Sitting at the Juice Bar across from Jeremy was one of the most nerve wrecking experiences of her life to date. Tawni wasn't even this nervous when she spoke her vows to Jayden two months ago. She just wished he were here now, then maybe letting Jeremy down wouldn't be so hard.
They had arrived at Ernie's Juice Bar a half-hour ago. Ernie with a bright smile on his face brought her favorite smoothie over to the table without her having to order. Jeremy asked for a cola which was typical for him.
The thought made her shake her head, for someone who was a competitive fighter, he didn't treat his body like a holy vessel. All he ate was junk food. To her eating a hamburger was a extremely rare treat. Her whole family were strict health nuts. Which she now understood, you couldn't fight a monster if you were in top form.
She started playing with her wedding ring again, very much needing the comfort of its memory. It was scary how such a little material thing such as a wedding ring could mean so much to her so soon. She expected this moment to come further down the road.
"Why do you always play with that ring," Jeremy asked in an annoyed tone.
His voice startled her out of her reverie. She took her hand off the ring and looked up at Jeremy.
"Where did you even get that," he asked again. "Don't say it's a family heirloom. It's at least three months old. I can tell. My Dad's a jeweler. If it were old it would have some tarnish to it even after polishing."
Staring at him again. She was at a loss for words. "Jeremy, we really need to talk," she answered without addressing his previous questions. She had placed her hands out on the table in front of her, her head was meant. She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes again.
"Oh so you're finally going to tell me why, you've been practically avoiding me since you got back." He asked sitting back in his seat and folding his arms. His typical I'm in no mood for bullshit stance.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Tawni finally gained the courage to look him in the eyes. "It's mine," she whispered. "My wedding ring."
Letting out a disbelieving sigh, Jeremy widened his eyes. "You're married?" He shook his head and laughed. "Nice one Tawni. I know you were angry for the whole Brooke thing that happened but that doesn't mean you could try to get me back by pretending to be married."
Brooke? He thought she was still angry about him sneaking behind her back with Brooke Poland? Brooke Poland was the captain of the Angel Grove High Varsity Gymnastic Team. She and Tawni had been best friends until Jeremy came between them.
Brooke had, had a crush on Jeremy since elementary school but he hadn't given her the time of day until Tawni had moved into town. Tawni had been more appealing to him because of her athletic background. That's when Brooke had figured out that Jeremy had been attracted to athletes instead of shallow bubbly headed girls.
"Please," Tawni spewed, "Don't go there. That indiscretion has been long forgotten and if you think I would be petty enough to seek revenge then you obviously don't know me."
"This isn't a very funny prank then Tawni," he countered.
"I'm don't pulling a prank. Could you actually just let me explain before you start putting words in my mouth again?"
Sighing he nodded, "Ok, fine," he reached for his cup and took a swallow of cola.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," she began to explain. She looked up to see if he was about to interrupt her, but found that he was waiting impatiently to continue.
"I met Jayden when we were children. Our parents were in the same line of work back then and they thought that our situation would be better if we had someone to rely on." She smiled as memories of her and Jayden playing together, practicing together, and laughing together when they were children came back to her. "We lost touch when my family moved back to Angel Grove to be closer to my Aunts and Uncles."
Jeremy shifted in his seat, he didn't like where this was going. He wanted to reach across the table and shake some sense into her. You don't go to a foreign country for six months and come back married, especially when you already had a boyfriend to begin with.
"I was standing in line in this little café waiting to order some green tea, when I received this tap on my shoulder," she went on to explain. Of course she didn't like telling stories especially when they were only half true. "I turned around and saw him. He didn't say anything but smile and wrap me in his arms in a hug. He then went on to say he couldn't believe he it was me. We started hanging out from that day on for the rest of my study abroad."
"Wait, so you did cheat on me," Jeremy stated in an angry whisper. He hated scenes. Thought they were useless but she had chosen this location and he wasn't about to let their classmates know that he was getting dumped by his girlfriend of five years.
"I didn't start cheating on you on purpose. I was away from home. I just re-met someone I already knew. He was familiar and didn't make me feel as homesick as I would have been."
"Just cut to the chase, when did you decide to stab a knife through my back and marry him," anger very evident in his eyes.
Tears started streaming down her cheeks, Tawni never saw this side of him before. The rage was bubbling up on the surface and she could tell he didn't want to cage it in anymore.
"We were married a week before I came back home," she said as she wiped the tears off her face.
