Summary—Okay, sorry, I went with the bandwagon and got some romance in here. So shoot me. Anyway, the group goes to the fair.
Chapter 12:
K-I-S-S-I-N-G Spells Where?!
Skipping down the sidewalk on the gloomy day in a Spring mid-afternoon, a clear voice sang, "It's rainin', it's pourin'—"
"SHUT UP!"
Miriam looked down at her two traveling partners, who were hunched in their el-cheapo poncho and giving her evil glares for even mentioning the word rain. "Pardon?"
Shamin sneezed, pushing the bangs out of her eyes. "Miriam, we know it's raining! Hard!"
"So?" Miriam rather liked rainy weather. As a girl she'd run around with the lightening and thunder as the backdrop for some of the most interesting tales of the Fairy Elf. She grinned at the memory.
"We got to get a hotel or something," Ash sighed, holding Pikachu tighter in his jacket. "Pikachu could get sick."
"And me," Shamin put in.
"And Pyro isn't exactly liking it."
Miriam blinked. "Really?" Both Ash and Shamin nodded vigorously, seeing an opening. Carefully Miriam slipped a hand under her hood, searching for the soft fur of her Ninetales. She could feel him curled up around her neck like a shawl, his tail curling up on one shoulder and his head resting on the other. "Ya okay, Pyro?"
The tiny Ninetales opened his eyes and yawned. "Ninne?"
"He's been asleep, idiots," Miriam snapped.
Ash shrugged. "So? You shouldn't expose Fire type Pokémon to water too much. It could hurt their fire." Especially if the Pokémon's a Charmander, he added mentally, just so he wasn't lying.
"That true?" Miriam asked skeptically. He had that look on that said he was leaving something out.
"Well," Shamin said quickly. "You don't want Pyro to get sick. He'll sneeze and burn off all your hair."
Miriam nodded, looking at the two drenched youngsters, who were watching expectantly, hope dancing in their eyes. "Fine, but ya're losing a whole day of trainin'," she said, poking Ash's nose.
He grinned, rubbing his nose. "I'd lose more if I got sick, though."
"We could use a break anyway, Miriam. Those Leagues were hard!"
"For who?" Ash muttered, rubbing his head as if trying to remember. Shamin ignored him.
She smiled. "Come on then. I think I see a hotel where we can crash."
As she walked ahead, she could hear the two giving each other high fives and hissing, "Yes!"
****
The trio trudged into the building, looking almost drown after a few hours of searching. They hadn't had any luck in finding an empty room yet, and now everyone wanted a dry bed. The clerk, a man with thinning hair, glanced up at them briefly before stating, "No more rooms."
"There's got to be one!" Shamin exclaimed, almost near tears.
"No rooms," he repeated. "Try another hotel."
"Come on! Have you seen the rain out there?" Ash exclaimed, wringing out his poncho and making a small lake on the carpeted floor. There was no way they were going back out there. "We'll stay in the lobby!"
"No room."
"Please!"
"Please!"
"No! Room!" he snapped bitingly.
"But—"
Miriam put her hand on Shamin's shoulder. "Let me handle this, kids." Then, throwing back her shoulders, she strolled up to the counter and whispered something in the man's ear. He immediately tensed and looked at her in shock.
"Well?" she asked coyly, batting her eyelashes.
He withdrew a key from under the counter and tossed it without looking. Ash barely caught it before it hit the ground. "Just down the hall, two beds."
"Whoa," Ash said. "How'd you—" He was cut off by Shamin gripping his collar and dragging him away. Miriam followed up until the room, handing them Pyro and her bag.
"Make yourselves comfortable, and don't wait up," she sighed, forcing a smile.
"How'd you—" Ash tried to ask again, with the same results. Shamin dragged him into the room, giving Miriam a weak smile.
"We really don't need a room, Miriam," she whispered. Miriam acted like she hadn't heard and walked back down the hall. Shamin followed the older woman with eyes that were a mixture of respect and horror.
****
Shamin looked at the clock numbers again. It was past midnight, and she curled under her blanket into a tighter ball around Trigger, her little Growlithe. Her eyes fell onto the other bed, which was empty, save for Pyro.
