Summary: This story is set in the future, sixteen years from the Season Six finale. Tasha, a girl whose past is unknown even to her, appears to the Charmed Ones, asking for help. Along the road to controlling her powers, an attraction springs up between her and Chris, but can their feelings for each other overcome the demons in her past--and future?
Dedicated to: A very dear friend of mine, without whom I could not have started this fic without my brain imploding from thinking too much, or my blowing my computer up.
Disclaimer: Heck, if I invented or owned anything, I would tell you. Oh, and if any of the Charmed cast/crew see this…don't sue me, hire me! I wouldn't have completely botched up Cole's little storyline. Or killed off Drew Fuller…
Chapter Two
Chris got out of the car, putting on his sunglasses and jumping onto his skateboard.
"See you, bro." he said to Wyatt, before starting to skate away.
"Whoa, not so fast dude. Are you bagging a lift off me, or skating home today?" asked Wyatt.
"I'll be gracing your car with my presence. Especially as it looks like it's gonna rain." added Chris, looking at the overcast sky. "Oh, but around seven I'm gonna go out, so make sure you're at home to cover for me, 'kay?" Chris slipped on his sunglasses.
"Chris! You're grounded!"
"Which is exactly why you need to be home to cover for me." said Chris smoothly.
Wyatt rolled his eyes. "Which girl is it?"
"Melanie."
"I thought you had a thing with Sandra?" asked Wyatt, confused.
"Yeah," said Chris. "Last week."
With that, he jumped back onto his skateboard and whizzed into school, managing to leap the few stairs at the beginning with a well-timed flip.
Wyatt rolled his eyes a second time, and killed the ignition, dashing into the school before the rain worsened.
Ah, crap. Sometimes the fates are just against me, thought Tasha, walking a bit faster so she wouldn't get too wet. Figures that the first day of school would be all dreary and…wet.
Just as she thought this, the rain started to pour with a vengeance. Tasha groaned and ran for the large building looming in the distance, the torrents of water drenching her. She reached the depressing building and dashed into the hall for cover.
"Hey Chris." called Brian Morris, walking up to him.
"What's up?" smiled Chris, slapping his outstretched hand.
"Eh, nothing much." stated Chris' best friend, brushing his messy blond hair out of his eyes.
"Wet, this, isn't it?" asked Chastity Love, joining them.
"It's rain, Chas," said Brian.
"Yeah, that would be why it's wet." said Chastity sarcastically. Brian frowned, but stopped midway through his scathing reply.
"Whoa! Check her out!" he yelped, motioning to the hallway. Chris turned, and his mouth fell open slightly. A girl had walked into the corridor, absolutely soaking wet. Her dark hair fell to the bottom of her shoulder blades, and she was wearing black jeans and a black top, with a white shrug over it, almost as a casual afterthought. The shrug was such a light colour that it was practically transparent. Her features were delicate and graceful, and she walked confidently down the hall. She looked at them, and with a hesitant smile headed over in their direction.
"Whoa." said Brian once more.
"Dude, put your eyes back in. Girlfriend here, remember?" snapped Chastity. Brian chuckled and kissed her softly on the cheek.
"Like I could forget."
Chris remained silent.
"Hi," said Tasha, looking directly at Chris with large brown eyes, framed with the longest eyelashes he had ever seen. "I'm Tasha--call me Tash—I just moved here. Do you know where the principal's office is?"
"Principal's office on your first day? That was quick work girl!" cracked Brian, grinning.
"Yeah, I have a knack for trouble," she joked, turning her attention to Brian. Chris pulled himself together.
"I'm Chris," he said, smiling slightly. He pointed to each of his friends in turn. "This is Brian, and this is Chastity."
"Hey Chris, Brian and Chastity." said Tash, giggling.
"So, where'd you move from, new girl?" asked Chastity, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Los Angeles," said Tash simply.
"Cool." approved Chastity.
"Yeah, the thing is, I kinda have to check in with this Withers guy, and--"
"Oh, yeah," interrupted Brian. "Straight down the hall, and when you reach the science labs, hang a left. Not really hang but like the turn hang. Surfing term, y'know? Then go straight 'til you--"
"Dude, shut up. You're rambling," cut in Chris. "I'll take her."
He looked at Tash. She shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze. He had the most amazing eyes, she noticed. Like twin emeralds dipped in acid, they seemed to glow.
"No, it's not necessary, really--"
"Nah, I insist." smiled Chris charmingly. Tash laughed.
"Well, in that case," she trailed off.
"Cool." said Chris. "Come on," he skated off. Tash stared after him, eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, he does that a lot," said Brian. "Just give him a bit."
Sure enough, Chris came back in a few seconds.
"Sorry," he said, with a sheepish smile. Tash laughed.
"No big." she said, running a hand through her hair. "Absent-minded kind, huh?"
"All geniuses are!" defended Chris. They laughed. "Oh, right, the principal. Come on," he said, leading her down the hall.
"So, you're on that thing a lot, huh?" asked Tash, gesturing at the skateboard Chris held under his arm.
"Yeah, pretty much glued on. Just wait 'til I get my driver's license though!" laughed Chris.
"The roads will not be safe!" proclaimed Tash, mock-fearful.
"You got that right," he declared.
"Hmm. I think I've got your measure by now." said Tash.
