Alright, let's see how the two are doing on day 8 of Merrick's recuperating...
I still wanna thank those who have reviewed so far. it means a lot.
Alright, now, then...
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. If I did, this OTP of mine would've been cannon.
And now, Please enjoy!
Merrick Baliton
When I got up the next morning, I noticed a walking stick leaning against the nightstand with a note attached that read; Please use this today. — Alyssa.
I blinked as I read it over, then actually contemplated just tossing the cane away.
What felt worse, though, I actually didn't feel like waking up today…
Like I wanted to be lazy…
However, when that thought barely crossed my mind, I felt a burning reminder on my back… one that pointed out how I shouldn't be lazy.
So, I grabbed the cane and weakly stood up.
I looked at my reflection in the dresser mirror.
When I did, I almost didn't recognize myself from how exhausted I looked.
I shook my head before I walked over and started to change out of my clothes from last night.
2 minutes later…
Once I was done, and I started walking out of the room, pain entered my body for a moment.
I weakly leaned against the wall when I noticed Alyssa in the kitchen, making something that smelled amazing.
"What are you making?" I inquired as I walked up to her, slowly.
She jumped, glancing up at me, "Breakfast… Bacon and Eggs to be exact."
"Sounds great." I smiled happily, sitting by the counter, then nodded, "Smells great too."
"Thank you." She nodded, continuing to cook.
I frowned when she didn't say anything more.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"Alyssa." I stared at her.
She groaned, turning her cooking down before turning to me, "I'm fine, Merrick… what about you, though? You look like death…"
I frowned, "How?"
She shook her head, "Nothing… never mind…"
She turned back to what she was doing, silent.
"…Alyssa?" I asked slowly.
She didn't reply, but nodded.
"…Is everything okay?" I asked slowly, "Are you mad about something?"
"I'm fine, Merrick."
"Then talk to me." I requested, "Please…"
"There's nothing to talk about, Merrick."
"I like talking to you, though… and I remember we talked about everything before."
"Not everything." She mumbled.
"Then we can talk about that now." I requested, "Please, Alyssa?"
She didn't respond. She grabbed a plate and put the food on it before giving me a fork and setting it down in front of me before she put down her down her plate of food and started eating that.
And I couldn't take it anymore.
So, I decided to relent to her annoying questions.
"Is this because I didn't wanna talk to you about Zen-Aku?" I figured.
"Not just that." She sighed.
"Then why don't you wanna talk?!" I gritted my teeth.
"Because there's nothing to talk about." She sighed, looking at her plate, going silent.
I tried not to yell in anger.
"Fine… one question. That's all." I decided.
"…Could you at least tell me why you agreed to help Zen-Aku? Please?"
"I've already told you-"
"Come on, Merrick." She sighed, "I wanna help you."
"I know you do. But it's nothing to worry about."
"Then, pardon my bluntness, why's he with you?"
"He wants to condone for his sins, alright?"
"No. Not 'alright'. Toxica and Jendrax are doing the exact same thing."
"He's a lone wolf, just as much as I am."
"You can't keep using that as an excuse."
I blinked, "E… Excuse?!"
"That's what I said." She nodded a bit, "Merrick, come on. You've used, 'because you're a lone wolf' to get out of everything that involves the team and I."
"Only one time."
"Try four."
I blinked, then sighed, looking down, "Look, can we not talk about this anymore?"
"Okay." She sighed, getting up.
I gently took her hand when she was walking around to me, "I still wanna talk to you… I don't care about what… but I still wanna talk to you… please?"
She frowned, then nodded softly, "Fine… what do you wanna talk about then?"
"If you like me, for starters…" I thought but didn't voice it like that.
In fact, I didn't wanna voice it at all.
"…What do you plan on doing for the rest of the day?"
"Well… Spring Break's up today… meaning I go back to school tomorrow…" She relented slowly.
I blinked, "Oh… right… I almost forgot."
"I'll see if I can stay back for the next couple of days if that's what you're worried about."
"No. You're classes are important." I reasoned quickly, "You should go. I'll be fine on my own."
"Merrick, you're still under my care…"
"I'll be fine." I insisted calmly, "School means a lot to you. And, I don't want to be holding you back."
