How long had it been since Khoa and the Nguyen's came into Trini's life? She wasn't quite sure, a few months, maybe three. No matter how much time passed, it felt like an eternity. No matter how good of a day Trini had before, she woke up to the sinking feeling that no matter what happened, Khoa was going to be a part of her life.

She could go an entire week without seeing him, but not without talking about him. Her parents talked about him and his family, the wedding that was going to happen, what it meant for the both of them, what it meant for their families…it was haunting her and slowly turning her into another person. Trini put all of her anger and frustration into the monsters Rita and Zedd would send down for them to fight. Using her Saber-Tooth Tiger and Griffin Thunderzord powers to fend them off.

And there had been enough of them that the rangers were slowly starting to become worn out. A day didn't go by that they didn't have a monster coming up for at least the first round of a fight. Not to mention having to balance it all with school and making excuses as to why she was late or where she was going. It was easier to do it when she was at the Youth Center or at school, but being around her parents constantly…

It made it that much harder. The first time Trini left, she felt Khoa's eyes on her, almost daring her to say something. She remembered how he had said he'd tell on her for lying and running off the first time. And that was shortly before he started to beat her up. What was he going to do this time? The first few times, he didn't say anything, just continued to sit with their parents and speak pleasantly while she stammered out and excuse and moved out the door.

"Where is she going?" She heard Mrs. Nguyen ask.

"Oh, she's told me she's had a lot of homework to do," Khoa replied. As Trini stood by the front door, speaking quietly so she could get information from Zordon, she could hear the smug smile in his tone. "And there's some stuff at the library she put on reserve that's finally come in."

"Trini has always been so studies," Mrs. Kwan said with an obvious air of pride. "Always gotten good grades and volunteers as much as possible."

"Those are good qualities to have in a wife," Mr. Nguyen said.

Trini cringed and slipped out of the house to teleport to the Command Center. After that, she knew every time she managed to leave to go to some sort of a monster fight, Khoa was just piling it up as something to use against her.

'You have no respect for your parents', 'You have no respect for your future', 'You have no respect for the time our families are trying to put in this'.

How many of those things had he been pushing through his mind over and over again? Waiting for her to do something wrong so that he could unleash all of his anger? She'd seen him practicing martial arts against Jason before, she'd seen the power that he could exhibit when he needed to. Even in a calm state he'd managed to hurt her and Trini didn't get hurt very easily.

She'd been going out with Jason for about a month at that point and Trini was surprised with how…easily they fell into the role of dating. She thought it would be something that'd need constant communication, constant reassurance that things were okay like she'd seen in movies and TV shows she thought were so romantic. But it wasn't like that. They were so in-sync it was easy. To the point that knowing him for so long before dating made things so much easier. If they had a disagreement, like they had even when they were friends, they figured things out and talked it out and that was that.

The best part, though, was that every time they made up, they were able to kiss now. And Trini understood why Kimberly and Tommy could barely keep their hands off each other. Having the chance to be with someone like that was the most mesmerizing, intoxicating, and addictive. She loved being able to see the cute, somewhat shy smile Jason would send her way when they weren't alone, letting her know he wanted nothing more than to hold her hand or give her a kiss.

And she felt the same way. How many nights had she sat on the phone with Kimberly and Avalon talking about it? She used to tease Kimberly about her grades and being too caught up on Tommy with it, now that she knew what it was like…there was no room to judge. If there was something or someone that made you happy, why not spend as much time with it as they could? That's why Trini loved to volunteer and help other people, it nourished her soul as much as finding someone she could talk to and share everything with.

Of course it also amped up Zack's and Avalon's joking comments and teasing towards their friends. But it just made Trini laugh and take it all in stride seconds before a feeling of guilt and fear would shoot through the back of her head. How long until Khoa found out?

Surprisingly, not too long.

They had gone out to a restaurant for dinner, their parents saying everyone in their community needed to see them together as a coupe and Trini hadn't said much. She kept up appearances that everything was okay, joining the conversation when she felt it was safe to do so—their parents sure enjoyed talking to each other a lot—and Khoa seemed to be in a good mood as well. Trini didn't sense any sort of animosity from him, his smiles seemed genuine and their conversation was like the first day they reconnected, with a lot of laughter and pleasantries.

Until Khoa suggested they go outside or some air so their parents could continue talking. Trini should've known he was waiting for the right time to do something because the moment he stepped outside and spoke, her blood ran cold.

"So, did you have a good time at the World Cultures Fair?"

Did she have a good time hanging out with her friends and kissing the boy she loved to spend time with? The thought quickly rushed through her head before turning her attention back to Khoa, rising her eyebrows. And yet, as innocent as she tried to feel, her blood ran cold. "Were you there?" She asked. "My friend Avalon though she saw you."

