Morty woke early feeling sick and dizzy. Looking over at his alarm clock he saw that it was only six o'clock and turned over in an attempt to go back to sleep. After twenty minutes, however, he felt even worse and swung his legs out of bed. Making his way to the bathroom he vaguely wondered if sitting on the top of the Tin Tower for the most of the night had been the best idea…
He still felt distinctly odd after his shower, however, and decided that he needed to get some air to clear his head.
Ecruteak City was still sleeping, for the most part, but Morty still preferred to run outside of the city walls. He pushed himself, hard, all the better to clear his head of this dizzying sickness - and thoughts of Rose that he wasn't able to keep at bay. He ran through the Berry Orchard where he had taken Rose after their first lunch together – and all went black: an intensely impenetrable darkness, pressing upon his eyes with an almost physical force until, suddenly, a blinding burst of yellow-orange flame, obscuring the darkness, smokeless, unquenchable, and yet indescribably relieving after the blackness.
Morty's eyes snapped open; he found himself gasping for breath, flat on his back in the Berry Orchard. Shakily, he got to his feet and glanced around him. There was nobody there. Resting his hands on his thighs he tried to regain his breath. His sickness and dizziness had all but gone.
But what was that…that vision? Morty felt himself break out in an icy sweat as he considered it. Please not that, he begged to nobody in particular, anything…anything but that…
He started to make his way back to his flat, desperately trying to convince himself that it had been nothing. A lapse in concentration - he had been running too hard. That was all.
-o-
As was customary on Tuesday afternoons, Morty made his way to Violet City's Pokémon School, where his father taught, to give a talk to the children on ghost type Pokémon.
"Hello son!" his father called cheerfully, handing each child a mini blackboard and a piece of chalk; Morty liked his lessons to be interactive.
"Hey Dad," he said, trying to smile normally. He still felt a little odd and, although it petrified him to admit it, his dizziness had been getting worse again all afternoon.
"How've you been keeping?" his father, Hector, asked, "neither your mother nor I have heard from you all week!"
Morty smiled slightly as he realised this was the truth. He had not called his parents once due to his preoccupation with Rose.
"Why're you blushing son?" Hector asked curiously, able to make a pretty good guess.
"I'm not blushing Dad!" Morty scowled, turning even redder. There was no way he was ready to have his relationship, or whatever it was, picked over and analysed by his well-meaning, but nosy, parents.
"Okay, okay!" Hector back-tracked knowingly. Morty wasn't usually so private – it must be serious; he smiled to himself.
Once the children were settled in their semi-circle, Morty took his usual seat in front of them.
"Hello Morty!" they all chimed excitedly. They enjoyed this hour with the Ecruteak Gym Leader. He made learning fun.
"Hello everyone!" he said, smiling. Hector frowned as Morty spoke – he sounded very drained.
"Now, who can tell me what we learned last time?"
The children were silent, all too shy to speak first.
"Come on!" Morty probed, "what did we learn about normal type Pokémon and ghosts?"
"Oh! Oh!" one little boy squealed, his hand raised in the air, "normal type attacks don't affect ghost Pokémon!"
He eagerly awaited Morty's praise, which was warm and highly sought after by the children - but none came.
Hector glanced over at his son in concern. He was holding his head in his hands.
"Morty? Morty?" he asked, shaking his son's shoulder, the panic rising in his chest. Morty wasn't responding.
Hector looked desperately back to the semi-circle of wide eyed children.
"G-go outside and play for a bit kids," he said in a would-be calm voice, "Morty's a bit tired today."
As soon as the children filtered out, Hector hauled his son from the chair to the floor and placed him in the recovery position. He appeared to have passed out and was a dead weight. His dark blond hair was sticking to his forehead in a cold sweat, and his top clung to his clammy torso. Hector checked his airways – he was still breathing. He slapped his son hard on the cheek, desperate to generate a response. To his relief, Morty's violet eyes slid open slowly.
"Oh thank God!" his father breathed, hand on his heart, "Morty, are you all right? Can you hear me?"
Morty shakily raised himself on his arms, looking a little puzzled as to where he was.
"I can hear you," he said quietly, pressing his fingers to his temples.
"What's the matter? Are you ill? Have you eaten?"
Morty looked his father straight in the eyes.
"I think it's happening again Dad," he said softly.
-o-
Professor Willow couldn't bring himself to feel angry with Rose (despite the fact he wanted her back on Tuesday at the latest and it was now Thursday) because she looked so very lost as she stood outside his office door.
"I'm sorry about last night, Professor Willow," she said quietly, closing the office door behind her and taking a seat on the green leather sofa.
