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Riley was fully aware of his always growing feelings for his fellow Power Ranger—and best friend—Chase. He was also fully aware Chase had a girlfriend, Kaylee. Whom Riley for everyones information, didn't like. He despised Kaylee. She wasn't a horrible person, she was nice, kind, sweet, and caring. And that was exactly the problem. Kaylee was way too nice.
She was so nice and sickeningly sweet it made Riley hate her more because it made Chase like her more. The rest of his friends think Kaylee is great and the perfect match for Chase.
Things just got even worse when Kaylee discovered Chase's secret of being the Black Ranger. She knew all of their identities too.
Riley wasn't one to get jealous. But he was. Extremely jealous. He didn't even remember he had a drink in his hand, and when a waiter walked over to Chase and Kaylee's table and handed them a drink with two straws, he got so angry he clenched his fist—the one with the drink—and crushed his cup and lemonade exploded all over his face, but he didn't care about that. What he cared about was that the love of his life was with the girl he hated the most.
"Whoa! Riley what happened?" Shelby's voice snapped him out of murdering Kaylee with his eyes. "Huh? What?" Shelby raised her eyebrow. "You spilled your lemonade," she said. Riley finally noticed he crushed his cup. "Oh.." Shelby eyed him suspiciously.
"What made you crush your cup?" Shelby was smart, if he refused to tell her, she would figure it out. "Nothing," Riley answered. Shelby wasn't having any of his bullcrap right now.
She looked in the direction she had last seen Riley looking.
Chase and Kaylee.
She came to her conclusion. Riley was jealous. But of who? Chase? No, he was Riley's best friend. He would never like his girlfriend. Shelby gasped and pulled Riley into the kitchen and shoved him into the storage room.
"You like Chase?!" Shelby yelled. Riley's eyes widened and his face turned red. "No!" He protested. Shelby shook her head. "You like him. And you're jealous of Kaylee," she insisted. Riley blushed harder and covered his face with his hands in shame.
"You probably think I'm disgusting for being gay." Shelby gasped and removed Riley's hands from his face and looked him in the eyes. "No, of course not. You're allowed to love whoever you want Ri, don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Riley smiled. "Thanks Shelbs." He said.
"Anytime." They left the storage room to come to an interesting sight in the Café. Chase's little sister had walked in. "Chloe? What are you doing here?" Chase asked. "Remember this week I was going to stay with you while mum and dad have their time together?" Remembering hit Chase like a ton of bricks. "Oh crap! I forgot. Sorry Chloe. I'll make it up to you by making this the most memorable week ever!" Chloe cheered. Then she saw Kaylee.
"Who are you?" She asked. Kaylee smiled sweetly at her. "I'm your brother's girlfriend." Chloe's smile faded. "Oh. I don't like you." She crossed her arms and walked towards the kitchen.
Kaylee frowned. Chase looked so shocked. "Chloe!" He turned back to Kaylee. "Sorry, she'll get used to you." He told her. "I know.. I'm not worried." Chase ran after Chloe and knelt down in front of her. "Chloe, Kaylee is my girlfriend. I love her, and I need you to like her." Chloe wasn't stupid, sure she was only twelve, but she knew if someone was just pretending to be nice. No one is ever that nice.
Kaylee had to be faking, or trying too hard. "Sorry Chase... I just don't like her. You shouldn't worry about me not liking her, it's mum who gets to decide." Chloe looked up, Tyler, Shelby, Ivan, Koda and Riley were all in the kitchen. "Oh right. I also need to introduce you to my friends." Chase said, he stood up.
"That's Tyler," He pointed at him. "Shelby," she smiled and waved. "Ivan," he took a bow. "Koda," he smiled wide and waved. "And Riley," Chloe liked Riley immediately. She knew he was a good person.
"It's nice to meet you all, I'm glad Chase has so many good friends." Chloe grinned.
