Chase didn't know how it ended up like this. Ever since Tyler, Shelby, and Riley showed he never got a moments rest. He couldn't just chill in the base while rocking out to Avenged Sevenfold. Or work on his board before heading out to the skate park during his breaks. When Koda literally moved in, things didn't change too much. He had to be careful to not freak him out with too much of the technology of the 21st century. Help him adjust and frankly learn how to wear a shirt. But overall things didn't change too much.

But now. Now there was Riley. Whenever he went to the base to relax, Riley was always there. With his lime green tank top and basketball shorts. It was like he was trying to show off how good he was at hitting tennis balls with a sword.

What made matters worse was that was all Riley seemed to do. Train. When he wasn't working at the café or they were out fighting the monster of the week, he was training. Maybe growing up in a farm made it so he hated being idle. But at the same time, Riley didn't seem to be that kind of person. A rancher or whatever it was that they did on their farm. He seemed more like a brain. The type who should have gone to some ivy league school and majored in something like metallurgy and joined the schools fencing club. Not the stay at home and work the farm while getting his GED. And yet, that was where his life seemed to take him.

Today was no different. Chase hopped down the slide and low and behold, there was Riley. He was sitting on the ground, his hands firmly holding onto his left foot. His lips were moving, counting to thirty, before switching to between his legs, then onto the right foot. Chase opened his hand and his Energem flew into place and he proceeded to the closest desk. He propped his legs up, leaned back, and put his headphones on.

Two, twelve, twenty, songs played and yet Chase found himself not actually listening to them. Instead his whole attention was focused on Riley. His eyes were going with the motion of the sword, never once straying. That was of course until the machine picked up speed and motion and one of the fuzzy green balls almost hit him square in the face.

"Watch where you hit those things mate." Chase shouted over his music. Closing his eyes, he got comfortable once more and tried to focus on the music.

"Well maybe if I couldn't hear your music from here, I would be able to concentrate better." Riley said back, but Chase still had his headphones on and couldn't hear him. Rolling his eyes, he set his sword down and turned off the tennis ball machine. He walked over to Chase and shouted his name a few times. "Chase!" He said a fourth time and finally one of the chocolate eyes shot open.

His hand reached for his headphones and he pulled them down around his neck. "What?" He asked and now both eyes were open.

But with how close his new team member was to him, he found himself actually looking at Riley. His arms were bare, and he could see how firm his muscles actually were. That the years of working on the ranch made him leaner and stronger than any other teenager he knew. And despite his body glistening in sweat, his breathing was still calm and steady. As if it really wasn't much of a workout. That he could push himself harder. Quickly shaking such thoughts from his head he waited to see what Riley wanted of him.

"How bad is your hearing? I can your music from the other side of the room?"

"Well maybe if you didn't make so much noise hitting those balls around I wouldn't have to listen to it so loud." Chase responded with a smile.

"Just turn down the music a bit." Riley rolled his eyes and began to turn around to go back to training. But soon found himself stopped by Chase, speaking once again.

"Don't you do anything fun?"

"Just because I don't goof off all day doesn't mean I don't have fun." Riley shot back.

"First off, I don't goof off all day." Chase stood up from his chair and crossed his arms across his chest. "And secondly, i doubt you could name one fun thing you have done all week."

A smirk started to form on Riley's face. It was as if he had the perfect answer. One that Chase could not put down. "The other night I beat my previous record of solving a Rubik's Cube. I did it in 20.4 seconds."

The base fell silent, but after a few seconds a hearty laugh escaped Chase's lips. The laughing continued for a good minute until he finally regained composer. "Come on mate. You can't be serious."

"What's so funny about me liking puzzles?"

Chase made a decision without even thinking. He shot up from the chair and grabbed Riley by the wrist. "We are going out and having real fun."

"But our shift starts in an hour." Riley said as his body allowed him to be dragged by the slightly older teen.

"Trust me. This is more important."

"No offense Chase, but skateboarding isn't exactly my thing." Riley found himself dragged to the skate park, decked out in a bright green helmet, matching knee and elbow pads, and and one of Chase's old black skateboard being handed to him. He felt to out of in the open like this. When he practiced fending in his barn he only audience was Rubik. And his dog, well, he couldn't exactly tell people how many times he fell over while practicing the proper stance or how many times he hit himself when he stepped away from the books and added moves of his own via jumps and flips. But here everyone could be watching and judging. They probably already notice he doesn't belong or fit in. Even more so he wanted to go back to the base and tread in familiar territory.

Chase on the other hand, once again found himself eying Riley he couldn't help but think how good he looked in the skater gear. But at the same time, not nearly as captivating as when he danced around the base with his sword. "Come on bro." He said as he strapped on his own helmet. "I've seen the moves you can do with a sword. Just imagine the board as that." Hopping on his own board he headed down into the bowl.

