Here's the new chapter! Thanks again for all the reviews!
"I thought that from this heartache
I could escape
But I fronted long enough to know
And today
I'm officially missing you"
"Morning Kim," Jason said as he walked up behind her.
Kim looked up from her guitar, sitting on the balcony of her hotel suite. "Hey Jay."
"Haven't heard that song in a while."
Kim nodded. "Haven't played it in a while."
"You get any sleep last night?"
"Yeah, a little. I was kinda nervous about today."
"Zack called already. He wants to ride up to Angel Grove with us. We'll all be able to fit in Adam's. He said the others'll meet us up there. Billy said Ernie's back and we'll all meet at the youth center in a few hours."
Kim nodded. "I guess I'll go shower then."
"Don't sound so excited."
Kim rolled her eyes and walked inside.
"What should I wear?" Tommy asked in exasperation. Hayley and Billy rolled their eyes. They waited as Tommy continued to talk to himself. "Black? Red? White? Green?"
"Hurry up and pick, Tommy," said Hayley. "We're going to be late." She glared at Tommy. "Again."
"What are we gonna talk about?"
Again, Hayley and Billy rolled their eyes. "We haven't seen them for how long? There'll be plenty to talk about."
"I hope you're right." Tommy pulled on a white button-down shirt over a black tank top. "I think I'm ready now."
"Good, cuz we're taking your car," said Hayley.
"It feels like forever since I've been here," Trini said, sighing happily. She looked around as everyone piled out of the car. They all nodded, looking around as well.
"Yeah, I can't wait to see Ernie!" exclaimed Zack. "It's been forever since I was here, too."
"Yeah," everyone agreed. They all headed toward the entrance of the youth center, except Kim who pulled her guitar from the trunk.
"Guys, I'm gonna go...think for a bit," Kim said.
"You sure?" Rocky asked. "You okay?"
Kim nodded. "Yeah, I'll see you guys later."
"Alright, we'll be here," said Aisha, nodding towards the youth center.
"You want any of us to come with you?" asked Jason.
Kim shook her head. "I'll be fine, I just...have some things on my mind that I have to get out." She gestured towards her guitar. She headed off, walking down a familiar path. She wanted some time to think to herself and knew that her friends wouldn't leave her alone once Tommy and the others got there.
"Ernie pretty much watched us grow up," Billy said to Hayley as they pulled into the parking lot. "He left Angel Grove a while ago, but has since moved back and bought the youth center back. It's kind of like your place."
"How so?"
"Well, it provided us a safe place to hang out. We'd usually come here after school and on the weekends and stuff. We did almost everything here. Jason taught a few karate classes here. Zack taught a few dance classes. Kim practiced her gymnastics. And we always had something going on."
"You said Kim was different last night then you remembered her, right?"
Billy nodded. "She was always so talkative, so friendly. Then the letter came and I admit, my perception of her did change. But...the accident...I guess I could understand. I do wish that she had called, though. But she was different last night. She kind of looked like she was hiding behind the others a bit more. Like she leaned on them a bit more than I remember she used to."
"Well, that is understandable," Hayley said. "I feel sorry for her, though. I can only imagine what was going through her mind when she got into the accident." After Hayley finally met Kim, she was a completely different person than she imagined. After hearing her story, Hayley felt sympathy for her. She could tell there was a void in Kim's heart.
Billy and Hayley jumped out of Tommy's jeep while Tommy followed slowly.
"I think I'm gonna go think for a bit," said Tommy. "I'll be back."
Tommy walked off while Billy and Hayley headed inside the youth center. He wanted to be by himself, to think a bit. So much information has invaded his brain within the past 24 hours, that he needed a bit of time to wrap his head around everything.
As he walked through the park, various memories ran through his mind. He walked past where he and Kim would always go on picnics with each other, only to be interrupted by putties all the time. He saw where he and the others were briefly turned to children and were captured in a photograph. He also saw where he first met Rocky, Adam, and Aisha.
Tommy was interrupted from his thoughts as he approached another familiar place. He hadn't expected anyone else to be there and he was quite surprised when he heard the sounds of a guitar being played and a familiar voice singing along to it.
"Remember me
Feels like forever
Since the days
When we were friends
I don't understand
All these changes
I'm still the same
No need to pretend
Where'd it go?
Do you know?