Chase nodded before he went right back to Kaylee. Chloe rolled her eyes. In the corner she saw Riley tense up as Kaylee and Chase were together again. She smiled when Shelby went to comfort him.
Tyler jumped in excitement when he looked at his phone. "Yes! Today is a day for me and my dad, see you later guys," he gave Chloe a gentle pat on the head before heading out. Shelby sighed after him. "You have a better shot than I do.." Riley told her. "Don't be ridiculous. You deserve a happy ending too." The two went back and forth. Ivan looked around. He was confused. But not as confused as Koda.
He scratched his head and tilted it to the side. He looked at Riley, then like it was an instinct, he looked at Chase.
"Oh! Riley like Chase like Shelby like Tyl-ahhh!" Before he could finish, Shelby yanked his hair. Koda held it in pain. He pouted and walked away.
Ivan smiled when he came to the conclusion. "Well Sir Riley, don't give up on your Prince just yet, I'm sure you'll get your happily ever after." Ivan bowed before he made his exit.
That left Riley and Shelby alone with Chloe. The Kiwi girl just smiled. "I like him so much better than her," she pointed her thumb at Riley and her other thumb at Kaylee. Then she turned to face him. Riley knew something was up. Oh no.
"I promise by the time I'm done Chase will be so in love with you he'll forget Kaylee even exists. I've made my decision. You're the one I want to marry my brother." There it is. Chloe hugged his waist before she skipped out of the Café and over to Chase's table.
"Ready to go skateboarding?" Chase looked at Kaylee. "Maybe we can-" Chloe's face darkened and she stared at Chase like she was going to take his soul. "Or we can go now! Uh.. see you later?" He turned to Kaylee and she smiled. "Yea. You go, have fun." When Chase turned away Chloe stuck her tongue out at Kaylee and ran after Chase.
*_*-~
Chase was helping Chloe balance on his skateboard. "Chase?" He looked at her. "Hm?" She tried to think of a way to ask him. "How do you feel about Riley?" Chase was kind of confused as to why Chloe would ask him that. "He's my best mate. He's also really smart." Chloe smirked. "Are you sure you just like him as your mate?" Chase stared at his sister like she was crazy. "Chloe, Riley is just my mate. I'm with Kaylee. And I'm not-" He paused. "You're bi Chase, at least accept that." Chloe told him.
She sighed. "He's going to be so hurt.." She said quietly, but loud enough for Chase to hear–on purpose.
"What do you mean?" Chase asked. "Oh. I shouldn't say anything." She answered. Her plan was to not say anything so Chase would ask Riley, that would lead to Riley getting embarrassed—she would deeply apologize to him for that—and spill out his feelings for Chase.
Then her brother would come to his senses, return Riley's feelings, toss Kaylee away and then she would have Riley as her brother-in-law.
It was the perfect plan. Though she knew that it was possible to backfire, she would expect it. Chase taught Chloe some more basics.
*_*-~
"That was really fun Chase," Chloe told him. "It was. Now it's getting late, let's get you back to my apartment. It's your bedtime." Chase said. Chloe frowned, but agreed.
Chase made going home fun, Chloe was on the skateboard, and Chase pushed her around on it and then lifted her up and pretended she did some really cool tricks.
Chloe fell asleep quickly and Chase turned off her light. Chase closed the door. He knew it was late, but he also knew Riley sometimes was at the base late.
He had to talk to him.
*_*-~
Riley wasn't tired. He wanted to train, it helps him get his mind off things. But the only thing on his mind was Chase. He couldn't stop thinking about him. Riley was attacking tennis balls that were thrown at him with his Dino Saber. He was so focused he didn't notice Chase walk into the base.
Chase thought it would be fun to sneak up on Riley and freak him out. He snuck silently and placed his hand on Riley's shoulder. The blonde reacted defenseivly and moved his Saber so it was at Chase's throat. "Whoa! Easy!" Chase put his hands up in defense. Riley put his sword down. He was not happy Chase pulled that stunt on him.
