Thank you to my readers for reading! A warning: in the next chapter (chapter 28) the plot really starts to pick up. If you have trouble remembering memories, it is highly advisable to reread the Master's, Liam's, Apple's, and anyone else's thoughts/memories from the short sections usually at the beginning of chapters. Happy April!
Chapter 27: Worthwhile
"Erin, wait! You forgot your Pokeball!" Zach yelled.
I didn't slow my pace.
"Erin!" I felt a hand on my shoulder and tried to shrug it off. Zach grabbed my hand.
"Let go."
"You can't leave without your Pokemon." Zach placed Griffy's Pokeball in my free hand. "Wanna tell me what's up? I thought I was invited over for a goodbye dinner, but as I'm ringing the doorbell, your mother starts babbling about how you forgot Griffy and that she didn't want to go after you because you were in one of those 'moods'…"
"Yes, my mother still considers herself a teenager… immature," I mumbled.
"Are you going to tell me why you're in a sour mood when it's your freaking birthday and you get to start your journey?"
I sighed and sat down in the frost-covered grass, not caring that my pants would get wet and my butt would freeze. I was surprised when Zach sat down next to me. "I'm tired of my family," I said.
"Well, you're leaving now, right? So you won't have to deal with them anymore."
"You don't understand. Every time I talk… not even—it's every time my mom looks at me, she compares me to Melanie. 'Why don't you clean your room? Melanie always cleans her room!' ''You should hang out with your girlfriends more often. Melanie invites girls over all the time.' 'You were spectacular in Oliver, dear! Remember when Melanie…' It's like I'm not a person; I'm just Melanie's shadow. And then my dad nods in agreement and my sister just sits there, smiling like a moron." I looked Zach straight in the eye. "Do you know what my dream job is?"
"What?"
"To be an actress. But I can't."
"That's not true. Of course you can!"
"No, I can't. Because Melanie is an actress, a rising star or whatnot. And even if I was as good as her—even if I was better—I'd only be known because I'm Melanie's kid sister. I'd never be recognized for my talent."
"You know that's not true."
"Obviously I don't," I snarled. "Otherwise I wouldn't be on this journey in the first place. I'd go to high school and take extra drama classes and then try to get acknowledged by some famous fat producer."
"You could still do that."
"I don't want to. I want to do something worthwhile. I want to do research."
Zach cracked his knuckles in frustration. "So you want to become an actress but you don't want to so instead you're going to become a researcher? And I still don't understand why you're so upset because you're leaving now!"
I felt the tears coming so I got up and started running.
"Erin! Erin, wait!" Zach caught up with me quickly, pulling my arm back to stop me. When I nearly tripped from the tug, Zach held me until I regained my balance. "Look, Erin, I don't understand. I don't know if I can. But I do know that you're an amazing girl and my best friend. Look, this might be a bad time, but I was going to ask you at dinner. My birthday's in three weeks… and well, I was wondering, if maybe you'd want to wait so we could travel together. If you don't want to stay here because of your family, maybe we could meet up in Azul City or Tinted Town. Erin, I…umm, I really like you. Really, really."
Now the tears were really flowing. I smiled weakly at Zach, sniffled, and then gave him a hug. He didn't move or complain as I drenched his shoulder in snot.
Finally, I took Zach's hand and we walked back to my house together…
"I never knew you were so vain," Liam said. "You have been staring off at the mirror for twenty minutes. There is only so much to look at."
"Hold the mirror still!" I hissed, mentally cursing myself for thinking of him again. Now that I was back in my hometown, the reminders were everywhere. I leaned into the mirror and lifted my eyelid in order to apply the black eyeliner.
Liam sighed. "Don't you think this is a little extreme?"
"You don't know my family," I said darkly.
Liam laughed mockingly. "There is no possible way your family is more screwed up than mine."
I smiled sweetly. "Care to share more?"
"No."
"Good, then shut up, agree with my complaints, and grab my black wig on top of the wardrobe." Liam reached behind him to my shrinkable wardrobe with one hand while balancing the large mirror in the other. I examined my reflection in the mirror, wondering if I looked different enough to fool my mother. My eyes were tinted blue with colored contacts, and I had applied a ridiculous looking red lipstick to my lips. The field of grass and the Pokemon Center in the backdrop of my image almost made me giggle; I was not used to changing my appearance and setting up my wardrobe outside.
