Aftermath 3: Taylor
Taylor
I was ready to smack those two. I mean, who did they think they were fooling? No one. We could all tell what was wrong. Connor had done something to hurt Alyssa; Cole didn't know what to do about it and had resorted to treating her like glass. That, in turn, was just irritating her and keeping them from really talking about it. Cole, sensing this, was getting to be clingy—and that had sent Alyssa here, where she could get away from him for a while.
Idiots.
"I'm done, Taylor."
They'd been sitting in Tara's house for almost three hours; Taylor had been fielding increasingly frantic calls from Cole, refusing, at Alyssa's request, to tell him where they were.
"If he thought about it, he'd figure it out." she commented now, putting her book down and unfolding out of her chair. "There's only my apartment, Willie's, or here, really."
"You haven't been to your apartment in weeks." Alyssa said, smiling faintly. "It can't be fit to live in."
"Probably not." Taylor agreed. "That's why I don't bother. If Cole was thinking he'd know where we are."
"He does."
Both turned to see Merrick standing just inside the door. "He's on his way here." the Wolf Ranger went on. "He won't be long."
Alyssa gathered up her books, not complaining when Taylor took some, and turned to look at Merrick. "Thanks."
Merrick shrugged faintly. "You'll have to face him eventually."
"I know." Alyssa agreed. "Thanks anyway."
She and Taylor left; Merrick sat down and waited patiently for Cole, who arrived about ten minutes later, soaking wet. Merrick threw him a towel and waited for him to catch his breath.
"Is Alyssa here?" Cole asked finally. Merrick shook his head.
"She and Taylor left a few minutes ago. I told them you were on your way, but they didn't want to wait."
"What? Why not?"
"Alyssa doesn't want you hanging over her shoulder every minute of every day, Cole. You're scaring her off."
Cole looked up, and Merrick could see how tired the other Ranger was. "I don't know what to do. Tara said treat her like normal, but how can I? Connor hurt her, and I don't know how to help her."
"You can't fix everything." Merrick told him. "Alyssa knows you're not Connor. She just needs time, Cole, and you're not giving it to her."
"I don't want to lose her."
"You won't." Merrick said, stifling a sigh. Apparently the only people who didn't know Cole and Alyssa were in love was Cole and Alyssa. "You're only going to lose her if you keep pushing. Go back to the Animarium and do whatever you'd normally do. Talk to the Lion, talk to the Princess, sleep. Whatever you'd normally do. Alyssa needs to work this out alone, Cole, but she knows you're there if she needs you."
Cole sat for a long minute, thinking. "Thanks, Merrick." he said finally. "For helping me, and for helping her."
"You're welcome, both times. Now go. And Cole?" Cole turned in the door to look at him. "Try not to drip in the Temple. The Princess doesn't like it."