For
Your Love
by
Pink-Green-White-4ever
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, please don't sue me.
Summary: Valentine's Day is just around the
corner and Tommy's still reeling from the letter from Kim when he finds out he's
got a Secret Admirer.
Setting: PRZeo - One week after the letter
AN: I don't own For Your Love, that's by Jessica Simpson. I don't own
Power Rangers; they belong to SABAN Entertainment and now Disney.
AN2: Thanks to Jang the DEFENDER and Lessa Solarem for beta reading for me.
-------------------------------
**
You are every part of me
And with every breath I take
Your love will light my way
**
~*~
Valentine's Day. Tomorrow is not only THE holiday for those in love, but it's
HER birthday. Last year I made it an event to remember - a half dozen pink roses
in her locker, a special note in each class to let her know I was thinking of
her, another half dozen roses, the color of purest white, on the dresser in her
room, and another dozen of the deepest red I could find to present to her before
the dance. This year, I'm planning on spending the night by myself, in my dark
bedroom, brooding and remembering.
The others all have plans. Rocky asked Kat to be his valentine. They'll be at
the dance tomorrow night. It's all my blue clad friend has been able to talk
about for the last three days. Kat was so stunned she hasn't said much since she
accepted. Tanya and Adam are going to be going to dinner, the dance, and then a
movie. Even Billy worked up enough courage to ask Clarissa Dawson, the Student
Body President, to be his Valentine. And me, you ask? I'm sitting home brooding
on this lovely Thursday night, wishing to God that tomorrow would pass by as
quickly as possible.
The gang keeps trying to convince me to go to the dance, but I don't want to
have to face the whispers and pointing I'm sure will happen. For the last week,
since the day I got the damned letter that brought my world crashing down on me,
the news of the break up with Kim has spread like wild fire. That was to be
expected, I think to myself, as Kim and I were Angel Grove's Royal Couple for
nearly two years. How we got that title, I'll never know, but that's what we
were. And now, it's as if that never even happened. As if the last two and a
half years of my life never existed, at least where Kim is concerned. I'm like a
brother to her. Me, of all people, A BROTHER FIGURE! I shudder at that thought.
If she thinks what we had was sibling anything, then she must be insane, unless
some weird branch of her family believes in incest, but I won't go there.
I can hear the doorbell. I'm still lying on my bed, face buried in the pillows,
trying to suffocate my life away. Ok, so I'm being a bit over-dramatic, but hey,
the love of my life just sent me a Dear John letter and broke up with me. I'm
entitled to feel like this. Knowing that my dad's still at work and my mom just
stepped out to get dinner from my favorite Chinese takeout place, I push myself
to my feet and trudge into the hallway, down the stairs, and fling open the
front door without asking who's there. A man in a black suit is standing there,
shocked by the suddenness of my answering the door. I glare at the man as he
adjusts his tie and takes off the black hat he's wearing. "Um, may I speak with
Thomas Oliver?" the man asks.
I glare at him. "Which one?" He blinks, blinks again, and then looks down at the
envelope in his hands.
"Um...whichever one goes by Tommy?" the man asked.
"That would be me. What can I do for you?" I ask, watching the man eye me.
"I was hired to deliver this and inform you that a limo will be here at
seven-thirty sharp tomorrow evening to pick you up." He hands me the envelope,
which I eye suspiciously.
I watch him as he steps back, looking rather nervous. "And just why is a limo
coming to pick me up?"
"Sir, I don't know the details, I'm only informing you of what I was told. I
believe the rest is explained by the contents of the envelope." With that he
turns and walks away, leaving me standing in the doorway watching him. Realizing
that I'm still staring out at the empty porch, I slam the door shut and stalk
into the living room, eyeing the contents in my hand.
Plopping down on the couch, I tear into the manila envelope unceremoniously.
Inside is a piece of paper. I eye it in surprise. The paper itself carries a
pink and white design of hearts and roses, and in red ink, that from a computer
printer, are words that confuse me.
