Spring Sting

Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers in any way, shape or form. ^_^

It was a warm spring day in Ocean Bluff. The sun hung high and happy in the cerulean colored sky. Pretty flowers bloomed all around the town. The fragrance of flowers filled the air with its bouquet. Another smell filled the air at the same time—pizza. JKP was full with people both young and old craving the saucy goodness. It was more people than they usually seemed to get this time of year. The reason? Ocean Bluff had an annual formal ball coming up called 'Bring in the Spring'. Every year, people from other towns and cities ventured here to attend.

A sign hung high in the middle of Ocean Bluff Square. It was a banner covered in flowers and cute little bee drawings that read: 'The annual Ocean Bluff formal 'Bring in the Spring' coming in three days!' People were eager for the three days to finally be over so they could go to this spectacular event. It was a happy spring day.

The rangers were busy as usual tending to the wave of customer after customer. Everyone seemed to be in a pleasant mood due to the beautiful weather. The line at Jungle Karma Pizza went out the door. Lily had her hands full at the register, Casey and Dominic served and bused the food, Fran took the orders, and RJ and Theo baked the pizzas—and very quickly at that. Casey had his hands full of plates, cups and trays as he busted through the kitchen doors, making it just in time to heave the dishes in the sink.

"RJ, we've got a problem!" he said catching his breath from all of the rushing.

RJ sprinkled flour over the ball of pizza dough in front of him. "Well, lay it on me Case."

"We're all out of seats out there and the customers just keep pouring in." Casey explained hoping RJ could solve his dilemma.

RJ paused and looked up from the dough. "Bummer." He sighed, "This really is a problem. I don't want anybody leaving here until they've tried my pizza masterpieces." He continued sadly.

In the next moment, Dominic busted through the kitchen doors bombarded with dishes as well. He did as Casey did and placed them into the sink, which was already piled high. "Big trouble, RJ," he began, "There's not enough-"

"I-I know. We have limited seating." RJ said cutting him off. "But what to do?" he said tapping his finger against his chin, not realizing that he was getting flour all over himself. Casey, Theo and Dominic all stifled their laughter. RJ looked at them and realized what they were laughing at. "Oh, flour beard, ha ha." He laughed wiping the flour off with a rag.

"Hey, I know!" Theo interjected, "How about we seat the rest of the people outside? There aretables there, they just need to be wiped down."

Dominic and Casey nodded in agreement. RJ looked pleased with Theo's idea, for this meant he wasn't going to lose any customers.

"Good thinking, Theo!" RJ said happily, "Casey, Dom, clean the tables out there then beginning seating out customers. We're lucky it's such a lovely day." RJ said going back to preparing the dough.

Dominic walked over to a cabinet and pulled out two rags, handing one to Casey. "Why have there been so many customers lately? It's been this way for a week." Dominic groaned.

"I can answer that, the big spring dance is coming up in a few days. It's really fancy like a prom, where people dress up and celebrated the season." Casey chimed in.

"And have you asked Lily to go with you yet?" RJ asked mischievously.

Casey's eyes got wide and he grew embarrassed. "I'm going to…go wipe down those tables. See ya." He said as he bolted out of the room in a flash.

"That would be a 'No'." Dominic laughed.

"I'll say." Theo chuckled, placing bananas on a 'Thrilla Gorilla' pizza.

"So, Dom…are you going to ask Fran?" RJ asked now making Dominic embarrassed.

Dominic played with the rag in his hands. "Not yet. You think she'd say yes?" he asked nervously.

This made Theo stop cold. "Are you joking? She'd probably start getting ready immediately after you asked her." It was that obvious to Theo that the two were crazy about each other and was both to shy to say.

"Well, that settles it!" Dominic said standing up tall and confident, throwing the rag into the air and catching it, "I'll ask her tonight!" Then he threw open the doors happily and went to go help Casey.

RJ chuckled as he began to roll out the dough with a rolling pin. "Love sure is in the air." Then he looked to Theo. "So, Theo, who's the lucky lady that you're escorting to the dance and does she have a friend?" RJ laughed.

"Oh, me? I'm not going with anybody. I'm running the music. If I had a date she'd just feel ignored." Theo said.

"Theo the DJ—has a nice ring to it." RJ said cheerfully.

"What about you, RJ? Do you have a date?" Theo asked placing the pizza in the piping hot oven.

"No date for me either. I'm kind of the host of this soiree. I have to keep everything in order. I didn't have much time for date searching." He said, now adding sauce to the dough.

"We just need to make it through a few more days and all of this dance stuff will be over." Theo sighed with relief.

"Right-o!" RJ said making a finger pistol.

Meanwhile, in the dining room, Fran noticed that Dominic and Casey were leading all of the customers outside. They sat the people down and took their orders. She headed over to Lily at the register.

"Why are Dom and Casey bringing people outside?" she asked leaning on the counter.

"Thanks for coming to JKP!" Lily said to the customer, and then turned to Fran. "My guess is that they're going to use the tables that are out there, seeing as how we're full in here." Lily explained closing the register. They she heard Fran let out a loud sigh. "What's the matter, Fran?" she asked, "You seem down."

Fran waited until no one was at the register, she looked around to make sure nobody heard her. She leaned into Lily, "It's just…" she began, "I was hoping that Dom was going to ask me to the Spring dance, but he hasn't asked me yet and it's in three days." She said now looking at the table sadly.

"Does he even know about it? He hasn't been here nearly as long as we have." Lily stated.

Fran stood up with relief, "Good point, maybe I'm just worrying too much. Anyways, has Casey asked you yet?" Fran asked with a sly smile. Then it seemed like Fran's sad face had made its way onto Lily. She looked to see if any customers were around, and when she saw there wasn't, looked out the window at Casey. He was laughing and smiling with his customers.

"No, no not yet." She sadly admitted.

Fran immediately tried to console her. "I-I'm sure he will! Don't worry about it!" she kicked herself for even asking her about it.

"It's not just that, Fran." Lily added still looking at him.

"Then what it is?" she asked curiously.

Lily sighed as she watched him. "I think I'm falling in love with him."