Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Chapter Four

Adam tried to feel happier. And he did, somewhat. He would manage to forget about the hurt he felt for his parents and his problems with Aisha for a little while. Then he'd see something or hear something that reminded him of his parents or the bad situation he was in with Aisha, and everything would come crashing down on him again.

Monica and Adam had spent a quiet, somber Christmas morning together. Monica had found the presents Adam's parents had wrapped for him before they passed away, and he opened them with tears in his eyes. Then later that afternoon, Rocky's mother had called them and invited them over for Christmas dinner, which Adam and Monica had gratefully accepted. Adam told Rocky everything, from how he and Aisha had been intimate together and how he felt about the situation.

"You know you have to tell her how feel," Rocky had said.

"I know, I know. I will tomorrow, after the funeral, I guess," Adam had decided.

Now Adam was sitting in the front pew of Angel Grove Chapel, listening to the priest read a passage from the Bible. He looked around the church. He saw several of his parents' coworkers and some of his neighbors sitting more towards the back. His friends and their parents were sitting more to the front. He saw Rocky sitting with Carmen, but his brothers and sisters weren't there. Rocky's father had taken them to the zoo for the day, because Carmen was having a small reception at the DeSantos' place after the burial. Adam was grateful that they wouldn't be around for both the funeral and the reception.

Adam looked in the other direction to see Kim and Tommy sitting alone together. Kim had tears rolling down her face. Billy was sitting behind them with his dad and Ernie. Wow. I didn't expect to Ernie to come, Adam thought. But then, why wouldn't he have come?

Adam let out a quiet sigh as his eyes fell on Aisha. She was sitting with both her parents, listening intently to what the priest was saying. Just then, she looked in Adam's direction. She saw him staring at her and smiled encouragingly. He smiled slightly and turned around.

After the ceremony was over, everyone that had been in the church proceeded to the cemetery for the burial service. Tears streamed down Adam's face as he watched his parents' coffins being lowered into the ground.

On the ride to Rocky's house, Adam felt relief wash over him. The funeral had made him feel a lot better; of course, he was still sad over his parents' death, but now that the funeral was over, it was easier to accept the fact that they were truly gone.

Back at the DeSantos' house, Adam stood off by himself. He wasn't trying to be rude; he just had a lot to think about, and he didn't feel like socializing at the moment.

"Hey, Adam," Billy said as he walked up beside him. He clapped a hand on Adam's shoulder. "You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Adam replied confidently with a genuine smile.

"Good. Listen, we're all going to the Youth Center later. Do you feel like coming?"

"Of course he does," Rocky answered for Adam as he walked up behind them. Adam gave him a look. Rocky smirked and said, "He'll be there."

Billy looked at Adam. Adam knew Rocky wanted him to go so he could talk to Aisha. Might as well just get it over with as soon as I can, he thought. "Yeah," Adam said. "I'll go."

"Great. We'll see you later." Billy walked away.

"Thanks for making my decisions for me," Adam said to Rocky.

Rocky shrugged. "Well, if I didn't open my mouth, I knew you would have said no. Besides, you know you have to talk to Aisha."

"I know, I know."

Rocky grinned. "Of course, if you don't want to, I can tell her for you."

Adam glared at him. "Don't you dare. I said I'd talk to her, and I will."

"You better." Rocky paused. "Hey, you better go. Everyone else is leaving."

Adam looked around the room and realized he was right. Everyone was starting to file out the door. "Okay. I'll see you later."

"Yeah, see you later," Rocky called as Adam walked over to his aunt.

At home, Adam took a shower and braced himself for the inevitable conversation he was going to have Aisha. I'll be fine, he told himself. I'll just tell her how I feel and then pray she feels the same way. Which she probably will. There's no way the night we spent together meant something to her.

After he got dressed, he told his aunt where he was going and walked to the Youth Center. As he entered the doors, he tried his best to calm his nerves. He found the table his friends were sitting at and walked over. "Hi, guys," he greeted them as he took a seat.

Rocky, Tommy, Kim, and Billy glanced at each other. "I wish I could stay, but I've got homework to do," Billy said as he left the table. Adam could instantly tell they were trying to get him and Aisha alone together, and he knew then that everybody else knew what happened between them at the party.

"Yeah, and I have gymnastics practice in a few minutes," Kim said. She ran into the girls' locker room.

"And I, uh, have to practice a kata," Tommy added, quickly getting up from his chair and walking away.

Rocky sniffed the air. "Are those nachos I smell? Mmh, I guess so. And Ernie couldn't have made them at a better time, because not only am I starving, but I can tell you two have a lot to talk about, and-hey!" he suddenly exclaimed. Tommy, who had overheard Rocky's blabbering, had run back over to the table and yanked him away.

Adam cleared his throat. "Aisha-"

"Adam-" Aisha began at the same time. They chuckled. "You first," Aisha said.

Adam took a deep breath. "Okay, look, about…that night. I just wanted to say that-" Adam paused, and Aisha looked up into his soft dark eyes hopefully. "-I'm sorry about what happened."

Aisha's heart sank. "You are?"

"Yeah. I-I was just upset and vulnerable, and even a little confused. I just needed the pain to go away."

"So, you're saying that…it meant nothing to you?" Aisha asked. Her voice was thick with sadness, but Adam never noticed it.

"Look, I know it seems like I was just taking advantage of you. But please don't think that. You know I would never do that to you. I just want to forget everything that happened."

Aisha forced a smile. "Don't worry. I understand completely."

Adam felt relieved, not realizing that she was lying. "I knew you would. I'll see you later, 'kay?"

Aisha just remained silent as she watched Adam get up and leave. "I understand, all right," she murmured to herself once he was out of earshot. "I understand that you'll never love me like I love you." With that, she buried her face in her hands and started to cry.

A/N: I don't really like this chapter. I think it's really bad, but I didn't know any other way to write it. Please tell me what you think, and be honest.