A/N: Thanks for the reviews! You guys are the reason I keep writing!

Chapter Two

Adam sighed as he opened the doors of the Youth Center the next afternoon. He wasn't going to go at first, but Monica had insisted that he should get away from the house for awhile. He finally decided to go and at least stay long enough to tell his friends the news, but he wasn't planning on decorating or returning at night for the party.

"Adam!" Aisha gasped when she saw him. He had a sorrowful expression on his face, and his eyes were red and puffy. "What happened?"

Aisha, Tommy, Billy, and Kim crowded around him. "Yeah, why are you so upset?" Billy asked.

Adam took a shaky breath. "Th-There was a car accident. My parents…"

"Adam, tell us what happened!" Aisha demanded. She was anxious to find out why her friend was so sad.

"They died," Adam whispered.

Kim covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh my gosh!"

"Adam, that's terrible!" Aisha exclaimed as her eyes filled with tears.

"Yeah. We're all sorry, man," Tommy said as he clapped a hand on Adam's shoulder.

"Is there anything we could do to help?" Billy asked.

Adam shook his head as tears rolled down his face. Aisha enveloped him in a comforting hug. The others joined the embrace.

"Hey guys!" Rocky called as he entered the building. He walked over to where the other teens were huddling together. He saw the somber looks on their faces and noticed Adam was crying. "What happened? Adam, are you still upset about the whole frog-ninjetti thing? That was months ago!"

Kim narrowed her eyes and smacked Rocky upside the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" He turned to Aisha, who was glaring at him and shaking her head. "What did I do?"

Kim stood on tiptoe and whispered something into Rocky's ear. His face fell. "Adam, man, I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't know…"

"It's okay." Adam waved off his apology.

"So, what's going to happen to you?" Aisha asked. She wouldn't have been able to stand it if Adam had to go to an orphanage-or even worse, leave Angel Grove.

"My aunt's going to take custody of me and move into the house with me."

"Is there a funeral?" Rocky wanted to know. Even he had tears in his eyes at the moment.

Adam nodded. "The day after Christmas. Um, listen guys. I just stopped by to tell you what happened. I'm not up to decorating, and I don't think I'll come back for the party later."

"It's okay. We understand," Aisha reassured him.

"Thanks. Oh, and Merry Christmas. At least you guys will be happy this Christmas," he mumbled.

The other five teens glanced at each other, not knowing what to say as Adam stormed out of the Youth Center.

* * * * * * *

"I can't believe you dragged me back here," Adam grumbled as he followed Rocky into the Youth Center. Somehow, both Rocky and Monica had convinced him to go back to join the party.

"Come on man, it'll cheer you up," Rocky told him.

"But I told you I'm not in the mood to party."

"You'll change your mind once we go inside."

"No, I won't."

Rocky grabbed Adam's elbow. "Just come on."

Rocky opened the door, and they were greeted with holiday music being blasted from a boom box somewhere. The Youth Center looked festive; even Adam had to admit to that. Green and red streamers were taped to the walls. Santa figurines stood on the refreshment tables. Colored lights were strung around the edge of the ceiling and the counter of the Bar, and there was an artificial Christmas tree set up in one corner.

"Hey, there's everyone else." Rocky pointed across the room. "Let's go by them."

Adam reluctantly followed him.

"Adam! You came!" Aisha exclaimed as he and Rocky walked over. She wrapped her arms around him.

Adam forced a smile, but didn't say anything. He wasn't sure if he was unable to speak because he was upset, or because Aisha looked amazing in her black skirt and sparkly yellow shirt.

Adam was distracted from his thoughts as he felt Kim hug him. "Are you going to be okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Adam replied with another forced smile. "Um, I'm going to go get a drink."

Adam turned on his heel and walked away. But instead of going to the refreshment table, where Rocky was shoving his face with food, he went outside. The sky had turned midnight blue, and stars twinkled up above. He walked around to the back of the building and sat down. He imagined his parents were above him, watching over him. The thought comforted him, but he couldn't help crying again.

Inside, Aisha was looking all over for Adam. He had said he was getting a drink, but he wasn't by any of the refreshment tables. She walked over to where Rocky was and tugged on his elbow. "Have you seen Adam? I've been looking everywhere for him."

Rocky shook his head. "I haven't seen him since we first got here."

"Where could he be?" Aisha muttered.

"I'll go check the boys' locker room," Rocky offered.

"Thanks," Aisha said as Rocky walked away. She grabbed Kim's arm as she walked past. "Tell me you've seen Adam recently."

"Sorry, but I haven't," Kim replied. "I don't know where he is."

Aisha sighed. "Thanks anyway."

"It's official," Rocky announced as he walked back. "Adam's gone."

"Rocky!" Kim and Aisha groaned.

Rocky shrugged. "Well, I don't know where he is."

Aisha was thoughtful for a moment. Suddenly she brightened with an idea. "I'll go check outside. I'll see you guys later."

Aisha made her way outside and walked around the building. She smiled and let out a sigh of relief when she found Adam sitting behind the Youth Center with his back to her. Then she frowned when she realized his shoulders were shaking and he had been crying. She slowly and quietly walked up behind him.

"Adam?" Aisha asked timidly. "What are you doing out here? Everybody's looking for you."

"I don't care," Adam snapped. "What do you want?"

Aisha was surprised. Adam rarely talked back to anyone. "I just thought maybe I could try to cheer you up."

Fresh tears filled Adam's eyes. "Nothing you say or do will cheer me up."

Aisha sat next to him. "Come on, Adam. This is the Christmas season. This is supposed to be a happy time."

Adam narrowed his eyes. "Oh, that makes me feel sooo much better. My parents are dead, Aisha, and you expect me to be happy just because it's Christmas?"

Aisha immediately begin to feel bad. "Adam, I'm sorry. I know you're going through a tough time now. But I didn't mean it like that. I just hate seeing you so upset. I hate watching you feel sorry for yourself."

"I can't help it, Aish. This is so unfair! Why did this have to happen to me, my parents? They didn't deserve to die. Why did they have to leave me?" Adam cried.

Aisha's heart went out to him. She hated seeing one of her closest friends so upset. "Adam, I'm so sorry," she whispered as she hugged him. He buried his face in her shoulder. "You're right, it's not fair. Your parents were great people, and they didn't deserve to die. But you still have the rest of us, and Zordon and Alpha are still with us, too. We'll always be here for you."

"Thanks, Aisha," he whispered as he looked up at her. His dark eyes met hers, and he leaned closer to her. Aisha's heart raced as Adam's face came closer and closer to hers. Finally, his lips touched hers in a soft kiss.

Aisha was hesitant at first, but she didn't pull away. She gasped as Adam deepened the kiss, and she felt herself being pushed back on the ground. Adam fell on top of her, not once taking his mouth away from hers.

Adam and Aisha kept kissing passionately, pulling each other's clothes off until they were both naked, and made love behind the Youth Center under the stars in the night sky.

A/N: I had a little trouble rating this chapter, because of the parts at the end, but since it's not detailed or graphic, I think I'm safe with the PG-13 rating. I'm not going to be updating as often anymore because school starts this week. But I'll try to update at least every weekend, if I can.