Summary – Let the fun begin! Not.

Author's Notes – Okay Tommy is a bit…edgy in this. Snippy, guarded, and a bit cynical, basically a typical teenager. Now I know I said it was really meant to be a prequel to 'Camping Chaos' and he's much more mellow in that story, so maybe think of it as over the process of becoming a part of the group he more or less mellowed out and put his cynical side on the backburner.

Also I know I've been lacking on the updates, finals are coming up and have about 5 projects to finish over Thanksgiving break so thing's will be kinda slow getting updated for a bit.

-o-

'Just a Little Unsure'

Tommy

-o-

"So do you want me to drop you off?"

Huh? Looking up from my book, I give John a curious glance. "Drop me off where?" Am I being kicked out of the house already? I know that Evil Green Ranger mess didn't help in the being liked by my relatives thing, but come on, I've been trying to make up for it. What with the doing dishes and keeping my room clean and such.

"At Jason's." Again I say 'huh?'. "His mom called and said you were spending the night." Oh she did, did she? Chances are her son had a hand in that. And the group thinks I'm the evil one, I wonder how well they know their red clad friend. I swear that guy just doesn't give up does he. Must be why he's the leader. How annoying.

"So should I drop you off?" Um, no.

Opening my book again and looking down at the page I'd left off on, I don't know what Jason told his mom, but the guy is mistaken if he thinks I'm going over there. "Um, no that's okay."

Giving me a bit of a look that I definitely catch out of the corner of my eye, he isn't going to let this drop is he. "I'm glad you're making friends. Especially with someone like Jason." And here it begins. I swear if I ever get the chance to be evil again I am so killing that boy. Or at the very least cutting out his tongue.

Putting the book down again, I give him an exasperated sigh. I shouldn't ask, I know I'll regret asking, but yet- "What's so great about Jason?" Besides the fact I might think he's just a little bit attractive. But annoying, yep definitely still out weighed by how annoying he is.

"I just think he'd make a good friend for you is all." Sitting down in the recliner across from me, he is way too set on this.

"Mhm."

"He likes martial arts just like you." No see I just did martial arts to keep mom from making me do football, or baseball, or something equally stupid. Jason however seems to eat, breath, and live it.

"Yeah."

"His parents are very nice. I've seen his mom at the hospital, she's very good at her job." So his mom's a doctor huh? Maybe a nurse? Either way she's a caregiver, maybe that's where he gets this obsessive need to help me from. Not that he's helping really, despite what he probably thinks.

"Okay."

Sighing and giving me a look, he's not letting me out of this. "You're going." You're going to have to pick me up, put me in the car, and then drag me kicking and biting into his house if you think I'm going. Are you prepared to do that? I think not.

"I'm not going."

"It'll be fun, Jason's having some other friends over too. You can watch movies and eat pizza." Nodding and clearly not listening to me, he flips on the TV seeming to think this discussion is over. Well in a way it is, just not with him having the last word.

"I'm not going."

"I think the Hart girl will even be there. She's a cute little thing, I bet you'd like her." See too much TV does rot the brain as his is clearly mush since he can't understand three simple words I'm saying.

Calmly setting my book down and standing in front of him so I'm blocking the TV, I give him what I hope is a stern and adult look. Don't glare, don't whine, just be calm and firmly explain to him that you have no desire what so ever to go spend the night with Jason. "John. Listen to me please. I. Am. Not. Going."

-ooooo-

(Saturday afternoon)

"You're going to have to get out of the car sooner or later." I hate my family with a passion.

Slouched in the passenger's seat, I give my uncle a look that must be close to my Evil Green Ranger one. I am not moving from this seat. It's bad enough I let myself be pushed into the jeep, if he thinks I'm getting out and going willingly into that house he is sorely mistaken. "I'm not getting out."

"Tommy for crying out loud." Head in hand, I think he's counting to ten. Wow here less then a month and already have him doing that counting thing. Mom is not gonna be happy if she finds out about this. "They're going to see the car out here you know. It's going to be weird." You think I care about this because? Besides they already think I'm a sadistic murderer, I don't think adding 'weird' onto that is something I should be too concerned with. Though I have to say I am really relieved I can't remember too much of what I did under that spell. Sure I get bits and pieces, mostly in nightmares but a lot of it is a blur and for that I am more then a little grateful for that.

Looking out the window, I just wish he'd give up and take me back home. Geez at this point I'd settle for my own home. "Don't care."

"Tommy." Oh yeah that tone's gonna work. Not.

"John."

"Tommy please. Now you came here to start over, right? Make new friends. Get a fresh start in school." Escape your crazy sister in-law. "Please just give this a chance. Clearly you've made an impression, a good one, on Jason and his friends. He's been by the house five times already this past week, that's got to mean something right…you don't owe him money or something do you?" Geez I didn't have a gambling problem! So I missed some school back home, and yeah my friends were jerks, but seriously I didn't have loan sharks after me, god what'd mom tell you guys?

Looking at him more then a little upset now, I am just so tired of everyone thinking the utter worst of me. Even if he was just kidding it's not funny right now. I don't want to be teased, picked on, or whatever else, I just want to be left alone. "What on Earth did mom tell you? I mean geez you know I did some stupid stuff, but it's not like I ever got brought home by the cops or anything. The worst trouble I was in was in school suspension and that was for cheating on a test not fighting or vandalizing anything."

Having the decency to at least look sorry for his quirky remark, he still doesn't seem sorry enough to take me back home. "I didn't mean it like that. I just…" Rubbing my back, he's making me feel a little guilty now for snapping. "Tommy please just humor me with this okay. I know you're not a bad kid and that's exactly why we wanted you to come stay with us. It's also why your aunt and I think it's important you make some friends. Good friends. Please just this once go and be social?"

