Before the Darkness - JKat - T - 2/?

[Jade_Max]

Disclaimer: Power Rangers belong to Saban/Disney (whomever owns them this week) and it's their sandbox; I'm simply destroying the sandcastles.

Title: Before the Darkness
Author: Jade_Max
Timeline: AU
Rating: T (for now - may change)
Summary: Katherine Hillard comes to Angel Grove in her Freshman year shortly after Tommy's joins the Rangers on the side of good...

Notes: This is set in the alternate universe to "Semper Fi" which is co-written with chrisangelo

Special Thanks: to chris (scorpio) for brainstorming and egging me on to do this – and for making the fantabulous graphics for this

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Before the Darkness

Katherine Hillard checked the straps of her backpack as she glanced back over her shoulder a final time where her mother was pulling away from the curb. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at the imposing structure where she'd be spending her high school years. Freshman year was never easy for anyone - and none more so than a foreign student new to a small town like Angel Grove.

Despite her mother's assurances that Angel Grove would be good for her, there was never anything easy about joining a new school after the start of the year. Katherine had left Australia behind, her dream of reaching gold for diving at the Pan Global's dashed by a last minute transfer in her father's company; with that dream had stayed her friends, her coach and everything familiar in her life.

Miserable, Katherine trudged into the school as she watched her surroundings. She wasn't an outgoing teenager, and the diving had done wonders for her confidence, but today she felt small and alone. She'd never even moved houses before, let alone to a new country, and she was nervous about the change. Nothing here was even remotely familiar.

A quick trip to the Principal's office where she met the office staff, was coaxed into a smile and cringed when the gruff manners of the toupee wearing tyrant who ruled the school - Principal Kaplan - directed her immediately to her first class.

English and Social Studies would take up the remainder of her morning, but only after one of the kindly secretaries removed her from the office and led her through the corridors. There was no tour - just a small map pushed her way along with a booklet that explained the school's rules and regulations - as the professional assistant marched her through the hallways. At the base of one set of stairs near an exit to the court yard, the kindly lady stopped and consulted something in her hand.

A lock on one of the lockers was quickly dialed and then opened, revealing an empty place where Katherine could store her books. Quickly using the opportunity, she slid her backpack into the empty space, pausing only long enough to accept the slip with the locker number and combination on it into her pocket and retrieve the books she'd need.

The secretary didn't say anything as Katherine locked the locker, simply waited until the blonde was finished before marching her across the hall. Opening one door, she knocked on it briskly. "I've another one for you, Mrs. Applebee," the secretary announced cheerfully, leaving her in the doorway to the room with no more of an introduction than that.

Mrs. Applebee, a plump woman with a warm smile, motioned for Katherine to step further into the room. "Well, don't just stand there," she encouraged. "Say hello to the class and introduce yourself."

Heat flared into Katherine's cheeks as she stared at the toes of her books, suddenly - and intimately - understanding how mortified all of the exchange students who'd been forced to do the same at her former school had felt. Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head and looked at the teacher through her lashes.

"Katherine Hillard, Mrs. Applebee; I'm from Australia."

"Australia!" Mrs. Applebee sounded just delighted - and then confirmed it as she clapped her hands together. "How delightful; I love your accent. Find a seat, Katherine - you can introduce yourself to your classmates later."

Not even bothering to take a look around the room, Katherine settled into the nearest empty seat and slumped down, hunching her shoulders forward as she fought against the embarrassment of that introduction.

Surprisingly for Katherine, despite the awful beginning to her morning, her classes, lunch came before she realized what the bell for it meant, saving her from the interminable babble of a science teacher more boring than the one she'd left back home.

Escaping, Katherine was the first out the door - her seat had been closest to it - and she darted for the hallway. One of the things she'd noticed was that both of her morning classes were close to her locker - which left her close to the court yard.

Stopping by her locker, Katherine kept her head down, failing to notice she'd garnered the attention of a group of friends from across the hallway. A group of six students, all of which were looking at her curiously - if not kindly. Opening the door, Katherine grabbed her backpack - which contained her lunch - and closed the locker before heading straight to the doors leading to the court yard without looking around.

The sunshine on her face was an immediate relief, even if it was weaker than what she was used to, and she tipped her head up, straightening her shoulders for what felt like the first time in hours. California was pretty, but not nearly as warm or as beautiful as Australia.

"Well, look what we have here, Skull," a voice from behind her drawled. "If it isn't the blonde Aussie blocking access to my favorite lunch spot."

"Yeah, she needs to be taught a lesson, Bulky!"