A smile came to Khoa's lips and it wasn't a nice smile. "Yeah, I was there," he said. "And I saw you with…what's his name?" He started to snap his fingers as if he didn't know who he was thinking of. "Right, Jason. I saw you there with him." His smile was immediately gone. "I saw you kiss him. You're dating him aren't you?"

Trini blinked in surprise then anger. "Are you following me now?" She demanded.

"If I have to."

He admitted it so quickly that it took Trini by surprise. Then anger surged through her body and she clenched her hands into fists. This was the last straw. She was done with him and everything that had to do with him. I'm getting him out of my life once and for all, Trini thought. He's not going to push me around anymore. "What I do with my private life is none of your business." Khoa opened his mouth to protest but Trini cut him off, stepping up into his face. "There's nothing you can say about it, Khoa. You can keep pretending that everything's okay and that this marriage is going to happen but it's not. I'm not going to marry you and you're not going to hurt me again."

Khoa gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing. In a moment, he lifted his hand, moving it as quick as a snake to smack Trini on the cheek but she blocked his hand away from her. Shifting her gaze, Trini looked up and back across the street, hoping to find someone out. But there was no one there. Even looking through the windows of the restaurant was difficult with all of the Vietnamese posters and other decorations that festooned the glass.

If it meant she couldn't see anyone, then they couldn't see them and she'd finally, finally be able to fight back against him. It was against everything Trini every knew and believed in. But if there as anyone who deserved a right hook to the face it was Khoa. Trini was a pacifist but she also knew when it was the right time to fight.

Khoa's eyes narrowed and she quickly lashed back with her own hand, managing a solid smack against his head that also managed to catch his ear. Trini's been in enough competitions and sparring fights to know being hit in the ear was one of the most painful spots you could be hit about your head. The other being in the neck, potentially winding the other person.

If Khoa was surprised by the hit—and he had staggered off to the side for a moment—it was only for a second. Next thing Trini knew, the two were working had to strike each other, using their martial arts training to get to each other. Anyone that watched them would've thought it was some sort of a sidewalk show with how easily they managed to block each other's hits and recover to strike again.

Trini managed a few solid hits on Khoa that made him stumble back and shake out his head. But it also seemed to make him angrier. And when he was angry, he was strong. Khoa managed to knock Trini onto her back, one knee balancing him on the ground, the other pressing painfully into her stomach, his hands against her neck.

As the seconds passed, he pressed tighter onto her throat, making her choke and gasp for air. Trini brought her hands up and clawed at Khoa's, trying to push them away. Her eyes looked directly into his face and saw nothing but pure evil on Khoa's eyes as he glared back at her.

Finally, he lifted a hand and punched her hard in the eye. She could feel it swelling almost immediately. "I wish you wouldn't make me do this," he hissed before letting go and getting to his feet. Trini coughed, rolling onto her side as she fought for breath.

All the while Khoa brushed off his clothes and casually went back into the restaurant.

She could only imagine how he was going to explain things away and make himself look good as ever.

Trini let out a long breath, resting her forehead in her hand. She chewed on the eraser tip of her pencil, trying to make sense of the math problems sitting in front of her but her mind wasn't concentrating. That wasn't going to be good with a test the next period. And it certainly wasn't helping that her friends were talking so much. They were so happy and knowing their lives weren't in turmoil was actually really starting to piss her off, especially when it now seemed like there was nothing she could do to stop what was happening to her.

She fought back against Khoa and having been able to kick any monster or putties ass time and time again, how was she unable to beat him? The feeling of his hands around her throat continued to haunt her. Even as she sat with her friends she could feel Khoa's hands slowly creeping their way around her neck, starting to push down, tighter and tighter as the seconds passed.

"Trini?" Kimberly's voice startled her.

"What?" Trini snapped back.

Her best friend's eyes widened in surprise, then hurt as she said, "I was just wondering if you had the answer to question 5," she said slowly.

"No, I haven't figured it out yet!" Actually, she hadn't figured out any of them yet and didn't care. Trini reached up a hand and rubbed her forehead, wincing as she moved over her black eye. She'd managed to cover it well enough with her make up but it still hurt. He'd really roughed her up and she still felt her throat burning when she swallowed. Even when she breathed it took a little more effort than anything else.

Her friends were silent at her outburst. Billy and Zack exchanged glances while Kimberly ducked her head, chewing her lower lip. Tommy reached over and rubbed her back. Avalon leaned back in her seat and studied Trini closely while Jason, who sat directly next to her, reached out to placed his hand on her shoulder. Trini leaned out of the way. She didn't want to be touched.

"Trini, is everything okay?" Jason asked.

