Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter twelve of "Not Here." I'm glad it took just four days to get out. I want to let you know that I've changed Johnny's last name to Hernandez. Since he is of Hispanic origin, I thought that would be better suited for him. Stay tuned for chapter thirteen.

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Chapter 12: Ever So Calm

At the Johnson residence in the mid-evening, Andros and TJ were sitting on their twin beds while reading their chemistry notes in their notebooks in their room. The room was medium-sized with blue walls, a pine dresser, an oak nightstand, and a TV. A mirror hung on the closet door. Green carpet covered the floor.

TJ mumbled inaudible words and turned to the fourth page. He cupped his chin in his hand. He glanced at Andros, who stretched his arms above his head. Andros let out a long yawn and smacked his lips, lowering them. TJ laid his hand in his lap, furrowing his brow.

"Talk about being tired," TJ said.

"Who wouldn't be after riding in a van for four hours?" Andros said with a shrug. "At least there was little traffic on the way back."

"The traffic can be a nightmare around here sometimes, especially on the interstate," TJ grumbled, an irritated scoff coming out of his mouth. "Why do I get this feeling it will get worse as more people move here due to its balmy climate, low crime rate, and solid job growth?" He swallowed hard.

"We'll just deal with it. That's all we can do," Andros responded honestly.

TJ took a deep breath. "Mm-hmm. Look on the bright side. This city is famous for being the birthplace of the Power Rangers."

"You got that right, dude," Andros said, winking at him. "Just don't expect me to wear a funny-looking Power Rangers costume to entertain kids." He made a funny noise.

"The same goes for me," TJ commented, sitting tall and proud.

Andros laughed quietly. "Good for you."

TJ and Andros shifted their attention back to their notes. They decided to close their notebooks and lay them on the floor. They gazed at each other, raising their eyebrows.

"I'm glad you and Ashley had a great time at her aunt's cabin," TJ said, a happy smile forming on his face.

"Me too. It was so quiet up there, save for the noisy animals," Andros said and howled as if he were a wolf.

"What do you expect when you are surrounded by nature?" TJ asked, holding up his hands.

"At least your parents didn't object to me going back with Ashley for a four-day stay at Christmas. Nor did they object to my going over to her house this Thursday while her parents are staying at a hotel overnight," Andros pointed out and smiled widely. "She was so excited when she called me to tell me that her parents and aunt gave her the okay to return to the cabin with me and that they didn't have a problem with me going over to her house."

"She's a lucky girl. Most parents hate the idea of their daughters being alone with their boyfriends, especially fathers," TJ muttered, rolling his eyes. "I understand them being concerned about their safety, but let them live a little." He let out another irritated scoff. "Sons and daughters should have the same rules, not different ones for each."

Andros nodded in agreement. "Ain't that the truth?"

"Don't say ain't. It's not a word," TJ said in mock anger.

"You just said it," Andros blurted out.

"Only because you made me," TJ responded, narrowing his eyes at him.

"I sure did," Andros commented, wiggling his eyebrows. "Anyway, thanks for looking after my sister while I was gone. I really appreciate it."

TJ couldn't help but smile. "She is a lot of fun to be around, especially when it comes to video games. Who would've thought the girl who was once Astronema and the guy who saved the universe would end up living with my family?"

"I do know one thing. Your parents are really awesome," Andros answered proudly and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Thanks. By the way, you're an awesome roommate," TJ said, giving him a thumbs-up.

"So are you. Just don't stick your thumb up my ass," Andros whispered with a smirk. He hoped Ricky and Diane didn't hear him. The last thing he needed was for them to barge in and lecture him about cursing.

"As long as you don't stick your thumb up my ass," TJ said quietly. He and Andros put their hands in their lap. "I wish we didn't have to go to school tomorrow. Why couldn't we have an extra day added to the weekend?"

"That'd be nice," Andros said, tapping his fingers against his leg. "Look on the bright side." He smiled widely. "Graduation is just seven months away."

"Hallelujah!" TJ yelled in relief. "We won't have to worry about getting up real early every weekday morning. We'll have way more freedom in college." He pumped his fist.

"So true," Andros agreed, laughing delightfully. "You think we'll share a dorm room?" He scratched the back of his neck.

TJ became very thoughtful. "I don't know. It'd be nice."

Andros gave a shrug. TJ looked toward the wall. He placed his hands on his bed and hit it in a rhythmic fashion. He did this for ten seconds before becoming still. He turned to Andros.