Maybe it just doesn't matter"
Tommy stared at Kim as she sat by the lake with her guitar. 'She's so beautiful,' he thought. He remembered when he was losing his green ranger powers. Kim had sang him a song, one that she had written with Zack. They were at the youth center, having an indoor picnic because it was storming outside. They had just finished fighting one of Zedd's monsters, Guitardo.
"There were times
In the beginning
When you were there
When I needed most
We'd sit and talk
About the future
And laugh about
Us getting old
Do you know
How it feels
I hope that you know that it matters"
Tommy cleared his throat. Kim jumped, unaware that she had company. She looked up at him, surprised. They didn't say anything for a few seconds.
"You mind if I join you?" Tommy finally asked.
Kim gestured next to her. "It's a free country."
Tommy sat down next to Kim. They both looked off, toward the lake.
"Tommy..." Kim said after a while. Tommy looked at her while she still gazed out on the lake. "Adam and I aren't dating. He's just helped me through a really bad time of my life. They all did."
Tommy exhaled. "I didn't think--"
"Yeah, right." Kim looked at him in the eye and smiled. "I'm sorry, Tommy. For everything."
She said it with such sincerity and truth in her eyes that in that moment, he let go of every bit of anger, hate, disappointment, and every other negative thing that he associated with Kim since the letter. "It's okay, Kim." She looked at him with wide eyes. "It really is."
"But...you must hate me."
Tommy shook his head. "I can't hate you, Kim. I just..."
"...hated what I did," Kim finished.
Tommy nodded. "It just...it hurts that you didn't trust me to tell me. I would've given up everything for you, Kim."
Kim shook her head. "I didn't want you, too. You were still...fighting...and I didn't want to add to everything upon that."
"But what about the others? You told them." Kim looked down. Tommy immediately regretted the accusatory tone in his voice. He wanted Kim to look at him again.
"My coach called Jason when I got into the accident. He was listed as my emergency contact. He called Trini and they stayed in Florida with me for awhile." Kim looked back at Tommy. "They both eventually moved there after high school. Aisha got in touch when she moved to Africa. She somehow found my number and called me out of the blue. And she told me that you and Kat were getting closer." Tommy was about to say something when Kim silenced him with a look. "Trini called her after the accident. She moved to Florida shortly afterwards." Kim took a deep breath and set her guitar down. "When Jason dragged me back to Angel Grove during the whole Divatox thing, Rocky knew something was wrong. I didn't tell him and neither did Aisha. He found out when he visited me after giving up his powers. Not long after I ran from Angel Grove after the karate tournament. And Adam...he went down to Florida to visit Rocky and the others...and he stayed. Please don't be mad at them. I made them swear not to tell."
Tommy nodded, reaching for her hand. She slowly let him take it into hers. "I'm sorry, too. I should've called after the letter. I should've done something."
Kim gave him a small smile. "It's okay, Tommy."
"Yeah. It's okay, Kim. Everything is, right?"
"Even us?"
"Especially us." Kim's smile grew. "I miss us."
Kim took a deep breath. "I miss us, too. That letter was the single, most biggest mistake of my life. I should've called you after the accident."
Tommy smiled at her. "It's alright, don't worry about it." The two of them were silent for a couple minutes. "The guys are pretty overprotective of you."
Kim nodded. "Hayley was the one who told me. About Adam, I mean." Tommy furrowed his brow, making a mental note to yell at Hayley later. Kim laughed, recognizing his expression. "Don't blame Hayley. If it wasn't for her, you would still think that he and I were together."
"I didn't think that." Kim looked at Tommy, playfully. "Okay, maybe I did, just a little bit." Tommy smiled. "You're a great singer."
"Thanks. I can't believe you're a doctor. And a science teacher."
Tommy laughed. "Billy said the same." Kim and Tommy both stared out onto the lake again, each one not forgetting that they were currently holding hands. "So you gave up gymnastics, huh?"
Kim looked down, trying to pull her hand away. Tommy sensed that this was a sensitive subject and he wasn't sure whether or not he should wait for Kim to answer. He didn't let go of her hand.
"I couldn't do it anymore."
"Why not? Remember when you wanted to quit before moving to Florida?"
"I know I got hurt then, too. But this was more serious."
"Why?"
"I don't know. It just was. I was hurting inside and out. And I was hospitalized for longer..."
"I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing, Tommy. It's not your fault."
"Do you ever think about not giving up gymnastics?"
