Chapter 9- Valentine Hopes?

"Four thirty am is no time to wake anybody up, for Arceus' sake!" a disgruntled Elesa yelled as she drudgingly opened the door to see Dylan. She was furious and wanted to slap him right now- she'd been working far too long to be sane. "Package." He said apathetically and dumped a huge big bag in her hands. Then he trotted off. Elesa was too tired to react and dumped it on the floor and went to bed, failingly; for now she was in no mood to sleep, having woken up once.

Furiously she threw the bag on her bed and turned the lights on, then seeing it. Her eyes widened a bit- it was beautiful having been made of raw silk and had beautiful patterns of apple and cherry blossoms. It was also in a beautiful shade of blue and looked rather expensive. Then she dug her hands into it and felt something. "Fan gifts. How sweet!" she gushed as she pulled out the other contents and began to blush. There were roses, white chocolate bars, a small bottle of perfume and even a letter. She giggled "Must have been a really love-struck one!" All the same, the gesture was beautiful and she truly appreciated. Then she saw more gits piling in through the door which eventually came up to a whole car's load. She was shocked; now she was getting fan's gifts too?

There was so much in it; teddy bears, pokemon dolls, a teaser toy for her Emolga and even so many flowers and cards. "I didn't tell anybody about my birthday! It isn't even there today!" she gushed and just sat there for a few minutes until she felt a bit sleepy and decided to read the letter she was given to in the bag. When she did, though; she was in for a shock.

Dearest Elesa,

I have sent you my labours of love as a token of how much I care for you. It just seems so amazing to be seeing someone as beautiful as you. Every time I think of you, I fluster in amazement and wonder- how on earth is it that nobody can compare you when it comes to your beauty? I see so much more in you than just a model, I see more, much more... Oh how I wish to see the real you with me eyes all over again!

Yours ever so affectionately,

A well wisher.

Reading this was much more than enough for her, for she was so flustered with embarrassment that she had no idea what was going on. She did get fan mail from Unova too, but this seemed much more genuine, more affectionate, and more heartfelt as if that person was absolutely craving and dying for her. What was she to do? Mahogany Town was complete and now only Blackthorn was left for her to lead... was she supposed to see this person? But where? And how?

She was too tired to think of this, despite its hard impression it laid on her and then she fell asleep.

Soon, Skyla was waking her up after what seemed just a few passing moments and then she saw her best friend practically swimming in gifts. "You okay?" she asked sleepily. "Hey come on! It's time to see Blackthorn City, let's leave! The world is waiting for you!" Skyla yelled while struggling to stay afloat. Elsa quickly got changed and then slid the letter in her dress. "What's that?" Skyla inquired. "Nothing much." Elesa replied as they quickly got out of the hotel to wait for Frances and Dylan who was driving this time. The journey was pretty long and tedious where both the girls got catnaps and Elesa was dreaming about her mystery admirer. Who was that guy?

Then they reached following which Dylan honked the horn making the girls jump out of their skin and Frances quickly went ahead and brushed Elesa's hair. "There you go, you look perfect. Now let's leave." She instructed and Elesa was in a big shock when she stepped out of the car, for that very minute the sea, rather ocean of humanity set forth ready to enclose her in their admiring world.

"What the- Skyla?" she called out for her best friend who was already swept away by that huge sea. Elesa never expected such huge crowds in her life- this was probably the largest she ever saw, like ever! So now it was the usual of signing autographs for every tom dick and harry until her arms got sore and she wanted some time out, but never got any, so much so she almost turned blue. Finally, she got tired of all of this and politely beckoned to leave until she heard someone call out her name which made her turn round and she saw a young man crouching behind Falkner. "Hurry up, man! I don't have forever!" he murmured. "P...Please tell her..." the man mumbled. Falkner sighed. "Oh alright. Hi Elesa!" Elesa just ignored him and walked away, very uncharacteristically. "Skyla, come on! I so want to check out that new souvenir shop!" she called out to her best friend who meanwhile was posing for pictures. "Damn this job's easy!" she sighed only for Elesa to come round and bop her on the head. "Idiot, I told you not to get in the public eye!" she scolded and quickly flashed a smile to the press to distract them and tore away with Skyla, who was busy being dragged by Elesa's rock like arms. "What the hell-?" Skyla asked. "Forget this and come on! The shop is really nearby!" Elesa yelled as they quickly swerved into a seemingly small building, only to discover it was a large studio inside which was larger than life. It looked like a technological palace and really beautiful with tons of backdrops, props and lights. Skyla just gaped- this place rocked.