"So, what did you and Ashley really do up at the cabin?" TJ asked, a smirk appearing on his face.

"I don't think that's any of your business, TJ," Andros responded seriously.

TJ tilted his head. "Oh, come on." He clapped three times. "Tell me what you two did."

"We just hung out. That's all," Andros replied, crossing his arms. "Please, just drop it."

"Okay," TJ said. "In the meantime, you need a little something from me."

Andros narrowed his eyes at him. "And what's that?"

TJ picked up his pillow and threw it at Andros, who caught it and nearly fell off his bed. He stood up and went over to him. He grabbed it from him as his friend regained his composure. Andros narrowed his eyes, sending it flying out of TJ's hand. It landed on the floor next to the latter's bed.

"I got that pillow away from you before you could hit me with it!" Andros said smugly.

"Lucky you," TJ retorted. "Now, come here!"

TJ grabbed Andros by the arm, pulling him off his bed. He pulled him into a headlock to give him a noogie. Andros wiggled himself free from his grasp. He put TJ in a headlock and gave him a noogie. They heard two toy guns cocking. Andros released his hold on TJ, who stood up straight. They turned around to see Diane, who had on a cowgirl hat and wore holsters at her sides.

"Reach for the sky, boys!" Diane ordered. The boys raised their hands above their heads. She walked up to them while looking them in their eyes. "You boys just committed a serious offense by giving each other noogies. I'm going to have to take you in."

"We didn't mean to do it, Mom! Honest!" TJ cried.

"We were just playing around. Of course, TJ started it," Andros added.

"Maybe I did, but you retaliated," TJ said, appearing offended.

"It doesn't matter who did what," Diane commented. "You're not supposed to give each other noogies! It's curtains for you two! Turn around! Put your hands behind your backs!"

Andros and TJ turned around and put their hands behind their backs. They looked at each other with nervous smiles. Diane pointed her guns at their backs. She placed her fingers on the triggers. She chuckled and pulled the guns back to slip them in their holsters. Andros and TJ faced her. They shook their heads in disbelief.

"You're impossible, Mom," TJ said, making cuckoo sounds.

"And proud of it, son," Diane said with a wink. "By the way, boys, you should be heading to bed soon. You have school tomorrow." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Don't worry. We will," Andros assured.

"Good. If you don't, I'll shoot your eyes out," Diane threatened in playfulness.

"I remember when Dad told me I would shoot my eye out after I said I wanted a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas at the age of nine," TJ said, laughing softly.

"He actually said that?" Andros said, looking at his friend in surprise.

"Yep," TJ answered truthfully. "It was obvious he had been watching too much of A Christmas Story. It's still a good movie, though."

"Yes, it is," Diane agreed. "Anyway, good night, boys."

"Good night, Mom," TJ said and kissed her on the cheek. Andros did the same on the other one. They watched her leave. "I'll go brush my teeth, so I don't forget."

"I'll do mine after you finish," Andros said, smiling at TJ giving him a thumbs-up. He watched him leave and picked up the pillow to lay it on his bed. He returned to his and sat down.

00000

At the Hammond residence, Ashley was sitting on her queen-sized bed while talking to Cassie on the phone in her room, which was medium-sized with bright pink walls, an oak dresser, a pine nightstand, and a TV with a VCR embedded into it. A desk, a computer with a cable modem attached to the wall, and a picture scanner were off in the corner. The floor was covered in brown carpet. She laughed as Cassie told her about a prank she played on her mother, Lily.

"Mom was so shocked at the springy snakes flying out of the can that she looked like she had jumped six feet into the air," Cassie said.

"I wish I could've been there to see that. I would've laughed so hard that I would've ended up rolling around on the floor," Ashley replied.

"That's exactly what happened to me. Mom started laughing too. In fact, she made me get up and tweaked my nose. I made a honking sound, and she joked about my nose becoming a horn," Cassie said, giggling quietly.

"Thank God we and our friends have parents who have a great sense of humor. In Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Roger said you're better off dead if you don't have one," Ashley said honestly.

"So true," Cassie responded. "Anyway, I love that movie. Bob Hoskins was great as Eddie Valiant. The dance he did near the end was so funny, especially when he did those backflips."

"No denying that," Ashley agreed. "That was my favorite part in the whole movie. What's amazing is how the crew was able to blend live action and animation together. It really looked like humans and toons were interacting with each other."

"All of that was done in front of a blue screen. Actions were performed by the live action cast. Then the animation was added in," Cassie commented with much pride.