Alyssa Enrilé
"You wouldn't be." I reasoned, "Besides, if I can explain it to my teachers-"
"I'll be okay, Alyssa. Don't worry about me."
I bit my lip, then sighed, "It's not just you, I'm worried about, Merrick…"
"What do you mean?"
"Because Zen-Aku's back… and you and I can see him… I'm just… worried something might happen."
"I can handle myself." He reasoned plainly.
"And I understand that… it's just…"
"Just what?" He folded his arms, wincing a little.
I shook my head, "Forget it."
"Alyssa…" He sat forward, frowning, "Tell me."
"If Zen-Aku's back… I really don't wanna run the chance that something bad could happen again."
"I just told you-"
"I know." I groaned before I walked over to the fireplace, trying to think my next words through, "…It's too early for this… though."
"…Fine." He grumbled.
At lunch…
While I was making some burgers, I noticed heard him playing his flute in his room, which made me both happy, and annoyed.
Every part of me wanted to grab my violin and join in…
But I forced myself to keep cooking.
The last thing I needed to do was remind him of why he's under my care…
"What am I gonna do?!" I groaned softly as I finally finished cooking the patties and put them on the buns.
"Lunch is ready!" I called.
His flute stopped, and I noticed him lean against the doorway, looking back at me, "What?"
"Lunch is ready." I repeated, "It's hamburgers."
"Great!" He smiled a little, walking up to me.
I nodded before I gave him a plate of a large one before I took my small one.
As I did, I noticed him lick his lips as he looked at it.
This, causing me to giggle.
"Maybe you should eat it and not just drool over it.
He looked up, then quickly back down… and I can swear I saw his cheeks redden for a moment.
"Got it…" He mumbled, sitting down slowly to eat.
I smiled a little before I sat beside him, eating my burger slowly.
He moaned after his first bite, "So good…"
I giggled lightly, "Thank you."
He smiled a little, glancing away for a moment.
I raised a brow, then shook my head.
It's probably nothing.
Half an hour later…
"It's only for three more days… I'm well aware… I'll do whatever work I have to." I was speaking to my head professor over the phone.
"Even so, Miss. Enrilé, isn't there anyone else who can look after your friend?"
"No… not really." I relented, "Please, sir…"
He sighed over the line, "You are my best student… let him come by the school with you, if you're so worried about his well-being… you mentioned he can move pretty well without a wheelchair now, correct?"
"Yes, sir," I confirmed.
"Then bring him with you tomorrow… we'll talk more after your lessons."
I bit down my sigh, "Okay, sir."
"Have a good day, Miss. Enrilé."
"You too sir." I let out before I hung up.
Then, I groaned and fell into my couch, annoyed.
"Is… is everything okay?" Merrick slowly got up to me.
I nodded, "I tried to talk my head professor out of it… but, it looks like you're gonna have to come with me tomorrow to school."
"…Why?"
"Because I already left in the middle of class, and I can't let my grades slip." I relented, "Are you gonna be okay for that tomorrow?"
He nodded, "I should be. Why?"
"You're still new to the present…"
"And I've seen your schoolwork, remember?" He shrugged, "I'm sure it'll be fine."
I sighed, then nodded, "Maybe you're right… but you're gonna have to move around a lot tomorrow."
"I can handle that." He assured, "Don't worry."
I bit my lip softly, "Sorry… it's just… a lot to think about… you know?"
He nodded, sitting beside me, "But, I'm sure everything's gonna be fine… and… who knows? Maybe when I'm fully healed, I'll come by the school every now and then?"
I blinked at that.
I totally forgot he was planning on traveling the country.
"Right." Was all I said on that.
He raised a brow, "You okay?"
"I'm fine." I lied easily, "But… if you plan on coming with me tomorrow… you should probably get some clothes set out… I'll do some laundry later."
"I can help." He assured kindly.
"You sure?"
He nodded, "It was one of my jobs at Willie's."
"Oh right." I giggled softly at that.
Maybe tomorrow won't be so bad after all.
Yeah... We'll see about that.
I mean, come on, Merrick's still from 1,000 BC... who knows what could happen?
Well, you're gonna have to wait to find out!
In the meantime, please review, favorite and follow!
See ya tomorrow!