AN: This chapter was updated/revised on March 20, 2020.
Breaks with Friends
"Suspended in a moment
No more breath to catch
If you hold on to your end
Maybe we can make this last."
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
After the train arrived in Washington, South Unova, the trio rented bikes so that they could ride to the place that Jezz claimed was the cheapest place to stay overnight, unless you counted the streets. Expecting a hotel, Jay and Amber were disappointed when he instead led them to a boarding house.
"You can't be serious," Amber said to Jezz as he dismounted his bike. "Jezz, this isn't even a motel."
"Piii," Pip whined, gripping Amber's neck tighter.
"Toggeekissss toge," Togekiss chanted nervously.
"This is a fine place to stay," said Jezz. "It is inexpensive, safe, and not too far from where I want to go later."
Jezz locked his bike to one of the saplings lining the road. Amber and Jay could hardly believe he was serious.
"I'm with Amb on this one," said Jay. "It doesn't look safe…or clean." Jay peered through one of the windows. "There could be cannibal murderers that like the taste of children in there."
"Or they could be rabid," said Amber.
"Or they could all be ghosts who plan on using illusions on us."
"I investigated this place. Mary actually suggested it to me," Jezz replied with a smile.
"Who's that?"
"Mary is Mrs. Sapphira's first name," he clarified. "She said that when I come to see her, I should stay at this address. The people are kind, and she did warn me about it looking…"
"…Sketchy," Amber finished for him.
"That word works excellently."
"Is this Mary Sapphira is expecting you?" Jay asked.
"It is a bit of a confusing story, but yes, she is expecting me, somewhat."
"Jezz, you are the most confusing person I have ever met," Amber remarked as the headed up the stairs of the stoop.
"Who are you!?" a voice called from the house next door. It was a boy with brown hair and freckles, and he looked to be about thirteen or fourteen. "New kids: purple boy, red magenta guy, and ginger. You stoop kids?"
"Umm 'stoop kids'?" Amber responded.
"Yeah, you live on that stoop?"
"Don't mind Jeremy. He is a stoop kid," Jezz told is friends. "Sorry Jeremy, we are not the ones you are looking for!"
"Alright," Jeremy mumbled. He retreated to the bottom of the stoop, where he was hardly noticeable in the early morning darkness.
"Well that was weird," Jay commented.
"What the hell is that kid doing up at five in the morning anyway?" Amber grumbled.
"By the way, do you think it is a good idea to bother them this early? Maybe we should go to an actual real hotel. They are usually open twenty-four hours a day…"
Jay anxiously looked around, as if to check for more stoop kids.
"It is fine, I promise," Jezz replied. "Mary said that anytime was a good time to come."
A moment later a doe-eyed black woman and a pallid freckled toddler answered the door.
"You are Jezz," she said warmly.
"Yes," he answered. "I hope you don't mind, but I brought two friends with me: Amber and Jay. I know it is a bit last minute, but I was hoping you could perhaps find the space for two additional people. We can share a bed or sleep on the floor if we need to. I will pay for their expenses."
The woman nodded at Amber and Jay and grinned. "They may come in, Jezz. I have two cots I can set up for them in your room. And please do not worry about payment."
Jezz bowed. "I very much appreciate this."
The trio walked into the house and into the foyer.
"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance," Jezz said as he bowed to the toddler.
Jay squatted in front of him. The kid jumped behind the older woman.
"I am Patrissa," said the woman. "And this is Tomo. He's shy."
"Hey," said Jay, offering a fist-bump, which the child ignored. "Nice to meet you, Miss Patrissa and Tomo."
Tomo got teary-eyed. Three seconds later, he was wailing and hitting the floor. Jezz stood his ground but Amber and Jay backed up.
"Tomo's mother is one of our borders," Patrissa said over the crying child. "She's sick with measles and has to remain at the hospital in order to stop the spread of the infection. Tomo's very sad about that."
Patrissa cuddled Tomo until he settled his mind and body. Jezz watched them with a longing, but it was soon to pass, as he had a vital mission to recall.
"Miss Patrissa, did you say measles?" Jay inquired.
"Yes," Patrissa replied.
"How's that even possible? I thought measles were eradicated."
"Of course not." Patrissa raised her eyebrows. "Dear, it's one of the most common diseases to spread throughout communal living settlements. Just a few months ago there was a shelter in place. Babies, toddlers, children, teens, and of course, older adults, were falling victim on the hour. If you don't mind, I am going to put Tomo down for a rest. We can chat in a few minutes."
