Here's chapter three... and I am so sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter up, I've been really busy with everything else...
But at least it's here!
Disclaimer; I don't own Power Rangers at all. If I did, these to would be canon.
Please enjoy.
Alyssa
was riding my bike around the park after Cole and I went to the cemetery, where his parents had been buried.
I hadn't seen Merrick at all today… both because I was busy with an Org that erased Cole's Memories, and because I was helping him research about his parents.
So, I rode my bike to clear my head for a while.
Taylor had kept her promise and didn't tell the others about where Merrick worked, and I studied, so I was happy for that.
But… really, I hadn't seen Merrick all day, and I was starting to get worried.
With that thought in mind, I didn't notice someone stepping into the path till I nearly crashed into them.
"Woah!" I quickly moved my bike and turned to a stop behind who I'd nearly run into, "I'm so sorry…"
They turned to face me and I nearly fainted.
It was Merrick.
"Sorry Merrick…" I gulped.
He simply nodded, and I looked away.
"You weren't there." He let out and I looked over at him, "At the Roadhouse… you weren't there."
"I was… kinda in the middle of something important with my friends…" I reasoned slowly.
He blinked and nodded, "Ah…"
"Not that I didn't want to come." I assured, "I was… we had a run in with an Org… and I was helping Cole find his parents… and I was trying to find him after the Org made him lose his memory… and… I… guess time got away from me…"
Merrick nodded, "I see… well… I just came for a walk since I'm on my break…"
"Ah…" I nodded slowly.
We looked away from each other, and I bit my lip.
"I'll… be by tomorrow." I assured, "Bright and-"
"The Roadhouse is closed tomorrow. It's Sunday." He denied bitterly.
I blinked… now that, I forgot.
"Right… uh… I'll make it up to you today then." I decided simply.
"You shouldn't have to."
"But I want to." I assured, "It's the least I could do."
He sighed, "Look… Alyssa… I'd rather not, alright?"
I bit my lip before I nodded, "Alright…"
He nodded before he walked away.
I blinked before I repositioned myself on my bike and I continued down the road.
1 hour later…
I rode my bike to the Animarium, feeling really upset.
It's not like I meant to forget about studying… but Cole needed me…
Which… makes me wonder; how come he didn't come to the cemetery… or know about the Org?
That was on my mind as I reached the entrance and walked up to it before I stepped through and into the main area.
I sighed as I pulled out my books and started reading.
"What happened to the Roadhouse?" Taylor whispered as she got up to me.
"Closed earlier… and tomorrow's Sunday… which, I am told, they are not open on." I replied before I banged my head into the table, "Why was I so stupid today?"
"You weren't." Taylor assured, "You just thought with your heart more than your head. And that's what helped us with that Signal Org."
I frowned, "I know…"
She patted my back lightly, "You know… I know a great place… for just the two of us… to hang out. Call it… a girl's night out. My treat."
I raised a brow, "You'd do that?"
"You could use it." She nodded.
I smirked, "Then I'm in."
Later that night…
Taylor was leading me into a club.
I hated clubs, but I trusted her.
We walked inside, and I sat at a table.
"Two drinks." Taylor looked at a passing worker.
"You got it." She nodded.
I looked around, feeling nervousness burn into me.
"Hey… you okay?" Taylor frowned.
"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine." I assured.
"You sure?" She raised a brow, "You seem fidgety."
"It's nothing." I insisted.
"Okay.." She shrugged before the drinks arrived.
"Thanks." We nodded before Taylor took a sip and I followed suit.
The taste was horrid, but I didn't let that show for long.
"Ah…" Taylor nodded as she pulled her cup back and I sat mine down, "That's good…"
"Yeah…" I nodded softly.
"I'll go get us some food." Taylor got up and walked over to the bar.
I nodded again, "Okay."
Merrick
I frowned as I ate a meal Willie'd made for me.
"Are you feeling alright?" He raised a brow at me.
I blinked and looked up at him, "Yeah… I'm fine…"
"Really? Cause you've only been stabbing the spaghetti and haven't even touched the meatballs." He noted, nodding to my still nearly full plate.
I sighed, "I… got annoyed with Alyssa earlier today…"
"And?"
"Well… I… might have come off a little bitter she didn't come today…"
"A little?" Willie didn't buy that, "Merrick, you were looking at the door every 2 minutes waiting for her."
I tried not to roll my eyes, "Okay, I was a lot bitter… but… I guess I feel bad about it… I mean, she was busy with something else… I couldn't have changed that, even if I wanted to…"
"So?" He motioned for me to continue.
"So? So, what? There's nothing I can do." I replied.
"Of course, there is. Go find her and explain." Willie replied, "It's the best thing you can do."
I looked at my plate, "After I finish…"
10 minutes later…
"Hey… Cole?" I called into my phone.
"Yeah?"
"You wouldn't happen to know where Alyssa is, would you?" I let out.
"I think she and Taylor went out on a girl's night… some club close to some Roadhouse, actually." He replied.
"Roadhouse….?" I wanted him to elaborate.
"Uh… Willie's Roadhouse, I think… yeah, that's it." He answered after a moment.
My heart jumped into my throat.
There was only one club next to the Roadhouse…
Owned, apparently, by Willie's brother.
"Thanks… I gotta go… bye." I quickly hung up and hurried to the club.
