On the bus ride home from Angel Grove, Hayley had programmed the numbers from Gia into Sarah's phone so the pink Ranger could make the calls later. She knew she was abandoning her team for the night when she left them to work in the garage, but she was working on a timeline of her own and needed to get help for Melanie as quickly as possible.

She didn't know much about the girl except what Gia had said in their talk. Sarah used that information, as well as her own experience with Drex, to explain Melanie's circumstance to her contacts. A couple of them were adamant that Melanie was a lost cause and there was nothing they could do for her. The rest were willing to help, but only if Melanie called herself.

"All you have to do is make the call," Sarah explained to the girl as they met up again the following day in the bathroom. "You have three organizations willing to help you out if you just call and tell them your story. There's no judgements, either. They were all recommended by…"

"The cop who arrested me," Melanie frowned then shook her head as she tossed away the list of numbers. "Screw that."

"I really think it's worth a shot."

"Why?" Melanie asked. "What are they going to do? Clean me up? Send me back home? I left for a reason, you know."

"They can help you find somewhere better," Sarah suggested. "Like, once you're on your feet a little bit, they can help you get a job, you can get your own place…"

"So, you want me to give up what I want to do, and instead get a job where I earn less money and live by myself? No protection?"

"Protection doesn't beat you up when its mad," Sarah shook her head.

"Here's some no judgement for you," Melanie growled. "I helped you get back to the life you wanted. I risked my neck just talking to your friends, never mind helping them find Drex…"

"You wouldn't have done that if you wanted to stay…"

"I did that for you, princess," Melanie said. "You had family looking for you, friends who cared, you don't need to get caught up in this stuff. That works for you. You know what doesn't work for me?"

"Prostitution?"

"Family. Friends. School," Melanie listed off. "I've been there, I've done that, it's not my life."

"But…"

"There are people out there who pay for sex," Melanie said. "It's a job, it pays well, it gets me what I need."

"But it's not safe."

"So I've toughened up," Melanie shrugged. "Now, look princess. I broke the rules helping you. I got you back to your life. Help get me back to mine. Next time you talk to me, you better know where Drex or your mother is. Otherwise I won't be happy."

"But…" Sarah said but Melanie didn't listen. She left the bathroom, never looking back as she did. Sarah leaned over, picked up the paper with the numbers Gia had given her and sighed. "Plan B, I guess… I just wish I knew what that was."

She heard the bell ring, indicating the end of lunch. Not wanting to disappoint her friends again, she hoisted her backpack up on her shoulder and hurried down to shop class. She had already missed the first day. She was sure Mick wouldn't be happy if she was absent again.

She raced into class and joined with the others. She found a spot at the table with the rest of her friends and set her bag down. Hayley leaned over to whisper to her.

"How did it go?"

"She didn't bite," Sarah whispered back. "She doesn't want the help, she just wants Drex."

"She might be a lost cause," Hayley said. "To be honest, I think you're wasting your time."

"Helping people isn't a waste of time."

"It is when they don't want help," Hayley shrugged. "Maybe the best thing you can do for her is not give her anything. No help and support, but nothing about Drex either."

"I can't give up. I have a few more days, still."

"But Sarah, if she isn't open to new ideas, what makes you think you can change her mind?"

"I've got to try," Sarah smiled as Mick started his class.

-Ninja-Steel-

After school, Sarah stayed with Calvin and Hayley to work on their project. Since the couple had already worked on the paper without her, Sarah felt the least she could do to repay them for their work was put extra effort into building her machine. They only had a few more days to get it up and running and have the paper written and Sarah wanted to be sure she wasn't letting her team down. Mick was generous enough to let her use whatever she could find in shop class to build her cookie creator and she had brought with her a few of her tools and resources from home.

When enough work was done, and Sarah, Hayley and Calvin all felt confident they would be able to finish on time if they stopped now, they parted ways. Hayley and Calvin had a date night and Sarah waited outside the school for Kelly, who left with Preston. When Sarah saw her girlfriend and best friend arriving, she waved them over.

"You're going to think I'm nuts," she said, which earned some worried looks from the other two. "But hear me out, okay?"

"I get the feeling I won't like this," Preston sighed. "Alright, what?"

"Instead of ice-cream… we go to prison."

"Sarah, you promised you'd never get me arrested!" Preston cried out, while Kelly just shook her head.

"Why? Just… why?"

"Melanie."

"That girl from yesterday?" Kelly asked and Sarah nodded her head. "What about her?"

"She's a reformed prostitute… or, rather… reforming. Or… well, I want her to reform."

"Does she?"

"Not yet. But I think I can get her to…"

"Sarah, this isn't a good idea," Preston shook his head. "It's nice that you want to help but… if she doesn't want your help…"

"She asked me!"

"But she doesn't want it?" Kelly frowned.

"Well… okay, she asked me to find my mom and Drex but…"

"No," Preston shook his head again. "Sarah, no."

"But…"

"Don't you remember they kidnapped you twice! Shot you in the leg…"

"Yeah, but…"

"Tried to turn you into a whore!"

"I know, but…"

"You can't go near them! They're in prison so that they stay away from you. Now you want to… visit?"

"Not Drex," Sarah shook her head. "Just… my mom."

"No," Preston frowned. "I'm sorry, Sarah, but I can't let you do that."

"But…"

"I think I agree with Preston," Kelly said. "I mean, I wasn't there for the whole… prostitute thing but… this sounds like a real shitty idea."

"I know how it sounds but you have to hear me out."

"We have," Kelly nodded. "We heard what you want to do, why you want to do it, and how you're going to do it and we think it's stupid."

"Then you don't have to come."

"Sarah, we're not letting you go," Preston said and grabbed her arm as she started to leave. "If you leave, we're telling your mother where you're going."

"You're going to tell on me?" Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. "Seriously? All I'm trying to do is help."

"You're going to get hurt."

"She can't hurt me in prison! I'll talk to her, ask her her story and…"

"How is that going to help Melanie?" Kelly asked.

"It'll give me some perspective."

"Why not talk to Melanie?" Preston suggested.

"She won't talk to me," Sarah shook her head. "And I know what you're going to say…"

"She doesn't want to be helped," Preston and Kelly both said and Sarah groaned loudly. Preston squeezed her arm, "Sarah, you've done everything you can already, I'm sure. If Melanie doesn't want help, she won't accept it no matter what you do. The best thing you can do for her and yourself is just let it go now. Work on your project. Kick our asses in the bet and make Brody wear pink."

"I'm looking forward to rocking white," Kelly nodded. "I mean, if you win, of course."

"Fine," Sarah said and hopped up on her hoverboard. "I'll finish up my project."

"Do you want some company?" Kelly asked, but Sarah just shot her a glare before she took off. Kelly sighed and turned to Preston, "I guess this is our first fight."

"Why do I think she's going to prison anyway?" Preston looked to Kelly.

"She wouldn't be that stupid, would she?" Kelly frowned.

"I'm calling Jenny just in case," Preston said as he took out his phone.