Disclaimer: I do not own PRiS. I only own Valerie (She's mine) and a part of the idea for this story.
bRaInWaVe - I'm really glad you liked it. Here's some more. This soon enough? (Sorry, but school had been screwing me up)
PR.Etincelle - Here's is Ashley. As you can see, she's a little busy and she can't really go and take Stripey from my brilliant Valerie... Sorry about that, mate.
SweetSaS - I just used the girl in the video. In here, Valerie is indeed much more beautiful than that girl. She's perfect. I totally love her (my first OC caracther...). I'm glad you liked your birthday present and you're welcome. I love you too.
Challon86 - Here it is. The update. -smiles- I hope you like it. This is what's happening in Earth...
Lips of an Angel
Chapter 2
The doorbell rang twice.
"I'm coming!" – Ashley shouted, running downstairs, with a pair of black high heels on her hand. She was wearing a black dress above the knee and her hair was up in a ponytail. When she reached the end of the stairs, she put the shoes on and ran to the door.
"Who's it?"
"It's me, Cassie."
Ashley opened the door – "Come in, Cass. I'm almost ready."
"Wow Ash. You look great."
Ashley blushed a little – Thanks. You look great too. TJ will be stunned."
The former Pink Ranger was wearing a mini skirt, also black, and a pink top. Her long black hair was pushed up in a half ponytail and she had braided some streaks that fell from the half ponytail. She was also wearing a pair of black high heels.
"You think? Maybe he will finally get the hint and ask me out…"
"I'm sure he will." – Ashley said, with a smile.
"And you and Carlos?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? Come on, Ash, you've been dating for almost a year, since we…" – Cassie stopped talking abruptly and blushed.
"It's okay. You can say…"
"Since we left KO-35."
Ashley sighed and waved to Cassie, for them to go back upstairs. When they reached her room, she headed to the closet and took off her jacket.
"Ok, we've been dating for a long time... what's about that?"
"Have you guys slept together yet?"
"Almost." – Ashley whispered.
"How do you 'almost' sleep with someone?"
"Well, the night after our graduation, we were on his room and he had already taken my blouse and so but, when he reached for my skirt something hit me and I told him to stop…"
Cassie walked to her – "And he?"
"He stopped, of course, Cassie… and never made another move since then. I told him I wasn't ready."
"And are you, now?"
"I don't know… and I don't want to think about it."
"Okay. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned…"
"Don't worry, I'm fine. It's over now… Believe me, that part of my life… is over." – Ashley undo the ponytail and brushed her hair, repeating – "It's over."
Cassie looked at her best friend deep in the eyes and knew that she was lying, but she didn't want to argue that, so she said nothing,
"Let's get going?" – Ashley asked, a few minutes later.
"Yeah, they're waiting for us." – Cassie smiled.
They came downstairs, looked in the mirror one more time and left the house.
----
"Carlos, do you feel like dancing a little bit?" – Ashley asked, grinning at Cassie.
"Oh, no… Come on Ash! You know I hate to dance…" – He whined.
Ashley grabbed his arm, saying, "Don't be such a baby… Come on!"
He had to let himself go with her and they left TJ and Cassie, fighting to control their laughter at Carlos annoyed face. The beautiful Korean girl was tapping her nails on the table, waiting for her former leader to say something but he appeared to be miles away from there.
"Uh… I'm going to get a soda. You want something?" – She stood up.
"No, no, thanks. I'm fine." – He answered.
She picked her soda, paid the barman and searched for Ashley and Carlos on the dance floor, but didn't find them anywhere – "They're probably making out somewhere." – She concluded and returned to the table where TJ was waiting.
"It appears that Ash and Carlos left… Let's go, I'll walk you home." – He said.
"Oh, okay." – She grabbed her purse and they left the bar.
They walked until Cassie's house in silence. Despite being May, it was a cold night and she was freezing, TJ took off his jacket and gave it to her - "Here… I don't want you to become an ice cube."
"Thanks..." – She said, smiling.
They reached her apartment and she searched for her keys and opened the door. She threw her purse to the nearest chair and took off the jacket. She handled it to TJ, who was still in the doorstep.
"Here. Thanks Teej. Can I offer you a drink or something to eat?" – She asked.