~~
Dearest Tommy,
Your presence is requested at the Angel Grove High St. Valentine's Day
Extravaganza, to be held in Angel Grove Municipal Park, on Friday, February 14,
at eight o'clock in the evening. A limo will pick you up promptly at
seven-thirty. I look forward to seeing you.
Your Secret Admirer
~~
**
And for every day I live
The promise that I made
Is I will never let you go babe
**
Ok, now I'm as confused as hell. A secret admirer? Who, in his or her right
mind, doesn't know that the only person I want to go to this dance with is my
goddess of gymnastics, who has just dumped me flat on my ass for some flyboy Pan
Global hopeful? I'm so deep in my thoughts that when the phone rings I jump.
Glaring at the cursed appliance, I lean over the end of the couch and snatch it
from its resting place. "Oliver residence, Tommy speaking."
"Hey, Bro." The voice is as familiar as my own. Jason. I smile. The one person I
can talk to about this whole damned mess. Once I'd gotten over the shock of
Kim's letter, I'd called Jason in Geneva, only to reach his answering machine.
That had been two days ago. It's about time he got back to me. "Talk to me
Tommy."
"You heard my message!" I protest as I stare at the paper in my hand.
There's silence on the other end, and I know Jason's frowning at the phone.
There's no way in hell I could consider him my best friend and not know exactly
what expression is crossing his face as the silence hangs between us. "Yes, I
heard your message, and all I can say to that is there is no way in hell
Kimberly would EVER do that to YOU."
"Welcome to hell," I grumble as I hear something get thrown on the other end.
"Everything alright, Jas?"
There's a muttered curse as I hear what sounds like a door slamming. "Just
peachy. Look, are you gonna go to the dance or not?" Now that question was
completely unexpected. Um, DUH Jason! My only love just dumped me, a week before
the biggest lovers' holiday of the year. Do you really expect me to go to this
dance alone?
"No," I curtly reply.
"Why not? Billy told me..." and then he stops. Something fishy is going on, and
I suddenly get the feeling my friends are conspiring against me.
"Jason, what aren't you telling me?"
He sighs. I hear the bed groan as he sits on it. I can only imagine what Billy's
told Jason that I haven't. "Look, did something arrive today?"
Ok, now I definitely know something's going on. "Yes," I hesitantly reply.
"Just do us all a favor and go with the flow. Trust me, it's the best thing for
you right now." I'm glaring at the phone again as I hear that.
"Bro?"
He sighs again. Ok, Jason, dammit, stop sighing like that. It's driving me nuts!
"Tommy, just remember: tomorrow night, have an open mind." And with that, the
phone goes dead. Ok, is it just me or does it seem like either King Mondo or
Lord Zedd have gotten a hold of my long-time best friend and turned him into a
code-talking stranger? Well, there isn't much to do now except face the school
day tomorrow and go and find out about my secret admirer.
**
I swear I never knew love like this before
And for everything you are
I gotta make you know
**
~*~
If I've said it once, I'll say it again, I really hate St. Valentine's Day,
especially this year. Here I am, sitting in Zeo Zord V's docking bay, making
minor repairs to my Zord before this big dance and still trying to make sense of
my friends' actions today.
All five of them were unusually silent, and they kept staring at me for long
periods of time that were just unnerving. I know I've turned into a flake this
last week, but come on guys! For the millionth time today, I wonder what exactly
has gotten into the water of Angel Grove, as all my teachers and fellow students
were acting strange, not just my five closest friends and comrades. Every time I
walked down a hallway or entered a classroom, all discussion stopped dead in its
tracks as the students and teachers peered up at me. The sudden beeping of my
communicator jostles me from my unnerving thoughts.
"Yes, Alpha?" I ask as I turn back to finish the repairs on my Zord.
"Tommy, Zordon would like you to report to the Power Chamber immediately." I
sigh. What else could go wrong today?
"I'm on my way." So saying, I lay down the power drill I'd been using and
teleport from the bay to the Power Chamber.