Patrissa and Tomo were gone, leaving Jezz, Amber, Jay, and their Pokémon alone in a seemingly-empty boarding house.
"The cure for measles wasn't discovered until five years ago," Jezz whispered to Jay and Amber. "And there was a historical epidemic before scientists concocted the cure in the 2030s."
Amber whistled. "If I get measles because of you, I'll cough in your mouth."
Jezz smiled weakly. "I will do my best to ensure your safety."
By the time Patrissa returned, she was refreshed and eager to talk with the trio.
"Your Pikachu, Togekiss, and Vileplume look very healthy," she observed.
"That is kind of you to say," Jezz responded.
Jezz and Amber took turns saying 'thank you' as Patrissa patted Furfrou.
"Furfrou is a long-time companion of mine," said Jezz.
"Is he a service dog?" Patrissa asked as she observed his collar.
"Not yet, but I plan on training him to be."
"Did Jezz ever tell you that?" Jay whispered to Amber.
"No," she replied, jealousy in her voice.
There was just so much she still didn't know about him.
In the family room there where two other kids that looked about Tomo's age. They were playing with some old blocks and dolls.
"That is Jo and Kenji," said Patrissa.
The kids waved amiably to Jezz but ignored Amber and Jay.
"It's like they know him," Amber mumbled.
"What was that?" Jay asked, moving closer to Amber.
"Nothing."
"Mary told me you all were early risers," Jezz told Patrissa. "We took two trains and a boat to get here, so we weren't sure what time we'd actually arrive."
"It's fine," she assured him. "You looked exhausted. I'm sure you would like me to set up those cots. And how about a snack in the meantime? I made a cheese and vegetable breakfast pie."
"That would be so nice," said Amber, almost drooling at the concept of a warm meal. She had eaten nothing but protein bars and fruit since she left the Kiwi Mountain Pokémon Center. "Especially the part about the pie."
Patrissa giggled. "Tomo will show you where we keep the dishes and utensils, and I will go set up those cots."
"We can help with that," Jay offered.
"It will only take me a moment. Please, help yourself to some food."
"Patrissa is a very kind woman," Jezz said as she climbed the stairs.
"Patrissa is like Mommy," said Tomo.
"I agree; she is quite motherly."
Amber and Jay raised their eyebrows.
Tomo showed them where everything was, and then he left to go play with the other kids. Amber hummed contently as she swallowed the first bite.
"You guys have no idea how much I wanted this," she said, her mouth stuffed to the max.
"Can you tell us how you planned this?" Jay whispered to Jezz. "And you said you talked to Mary Sapphira before? And how do you know these people?"
"I can explain it all," Jezz replied. He took some bites, wiped his mouth, then twiddled his thumbs. "Mary Sapphira has a medical condition that interferes with her memory. She has forgotten most of the events in her life. Mostly what she recalls are long-term memories, those from early adulthood and childhood. She can occasionally hold on to some new memories, but it seems she cannot remember it all. It is worse now that she is older."
"What does this lady's memory problem got anything to do with this?" Amber asked, swallowing more food.
"Years ago, Mary was a prominent social worker and managed the orphanage, St. Augustine's, that I stayed at between foster homes. Sometimes a transfer would take months, so I had plenty of time to bond with her. Mary is one of the kindest, most generous, most patient, and most forgiving human beings in the world. I had a conversation with her several years ago, and during our discussion, she claimed to have met me before, back when she was younger. Everyone else at the orphanage seemed to think that she was just getting mixed up, but I knew what she meant. Xatu has been with me for a long time, and he has taken me back in time many times, sometimes when I was very young, only four or five. I knew that at some point I would time travel and visit her younger self."
"I agree with Amb about you being the most confusing kid ever," Jay responded.
"Xatu's a bitch," said Amber. "And you are too if you're not being honest."
"I have no more lies to tell," Jezz replied, feeling demoralized. "Xatu really did take me back in time, I really did meet Mary, and I really do know what I am doing."
"That's a lot of 'reallys'," Jay mumbled. He swallowed his food. "Not judging. I bet you're right."
"I bet you're right," Amber mocked, narrowing her eyes and making Pip flinch.
Jezz stared at Xatu's Pokéball and silently lamented. Amber rolled her eyes and took another huge bite of food.
