Chapter 8

Author's Note: Sorry if I've kept you guys waiting for this chapter. I've been busy with school so you know that's a drag. Anyway, with a busy schedule, I won't be able to post as much but I will finish this story. Also if any of you are wondering about "2112", I will get to that as soon as I'm done with this.

A few days came and went and it was Friday. There were only two weeks left until Crash's family came back. At the same time, Pasadena's car would be fixed. Crash was in his room, silently staring at the ceiling again. For some reason, he began wondering how to tell his feelings to Pasadena. Could he just tell it to her straight, or should he wait for an opportunity? Questions raced through the bandicoot's mind, but yet not a single correct answer could come up. A few answers did happen to be what he was looking for, but like any other bad idea it was simply forgotten. Sighing and shaking his head, he simply thought of just simply walking to her and just tell his friend how he truly felt. Feeling that only sleep could ease his mind, slowly but surely Crash closed his eyes until...

RING! RING! RING!

Crash immediately sat up as he was startled by the loud ringing of his phone. Digging into his pocket, the hero pulled out his phone and pressed the talk sign. With an irritated sigh, Crash spoke into the phone's speaker. "Hello?"

"Hey buddy, where are you?" Crash instantly recognized the voice of one of his friends from town, Josh. "I'm at home. Why are you asking?"

"Did you forget about tonight?"

"What's tonight," asked Crash.

"Dude, how could you forget it's Friday? We always hangout at Louie's? Any of this ringing any bells," Josh replied with each question being more annoying than the last.

"Alright, alright, I forgot. Just be quiet for a minute." Crash took a short breather to calm down. "Ok, I forgot. Look, I don't feel like hanging out tonight."

"Oh come on. This would be the third time you skipped out on us, man. Look, we're your friends Crash. We're getting worried about you, dude. If you ain't coming, we're coming," Josh had spoken with a stern voice.

"Oh no no no, you're not. I swear, the last time you guys came over, the damn rug caught on fire," Crash said in an annoyed tone.

"It was an accident! Besides, it was pretty funny, you gotta admit that," Josh responded hoping to calm Crash down.

"You guys set my rug on FIRE," Crash had replied back with anger.

"Sorry! Look, just come on. We're worried."

"Fine. If it gets you guys to calm down, I'll go." Thinking about Pasadena, Crash spoke once more into the speaker. "Hey wait. Can I bring a friend?"

"You wanna bring a date?"

"Not a date, a friend. There's a complete difference."

"Sure, whatever. I'm not sure what the others will think."

"They'll think I'm bringing a date if you tell them that. Just say I'm coming with a friend, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you better show up, bro."

"I will. See ya." Hitting the end call button, Crash sat up and decided to tell Pasadena about his plans for the evening. Walking down the hallway, Crash kept moving until he reached his sister's door. Just before he opened the door, he heard what sounded like music playing. As he slowly opened the door, he saw Pasadena sitting on the bed, playing an acoustic guitar. Crash stood there, awed that she could play. He heard familiar chords, notes, and harmonics, but somehow it all felt new. As if he never heard such music before. Crash was dazed by the music, but what really knocked off his socks was a voice. The bandicoot never heard such a sweet voice singing. So amazing, he thought.

"Oh, hey, I didn't hear you come in," Pasadena said. Knocked back into reality as the music and the singing stopped, Crash's reply was, "Huh? Oh." With a nervous chuckle, Crash spoke, "Hey I didn't know you can play. Or sing." With a giggle, the possum replied, "Oh, well I learn to play and sing when I was a kid. My dad taught me."

Crash then said proudly,"Must've been hell of a teacher, because that was wonderful." Pasadena couldn't help but blush. Curiously, she asked, "Hey Crash, can you play?" With another chuckle, except it was out of confidence, Crash responded, "Yeah, but it's been a while since I've handled an acoustic." Crash walked over and sat on the bed, and as he sat down, Pasadena handed him the guitar along with a pick. As the wooden instrument laid in his hands, the orange marsupial took a few practice strums and slides before readying his fingers on the fretboard. Before strumming, Crash cleared his throat and took in a deep breath. And then, he began playing.

Where are you today?
I know it's not too late
To make it, so just fake it for me

And anyone who says I should just give it a rest
Can shove it 'cause I'm above it
Or at least I'd like to believe

Pasadena smiled as she saw her friend playing magnificently. To her ears, he had a steady, calm voice. Seeing his fingers moving from string to string and his hand moving up and down over the sound hole, the female marsupial wondered if she could match Crash's skill or if he knew a few more things than she did. Recognizing the song he was playing and singing to, she decided to join in.

That it's all in my head
Yeah it's all in my head
(whoa oh oh oh oh)

Crash smirked as he heard Pasadena's soft voice intertwine with his. For some reason, he liked it. Their voices matched perfectly as a duet, and it led Crash to wonder if he should ask her to come see him play with his friends. The bandicoot played in a band with his friends and Crash got excited at the idea of playing for Pasadena.