"Chase! Don't do that! You gave me a heart attack! I could have stabbed you!" Riley scolded him. "Sorry mate.. but what are you doing here? It's like past midnight," Chase questioned.
Riley set his sword on the table and wiped away the sweat on his forehead with a towel. "I couldn't sleep. Training clears my mind." Riley answered. "Really? Skateboarding always clears my head." Chase chuckled. Riley rolled his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" He repeated Chase's question he had asked him. "I figured you'd be here. I... wanted to talk to you about something." Chase walked over to the bench table and gestured for Riley to join him.
The blonde hesitated, but he eventually went over and sat across from Chase.
"You wanted to talk to me about something?" Riley asked. Chase didn't answer, being this close to Riley, he didn't really have a good look at his face. He never noticed how pretty Riley's face was. He never noticed his freckles, or his eyes, they matched Riley so well, he was the Green Ranger and his eyes were green.
His own eyes were green, but they were a much darker green, Riley had green eyes that looked like emeralds.
"Chase?" Riley's voice snapped him out of fantasizing about how beautiful Riley was.
"Huh? Yea?" Riley raised an eyebrow at him.
"You wanted to talk to me about something," Riley reminded him. "Oh! Right. Uhm... Chloe kind of asked me something strange. She asked me how felt about you. I told her you were my best mate, and she asked if I was sure. I said yea and that I was with Kaylee and that I wasn't... uhm.. but from that conversation, I think I might actually be bi. And then she said you were going to be hurt. I asked her what she meant and she said she better not say anything. Do you know what she meant?"
'Crap! Shit! Fuck! No! Arghh! Chloe why?! Chase is going to find out how I feel about him!' Riley screamed in his mind.
"I.. I don't... know.." Riley couldn't stop his face from going red. "You good?" Riley nodded his head, he didn’t trust his mouth to speak.
"Riley, are you okay?" The younger boy nodded again. Chase slightly furrowed his brows and his lips formed a thin line. He reached across the table and pressed the back of his hand against Riley's forehead.
If he wasn't burning up before, he sure as hell was now. "You definitely have a fever." Chase removed his hand. "No! I mean... I'm fine. I don't have a fever." Riley wasn't lying. What Chase felt wasn't a fever, it was all that blush that had rose to Riley's whole face.
It was similar to a fever, blood did rush to Riley's face, he just wasn't sick. Chase wasn't having it. "You are going home to rest. It's already one." Chase walked over and gently took hold of Riley's wrist.
But the blonde was not going to let Chase make him go home. "No! I'm fine!" He protested. The Kiwi boy pulled a little harder. "Come on! You have to rest!" Riley pulled his arm back, he was having tug-of-war with his own arm against Chase.
Riley pulled on his arm harder, but Chase pulled so hard he also pulled Riley and the two went tumbling to the floor. Riley ended up on top of Chase but that's not all what happened. The impact of Riley falling on top of Chase caused their lips to press together in an accidental kiss.
Riley pulled back immediately and rolled off of Chase. He stood up, his face was so red it matched Tyler's suit when he morphs. "S-sorry!" He squeaked out. He had to get out of there now. Riley turned around, reached out his hand, his Energem flying into it and as soon as he had it, he ran.
"Riley wait! Come back!" Chase was still on the floor as he called after the raptor boy. He wasted no time in grabbing his Energem and running after Riley. Who seemed to have disappeared.
Riley had run up to the Café and curled up behind the grill counter, tears streaming down his face. He cried silently until he was so exhausted from crying he fell asleep right on the floor.
*_*-~
"Oh my gosh! Riley!" Shelby knelt down beside him and shook him gently. Riley blinked his eyes open and looked up at Shelby. "Why were you sleeping on the floor? What happened?" Shelby's voice was calm and gentle.