"I thought you said..." Skyla was cut off when Frances then called out cheerfully. "Elesa, it's finally done! For now you have successfully toured the whole country in a span of only 3 months- isn't that great? Now that we are here, the leader Clair has been kind enough for us to use this place and do a whole lot of shooting; it was the former expansion of her gym!" Elesa was shocked "You borrowed her gym!?" she exclaimed. "No, the land she was to us to expand it!" Frances replied cheerfully to which Elesa almost fainted- how the hell was she so influential?

"Miss me?" a voice popped up and Elesa turned round. "Cameron?" He smiled "Yup. Today I'm photographing you... again." Elesa said nothing and just went ahead to the set. "Okay, Elesa! Today will be the best day ever, fro not only are you leaving this country, you are also going to do the most challenging project ever!" Frances said cheerfully "Check out that cute backdrop right behind- isn't it cute?" Elesa turned round and saw that it was that of a big beautiful beach at dawn with all the palm trees and everything around looked so amazingly beautiful. She was mildly mesmerised- this was the same thing people would use for computer screensavers, or more accurately; wallpapers.

"Wow this is amazing! Are we doing holiday snaps? That'll be lovely!" Elesa gushed happily. Frances smiled "Elesa, you gullible little girl... who said we'll be doing holiday fashion? Sundresses are to be modelled for every summer!" Elesa turned pale. She wasn't- was she? Frances calmly pulled out a rather skimpy swimsuit which looked a lot like her top. "Check this out- it took me over months to design it- the back is deep and the front looks a little showgirl like, but still exposes the belly and looks hot!" she piped. Elesa was shocked- she had specifically signed a contract saying that she will not be doing swimsuits and now Frances was making her do this! "But Frances, I...?" Elesa muttered audibly. "Look, El, I know what you mean, but this time I'll make sure your contractors are put on hold for this, rather, I'll bail you out of this, I promise this, 'kay?" Frances comforted her. Elesa sighed "Alright- just once." She smiled. Skyla on the other hand was furious. "Are you insane? You are clearly violating these rules- don't you get it? If you are caught, you'd be arrested!" she yelled. Frances just ignored her and made Elesa wear the swimsuit in her changing room.

When Elesa got out Frances analysed this. "Hmm..." she said putting a finger far away and checking it out "Perfect! You have an excellent body, Elesa!" Elesa face palmed- she was hoping she'd look too ugly in her swimsuit; rather she looked the total opposite and even worse, this was something she vehemently was against.

She quickly scurried away, hoping no outsiders would see her. "Relax hun! The windows are tinted!" Frances yelled out to the self conscious woman. "Now bring out your Pokémon!" she instructed. Elesa sighed and brought out her pokeball. "Alright, come on out- Go Emolga!" The little sky squirrel came out and saw Elesa in that outfit and flustered. "I know, sweetie. Let's just hurry with this, okay?" she said and then started posing, albeit uncomfortably with Emolga who herself struggled to keep up with this facade. "Come on, Elesa, more poise, more grace!" Cameron instructed as she flailed her arms, bent down and did other poses clearly uncomfortable. Mid-shoot Frances seemed disappointed. "Come on, darling! You have to be yourself in this!" Elesa sighed "Frances, you know how uncomfortable I am in wearing this when there is no water around!" "Then just pretend." Cameron said icily which made Elesa shudder- was a model's feelings non-existent in the fashion world?

Suddenly, she saw a flash of light burst in peripherally which Cameron swore. "Damn! Which idiot attempted that?" Frances looked confused but went to investigate and saw moving bushes. "Someone is there, and I have to figure out who." She said determined while Elesa attempted to shrug it off. "Let it be. These windows are tinted, right?" she said. They agreed and then continued while Skyla was exploring some coloured lights. Click! That flash came yet again and interfered with Cameron's picture. "Who did that? I'm the only one with a camera here!" he bellowed. Frances then peered in the window which looked rather clear and was shocked to see two guys outside. "Franny? Are you okay?" Skyla asked. "I see somebody..." she said still astounded. Not all the windows were tinted.

Elesa then heard laughter and immediately figured out who it was. Furious, she quickly put on a short violet dress which came a bit above her knees and jumped out of the window with Emolga right behind, much to everyone's shock. Elesa immediately figured out who was standing there- the elegant master- Falkner.

