The gravel crunched beneath Kai's feet, and she sighed. It had been a long morning, and she just wanted to get this over with.
"C'mon, Kai, get it together. This is the greatest moment of our life! Our adventure is about to begin!" Kai's friend, Corinne, had been obsessing over this for months. Kai was excited, just nervous about choosing. What to choose, what to choose? She wondered, fretting yet again.
"I know, it's just…" she trailed off. Lately, the two friends had been fighting a lot, getting on each other's nerves, and keeping secrets. Kai was determined to figure out whether their friendship was worth it or not. Nevertheless, she shook the thoughts out of her head.
"It'll be fine. Look, we're almost there!" Corinne pointed at the lab that was not too far along the path. But to Kai's dismay, she noticed something stretching all the way down the hill that the lab was perched on.
"No! Look at all those people! And we even left early so we didn't have to wait in line!" she gasped, rubbing her eyes.
"I guess we didn't leave early enough," Corinne muttered. Kai sighed and moved faster.
The door of the lab was almost in sight, and almost no people were left in line. Corinne had been chattering non-stop, and Kai felt as though her head was about to explode. As soon as they reached the door and were next, someone came running up behind them. It had grown darker and was nearly sunset. Kai kept her gaze straight ahead. The door swung open.
"Hello, girls." Professor Oak's face was turned downwards in a frown. "I'm so very sorry to have made you two," He noticed the figure behind them. "Three, wait. I've run out of starters, I'm so sorry." he cringed at their dismayed expressions.
"What do you mean, no starters? We're not going to get Pokemon?" Corinne shrieked, and Kai squeezed her eyes shut. What did I ever see in her that seemed even remotely friendly? She thought.
"Sir, does that mean you truly have no Pokemon left? Nothing we could have?" she hated requesting something of him, as he seemed already very anxious. But some things were worth fighting for. If she didn't fight, she wouldn't pursue her dreams. And that meant failure.
"Well…" the professor pondered something for a minute. "I still have one starter left, and several other Pokemon, but there's only one starter, and the others aren't suitable for-" he was interrupted by Corinne pushing past him into the lab. Then Kai caught a glimpse of the person standing behind them. He was a boy just about her age with messy black hair and a red cap on. He shrugged his shoulders at her glance and walked inside after Corinne. Kai followed.
Corinne beamed as professor Oak place the Pokeball containing Chespin in her eagerly awaiting hands. The group had decided (well, Corinne had insisted) that Corinne should receive the starter. The other two would have to take their chances with the 'others'.
"I must warn you both, these are incredibly…" he paused. "Difficult."
"I'll handle any challenge you throw at me!" the boy shouted, seeming overly enthusiastic. Anger flashed across his face. "Sorry," he said, blushing. "I get a little carried away sometimes."
Professor Oak opened one of the remaining Pokeballs. A yellow mouse with a lightning bolt tail exploded from the ball, shrieking "Pika! Pika!" Kai jumped back, but the boy stood there, staring.
"What is it?" he said, wondering aloud.
"It's called Pikachu. An electric type." The professor replied. The boy turned to Kai, asking with his brown eyes, pleading.
"Sure," Kai sighed. She had wanted an electric type, but he wanted it so bad.
"Thanks!" he shouted and scooped up the Pikachu.
"Wait! Don't-" Professor Oak shouted, but it was too late. The Pokemon erupted in a giant burst of electricity that left the boy slightly singed and shaking. He let out a little groan and Kai tried to stifle her laughter, but failed. The boy glared at her and dropped Pikachu.
"Sorry," she said, blushing. The professor seemed slightly annoyed and opened the next Pokeball. Out came a furry brown fox-like creature with big brown eyes. It sneezed and smoke burst out. Kai wrinkled her nose.
"Really? I get a lame one?" she was genuinely upset. The Pokemon glared at her and turned around. "Do you have any others?" As the professor shook his head, she whirled around to face the boy. "Can we trade?" The boy shook his head.
"Sorry, as much as I hate mine, I wouldn't give it up for that…" he trailed off, leaving her in dismay.
"It's a Vulpix, a fire type. It isn't "lame", as one might think," the professor cleared his throat, leaving Kai blushing with shame. "It will grow to be quite powerful. But only if you train it well." It sounded like a challenge to her, and she grinned.
"Of course. Thank you so much, for going out of your way for us." he nodded, and all three left the lab.
Corinne looked down at her Chespin cradled in her arms, then looked jealously in Kai's direction. Kai could see the pain on her face.
"Chespin's really cute," Kai said to her, trying to comfort her sort-of friend.
"Yeah, but your Vulpix is cuter. And more powerful. And so much better than mine." she said, anger boiling inside her.
"C'mon, Corinne. Don't be jealous. It's not better than yours. Look, it's stupid." The Vulpix sniffed at a rock and sneezed again, this time sending sparks into the night air.
"Of course. You always are better than me, getting the upper hand. I hate it. That's why I'm going to be better than you, for once. I'll be the best trainer you have ever seen, I'll prove it!" she shouted. Kai stepped back, shaking her head.
"What happened to you? You're different now, I can't quite place it. You're not the same person I used to know."
"Well, you know what? I've always hated you. From the moment we met, I didn't like you, your pretty face, your perfect grades. That's why I'm leaving. I'm going on this journey on my own, whether you like it or not. From now on, we're enemies." she ran away from Kai, continuing on the gravel path leading to the next town.
"Wait, Corinne!" Kai shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. It felt like a piece of her soul was breaking away.