"Oh yeah? So what is my 'measure'?" asked Chris, curiously.
"You're the bad boy type. Not exactly popular, but not popular. Infamous, if you will." speculated Tash.
"Not bad Tash. How'd you guess?"
"I used my heart…my intuition…" sang Tasha, emulating Jewel. Chris cracked up.
"You. Are. Psycho." he said between laughing fits.
"You know it," she giggled. They stopped. Chris waved at a door on the left.
"This would be the office," he said, looking at Tash.
"Oh, thanks Chris." smiled Tash warmly. She made to open the door, and paused.
"Would you terribly mind waiting for me?" she asked hesitantly.
"Scared?" teased Chris.
"Nervous." stated Tash.
"Suuurree," drawled Chris. "No problem T. I'll just wait outside, kay?"
"T?" asked Tash.
"It suits you more than Tash," explained Chris.
"It's a letter. How can it suit me more than a real name?" said Tash, confused.
"Oh, go have your meeting," said Chris, flapping his hands at her.
"Right, right," Tash, or rather, T said, grinning, entering the office.
(Principal's Office)
"Uh, hi," said Tash hesitantly.
"Ah, Ms. Fuller I presume?" said an airy voice from behind the desk. The voice belonged to a tall, African-American man with a pierced ear.
Wow, this is a principal? He's so…he's so cool! I knew they were doing it wrong in LA, thought Tash, smiling nervously.
"Please, sit down." Principal Withers gestured to the chair before him. Tash sank slowly into the seat. The principal pulled a file towards him, and started flipping through it, speaking aloud as he did.
"This is your file from LA," he informed her, still casually turning pages, "it says here you have excellent grades, and are a model student…until we reach your freshman year. You still attain groundbreaking scores, however…you are expelled for fighting."
Tash smiled weakly. Wow, those things really do have everything in there, she mused. "Um, whoops?"
"No. Not 'whoops'. Why were you fighting?" asked the principal shortly.
"Okay, it's a long story. The guy I attack—um, defended myself from was harassing me, so I took matters into my own hands. Especially since no one else would because he was the principal's nephew."
"Like Jennifer Lopez in Enough, huh?" asked Principal Withers, smiling suddenly.
"You could say that," said Tash in relief. "Plus, the principal there completely refused to take my story into account. He told the board that I had issues because I was adopted."
"He said that?" asked Principal Withers in shock.
"Yeah. Sensitive guy, huh?" said Tash dryly. The principal flipped through the file again.
"Ah. Norman Blythe. That clears it up for me."
"You know him?" asked Tash, surprised.
"Oh yeah. I beat him up three times in high school."
"Um, okay," said Tash, unnerved.
"He was a sneak," defended Principal Withers. "And a—is that Christopher?" he craned his neck to clarify if it was Chris.
"Chris? Oh, yeah, he said he would wait for me."
"Are you close with him?" asked the principal, giving her a look.
"Um, I just arrived, but…he seems friendly enough. As well as his friends--"
"Brian and Chastity?" asked Principal Withers.
"Yeah!"
"Hm. Well, a word of advice Ms. Fuller. Stay away from that boy."
Tash looked up, startled. "Why?"
"He's a bad influence. Oh, he's extremely intelligent. Highest grades in his year, and all his test scores are perfect. An exceptional IQ. But, he's a renegade. A rebel. A James Dean wannabe."
"With all due respect, I think I can make my own friends." Tash stood up.
"Understandable." smiled the principal. "Good luck,"
"Thanks," said Tash, and left the office.
"So how'd it go?" asked Chris. "You were ages."
"Oh, not bad. We just talked about my last school, and insulted my old principal a bit."
"Really?" interrupted Chris, looking interested.
"Oh yeah. Turn out this guy beat up my old principal in high school a few times."
"Wow. Didn't know he had it in him."
"Yeah, Withers is pretty cool for an old dude," agreed Tash. "Oh, and he also went on about what a troublemaker you are." she teased.
"What? Me?" asked Chris innocently, causing Tash to break out in a fit of giggles.
"Yes, you. But he also rambled about how intelligent you are, and what a high IQ you have. You'd better not be challenging my position for class know-it-all," she said, mock-threateningly.
"Nah, I'd be too scared," returned Chris. Suddenly, the bell rang.
"Oh, I'd better go," said Chris. "Do you know where your first class is?"
"Hm," Tash checked a sheet. "Spanish."
"Oh, damn." he said, looking crestfallen. "I'm taking French."
"I already speak French," smiled Tash.
"Show-off," muttered Chris.
"Hey!" cried Tash.
"Just kidding. Do you know where the Spanish Room is?" he asked.
"Um, let's see…maybe…next to the principal's office?" said Tash sarcastically, jerking her thumb towards the door.
"Oh, too bad. I could have taken you long way if you weren't so observant." joked Chris.
"And make me late for class?" said Tash, horrified.
"Ooh, cardinal sin in your book, huh?" he teased.
"Very funny. I'll see you later, 'kay?" said Tash.
"Yeah. Oh, and sit with me, Chas and Brian at lunch today, alright?"
"Yeah, why not?" shrugged Tash.
"And don't be so excited about it!" quipped Chris.
"Oh, but I just can't help it!" squealed Tash in a fake teenybopper voice. Chris laughed.
"See you later."
"'Bye!"
©WalkThruTheFire, 21st August 2004