Here's an extra long chapter for all of you! Thanks for all the reviews on
three
and four! Well, I'd better shut up now so u can enjoy the story ^_^
Delia flung her backpack on her bed and settled down, her heart racing. She tried
to force her rigid spine to relax, but she simply couldn't. Her mother was outside,
gardening. Finally, she decided to write a little in her diary. Sometimes, that helped get
her mind off everything that was going on..
May 25
Dear Diary,
Nearly eight months have passed since Professor Oak first came to my house.
Since then, he's come nearly every weekend. We talk about everything now, and we're
really close. Not just lessons, but I think he's discovered that I'm not as dumb as I look.
I haven't told the other kids, they might think I'm cheating or something. My
grades have gotten much better (I'm at a 80% now!) The only hint that we're friends now
is an occasion secretive wave in the hallways. It makes me so sad to know that it will
never be anything more.. but I think he looks at me like another daughter, since his own
son is almost my age.
I'm sorry, diary, if I mention his name every five seconds. I really can't help it,
because I think..I'm in love.
It's such a foolish, school girl notion. It's just a crush. That's what Ki said. Just a
crush. But I feel more than that. I've had crushes before....they come and go like the
wind.
Like everyone else. Very gradually, everyone stopped paying attention to
Professor Oak. Now Ki likes a guy named Rich. All my other friends got boyfriends that
they're going with for prom night. All of them except for me. I don't want to stay home
by myself. But the person I want to go with is chaperoning the prom.
I could hate her, I suppose. Who? Mrs. Oak, of course. She not only married him,
but she had two kids with him. But I just..can't. She's like the mother I never had. I can
tell her things that I never tell my own mother. When we went to Professor Oak;s house,
she never scolded her kids for spilling their milk or being loud. She let them go out with
their friends. She loved them.
Does my mother love me at all? Maybe she does, or why else would she be so
terrified over every little thing that COULD happen to me? But she just.doesn't care. I
honestly feel that Mrs. Oak likes me a whole lot more then my own mother. She is the
kindest person I ever met.
Love hurts so much, diary. I'm torn between loyalties to myself and my friends,
and so I have to keep it inside. I have to, no matter what. I just don't want to hurt anyone.
-Delia
The phone suddenly shrilled next to her. "He-loooo!" she called out.
There was silence on the other end. "Hello? Is anyone there?"
"Hi!" blurted out a voice on the other end. A male voice.
"Hi, um, who is this?" she asked.
"This is Aaron. From your Pokemon biology class." She tried to recall an Aaron,
but couldn't. She never noticed any of the boys in that class.
"H-hi Aaron," she stuttered. "How's it going?"
"Fine!" he said in a rush. "Listen, um, Delia, are you going with anyone to prom
night?"
"Nope," she said.
"Well, if you don't mind, that is, um, would you like to go with me? I'm not
going with anyone either."
It took her a second for this to sink in. Here was a boy, asking her to prom. A boy
her age. Maybe it would be better to go. Maybe she could even divert herself from
Professor Oak.
Poor Aaron found her silence excruciating. "Deila? Are you still there?"
"Yes! Yes, I'll go with you Aaron. Thanks for asking me. See ya tomorrow."
"See ya," he said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the relieved tone in his voice
was apparent.
She replaced the receiver and was suddenly caught up in a rush of youthful spirit.
She didn't realize, but the last time she'd felt truly young was before she'd fallen in love.
All her friends were dating, describing vividly their first kisses and beyond. And then
there was Delia, who didn't have a boyfriend and surely had never been kissed.
And no one knew. Not even Ki.
She decided she needed a new dress. Even if it meant defying her mother once
and for all.
"Now, Delia, I'm going out to the market to go shopping. You watch the house
while I'm gone, okay?"
"Right!" she said while her mind planned out the battle tactics. After the tyrant
left, she would take the bus down to Mauve Town's shopping center.
Next, she would take the carefully earned $150 and treat herself to a dress. Then
after riding the bus home, she'd smuggle the dress into the house and hide it in the closet.
It was perfect.