Katherine whirled, her eyes widening as two young men, both dressed in leathers, approached her. The larger of the two eyed her nastily, reaching out to grab her bag. She tried to keep it away but wasn't fast enough, and he snatched it from her hands.

"What have we here... A brown bagged lunch," the larger of the two bullies opened her bag and pulled out the lunch.

"Give it back!" Katherine's plea wasn't as forceful as she'd hoped.

"Or what?" The slimmer of the two wanted to know as he pulled a sweater from her bag - and promptly dropped it in the dirt.

"Please give it back, my school books are in there."

Both bullies laughed in her face. The larger one held it out of reach - and Katherine wasn’t a short woman - as the smaller one distanced himself from them. She grabbed at it, but the larger boy threw the bag and its contents to the other one. "Catch Skull!"

"Stop it," Katherine jumped for it, but missed, watching helplessly as a couple of her books slid from her bag along with a pencil case and walkman.

The boy named Skull laughed and danced away. "It's mine now, Blondie!"

Her bag went back and forth, spilling another couple of items here and there until Katherine swore the bag was practically empty - and she was in tears. Jumping for the bag one last time - and yet missing again - she hit the ground and collapsed. "Just leave me alone!"

"Are you gonna cry?" The larger boy taunted. "Look, Skull, we made the little blonde Aussie cry!"

The skinny Skull laughed, delighted by her misery.

"I think you guys have done enough." A new hand snatched the bag from the air and a tall body interposed itself between Katherine and the bullies. "Get lost, Bulk."

"Why should we?"

"Yeah, why should we?"

The boy before Katherine crossed his arms over his chest - he must have because the black jacket stretched across his muscular shoulders - and his head tilted dangerously. Katherine couldn't see him very well from where she was sitting on the ground, and suddenly she didn't want to. Bowing her head, she let her blond hair curtain her face as she wiped one hand across her eyes, trying to stem her tears. Her rescuer growled something low at the two bullies - obviously intimidating - and Katherine heard them dart away.

Bulk, the large bully, stopped inside the door. "This isn't over Jason!"

"Yeah!" Skull echoed forcefully.

The two disappeared back into the school as Jason watched, shaking his head, his face set in grim lines. Turning back to the disaster in front of him, he noted that the shoulders of the young woman whom he'd saved were still shaking as she struggled to control herself. He sighed, expelling his annoyance at Bulk and Skull, and crouched down to her eye level. "Hey."

Katherine couldn't look up as the young man the bullies had called Jason knelt to her level - but she liked the sound of his voice, the gentle tone he was using. His blue jeans tightened across his muscular thighs as one knee hit the ground.

"Thanks," she offered softly, sniffling.

“No problem.” A large, tanned hand appeared in her line of vision extended for a handshake. "I'm Jason; and you are?"

Daring to life her head, she opened her mouth to respond - and stopped, speechless. Before her was one of the most handsome men she'd ever met in her life. Not handsome in the way some men were beautiful, but handsome because he had character in his face. His eyes were a serious brown which warmed as she watched, something in the depths catching her and momentarily stealing her power of thought. Her mind blanked as she stared at him, a tear slipping down her cheek unnoticed as her eyes dried, unable to tear her gaze from that mesmerizing set of brown eyes.

"Did they steal your voice as well as your bag?"

The tease was gentle, the humor in those brown orbs catching her completely off guard - and bringing her back to her senses. Color flooded her cheeks as she became aware of the fact she was staring into his eyes unabashedly when she didn't know anything about him except his name - and he had come to her rescue. Belatedly, she realized he'd asked her not one but two questions... and she'd answered neither.

"N-no," she stammered, trying to quell the nervousness that had suddenly sprung up. "I..." She glanced down to where his hand had dropped easily to that denim covered thigh; looking away from those orbs seeming to be the remedy to the off kilter feeling she had when looking at him. Trying again, she offered her hand this time. "I...I'm Katherine."

His hand closed about hers without hesitation and she felt as if she'd been electrocuted as every hair on her arm stood on end and a delicious sliver of awareness raced upwards from the contact to dance down her spine. Something about him was magnetizing. "I'm pleased to meet you, Katherine."

"Kat," she prompted unthinkingly, looking up again before she thought better of it. "My friends... call me..."

Jason smiled and it stole her breath completely away. "Kat, then."

Effortlessly, he rose - keeping her hand in his - and drew her with him, their palms seemingly glued together for he didn't relinquished her hand - and Katherine couldn't have reclaimed hers if she'd tried.

"Are you alright?"

