"Aw, crap."

Mori stopped and scowled up at the high school announcements board as Liam skidded to a halt to avoid crashing into her.

"What?" said Liam.

"They brought it back," said Mori mysteriously. "I was hoping it was gone for good."

"What was gone for good?" asked Liam, looking over Mori's shoulder curiously.

"Hey, they're bringing back Fall Camp," said Vasilio eagerly, who was leaning over Mori's other shoulder. "They haven't had that since—."

"7th grade," said Mori darkly.

"Something else for me to worry about?" asked Liam.

"Nah," said Vasilio. "It's exactly what it sounds like. Last time we went about an hour outside of town and just camped out. The Pokemon loved it—I'd go again just for that. Spending a night outside of their Pokeballs and away from the pollution is a nice change. Mori, uh… didn't have a good time."

"Claire?" asked Liam.

Mori nodded.

"But you should totally come," Vasilio continued. "Bring some Pokeballs. If nothing else, you might catch something rare. Trust me, you'll have fun."

"I'll… think about it," said Liam evasively.

Vasilio looked disappointed.

"I really might go," said Liam apologetically. "I'm just… not sure."

"You guys have fun, then," said Mori bitterly.

She had a dour expression on her face, and she was carefully avoiding Vasilio's gaze.

"Mori, come on," said Vasilio, furrowing his brow. "Ask your dad if you can go. He's got nothing to hold against you this year—he's got no excuse."

"You make it sound like it's my fault I'm not allowed to have fun," Mori muttered.

"It's not," said Vasilio firmly. "I'm just trying to help you play by your dad's rules because that's what you're stuck with. Seriously, ask him. I will bet you a week's worth of erkuai that he'll say yes."

Mori's eyes lit up at this offer.

"I'll hold you to that," Mori said seriously.

"I'll make it even more interesting," said Liam. "If Mori's dad says she can go, I'll go."

"Fine, fine," said Mori. "Come on, Shrike needs to bore us to death in Unovan History, and I'm running out of tardies."

Liam smiled to himself at Mori's sudden eagerness. He had to give Vasi credit—sometimes, he had exactly the rights words for their mutual friend.

"What about Ruth Kong?"

"Marsha, I promise whether or not I like Ruth Kong isn't on Werner's next test."

Marsha gave a disappointed scowl and propped her textbook up on her knees. Chelsea snickered.

"And don't tell me I dodged the question," Liam added. "Because I did. Ruth is off-limits for joking around. She's too pure. Plus, I'm pretty sure she's only into guys from Ferrum."

Liam reached into his canvas bag and pulled out his class notebook.

"Are you going to the Fall Camp?" asked Marsha innocently.

"Also not on the next test," said Liam. "And I don't know. It depends on… things. I might just stay home and sulk. That sounds more fun than camping."

"Bro, don't trainers have to walk from town to town in Johto?" said Chelsea. "That's gotta involve camping."

"There's a reason my first badge was in Nanzo," Liam muttered. "Alright, Arena Trap. What are the workarounds?"

"Baton Pass," began Marsha automatically. "Parting Shot, U-Turn, and Volt Switch."

"Battle camp comes through again," said Liam with a smirk. "And in alphabetical order, too. What did she leave out, Chez?"

Chelsea fidgeted with a strand of her curly red hair.

"...Flying types?"

"Yes," said Liam. "Also Ghost types. And Pokemon that float. Not that you can really prepare for it. Once you're trapped, you're trapped… A lesson I've learned the hard way."

The girls glanced at each other deviously.

"I believe you enjoy our company very much," said Marsha in her usual matter-of-fact way. "Which means you must be in love with one of us. I think you are infatuated with Chelsea, and Chelsea thinks you are madly in love with me."

"Could we have a conversation that passes the Bechdel test at least once?" said Liam. "

"I don't know what that means," said Marsha blankly.

"Yeah, I can tell," said Liam.

Chelsea gave an exasperated groan.

"Calculating Hidden Powers is so hard," she said, "Liam, can you check my answers?"

"Sure," said Liam. "It's not my strong suit, either, but I can make sure your equations are right."

Chelsea tossed her notebook carelessly in Liam's general direction.

"Thanks," said Liam sarcastically, leaning over to scoop up the notebook from the pavement.

As he flipped through the pages in search of Chelsea's homework, he spotted something that startled him.

"What… is this?" said Liam.

"Oh, that," said Chelsea. "Yeah, that's… I've just…"

It was a two-page spread listing nearly every student in the secondary, along with extensive annotations on each. There were personality traits, relationships, Pokemon teams, phone numbers, addresses, birthdays—an effective encyclopedia of nosiness. Liam noticed that certain names had large black dots next to them.

"What do the dots mean?" asked Liam seriously.

Chelsea wound a strand of red hair around her finger and gave an apologetic smile.

"It's nothing," she said, very unconvincingly. "Really."

Scanning the page, Liam tried to discern a pattern of some kind.

"Are these… you're trying to figure out who sent the note," said Liam. "These are your suspects, right?"

"Liam," said Marsha. "Please return Chelsea's notebook at once."

Liam ignored her. He was searching for his own name, running his index finger down the length of the page.

"Some of your suspects are pretty far fetched, Chez," said Liam. "Like, I can't stand Adam Choi either, but I don't think that makes him…"

He found his own name at the bottom of the second page.

"So you don't think I'm a Team Power spy," said Liam, snapping the notebook shut and passing it back to Chelsea, who snatched it from him and stuffed it into her backpack at once. "That's good. I'd be a little offended if you did, to be honest."

"I'm not an idiot, bro," said Chelsea sullenly. "I know you wouldn't…"

"So, what's your plan," said Liam. "I mean, when you find out who the person sending the notes is, what are you gonna do? Kick their ass?"

Chelsea looked a little shocked.

"No," she said earnestly. "I'd just… ask them why."

Liam blinked.

"You're not out for revenge?"

"No," said Chelsea. "I'm… I mean, I hate Team Power. They're horrible. I hope they never take over Nanzo. But… I'm not a vindictive person. If I thought someone was working for Team Power, I'd want to… I dunno, understand."

Liam sniffed.

"Is that what you'd say to Jiu?" he said abruptly. "You'd ask that piece of human filth why he killed your Pokemon? Because I can tell you why he did it. He did it for fun. Because he's scum."

Liam realized that both of the girls were staring at him, and instantly felt ashamed. He had just taken the worst moments in Chelsea's life and beat over the head with them to prove a point. He half-expected Chelsea and Marsha to storm away there and then, and he knew he would have deserved it if they did. But instead, Chelsea gave a sympathetic sigh.

"I don't know what I'd do if I met Jiu again," said Chelsea. "But… I think I could do it. I think I could tell him I forgave him and ask him why he did it. If I don't treat him like a person… I mean, what good am I?"

They were all silent for a moment.

"Sorry," said Liam, standing up. "I shouldn't have said any of that. I need to go."

"See you tomorrow, bro," said Chelsea.

Her voice hurt, but still kind. Liam could only nod.

From:VengeanceOfSneasel

To:CassInTheCleods91

Cass,

Chelsea said something today that reminded me of you. It made me think of how you always saw the best in everyone—how you gave them the benefit of the doubt whether they deserved it or not. I wish I was like that. I wish I wasn't so judgemental and angry. I never understood why you wanted to be with someone like me. I'm glad you did, though.

Have you ever listened to Regina Spektor? She reminds me of you too, but in a different way. This is my favorite song of hers. I hope you like it.

Love,

Liam

File Attachment:ReginaSpektor_Fidelity_mp3