You and I Both…

Disclaimer : I own nothing, just characters and places that are Power ranger unrelated.

: Thank you so much for all your reviews : ) this is the eleventh chapter. Kinda short, but it will fill in the cliffhanger I left you guys in the end of the previous chapter. Anyway, enjoy the story!


Chapter eleven: Thus come another storm

" Tommy?"

The guy looked like he wasn't even listening. He gripped the steeringwheel tightly. This just wasn't possible. Right?

Kim frowned, turning her head back to the street to look for anything that had made Tommy went pale. Almost as white as the guy in the movie before the killer, who soon revealed to be his younger stepbrother, multilated him with a chainsaw.

Euww…… Tommy had reminded her of the number one disgusting scene that she wanted to forget.

Kim wasn't sure what struck Tommy, but what she saw right now had dumbfounded her. She blinked a couple of times to make sure that what she looked at was real.

Oh boy, could it be more real than THAT?

Even with the distance and the dark, Kim was sure that it was her mother kissing with a man in front of a white mazda. Not just a simple peck, but a passionate kiss that made Kim wants to hide in the deepest hole. Couldn't they do it inside the car? More privacy?

She knew her Mom was dating someone but watching her own mother kissing heatedly in the middle of the street was just… horrible. Kim moved slightly and faced Tommy. If she studied his face closer, it looked like his expression was not too far from hers.

Besides the kissing couple, there're only a brown white stripes cat walked across the street and an old man smoking on his porch. Mr. Parker! My God. Her mom was smooching in front of the nosiest neighbour anyone could have.

Kim's body shivered with a strange feeling. Why would Tommy react badly towards a cat and a nosy neighbour? Or he probably was shocked by the 'interesting' sight a few yards before them?

That didn't make sense at all. They could see that everyday in school and yet he reacted like he'd seen a ghost.

Unless…

She quickly spun around in her seat and found that Tommy was now looking at her. His eyes pierced at hers darkly.

" Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he whispered.

" Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" she echoed.

Tommy rubbed the back of his neck and then asked after taking a deep breath of air," Is that… your mother?"

Oh no. Kim froze. This was so not happening. " Don't tell me if that is your father," please?

Tommy was not as dense as some people might think about him. He got the implication behind the question. And when Kim didn't answer, he could figure out himself. Tommy would recognize that car anywhere. That was his father's. That was his father and her mother who were kissing out there.

Just what he needed to complete this day.

" So," said Kim when her voice returned. Caroline hugged Mr. Oliver for the last time before she got in the house. As a gentleman, he escorted her to the door before going back to his car and driving away. " your dad and my mom… are dating?"

After that kiss, was it possible if they're 'just friends'? Tommy raised his shoulder in a shrug. He looked as shaky as she was. " Looks like it. I don't know,"

So Mr. Oliver was the friend her mom told Kim. Would friends kiss like that? They could win an Oscar nominee for Best Kiss if such a category was exsisted. That was her mother. Seeing her mother kissing with an unknown man who oh so coincidentally was also TOMMY's FATHER was not appalling at all.

Kim never knew that Tommy's parents were divorced. She always thought that he had a one big happy family, with dogs too perhaps.

" Where's your mother?" Kim asked softly. Family was always a hard spot for her, that's why she rarely talked about it. She loved her mother but it saddened her still when she's thinking about her dad.

" They divorced three years ago," Tommy leaned back, closing his eyes. " now Mom lives in Canada with Julian. Her new hubby," he added fast.

" Same here," Kim said weakly. " my Dad's in Miami. He has a girlfriend, Carrie. I never met her though,"

They sat in silence for a full two minutes. The only sound was Tommy's jeep's machine. Neither Tommy nor Kim knew what to say. Their mother and father dated each other. It's more like faith did really enjoy playing with them.

What if they got married? Kim didn't hesitate for even a second to voice that out to the guy who sat beside her. " Tommy. You do know that if somehow the relationship is serious," Kim got the gut to say that this was serious. That's why Caroline looked so happy for the past few weeks. " there's a big chance that we, that they could-," the word 'married' refused to leave her mouth.

" Get married," Tommy continued. They would be siblings. Tommy and Kimberly. Living in the same house, sharing bathroom together, fighting over the remote control, eating on the same table… he would meet her 24/7.

Tommy had always known that the sudden changing in Benjamin Oliver was not ordinary. Sure, he got a better position at work here on Angel Grove, but that just wasn't it. Tommy blurly guessed that it must have something to do with a woman, but Tommy was never sure about that… Now he's 100 percent sure.

He didn't know how to react. Benjamin and Jennifer Oliver had been married for twenty five years before they decided to split up. They'd never fought in front of their kids, but the tense was always there. Just said that Tommy had prepared himself for the worst thing coming so that when Ben proclaimed their decision to take a short cut, divorce, that didn't shock Tommy too much.

