You and I Both…
Disclaimer : Not mine, I just own everything that's Power Rangers unrelated.
: Thank you for all the reviews, everyone. You certainly knew how to make my day! This is the twentieth chapter, one step closer to the end. Hope you all enjoy!
Chapter Twenty: Cry me a river
" Are you like crazy or what? You haven't told her?" Zack blurted out blatantly, ignoring Trini's warning look and Jason's light jab on his ribs. The two of them understood Tommy's state right now and pointing the finger at him was not the best solution to solve things out. " Tommy, you're really too much!"
" Don't be too malicious," Billy cut in, looking at Tommy's fed-up face and back at Zack. " maybe we should let him talk first,"
Tommy sighed, paying attention to his fingers and not to his friends surrounding him at their usual table. The gang was complete, minus Kimberly who was missing at the moment due to the meeting with Ms. Monique, but she'd be here anytime soon. " I know that, you don't have to tell me how crazy I am. I was so close of telling her but then, when she brought up the story about how her friends' relationship falling apart when one of them moved out to another country… the words seemed to die in my mouth," especially after the hug and her sincere words, the words failed him.
" Now I can go to bed with so much better feeling," Kim said, flashing him a sly grin. Tommy had taken her to the beach to watch the sunset. Their first sunset if she didn't count the sunset on the Covenant Island months ago. It made her both excited and giddy at the same time.
" Really?" Tommy asked, forcing a small smile. This didn't make things any better. It got worse. It's his fault, as always. He's the one who made things got more complex than before. " good, then you can dream about me,"
Kim dropped herself into the warm sand beside Tommy. Without looking at him, she grabbed his arm and hugged it, nuzzling her cheek like a kitten. She grinned rather sheepishly at him. Their relationship was still so new and it felt weird to be affectionate at someone who once upon a time was her sworn enemy."even though this is good, I miss the old times,"
" The old times?"
" Yes. When I hated you so much and you hated me so much and all we did everyday was just trying to piss each other off," that made him smiled fondly at the memories. " don't you?"
Tommy chuckled openedly. " Sorry to disappoint you, Kim, but missing you punching me, slapping me and making me get into detention? Nah…,"
" Good to know you miss it just the same that you remember all the things I've done to you," Kim retorted back and stucked out her tongue. " and for reference, I have never slapped you. But I can do it right now if you want me to," her eyes looked at him innocently.
" We didn't even have time to flirt at each other," Tommy said, absently dipping his fingers into the sand.
" Excuse me? I told you to work on your terrible, lame memory and you did nothing!" Kim pulled back just enough to look up at his glaring eyes. " well, you did flirt with me. That flower you brought me at the hospital, that peck you gave me when I was in capable to shove you away, and how about the party at Zack's? You wanted to have me as your date but you're too bashful to say just that. The same happened with that disastrous date you asked me to. That down payment thing was just a camouflage and you know it as clearly as I am,"
Tommy made no attempt to object. " I remember that kiss you gave me after Mr. Kent went away," it's Tommy's turn to turn the table. " and also the hug when I agreed I'd accompany you playing spies… and how about you cuddling and clinging at me at the cinema? You have liked me, long before you admitted it,"
" Dream on. Don't be too smug, I'm sure you have liked me far before I realized that I maybe have developed feelings towards you,"
" Maybe?" he snorted. " yeah, okay, maybe…,"
" You jerk,"
" Thank you,"
" Are we flirting right now?" Kim leaned closer and batted her eyelashes playfully.
Tommy used her earlier word to answer, " I don't know, maybe,"
Then the two of them remained silent, just enjoying the closeness and simply being together. Tommy wrapped an arm around Kim's shoulder and pressed a kiss on her head when the sun started to go behind the waterline. Kim sighed.
" It's beautiful, don't you think?"
" Not more beautiful than the girl beside me,"
Kim cleared her throat and tried her best to repress her smirk. " That really was a terrible line,"
" Kim," he warned her.
" and cheesy," she continued, enjoying every bit of it. " not too mention so corny,"
" I-,"
" But I can get used to it," Kim finished, gracing him with her brightest smile before leaning over and meeting Tommy's descending lips.
" Sooner or later, she'd find out, Tommy," Trini said solemnly, snapping him back from his reverie. While he went to bed with a little better feeling, the nightmare following it definitely screwed him up. "and it's better if she hears it from you,"
" Don't I know that," Tommy muttered back half frustatingly.
" Hiding this for so long is not very fair to her," Jason added and even though he didn't mean to, his words somehow making the weight on Tommy's shoulder double. " the longer you put this off, the more difficult you'd get out of this problem,"
Before Tommy could response, he felt a pair of arms circling his neck. He glanced at Zack who was nodding at him then looked up to meet Kim's honey chocolate eyes. " Hi, Kim,"
" Hey yourself," Kim pulled her arms from its place around Tommy's neck and moved around to sit at the vacant chair beside him. " so guys, what were you talking about?"
" Nothing," Zack quickly answered, a little bit too fast not to drag some attention from Kim.