"Oh, no, thanks. I think I should get going… it is getting late." – He refused and put his jacket back on. Just then, something fell from his pocket and both of them leaned down to catch it. Their eyes met for a brief second and Cassie felt a shiver on her spine. When TJ reached to grab his keys, he touched her hand and it was like a ray of electricity passed through them. They stood there for a minute, with his hand on hers but then reality hit TJ and a little voice on his mind said – "Get out of there!"
He stood up and helped her do the same. TJ held her hand for a little longer before taking his keys off her hand. "Thanks." – He whispered.
"You're welcome."
"I better go…" – He pointed to the exit.
"Yeah. It's better…" – She said, in a low tone – "Goodnight. Oh... and thanks for walking me home."
"You're welcome." – He waved her goodbye and she closed the door. Cassie stood there a minute, wondering about what could just have happened if they stood in that situation for just a few more seconds. Then, she went to the kitchen, prepared herself some hot chocolate and sat on the couch, turning on the TV – "Maybe, there's something interesting passing, something that is worth watching…" – She thought.
There was nothing interesting, not even a movie that was worth watching, so she turned off the TV and started thinking about how useless that evening had been… Cassie started thinking about how lonely she had been feeling for the last couple of months. Everybody she knew had a boyfriend or had an occasional date, once in a while. She was always at home or at the bar where she sang at the weekends… always lonely. She had been really depressed the last couple of days and she had left Ashley's house, that night, wishing that it could be different from the others…
"You're so stupid Cassie… like he would ask you out!" – She muttered, some tears streaming down her face.
Suddenly, the doorbell came to rescue her from those disturbing thoughts. She got up and went open the door. When she saw who was knocking, Cassie got very surprised.
"TJ? Something happened?"
"No, no, it's just that… may I?" – He asked.
"Sure, sure, come on in. I was just chilling…" – She let him enter the house and closed the door – "I'm going to prepare you some hot chocolate…"
"You don't need to bother…"
"I don't." – She smiled – "Sit down… I'll be right back."
"Thanks." – TJ took off his jacket and sat on the couch. Five minutes later, Cassie was back, with two mugs filled up with hot chocolate.
"Here... I hope it is the way you like it." – She added, handling him the mug.
"I'm sure it is; thank you." – TJ reached for the mug and drank a little.
Cassie sat beside him and drank a little bit too. They stood there for a while in silence, when she broke the ice – "Something happened?"
"No. I'm sorry; I shouldn't have come here this late. I just…"
"You just…" – She tried to get him to speak.
"I needed to tell you something." – TJ put down the mug on the table that was in front of the couch.
"Shoot!" – She said, putting down her mug too and pushing her knees to her chest.
"Cassie, I… I… I've been thinking for a while and I've come to a conclusion."
"You're worrying me…"
"I started having feelings for you but I was stupid enough to try to hide them. However, I cannot do it anymore. I felt electricity hitting me when I reached for my keys, before…. But, I understand if you don't feel the same, you probably don't, but I just had to..."
"Shush, stop it!"
"What?"
"Stop it! You're being silly." – She smiled.
"Am I?"
"Yes, you are. That doesn't make any sense."
"Excuse-me? I'm here, confessing my feelings and you tell me that this doesn't make any sense?" – TJ stood up – "I was right, this was a mistake. I better go."
He was about to leave the room when Cassie grabbed his arm – "Wait, Teej, you misunderstood me."
"Did I? I think you were very clear…"
"I feel the same way. You were being silly by saying that I don't, because I do. Ever since our Ranger time."
TJ turned to her and looked at her in the eyes. "I'm sorry that I wasn't clear or that I made you think I didn't like you… because I do, Teej. I really do!"
----
Somewhere else, Ashley had just fallen asleep on Carlos' arms. They had left the bar a little before TJ and Cassie and had been making out in Carlos car for while until the moment when he pointed that they could go to his house. Ashley had gotten a little nervous, but Carlos had made her feel so comfortable and, without any pressure, he had taken her to his room.
They had been kissing for a while when things started to get more intense. Ashley had pondered to ask him to stop but she decided just to relax, let her fears and anxiety go away.
Now, a couple of hours later, she had just fallen asleep. Carlos ran his fingers up and down her arm, feeling the softness of her bare skin.
"Thanks, Ashley." – He whispered – "You made this the most perfect evening… thank you. I love you."
