Streaks of Purple Saga Volume Four - Heather Ray (little red riding hood ebook txt) 📗

friend of yours. He also let me know that he and a group of mutual friends were with you on Halloween night. The monster had attacked near the Youth Center before most of the Trick or Treat groups even left, and you all retreated to the nearest monster shelter. Phones were out of service, and the children were panicking, so you all made sure they were as comfortable as possible until the fight was finally over, and it was safe to leave. Which was, I understand, just about midnight."

She took a moment to sip her cocoa. "Did I miss anything?"

Alexis cleared her throat, slowly recovering. "Jason told you all that?"

"Yes he did. The question is: why didn't you

?"

Alexis felt like the world was spinning. "I… tried, but you were just so mad, I didn't bother."

"I was angry that night because I was worried sick

!" Amanda stressed, "When I finally calmed down, it felt like I was walking on eggshells with you."

Amanda took a long sip of her cocoa. "I don't know what it is… but it just feels like you're slipping away from me."

Alexis pursed her lips.

"Maybe I'm hypersensitive… no, I know

I am… but it hurts me when you're so secretive. You stay out late, never call in, and give me excuses that I know aren't the whole truth. I'm… losing you."

At that moment, watching her mother fight for composure, Alexis almost told her the truth. The secrets were at the tip of her tongue, about her grandmother's coin, the Purple Ranger powers, even the Eaglezord… but she fought against the nearly overwhelming urge, and bit her tongue.

"I know you need your space… I was a teenager too," Amanda continued, filling the silence, "I remember feeling like I was suffocating. I'm trying

not to do that to you. And when I think about what I did to you by uprooting you from Philadelphia to live out here, I know you resent me for it."

"I don't!" Alexis interrupted in a sudden outburst. "I mean… I did… at first. It was a shock to my system, changing schools and moving to a whole different climate

, but I got over it. I just needed to find my place here."

She drew her thumb along the rim of the mug, watching the small white marshmallows melt into a sugary foam. "I'm sorry I was so inconsiderate. I guess I got so wrapped up in my Angel Grove life, I didn't pay enough attention to the life I brought with me."

The women exchanged a smile, without words accepting the apologies offered, and finally restoring the peace their household had been devoid of for some time. They sat in a comfortable silence, sipping their cocoa and just enjoying each other's company.

Finally, Amanda glanced at the clock, and swallowed the rest of her beverage in a harried gulp. "Well, that's enough dilly-dallying… your date will be here in less than an hour!"

Alexis choked on the mouthful of cocoa she was in the middle of swallowing. Struggling against the overwhelming urge to gasp in open shock, she forced down the beverage and stared at her mother, breathing heavily. "Date? What date?"

Amanda grinned slyly. "That boy Jason is really nice… I'm looking forward to meeting him."

That statement only confused Alexis more. "What?"

"After Jason had explained the situation on Halloween, he also requested that, in light of the circumstances, I reconsider grounding you. He was very respectful; he acknowledged that, as your mother, I'm within my rights to do as I see fit, but he noted that you'd been rather depressed the passed few days, and disappointed that you'd be missing the ball tonight."

Alexis felt the urge to pinch herself. "What does that have to do with the date?"

Amanda laughed openly at her daughter's shell-shocked stare. "He also let me know that he had been planning to pick you up tonight and take you to the ball. So if I let you go, I'd finally have the chance to meet one of your friends. He really is a charming young man, isn't he?"

Alexis was slightly dizzy. Wow… and Jase didn't think he'd be cut out for a Peace Conference! He made my mother do a 180 on my punishment in one

phone call!

Amanda leaned closer to her daughter, grinning widely. "Why haven't I heard anything about this Jason Scott before?"

When Alexis responded with startled sounds not even resembling speech, Amanda stood up and took her daughter's arm. "Tell you what, you get washed up and dressed, and then you'll tell me all about Jason as I do your hair and makeup?"

Tears sliding down her cheeks, Alexis leaped from her seat and caught her mother in a fierce hug. "Thank you, Mom!!"

Part Four

Forty-five minutes later, a red jeep pulled into the driveway. Taking a deep breath Jason slid out of the driver's seat, and tied the black cape over his shoulders. Settling his hat on his head, "Zorro" rang the doorbell.

Moments later, the door opened. "Jason, come on in."

"Hi, Mrs. Darling," he greeted, taking off the hat and bowing, "it's great to finally meet you."

She smiled at the chivalrous greeting, and shook his proffered hand. "Likewise. Would you like anything to drink? Alexis will be down in a minute."

"No thank you, I'm fine."