"Don't worry dear," the Professor said kindly, "you were bound to be tired after that journey. Are you well now?"
"I'm fine thank you," she smiled tightly. He couldn't help but notice that the smile did not reach her eyes.
She silently handed him the thick file and the Pokéball and couldn't help giving a small laugh at the excitement on the old man's face.
-o-
Rose was greeted by a wall of sound as she entered the breakfast room after her meeting with the Professor.
"Rose!" Jay all but squealed, enclosing her in a rib-crushing hug.
"Hello Jay," she said quietly, her face crushed against his chest.
He held her by the shoulders and looked at her.
"God I've missed you," he beamed, "what was Johto like? Did you have a good time? What type's the Eevee?"
"Let her breathe Jay," she heard someone remark. Sat at the breakfast table, leaning back in his chair, was Tripp.
"It's fine," she said, attempting to smile at the pair of them. Jay caught Tripp's eye and they grinned at one another. They hadn't necessarily expected her to acknowledge Tripp so soon – it was going well.
"So, tell us everything!" Jay laughed, "Although you might want to wait for Cristine and Candice to come downstairs first, they're probably going to be late to breakfast; they didn't get back from Dill Rook until the early hours of the morning."
"What?" Rose asked in confusion, pouring herself a cup of tea. She didn't think she could stand eating.
"Of course! You don't even know!" Jay groaned.
"What's happened?" Rose asked, interested despite the wrenching feeling that had been constantly twisting her stomach since the Tuesday morning.
"We'll let the Professor fill you in," Tripp said hesitantly, knowing she didn't like to be kept in the dark, and also wondering if she was really talking to him.
"Okay," she shrugged, surprising both of the boys, "so when did you get back Tripp?"
Tripp could feel his heart beating in excitement. How could this be? She didn't even sound annoyed! A little flat, maybe, but she had had a really long ferry journey…other than that she sounded just like she did before they even arrived at Tarragon City. Tripp couldn't help but grin at Jay through his mouthful of toast.
"I got back on Saturday night," he said, "Candice came with me."
Rose felt slightly surprised, despite her misery, that he came back so soon.
"Who's Candice?" she asked, frowning slightly as she sipped her tea.
"She's the Gym Leader in Snowpoint City in Sinnoh."
"And she came back with you?"
Was she jealous? Tripp wondered, oh please let her be jealous!
"Yeah, we became good friends, I stayed with her as the whole place was so fucking cold!" he laughed, hoping to ignite her jealously further. Rose gave a pained smile and Tripp's heart soared. Only Jay noticed the faraway expression in her eyes - the expression that didn't quite spell jealousy to him. His curiosity kindled, Jay watched Rose throughout breakfast. There was definitely something on her mind. When she wasn't deliberately laughing at Tripp's jokes or ensuring that she answered both of their questions, her face reverted into lines of misery. Considering she had also skipped dinner the night before, Jay was very aware that all she was drinking this morning was a cup of black tea.
-o-
"Can you believe it?" Tripp whispered, wide-eyed as he snuck into Jay's bedroom. Rose was in the shower, but there was no way he wanted to risk her overhearing.
Jay could only frown in response.
"I must say, her attitude surprised me. I thought she'd be…I dunno, a lot more…?"
"Psycho?" Tripp offered.
Jay laughed loudly.
"I was going to say 'unforgiving', but I guess 'psycho' works too."
Tripp smiled happily and lay back on his friend's bed.
"I can't believe it though…" he mused, "d'you reckon she just needed the time away? To realise it's not such a big deal?" Tripp blanched as he realised what he had said, "mate – with Amy -"
Jay rolled his eyes. It bored him how Tripp spluttered and blushed every time it came up.
"Can you just forget it?" he asked, exasperated. Tripp grinned guiltily, "As to Rose…I don't know. I find it very surprising if she's forgiven you, no offence buddy, but she was ready to have your head."
Tripp shrugged, it was the truth after all.
"But, saying that, she was politer to you at breakfast than I've ever seen her…"
"That's what we used to be like!" Tripp said, becoming animated, "before any of the crap here happened – she must forgive me! Why else would she be normal?"
Jay chewed on his bottom lip. On paper it made sense, but Rose was so much more…complicated than that.
"I'm not sure. Don't push her though, remember? Remember what Candice and Cristine said. If she has forgiven you I'd say count your lucky stars…"
Tripp rolled his eyes at his friend.