He's upset and disappointed, but if that was the best way for them he wouldn't say anything. Now that he knew his Dad was dating a woman… Tommy was thinking whether David knew about this. His brother had returned to San Fransisco two days ago.

Tommy's Dad dated regularly but nothing special, just dinners and something like that. Who knew that Ben would meet his 'soulmate' in here, on Angel Grove?

" Will your Dad become an evil stepfather like in those storybooks?" Kim asked. Tommy noticed her hands clutching her skirt tightly. A small smile broke across his face.

" As long as I remember, most of the 'evils' are the stepmoms,"

" I know. But I could assure you that my mom wouldn't treat you like Cinderella," Kim grinned bitterly. Confusion still swirled around her head. " or at least I can guarantee you that she won't kick you under the table or punch your stomach,"

" Good,"

Kim nodded. How come her mother never told her? In their conversation in the middle of the romantic candlelight dinner Mr. Oliver must have mentioned his son who went to Angel Grove high, right? Her mom probably had told him about her, Kimberly who went to the same school! Judging from Tommy's reaction, she could tell that he was equally blind. When her mom would tell her? One day before the wedding day?

Oh God. This was like a dream. This shouldn't happen to her!

Kim, If you did actually like Tommy and now your mom had a thing with Tommy's Dad. Wasn't that just disgusting? Her heart spoke softly. It was.

But since Kim didn't like Tommy, it's okay. Well, not OKAY but at least she didn't have to stress out over her feelings towards him. Because there's nothing between him and her. AND it would be like that till the end of time.

" Honestly, I don't know what to say, Kim," Tommy turned his head. He sounded kind of dazed. No clue as to what had really happened.

" Same here,"

" I think I'm a little angry because my Dad never said anything about dating," especially dating your mom! " I want to get angry, but… I don't think it's fair. I mean, I could see that my Dad was tremendously happy lately. He's not like that back then in Texas," Tommy said quietly. Was this a heart to heart session?

Kim only looked at him, not saying anything.

" My Dad is dating your mom? God, Kim. That is so…if she's anything like you, I think I have to tell my Dad to rethink his decision before they going too far," he said with a smirk. If things had already been awkward for them before, now everything would get more uncomfortable than ever.

" Keep going!" Kim shot him her best glare and challenged, " don't let me stop you. Go ahead, assaulting my eardrums like I assulted yours,"

" You do know I hate you. Right, Kim?" his smile lessened and Kim felt like there's an invisible hand slap her face.

" Sure I do. I hate you too," she tried to match his bold voice but found it nonetheless useless.

" I know I should hate your mom because… well, she's your mom,"

" Like I should hate your dad because he's your dad, is that so?" was there no more sensible reason than THAT? I hated you so I automatically hated your mom too.

Her brown eyes twinkled in the dark. Tommy leaned over and muttered, " Yes,"

" Fine,"

" But the truth is," Tommy suddenly got the push from out of nowhere and he pushed a strand of hair behind Kim's ear. Kim had twisted her hair into a messy knot on the top of her head. " I actually don't,"

" Don't what? Hate me or hate my mom?" Kim. Kimberly Hart. Breathe… this just a guy.

Tommy pulled back, like he just realized what he just did. " You really need to ask? Think by yourself. Your brain needs practise,"

Kim's mouth opened but no words came out. She's narrowing her eyes while Tommy started the engine. After eight seconds he stopped the car in front of her house.

Kim calmed herself before saying," Look, you have to know how painful this is for me to say, thanks. For today. And about your Dad… I won't comment anything and same as you, I don't either," with that she unbuckled herself and grabbed the door.

" You don't hate me or you don't hate my dad?" same question and he got the same cold respond.

" You're so clever. Still need to ask?"

Kimberly Hart vs Caroline Hart

" Hi Honey," her mom greeted Kim with the sweetest smile. Caroline was standing in front of the fridge, pouring herself an orange juice.

" Mom, are you dating Mr. Oliver?" Kim asked, looking directly into her mom's eyes. It had been a long day and Kim wanted to get over it as soon as possible. Caroline's smile somewhat vanished and she put the glass on the counter.

" How do you-, ah, you saw us," Caroline stated, not asking. Kim could tell her mom was nervous. Well, she should.

" I saw you alright. But you don't answer my question, Mom," Kim hated Tommy so much. She had been since the very first time she met him in Angel Grove hallway. Now her mom was dating his father. How lucky she was?

" Ben is an old friend of mine," Caroline pulled out a chair and sat. " we went to high school together,"

Kim felt like someone had turned her stomach upside down. So they were high school sweetheart. Kim knew for a fact that her mother didn't meet Darren, the man who then she got married with and also the Kimberly's father, until she graduated from high school. They met in the university.

