Chapter Seven

Soon before they knew it three weeks had flown by and it was drawing closer to the day they were going to move. In the past few weeks the three of them had fallen into a daily routine with Ashton and Antoinette going to work while Rome stayed with Thalia. They'd all agreed that there was no sense in him getting a job when they were moving soon. The nights were filled with everyone packing and getting things ready to move, along with the never ending goofing off between Anni and Rome. Even though the two acted as if nothing was wrong Ashton could tell that there was tension between her friends although they tried to act as normal as possible. It just wasn't something that either one was especially good at hiding when they were normally so much more open with each other. She knew that eventually Antoinette would open up and spill everything, but not until she was completely ready to share. She was also hoping that with any luck Rome would come to her and tell her what was going on with him too. She didn't like seeing her friends like they were and she was willing to do anything to help them out. She didn't realize just how lucky she was about to get.
It was exactly one week before they were planning on moving and the girls were trying to finish up the last of the packing that they were able to without any help. Time had seemed to fly by lately and they couldn't believe that in seven days they'd be moving to Los Angeles. They'd found a house about twenty minutes away from Dom's and the team's and had already put the down payment on rent and everything a week earlier. The house had three bedrooms, not including the extra bedroom in the basement, and was made of white stucco. They'd been really lucky in finding it, since the day they'd called someone else had just backed out of the agreement to rent the house. They'd gone down the very next day to check it out and immediately fell in love with the house. It was perfect for them with enough room for everyone and then some. Figuring that Ashton would need some help, and adding the fact that she didn't like that there wasn't any noise in the house, Antoinette walked into the kitchen with a box in her hands.
"Hey Cheer Two, you need some help?"
"Yeah sure. Its weird not having any noise in the house isn't it?" Ashton asked.
"Uh huh, I was just thinking that. I'm so used to having Rome or Talli, hell even me, making some kinda noise constantly."
"Yuppers. Now you know how I felt while you and Tals were gone."
"How'd you survive? I think I woulda gone stir crazy!"
"Its called keeping either the TV or the radio on all the time."
"Oh I guess that makes sense." And with that the two got back to work and fell into a comfortable silence filled with the sounds of the two wrapping dishes in newspaper and carefully placing them in a box. As she packed, Antoinette looked around the kitchen of the apartment she'd lived in for the last two years. Staring at every last detail of the room, she couldn't help but be a little sad about leaving. Her aunt had been really upset when she told her that she was leaving Barstow. She'd cried and almost begged Antoinette not to go but, no matter how much she'd wanted to say that she wasn't going to move to keep her aunt from hurting she just couldn't. Doing that would mean sacrificing her happiness and the right for her daughter to get to know the rest of her family, not to mention her father. That was one thing that she made sure not to mention to her aunt or uncle. She knew her Uncle Robert would have headed down to L.A and personally kicked Brian's ass and then she would have had a lot of explaining to do. She was still worried how Ashton was going to react. Playing with the bottom of her jean shorts Anni gathered up her courage and looking at Ashton said,
"We need to talk."
"I was wondering when you were gonna spill Cheer One. I knew there was something wrong with you." Ashton said.
"Then why didn't you ask?"
"Would you have actually told me then? I don't think so. I know you girly and I know that you're one of the most stubborn people I know."
"Can't help it, it's a family trait." Antoinette said grinning.
"Yeah, whatever. So you gonna tell me what's eatin' at ya or you gonna keep avoiding it?"
"Fine, I'll tell you. When I went to visit my brother and sister, Rome wasn't the only person that I knew from Barstow there. Brian was with him."
"Is that what's been bothering you?"
"Okay that's soo not the reaction I thought I was gonna get." She said looking at her friend in surprise.
"That's because I already knew that Brian was with Rome. And before you ask, I found this out form Mr. Pearce himself. Now is that all that's been bothering you?"
"No it isn't but I'm not sure that I wanna talk about the other thing."
"You know it might help to tell someone. I know you're strong girly but you can't take the world on by yourself no matter how hard you try. You're gonna need some help."
"Fine I'll tell you, but you've gotta promise that you won't tell a single soul."
"I swear on cheerleader's honor." Ashton answered, trying to make things a little less serious.
"Okay, I think I might umm... have feelings for Rome. And that I might want to have more than just a friendship with him."
"Are you for real?!?"
"Yes!! Why the hell would I joke about something like that!"
"Chill, I was just making sure. But you do know that what your feeling is perfectly normal, right?"
