Years After.
Author's note: Enjoy the tenth chapter. Hate it / like it, tell me. P.s: Some how after the upgrading the alt8 thingy (somehow just forgotten wat is it call) does not work, so their thoughts would be those in - italic -.
Disclaimer: Ditto from last chapter.
Chapter 10. Art Gallery.
"Kimberly?" The voice of the boy was enough to get her full attention.
- Oh god, please. Don't let it be. Not now. Chill Kim, coincidence does happen. Keep calm.-
"Justin." She whispered with her back still facing her guest.
"Ahem. I'll take it that you two know each other." Tom tried to break the awkward moment.
- What am I going to do? What am I going to do? Breathe. Stay calm. You can't do anything. Just hope he can keep things to his self.-
Turning back, she was met with a teen who is about 6ft of height.
"It's really you! It's been ages since we've last met." Justin surprisingly exclaimed.
"Hey kiddo. My, look how much you have grown." Kimberly replied, still not wanting to believe.
"So, Annie here is your sis I suppose. No worries, run along, have fun. I'll definitely take good care of her." Grinned this young man. "The gang did not even tell me you are back."
"Mummy. Is he my babysitter?" without waiting for her mother's response, the energetic girl introduced herself while shaking Justin's hand, who, was in a shock state.
"Annie is my daughter." Was all Kimberly said and waits for a response from Justin.
"Hey, I hate to cut off this small reunion, but Kim, we kind of have to go." Tom quipped in after glancing at the clock hanging in the living room.
"Erm well, o right. Now, you be a good girl for Justin here Annie, here is my contact number incase of an emergency." Kimberly places a piece of paper into his hands.
"Can't believe they did not tell me this! You're a MOTHER! Do I call you Mrs. ...?"
"How will they be able to tell you, when they don't know about her themselves? It's a long way down memory lane, which is where I'm not yet ready to travel. I'll tell you every single detail when the time is right. It's just not now. If you get what I mean. O and its still Miss Hart, Justin. I'm not married." Kimberly managed to get it all out in one breath.
"Don't worry Kim, I'll respect your reasons and I don't really want to get into the position of being the first to tell them about her." Both grinned knowingly after picturing a few of what might their friends do, if Justin were to tell them.
"Since it's you Justin, you may take her out just as long as you keep an eye on her. That devil under the angel face isn't at all pretty. Love you sweetie, be good." Kimberly said as she hugs her daughter and walks out of the door to the waiting car.
"Nice place." Justin said as he was pulled by Annie for a tour around the house. As he came across a group picture which consists of all of them from Jason to Justin, he could not help but remember of those days when he was still in uniform. Should be computerized he thought because he has not seen the black and yellow original rangers before, what more taking pictures with them. He thought of how lucky he was given the chance to perform this world saving duty and meeting his fellow team mates. His one regret was to not follow his fellow team mates into space, but as he thinks about the quality time he spent together with his father in those years, all regrets were wiped off. But all those now were now mere memories. As he thought about his dad, he couldn't help it as tears started to swell up in his eyes. He quickly wiped them off with a brush of his arm. Currently studying computer engineering at the University of California in Los Angeles, Justin is on a full time scholar ship.
- At the art gallery -
After the grand entrance and apologies on behalf of Pierre was made by Tom & Kimberly, she was now wondering around marveling at all those paintings; while Tom is socializing with other senior artists or uncles as he calls them.
"Miss Hart?" A reporter's voice startled her. Kimberly just smiled.
"It's really you. I have tons of questions here with me. First could I have your autograph? My daughter really adores you. What happened to you during the Pan Globals? It was just said that you quitted at a moments notice. Why? What are you doing now then?" the reporter gushed out without a single slight of embarrassment.
Tommy who was walking at the other side (it's something like a divider where they hang art works on and Kimberly is at one side, while Tommy is at the other.) immediately looked around as he heard HER name being mentioned. He is representing his father who was invited by some artist friend. Since he came here alone because Katherine went shopping, he decided to just walk a few rounds and then leave. Art is not really his kind of thing. He scanned through the crowd, listening to the direction of where the voice was coming from. As he made a round and came over to the other side, he saw this petite lady dressed in pink and white being handed a piece of paper by a rather plum motherly-looking reporter.