Poor Falkner saw Elesa and the very minute their eyes met, she slapped him so hard, he could have nearly bled. While he nursed his aching cheek, he saw Elesa ravaging in fury. "How could you? I was okay with you stalking me even if it was creeping me out but this? Clicking pictures of me like this? Are you such an insolent shameless brat? Crazy pervert!" she burst out in all her anger. Falkner was shaking now. "But I wasn't stalking you!" he insisted. "And I'm 15 years old!"

"More like an immature 15 year old- do you actually think girls are just play things whose lives are nothing short of sick perverted jokes?" Elesa yelled. "And how dare you lie to me?!" she was about to slap him again when suddenly she heard a voice come out of nowhere. "Stop! He did this on my insistence!" Elesa turned around to see a charming young lad in purple and having platinum blond hair. He wore a headband and seemed really relaxed and cute. Falkner was pleading to him and then Morty walked up sheepishly. "What is it?" Elesa asked him coldly while preventing Falkner from escaping. "You see, I asked him to try and look for you because you promised to see me." Then he bent down. "I am Morty, Falkner's best friend. It's a real pleasure to meet you!" and as about to kiss her hand but faltered and moved away embarrassed.

"Did you have to make him click pictures of me just for that?" she insisted which made Morty really embarrassed. Then her face softened and then she said "Lend me your camera." Following which she slid it out of his shirt and then deleted every picture which was taken badly anyway. "If you wanted to see me before, why didn't you? I know I was busy, but the papers tell every time where I am going!" she asked. Morty blushed. "Actually, I am the Ecruteak Gym leader, so I have very little time for anything and those sea of crowds... they even dissuade people like us- it's mildly humbling." He answered. Elesa smiled. "So was it you who was sending me those roses and letters?" she teased. Morty blushed deeper. "So I see! How about we take a picture together, for memories' sake? I am sorry for assaulting your best friend; this could be one way to make it up to you!" as she shot a quick sympathetic look to Falkner who apparently was still hurt.

Morty blushed- this was a dream come true. She pulled out the camera and focused it well, having had a knack for photography. "Smile!" she instructed sweetly while bending over and clicking a picture with the now scarlet gym leader. Falkner just sighed- there was so much that went through with this..

"Hey! Rumour has it you met Elesa! Is that true?" Whitney's annoying voice popped out.

"Yes, sweetheart. I did." Falkner sighed.

"Don't you dare call me that term ever again!" Whitney scolded while Falkner pretended not to notice. Suddenly, he saw Morty get all flushed and embarrassed.

"What's up, bro?" he inquired as he took a quick glance at what Morty was viewing. He blushed even deeper. "I...It's nothing really!" he insisted. Whitney's smile crooked. "Ooh, you like that new model, eh?" she teased making him all crimson. "What's that got to do with you, sweetheart?" he cooed making her blush. Morty always knew how to get her back. "You know.. now that you mention it; I do know her!" Falkner implied.

"You do? Could you get her to meet me?" Morty blurted out. Falkner was wide eyed. His best friend had a crush? All the same, he shrugged. "Okay. I'll see what I can do." He said and then calmly left the place for his new operation to begin; after all it was a blessing that he wound up going to every place she went.

Eleas then smiled "Good enough?" she asked. Morty blushed. "Too much." He replied shyly. "How about I give you one more thing to remember by?" she asked. Morty just looked at her. She then pulled a gold chain out of her dress and put it onto Morty. "Here, keep it; for you. It suits men anyway." She said sweetly as Morty almost fainted. "Th...Thank you!" he blurted quickly and hugged Elesa much to her surprise. Then she smiled and left, leaving an absolutely dazed Morty behind, she was so beautiful!

"I don't know, Falkner... I am so sorry, but why did you have to click pictures of me?" Elesa asked him contritely. "I didn't know any other way to catch your eye!" Falkner blurted embarrassed. "Don't ever do that again. I'll see you some other time." She warned him while pulling his hand away.
"Let me nurse you, boy." She said making him feel weird. Then she quickly but some medicine on it which stung mildly and then said "This is goodbye, I suppose. I'm sorry for any trouble." Falkner's eyes widened. "Er, how?" he asked. "Well, I'm going home now, my shift is over." She said. "Goodbye Falkner. Until we meet again." He smiled at her, something he did rarely and then left on his glider with Morty.

"Come on, guys! Do this and pack up!" Frances instructed while she went on with the shoot more comfortably this time. When they went to the hotel, Skyla was helping Elesa pack when she saw her face fluster again. "Something caught your eye again? Who the new guy?" she asked her. Elesa was blushing even more. "It's the truth Skyla. I like Falkner. I want to be more with him..."