Tommy
"Hello?" I said, bringing the cell phone to my ear. In the background, I could hear traffic and shuffling of papers. "Hello?" I asked again.
"Mr. Oliver! Sorry about that. I was trying to find your file. I have some good news for you!" Mr. Andrews said, my lawyer sounding rushed as he spoke. I sat back in my chair, turning it so I was facing the door of my office. It was currently lunch time at Reefside High School. All the students were either in the cafeteria or outside, enjoying the bright sunshine. The teachers, like myself, were taking advantage of the free time to eat our own lunches and grade papers.
"What is it?" I asked. I wished he would hurry up. Mr. Andrews charges by the hour and he liked to take his time so that he could make more off of my already poor ass.
"Your divorce is officially final as of 8 am this morning. The clerk sent me over the signed papers. You are a free man." He announced, happiness in his voice. I frowned, running a hand through my short brown hair.
"That's good to know." I replied, not really sure how I felt about the news.
"Congratulations. I know it's been quite the ordeal, but I think you ended up with the better deal. Miss Hibbard only ended up with what little she wanted, and you were able to keep the house and all of your stuff."
"Yeah." I said, barely hearing him.
"I'll be sending your bill to you in the mail along with a copy of your divorce papers. You might receive them from the clerk as well. It's never a bad thing to have too many of them, I suppose."
"Right. Thank you, Mr. Andrews. I need to head back to work now."
"Of course! Take care of yourself, Tommy. Enjoy the single life while you're still young enough to."
"Sure thing." I hung up the phone, tossing it onto my desk. Leaning my head back against the chair, I gazed up at the ceiling. Divorced at 28. Definitely not the life I had planned, that's for sure.
I'm not even sure what I had expected out of life. When I first met my wife – make that ex-wife, I guess – we were seventeen. I was set to graduate from high school and thought I knew what I wanted in life. We started dating after my previous girlfriend broke up with me. It wasn't even something I thought I wanted to do. Katherine was nice and sweet. She was caring during the toughest time in my life. I knew she liked me, and our friends said we looked good together. I figured it wouldn't do much harm in giving it a shot. We dated for three years before I finally popped the question. We got married six months later. We were married for almost six years before I began to realize the problem; I wasn't in love with her. The more I sat and thought about it, the more I realized that I never was in love with her. It was something that I tried to hide, in hopes of sparing her feelings. I couldn't hide it forever though. It finally came out on our six-year wedding anniversary. She was upset, naturally, and headed straight to a divorce attorney the next day. Now here we are, almost a year later.
I shouldn't be surprised with myself. Part of me knew when I was younger. Whenever I saw her, I didn't get the butterflies that most people get when you see someone you love. There were no sparks when we kissed. I knew she loved me. I could tell by the way she looked at me every time she saw me. It wasn't fair to her I had let her believe I loved her for this long. She hasn't spoken to me since she went to her lawyer. I had seen through social media though that she had found someone else. A journalist or something. I was happy for her. I hoped he was good to her and a better person than I had been. Not only had I strung her along, I had also done the unthinkable to her. That was something I hate to think about. Another thing to add to the ever-growing list of why Tommy Oliver Sucks As A Person.
My cell phone rang again, the black mobile device vibrating across the top of the desk. Trent Mercer's face flashed on the screen, his smile wide as he held his arm around his girlfriend, Kira Ford. It was a video chat I noticed. I really wasn't up for talking at the moment, but I hit the answer button any way, holding the phone up so that my front facing camera could see me. My screen loaded for a moment before flashing a moving image of Trent and Kira. The black-haired boy was sitting on his couch, the blonde-haired Kira next to him.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" I asked my former students. They both smiled brightly at me and I tried to smile as well. It was forced but seemed passable.
"Hey, Dr. O! How are you?" Kira asked, leaning closer to the phone.
"I'm fine. How's UCLA treating you?" I asked.
"Not bad. Just can't wait to be out of here in a few weeks." She replied. It had been years since they graduated, both of them getting into UCLA. Kira was a music major, due to graduate early based on her achievements. Trent still had another semester to go but he was doing wonders with his physics major. The both of them were going to be very successful in their careers. Kira already had one CD out and was hoping on making another one. They were two of my shining examples of students. Though, I might be a little bias.
"Are you getting excited?" I asked. She nodded, giving Trent a little side glance and smile. He grinned widely, nodding.
"We are. Actually, we have some news to tell you." Kira said, looking like she was ready to bounce off the couch with excitement. Bending down, she grabbed something out of frame and held it up. It was a white stick and I could just make out the word 'pregnant' on the side of it. "We're pregnant!" They exclaimed together.
"No way!" I said, a true smile spreading my face. "Congrats! You guys are going to make great parents."