Miriam always had her own bed, no matter what. She refused to sleep with anyone, the Pokémon being the only exception to that rule. Ash never countered because he saw no need, (and had no want of the wounds and argument that would follow if Miriam didn't get her way,) being able to sleep on the floor as easily as a bed. Shamin didn't object because she knew why, and respected the older woman too much not to obey it.
She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Miriam always felt the responsibility that she had to take care of the group, But sometimes—like now—Shamin thought she was going above and beyond the call of duty. And it scared her to see what Miriam would do to protect and care for them.
It really did.
She looked down at the floor space between the bed, watching Shan—she still believed his name was Shan, so she wouldn't be thinking with the name Ash—sleep. Pikachu was on his pillow. Shamin and the Pokémon had teased him a bit before they fell asleep, having Pikachu refuse to sleep next to him. Instead, Pikachu had resided by Shamin, and Shan had frowned at the action. Of course, when Pikachu thought he was asleep, she crawled down to lay next to him. Shamin had to smile when Shan, after Pikachu had made herself cozy next to him, petted her gently and smiled. He knew.
He was going to sleep in the bathtub so the girls (and himself) could have some privacy, but Shamin had talked him out of it, knowing Miriam would want a shower when she got back. She always did. Shamin made up the excuse that Miriam would have used—and she would have, too—the opportunity to turn the faucet on him.
She sighed, looking at his sleeping profile as she scratched Trigger's ear. Shan was so damn dense. He didn't even know what was going on, or, if he did, he didn't let on. Shan had that aura of innocence around him, something that damn as Hell wouldn't break. He had idealistic dreams—of course, she wasn't one to talk—and tried to be as friends with most everyone he met. Pokémon, especially his but he always helped her with Trigger, were more important to him than even himself. So were his friends. Shamin thought that was a dangerous trait to have at times, and a very noble one too.
She ran a soft finger over his cheek, and brought back a wisp of hair that was out of place. He was truly asleep now and made no motion—aside from a slight twitch from his eyelids—to show that he felt her. Why'd he have to be so damn cute . . . and all that other stuff?
Over an hour she had lay looking at his profile in the dim lighting. Pyro, waking periodically to wait for Miriam, had watched her stroke his cheek with his blood-red eyes.
The door was slowly opened, and Miriam walked in like a burglar. Shamin said nothing as Miriam went into the bathroom and took long shower. Steam came out from under the doorway.
Miriam emerged nearly a half-an-hour later, walking into the room dry and naked. If Shan hadn't been around, she would have gone to bed that way, but now she covered herself with a long sweatshirt of Shamin's. Pyro stretched and went to the end of the bed, looking up at her. She smiled down and gave him a friendly pet.
"I told ya not to wait up for me," she murmured, sitting on the bed. Pyro leaped onto her lap.
Shamin looked down at Shan again. He was still asleep, as was Trigger. Both could sleep through a rock concert, but at least Trigger had an excuse. "Couldn't sleep," she replied, stroking his cheek.
Pikachu had woken up during Miriam's arrival and watched Shamin because she had nothing better to do. "Chuka?"
"I'm all right, Rodent," Miriam sighed, laying down on the bed, not under the covers. She watched Shamin. "They're like angels when they sleep, aren't they?"
"Some."
"Yes, some," Miriam agreed quietly, petting Pyro "He's a good kid."
"Um-hm. He is."
"Cute too."
Shamin blushed even in the darkness. "Yep."
"He'd treat ya right, just so ya know. I know he would."
"He doesn't even know I'm alive," Shamin countered sadly.
"Looks that way, doesn't it?" Miriam nodded, scratching Pyro's ear. "So why bother with him? Go after someone else. No need riskin' the friendship ya already got goin'."
Shamin raised her head to look at Miriam in the dim room. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it when nothing came out. She focused on Trigger instead.
"Have ya even told him ya like him?" Shamin only shrugged, looking back down at the boy. "Of course," Miriam mused, rolling onto her back. "If ya did, he'd probably wouldn't click on what ya said. Ya'd have to really spell it out." She chuckled. "Men are such idiots."
