By the time we made it to the cabin Brian and I were frozen to the bone. As soon as we made it inside, April lead me into a room and helped me peel off my soaking clothes. Normally I'd undress myself, but my fingers were so numb I wasn't sure I could. After I was out of the clothes, and in nothing but my bra and underwear, April threw a large blanket over me.
"There's a fireplace in the main room. We'll sit you in front of that." She said as she dragged me out of the room.
I pulled the blanket around me tight, feeling incredibly self conscious. Even if no one could see anything, I was still half under that blanket after all. However, the room was empty when we walked out, with the exception of Pikachu waiting for me. Where is everyone?
"Everyone is outside. Back up came in around the time you fell into the water. They've been transporting prisoners out of here as fast as they can, I'm sure Damon knows we broke in by now." She said answering my question.
"I'm going to go see how things are doing. Are you okay here?" She asked as I sat down in front of the fire.
"Yeah," I whispered, my throat still sore. With that she waltzed out the door as Pikachu climbed onto my lap to add some extra heat. He looked up at me to make sure I was doing okay, and I leaned down and kissed the top of his head. He let out a happy "Pika!" as he curled up against me.
"Mind if I sit?" Brian's voice asked from behind me.
I turned around to find him also wrapped in a blanket. Which meant, he was also probably wearing only underwear underneath it. I felt a blush make its way onto my face as I shook my head. He sat down with his back to mine.
"I won't look," He muttered as if he could tell how tense I was.
"I know," I replied in a quite voice.
"They're getting the last of the prisoners out. We'll have to wait a while before you're good enough to head home." He said after a while of silence.
"You also need to warm up," I informed him.
"I'm fine," was his simple response.
"You're just as likely to suffer from hypothermia as I am," I muttered.
"Tch. You're the idiot that fell in the water and drowned in the first place." He retorted.
He did it again. Ever since he came back, he's treated me coldly. I didn't know what I expected after we kissed, but I certainly wasn't expecting him to treat me like he was. It was as if I meant nothing to him.
"Why..." I whispered.
"What?" He questioned as he looked over his shoulder at me.
"Why do you keep saying things like that to me. Why are you pushing me away?" I asked as tears fell down my face.
His eyes widened in surprise as if it was the first time he noticed how cruel he had been. I buried my face in my hands as I tried to muffle the sobs that escaped my throat. Pikachu rubbed his head against my hands as an act of comfort.
"I-I just thought, it would be different. After that day." I choked out.
I heard him shuffle behind me and without a word his arms were wrapped around me from behind.
"I'm sorry," He said with his face buried in my hair.
"I've never been serious about a girl. I didn't know how to handle you, so I pushed you away." His grip on me tightened at his words, as if he was afraid to let go.
"It was wrong of me. I didn't mean to hurt you." He whispered in my ear.
"So, you're serious about me?" I asked amazed by his words.
"Hm," He answered obviously embarassed. That meant yes.
"So, does that make you my boyfriend?" I questioned feeling brave and hopeful.
"I'd like to be," He muttered, I was sure he had a slight blush on his face and I quickly turned around to find I was right.
"I would like that too," I said as a smile made its way onto my face.
He reached forward and wiped the remaining tears from my face.
"Smiling suits you best," He said as he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine.
My arms reached around his neck to deepen the kiss, causing my blanket to fall, and I realized I was half naked. I let out a shriek as I pushed him away with a blush on my face. I quickly reached down and pulled the blanket back over me. Brian was looking away with his wrist covering his face to hide his faintly pink shaded cheeks.
"I didn't see anything," He assured me.
I'd never seen the Brian I was seeing at that moment. He always had a cold and intimidating aura about him, but in that instant he was different. I found that I liked seeing these different sides of Brian. I wanted to see more of them, I wanted to see every side of Brian. Those certain sides of him that he hides from everyone else. The sides of him that make him vulnerable. I wanted to be the only person he showed those sides to. Was that selfish?
"Geez, I didn't leave you in here so that Brian could sneak in here and steal your innocence." April yelled as she appeared in the cabins door way.
"T-that's not even what's happening!" I yelped.
"If I knew being frozen to the bone meant being half naked in a room with the girl you like, I would've pushed April in a frozen lake ages ago." Oliver said from behind her.
"Shut up you pervert!" April shouted as she turned around and smacked him in the head.
"What's that pervert doing to innocent Kate?" Caleb shouted as he too appeared in the door with a very confused Steven trying to calm him down.
"How annoying," Brian sighed next to me.
I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my mouth at the scene before me. My friends were all very strange, each in their own way, but they put me at ease. I couldn't imagine a life without all of them in it.
After Brian and I were able to warm up a bit more, we piled on the clothes and readied ourselves to head back to base.
"The rest of you go back to base, I was asked to bring Kate to Main Base." Steven said as we all stood outside the cabin.
I froze in place with Brian right next to me. He glared hard at the ground and an angry expression crossed his features.
"Why?" I asked.
"No clue, just following orders. Though it might have something to do with that little stunt you pulled." He said with a fake smile, that told me he was still mad that I ran away.
I guess I had never really thought about the consequences of my actions. Were the leaders angry? Were they planning on kicking me out of The Resistance? I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. I had to beg them to let me stay no matter what.
"What about us? We were with her." April said.
"My orders were only Kate," Steven said.
"Well lets get this over with," Brian muttered.
"You're coming too?" I asked him.
He looked over at me as if I was stupid for even asking.
"As if I'm going to leave you with him," He replied as he jerked his thumb toward Steven.
"Good luck coming along lover boy. With a rude remark like that, no way I'm letting you ride Salamence." Steven huffed.
"As if I need your Pokemon. Kate's riding with me," Brian said as he pulled out a pokeball and released his Charizard.
