Dare
(Tommy)
--

I never should have come within 20 feet of Conner, Ethan, Kira, and Trent while they were playing truth or dare. Too late for that. Somehow I got tricked into playing.

At first, everything was great. No one came after me, but I should have Conner would be the one to attack.

“Ok, Dr. O, you’re up. Truth or dare?” Conner said with a devious smirk on his face.

Well, I figured I should go with a dare. I had a gut feeling they would want to know who Kimberly was. Jason just had to bring her up during his last visit to Reefside. I picked dare, hoping Conner wouldn’t make me do anything illegal.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a lot worse than being illegal.

“You have to go down to the lab and admit to Hayley that you like her. Yes, we know that you do, you’re a little too obvious. Dude, just go down there and do it. We aren’t gonna let you back down.”

‘Good going Tommy, a bunch of teenagers have ganged up against you. Just perfect. You’ve been a ranger for a long time, but you let this happen!’

So, here I am, heading to the lab to confess to Hayley my undying love to her, all because of a game of truth or dare. I just hope this goes well . . .

--

Smile
(Hayley)
--

You know, I used to be told that you could tell everything about a person from their smile. I never knew whether or not to believe it. Yet, somehow, he’s the one that made me believe that saying was true.

His smile is complex. It’s completely unique to only him. Who else would have that smile? I don’t know if he’s always had the same smile, but I doubt it. I think his smile has grown with him.

There’s so much hidden beneath that smile. Every time you look at it, it’s just the slightest bit different. You can see the wear and tear of the past depending on his mood, and it’s all through one grin that’s spread across his face.

Scars of being a ranger for so long. He’s seen more than one single person should ever have to be subjected to in a lifetime. Lives have been cut short right in front of his face. Yet, he lives with the fact that he couldn’t save those lives.

The loss of a first true love. I didn’t know her, but I don’t think she deserved him. From what I have heard, she acted like she could have cared less whether or not he was around. This guy is a diamond in the rough. I’ve never seen such a gentleman in my life. The most moving part of it is, he will risk his life for the people he cares about. Or even the ones he doesn't.

Regret for leaving friends behind. He feels lonely often, I know. It’s his biggest burden, always choosing duty over his own happiness. When he talks about his friends, there’s a bittersweet tone to his voice. I hate that tone. I wish he could understand that he isn’t alone.

There’s so much there. That smile is simply Tommy. It stands for everything that he is. I have only one question.

With all that’s there, could it still be considered a smile?

There are layers there. Layers that hide the real Tommy from the rest of the world. To be peeled off by a lover and friend.

I find myself wondering if I could ever be that woman to him.

-- 

Song
--

Kira sat tuning her guitar, preparing to sing. She had written a new song to perform this week, and well, this song would hit a close to home for a couple of people. That’s why she wrote it. Whether or not they would get the message . . . was way beyond her.

Trent, Conner, Ethan, Dr. O, and Hayley sat at a table waiting for Kira to get up on stage. She said she had a special surprise. She also said they all had to be there, paying attention to her.

That’s when Hayley got worried. Kira liked it when they’re all there to see her sing, but never before had she demanded it. Hayley knew that warning probably went for Tommy the most. He a track record of being slightly . . . forgetful, with the exception of the time he was kidnapped by a mutant. He was forgiven for that one.

Speaking of the devil.

--

He sat there wondering what the hell was going on. Something was up. He could feel it. It might not be anything bad, but there was an off feeling he had. For one thing, there was a smirk on Kira’s face that looked like it had been stolen off of Conner’s face. Conner smirked. Kira didn’t. Tommy could only think of one reason for that smirk to be there. She was planning something. No, not planning, plotting something.

‘Women and their twisted minds’

--

Meanwhile, Trent, Conner, and Ethan knew exactly what was going on. They had helped Kira plan the whole idea. Conner insisted that they let him use his evil laugh and least one time. He said that he wanted to try it, since it was apparently so popular with all the villains.

Trent had been the only one to object to their scheme. He said that they shouldn’t meddle in other people’s lives. The other three had promptly ignored that statement and continued planning.

The café was nearly deserted. The only people there were of course the group previously described, and Devin and Cassidy.

After a lot of waiting, Kira got up on stage and said, “ Well, this is a new song that has some truth to two people in my life.”

A soft tune started to play.

You turn around every time he meets your gaze
Too scared to tell him what you really want to say
You’re scared of what might happen
But just so you know, you’re not the only one to feel that way

He’s been wounded, he’s got scars
But just to give you a clue
You’re the only one that can heal them
You’re in love and that’s okay

You’ll get a happily ever after
To you I wanna say
Take that chance and tell him
‘Cause you need to

Stop fooling with each other, messing around
Like it’s not gonna happen
I know that all you want is just to hear the sound
The sound of those words being repeated to you

He’s been wounded, he’s got scars
But just to give you a clue,
You’re the only one that can heal them
So go ahead and heal him

Conner and Ethan couldn’t stop laughing from the expressions that Dr. O and Hayley had on their faces. The two boys had been the ones to suggest that when all else fails, go with tact. Well, you could say it worked, considering the two adults slipped away momentarily. When they came back, they were both had wide smiles on their faces.

--