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Feelings Revealed
Chapter VI: White Lies
Jack was beginning to wonder where Z was and what she was doing. As a matter of fact, Jack didn't even know if Z was back yet, nor did he know where she went in the first place. He swallowed the last of his food and got up out of his chair.
"I'm going to see if Z's back yet. Thanks for the money Sky," Jack said as he was leaving the cafeteria.
Jack found it odd that Z wasn't back yet. Z never misses dinner, so something had to be up. Jack thought that maybe he was just making too big of a deal over nothing at all. Maybe there was a simple explanation for why Z hadn't eaten dinner at the cafeteria. Maybe she had already eaten wherever she was and is no longer hungry. Jack shook himself from his thoughts once he had reached the door to Z's bedroom. There Z was lying on her bed. Jack couldn't tell if she was awake or not. He knocked on the door frame.
"Z, are you awake?" Jack whispered.
Z stirred in her bed and let out a long yawn. She sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes.
"I am now. Do you need something Jack?" Z asked groggily.
Jack felt bad for waking Z up, but he was glad that he had found her. He missed her while she was gone wherever she was.
"Do you mind if I come in?" Jack asked.
Z made a gesture with her hand that told Jack it was ok for him to come in. Jack went over to Z's bed and sat on the foot of it while being careful not to sit on Z's legs.
"I missed you at dinner. Have you eaten dinner yet?" Jack asked.
Z was touched when Jack said that he had missed her. She missed him too. In fact, she much rather be with Jack than spying on Bridge and Sky at the mall or shopping with Syd.
"I was too tired to be hungry, but now that I've taken a little nap, I am kind of hungry," Z answered.
That was just the answer Jack was hoping for. Not having dinner with Z was no fun. Jack had nobody to have a competition with to see who could finish their meal the fastest.
"Would you like me to get you something to eat for dinner?" Jack asked
Z couldn't figure out why Jack was being so nice to her. Jack was always nice to her since the two of them were really close, but never this nice. That could only mean one thing. Jack must want something in return.
"That's ok Jack. I have two legs of my own. I can go get my dinner," Z answered.
Z climbed out of bed and went to leave the room when Jack grabbed her shoulders and stopped her.
"No, no really that's ok Z. I'll get it for you. Just tell me what you'd like, and I'll get it for you," Jack said.
Yep, something was definitely going on here. Z was always suspicious of people who were excessively nice. From Z's experience, there was always some sort of catch involved.
"Well, I do have this craving for a pizza with everything on it," Z said.
Jack couldn't help but notice how typical that was of Z. Z loved eating greasy food just like Syd loved shopping.
"Ok. Just wait right here, and I'll be back shortly with your pizza," Jack said before leaving Z's room.
XXXXXXXXXX
After what seemed like an eternity, Bridge finally broke the awkward silence in the parking facility.
"Hey, Syd?" Bridge asked.
"Yeah?" Syd replied.
"You don't uh…do you um…are you…I mean has anyone…I was wondering if…what I'm trying to say is…I-I uh…never mind. I can't do this," Bridge said.
Syd arched her eyebrows and gave Bridge a confused look. She had no idea why he was acting so nervous all of a sudden. He's never acted this way before.
"You can't do what?" Syd asked.
Bridge let out a sigh. He didn't bother looking at Syd. He was gazing at the ground instead. Bridge was trying to find the right words to say to Syd.
"It's j-just that I-I…was k-kind of wondering if…if anyone has asked you t-to be their valentine yet. So…has anyone?" Bridge asked.
Syd was at a loss for words. Was Bridge saying what she thought he was saying? Was Bridge the one who got Syd the flowers she saw at the mall earlier today? Was Bridge asking Syd to be his valentine? Syd felt as though her heart was in her throat.
"W-why do you ask B-Bridge?" Syd asked.
Bridge felt stupid for even asking. He figured that of course someone had to have already asked her. Syd was popular before even coming to S.P.D. Bridge thought Syd was the most gorgeous female at the Academy. There had to be dozens of guys that already asked Syd to be their valentine. Bridge started to leave the parking facility before Syd grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"Bridge, don't go. You haven't answered my question," Syd said.
"Well…y-you haven't exactly answered mine either," Bridge responded.
Syd let out a nervous laugh. Nobody had asked her to be their valentine yet. Syd was afraid to tell Bridge that though. In fact, she was afraid to tell anybody that because everybody expected guys to line up and ask her to be their valentine. However, nobody had yet, not a single one.
"Nobody I'm interested in saying 'yes' to," Syd replied.
Bridge inwardly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that. Now at least there wouldn't be any competition that he'd have to worry about. There was still the difficult part though, actually asking Syd.
