Eyes followed my every movement as I slowly walked into the Nurse's office. Tears swelled in my eyes as I stared at his crumpled form lying in the white sheets. As I got closer, dark bruises became more apparent. A white cotton bandage was wrapped around his lower abdomen, towards the right, stained a dark red. My breath hitched. My fault. He lay there lifeless. Don't cry, don't cry.

I sat on the edge of his bed, pushing back some of his hair that covered his eyes. He stirred slightly. "Ben?" I whispered. He groaned painfully. "I need to tell you something." Ben opened his eyes groggily.

"You're a sight for sore eyes, Sweetheart." He croaked. I smiled slightly, laughing. My hand made it's way to his cheek, caressing it gently.

"Ben, it is my fault you are in here." I stated, near tears. He began to shake his head, opening his mouth to say something. "You have to listen to me." He sighed, nodding slightly. "When I was young, my dad abused my family. It got so bad that Felix ended up leaving me and my mom just to get away from him. Once Felix left, he just got even more violent. Once day while he was away, my mom took me far away to the woods. It was pouring down rain and it was like I was suffocating. My mom told me to run. As far and as fast as I could. So that's what I did. But I heard my dad yell. And then it was silent. I knew what had happened, but I didn't want to accept it, I guess. He sent his men with Houndooms after me. Just as one almost got me, an Arcanine scared them off. He took me to the local town and dropped me off at the orphanage. Do you remember the day I was called down to the office?" I asked. Ben nodded his head, engaged in my explanation. "Well, I'm almost positive that it was to warn me that my dad had broken out of jail. Have you noticed the weather lately? How it is been constantly raining? That's the work of Team Explosion. Felix is part of Team Explosion. They are doing tests on me. They want to see how I communicate with Pokemon. That's why all those Tauros attacked us. It's my fault Kate got hurt and it's my fault you're in here. I don't need a styler to befriend Pokemon and make them do what I want. Ben, they want me to join Team Explosion." I cried, feeling my body trembled.

He looked confused. "I don't understand how any of this ties in with your dad? It seems like it has more to do with Felix."

I wiped away a few tears, trying to contain them. "Grant, my dad, is the top leader of Team Explosion." Ben's mouth opened slightly. "I know I can be real mean sometimes, and I know I'm especially cruel to you, but I don't want to do bad things. I never wanted you to get hurt. Or anyone else for that matter. My past follows me wherever I go. It's inescapable. I don't know what to do. I don't know if the choice I made is the right thing.."

"Summer, you didn't." Ben tried sitting up, terror flashing through his eyes.

My hands trembled as I helped him lean against the bedpost. "That's the thing. I didn't. Am I just being selfish..? Am I hurting more people by not joining? Or will I have to be forced to hurt even more innocent people? What if my decision was the wrong one?"

Ben's hand intertwined with mine, his eyes hooked to mine. "The decision that makes you happiest is the right decision. Summer, you can't keep sacrificing yourself for others. It's going to kill you. I mean, look at me." Ben had sacrificed himself to save me. Maybe I did make the wrong choice. Maybe joining Team Explosion would limit the people hurt. I don't know! I just don't know..

I don't remember how many weeks have passed since my confrontation with Grant and Felix. To be quite honest, I'm thankful for that. I don't want to be reminded of the choice I made. The selfish choice that could potentially put innocent people in danger. Yet, to my surprise there hasn't been anything strange going on. To my knowledge, no one has been hurt. They have either accepted that I don't want to be apart of them, and carried on with their business, or they are plotting something. Something bad for all of us. "Summer?" Ben's hand waved up and down in front of my face. All of his wounds have completely healed. Yet, he has a really bad scar on his lower abdomen. My fault. "Listen, the end of the year school dance is coming up, and well.. I guess I was wondering-"

"Keith! How many times have I told you I'm sick of you doing this? I-I can't even look at you right now." Kate barked. All talking in the lounge had dulled, focused on the two again. Ben groaned. Was he about to ask me to the dance? Damn it, Keith! Why did you have to interrupt him? "Summer, can we please get out of here?" Kate asked, walking over to Ben and I. "And you! Control that dog of yours!" She commanded Ben. I looked to Ben, leaning towards his ear.

I whispered, "Save that for a little later." He smiled, nodding his head. Ben made his way over to the red-cheeked Keith. "Sure thing. Where do you want to go?" I asked, following her quick footsteps down the stairs and out the main doors. I looked to the sky. Another thunderstorm is coming.

"To town. I need to stress shop." She sighed.

We walked down the main path, towards the small town. I've only been there once before with Ben to get Annabelle home safely. As we walked, Kate looked lost in her thoughts. "What did he do?"

She snapped out of it, looking over to me. "Every chance he gets, he just decides to swoon over some girl."

"Kate, how long have you two been together?" I asked.

Kate counted her fingers. "Around four weeks. Wh-"

"How long have you liked him?"

She sighed. "Since I met him.."

"You finally have him. Instead of blowing up at him, trying talking it out with him. Let him know that what he is sometimes doing is bothering you. We all know Keith can be an idiot. So you pretty much have to tell him when he is doing something wrong, or he will never catch on. Kate, don't let him go. I've seen what you two have and that isn't something to lose because of some stupid girl. I know you are all that matters to him." I stated.

