Author's Note: I DO NOT own Power Rangers that credit goes to the Gods of Saban but this story is mine, I just borrowed their characters (and the main story line) and added some of my own thoughts to it.
-The Pink Dino Gem
Chapter Three
The following Monday…..
Anton was busy working on some figures before dropping Erica off at school. "All right, put these papers and I'll get back to them after dropping off Erica." Anton opened his desk drawer and saw the photo Trent showed him a few weeks ago. Anton picked up the photo and stared at the pink rock Erica had in her hand. "I wonder….," said Anton. "Yo, Anton," said Erica as she entered Anton's study. "Have you seen Trent? I was wondering if we could go to school together." Anton looked away from the photo and looked at Erica, "Sorry," Anton said. "Trent likes to get to school early; I'm going to take you to school today being your first day and all, okay?" "That depends," said Erica. "Are we taking a limo?" "You really don't like it, huh?" said Anton. "Can we drive to school in something more modest? Please," said Erica. "Okay, okay, let's just go before you're late," said Anton.
As Anton was driving he was deciding on whether he should mention the rock to Erica. Maybe she doesn't have it anymore, it just looked like a dinogem, but it could've been a Spinel or a Topaz. "Umm, Erica," said Anton. "I want to ask you a question. Do you remember on your twelfth birthday you found a pink rock and a fossil, when you kicked the wall down?" "You mean the wall I kicked down during that little earthquake, yeah," said Erica. "What about it?" Anton took a deep breath; it was earthquakes that unearth the fossil, okay. "Do you still have that pink rock?" Anton asked. "Yeah," said Erica. "I still have it." Erica dug through one of her pants pocket and pulled out a pink dinogem. When Anton saw the dinogem he stopped the car short. Erica jerked forward, but her seatbelt held her back. "Geez Anton, what was that for?" Anton was staring at the dinogem for at least a minute. It's not a Topaz. It's not a Topaz. It is not a Topaz. "Anton, what wrong?" screamed Erica. Anton finally composed himself. "I'm sorry; it's just that, your rock, it brought back some memories." Erica frowned, "I know, that's why I never had the heart to get rid of it." "I'm sorry," said Anton. "Can we continue this conversation later, please?" "Sure" said Erica.
When Anton pulled the car up to the school, Principal Randall was waiting for them. "Erica, this is Principal Randall," said Anton. "She is going to show you around the school, okay." Erica got out the car, "It's a pleasure," said Erica as she extended her hand. "Let's go, I have a lot to tell you before you get to class," said Randall as she turned to walk away. Erica returned her hand and followed Randall to the school. As Erica and Randall walked away, Anton collapsed back to his seat. How the hell did this happen? What were the chances are getting someone like her? Okay relax, I'll just have a long, long talk with Erica after school, and pray He doesn't go after her. Anton composed himself and drove off.
As Erica was walking behind Randall, Randall was looking through a file. "Okay," said Randall pulling out a piece of paper and handing it to Erica, "You may be a little late but I explained the story to your teacher and they will bring you up to speed. Do you have any questions so far?" Erica was skimming through the paper, it was her schedule for the term, "Just one, I seem to have a lot of honor classes. The only classes that aren't honor are Lunch and Paleontology." "Well first off, the Paleontology teacher is new, unfit for honors, maybe next term we can put him in charge an honors class you understand of course," explained Randall. "Principal Randall," said Erica. "What I meant was that being in my senior year and being in a new school, I thought…." "You thought I was going to let a 98 GPA student slide by her senior year, is that it?" said Randall turning around to face Erica. "Well, let me tell you something, your going to graduate not only the valedictorian of this school, but in this state, and I have put you in the hardest classes this school has to offer to do it, I will!" Do I make myself clear?" Erica nodded her head. "Good," said Randall. "Your locker is up ahead." As Erica and Randall reached the lockers, there were three students, two boys, one girl, huddled up next to the lockers. "Don't you have somewhere to be right now?" said Randall. One of the boys replied, "Didn't Dr. O wanted to show us something?" "Oh right," the girl replied. The three students walked down the hall away from Erica and Randall. Randall started scanning the lockers, "102 is your, here is a lock and here is your combination. Your next class starts in 10 minutes, I recommend putting your stuff away fast and getting to class."
As Randall was talking to the new student Connor, Ethan, and Kira were watching from afar. "Way to roll out the welcome wagon, Randall," said Conner. "After Randall done traumatizing the new girl, we should we introduce ourselves," said Ethan. "Good idea," said Kira. After Randall was done talking, Randall walked away from the new girl. Conner, Ethan, and Kira all walked up to the new girl as she was putting her stuff in her locker. "Hi," said Conner. "So by the Randall was acting, I take it you're new." The girl took out a notebook and a pen and closed her locker. "Yeah, I'm Erica," she said. "Awesome," said Conner. "I'm Conner, this is Ethan, and that's Kira, since we neighbors and all, we can help if you need something." "Thanks Conner," said Erica. "Can you show me where room 1002 is I have Paleontology there with Dr. Oliver?" "No sweat," said Ethan. "We got class there too, we take you there together." "Thanks Ethan," said Erica.
