A/N: Glad to see that people are still interested in the story. lol. Thanks for the reviews. I know I have some making up to do, so I decided to update quickly with another chapter. R&R. Enjoy.
Chapter 17
"One That Got Away"
A week has gone by and things have been different around SPD headquarters. Sky quickly recovered from his injuries and started training once again to strengthen his abilities, and at the same time, has been avoiding the rest of his B-squad teammates. It's also been exactly one week since cadet Delgado handed over her badge which would explain to others Sky's odd behavior. The last time he'd seen Delgado was when she came to visit him in the infirmary room and since then, she'd didn't even say goodbye. Syd tried to convince Z to stay, not even her best friend Jack who couldn't get her to change her mind. All they know from Commander Cruger was that she simply felt she is needed somewhere else and that she wishes all of them good luck.
While walking down the corridors of the academy, Jack Landors makes a visit to Sky's room where his door was left open. He took a peek inside and noticed him taking out all his anger and frustrations on a punching bag. Jack figured it either had to do with Commander Cruger refusing to appoint Sky as red ranger or because of the Z problem. The others; however believed that Sky was more disappointed with the fact that she didn't even say goodbye more so than being a red ranger which if it were true it wouldn't surprise them at all.
"Hey, man." Jack lightly knocks on the door to get Sky's attention as he looks over his shoulder. "Listen, the three of us were thinking of going out to grab a bite to eat and we were wondering if you would like to come with."
"I'll pass."
He sighs. "Come on, Sky. You've been distant with us lately."
"It's not like there's no food around here." He grunted irritably. Sky was just too damn stubborn; Jack refuses to start arguing with him. Everytime he tries to get him to do something with the group, Sky appears to always find an excuse and start tension.
"Fine, if that's what you want." Without saying another word, Cadet Landors simply walked out.
"So what did he say?" Bridge and Syd waited for him just around the corner of the hallway.
Jack looks at them and deeply sighs, "nope."
They frowned in disappointment. "Poor guy."
"He's ususally not like this."
Moments later, Sky appeared from his room wearing his normal civilian clothes. Jack, Bridge, and Syd watched on thinking and hoping he changed his mind. "So you're gonna join us afterall."
He adjusted the collar of his black jacket and looks up. "Actually…I'm gonna go take a walk."
"Goodie!" Syd exclaims. "We could use the fresh air."
"Uh…no offense, guys but I rather be alone."
"Oh…" She pouts as the others exchange puzzled looks. "Okay."
"Maybe some other time, I'll see you guys later."
Jack, Bridge, and Syd stood back as they watch the cadet walk out.
Back on the streets, Z Delgado was momentarily wandering in New Tech City after work at the children's shelter. While enjoying a nice walk out, she came across a store and spotted something she'd like to try on. A lot has been on her mind for the past week and things were slowly getting better. If she wasn't going to be a part of something bigger at SPD, she figured she'd make a difference by volunteering at the children's shelter where she could be surrounded with kids with no family—something she could definitely relate to living on the streets.
As Z was about to enter the store, a familiar face reflected in the glass window. She stopped with her lips slightly parted as she quickly turned around.
"Sky?" She was overwhelmed with his unexpected appearance. "What are you doing here?"
Awkward silence fell in the air as the two stared deeply into each other's eyes. Although it's only been a week since they last spoken or seen each other, to them it felt like forever.
"I was just going out for a walk."
Z narrows her eyes. "You sure you're not just spying on me?" She shot back coldly. It's obvious to him that she couldn't leave it all behind. "It's not like I'm going to steal or anything."
He groans. "I thought you were over that."
"I am, but I just want to give you a hard time."
"Why? So you could just push me away and never say goodbye?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?" Z questioned while folding her arms across her chest. "Oh and by the way, how does it feel to be the new red ranger?" She asked in a rather sarcastic tone.
He lets out a deep sigh. "I'm not the red ranger, Z. And even if Cruger decided to let me lead the team, it just wouldn't feel right."
"Why?"
"Because you are the red ranger," he tells her seriously, "you're my leader and therefore, I follow you." Z furrows her eyebrows in bewilderment. "Look, you're right. Being the red ranger is what I always wanted. Ever since my father became one it was my only lifelong dream and nothing else. But then," he pauses in mid-sentenced, "it didn't feel right." Z tilts her head to the side and listens intently. "Ever since you left I didn't care about whether I was going to be the next red ranger or not because the truth is, it feels better to earn it than to ask for it." A small smile crept over her lips. "And…I really miss you."
She looks down and smiles in pleased embarrassment. "Wow, did Broodwing hit you that hard on the head?"
Sky smirked at the comment. "Yeah I guess he did."
The two shared a quick laugh.
"I'm really proud of you, Sky." Z's eyes soften. "You're growing up to be a real person."
"Ha, ha." He joked. "Real funny."
"No, I'm serious." She smiles sincerely. "It's nice to know the person I met for the first time is still intact."
Sky looks around and noticed it was the same place where they first met. "Well this is weird. Didn't I bump into you here?"
She looks around and realizes it too. "Yeah it is." Z wrinkles her nose at the thought. "That is weird."
His blue eyes fell on her once again. There was a moment of awkward silence. "Hey are you doing anything?" He finally had the courage to ask.
Z thought about it briefly. "Well I was about to go inside to try on the jacket."
"What about afterwards?" He asks without sounding too desperate. He had a reputation to protect. "I was thinking maybe we can get a cup of coffee and get a bite to eat or something."
There was something about Z that made him feel so nervous and tense. "Sure, I got nothing else to do."
Sky and Z settled at a café that was just around the corner and ordered a few drinks to go along with the food. At first it was just small talk about how their week went and then it was awkward silence.
"So…" Sky grunted to break the stillness. "I've been waiting to ask you this…" Z stares at him intently. "Why did you leave? I mean I know it can't just be handing over the red ranger position." She looks down and bit her lip. "Z," there was a smal pause as she slowly meets his gaze, "Is there another reason behind leaving SPD?"
"Well, you never really stopped me so I thought you didn't really want me there." She responds sullenly as he nods his head. "I mean you hated the fact that Jack and I were all of a sudden part of the team."
"Is that all?" He questioned.
'No,' she thought to herself, 'And because I really like you but I'm too chicken to admit it so I thought leaving would just make the feelings go away.' Z simply nodded her head and answered, "Yes that's all."
"That may be true, but I realized Cruger put us together for a reason. The five us have these abilities that make us different from everyone else and he truly believes that we can overcome being different." He explains. "Together we can make a difference yah know?"
She smiles. "Are you asking me to come back, cadet?"
He coyly blushes. "Yes, but I'm also asking you to stay." His eyes soften--his every word so innocent and sincere made her heart skip a beat. But was it all true? She was getting the feeling of butterflies in her stomach once again. "We need you, Z." He sighs while searching her face carefully. "I need you."
A/N: Dun. Dun. Dun. Two more chapters left I think or maybe more depending on how I do it. Some action coming your way. Don't forget to review. Thanks!
