Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, or any of the characters in this story. Not even the ones I made up. Go ahead and use them, I don't really mind. There will be lyrics to a song in here that definitely does not belong to me. ILLEGAL: Featuring Carlos Santana / Lyrics by Shakira / Music by Shakira and Lester Mendez / Performed by Shakira.

A/N: There will be no fighting scenes, my other fics have them, but I need to post them. Sorry.

Blooming

Chapter 2 / Coming of Age II

Reefside, California

"Okay class, that's all for today…and don't forget to read chapter six over the weekend; we'll be discussing it on Monday." Tommy Oliver said to his science class, although he confidently knows about half of the class was the only one that heard him having them all scramble out of his class glad that it was a Friday. They were all heading out of Reefside High School except for four students which stayed behind to chat with their teacher.

"Man, you really have a way with teens, Dr. O" Conner, one of his students told him mockingly.

"Hey, if I were you, I'd use that mind on homework, not a way to come up with jokes." Trent told Conner.

Kira, and Ethan laughed, while Tommy cracked a small smile.

"Hey, has anyone seen that huge poster they put outside the mall the other day?" Kira asked, striking conversation, hoping someone else had noticed the half black-half white poster placed just outside the entrance.

The guys all gave each other joking looks then burst out laughing amongst themselves. As they chuckled, Ethan asked with a sly look on his face, "Do we look like we're going to go to the mall and actually notice anything else but girls in there?"

"Besides, what gave you the idea to come up with that comment out of the blue like that?" Conner asked her.

Kira, feeling offended and somewhat embarrassed, punched Conner playfully on his arm and added, "Shut up dork, no one tells you anything when you say something out of the blue." She then paused for a bit then said, "Oh wait, yeah we do, it's an everyday thing for you. Let me take that punch back." She said while punching him playfully again.

"Man, I'm hungry," Trent spoke up. To everyone's surprised having it come out of his mouth and not Conner's everyone exaggerated their looks of surprise at him. "What, is Conner the only one who can come out with something out of the blue like that?"

"When it comes to food, yeah." Tommy said, causing the others to laugh; even Conner.

After a second of silence of the laugh Conner then added, "Hey!", causing everyone to laugh again.

Trent then continued to speak, "so, Dr. Oliver, going to Hayley's with us?"

"Um, well, I can't right now, but I'll catch up with you guys later. I have some errands to run first." Tommy explained.

"Okay, let's go guys", Trent said, waving everyone out the door.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Asked Kira, noticing Trent's hurry to go.

"I told you guys, I'm hungry" he said.

"I second that, so let's go and grab something or I'm gonna faint" Conner said trying to raise a laugh out of everyone again, but did not succeed. They all just grabbed their stuff and left saying their goodbyes to their Science teacher.


After he had left the High School, Tommy made his way to his black jeep. He got in throwing his stuff and letting it fall on the passenger seat of the truck. As he retrieved his keys from his pant pocket he thought, ok, time for yet another boring weekend. He turned on the engine before heading to Reefside Market for his weekend grocery shopping.

Upon arriving there, he came across this beautiful woman with deep brown eyes. She was of average height, with beautiful long flowing brown hair. He couldn't help but notice her right away as she made her way to get a shopping cart. Tommy quickly stepped about three quick paces to get a shopping cart for himself. He had made it just in time for the woman to look at him and smile. He then returned the warm smile along with a nod and a smoother "hello" than he might have gone for.

"Hello", she countered.

The woman made her way to her shopping leaving Tommy wondering a 'what if'.

Tommy did his grocery shopping like any other Friday, but today had a little special something. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. He then thought about that woman he had just met a while before and it stopped him dead in his tracks having seen her right in front of him a couple feet away looking at tomatoes. He made his way to the tomatoes hoping to have something interesting to say. As he made his way there, he couldn't think of anything and started panicking. Oh, man, what am I going to say, Hello again? No, that's stupid. Come on, I used to be able to talk to girls without any problem. Hell, I have a Ph. D in Palaeontology. I should be picking up girls left and right. Okay, here it goes. Damn, what do I say?

"Oh, hello again" the woman said as she turned around putting the small bag in the cart.

"Oh, hi" he said.

"Coming to get tomatoes?" she asked.

"Yeah," he lied.