"How can it be normal? I've never felt like this towards him before! He's my best friend for Christ's sake."
"Cheer One, you know that it takes some people fifty years to find what they've wanted only to realize that it's been right in front of them the whole time. And people fall for their best friends all the time; it's not all that abnormal."
"So do you think I should tell him?"
"What I think is that you should do what you feel is right. But if I were you I'd tell him, it'll make things easier for the both of you."
It's a lot easier said than done. You know I don't just spill my feelings all that quick."
"Yeah, I know but sweetie, you've gotta try and get past that. Not everyone is out to hurt you like Brian did."
"I know but-" She began but was interrupted by Rome and Thalia walking through the door.
"Hey you two we're back, and we brought dinner." He called through the house.
"We'll be there in a sec." Ashton yelled back at him and grabbing some paper plates out of the cabinet and starting to walk into the dining room. She stopped at the doorway and turning to look at Antoinette said, Think about what I said." And walked out of the kitchen. Standing there for a minute, she soon returned from her little 'space out' and followed her Ashton into the dining room. She hadn't quite made it out of the hall when Thalia spotted her and ran at her squealing,
"Mommy!" As soon as she made contact and wrapped her arms around her mother's legs it knocked Antoinette backwards causing her to almost fall, in fact she would have had her back not been towards the wall, helping her to catch her fall. Looking up, slightly worried, Thalia said, "Sorry, Mommy. I didn't mean to."
"It's okay sweetie." Antoinette said and began to laugh. She was just grateful they'd taken all the pictures down from the walls earlier in the week. 'That would have been painful' she thought to herself, while standing up straight again. Then looking at her daughter, smiled and picked her up. "You ready to eat something?"
"Uh huh. I'm hungry."
"Then let's get you some food. You're a growing girl and you need to eat something don't you?'
"Yeps, Mommy. I's growing. See told ya Uncle Room." And saying that the little girl stuck her tongue out at him, causing everyone in the room to laugh. Going over to the table, Antoinette picked up two of the paper plates, and grabbing a small piece sat it on a plate and placed it in front of Thalia who was sitting in her booster. Then she grabbed a larger piece and set it on her plate.
"I hope you're gonna eat more than that." Rome, who had two, huge slices on his plate, said. "I know for a fact that you hadn't eaten at all when Talli and I left."
"You know now that you mention it, I don't think I've seen her eat anything all day." Ashton added. And looking at each other, they each grabbed another slice and set them on her plate.
"You guys, there's no way I can eat all this!" Antoinette exclaimed.
"Tough, cuz you're gonna." Ashton answered.
"Fine when I puke its ya'lls fault."
"That's okay. We'll just make you eat some more to fill the renewed empty space." Rome told her, and Ashton nodded.
"You both suck."
Soon an hour had passed and everyone was done eating except for Anni, who still had the last piece of pizza on her plate. She was sitting in the living room watching TV with Rome while Thalia was in her room playing, and Ashton was in the kitchen packing again. Looking down at her plate, a large groan escaped her. Looking over at her Rome couldn't help feeling sorry for her, she looked slightly green whenever she looked at her plate, and he knew that eventually she was really and truly going to puke. Leaning over he grabbed the pizza off her plate and said after taking a bite.
"Isn't it bout time for Talli to go to bed?" Looking at the clock, she realized he was right and said,
"Yeah it is. Oh and thank you!" With that she kissed him on the cheek, hopped off the couch and went into Thalia's bedroom. You could hear her say,
"Tals it's time for your bath. C'mon let's go!" which was soon followed by the sound of running water. Finishing off the pizza he'd taken from Antoinette, he got up and walked into the kitchen. He wanted to talk to Ashton. Standing at the counter with her, he looked over at her and said,
"Do you need any help?"
"Umm... yeah sure." Ashton answered kind of shocked. Rome never wanted to help pack. Anni usually had to make him. He was always the one keeping Thalia busy so she wasn't in their way, even if she thought she was trying to help.
"I'll get the things up high. I know you and Anni are too short to reach that high."
"Shut up!! It ain't our fault that we're vertically challenged, especially me."
"Aww poor you. But you know you're right since you're only what four eleven?"
"Grrrr. Shut up." And saying that she punched him lightly and they got to work. They worked together in silence; Rome trying to get up enough nerve to tell her what was going on, Ashton trying to figure out just what bit him on the ass to make him volunteer to help her out. It just wasn't normal. After a few more minutes spent with the only noise being the sound of cardboard flaps scraping against each other and the clinking of the glasses as they were being taken out of the cupboard.
