Chapter 54

Chapter 54

"So you're entering a race?" my father asked the next morning. Before the race had started I decided I needed to call my parents and give them an update about my trip. My mother was at work and my dad had just come home for his lunch break since his job was about 4 minutes down the road.

"Yeah, it should be fun," I nodded with a smile. "I'm partnering up with my new friend Penny. I think I've mentioned her couple of times to you guys,"

"Yes, yes," my father agreed, his shaggy mustache wiggling above his lip. "And how is that boy… Owen?"

"He's fine, why do you ask?" I raised an eye brow.

"Your mother is constantly asking about him," he rolled his eyes followed by a chuckle. "She just doesn't want her baby dating too early,"

"You don't have to worry about me and Owen," I assured him while waving my hands reassuringly. "But…" I was prepared to tell him about Lucien but to our surprise my mother barged in and mauled my father out of the picture of the green telephone/computer.

"KYLIE SCORCH!" she screamed, face red as a pepper.

"Y-yes mom?" I replied while pulling back nervously.

"You are lucky my mother senses were tingling! Why is it you always call when I am out working!?" my brown haired mother hollered in rage.

"Uh-uh," I stammered.

"Darling, calm down, I am sure Kylie doesn't mean to," my father placed his hands on my mother's shoulders, trying to calm her down. "It's a coincidence," he assured her.

"Really mom, I don't mean to, it's the only opportunities I get," I told her sincerely.

"Being a Pokemon trainer is a busy job," my father added in.

"Oh, I'm sorry Kylie, I get so emotional now a days," she trembled while burying her face into her sleeve. My father's eyes widened as he nodded in agreement, I chuckled. "I'm so worried about you! When will you be home? Soon I hope,"

"I miss you too, mom," I also began to get teary eyed.

She dabbed a tear away from the crease of her eye with a handkerchief, "Just be safe,"

"I promise,"

"Bye Kylie, we love you honey," my father waved as he wrapped his arm around my mother for comfort.

"Bye."

"Is little Kylie Scorch feeling home sick?" Owen walked over and snickered.

"AHA!" I shot up and pointed towards the boy's nose.

"What?" he asked clueless.

"You talked before we got to Cinnabar! I win! I knew you couldn't do it!" I danced victoriously.

"Crap!" Owen grunted angrily as he kicked a computer chair close by.

"Man, I should have bet you some money or something," I snapped my fingers in disappointment.

Later that afternoon all the pairs of trainers gathered on the beach, ready to start the ceremonies then commence the Race to Cinnabar Island. Jackson and Owen were chatting off to the side and I stealthily scanned the beach to spot Lucien. Penny was rambling on about how she found a hair earlier that day in her breakfast when I finally saw Lucien standing next to his band mates.

I completely ditched Penny in the middle of her story and shuffled towards Lucien, caught starring at his irresistible smile. Penny followed behind me anyway. Lucien kindly introduced us to his friends, Spider, the boy that also played the guitar and had the long hair and wore a striped jacket. The other kid was the one who played the harmonica, and we didn't notice until now that he was absolutely gorgeous! He was tall with evenly tan skin. His perfectly flipped brown hair swayed in front of his face. He had amazing cheek bones and captivating green eyes. They were the color of the Caribbean Sea with chips of mosaic green swirled in the combination. He had brilliant white teeth, each one individually twinkled like a star. He wore a cotton blue Hollister T-shirt and baggy soft rinsed jeans. Something that caught both of our eyes was an elaborate skateboard sticking out of his backpack.

"Hi," Penny greeted shyly.

"This is Clyde," Lucien introduced.

"You skateboard?" I asked in a dreamlike trance.

"Yeah," he smiled charmingly.

"God, that is so hot," Penny blurted out loud. "Do you have a partner for the contest yet?"

"I'm free if you need me!" I told him, propping my hand in the air.

"I'm actually teaming up with Lucien," he informed us, Penny slouched in disappointment.

"What a show off," Jackson seethed.

Owen gritted his teeth, "They give this guy all this special attention just because he can skateboard? Half of the earth's population can do that," he exaggerated.

"You know we can hear you?" I leaned forward and told them.

"Good, maybe you'll stop drooling over him," Jackson snubbed as he crossed his arms.

"Someone's jealous," I teased.

"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome all travelers, to the Race to Cinnabar Island!" Gloria, the woman we met yesterday declared. She stood at a podium in the center of the beach. A white line was traced on the rocky coast and sitting just before the water sat 10 blocks of wood for each pair. "Now is time for me to explain the rules," she announced. "Each pair gets one block of wood and one block only, as you can see they are very large and heavy, you and your partner will have to work with your Pokemon in order to create the perfect canoe. Once you have built your boat you climb in and sail away! You may take as many pit stops as you like on the way to Cinnabar Island. There are two rest stops brought to you by us half way between here and Cinnabar Island on a small land mass, it's so small alls you'll see is the Pokemon Center and a couple of palm trees. The other one is towards the end, but I'm sure most of you will make it by the second night. Charcoal Beach is the beach on Cinnabar where the finish line will be at. The first team to cross the line wins the top prize! Medals will also be received for the top three winners. Remember, you and your team mate have to cross the finish line at the same time!"

"Alright Penny, your grass type Pokemon will be perfect to carve that hunk of wood," I whispered to her.

She nodded in conformity, "I was actually thinking we make a raft, that way Tropius can ride in the back and give us more wind power,"

"Good idea," we gave each other a light high-five.

"Alright, get with your partner and stand behind the white line," Gloria instructed us. On our right Jackson and Owen stood, readying themselves to sprint towards the chunk of lumber. Lucien and Clyde stood at our left, eyeing the box-shaped timber also.

