It's A Twin Thing (Power Rangers AU)

Chapter one - Billy

The shrill sound of the school bell screamed out, tearing you from your absent-minded daydream and you watched as your pen dropped from your hand, clanged off the desk and rolled onto the floor

"That's all for today, please remember to read chapters 3 through 7 as there will be a test on it!" The teacher called out in vain as the rabbles of students started gathering their things and chattering loudly, you flipped your book closed and looked down for your pen, becoming confused when you didn't see it.

"Here" a tanned hand passed it to you, a silver ring on his index finger, a leather strap bracelet around his wrist

"Oh, thanks, Billy" you said sweetly as you took it, standing up from your desk and sliding your arms through your backpack straps

"Hey, you wanna hang out for a little bit?" he asked as he tugged his messenger bag over his head, resting it on his shoulder and tucking in a folder full of papers

"Sure, why not?" you smiled at him as you picked up your jacket, heading towards the exit of the classroom

"Are we waiting for Jason?" you asked as you glanced over your shoulder down the emptying classrooms

"Nah, he's meeting up with those detention friends of his" Billy answered as he pushed the door open, holding it for you, you smiled a quick thank you and stepped out into the parking lot, you approached his car and watched as he walked around to the driver's side.

"Remind me again how you never end up in detention" you asked playfully as you looked over the roof of the car at him

"Because, unlike my twin brother, I am not dumb enough to get caught" he grinned back with a wink

Billy was like someone straight out of an 80s movie or rock band, he wore his hair long and wild, blonde curls tumbling down past his ears and onto his shoulders, he often wore double denim; vintage Levis and a fading jacket, that you witnessed him pick out a thrift store, a packet of cigarettes poking out of his breast pocket, large heavy biker boots and old, Topgun pilot style aviators, even his car which he had found in an ad from the newspaper was a classic muscle car, loud and brash, he complained sometimes about the price of gas and how much he had to put it in everyday, but it was his pride and joy. It was like he was lost in time, the attitude and look of a throwback but all of the modern day charm that made the girls of the school weak at the knees. You knew that on the surface he was cool, calm and collected but underneath he was troubled and insecure, he had issues with closeness and rarely knew how to express him in the right way, he told you once after many beers that he felt like he lived in the shadow of his brother who had been popular, successful with sports and the apple of his dad's eye. When Jason got caught for the prank in the school you had witnessed him relish in silent smugness, enjoying the fact that his crown had finally slipped and that he too would be seen as a messed up kid, just like him. Billy rebelled for the sake of rebelling, it's like he had the attitude that all attention was good attention, whether someone was yelling at him or swooning at his feet, at least they were focusing on him for a change. You had come to the conclusion that's why he dressed the way he did and looked the way he did, to stand out and be different, to catch the eye of everyone who crossed his path, he didn't get the validation he needed at home and so sought it with every sideways double take from a girl he passed by, every classmate he left cold in bed in the morning and his temper could be boundless, you had seen the holes in the drywall in his room, lazily patched up, you had met up with him late at night and saw the held back tears of frustration and anger form. But Billy hid it well, he had become an expert at burying what he truly felt deep under layers of charm and humor, but not with you. He was always open and honest with you and you never judged him, never scorned him for his actions, you just listened.