"Tale!" Pyro whined.
"Except ya," Miriam cooed, picking the fox up. "Ya're smart and clever and cute and sweet."
"And arrogant, and vicious, and spiteful," Shamin added with a smirk. "Like Trainer, like Pokémon."
Miriam grinned at her, and Pyro showed his fangs good-naturally as she brought him back to the bed. "Maybe." She looked down at the sleeping Ash again. "But, really, what are ya gonna do?"
"What would you suggest?"
"Simply goin' up and tellin' him. Of course, having to tape his mouth shut first. But, then again, it wouldn't click," she sighed. "Ya'd have to do something that Blondie'd have a very hard time not understandin'." She whistled. "That in itself is a chore."
Shamin rolled onto her back and looked at the ceiling. "Thanks a lot."
Miriam smiled. "Don't worry, Hon. He can't be stupid and blind forever."
"Wanna bet?"
There was a pause from the other side of the darkness. "Actually . . . no."
****
Shamin wasn't terribly surprised that when she woke the next morning that the room was empty except for Trigger chewing on one of Shan's shoe. The curtains were pulled open, a very nasty habit Shan had, letting the early light land on her face. Yawning, she pushed herself up and practically rolled out of bed, her legs barely stopping the fall. One of these days they would run out of time, she knew it.
Rubbing her eye with the heel of her palm, she staggered ungracefully over to the bath. Man, she thought sleepily, I have to get more that three hours of sleep. Maybe like twenty should do. Shamin grinned at the thought and, yawning again, pushed open the door and entered.
She stopped with a jolt, sleep gone.
"Hey!" Ash yelled, hastily wrapping a towel around his half-dry body, a deep blush overcoming him. "Don't you know how to knock!" he asked severely, growing redder by the minute.
Her own cheeks started to redden, and Shamin quickly ducked out the door, shutting it soundly. "Sorry, Shan!" she yelled, trying to hold back the laugh. "I thought you guys left!"
"Well, I didn't!"
"I said sorry!" By now she couldn't hold back the laughter, leaning heavily against the door.
"Why are you laughing!" Shamin laughed even harder, unable to answer. "It's not funny!"
Tears were streaming down her face as she listened to him, at the worried pitch in his voice. "I'm—" She couldn't finish.
The door behind her opened and Ash stuck his head out, his blond hair plastered to his head and water dripping down his face. His cheeks were still red as he clutched the towel around him. "Not! Funny!" Then he slammed the door. "Oh, crap!"
Shamin looked down to see the edge of the towel stuck in the door. With a quickness she had when she knew she could cause trouble, she opened the door and stuck her hand in, holding the towel. "I think this is yours," she said demurely.
The towel was snatched from her hand with a snarl, and Shamin barely had time to save her hand as Ash slammed the door shut. Then she laughed hysterically. Trigger looked up curiously, giving his cute "Gra?"
A sudden thought stopped the laugh in her throat.
"Don't think like that," she muttered, the blush creeping up her neck and cheeks like a thermometer on the rise.
Even still, Shamin mused on the thought that if she had only opened the door a little bit sooner, or had just stuck her head in when she handed back the towel . . .
Feeling like it was a little warm in the room, Shamin opened the window.
Ooooh boy.
****
"What's with ya two? Ya're so quiet," Miriam asked, looking at the two young adults on either side of her. They were both very quiet as they walked down the street, and they seemed to be avoiding each other's gaze. Miriam wondered what she had missed.
"I mean, don't get me wrong, I like the quiet. First time ya two haven't been arguin' as we walked," Miriam continued, getting no response from either of the two. "Well, what do ya think, Pyro? Somethin's wrong with 'em, huh?"
Pryo didn't answer because he really didn't care as long as Blondie was quiet.
"Pikapi?" Pikachu asked from Ash's shoulder, also curious as to what was going on between the two friends. She should have stayed in the room instead of getting something to eat with Miriam.
"What's that?" Ash asked suddenly, looking for any distraction he could find. He nodded towards a large gathering of people and brightly colored tents. And some rides.
"Looks like a fair!" Shamin said gleefully. "Can we go, Miriam? Can we? Please?"
