A Rival or A Friend.

Lyra x Silver or Ethan xD

Chapter 6b

[ETHANS ENDING PART 1]

Ethan glanced at Silver out of the corner of his eye as the two of them watched Lyra walk away and felt himself grow extremely protective of her at that moment in time.

"So you like her too, huh?"

Silver spun around to look at him, seeming surprised that Ethan had even spoken to him.

"I guess you could say that…What do you mean 'like her too'…You have a crush on her or what?"

"It's not a crush. I love her,"

Silver snorted and rolled his eyes.

"What?"

"Kid, you're not mature enough to know about love,"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that even if Lyra did happen to love you instead of me, your lack of maturity would drive her away. You wouldn't take it seriously,"

"Well…Well…"

"Relax, kid. I'm just teasing you…Look, I know I'm not right for her…I won't be around enough and I'm not boyfriend material. Now go get her before I change my mind…"

Staring at him in confusion, Ethan watched Silver walk away with his hands in his pockets. He looked like he'd accepted defeat rather gracefully for someone who was such a hothead.

"H-Hey wait! How'd you know that-"

"Just trust me, kid! If she didn't like you she wouldn't told you by now!"

Ethan bit his lip as he pondered that to himself before nodding.

"Right. I gotta do this!" He told himself before turning around and heading towards Lyra's house, his heart thundering in his chest so hard he thought it'd burst right through his ribcage. Just as he reached out to knock on the door, Lyra's mother opened it and blinked in surprise to see him there.

"Ethan, what a lovely surprise!" She smiled. "What's the matter?"

"I-I need to…Um…Talk to Lyra," He murmured, shuffling his feet.

The middle-aged woman smiled and nodded.

"She's in her room. I need to go out for a bit. You guys better behave while I'm gone," She winked.

Ethan blushed madly, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates.

"Ah! N-No…I mean…I wouldn't dream of-"

"Ahahaha! Don't worry, Ethan. I was only teasing you," Lyra's mother chuckled. "Just be sure not to leave anything out. Tell her exactly how you feel,"

Ethan nodded as she moved past him, leaving the door open for him. He stepped inside the familiar household and shut the door quietly. He never thought he'd ever get this far.

As Ethan made his way up the stairs, Lyra sat in her room slouched over her keyboard at her computer. People had been sending her email after email asking her if she was really ok after the Cherrygrove incident. She had grown tired of everyone only caring about her for her fame and power. Now that Silver had gone, who knows when she would see him again? Ethan was probably going to go off on his own journey too now that he was nearly ready to do so. Then what would she have left? Travelling had lost its appeal to her. It isn't as much of an adventure when you haven't got anybody to share it with. Sure, pokemon were great companions but the lack of human contact made her think she was going to go crazy sometimes. Her mother would always ask if she was lonely but it wasn't the sort of loneliness a mother could fill. It was a different sort of companionship that she needed but she just couldn't figure out WHAT. Her mind wandered back to when Ethan kissed her and how warm she felt. If she could feel that way all the time then that loneliness that was eating away at her would definitely disappear. Silvers kiss was heated but that was all there was to it. That sort of fire would diminish over time. She groaned as she confused herself with all of these different thoughts until she heard a knock at her door. Sighing, she sat up and smoothed down her hair.

"Come in," She called, expecting her mother.

She was surprised to find a rather flushed Ethan stepping into her room instead with a nervous smile plastered onto his face.

"Y-Your mom let me in…" He explained. "I wanted t-to talk to you…"

"Of course…Please, have a seat," Lyra gestured to her bed.

Ethan sat down on the mattress, clearing his throat.

"Lyra…Y-You remember back in Goldenrod right? When I bought you the Fashion Case…And just before that when my grandparents mistook you for my girlfriend,"

Lyra nodded and smiled.

"I vividly recall you turning the colour of a tomato," She giggled. "And the Fashion Case was a very sweet gift. I was surprised you remembered,"

"Heh, I always remember things you say. It's become somewhat of a habit," Ethan replied before sighing. "Look, Lyra. I can't keep waiting on the sidelines,"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that…Ok, I'll just say it. I've been totally crazy about you since we were young. The way you manage to take care of everybody and make me smile, it mystifies me. I love the fact that you aren't just kind for the sake of being kind: it's who you are. I love that person. I can't imagine growing up with anyone better. Sure, you might be stubborn at times but your smile makes everything totally worth it,"

Lyra blushed, looking away a little.

"S-So…What are you saying?"

She heard him get up off her bed and approach her. His right hand tilted her chin up as he placed his lips onto hers. There was that warm feeling again. Even a kiss as short as the one he'd just given her -which was little more than a peck - made her feel giddy.

"I'm saying I don't want you to go off with somebody else…I want you to be with me,"

"B-Be with you? As in, travel with you?"

The boy chuckled, brushing a hand through her hair.

"No, you silly girl. I mean I want you to be with me. I want you to realise just how long I've been pining for you,"

She finally understood.

"B-But we're such close friends! The only reason I hadn't replied to you yet because I was scared…If things didn't work and I lost you-"

"You will NEVER lose me…" Ethan cut in, his eyes glinting with determination. "All you need to know is that I love you. I always have and I always will,"

Lyra looked at this new Ethan in shock. She'd never seen him so strong or sure of himself.

"You…You really do love me? It wasn't a spur of the moment thing?"

"Even if it was, every word is true. Why do you think I couldn't stand to see Silver defending you? I wanted it to be me. I want to be the one to defend you from harm and to comfort you when you're unhappy," He pleaded, reverting back to his original self for a few moments before collecting himself. "I…I love you too much to see that happen. Please, just give me a chance…"

He grasped her hands tightly in his own, his eyes staring straight into hers as she tried to gather herself together to give him a coherent answer.

"I…"

END OF CHAPTER 6B

CHAPTER 7A SHALL BE OUT SOOOOON! 8D