~*~
I look around the Power Chamber for any signs of Zordon or Alpha, and I find
none. Ok, didn't Alpha just tell me I was supposed to come here? As I turn to
look to where Zordon's warp tube is, I see an envelope sitting on one of the
consoles, my name neatly hand written on the front. Sighing, I walk over and
pick it up. A sudden smell causes memories to start flashing across my mind's
eye so fast that I can feel my heart rate speed up. Strawberries and Vanilla. I
know that scent; in fact, it's one that brings to mind images of a golden
brown-haired girl and long, quiet strolls in Angel Grove Park.
Quickly, I tear open the envelope. Inside is a card, done in the same design as
the paper from yesterday.
~~
My only love,
Mistakes were made, promises to be kept were shattered, but on St. Valentine's
Day, a heart broken can be mended.
Your eyes - the color of deepest brown; your arms, the safest place I know in
this world; your heart, no longer quite complete, but I make a vow, here and
now. I will never let them go, just as I will never truly be able to let you go.
It started with a glance, and exploded into so much more. My dreams have taken
me away - so far away - from the only comfort and love I've ever known. It is
tonight that I return, to reclaim that which is my hart's desire. I only pray
your faith, trust, hope, and love were not shattered beyond repair.
Tonight, as you dance under the moon and stars, I will be with you, as I've
longed to be for forever. I bid you come, join me on this night, when lovers far
and wide gather close together. You will know me by the gift of love that I
carry.
Till this evening, think of me.
Your Secret Admirer ~~
My heart is racing. How in the hell did my secret admirer know to get this to me
here? My brain races over the list of people who know of this place, know my
secret. Jason, Zack, Trini, Aisha, Rocky, Adam, Tanya, Kat, Billy, and Kim...oh
wait, my brother knows now too.
I'm so confused. Trini and I have only ever been good friends. The same can be
said for me and Aisha and Tanya, the latter of which is in love with Adam. Then
there's Kat. While I know she sorta started out with a crush on me, she and
Rocky seem to be heading in the direction of romance. That leaves the guys, and
I know without a doubt that all of my friends are straight as an arrow. Ok, back
up a minute. Ruling all of those people out leaves one person. Kim.
My heart constricts and thumps wildly all at once. There is no way, after what
happened a week ago, that this could be Kim, could it?
**
For your love
I would give anything for your love
(For your love, yeah)
'Cause baby I'd never make it alone
And forever I'll stand by your side
I just gotta make you see yeah
I only live... for your love
**
~*~
I'm staring at myself in the mirror. How in the world could I let my mother talk
me into this? I'm dressed in my most formal suit other than my tuxedo. I've
carefully shaved my face, washed and blown my hair dry, and pulled the wild mane
into a sleek ponytail. I'm even wearing a tie and dress shoes. Gee, the last
time I got this dressed up was Christmas, when I took Kim...and the thought gets
cut off there by the knocking on my bedroom door.
"It's open!" I call as the door swings open, my mom on the other side. She's got
this look in her eyes, like she knows exactly what's going on but won't tell me.
It's rather unnerving actually.
"The limo's here." Her smile is soft and gentle, tinged with a bit of sadness
and wistfulness all in one.
"I'll be right down," I tell her as I turn back to the mirror. She doesn't move
from her spot in my doorway, I know she wants to say something. "Mom, what's
wrong?"
"Just promise me something," she starts as I turn toward her, nodding. "Whatever
happens tonight, keep a calm, clear head, and think things through rationally."
I blink at her. Ok, when did Jason and my mother start sounding so alike?
I gulp in confusion, my lips pursed together as I nod my understanding. "Mom,
you know what's going on, don't you?" I see the tears well in her eyes as she
nods.
"Yes, I do." With that, I get one last smile before she turns and goes back down
the stairs.
I sigh as I take one last, long look in the mirror. "It's now or never," I
whisper as I turn and head down.
