SPD 12- “Fearless”

 

“You so have a thing for him.” Bridget teased.

“I do not!” I cried as I continued to restring my guitar.

“You so do.” Clarissa echoed.

“Ugh, whatever. He’s my friend. That’s it.”

 

That wasn’t it though. I had never paid much attention to guys before. I mean I had been on dates and all, but guys just never really were that important. I was always focused on music or SPD or something else. That was until the day I saw Jeremy Jax. I never really bought into the ‘love at first sight’ concept. I mean, how can you possibly love someone you don’t even know? With that in mind I wouldn’t say I loved Jeremy at first sight, but there was totally something there. Something I’d never felt for any guy, ever. I had been hanging out with him over the last couple of days and the more time we spent together the more I did actually develop feelings for him. I was almost entirely convinced he felt the same. There was only one problem…I’m 16 and he’s 28. Now, to me that was no big deal…but then again I was the one that was jailbait. I needed to convince Jeremy it didn’t matter…until then I would continue to deny to my cousins that there was anything between he and I.

 

I finished stringing my guitar then I started playing a melody. It wasn’t actually a song yet, but it was getting there. I needed some new material to continue my recording. Since I would be in the UK for the foreseeable future Grams had found me a recording studio to continue working on my album. She really was making this process as painless as possible.

 

“You’re going to play?” Bridget asked.

I nodded, “I need to work on this song.”

“OK, you have fun. I’m going to go to the rec room.”

“I’ll go with you.” Clarissa said.

“You guys have fun.” I said.

“Catch ya later.” Bridget said as she and Rissa walked out.

 

“OK, now, focus McKnight.” I said as I started to play the melody again. This time I  tried to add words, “I don’t know how it gets better than this/You take my hand and drag me head first/Fearless/hmm hmm hmm…” I sang. Yes, I was on to something here.

 

 

Bridget

~~~~~~

Clarissa and I left the room and headed for the rec room.

“Have you noticed that there’s a lot more locked doors at the Academy than ours?” I asked.

“Yeah, but their British…they’re weird.” Clarissa said.

“It’s more than that…I get a weird feeling from Commander Jax.”

“What like of weird feeling? Like a psychic thing?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“You think so?”

“I haven’t mastered the psychic thing as well as the invisible thing, but I do know something is off. I just don’t know what.”

“How do you plan to figure it out?”

“I’m not sure yet. Reading auras for starters I guess.”

Clarissa nodded, “Good idea. Anything I can do to help?”

“Freezing time isn’t going to help us right now, but I’ll let you know if I need it.”

“OK, then I’m going to get a snack. You coming?”

“I’m going to wander around and see what I can uncover. I’ll catch up with you later.”

She  nodded, “OK, see ya.”

 

I took off to started investigating. I wanted to get into Commander Jax’s office. I had a feeling that would tell me a lot, but I needed to be careful. Even being invisible I could still get caught if I was careless. I headed for his office and was about to turn the corner when I nearly ran into JJ and Kelli, literally.

“Hey, watch it.” JJ said.

“Sorry…sorry.” I said.

“You lost?” Kelli asked.

“Me? Lost? No, not at all.” I said as I read their auras. Murky. Just as I suspected…they were hiding something.

“Then what are you doing on this side of the Academy?”

“Um, looking for Commander Tate, thought he might be with Commander Jax.” I said.

“I saw him with his son in the simulation room earlier. May want to try there.” JJ said.

“Right, right, ok, thanks.” I said as I turned around.

“We’re headed that way anyway, we’ll walk with you.” Kelli said.

“Oh, ok.” I said. Yeah, definitely hiding something.

 

 

Sammi

~~~~~

I was still working on my song when there was a knock at the door.

“Enter.” I said as I looked up from my guitar.

Jeremy walked in, “Hey, how are you?”

“I’m ok. Just working on a song.”

“You work too much and I still owe you a sight seeing adventure.”

“I believe you referred to it as a date.” I said with a smile.

“I was just…it was facetious.”

“Was it?”

“Yes.”

“OK, in either case, you’re right. I still haven’t seen much of London. Let’s go.” I said as I slipped my shoes on.