"We can't!" Ash countered. "We have to get to the next League!"
"Oh, come on! Just one day!" Shamin pleaded.
"We have to—"
"Shan! It's one day!"
Miriam smiled, pleased that the two were back to their old selves, and brought an arm around both their necks. "I think we should go."
"Miriam!" Ash complained.
"I out-vote ya," she stated plainly. "I out-vote both of ya. We go."
"How can you out-vote me if I'm on your side?" Shamin asked.
"Don't get technical."
"But Miriam! My training!" he whined as, while Shamin's neck was freed, Miriam placed him into a headlock of sorts and started to drag him over to the grounds. "This hurts!"
"Ya ever hear the sayin' 'All Work and no Play'?" Miriam asked conversationally, ignoring Ash struggle.
"Miriam!"
****
"Don't make me glue that butt of yars to the chair," Miriam said as Ash fidgeted in his seat near the back of the tent.
"This is boring," he whined. "I should be—"
"Pretendin' to be trainin'," Miriam finished, and Ash glared at her. "Ya wanna go up?"
His face reddened, and Ash sank low in the seat. "No."
"What, big tough Trainer won't go up and do Karaoke?" she teased.
"I can't sing," he muttered. Pikachu nodded her agreement from under his chair.
"Pi."
"Neither can any of them," she countered slyly.
"Isn't this fun?" Shamin asked gleefully, plopping down a seat in front of them, laden with food. "Here's some cotton candy, a hot dog, and this soda stuff, I think."
Miriam looked the pink cloud and pulled off a small piece to give to Pyro on her shoulder. No one ever saw him, for he blended in almost flawlessly with her hair. "Where'd ya get it?"
"Counter," she responded, giving Pikachu a bit of her caramel apple. "It was just sitting there."
The white-haired adult nodded approvingly while Ash paused in mid-gulp while eating his hotdog. "Ya might as well finish it. They ain't gonna want it back now."
Ash frowned but, after a moment, continued eating the meal. "We do have money, ya know," he said reproachfully after he had finished.
"If we spend it, we won't have any," Shamin stated, bored of the familiar argument. "Just think how much we would have lost if we had actually paid to get—"
"Shh!" Miriam snapped, slapping her hand over the other's mouth. "We can always get kicked out. We're supposed to have stamps on our hands or somethin'."
"I must have washed my hands," Shamin said innocently. "I'm a terrible neat-freak."
Miriam snorted, leaning back in the chair. "Yeah, right." Then she winced as some unknown singer (and one who would stay, thankfully, unknown) attempted to reach some god-forsaken note. "Ouch."
"Why don't you go show them how it's done?" Shamin asked teasingly, pick-pocketing some of the cotton candy.
"Oh, be nice to these people. Like they want to hear—OW! Dammit, Pyro!" Ash snapped, holding his scorched hand. Lucky, only a few people heard him. The rest of the people were covering their ears.
"Serves ya right."
"You really got to train him!"
She smiled evilly. "What makes ya think I haven't?"
Ash snorted and crossed his arms, looking away from the girls. "We should be going to Ossature," he muttered.
Shamin rolled her eyes. "Go up, Miriam," she urged.
Miriam looked thoughtful for a second. "Ya know, I think I will. Ya guys know what a chanteuse is?"
"A singer?" Ash guessed sarcastically.
Shamin looked at Miriam for confirmation. "Well?"
"Close enough," Miriam smiled. "It's my goal to be one."
Ash rolled his eyes.
Miriam leaned down next to Shamin. "Ya know, music does carry a few messages." Shamin looked at her blankly. The soon-to-be-noticed singer smiled and removed the Pokémon from her shoulder. "Watch Pyro. Lights make him angry."
"I wouldn't notice," Ash sulked, not noticing Shamin's still puzzled look.
"Pikapi," Pikachu scolded. "Chu pika pikachu."
"I don't want to."
"Keep Babyface put," Miriam sighed. "I'm gonna line-jump."
"If there's a line," Shamin smiled.
"If there's an audience," Ash added nastily as people around them started to file out.
