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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Kimberly Hart has never had overly expensive taste, but when she saw that goddess bralette with the matching skirt she just had to have them. So she did what any financially responsible teen would do. 

Begged her parents for it. 

But when her mother laughed in her face at the request to buy her the $1000 plus combination outfit Kim knew she needed a different approach. 

-

"Mom, please." 

"Kimberly, please." Akshita mocked continuing to flip through her magazine. 

"MoooOoom!" 

"KiiiiIIim!"

"Mommy, please."

"Mommy?" Akshita repeated surprised, "Wooow. We're pulling out the big guns here, huh?"

"Come on, mom, pleeeeassseeee?"

"Kimberly, did I not just buy you a car?" 

"But that was-!"

"Uh, uh, uh,” the older woman chided, “I didn't ask when, I asked you whether or not your father and I bought you a car."

"Yeah, but that was like a year and a half ago!"

"Look, if you reeeally want, we can sell the car and you can get your little outfit. I am perfectly fine with you taking the bus to and from school everyday. But, I refuse to buy you a twelve hundred dollar outfit, especially after we just replaced your cell phone. For the third time, might I add. And not to mention, the natural four hundred dollar increase that comes with adding you to our car insurance, and the fact that we provide you with gas money. A car or the outfit. Pick one, you can't have both. Not in this economy."

"Can't have both of what? Regardless of the current, state of the economy our little girl can have anything she wants." Kimberly’s father, Ted Hart, questioned emerging from the kitchen and pausing before adding, "Well, anything within reason that is. It’s not like the economy is the same as it was when this was originally started in 2017…or 18? Gosh, I miss when gas was $2.16 a gallon...if it goes back I’ll never complain again.” He reminisced to himself sipping his tea. 

"Well I don't know how ‘in reason’ it is, but your daughter just asked for twelve hundred dollar outfit." Akshita exposed not even looking up from her magazine. 

Her dad choked on the tea, spluttering when he heard the high price, "Twelve hundred dollars? Does it wash itself?"

"For twelve hundred dollars it better." Her mom scoffed indignantly turning the page. 

"Okay, how about I get a job, and we go fifty-fifty?" Kim asked earning side eyes from both her parents, "sixty-forty?"

"Aren't you going to college soon?" Ted pointed out stirring his tea before taking another sip. 

"Okay, fine seventy-thirty." Kim huffed crossing her arms over her chest. 

"No, I mean, you're going to college next year, I think you should be saving your money, Kimberly." He explained taking a seat on the couch next to his wife. 

Her mother nodded in agreement, "I agree. Because who knows what might happen in college, or where you might go that you’ll need money. And not to mention, textbooks are quite expensive, as is everything else when you're no longer a child." Tears. Real life tears. 

"That’s so true, your mother’s right. I think you should just take a second to think about this Kimmy, this is a-"

"What? Wait, wait, wait." Kim closed her eyes placing her fingers on her temples, "You guys are acting like I'm planning on having a baby, I just want an outfit." 

"That is a decent a point, after all, it is just an outfit." Akshita nodded closing her magazine and tossing it on the coffee table.

"Thank yo-"

"But. I want to see it. Because if it's just an outfit, why does it cost so much?" 

"It's Versace..." Kim explained biting her lip. 

Akshita narrowed her eyes in thought, just staring at her daughter, who was now squirming under her scrutinizing gaze, before asking: 

"How in the hell are you and Amanda friends again?" 

"Yeah, I thought all your materialistic tendencies went away when you two stopped being friends." Ted nodded taking another sip out of his mug. 

Kim scoffed rolling her eyes, "I am not materialistic."

"Yeah. Not anymore." Her dad chuckled earning a light whack on the shoulder and a chide from his wife. 

“That’s hardly helpful.”

"Daaaaad!" Kimberly protested making him laugh harder into his mug. 

"Ted, stop. But, why do you even want this outfit? Are you trying to impress someone at school? Kim you don't need material items to make frien-"

"No, it's not that. I have friends. I just saw it, and I liked it, and I think it would look really good on me, and it's on sale, for twelve hundred dollars..."

"It's on sale?!" Her parents incredulously asked in unison. 

"Okay if it's on sale, how much is it regularly?" Akshita asked almost scared to hear the answer. 

"Eighteen hundred dollars..?"