"I'm not about to jump her," he said indignantly. Although, he wouldn't mind kissing her again, feeling that strange electricity that only she seemed able to generate…
"Happy enough to think about it though," Jay smirked, noting Tripp's glassy-eyed expression.
"Shut up," Tripp growled, his cheeks flaming.
-o-
Rose took rather longer than she normally would in the shower. She had spent the last two days trying desperately hard not to think, and had found herself at breaking point. Sitting in the shower cubicle, the hot water pounding down on her, she did not attempt to stop the tears rolling down her cheeks. She was disgusted with herself first and foremost. Who was she, to get blindly drunk and hop into bed, whether or not she was fully clothed, with a boy she didn't even care for? And Morty…how could she ever face him again? Yes, she had been depressed, of course she had, but she would have bet her right arm that Morty hadn't spent Monday night getting wasted and snogging some other girl senseless. She so desperately wished to speak to him, to hear his voice, but how could she? She could not lie to him, nor could she tell him what she had done.
She continued to sob loudly, grateful for the thrum of the shower that drowned out the noise. She was genuinely at a loss; the thought of never speaking to him again physically hurt her in the chest, but was the alternative much better? If he were the one refusing to speak to her…? Her eyes welled up once more at the mere thought of his face. If only she could have another drink tonight…
-o-
"What do you mean you're fine?" Isadora snapped, peering into her son's eyes – the exact same shade of violet as hers.
"I'm probably just exhausted," Morty insisted, avoiding his parents' eyes, "I had a really busy week last week."
"And that's why you didn't call or visit?" Isadora asked, her eyes narrowed, "or was it because you were too ill? Hmm?"
"It's because I was busy," Morty snarled through gritted teeth. He really regretted agreeing to come to his parents' house - they had moved to Violet City a few years ago to be closer to the School.
"It wouldn't be hard for us to check if you were lying, son," Hector threatened, crossing his arms, "your great uncle would know whether or not you were at the Gym."
"Ask him then!" Morty shouted, standing up from where he had been unceremoniously seated at the kitchen table, "I was at the Gym last week every time I was supposed to be. No challengers beat me. I only started feeling odd this morning. It's probably nothing!"
His parents were stunned. Morty did not shout.
"Well Morty," Hector began, affronted, "we're only concerned, and you yourself said you thought it was back again."
Morty pinched the bridge of his nose. Yes, he had said that. Why was he always so bloody truthful?
"Well I think I was mistaken," he said, stubbornly.
Isadora and Hector exchanged glances and Morty could feel himself fuming with anger.
"I'm going to get back," he said, making to leave.
"Morty," Isadora said, gazing at her son with worry evident in her eyes, "if your clairvoyance is coming back…I think you should stay here with us for a while."
She had said it. She had said the word. Morty slumped back into the kitchen chair and looked up at his parents. He loved them, but by God they could be overbearing.
"It might not be that," he said quietly.
"But it probably is, son," his father said gently, "nobody was entirely sure why your…gift…disappeared, therefore there was no guarantee it wasn't going to return."
Morty sighed heavily and rested his head in his arms on the kitchen table. His childhood had been full of love and laughter; he spent every waking moment with his best friends Callisto and Eusine. It would have been perfect - but for his clairvoyance. As a small child it had made him very ill. Every flaming vision would be preceded by sickness and dizziness. Often his small body was too weak to deal with it and he would pass out on these days, sometimes as many as three times. As he grew a little older, when he was in his early teens, he grew better able to control it. He didn't enjoy the visions particularly, which usually revolved around darkness and light, one triumphing over the other, sometimes taking it in turns, sometimes not, but he no longer felt the sickness. Tiredness yes, but not sickness. He continued to grow stronger, and when he was about sixteen he almost enjoyed his 'gift', for it meant he was able to communicate with Pokémon like nobody else could. He could travel into their minds and hear their thoughts: after Callisto gifted him his Gastly, the two, strengthened by his clairvoyance, became inseparable. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, the 'gift' disappeared. He had been experiencing visions up to three or four times a day and then, all of a sudden, it stopped. His parents and the sages of the Ecruteak and Violet City Towers had been most confused at the abrupt cessation, but Morty thought he knew why…he seemed to lose his powers the night he lost his virginity…
Morty found himself blushing as he remembered.
It had been a rather embarrassing affair. He was a little tipsy and Damien and Sam were holding a party, their grandfather being out of town…the girl had not been a virgin, and was all too ready to laugh at Morty who honestly had no idea what he was doing…
Morty shook his head slightly to dispel the awkward memories. He couldn't tell his parents or the sages about that – it was far too humiliating. But why were the visions coming back? And why, once again, was he so ill-equipped to deal with them?
