Chapter 7
A Long Wait
The inside of the makeshift Pokemon Center was warm and cozy as Haru paced back and forth, Connor sitting next to him, reading a magazine.
He looked up to see if the light, signaling that Shade's visit was over, had gone out yet. It hadn't. He took a seat by Connor, looking around the room at the silent faces of the few other people that were there.
Kayla sat staring at the ground, thinking about whether she should say anything or not. And another boy, who's Rattata had been hit with shrapnel from the blast sat, sad faced. Haru, under any normal circumstances would have felt sorry for the boy but he had his own problems right now. Shade had been hurt pretty badly and as he paced back and forth he regretted battling him after his match against Connor.
Finally Kayla crossed the room and neared Haru. "I'm sorry about your Eevee." She said quietly. "And thank you for saving me."
This made Haru smile, he did save her. He, Haru Victory had saved someone's life. "They deserved it; I just hope Eevee is okay." He replied.
Kayla shifted her gaze to the ground and Haru smiled again as her long blonde hair brushed against his arm. 'I might have a chance with her after all.' He thought to himself. Just as he had began to enjoy this wait, the light clicked out and Nurse Joy stepped from the door, holding the injured Eevee.
Haru rushed over, Kayla by his side and Connor looked up, expectantly. He looked worriedly at Nurse Joy. "Is Shade going to be okay?" He asked.
"He'll need to rest here for tonight and we'll see how he is doing in the morning. He was exhausted and bruised; he had a mild concussion and a deep gash on his leg. Who the hell did you battle?" She asked.
Connor looked up at Haru who hesitated before answering. "Two Team Rocket guys, their pokemon were pretty strong and I couldn't call Eevee back or…" He looked at Kayla.
Nurse Joy shook her head. "I guess you had no choice, but every trainer should have a back up pokemon." She petted Eevee's head and shot Haru a worried look, the same look he had given her. "You should get some rest, come back in the morning and he should be okay."
Haru nodded and turned around and took a seat on the bench and Kayla followed suit, and she leaned over, resting her head on Haru's shoulder. Haru turned bright red, holding his breath for a moment and then he released as Kayla closed her eyes. "I'm sorry." She said and Haru said nothing but: "Come on, we better head back to our rooms." He stood up and Connor did too and then so did Kayla.
The room was left empty except for the boy who watched them inquisitively as they left.
As they left the Pokemon Center the cool evening breeze hit them and Connor split off, leaving Haru and Kayla by themselves.
Haru took nervous glances at Kayla who smiled at him when she caught his eye. He eventually built up the courage to say what he had been wondering all night. "Hey, you saw my battle didn't you?"
She looked over and then dropped her gaze. "Yeah, With TJ." She said. "You did good for a beginner."
Haru nodded even though he thought the exact opposite. "Isn't he…" Haru began, not wanting to finish the sentence.
"My boyfriend she said. "He's not a very good one." This answer shocked Haru. "I liked him when he first asked me out but now he's just mean, he challenges people who have no hope of beating his Furret and then laughs at them when they lose."
Haru remembered how TJ had laughed when he had lost. She was right he was mean. They finally arrived at Haru's room, the door was closed and locked just as he had left it and he turned to Kayla to say goodnight, but instead he received what he never thought in a million years would have been possible, a kiss on the cheek and then Kayla left, leaving Haru staring out onto an empty ocean, sighing with happiness and confusion.