Jeremy's face was red, slamming his hands down on the table, swiped the table's contents onto the floor. Their drinks splashed all over making a large puddle. She gasped and cover her mouth with her hands.
"Why are you acting like this?" She asked.
He just grabbed her arm, tugged her up from the seat and started dragging her out of the Juice Bar. Once they were outside away from prying eyes, he grabbed her by the shoulders. He shook her so violently, that she could feel her head practically fly off her neck.
"We've been together for five years and never once have we done anything other then kiss or hold hands. You go away for six months and you give yourself to the first guy you meet. That makes you a whore," he yells. Then smacks her across the face, making her head swing to the right.
Tawni knew he would get angry. She just didn't think he would become abusive. She raised her hand to her throbbing cheek. She refused to cry anymore in front of him. She was in survival mode now. "You're going to regret you ever laid a hand on me," she stated through gritted teeth.
"You're going to regret you ever cheated on me. The whole school will know just how much of a slut you are by the time I'm through with you. You don't mess with me and get away with it Tawni. You're such a freaking prude everyone said I'd never get anywhere with you. It looks like they were right," he attempted to hit her in the face again…
Tawni still in survival mode recoiled, cowering and covering her face. She crouched down on to the ground anticipating the blow. But it never came, she felt two familiar pairs of hands left up off the ground.
Looking up she saw, The Samurai's in civilian form. The two people lifting her off the ground were Emily and Mia. The two girls had grown to become like second sisters to her during her six month training with them.
"Did he do this to you?" The Asian girl, Mia, asked. Mia was the oldest out of all the Rangers present. "Your face is all red," she observed carefully, shifting Tawni's head from side to side careful not to touch the injured area.
Tawni closed her eyes. She didn't need to have them here. If she was correct their presence would just anger Jeremy more. She didn't like this side of him.
She gasped as she saw Jayden, Kevin, and Mike stalking up to Jeremy. She saw Jayden's jaw twitch which wasn't good. Jayden was the most controlled Ranger on his team, he didn't let his rage out unless he was in battle. Tawni saw Jeremy stand his ground.
"What are you guys doing here," Tawni whispered to Emily and Mia, forgetting about the pain in her cheek.
Emily the youngest of the group smiled and hugged Tawni. "We came to see you silly," She said.
"Looks like we got here Justin time too," Mia interjected.
Tawni now out of her shock looked at the five rangers and knew something was up. "Don't worry about me, Jeremy just caught me off guard. I can handle him."
"Really because from where I was standing it looked like he was tossing you around like a rag doll." Antonio Garcia's voice broke through the conversation.
Tawni sighed. All six of them were here which only meant one thing. The Samurais were moving to the States.
"Who the hell are all of you. This isn't any of your business. Leave me and my girlfriend alone." Jeremy bellowed.
All of a sudden Tawni didn't want to be surrounded by all of her friends and family. She closed her eyes and cringed. Jayden sent her a glare. This wasn't good. He turned his head to look at Jeremy. "Do you hit all of your girlfriends or just this particular one? How about you and I even the odds a bit. It's easy to attack a girl when she's most vulnerable but how about attacking someone who isn't caught off guard."
"Get lost. I still have some unfinished business I have to discuss with her." With that said once he realized that Jayden, Mike and Kevin weren't going to move out of the way, Jeremy started throwing punches. Jayden dodged a punch and pushed Jeremy to the side.
"I suggest you leave before things get any worse," Kevin spoke for the first time. His arms crossed over his chest.
"Fine but mark my words Oliver. This isn't through. You will pay for this," Jeremy said looking over Jayden's shoulder to Tawni. "You forget, you you're messing with. They don't know who I am but you do."
At that moment Tawni didn't know him at all. He had pulled a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde transformation so quickly, she wondered if she even ever knew the real him.
"Come on, let's get her home team," Jayden said without looking at her.
Mia and Emily kept their arms around Tawni while they all walked back to the Oliver home.
The seven teenagers were quiet the whole trip back to Tawni's house. Tawni realized things were never going to be the same for her again. She wouldn't be able to go to school in the morning with bruises all over her face.
She had been so lost in thought that she hadn't realized that she was being guided onto the living room couch.
"What in the world happened to you," Tommy Oliver's voice boomed breaking her out of her thoughts.
Tears started brimming in her eyes and her body was convulsing with sobs. She had to tell her father that his best student was actually a monster. This wasn't going to be easy.
