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

so she was furious that his girlfriend would do that. It also explains why Kat and Jason have been rather...uncomfortable

in each other's company since Alexis came back."

"You noticed it too, huh," said Tommy, shaking his head. "I guess the next question is: what do we do about all this?"

"It's really none of our business," Kim decided, "I think the best thing we can do is keep our mouths shut. If Lex, Kat, Jason, or even Rocky ask for our advice, then we surely give it to them. But I don't think its our place to tell them what everyone else is feeling, or tell the others. As far as I know, Adam, Billy, Aisha, and Zack are in the dark."

"Yeah," said Tommy, reaching over and grasping Kimberly's hand, "Mum's the word. So where are you going now?"

"Scientific Founders," Kim sighed, "I don't know why I took that class."

Tommy grinned, "It can't be worse than my Economics class. Can I walk you over?"

Kimberly smiled, and tightened her hold on his hand. "Let's go."

As they walked, Kimberly couldn't help but say, "I really hope they get everything straightened out."

Tommy frowned. "If they don't, then this'll tear the team apart."

Chapter Twenty-Eight

After first period, Alexis leaned against the wall just outside a classroom. After a few seconds, dozens of high school students poured out of the room, carrying sheets of paper in their hands. Alexis continued to scan through the students until she found the one she was looking for.

"Wow, Kim!" said Aisha, glancing over Kim's shoulder at her report, "I guess Mrs. Sandsworth loved your report on Sigmund Freud! You're probably the only person to get an A from that woman."

"Well, I worked my butt off on this paper," Kim replied. "And considering how I did on my Charles Darwin paper, I really needed this grade. But hey, you got an A-! That's a fabulous grade, and your average in this class is higher than mine!"

"Kim! Aisha!" Alexis called, trying to weave her way through the rush of students to reach her friends. "Wait up!"

Both girls stopped and turned around. Aisha grinned happily at the sight of her friend, but Kimberly wore a more serious expression-- something that is rather unusual for the perky teenager. Alexis glanced at both of them, and then held her gaze on Aisha.

"How're ya doing, Lex?" Aisha asked.

"Can't complain," Alexis responded. "Um, do you mind if I talk to Kim for a minute? Its important."

"Too important for me to hear?" Aisha joked, stepping away from her friends. "Well, I'll see you both at lunch! Bye!"

Kimberly waved to Aisha as she disappeared into the crowd. She then turned to Alexis, whose false smile had been replaced by a nearly panicked expression.

"What's wrong?" Kim asked worriedly.

"Kim, I've got a major problem," Alexis sighed in response, "I...I'm really, really confused about my feelings. I've never really been in love before, and so it's hard for me to figure out exactly what my heart is trying to tell me."

"Go on," said Kim.

"Okay, here goes -- I'm absolutely, positively sure I'm not in love with Jason. That doesn't mean I never was in love with Jason, but it definitely isn't there now. I think I misunderstood a more mild attraction for something far more serious. I still care a lot about him, but I don't think we're...right for each other. I know how they say 'opposites attract'

, but we're fundamentally different. It won't work."

"Does Jason know how you feel?"

"I...I doubt it. I didn't tell him anything. But wait -- this whole thing gets even worse. Suddenly, I'm having strong feelings for Rocky."

Kimberly shook her head and smiled. "And you're sure this isn't some kind of projection?"

"A what?"

"It's something I learned from Freud's theory. Maybe after you discovered you no longer loved Jason, you projected the feelings you did have for him onto Rocky, because you wanted someone to love. Maybe?"

"I don't know," Alexis said, "it's not the same at all. I mean, when I first fell for Jason, I felt so awkward around him I had butterflies in my stomach! And even now, it's a little uncomfortable. And he obviously was uncomfortable the other night... Anyway, when I'm with Rocky, it's totally different. I feel like I can tell him anything, and there's no discomfort at all. He makes me laugh, and we have fun together. I think we're more suited to each other. I don't know...maybe it's my imagination, but...I think he feels similarly for me."

