Hey everyone, I'm back with the next installment – and I've hit a problem. My school computer has blocked me from uploading it. Whether that will apply to all chapters I don't know, we're going to have to wait and see on that one. So everyone say a massive 'thank-you' to Claire, my lifesaver, who has uploaded this for me! Thanks!

To everyone who's reviewed, thank you. It means a lot to me! I love hearing feedback so enjoy the next chapter…

Suspended

Conner was furious with himself, the part of him that was still sober that was. You've really messed it up now, McKnight he thought, you haven't got a chance in hell with her after that display. Pain at that thought ripped through him. A few weeks ago he had come to realise that he didn't just like Kira anymore, he loved her. He'd been trying his best to impress her, but in a couple of days all his hard work had been torn to pieces.

"Hey McKnight!" a voice called from down the corridor. It was Derrick, one of his soccer team-mates.

Conner forced his eyes to focus, "Hey dude," he greeted him.

"What's happening with that singer chick then?" Derrick asked as he reached him.

"Nothing," Conner muttered.

"Nothing? Didn't look like nothing from here." He shot a look at his teammate, "She resisting the McKnight charm then?"

Conner stared at him, "What are you on about?"

"Oh come on!" Derrick said with a laugh, "The whole team's noticed it. You're always hanging around with her and that computer-nerd lately. What's up?" A serious tone crept into his voice, "Your friends not good enough for you anymore?"

"Don't be stupid," Conner said, making to walk away but Derrick blocked his path with an arm.

"Hey, I'm just asking alright?" He shook his head and looked over his shoulder to check no one was in earshot, "Between you and me, mate, I wouldn't mind rocking with that chick for a night, y'know?" he added with a leering smirk. "Man, she sure hits the right notes if you get my meaning."

"Don't talk about her like that," Conner said, feeling uncomfortable.

"Hey man, I'm only saying how I feel. I could dance to her tune all night."

Anger, fuelled by the vodka, flooded through Conner. He grabbed Derrick by the collar and spun him into the wall. "I said, don't talk about Kira like that," he hissed at him.

"Whoa, dude. Sure, no offence." Conner released him and began to walk away. Derrick ran after him out into the playground.

"What is your problem?" he asked him.

"Just leave it." Conner said, but Derrick wouldn't leave it.

"Come on, do you like her or something?" Conner kept walking. Derrick grinned, "Conner McKnight and Kira Ford," he yelled after him.

Conner stopped; people began to whisper and laugh. That was the last straw for him. He turned back and walked over to where Derrick was smirking. "Didn't I tell you to leave it?" he yelled, shoving Derrick back into a group of people.

"Hey, just 'cos you're hung up on a girl don't take your anger out on me, McKnight," Derrick shot back. He was met with a punch from Conner that caused him to fall back with a bloody nose. He got up and stared at Conner angrily. "Come on then," he yelled, bunching his fists.

It was all the invitation Conner needed. He threw himself into the fight with everything he had, including his dino powers. Derrick had no chance. It was Principle Randall that saved him.

"Stop that," she yelled as she approached. Derrick was more that willing to give up, but Conner couldn't hear. A red mist had rose in front of his eyes and all he could concentrate on was the fight.

"I said leave it," she grabbed Conner's arm, but he swung his other arm around and knocked her to the ground.

Dr. O and another male teacher ran in to separate them. Well, to hold Conner off Derrick.

"What the hell is going on here?" Principle Randall snapped, dusting her off.

"He's bloody mad, miss." Derrick said, "He just started having a go at me."

Randall turned to where Dr. O was trying to calm a struggling Conner.

"Mr McKnight, can you explain yourself."

Conner stopped struggling and stared at her, before starting to laugh. "No," he said, giggling.

"Are you drunk McKnight?" she asked. Dr. O let go of Conner's shoulders and stepped away from him, a shocked expression on his face.

Conner shrugged, "Probably," he said, still laughing, "I hope so."

She stared at him, her face unreadable. Then she pulled herself up straight and said, "I think you should go home, right now."

Conner pulled a face, "Aw, miss…"

"Go home and don't think about coming back to school until I say so." Randall interrupted. "You are hereby suspended until further notice. I shall inform your parents immediately."

"Not that they'll care," Conner muttered inaudibly.

"What was that?" she snapped at him.

"Nothing," he said, a grin on his face. The gathered crowd was silent as he grabbed his bag from where he had dropped it and walked out of the school. He could make out the faces of Kira and Ethan in the crowd. They were as silent and shocked-looking as everyone else. He tried to catch Kira's eye as he left, but she refused to look at him. Ethan scowled at him as he passed. Conner was no longer laughing as he began to drag himself home.

He finally reached his house to find that his parents were still out at work. Conner stood in the kitchen and pulled the vodka bottle out of his bag and took a swig. They're gonna kill me was his first thought, the next was a bitter, well, it'll give them something new to yell about. Standing there in the empty kitchen, Conner was gripped by a sudden feeling of anger and threw the half empty bottle of vodka at the wall, where it smashed. Glass and drink scattered across the linoleum floor.

"Shit," he muttered. He stumbled across to it and tried to pick up the glass with his hands, but only succeeded in slicing his finger. Blood welled up in the cut and trickled down his hand.

Just great he thought. This really wasn't his day; suspended from school, a cut finger, getting ready for a bollocking from his parents and the worst thing of all, he was no longer a power ranger and Kira hated him. That stung the most, especially what Dr. O and Kira had said. Well, fuck them. He knew he was as good as the rest of them. He'd show them, somehow. Not today though, to top it all his splitting headache was back. He swayed over to the cupboard where his mum kept the medicines and grabbed a bottle of paracetamol plus a new bottle of vodka to wash them down with and headed for his room…