What? Was he crazy? Did he despise Steven enough to risk killing us all with that violent Pokemon? However, much to my surprise, Charizard didn't attack anyone. As soon as he was released he spit an ember on the ground and looked around as if he was disappointed there wasn't going to be a battle.
"Y-you trained Charizard?" I whispered over to him.
"Ah," He confirmed.
"Fine, ride your Pokemon. Just meet me there. Though I'm not sure the leaders will be happy you're coming along too." Steven muttered as he sent out his Salamence and rode away. Charizard looked at the Pokemon fly away with a spark in his eyes that said he wanted to challenge it. He then looked down at Brian with a bored expression.
So is wasn't like he was completely trained, he was just like Glaceon. He lacked respect for his trainer, but realized if he wanted to be used in battle, he had no choice but to obey.
"I'm not getting on your crazy Charizard," I stated.
"Scared?" He mocked.
"Yes," I said as Charizard gave me a look of amusement. Pikachu let out a low growl, obviously not scared of the much larger Pokemon.
"Are you coming, or are you going to walk off this mountain," Brian asked as he motioned for Charizard to lean down so we could get on.
Seeing no other option, I started walking toward them.
"Hey," April stopped me by grabbing my sleeve.
"Watch out for the leaders, I've heard bad things." She whispered in my ear as she released my sleeve.
I nodded to her as I walked over to Charizard and grabbed Brian's hand so he could pull me up. Once I was seated behind him and wrapped my arms around him, Charizard took off with intense speed.
When we arrived at the main base, located in the Johto region, Steven was already there waiting for us. We then followed him inside and he lead us to a large conference room. Once inside I was greeted with a row of eight tables, each of which had a person behind it. They were all extremely old looking, I couldn't help but wonder what The Resistance was thinking letting a bunch of ancient people lead them.
"You can leave us," One of them said to Brian and Steven.
Brian glared as Steven shoved him out of them room leaving only Pikachu and me with the leaders.
"We've heard a great deal about you Miss Leaf," the only other female in the room said to me.
I couldn't help but cringe under her sharp gaze. She almost looked like a wicked witch.
"I-is that so?" I asked sheepishly.
"Indeed, like when you saved Brian Dean from those Steelix."
"When you were kidnapped by Team Moondusk, but managed to escape all on your own." Another leader said.
"And managed to burn down their entire camp." A different voice stated.
"Also burning down a forest," An angry voice piped in.
"But risking your own life to save the wild Pokemon there," a kinder voice added.
"We also heard about how you helped find the missing Stone of Shadows." The wicked witch said.
"But managed to get yourself kidnapped and lost it anyway," The angry voice shouted again.
"But also saved Brian Dean when he was attacked from behind." She countered.
"Then you went and solved a mystery in a small town, rescuing all those lost children."
"Let's not forget your most recent adventure. You disobeyed an order and took it upon yourself to break into a high security prison risking not only your life, but that of your friends you involved, all for a little girl." Mr. Angry Voice spoke up even louder, making me cringe once again.
"Wow, you guys sure did your research." I said hesitantly.
"We've been watching you for a very long time." A calmer old voice said.
How long exactly was a very long time? I had been with The Resistance for around a year, but part of me knew they meant longer than that.
"After some thinking we've all made a decision," The witch woman said as she looked down at me.
I tensed up as I waited for my punishment. What was I going to do if I got kicked out? Or maybe they would lock me up somewhere? Or perhaps banish me to a far away place. With so many thoughts running through my head I almost missed it when she finally spoke again.
"We're making you a top member."
"Wait, what?" I managed to spit out.
Well I certainly wasn't expecting that. Why in the world would they make me a top member? I wasn't any where close to being good enough. There were so many incredibly strong trainers out there that I as sure would be a better fit than me. I wasn't ready for that. I knew my team had a long way to go before I could handle it.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline that," I said softly.
"I'm no where near good enough to be trusted with such a high position. I'm not ready for something like that."
"You misunderstand what we're saying. It's not optional." She said in an angry voice.
At this point I couldn't even respond, I was so shocked. I didn't have a choice? Since when? Last I checked, The Resistance was based on volunteers.
"Excuse me?" I asked hoping maybe I heard wrong.
"I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter."
"Last I checked, I most certainly do! You can't force me to do anything!" I yelled as I felt anger start to replace the shock.
"You know Miss Leaf, you have a lovely family. It would certainly be a shame if something happened to those parents of yours."
"Is that a threat? Are you seriously threatening me?" I was in a state between complete rage and disbelief.
"Pika!" Pikachu chimed in also filled in with anger.
"You wouldn't dare!" I screeched at them.
"We have a way of getting what we want. Mr. Dean knows that well." She said with a smile filled with hidden secrets.
They were threatening Brian? He wasn't a top member willingly? Did they hurt someone he cared about? Who else have they been threatening? I had no idea The Resistance was so corrupted. I felt my fists shaking at my sides.
"You can't do this! You can't..."
"We can, and we are. You'll have your first mission within the week. For now, you may leave." And with that, I was escorted out of the room by two very large Machoke.
"Hey, what did they say?" Steven asked as soon as I found them in the lobby area.
I couldn't answer him. There were so many thoughts going through my head.
"Kate?" Brian said as he put his hand on my shoulders that I didn't realize were shaking until that moment.
A hot liquid burned at my eyes but I refused to let any tears fall. I blinked them away as I looked up at my most important person. Who were they using against him? I figured at this point it would easily have been me, but how did they get to him before I came along?
"It looks like, I'm a top member now." I finally said, leaving me looking at two very shocked, and very angry faces.
Those are some evil old people. But Kate and Brian have made it officially official. :P It's only going to get more intense from here so stay tuned and leave a review!