand. Call me later, OK?" He asked.
"Uh huh." Kira said. They both hung up. Kira rolled off her bed and stood, looking into the mirror. Kira ran her hands through her hair and sighed. She couldn't do this forever; she would have to face him sometime. Whether as her boyfriend, or as Ethan put it once long ago 'partner in crime-fighting'. But what he said the day before freaked her out. She knew Connor would never hurt her, but Harold used to tell her how he loved her all the time..........And look how that ended up. She just associated that with those words, which was why when Connor said it, she fainted. Visions of Harold hurting her rushed to her head, but instead of Harold, it was Connor. Which was stupid, right? Connor wasn't anything like Harold. He was different. He was sweet and pure. Something that Harold never was, or ever would be. She smiled softly. At least she had him. Of course, she wouldn't for long if she avoided him. She sighed. Being afraid and paranoid was pointless. Connor cared about her, and she cared about him, that was all that mattered. She picked up the phone and dialled his cell phone. He must've shut if off for class because it went straight to the voicemail. "Hey, Connor, it's me. Uh, listen," she paused, coming up with a lie. She laughed. "I am such a ditz. My parents and I are having dinner next week, not tonight. So, uh, I'm actually free, if you still want to come over. Call me when you get out of class. Love you." She said and hung up, only to freeze. "Oh my god.........did I just say...........No..........Oh crap......." She whimpered as she fell backwards onto her bed. She hadn't meant to say that. It just came out. Now she felt awful. Connor was going to think that she did.......When she wasn't even sure she was...........Or if she could ever be in love with anyone for that matter. She was now faced with three choices-Tell Connor the truth that she did catch what he said the night before, tell him it just slipped out, or say nothing at all and pray he didn't think about it. She doubted option three would be available though.
It was the end of the day and Ethan was walking Naomi to her locker.
"You want to get together and work on the science assignment at Cyberspace?" He asked as they reached her locker and Naomi began to twirl in her combination.
"Sounds good." Naomi said. She opened the locker and saw an envelope fall out.
"What's that?" Ethan asked, although he knew what it was.
"No clue." Naomi bent down to pick it up. She opened the envelope and gasped, seeing a card almost identical to the one she received the night before.
"What?" Ethan asked.
"I think it's a message from Blue." Naomi said excitedly. She quickly opened the card and read it. "Oh my god!"
"What?" Ethan asked.
"We wants to see me, tonight." Naomi gasped. She looked at Ethan. "Uh, rain check on cybercaf, I need to find something to wear." Naomi said. "You don't mind, right?"
"Nah, go ahead." Ethan said. Naomi gave an excited squeal and hugged Ethan before running out of school. Ethan smiled.
"See you tonight." He muttered to himself.
Kimberly was taking her break from making her rounds and eating lunch in the hospital cafeteria. She was about to put a forkful of her salad when Dr. Lewis, the head of the hospital approached her.
"Dr. Hart." He said. Kimberly put down her fork. "I see you've put in for a transfer to the hospital in Reefside."
"Yes." She said. "Is that a problem?" She asked politely.
"Not at all." He said. He sat across from her. "I just received a phone call from Dr. Aquino, head of Reefside General. It seems one of their doctors, a Dr. Dana Mitchell has just taken her maternity leave, and so they are a bit short handed. You're expected at Reefside on Monday. Have fun." He said as he walked away. Kimberly smiled, making a mental note to thank Dana profusely. She knew Dana didn't want to take her maternity leave until absolutely necessary. She said that it made her feel like an invalid or something. It meant a lot to Kimberly that she would to this for her.
Later that night, Naomi walked by the lake in the woods. She had changed into blue jeans, a black tank top with a blue crocheted poncho. She had put on some makeup and perfume as well. She wrung her fingers nervously.
"OK, Naomi, there's no need to be nervous, he's just a guy........Who happens to be a super hero.........A really sweet superhero who gave you a video game and a necklace......A necklace which you haven't taken off since you got it....And saved the card for............But there's no reason to be nervous...nope...No reason at all...........Oh who am I kidding........I can't do this..." She turned to leave, only to nearly bump into the object of her nervousness, the Blue Ranger. She gasped.
