Tyler Perkins

Tara has stayed in the library on Yale’s campus for longer than she realized. She sat down at a computer desk around five in the afternoon, and looked up to see that it was now eleven-thirty at night — only a half an hour before it closed. She was the only living soul in the whole place from the looks of things — aside from the security guard at the front desk — and she had been engrossed in her books through all of it. She was studying to be a top of the line Vet, something that she had only two years before decided she wanted to do with her life. She loved everything about it, and wouldn’t trade it for any other profession in the world.

Finally pulling head out of the clouds, she realized that the person she wouldn’t trade for anything was probably worrying about her. They were supposed to meet at nine, and she was obviously extremely late — two and a half hours late to be exact. Quickly, she gathered up her books and hoped that Tyler hadn’t sent the entire police station out looking for her. Shoving them all into her bag, she rushed out the door towards the men’s dorms where they were supposed to meet out front. The chances of him still being there were small, but she had to start somewhere.

The last two years had been trying for them as a couple and as individuals. After seeking help for his seemingly out of control anger issues he and Tara were able to work through their problems and become a stronger couple than they had been before. With a chance to follow his dreams and become an NFL star at UT, Tyler had given that up to follow Tara to Yale so that they could be together. He knew being apart would only hurt them more and Tyler couldn't imagine being away from his wife for four years. Also to be closer to his mother and his brother. He still ad a strained relationship with his father but they were working through it just like him and his mother had been able to with some therapy. He didn't particularly like Yale. Their football team was alright and the academics were amazing but there had been days when he beat himself up over giving up everything he had dreamed about since he was 3. But Tara was worth it.

Her eyes grew wide as he told her that he hadn’t been completely honest with her, and she couldn’t help where he mind jumped straight to. The time that he had kissed someone else but a day after they got back together. Her heart started to pound, and felt like it was twisting into a knot as she lingered on the possibility of this being something like that. She would settle for anything but that, and she was praying to god that it wasn’t it. That she had jumped to that conclusion only because it had hurt her so badly, and not because it was a gut feeling. As he launched into the fact that his parents were trying to force him to end their marriage, she couldn’t believe her ears. He went on about how everyone hated him, and her emotions of sorrow and anger were completely redirected against them. All she could do was stare at her husband who had been carrying this around with him and hadn’t told her.

She’d never seen him this way before, and she could tell that after everything he had been going through, he might honestly have some things in need of being worked out by a professional. But, she could talk to him about that later because right now he needed her, not some stranger that could give him some diagnosis. “Tyler Perkins.” She whispered firmly, gently putting Miracle on the couch and moving her hands to each side of his face to force him to look at her. She shot him a look of as much love and intensity as she could before she spoke. “I don’t ever want to hear you talk like that again, understand? No one hates you. Everyone is just a bit on edge over this whole thing but they love you. They’re your family and they love you no matter what.” She fought a weak smile onto her face, before pursing her lips and trying to find a way to get through to him. “I know that you want to do everything that you can for me, and I know for damn sure that you aren’t your father. Everything we’re doing is a big deal, but neither of us can do it alone. That’s why you need to stop pushing me away. And you can’t keep things like that from me.” She inched towards him slowly, moving her arms around him cautiously at first, but then melting into him.

"I didn't want to hurt you by telling you so I just kept it to myself. I've never considered leaving you and I think that's the worst part about this whole thing. My parents hate me because I'm married and it hurts but I wouldn't unmarry you for anything in this world." He started quietly staring blankly at Tara. "But I miss them and I miss you." Slowly he let the emotions of the last week overtake him not able to handle holding the weight of it all on his shoulders anymore. "I just want to make you all happy but truth is I'm unhappy Tara. Not with you or our marriage or anyone for that matter but I'm unhappy with myself and the person I'm becoming. I was always a bit...rude but I've never been like this. Things that I used to care about I don't and thing I should care about I don't. What if I am becoming my father and no one can stop me? What if I'm destined to be a bastard Perkins like he is? I can't lose you. I won't lose you but I don't know what to do to make you happy anymore." The words came pouring out of his mouth like some kind of word vomit and he couldn't help but spill the feelings that had been trapped inside of him for the last week. He didn't know if any of it made sense. He didn't even care. He just needed to let it out and he needed some to listen. He didn't need nor want anyone telling him what was wrong with him or how they could help. He just needed to be listened to.

To her, he seemed like he really was battling some demons and she didn’t really know what to do — Looking at him in that state. Her face turned from angry to confused as she took in his posture, the way he wiped his hand over his face. The sound of the words as he begged her to stay had the hot tears threatening to spill over again, and she was completely torn between heading out the door and staying. She knew that he seemed sorry, but she also knew that he was acting really strange with some serious mood swings. After all, he had seemed perfectly fine when he told her to come home, and by the time she did he was already back to acting like an asshole. Now, who knew how long this new found lighter mood would last this time. She knew that he had a lot on his mind, and as he started in about offering to help with her puppy and sleep in the other room, as well as the evening he had planned for them, she just got more and more frazzled and confused. She hated everything that had been going on between them already, and he seemed to be sick of her not even a month into their marriage.