**
When I was running out of faith
You still believed in me
And never let me fall
**
~*~
I'm gawking. I know I am. It's not everyday that a white, super-stretch limo is
parked in front of my house. Hell, the last time a limo was parked there was the
last dance Kim and I went to before she left for Florida - Junior Prom last May
- and that was nothing compared to what's parked there now. I can hear my
parents behind me in the doorway, both of them chuckling at the astonishment on
my face. "You two wouldn't have anything to do with this, would you?" I asked my
parents, who shook their heads at me. Just as I turn back to the limo, the
driver opens the back door and several people step out. "Jason?" I ask in
disbelief. Ok, yeah, me being confused is starting to become a regular thing,
but I really don't get this. He's supposed to be in Switzerland.
"Your secret admirer has been working extra hard," Jason said as Trini, Zack,
Aisha, Billy, Billy's date, Rocky, Adam, Kat, Tanya, my brother David and I'm
assuming David's date step from the car after he did.
"Come on Bro," Zack starts, slinging his arm around Aisha's shoulders. I hadn't
expected all of my friends, well almost all of my friends, to come home. "You
think we'd miss this? It's not everyday we get to see our fearless leader
speechless." The entire team glares at him, while Clarissa and the other girl,
who I recognize as my brother's friend Marie Cloud Dancer, simply look on in
confusion.
"Funny, Bro, very funny. Anybody want to share with me what they know?" I ask as
Mom starts shooing me over so she can get pictures. All of us roll our eyes at
her but scrunch together nonetheless.
The group is largely silent, which worries me. They know what's going on, that
much I've figured out. It's the fact that none of them are spilling their guts
that has me worried. Eventually, the gang starts piling back into the limo.
"Tommy, don't forget to bring your secret admirer back here tonight! I want
pictures!" Mom hollers as I get in, allowing the driver to shut the door behind
me. I sigh, realizing I'm squished between Trini and Kat, who slid over from her
spot next to Rocky. How the thirteen of us managed to squish ourselves into this
limo I'll never know. Now, back to the situation at hand.
"Alright, somebody want to tell me what's going on, PLEASE?" I beg, the last of
my words grinding out.
The others simply smile at me. "You'll see when we get there," Trini says,
patting my hand in reassurance. I look over at my former teammate and glare. In
the entire time I've known Trini, I don't think I've ever wanted to strangle her
more than I do right now.
~*~
The pavilion the dance committee chose for the event is over flowing with Angel
Grove high students as we all pile out of the limo. I frown as all of my friends
pair off with each other, leaving me by myself in the middle of the group.
Jason, Trini, Billy and Zack share wistful smiles, ones that tell me they're
thinking back on another time much like this one. Aisha, Adam and Rocky are
grinning like fools, while Kat and Tanya keep looking around in search of
someone. I look over at David, who's got the smallest hint of a smile on his
face. "Come on Bro, tell me!" I beg him as we make our way to the pavilion. It's
decorated in white, red, and pink streamers, hearts, cupids, and flowers. I
can't help the little flip my heart does, thinking of those colors together.
Pink, white and red represent something to me that no longer exists outside of
my Zeo duties.
"Tommy, relax. Look, all I'm going to say is," David starts, looking me square
in the eyes. "Tonight, some of your questions from the last week will be
answered." And with that, my brother and his date stroll away from the group. I
watch as, pair by pair, the rest of my friends dispersed from where we'd been
standing.
"Tommy, I didn't think I'd see you here tonight." I turn to stare at Ms.
Applebee. The plump, happy, always-willing-to-help-you-out teacher is smiling at
me in surprise.
I nod. "Yeah, I didn't think I'd come either, but it appears I've got a secret
admirer who just wants me to be here," I tell her, watching the smile on her
face intensify a hundred times.
"Yes, I've heard all about that. In fact, I actually helped your friend out with
tonight's plans, just in case you decided to come." I turn my full attention to
my teacher.
"Ms. Applebee?" I plead with her. I need answers, and since my friends aren't
forthcoming with them, I'm going to go to the next best source. I give her the
puppy-dog look, the one I know none of my girl friends or female teachers seem
to be able to resist. In fact, the only female able to resist it is my mother,
but that's because she's lived with it since the day I'd been adopted.
