I got a job. Packing boxes in some warehouse, ready to be shipped off to Goldenrod Department Store not far away. The boxes came from the room above down a conveyor belt. I would stand at the bottom with a rolls of duct tape, close up the box and seal it before sending it on it's way. Lather rinse and repeat for eight hours a day.

I kept telling myself it wasn't a permanent thing. It was all I could do to stop myself going insane. The pay was bad, but it was better than nothing and would do until I managed to find something better for myself. I'd get a better job. Somehow.

I hadn't found another place to live; I hadn't looked. I wasn't sure I would be able to find a place cheap enough for my meagre wage to buy. I could live with hopping from one pokemon centre to the next and back again for the time being. It wasn't the lifestyle I'd envisioned for myself as a kid, but it was the best I could manage.

I hadn't told anyone that I'd been evicted. I didn't want pity or platitudes. And I didn't need any help. I wanted to things to get better, but I wasn't ready to turn my life three-sixty yet. I couldn't throw away the rules I'd lived by all my life. I wouldn't be able to ask for help without feeling weak. Not yet.

After a week or so of work, I was running low on clean clothes. It didn't really matter when I was working, the whole place reeked of sweat and machine oil anyway, but I didn't much like the feel of pulling on boxers that I'd used three days in a row. I wasn't a neat freak or anything, but it wasn't exactly a nice feeling knowing you'd just had a shower and had to climb into dirty, greasy clothes right afterwards. The only washing machine in Ecruteak pokemon centre was broken (from being overused), I didn't want to pay to go to the laundrettes, and I was past the washing-clothes-in-the-sink stage.

While I was pondering my devil-scented clothes conundrum, the phone in my room rang. Frowning, I answered it. It was the centre's nurse, telling me there was a call waiting for me and she was going to put it through. Before I had the chance to tell her there was no way I could have a call and that she'd got the wrong guy, my ears were assaulted by the furious ramblings of Blue.

"Silver, what do you think you're doing?" she cried, making my ears ring. "I tried to call you on your phone and some drunk-sounding guy picked up instead, so I went to your flat and there was someone else living there and when I asked the landlord he said that you'd been evicted like two weeks ago!"

I groaned. "What do you want, Blue?"

She gasped in anger. "What do I want? What do I want? Why didn't you tell me, Silver!"

"Why should I?" I asked indignantly. I didn't owe it to her. What right did she have to demand entry into my private life? "I don't need any charity."

"I-" Blue sighed, "-I'm not trying to give you charity Silver, you know I'm not. I just worry about you. You're too reckless."

"I'm fine."

"You always say that. Even when you're not. What happened to your phone?"

I shrugged even though I knew she couldn't see me. "Got stolen. Laptop too, so don't email me."

"Oh Silver. And your apartment?"

I didn't say anything.

"Oh Silver." Blue sighed again. "That's it. You're coming over here right now."

"I don't need any help," I said defiantly.

"Yes, you do!" Blue snapped. "For God's sake, just admit it! I'm not planning on giving you anything, but I want to see you. I'm here for you, I want you to understand that."

I swallowed and looked at the floor. "...If I come over there, I'm using your washing machine, okay?" I said eventually.

"Sure." I could hear the smile in her voice. "You remember where I live?"

I hung up, figuring that would give her my answer.

–

She scowled at me when I showed up at her door. "You hung up on me. Very mature, Silver." She put her hands on her hips as she studied my face. "Oh God, what happened to you? No wait, don't answer that, it was a stupid question."

I could've made a retort, but I didn't have the energy and I had to admit Blue had a point. The bruises on my face still hadn't quite healed, so I suppose I looked just a little worse for wear.

"You carry on like this, you're going to get yourself killed."

"I didn't come here for a lecture," I muttered, striding past her into her apartment. "I came here to wash my clothes.

"Well excuse me for being worried," Blue said, offended. She turned to face me, closing the door behind her. "I don't mean to nag at you, Silver, but how can I not?"

"Where's the washing powder?" I called from the kitchen. Blue's apartment was organised, I'd give her that. So organised that it was impossible to find anything. She appeared at the doorway, looking sour.

"Cupboard under the sink," she said dryly.

