-The Legal Stuff:-
1) I am not affiliated at all to Game Freak nor to Nintendo, nor any other companies that write/produce Pokémon.
2) I do not own any part of Pokémon.
-A Waiver:-
1) I am not following any storyline already created, not a game, not the television show, my storyline is completely original as far as most characters go and as far as what is going on with the plot.
2) The only thing I borrowed from the game (I just started playing Crystal Version again) is the Gym Leader's names and their Pokémon, the city names, route names, and a couple of Team Rocket situations. I think I also mention well known people like Professor Elm and Professor Oak.
Basically…storyline and main characters are of my creation, the other stuff I borrowed from Crystal Version.
-And finally, the story. (: Enjoy!-
Chapter Fifty-One:
Feelings Returned.
I was staring at Doug. I had been staring at Doug for sometime. He was not returning my stare, he was actually looking down at the arena of the Pewter City Gym, where the gym leader was battling it out with some young trainer. We were in Pewter City, we had been for sometime. This was in fact the morning after we had arrived in Pewter, and Doug had yet to say anything to me about anything, feelings or otherwise.
As if I weren't stressed enough…
"You want to go-" Doug turned towards me and began to ask, but paused when he found that I was already staring at him. "What?"
"Nothing," I quickly shook my head and looked away. "Nothing at all. What were you going to say?"
"You want to battle Brock first?" Doug asked.
"Brock?" I arched my eyebrow as I looked back at Doug.
"The gym leader," Doug nodded down towards the field.
'As in the guy who makes the delicious food?' Espeon asked, sounding surprised.
"Maybe," I muttered.
"Maybe what?" Doug asked me.
"Does he make the Pokémon food?" I inquired, looking to Doug who was nodding.
"I believe so."
"One of you interested in battling, or are you just going to sit there all day?" A voice called up to us and I glanced down towards the field. Brock was standing with his hands set on his hips and his feet spread apart as he stared up at us.
"I am!" I jumped up and hurried down the stairs towards the field.
'Don't be too excited,' Espeon chuckled. 'Oh, and don't react.'
"React to what?" I asked as I glanced down at her. I hit the bottom step and walked into the arena and looked back up just as I stopped in front of Brock. A peculiar look had come over his face as he regarded me.
'Doug will get very upset if you do.'
I attempted to give Brock a friendly smile, but the gesture was strained. "Rowan Eden," I said to him. "If you wouldn't mind, could we start this battle?"
"Rowan Eden!" Brock repeated my name, and snatched my hand up. I squealed before trying to step away from him. "What a beautiful name to fit such a beautiful person!"
'Luma,' I could feel my eyes growing larger as I stared at Brock in shock. 'Is he hitting on me?'
'Attempting to, yes,' Luma replied. 'It kind of makes me want to giggle.'
'What do I do?' I asked as I continued to stare at the star-struck Brock.
'Ignore him, according to Doug's thoughts, this is a pretty common occurrence for Brock,' Luma chuckled.
'In other words, I'm not anything special,' I thought back as I successfully shook my hand out of Brock's grasp. "If you wouldn't mind," I said, now pressing my index finger against Brock's shoulder and nudging him away from me, "I'd just like to battle with you."
Brock's mouth hung open as he continued to stare at me. I pursed my lips then turned to walk away from him and to the trainer's box. I glanced over my shoulder to hopefully find that Brock had taken the hint. It appeared he hadn't, but he suddenly shook his head, as if clearing his senses, and strode over to the other box.
"Well Beautiful Lady," he said and I sighed with a roll of my eyes. "This will be a two on two battle."
"Alright then," I said. "That's all I needed to know, Delibird! Let's go!"
"Rhyhorn," to my surprise, Brock leapt right into battle. "Go!"
The heavily plated, four-legged Pokémon appeared on the field. It glared at my small bird Pokémon for a moment, before lowering it's head and pawing at the ground. 'He means business,' Espeon noted.
"I would have to agree," I said softly.
'Good thing he's a ground Pokémon so his attacks won't have an effect on Delibird,' Luma said to me.
"I'll be he knows some rock moves too though," I muttered. "So I have to be careful."
"Rhyhorn, get things started with Sandstorm!" Brock ordered and I swore under my breath.
"He would know rock moves," I hissed. "Delibird, we gotta make this quick! Blizzard! Now!"