"Eighteen hun-oh my god," Her dad put a hand on his face sighing, "What did we do to our daughter?" 

"Well I’m not exactly sure, but I'd bet that eighteen hundred on it being the whole 'our little girl can have anything she wants' mantra." Akshita smiled sarcastically at a now sheepish Ted. 

Kim pursed her lips looking around, "I'm still here you know," 

"Oh honey, we know."

"Yeah trust me no-cash cow. We know." Her dad nodded making her give him a look. 

"So how'd it go with the parents? Is it coming soon?" Zack asked as they entered the cafeteria. 

"I wish. They said no." 

"Damn, that sucks. You would have looked great in that outfit, but hey, shits expensive."

"Yeah I know. My parents made sure I understood that.” She rolled her eyes at the memory, “My dad even called me a 'no-cash cow.'"

Zack threw his head back laughing, "Oh, that's funny, the 'no-cash cow.' That's actually great...you know what? I’m making it your new contact name."

"Wow Zack, I'm so glad you find joy in my father making fun of me." Kimberly deadpanned as he typed it in on his phone. 

"Listen, I'm sorry you can't get your outfit so you can be all sexy for your girlfriend and what not, but, that's a problem for you sexual beings to figure out." 

She shot him a look as said girlfriend came over to the table engrossed in yet another fruitless debate with Jason, Billy following the two in tow. 

"Frank Sinatra is the GOAT and would outsell Bon Jovi any day of the week. Shit, he'd outsell Billy Joel too." Jason shrugged sitting down next to a slightly sulking Kimberly. 

"What? Okay first of all, Living on a Prayer, and Uptown Girl are probably the two best songs of the eighties." Trini scoffed taking her own seat on the other side of Zack, "And if you released either of those songs, and Pennies From Heaven this year, Bon Jovi would not only steal all his sales, but make the song flop."

"Are you kidding me? That is-what? Are you on crack?" Jason asked in disbelief, "Frank would kill Uptown Girl in like a week! That song isn't even good! You heard a cover of it and now you like it, so you can really miss me with that shit. But you know what? I'm not gonna lie Living on a Prayer would put up a fight. But it's Sinatra. The ultimate GOAT He's a legend."

"Yeah? Well JBJ's a living legend, you can't beat that."

"You know what? I think that’s irrelevant and that we need a third party opinion."

"Count me out." Billy should his head putting his hands up in surrender. 

"Kim, Living On a Prayer, or Pennies From Heaven?" Jason asked looking at the confused girl expectantly. 

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Ugh, you're no help. Za-"

Zack put a hand up effectively cutting the boy off, "If it's ridiculously white, or before 1995, I probably don't even know what your talking about." He shrugged. 

"Come on Kim, your dad's white. You know Living On a Prayer. Pennies From Heaven? Frank Sinatra? Please." Jason begged desperate for support. 

"Yeah, no, I know Living On a Prayer. And you don't have to be white, I'd say most people know that song, Jason. But that other one," she shook her head pausing, "I have no idea."

"Ha! In your face, Scott!" Trini cheered pointing at a now fumming Jason, "Thank you for further proving my point, Kim." 

"I don't know what I did, but your welcome I guess." 

"Honestly, it doesn't even matter. It would never happen anyway." Jason shrugged. “Trini’s just mad because Frank is very obviously the superior artist.”

"Are you fuc-square up, Jason." 

"So, guys!" Zack started, trying to divert attention from the impending beat down between the yellow and red Rangers, "Kimberly finally asked her parents for that bralette skirt set."

"Oh yeah? When's it coming?" Jason asked taking his sandwich out of his backpack, "I swear, my dad would kill me if I ever asked him for a thousand dollar piece of clothing; but I’m sure your parents just handed you their most accessible credit card.”

"It’s hella girly so after getting over the initial cost my mom would be okay. I don't think she'd get it because, you know, priorities, but she's be super happy I asked." Trini mused before looking at over to Kim, "So how'd it go?"

"As opposed to the apparent common belief that I get whatever I want whenever I want, they-" Kim started, immediately getting cut off. 

“Well do you not?" Jason interrupted surprise evident on his face. 

"First of all, chew with your mouth closed. Second of all, no, I don't thank you very much. And third of all," she paused, sighing disappointedly, "they said no." 