Liam handed me the wig, and in one swift motion I gathered all of my hair beneath the wig. "How do I look?" I asked.
"Like a Jynx," Liam replied sourly. He was frowning at my hair. Ha, I bet he was remembering the last time I had worn this… Ah, fun times.
Just to see him squirm, I lowered my voice and whispered, "Do I kiss like one, too?"
"I didn't fall asleep so no, you do not." Hmm, not his best comeback. Liam looked away and started packing up my wardrobe. Though I'm sure he'd never admit it, I swear I saw his cheeks tint ever so slightly pink. Score!
After everything was shrunk back to pocket size, we approached the Pokemon Center. I took a moment to put on my best poker face before striding through the doors, looking straight at the counter. The business look always managed to hide my nerves.
I approached the… nurse, careful not to make eye contact. "Hello, I'd like to have this Pokemon healed." I put the Bellsprout's Pokeball on the counter.
No answer.
I peeked upwards. Big mistake. "ERIN, HONEY, YOU'RE HOME!"
So much for this disguise…
My mother enveloped me in a hug, which was painful because she was hugging across a counter. "Erin, I missed you so much! How are you? Why didn't you tell me you were coming home? Are you acting again? Is that why you are wearing that wig? Do you have a performance here? You should take off the wig, dear, I like your red-blonde much better. And your brown eyes—take out those contacts. How long are you staying? You're done traveling, right? Did you tell your father or Melanie or Professor Blubber or…" I was surprised my mom actually stopped spewing words. Any guesses on where I picked up the ability to rant for hours?
"It's good to see you, too, Mom," I said, pulling away. "How'd you know it was me?" I asked as I pulled off the wig and popped out my contacts—they were itchy and unfortunately, now unnecessary.
"I bought you that zip-up, dear."
Liam broke into a short coughing fit, I'm sure to cover up a snicker. I made a mental note to smack him later.
When I turned to my mother, I found her staring at Liam, who had quickly recovered and was returning the icy stare.
"Honey, who is this?"
"This is—" and then he walked through the door behind the counter.
"Nurse Joy, is everything alright? I heard you yelling and—" The boy-who-must-not-be-thought-of stopped midsentence. He blinked. "Erin?"
I gave them my best plastic smile. "Mother, Zach," I practically choked out the name. "this is Liam." I took a step back and hung my arms around Liam's neck. "My boyfriend."
CRASH
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
—went the world when lightning zapped the ocean and water exploded around me, soaking my skin and my bones and it was cold and the world shook and there had to be pain but I couldn't feel it because I didn't know me or if me or I existed or—
<Anita!>
—my name. Me. I. I'm me. But who does that make the lightning—
There was a strange pale boy standing in front of me with his hands on his small hips and his huge grey eyes full of some emotion. Fear? Concern?
Perhaps lightning. It was hard to tell.
<Oh, there you are. What are you doing all shriveled up in the corner? I'm leaving now 'cause we're here so you've got to take over, got it?>
—the explosion. Dirt impaling my skin, no more painful than the sparks. Cold like icy water droplets running through my veins as horrendous images of blood-matted fur and twisted bones and dead Eevees flooded my mind—
The boy turned around and walked away.
—don't go please never leave don't never please never never never—
The world shook.
I was forced to open my eyes.
A freckled nose was much too close. "Anita! You're awake!" the mouth beneath the nose yelped.
"See, I told you she was fine," another voice said. The voice of the pale boy.
"You consider crashing through the Pokemon Center doors riding some poor man's concession cart covered in dirt and blood, wearing that horrifically torn outfit fine?!" The freckled nose moved away. I blinked and after a moment, came to the conclusion that the nose belonged to Erin.
"Umm… well, she wasn't exactly… I mean… she wasn't the one in control when she rode in here on the cart. She was really weak and almost unconscious after the battle so I… err…"
"So you asked a man to borrow his cart and wheeled this unfortunate girl all the way to the Pokemon Center? That's so kind." I managed to lift my head slightly and saw a red haired woman speaking.
"Sure, let's go with that."
I blinked a few more times to clear my vision. The white nurse cap on the red-haired woman's head was tilted at an odd angle, almost falling off when the woman moved her head. The scene felt familiar.
"Listen up, pipsqueak," Erin said, grabbing the pale boy's collar. "What did we tell you about taking over—mmmph!"