"How's Mimikyu?" Jay asked.
"I tried to get it to come out before when we stopped at that rest area, but it still refuses to listen to me," Amber complained.
"Mimikyu might be scared."
"Several of its Pokedex entries claim that Mimikyu is lonely and wants friends, but then I became its friend and it is ignoring me and isolating itself."
"The cots are ready," Patrissa announced as she entered the kitchen. "I am glad you've gotten to work on the food. How does it taste?"
"Sooo good. Thanks so much," said Jay.
"I like it too," said Amber.
"It is very kind of you to feed us," said Jay.
"Your food is some of the best I have ever tasted," said Jezz.
"That is very nice of you to say," said Patrissa. "Please, eat as much as you like. I will be outside gardening for the next hour or so. Maria, Tomo's ten-year-old sister, is here and she will keep an eye on the little ones. You are free to do whatever you want as long as it complies with the house rules."
"What are the rules?" Amber questioned.
"I will show you them," Jezz told Amber. "Bye, Miss Patrissa. We very much appreciate all of this."
Patrissa smiled then walked away. Tomo came into the kitchen and pointed at Jezz.
"You talk funny," he announced.
"I am from a part of Kanto that has a very different culture than that of most other Kanto natives," Jezz explained.
A chubby girl who matched Amber's height and hair color entered the room.
"Sorry about Tomo," she apologized. "He is my little brother. He didn't mean to make fun of your accent."
"It is alright. I am Jezz," he introduced himself. Jezz held out his hand for her to shake. "And these are my friends Amber and Jay."
"A fellow redhead," Maria said as she shook Amber's hand. "We only make up 1-2% of the population, you know."
"Cool. Makes sense…I don't know that many gingers," Amber responded.
"I like your bow and arrows. That has to be one of the most interesting things someone has ever brought here."
"It's sorta my thing," Amber replied.
"Jezz has a mace," Jay offhandedly remarked.
"Oh. Well, it is important to protect yourself," Maria skeptically reasoned. "I heard you talking about house rules. They are pretty basic. No Pokémon battles inside the house, no smoking indoors, no stealing other people's stuff, no screaming inside the house, and things like that. It's all pretty obvious. You can glaze over the list in the hall if you want."
"Thank you," Jezz bowed.
"No prob. Your room is up the stairs, third door on the right."
"Thank you for helping us. Do you need us to help with anything?"
"Nope. I'll be down here with the little ones if you need me."
As Maria departed, the trio and their Pokémon walked up the stairs and entered the room that Patrissa had prepared.
"You may have the bed," Jezz offered to Amber. "I shall take the cot."
"This cot is the size of my bed at home," Amber sneered. "I'm used to it."
"Jay, would you like to take the bed?" Jezz noticed that the other double bed was almost three times the size of the cots. "It is actually large enough for us to share it."
"Umm well, it's not that I mind sharing…" Jay mumbled.
Amber snickered. "Ha-ha. Jezz, you are making Jay blush. Do you worry about proving to others that you are a guy? I don't think it's hard. Jay's brain can't seem to tell the difference."
"S-stoppit Amb."
"You are saying that because Jay only likes boys," Jezz reasoned.
"Duh," Amber confirmed.
Jezz's cheeks turned red as he faced away from them. "I thought Jay loved you. Jay, you say 'love ya' to Amber all the time."
"Jay doesn't love-love me, but he does love me. You get it?"
"Yeah…what Amb said," Jay agreed. "Umm, I'll just sleep in my own cot. Can we change the subject now though? I want to talk about Mary."
Though his friends' comments were confusing, Jezz felt he almost understood. Not that many people have said 'I love you' to him before, and so the very concept confused him and he was too embarrassed to ask someone to break it down into terms that his brain comprehended.
"When Mary said that she recognized you, how did she…what did she say?" Jay asked as he and Amber sat down on their cots.
Jezz got up and shut the door, then returned to his cot.
"I will explain," he decided.
Jezz collected his memories.
One would expect and orphanage to be a crazy-busy place, but that isn't true for all orphanages. Mine is fairly empty. I am the only boy my age, and I am sure I am the only trans person. I like the quiet because it is easier for me to read that way. I hear footsteps, and look up to see who has interrupted my reading.
"Miss Jessica Tonaka. The director must speak with you," the headmistress sternly announced.
