When we arrive back at the Ketchum house, Delia seizes an apron and hands me several containers of food lying on the kitchen table. "I don't know what I'm going to do with all this food and all these flowers. There's more here than I'll ever be able to eat. Here. You take some of this home. You and your assistants can eat this. That way, it won't go to waste. I hate throwing out food."
"Thanks, Delia. That's very generous of you."
"And I'll take these flowers to the hospital so that all the sick people can enjoy them." She begins gathering up all the bouquets left by neighbors and friends.
"Delia, do you need any help with those?" I offer, even though I'm about to drop all the dishes in my arms.
"No, I can manage. I'll be okay now."
As I head for the back door, she lays a hand on my arm. "Samuel, I want to thank you for being here for me the last couple of days. I don't think I would've made it through everything that's happened if it hadn't been for you."
"I'll always be here for you, Delia. No matter what."
She leans over and kisses me on the cheek. "Thanks for being my friend."
A friend…
My heart sinks a little.
Is that all I am to you, Delia? Just a friend? Because what I feel for you is more than just friendship.
She grabs a broom and begins sweeping the kitchen floor, tuning me out in the process.
I reluctantly leave her to her housework and head back up the hill to my house. My lab assistants eagerly pounce on the trays of food before I can get through the door.
"Foster may be a good researcher, but he sure sucks as a cook," one of my graduate students informs me between bites of potato salad. "He's almost as bad as you…no offense, Professor Oak."
"Hey, I warned you guys that macaroni and cheese was the only thing I knew how to make," Foster says, eagerly grabbing the plate of brownies out of my hands.
I leave my researchers to their feasting while I head over to my desk and try to get caught up on some work. I become so engrossed in editing my latest research paper that I don't look up until Foster wishes me "good-night". I glance at my watch and to my surprise, I discover that it's nearly six-thirty. A few minutes later, I find myself making my way down the hill to Delia's place.
"Oh, hi," she smiles as she opens the back door. "I was a little worried when you missed our afternoon lemonade-and-cookies chat. But I guess that's understandable, considering everything that's happened the last couple of days. You're probably tired of being around me."
"I never get tired of being around you, Delia," I say as I step inside the now-immaculate kitchen. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," she smiles while she attempts to stifle a yawn. "Although it's been a pretty eventful day. I was thinking about turning in soon."
"Guess I'd better go then and let you get some sleep." I turn around and make my way to the door.
Delia reaches for my arm. "No. Don't leave just yet. Have you eaten?"
My stomach growls in response. "I've been so busy getting caught up on my research that I forgot to eat lunch. Or dinner, for that matter," I say with a light laugh.
Delia begins searching through her refrigerator. "Didn't you eat any of the food I sent back with you?"
I shake my head. "My assistants beat me to it."
"Let's see…how about some pasta salad and apple pie?"
"Sounds wonderful." My stomach growls again in agreement.
Delia places the dishes on the table, hands each of us a plate, and we settle ourselves at the kitchen table. "Ash called just before you came over," Delia informs me while she scoops some pasta salad onto my plate. "They said that they just got off the ferry and are going to spend the night in the nearest Pokémon Center."
"I'm glad he took my advice and called you."
"Yes. I guess I am going to worry about him more than usual for a while. But I guess I shouldn't. He has his friends to help watch out for him. Just like I have you to watch out for me." Delia smiles as she places her hand atop mine.
"Delia…could we talk about that for a moment?"
"About what, Samuel?"
Our eyes meet, and I take her hand in mine. "About you and me. About what's happened between us the last couple of days."
"Samuel, as I said before, I'm always going to be grateful to you for being here for me. I don't know what I would've done without you. You really are my best friend."
Friend…there's that word again.
I take a deep breath. "Delia, I have a confession to make."
She gives me a puzzled look. "Confession? About what?"
"Delia, when you asked me this morning as to why I didn't stay with you last night, I wasn't entirely truthful with you earlier."
