Ashley/Mindy
Ashley knew he was shaking - that was how nervous he was. Eventually, he checked his watch for the 20th time. Twenty-five past five??? Why couldn't time go any faster???
He'd told her to meet him at five-thirty. Biting his lip, he stood up and began to pace. Putting a hand in his right pocket, he fiddled with the case which held the ring he'd picked out months ago. It was perfect for her he was convinced. It had cost a fortune, but he believed every dollar was worth it.
Eventually, he sat down again and put his head in his hands - his legs shaking.
"Ashley?" came a sudden voice.
His head snapped up. There she was; a vision of perfection. He smiled.
"Mindy," he replied, standing up to take her hand.
She smiled back and pushed some strands of hair behind her ear.
"You wanted to tell me something?" she raised her eyebrows, playfully biting her lip.
Ashley's face fell for a moment as he looked around.
They were on top of a hill in a deserted park. The sun was setting. Even in the beauty of the moment Ashley couldn't calm himself.
"Ah... yeah," he replied nervously, taking her other hand and pulling her down with him to sit on the bench.
"So go ahead," she insisted with a nod.
Ashley took a deep breath, and sighed.
"Ok... I have spent so much time contemplating this. Over and over again in my head. I've spoken to a number of people about it too..." he began, looking into her eyes for a moment.
"Go on," she nodded.
"Well..." Ashley paused to get his words straight, "I have something to ask you, and something to tell you. What I have to tell you, might have a huge effect on your answer to what I want to ask you."
Mindy just watched him as he tried to explain.
"So... I want to let you choose... the question first? Or the telling?" Ashley raised his eyebrows.
Mindy hesitated and opened her mouth to say something. She closed it with a slight frown, and opened it again.
"Ask me what you want," she said softly, looking into his eyes.
Ashley felt his heart pound as a grin grew on his face.
"Well... this is something I've been meaning to ask you for a few months now, and I kind of put it off for a while when Myra umm... died. But now I think it's time to get on with it."
Suddenly, in a second, he was down on one knee, holding her left hand and staring into her eyes. She gasped in shock, suddenly registering what was happening.
"Mindy..." he began, pulling out the ring, "we've been seeing each other for years now, and I have not found one imperfection I could bag you about."
Mindy giggled slightly, covering her mouth with her hand. Ashley opened the case and showed her the ring.
"So... Mindy Jane Parkinson... will you do the honour of becoming my wife?" he laughed slightly, feeling his whole body shaking.
Mindy laughed out loud, and scratched her head slightly. Then she reached for the ring. Ashely's eyes lit up.
"Of course you dildo," she smiled, taking the ring.
"Oh my..." Ashley began, taking the ring from her and fitting it on her finger.
He gave her a quick kiss.
"So what did you need to tell me?" she laughed.
Ashley's face fell again.
"Oh, um... you don't need to know now..." he shook his head innocently. "Of course I do," Mindy insisted, inspecting the ring, "if something is bothering you I need to know."
Ashley bit his lip and sat beside her again. Slowly, she leant over his lap as he hugged her, and they began to watch the sunset. She didn't notice him keeping an eye out for anyone who might come across them.
He sighed.
"This is going to sound really... bizarre, but you have to believe me, ok?" he began shakily.
"Did something happen?" she asked worriedly.
"No... not recently anyway," he replied.
Mindy just looked confused. Ashley sighed.
"I... I'm an alien."
Mindy giggled.
"You expect me to believe that, do you?" she grinned, sitting up, "It's nowhere near April Fool's Day you know."
She touched his nose with the tip of her finger as if to tell him off.
"No, Mindy... you have to believe me," Ashley pleaded.
Mindy hesitated. He sounded so sincere.
"What is it? You're an alien?" she frowned slightly.
"Mindy..." he began, taking her hands, "there's only one way I can show you. I'm sorry."
He shook his head with regret as he thought of what to do. Slowly, he closed his eyes, and began to shift his arms into stone. Mindy's eyes widened. "OH MY GOD!" she screamed, pulling back.
Ashley shifted back as soon as he noted her distress.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, ok?" he cried, distressed, "I... I shouldn't have done that."
"No, no..." Mindy waved him off, looking away, "It just... It took me by surprise, that's all."
Ashley let his arms fall to his sides as he thoguht of what to do.
"Ok, ok..." he began, "Mindy? I want... i need you to talk to Ike, ok?" "What's he got to do with this?" she asked nervously, turning back to him. "He's..." ashley hesitated, "he's a telekinetic. He offered to help, ok?"
"Isaac Hanson is a telekinetic?" Mindy frowned.
"Can we keep it down?" Ashley fretted, seeing an old couple enter the park.
"Why... why didn't you tell me before now?" Mindy asked.
"I wasn't aloud to. The YIRAAS doesn't allow you just to tell people you're an alien," Ashley defended, starting towards her.
She backed away.
"The YIRAAS?" she frowned.
Ashley sighed, "it's a society... it deals with all the... aliens on Earth, since the Roswell crash."
"The Roswell crash?" Mindy repeated, "Oh my God..."
She sat on the park bench slowly.
"Look Mindy, if you need some time apart from me, I'll understand," Ashley gulped, "I could move in with Mom for a while. Ike and Zac have both offered to help, and Ike said Diana could talk to you too... if you want."
"Diana?" Mindy gasped, "she's an alien too?"
"Their whole family is," Ashley replied, sitting down, "there's... there's a web site you can go to... to find information. Geocities dot com, YIRAAS." Mindy held her hand up.
"This is a lot for me to swallow right now," she gulped.
"I know, I know babe... please, talk to someone, I'm sure they can help."
She hesitated.
"Who else is an alien?" she asked.
Ashley hesitated.
"I... I think you should find out more about it before I mention names... I still don't think you're meant to know. Please, talk to Isaac, talk to Zac, talk to Diana," he shook his head.
She hesitated again, and looked into his eyes.
"I'll see..." she promised, before standing.
Ashley watched as she left the park slowly, fiddling with the ring on her finger. He covered his face with his hands - what had he done?