Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - Love Is Series by Heather Ray (rm book recommendations txt) 📖

Ever since I met you
You're the only love I've known
And I can't forget you
Though I must face it all alone

Kat spent the weekend steering clear from Tommy. She needed to rethink her situation, and decide what she was going to do regarding him. Fortunately for her, Angel Grove remained monster-free over the weekend, so she wasn't forced into seeing Tommy prematurely. She avoided the Youth Center, and spent a great deal of time with her best friend Tanya Sloan, as well as with her mother. Both women gave Kat advice about what Tommy's silence could mean, and how she could approach their relationship. After a few days of thinking about it, she decided that Tommy was still confused, and that he probably felt vulnerable. This made perfect sense, considering Tommy was only in one lasting relationship before, and that one ended very badly. Tommy was heartbroken for a month when he received the letter from Kimberly, informing him that she'd fallen in love with someone else. Kimberly Anne Hart was the one person Tommy opened up to completely, and she left him so coldly and suddenly that it surely left a scar. A deeper scar than Kat had originally approximated.

"Tommy just needs time to deal with the thought of letting his guard down again," Kat reasoned to herself and her family, "Once he feels comfortable with expressing his emotions, then we can move towards forging a lasting relationship. He's still so fragile, and he doesn't want to risk getting hurt again. I won't push him. I'll give him his space, and I'll give him time to think about it. As much time as he needs."

Katherine's reasoning was logical and feasible. It would have made any psychologist proud. However, no matter how realistic it sounded, it was incorrect. And Kat found that out in the weeks that followed.

All at once, I'm drifting on a lonely sea
Wishing you'd come back to me
And that's all that matters now
All at once, I'm drifting on a lonely sea
Holding on to memories
And it hurts me more than you know
So much more than it shows
All at once...

During the next two weeks, Kat and Tommy reverted to just being friends, just as they were before they had begun to date. Kat never openly told Tommy about her decision, and Tommy never actually confronted Kat about that night, but that didn't seem to matter. Both were given space, and time to think about their relationship. And finally, nearly two solid weeks after that horrible night, Kat was confident that Tommy was dealing with his feelings appropriately. At the Youth Center after school, Tommy was busily weight-lifting, and spending time with his best friend Jason Lee. Kat was glad to see Tommy enjoying himself. And she realized that if he could bond with Jason, then he may be one step closer to opening up to her. However, before Kat could approach Tommy, he unexpectedly ran from the Youth Center. For a moment, Kat thought about following him, or asking Jason what had happened, but she was in the middle of teaching a ballet class. Through the corner of her eye, Kat saw Billy and Rocky talk to Jason about what happened. Although she couldn't hear what was being said, she could tell by Jason's expression that it was important. Once ballet was over, Katherine decided to join the conversation. At this point, Jason had already left, so all that Kat could learn was that Tommy received a letter from Kimberly.

Kat had mixed emotions about this. This was because the letter could mean two very different things. Firstly, it could be an apology, asking Tommy if they could establish a platonic relationship. If this was the case, then Tommy would be more willing to seek a relationship with Kat, because there would finally be closure to his previous one. However, the second possibility was less promising. Kimberly may have wanted to resume their romance. And judging from Tommy's behavior the other evening, it was obvious what happened between him and Kim still plagued him. What he'd do in that situation was a mystery to Kat.

That mystery was answered not long after, when Kimberly and Tommy entered the Youth Center hand in hand.

All at once
I looked around and found
That you were with another love
In someone else's arms
And all my dreams were shattered all at once

Kat felt a lump rise in her throat. It wasn't the fact that Kimberly and Tommy were holding hands that made her feel ill. Rather, it was the euphoric smiles on both their faces. Tommy was positively beaming with joy, and so was Kim. And those smiles were genuine -- they reached the eyes. The couple simply exuded happiness, as if they had never separated. As if Katherine had never existed.

Jason was standing behind them. Apparently, he had caught up with the couple before they arrived at the Youth Center. He grasped both Tommy and Kim's shoulders, and said "Its about time!" The couple laughed, and nodded in agreement.

Then, Billy, Rocky, and Adam, who were all sitting with Kat and Tanya, rose to their feet to greet their friend, and congratulate the happy couple. Everyone was smiling joyfully, as if finally all was right with the world. In a tangle of welcoming hugs, Kimberly was brought into the fold as if she never left. As if she had never broken Tommy's heart so callously. And what made Kat feel even more sick is that Tommy didn't seem to mind. So long as he was back with the woman he loved, he was happy.

It was obvious that he loved Kimberly. Although it was a torturous labor for him to say those three simple words to Katherine, he could say them earnestly to Kimberly without hesitation. Kat derived all this merely by the expressions of joy on their faces, the energy in their eyes, and by how tightly they held onto each other's hand. Even through all the welcomes and hugs, their grip never laxed. They weren't separating anytime soon.

Kat was startled by a hand gently squeezing her shoulder. She turned around, and her stinging eyes locked with the gaze of her best friend. Tanya Sloan, unlike the other Power Rangers, had never known Kimberly Hart. Therefore, the excitement of the original Pink Ranger's return didn't affect her like it did the others. Foremost on the Yellow Zeo Ranger's mind was her best friend. Tanya was the only one who really knew how deep Kat's love for Tommy went. Tanya's expression was sympathetic and supportive. She realized that, amongst this happy crowd of excited friends, Kat felt awkward, out of place, and worst of all-- abandoned. Left behind. Kimberly came back, and suddenly, Kat didn't exist anymore. It was as simple as that.


"Absolutely."

All at once
The smile that used to greet me
Brightens someone else's day
She took your smile away
And left me with just memories all at once

Kat met Tanya's sympathetic glance with her classic smile. It was a false smile, because she felt like dying inside. But Katherine Hillard was a special person. She never put her feelings above someone else's. And no matter how wretched she felt, she didn't want to ruin Kimberly's homecoming. Her smile didn't reach her crystal eyes, but it appeared genuine nonetheless. And she doubted anyone was paying enough attention to realize that it wasn't tears of joy that wet her expressive eyes.

"Welcome home, Kim!" Kat exclaimed in a joyful voice, wrapping her arms around the shorter girl's neck. After enthusiastically welcoming back her friend, she turned to Tommy, and squeezed his free hand. "Let's hope you two get it right this time," she quipped good-naturedly.

Kimberly blushed slightly, and giggled. "Trust me, I've learned my lesson! No mistakes this time around!"

Tommy smiled. "I guess I just won't let you out of my sight again, Kim."

Kimberly shook her head, and started to lead Tommy to the table, so she could be introduced to the stranger in yellow sitting by herself. Tommy, as usual, allowed Kimberly to guide his steps, but not before he threw a single glance at Kat. Katherine locked eyes with him for the briefest of moments, and once again, everything was transmitted.

He was sorry. He was sorry for not being honest with her, for letting her believe they actually had a future together. He was sorry he didn't realize sooner that his love for Kimberly wouldn't fade.

His glance was apologetic, but it was also inquisitive. He wanted to know how Kat felt