Her blush deepened and she snatched her hand back, reeling from the sudden overwhelming physical and emotional upheaval that had tilted her world on its axis - and hadn't yet righted herself. Meeting Jason had changed something within her, she just didn't know what yet. Looking away to gather her wits, she nodded even as her gaze fell on the mess Bulk and Skull had made of her backpack's contents.

"I'm alright. I don't think my lunch is though."

Jason followed her gaze to the squished, sorry looking splatter that had been her lunch and winced - she caught it out of the corner of her eye. His head swiveled around, taking in the destruction and then he shook it. "Sorry I didn't get here sooner."

"No," Katherine turned to look at him, an embarrassed smile on her lips. "Thank you for stepping in Jason. I don't even know you and you were willing to help me."

"Would you like to change that?" He bent to pick up a nearby book and her pencil case, sliding them back into the bag he still held in his hand.

"You helping me?"

"Knowing me," he flashed a smile her way, moving to pick up another book. "If you want to that is."

Her heart leapt in her chest and seemed intent on battering its way through her ribs. Know him better? Yes, oh yes! "I... I'd like that," she managed shyly while every part of her was screaming in delight at the prospect. "I don't know anyone here yet."

Jason slid the book into her bag and turned to face her again - this time she noticed one of his ears was pierced and the red of his muscle shirt under that deliciously, sinfully tight jacket. "Well, then it's only fair to warn you; I'm part of a set."

Her heart plummeted almost to her shoes. "A... a set?" She couldn't seem to help repeating the comment.

Jason winked at her. "A sextet to be exact. Tommy's relatively new to the group, but you'll probably get along just fine with Trini and Kim - they're some of the nicest people I know."

"Your... sisters?"

Jason laughed - and the sound almost curled her toes. "They might as well be - they're some of my best friends since childhood. Just don't let Zack's teasing or Billy's techno babble bother you; it's just how they are."

"They sound like an..." how did she put this nicely? "an... um... diverse group."

Jason tilted his head back and shouted with laughter. "Kat, they're going to adore you." Katherine, buoyed by the compliment and charmed by his laugh, smiled in return - and it almost froze on her face with his next words. "Would you like to join us for lunch?"

Unthinkingly, her gaze went back to the destroyed brown bag lying nearby as she frantically tried to think of a reason why not to go. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but she wasn't exactly in the best of shape having just come off a bout with the bullies. Without looking in a mirror, she was certain her mascara had run and left black lines down her cheeks. Halfheartedly, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment at the mess she must be, Katherine swiped at her cheeks and looked away.

"No?" Cocking his head so he could see her profile, Jason smiled faintly, his tone turning cajoling. "I'll share mine with you; it's the least I can do when I was too late to save yours."

Her lips twitched. "I must be a mess."

"If you are, I haven't noticed." Pulling a red kerfchief from the inside of his coat, he offered it to her. "But if you think so, I can always wait until you think you're cleaned up enough."

"I couldn't ask you to-"

"You're not; I'm offering."

Katherine fell silent, feeling trapped for a moment - until she glanced his way and their eyes locked again. What she saw stole both her breath and her desire to say no. Warmth and concern, both sincere, spoke to her in a way that nothing he said ever could. She found herself nodding before she could say otherwise, and his resulting smile - slow as molasses and sexy as sin - lodged in her chest near the vicinity of her heart.

"Is that a yes?"

Finding her voice, Katherine noted it had little power, but that didn't seem to matter. "I'd love to."

[Kim]

HOT DAMN! *does happy dance* Jade, that is just.....I'm having flashbacks of TK. That was so sweet, and sooo like, Jase to step in when someone needed help. And poor Kat, I know how it is to switch schools, though I never did to another country. I can't wait to see more of this, to see the dynamic of the group change with Katherine joining them.

[chrisangelo]

Well you already know my two-cents... and those don't go very far now. BUT I love love love love love love love love love x 100000000000 that you are doing this ^__^. Bouncing off ideas is our specialty, you know that -won't even point to the 600+emails-

But I loved the alternate reality, and I can't wait for more

[Jade_Max]

Thanks guys

This is going to be fun since it parallels the original season of PR - and it gives me an excuse to re-watch them *grin* Not that I need one

[Jade_Max]

Taking a few minutes to allow Katherine to clean herself up, a quick trip to the little girl's room, and a stop by Jason's locker to retrieve his lunch, saw the pair heading for the school yard again. "Are you sure your friends won't mind me eating lunch with you?"

"Nah," Jason waved away her concern. "If we did, Tommy would never have joined us - he's almost as new to the school as you are."

"Oh." She didn't know if she should feel comforted or concerned about that little fact. Upheaval in a tight knit group of friends wasn't necessarily a good thing. "Have you been in Angel Grove long?"