He raised his head to see his parents still watching him, their eyes wide with concern.
"Even if it has returned," he finally said, "I can't stay here in Violet City…I'm going back to Ecruteak – now."
His parents nodded slowly.
"I'll drop by tomorrow…and Ma? Dad?"
"Yes son?"
"Thank you," he sighed.
-o-
Later on Thursday evening, Rose found herself in Professor Willow's study once again. He had explained everything he knew regarding Dill Rook to her; the mysterious ice, and the dangerous effects of the Garchomp's presumed rage.
"Now, I wanted you back from Johto as soon as possible because of all this ice business. Strangely the appearance of the ice has correlated with a decrease in earth tremors…nevertheless the situation needs to be monitored, but perhaps not quite as urgently as I first thought."
Rose did not answer. She dully considered that had the Professor given the situation some more thought, she might still be in Ecruteak City…might never have gone to Damien's party, not alone anyway…
"That being said, I wish you to leave before Sunday."
Rose nodded.
"Tripp wishes to join you and Jay, if you do not object?"
Rose shook her head, before realising she was probably being rude.
"Of course I don't object Professor," she said hollowly.
Professor Willow surveyed her, but finally nodded.
"Good, well that was all I had to say. Off you pop now!"
As Rose made her way up to her bedroom she couldn't help but marvel at how drastically her feelings had altered. Before leaving Sesame she thought she had felt completely lost. She and Tripp had had their problems, but he completely shocked her when he slept with Amy, she never would have thought he would do something like that. Going to Johto, she felt, was necessary for her, to give her the clearance of mind she needed. On the ferry she met Morty: Morty made her forget everything that evening, they laughed and talked and she genuinely enjoyed herself when she never would have thought it possible. Little did she know then that meeting him was her true turning point. In those few days, everything changed. When he kissed her she felt transformed. Tripp's actions didn't matter, Pokémon training didn't matter, even Pokémon Medicine, her true passion, could take the back seat. She wasn't a romantic, but he made everything feel warm - he made everything right again.
She stopped dead on the stairs as she remembered. How could she have forgotten, even for a moment? No matter how warm he made her heart, she knew she had shattered his, and hers along with it.
-o-
"What is up with Rose d'you reckon?" Tripp muttered to Jay as they pitched their tents. Tripp had finally noticed what Jay had picked up upon the first day of seeing Rose again – she wasn't herself.
It was Saturday evening and the three of them were finally on the road to Woodruff City.
"I really haven't a clue," Jay whispered back, fiddling with the tent poles. Tripp took them from him and began pitching his tent without thinking, "I'm guessing something happened in Johto? Has she told you anything about her time there?"
Tripp shook his head, frowning.
"No…I did ask but she sort of avoided the question…"
"Hmm," Jay answered darkly, squinting over at her. She was sat by the fire, mindlessly stroking Raichu, "whatever it is, I don't think it's anything we've done…she's perfectly friendly when she's not stuck inside her own head…"
Tripp had to agree there. He was even feeling slightly wrong-footed by her overt friendliness which, if not particularly enthusiastic, seemed to hold no animosity whatsoever.
"Maybe she'll talk when she's ready?" Jay suggested.
Tripp shook his head grimly.
"You haven't known her as long as me…if she's not saying it now she'll never say it. Unless she has to, that is."
Jay remembered the evening they had spent together in Tarragon Park when she had confided everything to him. He felt inclined to agree with Tripp. She only spoke then because she had no other option: it was divulge or go crazy. Jay sighed heavily. She looked so desolate. He just wanted to help her.
-o-
Jay awoke feeling very achy and cold. How on earth had Rose and Tripp camped for so long? According to Tripp this was a fairly mild night! Jay unzipped his tent to check if the fire was still burning. It wasn't. Scowling, he made to zip the tent back up; he didn't have a fire type Pokémon so couldn't reignite the fire himself. He stopped dead. He was certain that he heard something other than the hooting of Noctowl. Straining his ears, his suspicions were confirmed by a soft weeping coming from Rose's tent. Jay sighed heavily; she clearly felt as though she couldn't talk about whatever it was, and had taken to crying alone at – he checked his watch – three in the morning.
Jay was not stupid. He assumed that she wished to be alone, and so decided that he would question her the following day.
-o-
Morty woke suddenly on Sunday morning due to his mobile phone vibrating loudly on his bedside table. Groaning upon seeing the name, he answered.
"'Lo Ma," he croaked, turning onto his side and snuggling under his duvet.
