Disclaimer: Not mine. Patiently, Emma Lahana. Promise Me and Just Humans, mine.
Author's Note: sobs I have to be the stupidest human alive! I had all my changes made, and I forgot to save it. sobs Enjoy!
One hour later
"Okay!" Cassie called on stage after her song "My Dream World". "Now, right now we have a very special friend with me today. Okay, now, may I present… Ashley Hammond!"
Ashley walked on stage left, waving energetically. She took the mike and exhaled excitedly into it. "Well," she began. "These next two songs that I'm doing with Cassie are actually from a friend of ours in Reefside, a couple miles towards the coast. Kira Ford, whom we met on a trip and we particularly liked these two songs of hers and her friend: Kylee Styles; who's becoming a popular pop star herself. Now, may we present…"
"Well, you'll have to find out." Cassie cut in cheekily.
The band started to play an almost jazzy tune and then… they sang.
Exactly 1:27 minutes later
Andros inhaled sharply at the sight of her.
"Say goodbye,
I'll be okay.
I will wait for you cause,
True love will never fade.
When it's real you can feel it."
"And I know,
That you know,
That I will keep on waiting…"
"Patiently,
Patiently for you."
"Patiently,
So patiently…"
"When I'm lost,
I try to find you.
When I turn around,
I'm right behind you."
"Say goodbye
I'll be okay.
I will wait for you cause
True love will never fade.
When it's real you can feel it."
"And I know,
That you know.
That I will keep on waiting
Faithfully, (patiently)
Patiently,
For you…"
At that point, tears blurred his eyes, and roughly pushing open the door, a few leaves blowing in, he headed to the park for a good cry.
One Song Later
Ashley took a deep breath to compose her. He's gone, he's gone, he's probably dead or eloped by now. You are not going to see him again… SO WHY CAN'T I STOP THINKING OF HIM! She sank down against the nearest wall and buried her head in between her legs; Face it Ashley, she told herself firmly, or, as firmly as she could in her dizzy, confused state. The one man you truly love is gone, but you have the greatest friends in the world, a caring family and a good financial/business/work world. Be happy with what you have… But I can't help it? Her incoherent mind wailed. She knew that she loved Andros, and would gladly give up her stable life just to be with him. Okay, she told herself. Maybe not all of it.
Onstage
Cassie glanced to the side of the stage, worry for her friend clouding her mind. The last time she was this worked up was when… Oh, god, no... "Andros," she breathed. "Oh, please tell me that was a mirage." Well, if it is him, at least I can beat him up for leaving Ashley, she thought bitterly. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself to announce her next song.
Angel Grove Park
"C'mon Andros." Andros muttered while lightly banging his head against a tree. "Stop thinking of her, you can't love her. She probably hates you, she probably loathes you. You just- stop thinking of her! deep breath okay, go back to the café, and finish watching the performance. Maybe you can salvage an acknowledgement with her. You threw away your chance at love when you left with barely a goodbye." Sighing heavily, he headed back to the Power Mania Café.
20 Minutes Later
"Hey Angel Grove!" Cassie cheered into the mike. "How about we start on the acknowledgements before I forget? First off," she began while the audience whooped and clapped. "I say we give a big hand for Ernie, Adelle and Amide for opening the Power Mania Café! Let's say thanks to the customers that keep your favorite café in Angel Grove open… you! And, of course, the people that run this whole scene, backstage, behind the curtain, behind those metal doors that say 'Keep Out' or 'Staff Only'." Cassie waited while the audience applauded those that ran the café. "But, most of all," Cassie said as soon as the applause died down. "I want to thank the Power Rangers, who have protected this city for six years, who have saved this city and others many, many times and who deserve to be able to live their lives out, as normally as possible. But, scoff who can do that when reporters are hounding them, people beg to see them, and they just can't go anywhere without being mobbed. So, please, just let them live." Her voice had softened down to a tone that would be inaudible without the microphone. "My best friend and I have written a song, to kick off our finale, which, surprisingly, only consists of two songs. Now, lets welcome back…. Ashley Hammond!"
Ashley walked onto stage, her makeup fixed and her bleary red eyes cleared. "Well, this first song is a dedication to the Power Rangers and a reminder of how they should be treated."
"This goes for celebrities!" Cassie added as they prepared to sing.
In Audience
"They're just human,
Like you and me.
Just trying to live their life.
Trying to be free.
They're just people,
Like J.Lo and Spears."
How. Very. True. Zhane sighed, tightening his grip on his fiancé.
"Zhane?" came Karone's soft whisper. "Are you alright?"
His lips twitching, he nodded slightly, "Listen, you'll want to know this song the next time reporters are hunting you."
"Okay." Her simple, unhesitant reply startled him, but not as much as the soft kiss she pressed to his cheek a moment later.
"K"
"Listen, you'll want to know this song the next time reporters are hunting you." Shooting him a gentle, but smug grin, Karone turned back to the stage.
1 Song Later
"This next, and last, song is dedicated to friendship. True friendship. It can sometimes be greater than love." Ashley stared wistfully out into the crowd, her eyes vacant. "Maybe the promises are too much to ask, but they're never too much to give. Because everyone deserves a friend, one that can at least be there through the snow." Sharing a secret smile with Cassie, Ashley stepped back for the band to play.
Outside Café
Staring at the doors of the café, Andros still had to wonder whether to go in. Maybe I should just run away and fake my death; at least I won't have to deal with facing the rest of the team. They probably hate me. Sighing one last time, he discovered a bench and sat down, the breezy October air giving him goosebumps, or would that be the fear he still felt in confronting Ashley for the first time in years. Just get in there and get it over with! It's hard enough just tormenting yourself out here. He slowly walked into the café, just in time to catch the last two parts of "Promise Me" by Ashley Hammond and Cassie Chan.
"Promise me,
That you'll always, always be my friend.
Promise me,
That our friendship will never end.
Promise me,
That our friendship will last whatever,
Comes out way…
"Promise me,
That you'll be there for me through the snow.
Promise me,
That each day our bond will grow.
Promise me,
That our friendship will last forever,
Life or death,
It doesn't matter…"
"Promise me…"
Sighing heavily, Andros stepped towards Zhane, who was watching the stage intently. Though he jumped at the gentle touch on his shoulder, they grinned warmly at each other. For the hundredth time he thanked whoever had decided to give him Zhane, who seemed immortal. He probably had a cat as an ancestor.
Onstage
It's him. Tears slowly made their way down Ashley's stricken face as she caught sight of him. It's Andros.
Author's Note 2: I'm taking a poll, do you want an ending with Ashley falling into Andros's arms and sobbing about how she never stopped loving him and all that mushy, gushy stuff, or should Andros have to chase her? By the way, I'm only about 3/4 through the seventh chapter, so don't expect more very soon.
RR! I owe this to my few reviewers, despite my sore fingers. Okay. Ashley Hammond/Yellow Astro, wrong Promise Me, but I read the lyrics, I will find a way to incorporate that in here. Thanks for being so good as to review every chapter. I love your story and how good you are at updating. Every fan is grateful. Check out for more of my stuff at okay, two poems. Still! Funky in Fishnet, I made you smile? Thank you, I'm so glad. You probably wouldn't say that if you knew me in real life, but, I'm happy my writing can. I know that PRiS is great, unfortunetly, I can't see any of it! My library only owns it with the PR Ultimate Collection DVD. Thanks for the review.