"I've never lived anywhere else," he told her easily. "Most of us haven't. Angel Grove is a small city, other than Tommy, we all grew up together."

"My friends back home were like that too," Katherine couldn't help the sadness that entered her voice. "This is the first time I've moved since I can remember."

"Must be tough."

"It is." Taking a deep breath, Katherine managed to find a smile. "But there's not a lot I can do but make the best of things, right?"

"Jason!"

The couple looked up at the excited squeal, a petite brunette pelting their way hell bent for leather. Katherine stopped, but Jason only laughed, catching the tiny bundle of energy and spinning her around once. Jealously blindsided Katherine for a moment as she took in the easy, affectionate smile on his face - and the beaming expression on the strange girl's.

Jason let go of his projectile, keeping one arm around her shoulders as she scolded him sternly.

"Trini said you were supposed to join us for lunch - you're late!"

"Sorry I'm late, but I think you'll forgive me when you hear why."

"Ha! If I don't, you'll be doing my chores for a week - who's this?"

Katherine took a half step back as the energetic enthusiasm turned from her companion to her. Jason, thankfully, seemed used to dealing with the girl and simply rolled his eyes. "Katherine Hillard, meet Kimberly Hart. Kim, this is Kat; she just transferred here from Australia."

Kimberly grinned at the blonde, offering her hand. "Hey! Nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, too," taking Kimberly's hand tentatively, Katherine's reserve began to ebb away.

Kimberly's eyes widened at her speech. "Oh I love your accent. Come on, you have to meet Trini."

Katherine looked back at Jason helplessly as Kimberly's grip shifted and she was dragged forward. Jason grinned at her and winked, following along at a more sedate pace but made no move to free her from the shorter girl's grip. Kimberly, for her part, was talking animatedly. "Have you been in Angel Grove long? I thought I saw you in my health and science classed, is that what you have for third period?"

"Not long, yes and yes - Kimberly, please..."

That caught the brunette's attention - who looked back at her with a grin. "Call me Kim, Kat. It's okay if I call you Kat, right?"

"I-"

"Who's this?"

Kimberly turned forward. "Hey guys! Jason brought us a surprise. This is Kat, she's an exchange student from Australia."

Katherine started to take a startled step back as four more inquisitive faces - three boys and a girl - turned her way and was stopped short by a human wall. The way her heart fluttered in her chest and her mouth went dry, left her with no question as to whom it was. Jason's hands came to rest on her shoulders. "Steady," he told her softly as Kimberly was racing through introductions - and Katherine missed them all.

All, that was, except for the last one. Kimberly's expression and demeanor changed completely as she introduced a boy dressed in Green. There was pride and a little possessive undertone - Katherine's jealousy at Kimberly's greeting of Jason faded. Kimberly, she could see, was interested in the new kid and not Jason.

"And this is Tommy. He's new to Angel Grove too."

"Hi."

Katherine smiled shyly. "Hi. It's nice to meet all of you."

A boy with glasses and dressed in blue extended his hand. "You're a most welcome addition to our gathering. Sincere salutations and welcome to Angel Grove."

Looking back at Jason with a slightly panicked expression - she didn't know the other boy's name - she pitched her voice low. "What did he say?"

To her horror the group laughed and the girl - who had to be Trini - stepped in to save her. "Don't worry, nobody understands Billy."

"Except you, Trini." teased the dark skinned boy. "Go ahead, wow us; what did Billy say?"

"He said welcome to our little group and Angel Grove," Trini glared at the boy. "Maybe if you paid attention in English - or owned a dictionary, Zack."

"And take time out from my practice? Not a chance." Zack spun in place doing a neat little dance step that Katherine had never seen before. "If I'm going to perfect it, I can't waste my time that stuff."

Mentally, Katherine reviewed their names - and associated them with the colors they were currently wearing. Kim in Pink, Trini in Yellow, Zack in Black, Billy in Blue and Tommy in Green. Jason was in Red, but she'd never need a color to remind herself of his name.

"You okay?"

Jason's breath feathered across her cheek. She hadn't moved from her position against him since the introductions and with his friends arguing good naturedly - all but Tommy who seemed the quite type like her - and her heart tripped in her chest again. Jason's concern was clear - he obviously wanted her to like his friends.

"Fine," she assured him softly, as everyone - except Tommy - was otherwise occupied and distracted; she missed the boy in Green's interest in her conversation with Jason. "Your friends seem like nice people."

