Chapter 20

The Price of Being a Friend

The Road to Angel Grove, California

As the black and red Harley-Davidson surged down the road, its rider felt that something was missing in his life. It wasn't friendship, he had plenty of friends. It wasn't money; not that he was by any means rich, but he was comfortable. It wasn't action, heaven knows he'd seen plenty of that in his life. Truth be told, Jason Lee Scott couldn't tell what he needed in his life at that particular point in time. So when a "Wild Card Reunion" was announced at Angel Grove High, Jason, for one thing, didn't know what it was; and for another, would only go if his best friend, Tommy Oliver, would promise to go as well.

Jason had also promised Kimberly Hart, the closest thing he had to a sister, that he would be there; and when you made a promise to Kim and went back on your word, you were practically dead to her, childhood friend or not. It took a lot to gain Kim's forgiveness once you broke a promise to her.

But of course, Jason had an ulterior motive for going to this reunion; and it concerned his two best friends in the way every one of the Original Rangers talked about, save Tommy and Kimberly themselves: he wanted to get them back together.

When Jason first heard that Kimberly had broken up with Tommy (through an old-school snail mail Dear John Letter of all ways!) Jason was about to call Kim and say, "WOMAN, HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!" Luckily, cooler heads prevailed, and Jason was able to keep himself from going off on Kim. When Jason picked up Kim on their return to Angel Grove before being whisked off to Murianthis, Kim had revealed to Jason that the man she met in Florida that she thought was perfect turned out to be a poseur.

*Flashback*

"He was a total jerk," Kim grumbled on their way home. "He acted sweet until I was in his arms, then he did a complete 180."

"How many times did he cheat on you?" Jason asked.

"Doesn't matter. One is one too many."

"Got that right."

"The stupid clown tried to put his hands on me, too."

"He didn't!"

"Yep!" Kimberly had a smirk on her face. "Let's just say I had a flashback to fighting Putties…"

"Ouch. Serves the ding-dong right!"

"In more ways than one."

"You didn't!"

"I did. Good riddance to bad garbage."

They shared a laugh at that.

"So what are you gonna do now?"

"I dunno." Kim's eyes fell to her lap. "I guess I'm back on the market…"

A few years ago Jason would have jumped at the chance. But now… it just wasn't right.

*End Flashback*

When Tommy told Jason that he had broken up with Katherine Hillard after college, Jason was about to suggest Tommy give it another go with Kim. But long-distance relationships hardly ever work out. Both men knew it. When Tommy met Hayley Ziktor in grad school, Jason figured Tommy should get back on the horse. But Tommy said he wanted to keep a friend instead of lose one.

Jason, back in his high school days, would have loved to have been Kimberly's man. But when Tommy came into the picture, he knew he was no match. They may have been equals in their first karate match, but when it came to Kim's heart, Tommy won hands down.

And it was the same way the other way around. Katherine and Tommy were close, but Jason knew no one made Tommy feel the way Kimberly made Tommy feel, and vice versa. Jason knew, the other Rangers knew.

It was destiny.

Why did Tommy and Kimberly fight it? Jason didn't understand.

And why was Jason thinking about his own love life?

Now Jason knew what he was missing in life. Someone to boost him to even greater heights and help him through his moments of weakness. Maybe luck would be on his side as well when he headed home. Jason now had two goals for the great event: Bring back together a winning couple and get the ball rolling on his own love life.