"Y-yes Ma-ma'am," said the younger Jezz.
"Do not stutter, child. And why aren't you wearing your dress? Those trousers are meant for boys!"
"I am a boy!"
"Don't you dare raise your voice at me!"
The headmistress slapped him across the face. Jezz touched his hand to the spot, his mouth nearly gaping. He had been smacked before, even to the point of bleeding, but never by her.
"Listen," she demanded through gritted teeth. "While you are under this roof, you are mine. You are Jessica Tonaka to me, though I should call you a misérable—because that's what you are: miserable. Pathetic, delusional, an utter embarrassment."
The woman smacked Jezz again, this time om the other side. Anger flooded his senses.
But another outburst meant no supper and possibly no evening tea or blanket for his cot, and Mary's office wasn't far from where they stood.
He grinned. The headmistress scoffed and pushed him forward.
"Jezz?" said Jay, interrupting the remembrance.
"Pardon?" Jezz replied.
"You were just staring into space."
Jezz realized he had yet to speak aloud. He didn't want to tell Jay and Amber his pity story. He coughed and moved on:
On that grim sleety day, I assumed the director of the orphanage, Mary, wanted to see me because I had violated another rule.
The last several times I had been 'disobedient', Headmistress Grogda usually handled the punishments—"
"GROGDA! Amber shouted.
Jezz appeared perplexed, then horrified.
"You know her?" he asked.
"No, but fucksake, that's the ugliest name in the world."
"Amb, that's rude. I bet Grogda is a sweet lady," said Jay.
"She's not," Jezz replied.
"Whatever, Jezz, just tell your sob story," said Amber.
"It's not a 'sob story'," he contested.
"Are you gonna tell it or not?"
Headmistress Grogda was as unpleasant as her name.
"Stop with that nonsense!" was a common phrase of hers, as was: "It isn't sensible; no home is going to want to take you in if they believe you are mentally impaired."
I recall looking down at my feet as we walked the cold, empty halls. Unless most schools, we didn't have artwork or student awards plaques or even paint. Just gray brick, complementing the hollow, defenseless, and desolate feeling I felt within its walls.
That day, however, I did not feel defenseless. I was angry. I had a power I wanted to exploit, and I was ready to force a change.
"I am intelligent, capable, and strong," I told Headmistress Grogda. "I know who and what I am. Do not call me a liar, impaired, or anything of that sort!"
Headmistress cackled.
"You naïve, insolent, and baseborn brat. You understand nothing of this world. You will mature someday and realize I am right—eventually."
"I am not wrong," I asserted.
Mary appeared before me. Just looking at her, with her Bantu knots, deep brown eyes, and luminous grin impelled me to relax.
Mary's disposition was nearly the opposite of Headmistress Grogda's.
"Well now, Jezz Tonaka," a woman said as she came up to greet me. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Mary Sapphira."
She used my real name. I remember how she looked me in the eyes as she said it. She wanted me to know that she was an ally; if she couldn't help me, she could at least bring me comfort, which was a rarity among these halls.
Headmistress's upper lip curled and her eyes narrowed. She mumbled something into Mary's ear then marched away.
"Please come sit," said Mary. "Is now a good time? Or are you busy?"
I was surprised that she was asking me about my preference. That never happened before.
"I can talk now," I said.
"Excellent," Mary replied, opening the door to her office.
Her office was warmer than the rest of the building and it smelled like cinnamon and gingerbread, unlike the headmistress's office, which was frigid and tasted of bitterness.
Mary gestured for me to sit down on the bean-bag couch she had put out. I was surprised that she sat on the bag across from me instead of behind her desk.
"I am sorry on behalf of Ms. Grogda," she said. "If it were up to me, I would have hired someone less uptight and argumentative. But, as you may already know, the stakeholders make most of the decisions around here. They wanted to have someone around who would balance me out—they feel I am too lenient."
"Oh," I sighed, not sure what else to say.
Mary smiled at me and touched my hair, and I think that for a fleeting moment I experienced what it was like to be adored.
"Your Xatu can take you through time," she remarked.
"That is correct," I replied. "How—how did you know about my Xatu? I never told anyone that before."
"I have been keeping an eye on you from afar. I think you are an incredible child."
She paused. I was deadly stiff as she examined my soul.
"Ms. Sapphira?" I asked. "What is it that makes me 'incredible'?"
