Troy had never been to a school dance. Before meeting the Rangers, he usually avoided going to gatherings of any sort. He had even skipped out on his graduation dance in middle school because he was so introverted and shy. However, he was taking his leadership position to heart. He still couldn't understand why Gosei had chosen him specifically to be the red Ranger, but there had to be a reason for it. Troy thought, at the very least, he could let his team get to know who he really was. If he opened himself up to them, maybe the team would come together a little easier.

It wasn't easy. They got along, but the cliques were obvious to spot. The best friends stuck together and Troy was left by himself. Troy hoped that would change. He hoped they would band together.

More than anything, he hoped to one day have a friend like the others. From the outside, it was plain to see just how much trust and support his teammates had in their best friends. Jake and Noah teased each other constantly and even spoke to each other in a manner that could hurt the other. But their bond was so strong and their trust was so amazing that they always knew the other was kidding around. It came from years of sticking up for each other and years of working together. They could joke around and put the other down because they had reached that level of friendship where if they didn't take jabs at each other, it was because there was something seriously wrong.

Though he had been picked on before, Troy wanted that. He wanted someone to poke fun at him and for it to be all in the spirit of fun. He wanted a friend who would force him to laugh at himself and not always take his life and his troubles so seriously.

And Gia and Emma were very close as well. They did everything together. And given what Troy knew about the party Gia had gone to, where Alex and Mick had taken advantage of her, the girls had a relationship where they trusted each other more than anyone else they knew. They supported each other, and cared for each other. Troy had noticed that Gia always had Emma back in battle, and Emma returned the favour in their personal lives. He had watched the pink Ranger walk right up to the black Ranger and threaten his life if he did anything to hurt Gia, and though the threat wasn't directed his way, Troy could admit to feeling a little uncomfortable.

Troy wanted that as well. He wanted a friend he could trust his deepest and darkest secrets to without having to ask them to keep quiet. He wanted to share that connection with someone where they just knew what the other wanted.

In other words, he wanted to be a part of the team. He wanted to be friends with his teammates. Unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as it used to be. In kindergarten, friends were made by playing together.

In high school, everyone had history. Merging into that seamlessly seemed… impossible.

"Troy! Visitors!"

Troy hadn't been expecting anyone, but the footsteps racing up the stairs and to his room proved that he had guests on his way. He buttoned up his shirt. He wasn't sure what people wore to school dances but decided to go with a red shirt. It wasn't too fancy, but a little more classy than the regular tees he wore every day.

There was a knock on his door so he called to the person outside that it was open. Jake and Noah both walked in. Troy felt a wave of relief wash over his when he saw they were dressed similarly to them with the only difference being the colour. Jake stuck with black and Noah wore blue.

"Aren't we going to be obvious?" Troy asked, spotting the Ranger colour rainbow. Jake and Noah looked to each other and shook their heads.

"These have been our favourite colours since before the Rangers appeared," Noah said.

"C'mon, guys," Jake grabbed his friends by the arms, "I want to get there on time. We can't leave Gia waiting. We promised to be there for her."

"But I have no idea…"

"We'll tell you how Harwood High dances work on the way there," Jake interrupted Troy as he dragged him out of the room, "C'mon! We can't be late!"

-Megaforce-

Emma stepped out of her closet and spun around in her pink dress. She had chosen it specifically for the dance, hoping to impress Jordan. It meant a lot to her already that he had asked her out and she wanted to dress nicely for him. This was her first real date in a while.

"So?"

"You look really good," Gia complimented her. Emma smiled happily for a moment, but then couldn't stop herself worrying for her friend. Gia looked no more dressed up than on a regular school day. It was obvious there was no one she wanted to impress.

"You can borrow something of mine…"

"Dresses make it easy," Gia shook her head. "I'm going for me. I don't need to impress anyone."

"Nothing's going to happen, Gia," Emma sighed, "We're all going to keep an eye on you. Why don't you get a little dressed up?"

"There's no way I'm giving those perverts a show. Tonight, you can shine. I'll blend in."

"Gia…"

"You can have all eyes on you," Gia got up from the bed and put her hands on Emma's shoulders, "You'll be the pretty one. And the good kind of pretty. If any guy gets a sick smirk on his face and it's aimed in your direction, the yellow Ranger might just stop by to kick his ass."

"Not all guys are perverts," Emma assured her as she walked to her dresser. She opened her jewellery box to pick out a pair of earrings. "Sometimes, the fact that they stare is actually a compliment. I'll bet most guys in school wouldn't even imagine doing… that."

"Yeah, but they all cheered when someone else does it."

"You remember that?"

"I wasn't that out of it," Gia gave Emma a reassuring smile, "Look, this doesn't happen often for you so tonight's your night. You can be the most beautiful girl in the school. You can have all eyes on you in that complimentary way. You deserve it."

"Thanks. But there's only one set of eyes I want," Emma said. Just as she completed her thought, the doorbell rang. She jumped excitedly and raced down the stairs. Gia rolled her eyes as she followed.

"Right on time," Emma said as she opened the door and invited Jordan into her home. Gia stood in the hallway. She leaned against the doorframe that lead to the kitchen and crossed her arms over her chest.

Jordan looked to Emma. His jaw was dropped, "You look amazing."

"Eyes up," Gia called as Jordan admired Emma. He looked over to her and nervously shifted.

"Uh… Gia…"

"Relax," Emma chuckled as gently grabbed Jordan's arm and walked out with him, "She's harmless."

"I'm harmless?" Gia followed the couple, making sure to lock the house behind her as they left. "Alright, I'm agreeing with Jordan on this one. I can be terrifying, Emma. Why would you lie to the poor guy like that?"

