Golden Blues
by Kendrix

"You know," a soft male voice said. "You had better talk to her soon."

"I know that," a female voice agreed. "But it's so hard. They count on me..I can't let them down..."

"I know..." the male agreed. He sighed heavily. "You know, I think you should stay on the team, but you gotta do what you gotta do. And if you decide you do want to leave, you should tell her now, so they can search for your replacement."

"But Adam...The thoughts of seeing their sad faces.."

"They will cope, Tanya. One thing I have learned from the recent mishap, is you should do what's good for the team..That's why I let Carlos keep the Turbo Powers."

Tanya glanced at Adam from the corner of her eye and laughed. "Adam Michael that's a lie and you know it."

"Ok...So my mom said I couldn't be a Ranger..." Adam agreed a small smile lighting his face. He thought back to the previous week, when his communicator had chimed and Alpha reported Grievator was still out there..His mom had walked in as he had shouted, "Shift into Turbo!"

"Adam Michael Park!" she had scolded. "After what happened two weeks ago, you want to be a Ranger still!"

"Adam...?" Tanya asked, looking at her friend in concern.

Adam smiled at her. "I'm fine.." he glanced at his watch and saw it was eight o'clock. "Do you want to catch a movie? I hear there's a real good action movie playing."

Tanya smiled. "I'd love to."

Hand in hand, the two friends stood up and walked into town.

On another part of town, a couple sat at a table, in a small, local caf­. Katherine Hillard smiled charmingly at her boyfriend, Tommy Oliver.

"You know...This was a good idea...The hot chocolate tastes so good." Katherine said.

"You said it," Tommy agreed with his own charming smile.

"Uh oh." a round of choruses were heard throughout the caf­ as Bulk and Skull walked in.

"Uh..Tommy?" Bulk asked walking over to Kat and Tommy.

"Yeah, Bulk?" Tommy asked.

Bulk looked embarrassed, so Skull spoke up. "We want you to teach us Martial Arts."

The announcement took both Kat and Tommy by surprise. "You want me to teach you Martial Arts?"

Bulk nodded. "Yes..Next time that alien dude, er, lady comes, we want to be ready."

"Yeah..So we can pound her to the dirt!" Skull added.

Tommy looked at him disapprovingly. "Here's your first lesson..Ready?" Bulk and Skull nodded eagerly. "You don't take Martial Arts to beat people up..It's a form of Art and Protection. Got it?"

Bulk nodded and shot a look to Skull. Skull merely shrugged. "We got it."

"Ok.." Tommy sighed and glanced at his watch. He thought fast. Only person he knew about, who would be able to give him a place to work was Rocky...But they weren't on the best speaking terms. He may be up still....It was only 8:30.

"Be right back.." Tommy told them. When all three gave him a look of, "Where are you going?" he quickly explained. "I'm going to go call Rocky and see if we can work in his studio tomorrow."

Quickly he walked over to the pay phone.

Briiing...Briiing....Briiing

"Answer the phone Kim," Rocky DeSantos muttered to his girlfriend, who lay in his arms. Kimberly Hart shot a look at her boyfriend.

"It's your apartment, you answer it!"

"No...I'm to sleepy too."

Sighing, Kimberly reached over and picked up the phone. "Hello?" she asked. On an impulse, she added, "This is Mr. DeSantos' place."

"Kim!" Rocky hissed. Kimberly only giggled.

"Um...Is Rocky there?" a voice asked hesitantly.

"Just a moment.." Kimberly replied. She handed the phone to Rocky who had sat up.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Rocky..It's Tommy." "Hi Tommy." Rocky said in a very surprised voice. When Kimberly heard the name, she blushed.

"Um..Listen, I wanted to ask, can I please use your studio tomorrow?"

"Why?" Rocky asked. Tommy was into racing now, and barely ever worked out.

"Um..Bulk and Skull asked me to teach them Martial Arts."

Rocky looked like he was going to burst out laughing, but held it back instead. "Um..Okay, but only because it's for Bulk and Skull." he said, his voice slightly dark. He could tell Tommy caught the meaning.

"Ok..Thanks. 9 good for you?"

"That's fine." Rocky replied curtly as he handed the phone back to Kim.

"I know you're mad at him..But do you always have to be so rude to him?" Kimberly asked laying back into Rocky's arms as he too laid back down.

"Kim...It's kinda hard to forgive and forget when your best friend accuses you of sleeping with his girlfriend." Rocky said softly, a dark shadow crossing his face.

