Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter twenty-one of "Not Here." I'm glad it took just three days to get out. You should prepare yourselves. One of the Lost Galaxy characters will be making its first appearance in the next chapter. I decided to take out any mention of Leo, Mike, and Maya in chapter twenty. I felt it wasn't working right. Stay tuned for chapter twenty-two.

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Chapter 21: Feeling Ill/Big Jerk/Giving News

Ashley was brushing her hair in the Hammond residence's upstairs bathroom in the early morning the next day. She finished that and laid the brush next to the sink. She listened to heavy rain splattering against the house. She saw lightning light up the hallway in the mirror. A loud thunderclap came right after that, followed by a quieter one.

She grabbed a ponytail holder off the counter. She pulled her hair back with both hands. She put the holder over the ponytail four times. She twirled her finger around her bangs, making them curly. She slipped locks of hair behind her ears. She looked very satisfied with her work. She saw lightning light up the hallway in the mirror once more. Another loud thunderclap sounded a second later, and a quieter one came right after.

Suddenly, she began to get a queasy feeling in her stomach. She covered her mouth with her hand and bolted for the toilet. She lifted the lid very quickly. She bent over and threw up some of what she ate for breakfast while grabbing the edges of the seat. She squeezed her eyes shut. She opened them, throwing up a little more.

She panted heavily until she caught her breath. She tried to rise to her full height, but she couldn't and threw up the rest of her stomach contents. She breathed hard, touching the top of her head. She managed to catch her breath and flushed the toilet. She stood up slowly and walked to the sink, her body shaking somewhat. Just then, Anna came up beside her.

"Ashley, are you okay? I heard you getting sick as I came up the stairs," Anna said with much concern.

"I'll be okay, Mom, but I'm not feeling good at all," Ashley answered, shuddering badly. She turned on the water and gathered some in her hand. She put it in her mouth. She swished it around before spitting it out. She switched it off. "I think I picked up that stomach flu that's been going around at Arby's yesterday."

Anna ran her hand over her daughter's hair. "Most likely. It stinks when it strikes very suddenly."

Ashley swallowed hard. "No kidding. I wish there was a way to cure viruses, but there isn't." She sighed heavily while touching her forehead. "One thing is clear. There is no way I am going to school today."

"You got that right, darling," Ashton said, tying his red tie as he walked into the bathroom. He stopped next to his wife.

"How much did you hear of that?" Anna asked, looking at her husband.

"Every word. Your voices were so loud that you might as well have woken up the owls and raccoons that are sleeping after a long night of looking for food," Ashton answered. He tightened his tie after he finished tying it.

"Don't joke around. Your daughter isn't in the mood for comedy right now," Anna scolded in some anger.

"Sorry," Ashton said, holding up his hands. "You didn't have to bite my head off." He let out a loud sigh as he lowered them.

"It doesn't matter now," Anna said, waving him off. "Call the school, and tell them Ashley won't be coming in today."

Ashton nodded at her. "Okay."

Ashley and Anna watched him leave. The former took a deep breath as the latter touched her shoulder.

"You better go lie down and rest. I'll bring you some water," Anna said comfortingly.

"Thanks," Ashley whispered, licking her lips. "I hope I feel better enough to go to school tomorrow. I hate missing it, especially since I had a quiz today. On top of that, it's so close to mid-terms."

"I hope you get better too. Anyway, you go lie down," Anna said, patting the girl's shoulder. "I'll get your water."

"Thanks," Ashley whispered with a small nod. "I love you."

"I love you too," Anna responded, winking at her.

Ashley watched her mother leave. She made her way toward her room, closing the door once she got inside. She went to the bed and took her backpack and umbrella off it. She laid them on the floor before sitting down. She laid on her side, facing the window. She put her arm behind her pillow as she observed a northern mockingbird shaking water from its body while perched on the windowsill.