"Hey Ash, can I talk to you about something?" Rome asked, never taking his attention away from taking things out of the top cabinet.
"Of course you can Rome. What kinda friend would I be if you couldn't?" She asked, not getting her hopes up, Anni had already showed her that there was more than met the eye when it came to problems today, and she wasn't going to expect him to say anything she wanted him to say until it actually came from him.
"Well I really don't know how to say this at all. It's not something I ever even thought about."
"What is it Rome?"
"I think that... hell I know for a fact... I've got more than friendly feelings for Anni."
"What?!?" Ashton exclaimed as quietly as she could. She didn't want Antoinette to hear her and come see what was going on. She needed him to finish telling her what was going on.
"You heard me. But Christ, she's one of my best friends!"
"Best friends fall in love all the time." She said and couldn't help thinking, 'Damn this conversation seems familiar. Then she decided that she was going to make this work for the both of them. Her friends deserved to be happy and there was anything she could do to help that cause she was going to.
"Yeah, well with the two of us it'd just make one awkward ass friendship."
"Rome you've gotta tell her. If anything just so she knows how you feel."
"I think about it alright, but I'm not going to make any promises. I ain't gonna set myself up just to be shut down."
"Tell her. No matter what she'll always be there for you and you know it." Saying that they both fell back into the silence that they'd been working in before. Soon two hours had passed and they'd finished cleaning out the cabinets. Rome was sitting on the couch when he realized that neither one of them had seen Anni since she'd went to get Thalia ready for bed. Getting up he walked towards her room, knowing that's usually where she was if she wasn't in the living room or kitchen. Looking around her room and not finding her there he began to worry; he knew Thalia would be asleep by now. Hurrying down the hall he pushed open the door to her room and was greeted with the sight of the mother and daughter asleep together in the large plush rocking chair that sat near the window of the bedroom. 'God she looks gorgeous' he thought to himself as he stood in the doorway. Moonlight had filtered through the window and fell upon the two of them making their hair shine. Rome could still see wet spots on the white wife beater that she had taken from him earlier in the day, and couldn't help but laugh a little. Antoinette's hair was in a ponytail that was pulled over her left shoulder to keep it out of Thalia's face. The little girl was wrapped in her mother's arms her head resting in the crook of Anni's neck. Leaning against the door frame he stood there and watched them until he noticed Ashton standing behind him.
"We should probably wake her up. She keeps sleeping like that and she's gonna have a stiff neck when she wakes up." She said.
"How bout we don't wake her up, or have you forgotten what she's like when she gets woken up?" Rome asked thinking she was insane if she really wanted to interrupt Antoinette's slumber.
"Good point. How bout you take Anni and I'll take Tals."
"Alright that'll work and did you really think I'd expect you to carry Ann?"
"No, but wait a minute... I'll be right back." And saying that she ran to her bedroom and a few minutes later returned a camera in her hand.
"You know if she ever finds out you took this picture she's gonna kick ya ass." Rome said looking down at her.
"Only if she finds out." Ashton answered with a smirk on her face. Snapping the picture quickly she took the camera back to her room and came back once again. Then the two walked into the room and she lifted Thalia up and laid her in her bed. Meanwhile Rome had picked Antoinette and was carrying her into room. As soon as he'd put her down on her bed her eyes had fluttered open.
"What are you doing Rome?" She asked in a groggy, barely awake voice.
"You fell asleep so I brought you in your room." He answered in a quiet voice.
"Oh, thanks."
"No problem sweetness."
"Night Rome."
"Night Anni." And with that she rolled over and went back to sleep. He noticed that she still had her shoes on so he slipped them off her feet and pulled the blanket that was folded at the end of her bed over her. Walking out, he stopped in the doorway and turned around to look at her again, and said 'I love you' not knowing that Ashton had seen and heard the whole thing.
A week later they we're all packed and ready to go. Getting things going that morning had been a little difficult. Thalia was more than a little more than grumpy when she woke up and wanted to argue about everything. First it'd been breakfast, then she hadn't wanted to wear the clothes they'd left out for her, and she'd threw a fit about her hair not being done like her mom's. When it was finally all said and done, it looked like Antoinette had a miniature her walking around. Both had on jean shorts, a white t-shirt and white tennis shoes, their hair was pulled into low pigtails and they even had sunglasses that were almost identical. This amused Rome and Ashton to say the least. Standing in the doorway, looking annoyed, Antoinette said,
"Can we leave now?"
