Chapter 7- Hardened LIfe

Modelling is a tedious job. It may look glamorous because most wind up looking like heavenly beauties after it, but involves lots of workout, dieting, shoots and too many runway shows, which was nothing more than psychological pressure and it is even worse than others. Elesa was really tired and wanted nothing more than a large bed, but the photos were taking too long much to her chagrin.

"Just a little more- pretend you are balancing on a beam!" Cameron said while Elesa was posing with her Emolga was in the air. By now, she was really tired and craving for that ice cream Skyla had in hand for her. She was already stretching her arms in the air and swaying side to side. "Sweetheart, stop moving. I can't get a clear picture." Cameron instructed. At last Elesa blew her top, she couldn't take it anymore.

"I can't believe you guys! I am doing every damn thing you wanted for the past 8 hours and now you tell me I'm not good enough?! What am I doing then, twiddling my thumbs?" she screamed so much that Skyla almost dropped the ice cream. "Tell me to pretend to balance and then tell me I'm moving too much, what would you want from me next? To jump of a skyscraper and look like an action girl?! I may be a model, but even I have my limits- and you're pushing them, Cameron- far too much! Even my Pokémon are tired!" Cameron seemed intimidated by this blonde bombshell. Compared to the stereotypes, she certainly wasn't naive.

Then Elesa broke down. "Please, Cameron. I'm tired and hungry and sleepy I just want to get back to my hotel, if not my home!" she pleaded and then hankered for the ice cream. "Come on Skyla- hurry!" she wailed as she was then handed it and then wolfed it down as if it were ambrosia. Cameron watched the woman in awe as she kept nibbling and licking that ice cream, it was kind of cute. He calmly clicked a few snaps which worked well with the icy background behind. "Perfect, Miss Elesa! I love the snaps!" he complimented as Elesa then sighed in relief. "Best meal ever eaten!" she sighed and then hugged Skyla like a limpet. "Aww, come on Elesa! You are so emotional!" she said as she returned the hug. Then again, what were friends for?

Frances then looked at her disapprovingly. "Elesa... what's gotten into you? You are usually never like this. I mean, you could do without food for long." She questioned. Elesa looked a little contrite. "I'm sorry, Franny." She said. "I think there is more than what meets the eye. Is it something about home bothering you? Or is it a cute boy?"

Elesa now turned scarlet and her ears were growing hot. Falkner was too irresistible. Frances laughed "Are you honestly that prudish? Oh Elesa, it was a joke! You couldn't have taken that seriously now, could you?" Elesa blushed even harder, much to Skyla's dismay. Falkner was taking up too much for her time and it would prove inimical in the future. "Franny, can we go home? Right now we are really bushed." She asked. Frances agreed. "Come back tomorrow at 8. We are probably going to Mahogany Town; Pryce is really intent to meet you!" Cameron's face fell. "What? Meet Pryce? Surely you must be joking, Franny! He is anything but pleased that a model has come to visit; it's deplorable in his words!" he protested. "
Oh please, Cameron! You are being too pessimistic! I'm sure it'll be worth it!" she insisted, but Cameron's face was far from lighting up, rather it had a melancholic air; clearly proving that Elesa was in for a big soup the next day.

"This job is suicidal." Muttered Skyla as they retired to their rooms. While there, Elesa was providing her Pokémon some food while Skyla was busy playing some air strike video games. "I still wonder at times- how did you get that?" Elesa asked plaintively. "Stashed in my airplane. Besides, did you meet all he leaders yet?" Skyla replied. "Let's see... I met Bugsy, Chuck once, damn he's sweet! Then I met Jasmine and Falkner... I guess that's it." She answered. "Means we haven't met 4 of them- Goldenrod, Ecruteak, Blackthorn and Mahogany. I wonder who they are; I hope they're smart... and cute!" Skyla gushed dreamily while shooting the last bullet from her fighter plane onto the enemy while Swanna was flying inside the room. Elesa sure was glad this wasn't her room she was in. "Say, I think Chuck's cute! Pity he's married! I mean, he's so sweet! We need people like this back home, they're so freaking introverted! No offense! I mean, look at these guys, they're super cute!"

"But who could possibly be cuter than Falkner..." Elesa blurted dreamily. "The heck?!" Skyla blurted. Elesa suddenly snapped out of it. "Nothing at all. Oh wait, Dylan is here!" She rushed to the door and opened it. "Why hi Dilly!" she gushed sweetly in her angelic smile only making him more disgruntled and raise an eyebrow. "Seriously, Elesa, What's gotten into you? You've been incredibly jumpy of late as if you are high on sweetened hot chocolate... Anyway what the hell are you doing... and why are you in Skyla's room?" Elesa then flushed a little then spoke. "Sorry, dilly; I was just hanging out, nothing serious." Dylan only got more suspicious as he straightened his baseball cap. "If you were so incredibly jumpy; why on earth did you call in tired?" he questioned. "Look, she was tired, okay? Just let us chill for now, kay?" Skyla retorted making him wince a bit. Skyla was pretty scary when she was angry. "Oh alright. Oh and by the way, news from Cam. He loved the shots with you and Emolga, now he wants them with Zebstrika for the land shots and Tynamo for the underwater ones. Don't ask why, I have no blooming idea. And don't forget, Mahogany tomoorw. Besides, the Ecruteak guy in particular wants to meet you, say a 16 year old fan. I told him to buzz off until he wants to earn a Machoke Punch, but he was pretty creepy, so I told him you'll be there." He informed.

