Chapter 7

Leaf

I'm waiting inside Ceylon Café for Henry. It's still early February, and while the cold has subsided, the air has so much chill to it. I'm huddled in a peacoat and a huge scarf that I'm sure also doubles up as a blanket if I ever ended up homeless. The Café is warm, and I nurse a flat white very slowly as I try to catch up with what's happening with the world outside of Pokémon research.

"Oh my god" I hear a voice screech, and I look to find a teenaged girl, wearing heavy make-up and a mini skirt. How is she not freezing?

"Are you Aurora Green?" she asks eagerly, and I notice she's clutching a glossy magazine cover.

How does she know my name is Aurora?

"Ummm… do I know you?" I say, trying to keep the irritation off my voice.

"Will you sign this please?" she asks jumping up and down. She places the glossy magazine in front of me. I close my laptop and blink as I see the cover.

I blink again.

Timeless at 70: Hélène Brodeur talks life, love and family in an exclusive with Tamara Cox.

"Ummm… why do you want my autograph?" I ask her, now amused.

"Oh my god" she says, Seriously what happened to her vocabulary? "Turn to page 37! You're in it."

Me?

I quickly flip to the offending page and find a large photograph of myself in the dress I wore to Ash's wedding. Right next to the photograph is a black and white photograph of Grandma Hélène in something shockingly similar.

"Oh my god!" she says, "I can't believe that you don't know how famous you are!"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"You're like, you know, trending" she continues,

Now she just sounds like one of the Waterflower sisters.

"But I'm just a researcher." I say, Well, not yet.

"Yeah, and that's the cool thing!" she exclaims, "Beauty with brains. And your style- it's so effortless!"

What's so stylish about a pair of blue jeans and a green sweater?

Anyway. Back to screeching fangirl.

"I don't understand it." I say, "I'm glad to meet you, and I'll just sign it. But I'm honestly not of celebrity caliber you know?"

She nods excitedly, and enthusiastically gives me a Sharpie. I take it and sign in short initials and hand her the magazine, before taking note of the name of the magazine. I make a mental note to pick up a copy soon.

Where do you get copies of glossy girly magazines?

The screeching fangirl skips away, and Henry shows up a few minutes later. He kisses my cheek before settling down across me.

"You look you've seen a ghost." He says, smiling.

"You'll never believed what just happened to me."

"What?"

"A girl ran up to me and asked me for my autograph." I say, taking a sip of my flat white and frowning at the fact that my drink had gone cold.

"Really?"

"Yes." I said, "I need a copy of this magazine. Apparently, Hélène has given an "exclusive" interview and there's a picture of me that takes up a whole page."

"Wow." He says, as he takes a sip of his coffee "I'm dating a celebrity."

I throw him a look, and then smile. "Anyway, how was your day? Week? I've hardly seen you this week."

"We've both been really busy." He says, "but we can do something fun tomorrow night. I'm on call, but I think things are under control."

"Yay!" I exclaim, and I settle down to listen to him and push the other nagging thought out of my mind.

Henry is great. He really is. He's a Pokémon doctor. He's cute and smart. He's sweet. He's really really nice. We've been dating for 3 weeks and it's been nice.

Just nice.

So, the thing is we haven't had sex yet. What is a respectable amount of time that has to pass before you get down and dirty with the guy you've started dating? I feel like some highly dirty sexual woman who's desperate every time I think about it.

I mean, forget sex. We've been kissing like teenagers.

Anyway, I have new things to deal with.

Like having a conversation with my grandmother.

I'll never understand why Fennel lives so far from the Centre. It's absurd. I get she lives a great loft with Nanette, and it is "TOO CUTE FOR WORDS". Still, she gets FREE accommodation at the Centre.

The pros are that she does live downtown, and it is more happening during the weekends in the contrast to the Centre that's pretty much deserted.

So maybe she has a point.

"Leaf!" Nanette envelopes me in a hug as she answers the door "Finally!"

As she releases me, she notices that I have a glossy magazine in my hand. "Oh" she looks at me squinting her eyes at me in surprise, "What's that?"

I just realize how the academic community might be overly judgmental.

"Apparently, Hélène has been taking about me." I roll my eyes. "I want to see what she has to say."