"What's her name?" He heard HER said.
"Jane will do. Thank you so much!" The reporter gushed in reply as she kept the piece of auto-graphed paper nicely. "You reside in Angel Grove before you started your training. What do you have to say about the hero team in multi-coloured uniforms? Rumors said that you were once very close with our new racer Tommy Oliver, is that true? What happened to both of you then? How was it like training under the famous Coach Smith? Why aren't you continuing to pursue gymnastics?" The reporter rattled on without even noticing the uneasiness she had caused Kimberly.
"Tommy Oliver!" The reporter squealed.
All Kim could do was to hope that she had heard it wrongly.
"Could you stand closer to Miss Hart here?" Kimberly heard as the plum reporter practically dragged him over. She knew it was for real. She didn't hear it wrongly. Where's Tom when I need him! Without even looking back, she knew he was just inches apart from her. Bad dream.
"You two look fabulous!" The reporter said as she took a picture of them. "Smile!"
"As I was saying, Mr. Oliver, what do you have to say about your own career? What drove you to take up this challenging career? It is believed that you were once quite close with Miss Hart here, what do you know or have to say about her sudden disappearance from the Pan Globals?" The reporter continued.
Well talking about white knight saving his pink princess. Tommy sensing Kimberly's uneasiness, "Hey, they're taking a group shot over there, you would not want to miss it would you?" he directed to the reporter and flashed her, his boyish smile.
That did the trick. The reporter turned around and literally ran for the 'big' shot.
Tommy then turns back to Kim, who smiled politely in return. He wanted to resolve everything there is in between them. On the other hand, he could not bare to receive another 'pang' into his heart from her if should she tell him another time that all that they shared back then was nothing. So, he decided to let fate lead them on and started out with a "hi."
She just could not look him in the eye. They had not had much of a conversation alone, without any of their friends. Occasionally just a few 'hi's were exchanged. She thanked her friends for that. It was not like her at all to avoid stuffs, but well, one will definitely change under what she had been through. Timid, confused, hurt, anger all in one, it was just too much. Until she could find the courage to talk to him while looking straight into those eyes and of course after she's done with the war going on inside her, all she'll be doing is 'get lost the moment you see his shadow appearing.'
She returned with her own greeting while pretending to look at the pictures. Things went quiet after that. With one party don't know what to say, while the other is hoping for an escape.
- Sheesh, talking about being 27. Maturity, courage... Where did all that went? I can't help feeling stuck being 17. That was when I 'died'.- - Think 27 Kim, twenty-seven. Get done with this and you're free! Why are both of you acting like a bunch of high school freshies? Ok well, maybe not both, why are YOU?- that debate was going on Kim's mind, felt kind of silly though. Two voices debating.
Why must he do this to her. Already 10 years later and here he is, making her nervous when he is around. At the same time, this is what is going through Tommy's mind.
-Why must you do this to me Kim?- - 10 years. 10 WHOLE years. Here you are, suddenly re-appearing in my life. Aside from the, you look so damn gorgeous part; all the hate, hurt, anger that you caused me, what am I going to do with you? Am I suppose to treat you as a friend, an ex, or a stranger? And I thought being 27 will make me more mature and able to deal with this 'thing'. You make me feel like I'm 17 all over again.- -Not what I want Kim, not what I want.-
"So..." Tommy decided to start again.
"Ah! Here you are Kimmy. Hello Tommy." Tom greeted. Glancing at both of them, and looking at Kim's some what relieved expression, Tom decided to do a little teasing. "Am I disturbing something? Continue whatever you were doing, kissing?"
Obviously it earned him Kimberly's piercing glance, makes him think like he is going to die under them, and of course Tommy's shock expression.
"Let's go Tom. MR. Louis is calling you over." Kimberly said, desperately needing an exit from her previous uncomfortable position. She slid her right hand into his arm, walking away like a couple, but not before bidding Tommy a see you soon. Disappointed, Tommy turned and left the arena.
"What on earth was that for Thomas Cheever!?" Kimberly demanded. Although in a low tone, but when she uses anyone's full name, it spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e.
Tom just put on his normal grin, and let Kim do all her babbling.
