Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers and don't make any money from these stories.
Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Yup. Andros has no other purpose in life. :P
Maresia Eterna: You'll have to read and find out.
hmmart: I like it, too. :P
Star Fata: You weren't bossy at all... you nailed this chapter. :P I think I'll give them a break this time when it comes to telling the other, but that's not just yet.
hexgirl8604: Thanks, and this really is soon. :D
TrueRomantic: Andros would MAYBE love her? He already does! He's just not planning on telling her. :P
Jessica01: Well, she tries to...
DV2: Yup, she did. Now we just need Andros to realize her feelings.
Slytherin-Angel44: They're not together just yet. Almost. :P
Mz. Daydream: Now they both have some sense... they just need to act on it. :D
Jenny: Of course he'd think she was beautiful anyway! Now... to get rid (kinda) of Ben.
Funky In Fishnet: I love having them stick up for each other. Andros's morpher? You'll see in a chapter or two.
C.C.C: Ashley has feelings for Andros, Andros is in love with Ashley... Now all they have to do is tell each other.
Mel: I saw the whole thing again... I agree, Ben is an asshole. Andros's morpher has been missing since KO-35... so about two years.
the-power-of-love: Thanks. Here's more.
Ashley: Here's some more, sorry for the wait.
Tal: Wow, thanks. Sorry this took so long, I hope it's worth the wait.
JDPhoenix: Nope, it's not asking too much. The second part will take awhile, though. :P
Chapter 28
Sternly telling herself that this was the right thing to do, Ashley rang the doorbell fixed to the side of Ben's front door. She heard the echo roll through the house and die away, but no one appeared to answer the door. A quick glance over her shoulder revealed that Ben's car was parked in the otherwise empty garage. Rolling her eyes, Ashley turned back to the door, ringing the bell again, and then again.
"I'm coming already!"
He was irritated already; she could hear it in his voice. Ashley highly doubted that his mood would improve any when she told him all the effort he had put into pressuring her was wasted. That should have been the first clue he didn't love her, she thought bitterly, marveling at how blind she had let herself become.
"What?" Ben snarled as he threw the front door open. "Oh... Ashley."
"Ben," she said coolly. "I need to talk to you."
"I thought you were thinking." He frowned, studying her coldly. "What happened to your face?"
Ashley touched her lip self-consciously, wincing as she accidentally put too much pressure on her swollen lip. Ben rolled his eyes impatiently when she didn't answer, and all doubts that she was making the wrong decision vanished.
"It doesn't matter," she informed him. "And I'm done thinking."
"That's nice," he said distractedly, glancing over his shoulder into the house. "Look, I'm kind of busy..."
"This will only take a minute," she said stiffly. "Look, Ben, this isn't... I can't be with you anymore."
That finally got his attention. Ashley wasn't sure what she should have been expecting, but she suspected that laughter wasn't the typical reaction when it came to breakups.
"You're not serious," he said finally. He cocked his head when she didn't answer, staring at her closely. "Ashley, this isn't funny."
"And I'm not joking," she snapped back. "I'm breaking up with you, Ben. You can get back to whatever you were doing," she added with a bitterness that took her aback. "I'm leaving."
"Ashley, wait." For the first time in months, uncertainty flickered across Ben's face. "Can we... talk about this?"
"I don't think--" She began to protest, but when Ben caught her elbow and tugged her the rest of the way into his house, she didn't fight him.
"Ashley, we've been together for a year," he said, his voice flooded with quiet anger. "Why would you just walk away from that?"
She sighed heavily and crossed her arms across her chest, inching back towards the door. "Because you want sex."
"I told you that months ago," Ben reminded her, his expression annoyed. "You said you weren't ready, and I said fine."
"Ben, the last time five times I've seen you, you've spent all your time trying to get my clothes off," she snapped, rolling her eyes. "You've never been fine with it, and that's why I'm leaving."
"Ashley..." Ben laid a hand almost gently on her shoulder, growling quietly with frustration when she recoiled. "Ashley, I love you. I've told you that."
"But you didn't mean it," she cried, forcefully yanking his hand away from her. "You just said it. There's a difference."
"I did mean it," he insisted. "I do mean it... I got a little carried away, that's all."
"A little carried away?" she repeated increduously. "You were going to undress me in a movie theater!"
"You weren't complaining," he defended himself. "And I stopped, didn't I?"
"Because I left," she retorted. "But that's not the point. I don't want to sleep with you, Ben, and you can't deal with that."
"So you're just leaving?"
"Yes."
Ashley turned on her heel, her hand closing over the cold metal of the doorknob. Twisting it hard, she stormed out of the door--only to stumble back when Ben nearly yanked her off of her feet.
"Hey," she yelped, grabbing ahold of the doorframe to steady herself. "What do you think you're doing?"
"You can't walk away from me," he growled. "Not like that."
"Don't do this, Ben," she pleaded quietly, her heart sinking deep into the pit of her stomach. "Don't make me hurt you."
"Hurt me?" he smirked. "No one needs to get hurt, Ashley."
"Ben, let me go." Ashley was beginning to feel ill. "Now."
He touched her cheek, trailing a finger down along her jaw. "Never."
"Fine."
Balling her hands, Ashley swung her fist straight into his jaw. Ben stumbled back, yelling in pain. Ignoring him, Ashley headed for the door, but he recovered more quickly than she expected. Pain shot through her head as he caught a handful of her hair and yanked hard. She stumbled, her eyes watering.
"You're not leaving."
"Yes, I am."
Ben grunted when her fist slammed into his gut, dropping back enough for Ashley to push past him and storm out of the door. She stormed down the drive, tensing when she heard footsteps behind her. Then the door slammed loudly, and she relaxed, beginning to run. Flying down the sidewalk, she stopped only when she ducked into the nearest alley, gasping for breath as she slapped at her communicator.
The Megaship surrounded her the instant the gold shower of sparkles faded, soothing in its familiarity. Ashley headed straight for her room, praying she could make it there without running into anyone. Cassie and Carlos especially she knew would grill her about her appearence, namely the tears the began to trickle down her cheeks the moment she knew she was safe.
"Ashley?"
Intent on locking herself in her room, she pointedly ignored the voice, but footsteps behind her followed her to her room. Sensing somehow that he wasn't about to turn and walk away, she turned her head and found herself staring into a pair of concerned hazel eyes.
"Ashley," Andros said softly, studying her expression uncertainly. "Are you okay?"
"No," she snapped. "I'm not."
Hurt flashed across his face before he could hide it. She opened her mouth to either apologize or tell him to go away, but he surprised her then. Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms, holding her close. Ashley sniffled, struggling desperately to pull herself together, but it was a losing battle. Her tears flowed as she buried her face in his shoulder, her arms tight around his neck. Andros didn't say another word for several minutes, but his presence alone was comforting.
"Ash," he whispered finally. "Do you... want me to stay with you?"
She tightened her arms around his neck and nodded, wondering how he could even think that she would want him to leave. One of his arms reached out past her to key open her door, and she felt him guiding her over to sit on her bed. Ashley sank down onto the mattress gratefully, surprised at how easy it was to cry on his shoulder.