Before Gloria shot the pistil up towards the clear sky Lucien whispered, "Let's form an alliance,"

"Huh?" I questioned.

He cleared his throat, "I can tell Owen and Jackson are going to be tough competition, let's form an alliance to make them fall behind," Lucien strategize devilishly.

I thought for a moment, "Owen and Jackson are my friends…"

"I heard the prize is a gym badge," he reported to my quietly. "I know you would love to win it," he smiled.

"Are you serious? A gym badge?" I asked eagerly.

He nodded, "Yeah, that's what I heard,"

"Alright, we'll help you out," I told him instantly.

"On your mark, get set, go!" Gloria shouted as she shot the pistil high in the air. The shot echoed a loud bang and was so powerful it almost made the little woman fall off her feet. Owen and Jackson immediately raced forward, Penny and I followed. I instantly came to a halt when I saw a notebook drop from Owen's backpack. My legs turned to stone when I realized it was Owen's diary. Thoughts of the race disappeared from my mind and my surroundings melted to a depressing black. My vision blurred and I wasn't sure what to do. The feeling in my hamstrings dissolved back and I was able to slowly walk towards the journal. I picked it up, arguing with myself to give it back, save it for later, or read it now. Reading it now wasn't a good idea. People were screaming and releasing their Pokemon from their Pokeballs, beginning to shape their canoe. Penny grabbed my arm and tugged me towards the sandy shore. I quickly slipped the spiral bound notepad into my messenger bag, then regained focus on the competition.

Penny sent out her Bulbasaur who used a razor leaf to cut the piece of lumber into three flat sections. Like whole punching a paper, I had Charmander burn wholes on the side of the planks of wood, so we could use stable rope to thread it all together. I looked over my shoulder to see Jackson, Owen, and Jackson's Rattata carving away, creating a crater inside the block of wood. I figured it would take them forever to carve a hole in that with just three people, so maybe I wouldn't have to blackmail them in order to help Lucien. Maybe they weren't tough competition after all?

"I don't know if this rope is going to hold all this wood together," I stood back and scratched my head as I analyzed the large raft. I glimpsed at all the other teams' progress and none of them were making rafts. Every single one was constructing a canoe like boat.

"We can't redo it anyways," Penny pointed out as she and Tropius began to push the raft out into the ocean.

"Team Kylie and Penny are the first to finish their boat… or raft, and are also the first to set out into the ocean!" Gloria proclaimed to the contenders.

The heavy planks of wood collapsed into the grave ocean and splashed mini title waves which soaked our feet. Tropius cautiously climbed on to the back of our raft, almost sinking the rear end. Totodile sat cooperatively as I tightly fastened a rope around his waist, hoping if he swam and steered the boat, it would help us move along faster. Totodile eagerly climbed into the brisk sea and impatiently began to slightly impel us forward.

"Our plan hasn't failed!" I declared happily.

"Tropius isn't totally sinking it!" Penny clapped her hands together in relief.

"Onward, Totodile!" I scrambled onto the stable raft and Penny followed. Prepared, we readied our oars to help propel us forward even quicker. Penny and I were determined to win these badges, if the rumor was true. I glanced over my shoulder once again. Owen and Jackson were falling behind while other groups were situating themselves to start oceangoing. Lucien and Clyde wiped the sweat off their brows as they stood back and proudly evaluated their small vessel. Their boat was beautifully carved with an even and smooth bottom that could easily glide over the ocean waves.

"All the teams except for Jackson and Owen have finished their boats, 2 hours into the competition!" Gloria updated the contestants.

"Ready, Penny?" I asked her as I secured myself, gripping onto the rudder we had created with spare chunks of wood.

"Yes sir," she jokingly saluted me like a sailor. She tightly grasped a lengthy, burly oar in her hands then dipped its wooden tip into the salty water. "Tropius, whirlwind attack!" she shouted, eyeing the other kids who started to row out to sea.

"Totodile, start swimming!" I yelled.

Tropius swung his thick, green tropical leaves through the air, which branched out of his broad shoulders. Totodile, small and delicate, tried its best to make a difference in our speed by shoving forward through the trembling deep ocean. Suddenly, we heaved forward due to Tropius's unexpected burst in strength, also leaving all the other competitors in the dust. In the back of my mind I couldn't help but worry about Owen and Jackson. I didn't want them to do horrible, then again it was only the first day, no, first couple of hours into the contest. We shouldn't worry.

After Tropius had grew tired we slowly floated through the water. Totodile pulled us through the timid afternoon waves while Penny carelessly rowed along side of the raft. I sat there needlessly, chin firmly planted into my hand which balanced on my knee as I sat uncomfortably on the wooden planks in a pretzel formation. I heard a sudden splashing sound and glanced to the side to see a set of trainers paddling effortlessly in their kayak.

"I normally wouldn't ask this, but is something wrong, Kylie?" Penny asked as she continued to scull loosely.

I had then realized Penny wasn't talking that entire time out in the center of the ocean. I ignored the fact that we were in the middle of no where and had no map to follow.

"It's just…" I began before stopping myself from going on an endless rampage.

"For once, I am letting you talk," Penny smiled oh-so generously.

"Don't tell anyone, but I told Lucien we'd be in an alliance with him," I whispered.

"I didn't get any say in this?" Penny scowled.

I exhaled a puff of laughter, "You have a problem with it?"

"Well, no," she shrugged. "But I get to form the next alliance!" she joked. "I don't think that's the only thing that is bothering you…"

"I'm fine," I assured her. I was lying.