"Wow, I really didn't expect to see you today." Jason was honestly in shock that Tommy stood in front of him.
"I'm a little surprised myself, Bro. Although it's probably less of a shock to me since Kira told me we'd be greeted by a personal friend" Tommy said with a chuckle. He should have known it'd be Jason who would be meeting him today. He knew Jason had left California and he had always been really close to Kimberly. Yet some how this wasn't how Tommy had pictured their reunion.
"So is this lovely lady your new girlfriend?" Jason asked smiling at Haley.
Both Tommy and Haley blushed a little at the comment but Tommy quickly explained that Haley was a friend from college, and Kira was a student of his. "For some reason these guys thought it be cooler to travel with us then spend spring break with their parents"
After explaining to the rangers that Tommy knew Jason from high school they headed off to the hotel where they would be staying. Jason, apparently not a fan of fame, had drove to the airport so Tommy rode with him while Haley and the rangers enjoyed a limo ride. Jason tried to get the real reason he was traveling with Kira out of Tommy. He also wasn't buying that he was just friends with Haley. It scared Jason when Tommy asked him if he could still trust him with his life and deepest secretes. When Jason had finally assured him he still had his back, Tommy answered all Jason's questions by explaining about the newest group of power rangers. Jason was practically in shock to begin with but it wasn't that surprising Tommy had found himself once again in uniform.
"Are you going to talk to her this time?" Jason's words were quiet and Tommy suspected Jason was still mad that he had left the house warming party with out talking to Kim.
"I'm sorry I put you in the middle by giving you that note for her, but I just didn't think I could handle actually talking to her yet."
"I understood that Tommy, what I asked was what about this time?"
"I told her if our paths crossed again we could start over. I'll talk if she wants to. If not she's a stranger to me anyway." Jason knew Tommy's words were to protect himself. He wanted to talk to Kim, but he was afraid of what she'd say, or that she wouldn't say anything at all.
"You know you'd deserve it if she actually acted like she'd never met you before."
"I asked her to." Tommy's words ended the conversation. A distance had grown between the two men when Tommy had chose to ignore Kim and Jason had become the woman's protector.
When they reached the hotel Jason suggested the guys and Haley check out the training facility while he took Kira to see Anne. The look he gave Tommy told him clearly it was best she didn't see him until after the show. That was fine with Tommy, he was glad he had spoken to Jason, even if the topics hadn't been that pleasant. He really thought they would work themselves back into being best friends. Jason had said he still had Tommy's back, but Tommy was still a little uncomfortable with the idea of seeing Kim again.
He couldn't help but to think back to all the days he spent at the juice bar when they walked into the training facility. It was definitely more equipped for actual training than most hotel workout rooms. It had the usual treadmills and weights but it also had a large padded floor, perfect for aerobics to sparring. Tommy convinced Conner and Trent to spar with him while Ethan showed Haley something on his laptop.
Meanwhile, Jason was introducing Kira to Anne Crane. Kira couldn't believe she was standing in a hotel room with her idol. She would have to thank Jason later for his quick thinking. She was so excited about meeting Anne she couldn't think of an answer to her fist question.
"So, where are your five friends? Aren't they fans as well?" Kim didn't mean to sound like she expected to be the center of her fans' world. It made her think of when Tommy had told her, "Newsflash Kimberly. You're not the center of everyone's universe." She knew he hadn't been himself that day, but the thought of him saying that had always kept her humble as she rose to fame first through gymnastics and then again through song. Still, usually these contest winners, and their friends, were crazy for her. She was glad this one seemed level headed.
"She's a lot like you, Anne. Mostly all guy friends. While I'm sure they are fans, you lost out to the training facility." Jason said with a laugh. He wasn't for sure Kira would know not to tell Kim Tommy was there.
"Yeah, they like your music, but they are always beating each other up calling it karate. Not that I'm complaining, at least they're not here making me look stupid." Kira tried to laugh at the guys hoping Anne wouldn't feel dejected by her "fans" who were more interested in a room.
"Yeah guys make great friends, but they can be embarrassing. And be a little too into things like karate, huh Jason?" Kim joined the other two in laughter. Jason could usually hide his feelings pretty well, but Kim couldn't help but feel stress coming from him. The girl as well, though she seemed normal enough, something was odd about her. That's when she noticed the silver band around Kira's wrist. "Nah, it's just a bracelet…" Kim convinced herself.
"So what do you like to do when you're not performing, Anne?" Kira asked.
Kim forgot about her feelings and Kira's bracelet as she began to bond with her fan.