"They'll be your friends too, if you'll let them," Jason assured her quietly. He squeezed her shoulders apologetically. "I'd better jump in before they kill Zack." He began to move away and then paused, offering her his lunch bag. "Hold this for me?"

Accepting the bag, she nodded solemnly. Jason's impish grin was slightly wicked as he turned, and darted into the center of the group, tackling Zack to the ground as he spun in front of Billy and taking both boys to the ground. The girls began laughing, jumping in to try to pull the boy in red off the other two.

Tommy met her gaze from table the group had claimed and cocked his head, waving to the vacant seat across from him in silent invitation. Blushing, Katherine accepted, sliding onto the bench and putting Jason's lunch down in front of her.

"New to Angel Grove, huh?"

She nodded. "Yeah; it's been an... interesting day."

"It's not easy being the new kid," sympathized the boy in green. "You'll see though. Spending time with this crew makes the time fly."

"Did... they welcome you here too?"

"Not exactly." the faint, secretive smile on Tommy's face wasn't what she was expecting. "I met Jason for the first time on a Karate mat over at the Youth Center during a competition and I met Kimberly the following day at school. Bulk and Skull were hassling her."

Katherine's eyebrows almost hit her hairline. There was no mistaking the almost shy way the boy had said Kimberly's name - but it was the Bulk and Skull reference that surprised her most. "You mean those two pick on more than just new students?"

"They never picked on me," Tommy corrected immediately, not seeming to catch the fact she was talking about herself. "I just stepped in when they decided that picking on Kim was a good idea. I convinced them it wasn't."

"Jason did the same for me," Katherine admitted, her gaze leaving the boy across from her to travel to where the quintet was now sprawled on the ground, Jason dusting himself off as he was picking himself up off it.

Slowly, one at a time, the others rolled to their feet. Kimberly, to Katherine's surprise, was on her feet almost as quickly as Jason, bounding back towards the bench. She practically jumped onto the bench next to Tommy with a grin. "So how long are you going to be around, Kat - are you on an exchange program, because I don't remember seeing anyone missing from my classes."

"No, no exchange program," Katherine informed her as Jason settled in on her left. It was reassuring to know she could always slide out right if things go too awkward. "My father was transferred here, so we'll be around for a while."

"Cool!" Kimberly looked so psyched by the idea, Katherine found herself smiling. "Do you like to shop?"

"Say no."

The whispered warning came from her left, but Katherine - unwilling to alienate the other girl - responded honestly. "As much as the next person I guess. I couldn't bring a lot with me from Australia since our house here is smaller."

"Do you want to join Trini and I on Saturday?" Almost as one, the guys groaned. Kimberly shot them all a dark look. "You guys don't know what you're missing. How about it Kat? Want to join us for a girl's day out?"

Half of a sandwich was placed in front of Katherine before she could answer - which immediately spurred another question. Except, it wasn't - thankfully - directed her way.

"Oh my gosh, did I just see that Jason Scott was sharing his lunch?!"

"Ha ha," He took a bite of his sandwich. "Bulk and Skull destroyed hers before I got there so I offered to share mine."

"It must be love, big brother," Kimberly teased. "You never share your lunch with anyone."

"And I never rescue damsels in distress either," he countered, the admission having a strange effect on Katherine's insides. "But today I'm doing both. Next time I'll leave saving the ladies fair to Tommy - seems its his specialty."

Tommy, refusing to be dragged into the discussion, held his hands up in surrender. "Leave me out of this."

The banter drifted around the table as lunch progressed and Katherine was inundated with food from all sides. Zack offered to share the sliced apple from his lunch; Billy split his Sheppard’s pie; Trini dished up a part of her salad; Kimberly and Tommy - who were already exchanging parts of their lunches - offered extra fruit and pudding cups.

Jason, blasted man that he was, accepted the outpouring for her - and promptly split whatever they were given a second time so that she was sharing with him. Their generosity to a complete stranger brought tears to Katherine's eyes - tears Jason caught as she ducked her head to eat the fruit cup; he'd claimed the pudding cup.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Kat?"

Jason's quiet question had unintentionally drawn the concerned looked of the rest of the group and Katherine didn't miss the knowing look on Tommy's face. Empathy for her situation was clear in his gaze as if to say he understood how she felt. He was, to everyone's surprise but hers, the one to answer the question.

"A little overwhelming, isn't it?"

That made her laugh, once, and nod. "A little." Looking around at the rest of the group, she reached up to brush away a tear as it escaped down her cheek. "None of you know me but you've shared your lunches without a second thought - and none of you seem to care that I didn't grow up here."

"You don't have to grow up in Angel Grove to be our friend," Trini informed her tartly, her smile kind.