She giggled in a way that made me feel unashamed of my inquiry.
"You say that as if you don't already know," said Mary.
"I do not understand," I replied.
"I could go on for hours about you. But that is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about your time-traveling Xatu. You see, I have seen you in my past, the past I can recall. As you know, I cannot remember much of my life, but I do remember working as a social worker as a young adult. Jezz, when you are twelve, you come to the thirty-four-year-old me and tell me about the Kapule Klan. I am then able to prevent dozens of children from being sent there. You see, they are a lesser-known gang, and they foster young children who they believe are wealthy and then slowly take their money, and when those children turn eighteen, all their money is gone. I think you might have been one of these children, as one of the people who used to care for you worked for the Kapule Klan. I am not sure if they are still watching you or not. But you go back in time, tell me what is going on, and I fix it so that those children that you have been raised in poor, uninspected, foster homes and then thrown into the streets as an adult instead go to homes that will actually help them. I am not sure where you came from, no one seems to know for sure, but I know that you will help me."
By this point in my life, I have time traveled many times, usually unwillingly, but I at least understood what it is like. I also understood that Mary wasn't giving me a mission, rather she was telling me about the mission I already completed.
"I can tell by your eyes that you understand," Mary noted.
"I do understand," I responded.
"The problem is that I cannot remember my surname. I know that I was going by 'Sapphira' at the time that you contacted me, but I really don't think that was my original surname. My memory works in mysterious ways, Jezz, but I am certain that you are the one who helps me. Right now, you are probably wondering why I am telling you all of this."
I nodded. Mary gave another earnest laugh.
"I wanted to give you encouragement and to thank you. I don't know yet if I will have the chance to tell you, and I don't want to forget," she said simply. "I hope you understand how important you are. You are kind, brave, honest, witty, and wise. Don't you mind the people—like Ms. Grogda—who don't see it."
It was an honor to have an adult speak about me in such a way. No one ever did that before.
"Will I know when?" I asked.
"Yes, you will," she affirmed. "And…and Jezz, it might be painful to leave, but you will do it. I remember you coming to me with a pained heart."
"I am sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry about. Now, go back to reading your book. I will remember you in my past, and you will see me in your future. And I hope your Xatu warms up to you. His trainer was not a kind person. You look like his last trainer, and I feel he is a vengeful bird. I am sure that someday he will sense your warmth and decide to help you."
"Thank you so much for everything. I very much appreciate this conversation."
I was assigned a new home two weeks later. Before I left, I gave her my journal, so that she would have something to help remember me by. My journal was old, and there were pages missing and I had gotten frustrated and scribbled out the text where they referred to me as a girl or by Jess. Even though the journal made me frustrated, for some reason I kept it. I know my first foster parent had written in it, and they wrote about me. I still don't know why I gave it to her, or if she still has it, but that was several years ago. I think by now she would have forgotten about it, and me, but maybe someday someone will open it up and remind her of who I was.
Jay blew his nose into a tissue and wiped his eyes.
"That was so sad," he wept. "Oh, Jezz!"
Jay jumped off his cot and hugged Jezz. For once Jezz didn't flinch; he was used to random Jay hugs by now.
"I don't know about you all, but I wanna go to sleep," said Amber.
Amber reached into her bag and pulled out shorts and a t-shirt. Jezz took out a book.
You spend more time reading than sleeping," said Jay. "And you still have a fever."
"I like reading more than sleeping, and think my fever has gone down in the last few hours," he responded.
"Reading too much is bad for you," said Amber. "Sleep is important."
"Chuuuu," Pip yawned.
"Please do not worry about me. I will sleep when I am tired," Jezz replied. "Right now, I just want to read."
Amber lifted her clothes and toiletries. With a quiet "whatever", she left the boys alone.
"What are you reading?" Jay asked.
"It's call 'A Brief Introduction to Unova Law'," Jezz answered.
"You must be getting ready for your meeting."
"Yes."
"Before you start reading, can I ask you a question?"
"Certainly."
"Are you satisfied, living with us? I didn't quite realize how…um well, I'll put it this way: you are the smartest person I know, and you have a lot of talent, and you have many things that you can do and it seems odd that you are choosing to hang out with a bunch of misfits like me and Amb."
"I am glad that you think so highly of me."
"It's hard not to…I am, thanks."