"Thank you! We're still in shock. It's very unexpected but we're happy too." Kira replied. I glanced at Trent who was beaming. It made me happy to see something good like this happening for the two of them. I thought for sure an engagement would be coming soon but this was still some good news.
"Did you tell Conner and Ethan yet?" I asked, leaning forward in my chair.
"Not yet. We're having dinner with Ethan tonight and I think we'll call Conner after that. Could you let Haley know, though?" Kira asked. I nodded.
"Will do. When you guys coming back to Reefside?"
"Probably around Christmas time." Trent said, glancing at the calendar behind them on the wall.
"Great! I'll be in Angel Grove for a few days but should be home in time to see you. We'll have to get together."
"Yes!" Above me, the bell signaling the end of lunch sounded. In a few short minutes, twenty sixteen-year olds would be barreling through the door.
"Sorry, guys. I gotta go. Congrats again, though." I said. They both waved before hanging up.
Honestly, that little bit of news made my day a whole lot brighter. I made it through the rest of my afternoon without thinking of the divorce once. It wasn't until after the final bell that it popped back into my mind. I loaded up my briefcase with papers I still had to grade before heading out of the school towards the parking lot. My jeep sat in my designated spot, the sun shining off the hood as I unlocked the door with my key fob. I was in need of a new vehicle. This one had seen better days and the miles were up there. I couldn't afford that right now, though. With court fees and my lawyer, I was lucky I had enough money to pay my bills. Kat had been nice and didn't ask for money in the divorce. She merely wanted her belongings from the house and to never see me again. I didn't blame her for that. Besides, she had a great career herself. She was a backup dancer for a number of groups, including Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. She didn't need the very little money I made as a science teacher.
Driving home, I flipped on the radio. Someone droned on about whales on one station. I turned the dial, finding the Red-Hot Chili Peppers playing on the oldies station. It made me feel ancient to hear that as I sang along. It brought me back to high school, driving around in my first car with the windows rolled down. I could almost imagine a petite brunette sitting in the passenger seat next to me. Her brilliant smile shining, a dimple poking through. For a moment, I thought I smelt the slightest hint of perfume. Shaking my head, I knew it wasn't real. There was no girl in the car with me, especially that one.
Pulling into the drive way, I parked the jeep and heading up the front porch steps. Inside, I found myself in my bare looking house. It didn't look this way because Kat was gone. I had never been one for decoration. This was apparent by the two leather sofas and mounted big screen in the living room. The hard wood floors stretched from the front door to the kitchen, making the light brown walls seem inviting. Kat had tried to decorate while she lived her, but I just never found the time to help her. Things in my life were complicated after we moved here. She was still going to college, choosing to live on campus to make the commute easier for her. We were newlyweds then, still full of hope and for her, love. What a damn shame that couldn't have lasted.
Grabbing a beer from my fridge, I settled on the couch and turned on the television. I flipped it to ESPN, catching highlights from last night's game. Not that it really mattered to me. I hadn't watched any type of sports program in real time since I became a teacher. Unless you count the school's teams. For a while, I was the assistant coach for the football team. That fizzled out though after more important things came to light. It was okay. I didn't really care for coaching much. It was too time consuming and I already have issues keeping on top of my grading as it was. Taking a sip of my beer, my eyes fell on a green flannel shirt that was on the back of the couch. I had forgotten about that. Kat had sent it to me in the mail, it getting mixed in with her stuff. Standing, I grabbed the shirt and looked down at it in my hand.
Turning, I walked towards the stairs near the front door and climbed up them. Taking a left, I entered my home office and flipped on the light. It was a modest size room, dark grey carpeting under my boots and light grey paint on the walls. There was a wooden desk in the middle of the room, my desk top computer on top of it. My computer chair was pushed into the desk, my gi still tossed over the back of that. This also doubled as my gym when I needed a quick practice. I was still in the middle of transitioning the other bedroom into a gym but was waiting for the right flooring. I just haven't gotten to the home improvement store to get it. Walking over to the closet in the corner, I pulled the door open. There were boxes stacked in here, three tubes at the bottom of the stack. Looking up, I saw a smaller box on the top shelf. It was tucked in the back behind a set of weights that were stored here. Grabbing it, I closed the door and walked over to the chair.
Sitting, I set the box in my lap and opened it. I was greeted with a green wooden jewelry box and a photo album. There were some other things under that; a folder filled with papers, a white bandana, a pink scarf. Pulling the box out, I set the other one on the desk. It was a wooden box that had been painted black. The paint had chipped throughout the years, pieces missing here and there. On the front of the box, there was a metal clasp. Pressing it, it popped up. The lid opened easily and inside, I found a round object. It was chilly to the touch as I picked it up out of the box. Running my thumb over the object, I could feel the outline of the three points on the front of the coin.