"Just look at Tommy," Zack supplied. "With all that long hair you'd think he was trouble, but he's cool."

"And the length of his tenure with us has been infinitesimal."

"What Billy means is," Trini supplied knowingly, her eyes sparkling with dark amusement. "Tommy's only been in a town a few weeks but he's one of us."

"Gee, thanks guys."

They shared a laugh at Tommy's expence, but Katherine knew he didn't take offence to it - none of them did. Not Zack for his antics, or Billy's need to be translated. Not Trini for being Billy's translation device, or Tommy for his role as the new guy around. It was simply how things were. Looking around, Katherine smiled at the group. "I can't thank you guys enough. You've made me feel welcome here when it's what I've been dreading since hearing about my dad's transfer."

"Jason likes you," Kimberly told her honestly with a speaking look at Jason. "So you can't be all bad. He's a pretty good judge of character - most of the time."

"Lay off, Kim," Jason returned sharply before turning to smile at Katherine. "Kim would never have invited you to go showing with her and Trini if she didn't like you too."

"But you guys hardly know me - how can you like me?"

"Instinct," Kimberly told her sagely, but there was amusement in the depths of her brown eyes. "Besides, anyone who likes shopping is cool in my books, and I-"

Do-do-do-do-do-do

The six kids around Katherine froze as one, Kimberly's sentence cut off by the strange sound. Not just the sound, but the unmistakable echo of more than once source.

"What was that?"

The six shared a look before Kimberly forced a laugh, and Katherine saw her cheeks turn pink - but the girl dressed in Pink would no longer look her in the eye. "My alarm - I forgot I was supposed to meet my coach for gymnastics practice for the second half of lunch. Is this Saturday good for you, Kat?"

Do-do-do-do-do-do

Six wrists all disappeared under the table at once - something Katherine noted, but didn't understand. "Saturday is fine. My mother will want to meet you before we go."

"Cool. You've got gym with us this afternoon, right?"

"I think so."

Do-do-do-do-do-do

Exasperated, Katherine waved her away. "You've better go Kim."

"I'll walk you," Tommy offered.

"Me too."

"Same here."

"Catch you later, Kat!"

Katherine watched as all of the group but Jason jumped to their feet, said quick good byes, and all but disappeared. She failed to note, upon turning towards him, that he was practically sitting on his wrist. "Was it something I said?"

But Jason wasn't watching her, but the direction the rest of his friends had gone. "No." He glanced her way, seemed to take inventory and then a chagrined look crossed his face. "I forgot to get Tommy's locker combo - I need the book I lent him for this afternoon; wait here for me?"

"Sure, but I-"

"Thanks - back before you know it." Jason smiled at her and then took off at a fast clip after his friends, leaving her sitting at the table with the remainder of her lunch and alone. Blinking at the suddenness of their abandonment, Katherine sighed; they'd left a mess which she set about cleaning up. Having lost her appetite with the absence of the group, Katherine collected her bag and pulled the book she had to read for her English class from the main pocket.

[rapunzl]

Firstly, I am so terribly sorry that I didn't see this pop up in the list before... not because I'm apologizing (which I am), but more because I regret not reading it before now!

This is so sweet, and is such a fantastic alternate universe. It's definitely something new and unexplored - I had never really considered how Kat would interact with the original group. I love the parallel you drew between the meetings of Jason/Kat and Tommy/Kim. You've pegged all the characters perfectly, too - Billy still in techno-speak mode, Zack utterly too energetic for words, and Tommy still utterly shy.

I do hope you continue! I can't wait to see how she reacts to the repeated disappearances of her newly adopted friends.

[Jade_Max]

Totally continuing this lol! Just working on a bigger project right now - like an original novel. More to come soon

~*~*~*~

Jason and the others didn't return for Katherine as they'd said they would.

Hurt and confused by their offer of friendship - and then mass desertion - she attended her first period after lunch hour nursing her uncertainty. It was in gym, the last of her classes that afternoon that she learned of the extracurricular activities that were available to her - and a swim team was something the school supported.

It wasn't until class was almost over that Katherine noted both Kimberly and Trini had not shown up. Concern overrode her hurt, and she went searching for the teacher. A few inquiries revealed that only Billy, of the six, had shown up for classes that afternoon. Tommy and Jason were supposed to have been doing a martial arts display for their gym class - extra credits - and then do a small class on the basics of self defense.

That they hadn't shown was strange enough, but the fact they hadn't called or informed the teacher ahead of time was completely out of character.

