My Best Friend

Chap 9 "Fears & Parting Ways"

Mia's POV
"It's called therapy," I sighed. "Come on guys." We walked into the common room. "Antonio, we won't let you quit. We all have fears." I looked at Mike. "But we're going to teach you how to beat them. It's called aversion therapy." I smiled. "Jayden's going to go first. He has a fear of spiders."
"Yeah, I'm fine with them," Jayden replied. Emily picked up a small round container that had a lid. Jayden held out his arm and Emily opened the container; allowing a spider to crawl up Jayden's arm. "See? A Samurai can overcome any fear."
"Mike here, hates enclosed spaces," Kevin replied. "Come on."
Mentor Ji opened the closet and Mike stares at it. "Seriously?" Mike asked. "It looks pretty cramped in there."
"Come on Mike," Mentor Ji smiled.
They basically had to push Mike into the closet. "I don't know, guys," Mike replied. "I'm thinking this isn't such a good idea."
"It's for Antonio," Mentor nodded as he closed the door.
"Help!" Mike yelled.
It hurts me hearing Mike yell for help because he is rarely like that. "Watch this," I smiled. I held a frog in front of Emily. "Frog's make Emily's skin crawl."
"But maybe a kiss will turn him into prince charming," Emily said, still doubting it. She kissed the frog. "Ewww! Yuck...see?"
Kevin put a fish in front of Antonio and he was scared. "Antonio, you've touched thousands of fish before this," Kevin sighed. "All you have to do is put your hand on this one." I shrugged. "Alright, wanna talk scary?" Kevin held up a bowl. "Emily cooked this. Now, I'll even take a bit of this..." Kevin gagged a little. "...if you touch the fish." Kevin looked at the food. "Rangers together, right?" Antonio nodded as he put his hand up. "One, two, three."
As soon as Kevin took a bite Antonio said, "I can't do it."
"Alright, you want the easy way out," I nodded. Mentor let Kevin out of the closet, I got the spider off of Jayden, and released the frog outside. "Okay. Antonio, what is wrong with the fish?"
"I don't know," Antonio shrugged.
"Let me see your hands," I sighed. He held out his hands in front of me. I put my hands behind me and Mike secretly put the fish in my hand. "Okay, I don't see anything but -" I put the fish in his hands. "- a fish."
"Hey, you're right," Antonio smiled. "I touched the fish."
"You're welcome," I smiled.
"Alright, I hate to tell you this but since you defeated Xandred, you're all free to go," Mentor nodded. "Go and pack up."
"Alright," I smiled. I went to my room and packed the two bags I got there with. "I didn't really need much." We all met everyone in the common room but Jayden didn't have his bags. "Staying here?"
"For now," Jayden nodded.
"Hey Jayden," Antonio smiled walking in. "I have scored the golden ticket. Around the weekend fishing expedition." I smiled. "This is a trip of a lifetime. I'm gonna catch fish nobody's ever heard of."
"Sounds fishy," Emily smiled. "In a good way."
"How about you Emily?" Jayden asked.
"I'm going to the culinary academy," Emily smiled.
"Thank you," Mike whispered.
"No comment," Emily smiled at Mike.
Mike let out a chuckle. "I didn't say anything," he replied.
"Well, I can take a hint," Emily nodded. "But I'm gonna study hard so when Antonio comes back with his rare and exotic fish, I'll turn it into a gourmet cuisine."
"Kevin, are you going back to the swim team?" Jayden asked.
"Well, I just caught up switch my coach the other day and I just barely have enough time to train for the Olympic qualifying tournament," Kevin smiled. "It's definitely going to be hard work but I -"
"But if anyone could do it, you can," I smiled.
Everyone agreed. "Thanks guys," Kevin nodded. "What about you Mia?"
"Oh. No major plans," I smiled. "Just excited I get to go home and take care of my mom." I nodded. "There's no other place I'll rather be than home with family."
"Mike," Emily smiled. "Tell him where you're going."
"I'm actually going to go with Mia," Mike smiled. I write my bracelet on my left and he wore it on his right. He held my hand and that just made everything perfect. Antonio was surprised just as Jayden. I giggled at Jayden's expression. "What? You know, in case she needs help moving her stuff."
Everyone laughed. "Sounds fun," Jayden nodded.
"Right, the moving man," Kevin nodded. "Whatever you say."
"Actually, we've been together for a year already," I nodded. "So, it feels good for things to do back to normal and now we don't have to hide or relationship."
"Well, come on," Jayden smiled. "Mentor's waiting."
We walked outside. Mike still holding my hand. "So, what are you guys going to do?" Mike asked.
"Haven't really thought about it," Jayden sighed. "For the first time in my life, I'm done with my Samurai duties." I nodded. "For now, anyways."
"My place is here," Mentor replied. "Shiba house must always be ready for the next nighlok attack. Even if it never comes."
"Well, if there's any trouble, you have my number," Antonio smiled holding his samuraizer. He held it to the sky. "Rangers together."
The rest of us held ours up too. "Samurai forever," we smiled.
We left the house. "We'll send you a text when we get home," Mike smiled. He held my hand and we started walking. "What's wrong?"
"I didn't think my time as a Samurai would be so short," I sighed. "But I know that I'll be happy knowing that you're not running off without me."
"Because we're both rangers?" Mike asked.
"Of the same force," I smiled. "We'll always have the same mission." I looked at Mike. "But that's not the thing about our duties being over. We can actually have a normal relationship now."