When I was fifteen years old, I moved to Angel Grove, California. It was something I hadn't been thrilled about, my adopted parents saying it would do me some good to meet new people. I had had some troubles at my old school with some kids and they felt I needed a fresh start. Little did I know, it would be the greatest decision of my life. After moving there, I discovered the Angel Grove was a frequent target for monsters and aliens. I know it sounds weird but it's true. These giant monsters would attack the city and it was up to this group of people to save them, known as the Power Rangers. There were five of them, all dressed in different colored armor to fight off the intruders. I thought it was cool, seeing real life super heroes in action. I wondered who it could be, and day dreamed about being one. Oh, if I only knew then what I knew now.
Two weeks after moving to Angel Grove, I was attacked by what were known as putties. They were these ugly little gray guys who were pretty useless but still could put up a nasty fight if needed. I fought them off though, a mistake that I didn't realize until it was too late. Their leader, an evil sorceress by the name of Rita Repulsa, had sent them to attack me so she could see how I would do it battle. I apparently passed the test because the next thing I knew, I was being kidnapped. She placed me under an evil spell, brain washing me, so I was under her control. She gave me the Dragonzord Power Coin which gave me the ability to morph into the Green Ranger. She ordered me to learn all I could about the Power Rangers so that I would be able to destroy them.
Destroying them consumed me. She provided me with all of their information. The red ranger was Jason Lee Scott, the leader. Trini Kwan was the yellow ranger, a well-trained fighter and smart. The blue ranger was a near genius by the name of Billy Cranston. Zach Taylor, the black ranger, was second in command. And the pink ranger was Kimberly Hart, the girl I had rescued at school the day before from two bullies. I followed their every move, trying to learn what their routines were. Jason kept trying to be my friend, even with my cold shoulder towards him. Rita gave me the ability to send him to her dark dimension, a place in her moon-based palace where the morphing grid – the element that powers the Power Rangers – doesn't work. Billy, Trini and Zach tried their hardest to find him and discover the evil ranger's identity. Kimberly, on the other hand, was too busy trying to get me to speak to her.
Under the spell, my whole demeanor changed. It was cold and distant to everyone. It sure created a lot of tension at home with my parents. At school though, Kimberly wouldn't give up trying to be my friend. I was mean to her, snapped at her for being nosey, but she still kept trying. After Jason was freed from the dark dimension, they soon realized that it was me they had been fighting. I thought for sure that her kindness would stop then. It didn't. She still tried to reach out to me and offer me the option of joining their team. Even under the spell, it was shocking to see her still trying like hell to befriend me. I had done terrible things, attacked innocent people, tossed her and her friends from the top of the Megazord, the fighting machines used to fight the giant monsters. She still tried. She never gave up.
The Rangers were able to free me from the spell, breaking what was known at the Sword of the Darkness. This freed me from Rita's control and let me have my mind back. Jason then extended the offer to let me join their team which I took. It was hard adjusting to joining the team. I was riddled with guilt, feeling that I should be in jail or worse for the crimes I committed. I did my best to fit in with the other rangers, but I still felt like an outcast. Zach watched me like a hawk, not sure if he was ready to trust me entirely yet. The only one with blind faith in me was Kim. She stood by my side during my adjustment period and then when Rita and her new husband, Lord Zedd, stripped me of my powers. I felt even more useless then. She made sure to make me feel like I was still important and a part of the team.
Before my powers were destroyed, there was a time where they were faded. It was advised by Zordon, the mentor and creator of the Power Rangers, that I reserved my powers for when they would truly be needed. I felt like I was no longer part of the team. It seemed like I had been casted aside due to my ability to help like the others. I kept my distance, trying to stay out of their way. Kim found a way to bring me back to them though. She revealed to me her feelings and we kissed. It was the light I needed in my darkness. Soon, Zordon asked me to come back and fight until my powers were completely gone. It was hard to deal with, but we were all surprised by Zordon bringing me back, this time as the White Tigerzord Ranger.
Glancing down at the Power Coin, I couldn't help but think of Kimberly. I put the coin back in the box and shut it. Placing it on the desk, I grabbed the photo album and thumbed through it. Photos of my childhood were here, starting when I was fourteen. Some were of me at karate tournaments. Others were our group after I joined the Rangers. Towards the end, they were just of Kim and me. It was during our relationship together. Snap shots of the two of us at the beach, a film strip from a photo booth. The last picture was of her, sleeping under the covers in the bed we shared the last time I had seen her.
Shaking my head, I closed the album and put everything back in the box. I also tossed the green flannel in there. It was something I wore all the time when I was the green ranger and it was one of my favorite shirts. Standing, I shoved the box back into its hiding spot and headed back down to my living room to grade papers.