"Well, let me tell you, they're plump, but a little too flimsy, here, don't you think?" she said while handing a random tomato from the bunch.

He received it. Well, not an interesting conversation, but I'm talking to her none the less. "Oh, yeah." He said, holding the tomato in his hand acting as if examining it with his touch. He then added, "but you know, I have to confess, I don't know much about picking the right fruits and vegetables."

"Oh, it's not that hard, just look for white or green mouldy decay" she joked.

Tommy laughed at her comment, liking her sense of humor. He then had to think of something quick to say to her so she wouldn't leave.

"Ah, but how do you check for meat?" He asked.

"Hmm" she thought, then shook her head, "I don't know, how?"

"Look at the price, and make you decision" he said, trying to keep the conversation going.

She chuckled a little at that. "You know, you're right. They do put the highest prices on the good meats. They should make a 'lean meat day' having every expensive meat sold at 99 cents a pound."

"Yeah, but in that day, I'm pretty sure the butchers will choose the meat with white and green decay on it" he responded making her laugh this time.

He gave her a smile, and then asked, "um, are you doing anything this weekend?"

She looked surprised but answered while shaking her head, "no".

"Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?" he asked in a diffident voice.

"I'd love to" she replied. "My name's Julia Ferguson by the way. But you can call me Julie."

"Thomas Oliver, but you can call me anything you'd like." He said with a grin.

"Well, 'anything you'd like', here's my number." She joked while writing it down on a piece of paper along with her name.

He blushed as he reached out and took hold of it realizing he had jumped into that one.

"I'll call you tonight," he said, while turning around.

She then took her cart saying, "I'll be expecting it."

He then made his way to the front to pay for his groceries.


The next night was one Tommy had been waiting for since the day before with great anticipation. He was sitting across from a beautiful young woman he had met just yesterday.

Wow, this is great, but why does she keep talking about her looks? He thought. Oh, no, she's,… dare I say it,… CONCIETED! He couldn't help chuckle a bit at the way he was thinking, just playing with his mind like that made him wonder if he was really rid of his inner child.

"What are you laughing at?" She asked in a somewhat annoyed voice.

"Hmm. Oh, nothing, just an inside joke" he responded innocently.

"Oh, well, I like jokes, what is it?"

"A horse walks into a bar,…" Tommy began.

"Oh, God, no thank you, I've heard this one. But, why were you laughing while I was talking to you? Does my face remind you of a joke with a horse in it? Because all I could say is that there are plenty of other guys wanting to sit in your spot right there Thomas," She said while pointing at him, "and you are one of the lucky ones that got to be sitting here…"

All Tommy heard in his mind was, 'me, me, me, me, me, me, me', he couldn't help it smile and look down at his thought again. Oh man, it's been too long since I've gotten one of these. He again chuckled at his thought. With that, she had the last straw and asked Tommy to take her home. Gladly, he thought.


Angel Grove, California

Katherine walked along the grassy pasture of Angel Grove Park. She had her arms crossed in front of her letting the fresh breeze hit her face gently as she closed her eyes and thought about the events that had happened just two months ago.

The two girls came into her head, as if the dramatic scene had happened just yesterday…

"Didn't you just hear me, I said, you bumped into me numbskull!"

"Okay, okay, this is going to stop right now!"

"Well, I was just fine until…"

"I said this is going to stop! Unless you guys want me to get Mr. Kaplan aware of this…?"

"no".


"You mean to tell me that…you're…gay?"


"…a teenage girl from Angel Grove High named Teresa Olivares was found shot late yesterday afternoon in an ally of her own neighborhood. The young girl was just yards away from her house when she was allegedly shot in the back by the count of four shots, by which one of those hit her directly on the lower part of the lumbar region just above the coccyx. She's thought to be in the Intensive Care Unit in Angel Grove Memorial Hospital…"


"I apologize Ms. Hillard, but you have been terminated from this school…I'm sorry to have to say this, but, you're fired."


Her thoughts were then broken when her cell phone rang with a familiar ring-tone.

She didn't recognize the number at first, but when she looked closer, she instantly answered it.

"Hello?" She said.

"Yes, good morning, may I please speak with Ms. Katherine Hillard please, this is Rosie from Reefside High School." A woman on the other side said.