"I never said it was easy.." Kimberly responded. "But—"

"But nothing, Kim. He betrayed our friendship." Rocky told her as he closed his eyes, as if trying to block the memories.

Kimberly sighed and glanced at her watch. She saw it was 8:45..."Rocky, I have to go now."

Rocky opened his eyes. "Can't you stay?" he asked in a whisper.

"As much as I'd like to...I can't." she said and leaned over and kissed him. "I'll come back tomorrow around ten."

Rocky kissed her back. "I'll walk you home," he offered.

Kimberly smiled but shook her head. "I'm fine on my own. Kat was going to wait at the caf­ after her date with Tommy and we were going to go to the movies."

"Can't I come then?" Rocky pouted.

"Sorry. Girls night out." Kimberly said. "But you can walk me to the caf­ if you like."

"No thanks." Rocky said sorrowfully. "Then I'll want to stay..."

"Good night." she whispered as tucked Rocky in under his blankets.

"Good night, Kim." Rocky echoed.

Kimberly let herself out and headed outside, into the fresh air. She was only a block from the caf­ so she quickly walked over there. Kat was waiting outside, saying good night to Tommy.

"Hey Tommy," Kimberly said brightly.

"Uh..hi Kim," Tommy said. "Was that you who answered Rocky's phone?"

Kimberly nodded. "Yeah..We were watching a movie a couple hours ago and we had fallen asleep. When the phone rang, he made me answer it."

"Ah..Then that explains a lot." Tommy said with a nod. He turned back to Kat. "I'll let you go, so you and Kim can catch your movie.." he leaned over and pressed his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss.

"Bye Tommy," Kat said as Tommy walked away.

"So...What movie are we going to see?" Kimberly asked as she and Kat headed across the street to the Multiplex.

"Um...I guess we can see the new action flick.." Kat said. "I don't really want to see that romance movie without Tommy..I mean, I love it when it's really sad and I can watch him cry."

"Know what?" Kimberly asked, an idea popping into her head.

"What?" Kat asked, looking mildly interested.

"Since we both want Tommy and Rocky to be friends again, I think we should go on a double date tomorrow night.."

"Sure..Sounds like fun.." Kat agreed with a half smile.

When they got to the front of the line, to their disappointment, the movie was sold out.

"What now?" Kimberly asked.

"Um...How about going to the video store and renting a movie?"

"Let's get some popcorn too...I know! Let's make it a slumber party!"

"Call Tanya?" Kat asked, her eyes twinkling.

"Will she be home?"

"Should be..Or will shortly..Look!" Kat pointed to across the street. Under a street light, were two people. One male, dressed in black jeans and a green t-shirt, the other, a female, in a jean skirt and a yellow blouse, were kissing.

"Should we disturb them?" Kat asked as she and Kim shared a secret smile.

"Yes!" Kimberly said. "If we decided to spend the evening away from our guys, she should have to suffer to!"

Kat nodded. "Yeah. Let's go get her!" together, they marched across the street.

"Hey Tanya!" Kat called. Tanya moved her head to see who it was. She blushed and pushed Adam away.

"Uh-oh..We've been busted.." Tanya whispered into Adam's ear.

Adam nodded hello to Kim and Kat. "I'm gonna go. See ya tomorrow." he kissed her cheek, waved bye to Kat and Kim, and walked down the street.

Tanya sighed dreamily. "Isn't he gorgeous?"

"Tanya has a crush on Adam." Kim started to sing.

"No, correction. Tanya's in love with Adam." Kat corrected, a devilish smile on her lips.

Tanya just smiled. "Maybe I am? Who knows...But he's just so cute...Dark eyes..Great smile..." She suddenly looked at them suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"Come to our slumber party!" Kim announced. "It's going to be loads of fun!"

"'Loads of fun?'" Kat asked. She looked at Kimberly quizzically.

Kimberly just shrugged. "What?"

Kat shook her head and laughed. "Nothing Kim.." Kat looked to Tanya. "So, do you want to join us? Like Kim put it, 'It's going to be loads of fun!'"

Tanya nodded. "I'd love too. Also...There's something I want to tell you guys tonight."

"OK. You can when we get back to our apartment." Kat said thoughtfully.

"Kat..You just said, 'our apartment.'" Kimberly noted.

Kat nodded. "I know I did..Ever since I got it, a month ago..It never quite felt like home..But since you've came and lived with me, it's felt like I have a sister.."

Kimberly's eyes watered. "I feel the same way you do,"

"What movie are you going to rent?" Tanya asked as they stopped in front of the video store.

"I know." Kat said after a moment of quiet. "Let's rent a lot of Disney movies!"

