After all of her chores were completed, Melody called Amber and asked her if it was okay for her to come over. Amber's mom had given her permission and Amber had arrived about thirty minutes afterwards.
When Amber had arrived in Melody's room, the two girls started to chatter giddily. Amber had set down her duffel bag and pulled out a large bag of chips for the two of them to share.
"What should we do first?" Melody asked excitedly.
Amber let out a cackle. "I don't know hostess-that-invited-me-here. What should we do?" she said mockingly.
"I was thinking that we could stay up and watch movies," Melody responded. "Or play video games."
"Let's watch a movie," Amber decided.
The first movie that the girls watched was a romantic movie about a couple that was aboard the S.S. Anne. The man and woman slowly fell in love, and even as the ship was sinking, were still wrapped in each other's loving embrace.
"This movie is so cheesy," Amber joked.
Melody laughed in response. "Yeah, but it's considered a classic."
Five minutes of silence had passed before Melody decided to speak up again. "Sooo…did you know that Collin had an Eevee?"
Amber bit her lip and a nervous look was formed on her face. She seemed to be avoiding eye contact with Melody, as if she had something to hide.
C'mon Amber, Melody screamed in her head. I know that you know something!
The Eevee had snuck from its hiding place underneath Melody's bed. Its tail started to tremor at the sight of Amber and he immediately crawled to Amber's side. Remembering Eevee's attack on Melody, Midnite became agitated and leapt back onto the windowsill.
"Why are they so mad at each other?" Amber questioned, confused.
"He bit me and Midnite's still mad about it," Melody answered simply.
Melody took note of how friendly and happy the Eevee was whenever Amber was around. She still had no clue about how or why the Eevee was so trusting with Amber. Testing to see if he trusted her too, Melody tried to pet the Eevee. Like last time, the Eevee had swiped his paw and hissed at her.
The Eevee's hiss had caused Midnite to hiss back, sending the Eevee a harsh warning.
"Why is it so nice to you, but he hates me?" Melody asked forlornly. "I'm the one that brought it to the nurse, fed it, and bathed it!"
"I…don't know…," Amber said hesitantly as she stroked the Eevee from head to tail.
To Melody, Amber's tone of voice didn't seem so convincing.
Melody put her hand on Amber's shoulder, giving her a look of distress. "If you knew anything about this, you would tell me, right?"
Amber nodded. "I don't keep secrets from my best friend, Mel."
Without anymore questioning, Melody pressed play on the remote and started the movie. They were only ten minutes in when Amber let out a hardy sigh.
"Okay, I'll admit it," Amber said miserably. "I have something I need to tell you."
Taken aback, Melody pressed pause and turned towards her friend. Even Midnite, who was still sulking on the windowsill, had raised her ears in interest.
Amber reached for her duffel bag and zipped open a side pocket. She pulled out a red and white Pokéball.
In a single motion, she opened the ball and captured the Eevee.
"Wait, so it's yours?" Melody asked, puzzled.
What seemed to puzzle her more was the fact that it seemed as though Amber had prepared for this. After all, who would bring a Pokéball to a sleepover?
Amber stared off into space and let out another sigh. "Yeah…he was mine…"
The next morning
The two girls (along with Midnite and Bidoof, who were begging for table scraps), sat at the breakfast table and enjoyed a freshly-prepared breakfast. Once again, Melody's mom had cooked scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, and sausages. When her mother had left the room, Melody took this as the perfect opportunity to ask her friend some questions.
"So, about the Eevee…," she started.
Slowly, Amber downed a glass of milk and opened her mouth to speak. "He used to be mines…but he's not anymore…"
Melody could sense that this was a touchy subject for Amber. She wanted to learn more, but she also didn't want to push her friend's boundaries.
Cautiously, she posed another question. "Well, whose Pokémon is it, then?"
Amber's eyes were fixed on her plate, unmoving and unsure. She cut a small sliver of pancake and placed it gently in her mouth, chewing slowly. She grabbed a small handful of scrambled egg and placed it near Midnite and Bidoof.
After all was done, she had finally worked up the courage to look her friend Melody in the eyes. From where Melody was sitting, she could see the hurt and ache that had filled Amber's eyes.
It was then that Amber decided to speak up.
"It's Collin's."