Delia smiled stupidly as her mother buzzed around the house grabbing keys and
wallet, coupons and lists.
Delia opened her eyes and tried to look as innocent as she possibly could.
"What's wrong, delia? Do you have something in your eyes?" asked her mother.
She laughed. "No, nothing mother. Nothing at all."
Her mother eyed her suspiciously before rushing out of the house, promising to be
back in a couple hours.
She waited ten minutes or so in case her mother had forgotten something, then
decided the coast was clear.
She boarded the bus, and settled down on the seat. Everything was going
according to plan, so far.
When she reached the mall, she headed into a store where they had prom dresses
and bought the prettiest one she could find.
The dress was on sale, so she decided to treat herself to a hot, fresh soft pretzel
with the leftover money.
As she pushed through the crowds to get to the pretzel stand, a very familiar pair
of eyes met her own from across the throng.
No....it couldn't be...
But it was. She averted her eyes and hoped that the woman wouldn't follow her.
Quickly she hurried out towards the exit in hopes that she could lose her.
A second later, a hand bore down on her shoulder. She squirmed and struggled,
but another hand turned her around to face her opposer.
"Delia! What are you doing here?"
"Mo-mom! I just needed a dress, that was all. I was gonna go straight home, I
swear!"
Mrs. Ketchum's angry glare traveled to the bag she held in her hand.
"And you, young lady, are going to return that dress right this second. You are not
going to the senior prom."
Delia had never felt as ensnared in her mother's grasp as she did in that instant.
For a moment her eyes blazed with an unmistakable rebellion that her mother had never
seen before, but then they dimmed.
"Fine, mother," she said, and the two of them walked back to the store and
returned it.
As they piled into the car, Delia expected to feel discouraged, to feel all her hopes
dying, something.
Instead she felt a driving, burning rage that she'd never felt before. For eighteen
years she'd lived under her mother's thumb. Never again, said a voice in her head.
June 1st, Senior Prom night. Delia pretended to have a stomachache and hid
herself in her room all day.
She applied make-up, and did her hair in a fancy up do just like Ki had shown
her during lunch.
Next, she donned the long, sparkling lavender dress. Ki had taken pity on her after
listening to the whole horrible tale, and let her use an old dress from last year. After a few
slight alterations, it fit her slim figure perfectly.
When she finally turned around in the mirror, she couldn't believe the girl staring
back at her was her. She looked so beautiful, she confident. There was an air of
determination surrounding her that she never knew she possessed.
"Here I go," she whispered to herself, gathering up her wits and heading
downstairs. Mrs. Ketchum was sitting on the sofa, calmly reading the paper. When she
glanced up at Delia, she almost dropped the paper.
"Delia? What are you doing wearing that dress?" she demanded, standing up.
"I'm going to the prom," she responded calmly, trying not to let her mother
dimish her courage.
"You're still entertaining that foolish prom notion? Sit down, take that dress off,
you're not going anywhere."
"I am going." She said firmly. "Aaron's supposed to pick me up at 7." As she
neared the ending of her statement, her voice sounded more and more childish.
Look what she's done to me, Delia thought angrily. She's kept me from growing up.
"Sit down, Delia! You are not going to this little masquerade!"
"I AM going, Mother! Look at me! I'm almost eighteen! I'm an adult! I've grown
up, but you haven't realized it! You still walk around with the deranged little idea that
I'm three years old still and you can tell me exactly what to do!!!"
"Stop manipulating me! From now on, things are going to be different! I'm going
to do what I want, when I want! And NO ONE, not you, not anyone, is going to stop
me!"
"Delia! How dare you speak to me like this! Get up to your room! NOW!!"
Ever since she had begun ranting at her mother, Delia had been slowly inching
towards the door. Now she realized something instantly. Nothing would ever be different.
In her mother's eyes, she would always be a little girl. If she wanted to live her life, the
time was now.
"Goodbye, Mother." Eyes blazing, she flung open the door and dashed into the
stormy night, making sure to slam the door on the way out.