"Why? Why is it so important I do this? I'm perfectly happy reading in my room. Just because I'm not social doesn't mean I'm unhappy." I'm unhappy for a totally different reason.

"I know, but…please just trust me on this one. It's one of those things that is good for you even if you don't think so. Just this once Tommy and I swear I won't push you to do it again if you don't want to." Damn it all.

"Just this once." Emphasizing the 'once' I push open the door and bag in hand head for the house. Stupid guilt tripping uncle. Just has to care about my wellbeing. Can't be all neglectful and leave me to rot in my room.

Watching unhappily as he waves and drives off before I can perhaps change my mind, I slowly ring the doorbell, sighing at the musical chime that I can hear through the door. How quaint.

Contemplating making a dash for it and telling John I changed my mind, I'm beaten to the punch as the door is opened revealing a tall, dark haired woman, with a smile that is the definition of motherly. "Hi there. You must be Tommy." If I must. "Come on in."

Ushered into the main room, I see I'm apparently the last to arrive. I guess that's not surprising, I mean knowing them they were all probably over here sometime around breakfast. And trust me I do know them. I'm not stupid like Rita and Goldar, I know, even if I don't remember all of it that I studied and watched them when I was evil. God they're lucky they freed me from that spell when they did, another day and I just might have succeeded in killing them.

Apparently going unnoticed, Kim continues to glare at her blue clad friend. "I don't want mushrooms this time." Mushrooms? Hello, standing here unhappily. Have a little sympathy?

"Well I'm not eating anchovies again." Hi there Trini, good to see you too.

"Oh come on, if it was up to you we'd just get pineapple and ham." So much for Zack wanting to make friends. Guess our little hallway talk meant nothing. And here I was on my best behavior too.

"Hey." Coming up behind me just as his mom makes her exit, Jason's arm is once again around my shoulders before I can move. Why does he have to be so touchy? And why do I have to be slightly turned on by it? Yeah moving away now.

Sliding out of his embrace with what I hope is smoothness, I gesture absently to the still bickering group. "What are they arguing about?" Okay so I'm not clueless, I understand it's about pizza toppings but if I ask it'll take his mind off the fact I basically pushed him away when he was just trying to be friendly.

"Pizza. They do this every time." You don't say.

-ooooooo-

"So what should we do?" It's only four in the afternoon and already they're bored and lost for ideas. Yeah, this is going to be a long night. I should have brought my book.

"It's too early for movies, or to really talk about 'work' with your parents awake. How about a game?" As agreeing nods are given the Pink Ranger seems pleased with herself. "Good than. Um, how about Clue?" I gave up a perfectly good Saturday, came over here to be with people who don't like me, and for what? To play Clue. You have got to be kidding me.

"Forget it, you cheat." Getting up and looking through a stack of games near the bookshelf as he ignores Kim's protests that she never cheats, Zack holds up his find.

"Not Monopoly, Trini always wins." This is getting absurd. Shaking his head firmly, Jason joins Zack in the hunt.

"You're not seriously holding up Candyland are you? After Zack and Kim nearly came to blows the last time do you really think we should risk it?" Why does he even have Candyland? Note to self; possible blackmail. Shaking her head as Jason looks a little sat at putting the game back, Trini stands. "Why don't we just go play basketball in the driveway? It's not very hot out today." Crud, had to suggest a sport didn't she.

"Forget it, my leg's still sore from where Tom…last week." Four o'five and the guilt trips begin. Blushing and looking away in perhaps mild embarrassment pink girl seems lost at how to backtrack. Fine, I'll fix it.

"If it makes you feel any better I still have a scar where you shot me with your bow and arrow." Only really stopped hurting a few days ago. Not saying I didn't deserve it, I was trying to kill Trini at the time after all. Oh look she's smiling, go me I made her happy.

"You shot him? You never told me that." Don't look so miffed Jason, I had it coming.

"I was a little bleedy at the time Jase. Besides he was about to run Trini through with his dagger. I just went on instinct." Expression softening, she turns back to me. "I really am sorry about that though. I mean I sort of had no choice, but I saw how deep it sunk into your arm and that had to hurt well after the spell was broken." You have no idea.

"Don't worry about it, had it coming. We'll call it even for the hit I gave your leg." To be honest I'm pretty surprised I didn't break the bone. For how tiny she is, she's one tough girl.

"Your performance in the martial arts is highly above that of any other we've encountered, equal perhaps only to Jason. I must say it's a great reassurance to have you as a member of our team rather than Rita's." What?

"You're a great fighter and we all sleep better knowing you're on our side now instead of plotting our demise." I bet she's going to be one of those translator people when she grows up.

"Thanks. You guys are really good too. I think Rita under estimates you all. She told me to take out Kim and Billy first, said you two would be the easiest to handle and here you shoot me and you repair the whole Command Center twice." It's a good thing she told me that though, made me cocky enough to screw up and as a result let them live.

"Yeah well you shouldn't be surprised, after all Jason is our leader and you know how strong he is." No kidding, I imagine not many people can fend off Goldar and a Ranger while unmorphed long enough to be saved. "After all he kicked your and Goldar's butt in the Dark Dimension." What?

Turning to give the boy in red a look, I'm met by dark and slightly pleading eyes. Oh come on, I can't let them think I'm so lame that I got my butt handed to me while morphed. You can't expect me to really go along with…I mean it's just not… "Yeah he definitely put me through the ringer." I'm too nice.

To be continued………