Happy Mardi Gras, everyone!
This is... actually gonna be the last chapter... but, I'll have more stuff to say on that later...
I, of course, wanna thank those who have reviewed, it meant a lot.
Alright, now, then...
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. If I did, this OTP of mine would've been cannon. Oh, and I don't own any cameoing characters either.
And now, Please enjoy this final chapter.
Merrick Baliton
"Yesterday was… pretty fun." I commented as we took the bus to the doctor's office.
"Yeah…" Alyssa mumbled, looking away.
I frowned, then gently took her hand, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing…" She shook her head slightly, "Just… today's the day we see if you're fit enough to get out of my care… and… considering all the moving you've been doing…"
I raised a brow. There's no way that could be the only thing on her mind.
"Alyssa… tell me the truth, please…"
"…Where do you plan on going first? After you're outta here?" She calmly asked, and I noticed her hands rubbing roughly together like she seemed to always do when she was nervous.
"Don't know." I looked away, then over at her, "What about you? I'm sure you'll be happy to have me outta your care?"
"…Yeah…" She mumbled before the bus stopped.
She helped me stand up before we got off the bus.
We walked to the Doctor's office, and I suddenly felt a sense of foreboding about what was about to happen.
If I was free to go… that would be great! I could finally leave this town and explore…
But… I'd be leaving behind people and places that I cared about…
"Stop thinking that!" I demanded my thoughts, "You're wasting her time being with her!"
As we sat in the waiting room, I tried not to look around, live alone at her.
However, that idea failed miserably, and I did look over at her.
Her eyes kept darting around, but I couldn't stop looking at her.
"Alyssa?" I frowned at her.
She jumped, then glanced over at me, "Oh… sorry…"
"What's wrong now?" I inquired.
"I… I'm worried, that's all." She sighed.
I frowned a little more, "Why?"
She shook her head, "Not… not because of you… and… I'll be… happy when you're free to go…"
I raised a brow at how she used the word 'happy'…
Like she was forcing it out?
"You… are okay with me leaving, right?" I asked.
"Yes." She nodded, "Why do you ask?"
I shook my head, "Just… nothing."
"Mr. Baliton? Miss. Enrilé?"
We looked up at our names, then followed a nurse into a hallway.
"Alright… Mr. Baliton, just go ahead and we'll do a few tests to see how well you are…"
I gulped a bit, nodding.
5 minutes later…
After they got my weight, my height, and my blood pressure, we were lead into another room.
"Here you go, just get onto this here seat," The nurse patted the place I needed to sit, "And the doctor will be with you shortly."
I nodded before I sat on the bench thing, while Alyssa sat in a normal chair.
I looked over at her, biting my lip.
"Alyssa…" I wanted to say when the doctor walked in.
"Ah, Mr. Baliton." He nodded, "How's it been?"
"It's been good." I nodded softly.
"Good." He let out, then looked at a clipboard, "Well… everything seems to be in order…"
"Please don't say I'm fit; please don't say I'm fit…" I mentally begged, but I didn't know why.
If I was free to go… then I could travel without a care in the world.
"Seriously? Alyssa!"
No… she'd have more important things to worry about.
"Like what?"
I had myself there…
"…You should sit a lot more for the next few days… but… all in all… it's within my opinion that, you're free to go, Mr. Baliton."
My heart shattered at those words.
I should be happy, delighted.
No more being cramped inside an apartment…
But… I looked over at Alyssa, who was giving me a gentle smile.
What was I gonna do without her?
15 minutes later…
Alyssa signed the paperwork that let me go from her care, and we walked out together.
My feet tingled a little in pain as I kept walking, but ignored it.
"…So… I guess I'll be getting my stuff from the apartment and leaving then…" I breathed out, hoping she'd stop me.
However, she nodded, "I guess so…."
I wanted to scream that I didn't wanna go, but I refused.
I kept silent, nodding along with her.
"Where do you plan on going?" She inquired.
I shook my head, frowning, "I… I'm not entirely sure… there's so many places out there… it could take a while to decide."
"I could help you if you want?"
"I'd appreciate that." Was my immediate, and very dumb, response.
She blinked, then looked away before the bus came around, and we got onto it.
I took her hand, wanting to go to the back instead of the front so I could talk more with her.
Even if pain was beginning to become more and more evident as we finally sat in the furthest seats from the front of the vehicle.
"Why all the way back here?" She questioned my thought presses.
For a moment, so did I, but… I wanted to keep talking to her… and if that meant being furthest from the front, then so be it.
"I just… thought it'd be different, ya know?" I relented slowly, "A… um… different change before leaving…"
Different change before leaving?
Seriously?! How dumb could I possibly get today?!
I mentally hit my head, before I tried to correct myself.
"I… I mean… um… what I mean to say is…" I groaned in my thoughts.
"Great… now look at what you did!" I b-rated myself.
Then, she giggled softly, causing me to jump a bit.
"It's okay, I get it." She assured kindly.
I took in a soft breath, "That's good… cause I had no idea how I was gonna go from that."
She nodded, "I could see that."
I smiled lightly at her, my heart beating a little faster.
I quickly ignored that feeling, and instead inquired, "So… you never told me what you planned to do now that I was free to go? What do you wanna do? I mean, I'm sure your studies are still important…"
Alyssa Enrilé
I was a little nervous to answer that question.