Katherine had a sinking feeling, guilt eating at her for assuming they'd ditched her deliberately, but couldn't imagine what could have befallen the group of friends in the midst of walking Kimberly to her gymnastics practice. Cutting the last ten minutes of her class, she headed for the office only to be grabbed part of the way there and dragged into one of the empty class rooms.

A shriek escaped before she realized who had a hold of her arm. "Billy! Gosh, you scared me!"

"My apologies, that was not the intention," he looked and sounded stressed. "I simply wished to apologize for our inopportune departure this afternoon. It was inconsiderate and in no way reflects our acceptance of you."

"What?" She blinked, lost.

Billy looked stricken for a moment and then inhaled and exhaled deeply. With deliberate effort in his tone, he spoke slowly, as if from the memory of a flash card. "We'll be meeting at the Youth Center after school; would you... like to join us?"

"Will everyone be there?"

"Affirmative."

Katherine didn't even have to think about it. "I'll come. Will you walk with me?"

"If you wish." Bill looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I will meet you at your locker in fifteen minutes. Is that acceptable?"

"Where is everyone else?"

"I am not at liberty to say."

"Oh, okay." Katherine glanced back over her should. "My locker, right?"

Billy nodded.

"Fifteen minutes?"

"Fourteen and a half."

Katherine nodded and dashed away. It gave her just enough time to check her appearance in the mirror, use the washroom to freshen up and then put the books she didn't need to bring home for homework in her locker. As it was, she raced through her absolutions, pausing to redo her hair - pulling it back and then letting it back down a half dozen times before deciding it looked better down - and lip gloss. Billy had said everyone would be at the... Youth Center was it? Everyone, she assumed, included Jason and she wanted to look her best when she saw him again. If for no other reason than she'd looked a fright when he'd rescued her this morning.

Was it only this morning?

With a shake of her head, Katherine raced for her locker as the final bell rang, and spun the lock. Pulling the door open without regard for the locker next to hers, she forced herself to inhale and exhale before propping her bag up on one knee and pulling out her books. History, Chemistry, Math, English... slowly, each was put in her locker along with her note books. Only the math text book was left in her bag along with the book she needed to read for English class.

It was in those moments where the idea that maybe her new found friends didn't want to see her, began to re-take root. Had Billy only offered to escort her because they felt bad about leaving her at lunch? Were they simply being polite to the new girl in town, the way they'd accepted Tommy into their group?

No.

With a decisive shake of her head, she reviewed the short time she'd known the sextet and decided that they weren't the type of people to put on pretenses. They were a little strange, each with their quirks, but they weren't false. And Katherine knew a thing or two about false people. With a firm hand, she shut her locker - and nearly jumped as Billy's face seemed to appear before her.

"Impeccable timing as I was preparing to announce myself."

A smile tilted Katherine's lips. "And I was about to come looking for you, Billy."

"You are ready then?"

"I've got everything I need for my homework, and my notes for the afternoon classes just in case the others might want them."

"That's very thoughtful of you considering our inconsiderate desertion of you at lunch."

Blinking, Katherine struggled to follow. It wasn't that Billy was hard to understand, just that his vocabulary was so beyond what she was used to. "I try. So where's this... did you call it a Youth Center?"

"Affirmative."

"What is it?" The moment the question popped out, Katherine held up her hand to forestall his answer. "On second thought, maybe you'd better just show me."

He nodded, looking relieved, and Katherine found herself wondering just how difficult it was to be as intelligent as Billy but lack the social skills of knowing when - or even how - to tone down his vocabulary. It couldn't be comfortable. Fortunately, he had Trini to translate for him most of the time.

Walking out of the school together, Billy led her down the street with a minimal of verbal direction, and they walked in a mostly companionable silence. He did, to his credit, attempt to make a decent tour guide and pointed out the landmarks that were visible on their way to the Youth Center. The park held Katherine's attention the longest and she found herself almost mesmerized by the sparkle of the water in the lake.

"Katherine?"

"Kat," she corrected automatically, glancing back to Billy with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I'm a water baby."

"A healthier pass-time than most."

"I guess. I-"

"There you guys are."

She was cut off by Jason's voice and looked up to find him striding towards them. Her cheeks colored and she ducked her head shyly as he continued, his comments mostly aimed Billy's way. Was it her imagination or was he limping where he hadn't been that morning?

"I was starting to think you wouldn't be able to find her, Billy."

"A most distressing consideration," the genius boy replied dryly. "Fortunately, not the outcome."

He smiled at Katherine and strode away, leaving her with Jason. Jason dropped into a slow walk with her, directing her away from the Youth Center - which Billy had pointed out just ahead - and towards the park she'd been ogling. "So what were you two talking about?"