I stuffed all my clothes into the washing machine at once, knowing full well my whites wouldn't be white for much longer. When I turned around, I saw Blue looking at me with such a look of sadness on her face at I was taken aback.

"What's up?" I asked, swallowing.

"Nothing," Blue murmured. "I was just wondering how we'd grown apart this much. You never tell me anything."

I raised my eyebrows at her. "I tell you everything," I said amusedly, following her into the living room and sitting down beside her on the couch.

"Only because I force it out of you!" Blue said, tapping me on the head and giggling despite herself. "I just don't know with you, Silver. I think I've got you figured out, and then you go and do something to show me just how wrong I am."

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm fine."

"You're always 'fine'," Blue replied sarcastically.

"Yeah, but this time I mean it," I said, looking at her properly. "Look, I went through a bit of a rough time and now I'm pulling out of it. That's all."

"You got a job?"

I tilted my head the way Green did when he was in a cocky mood, trying to appear confident. "'Course I did."

"Doing what?" Blue narrowed her eyes at me.

I didn't want to tell her. "I got a job," I repeated.

"Oh God. Silver, please tell me it isn't-"

"Hey!" I was offended by the horrified look on her face. "It's nothing illegal! I'm just..." I lowered my gaze, suddenly ashamed. "You know that warehouse? W-Where the store got it's stock from? There."

Blue forced a smile and put her hand on my shoulder, giving me a little shake. "Well it's better than nothing, right?" she said cheerfully. "If you ever need any help – financially, I mean – you can always come to me. I'm quitting my job at the department store, you see... I got a promotion at the newspaper I'm working for!"

I gaped at her. "But... you only just started working there!"

She shrugged and grinned sheepishly. "Beginner's luck?"

Beginner's luck, my ass. I always firmly believed that Blue was simply born lucky, and this just sealed the deal. She was both clever and sporty. She picked things up at superhuman speed. She was attractive without five layers of make-up caked on her face. Boys were always getting crushes on her for no reason. She was like a big sister to everyone, and possessed that uncanny ability to see right through even the most skilled of liars.

There was no doubt, if I wasn't her friend she would've annoyed me.

"Oh don't look at me like that, Silver!" she complained. "It's not like I can help it."

"Of course you can't. You're perfect." I tried to sound bitter, but I couldn't keep the smile out of my voice. I didn't know why I was suddenly so upbeat. There was still a lot on my mind, but right now I just wanted to forget it all. I had a job, I had a place to stay, and I had at least one person who cared about me. It was really quite pathetic that that was all it took for me to cheer up nowadays.

Blue poked her tongue out at me – then almost bit it off as a loud wail emitted from the bedroom. I jumped so high I almost put myself through the ceiling.

"What the fuck?"

"Oh bugger it," Blue hissed, heaving herself up and scurrying off in the direction of the high-pitched crying. She emerged from the bedroom not a moment later with a wriggling bundle in her arms.

My eyes opened so wide that I was surprised they didn't plop onto my cheeks. "What the hell is that?"

Blue shot me a withering look. "It's a baby, what does it look like?"

"Yeah, but... but-"

"It's not mine! He's my brother's. I just look after him sometimes. Seriously Silver, what were you thinking? That I somehow managed to hide a pregnant bulge for nine months?"

Way to make me feel like an idiot, Blue.

Blue wandered back over to the couch, cooing and rocking the little pink thing in her arms until it's cries faded into weak grizzles. I backed away. She snorted. "He doesn't bite, you know! Well, he does, but it's all gum. He's cute, look." She turned the baby around and thrust it into my face. It's purple, puckered face gawked at me as it waved it's little starfish hands, wanting to be held.

I wrinkled my nose. "I don't do kids."

"I should think not!" Blue exclaimed, and burst out laughing. I cringed and pushed the squirming child back into her arms. She giggled. "You're gong to make a horrible father someday."

"As opposed to you, who is obviously a wonderful father," I said bitingly. Blue mock-gasped.

"Low blow! I'll have you know I'm all woman," she said. The baby seemed to have dozed off in her arms, and I felt relieved knowing that luck was on my side and I probably wouldn't end up being vomited on.

