Okay, maybe I was a little hard on them. Sure, they drive me crazy, but they're still my close friends and I did miss them a little. Okay, a lot. I guess we were all still in a lousy mood after all we'd been through. (Why couldn't the twerp just give us Pikachu as a sign of gratitude for saving his life? What a meanie!)
But that was still no excuse for what James said about me making his life miserable! I was the one who kept this team together, the leader of this outfit! Had he forgotten the unofficial pecking order?
"Uh, Jess?" I turned around to see him standing behind me, grinning nervously. "Listen, about earlier...um, you're not mad, are you?"
Of all the nerve!
"Of course I'm mad!" I shouted, he whimpered and backed away slightly. "That cruel, nasty little comment of yours hurt my tender feelings and you should be ashamed!" (Truth was it had hurt a little...not like I'd seriously admit it, of course!)
"I'm so sorry, Jessie!" He fell on his knees in the classic groveling position. Good. "I was just upset by what you said and Meowth egged me on and last night that little girl was so mean to us and and and-"
He looked up and I immediately regretted making eye contact. Great, he was giving me the kicked puppy face! Every time he does that I can't help but feel guilty for being so hard on him...sure, he's annoying, he's not the brightest crayon in the box and he eats like a Snorlax.
But damn it, he's such a sweet guy and he really does try hard. He's good to the Pokemon, he's fun to laugh and joke around with...he's the only really close friend I've ever had.
Maybe I should let it slide, just this once. He always lets it slide when I'm mean to him, after all, it's the least I could do.
"Stop that sniveling!" I barked. "Let's just call it even, okay? So what if we make each other miserable? Misery does love company, right?"
"Y-you mean it? You're not gonna smack me across the room for what I said?!" It was amazing how he could go from blubbering like a baby to grinning like an idiot in just seconds! He threw his arms around me and buried his face in my chest. "You do forgive me! Oh, Jessie, you're the best, I love you so much!"
What the hell?!
"Um...come again?" He blushed and pulled away.
"Er...sorry, I went too far, didn't I?! Please don't hit me, I just wanted to say it, you don't even have to say it back, just please don't be angry!" he cried. I was stunned...but at the same time not that surprised. I guess it's always sort of been there, this...thing between us. I just never expected him to come out and try to make it official.
Hmm...maybe it wouldn't be so bad, though. At least he was more humble than the guys I used to go out with. He worshipped me, even, what girl could say no to that?
"Just because I don't say it back doesn't make it any less true," I said. God, how sappy! But then he leaned in and clumsily planted his lips on mine. It was nice that he was taking the initiative for once...and I would have fun teaching him the finer points of kissing!