This was supposed to be a one parter but inspiration hits from out of the blue and you can't fight the Muses, so this is going to be about five chapters if everything goes as planned...
Thanks to Artic Wolf 18, Trunks888 and Moshimoro6785 for the reviews, I hope you like this next chapter.
Everything Changed That Day
Part 2
Can a human being turn their feelings on and off like a light switch? In his eyes it seemed like they could. Almost two years had gone by and not a word has been spoken about that fateful day in the park. The day a beautiful Asian girl became the sole owner of his heart. The day she went from being a friend to being so much more than that.
They were teammates. They fought every fight side by side. She never wavered in her duty as a Power Ranger. She has been always there for the rest of the team no matter how hard the task. He had learned to appreciate her as the strong female she was.
Her friendship never faltered either. Even when things got confusing or way to complicated she held on tight to that unbreakable bond that they seem to share. He was amazed at the depth of her devotion.
But he was aggravated by her ability to disregard her feelings in light of what others needed. But was that what she was doing? Was she really neglecting her feelings for him, because that was what she thought he wanted? What if that wasn't the fact at all? What if she just didn't feel anything for him anymore? What if it was just a silly crush, easily forgotten?
No. He knew that couldn't be the case. Trini Kwan wasn't that kind of person.
He was sitting at their usual table at the Juice Bar, thoughts still running through his head, as Tommy and Zack made their way toward him and sat down. They immediately noticed his longing gaze.
"Hey, man. What's up with you?" Tommy asked his best friend with concern.
"Nothing, I was just thinking about stuff."
"Ha, I know that look and that is not a 'nothing' look. That my friend is the 'I like a girl and don't know what to do about it' look."
"The what? Where do you come up with that stuff man?" Tommy laughed at Zack while Jason smirked and twirled the fruit shake in front of him with his straw.
"Look at him. He's even playing with the straw. That is a clear sign. Next thing we know he'll be sigh…"
Before the word made it out of Zack's mouth Jason let out a long sigh and tapped the straw on the side of the glass.
"Dude, you are so busted." Tommy said as he took the straw from Jason and threw it inside the glass moving it out of his reach.
Jason looked up then and looked at the amused faces of his friends staring at him.
"What?"
"Who is she?"
"Who is who?" Kimberly asked as she and Trini walked to the table. The petite brunette stood behind her boyfriend and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Trini sat down between Tommy and Zack.
"The girl." Zack said with a smirk.
"What girl?" Trini asked with a raced eyebrow as she took the glass filled with the untouched shake. "Is this yours Jase?"
"Yeah, but you can have it if you want." He said taking in her refreshing smile. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seeing.
Her hair was made into a long braid and it was hanging over one shoulder. Her yellow sweater was cut out and it fell over said shoulder. She tucked one of her legs under her and he noticed her jean shorts baring her strong but feminine legs to his wondering eye.
"Thanks." She answered with a smile and took a sip of the pink liquid.
"So, what girl were you guys talking about?" She asked again.
"Jason's girl." Zack's easy answered earned a smiled from Tommy and Kimberly and a sigh with Jason.
Trini was trying to swallow when Zack replied at her question. But she wasn't prepared for the answer to hit so close to home. Jason's girl. The liquid went down the wrong way and soon she was coughing and turning a bit blue.
"Easy there girl." Zack gave her a small slap on her back.
"Are you OK?" Jason asked worriedly.
She nodded. Of course she wasn't OK! How could she be? He had a girl… but whom? Why? When did all this happen? Where was she when it happened?
"I'm fine. It just went down the wrong way."
"Are you sure honey?" Kim asked her best friend.
"Positive. I'm fine."
Pushing the glass to the middle of the table Trini looked at Jason who was turning a bright red color, almost like the one he wore to save the world every now and then.
"Do you want some water or something?" He asked as courteous as always.
"No, thank you."