"Tara... I'm sorry." He told her quietly afraid to take another step towards her in case he pushed her over the edge. The last thing he needed right now was to see her crying. Especially over him. "I'm- I'm stressed out. I haven't been completely honest with you." He sighed biting his lip as he looked back down at the carpet and twisted his hands in front of his body like a small child that had just gotten caught stealing a cookie before dinner. "My mother talked to my father and they're trying to convince me to annul our marriage and leave you." He whispered almost barely audible not looking up at her to see her reaction. "And then I have to work with the bastard so I can't say anything and he just keeps trying to be a father again. My mom hates me. She won't even look at me when I go to visit Gage or I'm hanging out with Austin. Sam hates me. She won't say it but I know she does. I talk to Austin but he just keeps telling me to tell you or get help and I'm tired of hearing that." He stopped for a moment trying to keep the emotions of the last week in so he wouldn't terrify Tara. So many feelings of anger, sadness, rage, confusion, hurt. He didn't know what would happen if he snapped but he didn't want Tara around him if he did.

When Yetti growled at Miracle and moved his way out of the room as Tyler scolded him, he took it a step further as to call the dog in her arms a thing. She could feel the tears stinging her eyes, but it was in no way the sad kind. She had been on the verge of tears for the reason all week, trying to be sweet to him and get him out of his mood but enough was enough. These were full blown angry tears forming now, and she could feel her throat getting hot with all the words she wanted to scream at him as he walked off and followed his dog. “Make sure your stupid mut stays away from her.” She mumbled after him, not sure if he heard her or not and not really caring if he did. Not even a second later she heard him come back into the room and she turned her attention on him with a glare. She shook her head slowly in disbelief at him, trying to make the way he just acted right. Like she was just going to forget everything he just said, his attitude now, and his attitude for days. She was tired of it, and she couldn’t help but wonder why he was taking every little thing out on her that he could possibly find to get angry at her for. 

"Tara..." Tyler turned on his heel and followed her stopping her just in front of the door. "I'm an asshole like always. I'm not going to apologize because I know you won't believe it. I do this all the time and I'm just-" He ran a hand over his face trying to think of the right things to say. "Stay, please?" His tone was soft as his eyes silently begged with her not to go anywhere. "I don't mean it...I'm just...tired." He sighed. He hoped Tara knew he didn't mean physically tired but emotionally and mentally. "Did you clean her up? I'll help you if you want and I'll also sleep in the guest room tonight if you want. Just don't go. I need you." He was crazy. He knew it but the only person who had actually stayed around long enough to deal with his mood swings with Tara. "I ordered Chinese earlier and I also picked up your favorite ice cream. I know you said you ate already but before this happened I ran out to the video store and rented Rapunzel. I was hoping we could relax in bed for the night and watch it together."

Tara had been working over time at the Pet Hospital, not minding at all because of how much she absolutely adored her job. The people were nice, and of course the animals were great. She enjoyed being a part of nursing them back to health, and it kind of made her completely second guess herself on what she wanted to do with her life. She always thought she would get into the fashion field without a doubt, but now she wasn’t so sure. Every time she saw an animal’s day brightened by something that she did in aiding them to get better, it just made her feel like it was where she belonged — What she was supposed to do. As she gazed down at the perfect girl in front of her that had just been given her last few shots, she heard a voice behind her. “Mind closing up when you’re done, sweetie?” It was the voice of her Boss, so she whirled around silently and answered in a hushed tone. “Of course. But I wanted to ask you, if I could take this little precious home with me?” She asked hopefully, looking back down at the Labrador on the table. She had been brought in earlier that day, found tied up to an abandoned factory with nothing but a bowl of dirty water by her side. “It’s normal standards to keep her here until we’re sure she recovers, but she’s already gotten up to date on all of her vaccines so I don’t see why not. She’ll be in good hands.” Tara smiled, ecstatic to take her home. “You’re coming with me.” She cooed, reaching out to grab her paw and wiggle it gently.

As she carried her safely out to the car in a giant cornucopia of blankets, she thought of names. She didn’t want to give her a cliche name that everyone named their pets, she wanted hers to have some sense of originality to her. Eventually an idea popped into her head, and she liked it. Tyler had jumped on her and Lacey’s name for their Husky back at home, Chachi — And she hoped that he wouldn’t do the same with this little girl. She felt proud of it, and she didn’t really want to be shot down. Her little joke earlier had almost sparked an argument between them, and she knew that if he didn’t realize how important this was to her that she was going to be the one getting angry. There was something about an abandoned dog that she couldn’t say no to, and she wanted this one to have a second chance at life. Don’t get her wrong, she loved Tyler to pieces — But sometimes he didn’t exactly know when to stop. It was difficult to pry the keys out of her bag whilst holding her new member of the family and several essentials she would need, but she finally managed.

As soon as he heard his wife walk into the house he turned over in bed so his back was to her when she walked in. Despite what he had said through text he still wasn't in the mood to talk to her. He heard her talking but ignored her until Yetti began barking loudly. With a sigh he sat up and looked over at his wife who was holding a very scared looking Labrador in her arms. He raised an eyebrow at the name but decided against making a smart remark. He knew whatever he said would result in an argument since he was feeling anything but nice at the moment. He hated fighting with Tara and he didn't want to be mad at her but her words from earlier were still turning in his head. Even if they had been a joke he still took it seriously.