She smiles sadly at me, her attention shifting to across the pavilion. "I had
wondered what happened to you a week ago," she starts softly. Her gaze is still
on something, someone, else, but mine is riveted to her face. "I pulled your
friends aside and asked. I even went and talked to Ernie at the Juice Bar. I can
relate to what you're going through, Tommy. I had my heart broken in much the
same manner."
I feel the tears I thought I'd shoved down earlier pricking the back of my eyes.
Never once had I imagined that my sunny, happy, perky teacher had ever
experienced what I'd been through. "Tommy, what if what happened, happened
because the person involved was confused, hurting, and not thinking clearly?"
Her words stopped me short. I hadn't thought about that. I'd been wallowing in
so much self-pity for the last week I hadn't stopped to question Kim's real
motives, hadn't stopped to look passed the pretense of the letter to the root of
everything. "I'm not sure I follow you."
"You will. I think I've given you enough to think about. The next song is
starting, and if I'm not mistaken, your confusion is about to come to a clear
end," she whispers, a smile on her face as she leans over and pats my cheek
before turning and walking away. That's when I hear the song that's started.
**
And the times I lost my way
You're the one who helped me up
And brought me through it all
**
I can feel the hair on my arms and on the back of my neck stand straight up. My
gaze turns to the stage, which is where Ms. Applebee had been staring a few
seconds before. I watch the couples who'd been dancing in front of it move,
revealing one lone figure holding a single, blood red rose.
A voice so hauntingly familiar comes to mind, reminding me of the significance
of that particular color of rose. 'Red Roses are the symbol for true and undying
love.'
'My secret admirer!' I think in panic. As I stare at the stage, I notice how the
woman before me is dressed. Pale pink satin cascades down from the tops of her
breasts to the middle of her thighs in a dress reminiscent of the baby doll
dresses of her past. On her small, dainty feet is a pair of high-heeled sandals,
with straps that criss cross up tanned, smooth calves to her knees in the same
soft pink as her dress. Her caramel colored locks, which were just below her
shoulders the last time I'd seen her, are pulled up into a French twist, the
ends curled and spilling down over her hair clip. Soft, pleading brown eyes
glisten as tears fill them.
I can sense the other students around me. I can sense my friends' attention on
me and on her. My mind is screaming at me to do something but I'm rooted to my
spot. Part of me had hoped beyond hope that she'd be here tonight, that she'd be
my secret admirer, but the biggest part of me knew I'd been a fool to think
that, until now.
"Kim."
**
I swear I never saw it like this before
'Cause baby with your love you gave me
The reason to go on
And for your love
**
She smiles, and I notice with fear how it doesn't reach her eyes. For as long as
I've known her, whenever Kim has smiled, it's always lit her entire face up, but
especially filled those doe-like eyes I love so much, with the sparkle of
everything in her. Now it's fake, forced, as she stares at me in a way I had
only prayed to God I'd never witness.
"Tommy." My name is the softest whisper from those red-stained lips. She looks
good enough to devour right here, but after what's happened between us, saying
to hell with it all probably isn't the best thing in the world to do.
Somehow, someway, we make our way to each other. We're standing in the middle of
the dance floor, and I know our friends are still watching us, along with the
rest of Angel Grove High. Kim looks like she's ready to break, so I do the only
thing I can think of - I reach out and quickly pull her into my arms, crushing
her against my body, before she can protest.
I can feel the sobs tear from her throat; can feel them shake her body right
down to the very last cell. I press my face into the side of her neck, holding
on for dear life. All I'm asking for, if you can hear me God, is for one final
night, one final time, let me tell her how much I love her. After this, I'll
step away and let her fly free. "Oh Tommy!" she cries out into my ear, her words
very nearly eclipsed by her crying.
In the shock of my pulling her to me, I never realized until just a second ago
that I'm shaking as much as she is, or that I'm even crying at all. It's not an
easy thing for a guy like me to admit, but yes, I'm crying, crying like a
three-year-old who's just lost his best friend in the entire world. "Oh God,
Kim!" I manage as I let my lips rub unconsciously against the warm skin of her
neck.
