Thanks guys for all of the great reviews! Sorry it took me so long to update. I've just been so busy since my break started. Well here goes chapter 4. Enjoy!
Later on that night
"How did I get myself into this?" Tommy asked himself for the tenth time as he stood in front of his closet, looking at his colorful wardrobe. He picked up a green polo and looked at it. "Well we are starting over."
"Tom will you just pick a shirt already?" asked Haley as she looked up from her laptop and at her nervous friend.
"But I can't decide what color to wear!" replied Tommy as he put the green polo back and picked up a red button up. "Ugh!" Tommy put the red button up back and ran a hand through his hair. "Why am I so nervous about this? I mean, we're just hanging out. It's not like it's a date or anything." He walked over and flopped down his bed next to Haley, who just looked at him and shook her head. "Now Tom, do you really want me to answer that question?"
"No..."
"Then don't ask. Besides I don't see why you're having such a hard time with this." Haley sat her laptop down, got up and headed towards Tommy's closet. She rummaged through his clothes for a second and pulled out a pink button up. She turned and looked at Tommy with a quirked eyebrow. He turned the shade of the shirt for a second before responding. "It was a joke from the guys. They said they were helping my pick out my wardrobe for my next color."
Haley laughed as she put the shirt back. A few seconds later, she walked up to Tommy and gave him a pure white t-shirt and a black, short sleeved button up. He looked at them for a second and then up at Haley. "What made you pick these?" Haley shrugged and replied as she picked up her laptop and sat back down. "I dunno. I figured that with the white shirt you'll be represent the time you two were together and you can wear the black one over it to represent now." Tommy thought for a second. "Why didn't I think of that?" Not looking up from her work Haley replied, "Because you're not me...and because you were a Red." Tommy smiled and kissed Haley on the cheek before he went in the bathroom to finished to get ready. Haley just smirked and shook her head and waited for what she knew was going to happen. About five minutes later she heard Tommy shout from the bathroom, "What do you mean, 'because I was a Red'!"
About 10 minutes later
Tommy came bounding down the stairs dressed in what Haley gave him with some dark blue jeans. He looked around and found Haley scanning the city while the teens did their respected hobbies.
"What do you guys think?"
They all looked at him for a couple of seconds. "Wow Dr. O. What are you all cleaned up for. Your hot date with Ms. Hart?" replied Conner as he came over to him dribbling his soccer ball. Tommy rolled his eyes.
"It's not a date Conner."
Ethan walked around him. "Well it looks like you're dressed for one." Tommy just glared at the teen as he looked at Haley who was sitting there smirking. "You look fine Dr. O, ignore the idiots." said Kira as she pushed the guys out of the way to get a better look at Tommy. She looked up at his hair and frowned, which Tommy noticed. "What?"
"Run a hand through your hair."
Tommy looked at her like she'd lost her mind. "What? It took me forever to get it like this." Kira just shook her head. "Trust me. Just do it." Tommy stood there unsure for a moment before he finally did as he was told. Once he was done, Kira smiled and nodded. "Good. That's much better." Again Tommy looked at her oddly. "What?" Kira walked back over to where Trent was sitting there looking at him. "With your hair all spiked up, you looked like a friggin Backstreet Boy." Haley couldn't take it anymore as she burst out laughing. Tommy looked at her and then back at the smirking teens. "What is it!"
Trent finally walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's nothing Dr. O. They're just laughing at how nervous you are. Just relax and have a good time on your outing." Tommy looked at him trying to figure out if he was telling the truth and then looked back at a still laughing Haley who was now nodding her head. "He's...he's right Tom...you look fine...have a good time..." she said in between laughs. Tommy just nodded, still not sure, and went back upstairs.
Kim's house
"Ugh! What should I wear!" Aisha just shook her head as she talked to Trini on her cell phone. "Yeah Trin, it's that bad. She's running around here spazing." "I am not spazing!" "Kim you have a lot of cute outfits, just pick one!" "I can't 'just pick one'!" Aisha just nodded. "Ah huh. She claims it's not a date, but she sure is running around here like it's one."
