I haven't seen any positive Red appearances in your fanfics.
Don't worry, you will in one of my fanfics! XD
Guess what, everyone? More FLUFF! XD
Chapter 66: Taking the last challenge
?Oh yeah, I forgot to give you this,? I said all of the sudden, breaking the silence. We were still in the park in the bench. Now, its already sunset. I took out a Pok?ball?the same one given by Marina to me. ?Here,? I said to Emily.
She had a puzzled look on her face as she examined the Pok?ball.
?Take it,? I moved my hand closer to her.
She stretched out her hand and took the Pok?ball from my hand. She peered closer to the clear, red top. ?Thanks,? She whispered.
?Ah, you should thank Marina. She gave that to me!? I smiled as I scratched my head.
Emily kept her Pok?ball in her pocket and remained silent. It was already sunset and Nick wasn?t still here.
?Where is he?? Michelle yelled as she stood up impatiently. ?Where is that boy??
?Michelle, I?m sure he?s on his way?and I don?t think he knows we?re here, anyway,? I suggested to her.
It was dusk. The sun was illuminating the city with its dim, orange rays. The park was now deserted and a few people walked the streets. We decided to leave the park and find Nick instead. He could be everywhere by now since all he knew was that we?re supposed to be outside of Viridian city.
We tried to find him there but he wasn?t there. Finally, we decided to go to the gym. It was already night when we reached the gym door. The gym looked the same ever since the last time I saw it. However, this time, it looked dark and dank and only a single light illuminated one room.
?That idiot must be in here,? Michelle muttered in an irritated tone. ?Making me worry so much,? She then continued to mumble out her mom and dad getting angry since Nick used to cry always since she always beat him up.
?Come on. I bet the gym leader know where he went,? I suggested to her.
She muttered another word and approached the gym doors. She then pounded the doors of the gym, loudly. My eardrums pounded loudly as I heard her loud knocks. I looked down at Emily and she stared back with her gleaming silver eyes.
?Hey! Where?s my bro?? She yelled loudly while she pounded at the doors.
Good thing was that the gym was isolated away from the houses. Michelle could?ve woken up a bunch of people right now.
?Open this door!? She yelled once more, this time a lot louder.
?Michelle, quiet down!? I whispered. ?Sleeping people are going to hear you!?
Then, we heard footsteps resonating inside. The footsteps grew louder and louder as seconds passed. Michelle stopped pounding the door as we heard the door unlatch with a metallic click.
As the doors opened, a familiar face greeted us. Lyn?s sleepy face appeared. She was rubbing her eyes and she wore her nightgown. ?I hate it when I sleep at the gym,? I heard her mutter out loud. She squinted at Michelle. ?Oh, it?s you,? She muttered.
?Yeah it?s me! Remember me?? Michelle yelled loudly.
?Not so loud!? Lyn replied, rubbing her ear. ?What do you want? If you want a challenge, it has to be tomorrow?? She scratched her long, tangled black hair.
?No, I?m not here for a stupid challenge. I want to know where my brother is.?
?Your brother??
?Yeah! He said that he?s supposed to challenge you this afternoon,?
A bewildered expression replaced Lyn?s irritated expression. ?Challenge?? She repeated.
?Yeah! My brother, Nick is supposed to challenge you this afternoon. We?re trying to find him,? Michelle replied, more calmer this time.
Lyn shrugged. ?Sorry, I didn?t have any challenges this afternoon,?
?What?? Michelle exclaimed all of the sudden. ?But?he?he?s supposed to be here right now!?
Lyn shook her head. ?Sorry, but I don?t remember any challenger challenging me this afternoon,?
?But?? Michelle?s voice trailed off.
A moment of silence filled the evening air. A soft rush of the wind through the trees was the only thing that was heard.
?I?m sorry,? Lyn said breaking the silence. ?If there?s anything I can make up for your fruitless search??
Michelle shook her head. She looked down at the ground.
?Maybe you can stay here for a while.? She then looked behind her towards us. ?Gary! It?s you!? She exclaimed after I saw her squint her narrow eyes.
I smiled back at her and waved.
?Hey, you three stay here for the night. It?s cold outside during the night.?
It took a while to convince Michelle into staying in the gym that night. Luckily, the gym was actually Lyn?s home. Besides the stadium and the long hallway of previous gym leaders, there was a kitchen, two bedrooms?one where Lyn sleeps and one for guests, bathrooms, and a lot more.
After taking a bath, I slipped in pajamas that Lyn lent me and headed towards my room that I shared with Emily and Michelle. They already took a bath and both in pajamas. Michelle stared out at the window outside. She had her long, blonde hair loose. Emily on the other hand was looking at her new Pok?mon. She was leaning on one of the bed?s pillow.
I looked around the room. There was only one window and a chair overlooking at the window. Michelle sat on that chair. One huge bed was against the beige colored walls. It looked comfortable with its thick blankets and soft, feather pillows. A tall mirror was on the left side of the room and a dresser was right next to it.
I sighed as I sat down on the bed and stretched my arms. ?I wanna sleep,? I muttered as I let myself fall on the bed, looking at the beige colored ceiling. I was thinking of challenging Lyn tomorrow but we need to find Nick first. Then, we challenge her.
I closed my eyes, resting them from the day?s journey. When I opened them, I was freaked out to see two silver eyes peering down at me.
?Ack!? I yelled as I recoiled back. Emily looked at me curiously with her innocent eyes.
