Kimberly was thankful to see that only Zack and Jason were up around the fire as they walked back to the group. Kimberly was happy to not have to face an empty accusation from Tanya at this time in the morning. Jason had one eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face as Kimberly walked over to him.
"Quit it," Kimberly threatened through a gritted smile to him as she sat in to a chair next to him.
"Anyone else up yet?" Tommy asked as he grabbed a towel and his wash bag from his tent.
"Nope, although I think Billy's alarm will be going off shortly," Jason replied.
"No need for an alarm with your dulcet tones," called a groggy Rocky from his tent which had those awake laughing.
"Well if you get up now you can have a bacon sandwich," Zack responded from by the fire, in which he was preparing some food.
"Whatever happened to vacations and breakfast in bed?" Rocky questioned.
"Since I'm not being paid to be your waiter Rocko".
Tommy left the conversation at that point to go freshen up in the shower block. Kimberly couldn't help herself watching him walk away. Something she much regretted as she remembered she was sitting next to the eagle eyed Jason.
"So, what were you two up to at the early hours of this morning" Jason quietly asked Kim, .
"Oh nothing Jase. I had gotten up to do some yoga and he was just coming back from a run so joined me. I apologised for the letter, in a roundabout way he said he was fine with it and we've agreed to be friends." Kimberly hushed back, knowing what Jason was suggesting.
"Friends?"
"Yes, friends Jason. He's happily with Kat and I have no desire to be a home wrecker."
Jason nodded at this. Jason would love nothing more for his two best friends to be together again, but he also was friends with Kat and knew that it was not fair to her. It was just that Kimberly and Tommy had always had something special. Something that himself and the others had longed to find in a significant other.
"Good, as long as you don't end up hurting yourself in the process I'm happy for you."
"I'm fine Jase. Promise. And if not you'l be the first I come too." Kimberly said as she leant in to Jason as he put a brotherly arm round her.
Gradually over the next 30 minutes the others started to rise. It seemed everyone had for the most part missed a hangover which was good as they had a 2 hour hike to get them to the lake. They left the campsite around 9am and headed off, with the guys leading the group and the girls bringing up the rear. It was quite a steep climb down which had them all dreading the hike back later that day.
"Come on guys, it will be worth it. It's going to be a hot one today and you just know how refreshing it's going to be in that water," Billy said trying to persuade the group that he was not taking them on the worst idea ever.
After what felt like an eternity, the trees started to thin out and the terrain flattened, they could make out the lake ahead of them. Kimberly had to give Billy his due, this was a beautiful spot. She could even admit that this might even top her favourite lake spot in Angel Grove.
They walked along the sandy shore of the lake to where there was a large patch for them to set up base for the day. Not far away was a hut which did kayak and boat hire which the boys took no time to go an investigate, leaving the girls to set up the base laying out everyone's towels.
"Why is it when boys get within any proximity of water and some sort of toy they regress back to kids?" Trini asked watching at how excited they all were.
"Beats me, I'd much rather chill here and attempt a tan top up," Kim replied as she lathered up with sun lotion. She had felt self conscious wearing a two piece so had opted for a cute pink one piece. It had been so long that Kimberly had taken the time to lay on a beach, and she wasn't going to let her own insecurities get in the way of that. Years of being pitted against other girls in gymnastics, and then other women at the bar she worked at slowly etched away at her confidence in herself. The girls settled themselves in a line and watched the boys make their way in to the lake with their selected water craft.
The girls laid on the beach chatting away and catching Kimberly up to all the latest gossip of people she would have known in the area. Trini, boring of the conversation, and wanting to find out how Aisha was feeling towards Rocky, decided to play a game of 'Kiss, Marry, Avoid'.
"Ok, ok, I've got a game we can play girls. Aisha, if you had to sleep with one of the guys, marry one of them or get rid of one, out of ... hmmm..." Trini looked out to the lake and pretended like she hadn't already come up with the names, leaving Kimberly praying that she wasn't about to be probed about Tommy. "Let's see, Zack, Jason and hmmm Rocky?" Trini said whilst swinging her head back to face Aisha, which had Kimberly and Tanya laughing.
"Oh, original Trini," Aisha laughed back whilst rolling her eyes, " Well, I guess... sorry Jase you're being booted out. Zack for..." Aisha pretended to hesitate, "a kiss and you can work the rest out" which had the other girls squealing.
"Sure, real mature guys," and they fell about laughing which quickly drew the boys attention as they were in the shallows of the lake.
"Are you girls gonna come and join us at any point?" Zack called out.
