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Chapter Eleven: Just Your Average Wednesday

A/N: Hey! So, I'll update tomorrow too, because I'm going camping next week. So be in the lookout for that. For now though, enjoy this chapter!

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost

Jayden couldn't help but be nervous as he and Lorrie ahead for the entrance of the animal shelter. "You know, I'm not exactly known for my experience with animals."

"Jayden we'll be fine," Lorrie smiled. "These are shelter animals. They'll like you if just pet them."

"I've never had a pet."

"Just follow my lead. I promise, it'll be great."

"Ok."

Lorrie lead him inside and Jayden looked around. The front room had comfy chairs and a couple of cages. The lady at the desk smiled at them. "Hi Lorrie," she said. "You brought a friend I see."

"This is Jayden."

"Hello," Jayden waved awkwardly.

"Well," the lady smiled. "We're glad you're both here. We can always use help. Why don't you two go out back and see Richard?"

"Okey dokey. Come on." She led Jayden through a door and down a hallway. He looked through the window of a door they passed and saw a hall full of cats in cages. They walked a little farther and saw another hall, this one was longer, filled with dogs in cages.

"There are a lot of animals here," he commented sadly.

"Yeah. It's too bad. These poor babies are just hoping to find a home."

They exited through the door at the end and were outside. Lorrie showed Jayden to a small building on the left. She went in and smiled. "Richard, I'm here! And I brought a friend!"

The man, Richard, smiled at them. "Excellent Lorrie. Hi, I'm Richard. I handle maintenance and organizing volunteers."

Jayden shook his hand. "I'm Jayden."

"Nice to meet you. Well, hope you're both ready to work. Lorrie, you can start cleaning the dog cages-"

"Oh goody."

"And Jayden, we have a vet visiting today to do check ups, and I'm sure he'd like a couple of extra hands."

Jayden nodded. He wished he was able to work with Lorrie. She was, after all, the reason he was here. Richard left the building and Lorrie and Jayden followed. "Lorrie, you know where to go. Jayden, follow me."

Lorrie have Jayden a smile and squeezed his hand. "Have fun."

"I'll try." Jayden followed Richard into the other building. There was an examination table and various tools laid out on a counter.

"Our vet is around here, somewhere," Richard said, looking around.

A man came in laughing, holding a cat in one hand. "That's very funny," he said to the cat.

"Ah, there he is. Jayden, meet Dr. Cole Evans. He stops by every week to give check ups. Cole, this is Jayden. He's volunteering today. Jayden, are you alright?"

As son as Cole came into the room Jayden had backed against the wall. His eyes were wide and his muscles were tight.

Dr. Cole looked at him strangely. "Are you ok?"

Jayden managed to nod. "Yes. Sorry." He forced his muscles to relax.

"Well then, I'll let you two get to work," Richard said. He have Jayden one last look before leaving the former red ranger alone with the vet who looked exactly like Deker.

Dr. Cole smiled. "I promise I'm not going to bite. I swear."

"Uh huh," Jayden nodded. He walked closer. "Sorry, it's just...you like someone I used know. Someone who I know to be dead."

"Oh," Dr. Cole replied, placing the cat on the examination table. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's ok. He tired to hurt me and my friends."

"Ah. Well then. We should probably get started then, no?"

Jayden nodded, mentally reminding himself that the man in front of him was not Deker. "Yes. What would you like me to do?"

"Well we can start by checking her heart beat and temperature."

-Samurai Ranger Life-

Mia was trying to study when her samuraizer went off. "Hello?"

"Mia, it's Terry."

"What's up? You always complain when I interrupt your studying, bru when you do it to me it's apparently ok."

"Vey funny. Listen, I just found out from Mom and Dad that we can bring a guest to Cam's wedding."

"So?"

"So, I just thought you should know."

"Are you bringing DJ?"

"We had one movie date."

"I saw you making out with her."

"That proves nothing. And if I do, it's only because Mom is requiring us to."

"Sure," Mia replied. "While you hold onto your denial, I'm hanging up. Ok?"

"Sounds-" Mia shut her samuraizer and put it away. She thought about what her brother had said.

"Hm. One guest." She looked in her drawer and found a slip of paper. "Should I call him? I haven't seen him in a week." She took a deep breath and picked her samuraizer up. She dialed Seth's number and held her breath.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Mia."

"Oh. Hi Mia. What's up?"

"Well, I have a strange question for you."

"Ok. What is it?"

"My cousin is getting married Saturday, and I was wondering if you would be my plus one."

"A wedding. Hm. Well, I'm not particularly busy this weekend. One question though, does this count as a date?"

"I guess it could."

"Excellent. Then, I would love to be your plus one Mia. It would be an honor even."

Mia grinned. "Fantastic."

-Samurai Ranger Life-

A few hours and several cages later, Lorrie decided to check on Jayden. She went over to the vet building and looked in the door. She saw Jayden laughing as he placed a puppy on the examination table. Dr. Cole smiled at Jayden as he listen to the puppy's heartbeat. He took his stethoscope off and held the ear pieces for Jayden. Jayden took them and listened for himself. He nodded and smiled.

Lorrie grinned when she saw Jayden pick the puppy up and cuddle it gently. He appeared to be saying something to it. She giggled as the puppy locked his face; making him laugh. She felt Prius as she went back to her task. Even the tough guy like Jayden can't resist the cuteness if a puppy.