Amanda gestured to the sofa, and together they sat down. Jason felt Mrs. Darling's appraisal, and politely waited for the inevitable investigation to begin.

"I'm sorry, Jason… but this has been bothering me all afternoon. How

did you know where I worked?"

He grinned. "I asked Kim. She's been my friend since grade school, and she absorbs just about everything a person says. She's always my first stop for info. She told me you worked at First National Bank, so I just looked them up in the yellow pages and called each branch in the area until I found the right one."

Amanda nodded, clearly impressed. "There are over twenty branch offices in the county… that must've taken some time."

"I started with your house, and called each branch in order of distance. It was only the fourth call, so it wasn't too bad." He leaned forward. "I'm just really glad I got through."

Amanda considered the potential double meaning… was he referring to getting through by telephone, or getting through to her

and her sense of reason.

"Thanks again for reconsidering, Mrs. Darling," he continued, his face earnest. "We've been looking forward to this dance for a couple weeks, and we're all glad she'll be able to join us."

"You seem to have a tight knit circle of friends," Amanda noted.

"You really should meet them all. Kim's always planning some kind of activity. She organized the Trick or Treating so the local kids could be chaperoned and orderly, and she teaches step aerobics and runs a garden club. Trini's the nicest girl I've ever met, and she founded the Clean Up Club and other environmental programs at our school. Zack's always a lot of fun; he teaches some dance steps to kids, and puts on magic shows once in a while. Billy is a certified genius; not only does he get straight A's in A.P. courses, but he also tinkers in his garage lab. And Tommy's my best friend, he's a little shy, but he'd do anything for his friends. Plus he's our starting quarterback."

And in mere seconds, Jason had delivered a broad picture of who Alexis' new friends really were. Shaking her head in amazement, Amanda leaned deeper into her seat. "And what about you, Jason? What are you like?"

Jason obviously prepared for the question. "Let's see… I'm a junior, like Alexis and all the others, and I'm a fairly strong student. I'm on the football team, I lift weights, and I'm involved in school activities… mostly because either Kim or Trini plans most of them. After school, I usually work out in the Youth Center. I teach martial arts classes at no charge, usually with Tommy. We have beginner classes for the younger kids, and self-defense structured for the ladies in the community..."

Jason stopped in mid sentence, his eyes sliding passed Amanda to the stairwell. Amanda smiled fondly at Jason's expression, and hurried to get her camera.

"Hey, Jase," Alexis called as she descended the stairs. She wore the daringly-short linen dress that miraculously survived the nightmare with the Misfits, with pearly white stockings and satin sandals. The same wings hung from her back, catching the soft lighting above her to create the illusion of a natural glow.

Even though Jason had seen her costume on Halloween, he wasn't prepared for the transformation that had taken place.

Delicate fresh water pearls adorned her neck and wrist, and matching strands hung from her ears, nearly to the nape of her neck. Also, her bold red hair, typically hanging casually around her shoulders, was arranged in a graceful twist with frosted beads pulled through it. Her pale face was highlighted by shimmering makeup, giving her soft smile and emerald eyes an ethereal quality.

Alexis glanced away, a pleased blush collecting on her cheek. "Um… I think you're distracted again."

Jason suddenly realized he'd been staring, and grinned sheepishly. "Story of my life."

Before Alexis could ponder what else to say, her mother entered the room, fiddling with a camera. Amanda glanced up, and a tremulous smile lit her face. "You both look terrific!" she gushed, "Let's get some pictures before you go."

Alexis gave Jason a long-suffering look, but the tall man just grinned. "Sure. Do you want me with or without the hat and mask?"

"Both, actually."

"Mom…"

Alexis moaned.

Jason laughed outright. "Hey, what's the rush? Besides, I for one am pretty proud of this costume. I wouldn't mind a few shots."

Then, he rested his arm around Alexis' shoulders. The Purple Ranger felt her heart quicken at the near-embrace.

Eager to capture the utter perfection of the evening, Amanda insisted on trying different lighting, backgrounds, and orientations. She wasn't satisfied until she'd used up half the roll.

Alexis was itching to leave, but Jason was, once again, the perfect gentleman. "So, Mrs. Darling, what time would you like Alexis home?"

Amanda blinked, flabbergasted that he'd asked. "Her weekend curfew is midnight."

"You got it." He then tipped his hat again. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Darling. Maybe sometime soon the guys and I could come by? You'll really like them."

Amanda smiled as if inspired. "That's a wonderful idea! Yes, we'll do that."

Jason then opened the door, waited for Alexis to walk through, and closed it behind him.

The moment the door was closed, Alexis released long breath. "I'm really sorry about all that."

He waved dismissively. "Don't be…