"It's not a date!"
Kim turned around and looked at the amused yellow ranger. "Besides Sha, I don't need a cute outfit. Because this isn't a date. I just need something comfortable...and maybe a little cute."
Aisha laughed, "Hey Trin, let me call you back. I gotta help our girl find something to wear...you too girl. Bye." She hung up her phone and thought for a second. "Oh you know something I haven't seen you in, in a long time?" asked Aisha as she walked into Kimberly's closet. Kim just raised her eyebrow, looking at her friend. "What?"
"Remember that cute shirt Tommy got you for your birthday..." Aisha poked her head out of the closet and looked at Kim. "What I meant was-" "No you're right Sha, I haven't worn that in a long time." replied Kim as she headed for her drawer. "Kim I didn't mean to-" Kim turned around and smiled at her friend. "It's alright Sha. And now that I think about it, it'll be perfect for tonight." Kim turned back to the drawer and pulled out the top. She looked at the pink and white stripped tank top and smiled to herself.
"This is perfect." And with that she walked over to her bed and picked up her jeans and went into the bathroom to change.
Aisha just stood there confused. She then reached into her pocket and pushed redial. She waited for a second as it rung. "Hey Trin, it's me. Girl, do I have something to tell you."
Tommy pulled up to the scheduled meeting place and killed the engine. 'Alright Tom. You can do this. "You're just getting together to catch up. To talk. That's all. There's no reason to be nervous.' Tommy leaned back in his seat and rested his head on the head rest. Trying to get himself together as he waited for Kim.
You've got to give 'em
The best
The best
The best
The best of you
Tommy nearly hurt himself as he jumped at the sudden noise. He looked around the car until he realized it was his phone. He fished in his pocket and pulled out the little noise maker.
"Oliver."
"Hey Tommy, what's up man?"
"Nothing much man, just meeting a friend."
"Oh really? Is this the same friend that the kids told me you were getting all worked up about?"
"I wasn't getting all worked up about her." said Tommy as her looked around trying to see if she pulled up yet.
"Oh! So it's a her."
Tommy smacks himself on the forehead. 'Crap. They didn't tell him that part...and I just did...crap. Crap. Crap...All well might as well just go with it. There's no way to fix it now.'
"Yeah, it's a girl. She's one of my co-workers."
"Ah. Tommy's finally getting back on the dating scene."
Tommy sighed. "It's not a date. I've been absent from work from a while. As you already know. So she's just filling me in on what I missed. Plus she's new around here, so I'm just gonna show her around. Nothing big."
"Ah huh. Whatever you say, lover boy."
"Jase-"
"Anyways, what's this I hear about you having another nightmare and blacking out in class?"
Tommy leaned his head on the steering wheel and closed his eyes. How was he gonna get out of this one?
"It was nothing Jase. It was probably just an after affect of the procedure we used to get me out of the suit."
"That's crap Tommy and you know it. That wouldn't cause nightmares you started having eight-nine years ago."
Tommy sat up and ran his hand through his hair as he tried to find a way to get Jason off of his case. Out the corner of his eye he saw something move and turned to see a powder pink Taurus pull up. He smiled and got out of the car.
"Tom!"
"Hm? Oh sorry about that man. Look can I call you back later?" ask Tommy as he walked towards the car.
"What? Tom you need to take this seriously. This isn't normal. Even for us."
Tommy rolled his eyes and watched as the car door opened and Kim got out.
"I do! And I know that this isn't normal. But I can't talk about it right now." He heard Jason sigh on the other end. And smiled knowing that for now, he's won.
"Alright man. I'll let you go for now. Enjoy your date."
Kim grabbed her purse and shut the door. She turned and smile at him.
"It's not a-"
"See ya bro."
Tommy glared at the phone for a moment before looking up to find Kim smiling at him.
"Hey."
Kim laughed a little. "Hey yourself. I must say, I'm surprised. You're on time. No wait, you were early."
Tommy just glared at her while she laughed. He guess the glare would have worked better if he wasn't smiling.
