Chapter 8

Tommy was spread out across his bed, thinking about the events of the past week. Jason had told him to talk to Kim before he came back, but he just couldn't work up the nerve to ask her. Jason was coming back tomorrow to move into his apartment, which meant that he had only tomorrow morning to ask her about their relationship before Jason came and gave him hell for not doing it. "Why am I so afraid of this?" Tommy asked himself out loud. "I mean, I've known the girl for a long time, we hold no grudges, I mean..." Tommy thought about what he had just said, and realized that, while he was no longer holding a grudge, he did feel like he couldn't trust her with his heart.

"WHY IS THIS SO COMPLICATED!?" Tommy heard these words come from the guest room, knowing it had to be Kim. He ran to the room to see what was going on.

"What's wrong?" Tommy asked. "Is everything ok?"

"I'm so sorry Tommy, I didn't mean to wake you, I was just, thinking, and I started talking to myself about things, and well, I just am a little upset at myself right now... you probably think I'm crazy right?" Kim looked up at Tommy as he sat down next to her on her bed, and placed his hand on her back, rubbing it trying to console her.

"It's alright, to tell you the truth, I wasn't really asleep, I was thinking too... just not as loud as you had been," Tommy and Kim both chuckled at his comment. "So, what got you so worked up?" Kim blushed a little, and turned away from Tommy. She looked back and bit down on her lower lip, as she did when she got nervous. "It's ok Kim, you can trust me." With that, Kim took a deep breath, and started speaking.

"Well, you see, the past several days have been really overwhelming," Kim started. Tommy continued to sit next to her, his eyes glued to hers. Kim sighed, and continued. "You know, finding you, becoming a new ranger, meeting the new gang, getting Jason back, it's all been hectic, and with everything that Mesogog has been throwing at us, I just haven't realized all that's been going on until now."

"Yeah... that makes sense. Add moving while you're at it, I can't imagine how exhausted you would be."

"It's been kind of a whirlwind," Kim replied. "Anyway, what were you thinking about that was keeping you up?" Tommy waited for a minute, not knowing what to say. He remembered what he and Jason had talked about, finally speaking up. But now he was here, and he was never really good with expressing how he felt.

"This is going to sound kind of cheesy, but, I was thinking about you," Tommy replied, his confession causing Kim to give him a blank stare. "I... um... want to start over with you, if you want." Kim could only continue staring, not knowing what to say, the silence becoming uncomfortable for the mentor of the Power Team. "Look, I don't expect an answer tonight... to be honest, I wasn't even going to say anything..."

"Yes," Kim interrupted.

"Wait... what?"

"Yes," she said, now with more vigor, a smile creeping onto her face. "I want to start over too."

"You do?" Tommy asked, amazed by her response.

"If I'm being honest, that was really why I was frustrated."

"What do you mean?" Tommy asked.

"I'm living in the house of the man I've been attracted to for over ten years, and I've felt like I had no way of ever being with you again. Not to mention, we are rangers together, and we teach at the same school."

"So it was complicated that we had regained our friendship, but that wasn't all you wanted."

"I've said it before, Tommy. I felt... no feel like I threw you away. I sent that letter, and instantly regretted it. I never thought in a million years that you'd take me back."

"Well, I do want you back, Kimberly." They both smiled, but Tommy was unsure of what to say next. "It's going to take a lot of time, and it's not going to look like it did when we were in high school."

"I know," Kim replied.

"I also..." Tommy stopped for a moment, making sure what he said next would both help Kim understand where he was coming from, but also be gracious in how he said it. "I really want to trust you Kim. And I know when our relationship broke apart before, it wasn't just your fault. But, I'm not going to lie, that's one thing that is going to be a huge struggle moving forward." Kim nodded in agreement.

"I'd imagine you'd have to be a robot if you didn't struggle with trusting me after what happened."

"Hey... this is not about blame," Tommy reassured her. "Look... I want another shot with you. And yeah, I struggle with trusting you, but there are going to be things that I do that you are going to struggle with too, and we are going to have to work through them if we want this thing to work. And I'm willing to work on them."

"So you won't give up on me?" Kim asked with a teasing smile.

"I'm not going anywhere."

To Be Continued...