Disclaimer: You know how it goes. Also, 98 Degrees sings the song I used in this chapter. That's not mine, either.
Warning: The ending might be a bit of a tear-jerker.
Chapter Three
"I got the Jolt!" I exclaimed proudly as I entered the Youth Center, holding up a six-pack of soda.
Aisha, Kim, Billy, and Tommy turned toward me, each groaning. "Like you really need it," Aisha retorted as she took the bag from me. "Although I thank you for mine."
"Yeah, thanks, man," Tommy added as he opened a bottle.
"No problem. So, how are things going here?"
The day of the dance finally came, and boy, were the days leading up to today long and slow. But Friday was here, and Adam was gone. (Sorry, I didn't intend to make that sound so mean.) And, as we promised Ernie, we met at the Youth Center after school to help decorate.
"Things are going pretty well," Kim said. "We were in the middle of hanging streamers when you came in."
"The place looks awesome so far," I said as I scanned the room. It really did.
"Yeah, well, we're far from finished," Billy said. "We have three bags of balloons to blow up, refreshment tables to set up, and more streamers to hang."
"I'll take care of the refreshments," I volunteered.
Everyone else assigned themselves something to do, and we got to work.
After almost two and a half hours, we gathered together in the middle of the Youth Center and admired our work. The place looked great; even I had to admit to that.
"Good job, guys!" Ernie congratulated us as he came out from behind the counter. "The decorations are excellent. Thanks for your help."
"No problem. It was fun," Tommy spoke for the rest of us.
The rest of us nodded in agreement.
"You guys better go home and get ready," Ernie told us. "The dance is starting in two hours."
The five of us began leaving the Youth Center together as we called good-bye to Ernie.
"I'm so excited about tonight!" Kim squealed. "I've been looking forward to this all day! And I can't wait to wear my new outfit! What about you, Ish? You excited?"
Aisha shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not really looking forward to going alone, but I guess it will be fun."
"You will have fun," Billy assured her. "We'll make sure you do."
We continued chatting about the dance as we continued walking home, until finally, me and Aisha were the only ones left.
"So are you really not looking forward to tonight?" I asked.
"I'm really not. But you were right the other day; it will be better than sitting at home all night."
"We'll have a good time. I promise."
We walked up to her house a few minutes later.
"Hey, do you want to go together?" I asked her before she entered the door. "I can pick you up if you want."
Aisha smiled. "I'd like that."
I smiled back. "I'll pick you up at eight then, okay?"
Aisha nodded. "I'll see you later."
I waved after her as she walked through her front door and then continued walking in the direction of my house.
* * * * * * *
At eight on the dot, I stepped up to Aisha's front door and rang the doorbell.
"I'm coming!" I heard Aisha call.
A moment later, the door was thrown open. "Hi, Rocky!" she greeted me enthusiastically
All I could do was stare. Words couldn't explain how beautiful Aisha looked. She was dressed in dressy black pants and a sparkly yellow tank top. She wasn't wearing any make-up, but it accentuated her natural beauty.
"Are you ready?"
I was shaken out of my reverie when Aisha spoke again. I cleared my throat. "Yeah, let's go."
We climbed into my mother's car, and she drove off towards the Youth Center.
"Thanks for the ride, Mrs. DeSantos!" Aisha said after my mom dropped us off.
"I'll be back later to pick you two up," my mom called out the car window. "Have fun!"
I turned to Aisha and held my arm out to her. "Shall we?"
Grinning, Aisha looped her arm through mine, and we entered the Youth Center together.
"There's Kim, Tommy, and Billy," Aisha observed as she pointed towards the middle of the Center. "Let's go by them."
We walked over by them.
"Hey, you two," Kim greeted us.
"Hey," Aisha replied. "Anything interesting happen yet?"
As Kim told Aisha the events that we had missed so far, I ventured over to the refreshment tables. I stayed for quite awhile, talking to some of my friends who were non-Rangers and keeping my eye on Aisha.
A little while later, a slow song started to play, and couples started slow dancing on the floor. I watched as Aisha backed away and stood in a corner by herself. I walked over to her.
"Having fun?"
Aisha shook her head. "Well, I was until now."
"That's because you're not making it fun for yourself. Come on. Will you dance with me?"
Aisha slowly smiled that dazzling smile that made me go weak in the knees. "I'd love to."
Smiling back, I held my hand out to her. She took it in acceptance and allowed me to lead her back out on the floor. I slipped my arms around her waist, and she placed hers around my neck. Holding her in my arms, swaying lightly together to the music, felt so good. It felt as if we were the only two people in the world, at least to me. I rested my chin on the top her head as I concentrated on the lyrics, which, ironically, fit exactly how I was feeling.
Who could know the emptiness inside
Every time I see your face
Too many feelings left behind
Do you wonder why
I turn away when you look at me
Never wanting your eyes to see
This desperate heart that knows
How perfect we could be
Baby cause you don't know, how I feel
Livin' my life without you
Baby and you don't know what it's like
Lovin' you all this time
I'll give you all my love, heart and soul
Riskin' it all on a chance
Now when I need you the most, you don't know
All I ever wanted in this world
Baby I found in you
I never felt this way before
But I can't break through
And now I lie awake, alone at night
So afraid now to close my eyes
Just one more dream of you
I'll carry here inside
Baby cause you don't know, how I feel
Livin' my life without you
Baby and you don't know what it's like
Lovin' you all this time
I'll give you all my love, heart and soul
Riskin' it all on a chance
Now when I need you the most, you don't know
And I would hold you all through the night
I would stay right by your side
And I'd give you the world if your love was mine
But baby could it be you all through the night
I would stay right by your side
And I'd give you the world if your love was mine
But baby could it be I'm only dreamin'
Don't let it pass me by
Baby cause you don't know, how I feel
Livin' my life without you
Baby and you don't know what it's like
Lovin' you all this time
I'll give you all my love, heart and soul
Riskin' it all on a chance
Now when I need you the most, you don't know
I was pretty dismayed when the song ended and a fast song began to play.
