#carlos vallerte imagine

[amberbeach]

'WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS'

gif belongs to me

Carlos believed that the glances he sent your way were discreet. But Andros had noticed the way his eyes drifted towards you more than once in the past hour. He looked over his shoulder, observing you for a moment as you studied at another table.

"Who is she?" He asked, turning to Carlos.

"No one." He quickly replied.

"That's Y/N." Ashley answered. "Carlos has had a crush on her for as long as I can remember." Andros nodded and her eyes moved to Carlos. "You should talk to her."

T.J. and Cassie shared amused glances. It was a recurring conversation between Ashley and Carlos as the Yellow Ranger tried to convince him to ask you on a date, but Carlos was always keen to drop the subject.

"I can't."

"You mean, you won't." Ashley corrected.

"I don't want to, okay?" Carlos grew frustrated with the blonde, looking at the table with sudden interest.

"Maybe you should -" Cassie began to tell Ashley to drop the subject but the Yellow Ranger got out of her seat. "Where are you going?"

Carlos lifted his gaze, following Ashley as she walked away. "Wait a minute...is she - she wouldn't."

"She is." T.J. said when Ashley stood at your table, introducing herself.

To his surprise you were smiling as you chatted to the Yellow Ranger who was beaming back as she replied, and Carlos sat stiffly in his chair when he realised you were heading straight for their table. "Oh no. Oh, no, no, no."

Carlos observed as Ashley spoke to you, trying to read her lips, but the blonde moved so her back was to the group.

T.J. exhaled, "Tough break." He clapped a hand on his shoulder and Carlos sent him an aggravated glance before looking at Ashley.

T.J. chuckled. "Good luck." He nodded to Andros and Cassie who followed him when he left and Cassie sent the Black Ranger a reassuring smile as she left him to face Ashely who sparked a conversation between him and the person he found himself unable to form a coherent sentence around.

"You remember Carlos, right?"

"Yeah, of course." You replied. "How are you?"

Carlos swallowed thickly, clearing his throat, finding the courage to speak when Ashley sent him a stern look. "Fine. And you?"

Before you could respond Ashley feigned an expression of regret, "I better go see where the others went. Take a seat, Y/N." She walked away and you bit the inside of your cheek, reaching the same conclusion Carlos did. She was setting you up.

"You don't mind, do you?"

His eyes widened, and he shook his head, "No, of course not." He pulled a chair back and you smiled gratefully as you sat down.

"I haven't seen you around so often. Ashley mentioned you had found jobs." You spoke up after a few moments, sending him a sheepish smile.

Knowing that Ashley had covered the fact that their 'job' was actually protecting the galaxy, he merely nodded his head, naming the first job that came to mind. "I wait tables."

"Must be more exciting than washing dishes at the diner. I'm officially a member of the pirate crew two streets over."

Carlos began to grin at the thought of you wearing the pirate uniform, and you shook your head when you saw his grin, laughing together.

Adele approached the table, asking if you wanted anything and you looked at Carlos before looking around the Surf Spot, seeing his friends had vanished.

He cleared his throat, drawing your gaze, "I-I could eat. Do you want to stay for lunch?"

You sent him a smile, "Sure."

Adele took your orders and you set the menu aside, resting your arms on the table. "I feel I should apologize."

Carlos placed his menu on top of yours, leaning closer in intrigue.

"I told Ashley that I planned to ask you to the dance." You glanced at the table nervously, tucking your hair behind your ear as you met his gaze. "I asked if she knew if you were seeing anybody."

"No." Carlos replied, clearing his throat as he shuffled on his seat, quickly elaborating, "Seeing someone that is. No, I'm not."

You sat straighter, trying to conceal your hope that he could say yes. "Well, if you're not - if you don't have plans already - would you like to go to the dance? With me?"

Carlos smiled, nodding, "Yeah, I would. A lot actually."

You mirrored his smile, a blush appearing on your cheeks when he took your hand across the table.

"The thing is...I told Ashley that I had liked you for a while." He met your gaze and your smile grew. "I was going to ask you to the dance, but I figured you already had plans."

"I do. With you."

You took his hand in both of yours, and he sent you a toothy grin that made your heart race. Silently you both thanked Ashley, as with a little help from his friends, you both finally knew your fears weren't necessary.

With a little help from his friends, you attended the dance together, shared your first kiss on the dance floor, and officially started dating. And you owed it all to them.