A hand snaked around Erin's shoulder and covered her mouth. My eyes traced from the hand up a lanky arm to a shoulder, neck, settling on a head of disorderly black hair. "Now, sweetie, why don't you leave Mel alone. He was helping Anita. Overtaking a cart was perfectly reasonable in his situation." Liam. Mel. Erin. Lightning. Furious lightning. Fiery lightning. Fiery! Apple!
My mind was suddenly overwhelmed. "Apple!" I tried to send out my mind, but had trouble focusing.
"Don't worry, dear. Everything is going to be all right," the red-haired woman said. Nurse Joy. I shook my head. Why didn't I remember that before? "Apple and your other Pokemon are being tended to as we speak. My assistant, Zachary, is taking care of it. Now we just have to focus on getting you cleaned up and waiting for the shock you are experiencing to pass."
I stood still as Nurse Joy started rubbing my left arm with a damp washcloth and some other liquid that stung. "This is the worst I've seen in a long time. Honestly, the nerve of that gym leader… I can't understand why the city council won't even consider impeachment…"
I watched Erin and Liam, now standing a ways away, in a heated whispering argument. Mel had moved to the couch and was picking his nose, examining the boogers, and with a bizarre fascination, turning his boogers invisible before flicking them behind the couch.
"How long have they been together?" The speaker wasn't Nurse Joy.
I turned my head and found myself looking at a teenager with curly brown hair covered by a worn baseball hat. He smiled. "I'm Zach, by the way."
"Anita."
"I know. So how long?"
Maybe it was my garbled mind. I did not understand his question. "What?"
"How long have Erin and Liam been together?"
What a strange question to ask. When did we meet? By the lake. When I was pooped on. And half naked. That still beats out being electrocuted and then waking up confused as hell. "Two weeks? We met Liam by Peepin Pond…"
"So they've been a couple less than two weeks?"
My brain went into overdrive. I started laughing so hard my knees shook.
"Oh, dear." Nurse Joy led me to a couch across from Mel.
"What's so funny?"
"Erin, Liam…" I choked. I couldn't get the rest of the words out.
"Oh, great. Now she's crying. Do I have to go in and fish her out of moping land again?" Mel asked loudly.
Zach scrunched his eyebrows in Mel's direction. "I think she's laughing."
"Why's Anita laughing?" Through my blurred vision, I saw Erin and Liam walk next to the couch Mel was sitting on. The scene seemed fuzzy—dream-like. It had to be a dream. Erin and Liam a couple? I briefly wondered if I could do anything I wanted now that I realized I was dreaming. Maybe I could fly to Jupiter. Or spin around in circles without getting dizzy. Or punch Liam. If only I could stop laughing…
Zach shrugged. "I just asked a question."
"He asked how long you two were together." Mel said. Zach's face turned red and he looked at the tip of Nurse Joy's nurse hat.
"She's delusional, might not remember—"
"She's still in a state of shock, temporarily unable—"
Erin and Liam spoke at the same time, both stopping abruptly when each realized the other one was speaking.
I was having trouble breathing and my stomach hurt. Noises were getting stuck in my throat. "Kids," Nurse Joy said sternly. "Why don't you go wait outside while I handle Anita and get my stuff together. When Janice arrives for the night shift, all of you can come have dinner with Erin and our family. In fact, Erin, honey, why don't you take Zachary and these other two boys back to our house now. If you get the water boiling, I'll make pasta." The nurse turned to me. "Dear, how about you lie down here for a couple of minutes." She propped my legs on one end of the couch, and my body adjusted accordingly. My breath came in quick rasps. I closed my eyes.
----------------------------
The room was dimly lit and unfamiliar, smelling like musty oranges. I rubbed my eyes, and pushed the Pikachu covers off of my body. There was an identical bed to the one I was sitting on directly across the room, on the other side of the half shaded window. A dull orange rug lay below the window, in front of a nightstand. It looked like a massive blanket woven of Cheetos.
I walked across the Cheeto rug towards the door, but stopped to examine the large wooden dresser next to the door. Atop the desk, I found various peculiar objects; there was a broken Pokeball, a stuffed Teddiursa doll missing its tail, a dusty trophy, a few pairs of folded underwear, a book titled Drama and Irony, bits of folded paper, and piles and piles of unorganized pictures.
