You and I Both…
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but I do own characters and places that unrelated to Power Rangers
: Thank you for your reviews:) This is a long chapter with more Tommy and Kim. It's the tenth chapter already! I didn't even realize that : ) . Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter ten: Hart/Oliver team-up!
" It's four forty five," Tommy looked at his watch. The jeep had been parked quite far from the restaurant. Kimberly didn't want to be seen by Trini. " do you want to get in now?"
" Knowing Trini, she probably hasn't come yet. She's really punctual. She'll show up five minutes before five. Trust me on that," Kim unbuckled her seat belt. " come on, we better get in before they come,"
Tommy grinned as he unfastened his own seat belt. " So excited already, eh? You really are something,"
Kim stopped for a moment and looked at him with a smile. " Sure I am. I'm a Hart after all,"
Kim led the way to the newest restaurant in town. She hadn't had the chance to try it out but some of her friends said that the food was okay and the place was nice.
She noticed a group of teenagers from Angel Grove high from far. Her ex-cheerleader teammates were talking and laughing in front of the entrance. Kim was hesitant for a sec. It's no secret to everyone in the know that the blonde knocked out named Beverly aka the captain of the squad was one of Tommy's biggest 'fans'. Aside from her blonde hair and her blue eyes, Beverly was anything that Marissa was, yeah, that Marissa Smith, and nothing like her. Kimberly.
However, if Jason said Marissa was 'safe', this one definitely needed a warning sticker on her back saying ' Warning, high voltage 10,000 volts'. Of course, many guys in school liked her. Tall, blonde and a great body that she never forgot to let everyone know that. Like right now, Beverly wore a tight almost transparent white shirt that showing her black bra underneath, and a pair of hotpants.
Kim had two options. One, she could take Tommy's hand and walked in front of Bev's eyes with pride. Kim still hadn't forgiven her for breaking up of the pyramid formation last year. Kim ended up with a twisted ankle that she missed the cheerleader competition the following month. Bev might not do it on purpose, but Kim still held a grudge against her on that.
Showing off like that would probably make Beverly had a heart attack in one second. She'd be seething with jealosy that Tommy walked with Kim, of all people. But the consequences were there too. Tomorrow there'd be a rumour about her and Tommy. THAT was the last thing she needed right now. Plus Bev would do anything to make sure Kim suffered. Yeah. She's that evil.
Option two. Kim'd tell Tommy to get in first and she would catch up after like two or three minutes. The problem was, they didn't have time. Trini could show up anytime soon. Then again, watching Bev's near death expression was worth the rumour she probably would get tomorrow. Bad Kimmie, very bad Kimmie. Though she realized it wouldn't be fair for Tommy, her using him like that.
In fact, Kim didn't have to make the first move because that time, out of the blue Tommy pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Call that surprises.
" What are you doing?" she hissed.
" Don't pretend like you don't know," Tommy put a cool expression. " Beverly is a witch. You know that she actually drops about three letters every two days in my locker since the second day I got here? Not to mention all the phone calls,"
" She calls your home?" Kim glanced up at him, looked surprised. They're getting closer to the gang. "wow. That's… something. She loves you so much,"
" Shut up," Tommy tightened his hand.
" Do you realize what would happen if she sees you and me in this position, right?" Kim asked while his aftershave slowly wafted into her nose. He smelled so good!
But Jason smelled good too. And don't forget Max. Yeah. Not just him.
" Do you mind?" he had the nerve to ask while they're walking tentatively towards Beverly.
" Well, they maybe would think that we're going out when we AREN'T and not to mention she would act all bitch towards me. You tell me, do I have to mind?"
Tommy wet his lips, looked like he was thinking about Kim's statement. He released his grip from her shoulders. " You're right. It wouldn't be fair for you,"
That, with no doubt, was the sweetest words she ever heard coming from his mouth. The same mouth that exclaimed that her head was harder than a frozen pipe. (Why couldn't she forget that?) Kim nearly gave in and almost said that she wouldn't mind…
" But the rumour about you and me? That's what I can't handle. Going out with you? Come on!" his next sentence demolished the sweet pop in her mind shortly. She poked his arm quite hard.
