Dinner Date

"Yikes!" I cried, as Fearow zoomed left and right, avoiding the clouds like they were mountain peaks. "Do we have to go so fast?"

"Hold on to me if it will make you feel safer!" Chris shouted over the wind. "We'll be there soon!"

"Where are we going?"

"Goldenrod City! They have an awesome diner on the top floor of the department store! Here we are!" Chris put one hand on his hat to keep it in place as Fearow dipped his beak low and swooshed down to alight gently at the Goldenrod City gate.

As soon as I set my feet on the ground, I was dazzled. I never imagined such a big city could even exist! Houses, stores, and skyscrapers sprouted up everywhere, their lighted windows making them seem on fire, and people were rushing around everywhere, despite the fact that it was nearly night.

"This place is unbelievable!" I whispered as we walked slowly into the city.

"Yeah, it's pretty big. Second only to Saffron City, out east in Kanto."

"Wow…"

Suddenly, a shrill whistle sounded, and the Magnet Train screeched into the station. Consequently, Chris and I found ourselves caught up in a mad rush of people boarding and getting off.

"Whoa!" Chris said as a man jostled him, "Here, Kris, hold my hand. This way we don't get separated."

I took his hand. It was warm and strong, and I definitely felt safer.

"The department store is only a few blocks away." Chris told me after the crowd had dispersed. "It's just a quick walk."

I smiled and continued to look around at the tall buildings and stores, and then I noticed that Chris and I were still holding hands. I was going to let go, but for some reason, I was content to hold his hand as we walked.

"Here we are!" Chris said, opening the door for me. "Ladies first!"

"Thank you, kind sir." I said, going inside. He followed me, and we went to look at the store directory.

"Where do you want to eat?" Chris asked, poking his finger at the restaurant section of the map. "We can go to Burgers or Bupkus, or Togepi Tropical Cuisine."

"Whatever you want is fine." I said.

"Hell no, this is your dinner, your choice."

I blushed. "Um, the burger place is fine." I said, looking away.

"Very good, very good." Chris said, his voice magically changing to that of a French waiter. "Follow me, please."

We rode the elevator up to the seventh floor, where Chris got us a table.

"Please, be seated." He said, pulling my chair out for me.

"My my, we're a perfect gentleman, aren't we?" I said with a giggle as I sat down.

"Please! Order whatever suits you!"

"Okay, Chris, ditch the accent."

"Sorry." He said, his voice magically returning to normal. "But get whatever you want. It's on me."

"No! You really don't have to…"

"I insist." he said with the same finality as when you ask your parents to take you to Disneyland and they say "It's out of the question."

After we ordered our food, there was an awkward minute of silence.

"So tell me about you." I said, trying to break the aforementioned awkward moment of silence. "Are you training Pokemon for a living, or what?"

"Actually, I'm training Pokemon to become the champ." he said with a chuckle. "You do know how to become a champion, right?"

A bit embarrassed, I shook my head.

"Well, you're already on the Gym challenge… this afternoon should have been some hint of that. But after you defeat the eight Gym leaders, you have to go up against the best of the best of the best."

"And who are they?"

"The Elite Four. Four trainers with skill unrivaled anywhere else in the world. And then, of course, there's the current champion. If you defeat all of them, then you're the new champ."

"Sounds hard as hell." I mused.

"Damn right. It's always been my dream to become the champion of the world. I owe it to my family."

I smiled. "Got a history of winners in your family, do ya?"

He frowned. "No, actually, we've got a history of losers. Every single one of us who became an aspiring trainer came so close to winning it all, but lost everything." His expression became glum. "I want to be the one to change our history. And change our future."

I smiled sympathetically. "You will. I can tell from looking at you. You look just like all those hotshot trainers that I see on television."

Now it was his turn to blush a little bit. "Thank you. Oh! Here's our food!"

A Skiploom waddled over to us, our food balanced on its spread out flower blossom, which was flat like a tray.

"Thanks, buddy." Chris said, slipping a few morsels into its mouth and patting it on the back.

I raised my glass of root beer. "A toast to Chris, the aspiring champ!"

"No," Chris said, raising his own glass, "To both of us! We're working together now!"

I grinned, and we dug in.

So I took Kris to dinner tonight. I don't know, but I think I'm starting to develop a small crush on this girl. She really is quite beautiful. But it's still early. I have no idea what's going to happen. All I know is that I am very, very full. ^_~

---Chris