" Absolutely," Billy confirmed.
Kim cocked her eyebrows at the awkwardness around the table. " O-kay… am I missing something?"
" No,"
" Yes," Trini kicked Tommy's foot under the table, making him cringe. She kept her face still, ignoring the glare coming from Tommy. " actually, yes, there's something you need to know,"
" Which is…," Kim looked impatiently at Tommy, her hand clutching his tightly. " come on! You're driving me nuts here,"
" Tommy is going to take you dinner tonight," Jason filled in before anybody said anything. Tommy's expression was a mix between relief that he didn't have to tell Kim right now, but with a growing panic because tonight, the truth must come out. " right, Tommy?"
Jason nodded understandingly. Whatever Tommy would tell Kim, it'd be better if he told her in person. Alone and not with a bunch of their friends sitting around. Had known Kim almost the rest of his life, Jason was sured that it wouldn't be pretty.
" Really?" Kim asked, a smile starting to replace the pout on her face.
" Depends on you, that is," Tommy returned her smile with his own. " so what'd you say?"
" You got yourself a date then," Kim nodded. " wait up, I'll order something first,"
Tommy watched as Kim stood up and went to Ernie. As soon as she's far enough, Tommy hissed at Jason, " A dinner?"
" Do you prefer to tell her right now, with us here?" Jason challenged him. At Tommy's silent manner, he said, " thought so,"
" Can't you stay somewhere… do you have any relatives in Angel Grove?" Trini questioned her curiousity. "or I don't know, maybe you can stay with one of the guys?"
" Indeed," Billy pointed out, putting his glass on. " that is an excellent suggestion,"
" Yeah, Tommy, I can ask my folks," Jason nodded in unison with Zack.
Tommy was about to answer when he saw Kim walking back to their table. He frowned when he looked at how pale her face was. Her facial feature was emotionless and it tickled his protectiveness towards her. He opened his mouth to ask what happened but she spoke first.
It was almost under a whisper and Tommy had to lean over to catch her words. " How could you?"
For Tommy it felt like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water into his heart. He swore his heart had stopped beating in his chest. " Kim?" he asked warily.
Kim threw him a look that make him closed his mouth at the last minute. Her eyes were slightly watered and he knew she was on the brink of crying. Without saying another word, Kim grabbed her bag from her chair and practically flew out of the Youth Center.
" Oh, shit," Tommy murmured under his breath and quickly scrambled to his feet.
" Oh man," Zack watched as Tommy run to give Kim a chase. " this wasn't what we expected,"
" Yes, but just how-," Billy asked perplexedly, there's a deep frown on his brow. He turned around and the answer lay one meter from them. " ah, this is-,"
" Nightmare," Jason completed grimly. " apparently Kim knew it from Marissa,"
The redhead approached their table with a bemused look on her face. " What happened? Did I say something wrong?"
Trini sighed. Although she wanted to yell at Marissa, she knew it wasn't her fault. Marissa must have guessed that Kim had known about Tommy's plan to move for Texas. She was his girlfriend after all.
TK
" Kim, Kimberly, wait!" Tommy reached out his hand to grab and turned her to face him. It upset him to see her face redden, obviously holding back her tears. " listen to me,"
Kim tried to pull her arm but he held on tight. Growling, she raised her free hand and slapped him hard. The sudden movement startled him but he didn't let go. "Right now, my ears just don't want to listen to you. I don't want to see you!"
" I can explain," he said desperately, moving one step forward. " Kim,"
" You lied to me. Why should I listen to someone who's lying to me?" her eyes were steely, just like her voice. " you've never told me about this. You didn't even say a word about this when," she made a motion with her hand. " when I told you about Gina. When I opened up myself to you… I can't believe this," Kim looked away.
" That's why I couldn't tell you that time," Tommy urged. The slap she gave him was like a sharp blade pushing right through his heart but he knew it had no compare to what she's feeling right now. " I just couldn't bring up myself to say the words. Not when you-,"
" When I was what, Tommy?" she snapped severely. " you think I'm such a poor, fragile girl who can't accept the fact that my boyfriend will move to Texas? You really think I would drop on my knees and break down? How do you think this make me feel? I admit that it broke my heart when I found out that you're moving, but it crushed me to know that you didn't tell me… it's been almost a week,"
" I'm really sorry, Kim. I didn't mean to any of these to happen," Tommy rubbed the back of his neck. He had hurt her and he didn't ever want to do that. " I'm going to tell you, tonight, at the dinner,"
" Does any of the guys know this?" Kim asked, biting her lips so hard. She had the feeling of what his answer's gonna be, but she wanted to hear it straight from his mouth.
" They do," he said helplessly.
Kim smirked bitterly, folding her arms over her chest. " And you told Marissa, but not me. That's really assuring, Tommy,"
Right. So she heard it from Marissa. Recalling Marissa's initial crush at him, Kim wouldn't like it to know that he told her but not Kim. Except that he didn't. "I didn't. You can ask Jason if you don't believe me. She's there when I talked to him. It's merely an accident,"
" I don't know, Tommy. This is too much for me to take," Kim looked down, grasping her hands together until her knuckles turned white. " I need to go home and think about this," her steps stopped when Tommy followed her. " and I don't want to talk to you,"
" Kimberly, Beautiful…,"
" Please, Tommy,"
Tommy to Jason
" I'm so dead, Jase. I'm screwed," he nearly whined over the receiver.