"Ok, well…I um…am going to go to bed now, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Night Syd," Bridge said freeing himself from Syd's grasp and starting to leave the parking facility.
Syd stood there confused. She couldn't figure out what had caused Bridge to act like this. Bridge had a tendency of confusing people, but usually that was only from what he said not what he did. Actually, what he did confused people too, but what he said confused them even more.
"Are you sure you're feeling ok Bridge? You've been acting kind of funny. It's a little too early to be going to bed don't you think?" Syd asked.
Bridge stopped in his tracks. A part of him wanted to just get it over with and pop the question to Syd. The part of him Bridge was listening to said not to ask her. At least not yet. Bridge just brushed off Syd's question and left the parking facility.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Here you go. One pizza with everything on it," Jack said as he returned to Z's room.
Z gave Jack a smile before snatching the pizza and digging in.
"It took you long enough!" Z commented with a mouthful of pizza.
Jack stuck his tongue out at Z. Z responded by sticking her tongue out at Jack revealing chewed up bits of pizza in the process.
"So, guess what I found out today?" Jack asked.
Z stopped stuffing her face for a moment and glared at Jack.
"You don't think I'm actually going to guess do you?" Z asked before resuming gobbling down her pizza.
Jack pondered Z's question for a brief moment.
"No, but I'll tell you anyways. I found out that Bridge is going to ask Syd to be his valentine," Jack said.
Z started coughing and choking on her pizza once she heard what Jack said. She took a gulp of soda to help her stop choking.
"Are you ok Z? Do I need to do the Heimlich?" Jack asked.
Z glared at Jack and then hurled a pillow at him that hit him square in the head.
"Did I hear you correctly? Did you just say that Bridge is going to ask Syd to be his valentine?" Z asked.
Jack shook his head yes.
"Does Syd know?" Z asked.
Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"Wait a second. How do you even know?" Z asked.
Jack slapped his forehead with his hand. He promised Sky he wouldn't tell Z about Bridge's intentions. Jack wasn't about to rat Sky out to Z. Jack had already screwed up once.
"Oh, well I just heard some cadets talking about it today," Jack replied.
Z was suspicious of Jack's answer, but she decided not to press the issue any further.
"I wish someone would ask me to be their valentine," Z said.
Jack sat down next to Z on her bed. He put an arm around her.
"About that, don't make any plans for tomorrow evening ok?" Jack asked.
Z furrowed her eyebrows. She turned so that she was facing Jack.
"What are you talking about Jack?" Z asked.
Jack took back his arm and stood up. He checked his watch. Then, he made his way to leave Z's room.
"I'm sorry Z. I didn't realize what time it was. I promised I would help Bridge with…something," Jack said before scrambling out of the room.
Just then, Syd entered the room looking just as confused as Z was looking. Z wondered what Syd was so confused about just as Syd wondered what Z was so confused about.
"What's wrong with you?" they asked in unison.
They both chuckled. There was an awkward silence as each was waiting for the other to explain.
"You first," they said in unison.
Syd and Z laughed. Syd motioned it was ok for Z to go first. Z gave Syd a gracious smile.
"I think Jack is going to ask me to be his valentine. He told me not to make any plans for tomorrow evening. I can't believe it. I always knew we were close, but we hadn't really ever celebrated Valentine's Day, so I didn't think this year would be any different," Z said.
Syd's jaw dropped. She and Z were just talking about guys asking them to be their valentine earlier that morning. Not only that, but Syd had similar news to tell Z.
"Funny you should mention that Z. I think that I finally figured out who got me those flowers at the mall today. I am pretty sure it was Bridge. He and I were just in the parking facility and he asked me if anyone had asked me to be their valentine yet," Syd said.
It was Z's turn for her jaw to drop. She always figured Syd would go for a guy like Sky. She never suspected Syd would go for a guy like Bridge. She was happy for them nevertheless. They both deserved each other.
"I can't wait for Valentine's Day!" Z commented.
"Me neither," Syd added.
The two female rangers proceeded to get ready for bed with the hopes that the sooner they went to bed, the sooner it would be Valentine's Day.
TBC
A/N: I finally got this story updated. I'm sorry for the wait, but I'm sure you understand how much schoolwork sucks. I hope this was worth the wait. Time for the shout outs. BrandonB, BloomingViolets, and Mistress of Phoenix, thank you so much for reviewing Chapter 5. Crimson Mystery, thanks for listing Feelings Revealed as one of your favorite stories. I'm not sure how long this story is, but I guess I'll just keep writing until I run out of ideas for it instead of saying it's going to last X chapters. I hope you'll read & review. No flames please.