"It is an honor, and you ask me if I am satisfied. I don't know what that means. I have been hunting and chasing my entire life. I am always on a mission. I do not think I will ever reach a haven that can satisfy me forever."
"I wish that weren't true. I wish you could be happy."
"I believe that I am happy. I am happy enough."
Jezz didn't know what he meant, but Jay was content with the response.
"Okay. I will let you do your reading now," said Jay. "I need to change too."
"Take whatever clothing you like—we can do laundry tomorrow," said Jezz.
"Right. Okay, see ya soon."
Jay took one of Jezz's t-shirts and sweatpants out of his bag and then walked out the door.
Amber was in the hall. "Did you enjoy your alone time with Jezz? Tell me what I missed."
"Amb, are you going to tease me about this forever?" Jay sighed.
"It just comes out of me; I can't help it. I don't mean any harm by it. You know that."
"I suppose I should understand that by know. It's so painful though, you know? Unrequited love is the worst kind."
"It's not that it's unrequited...well, it is, sorta, but it is nothing personal. He'd have to be gay and not related to you for this to work. I say those are two pretty big obstacles. The gods of romance hate you, Jay."
"Yeah, yeah. It still makes me sad though."
"By the way…did you ask to see if he was gay?"
Amber had lowered her voice to a whisper. Jay detected a blush arising. He raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe," he slyly replied. "Why do you want to know?"
"Just curious," she replied, turning away from him.
"Ha! You are only giving me a hard time because you also have a crush!"
"I do not!"
Amber kicked herself; she didn't mean to shout. She lowered her voice again.
"We are squishes. Stop changing things," she demanded.
"Okay, sure," Jay said with a wide smile. "I'm gonna get dressed now."
'Since when did he get so…like me?' Amber thought.
Amber pushed open the door and put her dirty clothes into the hamper that Patrissa had put in the room for them. Jezz was still reading his book. Pip, Togekiss, and Vileplume were sitting next to him, looking on as if they were reading too.
"It's a lawyer person book," Amber commented, glancing at the front cover.
"Indeed," Jezz replied. "I am very interested in politics, and I was reading some of the interesting parts aloud to the Pokémon."
"Do you like girls or boys?"
Jezz put the book down. "You mean romance wise?"
"Yeah."
"I haven't thought about romance much…" Amber and Jezz both knew that was a lie but neither commented on it. "…I suppose…if…"
"If, what?"
"I like girls."
Amber looked smug.
"I would like to have a woman as my partner one day... if I can," Jezz added, his eyes diverted from hers.
"Good to know," Amber replied. "I'm going to sleep now. The lights—"
"—I will turn them off. I have a booklight I can use, and I will go under the covers so that I do not disturb you. Or Jay."
"Thanks."
Jezz took his booklight out of his backpack before Amber shut the lights. Jay came in a moment later. He quietly tip-toed over to his bed and then climbed inside. Before shutting his eyes, he looked over at Jezz one last time, but he could only see his feet since Jezz had ducked under the covers.
'This really sucks,' Jay thought to himself.
XO
Day 65
Annastasia and Rita decided to only tell the people who absolutely needed to know about Jezz's transition. That turned out to be Delia, Giovanni, Lucy, and Rumika. Rita understood the sensitivity of the situation better than anyone else and decided to glaze over the topic whenever one of the other agents working on the case asked for details. They figured that if the boss and head spies knew what was up, everyone else could continue the search without needing additional information.
After dealing with the intense amount of drama over the past few days, Annastasia treated Rita, Michio, Nolan, and Lexi to a lazy Tuesday brunch. She figured Rita would need it more than anyone, especially after Annastasia broke the news to her that Ralph was already seeing someone else.
They planned a date and location to get together and decided on a small restaurant that Michio had recommended. Annastasia decided to discuss the case while her, Rita, and Michio waited for Lexi and Nolan to join them.
"Rita, you are one amazing person," Annastasia said proudly, handing her a cup of Irish coffee. "You played a huge role in solving this mystery, and with a concussion and with twelve broken ribs and a sore heart."
"You would've done the same," said Rita.
Rita gulped the coffee. She exhaled and smiled back at her two odd friends, the quieter of whom was playing with the bamboo straw of his mocktail.
"Maybe," said Annastasia. "With everything else I am working on now, monitoring the other agents is impossible right now. You deserve the credit. You are the perfect person for it too because you understand what it is like."
