Disclaimer: Okay, nothing's mine… well, the Power Mania Café is, but that's it! I promise!
Author's Note: I desperately wanted this chapter out on the 27th, as my birthday gift to you, but two days late will have to suffice, because I just finished it. Whatever. Enjoy!
With The Matchmakers
"Is anyone else as hungry as I am?"
"Yes. Why else do you think my stomach's rumbling?"
"Hey T.J, feel like whipping something up? Maybe some gourmet food?"
"As much as I feel like jumping into a cage of hungry lions and throwing out the lock."
"Your similes kill me."
"I don't see you lying dead on the floor."
"It's called a joke."
"Hello! I'm still hungry here. How about we go on a picnic lunch? You know, spy on Cassie and Andros, see if they've made any progress on songs?"
"One thing, who's going to prepare the picnic?"
"We could just go to the Power Mania Café, you know. Get something there."
"Why not!"
The four former rangers got up from where they had been talking, sprawled out on the grassy earth. Carlos checked his watch nonchalantly.
"It's nine to eleven, people, you have a right to be hungry."
"Um, I assumed that was why we were going to get lunch." Karone raised her eyebrows, smirking at him in confusion.
"That's the point, m'dear." Zhane wrapped an arm around his fiancé, grinning maniacally.
Meanwhile T.J had jogged ahead of them, nearing the street until he was a blue blob in their line of vision.
"Hey, guys!" The other three looked up at him. "You coming or what?"
The three raced, catching up to their red and blue friend.
Fifteen Minutes Later…
Ashley walked into the Power Mania Café, a fake smile plastered on her face, trying to keep up her image of being happy-go-lucky, always cheerful, smile-ready girl.
"Ashley!" The girl in question whirled around, mentally reminding herself to smile. Adele smiled warmly and stepped up, enveloping the girl in a hug.
"What can I get you, Ashley? Or did you come for a little heart-to-heart?" The two had gotten to be good friends, not quite like Ashley and Cassie, but a confidante, someone you could trust and rely on.
"Um, I guess I'll have a-a burger or something."
"A burger? That doesn't sound like the Ashley I know. C'mon, something's bothering you; what is it?"
"Adele! The blender's malfunctioning!" A separate cry came from the kitchens, piercing the air with a frustrated, but light, worry.
Adele clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "That Amide; more skilled in the ancient arts than one would expect, but absolutely no sense for technology." Turning away, she called back to Amide. "Get Ernie to help you!"
"What's needed, Ms. Adeline?" Ernie popped up from behind a counter, wiping his hands on a rag.
"Malfunctioning blender, Mr. Erniana." The two co-owners of the café laughed together, before Ernie headed for the back kitchen, tossing the towel over his shoulder.
Ashley smiled softly, the happy expression lighting her face into something resembling her usual happy face.
"So, Ashley," Adele turned back to Ashley. "What can I get you?"
Sighing, the auburn-haired woman bit her lip thoughtfully. "I'll have a salad- grilled chicken," she decided, "And small fries and a milkshake."
"Coming right up!"
A few minutes later, Adele walked over to Ashley, with a long, recyclable cup in hand, a closed plastic container with a small white envelope resting on top.
"Oh, um, thanks Adele." Ashley fumbled with her purse for money. But just as she pulled a ten-dollar bill out, a dark hand stopped her.
"Ashley, don't. It's on the house."
"Oh, Adele, I can't."
"Yeah you can! Think of it as payback for performing last night."
"But… I…"
"Tip me if you want, but I'm not letting you pay."
"Oh, gosh, Adele…" Ashley's frazzled expression melted into a warm smile. "Thanks. Just… thanks."
"No problem."
"Hey, Adele! You got other customers!" A teasing voice interrupted the exchange of understanding between the two women.
"Well, then, what can I get you?"
Ashley turned around and found herself shirking backwards as she realized who had spoken. Carlos, dressed in black was waving energetically from the counter a ways away. His arm dropped slightly when he caught sight of her, but he grinned quickly, catching himself.
"Ashley! How are you?" The group walked over and Ashley saw that everyone was there… everyone except Cassie and Andros. Great. The person she liked most and the one she liked least were both gone. The two ends of the scale, the big and little, whatever you call it, she felt relieved and disappointed.
She forced a wavering smile on her face and responded. "Guys… hi… um, what are you doing here? And… where's Cassie? And A-Andros," she said, much as she loathed to say his name.
"Oh, um," Carlos's voice faltered, before falling silent with a near invisible shrug.
"They're at the park." Karone butted in with her own response, calm and self-assured.
"I… see…" Ashley wavered, biting her lip in worry. "But, why would she meet Andros?"
"I sent the message." T.J spoke up, his face set with a small smile, a little ashamed. "And then we conned Andros into going and meeting Cassie," he admitted.
"Oh. What for?"
"Just… patching things up, I guess." Zhane grinned. "Hey, we were going to meet up with them for lunch; you want to come?"
"I…I…" It'd mean seeing Andros, but Cassie would be there, and the others as well… I'll have to see him sometime. Might as well now. So… "Okay… I guess. Are you guys planning on going out to eat when you meet with them?"
"Actually, we were going to have a picnic with them. At the park."
"The… park…" Ashley said faintly, still holding the food she had ordered.
"Uh huh!" Carlos said cheerfully. "Soon as we get our food, we'll go!"
"Speaking of which…"
"Yes, yes. What'll you be having?" Adele piped up, placing her hands on her hip.
"Uh, let's see… four burgers, two large fries, and four milkshakes."
"Chocolate!"
"Strawberry, please."
"I'll have vanilla."
"Chocolate."
"Coming right up!" Adele walked off, leaving the five in awkward silence.
"So… what's up?" Ashley asked feebly, trying to crack the thick sheet of plastic that had come between the formerly sunny, open friendship.
"Oh… stuff." Carlos shifted uncomfortably, suddenly delightfully interested in the floor beneath his shoes.
"Stuff?"
"Uh, yeah, stuff… like…"
"Plotting to get Andros and I back together?" Her voice was mostly light, and teasing, trying to break through the wall, but the others shifted uncomfortably and muttered soft 'No, No, that's not it.' in about every combination there was.
Frozen with wonder, Ashley turned slowly and walked to the door. She twisted her head around to look at them and offered them a small smile before walking out.
"Wonderful…"
Author's Note 2: Okay, I'm thinking one or two chapters, no more, until the epilogue. I'm dead serious. This story is almost done, and that's good! Especially since I've put FL on hold for this. Well, keep reviewing, and we're good. Capice? (Isn't that French or something for 'Understand'? Well, I still think I spelled it wrong.)
RR! Ashley Hammond/ Astro Yellow, Go ahead, scream. Scream all you want; I can't hear you: P But yeah, I just love tormenting Ashley! Phantom Rogue, Yes, it's fun calling Andros an idiot. One of my favorite pastimes, actually. :)
