Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers. Saban on the other hand does. So does Disney. Lucky butts wouldn't you say? Anyways, I'm not making any money out of this, so don't have a cow and don't sue me. Well, with all that out of the way, let's get started.
A/N: I love Tommy/Kat fics so I decided to do one of my own.
Setting: This fic takes place after Turbo and Kat dropped out of the Royal Academy to pursue a teaching career. (See: Budding/ Coming Soon) She moved back to Angel Grove, and that's where we start our story.
Blooming
Coming of Age I
Angel Grove, California
Two young women sat in a classroom in Angel Grove High School. Katherine 'Kat' Hillard, the teacher, was blond, tall, and beautiful; around the age of 26 and with beautiful winter blue eyes. She was sitting at her desk grading the Literature Quiz papers with a bit of disappointment on her face.
The student sitting in the front row of the classroom was somewhat short with short black hair up in two pig-tailed buns. She was sixteen, had dark green eyes, a pierced chin, and an annoying look on her face. She was laying her head on her hand while cocking it to one side and tapping her foot just staring at her teacher with a boring look.
"Um, Megan, could you please hand me the yellow slips for progress notes please. They're in the cabinets on the upper right side over there," Kat said pointing her finger to the direction of the cabinets.
"Okay, I'll get 'em for you", Megan Simmons said as she got up to get the papers Ms. Hillard had asked for.
She returned with the papers and rolled her eyes when she came upon a picture of Kat with a very attractive dark haired young man. They were both sitting on a bench at the park smiling while he had his arms around her.
"I don't know why you have this picture here" Megan commented.
"Hey, it's my picture, and my desk, so I suggest you put that down if you know what's good for you", Kat said in a joking voice.
"Alright, alright, I'm just saying he looks like a creep, that's all." Her student said, while turning around and going back to her seat.
"I think I somehow gave you the hint to have a little too much liberty in this class, Megan", Katherine said as she looked down and shook her head with a smile on her face.
"Yeah, well, I'm thankful for it, you're actually the only teacher that had the guts enough to tell me, Megan Simmons, a.k.a 'the devious one', 'a teacher's nightmare', to stay after school for detention. Those are some gonads you have there Ms. H." Megan said.
Katherine looked up at the sound of 'gonads' and was blown away with what her student had just said.
"Hey, I'll let you in on a little secret" Kat said with a sly look on her face.
"Okay, what is it?" Megan wanted to know.
"Okay, here it goes, shut up and look down, before I call the cops on you", Kat said with a barmy voice.
"DANG! Okay," Megan said as she looked down. "Oh, and let me tell you, you suck as an actress"
"Why do you say that?" Kat asked.
"Cuz you always seem to be hiding something from everyone. What is it?" She then asked her teacher.
"Well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." Kat told her, in a mocking sort of way.
"Oh, come on, you mean to tell me you can't say anything cuz your life is so freakishly important and can't tell one measly student what it's about?" Megan stated in a sarcastic way.
"Well, you're right about that one." Her teacher replied, before adding, "Hey, that's the first right answer you've gotten in my class!"
"Yeah, whatever" Megan said, while sounding annoyed. "It's already four, can I go now?"
"Sure, just think about what you did" her teacher said.
"See you tomorrow Ms. H!" She said as she was heading out the door.
"Be here on time tomorrow okay?"
"We'll see." She said, as she turned to the right after heading out the door.
Katherine went back to grading papers. She was rather dumbfounded by the comment that her student had made earlier about the picture. She then slowly raised her head and looked at it. While picking it up, thinking to herself, he doesn't look like a creep. Does he?...
Katherine had just left her classroom and was now heading over to the school parking lot. Just before she reached the doors for the EXIT, she was stopped by an argument she heard just a couple of feet away from her.
She heard that it was two girls fighting with one another by the sounds of their voices. She then turned around and ran to the direction of the bawls.
As she got there, she saw two girls arguing back and forth at one another saying just one profanity after another.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Kat asked the two girls. "Megan, I thought you had gone home?"
"Well, I was, until this idiot bumped into me!" Megan retorted as she pointed to the other girl.
