Chapter 5: Ann's Singing Talent

Author's Note: I don't own the Power Rangers or Evanescence's song Going Under.

Ann walked into Hayley's Cyberspace Café with a sigh. She was going to sing in front of the school for the first time, she was so nervous that her hands shook. Kimberly placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder with a smile. "You can do it, I know you can," she assured. Ann nodded and walked up onstage to get everything set up. Even though it wasn't her song she was going to be singing, she was going to at least try. Tommy and Kimberly turned around to see Rebecca and Josh standing there. "Josh, how are you feeling?" Kimberly asked.

Josh had his father's dark hairand his hair wascropped short, brown eyes; he was wearing white sneakers, blue jeans, and a white t-shirt. (Is Tommy's hair black or dark brown? I've been trying to figure that out.)

"I'm feeling fine, mom," Josh replied. They all sat down and waited for Ann to start. Alex came in and got his drum set setup, Jack had his guitar sitting there, waiting to be played, and Teresa had her piano and guitar ready to go. Ann took a deep breath and then her eyes widened when Brandon came in. Jack then pushed her forward and she started playing.

Now I will tell you what I've done for you
50,000 tears I cry
Screaming,
Deceiving,
And bleeding for you
And you still won't hear me

.... GOING UNDER....

Don't want your hand this time
I'll save myself
Maybe I'll wake up for once (wake up for once)
Not tormented daily defeated by you
Just when I thought I'd reach the bottom

Chorus

I dive again
I'm going under (going under)
Drowning with you (drowning with you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break free
I'm, going under

Blurring and stirring the truth that comes out
(I don't know what's real and what's not)

Always confusing the thoughts in my head
So I can't trust myself anymore

I dive again
I'm going under (going under)
Drowning with you (drowning with you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break free,

I'm, so go on and scream
Scream at me, so far away
I won't be broken again
I've got to breathe
I can't keep going under

I dive again
I'm going under (going under)
Drowning with you (drowning with you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break free,
I'm, going under (going under)
Going under (drowning with you)
I'm going under

Ann smiled as everyone roared with approval. Teresa placed a hand on her shoulder with a smile. She sang the song to give Derek the hint to leave her alone. They were about to kick Derek out of school, but Derek's rich father stopped them from doing so.After a minute, Ann went to get ready to leave when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around to see Brandon standing there. "Hi," he greeted.

"Hi," she greeted back.

"You did a great job up there," he complimented.

"Thanks."

Jack watched as Brandon flirted with Ann and felt a little jealousy. Teresa placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Hey, why the long face?" She asked.

"Nothing, I was just watching Ann," he replied.

"We have known each other since grade school, I can see the jealousy in your eyes. You're jealous of Brandon," she pointed out.

"Am not."

"Are too."

Jack sighed and continued to watch what was going on there. He was jealous, very, very jealous. However, he wanted his friend to be happy.

Kimberly smiled to see her daughter talking to the boy. Tommy looked up and his eyes widened. "Oh, come on, Tommy, we were sixteen when we started dating," she reminded.

"She's too young to date," he mumbled.

"Oh, do I hear an overprotective daddy talking?" Kimberly teased.

"Ha, ha."

"Come on, Handsome, she's got to have someone."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Let's go home, I'll tell Ann we'll meet her at home."

Kimberly walked over to Ann with a smile. "Ann, dad and I will meet you at home. No later than five," she informed.

"Okay, mom," Ann acknowledged.

"How are you going to get home?" Kimberly asked.

"I can bring her home, Coach Oliver," Brandon offered.

"That's nice of you, Mr. Thompson," she stated.

Brandon nodded and watched as she left. "That's your mom?" He asked.

"Yeah, she's the strongest woman I have ever known," Ann replied.

"She seems to be happy, however, she looks a little young to have a beautiful sixteen-year-old daughter," he commented.

"My mom was seventeen when I was born."

"Oh, and is Dr. Oliver your real dad?"

"Yep, that's my dad."

"He's a nice guy."

"He is."

Then the silence grew between them. "So, how are you enjoying Reefside?" She asked.

"I'm getting used to it, especially for the fact that I had to save a damsel in distress last month," he replied.

"Well, Derek's been bothering me ever since I hit puberty," she laughed.

They walked out of the café and towards the lake.

They were sitting on a bench near the lake and continued talking. "Why is that the idiots bother the pretty girls like you?" He asked.

"That's Reefside for you, it also runs in my family. My mom was the most popular girl in school and this guy named Skull kept bothering her. That was when my dad came and got him off her back," she replied.

"Your dad and mom met in high school here in Reefside?" He asked.

"Nah, they lived in Angel Grove at the time. Actually, my mom, Uncle Jason, Uncle Billy, Uncle Zack, and Aunt Trini were all friends at Angel Grove High. They have known each other since they were little kids."

"My karate instructor is your mom's best friend?"

"Yep."

"Isn't Billy Cranston our Chemistry teacher?"

"Yep."

"I'm guessing that Jack Scott, Brock and Teresa Cranston, and Alex Taylor are related to them?"

"Yes, they're parents' my best friends are their kids."

"That explains a lot, however, are Brock and Teresa also Trini's kids? Whatever happened to her?"

"She died in a car accident."

"Oh."

"Yeah, Uncle Billy has been taking care of them on his own since the accident."

"Sounds rough."

"It was for them. Before my dad found out that I existed, my mom took care of me on her own."

"She didn't see any other guys?"

Ann felt the pain in her heart and stood up. "Did I say something wrong?" He asked. She shook her head and looked at him.

"If I tell you this, do you promise not to say anything to anybody?" She asked.

"I promise," he assured.

She sat next to him again. "My mom did meet this other guy, his name was Jake. He was an awful man. He raped my mom the first night they met. Eight months later, I came along. He kept claiming that I was his, but my mom was pregnant before that night. My mother used to be this strong person that didn't take any insults. However, Jake scared my mom so much. She tried to leave him once, but he stopped her by beating her in front of me. She couldn't take it any longer, I was sent to live in France with my grandmother and step-grandfather. Then my real father came to get me, I learned that mother had escaped Jake's torture and came here to Reefside to find my dad. Well, she found him and she told him about me," she explained.

Brandon didn't know what to say. "Jake didn't beat you did he?" He asked.

"No, thank God for that. He just tortured my mother in front of me. Telling her to stop telling me these lies that Tommy Oliver is my father," she replied.

"Your mom did a brave thing to send you away."

"Yeah, she was very strong."

"I can see that she's happy as can be now with you, Rebecca, and Josh."

"Yeah, she loved taking care of us while balancing work. I remember she would sometimes get so mad that I would play with her gymnastics routines by coloring them over in magic marker."

They laughed at the memories. "You were a daredevil," he chuckled.

"I was, I'm just like her. However, I did inherit one thing from my dad," she stated.

"Oh yeah, and what's that?" He asked.

"His forgetfulness."

They laughed again and kept talking about the happy memories of their childhood. Brandon then looked at his watch. "It's getting late, I should get you home," he informed. Ann nodded and walked to him to his green convertible.

"Nice wheels," she complimented.

"Thanks," he laughed.

Ann laughed as he opened the door for her. "After you, Mademoiselle Oliver," he stated.

"Why thank, Monsieur Thompson," she giggled.

He got her in before going on the other side.

When he drove her home, it was silence all the way there.

Brandon pulled up the house and sighed. "I'll see you at school," he stated.

"Yeah, see you then," she agreed.

She grabbed her bag and got out. She gave Brandon one last glance before he drove back to town.

She walked into the house and gasped at who was standing there.