"Ain't that grand?" Ashley asked.

"Hey, you shouldn't say ain't! It's not a word!" Cassie scolded in a playful manner.

"Too bad. I'll say it all I want," Ashley said, a smirk crossing her lips. "Ain't, ain't, ain't, ain't."

Ashley heard Cassie blow a raspberry. She removed the phone from her ear and responded in kind. She put it back on and listened to another one from her. She imagined a smirk forming on her best friend's face from that.

"Though I enjoyed my getaway with Andros, I'm glad to be home," Ashley said, sighing in content. "What's really great is we're going back at Christmas. We'll be staying for four days instead of two. My parents and my aunt gave me the okay. So did TJ's parents with Andros. We're getting together at my house this Thursday while my parents are staying in a hotel room overnight. They and TJ's parents don't have a problem with it."

"That's great on both fronts. A weekend getaway is nice, but four days is even better," Cassie commented.

Ashley nodded in agreement. "Oh, yeah. I hope we'll have a White Christmas this year. The mountains are always beautiful when they are covered in snow."

Cassie cleared her throat. "Mm-hmm. Anyway, what did you and Andros really do up at the cabin? I want to hear it."

"Cassie, that's none of your business," Ashley whispered, seriousness showing in her voice.

"Oh, come on," Cassie whined. "Tell me what you did. Please?"

"We hung out. That's all," Ashley said calmly yet firmly. "Now, can you please drop it?"

"Okay," Cassie muttered, sighing heavily. "You always have to ruin my fun." She started fake crying.

"Turn off the waterworks, Cass. It won't work," Ashley responded, shaking her head.

Cassie groaned. "All right. I have to say I'm not looking forward to going to school tomorrow."

"Mondays are the worst," Ashley groaned annoyingly. "I have to drag myself out of bed on those mornings because I really want to sleep in."

"At least you have this Thursday to look forward to," Cassie said.

Ashley sighed in relief. "Thank God."

Knocking caught Ashley's attention. She looked toward the door and sighed to herself. She turned back to the phone.

"I have to go," Ashley said, swallowing hard.

"Okay. I'll see you at school tomorrow," Cassie responded.

"You too. Bye," Ashley whispered and put the phone on its base. She shifted her attention toward the door. "Come in."

The door opened with a slight squeak, revealing Anna. Ashley smiled at her mother as she came in and closed it behind her. Anna came to her daughter's side.

"Hey, Mom," Ashley greeted.

"Hey yourself, Ash," Anna answered, sitting down on the bed. "Talking about girl stuff to Cassie as usual?"

"Oh, yes. We can't get enough of that," Ashley said with much pride.

"My friends and I talked about girl stuff all the time when we were in high school," Anna commented in happiness. "It just comes naturally." She winked at her.

Ashley propped her head up with her elbow. "It sure does."

"In my day, I saw girls with too much makeup on their faces all the time. They really thought a ton of the stuff would make them look very attractive. It didn't help them one bit," Anna said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You should see some of the girls at school. They look like clowns with all the makeup. I don't make fun of them for it, though," Ashley pointed out.

Anna smiled proudly at her. "That's great. People shouldn't be judged by their appearances. They should be judged by how they act."

"Unfortunately, some people will never see anything beyond what they can see with their own two eyes," Ashley muttered sadly.

Anna nodded in agreement. She could never understand how people were so cruel to those who were different. She always did her best to stand up for those who couldn't, especially if they were children. She saw children as very precious.

"Thanks for approving of Andros coming over on Thursday and my returning to the cabin with him for Christmas. I really appreciate it," Ashley commented sweetly.

"You're welcome. Andros is incredible. Not once did I ever think my daughter would fall for a boy from another world," Anna said in awe.

"It's not exactly something you write home about," Ashley pointed out and raised her eyebrows.

"That's true," Anna agreed. "At least Andros doesn't use his telekinesis to cheat at games or tests." She couldn't hold back a laugh.

"Yeah. Of course, I'm sure he is tempted to do that sometimes," Ashley replied, tensing somewhat.

"Who isn't tempted to cheat?" Anna wondered. "Anyway, I'm going to tell you good night."

"Okay. Good night, Mom," Ashley said and kissed her mother on the cheek.

"Don't let the bed bugs bite, Ashley," Anna responded, kissing her daughter on the forehead. "They hurt."

Ashley tried to stifle a snicker, but she couldn't help herself. Anna stood up and left the room. Ashley rose to her feet and walked to her window. She saw the clouds part, revealing the moon.