How'd you like it? Please review quickly! ^_^ I'll have chapter six to u in a couple weeks! (we're going on vacation, no internet access *sniffs*)
and four! Well, I'd better shut up now so u can enjoy the story ^_^
Delia flung her backpack on her bed and settled down, her heart racing. She tried
to force her rigid spine to relax, but she simply couldn't. Her mother was outside,
gardening. Finally, she decided to write a little in her diary. Sometimes, that helped get
her mind off everything that was going on..
May 25
Dear Diary,
Nearly eight months have passed since Professor Oak first came to my house.
Since then, he's come nearly every weekend. We talk about everything now, and we're
really close. Not just lessons, but I think he's discovered that I'm not as dumb as I look.
I haven't told the other kids, they might think I'm cheating or something. My
grades have gotten much better (I'm at a 80% now!) The only hint that we're friends now
is an occasion secretive wave in the hallways. It makes me so sad to know that it will
never be anything more.. but I think he looks at me like another daughter, since his own
son is almost my age.
I'm sorry, diary, if I mention his name every five seconds. I really can't help it,
because I think..I'm in love.
It's such a foolish, school girl notion. It's just a crush. That's what Ki said. Just a
crush. But I feel more than that. I've had crushes before....they come and go like the
wind.
Like everyone else. Very gradually, everyone stopped paying attention to
Professor Oak. Now Ki likes a guy named Rich. All my other friends got boyfriends that
they're going with for prom night. All of them except for me. I don't want to stay home
by myself. But the person I want to go with is chaperoning the prom.
I could hate her, I suppose. Who? Mrs. Oak, of course. She not only married him,
but she had two kids with him. But I just..can't. She's like the mother I never had. I can
tell her things that I never tell my own mother. When we went to Professor Oak;s house,
she never scolded her kids for spilling their milk or being loud. She let them go out with
their friends. She loved them.
Does my mother love me at all? Maybe she does, or why else would she be so
terrified over every little thing that COULD happen to me? But she just.doesn't care. I
honestly feel that Mrs. Oak likes me a whole lot more then my own mother. She is the
kindest person I ever met.
Love hurts so much, diary. I'm torn between loyalties to myself and my friends,
and so I have to keep it inside. I have to, no matter what. I just don't want to hurt anyone.
-Delia
The phone suddenly shrilled next to her. "He-loooo!" she called out.
There was silence on the other end. "Hello? Is anyone there?"
"Hi!" blurted out a voice on the other end. A male voice.
"Hi, um, who is this?" she asked.
"This is Aaron. From your Pokemon biology class." She tried to recall an Aaron,
but couldn't. She never noticed any of the boys in that class.
"H-hi Aaron," she stuttered. "How's it going?"
"Fine!" he said in a rush. "Listen, um, Delia, are you going with anyone to prom
night?"
"Nope," she said.
"Well, if you don't mind, that is, um, would you like to go with me? I'm not
going with anyone either."
It took her a second for this to sink in. Here was a boy, asking her to prom. A boy
her age. Maybe it would be better to go. Maybe she could even divert herself from
Professor Oak.
Poor Aaron found her silence excruciating. "Deila? Are you still there?"
"Yes! Yes, I'll go with you Aaron. Thanks for asking me. See ya tomorrow."
"See ya," he said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the relieved tone in his voice
was apparent.
She replaced the receiver and was suddenly caught up in a rush of youthful spirit.
She didn't realize, but the last time she'd felt truly young was before she'd fallen in love.
All her friends were dating, describing vividly their first kisses and beyond. And then
there was Delia, who didn't have a boyfriend and surely had never been kissed.
And no one knew. Not even Ki.
She decided she needed a new dress. Even if it meant defying her mother once
and for all.
"Now, Delia, I'm going out to the market to go shopping. You watch the house
while I'm gone, okay?"
"Right!" she said while her mind planned out the battle tactics. After the tyrant
left, she would take the bus down to Mauve Town's shopping center.
Next, she would take the carefully earned $150 and treat herself to a dress. Then
after riding the bus home, she'd smuggle the dress into the house and hide it in the closet.
It was perfect.
Delia smiled stupidly as her mother buzzed around the house grabbing keys and
wallet, coupons and lists.