" You bastard," she whispered with some indignation. Okay, so she possibly was nothing to compare to Marissa, the sweet auburn haired, hazel eyed, dimpled cheek girl who'd soon become Tommy's girlfriend, but still, he couldn't say that! " you…,"
Kim never got the chance to finish her sentece because that time, a familiar high pitch voice called out for, not her, but the man beside her. Beverly Johnson had safed Tommy Oliver from his doom.
" Tommy!" Beverly bounced towards Tommy. Kim discreetly moved away. Shooting a death glare that shouted 'Congratulations, that's what you got for insulting me! Meet your girlfriend', Kim left Tommy and got into the fast food restaurant. The delicious smell of hamburgers and French fries welcomed her and Kim felt her mouth starting to water. After she went home, she only had that small Caesar salad in Ernie's with a strawberry smoothie and nothing more.
The place was crowded with teenagers, little children and their parents. Kim's eyes carefully roamed over the place. No Trini and no Brian. It was four fifty four right now.
She better ordered first. What did she want? Oh, that double cheeseburger looked delicious. That beef pepper special seemed good too. How about that sundae? Strawberry or chocolate? The milkshake that little girl had looked so tempting. French fries with-,
" You're so evil," the low voice whispered on her ear nearly making her jump. She turned around and found Tommy, still in one piece, standing behind her. " how could you leave me like that?"
Double cheeseburger and a chocolate milkshake. Kim frowned and shook her head. " You think I'm your baby sitter? Then again, what do you want me to do? You have made yourself very clear that you couldn't stand any news about you going out with me. The old plain Kimberly. You didn't think I should come over, grabbed you and kissed you in front of her eyes, right?"
Somehow, someway, her mind started to provide a visual fit. She, grabbed him and kissed him. Her empty stomach'd made her having hallucinations. This was so bad…
" You're still thinking about that?" he put both of his hands in his pocket. " you have to stop that habit, Kim. That can make you grow old sooner than its time,"
Okay. Don't think about him. Look at that Sundae. " We have to hurry. She could come anytime soon,"
" You want to eat?"
" Sure I do! Don't you?" He shrugged and they got in the line.
Ten minutes later and several worried glances at the entrance, Kim and Tommy slided to the booth in the corner.
" Where is she? It's five fifteen. Do you think she cancel her plan and go straight to the cinema?" Kim asked.
" Is that so or you possibly just want to have-," Tommy looked down at her tray with an interested smile. " double cheeseburger, French fries and milkshake, so you told me that Trini has a date in here when she actually hasn't?"
" If that's the case, you think I can't go here by my own? I have to demean myself to ask you to take me here? Please!" Kim started to eat her fries.
" You will eat all that?" Tommy only bought a plain chicken burger and Pepsi.
" Why? Never saw a girl eat like me?" Kim sipped her milkshake. " after all, you paid for this. Why not?"
Tommy had offered to pay for her meal. Back then in the Covenant Island, she paid half of the motel cost. Kim, after yet again felt like she had been violated by Tommy, agreed.
" A girl who can eat. I like that," Tommy unwrapped his burger and had a bite. Kim nearly choked on her drink.
Kim. Grow up. He didn't like you like that. But like as in, he likes you as a friend. Just like you like Jason and Billy and Zack.
" That's them!" the glass door slided with a gentle chime and Trini walked in. Brian walked close behind her. He looked handsome as always. Her bestfriend looked pretty. She wore casual clothes, but there's something different about her. She's falling in love, Kimberly.
How could she? Kim's still thinking that Trini's actual crush was Billy. Brian was a… distraction.
Tommy turned his head and nodded. " Well, at least now I know you're not lying," Kim kicked his leg under the table. He shouted," hey! Punching me was not enough so you have to kick my leg as well? How could I explain the bruises to my parent?"
" Just tell the truth," she grinned cheekily before looking at Trini. They sat near the window and Kim felt a rush of relief swept through her. Brian wouldn't dare to do anything right? Not when everybody could witness his every movement.
Tommy took a handful of fries and put them on his hamburger wrapped paper. " I paid for this," he said rapidly before Kim could protest. " you know you remind me of what, Kim?"
Kim's busy chewing her burger so she just shook her head. Tommy grinned widely and leaned back. " You remind me of a mother hen,"
She swallowed the food in her mouth with difficulty. She kicked his leg once again. There were times when action did more good than words.
" Hey!"
" As a mother hen, I have rights to kick everyone who I think is life threatening," Kim popped the last fries into her mouth.