I picked up a pile of pictures. A young Erin and a smiling boy with brown curly hair lick ice cream that melts too quickly out of their cones. Flip. Erin sits on top of the Pokemon Center counter, holding a Pokeball. Flip. Two adults I assume to be Erin's parents sit on a beach with Erin and a darker haired girl. Flip. Erin and the dark haired girl laugh.
I put the pictures down, opened the door, and walked out the door into a narrow hallway.
"Anita, you're up! I was just coming to get you!" I nearly walked into Erin as I turned the hallway corner. "Dinner's nearly ready. Welcome to my house, by the way. You were lying in my room."
"Err…" I scratched my head. "What happened? I remember the battle… and losing… and then I had this bizarre dream where I rode on this insane cart and then you and Liam were a couple… Where are my Pokemon? Are they okay?"
Erin nodded. "Your Pokemon are fine—we left them all at the Pokemon Center for the night."
"Okay, I'll go now."
Erin frowned. "Didn't you just hear me? They are recovering in the Pokemon Center for the night. There is nothing you can do."
"I'm still going."
"At least eat dinner here, first. My mom and I cooked up some pasta and home-made red-sauce from home-grown tomatoes."
"Alright." I moved forward slightly to indicate I was ready to go down the stairs to the kitchen, but Erin blocked my path.
"Umm… so about your dream…"
The floor creaked as I shifted my weight.
Erin continued, "It wasn't exactly a dream. Mel, apparently, took over your body to get you to the Pokemon Center and ended up hijacking a concession cart… and… umm… I kinda told everyone that Liam is my boyfriend."
I reached out my mind to hers because I obviously did not understand what was running through her head at the moment. An image of the boy with curly brown hair from the photograph and from my not-so-unreal-dream flashed in my mind. Zach.
<Ah… so this is because of Zach?>
"Anita, you know I HATE it when you do that! Get out!"
I rolled my eyes. And didn't oblige. A small thread of energy continued to bob near Erin's head, alerting me of any of her strong emotions or ideas or memories.
"How did you get Liam to go along with it?" I asked.
"I didn't give him a choice."
How very Erin-like. "So… when should I buy your wedding gift?"
Erin pushed me jokingly. "I don't actually like him that way. He is NOT my type. But just go with it while we're here, kay?" Erin gave me a big eyed, wide smile.
I grinned. "It'll be hilarious." I ducked under her arm and started down the carpeted stairs. Just before I reached the bottom, I thought to her, <So who is your type?>
I spun around the stair railing into the kitchen, satisfied with the uncomfortable vibes I was getting from Erin, along with brief images of Jake telling a joke, Zach and Erin kissing, and discussing the molecular make-up of antidotes with Liam.
"Well, you're looking better," Nurse Joy said as I entered the room.
"Um, Nurse Joy, I don't think I'm sick enough to have you follow me all the way to Erin's house."
Nurse Joy laughed. "I'm Amelia Kendle, Erin's mother. I'm only Nurse Joy when I'm at work."
Heat prickled at my neck. "Oh, sorry. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Kendle." Now that I looked closer, I could see the resemblance in Nurse Joy's facial structure and light freckles.
"Come sit down, dear." Erin's mother led me through the small, homey kitchen to a dining room with a wooden floor and an antique wooden table. The patterned green tablecloth on top of the table clashed with the maroon seat cushions on the wooden chairs around the table. Liam, Zach, Mel, the girl with beautiful long brown hair I had seen in Erin's picture, and a slightly balding man I also recognized from Erin's picture were already sitting around the table. "This is my husband, Anthony and my daughter, Melanie. Where's Erin?"
"She's—"
"Here, mom!" Erin entered the room and plopped down in a seat between Melanie and Liam. I sat down across from her, next to Zach and Mel.
Erin's mother proceeded to chatter about how happy she was Erin had returned as the pasta, red-sauce, and broccoli dishes were passed around the table. Mel helped himself to several scoops of pasta, but grimaced at the broccoli. When Mrs. Kendle insisted he eat the green vegetable, Mel turned the vegetable intangible as soon as Erin's mother looked the other way so it fell through the table to the floor.
Erin and Liam continued to play the happy couple, with Erin giggling between quick glances at Liam. Liam smiled slightly, which was impressive, considering it was Liam. Melanie shot annoyed looks at the two, and Zach glared angrily at Liam. I was getting murderous vibes from that boy.