Riley stood at the edge just watching the black and silver hoodie flip and turn with ease. His body was almost graceful as he performed the various tricks. Chase was in his element. No distractions. No worries. Just him and his board. "How hard can it be?" Riley muttered to himself as Chase disappeared from sight. He got on his own board and thought he did what Chase did, but found himself closer to the concrete than he wanted to be and his butt a lot more sore. He looked up and saw Chase standing next to him, hand extended. Grabbing it he got on his feet and dusted himself off.

Chase didn't expect Riley's hands to feel so rough and calloused. The rest of his body, despite being well built still looked soft, almost baby like. But his hands, they were strong and powerful. They were one of the only signs that he was a hard working rancher before the green Energem bonded to him. He could have sworn his heart was skipping beats the longer their hands were connected, but quickly brushed it off as nothing. "Come on, bro. I'll teach you the basics."

Riley could feel his cheeks warming up, and quickly shot down to look at the concrete. Why was he still feeling so embarrassed? All he did was stupidly wipe out in front of the entire skate park. And yet, the warmth he felt from embarrassment didn't feel right. It was different. As if he was more embarrassed because Chase saw. Because Chase offered to teach him the basics. His heart felt more embarrassed because of Chase rather than the strangers around them. And he wished he knew why.

Riley once again got on his skateboard, but found himself lacking the balance needed to stand on it. "Whoa." He said as his body rocked.

"It's ok bro, you got this." Chase grabbed Riley's hands and helped him regain his balance. Still holding hands, Chase pulled him forward, so his body could get used to the motion of the board.

The whole time though, Riley could feel his cheeks getting warmer. And yet, he didn't feel the same embarrassment as when he wiped out. It was different. His heart was beating unevenly and his breathing became heavier. he could feel his palms getting sweaty and thought they would slip from Chase's at any moment.

Seconds later, their hands did just that, and Chase moved off to the side. Instinctively, Riley put his let to the ground and kept himself moving forward. For just a moment, he turned his head back, and could have sworn he saw Chase cheering him on. Turning his head back forward, he narrowed his eyes and saw the he was approaching a wall. Sure, he barely knew how to move, and stopping hasn't been covered yet, but he wanted to show off. Show Chase that he was not as pathetic as that wipe out he experienced earlier. He just told himself it was all math. Just basic physics; velocity, gravity, friction, normal forces, et cetera. The board and he were going up, and he was trying his best to do the needed calculation in his head. "Now!" He didn't mean to say it out loud, but he grabbed the board with his right hand and flew in the air.

As gravity brought him back down, he let go of the board. He thought he did it. That he made it. but once again, his face became good friends with the concrete.

"Riley!" He heard Chase's voice and the wheels of a skateboard coming to a stop next to him. "You alright bro?" Once again, Chase was holding out his hand offering to help him up.

Riley took it and once again, his heart was moving unusually. That being in contact with Chase made it do screwy things. "Yeah, I'm fine." He tried to sound normal despite his body feeling so, so different. And it was not a type of different that happens when you break a bone from falling off a skateboard.

WHen Riley said that he was alight, Chase felt like he could breath again. Sure, he wanted Riley to go with the flow. Try something new. Get him out of his usual strict regimen of training and work. But when he saw him crash again, his heart came to a stop. Sure, Riley was wearing pads but what if he didn't fall properly and hurt himself? What would he tell his teammates? Sorry mates, were a ranger down because I wanted to teach him how to have fun. But also, a small part of him didn't want to see that flawless baby face scared. Didn't want an inch of that skin covered in gauze or bandages. But that thought, that wish, it was one he didn't fully understand yet. He has only known Riley for a little over a week, and yet, these small bursts of emotion are unlike anything he has felt.

Even though Riley was standing, their hands were still clasped together and eyes locked. The world around them was nonexistent. So of course, it was immediately interrupted by the beep of their communicators. Both jumped, their hands returning to their sides.

"Chase. Riley. There is a monster in the park. We need you." They heard Tyler's voice and that further shattered whatever it was that was happening between them.

Chase shook his head as if it were slipping out of a daze and he grabbed his communicator. "Riley and I will meet you there."

When Chase spoke, Riley could have sworn he heard a hint of sorrow in his voice. As if he was actually upset that they had to leave. and Riley's heart, it felt the same way. That he wanted to hold onto this moment for a little while longer. That maybe if they weren't rangers, things would be different right now. Chase would laugh at him, and eventually help him pull off the trick.

But they are rangers. They are the heroes the world need. And they were needed now. He should be proud, excited, that he can once again defeat evil, and be one step closer to keeping the world safe. And honestly, he was. But still. A part of him wanted to be a normal teenager for a bit longer. To figure out what it is that he is feeling right now. To do what he does best. Analyze the situation. But he can't. He needs to be a Power Ranger. That needs to be his priority. That should always be his priority. And yet, the wavering in his heart kept telling him otherwise.