Reluctantly the girls pulled themselves away from their sunbathing spot and walked down to the waters edge. All of the girls poking their toes in to the cold water.
"It's so cold though," Tanya said to the boys.
"It's fine once you're in," Adam responded from the ring that he was standing in, his top half of his body hanging over the top of the ring.
"Ughhh, okay," Tanya said breathing in and then making a run in to the water, opting for the quicker method of getting wet.
Trini, Aisha and Kim all looked at each other.
"On three?" Kim said holding her hand out to each of them who were stood next to her. The girls nodded and counted, "One... Two... Th- Ahhh!" Before the girls had had a chance to make their way in the boys had all gotten nearer and splashed the girls.
"Well that's no fair," Kimberly said pouting her bottom lip out.
"Tell someone who care's Kim," Jason laughed as he climbed back in to his kayak.
The group took it in turns to go out on the stuff that they hired, and whilst the others waited various games including Marco Polo and tossing a ball around were played.
Jason, Aisha, Trini and Rocky were having their stint out on the equipment whilst the others were tossing the ball around.
"I don't know how you boys can find hours of entertainment from just throwing this ball around," Kimberly remarked as she through the ball to Tommy who was on her right.
"Me neither Kim. Can we not play something else?" Tanya responded. Kim smiled to herself, perhaps Tanya was finally warming to her, "How about shoulder wars?" Or maybe not.
"Kim, me verses you. Let's choose our team mate"
Kimberly hadn't done any real physical activity in a long time and for sure knew she was going to be embarrassed by Tanya who no doubt would be stronger than her. Kimberly already felt insecure about the shadow of her former self that she was and she really didn't fancy this being highlighted in front of her friends who knew her as the original Pink Ranger.
"Why don't we let the boys go first?" Kimberly suggested, but before she knew it she felt Zack swim under her legs and hoist her up on to his shoulders.
"Nahhh Kim, we've got this." Zack said whilst wiping the water from his face, "The original black/pink duo. Let's show them a thing or two,"
Great, Kim thought to herself. She felt even more out of place as she was now hoisted 5ft out of the water for the rest of the group to look at her.
"Tommy, you're with me," Tanya pointed to him.
"You guys are so going down. I know Tommy's greatest weakness," Zack laughed to himself.
Tanya was hoisted in to the air with Tommy under neath her, leaving Billy and Adam to referee.
"Okay guys, you know the rules. No scratching, no biting, that's more aimed at you Zack," to which he shouted in defiance "That was ONE time".
"3, 2, 1... go!" Billy shouted.
Adam did his best interpretation as a sports pundit throughout the wrestle, as Tommy and Zack moved round in a circle egging their partners on.
"Come on Kim, make the first move, get in quick. Show her what the pterodactyl is made of,"
"Will you shut up Zack, I don't even want to play this," Kimberly shrieked in frustration.
"This is gonna be easy work Tanya, she's already facing defeat," Tommy encouraged Tanya.
"Aaaaand Tanya has taken the first lunge at Kim, which Zack has miraculously managed to dodge Kim out of the way from, all that Hip Hop Kido has certainly kept him light on his feet. Will Kim take this opportunity to make her move, and ahhh no. Team Tommy and Tanya have taken a second lunge and successfully met Kimberlys shoulders." Adam shouted in to his fake microphone.
Kimberly knew she couldn't give up, so played Tanya at her game and grabbed on to her shoulders as Kimberly channelled in to her gymnastics core and tried with all her might to keep her balance on Zack's shoulders.
Loud enough for Kim to hear, but not so that the boys below would, Tanya warned Kim "Believe me, you have a lot worse coming your way. Kat knows about your morning jaunt with Tommy."
Kim tried with all her might to shove Tanya over, "Well you must be feeding her with empty lies as I don't see no issue with going for a walk with a friend. What a bad friend you must be getting her all upset for no reason." Kimberly responded through gritted teeth as they continued to wrestle with each other.
"I now go over to chief referee Billy, what are your odds on who is going to win round 1."
"Well Adam, Kimberly's frame is well suited for balance and means that Zack should have an easier time keeping grounded. However, Tanya packs a mean punch which will definitely have it's benefits in pushing the opposition to the floor."
Tanya looked at Kimberly with spite and paused her movements as the boys below them continued shouting their encouragement for their respective team mate. "Well at least my friends don't all talk about me behind my back, saying how I used to look so much better before I moved away". That one cut Kimberly deep, and whilst she was caught up in her thoughts Tanya used that moment to make her final move and shoved Kimberly off of Zacks shoulders.