But I tried to as best as I could, wringing my hands a bit.
"I'm not sure… I mean… it was only two days after we'd defeated…" I glanced around before I whispered to him, "After we defeated Master Org… so… I… I'm not sure what all I plan to do right now…"
He nodded, "I… I see… um… do you think your Professor would need any new helpers?"
I raised a brow, "Prof. Brunner?"
He nodded again, "Yeah… him… do you think he'd need anyone helping him?"
That was a weird question coming from him, but I answered anyway.
"No… I don't think so, why?"
He deflated a bit, "Just… curious."
I frowned, "Are you sure?"
He nodded, "Yeah… yeah, I'm sure…"
I looked at him worried, but he didn't look in my direction for the rest of the trip.
10 minutes later…
When we got back into the apartment building, I was a little sad to say the least.
But, I gave Merrick a large bright smile anyway.
As he walked into his room, I walked into the kitchen.
"Do you want something to eat before you go?"
"That would be amazing, thank you!" He called.
I smiled a little before I looked at my recipe book.
As I did, I noticed a note from Merrick in… what I can only assume was Animarian… which, I sadly can't read.
But, that didn't mean I didn't smile and set it aside to try to figure out later.
However, before I could turn the page, I noticed another note, this one a sticky one, with Merrick's handwriting again on it.
"…I'm guessing you want Willie's Special?" I asked.
"That would be great!" He replied.
I smiled before I set the book down, and started getting what I needed out.
10 minutes later…
Once I got two sets of the food on two plates, I set one down for Merrick and one down for myself.
I gave him a fork and a knife before I started cutting into my own meal.
"Thank you." He appreciated, "I… I can't thank you enough, Alyssa… honest."
I shook my head, "It's no big deal, really."
"No big deal? You took me in, even when I insisted against it… you helped me overcome my nightmares… you did all of that… for me… I can't thank you enough."
I smiled a little, "Merrick, you're my friend… I'd do anything for friends."
"Friends…. Right…" He looked away, annoyed.
I frowned, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing… nothing…" He started eating his meal.
"Merrick," I gently took his hand, "Please… you can tell me anything…"
"It's honestly nothing, Alyssa. Don't worry." He insisted.
I frowned, then pulled away, before I started eating my meal, glancing up at him in confusion once in a while.
What could he have meant?
I mean… we are friends?
Did he want to be more?
No, no way!
He just got outta a relationship with the Princess…
And given he was the dumpy this time…
He probably thinks since I'm helping him I'm like her…
But, I'm not… I'm not like her in any way.
Even if he did like me more than a friend…
No. I can't like him…
"But you do."
But why?!
"Don't think with your head this time, Alyssa. You've been thinking about this for the past week, don't deny it." Her mind commented.
Even if I did like him like that… he might not return my feelings! And that's just…!
"And if he does?"
I frowned, glancing over at the Lunar Wolf.
I… hadn't thought of that.
14 minutes later…
He was all packed and looked about ready to leave at any moment.
But, I really didn't want him to leave just yet…
And for some reason, I don't think he wanted to leave just yet either.
"Don't get your hopes too high, Alyssa."
"So… I... guess this is it." He breathed out.
I nodded, "Oh… um… are you sure Zen-Aku won't…?"
"I'm sure… I'm definitely sure…" He breathed a weak laugh, shaking his head.
I bit my lip, then nodded, "Right…"
With that said, we started for the main lobby.
As we did, I bit my lip.
Well… this was it.
"The bus will be arriving to take you to… wherever it is you're planning on… in about 10 minutes." I informed him calmly, looking over at him.
"Got it…" He breathed out, glancing at me.
For whatever reason, I really wanted to hug him…
But, I resisted.
I couldn't let my emotions stop him from what he wanted to do.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around…"
"Yeah… you too."
I didn't take five steps away before…
"Alyssa… wait." Merrick gently took my hand, "…I… I would like to stay with you."
"I thought you said you wanted to leave town?"
"I know… but… I changed my mind… please… I'll do the dishes, do the laundry… I just… I want to be with you, no matter what, Alyssa."
I frowned, "Why?"
He bit his lip, then sighed, "Because I… I can't keep… pretending like this isn't true… I like you, Alyssa… a lot… and no matter what I try… I can't stop…"
I gave a soft smile, looking away, before I let out calmly, "You really mean that?"
"Of course." He nodded, "Every word of it…"
I smiled, before I looked at him, then held his hands, biting my lip, "I… I like you too… Merrick… and… admittedly… the last week and a half have been a lot of fun thanks to you."
He smiled, "So… you're okay if I stay with you?"
I giggled, then nodded, "Yes."
"Yes!" He grinned, hugging me close.
I laughed happily before we looked at each other.
I didn't care about any thought-out plans…
Or ideas for what could come up later.
My emotions were more important at this moment.
And at this moment, I didn't wanna be anywhere, but right here.
There you go.
As I was about to say before... I might be making a sequel to this.
One that is not a daily upload, because I have enough issues with weekly uploads as is...
But still, I'll be making a sequel... just wait and see.
Thank you to all who reviewed, your support means a lot.
Finally, what adventures await the new couple?
You'll have to wait and see.
See ya later!