"Oh wow" Nanette nods. "That'll be…something."

I let myself in and hang my coat and shrug out of my scarf. I find Fennel curled up on their lovely couch with a glass of wine.

"Scotch is on the counter."

"You know me so well."

"You look like you need it."

'That I do." I say as I pour myself a glass.

"Grandma Hélène talking about you?" she asks,

"I got to read it for myself."

"How are things with Henry?"

"That escalated quickly," I laugh, "Well, they're nice."

"Just nice?" Nanette interrupts

I shrug.

"Oh oh." She says, "From my experience, there just has to be something more than nice to make it work."

"I don't know." I sigh, "He's just so….."

"Perfect on paper?" Fennel says. She's right. Damn you Fennel.

"Isn't he?" I whine, "I mean he's cute. He's smart. He's a Pokémon doctor!"

"And he has no baggage." Nanette interrupts for a second time, "It's a bit about Rudy, isn't it?"

"Look," I say, taking a deep breath, "Yes, I have been a little scarred from the whole Rudy experience."

"You said the sex was good." Fennel grins

"Well…"

"Really?" Nanette says, "You haven't… with Henry…?"

"No?" I say tentatively. "I mean, it's only been 3 weeks."

"Do you feel anything…that way?" Nanette prods.

"What way?" I ask

"You know… thirsty." She wiggles her eyebrows.

"Of course, I feel thirsty" I say, using air quotes, "But I can't force him to do anything he isn't ready to do."

"Well, of course." Nanette says, joining Fennel on the couch as I sink into the armchair "but you're not getting any vibe from him?"

"Describe vibe"

"Come on," Nanette says, a tad bit exasperated, "You know, the I'm into you vibe?"

"I mean," I say, blowing a few strands of hair off my face, "He is, right?"

"No doofus" Fennel chips in, "Like I'm into you that I want to fornicate with you vibe"

"Yuck," I throw Fennel a look of disgust.

"I mean how else do you orgasm?"

"Don't you just?" I ask sipping my scotch

"Oh my god!" Nanette exclaims, "You haven't… with a guy?"

"That is very unlike Leaf Green." Fennel chimes

I shake my head in annoyance as I toy with the magazine. Okay fine. I've had some good sex, but no guy has ever, you know….

"Like ever?" Nanette asks again, as if for confirmation.

"Okay, fine" I say, exasperated, "not with a guy, but hey, there are other ways of pleasuring yourself right?"

They both groan.

"No." I say, eager to defend, "I've been with guys before. Come on- there was Trip?"

"I mean, in actual relationships!"

"Rudy wasn't my first you know." I say quietly.

"What!" They both exclaim in unison.

"More importantly, who?" Nanette asks, and she's sitting so close to the edge of the couch that I fear she might fall of any second.

"Oh my god" Fennel says, "Is it who we think it is?"

"Who do you think it is?"

They both look at each other with amused glances and say, "Well, Gary of course."

"God, no!" I say, annoyed and disgusted, frowning.

"Well, I wouldn't be surprised."

"Why?" I ask, "Henry asked me the same thing."

"I don't know." Fennel says, "I totally get a "I'm into you" vibe from Gary about you."

"Please. He thinks I'm 5 years old. He thinks I'm a child."

"Alright, if it's not Gary, then who?" Nanette asks. She isn't letting go of this one, is she?

"I didn't come expecting to be ambushed about my dating and sexual history."

"Well, I didn't expect to live downtown for free." Fennel says, and I raise my eyebrows at her. "That's life. Deal with it."

"So," Nanette asks, giggling, "Who was your virginity extractor?"

"Gosh" I throw her a look of disgust. "Okay," I say, taking a long deep breath, "If you really must…"

"Oh, out with it already" Fennel prods

"Max." I say, quietly, looking at my hands.

"Max… who?" Nanette asks,

"Like Max as in?" Fennel asks,

"Like Max as in Max Maple." I say, and then look away into the very interesting wall.

"Wow." They both say after a few seconds of silence.

"When?" Fennel asks,

"We used to travel a bit together." I say, now making myself comfortable on the carpet on the floor and pulling a throw on and settling against the leg of the armchair. If this was going to be a revealing heart to heart girl's night, might as well make myself comfortable.