"Yeah, well I guess you should look where you're going, bitch!" Terry Olivares snapped back.
"Didn't you just hear me, I said, you bumped into me numbskull!"
"Okay, okay, this is going to stop right now!" Kat demanded.
"Well, I was just fine until…"
Kat then cut Megan off while she repeated, "I said this is going to stop! Unless you guys want me to get Mr. Kaplan aware of this…?"
Both girls looked down and said in unison, "no".
"Okay then, you can go" Kat told Terry. She then looked at Megan and said, "You, come with me."
Both Kat and Megan went to the classroom and Kat motioned to Megan to sit down at the seat she was sitting in before as she sat in the seat next to it.
"Now, tell me what this is all about" Kat started.
"I already told you, she bumped into me." Megan said, with a defending tone.
"I don't mean the argument, I mean you."
"What do you mean?" Megan asked.
"You know what I mean. Ever since we came back in from vacations, you've been so untamable. Now I know we've had some problems with you before, but this is just ridiculous. You have completely crossed the line." Kat told her.
"Look, school is over, you don't have to lecture me anymore." Megan responded.
"No, see, that's where you're wrong, I can lecture you, because if you don't let me talk to you, I'm sure your parents will be able to lecture you about your little anger problem themselves." Kat advised her.
Megan then looked Kat from head to toe and back again saying, "you don't scare me".
"Okay, then, I'll be right back. I hope your parents are home because they will be receiving a little call" Kat said while getting up.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you, but you have to swear to me that you won't tell anyone about this." Megan begged as she held Kat from taking another step.
"As long as I'm keeping a secret that won't hurt you or anyone else, then yeah".
Megan began her story "It all started before the holiday break. Terry had bought me a bottle of Jack Daniels as an early Christmas gift. We decided to drink it with our friends during the break. We were so excited that we decided to celebrate it on the 20th. When all seven of us were together in my friend's room, we took out the bottle. We started drinking, and having a good time, when all of a sudden around one or so in the morning, I looked around for Terry and I couldn't find her. I then got up and went to go look for her. Just about the time when I was going to give up, I had the worst feeling and nausea overtook my body. I turned to the left and headed inside the bathroom. As I opened the door, I then saw Terry kissing a friend of mine. That's when I got mad, and I stormed out of there."
"What's wrong with that?" Kat asked confused.
"Ms. Hillard, Terry and I…" Megan couldn't seem to finish the sentence.
As Katherine got wind of this, she then raised her head in understanding. "You mean to tell me that…you're…gay?" Kat asked, still a little confused.
Megan then looked up at her teacher and nodded her head. Kat then raised an eyebrow and just nodded in now recognizing the situation.
"Well, what did she say when you saw her?" Kat then asked, trying to fill the silence of awkwardness.
"Well, the truth is Ms. K, I didn't really give her time to start speaking" she said with a smile crossing her face.
"Why's that?" she was then asked.
"Cuz, as soon as I saw her, I gasped, and then as she took one step towards me, I threw up all over her shoes." She then replied with a small chuckle.
Katherine couldn't help but laugh as she imagined the site it would have been.
"Ms. K, please don't tell anyone about this, especially the other teachers." Megan begged again.
"Okay, just be careful, okay?" She told Megan while rubbing her arm. "And don't get into any fights about this. I know it hurts, but you have to give it some time." Kat reassured.
"Thanks Ms. K. I appreciate it." She answered sincerely.
"And I appreciate you talking to me. Although you were a little forced into it, but still, appreciated." Kat said smiling.
"Yeah, well, I'm glad you kind of blackmailed me on this one, I feel a little better letting it out you know?" Megan said.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Just know, whenever you need anyone to talk to, I'm here okay?"
"Okay." Megan said, now smiling herself.
As Kat was again walking to the parking lot, she felt a feeling of pride having tamed such a insurgent and radical student. She couldn't help but mentally pat herself on the back as she got in her Mineral Grey 2005 Ford Mustang GT with black leather interior. I hope I got through to her somehow…she thought, as she drove off to her apartment.
The next morning, Katherine awoke feeling as if the birds were chirping just for her. She smiled as she got up; which was something she would rarely do in the morning (smile). She went into the shower and was still smiling inside for what had happened the day before.
