Jake

"So what's the big deal?" Rachel asked. We had decided to gather in the Chee Park the next morning for fear of being overheard. All the Animorphs were there except for Cassie who had chores to do at home. Marco and I had explained our thoughts on Carly to the others.

They didn't seem to care.

"So? So this chick is either some alien lunatic, Visser Three in disguise, or-" Marco was abruptly cut off.

((Maybe she's just tired.)) Tobias interjected. Marco glared daggers at him.

"Yeah? And maybe you're a talking rat with wings… oh, that's right, you are!" Marco shot back. Tobias edged away from him. He had never seen Marco so pissed. And I'll even admit that I haven't seen him this mad since his mother "died" three years ago. Bottom line: Marco doesn't get mad.

"Alright, enough!" I yelled. Ax jerked up and stood very still. The entire room grew very quiet. "Sorry Ax." I apologized, then strode over to my best friend and pushed him to the ground.

"Hey! What the!" Marco exclaimed.

"Now sit there and shut up!" I told him. He sat very still after that. My head was throbbing and I began to massage my temples to ease the pain. "Alright… I don't have any clue why Carly is acting the way she is, however, I think it is important that we find out." I glanced at Tobias. "Maybe it's just from lack of sleep, or maybe it's something much bigger than that. I don't know!" I replied truthfully.

((Prince Jake, if I may?)) Ax asked.

"Sure Ax. Go ahead." I replied.

((Wouldn't it be much simpler for us to merely walk up to her and ask her what is wrong? Perhaps she is nervous or has home trouble?)) Ax proposed. Rachel looked at our Andalite friend.

"Wow. That actually isn't such a bad idea." She said. Tobias nodded his hawk head in approval and Marco of course, just sat there pouting.

I nodded. "Alright. I'll probably talk to her soon then, maybe this afternoon or-" I was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Rachel walked over and looked through the peephole.

"How about now?" She asked.

"What?" I replied, dumbfounded.

"She's standing right outside this door with Al." Rachel explained. I walked across the room and opened the door about an inch or so. Al jerked back.

"Woah! Wasn't exactly expecting that!" He laughed. Carly stood a ways behind him, staring at her feet as if they were the most interesting things in the world. I sighed and looked at Al.

"Do you think I could talk to Carly for a moment?" I asked him. He nodded. "In private?" His eyes grew wide.

"Oh! Yeah, yeah sure… uhm, I'll just step inside then." He muttered as he walked through the now-open door. I stepped into the dark space below the elevator shaft and closed the door behind me.

"So… how have you been? Are the rooms suitable?" I asked conversationally. She nodded but didn't speak. "Did you sleep well?" Again I got only a nod.

I sighed. "Look, Carly, is there anything wrong? Like are you nervous or tired or…"

"I'm not tired." She interrupted. I nodded my head. At least she was talking.

"Are you nervous, or afraid?" I asked her. She nodded.

"I guess." She mumbled, finally looking at me.

"What are you afraid of Carly? Meeting us? The upcoming battle? What? Carly please tell me… I want to help you. What are you afraid of?" I asked pleadingly.

"I'm nervous about you." She blurted. As soon as she said it, she looked horrified. That stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Me? I make you nervous? Why?" I asked, looking into her silvery eyes. To my surprise, she was crying.

"Carly," I said, grasping her shoulders gently. "Please, I want to help you. But I can't do that if you don't talk to me." She looked into my eyes and it was then that I realized how close we were to each other. Our faces were mere centimeters apart.

In an instant, she closed the small gap between our lips and all I could think was Oh…before I realized I was kissing her back. She was so beautiful and her lips felt sweet and soft against mine. She made the kiss passionate and heated, and soon we were against the wall.

I kissed her mouth, her cheeks, and everything right down to the valley in between her breasts. She played with the strands of hair at the base of my neck, and it sent chills up my spine the way breathed into my ear every time I kissed her.

I made my way back up to her mouth and slid my tongue against her bottom lip, begging for entry. She granted it to me, and slid her own inside mine. I pressed her against the wall, so she couldn't break the kiss. I wanted it.

I needed it.

After a few moments we broke apart and she stared into my eyes. We didn't talk; didn't kiss again. We just stared at eachother.

And for once, everything felt right.

A/N: I had to try a bit of romance on this fic...

Mandy Kay Miller: good to finally see you back!! :P