"Oh, Erin, this is so wonderful," Mrs. Kendle said. "I have my baby back home."
"Well, mom, it's only for a couple of days, until Anita beats the gym leader," Erin answered.
For some reason, this caused a stronger emotional wave from Zach. I was split between wanting to listen to this conversation and wanting to hop into Zach's mind. Reading Zach would probably take all of my concentration because I didn't know him well. Thus, I settled for listening to this conversation.
"But Professor Blubber told me once you returned you would be working for him in the lab…"
"No," Erin said smoothly. "I think he wants me to keep travelling. He's doing a lot of research on the Eevee evolutions and observing Anita's Eevees could prove to be exceptionally helpful."
"Now I'm not going to have any children at home! Did you hear, Erin? Melanie has found herself a job with Timothy Conundrum—she's going to be playing a supporting role in his next film, Untalented. And I talked with Timothy personally…"
Clearly, I had made the wrong decision in listening to this conversation. I was going to slip into Zach's mind, but instinctively was attracted to Erin's mind. I saw flashes of Erin's mother jabbering about Melanie, one of Melanie's performances when she was Cinderella, Erin's performance in Pinocchio…
Finally, her mind settled on a memory of her recantation of the funny scene that followed her performance in Pinocchio.
"So after the play, the girl came up to me and was like 'You were so amazing!' Then she blushed and asked if I'd like to go with her to the movies some time so I took off my wig. It took her about five seconds to realize I was a girl, blush even more, and stammer something about it being 'too good to be true…'" I said, setting my paper bag lunch out on the cafeteria table.
Zach laughed. "It must be fun pretending to be different people. How do you do it if you get a role you've never experienced before?"
"Research."
Zach snorted. "Like you'd ever do research."
"I so do research! I people watch. If I have the role of a basketball player, I'll go to the basketball's practice and watch a game or two."
"That doesn't count as research!"
I shrugged.
"Have you ever done it just to mess with people?"
"Duh! Once I earned twenty bucks in tips pretending to be a waitress at Olivine Garden until the manager figured out I didn't actually work there."
"Have you done it to me?"
I winked. "Of course."
"Hey, Zach. Did you pick up your transcript yet?" Evan sat down next to me, smoothing out a piece of paper he had just placed on the cafeteria table. "I'm ranked number three again."
"Number four," Zach mumbled.
"Ha. You've only got one more semester to beat me."
I rolled my eyes. "I don't get why you guys make such a big deal out of the rankings. I mean, as long as you pass, and your parents allow you to, you can leave on a journey as soon as you turn thirteen."
"Just 'cause you're not even in the top twenty doesn't mean you have to down on all of us who actually have brains and care about school," Zach replied.
I stuck out my tongue at him.
"I talked to Amy—that goody-two-shoes is number two," Evan said. "Who do you think number one is?"
"Maybe Alec?" Zach suggested. "Wasn't he ahead of us at some point?"
"Yeah, but then he practically failed battle strategy last year."
I stood up, gathering my unopened lunch bag in my hands. "I just remembered—I forgot to do the math homework. See you guys later."
Zach nodded to me and I swiftly walked out of the cafeteria. Instead of turning to the left, towards my locker, I turned to the right, towards the administration office.
"Hi, Erin. Are you here to pick up your transcript?" the secretary asked as I entered. I nodded, and she shuffled through a pile of envelopes. "Ah, here you go." She handed me an envelope.
"Thanks."
I exited the office and walked back towards my locker. When I was a good twenty feet away from the administration office, I tore the envelope, transcript and all, into several small pieces of white paper. I found the nearest garbage can and watched as the shredded paper fluttered down onto moldy pieces of pizza and empty plastic wrappers.
For good measure, when I saw the tiny piece that read, "Class Rank:" I spat a large wad of saliva at it, entirely covering the words that followed—
"Number One."
"—ranked trainer in Acceber. Anita, think you could beat her?" Zach asked.
"Huh?"
"Earth to Anita," Mel said. "Zach has asked you a question."
"Do you think you could beat Vivian Duntweedam, the number one ranked trainer in Acceber?" Zach repeated.
"Um, sure," I said.
"You don't sound too convinced."