"Disney movies?" Kimberly asked.

"Yeah..We rent all the best ones... Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Lion King."

Kimberly nodded. "You can't forget, The Parent Trap, and Mary Poppins!"

"Or Bambi and The Little Mermaid!" Tanya added.

"Let's see that's..9 videos!" Kat cried. "We can't afford all those..How about we each choose one?"

"OK..Then I want Bambi." Tanya decided.

"And I want, Snow White." Kim said.

"I want Sleeping Beauty." Kat decided and they walked into the movie store.

A couple hours later, the girls, each dressed in a short t-shirt, were stretched out on three sleeping bags.

"I can't believe you cried when the wicked Queen put the spell on the Princess." Kimberly said laughing.

"Well.." Kat shrugged, blushing slightly. "I guess the Queen reminded me a little too much about Rita..."

"Let's play a game.." Tanya suggested.

"Which game?" Kim asked.

Kat thought for a moment. "Let's play Truth or Dare!"

Kim and Tanya nodded. "Kat gets to go first." Kimberly said.

"OK..You ask the question, Kim." Kat said.

"Ok.." Kim stopped and thought for a sec, then asked, "Truth or Dare?"

Kat automatically replied, "Truth."

"Have you ever been attracted to any other guy at AGH besides Tommy?"

"Um...There is just one other guy..He's sorta new...He's another student teacher like myself.."

"Ah..Ken?" Tanya asked, her eyes twinkling.

Kat nodded, blushing slightly. "I don't know very much about him...He's extremely sexy. And smart...And very athletic."

"What does he look like?" Kimberly asked. She'd never met him. And was completely lost. And curious.

Kat sighed dreamily.. "He looks like.." she stopped as she suddenly realized something. "How can I be attracted to him and still be in love with Tommy?"

"Kat..Don't worry." Tanya assured her. "You can be attracted to others, and it's perfectly natural."

"Maybe so.." Kat said. She looked to Kim. "Your turn. Truth or Dare?"

"Um...Truth," she decided.

"Same question. Any other guy at AGH you've been attracted to?"

"Besides Rocky and Tommy? Just one..Billy."

"Really?" Kat asked. She sounded very surprised.

"Yeah..We were best friends throughout elementary school..And even middle school...." Kimberly shrugged.

"Truth or Dare?" Kat asked Tanya.

"Um..Dare." Kat smiled. "You have to call up Z100 and request the song, "Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden and dedicate it to Adam."

Tanya blushed deeply. "No..."

"Oh yes," Kimberly replied as she handed Tanya the cordless phone. Kat reached for the radio and flipped it to their favorite station.

"Hello..." the DJ's voice was heard.

"Hi..?" Tanya replied weakly when she realized it was her turn.

"Sweetie, are you Cryin', Lovin', or Leavin'?"

Finally finding her confidence, she winked at Kat and Kim and took a deep breath. "I'm Lovin' to tell you the truth. And so are my two good friends Kat and Kim."

"Don't.." Kat hissed. Tanya put her arm up in a, "be quiet or I'm comin' after you" gesture.

"And you are..?"

"I'm Tanya." Tanya announced.

"It's nice to meet you Tanya. These guys must be pretty special."

Kat and Kim both mouthed, "Don't."

But, of course, Tanya ignored them. "They are." Tanya agreed.

"Would you mind letting the listeners in on your secret?"

"Sure..They are Adam, Rocky, and...Ken." Tanya said at last.

"And what song would you like played for them?"

"'Truly Madly Deeply' by Savage Garden."

"Ok..Thanks for callin' Tanya."

"No problem...It was fun!"

Soon the lyrics of the popular song was heard.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do
I will be strong I'll be faithful
'cause I'm counting on

"I can't believe you!" Kat moaned. "Why did you dedicate it to Ken? I barely know him!"

Tanya shrugged. "I wasn't going to embarrass myself..And we all know Tommy doesn't listen to Z100...So, I thought I'd try it differently..Besides, I know you don't really mind!"

Suddenly, the phone rang.

"Hello?" Kat asked picking up the phone.

"Hi...Kat? It's Ken."

Kat shrieked and dropped the phone.

Kimberly grabbed the phone. "Hello? This is Kat's friend Kimberly."

"Um..Hi. Is Kat all right?"

"Oh yes..She's fine."

"Let me talk to Kim..." a voice hissed. Soon the voice changed. "Hi Sweetie." Rocky's voice was heard.

"Hi Rocky." Kimberly responded. "How are you, this fine evening?"