 

Jeremy took me to the SPD Jeep and we headed into the city.

“This is so weird!” I cried.

“What is?” he asked.

I laughed, “Riding on the left side of the car…driving on the left side of the road…take your pick.”

“I guess it would be weird if you’re not used to it.”

“Have you ever been to the US?”

“No, I want to though.”

“You’ll have to come sometime. I’ll take you on a ‘sight seeing adventure’.” I teased.

“Sounds good.”

“Jeremy?”

“Yes.”

“I like you…a lot…”

“I know.”

“I know you know and I also know you like me too.”

“I do.”

“So why haven’t you asked me out?”

“Because Sammi, you’re 16…I’m 28.”

“And?”

“It’s illegal.”

“No, it’s illegal for us to sleep together, not to go have dinner.”

“You know what I mean. We can’t date.”

“Your age doesn’t matter to me…is it that important to you?”

“I…”

“Do you like me even though I’m 16?”

“Yes, I think you’re the most amazing girl I’ve met in a long time.”

“OK then, what’s the issue?”

“You’re 16.”

I sighed, “Jeremy, stop it! You like me, I like you, stop complicating it.”

“You’re 16 and live in the US. What about this isn’t complicated?”

“Don’t you even want to try?”

“Yes, I do…this isn’t about what I want Sammi.”

“Why not? It should be.”

Jeremy sighed, “It couldn’t work.”

“Yes, it could. One date…one proper date.”

“Ok, one date…just to see if there really is anything between us.”

“Fair enough. How about tonight?”

“Ok, I’ll pick you up from your room at 7.”

“Sounds like a date.” I smiled.

 

 

Bridget

~~~~~~

“So tell me about you guys. We haven’t really had a chance to talk. What brought you guys to SPD?” I asked.

“I was doing research on SPD and everything they stood for when I was in school and it caught my attention. After talking to Commander Jax and realizing we have the same goals…well here I am.” JJ said.

“And I’m here because Merci is here. Our parents were killed years ago and Merci is all I have.” Kelli said.

I nodded, “I’m sorry Kelli.”

“It’s ok. Their deaths will be avenged soon enough…I’m sure.”

“Your whole squad seems very close to Commander Jax.” I said.

“We are…but your squad is close to Commander Tate too.” JJ said.

“Well, yeah, but we’re family.”

“So are we.” Kelli said.

“Right…so, you’re SPD Violet…”

“Yeah…since it takes a Sataurian to be SPD Purple we were given the power of SPD Violet…not to many Sataurians around here.”

“Yeah, I suppose not. We are few.”

“What’s it like being from Saturn?” JJ asked.

“I don’t know. I’m not ‘from Saturn’. I’m just of the royal bloodline of Saturn. Truthfully I’ve never even been to Saturn. My mom has, but I haven’t had the chance.”

“How can you rule a planet you’ve never been to?”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll never rule it. My Aunt Harley is next in line to be queen and after her it’s Sammi. A lot of people would have to die before I’d be heir to the throne.”

“Oh…but you are a princess aren’t you?” Kelli asked.

“Yeah, I am. I’m future Duchess.”

“So how come you’re SPD Purple instead of Samantha?”

“Because she didn’t want it. She doesn’t like doing things because of legacy. She’s always wanted to be Pink Ranger.” I said…suddenly it occurred to me that I was trying to get info from these girls and instead they were the ones questioning me. I did know enough to know they were hiding something and I had a distinct feeling that whatever it was Commander Jax knew, which meant that it was more than a little likely that Jeremy knew too. What was going on? Andie had warned me something wasn’t right with SPD but I hadn’t given it much thought. What if she was right? What if SPD was somehow dangerous?

 

 

Sammi

~~~~~

Jeremy gave me a quick tour of the city then took me back to the Academy. I started getting ready for our date. I found a really pretty pink dress I had packed. I put that on with some flats that matched. I was ready just as there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.” I said.

“You read…wow, you look amazing.” Jeremy said.

“Thanks. You look great too. And yes, I’m ready.”

