(A/N) This is my second installment for this story. I hope you enjoy where the story is going. Please review, favorite, and follow, if you want more installments.
Dylan's POV
My second day in Angel Grove began when my alarm clock woke me up from a weird dream about a talking head and being socially ostracized…oh wait that was just my life. I
didn't actually remember what I dreamed about, so it was probably irrelevant. All I could come up with was an image of a model air plane flying around the city…what the fuck.
After laying in bed for another five minutes, I finally got up and into the shower. I eventually put on my work uniform and started my walk to the Youth Center which was only
three blocks from Uncle Ernie's small, two bedroom house. It was a Sunday, which usually meant I wouldn't be working according to my schedule, but I decided since I had
already worked on Saturday I might as well work today. Plus it would let me keep my mind off of tomorrow which was unfortunately the first day of school. It's not like I had
anything better to do since I wasn't really in the mood to interact with my peers because of certain experiences from the day before. I finally reached the entrance to the building
and entered it, trying to convince myself that today was going to be a good day. The main room was already full of teens because I had gotten to sleep in this morning and Uncle
Ernie was standing proudly behind his juice bar.
"Hey Dylan how was your sleep kid?"
"Good I guess, do you have any specific tasks for me to do right now?"
"Yes I do in fact, but are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes Uncle Ernie I told you I have just been tired lately."
"Well why don't you hang out with the gang before you start your shift and get to know them."
"That's alright, I don't really think that group needs any more members," I fired back with a hint of resentment in my voice.
"Okay suit yourself lone wolf."
Uncle Ernie then assigned me a list of things to do before I took my first break. Slowly but surely I complete each item on the list while occasionally catching a glimpse of
Kimberly. No matter how hard I tried to ignore her, she always had a way of unintentionally capturing my attention. I finished chopping some fresh fruit and retired to one of the
seats in front of the bar. I noticed Jason climbing a rope with the others circled around him giving him moral support until he finally reached the top and made his way down.
Suddenly, two teens I had never seen before entered the room. One was fucking huge, one was fucking not. I overheard some kids talking about a 'Bulk and Skull' before and
this must have been them, I mean their appearances matched their names perfectly. They seemed to be enemies to the group and I felt as if I identified with them in that sense.
Feeling like I had possibly found some kids that I could relate to, I walked over to the bunch of them and effectively made my presence known by stepping next to who I guessed
was Bulk. Jason was in the middle of challenging him to climb the rope, but instead of letting my hopefully new friend answer the challenge, I stepped towards Jason and forcefully
said that I would climb the rope for Bulk. I didn't know what came over me but I felt as if this opportunity could some how get me revenge on the peers that didn't really care so
much about me or my feelings the day before. Keep in mind that I am six foot three , yes even at 14, and am more of a stocky build, so climbing wasn't exactly my forte, but I
jumped at the chance to show the group that I was just as strong as any one of them. Also, I wanted Bulk and Skull to respect me so I could possibly join their group. I was met
with surprised looks from everyone around me including Bulk and Skull. I also got a look of intrigue from Kimberly which I genuinely enjoyed. I started my climb and carefully
made my way up the rope making sure to grasp the rope with my legs as well so that I could release some of the pressure on my already burning arms. I eventually reached the
top and my arms suddenly gave completely out so I let my body fall with my hands still on the rope, acting as if I had meant to slide down. My feet hit the floor and I was
greeted by a painful stinging in my hands as the skin was ripped off from the descent. The gang looked impressed and I put a smirk on my face to try and hide the pain I was
feeling.
"Look man we were meaning to talk to you…like In private," I heard Jason say in a hushed tone.
I was still so enraged from the way they had treated me before that I quickly retorted with, "I don't really think I want to talk to you anytime soon, I have better things to do,
with people who are actually cool." This got me a surprised and hurt reaction from everyone, especially Kimberly. But I didn't really care about Kimberly's hurt at that moment
because hurting them as a whole was worth it. I turned to catch up with Bulk and Skull who had already started walking out of the room into the hallway that leads to the exit.
"Hey guys wait up, you think I can hang with you?"
"Dude, are you serious?"
"What are you talking about-"
"We don't want to hang out with you because you're a loser."
"Yeah even more than us," Skull added.
"I could have climbed that rope and you ruined the moment for me, no friend would do that."
"I'm sorry I didn't know you actually wanted to climb."
"Well you don't know anything about me so don't try to talk or act for me again freak, or I'll beat the shit out of you."
"Yeah freak," Bulk punched Skull in the gut for this comment.
