Chapter 4: The Party

Andros got out of his car and he walked into the hotel that the invitation told him to go. He went into the banquet room and he stopped when he saw so many people inside. "Andros," a voice called. He looked over and Mark walked up to him. "Glad you could make it," he commented. Andros shook his hand.

"Mark, good to see you again," he agreed.

"So how long are you in LA?" Mark asked.

Andros shrugged his shoulders. "I might stay awhile, but then again I have to leave in a few months, I have a mission to finish up," he replied.

"Still being the Red Ranger eh?" Mark asked.

Andros took a glass of Champaign that a server was carrying around on her tray. "Yeah, still saving the universe," he answered. Mark grinned.

"Now, I wonder where Ashley disappeared too," he commented.

He looked over and saw Ashley talking to a few of their guests. "Ashley," Mark called. When Ashley walked up to them, Andros felt his throat go completely dry. "You look beautiful tonight," Mark commented and kissed Ashley's cheek. Ashley smiled.

"Thanks. Hey, Andros, glad you could make it," she answered.

"Um…yeah…wouldn't miss it," Andros muttered.

Mark looked up and saw one of his colleagues. "Oh excuse me," he told them. Ashley nodded and watched as he walked over to the group of men over there.

"Great guy," he commented.

"Yeah," she agreed.
"I'm happy for you."

Ashley pushed a stray piece of hair out of her face. Andros looked up when the song they danced to when they were seventeen started playing. "Um…" he started. Ashley looked over at him. "Um…would you like to dance?" He asked. Ashley sighed.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea," she replied.

"Just one dance."

Ashley listened to the song for a minute before nodding her head slowly. "Just one dance," she reminded. Andros nodded and they went out onto the dance floor. Ashley placed her hand on Andros's shoulder while holding onto his other hand. Andros placed his hand on her waist but made sure there was distance between the two of them.

"Remember when we first danced to this song?" He asked.

Ashley sighed. "How could I forget? My senior prom," she replied. She didn't look him in the face, because she knew what she would see. Andros let her waist go and spun her around once. "I'm not supposed to be here," she thought. She closed her eyes as she tried not to look at him. "I'm engaged to Mark. I'm marrying Mark," she pondered. Andros saw that she was deep in thought. Then she accidentally took a wrong step and she ended up colliding into him. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"It's fine," he assured her.

She looked up and realized how close they were. She pulled back and she cleared her throat. "Thanks for the dance," she told him. She turned and walked away. Andros stood there and watched her walk back over to Mark. Andros closed his eyes for a second before he turned and left the hotel.

(Andros's Hotel)

Karone was there to visit her brother, he had given her a key to get in. She walked in and she jumped when she suddenly heard glass breaking. "What the hell?" She muttered. She set her purse down and she went into the bathroom. She saw Andros running his hand under cold water. She looked at the mirror and saw that the glass was broken along with some blood on it. "Andros what the hell did you do?" She asked. Andros looked over at his sister.

"What do you care?" He asked.

"I came to visit my brother and I see he's got a bloody fist," she replied.

"I'm fine."

"Andros sit down and let me see."

Andros sat down and Karone looked at his hand. "Damn Andros, you hit that pretty hard," she commented. Andros let out a frustrated sigh and pulled his hand away.

"I can take care of myself," he told her.

He walked into the room. "You went to that party didn't you?" She asked. Andros glanced at her before wrapping his hand up. "When are you going to let her go?" She asked.

"The day I die," he replied.

"She's not yours anymore."

Andros wrapped his hand up. Karone sighed and sat across from him. "Did you come here just to gawk at me or did you want to tell me something?" He asked. Karone let out a sigh and pushed her hair out of her face.

"I'm going back to Miranoi tomorrow, I wanted to see you before I left," she replied.

"Have a safe trip," he muttered.

"Don't do this to me."

"Do what?"

Karone rubbed her forehead. "Andros…" she started.

"No, Karone, don't you dare try to pull that on me again. You tried that when I first broke up with Ashley. It didn't work then and it's not going to work now," he snapped.

"You helped me when Zhane and I broke up."

"No, I didn't do anything. I just stopped Zhane from beating the shit out of Leo."

Andros pulled off his suit jacket and tie. He threw both on the chair across the room. "You and I both know that I didn't want to hurt Zhane," she pointed out. Andros pulled his hair out of the ponytail it was in.

"Should've thought of that before you got pregnant," he muttered.

Karone shook her head. "Don't you dare turn this around on me," she snapped. Andros stood up.

"You were with Zhane and you slept with Leo. You know what I should've let Zhane kill Leo," he snapped.

Karone shook her head in disbelief. "Andros…you know what happened…" she trailed off. Andros grabbed his change of clothes and went into the bathroom.

"Don't get me wrong, Karone. I love you and I love Trisha, but damn it Karone, I never thought you'd hurt Zhane like that," he snapped.

Karone pushed her hair out of her face. "Trisha's two now, can we please let it go?" She asked. Andros came out wearing blue jeans and a red muscled shirt. Karone lowered her head slightly.

"For the first time ever, Karone, I was ashamed of you," he told her.

Karone felt a lump rise in her throat. "I haven't seen you in a year and this is what I get?" She asked. Andros just stared at the ceiling. "I was there for you when you didn't come out of your room after you and Ashley first broke up. I stood up for you when it first happened how everyone else was blaming you for the breakup and all I get is you saying you're ashamed of me?" She asked.

"Just get out Karone," he replied.

"Andros…"

"I SAID GET OUT!"

Karone grabbed her purse and she opened it. She pulled out a picture, throwing it on the table. "Have a nice life," she answered. Then she hurried out of the room.

After about twenty minutes of just laying there, Andros got up and he picked the picture up. What he saw made all his insides get twisted up inside, a lump went up into his throat, and tears pressed against his eyes. It was of Karone and Trisha. It looked like it was Trisha's birthday. He turned the picture over to look at the back. "We miss you Uncle Andros," he read. Andros lowered his head slightly, placed his hand over his face, and a few tears fell down his face.

(Ashley's Apartment)

Ashley came out of the shower and she walked over to her dresser. She picked up an envelope that sat on her dresser. She sat down and she opened the envelope.

Hey Ash,

Heard you're doing well in the fashion industry, that's great. I have a surprise for you. Vanessa had the baby a couple of weeks ago. A boy and we would like you to be his godmother. His name is Kyle Jonathon Valerte.

Also Vanessa and I got your wedding invitation and we'll be happy to come. We'll be there in a few weeks. You take care of yourself.

Carlos

Ashley let out a sigh and she pulled out the picture that came with the letter. A smile came across her face when she saw her godson. She let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead. She set the letter and picture down before laying back on her bed and fell asleep.