"Oh, yes, this is she" Katherine replied with enthusiasm in her voice.

"Ms. Hillard, I'm calling on behalf of the office of Admissions. We've received your application via e-mail along with your resumé. Are you still interested in the position for a Literature teacher here at Reefside High?" Rosie asked.

"Yes, I am" Kat replied.

"Great, we would appreciate it if you would come by tomorrow at four in the afternoon for an interview. Is that alright?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, that's fine. Thank you." Kat said.

"Oh righty then, see you tomorrow Ms. Hillard." Rosie said in a bliss way.

"Ok, and thank you again" Kat replied.

"You're welcome, bye."

"Bye."

Kat felt like soaring through the sky. She felt like cheering to the top of her lungs and just screaming out into the world. She was happy for the fact that she had gotten the interview, but she was actually more happy about getting the interview somewhere out of Angel Grove completely.

I can't believe this is happening. It took a little longer than expected, but I've got an interview! By this time I would have bet I would've had about five offers on the table. Guess they don't need that many teachers as I thought. Oh, better get home.


Katherine arrived home and quickly got the phone.

"Hey, guess what… I got an interview!..."

After she hung up the phone, she picked it up again and booked the next flight to Reefside, which was departing tomorrow at four in the morning. Well, it won't be pleasant, but it would be worth it.

She then went to her room and started packing for her flight.

Hmm, what should I pack? A dress suit of course. How long should I pack for? Then again, it can't be a lot, she thought as she was gathering her things and placing them inside the small luggage bag. If the landlord sees me, he'll think I'm moving out and not keeping the lease. Then again, that's what I'm gonna do. I should just pack very lightly, I may not get the job after all. Oh, what am I saying, I have to be confident. Yet, not too confident. Okay, why did I leave my last job? Cuz I was fired for keeping a deep dangerous secret from the administration which cost a child her legs. Okay, I shouldn't think like that, it'll only bring me down. Well, then again, they 'are' gonna ask me that question. What am I supposed to say?

She went over to her stereo and put in her Oral Fixation Vol. 2 CD. There was one particular song in there that captured the way she felt exactly. She turned the track to number three and let it play:

Who would've thought that you could hurt me

The way you've done it

So deliberate, so determined

And since you have been gone

I bite my nails for days and hours

And question my own questions on and on

So tell me now, tell me now

Why you're so far away

When I'm still so close

Chorus:

You don't even know the meaning of the words "I'm Sorry"

You said you would love me until you die

And as far as I know you're still alive, baby

And you don't even know the meaning of the words "I'm Sorry"

I'm starting to believe it should be illegal to deceive

A woman's heart

I tried so hard to be attentive

To all you wanted

Always supportive, always patient

What did I do wrong?

Been wondering for days and hours

It's clear it isn't here where you belong

Anyhow, anyhow

I wish you both all the best

I hope you get along

Chorus:

You don't even know the meaning of the words "I'm Sorry"...

Chorus:

You don't even know the meaning of the words "I'm Sorry"...

Open heart, open heart

It should be illegal to deceive a woman's heart

Open heart, open heart

It should be illegal to deceive a woman's heart

She thought about her High School years. Tommy was…and still is the love of her life. She didn't even know what went wrong. After she left school, she went to the Royal Academy, and she had heard that he got back with Kimberly. She confronted him about it, yet he denied it. She felt she couldn't trust him, even though he was telling her that he loved her. (Well, that's a different story.)


Refside, California

Katherine arrived at Reefside at about 10:15 a.m. The flight had been delayed, but it wasn't much to worry about, seeing as it was still too early to panic.

She took a cab to Holiday Inn. As soon as she got her room card, she decided to take a nap.

Surprisingly enough, once she stepped inside of it, she didn't quite feel sleepy, so she decided to take a shower instead.

When she came out of the shower, she felt exhaustion over taking her entire body. She then thought that a small nap would be good. She went to the bed and sat down. She got the alarm clock and set it for 2:20. As she put her head on the pillow, she quickly fell asleep.


Katherine was woken up by the sound of a very annoying alarm. Better get up and get ready for that interview, she thought. As she opened her eyes, she didn't quite know why it was dark.

"What? Why's it dark?" she thought out loud.

She looked at the clock to her right and it read 2:20 a.m.