?Oops,? She muttered as she crawled back. ?Did I scare you??
?Yeah,? I replied, feeling my heart, which was beating rapidly, non-stop.
?I?m sorry,? She replied as she looked down at the bed. It?s funny since her pajamas looked pretty loose since they were too big for her small frame. She had a hard time keeping it on, often fidgeting each time she said a word since her red checkered pajama kept on drooping down her shoulder.
?It?s okay,? I sighed as I crawled back where I lay down before. ?Why were you looking at me??
?Oh nothing?? She replied as she looked at Michelle, who was now sleeping at the chair. I didn?t really know if she was asleep or not since she was mumbling something about what a loser his brother is. ?I just?wanted to check if you?re awake??
?That?s okay,? I replied to her, smiling. ?These days, weird stuff happens, huh??
She nodded her head with a weak smile. She fidgeted again as she raised her sleeve, which was again, drooping down, revealing her shoulder.
?I want to sleep now,? She blurted out all of the sudden.
I nodded as I walked towards the lights. She lay down on one side of the bed, facing the window. She let out a frustrated sigh as she pulled up her sleeve again, which was again sagging down her shoulder. I took a blanket first and walked towards Michelle. I placed it over her since it?s going to be cold tonight. Then, I walked towards the switch to the lights. I clicked on the switch and everything is now shrouded in darkness. I found myself wandering towards the bed and as soon as I found it, I climbed up the bed and quietly lay myself down; facing the same direction as Emily was?was?I didn?t know that she was actually facing me.
Since I had a habit of having my arm stretched outwards with my hand pointing to where I?m facing, Emily must?ve figured that out since I felt her hand hold my hand and felt her face rest against my arm, with her arms wrapped around. In a way, she was hugging my arm. And in a way, she still loves me and she?s waiting for me to fall in love with her. I was half asleep when I realized this. I felt stupid and foolish?I?ve mentioned to them that they were just friends over and over again?I couldn?t simply accept that Emily still loved me no matter what I said to her?even though I made her cry? These incidents and conversations with her?every time she talked to me or simply hold my hand or at least kiss me?it didn?t change my heart one bit. The next morning, I?ll wake up never remembering this incident.
~*~*~*~
The next morning, I realized that Emily was still sleeping. Michelle on the other hand, was already awake and dressed. She seems to be quite determined today since I watched her boldly walk out the door. I sat up from the bed and noticed that Emily was still clinging to my arm. Slowly, I managed to separate myself from her.
She slept soundly as I stood up, dressed and walked out of the door. After eating breakfast with Michelle, who never said a word, I walked out of the kitchen and unexpectedly met Lyn.
?Good morning!? She greeted me as she smiled cheerfully.
?Morning,? I replied and then yawned.
?I hope you?ll find your friend eventually today,? Lyn smiled at me.
I nodded as I smiled back. I walked out of the kitchen and walked across the battlefield, overlooking to the door outside, I imagined Nick slamming the doors open yelling about the cold. Then, I imagined Michelle leaping out towards him with arms wide open then converting her arms of sibling love to fists of fury, she?d punch him across the face.
I chuckled as I made my way to the room where we slept. I entered the room and noticed that Emily was awake now. She was sitting up, rubbing her eyes and holding her sagging sleeve.
?Morning!? I greeted her.
She turned her head at me and smiled. ?Good morning,? Her hair which was a bit disheveled was quickly fixed as she ran her hands through her hair and then making a ponytail running down to the back of her head.
The rays of the sun streamed down the open window and I could smell the fresh breeze of morning. I could hear chirping outside and the distant sound of cars running down the road. I looked at Emily and she was having a hard time standing up since her pants didn?t quite fit her well and she was holding her pants and her sleeve at the same time.
?Want me to help?? I asked her as I approached her.
She shook her head quickly as her left sleeve drooped, revealing her bare shoulder. She was holding the right sleeve with her left hand and holding her loose pants with her right hand at the same time.
?Here, I?ll hand you your clothes,? I said as I rummaged through the dresser and pulling out her newly washed clothes, thanks to the Viridian city gym?s laundry room. I placed her clothes on top of the bed, next to her and went outside.
?Wait! Where are you going?? She asked me as she grabbed her dark shirt while holding her pants at the same time.
?You?re going to dress, aren?t you?? I laughed. ?I?m going to wait outside, don?t worry!?
I closed the door and sat down against it. I waited for her to get finished as I looked at the wall across from me. Finally, I heard the doorknob twist open. I quickly stood up to see Emily, who was smiling happily at me.
?Thanks,?
?No problem,? I replied with a wide grin. ?Now let?s go find Nick!?
Before I could walk another step, I heard a voice behind me. ?Gary, how many do you have??
I turned around and Lyn was standing right behind us. She had a grim expression in her face.
?Uh?I have seven?? I replied, rummaging through my pockets. I took out my seven badges quickly and watched Lyn walk towards me. She took all seven and examined them closely and then, she returned them to my hand.
?Astounding!? She exclaimed. ?Gary, if you want, you can battle me now!?
I had a shocked expression. ?Battle? But?I still need to find my friend and??
?Gary, I?m going to be your final challenge, don?t let me down!?
I looked at Emily and she doesn?t seem to know what?s happening since she had a puzzled look in her face. I tried to make a decision?a little battle wouldn?t hurt, would it?
To be continued...
