Pink is Back - Chapter 3
"Tommy... is that you in that lab coat?" Kim asked, still in a state of shock.
"Uhh... you guys are old friends aren't you?" Conner asked.
"Yeah, it's been a long time, too long," Tommy said, with no anger behind it, which startled Kim. "Hey Conner, do you mind if maybe we take a rain check on that review session, I'll give you a pass to study hall so they know your not cutting."
"Yeah, that's fine, same time tomorrow?" Conner asked.
"You got it, oh, and I need you to come by to check out your "experiment" after school," Tommy said as Conner nodded and left the two alone to catch up. "Look, before you say anything, I don't want to hold grudges for the letter or anything else, although I will ask you about it when the time is right, but for now, it's just good to see you." Tommy smiled, and Kimberly was amazed that Tommy would be so civil after she hurt him so bad. Kim stood there silent. "What brings you here to Reefside?"
Kim sat down on a desk, trying to calm herself down. "We-ell, umm, you see, a few months ago, I was still working with Coach, he offered me a position as an assistant coach after the pan-globals, which I gladly accepted. So, I walked in to check on some of the girls one night, and I saw that they were all using steroids. I was mortified, so I went to talk to Coach about it and... well, he said don't worry about it. He didn't give them a warning or anything, so I quit, because I didn't want to be associated with any of that." Kim smiled for the first time at Tommy, she seemed proud of herself for doing what she did. "While I was down in Florida, I had enough time after the pan-globals to finish my GED, and then I took some night classes a Community College to get my teaching degree. I tried to get a permanent teaching job, but because of the overflow of teachers in Florida, I could only sub for awhile, so I looked in California, and Reefside said they had an opening for a phys ed teacher and a new Gymnastics coach, so I flew in yesterday for my interview, and I got the job."
"Wow, that's great Kim, I really am happy for you," Tommy said, as he walked towards her.
"Well, I told my story, so how'd you become a Science Teacher?" Kim asked bluntly. "I mean, I remember you always wanting to be a karate instructor or a nascar driver."
Tommy cringed at the question, because it had to deal with his past, including working for Anton Mercer, and the creation of all the evil surrounding Reefside before he became a teacher. "Well, I just got really into dinosaurs I guess," Tommy said, leaving out important details purposely. "I liked teaching, so I went to USC to get my BA, and MIT for Graduate School, and, well, I became a Science teacher."
"That's cool," Kim said suspiciously. She knew something was up, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Look, I need to go and run some copies for class, why don't you meet me at Hayley's Cyberspace tonight, we can talk more there, not to mention one of my students, Kira, is performing there," Tommy explained.
"Oh really, that would be great, plus I met Kira earlier, she seems like such a nice girl, but yeah, that would be great, what time do you want me to show up?" Kim uttered in one ecstatic breath.
"Umm, 6:30 would be good," Tommy said.
"Guess that means I should get there at 8," Kim joked.
"Hey, I've gotten better with that, no more Tommy Standard time for me," Tommy complained.
"Suuuure," Kim egged on. Kim started walking out the door, when Tommy realized he had one last question to ask her.
"Hey Kim, how'd you end up getting stuck dragging Conner down here?" Tommy asked.
Kim had a big grin on her face. "Well, long story short, he was flirting with me, thinking I was a student. Of course then I set him straight, but it was cool, I felt young again." They both smiled as Kim walked out the door.
"Man, you still got it after all these years," Tommy thought to himself, implying that she still had the beauty to have all the guys drooling over her. All of a sudden, an idea hit him square in the head. "Wait a minute, a new pink ranger shows up, and then Kim shows... nahhh, who am I kidding."
*Tommy's House*
"So Conner, did you try to kiss Ms. Hart goodbye after school," Ethan remarked, trying to get a reaction out of Conner.
"Hey man, at least I've kissed a girl goodbye before," Conner shot right back. The two got up in each others faces, waiting for the other to say another comment.
"Ok guys, way too much testosterone in the room," Kira whined, as she was still reeling from finding out that Trent was the one fighting them all this time. "We need to find that other ranger so we can get on the same page with her. Dr. O, you wouldn't happen to have any ideas, would you?"
"Well, it's a long shot, but there could be a possibility that it's Conner's new love interest," Tommy said, as Conner stood ashamed. "Hey man, it's all right, if it makes you feel any better, I was head over heels for that girl too." 'Was, make that I still am kind of, no, really head over heels for her,' he thought to himself.
"Wait, why do you think she's the new pink ranger?" Ethan asked.
"Well, she was wearing all pink today," Conner chipped in, only to get stared at. "You know, I don't think I'm ever going to speak again." Conner said as the others chuckled a little. Then Tommy composed himself and told the group his thoughts.
"I think she may be the new ranger because she was the very first pink ranger, and the techniques that we saw yesterday were very similar to hers," Tommy explained. "But forget that for now, we have to figure out a way to help Tren..."
"Shoot, no time now Dr. O, I have to be at Hayley's in fifteen minutes," Kira said.
"You know, how about we all take a break," said Tommy. "Unless if something is really wrong, why don't we spend this weekend to get some R & R. You guys go and help Kira set up, and I'll meet you there in a half hour, ok."
"Definitely," Conner said.
"No problem, but by the way, when this break is over, we better get to hear some of the juicy details about you and Ms. Hart!" Ethan shouted as Tommy gave him a dead stare.