"Morty!" she said, sounding unnecessarily relieved, "How are you darling?"
"I'm fine…" he said, confused by her excessive concern "oh…I said I'd be over yesterday…" he mumbled, "sorry, I forgot."
"That's okay…will you be over today?"
Morty rolled his eyes. Every day since Tuesday his mother and father had been calling him incessantly.
"Probably not Ma, I've got a lot on," he lied.
His mother was silent on the end of the phone. Morty sighed.
"Yes, I've had more visions, no, they aren't affecting me badly anymore. I feel fine…okay?"
"Now Morty, you know I'm only worried about you."
"I know Ma, but I'm fine. I'll be over next week sometime, all right?"
"Okay darling, you take care now."
"You too, bye Ma."
He hung up. He was twenty-one for heaven's sake. He could really do without the molly-coddling. Glancing at the time he groaned.
"Who calls at seven on Sunday morning?" he grumbled as he punched his pillow into a more comfortable shape.
Less than ten seconds later there were four sharp raps at his front door. Morty sat bolt upright in bed. Who could that be? The only people that 'dropped in' were his parents, and he had just spoken to them on the phone…
His mouth very dry, and his stomach lurching from nerves and excitement, Morty bolted for the front door. He didn't know why she was here so soon but he didn't care. If ever he had needed –
"Eusine?" he said, his face a complete mask of shock.
"Morty!" his friend grinned, before laughing at his appearance, "I don't know what you've gotten into my friend, but I'll tell you, a visit from me doesn't warrant you being topless…"
Morty glanced down at his bare torso and blushed.
"Sorry, I-"
"Unlike you isn't it?" Eusine continued knowingly, one eyebrow raised, "I didn't think you'd be the type to answer the door half naked."
"I wasn't expecting it to be you!"
"Aha! So you were expecting it to be someone that you wouldn't mind seeing you topless?"
Morty blushed. He had been caught out and Eusine knew it.
"C'mon Morty! I haven't seen you in over a year! Let me in, make me a drink, and tell me about this lovely girl of yours."
Morty opened his mouth but nothing came out. He did, however, blush harder.
"Why're you blushing like a beetroot?" Eusine asked, frowning slightly, "Is it bad? Oh dear God!" he exclaimed, "It's not Miki is it?!" he asked in horror, "Please don't tell me she's finally worn you down?!"
Morty couldn't help but laugh at his friend's anguished face. If anyone disliked Miki more than Morty, it was definitely Eusine.
"Relax…it's not Miki," he grinned.
"Well thank the Lord!" Eusine said dramatically, flinging himself flamboyantly onto the leather sofa.
"What do you want to drink?" Morty called from the kitchen.
"Espresso."
"Espresso?" Morty repeated, bemused, "Eusine, I don't have espresso."
"Just a coffee then please," Eusine said, rolling his eyes.
"How come you're back?" Morty asked, handing Eusine his coffee, his torso now covered.
"Lost track of Suicune," he said, sounding thoroughly irritated.
"Did you manage to see it at all?"
"I think I caught a glimpse of it in Kanto…but otherwise…no," he admitted, "no luck with Ho-Oh either I presume?"
"What do you reckon?" Morty laughed. He and Eusine had bonded in their youth due to their shared fascination with Ecruteak's Legendary Pokémon.
"Okay, okay…so no luck with the Pokémon…" he paused, "but luck with the ladies?"
"You're relentless," Morty muttered, sipping his tea.
"Well?"
Morty fixed him with a hard stare.
"Her name is Rose. She's from Sesame, she was here for a week, and now she's gone," he said bluntly.
"And yet you're obviously gooey-eyed enough to think she's going to turn up at your door unannounced?"
Morty scowled. Eusine was really too insightful for his own good.
"Let's just say I wouldn't have objected," he mumbled.
Eusine considered his friend's tone of voice and frowned.
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
Morty knew better than to lie; Eusine had known him very well for a very long time.
"A lot," he admitted, staring into the depths of his mug, "you got a minute?"
"My friend, I have eternity!" Eusine exclaimed, leaning back onto the sofa. Morty's lips twitched at his friend's predictable dramatics, "No, seriously – can I stay? My family have moved back to Celadon City."
"Of course you can!" Morty laughed loudly. He had really missed Eusine.
"Stop avoiding it Morty," Eusine said seriously.
"Right. Okay. Well," He looked Eusine in the eye, and decided to just say it. "I love her."
Eusine stared back at his friend.
"What?"
Morty began to flush a blotchy red.
"I love her," he mumbled.