Michio perked up. He looked between Rita and Annastasia.
"Does this mean that you are trans too?" he asked.
"Me or her?" said Annastasia.
"You said that Rita 'knows what it's like'."
"Annastasia is referring to the work I did as a side job while we were both 'still in progress' trainees for Team Rocket."
"Rita worked at a shelter for GSRM, aka LGBTQIA+ children that had either been abandoned, kicked out of their homes, or were poor and couldn't receive the treatment, education, or support they needed," Annastasia explained.
"Holy fuck, Rita: you're a saint."
Rita shrugged. "What can I say? Beneath my icy witch-bitch chest there is a heart."
"Awe," Annastasia sighed as she put her hands together.
"Speaking of queer people, how are you two doing? Did you crash and burn yet? For all I know this could all be a front put up for the kids' sake," Rita commented. "And now you have a twelve-year-old baby on the way."
"We're great," Annastasia replied.
Michio glared at Rita. "Why you gotta hate?"
"Ha, that rhymed…Rita, what makes you think we wouldn't be great?"
"Though I love you, A, I'd feel better if I knew that I was not the only one suffering," Rita replied.
"I get it. I suppose I never pictured you in a committed relationship before. It never seemed your style."
"I still don't think it's my style. All I know is that I want him, but he is too busy hanging out with this slut whose parents used to be Team Magmar agents. She thinks she is so special, the little bitch."
"I am sure she isn't that bad. Have you even talked to her?"
"No."
"Have you talked to Ralph recently?"
"Yes, and he told me that if I could go four months without sleeping with anyone, then he'd take me back. But like, that is never going to happen. I don't have to change who I am for his benefit."
"You don't have to change who you are, but you should prove to him that you actually care enough to make a small sacrifice for his sake."
"How would he know that you aren't hooking up with anyone?" Michio asked.
As much as he hated this conversation and was desperately praying that Lexi and Nolan would hurry up, he couldn't help but attempt to satisfy his curiosity. Rita cackled before giving him the answer.
"Because, Michio, I happen to be a god-awful liar. How do you think he discovered what was going on in the first place?" she replied.
"Oh. But aren't you like a show person?" he questioned.
"I can sing, but not act," Rita responded. "And I can bullshit, but I can't flat out lie when someone asks me a direct question."
"Same here," said Annastasia.
"So, you two do have something in common," Michio remarked. "Hold on, if you can't lie, then how are you perpetuating this lie about Jezz?"
"God, you are curious today. I can make exceptions for him. This isn't about me, it's about Jezz. That is totally different. I don't feel guilty for helping him."
They talked for a while about what Michio had come to dub 'girl things' until Nolan and Lexi showed up.
"It's Sandshrew's fault," Nolan started. "He stole the keys to your garage, and so we had to wait for your dad to come let us in so that we could use the teleporter to get here."
"Sorry about the Sandshrew, it still doesn't get along with us completely," Annastasia replied.
"We get it," said Lexi. "We bought some wine to make up for it."
Nolan set the bottle out on the table. He poured a glass for himself, Lexi and Annastasia.
"It's the kind you like," said Nolan.
"Thanks," Annastasia replied. "We were just chatting; we weren't waiting for that long. By the way, doesn't Lucas have two or three Pokémon that can use Teleport? Why couldn't you just borrow?"
"He left to pursue Geo-catching with his sister," Lexi reminded her.
"Oh yes, I forgot. It's only you and Lexi left still doing the Battle Frontier."
"Everyone else left?" said Rita.
"It happens," Nolan shrugged. "We're all just out here following our hearts."
A waiter placed a basket of bread on their table.
"I was hoping they would bring this out," Annastasia said as she helped herself to the largest piece. "I was craving this."
"Ahh yes. Bread. A, now I know that even though you are being pleasant, you are stressed as hell," said Nolan.
"That's the only time she ever eats bread. Or yogurt. Or sweets," Lexi added.
"I can't help it," Annastasia replied. "My baby brother and his two baes are still nowhere to be found."
"I am shocked they haven't at least called after all this time."
"It's hard to explain, but there is a reason that they haven't called and a reason that no one can pick up on any of their auras," said Rita.
"I'll be right back," Annastasia said suddenly. She got up and ran from the table.
"What…?" Michio started; Annastasia was gone before he could finish.
"She can't tolerate gluten," Nolan sighed. "But when she's stressed, it doesn't stop her from eating shit tons of bread."