A moment later, she turned on the television to hear the morning news as she continued to get ready for work.
After a good twelve to fifteen minutes of news, the newscaster then stated, '…a teenage girl from Angel Grove High named Teresa Olivares was found shot late yesterday afternoon in an ally of her own neighborhood. The young girl was just yards away from her house when she was allegedly shot in the back by the count of four shots, by which one of those hit her directly on the lower part of the lumbar region just above the coccyx. She's thought to be in the Intensive Care Unit in Angel Grove Memorial Hospital…"
Katherine, having heard this instantly ran to the television, where she froze as she continued to hear what happened.
As Katherine opened the door to the High School, she was instantly stopped by a man dressed in all black. He proceeded to ask her for her ID and looked for weapons through her belongings. She was dazed with so much commotion that was going on, that she didn't even want to ask any questions. When they were finished with her, they let her pass.
She did not though go to her classroom, but headed in the direction of the principle's office. As she made her way through the crowd, by for some reason, the school looked a lot more crowded and unorganized as usual. She looked around and saw kids crying and some were hugging each other for comfort. Others were just kicking a hacky sack while in a circle, while others were just simply sitting on the near benches just talking.
As she got to Mr. Kaplan's office, there was a huge line of teenagers and parents. Alongside, were police officers and investigators. Katherine shoved her way through to get to Mr. Kaplan's office but was then told by a nearside administrator that she was to go back to her classroom and wait for further notice. She understood the circumstances and did as she was told.
That afternoon as school was letting out, Kat wondered why Megan had not shown up for school that day. She was drifting her mind back and forth towards the talk the day before and asking herself if it could be related to the shooting. She would then snap herself back into reality and tried to convince herself once more that it could not had been.
Katherine then decided to talk to Mr. Kaplan about the situation between Megan and Terry. As she got up, she rethought it once again in her head. What if it has nothing to do with Megan? Yet, what if it does? But what if I say something and it comes out to be someone else; Megan will never trust me again. Katherine at this point was pacing back and forth. But what if it was Megan and I get in trouble for knowing this? I'll just have to take my chances. It's either my career, or a student's trust. Oh my God! What am I going to do? Think Katherine. Think. She then stopped and snapped her fingers. I've got it! I'll just go talk to Mr. Kaplan as any other concerned teacher, and I'll just ask if they've found any leads. Katherine got her courage, and left the room, but not without one last thought. Oh God, I hope he doesn't see right through me.
Katherine arrived at Mr. Kaplan's office shortly after leaving her classroom. She made sure no one was around to hear their conversation.
"Um, hello? Mr. Kaplan?" she said, while knocking on the open door and looking right at him.
Mr. Kaplan looked up in frustration and with tired eyes, "yes, oh, Katherine, what is it dear?"
"Well, I was just wondering if you've heard from the hospital? Is everything alright with Terry?"
"Oh, yes, she's out of the ICU, but she is still under observation. The doctors are waiting for her to come through it, but she's out of death's hands. But they do fear that she will never be able to walk again." He stated with disappointment in his voice.
"Oh, God,… well, do they at least know who would do such a horrible thing?"
"Well, the police are still investigating it, but they do think it's gang related."
"Oh, man. I hope she's ok." Katherine said, trying to hold back the tears.
"Yes Katherine, we all hope that".
And with that, Katherine left the office silently but with a knot in her throat.
Man, why didn't I tell him. She thought. I was right there. The opportunity was there. Should I go back and speak with him about this. Oh, man, what am I going to do?
She sat at her desk tapping her nails against the wood. She was looking out into blankness when she didn't notice someone enter the room.
Katherine jumped at the voice as it took her out of her thought, "Ms. Hillard? Are you ok?"
"Oh, hi Megan. Wait a minute…Megan? Why didn't you come to class? Did you hear about what happened last night? Where were you? Where did you go after you left the school? Do you know who did this?..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, one question at a time." Megan said, while raising her hands in the surrender position by stepping backwards.
"Okay, I'm sorry." Kat replied in a calm adjusting voice. "Why weren't you in class today?"