"Hell NO!! Not til I get a picture of this!" Ashton said laughing, causing Antoinette to glare at her. Soon Ashton had pulled her camera out of her bag and told Thalia to go stand by her mother and put her sunglasses on the top of her head. As she stood next to Antoinette, Thalia looked up and tried to mimic her expression; succeeding quite well, and causing Ashton to nearly fall over laughing as soon as she'd snapped the picture. "Kay now we're ready to go."
With that the four of them left never looking back. Soon they were on the road and headed for the city of stars. The two hour drive seemed to fly by as they kept driving closer to their new home. They were all excited about moving, there wasn't really anything left for them back in Barstow and they all knew it, even if they didn't say it out loud. Before they knew it they were pulling up in the driveway of their new home and walking inside. The landlord had been really easygoing about things as far as redesigning the house. He'd told them that they could do what ever they wanted. Ashton didn't think he realized just what he'd gotten himself into when he said that. Antoinette had been dying to decorate their apartment and paint forever and couldn't but now she had free reign and was going to do whatever her heart desired. Life was going to be hell for all of them for the next few weeks. They spent the rest of the day unloading the U-Haul until they got to the furniture. That was when Antoinette had called Dom and had him, Leon, and Vince come over to help Rome. There was no way they'd actually be much help carrying some of the stuff and neither one of them wanted Rome throwing his back out. Soon they showed up and everything was in the house. Being the wonderful sister she was when she wanted to be, Antoinette had gotten the keys to Leon's skyline, which they'd all ridden over in, and took Thalia and Ashton to go to the store. While they were there they bought a case of corona, limes and all the accommodations to make margaritas. She also ordered Chinese food and picked it up on their way back to the house. As soon as they walked in the door they were pounced on by the guys and thanked.
"You guys it's no problem. You all came over and helped us out so this is the least I could do." Antoinette told them all.
"Have I told you you're my favorite sister?" Dom asked taking a swig of his corona.
"Only all the time Dom."
"Are you two always like this?" Ashton asked, as she looked for the blender.
"Uh huh. They are." Leon answered, "And half the time Vince is right in there with them."
"Can I help it if everyone loves me?" Antoinette said, acting totally clueless.
"Who said I loved you?" Leon asked.
"You don't love me? Fine I'll be taking that." And she leaned over, grabbed his corona and took a drink.
"That's not right. You should never take a man's beer."
"Well you should never say you don't love the woman who bought the beer."
"She's got a point you know." Vince said, then looking at her and Thalia decided to ask the question that he'd wanted to ever since they'd gotten there earlier. "What's with you and the little one dressing a like?" As soon as it came out of his mouth Ashton fell backwards laughing, and Antoinette scowled at him.
"Shut up Cheer Two, or I'ma come over there and kick your ass." Antoinette said in a joking way.
"Oh I'd love to see that happen." Ashton answered, still laughing.
"Okay now will one of you answer my damn question." Vince said, really wondering what the reason was now.
"Let's put it this way dawg, cranky two year olds ain't too much fun to deal with in the morning." Rome answered him. Hearing this Dom, who had Thalia in his lap, asked the little girl,
"Did you give your mom a hard time this morning?"
"Nuh-uh. I was good this mornin'." Thalia told him looking completely innocent, and causing Antoinette, Ashton, and Rome all to snort while muttering 'Yeah right' under their breath. They spent the next three hours like this until it was almost ten o'clock. At that time Dom, Vince, and Leon left with the promise to be back tomorrow with the rest of the team. After putting Thalia to bed the three adults left stayed up for a few more hours before heading to bed to await the next day. God only knew what they had in store for them tomorrow.

A/N: Okay there's that chappy. I apologize for the delay. But my computer is complete CRAP and wouldn't let me access this chappy on my other disk. So I had to restart the whole thing and plus I've had major writer's block lately. I just couldn't think of anything to write. But yeah computer pissed me off so much that me being the loving gentle person I am busted the other disk in half. Hope ya'll liked the chappy. Oh and since I forgot to do it last time I'm gonna thank Cheer for letting me put her in my story. I love ya soo much and it's gonna add so much to this story now that I have another character in the mix. Wellz that's about it for now. I luv ya all. Read and Review plz!!!!! Oh and Loverofroswell, it's okay that you didn't review for a while. We all get busy. Later guys!!!

Jess