Disclaimer: Check part one. . .
First Step
Part five: A Battle's Begun
By: stargazer_1017
Ashley paused before knocking on the door. She heard a faint, "Come in," and the door opened. As she walked into the room, she saw Andros sitting on his bed, a small ball levitating in front of him.
"Hey, Andros. Are you busy?" Ashley asked.
Andros shook his head and slowly let the ball drop down in front of him. "No, I'm just practicing. Was there something that you needed?" he asked.
Ashley shrugged. "I was just, you know, wondering if you're up to going down to Earth and checking out a movie or something."
Andros remember the conversation with Cassie the night before. She's worried about you. . .Andros smiled and shrugged as well. "Sure. What movie did you want to see?"
Andros noticed a relieved smile crossed Ashley's face. "Well, depending on what movie you wanted to see. I mean, if you wanted to see an action movie, or a comedy one, or a romantic one. . .let me know what kind of movie you'd like to see, and then we can figure out what movie to see."
"Comedy. . .sounds good. I'm in the mood to laugh."
"Great!" Ashley said, nodding. "Let me grab the schedule and I'll be right back." Ashley turned around and left. Only a second after she left his room, Cassie walked in.
"Andros, I was heading down to Earth to check on my mother. Did you. . .want to still come?" Cassie asked.
Andros gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Cassie--I just told Ashley that I'd go to the movies with her."
Cassie shook her head and smiled. "No, don't worry about it. I mean, I'm not even going to talk to my mother or anything. I'm just going to be there for a minute or two and then come back here."
"Still, I promised--"
"Don't worry about it," Cassie replied, holding her hands up. "Don't you dare feel bad, all right? It's no big." Andros could see the slight disappointement in Cassie's eyes even though she had a smile on her face--and he still felt guilty.
"You'll make sure to contact any of us if there's trouble, right?" Andros asked. Cassie nodded and walked out of the door. A split second later, Ashley walked back into his quarters.
"Did Cassie need anything?" Ashley asked.
"She was going to check up on her mother and I promised her last night that I would go with her, but I said I was going to the movies with you."
Another disappointed look flashed, this time in Ashley's eyes. "Well, if you promised Cassie you were going down with her--"
I feel like I'm stuck between two. "No, it's all right--I just cleared it with Cassie. Besides, we haven't been hanging out that much since I got back, and I want to make up for that." And see where things really lie with us.
Ashley still looked guilty. "You sure?"
Andros nodded back. "Yeah, I'm sure. So, what did you want to see again?"
***
The movies? Cassie sheilded her eyes from the afternoon sun and sighed. Stop it--you're sounding like a spoiled brat. He doesn't even belong to you, and already you're claiming possession on him.
What is it with guys I cannot have? Cassie shook her head and tried to push the thoughts away as she stopped in front of her mother's house. Well, technically still mine as well, and the house still looks the same.
Flowers still lined the house, the grass was just as green as ever, and the cement pathway to the front door was still in great condition. The two-story house looked as good as Cassie remembered it. Almost as if it hadn't been touched since the last time Cassie was there. Two feet bushes lined the edges of the property, separating it from the neighbor's yards.
I wonder what mom's doing. Cassie took a deep breath and walked up the cement pathway. Cassie put her hand to the door and held it up for a moment. She bit her lip, hesitating to knock on the door. You want her to stop her hold on you--take control, a small voice in her head said. A small voice--but very convincing.
Cassie knocked hard on the doorway--and waited. She frowned and knocked again, this time slightly softer than the first. When no one still came to the door, Cassie looked over to the window on her right. The curtain was slightly opened and she walked over and peeked inside of the house. There was nothing.
A rustling sound made Cassie turn to her right. I wonder if the Costello kids still live next door. Cassie slowly approached the portion of the bushes still rustling with movement. "Will? Jacob?" Cassie frowned as she reached the row of bushes and peered into the neighbor's yard.
Cassie spun around when she heard the front door open to her house. Her mom looked at her from the doorway. "Cassie?"
"Mom," Cassie said, giving a slightly relieved sigh. "Where were you? I knocked twice," she said, approaching her mother.
"I was taking a nap," Evelyn Chan replied. "I didn't hear you knock."
"Then how'd you know I was here?"
"I came down to get a drink of water and saw someone standing at the bushes and went to see who it was. What are you doing here?"
"I--I just came to see how you were, Mom."
Cassie noticed that her mother's eyes dulled slightly. "I'm fine," she said quietly. "I never knew you cared."
"Mom. . ."
Evelyn raised her hands. "I know. I don't want to get into another argument either.We're both adults now." Something about the way she said the last statement made Cassie a bit aggitated, but she put the feeling aside. Evelyn stepped aside. "Did you want to come in?"
Cassie almost hesitated--instead she nodded slowly. She slowly went up the steps leading inside and held her breath as she walked inside. It's still the same. . .Old memories washed over Cassie as she walked into the living room. Her eyes fell on a large frame on top of the piano. "I put that up a few days after you left," Evelyn responded quietly behind Cassie, answering her silent question.
