Chapter Six:
Anita was waiting for me at the Pokemon Center. She was eating lunch and had graciously saved me a fruit cup because they were a two for one deal. When she saw me approaching Anita commented on the new Masonet but didn't even ask how the match had gone. I didn't say anything either after I'd gotten my trey and instead we talked about our plans for the day. We both agreed that Nacrene City was our next stop. This meant another hike that would take about two days if we were lucky. It was worth it though because Nacrene City had a gym. Assuming Mansfield's group was already headed that way we'd need to hurry and get going if we wanted to stay ahead of the rest of the class.

We checked out of our room an hour later. I packed some snacks for the road since I knew Anita had forgotten and we headed out of the Pokemon Center, followed by our Pokemon. Good bye Striaton City, I thought after we'd taken a bus as far west as we could go in the city. Then we had to walk into the woods. More woods, I thought as we began walking. This time I really would catch a Pokemon.

It ended up being Anita again who caught the first Pokemon. This time it was a Budew named Imi. Imi waddled behind us occasionally bumping into trees or tripping on sticks, it didn't seem to bright. It wasn't until our trail widened out into a clearing that Anita and I made our first stop to train.

After working on Chloe's stamina for a while just by having her charge up then discharging it safely I heard Anita's footfalls behind me and knew the familiar giggle.

"I just caught a Patrat," she said and while my back was still turned I made a face. "Come on out Minnie."

In a flash of light yet another but slightly different rat Pokemon appeared. I knew I would never catch up to people like Anita but I was happy with just one Pokemon even if that probably put me in last place.

Around dusk we caught up with Mansfield's group. They were just setting up camp when we stumbled upon them and agreed to let us stay. Jacob had decided to stay in Striaton City and live there for a while so he could train his bird Pokemon at the gym. Mansfield said he didn't really have what it took to become a true Pokemon trainer. Just before we went to bed we all used Lillie's expensive and large tablet to call Professor Willow just to check in. She told us we were making very good time.

"You all are definitely in the lead," she said. "There's only one other person ahead of you and that's Violet. Gosh I told her not to go off on her own, she's suppose to travel with Sandy and Carmen but they're still both here in Peridot Town. Some people still hadn't left and are waiting a bit longer."

"Professor look at my new gym badge," Mansfield said, producing the same badge I had received from Damion.

"That's very good," the Professor said sounding pleased. "I will tell you though, Violet has already one two gym badges.

"Two!" we all exclaimed and the professor gave a nervous laugh.

"It's okay," I think Violet is off doing her own thing by now. I wouldn't try to compete with her at this point. She phoned me this morning from her private jet."

So that's how Violet was getting around so fast. This made me so mad. I was going to be better than Violet even if I had to claw my way to the top. Nothing Professor Willow said would make me give up.

As Anita showed off her Pokemon to the group again, Lillie pulled me aside. She looked a little nervous and her brown hair flickered in the fire light.

"Do you like traveling with Anita?" she said and I was taken aback. I didn't know Lillie that well. She was an eighth grader I think but small for her grade. I wondered why she would ask.

"I guess," I said but it wasn't entirely truthful.

"Well I'm fed up and sick of traveling with Mansfield," Lillie said suddenly. "The only reason I agreed to go with him is because Melody likes him and she wanted to go with me. I think part of the reason Jacob left is because of him, always showing off and calling people weak." Lillie muttered. "What I'm saying is, well as far as I can tell, Anita and Mansfield are a lot alike so I thought maybe you and I could travel together instead."

I was about to say no when I realized how much the plan made sense. There would be no more Anita embarrassing me or picking on me or comparing me to her. I wouldn't have to watch any of her Pokemon suffer anymore and I could travel with someone who would actually understand me. Still, I was reluctant. Anita was my friend and I couldn't just leave her. Then I remembered what she'd done at the gym. How could I travel with someone like that.

"Can I think about it?" I told Lillie. "I'll tell you in the morning when I make up my mind."