-Samurai Ranger Life-

Emily sighed in frustration as she looked at the brochures. "I just can't decide what I even want to study."

"Well," Justin said, sitting down next to her at the kitchen table. "What'd you wanna be?"

"I don't know!" Emily exclaimed. She put her head down. "It's such a hard choice."

Justin got up and Emily felt him massaging her shoulders. "You'll figure it out, I'm sure."

Emily smiled and she sat up and looked at him. "You're so encouraging." She turned back to the table. "Unlike certain jerks who will remain nameless."

"Hey," Justin said, sitting back down. He took her hands in his gently. "Don't think about that guy. If he scares that easily, you're better off without him."

"Really?"

"Of course. You'll probably never believe me, but I've had the biggest crush on you since I was in like ninth grade."

"That long?"

"You ever wonder why I kept coming around your house?"

"I figured you were here to see Serena."

"That's what I said. But the truth is, I just wanted to be near you. I still think all the things I thought back then. You're the prettiest and smartest girl I've ever met."

Emily looked away. "You're jut saying that."

"No I'm not. Just, be my girlfriend, and let me prove I'm better than that low-life."

Emily smiled. "I guess so."

Justin grinned and kissed her on the cheek gently. "Now, I'll help you sort through all this complicated college stuff."

-Samurai Ranger Life-

Mike walked through the students carefully, checking all their stances. He nodded in satisfaction. "You can relax," he said. They all moved and stood with their feet apart and their hands behind their backs. "Alright," Mike said. "Master Tommy has decided for each class, we will have an in house competition to decide who will be going to Panorama City this Saturday."

The students all glanced at each other, with the same thing running through their minds. We all have a chance to go. Mike nodded. "Ok, so the first two up are Dominique and Rachel."

Everyone, minus the two girls, moved to the edges of the mat. They say on their knees, watch in with interest. Dominique was brand new to the class, and so far she'd proves to have some pretty good skill. But everyone was eager to see how she fought with others.

"Bow," Mike said. They bowed to him. "Face. Bow." They faced each other and bowed. "Take a stance." They readied themselves. "Fight."

The class watched in amazement as Rachel went to kick Dominique in the chest, but the other girl simply ducked under her leg and tripped her with amazing speed. Rachel hit the mat, earning Dominique a point. Mike nodded. "Point," he said, holding his hand towards Dominique. She helped her opponent up and they took their stances again.

"Fight," Mike said. Rachel attacked first again and Dominique blocked her punch. She stepped towards her opponent and elbowed her, wrapping her arm around her. She flipped Rachel and slammed her into the mat. "Point." Rachel accepted Dominique's help getting up and they took another stance, but tat this point everyone knew it was pointless.

Sure enough, Dominique floored her opposing again and Mike declared her the winner. "Good job."

The rest of the in-house completion followed that. Dominique proved herself to be an impressive fighter. She beat pretty much everyone. Mike nodded in satisfaction. Tommy was right. She does have chance to win this weekend. Eventually they had three winners from his class he stood in the middle do the mat. "Congratulations to our three winners. In third place, Evan." There was some applause. "In second, Ryan." Even more applause. "And in first place Dominique." She received a lot of applause.

"Congratulations to you three. We have threw people from each class completing so that's...uh...like twelve people going. Maybe fifteen. Anyways, good job." He lead another round of applause. "Alright, we're down for today. Class dismissed."everyone stood and bowed and began to file out. "Dominique," Mike said. "Can speak with you please?"

Dominique came over to him. "Yes Sensei?"

"I want to congratulate you on your victory today. You've only been here a couple weeks, but you're a very impressive fighter."

"Thank you," Dominique smiled.

"Keep up the good work."

"Thank you Sensei. I will." She bowed and Mike returned the gesture. He smiled a she left. He went to the office, and found Tommy inside. "Hey."

"Hey," Tommy replied. He sighed and stretched out in his chair. "Did I mention I hate paper work?"

"Only everyday."

"Well I hate it. Who knew owning a school would take so much paperwork?"

"Never would've guess, Mike repel wind sarcastically, sitting down.

Tommy laughed. "I know." He sat up. "So, we got our competitors?"

"Uh," Mike checked the list. "I still have one more class to do, and Jason hasn't submitted his yet."

"Alright, I'll remind him tonight. How was the family reunion?"

"Wonderful. It was kind of extended family too, so everything was interesting."

"I bet."

Mike glanced at the newspaper and whistled a low,molten whistle. "Man. Glad I'm not in Angel Grove right now."

Tommy looked at the headlines and nodded. "Tell me about it. I moved there in high school. I've seen enough monster and alien attacks to last a lifetime. I'm sure you can relate. You're from Panorama City, right?"

"Yeah," Mike answered carefully. "More than enough monster attacks for a lifetime. Two even."

"Here, here," Timmy nodded. "Can you go check our equipment for this weekend?"

"Sure," Mike said, getting up and leaving the office.

Tommy got up grabbing the paper. He glanced out after Mike. He reds the headline and shook his head. "It's never going to end," he said. He sighed and folded the paper up. "Thank god it's to my problem anymore, but we'll have to keep an eye on that situation." He smiled. "Just your average Wednesday for any former power rangers."