Chapter 9 – Fabulous Friends
Tracey opened his eyes. The sun streamed onto his face. He did not sit up, but let his eyes wander about his surroundings – He lay in a white bed, with white sheets, in a white room. In front of him was a window where the sun shone through. He was not dressed in his ordinary clothes, rather more white. A long, white shirt.
When he did try to site up, his back ached and he could not do it. So he simply stayed in the bed.
He really had to go to the bathroom.
But he could not move.
But he REALLY had to go.
Don't think about it.
But…
Suddenly the door slammed open. Ash burst in happily. Misty and Pikachu were with him. "Heya, Tracey! How ya doin'?"
Tracey sighed. "I'm fine…As long as I don't think about water."
Ash blinked. "I guess you don't want this lemonade I brought for you…?'
Jessie arched her back as she stretched and rose up off the ground.
That was a tough landing.
The sun was high overhead and she figured that they must have been out for awhile.
They?
But where were James and Meowth? She looked from side to side, not noticing either of them. Jessie scratched her head and leaned against a tree. She saw the balloon. It was a mess! The Boss was really going to be mad this time.
"Jessie!"
Jessie double-blinked and swished her head back and forth. "James? James? That you?"
"Help me!"
There was a pitiful cry and Jessie looked over to where the voice was coming from. She noticed a cliff and gasped. "James!" She ran over to it and looked over the edge. Sure enough, there was her friend. He dangled from a branch and was whimpering. "James…How did you get down there?"
James did not dare move. "No…No talk…Help…Branch…Crack…Snap…Break…Fall…" He barely breathed. Then he felt Jessie's head come close to his. "Help…"
"James…" she said. She grabbed the branch and snapped it.
"NO!" James cried. And he…
Stood there.
James opened his eyes, which had been clamped shut. He was standing on solid ground. Jessie was less than a foot above him. She smiled and waggled the branch in her hand.
"…"
"James, before you go off and sound desperate, take a look at your surroundings." She extended her hand out to him. He grabbed it and she pulled him up.
"Eh…Sorry, Jess," he blushed, embarrassed, but soon felt better as Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck. He giggled and leaned forward to kiss her.
"HELP MEOWTH!"
The two broke apart at once. "Meowth?" Jessie called. "Where are you?"
They saw him in the tree. He dangled by a few ropes from the balloon. "Help…?"
Jessie put her hands on her hips. "Why should we?"
"Yeah!" James frowned. "You've been awful mean to us lately. And even what you said to Stacey wasn't very nice."
Meowth was in disbelief. His eyes opened wide and he looked at his friends sadly. "But it was true…" Jessie and James turned their backs to him. He sadly watched them as they began to walk away. "I was right…" he said, tears beginning to fall down his cheeks. "I knew as soon as you two got togeddah, you'd nevah wanna be around Meowth again." He sobbed and buried his face in his paws. "Da only reason I was so mean was 'cause I wanted to break you up. I didn't want to lose my friends!"
All of a sudden, he felt himself being lowered. He looked below him to see two sympathetic faces looking up at him. Meowth was still crying when he reached the ground.
"Meowth," Jessie said softly. She sat on her knees and took him into her arms. "Believe me when I say you're one of the best friends I've ever had. I would never forget you."
"That goes double for me," James said, also sitting on his knees. He reached over and pet Meowth on the head. "You're as dear to me as Jessie...But not in…THAT way, you know…"
Meowth looked at both of them, from Jessie to James. They were both smiling at him sweetly. He cried even harder and Jessie still held him. "What do you say we go home, Top Cat? Want some tuna?"
The cat Pokémon never answered, but smiled and continued to cry.
Stacey sat in the waiting room of the Pokémon Center. She thought the Joy here was extremely kind to them, even though she was a member of Team Rocket. Tracey's sketchbook was in her lap.
Soon, the doors flew open. Tracey wobbled out, only wearing his shorts and shoes. Bandages were wrapped all around him, from his waist to his chest, and he held his orange headband with a loose grip. Stacey's heart raced and all the blood rushed to her cheeks when she saw him. She stood up and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck gently. Tracey blushed and didn't know what to do.
"Hi," he said meekly.
"Tracey!" Stacey smiled. "I'm so glad you're alright." She pulled away from him. "I was starting to worry about you."
"A Team Rocket member worried about a twerp?" he joked. "No way!" He then sat down and put on his headband. Stacey joined him in a chair across from his. "I told Ash and Misty all about our Pikachu rescue. They're very grateful to you."
"I was just helping a friend," Stacey replied, not wanting to meet his eyes. She suddenly heard his chair move. Before she knew it, he was sitting on the ground right in front of her. "Tracey! You shouldn't move so much!" she said, her voice wavering a bit.
He did not answer her, only moved closer to her. Stacey did not breathe. Tracey's face was right in front of her now, and she was as red as a tomato. Before she knew it, they were kissing.
Kissing.
In the Pokémon Center.
Oh, how Stacey was flushed!
When they broke the kiss, the dazed Stacey could barely move. But her eyes darted open. Tracey wondered what she was looking at and whirled around. In the doorway stood Ash, Misty, Pikachu, and Nurse Joy.
Both turned even redder.
"Ahem…" Joy said, coughing a bit. "And how are you feeling, Tracey? Better, I presume." She looked directly at Stacey.
Tracey jumped to his feet. "Y-yes! Better!"
Misty giggled. "I can see why."
Ash just looked disgusted.
End of Chapter 9