"I'm great to tell you the truth. Do you know anything about a dedication, to Z100, about, say, five minutes ago?"

"Um..."

"It was the funniest thing. I was sitting in the Juice Bar with Adam, and our new friend Ken, when suddenly, Tanya's voice was dedicating "Truly Madly Deeply" to all three of us."

"Wait a minute." Kimberly said, getting suspicious. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep? I tucked you in bed already."

"It's Friday night. Do you really think three really cute guys would be in bed, at 11:30?"

"I guess not..." Kimberly agreed.

"Anyway, on behalf on me, too-shy Adam, and Ken, we want to ask you three lovely ladies out on a date tomorrow night."

"Just a sec." Kimberly said.

She covered the mouth piece and looked at Kat and Tanya. "It's Rocky, and Ken, and Adam." she replied. They nodded. "And they want to take us on a date tomorrow."

"Tell my Adam yes." Tanya responded, a dreamy smile playing on her lips.

"In Tanya's words, "tell my Adam yes,"" Kimberly reported.

"Ok.." there was a muffled silence then laughter. "Adam says great, and then blushes deeply." Rocky said. "What about you Kim? And Kat?"

"You can count on me.." Kim looked at Kat. Who was deep in thought. "Give us ten minutes." Kimberly told them.

"OK." Rocky agreed. He recited the number of where they were and hung up.

"Ok...Kat, what's wrong?" Tanya asked as soon as Kimberly replaced the phone to it's cradle.

"If I go out tomorrow with Ken, like I do want to, it'll feel like cheating on Tommy." Kat said softly. "I don't want to have to put Tommy through that."

"Well...You only live once, right?" Kim asked thoughtfully. "As bad as this sounds, when Tommy and I were dating, we sometimes went out with others..Just to make our love stronger..."

"Want to know the truth?" Kat asked. Kim and Tanya nodded. "I'm afraid if I do go out with him, it'll be more then just falling for Tommy more..I think it'll be the other way around..."

"Just say yes," Kim pleaded. "You don't have to do anything you know. Just go and have a good time with a friend."

"Ok..." Kat agreed.

Kimberly dialed up Rocky's number. And was answered by his cheerful voice.

"Hi Rocky. It's all set up." Kimberly told him.

"Great. Dress fancy because we're going to Chez Jacques." Rocky told her.

"Really?" she squealed. "TrÉs chic! See ya later sweetie." She hung up and grinned at Kat and Tanya.

"What?" Tanya asked.

"We're gonna go to Chez Jacques!" Kimberly said with a huge smile.

"NO!" Tanya cried. "We're going to the fanciest, dressiest, MOST EXPENSIVE restaurant in Angel Grove?"

"Yeah...Can you believe it?"

"No." both Tanya and Kat replied.

"Let's go to sleep." Tanya suggested.

"Hey Tanya." Kimberly said as they began to get in their sleeping bags.

"Hm?"

"What was it you wanted to talk about?"

"Oh..Do you still want to hear?" Tanya asked, suddenly feeling sad.

"Yes, of course." both Kat and Kim replied.

"Ok...I'm going to be quitting the Turbo Rangers team."

"You're what?!" Katherine Hillard cried.

"I'm going to quit the Rangers..." Tanya Sloan said looking down.

"But...WHY?!" Kat asked. She couldn't believe her ears!

"Because...I feel I'm not up for the commitment anymore..It's been getting too dangerous lately." Tanya said, her eyes still at the ground.

Kimberly had remained quiet, but finally decided to talk. "You know Tanya...I was a Ranger for almost four years..I never once thought it was dangerous, but somehow, I'm agreeing with you now."

"You are?" Tanya asked in disbelief.

"Yes...Since Jase and I were kidnapped, and I've seen Divatox's monsters, plus her detonators, I have to agree with you..."

"I'll support you all the way Tanya. I'm your best friend, plus you shouldn't do something your uncomfortable with." Kat added, and she gave Tanya a hug.

"Thanks for supporting me guys." Tanya said, sighing a sigh of relief. "Will you two come with me to tell Tommy? And Dimiteria?"

"Yeah."

"I can't wait for tomorrow." Tanya said changing the subject away from just herself.

"Yeah..Me either." Kimberly said sighing dreamily. "Rocky's sooo cute!"

"What do you think the guys will wear?" Kat asked.

"Knowing Adam..." Tanya stopped to think. "Green and black."

"And Rocky will wear red.." Kimberly predicted. "What do you think Ken will wear?"

"You know...I don't really know...Maybe white or black...." Kat mused. "I don't really know him all that well yet..."