"Aw, I'm sorry Kimberly, I know you really wanted that outfit set." Billy smiled sympathetically, "Maybe you could get a job, that what I did when I needed pieces to build my robot."

"That's it. A job. Why didn't I think of that?" 

"Because you get whatever you want literally whenever you want it?" Zack elaborated questioningly. 

"Fuck you guys, I'm not even spoiled." Kim huffed, "Except Billy. He's cool. And he gave me an idea." She smiled high fiving the boy. 

"Wait a second..." Trini furrowed her eyebrows remembering gossip from the previous year, "didn't you get a car before you even had a license?"

"Aren't you on like your third phone since we became Rangers six months ago?" Zack smirked raising an eyebrow. 

"And wasn't all of your your wardrobe that wasn't cheerleading uniforms designer when you and Amanda were still friends? And I mean even your workout gear," Jason pointed out before shrugging cheekily, "Come on Kim, you know Gucci doesn't grow on trees." 

"And neither does money." Zack added, fist bumping the red clad boy. 

"I swear, Billy's my only real friend here. I'm clearly down right now, and all you guys are doing is attacking me on how I used to be spoiled." Kimberly shook her head wiping a fake tear. 

“Used to be,'’ Zack mouthed to Jason making the other boy snort. 

"Yeah, keyword, guys. I got your back." Trini nodded wrapping a protective arm around the girl's waist. 

"How?"

"I just resurfaced gossip. I was quite literally asking if you got a car before your license." Trini explained before adding, "Also, I know where you can get that job. And if I have any say, you can get it by today." 

"Trin-?" Mr Gomez stopped in his tracks upon seeing the unexpected visitor in his store, "You brought a guest."

"Dad, this is Kimberly." Trini introduced, "Kimberly, this is my dad." 

Kimberly smiled awkwardly as the man shook her hand. It's not everyday your girlfriend brought you to her father's shop and said father had no idea about your relationship. "Hi, Mr Gomez." 

"Please, call me Kwan. How are you doing, Kimberly," he smiled looking over to Trini before regarding her with a different, more surprised expression, "Well, I've heard a lot about you, Kimberly. All good things of course. But what brings you to my store?"

"Kim needs a job." 

"A job you say, huh?" He narrowed his eyes apprehensively, surveying the girl before snap pointing to his daughter, "Speaking of jobs, it’s time for you to do yours. Get your apron and head over to aisle four for me? Mr Johnson is over there, and he needs a hanger bolt with a wing nut for his hedge clippers, but he's a confused wreck. But I'm warning you, those things are old and rusted, so don't you touch them."

"Should I just convince him to get a new pair?"

"That's my girl." He grinned ruffling her beanie and watching her walk off before turning back to Kim eerily serious, "What are your intentions with my baby girl, Kimberly?

"I'm sorry, what?" She blinked confused by his sudden change in demeanour. 

"What, do you want, with my daughter? I know you two are sneaking behind my wife's back. But not my back. You know why? Let me spell it out for you, because she tells me everything. And you want to know why that is? It’s because girl, all three my kids really, are the source of my pride and joy, did you know that, Kimberly?"

"I-"

"Are you even gay, Kimberly? Or queer? Hm? Are you?"

"I-wh-ye-wait-I-hold on." Kim sputtered pausing to think carefully about her next words, "With all due respect sir, why would I be dating her if I wasn't at least queer? Granted, I'm bi, but still, it doesn't make any sense."

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, Kimberly. I don't want you hurting my little girl. I know she has this rough and tumble exterior, but really, she's fragile, Kimberly. She needs to be handed with care. Not that I want you handling her so to speak. But after what you did to Amanda Clark, I'm gonna be honest with you Kimberly, I don't trust you. Not even a little bit.” She sighed inwardly at that statement. While she knew that story would follow her as long as she stayed in Angel Grove she was sadly surprised her reputation preceded her even with Trini’s parents, “I swear, if you hurt my daughter you’re gonna have to answer to my sister, the only person who takes more pride in Trini than I do. And if you think I'm scary, you'd hate to meet her. So just, don't. You understand what I'm trying to say, Kimberly?"

"Yes." She squeaked feeling a wave of relief when she saw Trini coming back having ditched her yellow bomber for a red apron that matched her dad’s. 

