Disclaimer: I don't own any Pokemon.
"Ya think I can, uh, do it?" A boy, surprisingly around my height, asked timidly running one hand through his hair.
"Yeah, sure, totally believe you can." I drawled, smirking as he danced from foot to foot.
"Thanks," he beamed, "that means a lot coming from you. Thanks." Grabbing his helmet, the lanky sophomore headed back onto the football field with others for a practice run.
"He's so gonna get pulverized," Chad laughed once he was out of earshot. "Like a certain someone I knew a few years back, but yet taller." He shot a glance at me, a wide grin creeping on his face.
I gasped at the mention of it, slugging in him the arm before leaning back on the bench with a groan, practice today was brutal. "Hey, dude, I had a reason why I could barely even lift a pillow back then."
"Hah, an overprotective mother doesn't count, Derek."
"It does too!" I shot back. Besides she gotten over that once Jack was born, now all she does is spoil him.
Chad was about to open is mouth to say something even more embarrassing before I pointed to the guy that left a couple of minutes ago, trying to change the subject. "That just ain't natural, there's no way can he also be nearly seven feet tall." Chad merely chuckled at my outburst as I rummaged through my bag pocket for my phone.
Chad and I are seniors at Rustboro High and are even on the school football team together. We meet at the middle tryouts, the very first time I ever tried to disobey my mom and actually got away with it. Glancing at the illuminated screen, I couldn't help but groan and fumbled with my backpack.
"Seriously, man, look, I got to go. If coach asks for me tell him I have to go."
"Derek, dude, Coach is gonna make me run if you leave like you did the other day, and I'm still sore from it! What's so important?" Chad narrowed his eyes, his arms crossed, waiting for an answer.
"Sorry but Amanda was real sick, so I had to bail. Besides my stupid little brother is getting his Pokemon today, my mom wants me to be there." I smiled sheepishly, giving a slight shrug as I swung my backpack over my shoulder and headed towards my car. "Later!"
It didn't take that long for me to reach the dreaded doors of my house; the one place I really don't feel like being at right now. Slamming the door with a wince, the muscles in my arms groaned in protest. I took my time dragging my feet as I trudged along the pebble pathway. I hadn't even made it to the porch before regretting ever making a sound. Jack, my little brother, screamed with delight as he burst through the front door.
"Hey big bro," he stopped short at the very last step, swinging his arms at his sides while sporting a wide grin touching each ear.
"Hey, twerp, got your pokemon yet?" I asked even though I already knew the answer, brushing by him as I headed inside while he followed suite diligently.
"Nope, not yet," I couldn't even step once into the house before I was bombarded with the rather powerful scent of chocolate and gingerbread.
"My Arceus, I whispered, "is Mom trying to put us all in a sugar coma?" Dropping my stuff on the couch, I headed into the kitchen only for my suspicion to be true.
My face twisted in disgust; it was really overdoing it, even for a party. The table, which was pretty decent size, was covered from one side to the other with all sorts' sweets with a three layered chocolate cake right in the middle and my mom hunched over one of the cookie plates adding one last piece of icing. No wonder Jack was so happy. . .
"Uh, Mom, I thought we were just having a cake not a buffet." I said, rubbing the back of my neck, quite astonished at what she was doing all day.
She glanced up, her soft smile soon disappeared. "Honey," she breathed, wiping away a small piece of icing that somehow made its way on her nose. "How many times do I have to tell you no sweaty football clothes in the kitchen?"
"Oh sh- . . . sorry but don't you think you are kind of overdoing it just for four people?"
"No, your brother is going to have some friends over in a few minutes." She announce with a permanent scowl. "Now go clean up, don't want anyone thinking we live in a barn."
I groaned inwardly at the thought of little people running around making a mess and Mom forcing me to clean it. I shivered when the doorbell rang, Jack greeted in his first guest and I just happened to make the mistake of glancing back at my mom who a look of horror on her face.
Why she cares about what his friends think of me I'll never know. Before she could make a scene, I made a break for it through the living room and grabbed my bag before I actually headed for the shower upstairs. After I was done the majority of the guests were already here and probably were able to be heard from two blocks down.
I threw on a random pair of black shorts with a white shirt laying around my room, which was thankfully only a couple of steps away from the bathroom. Glancing around the room I tried to think of a way to get out of going downstairs. I wasn't really in the mood to clean but not up for having to jump two stories down. I might love my brother a little bit but I sure wasn't to keen on going down there. Come one you missed practice for this, might as well make it count for something. . Well . . . maybe I could. . . no I stood there for a couple of minutes, contemplating on what to do before familiar music started to play and my phone nearly vibrated off of the dresser. What the. . . who's texting me? Picking up the phone, I couldn't help but grin when I flipped it open.
Amanda: Hey babe, u free at the momnt? Its rllllllly urgent!
Derek: Depends on the circumstances.
Amanda: I did some research at the library n i fnally found the poke I wanted but its hard to find
Derek: Seriously? u claim that as urgent? I thought u were over traveling
Amanda: Derek! this is important to me i have to find it before halloween
Derek: . Fine, be there in a few secs. n why halloween?
Amanda: Jus gt ur butt over here
Pocketing my phone, I couldn't help but face-palm at the thought of what she might do. First of all Halloween is in a couple of months and it's practically freezing during the winter. What kind of parents would let their kids go during this time of year, Mom won't even let Jack leave at all on his journey. Plus, why after what happened to me, I can't let that happen to her. Not ever. Running my fingers over the nearly forgotten scars and teeth marks left on my shoulder I grabbed my keys and headed downstairs to the living room with at least a dozen jittery kids in my way, all in a circle with Jack in the middle.
"Hey," I called out, "mind movin a bit?" Twelve set of eyes were all on me by that time with all of the laughter gone and everyone silent as an ekans. "Uh, I kinda need to get thru." I repeated and they finally moved out of the way only to give Jack a chance to become another roadblock between me and the door.
"Hey, big bro. Look at what Mom and Dad got me!" Jack's arms shot up and a little blob of pink fur was brought up into my face.
"W. . . what is that suppose to be?" I asked, completely horrified. "Please tell me it's not one of those loud, annoying pokemon."
"Oh. . .well it's Whismur, I named her Echo. She's not annoying or loud though."
Well she was till one of his friends just had to pinch her and make her upset. Arceus save me now!