Oh, shit, Katherine, you stupid ass. You set the alarm at 2:20 in the morning. Shit, what the hell am I going to do now? She got up out of bed and started pacing around. She literally didn't know what to do! Oh my God! What am I going to do? She kept thinking to herself.

She, for some reason, kept pacing around still glancing at the clock over and over again as if she still couldn't believe it. Okay, I guess I'll just have to go to Reefside High tomorrow and speak to someone there in person. I hope they don't turn me away. Damn, Kat, how could you have been so stupid? She kept yelling within herself.


The next morning at 7:11 a.m. she called a cab to pick her up at the hotel.

It arrived when she was just putting on the tiniest bit of lip gloss on her lips to make them shine a little.

She grabbed her purse and resumé folder and headed out the door.


She arrived at the school at 7:33 a.m.

Oh man, am I nervous. I don't even know where to go. As she was thinking that, she looked to her left and read a sign which read 'All visitors report to administration' with a left arrow on it. Okay, I guess it's the left, but where do I go from there? To her luck, the office was right to her left as she went in.

"Um, hello" Katherine said, not trying to sound nervous without succeeding.

"Good morning, I'm Rosie, how may I help you" Rosie said, with a sweet smile. She was sitting behind the long desk separating the waiting lounge from the offices behind her. Her hair was a dyed burgundy pulled up in a bun. She had a nice physique although a little thick around the edges.

She smiled at Katherine with a beam that made her feel comfortable to be there.

"Hi, my name is Katherine Hillard. I had an interview here yesterday, but I couldn't make it, my flight got cancelled," she lied. Then she added a very sincere, "I'm sorry".

"Oh, I'm not the one you should be apologizing to dear. Let me give Robert a call. He's the one that performs the interviews. Just take a seat and I'll let you know what happens." She told Kat in a sweet voice motioning her to sit down on the sofas provided.

As Kat turned to go sit down, she couldn't help it be a little intrigued, Hmm, Robert. Yes, he's a man. I can maybe smile, not quite flirt, but put on some girly charm and maybe he'll forget about yesterday. A little evil, but, whatever gets the job done.

Robert, a somewhat tall, chubby man with a light blond mustache came to the lounge with a look of frustration and annoyance in his eyes; which went away when he looked in Katherine's direction. He smiled at her as he extended his arm to meet his. "Hello, Ms. Hillard I presume?"

Katherine, flashing her best smile as she replied, "Yes, Mr…?

"Powel," he finished her sentence. "Robert Powel".

"I'm sorry about yesterday…" Katherine began, before getting cut off by Mr. Powel.

"Oh, no, don't worry about it. You're here now, and that's what matters. Come on inside, let's start with the interview shall we?" He said in a nice, caring tone.

"Alright," Kat said while getting up to follow Mr. Powel inside his office.


Katherine sat on the couch of the hotel, speaking on her cell phone…

"Thanks, you know how much I've wanted to get back to work. It's only for three months, but if I make this work, they can place me in a more permanent position for next year. Besides, they really need a teacher; they've had a substitute for 2 weeks now. As the sub called to say she couldn't make it today, I walked in the office. How lucky is that? Mr. Powel was telling me they really needed a teacher, and fast. Especially when Mr. Smith called in that he won't be returning for his teachings…

"Oh, I don't care about the reason, I actually got the job! I'm lucky she called in just in time, she practically handed me the job. Mr. Powel asked me if I could start right away…

"It was fine. The students were really nice. I guess since I'm the newbie and all…

"Oh, yeah, that's what I wanted to talk to you about too. I want you to go to my apartment and get my things little by little, so the landlord doesn't suspect anything. I need you to go over at night though. Could you do that for me, please?...

"On Saturday…

"Yes, this Saturday. I'll go pick up my car and put some things in it. I'll drive it back…

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about it…

"I know it's two days until Saturday. I know you can get my things out by then…

"Yes you can…

"Why? Where are you going?...

"Oh, really? Well, I guess it could wait…

"Alright, bye." And with that hung up her phone.

Katherine was still thrilled about the whole idea of getting a new job. She got up and went to her luggage and got out her planner…


A/N: It looks like a short story now; since Ibrought the chapters together, but I think it's a lot better this way. Well, any ways, I hope you guys really like the story.