Kimberly used the moment of her being under water to her advantage as she fought back tears, eventually allowing herself to come to see Tommy and Tanya cheering, and Zack sulking in defeat.
"That's fine, that was the warm up anyway. We go again," Zack challenged.
Kimberly didn't even listen to the response from the others as she made her way out of the lake, not wanting to spend any more time round Tanya. She tried to not think over the words she had just said, but they were clinging to the inside of her, repeating over 'Used to look so much better'.
"Kim! ... Kim, come on don't be a sore loser," Tommy called at her.
"Hey Kim, you can't leave me hanging here," Zack tried enticing her back. Kimberly didn't turn round and kept on walking back to the towels. She could hear Zack saying that he was going to take Billy for his next round and was talking a new strategy to him. Kimberly just reached the towels when she heard someone running up behind her. Wiping the tears away she turned round and saw that Tommy had chased after her.
"I'l be back in a bit," she said with a forced smile. Feeling her tears prickling in her eyes again she looked over at a group of people that were gathering to start an open-water swimming event.
Tommy reached up to Kimberlys chin to bring her facing him again.
"You know one of the benefits of us ever dating is that I know when something is up with you."
Kimberly blushed at his soft touch. His hands on her face felt so good and wholesome.
"I'm fine, Tommy."
"Well, you won't mind if I sit here and keep you company then," Kimberly sighed, not really wanting to be around anyone at the moment.
"Tommy, i'm fine. I just hit my head in when I landed in the water, I just didn't want to make a big thing of it," Kimberly lied.
Tommy looked at her with concern and touched her shoulder with one hand and used the other to move her hair around to check for a lump or cut.
"Where does it hurt," Tommy asked.
Kimberly, knowing that he wasn't going to find anything, pushed him away.
"I'l be fine, honestly. I just think I need some quiet time and it will ware off." Kimberly sat down on her towel.
"Go join the others, they're waiting for you to come back." She smiled up at him putting on a brave face. Tommy hesitantly looked between her and the rest of the group.
"Please Tommy, I'm fine. Just can you not say anything to them, I don't want Billy going in to his first aider mode. I just need to take 10 out." Tommy nodded.
"I'l be back up in a bit to check on you if you don't come back in the water though," and he slowly made his way back to the water leaving Kimberly to her thoughts.
She couldn't imagine her own friends would talk about her like that, but then she couldn't help but think why Tanya had pulled that information out of from. Someone must have said something for her to say that. And how had she known that her and Tommy had spent the morning together? That again pushed Kimberly to think that people were talking about her. Her own insecurities that led her to break up with Tommy were edging back in to her life once again. She let out a sigh in frustration. She really was her own worst enemy, never mind the likes of Lord Zedd and Patrick.
Pushing past her thoughts she was happy to see that Jason was making his way back in with the other three. Opting for once to not be over-come by her own insecurities, Kimberly mentally dug her negative thoughts in to the sand next to her. Deciding she would be rational and just speak to the others about what Tanya had said, Kimberly got up and made her way back down to the waters edge.
"You feeling better now?" Tommy asked Kim, to which she nodded with a faint smile. "Fancy coming out with me on the kayak?" Tommy asked Kim.
"Hmmmm" Kimberly thought out loud, was it worth the next tirade from Tanya. Kim looked over to Tanya and could see that she was already looking at her and glaring.
"I'l even do most of the paddling," Tommy bargained.
"Fiiine, but I'm going upfront." She said as she walked over to Jason who was climbing out of his kayak he was sharing with Trini.
"Did you two have a nice time?" Kimberly asked.
"Well we would have if this dingus hadn't tried racing Rocky and got a bit over zealous with his balance, resulting in us capsizing in the middle of the lake." Trini said with a scowl.
"Oh man, how long am I going in to your bad books for with that? I got us back in the boat didn't I?" Jason said.
"Eventually!' Trini said whilst she held the kayak still for Kim to climb in, feeling the dip of the boat to know that Tommy was now set in.
"Have fun!" Trini smirked as they pulled away out in to the lake.
Kimberly couldn't help but think that she was only antagonising whatever problem Tanya had with her, but in the same token she knew she wasn't doing anything wrong, and kind of relished in the fact that she knew she was winding her up. That was sweet enough pay back for her unkind comments earlier for now. Kimberly was quite enjoying herself paddling along, admittedly she was barely using any energy and was relying on Tommy's power for the boat to actually move.
The two were making small talk as they paddled forwards, aiming for a small island in the middle of the lake. They had managed to get about 200 metres out when a loud crack, reminiscent of a gun being shot echoed round the lake. Kimberly whipped her head back round in horrow. He couldn't have found her here, could he?