"All the better," Miriam laughed as she strolled over to the stage. The former was just stepping off.
"Ya got any earplugs?" he asked Shamin.
"That is so mean." Ash's eyes didn't leave her face, and she avoided his gaze, focusing on petting Pyro. "I kinda left them at the hotel."
He sighed and sat back in the chair, rubbing his temples. "Trigger is so lucky."
"Hey, Shan, I'm sorry about what happened this morning," she said, turning to look back at him. "I should have knocked."
"Yes you should have," he snapped, the blush coming back, but he shook his head. "Just forget about it, and don't mention it. Ever."
"Would I talk about one of your most embarrassing moments?" Shamin asked sweetly.
Ash looked at her from under his bangs and brows. "I don't have to answer that."
Shamin smiled, setting her chin on her hands and looked at him.
"What?"
"Hmm?"
He shifted uncomfortably. "You're staring at me."
"So?"
"What for?"
"Why not?" she murmured.
Ash looked at her suspiciously. "You're not . . . mentally undressing me, are you?" he asked slowly, careful to keep his voice level.
She jolted up, cheeks red. "Don't give yourself so much credit," she snapped, turning around to face the stage. "Why would I waste my time doing that? Nothing to see."
His face reddened from anger and embarrassment, but Ash didn't chase the conversation anymore. Next time, he vowed, he was going to make sure the bathroom had a lock before taking a bath.
Pikachu looked between the two and gave a quizzical, "Chuu?"
"It's nothing, Pikachu," he muttered.
The mouse seriously doubted that but didn't see the point of chasing the question's tail as it ran in a circle.
Pyro sat up rather proudly on Shamin's lap as Miriam took to the stage. She seemed to have a rather evil smirk on her face while the lights balanced on her. The screen behind her slowly blinked to life, and she juggled the microphone between her hands.
The audience sighed and waited for the next wannabe. The music started up slowly, and Miriam tapped her fingers and boot to the beat.
"Country?" Ash whispered to Shamin.
"She is a country girl at heart."
"Oh. Well, she wears the boots for it."
"Katie's sittin' on her ol' front porch, watchin' the chickens peck the ground. There ain't a whole lot goin' on tonight in this one horse town. Over yonder and comin' up the road, in a beat up Chevy truck, her boyfriend Tommy is layin' on the horn, splashin' through the mud an' the muck.
"Her daddy says 'He ain't worth a lick,
when it comes to brains he got the short end of the stick.'
But Katie's young and man she just don't care -
she'd follow Tommy anywhere.
"She's in love with the boy,
she's in love with the boy,
she's in love with the boy.
And even if they have to run away
she's gonna marry that boy someday.
"Katie and Tommy at the drive-in movie
parked in the very last row.
They're too busy holdin' on to one another
to even care about the show.
Later on outside the Tastee Freeze
Tommy slips somethin' on her hand.
He says 'My high school ring will have to do,
'til I can buy a weddin' band.'
"Her daddy says 'He ain't worth a lick,
when it comes to brains he got the short end of the stick.'
But Katie's young and man she just don't care -
she'd follow Tommy anywhere.
"She's in love with the boy,
she's in love with the boy,
she's in love with the boy.
And even if they have to run away
she's gonna marry that boy someday.
"Her daddy's waitin' up 'til half past ten,
when they come sneakin' up the walk.
He says 'Young lady get on up to your room
while me and junior have a talk.'
"Momma breaks in and says 'Don't lose your temper,
it wasn't very long ago
when you yourself was just a hayseed plowboy
who didn't have a road to hoe.
"My daddy said you wasn't worth a lick,
when it came to brains you got the short end of the stick.
But he was wrong and honey you are, too.
Katie looks at Tommy like I still look at you.'
"She's in love with the boy,
she's in love with the boy,
she's in love with the boy.
What's meant to be will always find a way...
"She's in love with the boy,
she's in love with the boy,
she's in love with the boy.
And even if they have to run away
she's gonna marry that boy someday."
Miriam bowed proudly as the song finished, and people actually clapped as she did so. Shamin swore Miriam winked at her.
