Untold But Unforgotten (Taz/Up Fanfiction) EDITING PERIOD COMPLETE!

Chapter 5

            It had been six months since that eventful day, and a lot had changed. For one thing, Taz had gained a reputation. She was the toughest of all the students, and even most instructors. In combat class, no one wanted to go against her because they knew who would come out victorious.

For another thing, she had grown a lot closer to Up. They sat together at lunch and she went over nearly every night to hang out and watch a movie. Usually The Karate Kid as that was their favorite. The one thing Taz was afraid of, though, is the way she was beginning to feel when she was around him. The way she began worrying about how she looked when she went over, the way she'd almost lose herself in his blue eyes...

She was also a bit closer to Specs, when Up was busy, but Taz really thought that, while nice, Specs was a bit boring and annoying.

Now Taz was on her way over to Up's room, a box in her hand. She knocked on his door and it immediately flew open. "Hey, Taz!" Up said.

"Hey, Commander," she said. She had just heard he had been upgraded. He grinned.

"Yeah, well, you can't call me Teniente anymore, can you?" he chuckled.

She sighed, looking honestly disappointed. "No. Now jou are Comandante," she laughed.

Up sighed. "Of course." He looked at the box. "What's that?"

"A little congratulations for jou," she said with a smile, holding it out.

"You didn't have to-"

"Oh mi Dios muerto, just take it!"

Up smiled. "Alright! Alright!" He grabbed it and opened it. He laughed when he saw what it was. "Comandante Up," he read off the door plate she'd gotten him. "You know, I think they provide this for me, right?"

Taz shrugged. "Jes. But this one is personalized," she said with a smile.

"Thank you," Up said, leaning over and hugging her. He was the only person Taz would allow to hug her. Anyone else would get stabbed.

"So," Taz said, kicking the ground a bit. "I hear you're looking for a personal Lieutenant."

He nodded. "Yup."

"Got anyone particular in mind?"

Up sighed. "Taz, you know I'd love to make you my Lieutenant, but you've got to graduate first."

She looked at him with pleading eyes. "But I'm so close, Up! I am top in all of my classes but one! I just need to pass a Calculus exam and I can apply to graduate early!" she cried. He was the only person she'd ever whine to. Everyone else just thought she sucked it up and dealt with it.

After a moment of consideration Up grabbed a pad of paper and sat on the couch. "What are jou doing?" Taz asked suspiciously.

"Come sit down. I'm gonna teach you Calculus." Taz's eyes lit up. Then dimmed again.

She snorted. "Good luck with that."

"I don't need luck. I need you to come over here and sit down." She rolled her eyes and did as she was told.

Two hours later Taz was able to do problems without too big of a headache. "Thank jou, Up!" she said, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly.

"Can't…breathe!" Up gasped, laughing. Taz let go and hit him over the back of the head.

"I'm going to go and ask my Calculus teacher if I can retake the midterm. I'll see jou later, Comandante," she said. "And thank jou, again." With that she pecked him on the cheek and ran out the door, too elated to realize what she'd done.

Up laughed slightly when she ran off. Taz was just so... bubbly. He wished she was willing to show that side of herself to the world, but knew why she couldn't. She had a reputation to uphold, and reputation equals respect. He was the same way.

He touched his cheek where she'd kissed him. He knew that it was just her excitement, but still his skin burned. He had realized it within the first few weeks she was there. He had learned the reason why he was willing to leave dozens of party guests and two of his fellow Rangers to the robots to save her.

Up loved her.

There was no getting around it. Taz was closer to him than anyone else ever had been. Her smile, her laugh, her eyes, her voice... it was all beautiful and amazing. But Up knew that if he brought up any of this then she'd probably punch him, and their friendship wouldn't ever be the same. He couldn't risk that. It was going to kill him, but he had to keep this to himself.

He loved her too much to love her.