“OK, let’s go.

 

Jeremy ended up taking me to a really nice restaurant on the West End. We had a great time talking at dinner and the food was marvelous. I could really get used to the UK.

 

After dinner Jeremy walked me to the car and opened my door for me. It was starting to rain and the road was glistening beneath the streetlights.

“Where to now pretty girl?” Jeremy asked.

“Let’s just drive for awhile. I wanna see more of the city.” I said

“OK.” He said we pulled out of the parking lot. He ran his fingers through his hair as we pulled up to a red light. This man was absolutely amazing and he liked me! I had to prove to him this would work…somehow I just had to.

 

“Pull in there.” I finally said as we passed an empty parking lot.

“It’s abandoned.” Jeremy said.

I laughed, “I can see that. Just pull in!”

Jeremy laughed, “OK…”

He pulled in to the center of the lot and put the car in park.

“So why are we here?” he asked.

“For this…” I said as I opened me door and twirled around in the rain.

Sammi! It’s raining!”

“I know! Come dance with me!” I cried.

Jeremy laughed, “You’re crazy!”

“Come dance with me!” I cried again. Dancing in the rain was one of my favorite things to do. Grams always took me dancing in the rain. It was the ultimate freedom and expression of joy…and this was the most joy I’d felt in a really long time.

“OK!” Jeremy replied as he stepped out into the rain and started to dance with me.

“There we go! Yes!” I cried as I danced with him. My dress was clinging to me, but that was ok. I was having the best time with him.

 

We finally got back in the car and headed back to the Academy. He walked me to my room.

“I had a great time.” I said as we got to my door.

Jeremy smiled, “I did too. I’ve never met anyone like you Sammi.”

“Then don’t let me go. I know the odds are against us but we can find a way to make it work.”

“I just don’t know if it can.”

“How do we know if we don’t try?”

Jeremy smiled, “You really want to try don’t you?”

“Don’t you? And if it works isn’t it worth it? Whatever you’re scared of, don’t be. We can do this.”

Jeremy nodded, “OK, let’s try.”

I smiled at him as he leaned. I knew what was coming and I was nervous, but so excited. Our lips met as he kissed me and in that moment I felt something I’d never felt. It didn’t matter what challenges we would face…this was right.

 

I opened the door to go in my room. When I opened the door Bre was sitting in the middle of the room waiting.

“I was hoping you’d show up Jeremy…we need to talk.” Bre said.

“What? Bre?” I asked.

“Something isn’t right here. SPD UK is up to something and he knows what it is.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Jeremy, care to feel her in?”

I looked at Bre then Jeremy, “What’s going on here? Jeremy, what is she talking about?”

“I know you’re planning something and I will eventually be able to use my psychic ability to pinpoint what it is so tell the truth.”

“I don’t know what you’re taking about.” Jeremy said.

“That’s bullshit. I read your team’s auras. I know they are hiding something.” Bre said as she raised her hand and waved it, “And your’s is murky too Jeremy…grayish red…unclear intentions, anger, and betrayal.”

“Betrayal? Jeremy? What is she talking about?” I asked.

Sammi, please drop it.” Jeremy said.

“Listen, if it has something to do with SPD I need to know. I’ve been getting warnings about SPD and I need to know if they’re warranted.” Bre said.

“Warnings about SPD?” I asked.

“Yes…that SPD isn’t what it seems. If something is amiss…what if we’re fighting on the wrong side?”

“How could we be? We’re Rangers.”

“That doesn’t mean we’re the good guys.”

“She’s right.” Jeremy said with a sigh.

“You know something don’t you?” Bre asked.

Jeremy nodded, “Yes.”

“So spill.”

“I can’t…come with me.”

“Jeremy, what’s going on here?” I asked.

“Trust me.” Jeremy said as he led us upstairs. We went to the Commander’s office Jeremy knocked.

“Enter.” Commander Jax said. “Jeremy…Samantha, Bridget…what can I do for you?”

“They know Dad…well some of it…we can trust them…they need to know.” Jeremy said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes Dad, I’m sure.”

Commander Jax nodded, “Have a seat.”