As I settle comfortably, I decide to tell them more about it. "Max was tired of travelling with his sister and the crew all the time, and nearly always felt like he was baby-sat 24/7. I was looking for a travelling partner after doing it alone for a couple of years."

Fennel nods and hands me a refill, as Nanette hugs her knees to her chest. I take it as my cue to continue.

"And it was great. He was a really good friend, and we had some great adventures in Johto."

"But?" Fennel asks knowingly,

"But I started to have feelings for him. Like deep feelings."

"And you told him?"

"Of course, I did. Back then I was all about being open about your feelings, and so I told him. I think it was the biggest mistake of my life."

"Why?"

"Because he was what he was. He was my best friend. We used to share everything. Then I told him I liked him, and he asked me out after a few days. We dated; we even lost our virginity to each other. But he just wasn't into me." I sigh so deeply.

"Oh, Leafy." Fennel says, and they both settle down on either side of me. She gently rubs my back.

"I lost my best friend because of it." I finally say, breaking the few moments of pin-drop silence.

"Anyway," I say, "That took 6 months of therapy." They both give me small smiles.

"And then I went and fell long and fast for Rudy, because he had this older guy -I-have-my-shit-together-persona, only to find out that I was his re-bound girl after Misty Waterflower ditched him."

"Hey, Leaf" Fennel says, "That's not your fault you know? Rudy was actually an immature git who just never got over Misty and led people on."

"I know it isn't" I say, tilting my head up and looking at the ceiling. "And that took another 6 months of therapy." I chuckle, attempting a joke.

"And now," I continue, "I'm finally finally okay. I find this amazing Pokémon doctor, with no baggage, who I'm attracted to physically, and yet…."

"There's no spark?" Nanette prods,

"I have a sinking feeling that there isn't" I say, finally letting my fears out in the open. "And that devastates me. I mean, maybe I'm not meant for this relationship stuff. I just…."

I stop, take a gulp, and say "what if I'm just always a second choice?"

"Oh.. Green" Nanette says, "You're getting into self-pity zone and that is so not you."

"I concur." Fennel says, "And with Henry, you know, just give it some time."

"Yeah, well." I say. My eyes rest on the magazine.

Anyway, back to Grandma Hélène.

"One problem at a time," I say, conceding, but picking up the magazine and showing them what I really wanted to discuss.

"Go ahead" Fennel sits up and leans towards me, eager to hear every word.

"Okay," I say as I come to the offending page. I hold up the center piece to show them pictures and Hélène in literally the same dress, just 50 years apart.

"Wow." Nanette says, "That really is some striking resemblance."

I study it again, and I notice that they're right. The black and white photo of Hélène on the left has her in a stylish 60s bob, and apart from that and the classic wing highlighter, it does feel like a blast into the past photo shoot.

"So," Nanette continues, taking a swig of her beer, "What does she say?"

I clear my throat and begin reading

"Cox: We all did a double take when we saw you with your granddaughter at the Waterflower-Ketchum wedding earlier this year.

Brodeur (laughs): Yes, Aurora does take after me.

Cox: What does she do? Does she aspire to be a stage actress as well?

Brodeur: Actually, she's at the Advanced Research Centre here at Unova. While she might look a lot like me, she actually takes after the men in the family.

Cox: Meaning your husband and son?

Brodeur: Yes. She has a striking resemblance to their quest for learning.

Cox: Speaking of which, we do know that their deaths had a deep impact on your own career. What changed?

Brodeur: Death, of course, is the hardest things one mourns (some dark humor there). I've read that there is no greater sorrow than that of losing a child. But my son was fearless, perhaps too much, and I think people remember him for that the most. My husband was brilliant yes, but I do think my son had the far greater impact.

Cox: We remember him like that as well.

Brodeur smiles.

Cox: But you cannot deny Aurora looks great in Madeleine Vincent's clothes. Isn't she your preferred designer?

Brodeur: Actually, I would call her a very dear friend. As you know, I'm originally French, and Maddy and I go back to the days when we were both at Sorbonne. She's been making clothes for me since my days as a theatre student in Paris.