"Why wouldn't they be?" Trini tried to keep the exasperation out of her voice but failed.

"Well, you're not acting like yourself," Jason said. He shifted sideways in his chair and looked over her. Trini did her best not to look back at him no matter how much she wanted to be lost in his brown eyes, to feel that sense of relief and relaxation she felt with him. But she couldn't, or else he'd seen the pain and fear in hers. "All today you've been…different?"

"I don't think I've ever heard you so quiet in class either," Billy added. He tapped his fingertips against the table. "Ms. Appleby called on you a few times and you didn't answer her."

"Yeah, and normally you're as much of an egg-head as Billy over here," Zack joked. Trini glared at him and his jovial smile immediately faded, making him sink in his chair. His eyebrows came together as he studied her face. "Seriously, Trini, what's going on?"

"Nothing," Trini mumbled. She dropped her hands to her lap and hunched forward over the table. Maybe if her hair covered her face they would stop bothering her so much. You should be happy they care, Trini reminded herself. Your parents don't. They didn't even ask why you were so quiet when you got back into the restaurant. They didn't even notice your black eye. Or they didn't care…

"Sunny," Avalon said, immediately grabbing her attention. It was all she had to say. Maybe it was the tone of her voice when she said it, the seriousness. That she wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer. The orange ranger licked her lips and said, "Mate, you know if there's anything going on you can talk to us, yeah? There's nothing that we won't help you with if we can."

"Yeah." Kimberly reached out and grasped Trini's hands in hers. "We're your friends. You can tell us."

No. She couldn't. Trini pushed back her seat and gathered her things together while her friends looked at her in dismay. "I have to go," she murmured.

Jason stood up and grasped Trini's wrist. "Trini, at least let us—"

"Let go!" Trini snapped. She pulled her hand away from Jason's grasp and glared at him. She ignored the look of extreme hurt on Jason's face as he dropped his hand to his side. "I don't need your help!" She stepped around Jason and hefted her backpack up her shoulders to walk out of the library.

"Let her go, mate," Trini heard Avalon say. "If she's that mad, you better fucking let her be mad. Wait until she cools down before figuring things out."

At least one of her friends understood.

Trini went to the room that held the Peer Counseling meetings she worked with, finding Ian already sitting in the room, finishing up some homework. Surprised, she walked over to him. "Ian, hi," she greeted the freshman. "I didn't know we had a meeting today. It must've slipped my mind."

Ian looked up at her with hollow eyes. "We don't," he said. "I just didn't want to eat in the lunchroom." Trini then noticed the balled up paper bag next to him. "I didn't want to get picked on by Bulk and Skull and those others guys…"

Trini nodded in agreement. He'd been picked on pretty much ever since he arrived at the school earlier that year. He had no friends and consistently came to talk to her during the peer counseling, even if she was the one that did most of the talking.

"Do you mind if I join you?" She asked.

Ian shrugged and Trini pulled out a chair, sitting with them. They spent the rest of the period in the room sitting quietly. It was exactly what Trini needed, no questions and time to think about what she was going to do. If she was going to do anything at all.

After school, Trini teleported to the Command Center. Not only because it'd be one of the last places her friends would look for her, but because it was quieter than anywhere else. Plus, having Zordon and Alpha working on her weapons and detailing her power levels, it was a good way for her to keep her mind off things.

Bailey, Avalon's little sister and the purple ranger, was working in the lab as soon as Trini arrived and greeted her with a bright smile and a "Hey Trini, how ya going?"

"Hi Bailey," Trini said, suddenly feeling very calm with the young girl's innocent smile. If she knew anything about what Trini was going through—the Yellow ranger wouldn't be surprised if Avalon had said anything to her—she didn't show it. "What's up? I thought you'd be hanging out with Fred or something." She smiled, seeing the blush that came to Bailey's cheeks. Had she blushed like that whenever Jason was mentioned?

"He had to go to a dentist appointment so I just came here after school," Bailey replied. She nodded over to Alpha, who held a scanner in his hand, waving it over one of her blasters. "We're looking at the power output of our weapons. Our last fight brought some damage to the suits and we thought it'd be a good idea to check them out before going again."

"Is it too much damage?" Trini asked.

"I reckon not, but we'll never know unless we look."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Heaps."

And Trini went along with everything Alpha and Bailey suggested she do to test her morpher, her suit, her blaster, her Power Daggers, and her zord. There had been significant damage to all but not enough that would keep her out of commission. And it was enough that she was able to keep her mind off things, all until Zordon finally spoke.

Actually, Trini had forgotten he was there until his booming voice caught her attention, "I sense some great anxiety with you, Trini," he said. "You haven't been up to your typical sense of personality."