Lillie nodded and agreed. "I'm just not sure how much more of Mansfield I can take," she said and clutched her head like she had a headache. "Goodnight."

I didn't want Chloe to think I'd forgotten her so I slept in the tent with her next to my sleeping bag. Beside me Anita slept soundly in her sleeping bag but I was wide awake. My head was spinning trying to think about what to tell Lillie and Anita in the morning. Lillie seemed like a nice person and I regretted not befriending her when we were still in Pokemon class. Anita on the other hand was starting to get on my last nerve. Could I ever forgive her for what she did and said to Damion? She still hadn't even asked me if I'd gotten a gym badge or not. I didn't know if I could handle her falling apart at the next gym.

The next morning Anita and I awoke bright and early as to not let Mansfield's group get ahead of us again. Lillie was waiting for me by the burnt out fire pit looking hopeful. Her bright brown eyes and freckled face looked so worried I couldn't just turn away a perfect solution but how would Anita like traveling with Mansfield and Melody? Finally I had to speak.

"I can't leave Anita," I said and Lillie's expression fell.

"Wait, can I at least come with you two?" she asked earnestly. "Anyone's better than Mansfield trust me."

I didn't think that was necessarily true but I agreed to let her come realizing it was the perfect solution. I wasn't sure Lillie would want to come if I didn't drop Anita but obviously she didn't know her that well. Having a new traveling companion would make my journey with Anita a whole lot easier.

"You're leaving us?" Mansfield gawked with Lillie broke the news. "You do realize that by traveling with these to you're committing yourself to failure."

Lillie got angry. "I'm leaving," she said and turned her back on Mansfield. "And I'm taking my supplies with me." She grabbed the backpack and tent from Mansfield leaving him speechless.

"I'm sorry Melody," she said but Melody didn't look too upset. She shrugged and waved us goodbye.

Anita didn't seem too upset that I hadn't asked her before letting Lillie join the team. She pretty much just ignored her and ran off ahead of us. We knew, not far from here was our next gym battle in Nacrene City.

It wasn't long before we hit a river and had one of two options. We could either go the long way around which might add another day to our journey or we could swim.

"If only I had a water Pokemon," I said as we faced the rushing rapids.

"I have one," Lillie said, taking out a Pokeball. "Go Annie!"

A quite round Pokemon appeared. It was blue and shaped like a ball with a short muzzle and spiky tail. The Pokemon squealed a Lillie happily and bounced up and down.

"It's a Maril," I said, recognizing the cute little guy.

Lillie nodded. "Alright here goes nothing!" Lillie cannonballed into the lake after taking off her bags. There was a splash and the Maril jumped in after here. "Annie's tail floats so we can take turns grabbing hold of her and crossing the lake. She's a really good swimmer so she won't get swept away in the current."

Just then Lillie lost her footing but Maril held her back. "Thanks Annie," she said and began to swim. When Lillie reached the other side she asked me to release one of the Pokeballs in her bag. When I did a Geodude appeared and through Lillie's stuff all the way across the river and she caught it.

"Now all I need is a fire Pokemon to warm up,'' she called back to us. "The water is freezing."

"I'll go next," I began to say but before I could jump in, Anita pushed ahead of me. She held tight to Maril and paddled across the rushing stream. Again, Geodude threw her stuff after her.

"Thanks Geodude," I said as he threw my stuff over as well. Then I put him back into his Pokeball and braced myself for the cold rush of water.

It hit me like a blast. My head went all the way under which I hadn't been expecting. When I came up my vision was blurry and I felt for Annie. My teeth were chattering as my hand closed around Annie's tail but it was slippery and I soon lost my grip. Just then a huge current tore me from the Pokemon and sent me flying down stream. When I tried to open my mouth to yell it only filled with water as I was pushed under again. I felt my lungs filling up and my vision went blurry. When I tried to hold my breath the water in my lungs made me choke and open my mouth for more water to come in. The rocks at the bottom of the stream hit me one by one and my legs soon felt like punching bags. This was it, I thought.