"You weren't?"
"No. I told you that I had awakened early and decided to take a shower."
"I don't understand, Samuel. Are you saying that's not the reason why you left?"
"No, that part was true. It's just that I didn't tell you the reason why I left to take a shower. You see, last night, when I was lying there next to you, I began to have…um…" My face starts going red again.
"Have what, Samuel?"
"I began to have thoughts about you."
"Thoughts? What kind of thoughts?"
"Thoughts that I'm now rather ashamed of. You see, I…Delia, you're a very attractive woman."
She begins to blush. "Thanks for the compliment, although I'm still kind of confused as to what you're trying to tell me."
"Delia, what I'm trying to say is that last night I very much wanted to…I…" My face is flaming now.
"You what, Samuel?"
I screw up my courage and look her in the eye. "Delia, last night I was tempted – very tempted – to take advantage of you. Lying next to you, holding you…Delia, I wouldn't be a man if I didn't have those type of feelings for you."
"Feelings? What kind of feelings?"
"Actually, they were more like urges…desires."
Delia's eyes grow wide as she understands exactly what kind of desires I'm talking about.
"Samuel…are you saying that you…you wanted me?"
"Yes. And if I stayed there with you, I know that I would've likely done something that I would later regret. Forgive me, Delia. I'm ashamed for even thinking about you like that during your time of need. I feel as if I've failed you as a friend."
"Samuel, you didn't fail me. You helped me get through everything that's happened the last couple of days. No one could've been a better friend to me than you."
"A true friend wouldn't have been so selfish as to let their hormones cloud their judgement. To let their needs come before yours."
"But you didn't take advantage of me, Samuel. Even though you wanted to, you didn't. And that says a lot for you and the kind of friend you are. You're a good man, Samuel Oak." And to my surprise, she leans over and kisses me lightly on the cheek. "Although I must admit that I'm kind of surprised that you think of me that way. I mean, I've known you since I was a teenager and I was helping you out at the lab."
"I know. And that's what's making this so difficult. Delia, I'm old enough to be your father. And if that's how you think of me – as a father figure – then I understand." I let go of her hand. "But the problem is that I don't think of you like a daughter. You're not a teenager anymore, Delia. You're a woman – a very attractive, desirable woman. And I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have less-than-fatherly thoughts about you."
"Samuel, you're my friend, not my father. And I guess the reason I'm so surprised is that I never knew that you felt like that about me before."
"Delia, what man wouldn't feel that way about you? That gorgeous, silky, jasmine-scented auburn hair of yours; those big, brown eyes; soft, full lips; those incredible breasts, round hips, long legs…I'd have to be dead not to feel anything sexually for you!"
A smile of amusement appears on Delia's lips.
"So you're not completely disgusted by the thought that your next-door neighbor – someone who's supposed to be your friend – is actually a perverted old man who's having sexual fantasies about you?" I ask hopefully.
"No, I'm not disgusted. I'm actually kind of flattered, really. But I guess it's going to take me a little time to get used to the idea." She yawns once more. "And it's been a long day."
"I'll let you get some sleep, then." I get up and head for the back door while Delia follows behind me. "Good night, Delia. Hopefully tonight you'll be able to get a peaceful rest."
"Now that I know that Ash and his friends are all right, I know I will," she smiles contentedly.
"But if you do need anything tonight, don't hesitate to call me, okay?"
"I know, Samuel." The two of us are now standing together in the doorway, facing each other. My pulse quickens as she moves closer to me. "Because you really are my best friend."
And as our lips meet, a jolt of electricity not unlike a Raichu's Thunderbolt surges through my body. Delia and I have kissed before, but always in a friendly, innocent way. And never on the lips -- until now. Slowly, our arms twine around each other, drawing us closer until my wildly beating heart is pressed against hers. And after our lips part, we remain in each other's arms for what seems like an eternity, together savoring the realization of what has just happened.
For out of death has arisen a new beginning.
THE END