"Well I am. Go team. Win. Whooo." The conversation continued without me. Despite Erin's attempt to seem cool and unaffected by Zach, her eyes would occasionally start to flicker towards him. She would consciously stop her eyes from moving, and force them to look at Liam instead. I curiously delved back into Erin's mind…
I loved the way he held me on these cool September nights, the way we curled up together in our pajamas in one sleeping bag by the dying fire. I especially loved these sweet, long kisses…
I pulled away. "What do you want?" I asked Zach.
Zach's eyebrow's furrowed. "How do you know I want something?"
"Dude, we never kiss for over ten seconds."
"Well, I was thinking… I know you've got to go to Globert City for your research thingy, but Zahavah City's not too far out of the way, and I'd really like to challenge the gym leader…"
"Zach, this is pretty important. I'm supposed to make the delivery by next Wednesday."
"How important could it be if he's having an assistant do it?"
"Professor Blubber is busy. He cannot be everywhere at once, and this delivery could help with a major breakthrough…"
Zach snorted.
"Oh, like being a trainer is much more worthwhile."
"It's worthwhile to me. You, on the other hand, are doing something you don't fully believe in."
"That's not true…"
"Yeah, you're right. Sorry I brought it up."
"It'd be okay if we stopped in Zahavah for a few nights. I'll call Professor Blubber and tell him I can't make it by Wednesday…"
Zach briefly touched his lips to mine. "Thanks."
I turned over, facing away from Zach and the remaining weak fire embers. "Good—"
"—night." Erin stood up. "I'm tired and I'm going to bed."
"It's only eight o'clock," Melanie said.
Erin shrugged.
"Anita's going to be sharing your room," Mrs. Kendle said.
"You boys will be staying in the guest room," Mr. Kendle added. "As always, Zach, you are welcome to stay."
"I'm tired, too." I said, picking up my plate and silverware. Erin and I brought our dishes to the sink and then headed upstairs. Once we were in Erin's room, Erin quietly shut the door behind her.
"Anita, there's something I need to tell… show you. Could you… do the mind thing?"
I nodded.
After a moment, Erin asked, "Well, what are you waiting for?"
<For you to start showing.>
<I didn't even notice you were here!>
<Err, just arrived.> No need for Erin to know that I could roam her mind undetected.
Erin began, <We were traveling from Zahavah City, where Zach had just earned a badge…>
"No, Zach, I don't want to cut my two week observation of the Pokemon within Apoosh Forest short so you can go lose to the unbeatable gym leader," I said.
"Have some faith—I've beaten three other gyms."
"He doesn't lose. His father never lost either. How would you be any different? But this conversation is not about whether or not you can beat a gym leader; it's about facing this gym leader in the first place. We did it your way last time. Now its your turn to compromise."
"This is different. If I don't get another two badges in the next two months, I can't compete in Acceber's Pokemon League."
"Oh, yeah, so you should definitely focus defeating the undefeated gym leader. Real time saver right there."
"Well, we'll be by Drape Town anyway…"
"Have you ever considered, Zach, that my observation has a time limit as well? I have to observe in that forest between a half-moon to a full moon."
"Yeah, but it's just observation. You can make something up—"
"You *******! Did you ever consider that this might be important? Actually, I can answer for you—no! You've never thought about how your travel plans might affect my research. Not once. 'Sure, it's okay if Erin doesn't deliver the package on time.' 'Oh, the library is closed for the week? Too bad. If there was a gym in this town, then we could have stayed longer.'"
"I didn't think it was so important to you…"
I laughed. "You didn't think it was important to me? Wake up and smell the roses, Zach. The roses with thick, spiky, sharp stems. I love what I do. I've loved researching from the start. But you couldn't possibly contemplate me loving something other than you."
"But… but you aren't good at it. You never really like science class. I mean—"
"How the hell would you know what I'm good at? You've never bothered to find out—"
"I know you're good at acting—"
"Yes, I'm so good at acting, I managed to make a show out of my entire life, with Erin and lover boy in the spotlight. So happy together. So perfect for each other. ****, I don't know what was wrong with me. Zach, do you know my favorite color is cerulean? Do you know I ride Griffy for hours and hours after every time we argue? Do you even know that I was the valedictorian of our class?"
Zach took a deep breath. "Erin, I'm sorry. Maybe… maybe I can go to Drape Town alone, while you do your thing in Apoosh Forest."
I smiled grimly. "Yes, I think its best we split up." I abruptly turned on my heel and began walking away from Zach.
"Wait! I didn't mean forever!"