Down the hall, Devin was organizing his locker when a friend of his ran up to him. "Oh, hey Steven, what's up," said Devin. Steven was about Devin's height with short brown hair, blue eyes and glasses. "Devin I need to ask you a favor, there this new girl, you see, and Randall walking her around school and now the new girl is talking with some friends of yours, and can you get me her name?" rambled Steven. "Say man," said Devin. "Slow down, you want me to find out some news girls name, and she is hanging with some friends of mine, right? So which friends, cause I really just have Cassidy." "Umm," said Steven. "The soccer player, the computer guy, and the singer." "Oh you mean Conner, Ethan, and Kira," said Devin. "Yeah those three," said Steven. "No sweat man. I'll have her name by the end of the day. C'mon, let's get to science," said Devin. "Thanks man, you're a life saver."
In Paleontology Class….
"Cassidy Cornel"
"Here"
"Devin Del Valle"
"Here"
"Steven Eide"
"Here"
"Erica Fernandez"
"Here"
Dr. Oliver looked over the roster. "Erica, this is your first day, right?" said Dr.O.
"Yes it is," replied Erica. "Fernandez…are you related to Trent?" asked Dr.O. Erica whispered to Conner, "How big is this school?" "Don't worry," said Conner, "there's only one Trent." "Trent is my brother, why?" "Well," Dr.O started, "Trent doesn't appear to be here." Erica looked around the room, Trent wasn't in the class. "Did you try calling his name?" asked Erica. The class erupted into laughter. "Okay, man," whispered Devin to Steven. "Her name is Erica." "Thanks Dev," Said Steven. "What are you talking about?' asked Cassidy as she turned around to Devin and Steven. "Well you see Cass…" began Devin. "Oh never mind," said Cassidy as she turned back around. "All right class, calm down," said Dr.O. So Erica, we can see Trent isn't but you want me to call out his name anyway?" "Well yeah," said Erica "or else we really won't know if Trent here or not, we just speculating." "Okay, fine," said Dr.O.
"Trent Fernandez?"
"Here" said Trent as he walked into the room. "See," said Erica. "Trent's not absent, he's just late." Trent took his seat in the back of the room. "Hey, Trent, catch," said Erica as she threw a carton of orange juice at him. Trent caught the orange juice. "If that doesn't give you some color by lunch, I'll give you an orange transfusion. "Got it," said Trent. "Can we get back to class please," said Dr.O.
During the middle of Dr.O lecture on the Brachiosaurus, Dr.O notice Erica seemed bored, she was laying her head down on her desk, with the lecture. "Erica," said Dr.O pointing to a picture of a fossil, "Can you identify this fossil for the class." Without thinking Erica replied, "Brachiosaurus, this fossil was discovered in 1995 by the Harrisons in New Mexico. It took them about 10-20 years because part of issue as that part of the dinosaur was on private property and the Harrisons was involved in a legal battle over ownership and such, but they won eventually and I think it should be New Mexico Natural History Museum." The whole class stared at Erica. "What?' said Erica. "Erica," said Dr. O., "How did you correctly identify the entire history of this fossil by just its picture?" "Oh that," said Erica. "I'm studying to be a paleontologist, I've just recently moved in with Trent and his father after studying under another paleontologist." "Smithfield," said Dr.O. "Yeah," said Erica. "They still haven't gotten rid of that stupid requirement," murmured Dr.O. "Okay, let's make a deal, after class you circle on a world map, everywhere you've been and I'll try to teach some fossils that maybe you have never heard of, just try to pretend to be interested, even if you know everything I'm talking about, okay?" "I'll try," said Erica.
After school, Erica was leaving the building when she saw Trent staring at Conner, Ethan, and Kira, but those three were far away from Trent. Erica ran up to Trent, but Trent tried walking away from Erica. "C'mon, I don't want a transfusion, said Trent. "You want to talk about it?" asked Erica. Trent looked at Erica. "I'm your twin sister Trent, I was trying to figure out all day what was bothering me and then it hit me, you're the problem, so tell me so we'll both feel better." Trent let out a sigh. "There this girl," said Trent. "Part of me likes her and I'm crazy about her, but part of me pushes her away. I don't want to push away from me, but if she finds out the real me, she may not want me." Erica took a second to think. "Laid down all your cards, tell her everything. Trent, the only girl you deserve is one that will understand what you're going though, no matter how bad it gets. The worst thing she can say is no, okay?" Trent nodded. "Okay, I'll try that. Thanks." Trent said as he ran off. "Hope you get her," said Erica. Erica started walking when she suddenly became dizzy and she fell on the grass. Dammit, I thought helping Trent would've cured this. Why the hell am I still feeling so lousy? Erica took several breaths to regain her composure, but Erica notice a pink light coming out from her pocket. Erica pulled out her pink rock which was the source of the glowing. Why is this thing glowing? It's never done that before. Is this why Anton acted weird in the car? What's the relationship between Reefside and this rock?
End of Chapter 3
Author Note: This chapter is a bit longer than the others because I wanted to move the story along. Also I am not fossilizing Dr.O; I'm pretending that never happened.