Fire and Ice Chapter Three, a charmed fanfic

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. Señora Timberlake…check out the dessert, girlfriend! Ooh, plus…look at the partners! ROTFLMAOSTC!!!!!!

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…

Thanks:To everyone who reviewed. And if you want to find out what happened to Chris, try: because I don't want to spoil it for anyone else.

Random Fact: Ent's rock.

Chapter Three

Tasha took her tray and looked around the crowded cafeteria, searching for Chris.

"Over here Tash!" called a voice, and she turned to see Brian waving at her. She grinned at him and walked over, sitting down at the table and casually flipping her hair over her shoulders.

"Hey," she said, looking over Chris, Brian and Chastity. "What'd I miss?"

"Ah, nothing much," said Chastity airily. She frowned and poked at her plate. "Is this supposed to be gravy?"

"I think it's turkey and gravy." said Tash.

"Then why's it green?" asked Chastity. Tash shrugged. "Food colouring? Blended veggie? I dunno." she said nonchalantly.

"This food here really sucks." said Brian, skipping his turkey over for his roll. "Tip? Get bread. It's hard for even our cafeteria to ruin."

Tash rolled her eyes. "I'll remember that." she picked up her peach cobbler.

"Honestly Brian," said Chastity. "It's her first day in this hellhole, and all you can talk about is the lousy cafeteria food."

"Hey! Think of it as a survival course." defended Brian.

"Someone's being very quiet suddenly," observed Tasha, looking over at Chris. He snapped out of his reverie.

"Oh, hi. Sorry, I was thinking."

"That's new," teased Chastity good-naturedly. Chris screwed up a tissue and threw it at her in response.

"Good comeback," said Tash sarcastically.

"Hey, what is this? Pick-on-Chris day? 'Cuz I didn't get the memo." said Chris, pouting.

"Aww." chorused Chastity and Tash in unison.

"Dude, that face works every time," said Brian, slapping Chris a high five.

"Enough about you, let's talk about the new girl," started Chastity.

"Huh? Let's not and say we did--" began Tash.

"Nice try. So, let's start with the cross examination." smiled Chastity.

"Ooh, do you need her to be frisked?" asked Chris, lifting an eyebrow. "'Cuz I'd be glad to help out with that." he continued blandly.

"Pervert!" cried Tash, smacking him on the arm.

"Ow! What?" he said innocently.

"Children, children." interrupted Brian.

"What?" asked Chris and Tash together.

"I believe we were in the midst of finding out more about you?" said Brian mildly.

"I believe you were," agreed Tasha.

"So, Tash. Why'd you move here? From LA, no less." asked Chastity.

"Um…I was expelled from my last school…so I thought it would be good to start anew, you know?"

"You were expelled?" asked Chastity incredulously. "What for?"

"Fighting." said Tasha, looking straight ahead. "Only, I was framed. I didn't have a fair trial. I'm innocent I tell you, innocent!"

The group cracked up.

"Where do you live then?" asked Chris, interestedly.

"Why would you want to know?" teased Tash. "Some ulterior motive in mind?"

Chris smiled, unabashed. "Perhaps," he smirked.

"Seriously? Corner of Fifth and Oak."

"Did your folks throw a fit when you were expelled?" asked Brian.

"Um, no. I'm adopted. And Rachel—my guardian—she owns property all over California, so she just gave me the keys to one of her houses and split. I don't contact her and she doesn't contact me. Every month I get a check that is enough to cover whatever I need which is drawn from selling stuff my…parents…left me."

"Oh. Oh, I'm sorry," said Brian, looking contrite.

"Don't be. It's a cool house," said Tash, looking confused.

"No, I mean about your parents," said Brian.

"Oh. Them. I guess I don't really mind. I mean, they didn't want me, right?"

"Are they dead, or…should I not be asking this?" asked Chastity. "I occasionally say the wrong things."

Chris snorted. "Occasionally, my ass."

"They aren't dead. They just left me at the orphanage." Tash shrugged. "All I know about them, I got from Rachel. Which isn't much. It's impossible to track them down, so, hey, whatever."

"I shall change the subject now," said Chastity firmly. "Because I am scared I shall say something really, really insensitive and stupid."

"Nah, it's no biggie," said Tash noncommittally.

"Hey! So, you live alone right?" said Brian suddenly.

"Um, yeah. Why?"

"Oh, 'cause I was thinking. No adults around, you could throw the party of the century."

"You would think of that Bri," said Chris sarcastically. The bell ringing saved Brian from responding.

"Ooh, history." said Tash, standing up. "Anyone with me?" Chris opened his mouth, but was cut off by another voice.

"I am."

Tash turned to see who had spoken. It was a girl, blonde and blue eyed. She was wearing a cheerleading outfit.