"Sometimes. I just...I think I'm scared of doing it again. I haven't been on a beam in years. I haven't even tried since back then."
"Is that why you're over here avoiding the youth center?"
"Well, why are you here avoiding the youth center?"
Tommy shrugged. "You should try it again." Kim looked doubtful. "You should. And if you fall, just get back up again." Kim looked scared. "Did you fall off the beam?"
"No...it was the bars."
"So why don't you just try the beam again? You don't have to do anything difficult, just walk on it a couple times." Kim looked down. "Hey, I'll be there to catch you if you fall."
Kim sighed. "What is this, Tommy? What...what are you doing? What are we?"
Tommy furrowed his brow. "Are you trying to change the subject?"
Kim smiled. "Yeah. But I would like to know."
Tommy shrugged. "What would you like to be?"
"Tommy...it's been so long. We don't even know each other anymore."
"So we'll get to know each other again."
"I don't know..."
"We don't have to get back together, Kim. I just want you back in my life. I saw how close you are to the others. You guys finished each other's sentences. Answered each other's questions before they were finished being asked. We used to be like that."
Kim nodded. She looked out onto the lake again and took a deep breath. "There's never been anybody but you, Tommy. I...I never really got over you. And...I miss you..."
Tommy let out a breath. "I never got over you, either." He rubbed her back and pulled her close. She reluctantly allowed him to. "So...do...you...want to get back together?" he finished quickly.
Kim looked up at him and smiled. "Do you think that's really the solution?"
"What are you afraid of?"
"Nothing."
"Okay. So what are you afraid of?"
Kim took her time answering. "I'm afraid of hurting you again. I'm afraid of being jealous again. I'm afraid of...everything with you, I think..."
"Kim...Kat never meant anything to me. It's always been you. Only you. I haven't even spoken to her since we gave up the power."
"Well, we haven't spoken since the letter."
"But we're talking now."
"I don't know...let's just take it slow, I guess. I want to get to know you all over again. We've both changed so much."
"Okay."
They were both silent for a couple minutes. Kim looked at Tommy, memorizing it all over again. "What are you thinking about?"
Tommy looked back at her, still deep in thought. "Why didn't you faint when you saw me? You usually do."
Kimberly started laughing. "I don't faint every single time I see you."
"Well, three times out of four, you usually do."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"Tommy. I win at this game all the time. Remember that? And no, I don't."
Tommy laughed. "You do. When you found out I was the white ranger..."
"I was surprised!"
"When you went back in time..."
"Well, what would you do if you were sent back in time?"
"I wouldn't faint, that's for sure."
They both started laughing. "I don't know...I guess I was still scared. It's a lot easier to faint when you're surprised and happy."
"You weren't happy to see me?"
"Stop it, Tommy, of course I was." Kim thought for a second. "Well, at the time, no, I wasn't. But I can't remember why anymore." Tommy smiled at her. "So why'd you cut your hair?"
Tommy laughed. "It was time for a change."
"Okay," Kim nodded. "So, what's the real reason?"
"That is the real reason." Kim snorted. "Okay. It kept getting on fire when I was in college. During my labs and stuff. My professor made me cut it off."
Kim started laughing. "I guess we should head back now," she said between breaths. "If I'm out too long, they'll probably send out a search party."
"That overprotective, huh?"
Kim nodded. "Yeah. And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Tommy smiled at her as he grabbed her hands to pull her up. "Me neither. They took good care of you when I wasn't there."
Back at Ernie's, Hayley and the other former rangers kept laughing over the stories they were entertaining each other with. Most of it were from when they were rangers.
"Oh, and right there," Aisha pointed, "is where Kim got sent back to 1880."
"Zedd picked on her a lot," said Billy. Hayley laughed. "No, really, he did."
Everyone looked up as they noticed Kim and Tommy walking in together. They were all silent in surprise as they each took a seat at the table. "Well," continued Billy, "Zedd tried to make Kim his queen of darkness."
"What are you guys talking about?" Kim asked with a disgusted look on her face.
"You and Zedd," Rocky said with a smile. He took a sip of his smoothie. "We've been going down memory lane."
"So why the talk of me and Zedd? That's disgusting."
"Well, you and Zedd take up a lot of time. And we got stuck in one of her books once," Rocky said to the rest of the group. "Because of him."
"Alright, not funny guys." Everyone laughed again. "I thought you said Ernie was back. Where is he?"