"I've…I've had a lot of going on lately," Trini said. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure, Trini?" Alpha asked, walking over. He leaned this way and that, peering at her. "We're here to talk if you want."

Trini felt herself bristle once more. What was it with everyone wanting to talk? How much was it going to take for them to understand she didn't want to talk, she didn't want to people to worry about her, and she didn't want to have to constantly think about it.

"I'm fine," Trini said.

Bailey peered at the older girl with a curious head-tilt. "You know, when people say 'I'm fine', it usually means they're not, yeah?" Trini shifted her gaze away. "We don't want to pressure you into anything, mate, but there has been proof that expelling negativity and uncertainties has really assisted in amity to whomever is afflicted."

Trini gave a sad smile. Billy used to be the only one they knew that did 'techno-speak' but had slowly started to grow out of it. Bailey, on the other hand, had a smooth transition with the two, usually using her dollar words while in the Command Center and speaking much clearer when at school or around her peers. Avalon explained it as a sense of self-preservation, Bailey could really only be herself when she was around the rangers, after having moved to Angel Grove by themselves, their parents back in Australia, she hadn't wanted to alienate herself any more than she had to.

"Yes, Trini, we are here to help," Alpha agreed. "It's the least we can do as you and the others have fought to save the city time after time."

"I find a great deal of stress is afflicting you," Zordon added.

Trini shook her head. It was sweet but, she could handle it. And she'd said as much, turning back to work on their weapons and zords. The conversation topic was dropped until she was getting ready to leave. Grabbing her things again, Trini listened as Alpha and Bailey went over the conclusions of their findings that day.

"I haven't been able to connect the power source back into the blaster," Bailey said, placing her hand on her hip. "This increase in power that we gave it as well as trying to repair its housing seems to be making it more difficult to find the correct power output."

"Ay yi yi yi yi. We'll have to set it up with more points to direct the power current," Alpha said, gently waving his hands. "Don't worry, Bailey, we'll figure it out."

Trini teleported from the Command Center with a weak wave and landed by the police station. She held her breath, looking over the front of the building. It wasn't that she hadn't thought of going to the police before, she'd thought of it a few times. But hearing what Alpha had said, more points to direct a power current…it was strange but she understood how it would work through her problem. The more people she talked about what was going on with, the less power Khoa had over her, the less pain she had to feel.

So, with a deep breath, she walked into the police station and asked to report a crime to an officer. Captain Stone to be specific. He guided her into his office and sat down across from her as she explained everything that had been going on; how she'd met up with Khoa after years away, how he started off by being a nice guy, then slowly started to show his other side, how she'd been beaten up by him, how he verbally threatened her, everything. When she was finished, she twisted her hands in her lap, waiting for Captain Stone to say something. When he did, it was something she didn't want to hear.

"So?" She asked. "What's going to happen now?"

Captain Stone set his pen aside with a sigh. "We'll take down what you've said and…if anything else comes up, you come back and we'll add it to the file."

Trini frowned. "I don't understand," she murmured. "I…you're not going to do anything."

"Well, with what you've told us, there's enough to make a case—"

"—But there's not enough to arrest him?" Trini's jaw dropped. How? How could this be happening? She was doing what she was always told to do? To trust the system. To tell what was going on. To get some help. Here she was asking for help and no one was helping her. "I don't understand?"

"Everything that you've told us…it's not enough go off of. You said he's attacked you a few weeks ago. Without any bruising it's only a matter of he said, she said. You say you think he's following you, but how do we know that he hadn't already planned to go to the fair? Your families are close and because of that, it's expected he'd be around."

Trini's jaw dropped. He didn't believe her.

"Now, I'm not saying that something can't be done," Captain Stone said quickly, holding up his hands. He'd seen the distraught expression on her face. "If more things happens we can put a restraining order on him. And if things escalate even further, if there are witnesses, if he threatens your life completely then we can do something. But we can't stop someone who is to be around your family." He reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a business card. "Call me directly if there's anything else you remember or would like to tell me. I can always be reached."

"Thank you." Numbly, Trini took the card and stood up. She made it to the door before Captain Stone stopped her.

"Trini?" He said, studying her closely. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Trini nodded back and left the police station, clutching the business card in her hand. Once outside, Trini slowly lowered herself to the steps outside the building, staring out across the street.

She did what she was supposed to do. She tried to reason with Khoa, told him to stop, fought back, and then went to the police. But no one believed her. There was nothing she could do anymore.

They think you're a liar, Trini thought, feeling her throat tighten, a lump form, and tears come to her eyes. They think you're a liar and they're not going to do anything to help you.

She was completely and utterly powerless.

A/N: Well, I bet this is starting to get frustrating for everyone, right? But at least the cracks are starting to form and her friends are figuring out what's going on. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll update again soon.

~Av