She swallowed hard as she pieced together the instances of her unusual behavior in her mind. Her increased hunger, cravings for foods she usually didn't eat, falling asleep at an unusual time, and getting sick were pointing to the likelihood that she was pregnant. She didn't trust home pregnancy tests due to false positive and false negatives. She wanted a doctor to confirm her suspicions because she knew the same symptoms could be the result of another condition.

She choked back a sob as she thought about her possible pregnancy. She knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to take care of a child while she attended Angel Grove University. She didn't want to think about how her parents and friends would react to this situation. The same went for her grandparents, grandfather Ben, grandmother Kayla, and grandfather Gerald Humphrey, especially since they were planning to come in for Christmas.

Her thoughts drifted to Andros. She feared that he would react badly to this situation, possibly even dump her. She didn't want to lose him after all they had been through together. Of course, she knew she couldn't force him to be part of her life or the baby's if he decided not to be. The prospect of raising their child alone still unnerved her.

She started thinking about the teachers and students. She had no doubt many would judge her and Andros for this. It made her angry they did that to teen parents. One bright spot was Angel Grove High School had a teen parent program that she and Andros could enroll in, so they could be excused from classes for doctor's appointments and such. That was if his reaction to the situation wasn't bad.

She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to push her thoughts out of her mind. She opened them when she heard knocking. She sat up slowly and swung her legs over the side. She pulled the holder out of her hair, allowing it to fall on her back. She looked toward the door.

"Come in," Ashley said, sighing to herself. The door opened slightly, and Ashton popped his head in. "Hi, Dad."

"I just called Mr. Kaplan about your illness. He told me to tell you that he hoped you felt better," Ashton answered.

"Thank you," Ashley whispered, smiling lightly. "If I don't see you again before you leave, I hope you have a good day."

"Thank you. Get lots of rest," Ashton said and winked at her.

"I will," Ashley commented. She watched him go out and close the door lightly. She laid on her back and put her hands behind her head.

00000

Heavy rain was still falling as students entered Angel Grove High School an hour later. Cassie went through the front doors wielding her umbrella. She opened and closed it three times, ridding it of excess water. She closed it all the way. A student bumped into her without excusing himself. An irritated look formed on her face.

"Hey, you jerk!" she shouted angrily. "You're supposed to say, 'Excuse me!'"

Cassie made her way toward her locker. She saw that Ashley wasn't at hers. She was surprised as it wasn't like her best friend to not be there. She wondered if the girl had gotten sick due to the stomach flu going around or was running late. She stopped at her locker and opened it. She reached in, grabbing her chemistry book. She placed her umbrella inside before closing it with a loud slam.

She turned around and leaned her back against her locker. She hoped she would do well on her quiz. She wondered if she studied the chemical equations enough. She couldn't let that bother her. She was startled when she heard a wolf-whistle. She looked toward Johnny, who stood next to the stairs. She hissed in irritation.

"Hey there, Cassie," he said.

"Johnny, don't you know it's rude to wolf-whistle at women?" she asked seriously.

"I don't care," Johnny replied, walking up to her. "I'll wolf-whistle at women as much as I want." He put his hand above her as he looked toward Ashley's locker. "Where's Ashley? Is she running late?"

"Probably. You're out of luck in trying to ask her out on yet another date," Cassie retorted with determination.

Johnny ran his tongue over his teeth. "I am going to get that date with her one of these days. I deserve it."

Cassie rolled her eyes. "You don't deserve anything, except a bunch of huge hits to your ego. It's the size of Jupiter."

"She's right about that," a male voice said firmly.

Johnny and Cassie looked toward Andros, who stood a short distance away. Andros walked toward them, stopping next to her.

"Well, well, if it isn't the alien boy. Why don't you just go back to where you belong?" Johnny sneered as he removed his hand from Cassie's locker and placed it at his side.

"My home planet may be KO-35, but Earth is my permanent place of residence. There is no way in hell that I am ever making a permanent move back to where I came from," Andros said calmly.

Johnny scoffed. "You should because you don't belong here. Earth is for Earthlings only. It's not for aliens."

