My Best Friend

Chap 4 "A New Leader"

Mike's POV
I got the groceries list from Emily and went to the store with Mia. "So, why did we have to get out of the house?" I asked.
"Emily's onto our little secret," Mia replied as she looked at me. "Doesn't that bother you?"
"Emily's sixteen," I nodded. "It's kinda hard to get things past her."
"What is it you're not telling me, Mike?" Mia asked as she crossed her arms. "Mike, you have to tell me or things are going to get worse."
"Emily knows what love is when she sees is, Mia," I replied as I look at her. "There's no avoiding her without her knowing."
"You could've led with that, thank you," Mia replied. We got the groceries and started our walk back to the Shiba house. "So, are we telling her?"
"After or before she cooks?" I asked.
"How about during?" Mia asked. "I have a feeling we're all going to be in our bathrooms once we eat the food she makes."
"Which is why we do have a picnic basket set in my room," I smiled. "We can go out and eat at the park."
"It wouldn't be fair to the others," Mia nodded.
"Don't sweat it," I nodded. We got back to the Shiba house. Mia decided to go and practice some more. "So, what are you planning to make?"
"Soup," Em smiled as she opened the oven.
"Emily, I don't think soup -"
"Don't judge my recipe," Emily cut me off. I shrugged. "So, are you going to tell me what's going on or are you going to avoid my question too?"
Mia walked in and grabbed a bottle from the fridge. "We're going to tell you," I smiled.
"Okay, so, what's up?" Emily asked.
"Mike and I are together," Mia sighed. "We have been for the past eleven months. All those something's he had to do once, twice, or three times a week was because of me."
"I needed to spend time with my girlfriend," I smiled as I put my arm around Mia. "It was the only way you guys would let me leave."
"The only way Jayden would let you leave," Emily replied. "You knew his rules about dating but you ignored them. Why?"
"Sometimes you have to take risks for love," I smiled.
"Yet, somehow, you still ended up with a ranger," Emily nodded.
"That wasn't the plan at all," I nodded. "I didn't know her mom was the pink, and I didn't know she was going to take her place."
"And I didn't know Mike was the green ranger," Mia nodded. "I should've connected the dots when he brought me home, but I wasn't sure if it was true or not."
"Hey, Emily," Jayden nodded. "You can, uh, stop cooking."
"Why?" Emily asked.
"Antonio is making burgers," Kevin smiled walking in. Jayden left. "Lauren, Hayden's sister, she's here and we are welcoming her to the team." I looked at Kevin. "She's older than Jayden so that's why."
"Oh okay," Emily sighed turning off the stove. Kevin left. "Sorry you guys aren't going to eat soup."
"It's alright," Mia relaxed. "Next time."
"Definitely," I nodded.
"Well, I'm going to go and get changed," Mia smiled. "I'll meet you guys outside by the pad."
"Alright," I smiled. I went out to the pad. "Let's make this a real party after we eat."
"Here man," Antonio smiled handing me a plate.
"Thanks bro," I replied. I put ketchup on my burger. "It looks delicious."
"Lauren," I heard Mia state as she walked out of the Shiba house with Emily. "Perfect timing."
"Hey Lauren," I smiled as she sat down. "Good to see you."
"Here's a special burger for our new ranger," Antonio smiled as he handed her a plate.
"Thank you," Lauren responded.
I saw her morpher on the table. "Whoa," I replied grabbing it. "This is classic." I opened it. "I could write symbols like a master with this."
"I wouldn't go that far," Mia replied. "He has issues."
"This belonged to my father," Lauren replied as she took it from me. "He used it in his last battle."
"I'm sorry," I replied as Mia walked up next to me.
"It's okay," Lauren nodded. "You didn't know."
"It's really great to have another girl on the team," Emily smiled. "We should totally have a girl's day out."
"Yeah," Mia smiled.
"On a day we aren't scheduled," I whispered.
"Mike," Mia replied. "Stop."
Jayden walked out the front door with a bag and a box. "Hey, look who decided to join us," Antonio smiled. "Come on, Jayden. It's your sister's homecoming party."
"We have cake," Kevin smiled.
"Come on," Mia smiled.
After the intense silence, all smiles faded. "Jayden," Kevin stated. "What's wrong?"
Lauren made her way to Jayden and he met her halfway. "What's going on?" Mia asked as I put my arm around her.
"What's the deal?" I asked as Mia grabbed my hand. Jayden held up his box and opened it. He handed it to Lauren. Emily quickly stood up. "Please tell me -"
"Shh," Mia stopped me.
"You all need to follow Lauren now," Jayden started as he looked at us. "She's the new red ranger and your leader." Mia squeezed my hand. "I'm going away."
"What do you mean?" Mia asked.
"You mean on a trip, right?" I asked.
"I mean permanently," Jayden nodded.
We were all protesting. "Jayden, you can't go," Mia stood in front of the group. "You know how we all feel."
"I know, but Lauren alone has the sealing power," Jayden sighed. "She's able to do what I could never do. End this fight, bring peace. You all need to rally around her."
"We need you too," Antonio nodded. "Lauren, tell him." I looked at the siblings. "Well, go on. Tell him."
Mentor showed up at the door. "Mentor, what is this?" I asked. "Jayden's leaving. H-how could you keep this from us?" I looked at Mentor. "Come on. Make him stay."