"Okay, let me get this straight, my ex-girlfriend, which I still love by the way, is in the hospital because some jackass shot her. She is in the ICU fighting her life to the fullest, paralyzed probably, God knows how she looks, and your first question to me is 'why weren't you in class today?' I don't understand where you're coming from Ms. K, I mean, come on, you've got to have something better than that!" Megan angrily replied holding back the tears.
Katherine, having seen the tears she was trying to seize, got up and went to her student's aid. She hugged her profusely, while caressing her black hair softly. Kat knew she couldn't say anything to make her feel better nor could she think of anything of importance to say to her. Although, there was a small doubt in her mind which kept crossing her brain here and there that maybe Megan was behind the shooting. She would let it go for now, because her alumnus was needing her help and Katherine was going to be there for her.
That night, Katherine walked over to her address book and skimmed through the written blurred out pages. The address book was black, with so many addresses; it was difficult to see when one began and when one ended. Almost the entire book was written on with different colored inks, yet an abundance of black and blue though. She scanned through it soaring almost until she found the name she was looking for. She then dialed the eleven-digit number and waited for the phone to be obtained on the other line. To her surprise at this time of night there was an answer.
"Hello?" a sleepy voice came through the other line.
"Um, hello, Tanya?"
"Yeah, Kat is that you?" still replying in a sleepy voice.
"Yes, Tanya, I really need to talk to you. I think I'm in big trouble." Kat countered in a worried yet heartrending voice.
That morning Katherine was one-hundred percent sure at what action she needed to take. The long talk with her friend really put things in perspective for her. She knew what she had to do, but needed a little budge at that. With the huge help of her very best friend, Tanya Sloan, she headed right into Mr. Kaplan's office.
"Mr. Kaplan, I need to speak with you" Kat uttered, in a somewhat shouting way.
"Yes Ms. Hillard, we do need to talk," he responded very stern.
As Katherine quickly made her way to her car, she could still here those words shouting and piercing in her brain in a thunderous way. 'I apologize Ms. Hillard, but you have been terminated from this school…I'm sorry to have to say this, but, you're fired. That word, that word that wiped her completely from this school. FIRED, TERMINATED, oh my God, how could I get fired? That little monster ratted me out. After all I tried to do for her. I still can't believe she ratted me out!
She frankly didn't know how she was supposed to be feeling. Mad at either the point that she had been snitched on, or the fact that she had been fired for the sake of keeping a secret from the school and administration.
I guess it was my fault; after all, I 'did' take the choice of waiting too long and just wanting to witness how this turned out. She thought as she was driving home. What she couldn't believe the most is Megan, her student, had shot Terry. She thought she had gotten through to her. Oh my God, maybe it was something I said that made her get pushed to the edge. Then again, I did tell her to give it time. Oh, my God, what am I going to do now?
"OH, SHIT!" She yelled as she stepped on the brake pedal as hard as she could do to barely noticing the dog crossing the street at a dawdling speed. She couldn't stop in time and hit the dog with such force making it shriek in pain before it flew a couple of three feet away from her car. "Oh my God, my car!" she yelled.
After she got home, she took a long shower and made herself dinner. She then realized she was just too upset to eat and just ended up putting it in the refrigerator wrapped in foil.
She went to the address book again to call Tanya when she immediately thought, No, why am I going to call Tanya? She's not my mother; and even if she was, why am I going to call her to make my decisions. It's about time I wake up and start living my own life without having so much help all the time. Maybe that way, I could actually appreciate what I do and stop thanking others for their advise. If I make a mistake, I have only myself to blame. If I make a good choice, I have myself to reward.
There must have been a lesson in all of this she thought, because somehow, it made her rather grow up a little than rely on someone's advice. She was no longer scared of making her own decisions, and taking control of her own life.
A/N: I don't know if any of you noticed, but I made some changes to the story. It's going to be shorter because I'm going to put it together better. I hope you guys will like it because I want it to be a bit shorter and easier to understand without so many parts to it, because some parts are really short. I'm trying to come out with a bit of a trilogy here. This will be the middle of it. I'll come out with the beginning later. Well, anyways, please review.