"Don't even try to change the subject pal. Are you going to tell us or do we have to beat it out of you?" Tommy was back at the interrogation.
"Since when do you have a girl Jason? Are you holding out on us?" Kim asked intrigued at the new development.
"What is this the Spanish Inquisition? Leave the guy alone. If he doesn't want to tell us now he doesn't have to." Trini was always the voice of reason, but this had nothing to do with reason. She didn't want to listen to him say her name. If he had found someone she just wasn't prepared to know who was the girl that had won his heart and had made her the unhappiest woman on Earth.
"Thanks Trini, but I…"
The sentence was interrupted by the now familiar scale that announced that trouble was looming close to home. They all stood up and ran to the lookers where they listened as Alfa Five told them the newest threat they'll be facing.
"It's morphing time!"
The bad guy was taken care of and now they were back to being high school students. It was late at night when they could finally open their books and start studying for their upcoming midterms.
Books were scattered over the counter, floor and tables as the six teenagers were sitting around the closed Juice Bar. Ernie had been kind enough to let them pull an overnighter so they could study. But iambic pentameters, algebraic equations and World War I weren't on Trini's mind at the moment. She was trying to concentrate on her English Lit notes, but the task has been proven impossible for her. Jason was explaining some Algebra exercises to Zack, only two feet away from her.
Once in a while her gaze would linger over his form and a soft sigh would escape her lips without warning. Her thoughts wondered back to the news she had learned earlier that day. He had found someone, he had fallen for someone else… but why wouldn't he? After what happened almost two years ago they hadn't brushed the subject again.
She had been scared and when he didn't make and effort to talk to her about it, she realized that she had been right. He regretted the kiss and wasn't interested in more than a friendship. So she went back to what she knew how to do, she was his friend and teammate. Never mind that her heart had to be put back together piece by piece. She never told anyone about it, and she was sure he hadn't either. Things seemed to have worked out.
Maybe it was better that way. Maybe they were never meant to be more than friends. But if that were the case why did it hurt so much to know he had found someone to care about.
"Arrrgh! Stop thinking already!" Trini's frustrated scream made everyone look up from their books and notes.
Billy was sitting on the floor with Kimberly trying to finish a timeline of the events leading to World War I, he looked up to find the young girl with her face between her hands.
"Are you encountering trouble with the iambic pentameter read of Shakespeare?"
She didn't respond to the question. She didn't even look up. Jason's face turned into a frown. He was about to ask her if she needed help but Tommy cut in first.
"Look Trini you just have to take a deep breath and take it slowly, one stanza at a time."
"Or put some music to it. That's what I do." Zack added.
Trini's face was still in her hands and she hadn't given any sign of acknowledging her friend's advice.
"Do you want some help?" Jason finally asked.
"No." Her answer was quick and harsh toward him. She looked up to find hurt shinning in his brown eyes. Feeling a hole in her stomach she added, "I just need a break, that's all."
With that she stood from the stool and walked to the kitchen without looking back at her friends.
"What was that about?" Zack said surprised.
"I have no idea. Trini is usually the calmed one." Tommy added.
"Something most be really troubling her. Jason, you should go see if she's alright." Billy spoke next.
"M-me? Why don't you go Kim?"
"I'm with Billy in this one, Jase. You guys have a special bond; you might be able to help her more than me. Besides, Billy and I should really finish this soon."
"OK. I'll be right back."
Jason stood from his spot and was about to disappear behind the door when Billy called to him.
"Be careful with her."
He just nodded while the rest of the friends just looked confused at the strange request.
At first he didn't even see her. She was crouched picking up what was left of a glass that she had broken. He hurried to help her and when they both reached for the same piece, their hands brushed and she looked up.
He found her eyes filled with tears and that sad look on her face. God, why did she have to hurt? Did he do that to her?
"Something broke." He said in a lame attempt to start a conversation.
"I broke…" She said in a whisper.
"What?" He took her small hands on his and took her up with him.