" He's your ex - boyfriend?" Kim could believe she actually had this kind of conversations with her Mom. Kim was 'interrogating' her. Secretively, Kim wondered if she would act the same if only the man wasn't Tommy's Dad but just somebody else.

" We're best friends, but then we went to different directions. He moved to Miami and got married with a nice woman, Jennifer," Tommy's mother. Kim mused. Caroline went on, " we still keep in touch. Then I found out that they're no longer together and he contacted me last month that he'dmove to Angel Grove,"

You two met and got reacquainted. He's single, she's single. I see. " Mom, do you know that he by chance has a son who goes to Angel Grove high too?"

Her mom's expression was so blunt like someone had written the word 'BUSTED' across her feature. Kim lifted herself up to the counter and said, " Mom, are you evergoing to tell me?"

" I know that you and Thomas don't have the best relationship,"

" What?" how could she know that? Kim never said anything about Thomas to her mom. Not a word. Suddenly another thought popped in her head. Her mother didn't even say anything when she knew that Kim was stranded on that island with him!

" I was walking towards the guestroom the other day when I accidentally heard your conversation with Trini," Caroline said, her brown eyes looked at Kim apologetically.

Kim couldn't blame her on that. She admitted that everytime she talked about Tommy, her voice would rise automatically. Kim recalled she said something like, ' Yeah, Tommy Oliver is a jerk! I hate him! Hate, hate him!'

That, obviously, was so easy to understand and her Mom had probably heard it. Or was it the one where Kim said that Tommy was an 'unresponsible bastard'? Well, both could be taken as signs that Kim and Tommy didn't have the best relationship.

" So then you decided that since I have this brawl with Tommy, you don't have to tell me? So I won't get in your way? Is that it?" Kim's voice rose a little.

" I'm trying to find the right time to tell you, Kim,"

Gosh! She's just telling Kim that she was dating a guy, not marrying one! She took it all too seriously. Or she probably was serious. Kimberly inhaled a deep breath and said, " Okay, just forget it. Whatever happened, happened,"

Caroline looked extremely grateful. A soft smile formed on her face. " I know you will understand,"

Honestly, Kim didn't understand at all. However, like Tommy had told her, Kim hadn't seen her mom so happy and alive since long. Fine. Kim could deal with this Mr. Benjamin Oliver.

How about his son? Thomas Oliver? Would she ever manage to deal with him?

This might be just a bad dream. Tomorrow she'd wake up and everything would be back to normal. Was that possible?

Tommy Oliver vs Benjamin Oliver

" How's your date with Ms. Hart, Dad?" Tommy asked his Dad once he kicked the front door close. His father was sitting in the living room. The gentle song of Rod Steward's played on the radio. He is falling in love.

" Tommy, hi, Son," Ben was surprised but he didn't cover it all that good. He moved to turn off the radio. Tommy walked into the living room and dropped to the fluffy chair. He made himself comfortable which meant he wouldn't leave the room until he knew all the sordid details.

" She looked very pretty tonight," Tommy said again, watching a faint blush colored his father's cheeks. His dad was blushing. This was wrong. His Dad didn't blush. Never. Then Ben cocked his eyebrows. Tommy quickly filled him in. " I was dropping Kimberly off when I accidentally saw your car," the car and a couple kissing in front of it.

" Kimberly?"

" Kimberly Hart," Tommy nodded. The image of the perky brunette flashed in his mind. The hug, the punch, the kick until her last words before she got out of the jeep.

"You have figured that out yourself," that's Benjamin Oliver for you. Always right to the point. He beamed widely. " I was about to tell you,"

" Oh really?" Tommy was interested. When? Tomorrow? Next month? Next year?

" I thought you and her… you two don't get along so well," Tommy's father was surely full of surprises. " you said you dropped her off? You're hanging out with her?"

No, he didn't. He just… kept her company, paying for her meal, her ticket, her popcorn and being someone she's clinging at. They were not hanging out.

" Dad, you're dating her mom and you didn't even bother to tell me? Don't tell me you didn't know that Kim and I go to the same school,"

" I know that. I was looking for the best way to tell you," Ben sat back on the couch and folded his arms over his chest. " like I said, I know that you two don't get along very well,"

Tommy didn't even want to ask where the hell his father got that information. " If we don't make peace until, say, five years from now, will you keep it from me for that long?"

" Of course not, Son,"

Tommy shook his head. So much had happened in a short period of time. One thing hadn't finished and yet came another one. These were all too much for his brain to take.

He didn't want to blame her. Hell, he couldn't blame her.

Everything was so complicated. His feeling was one of the complicated things. What feeling? She hated him and the feeling was mutual.

Wasn't it?


: That's the end of the chapter. So Kim's mother and Tommy's father are dating. Things got more complicated. Please, don't forget to leave your reviews, let me know what you think. As always, NO FLAME! Thank you for reading and see you in the next chapter.

- Yuuri : )