"The girl you've known a week?" Eusine asked. He honestly wasn't trying to be patronising, he just wanted to make sure he hadn't missed something.
Morty groaned and fell back on the sofa, his hands over his face.
"You don't get it," he mumbled through his fingers.
"Well tell me!"
"I can't explain it," Morty said even more quietly, his hands still covering his face. There was silence for a short while.
"You really…love her?" Eusine asked, as though he'd never heard of such a thing.
Morty looked at him with agonised eyes and opened his mouth, not knowing how on earth to explain it. To his surprise, Eusine held up his hand.
"It's okay, I understand."
Morty raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
"Morty, I've known since I first moved here, when we were four or whatever…and I've never once seen you look like that," he said, half amused, half bewildered.
Morty smiled; he knew Eusine was his best friend for a reason.
"So…you miss her I guess?" he continued.
Morty nodded slowly.
"It's not even been a week since she left…but she's just…she's so…"
Eusine waited patiently.
"She's like the sun," he said softly.
Eusine couldn't help but burst out laughing. Morty looked irritated.
"No, no! Hear me out!" Eusine wheezed, "I believe you, I do!" he insisted when Morty crossed his arms and threw an unimpressed look his way, "it's just…well - I guess I've never known you to be so…serious about someone?"
"Well I never have been."
"I can tell," Eusine said smiling genuinely, "But that's not everything is it?" he asked, probing.
Morty sighed and glanced over at his friend.
"My clairvoyance is back," he said quietly, "all this past week I've been having visions."
Eusine stared back at him wide-eyed.
"You're not serious?"
"One hundred percent serious – the same vision I had for years."
"But…you lost it! You lost it once you lost your innocence…"
Morty rolled his eyes.
"Eusine, you have to stop referring to it as that! It sounds creepy as hell"
Eusine shrugged.
"Well, it's back anyway," Morty continued.
"Are you well?"
"I wasn't the first couple of days, but my body's gotten used to it again – I've stopped passing out and the dizziness has almost completely gone."
"And I'll bet your training's better now, right?"
"Definitely," Morty confirmed. The strengthened connection with his Pokémon was a true bonus of his 'gift'.
"So…not intending to sound ignorant here…but what's getting you down?"
Morty inclined his head to the side slightly as he considered his friend's question.
"You know, I'm not really sure," he said, "I do feel better having spoken about it all…"
"Does the clairvoyance scare you?" Eusine asked quietly.
"A little," Morty admitted, "more just wondering what it can mean y'know? When it first happened, when I was four or five, all the sages nearly wet themselves with excitement, muttering amongst themselves like it really meant something…not that I ever found out what they were talking about…"
"It must be scary, being the only one it happens to?"
Morty shrugged.
"It's not new to me anymore, so it's not really scary, just…just…unexpected."
"So it's not bothering you?"
"Not really."
"Hey!" Eusine said suddenly, "did you sleep with Rose?"
Morty narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
"I'll take that as a yes," Eusine said, laughing, "I was only wondering if…y'know…'starting up' again reversed it…you lost your clairvoyance when you lost your inno- sorry, your virginity," Morty rolled his eyes but let Eusine continue, "maybe now you've had relations again it's come back?"
Morty blushed horribly. Of all things, he and Eusine really did not discuss their sex lives.
"Eusine," he said in a strangled voice, "Rose isn't the first person I slept with after losing my virginity."
"Oh," Eusine said. Thinking about it, that would have meant that Morty had been celibate for over five years. Hmm.
"Can we stop talking about this?"
"Who've you slept with?" Eusine asked curiously.
Morty looked at him in horror.
"Really?!"
Eusine shrugged.
"Fine. There was the girl at Sam and Damien's – my first time. Then a year later I had that girlfriend for a couple of months…er…Lyra?"
"Was that the clingy one?"
"Yes," Morty said darkly, "and then when I was eighteen, just before I went travelling and became Gym Leader, there was another girl at Sam and Damien's…I'm not proud of it," he said, burning red.
Eusine shrugged again.
"I'm not judging you."
"Well…how about you?"
"Pfft. I'm not sure. Over twelve at least."
Morty blinked.
"You serious?"
"I may not be as pretty as you Morty…" he began, smirking.
"Oh shut up," Morty laughed, slapping Eusine around the back of the head.
"So…Rose," Eusine said, draining his coffee, "tell me more."
Eusine couldn't help but smile to himself as he saw Morty's whole face soften.
"She's beautiful," he whispered, "I mean, I thought that when I saw her on T.V, before I even met her."
"T.V?! What?!"
"Oh. Did you see that broadcast by Professor Willow in Sesame? On the Eevees?"