Cox: Speaking of theatre, we hear you're making a comeback to the stage later this summer at Broadway. Could you tell us more?

Brodeur (chuckles): Yes. It has been a while. I'm in a new and exciting play that deals with ageism, particularly amongst career-oriented women. This topic is often showcased as such women facing loneliness in their later years and regretting choosing their career in the first place. We [Brodeur and director Rachel Perez] wanted to change that stereotypical narrative.

Cox: What's the play called?

Brodeur: Rather corny (as my granddaughter would say), but it's titled "If I had done that". Nonetheless, I'm quite excited.

Cox: That is exciting indeed. It's been nearly two decades since we've seen you on stage. Why return now?

Brodeur: I took the break I needed to, mostly for family. But I've never been too apart from the stage. As you know, I have been highly involved in a lot of production in the last decade.

Cox: Any chance of you returning to full-fledged musicals?

Brodeur (laughs): You never know, life doesn't stop at 70, my dear.

I stop reading, mostly because it's the first time I've realized how little I know of Hélène's life before she took to raising me. I'm not sure from where, but I begin to feel a sense of gnawing guilt forming at the pit of my stomach.

"Leaf?" Fennel asks softly when I haven't said anything, "Are you alright?"

"I'm… ugh" I say, and then take a deep breath, "I just didn't know all this about her…and my dad."

They nod at me gently.

"I mean," I say, and I feel a lump begin to form at the base of my throat, "I knew they were researchers, and my dad was supposedly this fun guy. I'm just… why didn't I ask her about it before?"

"There are loads of things we don't know about our parents or our grandparents" Fennel says, "It isn't your fault."

"Rationally, yes." I say, "But I just feel so…"

"Don't" Nanette interjects, "And besides, you can always talk to her about this stuff."

She's right. I can.

It's my first weekend off in a long time (I was working even during Ash and Misty's wedding). It's still cold in Unova, and right now I'm huddled under a million layers. I'm snug and comfortable, and I want to just stay in here for the whole day. I got back after a long night of drinking and nobody would really blame me if I decided to.

But I have a plan for today to visit Hélène and talk to her all about her theatre career, ask her about my dad and just generally get a change in scenery. Hélène lives a while from where I am, and while it is an hour-long subway ride, I'm sure it will be worth it.

Half an hour after debating with myself oversleeping in or getting out of bed, I finally muster the energy and throw my comforter off my body and make my way to the bathroom to survey the damage from last night. I wouldn't want to show up at Hélène's with a bird's nest as a hairdo.

After nearly 40 minutes straightening myself and gulping down some breakfast, I decide to walk around the neighborhood to find something to pick up for Hélène. I finally decide on a large pretty bouquet of yellow tulips. I was really looking forward to some grandmother-granddaughter time this afternoon.

So, you'd imagine my surprise when I found a rather surprising visitor when I ring the bell at Hélène's.

"Professor Rowan?" I say, in utter disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

He looks equally surprised to find me on the other side of the door, and I realize I have accosted him at a place where he is a guest.

"I mean," I say, backtracking as quickly as possible, "It's a surprise to see you here."

"Hélène!" he shouts, gruffly, before motioning me to come inside. I realize, rather belatedly, that he is in pajamas.

Does this mean?

"Paul," I hear my grandmother as she makes her way down the staircase, "who is…."

She stops in her tracks as she faces me.

"Aurora!" she says, her voice a little pitched.

She rarely calls me that.

"Hi!" I say, clutching the bouquet of tulips tighter, "I'm..ugh..I'm sorry, I didn't know."

And then, from nowhere, Professor Rowan releases the loudest bout of laughter I have ever heard. I never even knew he could laugh like that.

Once his laughter dies down, and Hélène and I don't look as awkward as we do, she finally goes and stands next to him and he throws his arm around her shoulder.

Hélène and Professor Rowan. Who would have thought?

"Well," I say, and I giggle, "I guess congratulations are in order?" I step forward and hand Hélène the bouquet.

"Thanks, Leaf" she says, and I'm relieved. "We did want to tell you, but you've been buried under your books lately…"

"As she should be," Rowan interjects, "but I'm hearing some great things about you anyway."