As a massive swirl of dust and debris whirled in his direction, Delibird started hastily flapping his wings to start his own storm. As he started to successfully launch his attack, the sandstorm struck him, knocking him backwards towards me. He slammed into the ground at my feet and I quickly dropped down to my knees. "Are you alright?" I asked the downed Pokémon.
He quickly jumped up to his feet and began to flap his wings again. This time, he summoned a Blizzard much faster than he had the first attempt at an attack. And even with the Sandstorm still whipping around his little, red body, Delibird managed to release a powerful attack towards Brock's Pokémon. The ice attack plowed into the ground Pokémon and it snorted in pain. It's nostril's flared as it fixated his glare on my Pokémon.
"Delibird, Ice Beam now!"
Delibird planted his feet before releasing a barrage of ice crystals into Rhyhorn's face across the stadium. Brock's Pokémon roared in pain, throwing its head backwards.
"Rhyhorn, Rollout, finish this," Brock ordered calmly.
"Get ready to Dodge Delibird," I hissed as the Rhyhorn pawed the ground and snorted. It took off in a flurry of activity, charging towards my Pokémon. Delibird chose that exact moment to become distracted by his feet. He chirped as he stared downwards even though I stood behind him, screaming at the top of my lungs to move.
Rhyhorn plowed into my Pokémon, throwing him across the field, past me and into the wall of the arena. I slapped my hand over my mouth as I gasped. "Delibird?" I shouted. My Pokémon didn't move. I swore under my breath before returning my Pokémon to his pokéball. I turned back around as Brock returned his Pokémon. I bit on my lower lip as I stared at him, I hadn't expected the battle to turn out as it had.
"Ready to continue My Lovely-" Brock started to say.
"Will you knock that off?" I snapped at him. "I am not yours in anyway and it's creeping me out that you keep trying to call me pet names!"
Brock's face was blank as he stared across the room at me. I let my breath out slowly and slowly closed my eyes as I tried to regain my patience.
'You just made Doug very happy,' Luma told me.
"Ready to finish this?" I hissed, glaring across the room at Brock. "Vaporeon! Go!"
My water Pokémon appeared on the field as Brock called out his second Pokémon as well. An Onix formed in the field, taking up more the half of the space in the arena. I narrowed my eyes at it. I had the upper hand in this battle, hopefully it would be as quick as the battle between Delibird and Rhyhorn had been.
"Vaporeon, Water Pulse!"
Vaporeon immediately reacted, spouting water up into Onix's face. The giant Pokémon threw his head backward as he roared in pain.
"Don't let up!" I shouted, clenching my fists. "Water Gun!"
Vaporeon quickly followed up with a weak water attack. Even though it was one of his lesser moves, Vaporeon's Water Gun caused Onix to reel yet again. "Onix! No!" Brock shouted. "Use Rock Throw!"
"Dodge!" I retorted and my Pokémon quickly and lithely leapt out of the way of the boulders being flung across the field by Onix. "Now Hydro Pump!" I said to my Pokémon. He skidded to a halt in the middle of the field, a boulder went flying over his head. He readied himself before aiming his snout upwards and releasing a deluge of water in the large face of Brock's Pokémon. The Pokémon's head dropped into the dirt, it's eyes closed in a wince. "Again Vaporeon!"
My Pokémon again discharged a torrent of water into the downed Pokémon's face. It merely let out a strangled growl as it eyes clenched shut. "Onix, return!"
I smiled to myself. An easy battle, something I needed today. The last thing I wanted was the stress of another loss. "That was an exception come back Pretty, uh Rowan," Brock quickly corrected himself as we returned our respective Pokémon.
"Thanks," I nodded as Brock walked across the room to me.
"Here is the Boulder Badge," Brock held out the small pin towards me. I thanked him again with a silent nod as I took the badge from him. "You should be proud."
"I am," I said.
"You battling me too?" Brock shouted to Doug as I headed up into the bleachers.
"Yea," Doug agreed as he passed me in the aisle. "You gonna wait for me?" He asked me as we paused next to each other.
"If you want me to," I said.
Doug stared at me for several moments before nodding. "I want you to."
The sun had set hours ago. I had watched it while sitting in a small grove of trees in Pewter City. The Viridian Forest loomed ahead of us. Doug sat near me, his back against the trunk of a tree. Umbreon and Espeon were laying on the ground near our feet. I could feel Espeon's eyes on me.
'What's wrong?' She finally asked me.
