Lion and Tiger

Chapter 3: A Jealous Man and a Good Friend

Alyssa sighed as she walked into the school. She smiled when her friend, Mrs. Alexandra Reynolds, walking over to her. "Alyssa, Roger told me what happened yesterday. Who was he?" She asked.

"He was nobody," Alyssa lied.

"Come on, you have to tell me at least something. He told me that a friend of yours came back to town."

Alyssa sat down and Alexandra sat across from her. "If you must know, his name is Cole Evans. We knew each other when I was in college," Alyssa stated.

"You met in college?" She asked.

"No, he wasn't in college. We sort of grew close," Alyssa replied.

"Oh, how cute. Miss Enrile is falling in love."

"I am not. After awhile, he decided to go off and help animals that were in trouble. I haven't seen him for a year until now."

Alexandra smiled at her. "What?" Alyssa asked.

"Stop being so stubborn, Alyssa. I know that look in your eye. We've been friends since our junior year of college. When you like a guy you get this twinkle in your eye," she replied.

Alyssa played with the binding of her notebook. "Even if I do have feelings for him, it could never work out," Alyssa denied.

"Why not?" She asked.

"Because, I'm a schoolteacher who stays in one place. He's someone who moves around a lot. A long-distant relationship wouldn't work out."

"Ah-hem."

They looked up to see Roger standing there. "Alyssa, may I speak with you for a minute?" He asked.

"Of course, Roger," Alyssa replied.

"I'll see you later," Alexandra told her.

Alyssa nodded and then Roger came in. "What's going on?" She asked. Then he sat next to her and gave her a smile. "Why are you staring at me like that?" She asked.

"How long have you known Cole?" He asked.

"I knew Cole for awhile. We met when I was in college," she replied.

"Oh, so he was an ex-boyfriend?"

"No! Cole wasn't my boyfriend. We're really good friends. We both share something in common. And we're there for each other when we need one another."

"What happened?"

"Well, Cole decided to go out and help the animals and I had to finish college."

"So, he just by chance came by to help the animals here?"

Alyssa felt a little nervous and moved away a bit. "Do you have feelings for this man?" He asked. Alyssa's eyes widened in disbelief at his question.

"Roger, this is getting a little personal," she commented.

"It's just a simple question. Do you love the guy or not?"

"Roger, you better get back to your class."

Just as those words left her mouth, her kindergarten class came in. Roger left and Alyssa shivered as if she walked out of a freezer. "Miss Enrile, could you tell us the story about the Power Rangers again?" A little girl asked. Alyssa placed a hand on her shoulder with a smile.

"Of course I'll tell you the story about the Power Rangers," she replied.

She had the children sit down and she told her favorite story.

When she arrived at the park, she sat down on a bench and looked around. "Hey, a pretty girl like you shouldn't be out here by her lonesome," a voice teased. Alyssa looked over to see Cole standing there. She moved over so he could sit next to her. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Why did you come back?" She asked.

She looked at him. "It's been a year, Cole. Why did you come back all of a sudden?" She asked. He stared at her for a second before answering her.

"I missed you, Alyssa. I missed you so much that it hurt," he replied.

"What about the others, don't you miss them?"

"Of course I miss them. Do you take me for an idiot, Alyssa?"

"No, I'm just wondering why you came back after a year of separation."

"If you want me to leave then I will."

Alyssa grabbed his arm before he got far. "Cole, I'm sorry," she apologized. He sat back down next to her.

"Why the sudden change of seeing me?" He asked.

"I don't know," she replied.

She then looked at him. "I missed you Cole. I missed you just as much as you missed me," she told him. He hugged her tight and closed his eyes. She hugged him back and sighed. "I just don't want to think that you'll be here forever and then you'll just leave," she added.

"I'm not going anywhere for awhile, Alyssa. I promise," he assured her.

As Cole hugged her, he let her scent fill his senses. She always smelt like roses and cherries. The perfect combination. Alyssa enjoyed the wilderness scent he always had. All she wanted was to be close to him. "Maybe Roger's right, maybe I do have deeper feelings for Cole," she pondered.

In a car not far away, Roger was watching them with a sneer. He wanted Alyssa and he was going to get Alyssa.