Chapter 7

Adam threw the fluffy, dark green blanket across the sofa and fluffed the pillows. Most of Rocky's loose socks were thrown back in his room. He went over to the kitchen to move his bag but was stopped short by a knock on the door.

"It's me!" Aisha's voice yelled from the other side.

"I figured it was," he said, opening the door.

"Hey there!" she said, walking in with her small yellow duffle bag.

"Hey, is that my sweatshirt?" he said, noticing the oversized green sweatshirt she was wearing.

"Yeah, Kim said you left it at our place Wednesday. Apparently, it smelled so bad she decided to wash it with a load this morning," she held up her arm so that he could smell the sleeve.

He bent down to smell her arm as he locked the door. As she turned away, he reached to pull her arm closer and smelled her neck instead.

"It smells a lot better than I left it. Tell her thanks," he said, blushing as he pulled away from her neck, brushing her face with his cheek.

Aisha looked away from him and down at the floor. "I think it's the fabric softener," she said. "It was cool walking over, so I slipped it on. I can take it off."

"No, you can keep it if you'd like," he said, as they made their way to the sofa.

"Well, it is warm," she said, sitting down on the large sectional sofa.

She pulled off her shoes and placed them next to her bag. Adam sat next to her, leaving enough space for at least two pillows between them. He leaned back on the sofa cushion and turned the VCR on.

"It's always weird seeing you in so much green," Aisha said, glancing at his green sweatpants and grey t-shirt. "I wish I could have seen you as the green Zeo Ranger in action."

"I wish you could have been the yellow Zeo Ranger sometimes," he said, sinking further into the cushions.

Aisha let her thoughts wander and leaned back into the cushions to match Adam's level.

"So do I," she said quietly.

Adam noticed the crestfallen expression across her face. "Maybe we should stop living in what could have, huh?"

"Yeah, you're right," she said, pulling her legs up to the sofa. "I did have regrets about my decision, though. And it wasn't your fault or anyone else's. I missed being a Ranger and missed you guys. I felt so lonely sometimes, especially without you and Rocky."

Adam moved closer to Aisha to put his arms around her shoulders.

"Aisha," he started slowly, "I didn't really finish what I was trying to tell you earlier."

Aisha looked up at him, curiously. "What was the rest of it?"

"Well, I wondered," he cleared his throat before he could bring himself to finish the thought, "how do you feel about Rocky and me?"

She let the thought sink in, "You mean, like, together? I guess you would make a cute couple but I don't think Rocky is-"

"No, Aisha!" he leaned back into the sofa, exasperated.

"Then what? You sound like Tommy now."

"You never answered his question, remember?" he said.

Aisha pulled away from him and eased to the end of the sofa. She looked at the television as the opening crawl of The Empire Strikes Back began.

Adam took notice of all of this and sat in his spot, unmoving.

"Aisha, just answer it. Unless it's an answer you don't want to say to me."

"No, it's nothing like that," she paused, considering her explanation, "We're friends and I don't want to think about these scenarios because someone always gets hurt in them," she looked to him without meeting his eyes then down to her socks.

Adam could see the tears dancing in the corners of her eyes. He looked down at her black and yellow socks pulled over her grey leggings and began to speak before he could catch himself.

"What about me?" he said.

Aisha looked over to him, a tear escaping to her cheek as she turned and blinked wildly at his question.

"Wha-what about…you?" her voice shook as the fought the tears burning her throat.

"Nothing," Adam said, after realizing what he had uttered.

"No, what are you asking me?" Aisha pleaded with him.

"Forget it! I didn't say it!" he jumped up from the sofa

"No!" Aisha grabbed his hand to pull him toward her.

He turned and looked into her eyes as they shined and sparkled from his floor lamp. He sat down next to her and wiped the falling tears from her cheeks.

"Adam," she touched his hand to her face, "just tell me. How do you feel about me?"

He held her hand and took a deep breath.

"Aisha," he exhaled and paused. "I love you."

Aisha sat silent looking at him, unable to comprehend what he just said. "What?"

He lowered his head a little and looked down to the floor, "I said, I love you, Aisha."

Aisha wrapped her arms around Adam's waist and buried her head into his chest.

"I love you, too." She said, quietly sobbing.

Adam was astounded. Did he hear her correctly?

"Aisha, are you sure?" He asked her, wrapping his arms around her, and caressing her hair.

Aisha looked up into his eyes. Her warm, brown eyes were filled with tears and sadness as Adam looked back into the shimmering pools. He wiped the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks and leaned in to kiss her.

When she kissed him back, he knew she was sure.

"I didn't know, Aisha. I never thought you felt the same way," Adam said, holding her close.

"Adam, that's why I felt so guilty about leaving," her voice was quiet and quivered with hurt, "After you started dating Tanya, I felt guilty for the feelings I was having about you and tried to shut them off. There were days I just wanted you to hold me and I knew I couldn't have that. Even the times I did get to see you, I felt like it would make things complicated…like your heart belonged to someone else. I never wanted to be another girl's headache and I didn't want to hurt any of my friends further. So, I kept my feelings to myself."

Adam wiped the tears that freely fell from her eyes. He kissed her again and pulled her closer, embracing her. "It's okay. We're together now."