"I broke… a glass. I was still shaky and I took one from the cupboard and it fell off my hands."
"Right." He didn't believe her for a second.
Her soft hands were still clasped between his strong ones and they were standing close, too close she thought as she took her hands away and turned around willing her tears away.
"Trini, I can't help you if you don't talk to me."
"Help me with what?" She said trying to sound normal.
"With whatever it is that has you acting like this."
At his words she turned around and faced him. The unshed tears and sadness were gone and anger was shinning on them.
"Acting like what exactly?"
"You have been moody and acting strange in general that's all."
"So I'm not allowed to have a bad day. I understand now."
"Trini you know that's not what I mean."
"Then explain yourself to me Jason, because I'm not getting you at all."
He noticed her innuendo immediately. "What do you mean you are not getting ME?"
He was getting mad now, if she wanted a fight; she was really close to getting one.
"You are smart, you can figure it out." She answered defiantly.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Stop beating around the bush."
"You came on your high horse, judging me for having a bad day and don't even stop to think that maybe, just maybe you have been acting a bit out of character too."
"Oh right. Was that before or after you decided to dismiss your feelings like they never existed?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"So now you don't know what I'm talking about? Come on Trini, think really hard."
"Are you suggesting I'm stupid?"
"No. I'm saying that you see what you want, what serves your purpose."
"And now I'm manipulative. Keep going Jason, you really know how to make a girl feel special."
"You ARE special, damn it! You are the most special person in my life. Don't you get it?"
Trini stepped back at his sudden explosion. He stood closer to her.
"You are the most special person in my life." He said trough clenched teeth.
"I…"
She was about to protest about something she forgot the minute his lips crashed on hers. He wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her closer to him, running a hand up her back and cupping her neck. This kiss was strong, born out of anger and desperation, but she didn't protest. At first her arms were trapped in front of his chest, but soon she wrapped them around his neck and took as good as she received.
Passion, angst and fire were soon extinguished and they were left breathless. Untangling from each other, they moved to different sides of the kitchen.
"Trini I…" He had to say something.
"If you say you're sorry I'll knock your lights out, Jason Lee Scott."
"W-w…"
"Yeah, you heard right. You're not going to ruin this one for me."
"Trini, I shouldn't have done that to you."
"Well you did. Now it's time for you to explain why you did it."
"This is way too complicated. But the truth is that I've being wanting to do that ever since that day at the park."
The honesty of his words shocked her. "Then why didn't you?"
"You said it was a mistake. That we were better off as friends."
"You said you were sorry."
"I was… but I wasn't. I was sorry for taking advantage of you. You weren't feeling well and I go and kiss you when you didn't want me to and…"
"I wanted you to." She stepped closer.
"You did?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you say something? Why didn't you come to me, talk about it, try and make something work?"
"Is that what you wanted?"
"I…yes." His confession was slow and his hand found hers.
She expelled a breath and they looked at each other.
"And now what?" Trini asked.
"I have no idea. Things are complicated."
It was then that Trini remembered he had a girl somewhere and stepped away from him. Jason felt her retreat and looked up in confusion. What just happened? They were so close, literally and now she was going back inside herself. Was it something he said?
"Trini?"
"What about 'the girl'?" She said as she turned back to look at him, but still kept her distance.
"What girl?" He was completely lost, what was she talking about?
"This morning you were talking to Zack and Tommy about a girl, what about her?"
"Oh that girl." He smiled then as he looked her in the eyes. She looked so cute when she was jealous. What she didn't know is that she was jealous of herself.
"Yeah, that girl. What about her?" He was smiling at the mere mention of his girl, she most be something else, she thought.
He took a couple of steps closer to her and started to explain. "Well see my girl; the one they were talking about, it's someone really sweet and intelligent. She's responsible and loyal to a fault. Kind of reserved, she can seem shy at times. Has the most beautiful jet black hair and her eyes are…"
The kitchen door slammed open and they both jumped back. Trini thanked her lucky stars. She couldn't listen to him talking about someone else anymore, when he had been kissing her so passionately a couple of minutes before.