"Yes…wait! That's her? That's Rose?!"
Morty nodded happily. Eusine sat back on the sofa looking stunned.
"How old is she?" he asked curiously.
Morty's face flamed and Eusine raised his eyebrows in amusement.
"It sounds terrible," he mumbled.
"C'mon Morty, spill the beans," Eusine grinned.
"She's sixteen" Morty said very quickly, avoiding Eusine's eyes.
"Wow. That's…not old."
"Does it sound really terrible?"
"Well it depends on her…I suppose…does she act sixteen?"
Morty shook his head.
"I first met her on the ferry – I'd been visiting Callisto…I was talking to her all night …she's so clever, so mature, I assumed she was nineteen or twenty."
"She doesn't look that old…"
"She's very little," Morty smiled, "but even when she is nineteen I don't suppose she'll be taller…you're making me feel terrible here," he laughed nervously.
"It's not such a big age gap, I mean you were only twenty-one in August…when's she seventeen?"
"In a couple of weeks, third of November"
"So it's only four years really…if she were twenty-two and you were twenty-six nobody would think anything of it!"
"Thanks," Morty smiled genuinely, "I honestly forget her age when I'm with her…she's just Rose."
Eusine scrutinised his friend.
"Well bloody Nora. You really love her."
Morty laughed.
"I really do."
"And you miss her," this was not a question.
Morty nodded, staring at his hands.
"So go visit! Pretend you're seeing Callisto!"
"Callisto invites me once a year, if that," he laughed humourlessly, "she's a big fan of the telephone…"
"Well just go visit Rose then! Or will it freak her out?"
"No," he said softly, "she loves me."
Eusine just managed to hide his laugh. He wasn't laughing at his friend, just at his friend being so infatuated. It was a first - that was for sure.
"She's busy though, she's on some mission for Professor Willow."
"How long?"
"I don't think she even knows."
"So write to her?"
"That is the plan," Morty sighed, before standing up and grinning, "dear God that's enough from me, you want breakfast?"
-o-
Woodruff wasn't a particularly long walk from Tarragon, but even so, Tripp wasn't overly impressed.
"Why couldn't we get the train?" he whined again.
Rose rolled her eyes.
"Isn't this part of it?" she asked lightly, "seeing things? Meeting people…?"
Jay noticed her voice trailing off but said nothing.
Tripp shrugged.
"I guess you're right."
"Oh look!" Jay said, after about an hour of trekking the path, "'Woodruff Conservation Park'," he read from the sign.
Rose gasped.
"I'll bet there're really rare Pokémon in there…" she mused, her eyes regaining a little of their sparkle.
"I have six Pokémon already," Tripp sighed.
"Me too…" Rose said wistfully. There was really no point in them stopping off in the Park.
"Hey," Jay said, "it says here that these Pokémon aren't for catching anyway."
"Boring," Tripp grimaced.
Rose rolled her eyes at him.
"I would tell you off…but seeing as we're on a time limit as such, I suppose we couldn't really justify going in anyway…"
"Is that Dill Rook?" Jay asked, pointing to what looked like a very far off peak.
"Yeah, that's it," Tripp said, squinting in the direction Jay pointed.
Rose gave a nostalgic smile as she remembered the last time she climbed a mountain…she had been absolutely petrified. It was funny thinking about Tarragon Mountain now…the wistfulness had certainly gone, only to be replaced with a new, crippling, crushing guilt. She swallowed audibly. Feeling Jay's eyes upon her she tried to act casually.
"Either of you know the type of the next Gym?"
"Steel I think," Tripp grinned, "shouldn't be too bad, each of us having a fire type…"
"How do Gym battles work?" Jay asked curiously, "can I watch you guys?"
"Usually," Tripp said.
"Depends on the Gym Leader," Rose shrugged, "in Callisto's Gym nobody but the challenger could enter…"
Why did every effing thing remind her of him?
"Well I hope I can watch!" Jay said enthusiastically, "…if you don't mind obviously?"
Rose smiled.
"I wouldn't mind."
"Me neither!" Tripp grinned.
"I've only ever seen proper battles on T.V…" Jay said excitedly, "I would love to see you guys battle…"
"Each other?" Rose asked in surprise.
Jay blinked.
"Well…no…"
Tripp's head snapped in her direction. Was she challenging him?
"Do you want to battle me?!" he asked, his eyes wide.
"Er, no. No offence Tripp," she said, patting his arm. He felt his stomach doing somersaults and winked at Jay before shrugging. He was happy either way. He wouldn't even mind losing to her, he found himself thinking.