Blue rocked him gently. "I wonder when your daddy's coming to pick you up," she addressed it first, then turned to me. "Honestly, he's terrible. My brother, I mean. He and his wife both work so they can't care for junior here full time, but... I think the poor thing's starting to forget his daddy's face. I might not be the mother, but I sure feel like it!"

She sighed and looked down at the child sadly. Then she shook her head, as if forcing herself to her senses, and refocused her attention on me. "So, you! What are you going to do?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Whatever. Guess I'll just keep on working in that warehouse until I can find a better job."

"Why don't you do an apprenticeship?" Blue suggested, and rolled her eyes at my blank response. "Didn't they tell you about that in school? It's where you learn on the job. I think Yellow's doing one at the pokemon centre. Just one more year and she'll be able to go into amateur nursing."

"Why do you know everything?" I asked flatly, and Blue cackled.

"Because I'm a genius," she replied with not a hint of sarcasm. She couldn't nudge me with the baby in her arms, but she shot me a confident smile. "Can you blame me for wanting to look out for you? You're like my little brother. You're like... my soulless mate!"

I groaned. "Ha ha. Very funny."

"I am, aren't I?"

I couldn't remember the last time we'd talked like this. It had been years. Maybe even before she had left Kanto.

"So," she said, quieter this time. "How're you and Gold?"

I hesitated for a moment before gathering myself together. "It's fine. We're fine. We talked it over and... we're fine. It's fine."

Blue sighed and smiled understandingly at me. "Do you miss him?"

I glared at her. "What do you think?" I snapped.

"You want to know what I think? I think you miss him. I think you're crazy about him."

"We are not having this conversation," I said coldly.

"You'll never work things out if you can't even admit you love him," Blue pointed out.

I looked at her properly. "Blue," I said, the finality obvious in my tone. Blue gave me a look, like she was going to start lecturing me again, but then simply shrugged and got to her feet, heaving the baby up against her shoulder and heading back into the bedroom.

"You do love him though," she called out. She just had to have the last word. I grimaced.

I didn't deny it though.

The alarm for the washing machine went off, and I scrambled to the kitchen and slammed my hand down on the button before it woke the little brat up again. I tipped all my clothes into the plastic bag I had brought them it. They would dry later.

I tried to sneak away while Blue was still busy, but she appeared in front of me before I reached the door.

"And where do you think you're going?" she asked teasingly.

"I should really get back," I said, averting my eyes.

She smiled. "I can't stop you, can I?" she said. "Take care of yourself, Silver."

"I don't need you to tell me that," I mumbled. I was going to be okay. It might take a while, but I knew I was going to be okay. I just had to hold myself together until then.

After leaving Blue's apartment, I took a detour through Goldenrod and, after a bit of searching, I ended up at Thames House. I didn't find who I was looking for. The landlady pointed me in the direction of the nearest care home, and, like a total sap, I went.

They wouldn't let me see her. Not that I was confident that I would've actually gone in if they had. It was embarrassing to even be there.

"What's your name?" the tired, dumpy-looking nurse squinted at me over her glasses, checking a handful of notes.

"Silver," I grunted, shifting from one foot to the other. I had never been in a place like this, and like all new experiences, it felt uncomfortable. But, I told myself, I didn't have much choice in the matter. What was the saying? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A life for a life.

"I'm a friend..."

"She's never mentioned you," the nurse said suspiciously.

"O-Of her son's," I quickly amended myself. "I'm a friend of her son's."

The nurse sighed wearily and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but Ms Harding is very ill. Only her immediate family is allowed to see her."

I forced back an irritated groan. "Can I leave a message then?" I asked as pleasantly as I could. The nurse looked a little taken aback. Probably at my twisted, twitchy attempt at a smile.

"...I don't see why not," she said.

"Tell her... her son says he's sorry they argued. And that he might see her soon."

I left quickly with my face hidden in my collar, telling myself that the only reason my cheeks were burning was because of the biting evening air. It was official – I was turning into a sap. What's more, I couldn't even feel bad about it. In fact, when the embarrassment and discomfort wore off, I actually felt pretty damn good.

–

Blue, I don't care how much of a parody sue you are, your jokes still suck.

I don't like this chapter, but I promise you the next one is a lot better. Quick! The next chapter awaits!