"Great! You’re hired!" Mr Gomez smiled reverting back to his cheery demeanor upon Trini's arrival, "Trini. Tell me what happened with Johnson." He crossed his arms over his chest subtly lowering his head to give her an ear. 

"Well, he said he doesn't like needles, and we all know what happens when rusty metal breaks skin." She trailed off shrugging nonchalantly. 

"New?" 

"As an employee." Trini nodded. 

"Yes! You go morrita! You're on a roll!" He cheered palming her head shaking it around affectionately, "Employee of the month. Again.”

"What about Jose and Cletus?" 

"Do Jose or Cletus have the highest sales of the month?" 

"I don't know," Trini shrugged, "I don't do the books." 

"Ah, speaking of, that can be your job Kimberly." Kwan snapped pointing in her direction, "Because excuse me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming you don't have any mechanical experience slash tool or part knowledge?" 

"I wouldn’t really call it an assumption, sir. I barely know a wrench, from a..." Kim furrowed her eyebrows thinking of another tool, "from a…"

"Yup, I got all I need from that analogy, you’re on books." He nodded somewhat dismissively, "But listen, when Jose and or Cletus have the highest sales of the month, they can be employee of the month. But until then, my baby girl is the reigning champ."

"Daaaaad," Trini complained discreetly nodding her head over to Kimberly. 

"Oh I'm sorry, mijita, I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of your brand new coworker." He teased. 

"Wait, I actually got the job?" Kim asked surprised. 

"Yeah, I wasn't kidding when I said your hired. Trini, get her an apron to write her name on so she can get to work."

As Kimberly neared her second month of working in Trini's dad's store, she noticed a couple things. Like a lot of Trini's mannerisms and phrases stem from her dad. And that Jose, her cousin had a baby mama who he often called "crazy" but in reality, she just wanted him to spend more time with his family. Her name was Veronica, and she came in a couple times a week. Kimberly had managed to befriend the woman and she was glad she was on her good side rather than bad. Because Jose was definitely on her bad side and Kimberly would hate to be there with him.  

She also learned Cletus was an odd ball of sorts, being a high school dropout, and die hard Trump supporter (though the more she thought about it, it wasn’t that odd as the two generally coincide) who very ironically ended up working for Trini's dad despite actively claiming ‘Mexicans are taking all the jobs.’ Despite her being basically everything he hates in one, that being a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a person of colour, he seems to be enamored with Trini no matter how many times a, her father threatens him, and b, even more importantly, how many times she rejects him. And if that wasn’t annoying enough, he also hit on Kim just about every time he saw her. 

“What’s up, Kim?" A voice greeted from behind her making her shudder. Just the way he said her name made her feel dirty. “Looking good, girl.” 

"Cletus." She rolled her eyes hoping he didn't want to make conversation. But this was Cletus, of course he wanted to make conversation. 

"Did you see the news last night? That stupid bitch Liz Cheney is back on her lying shit again. That idiot committee is back on their lying shit again. Those got damned Democraps stole our election and are trying to steal our country and destroy our democracy. At least the Supreme Court is doing something right. Stopping all those whores from getting their whorbortions and killing all those poor defenseless babies. Trump was just tryna make our country great. Why can't they just let a great man, a great leader, like our founding fathers before us, be great?"

"Cletus, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, we are by no means having this conversation." Kimberly shook her head taking inventory. "And Liz Cheney's a Republican. You know that right? Like her dad was literally vice president under the second Bush and an instrumental part of America’s involvement in the Iraq war. Dick Cheney. Look it up. Pretty sure they called him that cause he was a giant dick.” 

"I don’t know about none of that but I do know I have a giant dick.” He smirked thinking that was clever word play. “Hell yeah,”

Kim sighed shaking her head as she tried to stay focused, “Walked right into that one. Okay, I don’t know how to be any more clear about this: go away.” 

“Oh come on Kim, I'm just trying to make small talk. You rather talk about the wall? And keeping all those damn Mexicans out?" He offered shrugging his shoulders and holding up his arms. 

Kim paused looking over to him, "You do realize your boss is Mexican, right? You know, the one that keeps you employed and pays your salary? Not to mention Trini and Jose, his daughter and nephew."

"Yeah, and Mr Gomez and Trini are good Mexicans. But Jose? We need to keep those ones out."