I glanced over at Doug. 'He wanted to talk when we got to Pewter, but so far he hasn't brought up the subject yet.'
Espeon's eyes shot over to Doug's face. I could see the gem on her forehead flash and the tips of her tail vibrated. 'He's waiting for Phantom and I to leave,' she finally said.
'What did you say to him?' I quickly asked.
'Nothing, just read his thoughts,' Espeon assured me as she stood up and stretched. She nipped at Phantom's ears and nodded off behind Doug and I. I was staring at her as they got up and headed away from Doug and I. I pursed my lips, reeling in the awkward silence that now engulfed Doug and I.
I took a deep breath and stared at Doug out of the corner of my eyes.
"I didn't think they would ever leave," he finally muttered.
"They are our Pokémon," I reminded him.
"Yea, but yours can read thoughts," Doug said. "And she should have heard me saying go away over and over again in my head."
"I'm sorry," I replied. "I'm not always the most perceptive person so maybe Espeon takes after me."
"That would be a good thing," Doug said softly.
I looked over at Doug, and slowly cocked my head to the side as I regarded him. He glanced over at me and gave me a gentle smile. "Like I just said Doug," I muttered. "I'm not particularly perceptive, especially when it comes to, um, men. So the less cryptic you can be, the better."
Doug laughed to himself and looked out ahead of us. "Fair enough."
"And just so you know, I'm very nervous right now," I added.
"Why?"
"Because," I said, staring at him in the dim light. "You are…you."
"And I'm the cryptic one?" Doug snickered.
"Yea," I sighed. "I know."
Another silence enveloped us. I watched my hands as I nervously intertwined and then freed my fingers.
Doug suddenly laughed. "I have no idea where to start."
I looked over at him, quietly. "When you were flirting with my sister in Celadon over lunch," I said and Doug looked over at me. I frowned to myself and looked away from Doug. "I was really jealous and really hurt."
"I know," Doug said softly.
"And I actually was crying, but I didn't want to admit because crying is stupid," I continued, in my nervousness I began to lapse into endless conversation about a subject I didn't really feel like talking about.
"I know."
"And I didn't really like what you said to Misty about her sister's either, but I would rather have dealt with that then your lovesickness over my sister," I sighed, staring ahead of me as I continued to babble.
"Rowan."
"I'm not normal, I know that," I said. "I had no interest in guys in school, and I never really thought about it until you struck up conversation with me in Cherrygrove. And then all I could think about was you."
"Really?"
"I think I just said too much," I clapped my hands over my face as heat crept into my cheeks. "I should probably stop talking."
"No, Rowan listen."
"I can't stop talking because I'm so nervous," I hissed. "I have to be shut up somehow, just so you know."
Doug shifted closer to me, wrapping one arm around my shoulder and pulling me close to him. His other hand gently clasped over my mouth. I shifted my eyes to look up at his face. The Butterfree's in my stomach were almost unmanageable. "Is that good?" He asked softly and I nodded. "Alright then, I'll take over in talking now."
I nodded again, pressing my lips together as I stared up at Doug's face.
"First of all," Doug said. "Misty's sisters are not all that great, but they're a big attraction in Kanto."
"But," I started to say.
Doug's hand clasped tighter over my mouth. "I'm talking, remember?" he chuckled. "I said it because I'm an ass, I was trying to piss Misty off. Not you, so I'm sorry about that."
I stared up at Doug and he sighed. "I actually don't like you not talking," he said. "But, continuing on. As far as your unhealthy obsession with me," he said and I furrowed my brow. I tried to speak, but I only managed to grunt. "I think mine is worse," he finished and I arched one of my eyebrows now. "I'm the one that followed you across half of Johto."
I relaxed my mouth now, my lips were now pressed against Doug's palm, or vice versa as I fixated my eyes away from Doug. "But finally Rowan," Doug's hand left my mouth as he repositioned it on my chin and pulled my face up towards his. "It's okay that you felt jealous about my giving your sister attention, that's why I did it."
"Doug," I sighed, closing my eyes and shaking my head. "This is not really what I want to hear, it's actually making me feel like-"
Doug's hand was suddenly pressed against my lips again. "I'm talking."
I shot a glare at Doug, but didn't try to say anything else.
Doug slowly let his breath out as he continued to stare at me. "You and sister are extremely different," he said. "But quite honestly, your sister has nothing on you."
I pushed Doug's hand down away from my mouth. "Besides ample cleavage and the audacity to flaunt it."
