I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I really want to thank all the people reading this and especially those who reviewed, followed or favorited. Getting those emails that tell me someone reviewed or liked my story brighten my day.

Upon reaching the Pokémon Center's back door, I swing it open and rush outside. I quickly scan my surroundings for the best place to run to. The snow-capped forest, as large and covered as it is, stands out to me and I make a run for it. I don't stop until I'm a little ways into the forest, just far enough to be hidden behind some of the trees. Leaning against one of the tall trees to rest, I attempt to catch my breath.

Once my heart rate has slowed down, my thoughts (against my will) immediately turn to Jun. How did he find me here? Wait, he hasn't found me yet. And that's the way it's going to stay, I think to myself. I sigh, feeling somewhat guilty that Jun's been looking for me. Reminding myself once more that it's for the best, I push off the tree, standing upright on my own.

After turning around to face the direction I came from, I barely manage to stifle a scream. Standing before me in his favorite outfit of grayish-black pants, a striped orange and white polo, and his favorite green scarf (the scarf I gave him, I think before shoving the thought from my mind) is Jun. He's panting slightly, so I can tell he's been running. He's staring straight at me and I can't help but stare back for a moment in shock before averting my gaze to the ground. "Hikari," he says softly after a few moments of silence. This reminds me of what I need to do and I look back up at him, making eye contact.

"I'm sorry," I say sincerely, smiling sadly and trying to keep my voice from cracking. Then I turn back around and start running away from him. Again. I want to slap myself for being so stupid as to letting him see me.

Soon I begin to hear footsteps; farther away at first, then rapidly becoming louder as they get closer. I glance over my shoulder and sure enough, Jun's behind me, running after me. He sees me looking at him and yells to me, "Why are you running away!?"

I blurt out the easiest answer that comes to mind, "Because you're chasing me!" I try to speed up a little so that he doesn't catch up. He's been running around everywhere he goes since he was little, so he's pretty fast; but I grew up with him and was dragged along on all of his escapades, so I learned to catch up. Now I can run as fast as he can, and because I got a head start, I should be able to stay ahead of him.

After another minute of running, I realize that I have no destination in mind. Since Jun's still chasing me, I'll have to come up with some idea of how to shake him. As I contemplate the issue, an idea springs to mind. Of course! Why didn't I think of it before? I speed up, excited to start my plan.

I scan my surroundings as I continue to run, trying to figure out which part of the forest we're in. Once I get my bearings, I take a sharp left turn and glance behind me, searching for Jun's reaction. I can tell that he didn't expect me to turn because he almost slams into a tree. He stops just in time and immediately turns toward my direction and keeps running, but he's still got a puzzled look on his face.

I continue to run deeper into the forest, making occasional turns. When Jun stops nearly crashing into trees every time I change direction, I know that he's figured out where I'm headed. But that's okay; even if he knows, he can't stop me.

As my destination comes into view, I speed up a bit. I'm already trying to maintain the fastest pace that I can, but knowing that I'm almost there, I try to push myself to go a little faster. As I approach Lake Acuity, I prepare to execute my plan.

"Yuki! Blaze!" I call out as I release my pokemon. My glaceon and infernape shoot out from their pokéballs and, noticing that I'm running, begin running by my side. As we approach the water, I command Yuki to freeze a path across the water. She seems a bit confused, but she knows that I must have a plan and obeys. The three of us dash across the icy bridge to the cave. Once we're almost halfway across, I order Blaze, my infernape, to melt the path as we cross it. He sends me a questioning look, but I tell him to trust me and he nods.

I glance back at Jun again and I can tell that he didn't expect this; he barely stops himself from stepping onto the disintegrating bridge in time.

Upon reaching the cave, I stop, leaning against one of its walls for support. I look at Jun across the lake, wondering what he'll do. He stands there for a moment, silent, and I wonder what he's thinking. Then he suddenly yells something across the lake. I can't really make out what he's saying, so I yell back, "I can't hear you!"

He seems somewhat frustrated at this, but glad that I at least responded. Seconds later, his face lights up, and I can tell that he has an idea. He pulls something out of his pocket, though I can't see what, and starts doing something with it. Within a few moments, I hear my phone chirp and I pull it out to check it. It says I have one new message from Jun. Knowing that I'll regret it, but deciding to anyway, I open the message and read it. It says:

I said, why do you keep running away from me? Did I do something?

Against my better judgment, I immediately type out a response:

No, of course not.

I realize after I've sent it that it was a terrible idea. Now that I've responded to him, he's going to keep trying to contact me and pry out answers this way. My thoughts are confirmed when my phone pings again shortly after I sent my message. Resigning myself to the fact that I'll have to talk to him eventually, I decide at least I don't have to have this conversation with him face to face. It would be too hard. Sighing, I read the message:

Then why?

Expecting this, I type back:

I can't tell you.

Why not?

I'm sorry.

That's not an answer.

You know I'm not going to give one. Why not just give up?

You know that I'm not going to give up. Why not just tell me?

He's beginning to annoy me; I can feel a vein popping in my forehead. I quickly text back:

Not happening.

Same here.

Jun, you can't stay out there forever.

And you can't stay in there forever.

Stop doing that!

Stop doing what?

You know what you're doing! Anyway, just leave me alone. Please.

I'll leave you alone once you tell me why you're running away.

Can't we just drop it?

Nope.

Why not?

I don't receive an immediate response like before, so I'm not sure if he's thinking of an answer or given up. Or if his phone died. I mean, it's Jun we're talking about here, so it's completely possible. It's happened before. Once when we were little, I thought he'd been ignoring me all day because he hadn't answered any of my texts or calls. Later that day, I found out that his phone had died and he'd forgotten to tell me.

Suddenly, I'm startled by my phone ringing. I look at it, and sure enough, it's Jun. I stare at it, contemplating which button to press. Do I answer his call or reject it? I was able to handle texting, but I'm not sure if I can handle talking to him over the phone. I wish I was stronger. I wish I'd come up with an excuse to explain all this. But I'm not, and I didn't, so I have to live with that. And the consequences that come with it.

Hesitantly, I press the green button, accepting his call. "Hello?"