She furrowed her eyebrows, "What has Jose ever done? He’s literally so nice. And he’s cool. I’m not quite sure what he does to make Veronica so upset, which I feel like its out of character for her because normally she’s super cool but overall, so is he. What’s your point?”

"That girl," he shook his head, "it's a damn shame how he treats her fine ass. But between you and me, I'd fuck that girl. Even if she is Mexican."

"Well I guess you're in luck, because not only would she never ever in this life or the next, fuck you anyway, she's not actually Mexican." Kimberly rolled her eyes diverting her attention back to the shelves. 

"She's not?" He asked excitedly. 

"Nope." Kim shook her head popping the 'p', "Columbian."

"Damn it!" He cursed slapping his thigh, "She's probably illegal too."

"Cletus, don't talk to me." She sighed turning on a heel to go check another aisle. 

"But you're white, you're the only one who understands." He insisted following her. 

She stopped in her tracks facing him, "Half. I'm half white. I’d like to think my Indian ancestry, is very visible and I don’t understand how you could ever make that mistake. And I do not and will never understand. People cannot be illegal, there's no such thing as a 'bad Mexican,' and once again, you're racist trash, don’t talk to me." She explained before turning back around to continue her job. 

"Oh come on, you don't mean that."

"Cletus, stop harassing my girlfriend and get back to work." A new voice scolded as Kim found herself finally able to take notes on what parts and tools needed to be restocked and or ordered in peace. 

"Trini, baby, as usual, ya looking fine. How are you doing today?" Cletus asked, sending his most charming smile  (which was way more creepy than charming) her way. 

"Cletus, I'm not kidding, leave her alone and go do something productive. Like I don’t know, flinging yourself off a cliff." Trini crossed her arms over her chest unfazed by his advances. 

"Oh, Trini you wound me baby.” Cletus said clutching his chest, “But it hurts so good. Come on, you're cute. I'm cute. Just one date."

"Okay one...ew. I may be cute, you’re right about that, you're definitely not. And two, I have a, let me spell it out for you girl-friend. Who's standing right behind you." She counted on her fingers before pointing over his shoulder to an agitated Kim. 

"That's cool. She's also pretty hot so she can come too. You know, get a little threesome action going on? Yeah?” He wiggled his eyebrows nodding lewdly, "Shit, if you're down, I'm down."

“I’ll put you down,” 

“Why do have to be like that? I try so hard! What do I have to do to get you and her on my body?” He whined not noticing as Mr Gomez passed stopping on his tracks as he caught wind of what Cletus was saying. 

"Cletus, despite all the racist shit you say, you're relatively a good employee. And once my sons are old enough to work, which will be soon, your ass is out of here. Don't make me kill you before then. Because I love my wife and kids and while I'd hate to be separated from them, I’d do anything to ensure their safety. And that includes from creeps like you. So if I ever, and I mean, ever hear you say anything that vulgar to my very underaged daughter or her equally underaged girlfriend again, so help me God you’ll be pushing up daisies by this time next week. Do you understand me?"

"Sir, yes, sir." Cletus nodded, knowing damn well he was probably going to do it again.

"Good. Because you’re playing Russian roulette right and let me tell you, this gun is just as loaded as the one in my trunk. Don't test me, boy. And you, I don’t need you doing my job. I’ve got it covered. Now, both of you," he barked wagging a finger in Trini and Cletus’ directions, "get back to work! Now! Good job, on that inventory, Kimberly."

"Thanks Mr Gomez, I'm trying my best." Kim responded not looking up from the book. 

“That’s all I ask.” His voice retreated to his office before she heard the door shut behind him. 

And days went on similar to this pretty much all the time. But on the bright side, someway or another, Cletus did actually learn to come into work, keep his head down and not harass his underaged coworkers. It could have been Mr Gomez hearing more vulgar speech directed at his teenaged daughter and threatening to finally fire him? Perhaps he saw that gun Kwan was talking about. Or it could have been said daughter kicking him where the sun doesn’t shine? Who knows? From that point on, most days were uneventful. Until one faithful day,  Jose pissed Veronica off in the worst way, and there was definitely hell to pay. 

"Hey cutie, you come here often?" Trini wiggled her eyebrows as she rested her head on her hands leaning over the counter. 

"Not really, only everyday." The girl standing behind counter scoffed poshly waving dismissively, "I don't get out of town much." 