"Not much."

"Whatever it was, he seemed to have caught your attention."

"Or something I said caught his," Katherine replied with a shrug. "I was just telling him I'm a water baby."

"You like to swim?"

"More than most. My coach back home told me I was good enough for Pan Globals."

Jason whistled, impressed. "Kim's got aspirations that way for her gymnastics. Why didn't you go?"

"Dad had to move for his job - and we went with him."

Silence descended between them for a long minute as Jason led her onto the manicured pathways towards a bridge under overhanging trees - and stopped. He braced his forearms on the railing, staring out across the water. "Is there any way you could continuing your training here?"

"I guess," she hedged, mimicking his position. "But I don't know anywhere that has a high dive platform."

"The Youth Center's got one." Her head came up sharply to look at his expression - but Jason was staring out across the water, his expression pensive. "I'm sure Ernie wouldn't mind you using it to practice."

"I... I hadn't thought about continuing," she admitted, even as she couldn't deny the silent thrill his words had brought on. "But mom and dad said we should get settled before I put any serious thought into resuming my diving."

"Do you miss it?"

What kind of question was that? It was like asking if she missed breathing or eating... and Katherine bit back a sarcastic retort. Jason's inquisition was heartfelt and he'd only met her that morning; how could he possibly know just how important her diving was to her? What friends she had back in Australia knew... but her friends weren't here and Jason was.

"More than anything," she finally admitted softly, staring out across the water without really seeing it. She was unaware that Jason had turned his gaze her way and was drinking in her profile. "I haven't been on a board for more than two weeks and... in some ways... that's what I miss most about home."

"What do you mean?"

Her eyes took on a glazed look at his question. "People sometimes ask if I miss the smell of the air, or the way everyone sounds the same when it talk; but being without my diving... it's like... like..." she cast about for an appropriate comparison.

"I'll talk to Ernie for you."

Her gaze snapped to his. "You don't have to-"

"I want to. I can see how much you love it; how much you miss it." He smiled slightly. "That's how I'd feel if I couldn't do my martial arts. It's the least I can do if it will make you feel more at home here... and give you something familiar to do."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose-"

"It's not," he grinned impishly, tilting his head and his earring flashed in a sunbeam. "Besides, this way I can save the damsel in distress."

Katherine laughed, her cheeks heating as she turned her gaze back to the lake. "Again, you mean?"

"Until I can train you to save yourself."

They shared a laugh at his teasing before falling into a companionable silence. It took Jason shifting his weight, and Katherine catching a wince on his features from the corner of her eye, to break the silence. Hesitantly, she broached the topic.

"So... what happened to you all after lunch?"

"We didn't forget about you, if that's what you're worried about."

Her blush, still high from before, deepened and she didn't dare look his way. She had initially thought they'd forgotten about her. Who was she kidding? They were practically a matching sextet; what did they need her for? It wasn't as if they'd needed her before that morning and they wouldn't need her now. "I didn't say that you did."

"But you thought it." Jason ran a hand through his hair before shaking his head. "I know you haven't known us for very long, Kat, but we don't invite just anyone for lunch - especially someone new - and then leave them to fend for themselves. I'm sorry we left the way we did."

"What happened?"

"An... unforeseeable circumstance. Kim had an accident-"

"Is she alright?"

"It's not as serious as it first looked to be," Jason assured her. "But the nurse sent her to the hospital. Her mom couldn't get away, so I took her... and Trini tagged along. Tommy felt guilty because he felt it was his fault she'd been hurt and Zack came for moral support. Billy came too, but he returned to the school to ensure the Principal knew where we were - and to find you so you could join us at the Youth Center when school was over."

"Isn't Trini the only person who understands Billy?"

"Usually."

"Then why him?"

"He volunteered."

"Oh." It made her wonder why Jason hadn't volunteered; and why he was there now. Did he really want her company or was this just a circumstance that had thrown them together like the bullies this morning? Not wanting to make a nuisance of herself, she shifted to the real heart of the matter. "Is Kim really okay?"

Jason finally turned from looking out across the water to look at her completely. "She's fine. A little shaken up, but fine."

Katherine looked beyond him to where she could just barely make out the Youth Center through the trees. "Should I- I mean, I wouldn't want to intrude..."

"She thought I should explain after we so rudely deserted you. Can you forgive us?"

"Of course; it's what friends do."

"Friends." His lips shifted into that devastating half smile that made her heart thunder against her ribs - and yearn for something more than his friendship. "Let's go find the rest of ‘em, shall we?"