"Okay, maybe she can sing, a bit," Ash admitted grudgingly, although he knew it perfectly well, clapping with the rest of them.
"What'd you think of the song?" Shamin asked a bit hopeful.
He shrugged. "It's okay, I suppose."
"Didn't get anything out of it?"
Ash looked at her like she was on crack. "It's a song."
"Yeah, of course."
"Hey, Miriam!" Ash yelled, standing up. "I'm gonna go get something to eat!"
"All right!" she yelled back offhandedly. "Be back in a few!"
He grinned. "Come on, Pikachu," he said, opening his pack to let the mouse leap in. "I bet they got some great concession stands."
"Pika!"
"Man, I'm hungry," he said, practically running out as he slung on the pack.
Shamin looked torn between following and not. Pyro looked up at her, almost interested in what his fate would be. "You wanna follow him?"
Pyro snorted in disgust.
Miriam suddenly appeared and gathered Pyro into her arms. "Get lost and have some fun." She winked. "We'll hang around her for a while. Just behave."
"Thanks, Miriam."
She smiled watching the younger dodge the crowds, then looked at Pyro. "If anyone asks, ya're an automatic toy, right?"
Pyro yawned as he climbed her shoulder and closed his eyes.
"There's a good boy," she cooed.
****
Shamin looked frantically through the crowd, trying to move past the jostling crowd. "Where is he?"
There wasn't any sign of him, and Shamin growled in frustration.
"All right, if I was Shan, Heaven forbid, where would I be?" She snapped her fingers. "Food stands, of course, and actually in line to pay for the artery clogging treats."
With this enlightening information, Shamin headed down the stall line, and then up the next, down the following, up the next.
"How many frickin' stands are there!" she snarled, walking down one now. "Too many, dammit!"
****
She sat heavily on the bench, her feet sore. This fair was too big, and she hung her head in exhaustion.
"Shamin?"
Her head snapped up in surprise, eyes wide. "You! I've been looking all over this frickin' place trying to find you!" I look all over this place for an hour, and he finds me when he probably wasn't even looking! Damn him!
Ash looked at her blankly, munching on a hotdog. A bag of cotton candy hung from his belt, and Shamin could see Pikachu peeking out of the pack, also eating her own cotton candy. "What for?"
Shamin threw up her hands in annoyance and sat back after grabbing the bag from his belt. "'What for?'" she snarled, munching of the stuff. Confusion dotted Ash's face as he sat next to her.
"Wanna go on some rides?"
"Which rides?" Shamin had a great distrust of carnival rides. They usually ended up freaking her out.
He shrugged, wiping his hands on his pants as he stood up. "Come on," he said with a lopsided smile as he extended a hand. "Let's go."
She took it after a moment. "You'd better not throw up on me, that's all I have to say." He grinned at her as they headed towards the endless sea of thrill rides.
****
"That was a waste of time," Ash muttered as they stepped off the platform. "You can let go now. We're on the ground."
Shamin, even paler than usual, slowly opened her eyes and detached herself from his arm.
"Why didn't you tell me you were afraid of heights?" Ash asked as she clutched the railing.
"I didn't think Ferris Wheels went that high," she murmured.
He chuckled. "It was a cool view! If you hadn't had you face buried in my arm you would have loved it!"
"No." Shamin took a deep breath. "You shouldn't have rocked the chair!"
"I didn't rock it, did I, Pikachu?"
"Chu," she said, sticking her head out of the pack. Sometimes, if she stood still, she could look like a toy.
"Yes, you did!"
"No, see, when we stopped, the momentum caused the chair to rock back and forth," Ash explained. "Now if I had rocked it—You know, you shouldn't have screamed so much."
"I didn't scream!" she snapped. "I whimpered!"
He grinned. "Loudly."
"And my eyes weren't closed the whole time," Shamin continued. "I opened them a few times."
Ash leaned up against a fence. "You really have to conquer your fear of heights."
"I'm not afraid of heights!"
"Then go back up there. I dare you!" he challenged.
"Double dare me and you got a deal!"
"Double dare!" he said, throwing out his hand with a laugh.
She took it without thinking, and what she was doing didn't hit her when her hand was moving up and down. Shamin paled.
