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

me..."

"...but?" Alexis interrupted him, "Jason, like I said, I want you to be completely honest with me. What's a relationship- either as friends or as something more -- when we can't be honest with each other? I can tell something's wrong. You've been acting strangely around me ever since I got back. Like, the other night, when we were unpacking."

Jason cringed. He hadn't meant to be so rude, but he was so uncomfortable, and guilty, that he couldn't stand it anymore. He just needed to leave.

"I didn't want to hurt you, Lex," he said, meeting her gaze for the first time, "I...I don't know what happened exactly, but I felt...uncomfortable

."

"With me," Alexis finished for him. Jason frowned.

"Lex, it's not that simple! I mean, we were close friends, but we never...went out or anything. I mean, we never really established what we...meant to each other. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, I do. Actually, I feel the same. We're good friends, but we never really took the next step. And...I don't think we should."

Jason blinked in surprise. Alexis suddenly felt sick.

"Why?" Jason asked.

"Because I care for you, but I don't think I...love you."

Alexis turned away from Jason, and squeezed her eyes shut. It was even more difficult to tell him than she had thought.

She didn't open her eyes until she felt a gentle touch on her hands. She turned around, and looked at Jason quizzically. He held her hands in his, and he had a small smile in his face. Alexis was startled.

"Alexis," he said, "I...I feel the same. You'll always be special to me, but I don't think it would work out."

Alexis smiled, and her eyes glassed with relief. She hastily wiped them with the back of her hand. "How long have you felt this way?"

"Ever since..." Jason suddenly blushed slightly, "ever since I discovered I had strong feelings for Kat."

Alexis blinked. "Kat?" she said in surprise, "I can't believe I didn't notice it! Do you know how she feels?"

Jason shook his head, relaxing now that they had reached an agreement without hurting anyone's feelings substantially. "No, I don't. Not yet, at least."

"Well, I'm sure you'll be happy together," Alexis said with a warm smile, "and I'm sure she cares about you. Who wouldn't?"

Jason chuckled at the compliment. "So," he said with a devilish glint in his eyes, "what's the story with you and Rocky?"

Now it was Alexis' turn to blush. "Rocky?"

"Yeah," said Jason. "He was worried sick when you didn't show up for lunch today. It usually takes a lot to make Rocky serious for a split-second! He really cares about you."

Alexis couldn't help but smile. "Do you think so?"

"I do," he said, standing up from the table. He offered Alexis his hand. "Friends?"

Alexis shook her head, and rose to her feet. She pushed his hand aside, and wrapped her arms around his neck in a warm hug. "Need you even ask?"

Jason glanced up at the clock against the wall. "If we hurry, we can make it back to school before the next class starts."

Epilogue

Alexis and Jason walked into the bristling halls of Angel Grove High. Sixth period had just ended, and the students had four minutes until seventh period started.

"Well, I've gotta go to my locker," Alexis said, waving at Jason. "See you!"

Jason grinned, and then turned in the other direction. Alexis quickly wove her way through the crowd, and made it to her locker. To her surprise, she saw someone leaning against it. He perked up when he saw her.

"What're you doing here, Rocky?" she asked him, her head tilted slightly to the side. Rocky moved out of her way as she opened her locker. He shoved his hands in his pockets, and bit his lower lip.

"So, how'd it go?"

"How'd what go?" she asked, searching through the mess of her locker.

"Your conversation with Jason," he said quietly. Alexis closed her locker and looked Rocky directly in the eye. He fidgeted slightly. "I know it's none of my business --"

"Don't be silly," Alexis interrupted, a grin creeping onto her lips. She slid her arm in Rocky's, much to the latter's surprise. "Actually, what we talked about did have something to do with you."

Rocky grinned. "I hope you only had nice things to say."

"Only the best. Care to walk a girl to Physics?"

"I am at your service, Milady," Rocky answered, as the two walked down the hallway, arms linked. As they walked down the hall, they passed Jason. Rocky suddenly felt nervous as the larger young man approached.

"I only have one thing to say to you, Rockwell DeSantos," Jason said seriously. Rocky blinked.

"What?"

Jason's expression softened into a satisfied grin. "Take care of her."