The two were giggling together at their deliberately corny banter before an angry Latina stormed into the shop looking for one person in particular.

"Jose!" She demanded storming over to the counter, "Trini, Kim, where the hell is Jose? I'm gonna kill his ass!"

"Woah, woah, woah," Trini put her hands up defensively stepping in from of the infuriated female, “although, I'm almost certain it's warranted, as his cousin, I can't legally let you kill him without a valid reason. So what did he do this time?"

"So after telling me I was his one and only, this little side chick or whatever, rolls up to my house, that I pay the bills in, talking about some 'where's Jose? He missed the birth!' hell the fuck, no! I’m gonna kill him!" 

"Veronica, sweetie, you can't come in here screaming that you're gonna kill him like that." Kimberly calmly stated walking over to the fuming woman, "Now premeditated it’s murder, which is also first degree, and the worst felony, and we can't have you going to jail, now can we? We have to think of Olivia. Her life and her future. Trini, go get Jose so we can beat his ass." The two watched as Trini nodded before disappearing into the aisles. “Are you actually gonna kill him?”

“No,” Veronica grumbled leaning back on the counter. “I just can’t believe he’d do that to me, you know? First he gets me pregnant, while we were still in high school might I add,” Kim shuddered inwardly unable to imagine herself with a baby now. She couldn’t even afford an outfit! Nevertheless a freaking baby! “derailing my entire life, now my mom and his mom, who is a total sweetheart by the way, are burdened with the task of helping raise another child that isn’t even theirs, mind you; and he acts like I’m problem. Like I’m such a bad person and ‘stunting his youth’ because I ask him grow the fuck up and to do things for his own, fucking, daughter! Like I am such a villain cause she needs to be picked up from pre school. Never mind the amount of favours my mom and I had to call to get her in, in the first place…” she paused covering her face and huffing in irritation. She was quiet for a moment before Kim thought she heard her sob. 

“Veronica..?”

The woman in laughed humourlessly wiping a few stray tears. “I’m sorry for burdening you with all this. I’m just so frustrated him and his shit.”

“You’re not a burden, sweetie…” Kim cooed rubbing her arm, “I just wish there was more I could do to help.” 

“Thank you Kim, I appreciate that. You’re a really sweet girl, and I’m glad Trini is dating you.” 

Me too, she thought to herself deciding it wasn't exactly an appropriate time to gush over her partner. 

As the two shared a smile a string of "Ow's" and "That hurts" became louder and clearer as their origin was forced to approach the front counter of the store. 

Veronica took a deep breath trying to bury the pain of betrayal underneath her mountain of understandable anger. “So, you've fucking around behind my back?" Veronica demanded having cooled off a considerable amount. She didn’t even sound mad anymore. Just disappointed and sad. 

"No!" Jose insisted making Veronica and Kimberly both raise an eyebrow and cross their arms over their chests in unison. If not in such a tense situation he might have laughed. Instead he just furrowed his eyebrows and hoped his face wasn’t reminiscent of a smirk. 

"Really? You think that’s believable?”

"Kim, I love you but you're not even my girlfriend, so with all due respect, do me a favour? Mind your own business, and stay out of it!" Jose protested making Trini slap the back of his head. 

"Hey, don't talk to my girlfriend like that, pendejo. It's not her fault your dumbass got caught." Trini scolded. 

“Yo!” Jose yelped in pain shoving Trini away, “Frick and frack, this is none of your fucking business,”

“But you made it our business when you upset Veronica. We don’t support dirty, cheating dogs.” 

“Yeah, slap him again Trini. I don’t think he got it the first time.” Veronica said sending her man a pointed look. 

Trini did as she was told only able to whack him on the arm that time, but she put way more force behind the blow making him yowl in pain once more. 

"Ow! Mierda! Thanks a lot Tío. I swear, he hears everything else that goes on in this damn store, but not the abuse, of fucking course," Jose muttered rubbing his arm sighing, "Okay mira, Veronica baby, listen. I know why you're here, and I know why you're mad, but I swear, it's not what you think."

"Oh so, ‘hE mIsSeD tHe BiRtH'," she reiterated using air quotes, "isn't what I think it is? Do I look stupid to you Jose?" 

"No, Muñeca, you look like our beautiful daughter, which makes sense, seeing as you’re her mother and all.” He tried to charm her taking her hands and kissing the knuckles. 