"Gonna back out?" Ash asked slyly, seeing the color leave her cheeks.
"No! Come on!" she said defiantly, gripping his hand and dragging him back to the line.
"You don't have to do this," Ash said after a long few minutes passed, when they were near rising seat of the Ferris Wheel.
"I'm not afraid!" she practically screamed. On-lookers in the line looked at her curiously, some giving themselves a few more ionches of space away from her.
He held up his hands. "I never said you were."
Shamin looked at him severely, twirling her hands nervously. "I'm not. I can do anything I want to."
Ash rolled his eyes, then bowed mockingly as their ride descended. "Ladies first."
"Jerk."
He laughed as he sat next to her, slinging off his pack to lay at their feet. Pikachu leaped out and stood behind their legs. Heights weren't her favorites as well, but Pikachu liked the view very much.
"Now you have to keep your eyes open," Ash grinned as they went up. "Open them."
She whimpered as they jerked to a stop to let the next person on. "How high are we?"
"Twenty feet," Ash guessed, then sighed. "Come on, Shamin. Open them."
She shook her head wildly as they started up again.
He lowered his mouth to her ear. "Chicken," he whispered evilly.
"Am not!" Her eyes didn't open.
Ash squeezed the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. "What should we do, Pikachu?" The chair shuddered to a stop again.
Pikachu looked up at the frighten girl who was clutching to bar with a death-grip. "Chu ka pikachu, Pikapi," she shrugged.
"You're helpful," he sighed.
"Don't rock the chair!"
"We didn't." Ash shook his head. She was even more scared than last time, and now it was more annoying that funny. "Shamin . . ."
"What?"
He brought his arm around her shoulders, squeezing her comfortingly. "Open your eyes. You're gonna miss the view."
"I don't care."
"Shamin . . ." he murmured, gripping her chin and bringing it up so he could look at it, at the tightly squeezed shut eyes and pale face. "Look at me. Look at me, not the ground. Look at me!"
Her eyes slowly opened as she bit her bottom lip in a whimper at his authoritative tone. His brown eyes locked on hers, so calm and full of power.
"Good," he smiled. "Now don't look down. Just look straight past my face. Look straight."
Her eyes darted past his face after a few long moments, and she could see the background falling, so she looked back quickly on his face.
"Oh, come on. Look a little longer," he coaxed, turning his head to watch them rise up again. "Look."
She turned her head slowly, clutching him and holding her breath, then biting her lip to keep the scream down as they rushed back down. She whined in fear, but a dwindling fear.
"Hey, look, you can see the carousel," Ash said, pointing out.
Shamin followed his finger, squinting. "Where?"
He leaned forward to see if her eyes were actually open, and smiled when they were. "Right there, next to the yellow tent, see?"
Her eyes glowed, and she leaned forward. "I can see it! Look!"
Ash laughed, pulling her back. "Sit down or you'll fall."
Shamin looked down as they rose back up, gulping. Then she smiled, turning her head to smile at Ash. "I bet I could spit on that bald guy down there."
"That's disgusting! Don't you dare!" Ash scolded looking down. Horror struck his voice. "My God, you could hit him." She laughed, and after a moment Ash joined in. "Don't!"
She sat back in the seat, leaning against Ash. He wrapped his arm around her again, enjoying the ride and company. Shamin looked at him and smiled, snuggling closer. He didn't notice.
****
"We don't need our pictures taken," Shamin complained as they went into the booth, Pikachu sleeping in the pack.
"Yes, we do. Momentoes."
"You got a camera. We don't need any of these little photos. They ain't even in color."
Ash grinned at her as he fished out some quarters from his pocket. "Just look pretty and smile."
Shamin sighed, crossing her arms and slouching back as he pushed the touch-panel. It was almost closing time for the fair. "We have to meet up with Miriam, you know."
"Don't worry. We'll find her," he grinned. "Eventually."
She bit her thumbnail. "Thanks."
He turned his head to look at her. "For what?"
"Ya know, the Ferris Wheel," she said softly. "Thanks."
"Hey, you said it yourself."
"What?"