Emma looked over her shoulder, "Because I won't have a good night if my best friend is constantly telling my very respectful date where to keep his eyes and hands."

Gia sighed but she knew Emma was right. The pink Ranger could take care of herself. She needed to stop worrying.

-Megaforce-

Jake couldn't dance. Everyone in Harwood knew that. But that didn't stop him from showing off his dance moves.

Noah stood by the snack table and shook his head. When people approached him to ask if Jake was okay, and if an ambulance needed to be called so someone could take a look at Jake's seizure, Noah pretended like he had no idea who Jake was. Troy, who spent most of his time with Noah by the snacks, had to laugh as Noah managed to convince a surprising number of people that he and Jake had never even seen each other before.

"You're really good at that."

Noah shrugged his shoulders and grabbed another handful of chips, "I've spent years denying I have any connections to Jake Holling. He's my best friend, don't get me wrong, but sometimes he can be…"

"Hey, Noah, right?" one of the school's jocks came over and tapped Noah on the back, "Is everything okay with Jake?"

"Who?"

"Aren't you two friends? The nerd and the jock."

"Why would a jock be friends with a nerd," Noah shook his head. "I don't know any Jack."

"Jake… uh… alright, I guess I'll ask someone else," the jock scratched his head and walked off. Noah turned to Troy with a smirk.

"Jocks are the easiest to fool," he explained. "If they take one too many hits to the head, they'll believe almost anything someone in glasses tells them. I once convinced the football team I had been to space."

"Seriously?"

"Harwood's not known for having too many smart jocks."

"What about Jake."

"Have you seen his dancing?" Noah laughed and pointed to Jake on the dance floor, "There's a reason smart guys aren't usually dancing. We're smart enough to know we can't dance well, and smart enough to know we shouldn't dance at all."

Troy smiled and nodded his head. Then he looked back out to the dance floor but this time he turned his attention to Emma and Jordan, surprised to see they had arrived together and were on a date.

"Emma looks really happy."

"The school mostly focuses on Gia," Noah explained. "That means Emma, and most of the other girls fall through the cracks. Well, Emma most of all because she and Gia are always together. If I were to guess, this is one of the first times a guy was sincere about asking her on a date."

"Good for her," Troy said. He turned back to Jake and shook his head, "Well, at least someone's having fun."

"I hope he knows those dance moves couldn't impress anyone, never mind Gia," Noah said with a sigh.

On the dance floor, Jake looked up and saw Gia standing with her head in her hand. She shook it from side to side in embarrassment.

"You can't dance!"

"You have to let loose," Jake said and spun around, "Dancing should be fun. You need to relax and just go with the music."

"You haven't hit a single beat," Gia rolled her eyes and then laughed, "You know, it must take a lot of talent to screw up dancing this badly."

Jake smirked before the music suddenly calmed. After several dance tracks, the DJ had finally chosen a slower song. The couples paired up on the dance floor leaving Gia and Jake to stare. He shrugged his shoulders.

"We don't have to dance if you don't want to," he started to head over to the snack table to join the others but suddenly Gia grabbed his arm. She pulled him back and wrapped her arms gently around his neck.

"Hands on hips, and we'll be fine, friend."

Jake smiled and lightly placed his hands on Gia's hips. They swayed back and forth slightly. Gia couldn't keep herself from laughing. Even with such a slow, easy song to dance to, Jake still couldn't get the rhythm right.

"Follow my lead," Gia said and took over. Jake gave her a warm smile.

"So, I know some people are staring and whispering," he said. "But if you ignore them, was this a good idea."

"I'm not drunk or high, no one's tried to touch my ass in ten minutes," Gia answered, "and I'm having fun. Yeah, Jake, this was a good idea."

A little ways away, Emma and Jordan swayed to the song, enjoying the change of pace to give them time to rest. Suddenly, Jordan pulled Emma in a little closer.

"You really do look beautiful tonight," he said. "I mean, you've always been beautiful but… wow, I wasn't expecting this."

Emma blushed, "Thanks. You know, normally people don't see past Gia. It's kind of… upsetting."

"It's their loss," Jordan smiled. "You're really beautiful and… you're an amazing person to."

"We barely know each other."

"I've seen you around school. I know you do a lot of volunteering," Jordan shrugged his shoulders. "You care about the environment, animals, and people. You don't just want the world to be a better place, you fight for it."

"Yeah… well, I guess."

"That's impressive. There's not another girl like you in this school."

"Thanks," Emma couldn't stop her face from turning red so she decided to change the subject and take the attention away from herself. "What about you? I've seen you around, but not much. What are your hobbies?"

"I haven't really found something that speaks to me," Jordan said, "but since that Ranger stunt, I think I've been leaning towards police work. You know, after high school."

"You want to be a cop?"

"The Rangers help people and that's really, really cool," Jordan smiled. "When I was pretending to be the red Ranger, I bragged a lot about kicking monsters' butts, but I also really liked the feeling of knowing I was protecting innocent people… even if it was all a lie. I figure, if I can't be a Ranger, I might as well set my sights on the next best thing."

"Police work?"

"I know it's not always like in the movies, but I'll be doing what I can to make this world a better, safer place."

"The Rangers really turned you around, huh?"

"They're good people. Amazing people. I'm really, really thankful for what they do," Jordan looked down at Emma with a smile and slowly started to lean in. She picked up in his signals and closed her eyes.

It was her first kiss, and nothing about it had disappointed her. Jordan was gentle and romantic, and when they parted Emma leaned into him. She rested her head on his chest and as they continued to sway she looked across the dance floor at Gia. Her best friend gave her a big smile.