"Hey you two, what's taking you so long?" Zack asked as he moved to the fridge and took four cans of soda out.
"We were just about to go back." Trini said in hurry.
Jason frowned. "No we weren't. We haven't finished talking."
"I've heard all I needed to. And I think all this was a mistake."
"What was?" Zack questioned from his spot.
"Wait, what?"
"What happened here can't happen again, ever."
"What happened here?" Their friend was growing intrigued.
"Trini you are joking right."
"No, I'm not. You know what you should do; you should talk to your girl. I'm sure she'll be thrilled that a guy like you has fallen for her. You are a great friend, Jason. I'm glad we are just that, best friends."
Was that it? Didn't she get what he was about to tell her. He had to do something or he was going to lose her forever.
"Oh, so you guys were talking about 'the girl'. Did he tell you who she was?"
Trini turned to Zack and smiled. "No, but who ever she is, she'll be the luckiest girl in the world."
With that she walked out of the kitchen followed by Zack and leaving a dumbfounded Jason behind.
What had happened? He had everything he wanted in the reach of his hands and it just fell through his fingers. He had done something wrong, but what?
Monday morning came and Jason hadn't found a time to talk to Trini alone. She had been purposely avoiding him all weekend. And in between class it was madness as they ran from one room to the other trying to cram a bit for the finals.
Jason was walking out of the chemistry lab when he caught her at the end of the hall. But before he could reach her, Katie Smith his lab partner stopped him.
"Jason, wait. We need to get together to finish the data and tables for the last lab."
"Yeah, I know."
"How about this afternoon?"
"That's good. Look for me at the Juice Bar."
"OK. I'll see you there."
"Fine."
The rest of the group watched as Jason talked to the beautiful girl down the hall. The guys were interested in finding out if that was the mysterious girl in Jason's life, while Trini could only remember his words. "It's someone really sweet and intelligent. She's responsible and loyal to a fault. Kind of reserved, she can seem shy at times. Has the most beautiful jet black hair and her eyes are…"
She took inthe girl'sappearance and a pang of jealousy and hurt surged through her body. It was over. Whatever she and Jason had was over.
After school they all went to the Juice Bar and Jason saw the opportunity to talk to Trini, but as he was about to talk to her he noticed that Ernie was introducing someone to her. Trini's face changed the minute she shook his hand. It way some guy that Jason hasn't seeing around before. A strange feeling took residence in the pit of his stomach and his blood started to boil in his veins. He was about to walk to the table and… and what? Yell at the top of his lungs that he was in love with his best friend?
It wasn't such a bad idea, but some how he knew it wouldn't go too well with Trini. He took a couple of cleansing breaths and was about to walk toward her when a soft voice called his name.
Soon he was staring at the dark hair and green eyed girl standing in front of him. Katie yelled his name again and the whole bar looked at him, everyone including Trini and Kimberly.
He looked eyes withTrini for a moment, but she turned her head down. Katie dragged him to a corner table so they could finish their homework. For some strange reason he knew everything was done. He didn't have a chance in hell to make this up to her.
Zack, Tommy and Billy walked by Jason's table and straight to Trini and Kimberly's.
"So that's 'the girl'."
"I guess so." Trini added nonchalantly.
"They've been talking for a while." Kimberly added.
"Strange, she doesn't seem like his type." Billy added.
Trini felt her heart jump at the thought that she could've been his type, but then she remembered that he had taken her heart on his hands and started to put it back together, just to let it fall to the floor and stomp on it and she wasn't about to let him do it again.
Ritchie, walked to the table at the same time that Jason did. Trini's smile widen at the sight of the new waiter. Jason's jealousy grew; he had a snowball's chance in hell of making it work with Trini.
Strange how everything could change in a day.