I watched them walk away with a confused brain as I tried to figure out why nobody wanted to be associated with me in any fucking way. I walked back into the room by myself
and got met with a 'where are your friends now' look from Jason, Billy, Zack, and Trini. Kimberly gave me a disappointed look which made me even more upset than the others'
and I turned my head from all of them, obviously humiliated, and walked straight into the back room to violently chop more fruit. I worked furiously for the next couple of hours
trying to forget everything that had transpired in Angel Grove. I came to the conclusion that I was going to have to find a way to get out of Angel Grove, and fast. As I quickly
washed cutting knifes while contemplating my near future I sliced open my finger to reveal a surprising amount of blood. "Shit just my luck." I search for a Band-Aid as I
accidentally get blood on the floor, counter and sink. I finally give up after searching most of the room and decide to tie a dry wash cloth around my finger as an easy to stop the
blood flow. After cleaning up what was affected by the spilt blood, I went to the bathroom located behind the room I had been working in. As I turned on the faucet I felt a familiar
twinge of electricity surge through my body. Before I knew what was happening I found myself standing in the middle of the Command Center.
"Dylan, I know we had to turn you away before, but there appears to be something you can aid us in," Zordon's thunderous voice boomed.
"What makes you think I would want to help you?" This was the moment when I finally started to realize the monster I had become for no good reason other than feeling
unwanted. This wasn't me and I finally understood the immaturity of the way I had been acting. It was time to man up and drop the vengeful out cast act. "I'm sorry Zordon, I'm
ready and willing to help in any way possible."
"Excellent Dylan, turn your attention to the viewing globe. What you are seeing is a gigantic monster set upon the city by Rita Repulsa. The Power Rangers are currently stuck in
an alternate dimension and unless you lead the monster to destroy a certain building, they will be trapped in it forever."
"Wow, sounds like a piece of cake and not out of the ordinary at all," I responded sarcastically. As I turned back to Zordon I tried to show no fear but I'm pretty sure he saw right
through my facade.
"Dylan I have no doubt that you are capable of this task. My observation of your rope climbing skills have proven to me that you are able to do much more than meets the eye."
I never thought I would gain so much confidence through a pep talk in my entire life, but I guess a floating head can do that for you. "Alright Zordon, I trust you, I'm mentally
prepared, let's do this." A couple seconds passed by, and suddenly I was in downtown Angel Grove staring up at monster read to squish me with one foot step. I suddenly
realized that I didn't even notice what building I was supposed to get the big fuck to smash through. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," I whisper to myself as I dodge a kick from the giant that
connects with a concrete building behind me. He broke through it alright, but no Power Rangers ran outside. I run to the other side of the street and stand in front of the closest
building to me, hoping that it was the right choice. Monster fuck karate chops the small shop and I roll out of the way expecting a bad ass team of Power Rangers to back me up,
but no. I start to panic until I remember the words Zordon had spoken, "you are capable of this task." I focus in on my surroundings, and my brain suddenly tells me to look for
any abnormalities in the buildings around me. I start scanning the buildings quickly as I am running for cover. My eyes finally land on a building that's appearance seems to change
from a traditional brick building into what looked like a block of dark gray clay. "Well that looks fucked up so…I'm just going to go with that one," I say to myself while sprinting to
the entrance of 'Emily's Garden.' The creature catches up quickly and punches in my direction before I can move, causing me to close my eyes and hope for the best. I open my
eyes after feeling a second surge of energy rush through my body to find my self in the command center safe and sound.
"Great work Dylan, if there was a sixth power coin you would indeed be the one to possess it."
"Thanks Zordon but what if that wasn't the right building? You zapped me out to quick to be sure."
"I had absolute confidence in your choice after you had spent so much energy focusing on the task at hand. When I realized you used your mind to identify the right building
instead of leaving it to luck I knew you had made the right choice."
"That's a lot of pressure to put on fourteen year old," I said with a sense of question still resonating on my face. Zordon must have perfectly read my emotions again because he
then advised me to look at the viewing globe to see the Power Rangers free and battling the monster. "Alright cool," I said finally relaxed. "No offense Zordon, but can you beam
me back to the bathroom now, my uncle is probably worried and looking for me."
"Of course Dylan, and know that after your incredible showing of courage today there might just be a spot on this team for you."
