An Interesting Internship
Keith's POV
I woke up a half-hour before my alarm to find Kate still passed out on the floor. I felt sorry for her, in about a year, she'll be completely deaf. I'm not saying that being 100% deaf is a bad thing, but when it comes to being a Ranger; you really need to hear orders and assignments. I took a shower and got dressed before I woke her up.
"Alley Cat, wake up! Come on, Alley Cat." I received a groan and pillow to the face.
That's it, I went into the bathroom and filled a cup full of cold water and dumped it on her.
"GAH! What the hell was that!?" She flipped out, and then glared at me.
"Hey, I tried to wake you up earlier, but you remained asleep." I smirked at her before she smacked my face with a pillow.
She looked over at the clock, "I'll finish you once we leave for wherever we're going."
She went into the bathroom while I went ahead to Ms. April's room. I looked at the board to see our partners and internship places. Naturally, Kate and I were paired up and we're going to Vientown. Hey, that's where Kate's cousin, Crawford, is.
Kate showed up about 5 minutes later with her hair in her usual ponytail. She checked the list and smirked. I knew she was plotting something, and it wasn't going to end well for me.
After Ms. April dismissed us and we helped out Tim, the local milkman (long story that involves Bidoof) we were on our way.
Kate kept running ahead until she tripped on a rock, "Walk much, Alley Cat?"
She growled at me and stood up, "Come on, Keith, we're going to be late."
I sprinted after her until we got to the base, where on the operator's desk there was a parcel and a note that said, "Bring this to Breeze Hill, don't swing or tip over the parcel as the contents are extremely fragile. The fate of the Vientown ranger rests in your hands. Regards, Barlow."
Kate grabbed the parcel, "C'mon, Keith! Quit lollygagging and look alive."
"I'm coming, I'm coming," I ran after her to make sure she didn't drop the important parcel.
After running through Nabiki Beach, we ran into a man named Mr. Woodward, "Ahh, you two youngsters must be Ranger student"
"Yes sir," Kate answered politely. Huh, I guess even Kate has a civil side.
"Then would you mind answering a couple of questions, it won't take hardly any of your time,"
We looked at each and nodded, "Let's do it!"
"Alright, first off; can you only have one partner Pokémon?" I Answered before Kate opened her mouth.
"No, you can have multiple, as long as you have a place for them to stay," I could feel Kate's glare.
"Excellent, secondly; what is a partner Pokémon?" This time Kate piped up.
"A partner Pokémon is a Pokémon you share an emotional bond with." I looked over to see her smirk at me.
"Well done, you two. I pray you shall be successful in your adventures." We thanked as we ran up the stairs to the top of Breeze Hill.
Kate's POV
When we got to the top, I went slack-jaw. There was a picnic blanket out and who I assumed that worked at the base all sitting around it. Then I hear Keith say the most intelligent thing he's ever said, "Hellomeetcha…"
I stifled a laugh as Keith face-palmed, "Did you just say 'Hellomeetcha'?"
I heard the large, cocoa colored skinned man bellow, "That's Keith for you, and by the way I'm Kate. Nice to meet you," Keith shoved me to which I pushed him back.
"Why don't you two quit the shoving and unload the grub!" I heard Crawford's voice stick out.
"Food, you mean this is-"I lifted up the parcel.
"Lunch? Yes it is. Now unload and eat, I'm starving!" I rolled my eyes at Crawford.
About halfway through the picnic, my hearing aid started acting up so I took it out and transitioned to sign.
"You okay, Kate," Crawford looked at me concerned.
"I'm fine, my hearing aid just acted up so I just took it out." I waved it off his concern.
"Want me to tell the others?"
"No! I don't want them to worry or know." Right then, a boy about 17 ran up to us, blabbering hysterically.
"Please help! These Pokémon have surrounded my girlfriend and they're not letting her go!" He was talking so fast I'm amazed that I understood clearly.
"Alright team, let's go, you too, rookies!" We all ran down the steps, me tripping and hearing my bad ankle pop once again.
At the beach there was a teenage girl surrounded by Pokémon, they seemed to be in pain.
"Please don't harm them," Mr. Woodward begged, "They're good Pokémon, but something threw them out of sorts."
"Don't worry, sir, we won't harm them one bit." I assured him.
Everyone else took one Pokémon, so I was left with the Pachirisu. The little devil kept shocking me with its electric attacks until I captured it. Barlow instructed all of us to release them, but Pachirisu wouldn't leave.
"What's wrong, kid? Haven't they taught you how to release a Pokémon?"
I was extremely embarrassed, "I'm trying, but it's not going away!"
Crawford came over, "Chief, looks like Pachirisu wants to be Kate's Partner Pokémon."
"That's a problem." I looked over in confusion, "Kate, you can't have a Partner Pokémon until you graduate and become an official Ranger."
I looked down at Pachirisu, who seemed to understand. She scampered over to Mr. Woodward and her expression seemed to say, "Don't worry, I'll wait"
Barlow told Keith and me to go back to the base while they cleaned up. After he helped me up the stairs, he asked, "Are you okay?"
I waved dismissively, "Yeah, just a little upset about Pachirisu, that's all."
He raised an eyebrow, "Alley Cat, I was asking about your right ankle, you've been walking funny since the capture."
I looked down on it, "Oh, I just tripped on the stairs on Breeze Hill, I'll be fine."
Truth being it felt like a hammer was pounding my ankle, I kept a straight face. I'm a tough girl who only accepts help when she needs it. The rest of the walk was spent in comfortable silence.
After a while, the Ranger Team came back and some goodbyes were said, "I hope y'all guys will get stationed here." Crawford hugged me and gave Keith a "bro-hug". We left after Luana pinched all the fat out of my cheeks, claiming how I was so adorable and innocent.
We caught up with Ryth claiming that our mission was 'top secret' while she complained how the professor kept calling her Misery. When we got to the dorm room, I took off my socks and shoes to see my foot all swollen and puffed like a Politoad.
Keith came in from the bathroom in his pajamas, "What happened to your ankle?"
"I tripped on the stairs." I grimaced as I set my foot down on the pillow.
"It looks like someone took a bat and swung it at your ankle a couple of times!" I rolled my eyes.
"Thanks, I feel so much better." I crossed my arms as he came over.
"Kate, can I ask you something?" I got a bad feeling as he sat at the foot of my bed.
"Sure, go for it." I saw him shift uneasily.
"Alley Cat, how did you actually lose your hearing, and don't tell me it was from that old truck, I want the real story."
I bit my lip, "Keith, I trust you, you know that, but I'm just not ready to tell it. It's not you, it's just that…it's a painful story that I don't want to bring up now. But I promise I'll tell you soon."
He looked at me, "It's alright, I'm not mad; just know that you can tell me anything when you want to."
He went over to his bunk and turned off the lights and began snoring while I stayed awake contemplating whether or not to tell him. I wanted him to know, but I didn't want to dig up all the pain and suffering that happened during it. I decided to mull it over in the morning, falling asleep to the throbbing of my ankle.
A.N. Hey guys! I know I haven't updated n a couple of days, but I decided my game plan for updating; I won't update during the weekdays because I can't handle school, choir, tennis, and this story all at the same time, but I will update over the weekends. Also, that contest I have for chapter I think 6, the contest is still open, but I'm giving a hint; It is a human being within the story. That is all! Don't forget to review, Jamie, sign us off, dearie.
Jamie: Scubagirl13 doesn't Pokémon or the characters used in the story! :)
