The Terran Ranger Saga Volume 5 by Heather Ray (novel24 .txt) 📖

was set for waking up for school the next morning, and she tucked herself in. After a few minutes of tossing and turning, Alexis finally fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three

The sound of a telephone ringing slowly aroused Alexis from deep sleep. She squinted, despite the sunlight pouring into her room, and reached over for the telephone.

"Hello?" she yawned.

^Lex? Did I wake you?^

Alexis rubbed her eyes, and glanced at her alarm clock. "Jason, it's six o'clock! School doesn't even start 'til after eight. What are you doing up so early?"

^Well, I should've told you this earlier, but Tommy and I are going in early today. We have a presentation for Economics, and the teacher wants to see us before school to discuss our research. We can still bring you to school if you want, but we need to be there by seven.^

Alexis grimaced. "No thanks. I'll see if I can get a ride with Rocky or something. See you at lunch, Jase."

^Bye.^

Alexis hung up the phone, and dragged herself out of bed. She glanced at the clock again, and shook her head.

"I'll wait for a bit to call Rocky," she decided, stretching her arms. "No need to wake him."

With that, Alexis slowly marched to the bathroom.

Chapter Twenty-Four

At six-thirty, Rocky was lying on his bedroom floor, doing a series of crunches as salsa music is playing from his clock radio. A loud knock on the door managed to reach Rocky's ears through the energetic music.

"Come in!" he called. His mother entered the room, holding a cordless telephone.

"Alexis is on the phone," she said with a strong Mexican accent. Rocky jumped to his feet and took the phone.

"Hey, Lex!" he greeted. "What's up?"

^Rocky, could you do me a favor?^

"Name it."

^Jason can't pick me up for school this morning, and I'm really not up to walking --^

"I'll pick you up," Rocky offered. "No problem. Adam's taking Aisha, so it'll just be you and me. See ya at 7:45?"

^You're a lifesaver, Rocky! I'll see you then. Take care!^

"Bye."

Rocky turned off the phone, and stared at it for awhile. He then sighed, and sat it down on his dresser. He wiped the sweat off his face with his towel, and combed back his light brown hair from his eyes with his fingers. As he got ready for a shower, he couldn't stop thinking about the previous day, when he and Alexis were happily skating around the ice rink. They were having such a good time that neither noticed their friends had left. Alexis didn't pay attention to the fact that it took Jason twenty minutes to get her a soda.

We both were just having a genuinely good time,

Rocky reasoned. Sheesh, I really miss that. Back when we were the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, we always managed to have a good time. But somewhere along the road, the Terran Rangers have changed. They don't seem to have as much fun as they used to. They've gotten so...serious

! Billy's gotten even more serious, and Jason and Tommy act like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders! Aisha and Zack try to lighten up the crowd a bit, but even they can't do it alone. Kimberly and Kat are both kinda in the middle, but they're more sensitive than humorous. It's like the Terran Rangers have forgotten how to have a good time. Maybe it has something to do with being heroes -- something I haven't been for awhile now. I don't mind it, though. It's a big relief, actually. I missed the Power at first, but now I'm glad not to have it. What I really miss is being part of the group. They don't alienate me or anything, but I'm not part of the inner circle, so to speak. And then...there's Alexis.

Rocky walked to the bathroom, and locked the door behind him. He then turned on the faucet, allowing steaming water to heat up the room.

Alexis is different. She's got a free spirit. She'll tell it like it is, and she's not afraid of anything. And after everything she's been through -- with her sister being sick, moving to Philly, fighting crooks all by herself, and even risking her life with that Bomb Attack waaay

back when we met the Spectrum Force -- she hasn't lost her smile. Through trials and tribulations, her sense of humor is intact. She's really something. I didn't realize how much I liked her until she came back to Angel Grove.

Rocky undressed and stepped into the stream of practically scalding water. The heat relaxed his tensed muscles, and at the same time relaxed his mind.

