Reefside: The "AAR" Chronicles – Part 3
Manifestation Destiny
By Justin Jack
All the classes Beth had up until lunch time had gone off without a hitch. Now she headed to the cafeteria to fill up on some much needed nourishment. While she was standing in line, Will crept up behind her.
"Hey B, how's things?"
Beth jumped, almost dropping her tray. Luckily she hadn't put any food on it yet.
"Will, you scared the shit out of me," she said as she smacked him on the arm.
Will rubbed his sore spot. "Sorry, I'll text you a warning next time before I show up," he joked.
Beth couldn't help but laugh a little. Even though she couldn't stand his antics at times, she couldn't think of anyone else better to have her back. Will was like the little brother she never had. They had grown up together with the greatest parents anyone could've asked for, and often argued with each other over who was the "smartest post-ranger kid".
They had their own kind of sibling rivalry. Although they weren't related, they were part of the Power Ranger Family. The daughter of the 'greatest ranger ever' and the original pink ranger and the son of the original blue ranger and his wife, the co-creator of the Dino Thunder technology.
Will and Beth gathered their meals from the food replicator and shuffled through the crowds to find an empty table. Once they had procured a spot, they sat down and quickly started shoveling food into their mouths
"I'm so starving, I feel like I could eat a whole buffet," Beth stated in between bites.
"I can see that B, but you might want to make room to breathe."
Beth finally heeded Will's suggestion, first staring at him then down at her tray. She had eaten half her food without taking a breath.
"Sorry, guess I got carried away."
"I always said you had your mother's eyes and your father's stomach," Will chuckled.
Beth responded to Will's comment by pelting him with a french fry. Will takes the fry and studies it for a moment before blurting out...
"That reminds me, I need ketchup," he joked.
Beth snickered as he got up and headed for the condiment counter.
"Laugh now B, I will have my revenge," he mocked as he left the table.
While he was gone, Beth picked up her fork and continued eating. Just as she lifted the utensil to her mouth, she noticed that the fork and the food on it were floating in mid air. As Beth looked at the phenomenon happening before her, she felt her hand holding the fork but it was invisible. She dropped the fork and looked around the lunchroom to see if anyone else had seen her disappearing hand trick. She looked over in Will's direction to see him flirting with a girl at the condiment counter. She quickly put her hand in her jean jacket pocket to hide it from any passers by. Beth tried to figure out what to do next.
"I need to find Dad," she thought to herself in an almost panicked state.
She reached over to her back pack in a rush, which caused her to knock it out of its chair, landing in front of a newcomer.
"I'm sorry," she quickly apologized as she bent over to clean up the spilled contents.
"Not a problem. Here, let me help you," the voice told her as he leaned down to help.
Beth looked at the young man and was suddenly in awe.
"Damn, he's cute," she said in a whisper hoping to God he didn't hear her.
As they finished picking up her mess, they stood and she playfully pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Thanks, I can be a total klutz sometimes."
"Don't worry about it, just doing my good deed for the day."
Hey, I didn't see you at orientation, you're new here right?" Beth asked the newbie.
"Yeah, I'm Bryce Jaxon. I just transferred here from Blue Bay Harbor. I'm still trying to learn my way around, and you are?"
"Oh, Elizabeth...Trini...uh, Oliver," she stammered out.
"So which one is it?"
"Huh?"
"Your first name?"
"Oh, Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Beth," she answered as she grumbled under her breath for embarrassing herself.
"Okay, so Beth it is."
Bryce extended his hand and Beth instinctively pulled her hand out of her pocket and shook it. Luckily, her hand was visible again. She sighed in relief.
"You okay?"
"Yeah fine, I just thought I lost something," she answered back.
"I'm glad, listen I gotta run. Will I see you later?"
"Oh God, yes!"
"I'm sorry?"
"Uh, ahem...yeah, I'll be around."
"Good, then I'll see you...around."
Bryce smiled as he turned around to walk away, leaving Beth to watch him as he left. As she came back to her senses, she looked at her hand and waved it in front of her face. Nothing happened.
"I must be going crazy," she said in her mind.
"So when is the wedding?" Will asked as he crept up on her...again.
"Will damn it, I'm gonna put a bell on you! How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to pick your jaw up off the floor," he laughed.
"We just met Will. Besides, he's not that cute."
"Yeah right, should I get you a mop to soak up the drool?"
"Drop it Will," she threatened him with a glare.
"Alright, but you still like him."
Just as Beth was about to retort, the bell for next class rang. They scooped up their belongings and headed out.
"Hey, do you think he'll let me be his best man?" he chuckled.
"Will!"
As they reached the double doors that lead out of the cafeteria, they saw a group of cheerleaders screaming and wet from head to toe running in the opposite direction. Beth glared at Will who tried to put on his best innocent face.
"You didn't!"
Will just shrugged, smiled and walked on. Beth dropped her head and sighed.
"Of course you did."
She cracked a small smile and ran to catch up.
End of Part 3
TBC