"Yes I'm on time...I wasn't late that much back then."
Kim just gave him a look and he gave in. "Alright. Alright. I'm not late that much anymore." Kim raised her eyebrow in disbelief.
"Look I was here before you."
"Tonight was just a fluke."
"You know what, I don't have to take this." replied Tommy trying his best to look offended. Kim tried her best not to laugh, but in the end, ended up failing. Tommy just shook his head trying not to laugh along with her. "Come on." he said as he lead her into the park.
Later on Tommy's POV
"So I just decided that I needed a change. And I moved here. Angel Grove will always be home to me, but...I guess it just held too many memories for me."
I nod my head, as I listen to Kim go on. I can't believe this. I'm sitting in the park, we'll actually I'm sitting on the swings but that's besides the point. I'm sitting here talking to my ex. And not just any ex. The Ex. And it's like nothings changed. If you don't count the giant elephant that randomly pops up. But after awhile he takes the hint and leaves.
We've walked around the park and with some persistent begging from Kim, we even played on the playground equipment. Me getting stuck on the spiral slide is one thing that she's never going to let me live down. Which reminds me...I gotta get a hold to her camera. I'm deleting that picture of me on the merry-go-round if its the last thing I do.
"So Tom what about you?"
Huh? What about me? I see her smile and roll her eyes. Good. This is good. I haven't screwed up yet.
"I've basically told you my life story. Now its your turn." she says as she starts to twist in her swing.
Oh no. Do we have to? I quickly look down at my watch trying to think of a way to get out of this. "You know Kim, it's getting kind of late. Maybe we should pick this up later." I start to get up just to feel two small hands pull me back down. Almost making me fall out of the swing. I turn to look at Kim who was now sitting about eye level with me, seeing how her twisting around had made her chain tangle up. I'm almost tempted to make her loose her balance, just to see her go spinning. But the small glare on her face make me push all of the mischievous thoughts that I had, into the back of my mind.
"Are you sure you wanna know." I ask as I look back up at her twisted swing chains. SO tempting. She tries her best to fold her arms and hold on to the chains at the same time. "Oh I'm positive I want to." She looks at me and then looks up to see what I'm looking at. She then fixes me at a glare that would make Zedd go running. "Don't. Even. Think. About it." I laugh a little. "A little to late for that one."
"Tommy." she says warningly. Do I really wanna do this? We just got back on speaking terms.
"Just think Kimmie. All it would take is one little push and-"
"Tommy."
"Yes?"
"If you push me, the pic of you on the merry-go-round is getting posted on the school website." She wouldn't. I stop visualizing her spinning for a second to look at her. Oh no. One eyebrow cocked and a evil smirk that rivaled my own, graced her, usually, innocent face. She would SO do it. I give the swing chain one last longing look before sighing in defeat. I'll get her back some how.
"Alright you win. What do you wanna know? She gives me a look. Okay rephrase question.
"Okay. What do you already know?" I watch as she thinks for a moment. Staring out into the distance. After a couple a minutes she turns back and looks at me.
"I know everything up until you started working with that Mercer guy." I stare at her. Stunned she knew that much about my life after being a ranger. I'll admit, a lot of the stuff that she told me earlier, I already knew, but still.
"How did you-" She looks down for a second, suddenly finding the playground wood chips very interesting, smiling a little. "What can I say? I know people-"
"Who know people." I smile as I finish it for her. She looks at me and smiles. Man I can't believe how much I've missed that smile. No time to think about that now. She wanted to hear my story? Well boy do I have a story to tell her.
"Well you see, after I signed to work with Mercer, we went to one of his islands..."
I proceeded to tell her about the details of the experiments we were working on. How Mercer disappeared and how someone had reprogrammed one of our experiments that we called 'tyranodrones'. And to how the island eventually ended up blowing up, with me on it. And she sat there the whole time looking like a child being told a bedtime story. Every now and then asking questions or putting in her usually wise cracks about me and the profession that I chose.