When she suddenly pulls back, I stand up, looking at her in surprise. She looks
up at me, not bothering to wipe away the trail left by her salty tears. "I'm so
sorry," she speaks softly, her eyes never leaving mine. "I am so sorry for
everything I've put you through for the last week."
My emotionally clogged brain starts to clear as I hear her words. I pull back
until the only contact we have with one another is our joined hands. The shock
of seeing her delayed the pain of her betrayal until just now. "WHY?" I snarl
suddenly. I watch her flinch, part of me wanting to comfort her, but I need the
truth. I need to know what happened, what I did.
The tears start flowing again as she looks to the floor then back up to my face.
She shakes away whatever thoughts are racing through her head. I watch her lick
her dry lips in a nervous attempt to work up the courage to answer me. "I was so
scared," she starts, her voice barely above a whisper. I watch her, my eyes
pleading with her to tell me what happened to us. "After everything we'd been
through, both personally and professionally, I realized that I'd finally chosen
my childhood dreams over the ones I'd started making the day you walked into my
life."
I'm not quite sure if I understand her, so I wait patiently, no matter how much
it kills me to do so, for her to finish. "Everything was fine until I went back
after Christmas. Tommy, I wanted you to be happy, and I thought the only way to
make you happy was to let you go, let us go. I was three thousand miles away; I
had no right to keep you tied down, not at this point in your life. You've
already got enough to worry about," she cries softly, forcing the last few words
as she starts full force sobbing again. All I want to do as I watch her fall
apart is pull her into my arms and reassure her that it doesn't matter, but I'd
be lying to myself. It matters, all of it matters, so I'm going to stand right
where I am and let her finish.
"Kim," I croak as she looks up at me. "I was happy. I had everything, even
without you here, I knew I had everything as long as I had you."
**
I would give anything for your love
(For your love, yeah)
'Cause baby I'll never make it alone
(Don't ya know)
And forever I'll stand by your side
I just gotta make you see yeah
I only live... for your love
**
"I know that now," she whispers through her pain. "Tommy, there was never
another guy, the letter was a lie. Since the day you walked into my life,
there's never been another guy, and never will be. It's always been, always will
be, you. I was scared, scared that I was hurting you by staying in a
relationship with you. I was confused as hell from my visit home at Christmas;
after I got home all I could think about was how happy you six seemed without
me, especially you and Kat." That last sentence, I knew that last sentence was
coming. Kat and I had been getting exceptionally close around that time, but
that's only cause she understood how much I'd been missing Kim.
Kim squeezed my hands as I stared down at her. Part of my brain registered
exactly what she'd just said about the letter, and me being the only one she's
ever loved. Her next words rocked me a bit. "What's more, things have been so
bad in Florida that I wasn't thinking clearly. It wasn't until Billy and Jason's
calls earlier this week that I realized what exactly I'd done." My best friends
had interfered on my behalf...thank you God. "I came home, did all of this, with
their help, with the intention of apologizing to you. I know I can't change what
happened, what I did to you, but I wanted to ask you if you could forgive me
enough for us to still be friends."
Us? Friends? I shake my head in disbelief, watching as Kim's face darkened.
We've never been just friends, Kim, there's always been so much more between us.
I'm not even sure of what's happening around me until I watch the face I know so
well go stone cold. "I should have known I'd hurt you beyond the point of you
forgiving me, but I had to come home and try," she whispers as she starts to
pull away. I blink, my mind and heart having finally caught up with each other,
and with her.
"Kim," I start as she turns from me and stops mere steps from where I'm
standing. "I forgive you." Three simple words that seem so easy to say but are
so hard after every feeling I've experienced for the last week. I can see her
back stiffen as her ears register what I've just said. "But we can't be
friends."
She turns around to face me, like a mature, confident, adult would as she
accepts the consequences of her actions. I see she's crying still, so I let the
words that I've been waiting to say since Christmas come tumbling out. "I love
you. We can't be friends, 'cause we've never been friends, it's always been all
or nothing between us."