"I-I think I m-messed u-up..." Riley's eyes filled with tears again. "Tell me what happened.." Shelby put her hand on his shoulder.
"Last night... While I was training, Chase came in, freaked me out and I pointed my sword at him. He gave me a heart attack. I thought he was an intruder and he snuck up on me! Anyway... he talked to me about what his sister said... I got super embarrassed and he thought I had a fever because I was blushing so hard. I tried to tell him I was fine, but he was being stubborn. Well... so was I. He tried to get me to go home because he still thought I was sick. He tried to pull me up, I pulled back, we played tug-of-war with my arm and he pulled me down. We both went down to the floor and we accidentally kissed! I ran away, came here and I think I cried myself to sleep. Then you found me." Shelby hugged him. "I haven't talked to him since." Riley added. "Hey... have any of you guys seen Riley? I really need to talk to him." Riley looked at Shelby desperately.
"Don't tell him I'm here." He begged. "Okay." Shelby stood up and walked to where Chase was. "Hey Shelby! Do you know where Riley is?" Shelby shrugged. "No I haven't. Why? Did something happen between you two?" Chase's cheeks tinted pink.
"Nothing. I just need to talk to him, that's all."
Shelby didn't know what to do. She had promised Riley she wouldn't tell Chase where he was. But Chase was asking her if she knew where he was.
"Please Shelby... I really, really need to talk to him." Chase begged. Riley shut his eyes, hoping Shelby wouldn't give him away. "Sorry Chase.. I don't know where he is. I'll let him know you're looking for him if I do see him." Shelby said. Chase frowned. "Oh.. okay.. thanks.." He left.
Shelby let out a sigh. Riley came out of his hiding place. "You didn't tell him.." Shelby shook her head. "No way was I going to throw you under the bus." She said. "But you've known Chase so much longer than you've known me." Riley reminded her. "Exactly. I've known Chase for years, I've known you for barley one. You needed me to not tell him where you were, you trusted me to keep that promise, I didn't want to break it and lose your trust. I don't want to lose you as a friend Riley. You mean a lot to me even though we haven't been friends long. " She took his hands in hers.
"That means a lot to me, thanks Shelbs." The brunette smiled and hugged him. "Of course." She pulled away. "But you do need to talk to him eventually. I know you can work things out if you talk about it." Riley looked down at the floor.
"Okay... I'll talk to him." He smiled at her before he left the kitchen to go find Chase.
*_*-~
Riley didn't know where Chase was. He decided to try the skatepark. And what did he know Chase was there. He was mid-air when he spotted Riley.
His cheeks went pink. He couldn't stop thinking about what happened between them. Riley's lips were so soft. He wanted to kiss him again. But he couldn't. Not while he was with Kaylee.
If he broke up with her just to be with Riley, he had no idea how she would react, she might expose his secret of being the Black Ranger to everyone. She might also expose his friends. Including Riley.
He couldn't risk it.
"Chase!!!"
The Kiwi hadn't been paying attention, he had spaced out and forgotten he was in the air. He was falling. He didn't see Riley bolting towards him, throwing his body out like a cushion to soften Chase's landing. It still hurt like hell, but at least it wasn't concrete. "Riley?! Are you okay?!" He had to know if Riley was alright, he freaking landed on top of him from three feet in the air for freaks sake. "I'm fine..." Riley coughed out. Chase got off of him and pulled him close, checking for injuries.
"Why did you do that? I would have been fine. I wasn't that high up." Riley stared at him. "You could have cracked your head open!" He argued.
"I'm wearing a helmet. And knee and shoulder pads. The least I would have gotten away with was maybe a few bruised ribs or a broken arm. But you probably have those injuries from me landing on you. We have to get you to Kendall so she can take a full-body X-ray. I won't take no for an answer this time." He didn't give Riley the chance to protest when he gently and carefully picked him up bridal style.
"Chase! Put me- Ow!" Riley hissed in pain from his injuries. Chase took that as a sign he needed to get him to Kendall right away.