"I'm going to go get something to eat," Aisha told me as she stepped away from me. "Do you wanna come?"
I was dying to eat something (when am I not?), but I had more important things on my mind.
"Actually, I was going to ask you to take a walk with me outside," I said. "Do you want to?"
"Sure," Aisha agreed.
I led the way through the crowd of people and exited the Youth Center. Outside, the sky was a deep, midnight blue, and the stars twinkled around the bright moon.
"The sky looks beautiful," Aisha breathed as she followed me outside.
It's not the only thing that looks beautiful, I thought as I briefly checked her out.
"Why did you ask me to come out here with you?" Aisha asked.
This was it. The moment of truth. Nothing was going to stop me from saying something now.
"Actually, I-uh-well-" I stammered, uncharacteristically nervous.
Aisha laughed. "Come on Rocky. Just spit it out."
"Ish, I really need to talk to you about something," I finally blurted out seriously.
Aisha also became serious. "You know you can always talk to me."
"Well, this is a little different."
Aisha looked up at me expectantly. "What is it, Rocky?"
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. "Look, Aish. I know this isn't exactly the most appropriate time for me to say this, because I know you're happy with Adam. But I have to tell you this."
"Rocky, what is it?"
"Aisha, I love you," I said softly, slowly.
Aisha's eyes widened. For several moments, she didn't say anything. Then she finally spoke. "Rocky, I-I don't know what to say."
"I'm sorry, Ish. I should have said something sooner. I don't know why I never did, but then you and Adam started dating, and I've just been so heartbroken since then, and I couldn't keep it a secret anymore." I stopped to take a breath. It felt good to finally get that off my chest, but there was still something else that I wanted to do.
My heart pounded as I started talking again. "Aish….can I kiss you?" I asked softly.
"Excuse me?" she whispered.
"I asked if I could kiss you," I repeated, stepping closer to her. I lifted my hand to caress her cheek.
She gently pushed my hand away and took a step back. "Rocky…"
"Please, Aisha?" I pleaded as I followed her.
Aisha kept taking backwards steps until her back hit the wall. I put my hands up on either side of her and stepped up close to her, so close that I could almost feel her heart beating.
"Rocky, I don't think this is a good idea," Aisha whispered.
I ignored her words and leaned my head down. Aisha tried to protest again, but before she could say anything, I brought my hand up to lift her chin with my forefinger and kissed her.
A surge of excitement and happiness rushed through me as my mouth met hers. I had longed to kiss her for such a long time, and it felt so good to finally do it. Now, don't think I'm stupid, because even though some (or most) people think I'm an idiot, I'm not. I knew kissing her was wrong. I knew I was betraying Adam. But there was no way I was going to let this opportunity slip away.
I could sense Aisha tense up as I deepened the kiss, but after a moment she relaxed and started to kiss me back.
After what seemed like an eternity, I reluctantly pulled away.
Damn. That was the only word I could think of. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if I have wet dreams for the rest of my life.
And I thought seeing her in yellow spandex was the highlight of my life.
Aisha was looking at me with a look of confusion, and maybe even a little disbelief. "Rocky, I can't believe you just did that," she whispered.
"Aish, you don't understand," I told her. "I've been wanting to do that for the longest time."
Aisha studied my face. "I didn't know I was causing you so much pain."
"It's not your fault. I'm the one who was too scared to open my mouth."
"I'm sorry that you have go through this, Rocky. But I'm really happy with Adam."
"I-I know. And I don't intend to come in between you guys. But I just can't help feeling this way for you."
Aisha examined my face more closely. I knew she was beyond perplexed about the situation, but I also knew she wasn't used to me being so serious. It was obvious, too, that she didn't know how to react. "I'm so sorry, Rocky," she whispered shakily after a few moments. "If I would have known that you would be so hurt, I wouldn't have ever started dating Adam."
I shrugged. "Hey, like I said, it's not your fault. I was the idiot who didn't have enough courage to say something."
"Um…let's not tell Adam about this, okay? I don't want to hurt him, too."
I noticed how she said too. "Okay. Listen, I'm going to go back inside. You coming?"
Aisha shook her head. "I'm just going to stay out here for a while."
I started walking back towards the entrance, but halfway there, I stopped and turned in my tracks. "Aish?"
She turned around. "Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
Now, nobody would ever believe I said these words unless they were actually there, but out flew the most romantic, sentimental words I've ever spoken before to anybody in my life. "In just one night, you've made me the happiest I've ever been before in my whole life."
Without waiting for a response from her, I walked back inside.
A/N: Whew! Another fast update! I've been working on this day and night all weekend, but I hope it's not too shoddy. I'm thinking about writing the next couple of chapters in Aisha's POV. Review and tell me what you guys think about that.