"Um…"

"I'm Jenny." Jenny stuck out her hand. Tasha took it and shook.

"Hi. I'm Tasha." she smiled.

"Hey Tasha. Come on, I'll show you where your class is. Mr. Hawthorne, right?"

"Yeah. If it's not too much trouble,"

"No! 'Course not. Come on."

Tash turned to look at the trio behind her.

"Do you guys mind?" she asked hesitantly.

Chastity saw the look on Chris' face and answered before he said something stupid.

"Nah, it's cool. Go make friends." she smiled.

"OK. I'll see you later," Tash waved and turned back to Jenny. Jenny whispered something in her ear, and laughing, the two walked off.

"Now Chris," said Chastity. "Don't start."

"Start? What's there to start? You know, I thought she'd be nice. She seemed nice."

"She is nice Chris! You're just being prejudiced 'cuz you hate Jenny Locke's guts."

"Damn straight. I give it a week before Tash starts to mutate into a Barbie doll."

"Chris," began Brian firmly. "Don't be an idiot. She is really nice, and she hasn't done anything to you, so just…"

"I am in her history class too, y'know! I could have taken her."

"Chris. She just moved here from LA. She just wants to make friends, all right?" said Chastity, exasperated.

"Whatever," snapped Chris. "Just don't expect me to be understanding. Or like her when she goes dumb blonde."

"Funnily enough, we don't." said Brian, before picking up his backpack. "Now come on. We're late."

(In History Class)

"In conclusion, we shall be working on a project about the Salem Witch Trials. I have already sorted you into pairs," Mr. Hawthorne paused. "Which are nonnegotiable." The class groaned.

"The project shall consist of a report—ten pages, minimum—which includes visual aids. I shall expect everyone in this class to do more than the minimum if they want to pass."

The class groaned again.

Mr. Hawthorne gave a thin smile. "Look at it this way. Next year, you'll be seniors and then you're out of here. I'm stuck in this dump forever. Now, I shall call your pairs and I want you to get into them immediately." He looked down at a piece of paper.

"Jenny Locke, Deirdre Hawkins."

"Alex Potter, Michelle Lee."

"Aaron Hollyer, Lydia Woodriver."

"Mark Chunsburger, James Decoudre."

"Tiffany Cheng, Fred Morris."

"Tasha Fuller, Christopher Halliwell."

Tasha picked up her stuff and moved next to Chris.

"Hey," she said, smiling. Chris nodded his head in acknowledgement, and turned away from her. Tash frowned, confused. Mr. Hawthorne finished calling out the pairs, and sat down at his desk.

"So, should we get started?" she said, trying again.

"Yeah, sure." Chris turned back to her. "So, what do you think of Jenny?" he asked abruptly.

Tasha looked up from her textbook. "Oh, she's nice. Really sweet—we're going to the mall after school lets out."

Chris gave a tight smile. "Oh. That's…nice."

"Is something wrong, Chris?" asked Tash, even more confused.

"Oh nothing. Well, actually, yes." he amended. "It's just…OK. Jenny, right? She's…um…she's not exactly the nicest person, y'know? I don't know if you should be getting close to her."

"She seemed nice enough," said Tash, a slightly dangerous tone entering her voice.

"Yeah, well, that's 'cause you don't know her as well as I do. She's a real nasty piece of work."

"Listen Chris. I appreciate your concern, but I can make my own friends. I don't need you to condone who I want to hang out with, alright?"

Chris' eyes narrowed. "I was just trying to help out, but if that's how you're going to read into it--"

"No, you know what? Don't help. I seriously don't need it, OK? I don't know what issues you have with Jen, but leave me out if it."

"What the Hell is wrong with you? You asked if I had a problem, and I'm telling you what it is!"

"No, you went from telling me your problem to basically telling me not to talk to someone who was being perfectly friendly! What am I, a pet dog or something?"

"Stop putting words into my mouth!" snapped Chris angrily.

"I'm not—never mind. Let's just work on this. I'll find information, you take notes."

"Fine."

Tash thumbed through the textbook, at point reading out random facts. After a few minutes, she glanced over at Chris. She was annoyed to notice that his writing pad was full of doodles and geometric designs.

"What are you doing?" asked Tash shrilly.

"I'm doodling because I'm bored. Good enough for you, mom?"

"You're supposed to be taking notes!" hissed Tash angrily.

"Well, I decided not to."

"Listen, Christopher--" The bell rang, signifying the end of the period.

"Chris, if you value your life, you'll hang around after school everyday until this project is finished, got it?"

"Sorry, can't. I'm busy today."

"Tomorrow, you're staying back." her eyes narrowed 'til they were mean little slits. "Geez, fine. Whatever." said Chris, getting up and slinging his backpack over one shoulder. He left the classroom without a backward glance as Tash seethed.