*_*-~
"You are lucky to only get away with a couple of bruised ribs. Nothings broken. But what were you thinking?" Kendall scolded him.
"I-" Riley tried to explain himself, but Chase cut in. "It was my fault. I got distracted in the middle of my mid-air trick. Riley jumped in to save me. He wouldn't of had to if I hadn't of gotten distracted. It's my fault he got hurt."
Riley blushed. Chase was taking all the blame.
It was his fault too. He was the distraction that made Chase forget he was in the air. "I'm just relieved you both got away with minor injuries. But Riley I advise you to rest until you're fully healed." Kendall said. Riley nodded. "Okay I will." Riley promised. "Can you check Chase too? I know I broke his fall but I want to make sure." Riley asked. Kendall nodded. "Okay." She gave Chase a full check-up. His injuries were minor like she had guessed. "I want you to rest too. No skateboarding for a few weeks." Chase couldn't believe it. "What?! I can't do that!" He protested. "No butts. I have some medical training so I am technically a prescribed doctor. That's an order." Chase whined but gave in. "Alright. No skateboarding for a few weeks." Kendall sent them both on their way to rest and heal up.
On their walk, it was a very awkward silence. Riley broke it. "I'm so sorry Chase... it's my fault you got hurt. If I hadn't of distracted you then neither of us wouldn't have gotten hurt." Chase stopped in his tracks.
"This wasn't your fault Ri. I should have payed more attention. I don't want you to blame yourself for this." Riley wanted to lean up and kiss him so badly. But he held back. "I'm sorry about last night too. If I had just come quietly then we wouldn't have fallen and would've never accidentally-" He cut himself off. Like he was going to remind Chase of something so embarrassing. He didn't want to do that. "That wasn't your fault either. I shouldn't have pushed so hard. You said you didn't have a fever and I should have listened to you. I should be the one to apologize." Riley wanted to strangle this guy for making him love him so much.
Chase looked down at Riley. He wanted to be with him. He needed to be with him. But he had to do something first. "Riley, meet me at the Café at six. Please?" He asked. "Oh... okay.." Riley said. He smiled softly before leaving to go home. He would take that time to rest.
*_*-~
"You wanted to see me?" Kaylee asked as she sat across from Chase. The Kiwi took her hands. "Listen Kaylee... I care about you so much, but-" She smiled and cut him off.
"You love Riley more. I get it." Chase stared at her. "What?" Kaylee let out a little laugh. "It's okay Chase. I've seen the way he looks at you. He loves you so much. And I know you would be happy with him. I support you. We'll remain good friends and of course I'll still keep your secret." Chase couldn't be more happy. "Thank you Kaylee... I'll never forget this." She smiled. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Go be happy with the boy of your dreams Chase." Kaylee told him. The Kiwi smiled brightly, Riley walked into the Café and Chase ran to him and wrapped his arms around his waist, very careful not to hurt his bruised ribs.
Chase lifted him up and kissed as he spun him around. He put Riley down, who was so confused. "Chase! Why did you do that? What about-" He turned to see Kaylee smiling and waving. "We ended it on a very good note. You deserve to be happy Riley. He's yours. You officially stole my man and I'm perfectly fine with it." Riley was completely shocked.
"Riley Griffin, will you be my boyfriend?" Riley finally too everything in. He could be with Chase now. Chase was his. He was Chase's. "Yes." Riley leaned up and kissed Chase. The Kiwi kissed back. They pulled away and looked into each other's eyes. "I love you baby raptor." Riley blushed hard. But he smirked. "I love you too, hotshot." The two of them walked to the stool table, sat down, and leaned into each other.
Chloe smiled as Chase and Riley held hands and held each other close. Kaylee cooed at them along with Shelby.
Maybe she was wrong about her. Chloe was just glad Riley got the happy ending he deserved.
The one where he gets to be with Chase.