Cassie watched as her mother walked past her to the piano. As her mother picked up the frame, Cassie said, "I don't remember seeing that picture of dad."
Evelyn smiled slightly. "Your father didn't want me showing this to anyone. It was something he gave me when we were first going out." She ran her hand down the picture. "He thought he looked like a dork."
"He looks beautiful," Cassie replied quietly.
"That's what I said too. I was just going through my old things and happen to come across the pictures and letters, and thought it would be a great way to keep him near. So that I wouldn't be alone." As Evelyn turned to look at Cassie, Cassie looked downwards. She didn't even look at her mother as she spoke again. "Cassie, what's the real reason you're here?"
"I just came to check on how you were, mom. That's all."
"Oh." Evelyn placed the frame back on the piano. She shrugged. "I'm doing fine. Was out at the wrong place at the wrong time last night, but I'm okay."
"Ms. Sherridan's worried too, Mom. She says she's been trying to get in contact with you ever since you left Angel Grove and she hasn't been able to reach you."
"You met up with her in Angel Grove?"
Cassie nodded, shifting the weight from her left leg to her right. "She told me she just moved there."
"What else did she say?"
"She told me that you ran off." Evelyn sat down at the stool in front of the piano. "Mom, is everything really all right? I've never heard of you running away like that." She heistated before adding, "I'm worried."
Evelyn's gaze softened. She shook her head. "Don't be--I'm fine. I ran off that day because the lady was just freaky. And honestly, I had a bad feeling."
Cassie frowned. "About what she said?"
Her mother put her hand up. "It's nothing."
"Mom. . ." You've always had good instints--bad parenting skills, but good instincts. Cassie trailed off, stopping what she was about to say. Her mother looked at her expectantly. "You must be exhausted," Cassie said instead. "Why don't you get some rest."
"Are you leaving now?"
There was that slight pang again. Cassie sighed. "No. . .I guess I'll here." Hope flooded her body as her mother smiled gratefully. "Have you eaten yet?" Cassie asked. When her mother shook her head, Cassie said, "I haven't either. I guess I could whip us up something--like old times."
Evelyn nodded and got up from her seat. As she reached just outside the living room, she turned around and asked, "Cassie?" When Cassie nodded in response, she went on, "Who was that young gentleman with you the other night?"
Huh? "What?"
"That night I was leaving the emergency room--I thought I saw someone standing beside you outside. Who was that?"
Cassie shook her head. "No one, Mom. No one." Her mother looked doubtful, but shrugged anyway and turned around. Cassie watched as her mother headed up the stairs. When she was certain her mother was out of hearing range, Cassie headed for the kitchen. "Geez, now she's got perfect eyesight too?" she muttered.
***
There's something else I'm supposed to remember. . .
"Andros!"
Andros snapped his head up. Ashley waved her hand in front of his face. "You all right? You kinda spaced out on me there," she said, concerned.
Andros shook his head and gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Ash. I was just thinking about something."
Ashley paused before saying, "Are you worried about Cassie?" When Andros stared at her, Ashley added, "I'm sure that if she was in trouble, she would've called for help."
"There was something that I'm supposed to tell her. . .When I was in the other dimension. . .Wait! That's it! The other Cassie told me that I should warn Cassie to watch out for her mother!"
Ashley frowned. "Watch out for her mother?" She stepped forward as the line the to ticket counter got shorter. "What did she mean?"
Andros shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't get the chance to ask."
Ashley stared at Andros and then sighed. "If you're really worried about her, then maybe we should just skip the movie and head back to the Megaship, in case Cassie needs help."
Strike two. Andros was tempted to take her off on her offer--but Ashley seemed slightly upset. "Why don't we just stay here? I mean, that way, we can get to Cassie faster--I mean, if she needs anything." Andros watched Ashley's expression carefully. Then Ashley nodded.
"Sure."
***
Cassie yawned. No way. . .I can't be getting comfortable here. That would be a first. While her mother took a nap, she had walked around the house and took a look around. Like her first impression of the front of the house, the rest of the house hadn't changed as much as well.
She walked into the kitchen and checked on the pot on the stove. The water in the pot had small bubbles on the bottom, but wasn't boiling. Cassie reached into the drawer on her left and pulled out a spoon.
Thud.
Cassie spun around. "Mom?" she called out. Cassie concentrated, trying to determine where the sound had come from. Definitely not upstairs. When no one answered her call, Cassie put the spoon on top of the counter and cautiously made her way out of the kitchen and towards the living room. She peered towards the living room.
"Hello again."
Cassie turned to her left, where her mother stood. "Mom--"
Her mother smiled, but it sent a shiver down Cassie's smile. "Mother will take care of you," her mother replied with a tone that even Cassie had never heard before. Cassie opened her mouth to speak, but before anything even came out, her mother grabbed Cassie by the shoulders and flew her backwards.
"See how it feels," her mother spoke again, laughing with a tone that almost sounded--evil. "Now, I get my revenge."
To be continued.