"Sorry." He said. "Didn't mean to scare you." He said. Naomi chuckled nervously.
"Me? Scared? No...Course not." She said. He smiled.
"You weren't leaving, were you?" He asked.
"You always listen in on people's conversations with themselves?" She asked.
"Touché." He replied. "And no, I don't. At least, I don't listen to everyone's conversations with themselves," he got a little closer, "only certain people." He added. Naomi's jaw fell open a bit before she lowered her head a bit to hide her blush.
"Cut that out, will ya?" She asked. The Blue Ranger laughed a bit.
"As you wish." He said. "So," he said as he sat on his cycle which was parked next to a nearby tree. "How'd you like the gifts?" He asked. Naomi smiled.
"Oh, no, I hated them." She said sarcastically.
"Oh." The ranger said. He held his chin in his hand as if he was deep in thought. "Well, what shall I do?" He asked no one in particular. He stood up, and if it were possible, a light bulb would've lit up over his head. "I know." He said. He patted the seat of his cycle. "Hop on."
"What?" She asked, somewhat shocked.
"Aw, come on, we can have a little joyride." He coaxed. Naomi shook her head.
"I don't think so." She said.
"What? It's not like you've never ridden this before." He said. Naomi stared at him incredulously.
"Yeah, I rode one time, while you were saving me from those outer-space looking freaks and their leader, Madam Morticia Adams wannabe."
"Well, you know you can be safe in those conditions, so obviously you'll be safe in calm relaxing conditions." The Blue Ranger said. Naomi seemed to think about this for a little bit. She stepped back a bit. The Blue Ranger mounted the bike and revved it up a bit, tempting her to get on the bike. Naomi groaned and rolled her eyes, giving in. She ran over and climbed on behind him, sliding her arms around his waist. "Hold on." He said as he revved the bike again and rode off. Naomi tightened her hold, leaning against his back. The Blue Ranger drove the bike down to the beach which was deserted, due to the late night. He drove down to the shoreline. Naomi laughed as the waves splashed against the cuff of her jeans. The Blue Ranger smiled behind his helmet, enjoying the fact that he was giving her a nice time. They drove along the shore a bit longer until they came to a small cave at the far end of the beach. He pulled over and jumped off the bike. He held his hand out to her. Naomi giggled as she slid her hand in his gloved hand. He gently helped her off the bike.
"Wow." She said. "That was awesome." She said. She looked out to the waves and was mesmerized by the beauty of the water crashing against the rocks by the shoreline. "It's breathtaking." She said, barely above a whisper. The Blue Ranger came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist.
"You're breathtaking." He said softly. Naomi's head swam with excitement and giddiness and feeling his arms around her.
"I'm sure you say that to all the girls you bring here." She said.
"You're the only girl I've brought here." He admitted. Naomi grinned.
"OK, well, I feel special now." She said. The Blue Ranger chuckled.
"Good, because you are special." He said. Naomi leaned into his embrace, letting her eyes drift shut.
"I had questions to ask you..........For an interview, but suddenly, I can't even remember my name." She said. The two stood there, enjoying the other's company and the sound of the waves crashing for a while.
"I should probably get you home." He said. "You have school tomorrow."
"School's overrated." Naomi mumbled. He slid his arms away from her. Naomi groaned. The Blue Ranger took her hand and led her back to the bike.
"Come on." He said. Naomi climbed on. He got on as well and drove her home. Naomi climbed off the bike.
"I...I guess I'll see you around." She said.
"Count on it." He said. He drove off into the night. Naomi nearly floated through her front door, careful to shut it quietly so as not to wake up her parents. She glided up the stairs and into her room, where, after she shut the door, she let out a soft joyous laugh.
AN: Hey guys, it's Becky. Teal and I both want to apologize for making you all wait so long for an update, we've both been really busy. Hope you guys like the chapter, remember to review :-D