The Angels Thesis: Act 13, Ch 4:

Act 13, Chapter 4:

The next day started off with a little bit of gloom, at least up in the sky. Clouds seemed to block out the sun, as if they were dancing in front of it, but it seemed to set the right mood, after everything that transpired just yesterday. Upstairs, inside of her room, Ashura slept, tossing a little as she tried her best to cover her feet with her blanket, until she realized that something was wrong. Slowly, she sat up, and looked around her room. Things seemed a bit bigger to her, and she looked behind her, at Cleo who slept on the headboard behind her, then towards the foot of her bed, where Luna had decided to sleep on her first night here. It was then that she noticed something strange.

She felt a strange tightness, as if she was wearing something too small for her size. When she moved, Ashura heard some fabric tear, and threw off her blanket to see what was going on. The nightshirt that she had on just last night, seemed smaller, as if it shrunk, or she got bigger. Quickly getting out of bed, Ashura looked at herself in the mirror, and in shock, quickly grabbed her blanket, and pulled it around herself. Dropping to her knees, Ashura panicked, and did the only thing she could think of doing. Letting out a loud scream, Ashura closed her eyes, and hoped she was dreaming, or there was some explanation to everything, before thinking. “ASHLIE!!! DESI!!!” She yelled out, then covered her mouth. Even her voice was a little different, and Ashura wondered what was going on.

Sitting in her bed, Ashlie stared out the window, looking at the water’s edge, with her hands on her midsection. For the first time since she started living there, she couldn’t sleep very well that night, with everything that was on her mind. She couldn’t believe that Michelle had given up whatever it was that kept her on Earth, just to save her. She blamed herself a bit, then realized that it wasn’t her fault, but her brother’s. It was then that she heard the scream. “ASHLIE!!! DESI!!!” She heard, and leapt off the bed in a gust of wind, not caring that she pushed Daniel off the other end. Flying into Ashura’s room, Ashlie was surprised, when she saw the girl bundled up on the floor. “Ashura?” Ashlie asked.

Looking up, Ashura cried, as Ashlie came closer. “I don’t know what’s going on.” She said through tears. “Shhh. It’s okay. We’ll figure it out.” Ashlie said, as she dropped down to her knees, and hugged Ashura lightly. “What’s going on?” The two of them heard, and looked at the door, where Desiree stood, fire to the ready, expecting some sort of fight. “Not sure.” Ashlie told her. It was then that Desiree noticed the bundled girl. “Is that?” She asked, and Ashlie nodded. As she stepped into the room, Daniel appeared behind her, weapon in hand. “What the hell’s going on?” He asked, and with a wave of her hand, Ashlie shut Ashura’s bedroom door in front of him. “Don’t come in!” Ashlie told him.

Confused, Daniel stood outside the room for a hot second, then reached for the doorknob, only to jump back from the electric shock coming from it. “I said don’t come in!” He heard Ashlie’s voice from behind the door, and shrugged. “What’s all the racket?” Daniel heard, and looked at a rather sleepy Kassie, and shrugged again. “I’m trying to figure that out myself.” Kassie noticed Ashura’s door, and walked over to open it. Pausing for a second, Kassie decided to knock first. “It’s Kass.” She said, and opened the door just slightly. “What’s going on...” Kassie said, and suddenly nodded. “I think I got it. Hold on.” She said, and closed the door. “You go make coffee. It’s kind of a girl problem.” She told him, and walked back to her room.

Daniel sighed, and started walking towards the bathroom to brush his teeth, and to wash the sleep off his face, when he heard the sliding door open. Just downstairs, was Dante, Mia, Tanner and Akira, all of which were looking around the living room, Dante with weapon in hand. It was then that Daniel was reminded of the weapon he was holding, and wondered what part of the house it was from so he could put it back. “We heard screaming. What’s going on?” Dante asked. “Some sort of girl problem.” Daniel simply said. “I’ll be down to make coffee soon.” He said, and Tanner touched his sister’s shoulder. “Aki.” He said, and Akira nodded. “I’ll come with you.” Mia told her, and the two headed upstairs.

As they reached Ashura’s bedroom door, they noticed Kassie coming back down the hall with a large bag. Neither of them questioned what was in the bag, and Akira knocked on the door. “Ashura sweetie? It’s Aki. I have Mia and Kassie out here with me.” She said, and slowly opened the door. As Kassie closed the door behind them, Mia and Akira were in for a little bit of a shock, as the little girl they were expecting to see, wasn’t so little anymore. “Oh my.” Mia simply said, and Akira let out a surprised chuckle. “Didn’t expect this.” She said. Ashura looked down at her blanket, until Kassie set down the bag she was carrying in front of her. “Something tells me you need this right now.” She simply said.

Downstairs, Daniel joined Tanner and Dante, who were sitting around the kitchen table. “You know. I just realized that we’re seriously outnumbered by the girls.” Dante said, and Tanner just nodded. “You just realized that?” Daniel asked, and Dante threw a orange at him. Hearing someone clear their throat, the three boys turned towards the doorway of the kitchen, and looked at Kassie, who stood there, hands behind her back. “Ok. All I’m going to say is brace yourself.” She said, and moved aside. “Come on.” She said, and she motioned with her hands. Dante, Daniel and Tanner watched as slowly, Ashura walked into the kitchen. But, it wasn’t the same little girl that they knew. “Wait. Is this Ashura?” Dante asked, and Kassie nodded.

The little girl that they knew was now a shy looking young lady. Gone was the cute overalls and the braided ponytails, instead her hair flowed down her back, and she stood a bit taller, wearing a pair of Capri shorts, and a Brown shirt. As she slowly sat down, she noticed the looks she was getting, and Ashura quickly turned red, and looked away. As they were taking their places around the kitchen, Mia cleared her throat, as if indicating that the boys were staring, and making Ashura nervous. “Sorry kiddo. Didn’t mean to stare at you. It’s just surprising that you grew this fast overnight.” Tanner said, and Ashura looked up a little. “Yeah. You’re still you. That’s the main thing that counts.” Dante said, and “toasted” his coffee cup at her. Ashura then turned towards Daniel, who stood near the sink, sipping his coffee.

Ashura nervously awaited a response, and looked down at the table, when she thought she wasn’t going to get one. It was suddenly, when she saw the bowl, her bowl, being put in front of her, with a box of cereal, and the gallon of milk. “Guess I can’t call you munchkin anymore huh?” She heard, and looked up at Daniel, who stood leaning on the center island. Suddenly, Ashura giggled, as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. “Just wait, I’ll be taller then you.” She told Daniel, who shrugged. “In your dreams kiddo.” He simply told her, and smiled. Ashura giggled once more. “So it’s not a problem that I look like this then?” She asked, and everyone stopped to look at her. “Every rose blooms eventually Ashura. Maybe it’s just your time in the sun.” Daniel told her, and was about to ruffle her hair, but instead just patted her head.

Ashura smiled, nodded, and poured herself some cereal. “Look at it this way. Maybe now I can teach you how to surf.” Akira said, and Ashura turned to Daniel with excitement. “Can I?!?” She yelled out, and Daniel thought about it. “I don’t think so.” He said, and Ashura’s smile turned into a frown. “Why not?” She asked. “Well, correct me if I’m wrong kiddo, but that’s the only set of clothes you own right now. You need to go shopping before you do anything else.” Daniel said, and Ashura nodded. “That settles it. We’re going shopping. For both you and the baby.” Kassie said, and the girls agreed. “While you’re doing that. I have something to do in town. I’ll see you guys when I get back.” Daniel said, and headed towards the garage. Desi wondered what her brother was up to all of the sudden.