" Life threatening? You think I'm dangerous?" Tommy leaned over, smiling.
" Deadly,"
Kim, this guy in front of you is your biggest enemy. Okay, maybe after Beverly. You can't have other feelings towards him other than hate. He is your foe. Foes don't make you blush when they stand so close to you or when they smile to you. They don't make your heart beat faster.
Remember? This was Tommy. The hunk.
They spent the time mostly with silence. Kim was too busy watching Trini and Brian to pay any attention to Tommy. Brian made a joke and Trini laughed. They talked a lot. Brian didn't make a physical contact, just a pat on her back. That's all.
Was Tommy right? That she looked like a mother hen?
The Grove Cineplex
- Forty five minutes later
" Do you know what movie they will watch?" Tommy queried.
Kim tip toed to get a better look. Trini and Brian were standing in front of the poster of… Oh, please don't.
" I think they gonna watch that new horror movie," Kim muttered. Of course, Trini loved horror movies. That's why Jason and Zack always took Trini if they wanted to watch that type of movie. " I don't believe this. I hate horror movies! They always surprise us with anything! And blood is everywhere, with scattered body pieces… that's totally gross!" she made a face.
" Trini loves horror movies? Cool!" his face brightened considerably, knowing the new fact.
Kimberly's eyes locked at the two figures about five or six meters from them. Trini was laughing, she looked very happy and Brian, well… So far he's okay. Was she a really paranoid mother hen? " Guys, they all love girls who like to watch horror movies, don't they?"
" Mostly, I guess. I mean, I know I do,"
" Does Marissa love it too?" Kim heard herself asking. The question startled Tommy but before he could answer, Kim nudged his arm. " we better buy ourselves tickets. The next movie will be up in fifteen minutes,"
They moved carefully. Until now, their momentarily roles as detectives went on well. When they finally reached the ticket stand, Tommy yet again surprised Kim by paying for her ticket.
" I have money, you know," she remarked.
" I need change," replied him simply.
Tommy paid for their tickets and Kim pulled him to the refreshment stand. She looked at him with those big doe eyes. She didn't need to say a word, Tommy knew.
" You want popcorn? We just ate like thirty minutes ago," he pointed out, more than slightly amazed that the petite brunette could eat that much. " don't you girls have to count calory in take?"
Kim nodded approvingly. She might not behave like a lady, but hey, she had to be true to herself. She loved to eat. Fortunately no matter how much she ate, she couldn't gain anymore weight. Or height.
" Not me,"
" I know, I think you're hoping the food you ate would be converted into an extra height. Am I correct?" he joked. Of course, he's sprouting nonsense, but like usual, teasing her was never boring.
Her lack of height was sometimes depressing. Somehow when Tommy teased her about it, she felt more miserable than usual.
This was so weird. She had to talk to Trini tonight. Something was definitely wrong here.
" Mine with butter, please. Now, I'd like to go to the ladies room and be careful!" with that said, Kim left. Tommy laughed bitterly but complied. Watching a movie without snacks was just so unheard of.
Five minutes later
" Hurry up, Tommy! They're not here anymore. Come on!" Tommy was waiting in front of the theater. His hands were full with one big bucket of popcorn and two cokes. Kim took the sodas and Tommy fished out the tickets from his pocket.
The theater was not so crowded. They took the seats in the middle row. Kim got the aisle seat while Tommy sat beside her. Kim surveyed the dimmed light theater and after a while she didn't find what she's looking for, panic started to bubble inside her heart.
" Tommy… where are they?" she whispered, grasping the armchair tightly.
" Maybe they're still outside," Tommy sipped his coke and leaned deeper into the chair.
" What if we're wrong? What if they don't watch this one?" Kim turned to him. Her hands pulled at his sleeve impatiently.
" You said that Trini loves horror movies, and they did look at the poster. They probably haven't come in yet,"
Like a cue, the light went off and the music that indicating the movie would begin was played. Kim heart sunk. " The movie is about to start,"
" Just try to relax and enjoy the movie, will you?" Tommy pulled her back and put the popcorn bucket on her lap. " I paid for this, so at least you have to respect me,"
" You're such a materialistic jerk," Kim shook her head in disbelief, managing to make her tone to sound more firmly. Tommy hushed her.