Before I could respond, I found myself in the bathroom again and heard Uncle Ernie banging on the door and asking if I was okay. I told him I was just dressing a wound from
cutting fruit and the running water had blocked out his cries…what a piece of shit lie. Surprisingly, he bought it though as he then told me to hurry up and come listen to the news
on the radio with him. I took off the tied wash cloth on my finger and finally got to run cold water on the cut. A couple of seconds later, I turned the water off and miraculously
found a Band-Aid in my pocket while searching for a quick way to dry my hands. I didn't know if Zordon had some how teleported it or placed it there but I was pretty certain he
had. I realized he had never asked about it in the command center and he had also told me he had been watching me earlier so I came to the conclusion that he had it ready for
me as soon as I cut myself. Maybe the exclusion from the team was a test from Zordon and I had been failing it until I let my anger go and stepped up to the plate when the
world needed it. Who really knows what goes through that floating head of his. I had suddenly started to see Zordon as an encouraging father figure, which I guess I needed
knowing that I hadn't heard from my dad since he left. Then I thought about how fucking sappy I was getting and decided to just get back to the counter with my newly
bandaged finger and enjoy some bonding time with my uncle over the news story he had been so excited about. Ironically, it had been one on the Power Rangers which only
brought a subtle smirk to my face. I listened to Uncle E. go on and on about his theories about how they got here, and they were all absolutely fucking ridiculous. I couldn't tell
him how wrong he had been because I had assumed the identities of the group were supposed to be kept secret. Suddenly, I saw Kimberly, Jason, Trini, and Billy enter through
the main entrance and I decided this the perfect opportunity to apologize for my behavior. "I'm going to go talk to the gang Uncle E."
"You got it kid. Here, before you walk over to their table you might as well take these drinks over to them."
"How much do they owe you?"
"It's on the house," Uncle Ernie replied with a sort of smile on his face almost like he knew these four, were part of the Power Rangers...bullshit he couldn't have.
I walked the drinks over and placed them on the table in front of each teenager before putting the extra cup, originally made for Zack, in the center of the table. "Hey guys, I just
wanted to say I'm sorry for the way I treated you guys earlier. I've just been in a really shitty mood lately and in all honestly, as I'm sure you heard from Zordon, I really want to
be an ally and not an enemy."
"Thanks for the apology man, but after talking through it with each other, we came to the conclusion that we deserved the way you treated us today, we were being total tools,"
Jason replied.
"Yeah, we didn't even realize how much we were ignoring you the last couple of days," Trini added.
"Your performance today was exquisite, and we would be happy to be your friend in and out of battle," Billy chimed in with a friendly tone.
"Totally, your bravery and smarts today really surprised us, you would have made a great ranger," Kimberly said with a beautiful smile on her face.
Her statement made me feel as if she was flirting with me, but I wasn't sure. Either way I liked the way she smiled at me and that's all that mattered to me. "Wow, thank you
guys, it means a lot to be invited into your group, but don't feel like you have to include me just because you feel bad for me. I understand that you guys have been friends for a
very long time. I imagine letting a new kid in would be an extremely difficult process."
"It's not like that at all bro," Jason said.
"To prove that we really want to get to know you and become great friends and fighting partners alike, I took the liberty of making you one of these," Billy said as he presented
me with a metallic watch that was identical to the ones on each teenager's wrist, the only exception being that mine was a light shade of brown while the others' corresponded
with their individual ranger colors. "This will let you contact Zordon and Alpha, or even teleport to the command center with a touch of a button," Billy added aiming his finger at a
small fob located on the watch.
"This is awesome, thanks guys this is fucking amazing," I shouted as I attached the gadget to my wrist.
"Kid, watch your language, we got little children in here."
"Sorry Uncle E.," I responded as everyone else started laughing in response to my uncle calling me out.
"Hey we're going to see a movie at six, you want to come?"
"Sure, let me just clean up the back and see if Uncle Ernie needs anything else done," I responded to Kimberly' question.
"Alright well we are going to head over to the entrance way soon to wait for Zack so when your done come meet us."
"Will do Kimberly." My heart skipped a beat when I realized I had just had a solid first conversation with Kimberly…hell yeah! I approached Uncle Ernie but before I could even ask
him anything he said, "your good to go have fun kid, don't worry about cleaning up."
"Thanks Uncle E., you're the man."
"I know, I know, now run home and get changed before they leave without you."
I took Uncle Ernie's advice and exited the building's back door seconds later. I sprinted home and changed into a brown t-shirt, to match my new watch, and a pair of jeans
before sprinting back to the Youth Center and entering through the front door. I arrived just in time to see Trini at the top of the climbing rope looking somewhat frightened.
"Hey Dylan's back, let's roll," Jason requested.
All six of us then made our way out of the building and to the local movie theater which was about five blocks down the street. We collectively talked about our crazy action-
packed day, and even though I wasn't with them for everything that occurred, I finally felt that I was a part of the team. And finally being a part of something felt so good that all
of the stress in my life had completely evaporated, at least I thought it had.