"How am I supposed to know this guy?" she asked him.

"Dunno, you'll figure it out. Peace out, ladies!" he said and stormed out while Skyla yawned. "I so have to see those shots! I hear this guy's a pro!" she said and then changed into her pj's. "Do not look." She warned. Elesa just rolled her eyes and played a bit with her Unfezant. "She's a sweet one, your unfezant." She remarked. "Oh she? Meg, she looks creepy, but she's an angel! Especially with co-ordination, she's a like a genius! Anyway, she's a bit picky, so be careful. She may just find your hands appetizing, especially since you haven't been with her for long." Elesa's face was in limbo for a few minutes. "Oh come on, Elli! Don't be afraid, what am I here fro, decoration?" she joked and then turned round. "How do I look?" she asked. Elesa analysed the outfit; a pink nightgown with shiny Magikarp on it.

"What's the big deal with fish?" Elsa inquired. "I don't know, just looked cute!" Skyla beamed and then hugged Elesa. "Oh Ella; you are the greatest woman ever met! I'm sure you'll be really happy! This vacation is already doping you a percent of good! You should hang out with me like this more often!" she gushed while hugging her. "Thanks, Skyla." She said while returning the hug. "You're the best." Of course, she understood everything she did, being her best friend and all. Then Skyla sat down on the bed with Elesa joining while Swanna flew off to her makeshift nest. "Aren't you worried about her fling away?" Elesa asked. "Hah, she won't. That's her real home and she loves me too much!" Skyla replied while ruffling Elesa's hair. "It's bedtime, why the perfect do?" Elesa said nothing and just sat there. She had so many reasons why she came here, and she was seemingly close to the answer. Finally, after a few minutes, she blurted the question.

"Skyla... do you think I'll ever find love?"

Skyla almost choked on her apple strudel. "I mean, I am a model, but my looks will go away so soon because of it. Will anybody truly fall for me, for appearances and personality?" she asked almost choking into a sob. Skyla just nodded and then Elesa sighed. "You know, I'm so jealous of Lenora. Every day when she gets back home, she's got her husband home. He may be a weakling, that Hawes, but Lenny sure is lucky to have a guy like him who'll be her best friend for life and practically live with her... I wish I had one too! I mean, nobody likes me that way!" she almost cried, but was struggling not to. Skyla said nothing and just put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"They think I'm socially incompetent and can't say anything right for nuts! I mean, the triplets all have partners, Brycen doesn't like me, Drayden is old and Burgh thinks I'm ugly!" she moaned and then cried while Skyla's grip tightened. "Does nobody like my personality?" she wailed. Skyla hated seeing Elesa sad, so she took an initiative. She just hugged Elesa warmly and tenderly, comforting like a mother's touch. "Ely, you are not weakling. You are probably the strongest and greatest person I've ever met! Who would not want to have your grace, poise and calmness? I'm sure there is somebody awesome who really loves you for whop you are, and I know it! And if anybody dates you solely for power, tell me and I'll kick his butt so hard, he won't be able to sit for 12 years!"

Elesa just lingered on. She had a purely platonic relationship with Skyla, her other relationships had failed so badly she doubted she even wanted to see another person again! Skyla let her cry for a while and then later gently lifted her up.

"Come on; let's get to your place. You'll be so sleepy now; this will only make you even worse!" Elesa nodded and went to her room with her Pokémon and lay on the end after locking up. Her Emolga was tired and then placed herself in Elesa's lap making her giggle. "That tickles, love!" she said and then hugged and snuggled her Pokémon making her giggle. "You are such a cutie! I am so glad I got you with me!" she cooed while Emolga just laughed like a sweetheart and then let loose a jolt of electricity. "Damn! You should tone it down a bit, love!" she said and nuzzled her and rubbing their cheeks. Elesa loved her so much; she was too adorable, just like her mother.

Emolga now tired fell into Elesa's lap and then fell asleep. Amused, she rocked her like a baby and hummed a lullaby until she fell asleep and then put her to sleep next to her on her bed.

While lying down, Elesa was just retrospecting a little. "I wonder... true love... really? Nah, no big deal! If not the artist, then who?" she wondered while she turned out the lights and fell into a blissful sleep...