Chapter 14

Step It Up Part 2

"Oh come on Livvy. Maybe it won't be as bad as you think," Alex tried to reassure his sister.

"She's making me wear a DRESS! What do you expect me to do, giggle like a schoolgirl and go along with it?" Olivia snapped.

Alex hesitated before replying. "Sort of?"

Olivia groaned. "I'd rather walk around dressed like a boy then have to wear a dress that a ten year old would wear."

"You don't mean that do you? The PINK Ranger dressed like a boy?" said Alex, staring at her.

"Anything's better than wearing a babyish dress," said Olivia. "Now shut up, we're here."

They were outside their house door and used their Energy Morphers to change from their training tracksuits to more everyday outfits. Alex changed his outfit to a yellow jersey with a black tracksuit bottom and white trainers and Olivia changed into a black top with pink stripes, denim jeans and pink converse.

"Okay," the pink ranger exhaled. "Here goes nothing."

She was just about to ring the doorbell but as if on queue, the step mother herself answered it. She beamed when she saw her beloved step-children standing at the door.

"You came!" Rachel squealed happily. "I knew you would! I love you that much too!"

Alex and Olivia exchanged embarrassed glances. Alex looked like he was willing to chew his arm off for an escape and Olivia looked like she wanted to slap Rachel in the face and scream "NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOU!"

"Now, let's not stand around lollygagging! Let's get you two ready for our day out!" Before either teen could react, Rachel had grabbed them and hauled them inside.

"I still can't believe that Dr. Sparks actually LAUGHED," said Zoe. "Some mentor he is."

"Hey! I was pretty close to laughing myself," Jason admitted.

Zoe gave him a dirty look. "Some teammate you are."

"At least I have a sense of humour," smirked Jason.

"Guys, give it a rest. If he laughed, he laughed. It's his opinion," said Callum.

"Oh right, I'm guessing your famous dad told you that too seeing that he always seems to be right. Your advice has almost always come in handy since we became Power Rangers," said Zoe.

"Hey! My dad doesn't know EVERYTHING," Callum protested. He was about to say "Nobody's perfect" but decided not to in case Zoe would only tease him more.

Zoe rolled her eyes. "Sure he doesn't. Like father, like son."

"So where is Dr. Sparks?" said Jason.

Almost immediately (as if on queue) Dr. Sparks stepped into the room. But there was something different about him. The scientist who couldn't stop laughing five minutes ago, looked like he didn't want to crack a smile. His face was dead serious.

"What's wrong?" asked Callum, worried.

"I want you two to come with me now." Dr. Sparks was glaring at Callum and Zoe. Reluctantly the red and blue rangers followed him out of the room.

"What does he want?" said Callum in a shaky tone.

Zoe shrugged, also looking a little uncomfortable. "I don't know. I hope we aren't in trouble . . ."

"There! You look so sweet!" Rachel beamed.

Olivia stood there in horror in her pink frilly dress, white skinny jeans and pink dolly shoes with white satin bows. Rachel had even insisted that she wear a giant pink rose hair clip.

"Okay," the pink ranger told herself. "Now would be a really good time to use Callum's advice!"

"Rachel . . ."

"I'll talk to you later sweetheart! I just need to go and see if your brother gelled his hair properly."

Before Olivia could say anything, Rachel turned her back on her and sauntered out of the room. As soon as she was out of the room, Olivia walked over to the mirror and stared at her reflection. She looked and felt like a Barbie doll! Next thing, Rachel would probably be making her die her hair blonde.

A little while later, Alex walked into her room. He looked just as ridiculous as Olivia. Rachel had made his gell his hair back, and insisted that he wear a yellow shirt with a grey, white and yellow TIE with black pants and black shoes, the type a man in his forties would wear.

"How to you feel?" Olivia murmured miserably.

"Like somebody threw me in a time machine and shut the doors without any airholes," said Alex.

Olivia smiled slightly. "As soon as I get the oppurtunity, I am ripping this dress off. And do you realise how uncomfortable this hair clip feels?"

"I think the hair clip makes you look sweet," Alex lied.

His sister groaned, knowing that he was only just saying that to make her feel better. "Did you try to talk to Rachel?"

Alex sighed. "I might as well have been trying to talk to Master Paine telling him to buzz off. It's pointless and we'd totally pay for it!"

Olivia hid her face in her hands. "I don't believe this."

"Come on children. We have a some shopping to do!" they heard Rachel squeal.

"Well I guess the sooner we get there the sooner we get it done," Olivia sighed.

Very reluctantly, the two of them stood and headed downstairs down to their step-mother. She beamed when she saw them.

"You two look like little darlings," she smiled. "Well off we go then!"

She stood up very straight, and led the two siblings out of the house, Rachel stomping daintily ahead with Alex and Olivia trudging behind. Olivia could feel herself blushing scarlet as she heard sniggers coming from around every direction as the three of them walked along the path.

"Don't worry Livvy. It won't last," her brother whispered.

Olivia nodded shyly.

It wasn't long until she heard something else that caught her attention. And it was nothing to do with her outfit- but it was something to do with her teammates . . .

A group of teenagers were chattering amongst themselves. They were sniggering but not at Olivia. And they were saying something that made Olivia's blood curdle. She stared at them and realised that they actually meant what they were saying.

"Did you hear that the Red and Blue Power Rangers are going out?"

"Yeah, it's been going on for a while now!"

"They REEEEEEALLY like each other!"

"I heard that they made out in the middle in a battle and they STILL managed to defeat the bad guys!"

"WHAT THE BLAZES? THAT'S SO FUNNY!"

"IT'S TRUE!"

The teenagers clutched their stomachs laughing. Olivia froze. She knew that Callum and Zoe liked each other (well if Zoe DID like Callum, she was certainly hiding it well) but they would NEVER do that. She stopped walking and stared at the teenagers. Alex noticed this and stepped up to her.

"You okay, Livvy?"

"Shh! Listen!"

Alex turned his attention to the group of teenagers and heard what they were saying about the Red and Blue Energy Rangers. It was his turn to cringe.

"Who would say something like that?!" he exclaimed.

Olivia shook her head. "I have no idea."

"What's going on in here?" asked Rachel, stomping up to them in her super high heels. She gave the teenagers a look. "They look rough, don't they?" Then she heard one of them say the word "Power Rangers".

"Alex, Olivia, come with me please."

Olivia stared at her. "What is it?"

Rachel had a serious look on her face. "I want to talk to you about these 'Power Rangers.' I insist."

Alex and Olivia exchanged horrified glances. Had Rachel discovered their secret?