Rocky blushed as Jason squeezed his shoulder. "You got it, Jase."

Jason waved as he watched the pair continue down the hallway to the Physics classroom. Then, he continued to his own locker. As he searched for his copy of "Portrait of the Artist"

, the bell rang, signaling the beginning of seventh period. The hallway was empty when Jason slammed his locker shut. But as he turned the corner, his eyes widened when he saw Kat Hillard standing just outside his English classroom.

"Hey," he said to her. She looked up at him and smiled weakly.

"Hi."

"What're you doing here?" he whispered. "Don't you have class?"

"Well, yeah," she admitted, "but I wanted to talk to you immediately."

"Really?" he said, a small grin forming on his face. Kat could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.

"Well, I saw Alexis with Rocky when I left the library, and I...well, I guess I...wanted to see how you're doing."

"I'm fine," Jason said, "Lex and Rocky make a great couple. I'm glad they found each other."

"What about you, though?" Kat pressed. "Breaking up is hard to do."

"Yeah," Jason admitted, "but it wasn't as hard as you'd think. Alexis and I both decided we weren't right for each other. That's all."

"Well, that's good," Kat said, relieved. "Not that you broke up, but that it was mutual, I mean."

Jason grinned. "Well, I'd better get to class."

"Me too," Kat said, taking Jason's hand and squeezing it gently. "Take care of yourself."

"I will," said Jason. He watched as Kat walked down the hallway to her class. "Kat?"

She turned around. "Yes, Jason."

"Um...I have some tickets to the Lakers game this weekend," he said, running his hands through his ebony hair. "So, uh, if you don't have plans, would you like to come?"

Kat smiled, a sparkle in her crystal blue eyes. "It's a date."

To Be Continued In...

The Terran Rangers/X-Men

Time After Time

Excerpt from The Terran Rangers/X-Men: Time After Time

February 7, 2009

It had been over two years since the fateful day when the Temporal Comet flew past Earth, bringing the infamous Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd with it. The re-surfacing of these villains forced the long-retired Terran Power Rangers to retake their awesome powers and Zords to confront the invading monsters. After but one battle, Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa left again, and did not return. But, there was always the possibility that they may. Or perhaps another malevolent alien race may attempt to conquer Earth.

After the Power Rangers saved three world-famous NASA astronauts, they announced to the whole world that they would remain active superheroes, and would try to protect the Earth from any blight, whether it be war, pestilence, famine, or invasion. They quickly became international heroes, appearing at numerous peace talks, at celebrity gatherings to raise money for the poor and underprivileged, dealing with various terrorists, diffusing numerous hostage situations, and even going on worldwide patrol in their amazing Terrazords, to insure the public that someone was looking out for them.

Of course, the identities of these six heroes is still a mystery. The only way for the Power Rangers to be contacted was from the United Nations building in New York City, where a highly advanced computer system is kept, which can contact the heroes via their communicators.

Since the time the Power Rangers resurfaced, the lives of a select group of men and women, and also their respective families, had gotten incredibly complicated. After their last battle against evil, they decided to remain heroes and do what they could to keep the peace.

Trini Kwan and William Mitchell were married only months after the incident, and presently Trini was pregnant with their first child.

Zachary Taylor retired from his Olympic career, because it took too much of his time and energy. Now, he was a sports newscaster, who occasionally made celebrity appearances. He now lived in Los Angeles, a mere hour's drive from Angel Grove, the city that changed his life more than any other.

Adam Park was still a major action star, but he had eased up on his schedule. Instead of making three movies a year, which he used to do, he now starred in only one a year, on average. Also, he was engaged to be married to his longtime love Tanya Sloan, who only recently returned to the United States after living in Nairobi.

Jason Lee, now the father of a two year old daughter Brittany, was the captain of the Angel Grove Police Force.

Kimberly Hart-Monroe, the world-famous fashion designer, was the one charged with communicating with the UN, since she lived in New York City. Kimberly's life took a drastic turn when two years ago, her husband Trevor Monroe disappeared without a trace. She hadn't heard from him since.

Thomas Oliver was still a Native American Studies professor at Princeton University in New Jersey, but due to his secret Power Ranger business, he had little time for anything else. His fiance Vanessa Stevens left him because he was spending far too much time