Billy nodded toward the counter. "He's in the back, I think."
"I'll be back." Kim walked to the counter and hung around for a bit. "Hey Ernie!" she said to the guy coming out of the back.
"Kimberly! Great to see you again!"
"Thanks. It's good to see you, too."
"Smoothie?" Kim nodded. "Same? It's on the house."
"Thanks, Ernie."
He looked toward the beam. "Still there. I miss seeing you on that thing."
Kim followed his gaze. "Yeah..." she said softly.
"Here you go."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Kim walked back to her friends, her gaze still on the beam. She sat down, listening to the others talk about old monsters they fought.
"Hey, you okay?" Aisha asked quietly.
"Yeah," Kim answered.
"What happened with..." Aisha glanced at Tommy.
"We talked," Kim said quietly. "I think we're okay. I'm fine."
"Alright, girl." Aisha squeezed her arm.
"I think..." Kim said, aloud. "...I'm gonna go try the beam for a bit."
"Really?" asked Trini, Rocky, Aisha, and Jason, surprised.
"You sure?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, just a couple of walks on it."
"You want a spot?" asked Tommy.
"Uh...sure." Kim and Tommy stood up and walked toward the beam.
"They're gonna be talking about us, aren't they?"
"Of course, they are. Do you expect anything less?" Kim said as she laughed.
-
"Alright, what just happened again?" Zack asked. "Yesterday, they were barely speaking and now he's her spotter?"
"I think the more important thing is that Kim is actually going near a beam," said Jason. "She steered clear of everything gymnastics after the accident. She wouldn't even go near the mats."
"Tommy must've said something to her," said Aisha.
"When?" asked Rocky.
"When they were outside. Kim said they talked."
"Well, finally," said Jason. Trini grinned in agreement.
"I wonder what happened out there," said Adam. "We've been trying for years to get Kim back on the beam. And to talk to Tommy."
Everyone nodded as they turned their attention toward the two down at the beam.
"You ready?" Tommy asked.
Kim let out a breath. "Yeah." With Tommy's help, Kim got onto the beam. She took a few seconds to remember the feeling of being on the beam again. Kim took a couple of deep breaths before starting to walk. She held onto Tommy's hand as he walked alongside Kim.
"You doing okay?"
Kim nodded as she cautiously turned. She continued on down the beam, getting more comfortable with each step. When she turned a second time, she let go of Tommy's hand. He followed her as she continued to walk down the beam. When she turned for a third time, Kim looked up from the beam and glanced at her friends, losing her balance. The others gasped. Tommy caught her before she completely falling off the beam.
"You want to stop?" Kim began to breathe heavy. She shook her head. Tommy helped her back onto the beam. He smiled at her. "I'm here, Kim."
Kim smiled at him and took his hand once more. Again, she walked up and down the beam, not doing any tricks, just getting used to the beam. "Thank you," she said to Tommy.
-
"I think my heart is in my throat," said Trini, breathing heavily. "I just got so scared again." Trini looked over at Kim, worry in her face.
Billy looked concerned. "Her accident was that bad?" Trini nodded.
"She'll be fine," said Jason, looking at them, also. "Tommy's there."
"Think we should let them be alone?" said Aisha with a smile.
"They were already alone," said Rocky. "Besides, nobody wants the front seat to the Tommy and Kimberly reunion other than me."
"I think you need to share that front seat, Rock," said Trini.
"Or get in line," added Aisha.
Adam listened to them and laughed. "I think we're all in line for that."
"And I think I just hopped onto the Tommy and Kimberly bandwagon," added Hayley. Everyone laughed.
-
"You're doing great, Kim."
"Only cuz you're here." She smiled at him. "But...I think I'm ready to stop. It has been years."
"Alright." Tommy helped her off the beam.
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
The two of them went back to the table.
"You okay, Kim?" Adam asked.
She nodded. "I'm fine."
He smiled. "Alright."
"You did great up there," Trini said with a grin.
"So, where are we going next?" asked Rocky.
"I want to see some of the places that you guys fought the monsters up here," said Hayley.
"Oh, that's like...everywhere around here," said Zack with a laugh.
"So let's head out," said Jason. "Ernie! Great seeing you again, man!"
There you go! Hope you enjoyed it!
Songs are: "Officially Missing You" by Tamia and "When I Talk To You" by Mandy Moore.