After twenty minutes and there're no sign of Trini and Brian, Kim was deadly sure that she and Tommy had chosen the wrong movie. Okay. Her fault, not Tommy's. As if that wasn't bad enough, the movie was really, trully a horror movie. The actor was good looking, the acting was great but that didn't cover all bloods, shrieks, missing body pieces and creepy mysterious backsound that came along with them.
She didn't want to watch, but curiosity took her and Kim endedly watching with her hands covering her eyes. She unconsiously scooted closer to Tommy and grasped his hand.
Pride aside, she really needed someone to hold onto right now.
" Oh God, Tommy…,"
Yup. Like a truly pathetic, she called out his name almost everytime the cold blood killer showed up and that was like all the time. So basically she called him every ten seconds for eighty five minutes non-stop.
" Kim, are you okay?" he asked when the clown masked killer picked up his knife and climbed up the stairs. Always like that. The victim, who usually was a young girl with big boobs, ran to her bedroom and locked the door before hiding in the closet. Of course, they always dead in the end.
Kim paled. There's a loud voice and the phsyco was standing in front of the closet. The scene changed to the girl who was shaking tremendously. She knew her dead was near. The killer kicked the door open with a loud bang. He extended his big, long knife and stabbed the poor thing six times, bloods were spewing everywhere. He then cut her lifeless body into…
" Yuck!" she said these words a little too loudly and noticed that several people glance at her annoyingly.
Kim couldn't see. That's really disgusting. This surely was the most sickening movie she had ever seen. She felt something shaking and she lifted her head. It was when she realized that she, despite of her abhorrence towards Tommy, was burrying her face in his arm and clinging to him with all her might.
Tommy was laughing silently. " Are you still there, Kim?"
Kim released her grip on his arm and muttered with a slightly embarrassed manner. " You think this is funny, huh?"
" You're the one who wanted to see this," Tommy munched a handful of popcorn. He kept his voice low but the enunciation was clear.
Yeah, but that was because she thought Trini was in the same theater. Only God knows what Brian would do in the darkness like this. Oh boy! Trini! Kim was too busy cuddling to Tommy that she completely forgot about her friend.
Finally, the torture in a form of a horror movie was finished and Kim never felt any happier. The light was on and she quickly scrambled to her feet.
" Where are you going?" Tommy called out.
Kim practically ran out of the theater and imagine how surprise she was when she almost bumped to Brian in front of the entrance. He's here! He's alone!
" Kimberly?" the gentle voice Kim recognized as Trini's called her name.
" Er… hi, Trini!" Kim swallowed hard when the tall Asian girl approaching her. Her confusion was clear on her face.
" What are you doing here?" Trini asked. " you're not… following me, are you?"
Kim could feel her face redden. Trini always thought that Jason was good at busting people when they're lying. The truth was, Trini was as good as him. A master. "No! I'm… you know, I watch that horror movie Zack told us,"
Brian who stood beside Trini squirmed on his feet. He listened to their conversation lazily.
" You watched a horror movie? Kim, are you okay?"
Kim really began to sick hearing those words. This reminded her that she wasn't alone. Where's Tommy?
" Trini, come on," Brian said. " we still have to go to another place,"
" Kim, I have to go," Trini said softly, offering a smile. Kim then looked at Brian and said,
" Excuse us for a moment,"
" What, Kim?"
" Where would he take you?" Kim asked suspiciously. Sherlock Kim was in action.
Trini shrugged, moving her long black hair. " You know that Brian actually asked me to accompany him buying a present for Julia?"
" Julia?"
" His girlfriend in Miami," Trini answered shortly.
" Oh, Trini…," he wanted her to help him pick a gift for his girlfriend? That was so sad. Almost like the novel Kim read sometimes ago.
" It's okay. I have a great time. We watched that comedy film-," Kim cut her off.
" Comedy?" Kim echoed weakly. Oh God. While Trini was laughing vigorously, Kim was seeing that… that sadistic movie with her hand clasping Tommy's hand tightly! This was a disaster!
" I have to go, Kim," Trini leaned over and whispered on Kim's ear. " the answer for your question is, yes, I like him," then she backpedaled and back to Brian.
Kim stood numbly there, watching as Brian and Trini vanish from her sight. Like him? Like who? What question? Oh God! Trini liked Billy! She admitted it! Kim knew it, she'd known it since long!
" What happened?" Tommy was now standing behind her.