"Thanks." I say.

"So, what's on your mind?" Hélène says, "This is about the magazine, isn't it?"

"Not really," I say, and she looks at me in surprise, "I'm actually here to apologize."

She stares at me quite confused. "For?"

"I'm just.." I begin, "When I read that article, I realized I don't know much about your stage career, and the kind of person you are, and how I've never talked to you about my dad."

Beside her, Professor Rowan chuckles.

"Why don't I start lunch, and the two of you can go over some photo albums? I know there are some amusing ones there." He says with a glint in his eye.

Well, there's a nice, kind side underneath all that gruff exterior. He reminds me of Gary.

What? I shake the thought off almost immediately.

"In the meanwhile," he says, "Tea?" he asks Hélène, "I know you prefer coffee though, Leaf."

He did?

"Tea is great, thanks Professor Rowan."

Hélène and I settle down by the couch in her wide, airy balcony. While I love my bubble of a neighborhood uptown and the thrill of downtown life, I do quite enjoy this neighborhood as well. Red brick buildings and wide spaces with lots of trees. I really do feel transported to another place every time.

"I never knew you were a theatre student in Paris." I begin.

She laughs and pulls out an old album. There are pictures of a young Hélène, and I see how much I look after her. She looks so young, so full of energy and her eyes twinkle with excitement. I sometimes see the same twinkle in her eyes. It's just so her. So Hélène.

"When I graduated, I had all these plans to stay in Paris forever." She says, "We were performing almost every weekend, and it was such an exciting time."

We glance through many photographs, with Hélène in so many leading roles. As I heard her talk about her life in Paris, it made me want to go to Paris. Catch the next flight out.

"And then," she says, "I met your grandfather and he put even my best laid plans to rest."

"He did?"

"Well," she says, and she smiles widely, "He did everything he could to make it work. After we got married, he moved to Paris."

"He did?" I ask, surprised.

"Yes." She says, "We even had your father- Charles- in Paris. He was doing well, but I knew he never felt fully at home."

"When did you move?"

"When Charles was about 4?" she tries to remember, "Non. It was right after his fifth birthday- I remember making him this Eiffel Tower birthday cake." She reaches out to show me a photograph of my dad beside a gigantic tower cake that read Bon Anniversaire Charles! along with a big emboldened "5" in the background.

"But your grandfather," she continues, "he was so unlike the rest in his time. He was offered to be the Professor for the whole of Kanto, but he chose to come to Unova so that I would have opportunities here."

"On broadway." I say, and she nods in confirmation.

"But we spent summers in Pallet- what a charming little town. I made fast friends with all the families there. But the one friendship I value the most, and I still do, is with Anita Oak."

"Gary's Grandma?"

"Yes. Anita made me so welcome, and when I first met her, she was already a busy mother of two- Gary's dad and his aunt- and yet she always made time for me to learn the "Kanto side of things"" she laughs, "She was such a riot, Anita."

She shows a picture of young Anita, her arms around a boy and cradling a baby in her arms. Hélène stands next to her with my dad on her left.

"Were my dad and Gary's dad friends?" I venture, my finger touching my father's face.

"Oh," Hélène laughs, "the very best of. Barely inseparable. The last day of summer, there was always a plan to make Charles stay. Your father's and Jack Oak's friendship was one for the movies."

"Really?" I say, How could I have not known this?

Hélène's smile falters, and I reach out to touch her hand. I know this isn't easy for her.

"But there is one thing that I haven't told you Leaf."

I nod, and motion for her to continue.

"Your father and Gary's parents were in the same plane crash."

I feel my heart break and my breathing hitch up as I clutch her hand. "Oh," I manage, not knowing quite how to respond.

"They were travelling together to Johto for a conference, and they decided to go by a small propeller airplane." She says, and I can tell from the emotion in her voice that it is taking a lot for her to say this. I shift over and sit next to her and envelope her in a hug.

"But," she says, "he led me back to you. Leaf, I know your mother is still around, but she was in a bad place."

"I know. It wasn't easy for her; she was so young, and I was only two years old."

"I'm glad he did." She says, and when I look up at her I find her teary eyed.

"I'm glad too." I say.