*The Park*
Kimberly was walking through Reefside park, lugging her huge gym bag behind her. She didn't have enough time to go home and change after her first day of practice with the gymnastics team, so during break she got a change of clothes from her hotel room. All of a sudden, she heard something behind her, and when she turned around, a dozen or so tyrannodrones were behind her. "What do you guys want?!" Kim asked.
"We want your pink dino gem," Zeltrax appeared, and drew his staff. Kim was afraid, she still didn't know how to control the gem or its powers, so she didn't know how to really morph still. The one time she did morph, it wasn't on her command, and her power faded quickly. The tyrannodrones surrounded her, and it seemed like she was in checkmate. All of a sudden, she started glowing pink, and the power took over. She morphed, drew her double-bladed staff, and completely dismembered half of the crew. "Not bad for someone who can't control their powers," Zeltrax hissed, as he looked at the pink ranger. But you won't be able to defeat us, sooner or later we will win!"
"Don't bet on it buddy, your no match for any of the rangers, especially me!" Kim yelled back as she charged. The two matched up, and were both fighting well. It was like they were in a stalemate, no one was gaining an inch on the other. In the distance, Tommy was driving his jeep near the park.
"Boy, Kimberly is going to be so surprised when she sees that I'm actually early! I don't think that happened even once on our date... what the..." Tommy's voice trailed when he saw Zeltrax and the pink ranger dueling. He quickly pulled over, and used his gem to turn invisible. He would have morphed, but the pink ranger seemed like she had it under control, so he used the gem to spy.
Zeltrax fell to the ground as the Pink ranger sliced and diced her way to defeating Zeltrax, hitting him five or six times with the blades. "You haven't seen the last of me Pink Ranger!" Zeltrax disappeared into the portal with the other tyrannodrones, and as that happened, she began to glow pink again, and she began to demorph.
"Time to see who you are Pink ranger," Tommy thought to himself, still invisible from his gem's powers. The light faded, and Kim stood there. "Unbelievable, this is amazing, Kim is the Pink Ranger!" Tommy then ran back to his jeep and rematerialized and drove off so Kim wouldn't know he was there. "Man, are we going to have a lot to talk about at Hayley's."
*Hayley's Cyberspace*
Kim walked in, and quickly found a bathroom to change. Tommy saw her, but let her do what she needed, as he sat down and reserved a table for the both of them. Kira was still setting up, with Conner, Ethan, and Hayley helping her. She wasn't supposed to go on until 7:30, so that would give Tommy and Kim an hour to hopefully get everything out on the table. Tommy looked up from the table and saw Kim walking towards him, her hair brushed down, Black t-shirt and blue jeans. Kim saw Tommy and sat down at his table.
"Hey Kim, how are you?" Tommy asked.
"Just a little tired, some creeps were freaking me out a little while ago," Kim mentioned, referring to the tyrannodrones. "Anyway, you wanted to meet here, so, let's catch up." Kim and Tommy were talking a long time about their years after high school, Kim's time in the Pan-globals, Tommy with his circuit racing, and later how he became friends with Hayley at MIT. Out of the blue, Tommy asked the question that was avoided for the last 8 years.
"Look Kim, I know I really haven't waited very long to ask you this, but why'd you send me that letter," Tommy looked with a little hurt showing. "I mean, we loved each other for two and a half years, and then you send me a letter saying that you fall in love with someone else? No offense Kim, but unless if you move on really fast, I really don't buy what happened." Kim knew the question was coming, as she felt tears start to well up in her eyes.
"Tommy... I didn't realize I was going to hurt you like I did, I loved you so much, but it was killing me inside that I couldn't be with you. I thought if I let you go, it would free me from all the pain that I was suffering. Plus, I had found out from the others that Kat had fallen head over heels for you, so I figured that she could make you happy. Then, I found someone in Florida who reminded me so much of you. I heard he liked me, and I thought I would give him a chance, so that's when I sent the letter. It hurt me so much that I never did start dating him or any other guy. I still loved you, but damn it Tommy, the love I had for you was too much to bear when I couldn't be with you." Kim was on the verge of crying, and Tommy felt very hurt, as if he still felt something for Kim after all these years, now he has learned that she truly had betrayed him. He put his head down, trying to think of what to say to her.
"Kim, I can't believe it, I mean, we loved each other, and you could just throw that away because we couldn't be physically together, I loved you with all my heart and soul, I didn't want Kat, I wanted you and..." Tommy looked up and saw Kimberly's eyes, tears threatening to fall, and stopped himself short. He realized that he was berating her for something that happened eight years ago, not to mention, if he now had to work with her, in more ways than one, that he could completely sever his friendship with her. All of a sudden, the announcer came to the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause for Kira!" the announcer shouted, as Tommy had a good idea to smooth things over.
"Look Kim, I didn't mean to go off like I did, this happened eight years ago, and I don't want to ruin a chance at becoming at least friends again," Tommy apologized. Kim nodded her head as Kira began singing a slow song. Kim sat down, feeling horrible still after what she said, she still had some feelings for Tommy, and she began to realize this, and she started to cry again. Tommy then put his hand on her shoulder. "If your feeling up to it, I was wondering if you would give me the honor of dancing with you." Kim looked up, nodded her head, and a smile crept on to her face. The two walked out onto the dance floor and began dancing, as Conner and Ethan looked on, and began cheering for Tommy by shouting, "YEAH DR. O!" The only thing Tommy and Kim could do is laugh, as they danced for the entire night listening to Kira's beautiful voice. Tommy forgot about Kim as the pink ranger, all he cared about was being able to be with her, even if it was only for a moment.
To be continued...