A/N: I don't own Pokemon, the Pokemon characters Ash, Gary, Misty, Brock, Team Rocket, etc, or the world in which they live. I AM the creator of Pearl, Gary Jr, and some other random characters that will appear, however. :D

READING AND REVIEWING GETS YOU COOKIES! If you're lucky and/or I like you. ;D

Pearl Recue ran out of the Sunyshore gym with a wide smile on her face. Her light brown eyes, green in certain lights, looked around impatiently. Where was he? He was supposed to be waiting for her. She crossed her arms, encased up to the elbows with red gloves, and sighed. Did Gary really think that it would take her so long to beat Volkner that he went to get something to eat?

A pair of cool hands covered her eyes. Pearl's heart jumped in her chest and she let out a squeal. She twirled away to see Gary Oak (Junior, named after his father Gary Senior) grinning impishly at her. His hair glinted red in the afternoon sun and his green eyes were fixed on her face.

"Did I scare you?" he asked, grinning when he saw her face turn pink. "I did, didn't I?"

Pearl scowled at him as her heartbeat began to slow down. "No. I like screaming for fun. It's…good for releasing my emotions."

"Oh." Gary nodded, pretending to agree.

"Anyways, where were you?" Pearl poked him in his chest. He was wearing the dark green turtleneck that she had given him for Christmas. She would never tell him how happy she was whenever she saw him wearing it.

"I was helping an Aipom that was stuck in a tree."

"Oh," Pearl said. "That was nice of—"

Gary snorted and turned his face away from her. Pearl stared at him blankly before she realized: Aipom was a monkey pokemon; it would never be stuck in a tree.

"I hate you, Gary!" she stated hotly. "Why can't you ever be honest? You always do this kind of thing." She blinked back tears that had suddenly formed in her eyes.

Gary was immediately at her side. "Hey, what's the matter? I'm sorry." His placed his hands on her shoulders. "Did you lose against Volkner?"

"Why do you care?" Pearl refused to look at him. She had been so excited when Gary had beaten Volkner, but he had run off before her match was even over.

Gary released her shoulders and said softly,"Hey, I got something for you. I bet you'll like it."

Pearl stared at him suspiciously. He looked honest enough, but who knew what he was planning? He could have a Caterpie or some other weird pokemon hidden in his clothes. She looked him up and down slowly; it didn't look as if he were hiding something to scare her with.

"Really, you'll like it." He gave her an encouraging smile, showing his cute pointed upper canine teeth. She couldn't resist a smile like that, could she? It would be cruel if she continued treating him coldly.

Pearl sighed. "All right, I forgive you for being so stupid."

Gary stroked his chin. "You don't seem very excited. Maybe I should give it to someone else…"

"Gary," Pearl laughed, grabbing at his pockets. He dodged her easily, seeming to dance on his feet. "C'mon, let me see. Please?"

"Fine, since you said please without me asking you to. Now, close your eyes," he instructed. She hesitated but obeyed. Gary wouldn't be dumb enough to pull another stunt; she would never forgive him if he did.

She felt his steamy breath on her face and for a crazy moment thought they he was going to kiss her. At the thought, she felt her cheeks flame up. She prayed that he wouldn't notice. A thin cold strand of metal went around her neck and Gary fiddled with it before stepping back.

"Congratulations on your victory!"

Pearl opened her eyes and looked down. A delicate gold necklace was what met her gaze; moreover, a beautiful rosy cream coloured pearl was attached to it.

"Do you like it?" Gary asked as he watched her toy with the pearl with her fingers. She looked up slowly and nodded. Gary's eyes widened when he saw tears in her eyes again.

"Was I wrong? Did you lose against Volkner?"

Pearl threw herself at him without responding and Gary opened his arms just in time to receive her.

"Geez, what's the matter?" He patted her back, wondering why women were so emotional. He grinned inwardly at the thought; Pearl would kill him if she knew what he was thinking.

Pearl blinked up at him with watery eyes, letting out a loud sniff. "Did you get this for me when I was battling?"

"Well, yeah. I knew you would win, so I thought that it would be nice to get you something," he explained, patting her blonde head. "And your name is Pearl and all," he continued to ramble.

"You're the best friend a girl could have." Pearl laughed when she saw the doubtful expression on his handsome face. "I'm serious." She realized that she was still hanging on to him and let go abruptly. She didn't want him to get the wrong idea.

He gave her a thumbs up. "Congrats again, Pearl. You can go to the Pokemon League now!"

"Yeah!" she cheered. "You're coming too, don't forget! We spent all this time travelling together and beating the gyms. I'm not gonna leave you behind when I set off to the league!"

Gary shoved his hands into the pockets of his indigo jeans and nodded awkwardly. Pearl lowered her raised arms and stared at him.

"Gary?"

He shrugged; his mouth was set in a neutral line. "Don't hate me for this, okay?" he said pleadingly. "I…I'm not going to the Pokemon League with you."

In that instant, time froze for Pearl and she could only utter one word:

"Why?"

TO BE CONTINUED…