"So after all that happen, I called myself settling down to live the quiet life. Bought a house in the woods. Got a job teaching at a local high school. Just trying to be still for a change." I sigh and Kim smiles at me. "You know that never works out for me, right?" She laughs a little. "Nope."
So I tell her about my first day on the job. Being stuck with detention duty. Which eventually led up to the teens getting a hold of the Dino Gems. At this point Kim was staring at me wide eyed saying 'no way' over and over. She knows were this is going. "So this is why Kira has your cell number." I nod my head and continue on with my story. When I tell her about me getting the black Dino Gem, she doesn't believe me and I have to show her the bracelet. What she did next surprised the hell out of me. She just burst out laughing! And we're not talking about a little chuckle. Nooo. Full fledge laughing. To the point of tears! And the only thing she was able to say while she did this was 'they were right'. After a good ten minutes or so -no seriously. It took her that long to get herself together. I continue on with my story. I tell her about Trent and the evil White Dino Gem and she gives me a sympathetic smile and I just smile in return. And you know if we talk about Trent being evil, we have to talk about me be encased in amber. Numerous emotions flitter across her face as I tell her this. Shock. Anger. Fear. And a bunch of others that I'm still trying to decipher. I'm touched that she still cares about me enough to feel all of these emotions as I tell her this.
We get to the most recent part. Me being invisible. And the whole time Kim keeps asking me if I'd taken advantage of my invisible state to do some inappropriate stuff. And she laughs and gives me a 'yeah right' look as I constantly deny her clams.
"So that's basically it. A couple of days ago, I was freed from the amber and I came back to work."
"Wow Tommy...I don't know what to say..." I watch as she looks at her watch and I look at mine. 3Am! How in the world did we end up talking that long? "Oh my gosh! It's so late! We've got work in the morning." says Kim as she looks up at me. "Yeah. And I have a distinct feeling that I still have four teens waiting at my house. So I better get going." I stand up and stretch. Man you don't notice how long you've been sitting, until you stand up.
"Yeah." I look down to see Kim still sitting in her same position. "Aren't you coming?" I ask and she looks up and me and smiles. "Yeah. I'm just going to sit her for a second." "Alright. I'll see you at work tomorrow, Beautiful." Did I just call her that? She looks at me, stunned. I know. Two times in one night. Boy am I full of surprises. She gives me this mega watt smile in return. "Alright, Handsome." I grin at her and start to head back to my car until she stops me.
"Hey Tommy?" I turn to look back at her and find the same smirk from earlier back on her face. "What?"
"You're not into the color pink or anything are you? Besides on girls, I mean." Hm? What made her ask that?...I think back to when I told her about my new color and how she responded. The only thing she could say was... I glare at her and she burst out laughing again. I think for a second before I smirk to myself. She's too busy laughing to notice. I head back over to were she was and look down at her for a second before slightly bumping her with my hip. As she slowly starts to spin around she stops laughing and looks at me before shouting. "TOMMY!" I laugh as I watch her become a human spinning top. I laughed as I tried to walk back to my car. All too soon, I hear the swing come to a stop and here rushed footsteps approach me. I just laugh even harder as I feel Kim push me. "That was not funny!"
In between laughing and wiping my tears, I manage a response. "You're right, it wasn't funny...it was hilarious." She pushes me again and I can see she's trying not to laugh. "That picture is SO going on the site tomorrow. Any last words Oliver?"
"Yeah. It was worth it."
"Shut up."
That just started my laughing bout all over again. And this time she joins in with me. After a little while we're both able to calm down enough to walk to our respective cars. I turn and smile as I watch her open the door. She turns to me with a small smile. "Thank you Tommy." I smile sincerely as I catch the double meaning. "No problem. This is something that I've been wanting to do for a long time." She smiles and nods her head. "Goodnight Tom."
"Goodnight Kim." I watch as she gets in her car and pull off.
Yep. Definitely something I've been wanting to do for a long time.
Authors Notes
Thanks for all of the great reviews guys! Sorry it took me so long. School just started back up for me and I've been crazy busy. But don't worry the next chap shouldn't take that long. Well till next time...
Cya!
DC