"Don't try to suck up to me now that you're in trouble," Veronica chided snatching her hands out of his. “I have been putting all my time, and my effort struggling to get my degree, and to take care of our child, and this is what you do behind my back? You have a baby on me?” 

"No! Ay dios mio, look! I don't only work in a repair parts store just because my Tío owns it. We both know my car is a piece of shit, and my friend Erick has a garage. I hook him up with tools when he needs, and he's been fixing my car for free, because he knows I have a kid all my extra money after paying my bills goes into taking care of her and her needs! And Esmeralda, is his girlfriend. And believe it or not, one of the better mechanics at the garage. After months of work, they finally finished rehabbing my car. And because over there, they live, eat, and breathe automotive vehicles, 'the birth' she was talking about was my basically brand new car! They put a new engine in it. They fixed my transmission, they did a little cosmetic work, and probably most importantly, they replaced that  crappy suspension so you can not only feel safe in it, but so you don’t have to worry about me driving Olivia around! I didn't do anything, I swear!”

"Wait, you give my tools away for free?" Kwan asked emerging from his office. 

"Of course, out of all the shit that just happened that's the part you hear." Jose rolled his eyes throwing his arms up in exasperation. 

"Mira muchacho, don't think you're too old to catch the chancla," Kwan warned smacking the young man on the back of his head. 

"Aye! Those are work boots!” He complained clutching the affected area. 

"Even better. Answer the question." 

"Ugh!"

As it was for most people, payday was always the most gratifying day of the week, but for Kimberly, it was extra special because every paycheck was a step closer to that cute outfit. She could only ponder how her life would be after it. Would it be too big? Or too small? What if she gained even the tiniest bit of weight and it didn’t fit anymore? What if it’s not as cute in person? How would she look? What if it came and made her look frumpy? No, not frumpy…it was too gorgeous of a set for that…but still she wondered how she would look in it and arguably most importantly, would Trini like it?

All the questions swimming around her mind completely encapsulated her attention keeping her stuck on a single page of the text book in her lap. And after reading the same line about molecular geometry for the eighth time she decided she needed a break. She dropped her pencil between the pages before huffing and abruptly slamming the thick book shut. 

This made Trini look up from her own notebook questioningly. “Break time?”

“Yeah,” Kim nodded, “Come here.” She beckoned wrapping her arms around the shorter girl’s shoulders and pulling her in for a kiss. 

“Ng, oh my go-more!” Kimberly whined pulling at the hair on the crown of her girlfriend’s head. 

“So demanding,” Trini smirked giving the girl what she wanted, her shit eating grin growing wider at the strangled moan it invoked. 

-

Rangers chat

ZackTaylord: STOP HAVING SEX! 

ZackTaylord: U *WILL* GET PREGNANT!

ZackTaylord: AND DIEEEEEEEEE

ZackTaylord: bc if u don’t stop RN imma kill yall myself 

BossMan: We need to see if there’s any way to unlink us -.-

LilBill: I agree. 

LilBill: I was trying to perfect my latest invention, now I can’t even concentrate. 

LilBill: This is unbearable. :(((

BossMan: You two are the WORST I s2g 

ZackTaylord: i second that yall suck

-

So finally, after a couple months of what felt like slaving over the books at the Gomez Hardware and saving every dollar she could get her hands on, and some timely grovelling to her favourite dad (which did result in him giving her a couple hundred dollars and making her promise to not tell her mom) Kimberly ordered her precious outfit set. Though she could practically feel the money leave her account, she was surprisingly proud of the work she’d put in to get it. Maybe they, whomever they even was, was on to something about things being more satisfying when you work to for it. 

But what was infinitely more satisfying was when the set arrived to her house after a long day of school and training. She’d been exhausted as she trudged from her car through her front door and was really to shower and practically collapse in her bed for the night. But when she saw the box on the table by her front door Kim suddenly felt a surge of energy overtake her. Letting out an uncharacteristic squeal she picked up the box dashing to her bedroom to open it. Pleased with its contents she laid out her new clothes collecting essentials for her shower, which she spent thinking about how she would look in the outfit as she washed her hair and body. Upon returning to her room she blew her hair dry and lathered herself with lotion her body virtually shaking with excitement and anticipation. 