5 minutes later…
I took in a deep breath as I stepped inside the building and calmly looked around.
My eyes instantly landed on the uncomfortable girl in white sitting close to the entrance.
I stepped around and breathed out softly when I knew for a fact it was Alyssa.
"What are you doing here?" She frowned as I pulled up a chair.
"I needed to find you… I need to say I'm sorry." I relented, "I shouldn't have been so cold earlier."
"It's not your fault." She reasoned.
"I still feel like I should apologize." I admitted, "And I should've been there at the cemetery with you and the others this morning… so… I'm sorry."
"You didn't know." She assured, "There's nothing for you to apologize for… I should apologize for not being there, though."
"You were caught up with the others." I countered.
"Speaking of others."
We looked and saw Taylor walking over with some plates of food.
"Hey Merrick… what are you doing here?"
"Just… came to apologize… I'll be out of the way." I sighed before I got up and started for the exit.
I got to the door before I heard someone talking to Alyssa, causing me to glance back to see some guy flirting with her.
Anger made it's way into my chest and I stepped back over to them.
"Eh-hmm." I cleared my throat.
They looked over at me, and the guy scuffed.
"And you are?"
"Merrick. And I'd appreciate if you left her alone."
"Make me."
I scuffed and stepped closer, "You really wouldn't want me to."
"Merrick…!" Taylor and Alyssa gave me warning looks.
"It's alright." I held up a hand, still looking at the guy, "Now… either you're gonna leave her alone… or things are gonna get very bad for one of us."
"Yeah. You." He went for a swing, but I grabbed it and pulled him down, kneeing him in the gut before I kicked him away.
He groaned and got back up.
I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him up to my face as I glared at him.
"Stay away from Alyssa Enrilé." I snarled, "Or I will harm you way worse than this. You can count on it!"
He nodded before I let him go and he ran away.
I sighed and looked back at the girls, nodding to them once before I walked out.
"Merrick wait!" I glanced over my shoulder as I went out the door to see Alyssa running up to me.
I stopped and waited for her to catch up.
When she did, she took in a soft breath, "Thanks… for doing that… you didn't have to."
"Of course I did." I turned to her, "Alyssa, no guy should treat you like that… if you have any other problems like that… come to me. Alright?"
She nodded, "Alright…"
I smiled lightly and walked away.
"Will you come by the park tomorrow?" She got my attention again, "I was gonna read to some kids…"
"Sure." I agreed simply and continued on my way.
Cole
The next morning…
"Alyssa." I smiled at my friend as she ate her breakfast… rather quickly.
"Can't really talk right now, Cole… I have to get to the Park to read to some kids." She denied as she grabbed her bag.
"Nice… can I come?"
"No!" Taylor and she chorused in clear worry.
"I… mean… no… I'll be okay." She rephrased and hurried off.
I frowned, "What's going on?"
"None of your business, Jungle Boy." Taylor replied instantly, hurrying off too.
I looked at Max and Danny, who shrugged in confusion.
Half an hour later…
I walked through the park, breathing in the fresh air.
"….Big Bad Wolf said, 'I'll Huff and Puff, and blow this house down!'." I heard Alyssa's voice close by and I quickly hid in a tree to look around.
Sure enough, I saw her reading to some kids, smiling happily with….
Wait… was that?
Taylor and Merrick beside her?!
Taylor and kids is sorta weird enough…
But what's Merrick doing here?!
I couldn't hear the rest of the story, but I could tell Merrick was annoyed by it with his constant eye-rolls.
Wouldn't blame him… I cried when Alyssa read 'The Lion King' to me…
Either way, when the story was done, the kids cleared out with their parents coming to pick them up.
I noticed Merrick and Alyssa walking away together… and I felt this… pain in my gut… like I didn't like it…
"Jungle Boy!"
I jolted a bit and accidentally slipped from the tree, barely keeping myself on it before I looked down.
"Oh… hey Taylor." I blinked as I jumped down.
"What were you doing in a tree?!" She exclaimed.
"Uh… checking the… integrity of it." I patted the tree trunk lightly, "It's still good."
"Cole!" She narrowed her eyes.
I sighed, "Why didn't you guys tell me you were reading to kids? I would wanna-"
"Turn around and you'll see why." She noted.
I frowned and did just that, seeing Alyssa and Merrick… smiling together!
"Am I seeing things?"
"Nope." She countered, "They really like each other… but the only one that knows is me… so if you can keep your trap that'd be great."
I frowned, "Why?"
"Because they're just friends… but since the Princess still likes Merrick, it's hard… besides, they're together every day… but missed their chance yesterday… they're making up today with this."
"Why weren't they….. oh…." I blinked as I remembered what happened yesterday, "So why wasn't Merrick there for her?"
Taylor shrugged, "I don't know… but, for whatever reason, he's here now. So don't ruin it."
I held up my hands, "Fine… but tell her I'll see her at the Animarium…"
"Will do." She nodded.
With that, I walked off.
If I liked Alyssa like I think I do… Merrick's gonna have his work cut out for him… I can feel it.
-Here it is... finally.
This was a pretty fun chapter to write, and I assure you all, that I'll try to be a little more vigilante with this story.
But, I hope you like this story so far.
If you did, please Favorite, Follow, and Review!
Till next time!