"Really?" said Kim, an eyebrow slowly rising.

"He said he was really glad that I was back," Alexis began, "and at one point, in the car, our eyes met and... it was like I could see his conflicting emotions, and he could see mine. In my case, I'm torn up about what I'm gonna do about my relationship -- if you can even call it that -- with Jason. For Rocky -- and this is assuming he likes me -- it's being attracted to a girl who is supposed to be dating a close friend of his. This is such a mess!"

"So how does it feel having two men in love with you?" Kim asked light-heartedly. Alexis scoffed.

"I don't think Jase loves me anymore, if he ever did. I don't know...but it seems to me that both of us distance ourselves from the other, but neither wants to be the one to cut the cord, and officially end 'us'

. I guess we're both worried about what the other would think."

"What would Jason think if he found out that you and Rocky were getting close?" Kim asked.

Alexis shrugged. "How could he?"

"I don't know...maybe he could have seen you two this morning?"

Alexis paled considerably. "You mean the kiss, don't you."

Kim nodded. Alexis ran her fingers through her carrot-colored hair nervously. "I don't know what I was thinking," Alexis said finally, "I was just as surprised that I actually kissed him as he was. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the moment...if that makes any sense at all."

"I suppose it does, if you really are attracted to him. Of course, as far as Jason is probably concerned, you two are a couple. He really would have been hurt if he'd seen what happened -- whether or not he was still in love with you."

Alexis looked down into Kimberly's eyes, and nodded. "You're right. I've gotta talk to him about this. The longer we delay, the more likely someone is going to get hurt. And the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt Jason."

"I know that," said Kim.

Suddenly, the bell signaling the beginning of second period sounded. Both girls' eyes widened.

"Uh oh," Kim muttered, "Mrs. Appleby is going to kill me!"

"And my Spanish teacher won't be too happy either! See you later, Kim!"

"Good luck, Lex!" called Kim, as both girls raced through the hall to their respective classes.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The mirror maze in the center of the carnival set up in Angel Grove rumbled slightly. Since it was only about noon, very few people were at the carnival, and at first, they didn't notice the tremors. The maze itself was off limits, because a few mirrors were broken when the Power Rangers battled the villain and destroyed the Weather Warp. In the center of the maze, where a few miniscule holes were burned into the concrete ground, the tremors were even stronger. Finally, something smashed through the solid concrete, sending fragments flying through the maze, shattering a number of mirrors. After the dust settled, the thing that penetrated the concrete could be seen clearly. It was a fist. Made of rock.

Chapter Thirty

Alexis slowly gathered her textbooks together after another slightly boring Calculus class. Usually, Calculus was mildly uninteresting, but this day, Alexis has her mind on other matters. She glanced at the clock at the front of the room as she rose to her feet. It was noon. Time for lunch.

With a sigh, Alexis picked up her backpack and headed out the door. She was to meet her friends at Ernie's for lunch and conversation. Both Jason and Rocky would be there. It obviously wasn't the time or the place to be honest with either of them, but Alexis had difficulty hiding her feelings. Although she was an expert at ignoring pain and emotional anguish, it was far more difficult to mask her feelings of guilt, confusion, and affection. She slowly stepped out of the main entrance of Angel Grove High, and glanced up at the clear blue sky. There wasn't a cloud there. It was a serene, beautiful day.

I...I can't do it,

she thought, walking in the opposite direction of the Juice Bar. She ended up in the bushes near the school, where there were few passersby. She hid her backpack in the bushes, and pulled out her morpher. She studied it carefully.

"I can't face them now. I need to clear my head. And there's only one way I know to really think things through."

Alexis took another quick look around, to make sure no one was present. She then held her morpher at arm's length, the golden coin glittering in the sunlight.

"Purple Ranger Power!!" she cried. In a flash of