I stopped and slowly turned to face Zach. "Well, I did."
"Please, Erin. We like each other, remember? We kiss and share ice cream and enjoy each other's company. Don't you think it will be worth your while—"
"I help make important discoveries that eventually will benefit both humans and Pokemon. I help people, and that is worthwhile. What do you do? You train Pokemon to fight. Who do you help? Maybe your self-esteem? You have no right to tell me what is worth my while." I released Griffy from his Pokeball and climbed onto his back. "I won't be seeing you," I said coldly before riding away.
It was a long time before I stopped and cried myself to sleep.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "Erin, I'm so sorry. Today, the splitting up thing… it was stupid, I was mad at Liam… I'm sorry."
Erin shook her head. "I'm not mad."
I hesitated. "If that's the way you feel, then why are you traveling with us? Why are you traveling with me?"
"At first, I just wanted some company and protection on my journey back here. I've always traveled with other people. It's not really safe otherwise… but, Anita, it's weird because now I want to keep traveling with you and Liam. I've never wanted that before. I used to look forward to working here with Professor Blubber. Now, I just want to move on to the next city with you two. You guys… you respect me for who I am, and listen to me, and even though I've only known you two for a couple of weeks, you're the best friends I've ever had."
I turned around and walked across the Cheeto rug to the window. I slid my hands under a notch, lifted to open the window, and clumsily climbed outside onto the roof.
"What are you doing?" Erin asked.
"I'm sneaking out to the Pokemon Center to be with my Pokemon."
Erin stood awkwardly. "Oh…"
"Well, are you coming?"
A grin spread across Erin's face. "Yeah."
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes in a weak attempt to fall asleep quickly.
"Liam?"
I cracked an eye open. Zach was sitting up in a sleeping bag on the floor, looking at me with a determined gaze.
"Hmn…" I answered indecisively.
Zach nervously wrung his hands. "How's Erin?"
"How should I know? She's not in the room now. She seemed just peachy earlier, though."
"I meant… look, I only stayed over to tell you this: If you hurt her, I'll beat your ass into the ground and pummel your head until you die."
"Right." Good luck with that. I closed my eyes again.
After a couple of minutes of silence, Zach said, "Well, this is awkward."
"No," Mel said, laughing on the guest bed. "It would be awkward if we were all sharing a bed."
Really great image to fall asleep to.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I handed Professor Blubber the Bellsprout's Pokeball.
"Thank you, Erin," Professor Blubber said, placing the Pokeball an empty lab table. "How are your folks? How was catching up with them last night?"
"Great, Professor." I took a long breath through my nose. "Professor… I wanted to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"I was wondering if it'd be okay if I continued traveling with Liam and Anita instead of staying here." I gestured to a window, where Anita could be seen ordering one of her Eevees to use quick attack. "You met Anita for a couple of minutes, and saw how good she was with her Eevees. I think I could really learn a lot by observing her Pokemon and hopefully watching them evolve."
Professor Blubber stared out the window for a moment. "Erin, I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that. I don't have anyone here to help me anymore, and I really need the help. I also don't have the money to continue sponsoring your journey at the moment. Plus, I promised your mother…"
I nodded. "Alright then."
"So you'll stay?"
I shook my head. "No, I quit."
"Erin—"
"Please, Professor, I'm going to do this. It's what I want. But could you not tell my mom until after I leave?"
Professor Blubber hesitated and then nodded. I hugged his belly (my arms could not reach all the way around) and then exited the laboratory through the front door. I walked around the outside of the lab to the back, where I leaned against the brick wall and watched Anita train her Pokemon.
"No, Splash," I heard Anita say. "I will not race you. I'm not as fast as the electric Pokemon you'll be facing—"
"Hey."
I looked over my shoulder and found Zach approaching. My heartbeat quickened, but I kept my face blank and nodded coolly.
"So, you're traveling with a trainer again," he said.
I nodded again and watched as Apple illustrated to the other Eevees the proper running motions of a quick attack.
"I'm training under your mother to become a Pokemon nurse."
"Good for you." The Eevees raced across the grass field, quickly fading from my sight. About ten seconds later, they returned, with Splash in the lead.
"I like it. I've finally found something I think is worthwhile."
Splash tackled Anita to the ground. Anita laughed as the other Eevees piled on top of her and she playfully pushed them away. I smiled.
"So did I."