Andros tightened the strap on his backpack as it hung over his shoulder. "I'm not an alien. I'm a full-blooded human. I just happen to have telekinesis. I doubt you could ever learn to master it."

"Why would I want to? It's a stupid power, anyway," Johnny leered.

"No, it's not. It's a cool power. It gave you a taste of your own medicine when you bothered us in the park that day," Cassie growled as she glared at Johnny, who turned to her.

"All courtesy of Karone," Andros added proudly. "Moreover, you deserved it big time." He emitted a soft hiss.

"You might want to wear shoes that don't have shoelaces. You don't want to trip over your own feet again, do you?" Cassie asked.

"No, but I am not giving up wearing shoes with shoelaces. Those with straps suck big time," Johnny answered with a soft growl.

"Then wear shoes without laces or straps. There are plenty of those available at shoe stores," Andros commented and loosened his grip on the strap.

Cassie furrowed her brow. "He's right. Then again, you could always go barefoot."

"Never," Johnny hissed, flaring his nostrils. He gave Andros a menacing glare. "Enjoy your time with Ashley, alien boy. I'll be dating her one of these days."

"Keep dreaming, Johnny. It isn't going to happen," Andros responded, fierceness showing in his voice. "Ashley is not interested in you!"

"She will be one day, Andros Parker," Johnny declared, pointing his finger in his rival's face. "She will."

Johnny put his arm at his side. He turned and walked toward the stairs. He moved aside as TJ, Zhane, Karone, Justin, and Carlos came around the corner. He rushed upstairs as they approached Andros and Cassie.

"Goodness. Johnny is in a rush," TJ commented honestly.

"He'd better watch where he is going. He's liable to bump into someone," Karone said seriously.

"Don't expect him to excuse himself when he does," Zhane added, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah," Andros agreed with a slow nod. A flash of lightning lit up the window at the stairs, causing him and the others to look toward it. A thunderclap followed suit. "I don't think the rain is going to be ending anytime soon."

"Unfortunately," Cassie muttered, feeling somewhat tense. "On top of that, Ashley is going to be late. That is if she is coming."

"Being late is so unlike her. So is missing school," Justin said, scratching his head and biting his lip.

"Unfortunately, Ashley is going to be missing school today, Justin," a male voice said grimly.

Andros, TJ, Cassie, Zhane, Karone, Justin, and Carlos turned around to see Mr. Kaplan walking toward them. The principal stopped before them.

"Hi, Mr. Kaplan," Carlos greeted.

"Hi yourself, Carlos. I got a call from Ashley's father not too long ago. She is sick with the stomach flu and decided to stay home," Mr. Kaplan responded, sighing heavily.

"Oh, no," Andros muttered sadly.

"I know, Andros. I wish it wasn't true, but it is," Mr. Kaplan commented and put his hands behind his back. "I've already let her teachers know about her illness."

"Do you think she'll be well enough to return to school tomorrow?" Cassie wondered in uncertainty.

"I don't know, Cassie, but I do hope so," Mr. Kaplan said truthfully. He looked at his watch. "It won't be long before the bell rings." He returned his attention to the teens. "You all should get to your classes, especially Andros, Carlos, and Cassie. You three have a quiz in Mr. Wilton's class this morning, right?"

"Yes, sir," Carlos answered. "We studied a lot."

"So did the rest of us. For when we have it later, that is," Justin added.

"Good," Mr. Kaplan commented. "I'll see you all later."

Mr. Kaplan turned around and walked away. Andros, TJ, Cassie, Zhane, Karone, Carlos, and Justin looked at each other.

"Let's quit standing around and get to our classes. What do you guys say?" TJ asked. He smiled at the others voicing their agreement. "Great."

"I need to go to the bathroom first," Cassie said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the restrooms.

"Okay," Andros replied, rubbing his nose. "Carlos and I will see you in a few minutes."

Andros and Carlos headed upstairs. Cassie walked to the women's restroom, entering the second door on her right. Zhane and Karone went left. TJ and Justin headed right.