" Where have you been?"
Tommy looked at her through his long lashes. " I didn't think it's wise for you to be seen with me,"
Yeah. Tommy's initial words rang in her head. For her or for him? " Well, apparantly, Brian asked Trini to accompany him buying something for his girlfriend,"
" Girlfriend? Ouch," he winced, recalling Kim's story about Trini's crush towards Brian. Kim shook her head, smiling.
" Now, it's okay," Trini liked Billy! She probably thought it was just an onesided feeling that she tried to deceive herself by 'mooning' over Brian. But Tommy didn't need to know that, especially when he and Billy was buddies right now.
" Looks like you're wrong, Sherlock," Tommy pulled out one of his hand from his jeans pockets, looking at her so intently that it made her feeling unease. " it's good though. At least we know that Trini is okay,"
Kim nodded. If she recapped all the events that had happened today, she could say that she actually had a date with Tommy. Hell, she spent half of this day hanging out with him. With Tommy who was someone she had considered as a jerk, the last person she wanted to see and of course, her enemy.
He's annoying alright, however in the same time he's…
Without fighting like they normally did, their conversation went on quite smoothly. He had a rather weird sense of humor and his tongue lashing sometimes was too much to bear. But Tommy's okay.
He paid for their meal, the tickets, the popcorn and the cokes. Not to mention she actually snuggled to him. Fine, that last part was caused by the terrible movie they, no, she had chosen. So it couldn't be counted, right? She would do the same with Jason or the rest of the guys. He hugged her shoulders, but THAT was just an act to fool Beverly.
She was on a 'date' with Tommy Oliver.
The only thing needed to complete the 'date' was just a kiss.
Did she really think that?
Oh no. This was bad. Real bad.
They were NOT on a date. TRINI was the one who was on a date, not she and Tommy. N-O-T to spell it out.
" Kim? You in there? " he leaned down until his face was on the same level with hers. A week ago, Kim undoubtedly would moved backwards and maybe slapped that face. Now? She could practically hear her own heartbeat.
Kim wasn't naïve. She was fully aware with this kind of feelings, either from her experience or from the stories her friends had told her. Kim had only ever experienced it once, when she first saw Max Winthrop on the podium, giving a speech about the Human Rights in a debate competition years ago. Honestly, Kim was utterly, completely falling in love head over heels towards him. She cried for a good two days when he left for Germany. After that the butterflies in her stomach kept still in her belly… until just now.
She COULDN'T be falling in love with him. That was totally absurd. She hated him. HATE. How could her feeling change 180 degree overnight? Nah…
" Yeah, I'm here," she could finally speak.
" What do you want to do now? Are you going someplace? I think we should go home, it's almost eight thirty. We don't want to make your mother think that I, the person who was stranded with you on that island, am kidnapping her daughter, do we?" Tommy laughed lightly.
Since when did he get so nice? The last time she checked Tommy's still an egoistic bastard.
" I think you're right," her brown eyes were unusually lacking of warmth.
On the drive home
" Are you okay? You're awfully quiet since we left the building," Tommy tapped the steer rhythmically.
See? He's asking her if she was okay! That guy who sat behind the steer wasn't Tommy. The Tommy she knew would never ask her if she was okay. Instead, he'd say something that could make her wanted to once again punch him.
Who was she kidding… She's not okay. She's FAR from okay.
" I'm fine,"
" The cat get your tongue? Guess you finally realized that you've been assaulting my eardrums,"
Now THAT was the Tommy she knew. Kim glared at him. " You're pathetic,"
" Me! Why thank you, Hart," he replied with a leer.
Calm down, Kim… One minute to go and you'll be home. You can start to sort this… confusion you have. Don't panic. You can call Trini. She always knows what to say. Or Jason? No! Not him. He'll talk to Zack and they, together would turn my day into a living hell. I'll never hear the end of it. How about-
" Geez! Tommy!" Kim jerked frontwards, the seatbelt held her in place. Tommy had stepped on the brake without any warning. It was when she noticed that they had stopped right in the corner of her block.
" Oh God," he muttered under his breath. Surprise, angry and disbelief flashed across his feature.
" Tommy?"
: That's the end of this chapter and it ended with a cliffhanger: ) Please don't forget to leave your reviews, they encourange me to update. As always, NO flame!
- Yuuri : )