"Well...Let's go to sleep and think about it in our dreams." Kimberly said as she yawned.

"Good idea." Tanya agreed. "Night y'all."

"Night."

[The next day...Angel Grove baseball field...8:45 am]

"Come on T.J.!" voices hollered out at the star batter of Angel Grove High's baseball team.

T.J. smiled at everyone as he took his place at the home plate. He got ready to hit...

WHIZ! The ball went right across the plate when he saw a beautiful girl, dressed in pink, at the stands, sitting next to a boy of about 12.

"Strike one!" the Umpire shouted.

"C'mon T.J.!" the team called out in encouragement.

T.J. tried to pay attention but his eyes kept wandering back to the girl. She looked to be, Korean, or some type of Asian background.

"Strike Two!" the Umpire called out.

"C'mon T.J." the team called in one final hope. T.J. was looking at the girl again and when she looked up, she smiled at him and waved. Grinning, T.J. waved back and concentrated on the game in front of him.

"And here's the wind up!" the announcer called out.

CRACK! The ball went flying. Higher, higher, higher!

"And it looks like a home run for Angel Grove's newest batter and all-time classic, T.J. Stevens!"

The crowd was wild for the last inning.

"Yes! We won!" T.J. shouted a half hour later when the game was finished. The final score was, Angel Grove 20, Stone Canyon 14.

T.J. smiled at all the people who congratulated him. He looked over to the stands, to see the girl and her friend still there.

"Hello." T.J. said coming over to them.

"Hello." the girl smiled. "You put on a pretty good show there."

"Thanks." T.J. stuck out his hand. "I'm T.J. Stevens."

"Cassie Chan. And this is my friend Justin Stewart." Cassie said introducing them.

"Hi T.J." Justin said excitedly. "You were really great out there!"

"Thanks Justin...You know, you look familiar."

"I'm in your history class." he replied. "I was allowed to skip up to the ninth grade..But they're making me take summer school so I'll be ready in the fall." he explained when T.J. gave him a surprised look.

"That's cool." he turned to Cassie, who was studying a medical chart. "What are you reading?"

"Oh this?" Cassie asked looking up. "I'm just helping my dad do some paper work for one of his assistants who is out sick. Nothin' much.."

"Your dad is a doctor?" T.J. asked. "That's cool!"

Cassie shrugged. "I guess it is. He runs the ER."

"Are you going to do something in the medical field?"

"Me? Maybe someday...But right now I'm concentrating on my singing career."

"Cool..Music is awesome."

"I know." Cassie agreed. "A friend and I want to start a band..."

"Even cooler." T.J. said with a smile.

"T.J.!!" a voice hollered.

T.J. looked towards the voice and saw his Uncle waving an arm.

"I got to go..Maybe we can talk tomorrow?" T.J. asked with a flash of a smile.

Cassie nodded. "Sure."

As T.J. walked away, he heard Justin say, "Cassie's got a crush!"

"Shut up, Justin!" was her response.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Kat asked Tanya.

Tanya nodded. Kat, Kim, and Tanya stood in Kat's room, dressing and talking before they went to talk to Dimiteria.

"I've been thinking..." Kimberly started. "I don't know Dimiteria that well yet....Maybe I should let you two go, and I'll go see Rocky, liked I promised."

"You have to go Kim!" Tanya complained.

"Maybe she's right," Kat said doubtfully.

"I guess so..." Tanya sighed. "I really don't want to disappoint the team.."

"You're not, don't worry." Kat assured her.

A few minutes later, Tanya tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear and sighed once again. "I guess I'm ready to go."

"It'll be okay." Kimberly said trying to convince her sad friend.

"Yeah," Kat agreed.

With a slight smile, Kat and Tanya teleported out.

Kimberly walked over to Rocky's Martial Arts Center, hoping to catch the lesson in action. It wasn't everyday she could see Tommy teach Bulk and Skull Martial Arts!

As she walked in the double doors, she heard Tommy's familiar "Hi-Yaaaw!"

And then Bulk's voice saying, "And you expect me to do that!?"

"No..But..Never mind!"

"Hey Kim, over here," Rocky hissed from the doors. He stood in the back of the room, a pleasant smile on his face.v
"How's it going?" Kim asked with a grin.

"Let's just say, I think Tommy's relieved the lesson is half over."

Kimberly grinned. "That's good...All ready for tonight?"

"Yes..And no." Rocky whispered back. "But not here, where Tommy is."

Kimberly nodded, then felt a touch of doubt. Should Kat really be going out with Ken when she was Tommy's girlfriend?

TBContinued....