Where was I today?
Well I was worrying away
Inhibition on a mission
Through my head

So I could take the other side
Of that roller coaster ride
Like I don't need you
But I know I need you
So instead I just went
Back to bed

Both friends were a bit shy to sing in front of each other, but they did feel a bit comfortable wtih each other. Crash could feel his heart beating a bit faster and so could Pasadena with her heart. Since they managed to keep singing, it gave them both confidence to continue without worrying about the other's opinion. He liked her voice, and she liked his as well.

In hopes that it's all in my head
Yeah it's all in my head
(whoa oh oh oh oh)

Crash and Pasadena both looked at each other. Both of them couldn't help but eye each other. In Crash's eyes, Pasadena was beautiful. How her light green eyes managed to give a twinkle, how her tan fur shined in the sun. And her smile, it just made him smile with such happiness. For Pasadena, Crash was handsome. He wasn't the best looking guy alive, but he was handsome. She immediately thought back to how she met him again a few days ago and remembered how he was shirtless. Crash wasn't completely muscular like Crunch, but his well toned body sent shivers down her spine. As Crash was distracted for what a brief moment seemed like eternity, his eyes went down to the guitar and his mind came back to reality, making the hero get back to the song. His sudden movements managed to help Pasadena get back to what was happening.

And if I get to feeling like I'm not coming home
You can sing me a song

And if I get to feeling like I'm doing this alone
You can sing me a song

And if I get to healing but I can't do it on my own
Would you sing me a song

And if you get to healing but can't do it on your own
I will sing you a song

Crash thought about the lyrics as he sang them. Would being with Pasadena help him forget about Tawna, his ex? He figured it would, but Crash knew that it would be wrong of him to use his friend to get over his own past. "Scars never heal," he thought, "but they don't hurt after a while." Pasadena was also thinking about the lyrics. Crash did help her feel better about her job, but she began to wonder if she could help her orange friend with his own problems. The possum figured it would be nice, after all, Crash fed her, allowed her to stay, and even towed her car. "I can return the favor somehow," she thought.

Where are we today?
It turns out everything's OK
It's just the first time I've had nothing to say

So I've talked to myself down
And I won't mistake the ground
For a fall-through

Thinking about it, Crash wondered if he could really trust his heart. "I don't want this to be another letdown," he thought. Love was tricky. Sometimes you know how it works and other times it seems like something no one could ever understand. Not to mention love can easily blind or hurt one. "Although sometimes, you have to take a chance," the orange marsupial thought to himself.

Where are we today?
Turns out everything's OK
It's just the first time I've had nothing to say

So I've talked myself down
And I won't mistake the ground
For a fall-through
'Cause I love you
Yeah, I love you

As Crash played the last note, he blushed with embarassment. Pasadena did the same, but she giggled as she looked at Crash rubbed the back of his head nervously. The last few lyrics were words the orange bandicoot wish he could say confidently to his possum friend. Alas, he couldn't. "That was pretty nice," Pasadena said, following up with a smile. "Yeah it was," Crash replied. "So, uhh, listen. A couple of friends of mine want me to hang out with them. And I was wondering if maybe, if you want to, you might wanna come with me?" Crash never felt so nervous, yet he thought why was he so nervous. I'm not asking her out on a date or anything like that, the bandicoot thought. The world went silent as Crash waited for his guest's answer, and the only sound he had heard was the beating of his own heart. Pasadena looked down and looked back up and said, "Well, sure." Feeling so relieved, Crash had replied, "O-Okay. Well, get dressed and we'll leave as soon as we're both ready." Pasadena got up and so did Crash. Crash left the room so is friend could change, and Crash walked to his to get some clothes for his later plans of the day.

Crash didn't have to worry about taking a shower since he took one 2 hours ago and so, he decided to change. Crash wore a black T-shirt as an undershirt, a white longsleeve button up shirt (which Crash had buttoned up except for the top button), and wore a dark grey cargo jacket. He wore another pair of blue jeans with a belt and the same brown canvas shoes. Seeing as he didn't need his gloves, Crash decided not to wear them. After getting a good look in the mirror, Crash walked to the living room to wait for Pasadena.

As he waited, Crash turned on the TV to watch something in the meantime as his American companion got ready. Only a few channels and minutes later, Pasadena walked into the living room wearing a white blouse and a blue jean skirt with a matching denim jacket. Crash had noticed how Pasadena had her hair in a ponytail style as well. "You ready," he asked. "Yeah, let's go. Within minutes, the two friends went to the garage, got in Crash's jeep, and drove off to meet the bandicoot's friends.

Again, sorry for the wait. Things have been busy, but I promise to update as fast as I can. Bye. Also, the song is (whoa oh oh oh oh oh) by The Ascetic Junkies.