Delia opened her eyes and tried to look as innocent as she possibly could.
"What's wrong, delia? Do you have something in your eyes?" asked her mother.
She laughed. "No, nothing mother. Nothing at all."
Her mother eyed her suspiciously before rushing out of the house, promising to be
back in a couple hours.
She waited ten minutes or so in case her mother had forgotten something, then
decided the coast was clear.
She boarded the bus, and settled down on the seat. Everything was going
according to plan, so far.
When she reached the mall, she headed into a store where they had prom dresses
and bought the prettiest one she could find.
The dress was on sale, so she decided to treat herself to a hot, fresh soft pretzel
with the leftover money.
As she pushed through the crowds to get to the pretzel stand, a very familiar pair
of eyes met her own from across the throng.
No....it couldn't be...
But it was. She averted her eyes and hoped that the woman wouldn't follow her.
Quickly she hurried out towards the exit in hopes that she could lose her.
A second later, a hand bore down on her shoulder. She squirmed and struggled,
but another hand turned her around to face her opposer.
"Delia! What are you doing here?"
"Mo-mom! I just needed a dress, that was all. I was gonna go straight home, I
swear!"
Mrs. Ketchum's angry glare traveled to the bag she held in her hand.
"And you, young lady, are going to return that dress right this second. You are not
going to the senior prom."
Delia had never felt as ensnared in her mother's grasp as she did in that instant.
For a moment her eyes blazed with an unmistakable rebellion that her mother had never
seen before, but then they dimmed.
"Fine, mother," she said, and the two of them walked back to the store and
returned it.
As they piled into the car, Delia expected to feel discouraged, to feel all her hopes
dying, something.
Instead she felt a driving, burning rage that she'd never felt before. For eighteen
years she'd lived under her mother's thumb. Never again, said a voice in her head.
June 1st, Senior Prom night. Delia pretended to have a stomachache and hid
herself in her room all day.
She applied make-up, and did her hair in a fancy up do just like Ki had shown
her during lunch.
Next, she donned the long, sparkling lavender dress. Ki had taken pity on her after
listening to the whole horrible tale, and let her use an old dress from last year. After a few
slight alterations, it fit her slim figure perfectly.
When she finally turned around in the mirror, she couldn't believe the girl staring
back at her was her. She looked so beautiful, she confident. There was an air of
determination surrounding her that she never knew she possessed.
"Here I go," she whispered to herself, gathering up her wits and heading
downstairs. Mrs. Ketchum was sitting on the sofa, calmly reading the paper. When she
glanced up at Delia, she almost dropped the paper.
"Delia? What are you doing wearing that dress?" she demanded, standing up.
"I'm going to the prom," she responded calmly, trying not to let her mother
dimish her courage.
"You're still entertaining that foolish prom notion? Sit down, take that dress off,
you're not going anywhere."
"I am going." She said firmly. "Aaron's supposed to pick me up at 7." As she
neared the ending of her statement, her voice sounded more and more childish.
Look what she's done to me, Delia thought angrily. She's kept me from growing up.
"Sit down, Delia! You are not going to this little masquerade!"
"I AM going, Mother! Look at me! I'm almost eighteen! I'm an adult! I've grown
up, but you haven't realized it! You still walk around with the deranged little idea that
I'm three years old still and you can tell me exactly what to do!!!"
"Stop manipulating me! From now on, things are going to be different! I'm going
to do what I want, when I want! And NO ONE, not you, not anyone, is going to stop
me!"
"Delia! How dare you speak to me like this! Get up to your room! NOW!!"
Ever since she had begun ranting at her mother, Delia had been slowly inching
towards the door. Now she realized something instantly. Nothing would ever be different.
In her mother's eyes, she would always be a little girl. If she wanted to live her life, the
time was now.
"Goodbye, Mother." Eyes blazing, she flung open the door and dashed into the
stormy night, making sure to slam the door on the way out.
How'd you like it? Please review quickly! ^_^ I'll have chapter six to u in a couple weeks! (we're going on vacation, no internet access *sniffs*)