Now was the moment of truth. 

Slipping the silky material over her skin Kim appraised her appearance in the mirror turning her hips and even around in a circle to see herself from different angles before beaming at her reflection ultimately satisfied by her appearance trying to decide whether or not it would be tacky to wear the outfit to school tomorrow. Oh goodness, what shoes would she wear? As tempted as she was this outfit was too magnificent to pair with sneakers, not even converse. But heels were not exactly practical for high school...or were they?

When she showed up to school the next day it almost felt like a flashback from her old life. Maybe it was the attention the sound of her black platform pumps clacking on the school’s linoleum floors commanded with every step she took but she decided to take the stares she received as she navigated the halls to her classes as a confirmation that she looked good. Really good. After all, she was outcasted, not ugly. She especially liked the way Trini stopped talking what looked like mid-sentence, her jaw gaping as Kim approached their normal lunch table. 

“Woah, is that the outfit? Do a little spin for us, girl!” 

She giggled spinning to show them the whole thing from all angles bowing slightly at their various cheers and wolf whistles. “Thank you, thank you. I’m just happy I don’t have gym today.” She said sitting down next to her still staring girlfriend. “Close your mouth, you’ll catch flies,” she teased closing her mouth and kissing her cheek making the other girl blush furiously as she came back to her senses. 

“I see why you wanted the outfit so bad,  you look good, K,” Jason nodded once unwrapping his sandwich. 

“Facts, lemme try it on, I wanna see if I would look that good too,” Zack said reaching his arms out with the ‘give me’ hand motion. 

Kim scrunched her face up at the notion as she pulled her lunch out of her purse. “No, get your own. I worked hard for this and we are not the same size. If you ripped either the top or the bottom I’d have to kill you. You’d leave me no choice.”

“Oh my gosh, are you trying to call me a fat bitch Kimberly Ann?” the boy scoffed. 

“No Zachary, I’m saying look at your shoulders and look at mine. There’s no way you’re fitting into this bralette. The skirt maybe but I don’t even wanna risk it. Anyway, how’s has everyone’s day been? I’ll go first, I’ve been great, I look hot, I feel like a new woman, and for once, I love it here.” 

“Well, today is a B day meaning I don’t have two periods of biology, just one. But I do have two periods of calculus which I love. I like AP calculus way more than AP biology, math is so much easier way less memorising. It’s almost like my second home.” Billy grinned popping a grape in his mouth. “But other than that it’s been a normal day for me.” 

“I think it’s been a pretty normal day for all of us,” Jason nodded looking at the other rangers, ie Zack because Trini was still in awe of the outfit. 

“Yeah,” he agreed, “‘cept for Crazy Girl who I imagine would have agreed up to this point, but is now trying, and failing, to keep it in her pants,” he smirked dodging the yogurt she flung at him in response. “Nice to have you back Trin,” 

“Go to hell, Taylor,” she scoffed. 

“Only if you escort me I’m afraid of the dark. And lava. And the fiery pits.” He added making the rest of them chuckle at his antics. 

“On Wednesdays we do nothing” was the Ranger’s motto with them often opting for group outings like bowling or going to the movies or maybe even an arcade should they chose. Other times, they’d split up and do their own things. Zack would spend extra time with his mom making sure to pick them up some donuts to wager in their competitive chess tournaments or he hung out with that new girl Tommie and just showed her his few favourite parts of their shitty little town. Jason and Billy were much like Kim and Trini usually attached at the hip. The two boys could sometimes be found at Billy’s dad’s old excavation site or in Billy’s basement, with the ex football player acting as a lab assistant handing him parts and tools and things.  It was funny because sometimes the girls saw them at the excavation site as Trini was teaching Kim tai chi and they would make silly voices pretending to fill in the boy’s dialogue. Other times they just went to Kim’s and watched stuff. But today she had other ideas. 

“Let’s go on a date,” Kim suggested as the two walked got into her car. 

“Where?” 

“I don’t know, anywhere but the movies is fine with me.” Kim shrugged looking out the windshield and getting an idea. “Let’s go roller skating.” 

“Roller skating?” Trini reiterated. 

“Or blading. If you prefer those.” 

"I wasn't necessarily objecting, I jus-"

"Great!" Kim straightened her posture putting seatbelt on, "Lets Go!"