"What's wrong with her?" Thomas Oliver asked, as he entered the kitchen.
"I was just asking her about her and Darren-"
"Let me guess, she didn't want to talk about?" Tommy's dad asked. He nodded. "They must've had a fight."
Thomas chuckled, shaking his head. Then he sighed.
"They do that a lot," Thomas said.
"That doesn't seem healthy."
"It isn't. But you know, Darren is a good kid. At least he was when he initially met him. Didn't like the age difference though; I still don't. But Nic seems to really like him." He shrugged. "But lately, it's just been a lot of your sister acting out."
"I'll talk to her dad," Tommy assured him. He could tell that his parents were worried. He clapped his dad on the shoulder and bid him good night. He made his way upstairs, passing by Nicole's bedroom door. He backtracked and knocked.
"Nic?" he called out when she didn't answer. "Can I come in?"
He heard the door unlock. 'Since when did she get a lock on her door?'
He entered her room.
"Hey," he said, walking over to her desk and taking a seat.
"What Tommy?" she asked, yet her tone was gentle.
"You okay?" No answer. "Nic, you know Mom and Dad are worried about you, right?"
Nicole sighed.
"I'm fine."
"You don't sound like it. Come on, Nic. You know you can always talk to me."
Nicole gave him a look.
"I'm serious. I mean, you might not like what I have to say, but I don't want you to not talk to me because of that." His younger sister seemed to be debating his words. "If your boyfriend really cared for you, he wouldn't be treating you this way."
"He's a good guy, Tommy," Nicola said sadly. "At least, he used to be. Lately…he's just been acting really different."
"Any idea why?" He leaned forward, resting his elbows in his knees.
"No. I mean, he went camping with his dad a couple of months ago. It was during my spring break so I didn't get to spend any time with him during that time. But I remember they went camping and when he came back…that's when he started of acting differently. It was subtle at first, then…"
"You think something happened with his dad?
Nicole shook her head.
"They have an okay relationship. His dad is always gone for work. He's some kind of -ologist. He studies rocks and gems, I guess. Not something that interests Darren, but he tries as a way to spend time with his dad. Camping was sort of a compromise between them. I don't know."
"So whatever is going on with Darren, he's taking it out on you?"
"Nothing like that, Tommy. Darren's just been busy. He doesn't tell me where he's going or what he's doing. I can't help but feel like he's hiding something."
Tommy hated to say it, but he didn't want his sister's heart broken either.
"Do you think that maybe he's…cheating?"
Nicole shook her head.
"I considered it. But, I don't think that's it."
"Are you sure?" Nicole didn't come up with an answer. "Nicole, I think this guy is bad news for you. Something is obviously going on and regardless of what it is, he's taking it out on you and your guys' relationship. I'm just being the older brother here and I don't want you to get hurt."
"I know, Tommy," Nicole sighed. It was the story of her life: Tommy Oliver looking out for his younger sister. She knew he meant well, but sometimes she just felt he got too overprotective.
"Nicole, just really think about your relationship and think if it's really worth it being with a guy like that."
Nicole slowly nodded her head. Tommy walked over and gave his sister a hug. She bid him good night as he walked out of her room. She glanced at the picture beside her bed; it was one of her and Darren. She knew that Tommy was right. She felt it in a heart for a few weeks already that something wasn't right. Yet, she stayed to see if she can somehow help. Now that Tommy was back, she realized how much of a jerk Darren had become. When she first dated Darren, she couldn't wait for Tommy to meet him. They had the love for the martial arts in common and she knew Tommy would like him. But ever since he started acting differently, she realized she didn't feel the same way now.
She placed the picture of them two face down and reached for her cellphone. She punched in his number and sighed when it went to his voicemail.
.-~*~-. -~*~-.-~*~-.-~*~-.-~*~-.
Nicole woke up feeling the effects of her late night sob fest. Her eyes felt puffy and her nose was all stuffed up. She treated herself to a nice long, hot shower. She did all she could to keep herself from thinking about the night before. After spending all night trying to get a hold of Darren, she finally did it. She broke it off with him…through his voicemail.
Nicole mentally slapped herself. She regretted it, only because she knew it was always better to do it in person, or even with the person on the other end of the phone. She wondered if Darren would even have a chance to check his voicemail. Different scenarios played in Nicole's head. What if he didn't get the voicemail? What if he did, but deleted it without bothering to listen to it? What if he did hear it, but deleted it so he could say he didn't get it?