" Tommy man, give her time. You know it shocked her,"
" What should I do? She rejected all my phone calls," Tommy grabbed the teddy bear, the birthday present from Kim. He had put it on the nightstand and sometimes, when he felt somewhat melancholy and missed her, he would sleep with it. That was one fact that nobody beside him knew and also one fact that would make his life turn into a living hell if Jason or Zack found out.
" Like I've said, give her time. I hate to tell you this, bro, but you've hurt her by not telling her sooner and well, it'll take time,"
" And she knew that from Marissa, which make things get worse,"
" I've known her for so long, Tommy. The reason she's acting so… cold, is because she's afraid. Her cold exterior, not wanting to accept your calls…she just doesn't want to break down in front of you. Kim being cold to you is just a mask to cover her tears,"
" Gee…That makes me better, thanks, Jase," Tommy said sardonically into his pillow. He shifted a little to find a better position.
" My point is, you don't have to take her actions so much into your heart. Sometimes that can make you lose your focus and everytime it happens, well, you're not thinking or doing very good. Don't blame yourself, okay,"
' Don't blame yourself…' Kim had said it to him so many times, everytime he started the guilty feeling trip. He said he'd be okay because he had her to remind him. But now? She wasn't here to comfort him, to tell him everything would be alright. She didn't even want to talk to him.
" You hear me, Tommy? Don't lose your head and don't blame yourself,"
That's correct. He had Jason and the others. And Jason's right, all he needed to do right now was to make sure that he didn't lose Kim. But how about his father? Tommy knew for certain that this was such a precious chance. He couldn't let his father down.
And Kimberly? His beautiful and the first girl he ever gave his heart to.
Kimberly to Trini
" Don't be too hard on him, Kim. He's just as miserable as you are right now,"
" I hate him for telling Marissa," Kim said stubbornly, throwing the last tissue paper to the floor. She had cried herself out and now her eyes were red and puffy. It'd show tomorrow but she was just too upset to give a damn care.
" She heard it by accident. Jason told me that,"
" Then I hate him for hiding this so long from me. He's practically lying to me,"
" He didn't know how to let you know without hurting you,"
" Didn't want to hurt me, huh? A little bit too late for that, don't you think?" Kim pulled the cover more tightly around her. "He called a couple of times and I didn't accept any of those," Kim said, her eyes wandering to the pinch-my-nose bear sitting on her drawer. She remembered about the slap this afternoon and a knot formed inside her stomach.
" Kim, it is in the time like this that he really needs you. Don't turn your back at him,"
Kim screamed into her pillow. She had to release all the stress and got spotted by her mother wouldn't do a bit. After she cooled down, she replied." I won't. I just, I need time to think about this. Let me tell you something, I'm not sure I can see him at school tomorrow and not wanting to cry,"
" I appreciate your honesty,"
" It's not like we've never fought before …," Kim remarked although she realized that this time, the situation was completely different. " I'm not even sure if we're still together," not after the slap. It got to be hurt. Her palm was still stinging for a while after it landed on Tommy's cheek. She didn't mean to, it just… she didn't even realize what she'd done, not until his puppy dog look bored into her.
" What? Of course you two are still together! Don't you want to make Beverly's eyes fell off their sockets?" Trini laughed. " you just have to see her face when Tommy came to your locker and threw his arm around your shoulder! Just wait till she sees you and him kissing. That'll knock her into coma,"
The images of Beverly lying on the hospital bed cracked a tiny smile from Kimberly. " Hmm.. that'd make my day," she said in a wicked way.
" You bet," then the playfulness in Trini's voice replaced with more serious tone. " look, Tommy could freely tell us because we're just his friends. Do you understand what I mean? It's not a big deal to tell us. But you, that's another matter. You're someone he cares so much and that's why, even though logically you're the first person he should tell, he simply couldn't. You mean a lot to him and he couldn't bear to hurt you,"
With that, her Asian friend left Kimberly something to think about for the rest of the night.
Oliver residence
- 09.45 p.m.
Tommy descended the stairs, producing loud thumps when he did so. He found his father in the living room and had already opened his mouth when he saw that his Dad was in the middle of a phone conversation. Benjamin gave him a nod and told Tommy to sit with the gesture of his hand.
" Yes, I understand. Okay, yes. Goodnight,"
At the time Ben clicked off the cordless, Tommy was immediately on his feet. Ben regarded him with an amused look. " Yes, Tommy?"
" Dad, I've made my decision,"
: One chapter down, one more to go. I've been writing this fic for quite sometimes now and I'll be missing this ; ) So, thank you for reading and please, don't forget to leave your reviews. They brightened up my days. NO FLAME!
- Yuuri ; )
