133. Catalyst

All I wanted to do was go exploring a little the first day I moved into Littleroot. I should've known all along that things were never that easy.

"Hey! I can hear someone shouting out there!" a little boy cried from the edge of the forest.

I didn't know him, but I felt an obligation to help.

I hurried into the forest, where a man in a lab coat had fallen to the ground, and a wild Pokémon bared its teeth at him.

There wasn't much of a choice. I grabbed the first Poké Ball I saw in his bag.

134. Parallel

Different choices created different paths in life, and while I wondered what the paths I didn't take might look like, I wouldn't say I would change anything.

Sure, maybe in another life I would have sent someone else to help Professor Birch, but if I had done that, I might not have gotten my Mudkip. How many other things would change from that?

If I was the passive type, would I have met Mr. Stone that cold day and, consequently, Steven?

Despite all of the hardships and bad things, I had to believe things always worked out in the end.

135. Days Until Tomorrow

"What?"

I turned to look at Steven, who still hadn't let go of my hand, and even in the darkness, I could see slight rosy pigmentation to his skin.

"I needed to sort things out…"

I bit my lip to force back the tears again, but I wasn't exactly successful. "I would count the days until I saw you again. I think I was in love with you by the third time we met."

For some reason, I didn't expect the smile. "Me, too."

"How many days should I count now?"

Steven brushed a tear away from my cheek. "None."

136. The First Kiss

My eyes were closed when he kissed me.

His hand didn't move from my cheek, nor did the other one ever let go of mine. It was a small move forward, not even steps to pull us together—because he was so much taller than me and needed to lean down, and I had to stand on my tiptoes.

It was fluid motion. We both moved at the same time; I dipped my head back, he leaned down, my eyes shut.

I grabbed his tie when he went to pull away. "Not yet," I whispered, and I kissed him again.

Author's Note: And readers everywhere go, "Finally, geez, only took you 136 drabbles across 34 chapters, damn it, Liz."

The next chapter is the last. Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until tomorrow! :)