"Is she okay?"
"She'll be back," Lexi responded nonchalantly.
Michio frowned. "But her favorite food is chocolate chip pancakes."
"Made with rice or almond flour," Nolan clarified.
"Fuck. She's crazy."
"You should have known," said Nolan and Lexi together.
"If no one wants this bread, I'll take this," said Nolan. He took the basket of bread and dumped the contents into the garbage pail behind him. "If she asks just say that we ate it all."
Annastasia returned a few minutes later will a pale and weary face but a joyful expression. She sat back down and looked at her friends.
"What did I miss?" she questioned. Then she noticed the empty basket. "Nolan! Did you throw away all the bread?!"
"It was for your own good," he defended.
Annastasia pouted. "I was going to eat that…"
"You are going to get fat like me if you eat that stuff anyway," Lexi smirked while she sipped on her wine.
"You aren't fat," Annastasia responded. "But yeah, it is true that I have been gaining more weight than I expected. I blame Michio. He has been eating a lot of crap lately. And now since those kids are causing me stress, I eat it too. I wish Michio would binge on green tea and lemon instead."
"I don't have to change who I am for your benefit," said Michio in an imitation-Rita voice, mocking her from earlier.
"Michio, did anyone ever tell you how funny you are?" said Rita.
"We won't ask," said Lexi.
"So here we all are, together. Yay," Annastasia said happily. "I asked Viviana, Brodie, Lucas, and Mariana to come too, but they were all scrambled and busy with stuff. But I like this. My closest friends…all together in proximity without shedding blood. It's beautiful."
"Glad to make you happy, A," said Nolan.
"Do you have some kind of announcement?" Rita asked.
"No. I just missed you all. Especially you two," she pointed to Lexi and Nolan. "So how has life been? I've heard some things from Lucas about you two getting cozy…"
"Don't listen to Lucas," said Lexi. "He is…he is…."
"…Worse than me," said Rita.
"He's nosy and makes little things into big things."
"Now I know why we are all here. We are going to grill Nolan and Lexi. But Annie, I actually like them, unlike some of the other people you hang out with," Michio said as he shot a look at Rita.
The waiter came and asked for their order. Nolan delicately convinced Annastasia to order something other than a mozzarella and tomato sandwich, and she surrendered even after Michio had ordered the same entrée. She nearly cried when the other food came out and she was the only stuck with a bread-less meal.
"It's just not right," she lamented.
"Here, have some of mine," Michio responded, handing her half a sandwich.
"Don't do it A, you'll regret it," Nolan warned her.
"It will make you dizzy and pukey and irritable…" Lexi listed.
Annastasia meekly returned the sandwich. "They are right."
"So much drama," Rita sighed. "Did you ask for gluten-free bread?"
"They took it off the menu," Annastasia responded sadly.
Michio and the others were relieved to see her acting a bit more like herself; goofy and random. She could only stay in business mode for so long before she broke down.
"The babies seem to be doing well," said Lexi. "When your dad finally came to get us, he couldn't stop talking about them. He said Rose calls him 'mama'. That is so cute."
Annastasia smiled. "Yeah…I miss them. I can't wait until this trip is over. More than anything I want us all to be together and safe. I get that being all together is hard…but it is possible. I have been a wreck lately, and I think the babies pick up on all the stress."
"Your parents are doing a good job of curbing all of that though," said Nolan. "It's almost like they finally grew up."
"I feel that," she responded.
After lunch Nolan and Lexi returned to Kanto, leaving Michio once again alone with Rita and Annastasia.
"Rita, thank you so much for all that you are doing with Jezz," Annastasia told her again.
"You don't have to thank me," she responded.
"Thank you for coming to lunch today. I invited you all because I wanted some normality. I miss the good all days when all we had to do was stay on Giovanni's good side."
"I agree. Good luck, girl. Hopefully, next time I see you I'll have some good news."
They hugged good-bye. Annastasia almost cried.
"Good luck with Ralph," she added. "I hope that you get everything you want."
"I have a plan that might ensure that," Rita replied.
"I had a feeling you would. See you later. As always, text me whenever you need to chat. And take care of yourself. No exercise or sex until you can pass Delia's health test."
"I will, A. Promise."
XO
In The Next Chapter:
- Lucario is disturbed
- The trio heads to the heart of Washington
- Pendent and reward