Kate looked to me, almost shocked. "Summer, that really means a lot. I think I will do what you mentioned. Talk to him about it." She smiled. I nodded my head. Summer, the love guru. Yup, I still got it.

"Maybe walking here wasn't the best idea!" I barked, covering my hair as we ran back towards the school. We were in the store shopping for a while and as soon as we stepped out, the rain just began to pour to the ground. Typical. We ran into the doors, breathing heavily, our bodies soaked from head to toe. "Did your clothes get ruined?" I asked as we walked up the stairs towards the girls' dorm room. She looked in her beg.

"I don't think so. The bag was closed the whole way." She examined. As we reached the top of the stairs, I spotted Keith sitting by himself, twiddling his thumbs. The lounge was relatively empty. Kate approached him maturely. "Keith, I would like to talk to you." She stated.

Keith nodded his head. "Ben wants you to meet him downstairs. He says it is important." My heart thumped hard in my chest as I nodded. Hopefully it is to ask me a special question. Geez, I've turned into such a girly girl. How is Ben able to make me feel this way? I've never felt like this about someone. It's insane and so foreign. It scares me that I might be too invested. If something bad were to happen, I don't want to be in too deep. I don't need another person to walk out of my life. Not Ben, of all people. That would destroy me.

I walked down the stairs, feeling someone else's presence. As I turned to see who was following me, my shoulders were slammed into the wall, nearly causing me to lose my footing on the step. Jared smirked down at me. A growl formed in the back of my throat. I want to kill him. I want to rip his throat out. For everything he has ever done. Where is Torchic when you need her? "So Sweetheart, I've been thinking, you are going with me to the dance."

His grip tightened slightly. "Are you asking me, or telling me?" I challenged, tilting my head to the side.

I felt his cold hand go down my body. "I'm telling you. And you're going to do as I say. Got it?" I pushed him off me.

"I'm not doin' shit with you. You're a pathetic, ignorant asshole. Keep away from me." I spat sharply, walking down the last few steps. What a jerk. He acts like he scares me and that I'll do whatever he wants. He can't be further from the truth. I walked through the halls, trying to locate Ben. I turned one of the corners and felt my wrists being grabbed. I gasped, being pulled to Ben's body. "That's one way to get my attention." I breathed, smiling slightly.

Ben grinned cheekily. He snaked his arms around my waist while my arms went around his neck. "I've been thinking a lot lately. I've really been noticing something between us and I wanna try something." He whispered, leaning down closer. I began to lean up, nearly closing the space between us. Just as our lips were about to touch, there was a loud squeal. We gasped, looking towards the sound.

A girl named Veronica glared at me, her fists clenched. "Ben! What do you think you're doing with her? She is no where as popular as me! You are supposed to ask me to the dance!" She yelled. I turned to Ben smiling.

"So, you were going to ask me to the dance?" I asked, pretending to be surprised. Ben laughed, looking away from Veronica.

"Damn it! You ruined the surprise, Veronica. Ohh well. Sweetheart, go to the dance with me?" He asked, looping his fingers in my shorts' belt loops.

I smiled up at him. "Of course." My lips rested on his cheek. Veronica growled as I pulled away. She stormed past us, ramming into my shoulder. We just laughed. "She is just a piece of work." I sighed. Ben nodded in agreement. "So, what did Keith say about his and Kate's little dispute?"

Ben sighed. "He said he has no idea what he did to make her so angry. But my guess is that he was hitting on some girl."

"Close. He was swooning over some random girl." I batted my eyelashes mockingly. Ben laughed loudly, shaking his head. "He is so hopeless." I sighed. Ben nodded. Hopefully the two are able to pull everything together.

A cool night breeze flowed through the opened window next to my bed. All the other girls are asleep. I haven't been able to fall asleep with ease recently. One night, I ended up pulling an unintentional all nighter. I looked like death itself. But tonight is different. I'm just a jumble of emotions. First off, I am having these conflicted feelings towards Ben. Something about him is just so captivating and I find myself unable to be away from him. He has just become such a big part of my new life. Yet, I don't want him to see the old me. He got a glimpse of the old me when we first met, but I was ten times worse than that. I hated everyone. My mother was the only person I cared for. I thought no one was capable of being kind. Grant ruined it for me. My mom told me to not to let hate taint my mind, but I did.

That's what I am most ashamed of. Letting my hate and anguish take over my life. The one thing my mother told me not to do, and I did it. Maybe all I am is a disappointment. Although, she would have loved Ben. Our moms would have been the greatest friends.

I just can't get Grant's warning out of my head. It's been weeks since I left the Team Explosion headquarters. No one has come after me or hurt anyone in town. I was just there today and everything looked normal. Or they could be waiting for the right time to strike. That is what worries me the most. What if I'm with Ben when that time happens? What if he gets hurt yet again, because of me? I would join Team Explosion, if it meant keeping him safe. Ben is the only person I care about anymore. I would do anything to keep him safe. That's a promise.

Alrighty, hopefully y'all enjoyed! -A