Power Rangers Zeo - Venusian Encounters, Heather Ray [best ebook reader for chromebook .txt] 📗

more than he realized at first.

Later, Billy fell in love. It was actually much like when he first met Trini. Beautiful, caring, brilliant Cestria walked into his life, determined to help him survive his rapid aging. Once again, Billy's heart was swept away. Only this time, he wasn't the clumsy, awkward school nerd. Instead, he was the respected, and even admired, scientist that aided the Aquitian Rangers on several occasions. For once, he could act upon the feelings within his heart, with far fewer feelings of inadequacy. And it paid off... for Billy learned that he had won Cestria's heart.

Now, Billy found himself alone. He knew his friends were there for him, and he knew it helped ease the pain. But, did he want it to be eased? Did he want to put Cestria out of his mind, and live on as if those months on Aquitar never happened?

No, he didn't. He cherished his time with Cestria, despite its tragic ending. With all his being, he didn't want to let go of that. He wouldn't allow himself to abandon Cestria's memory.

But... what about his own life? He couldn't live in the past... he learned that when his mother died. He had to move on, if for nothing else then for those he lost. But how would he move on? Could he love again?

The presence of Trini increased Billy's anxiety. He was very sorry that he was so cold to her, but he couldn't stand the emotions raging through his heart. His relationship with Cestria was so much like the relationship with Trini that monopolized his dreams years ago. He knew that, on some level, he still loved Trini. Yet, how much of that love was simply redirected from his love for Cestria, to help ease his pain? Or even more frighteningly, how much of his love for Cestria was redirected from his love for Trini?

Did he love Cestria because of how similar she was to Trini? And now that Cestria was gone, what feelings did he still have for Trini that were genuine?

Those questions scared the Silver Ranger. It made him tremendously guilty to think that he would be untrue to Cestria's love. But, how would that be defined? Did holding Cestria's memory as sacred include never loving another woman, ever again?

The guilt for even thinking of these things was overwhelming. He tried to smile, and desperately tried to just put those thoughts out of his mind just for this day, so he could enjoy it with his friends. Yet, each time he locked eyes with fair Trini Kwan, the guilt resurfaced.
Chapter Twelve

A day of shopping, laughs with old friends, sight-seeing, and carefree wandering was something Trini needed for some time. It had been quite a while since she felt so whole, being surrounded by those she loved the most. It was almost a dream come true. Almost.

When she came to Geneva, Trini knew she was leaving something special behind. She had to say goodbye to Kimberly, the closest girlfriend she ever had, and Billy, more like a kindred spirit than merely a friend. It was shattering to her sensitive heart to leave behind friends and family, but she did in order to work for a better world.

Yes, the work had been fulfilling. She truly enjoyed the challenge, with the goal of making the world a better place for everyone. Considering she was a girl who devoted herself to such events as park clean-up and regulation of pollution, it's not surprising that she found herself right at home in an organization designed to tackle such problems, along with other threats such as war and poverty.

However, the loneliness didn't really go away. Trini did manage to make quite a few friends, yet none were as innocent and open as Kimberly, nor as deep and sensitive as Billy. Not that she tried to replace them... yet they completed her in a way that no one else seemed to be able to do.

At first, Trini was comforted by the fact that she still had Zack and Jason, two of her closest friends. They were the only two whose friendship was similarly essential to her being. Yet, that didn't last, either. Jason returned to Angel Grove, and then Zack fell in love with Siham. Trini found herself, for all intents and purposes, alone.

Here, being with the four friends that were so vital to her, made her feel a joy that she hadn't felt in so long. A carefree, energetic happiness. The feeling of innocence reclaimed, of limitless possibilities. It was like the good old days... almost.

Everything would have been perfect, if it weren't for Billy's recent loss of his fiance.

Trini was still stunned by how much had happened to her close friend during her time in Geneva. He had actually been engaged! He had fallen in love with someone else. He was so close to marrying an alien woman, and never setting foot on Earth again.

It hurt Trini to think he would do such a thing without telling her. It hurt even more that, on some level, she was almost happy it didn't work out.

No, she wasn't being malicious. In fact, those feelings made her feel terribly guilty. How could she be happy that an innocent woman died long before her time? How could she be happy that her dear, dear friend had to suffer?

No, she wasn't

happy. She just wasn't as crushed as she would have been had it been, say, Jason's bride-to-be that died, or if something had happened to Siham. In this case, she had her chance yet again. She was given a second try, to open up to Billy, and attempt to forge a relationship between them.

Yet... did she dare? Wouldn't she be taking advantage of his loss, for her own sake? Wouldn't she be trying to win Billy while he was on the rebound?

Those were the questions that plagued Trini throughout the day's adventures, and by the evening, she had finally made a decision.

She was going to be honest. She was going to support Billy, just as she always had in their younger days. She would stand by him, helping him cope with his loss, and offering the young man her friendship, and her love.

She'd let him decide what he wanted to do with that love.

Chapter Thirteen

"Honey, I'm home!" Zack called, pushing open the ajar apartment door with his shoulder. His arms were filled with shopping bags and his eyes were overflowing with the kind of fathomless energy that made Zack Taylor famous amongst the delegates at Geneva's Peace Conference.

"Zack?" called a gentle, accented voice. Then, Siham stepped out of the kitchen, her dark hair pulled into leisurely braid and gold-frame glasses and a thick hardcover book in her hands. "Is it Christmas already?"

Zack's grin widened as he placed the bags on the ground and wrapped his petite fiance in a warm hug. Despite her demure personality, Siham couldn't prevent a giggle from escaping her as Zack lifted her into the air and spun around in a circle.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, her words obscured by her laughter.

"This has been the greatest

day of my life!" Zack bubbled, placing his fiance on her feet, "We went everywhere! Museums, the malls, the parks...! It was dynamite!!"

Siham smiled in amusement at his antics, and took a seat on the couch. Zack promptly sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"Well, I certainly hope you haven't done everything

already," Siham commented, "Aren't your friends going to be around for a few more days?"

"Yeah, we got it worked out," Zack answered, "We're going skiing! I know it's summer time and everything, but there's snow on these mountains all year 'round! But you know, some of the best times I had with the guys were just sitting around sipping on smoothies or watching tv. It's not like I have to do something with them to have a good time. Just being together is awesome."

"Then I'm glad they're here," Siham said, planting a kiss on Zack's lips, "Now, don't you think you should go back to them?"

"Well, everyone's getting ready for dinner," Zack replied, watching as Siham rose to her feet and leaned against the far wall, "Billy's in my shower now, so I have to wait anyway. I figured I'd stop by here and let you know the reservation's at seven."

Siham blinked her deep brown eyes. "Huh?"

Zack grinned. "I know how you like to have at least an hour to get ready..."

"Zack," Siham interrupted, shaking her head slightly, "I don't want to intrude. The five of you have been friends for years. I... I shouldn't tag along."

"Don't be ridiculous," Zack uttered, rising to his feet, "Kimberly and Billy are just dying

to get to know you, and you're already friends with Jason and Trini. And... I made reservations at your favorite restaurant..."

Siham's warm smile returned, informing Zack that his persuasive tactics had worked. Zack's grin returned, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, his lips meeting hers in a sweet kiss.

"I'll be back in an hour," he said, trotting happily towards the door.

"I'll be waiting," Siham responded, watching him leave.

As Zack closed the apartment door gently, and hurried back down the hall, only one thought echoed in his mind, bringing a wide smile to his already happy face. How did a guy like me wind up with an angel like her?

Chapter Fourteen