I watch the realization dawn in her eyes seconds before the smile slips onto her
face. I smile back at her, give her one nod, and laugh out loud as she lunges
into my open and waiting arms.
**
And everything I am
And all that I could be
Would mean nothing now
If you're not with me
**
I hold Kim close to me, as close as I possibly can. Right here, right now, I
feel more complete then I have in my entire life. I lean down and brush my lips
across her forehead, listening to her choke back the happy sobs that are trying
to get out. I feel the same way, Beautiful, I think as I savor the moment.
Our bodies begin to move of their own accord as the song starts to swell around
us. I feel her thin arms trapped between us, her hands digging into the material
of my jacket, clinging with all her might. My own arms are wrapped securely
around her, holding her body close to mine. I lay my head on top of hers,
feeling her snuggle close.
Slowly, we turn in circles to the beat of the music, and I open my eyes to see
our friends watching us. I can see both Billy and Jason sigh in relief. Trini
and Aisha are both giving me smiles that are a mile wide, while Zack and Rocky
are giving me double thumbs up. Adam's nodding his head in approval as both
Tanya and Kat look on with happy tears in their eyes. I can see David smirking
at me - he hasn't met Kim yet, but he will, and the look he's giving me says he
wants ALL the details of what's going to happen after this dance is over.
The final person I lock eyes with is Ms. Applebee, whose face is soft and
luminous with joy. Of all my teachers, she's always been my favorite, and for
good reason. I think she's had more to do with me and Kim being back together
than she'll ever admit, and for that, I'm grateful.
**
Shinin' your light on me
When night is closin' in
When I was weak
You were the one who made me strong
You gave me faith to carry on
**
The rest of the dance was pretty much a blur. The only things I can remember
distinctly are having Kimberly and my friends beside me, and the fact that Kat
and Rocky were made the Valentine's Queen and King at the end of the night. They
both blushed red enough to rival my Red Ranger uniform.
Now Kim and I are walking through the park while the others hang out near the
pavilion. I laugh to myself when we stop, realizing exactly where we've come to;
OUR spot on the lake. I look down at Kim's face and see an answering smile
there. She realizes what I just did. "Kinda ironic, isn't it?" she asks softly
as I turn her to face me, wrapping both of my arms around her in the process.
"How so?" I ask in return.
"We may have met at school, but the park is where it all really started for us,"
she whispers as I smile. I know exactly what she's talking about.
Deciding it's been more than enough to have her make every move in our
relationship, I say the three words I know she'll appreciate. "I miss you."
She laughs. I've told her I love her countless times before, but those other
three little words I haven't even said to her the entire time she's been gone,
and they hold even more meaning for us then I love you could. I stumble back
when she jumps up and throws her arms around me, my own arms locking around her
tighter of their own accord. "I can't wait to come home for good, I miss you so
much!" she murmurs in my ear as I hold her. I knew this was coming. Kim can't
stay longer than Sunday morning, as she has to return to finish the dream she
gave her life up for, and it hurts like hell to think of letting her go back
again after everything we've been through.
"When are you coming home?" I ask hastily. She smiles up at me.
"Pan Globals aren't until July. I should be home for good as early as August."
I give her my best puppy-dog look. "Can't come home for a visit sooner than
that? Say like graduation?" I see the internal war she's fighting through her
eyes.
"I'll try," she whispers as she pulls back to stand on her own. I smile down at
her, reassured now more than ever that when this is all over with, she'll come
home and we can be together.
"Kim," I murmur as she looks up at me, her eyes wide and full of life.
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
She smiles that mega-watt smile I love so much. "I love you, too."
**
I'd give anything for your love
(I'd give anything now)
'Cause baby I'd never make it alone
(I'll never make it alone)
And forever I'll stand by your side
I just gotta make you see yeah
I wanna live... for your love
I wanna sing...for your love
Wanna give for your love
I'd give anything for your love
(I'd give anything now)
'Cause baby I'd never make it alone
(I'll never make it alone)
And forever I'll stand by your side
**
The End