Tari

I'm totally not in love with anyone and I never will be- boys are overrated in so many ways: who needs some stupid weak boy following you when you have pokemon? Especially strong and loyal pokemon like Garchomp and Rayquaza, pokemon that I've had since the beginning of my trip around Kalos. I don't need a boy to love. Especially my rival.

But why am I standing at the top of the stairs and looking blissfully at him? Isn't that something you do when you're in love with someone? Haha. I'm not looking at him- I'm just looking at the cerulean blue sky above him, the wispy white clouds in that sky, the expanse of safari behind the tropical palm trees that sway in this breeze, the low wooden fence that anyone could jump over, the wooden bench that has been placed in front of the fence, the boy next to it... No, not the boy. Not stupid weak Calem. Anything but him. I don't care about him at all; he's never come close to beating me in a battle. In fact, I'm probably one of the strongest trainers in Kalos. I've taken on the Elite Four countless times, and each time, I won. Even when I decide to bring my weakest pokemon and just that one, I still beat them all in under five minutes. Why should I care so much about stupid Calem? I've got better things to do. Like... Actually I don't know- I've done everything more than once. That still doesn't mean that the best thing to do is look at Calem. Because I'm totally not in love with him or anything.

So why am I here at this precise moment, thinking about this? Why can't I stop being around him? it's not like I can just walk away, hell no! My legs are stiff and my feet are stuck to the ground even though there's no glue or anything. Feelings? Haha, no! I don't love him or anything- I really don't! Just because I can't move away doesn't mean I'm in love! In fact, I can and I will move away- it just requires willpower! I exhale and say to myself:
"Tari, just do it. It's not hard. After all, you're strong: come on now." The stiffness persists, so I repeat my phrase louder.

My waist is stiff. Fuck. And my hands feel itchy- oh Arceus, I am even more stuck than before. Panicking, I let out an even louder version of my new phrase. At this stage, I'm literally praying for anything to make this awkwardness go away- anything! I want to get away! I want these crazy thoughts about love to get the fuck out of my mind! This isn't how a strong trainer thinks! Now I'm trembling all over and I want someone to shoot me...
"Please!" I scream, "Make this stop!"

"Tari?" a sweet gentle voice startles me.
I realise that I was looking at my wet hands the whole time, so I raise my head...
No. No no no. Anyone but you.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asks, clearly concerned for my mental well-being
Do I look okay to you?
"It's okay, Tari, take your time."
No, Calem, I will not take my time with you. But I do have to say something; after all, I don't want him to see me as a rude person.
"I-I'm..." why is it so hard to talk to him?
He takes my right hand in his own two hands... Damn, his hands are so soft... I don't deserve his kindness!
"I-I don't deserve... your, uh, k-kindness!" I force out a rushed answer and flee, leaving all my tension behind.

My feet sting as I pound down the stairs of the platform and I lose all feeling of my legs as I run to the safety of the station, away from that cursed spot from which I panicked. All my surroundings are a blur; not even the Battle Maison is recognisable as I run to the station, where a train will take me back to Lumiose: back to the safety of my hotel room.

Later that day

I fall on top of my bed and breathe heavily as I regain my breath. I never want to go through that ever again! What even were those emotions, anyway? No, not love, not in a million years- even if I was that kind of person. There's absolutely no way I could ever love stupid Calem because he's weak as hell. No, I should stop thinking about him for the rest of the day. I stare at the decorative white ceiling above and remind myself how rich I am. There, that's a start. I'll also take a shower- I stink of sweat. Then, I will change into looser clothes, clothes that I wear to sleep. Then I'll say goodnight to all my pokemon and end the damn day. Easy enough. Then I can put that... moment... behind me. Yeah, Imma do that now.

I sit in the shower for an hour or so, watching the cold water cascade from the head of the shower and slide down my naked skin into the drain by my feet. Occasionally there's also soap, but mostly it's just water. I eventually get bored and declare myself clean so that I can get some clothes on and SLEEP.

I find my black t-shirt and red cotton shorts crumpled in the corner nearest to the TV and slip those on. Then I let out my pokemon, one by one (apart from Rayquaza because he's so damn huge) and kiss them goodnight.

"Goodnight Miltank." I say to my shiny Miltank.
"Goodnight Raphael." I say to my Blastoise, Raphael.
"Goodnight Umbreon." I say to my Umbreon. He rubs against my leg, begging me to let him sleep with me. Willingly, I let him. After all, I am really close to that little guy. He finds a spot on my bed and curls up. Smiling, I let out Garchomp, who is literally my best friend and squeeze him with all my love.
"Night, Garchomp- alright, you can sleep with me tonight, but don't go on my bed!" He's headbutting me, so I have to let him sleep with me.
Finally, there's my Dragonite. "Goodnight little lady, sleep well in that ball."
I also wish Rayquaza a good night before getting into bed.

Do I love Calem? Hell no! It's not like I love him or anything, so therefore there's no need to even ask myself that. But why did I just do that? Why am I still thinking about that? I should sleep now. Sleep. Sle-

I'm gone for the night.