I wonder if I should tell her?

he asked himself. Should I tell her I...I like her? Probably not...she's Jason's girlfriend, for Pete's sake! Well, she's sorta his girlfriend. They don't seem all that

close. But do I really want to get between them? No! They're both my friends, and I wish nothing but the best for them. But I've never been one to bottle up emotions. I can't do that. It's a skill I've never mastered. When I hate someone, it's obvious. And when I like someone...I'm afraid that's rather obvious too. What could it hurt to tell her? At least I'll be honest with her, and with myself. Doesn't mean she has to reciprocate or anything. It's just something for her information. If she loves Jason -- and she probably does -- that's just fine with me. As long as she's happy. But she still should know.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tommy waited patiently in the Lee family's driveway. After a few minutes, Jason walked out of the house, his black book-bag in tow. He opened the passenger door, and took a seat beside his best friend.

"How's it going, Jay?" Tommy asked as he pulled his car onto the road.

"Same old," Jason responded, glancing at the back seat. "Where's Kim?"

Tommy chuckled. "Are you kidding? She'd never be ready for school this early! She's going in with Kat later on. So, are you ready with the research proposition for Mister Erikson?"

"Yeah, I got the proposal in there," Jason said, pointing at his book-bag. He then glanced out the side window, and propped his elbow against the window.

"You okay, Bro?" Tommy asked, glancing at Jason through the corner of his eye.

"Tommy, I've got a...a slight problem."

"Is it anything I can help you with?"

"Maybe. Tommy, how do you know you're in love?"

Tommy blinked, and barely refrained from slamming the brake as a surprise reaction. He continued along the road, and turned to face Jason. Jason wasn't smiling. He was completely serious.

"Uh, I think it's different for different people," Tommy replied after awhile, "I fell for Kim the moment I met her. It just felt so good to be around her, and I'd do anything to spend time with her. When she was in trouble, I was terrified. When she was in pain, I hurt too. And when she's happy, so am I. It's like an emotional connection. But again, that's me."

"Oh." said Jason, as if unsatisfied by Tommy's response.

"Does this have something to do with Alexis?" Tommy asked. Jason looked at Tommy, and raised his eyebrow. "Okay, stupid question," Tommy said.

"Tom, I don't think I love Alexis," Jason said quietly. "Actually, I'm rather sure I don't love her. I think I used

to love her, but that feeling's just not there anymore."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, I'm not comfortable when I'm around her. But it's not nervousness, or the 'good'

kind of uncomfortable. It's the bad kind. You know, the guilty feeling. I feel guilty because I'm leading her on. I can't bring myself to tell her the truth."

"Jase, she's only been back for two days! How do you know you don't love her anymore?"

"Because," Jason said, his voice lowering, "I'm in love with Kat."

This time, Tommy did indeed slam the brakes, bringing the white Jeep to a sudden stop. Fortunately, both young men were wearing their seat belts, and there weren't any cars behind them. Tommy turned to Jason, completely taken aback.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Absolutely. I've loved her for awhile now. I just didn't let myself realize it."

"Since when?"

"Do you remember the Crystal Ball?" Jason queried.

"Yeah..."

"Well, remember when Kat was trapped in that sleeping spell, and she had to face the Nightmare Queen? When Billy told me that her life was on the line, it really scared me. Now, the thought of any of my friends dying is scary, but I was really terrified. And I was determined to save her. Like, I'd do absolutely anything to make sure she survived."

"Yeah," said Tommy, nodding, "I know what that feels like."

"I thought you would," said Jason. Now it was Tommy's turn to sigh.

"Look, Jase, this is serious. You've gotta be straight with Lex. If you don't love her, you need to let her know."

"The thing is...I don't wanna hurt her."

"I know you don't. But what else can you do? Lie to her? Don't you think that'd hurt her even worse that breaking up with her?"

Jason nodded. "You're right. I gotta tell her."