Doug shrugged. "I'm more of a hips and legs man, both of which you have plenty of."
I arched my eyebrow and slowly looked over at him. "Have you been checking me out Doug?"
He smiled at me. "Of course."
I glanced back out in front of me, I could feel the corners of my mouth trying to pull up in a smile. I struggled to keep it in check. I cleared my throat. "So then, where does this leave us?" I remained staring in front of me.
"I'm not actually sure," Doug sighed, his arm finally releasing his hold on me as he settled both his hands in his lap.
"Do we just continue on, ignoring the obvious," I paused, almost embarrassed to say what I knew I wanted to say, "attraction between us."
"And being complete asses to one another?" Doug added, looking down at me.
"I think we might be able to get rid of that part of it," I replied, looking at him.
Doug smiled, shifting so that he was facing me. "You think so? Even though it comes so natural to me?"
"Okay, well I'll stop trying to flirt with every guy we come across in an attempt to make you jealous," I offered.
Doug's eyebrow launched onto his forehead quickly. "You've been flirting with guys?"
My face fell. "I'm really bad at it."
"Hey," Doug smiled, reaching out and cupping my face in one of his hands. He leaned closer to me. "You know exactly what to say and do to get me riled up."
I took a quiet, deep breath. "I do?" I whispered, slightly uncomfortable with how close Doug was to me, but pleased and excited at the same time.
Doug's lips curved upward in a slight smile. I couldn't help but notice that he was slowly getting closer to me. I took another deep breath, my stomach was knotted in a painful twist as I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing.
I stopped breathing however when I felt Doug's lips brush against mine. I wasn't sure how to react, so I paused, waiting to see what exactly he was going to do.
"Douglas."
My eyes snapped open when I heard Phantom's voice. I looked at Doug, his face still close to mine. His eyes were closed and his lips were pressed together, he was smiling very slightly. He shook his head and slowly opened his eyes to look at me. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"You and I both know how bad your self-control is," Phantom continued and I quickly leaned away from Doug as heat spread across my cheeks. I looked completely away from him, biting down on my lower lip. "And Mew forbid that you allow yourself to lose control with a sixteen year old girl."
'I'm sorry Rowan,' Espeon suddenly said and I glanced over at her. 'Phantom asked why I so randomly wanted to go somewhere and I stalled in telling him for awhile, but once I finally did, he actually got very worried for you.'
I glanced over at Doug, he was slowly standing and composing himself. 'I guess there's more sordid details about Doug's past that I don't yet know,' I thought.
Author's Notes: Chapter Fifty-One: GAH! I AM SO SICK OF GYM BATTLES! O.O (that's why this one was short and extra sucky).
Oh, by the way, I didn't want to make Brock flirtatious and gross like he was in the show, but as I sitting there about to type about him, I couldn't think how else to make his personality. So we have the same old Brock. :/
Anyways…
I started typing this chapter at five o'clock this afternoon. And then I stopped and read from about chapter…seven all the way to the end of my story because I had forgotten everything I had written. (oops). And then I was pooped and I was thinking 'I don't think I have the energy to type this chapter up tonight. But I went through and read every comment ever left for me and it's just…it's the best motivation there is. I've never been a huge people person, but you people are seriously amazing. Reading all the comments has made me feel better than I have felt in a long, long time.
In case you all haven't noticed, which I'm sure you did, the titles entitled Feelings something all have something to do with…yea, you guessed it! Feelings! :D Mostly Doug's and Rowan's. (:
So…anyways! Good news and bad news. I'm more of a good news first person. HURRAH! They half-kissed! :D
Now the bad news…they didn't actually get to kiss. ): And just so you all don't get your hopes up…they will not kiss each other in the finality of this book. You'll have to wait for the Hoenn Travels to see if it actually happens. O:
Um…I'm pretty excited about the next two chapters after this one, I think that they should be pretty exciting. Of course I never know until I actually type them.
Oh, and I have a new philosophy for the rest of this story. As soon as I'm done with the chapter, I will post it for you all to read. I won't wait a day or two or three, I'll post it as soon as I am done writing it. It's like…Live Writing! O: How exciting. :D
Anyhoo, review/comment and subscribe loverlies.
P.S. I just ate a nachos lunchable for dinner. Yum. It came with a Capri Sun.
P.P.S. Almost two hundred reviews! :D I wonder who will be the two hundredth. (:
