Dark Side {Tommy Oliver}

Chapter One: The New Guy

Talia

I'd been taught many things in my sixteen years of life, for example, talking to boys. Nope. I had no clue. Boys and dating never accorded to me until high school and even between that and being a power ranger in secret. I had no time for those kinds of things. I hardly had friends because of it, my best friend was Emma, who was a ranger alongside me.

Yellow of course. Her favorite color and the one that describes her best, a bright person with an even brighter outlook on life. My best friend forever kept everyone on the team level headed and calm. How she does it I cannot tell you. She's like a sunflower, extremely rare but extremely beautiful and loyal. Even her hair is as light as she is.

As for me I took my fathers place as the red ranger, the leader, it represents my passion and rage, I feel too much of it. Rita Repusla, the witch, killed my parents when I was two. So naturally she has to pay. Unfortunately, my guide, Zordon says we have to take her down the right way. Whatever that means. I understand what he's trying to say and my dreams of revenge have died. But that doesn't mean I don't crave justice for my parents. They fought bravely and hard in their last moments. Like Zordon said and I believe him. Thankfully my parents didn't leave me as an only child, my little brother Jason who is only a year younger than me. Is also a power ranger, the black one, like his moody personality. It's also his favorite color because it's quote 'mysterious and scary' although nothing about Jason King is scary. He'll say he's the most feared by Rita's monster, but we all know that's a huge lie. Anyways, as much as being a ranger affects my life I wouldn't change it for a thing. It's the only thing I've ever known. I can't tell anyone because I'm supposed to keep my identity a secret, so is everyone else. Also, we cannot use our powers for personal gain and never escalate a battle unless Rita forces us too. Three simple rules that Zordon gave us and are easy to follow. I'd known them for years.

Unlike Jason and my friends who got offered the job a few months ago. I'd known about this part of my parents' lives for years. My brother wasn't very happy that I never told him, I did it to protect him, I knew my parents would do the same if they were still around. Granite he's old enough to know the truth but still. I'm his older sister. It's kind of my job to keep him safe. If I didn't, what kind of sister would I be?

My little brother always did reckless things. Karate was one of them. He could get into a pretty good fight and finish one. That happens more than you think. Although recently the fighting has died down a little. Instead of getting into fights he does competitions, a good way to get all his energy out. Unfortunately, I worry he's going to hurt himself; he's done that too. Not having parents makes it ten times worse. My anxiety shoots through the roof when Jason competes. I just don't want him to get hurt.

Emma's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Focus your mind as well as your body."

"Thanks guys, but uh I think I'm gonna need all the help I can get." He gestured to the guy across the room. His moves and reflexes were quick, and he seemed to be really pumped.

"Man, that dude is pumped, who is he?" Tyler asked.

"I don't know," Emma replied. "Probably some new kid in school."

"He's really cute." I said out loud. Everyone looked at me.

What? It's true, it's not just his face. Oh no no, everything about him. Body, hair, the whole shebang. His hair was long but not too long. I could stare at him for hours and never get bored. Plus, if he was as skilled at karate as he looked, well...

I snapped out of it as the competition started, both of them fought well, my brother didn't suck I'll give him that. Winning was his target as always. Que my uninterested eye roll. Anyways, neither of them won in the end, it ended in a tie.

"You did good."

"Yeah, but I didn't win." Jason muttered.

"Oh, come on, Jason, karate is the dignity in spirit in which you compete is most important."

He simply nodded. "I'm gonna catch a shower and then meet you guys at the juice bar."

"Hey, Talia, are you coming?"

Tyler and the others left after Jason did. I kind of ignored Emma and the others. Staring at this...new guy. Sure, me and Emma talked about boys, but I've never seen such a beautiful person in my life.

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" She pointed out.

"You can say that again."

"Maybe you'll catch him in school tomorrow."

She was right, plus staring was rude and I was raised with good manners.

~*~

School was boring, I hated it, when I could be spending my days at the command center. Training, learning/reading the ranger codex. No instead at this horrible place, more like prison, because my aunt insisted Jason, and I have normal upbringings. Especially me, because I've always hated school. Obviously, I had good grades otherwise my Morpher would've been good as gone. My aunt and uncle knew my parents were rangers. My uncle was too, he was my mother's brother and was there for the final battle against Rita when she murdered my poor parents. It was a hard subject for us to talk about. I'm still unsure of whether the story he told us was true or not.

Truth be told a lot of the others I could tell resented us for having ranger parents. Tyler was the biggest. He was the largest of the group, tallest too, with dark skin and curly black hair. But I don't think he realized that me and Jason didn't enjoy being orphaned. Despite having as much freedom as we do. Tyler's mom was always on him about schoolwork. He hated it but it was good for him otherwise he would be like Jason.

Emma always just said I was lucky or whatever. She hardly had anything mean to say anyway. That's were me and her are very different. 

Sam or Samantha but we call her Sam. Is the pink ranger, easily forgotten because she's so quiet and introverted. Short brown hair and brown eyes, she's the simplest girl on the team. Although I think she's prettier than me. And nicer.  Then again, a lot of people are nicer than me.

Suddenly Jason texted me, saying he was gonna go to the youth center to practice his karate. He'd gotten over not winning the other day. My brother looks almost identical to my father, the same hair, eye color, most of their physical features are identical. Although my uncle says Jason is a little taller than my dad was. I however look like mom, almost exactly like her expect my head's a little bigger. And my hair's slightly darker. 

These hallways were always crowded with people. Now I really wished I was at the command center. 

Suddenly I bumped into someone, and I almost dropped my books. A tall person. A very tall and handsome someone.

"Oh, my I am so sorry." I said, then I got a good look at the person's face. It was the guy from the competition that Jason fought. "You're the guy from the other day."

"I am?"

"You fought my brother, Jason."

Realization crept onto his face. "Oh, that's where I've seen you before."

"I'm Talia by the way."

"Tommy." Even his name was pretty. "I'll see you around, Talia."

Now was my chance. "Wait, you wanna get together with me and some friends after school, you know nothing major, just hang out at the youth center?"

He smiled. Holy crap. "That sounds cool."

Suddenly he left and I breathed a sigh of relief. A girl could only take so much hotness from one person, am I right? Any who, I had time to gawk later, now I needed to get to class. Long after our short interaction had ended, I was still thinking about him.