Chapped Lips

"Well, that sure was filling!" Chris said, patting his stomach. "Did you enjoy your food?"

"You bet." I said, feeling very full. "Thank you so much! You really are a perfect gentleman."

Chris blushed. "Yeah, well… I try. Come on, you want to do some shopping before we leave?"

I was delighted. "Sure!"

If I thought that the store in Cherrygrove City was big, the Goldenrod Department Store was gigantic! I never saw so many counters with people selling their wares. I was a bit overwhelmed, actually.

"So anything in particular you want?" Chris asked after we had bought enough items to last us a week. I wandered through the aisles, and then I found the most adorable thing in the world: A Squirtle Poke Doll!

"I'm getting this!" I declared, but when I took it to the counter and opened my wallet, I found I was just 200 coins short of the purchase price.

"Oh noo…" I moaned. "Don't tell me I don't have enough!"

"Psst," said a voice at my shoulder, "Here." Chris was passing me a spare 200 coins.

"Absolutely NOT!" I cried, thrusting the coins back at him. "You don't have to!"

"But I want to." He said. "Take it."

With quivering hands, I accepted the money from him and went to pay for the doll.

"OUCH!" I said as one of the thin coins sliced my finger.

"What happened? You cut yourself?"

"Yeah…" I put my finger to my mouth. "It's not that bad."

"Here, let me see." He gently took my hand and kissed my finger. The pain didn't entirely go away, but just the thought of what he had done made it feel a little better.

"Um… thanks." I said nervously, and I finished paying for the doll. Next, we went to the third floor, where there was an arcade.

"I'm just going to play the driving game real quick." Chris said, and he sat down in the small, domed arcade machine. After he was done, he stood up to get out and he whacked his shoulder.

"Ah, frick!" He cried, wincing.

"You'd better let me fix it." I said, kissing his shoulder. At first I though I was being too forward, but when you think about it, it makes sense, doesn't it?

His eyes met mine. "Thanks, Kris."

After we did some more shopping, we decided to check into the Pokemon Center for the night. Chris took me to my room.

"So, I'll see you in the morning?" he asked.

I smiled. "Of course. We're together… I mean, traveling together now."

There was a feeling in that hallway that was rapidly expanding, and it filled me with energy. I knew what I wanted.

"You know, Chris…" I said, putting my hand on my lips, "I think I have some chapped lips. They're really hurting."

He took the hint. "Oh… um, you want me to fix it?"

My eyes were shining. "Yes."

He slowly stepped towards me and took my hand. I closed my eyes as our lips met. It was heaven. It was only a light kiss, though, and he pulled back after a few seconds.

"Good night, Kris." he said with a smile, and then he went to his room.

I stood in the hall, catching my breath. At first I thought that Chris and I were just travel compainions, but things were beginning to grow very quickly. With my lips still tingling, I went inside and collapsed on my bed. I think I'm gona have some pleasant dreams tonight!

Kristal and Chris are definitely meant for each other. I could see the way Chris looked at her when they were in my lab. He's after her, and she him. I have very high expectations for both of them.

---Professor Elm