As the hot water slowly turned cold, Nicole finally ended her shower. She took her time to get dressed, opting on a pair of black sweats and a red tank top. With her hair still wet, she twisted it and tied it into a bun. Seeing that her parent's car was not in the drive way, Nicole made her way downstairs. She was glad that her parents were gone. It would save her from all the trouble of answering their questions.
"Good morning!"
Nicole screamed as she slipped down the remaining three steps of the stairs. She heard Tommy laugh then pause long enough to see if she was okay.
"What are you doing here?" she yelled as she let herself just lay on the ground, fuming from her scare.
"Making you breakfast. Seriously, Nic, are you okay?"
Nicole slowly got herself up as she heard his footsteps approaching.
"I'm fine," she grumbled.
"What's wrong with your eyes?" Tommy asked. "Wait, were you crying?"
Nicole groaned as she made her way to the kitchen. She fixed herself a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.
"Nic?"
"I broke up with Darren," she told him as she took a seat at the table.
"You what?" Tommy took the seat across from her.
"I broke up with Darren. Actually, I tried to break up with him, but after getting his voicemail all night I ended up breaking up with him through that. So technically, yeah, I broke up with him."
"Are…are you okay?"
"Yeah, I guess it sucks. First break up or whatever," she said. "I mean, I wasn't in love with him, but…"
"It still sucks," Tommy finished. He didn't realize that Darren was her first boyfriend. "I know what'll cheer you up! We're all going out-"
"No thanks Tommy," Nicole interrupted. "I just want to be that girl who wallows in self pity, eating ice cream while watching movies that'll make her cry even more."
"Come on, Nic!"
"Tommy, I really don't feel like being around your friends and having to pretend that I'm all fine and happy, okay? I'll just be a Debbie Downer."
Tommy sighed but nodded his head anyway.
"If you change your mind, just let me know and I'll come pick you up."
.-~*~-. -~*~-.-~*~-.-~*~-.-~*~-.
"Wow, how is she?" Kim asked. Tommy had just finished telling her and the rest of the girls about Nicole's break-up.
"Wallowing in self-pity," Tommy said, remembering Nicole's words. "I tried to invite her-"
"No, she needs time to herself," Tanya said, while the other girls nodded.
"Finally, they are here! I'm starving!"
"You sound like Rocky," Aisha teased Kat.
Jason and the rest of the guys piled out of Rocky's SUV, armed with food. Suddenly, screams pierced the air.
"What was that?" Trini asked, standing up along with everyone else. Her question was soon answered as a small group of people came running their way, screaming. During their time as rangers, they picked up the habit of going against the running crowd. The group of former rangers all stopped as they run up to the top of the hill. What they saw before them, made them all drop their jaw in surprise. It was a figure dressed head to toe in black.
"Is that…a black power ranger?" Zack asked. They watched in shock as the black power ranger kicked a trash can, sending it flying through the air, nearly hitting a couple trying to run away. The black power ranger laughed his menacing laugh. Instantly, a weapon appeared in his hand. He blasted at the basketball hoops and other various items at the park.
"What the hell is going on?" Jason asked.
"Let's go find out," Tommy said.
They all advanced towards the evil black power ranger.
"Hey!" Tommy cried, trying to get his attention. The evil ranger didn't seem to hear him and continued to blast shots through out the park. A flash of light covered his weapon, changing it into a can. The evil ranger shook the can and began to tag the familiar words "Evil will Prevail."
"What do you think you're doing?" Jason yelled.
"You got a problem?" Rocky asked.
The evil black power ranger finally looked up. He forced out his arms, sending blasts at the former rangers feet. He laughed as they all scream and yelled, falling to the ground. By the time the group regained their balance and were up on their feet, the black evil ranger was gone.
"Who was that guy?" Kim asked.
"I don't know," Tommy said.
"One thing is for sure, he wasn't one of the good ones," Aisha replied.
"Isn't the current team over at Turtle Cove?" Kat asked.
"Yeah, he definitely didn't look like any of the Wild Force rangers," Jason said. He, just like his comrades, secretly kept up with the current ranger team. Any article or news report he saw, he always paid close attention to if it regarded the current team.
"No, he didn't," Tommy said. "But we all can be sure of one thing: he's evil."
AN: What do you lovely readers think so far? :)