"So you guys each have five badges?" Jay asked, trying to add it up.
"Three more to go," Tripp added, his eyes widening in awe, "we're not far off Ro," he said, "although wouldn't you find challenging the Elite Four weird? Like, battling Cristine?"
Rose smiled slightly; it was a very strange prospect.
"Hey Ro," Tripp continued, "Did you hear about Lance?"
"No," she frowned, her curiosity kindled, "what?"
"You know he challenged Sesame's Champion? And that he was beaten?!"
"I had no idea…" Rose mused, "I wonder how our Champion won, I thought Dragons, especially well trained ones, were impossible to defeat?"
Tripp shrugged.
"That's not the best part though, turns out that our Champion is Lance and Clair's uncle!"
"Seriously? What's he doing in Sesame?"
"God knows," Tripp said happily. He really couldn't believe how well they were getting on.
-o-
"I knew we should have gotten the train," Tripp yawned as they pitched their tents in a thicket of trees for the second time in a row.
"It's bloody cold at night," Jay remarked.
"Is it?" Tripp asked in surprise, "I had to take off my socks and jumper last night!"
"You wear socks and a jumper to bed?!"
"Well, when I'm camping…yeah?"
Even Rose smiled curiously as she watched Jay blush.
"I've just been sleeping normally…" he said nervously.
"Which is…?" Tripp probed, a smile unfurling on his face.
"Naked," Jay mumbled, blushing a shocking pink.
Both Rose and Tripp howled with laughter.
"All right, all right," Jay said huffily, unable to hold in his own smile, "How was I supposed to know?!"
-o-
Jay deliberately kept himself awake for a couple of hours; he wanted to talk to Rose alone. Unzipping his tent he stepped carefully past Tripp's and over to hers.
"Rose?" he called softly.
"Y-yes?" he heard her whisper back, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine…can I talk to you?"
She was silent for a moment.
"Sure," she said, unzipping her tent.
"Can I come in?"
She shuffled to the side so he could sit down.
"Now Jay, I hope you're not trying to sleep your 'normal' way in here," she said, grinning.
She didn't fool him however.
"You've been crying," he said baldly.
She glanced at him before looking away.
"Hayfever," she mumbled unconvincingly.
"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I wasn't aware that hayfever kept you up sobbing at three o'clock in the morning?"
Rose let out a breath very slowly and evenly before looking him straight in the eye.
"What were you doing awake at that time?" she asked.
"I was cold," he said defiantly. He was relieved to see her lips twitch, "now, are you going to tell me why you were up?"
She looked him in the eye once again, unnerving him slightly with the intensity of her scrutiny.
"No, I'm not."
"Rose –"
"Not yet anyway," she said, her eyes screwed shut and her fingers at her temples.
"Don't you trust –?"
"Jay," she interrupted, "if it was a question of trust I would tell you right away. Okay?"
"Then what is it?"
Rose chewed on her bottom lip, wondering how best to phrase it.
"There's just some stuff…some stuff that's happened…recent events…and I-I'm finding it hard to order my thoughts, let alone my emotions…I just need some time."
"But are you all right?"
"Of course I'm all right," she smiled breezily.
"Rose…"
"Please Jay," she said, and he was shocked to see her eyes welling up with tears, "this is something I really need to figure out on my own, okay?"
Jay noted the desperation in her eyes and felt that he finally understood.
"Okay, I get you" he smiled, giving her a one-armed hug – they were rather cramped.
"Thank you," she smiled, "now bugger off, I'm tired," she grinned.
Jay grinned back, but he knew her better than that.
"Okay, okay, I'm going. Night Rose, and I'm always here, whenever you're ready…"
"I know," she whispered sadly, desperately trying to keep the catch out of her voice.
Once Jay was back in his tent he couldn't help but smile to himself. She was bound to be caught up in her emotion, and he would leave her for now. If she was trying to figure out her feelings for her best friend he didn't want to push her in the wrong direction. He couldn't wait to tell Tripp – this was really something to go on!
AN: Uh oh, somebody's gotten the wrong end of the stick. And Morty's a little more interesting… (although I find him pretty 'interesting' anyway. Ha…sorry.)
I love Jay, he has his heart in the right place. I really hate matchmaking though – is that just me? Do you guys hate that? Hmm. Some food for thought.
Also, I imagine Eusine to be very camp, but not gay. Feel free to argue with me in your review (; there's going to be a Gym battle next chapter folks, so thumbs up for any of you who particularly enjoy those parts of the story!
Lots of love, A xx