"You ain't afraid of anything. You do whatever you want." He sat back. "Smile."
The light flashed. "Almost anything," she murmured.
"What?" he asked, turning to look at her as the light flashed again.
Shamin looked up into his face, summing up her courage. "Look, Shan . . . I have to tell you something."
He was the picture of innocence. "Yeah?"
"I, well, I like you," she said quickly, before she lost the nerve.
He grinned and shrugged. "I like you too."
Her eyes sparkled. "Really?"
"Of course," he said simply, another light flashing. "You're a great friend. I mean, I can't imagine how this trip would have been if you hadn't come along. Me and Pikachu would have gone batty traveling alone."
She rolled her eyes. "No, no, that's not what I mean. I mean, I . . . I like you. "
He looked at her confused, raising his eyebrow questioning as the next light flashed. Then he looked at the computer as the paper printed out the paper, rather disgusted. "Oh, these suck. You weren't even looking at the camera."
She narrowed her eyes. "Shan . . ."
"Come on, this time look at the screen," Ash ordered as he put a few more quarters in the screen. "You think I should program for more pictures so you have time to get it right?" He smirked at her.
"I don't care, but Shan—"
"Doubles, then."
"Shan!"
"What?"
"Didn't you hear me?" she asked sharply.
"Say what?"
She gritted her teeth in anger. She had just told him she liked him, and he didn't even realize it. The . . . the Jerk!
Ash shook his head at her. "You're confusing. Now smile, okay, and look at the screen." He laughed as he turned her head to the screen.
The light flashed once. This calls for drastic measures, she thought, angry adrenaline in her veins at his stupidity.
"Shan," she said sweetly.
"Yeah?"
With agility and speed to match any Pokémon, Shamin brought her hands up and gripped the sides of his face, pulling him down to an open-mouthed kiss. Ash's eyes shot open in surprise and shock, and he went ridged, his body refusing to move. His mind froze. Then, suddenly he tried to push her away, to give himself time to think. This was crazy! When Shamin wouldn't budge—she was stronger than she looked—he started to move back, ending up pressed against the wall, then the screen, the other wall, everywhere. Panic was etched in his features.
Shamin kept the kiss going, feeling him tried to break away. You will get this! she thought as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Finally she pulled away, she looked at him savagely. "Now do you understand?" she whispered, pushing herself away from him.
If she was pale, Ash was bleach-white. His eyes were wide as saucers, and he looked at her like she was a ghost. "Shamin . . ." His lips moved in confusion.
Shamin couldn't believe it. He still didn't get it! Tears in her eyes, she turned away and quickly left the booth.
It took Ash a while to find his voice and collect his thoughts, and he took the papers from the computer printout with eyes unseeing. Then he gripped the pack, touching his lips, and pushed back the curtain. "Shamin!" he yelled.
There were few people milling around these last few minutes of the fair, in the darkness. Shamin wasn't one of them, not that he could see.
"Shamin!"
"Pikapi?" Pikachu asked sleepily, and a tad sickly. Too much fair food on her stomach.
"Pikachu! Help me find Shamin!" Ash ordered.
She nodded instantly, then sniffed the air. It took a minute for her to pick up Shamin's scent, and she pointed. "Chupi chupika pi!"
"Thanks!" Ash said, running in the direction. The motion of the pack made Pikachu sicker.
"Chu . . ." she moaned, hanging out of the bag.
Ash didn't notice when something wet hit his shoes.
****
She clutched her knees, looking at the pond water shimmer as the moonlight hit it. He didn't even understand that! If that didn't work, what would? She bit her lip and refused to cry.
There was a very small rustling sounded almost ten minutes later. "S-Shamin," Ash's timid voice called.
Shamin ignored him, focusing on the water.
"Shamin?" he tentatively called again, coming closer as he pulled out a twig from his hair. He set his pack down, and Pikachu, still not feeling the best, looked at them sickly. He knelt down slowly and touched her shoulder. "Shamin?"
"Just go away," she whispered.
"No. Shamin, we have to talk."
"About what?"
"About . . ." He faltered, finding he had no words to explain what he wanted to talk about. "Shamin."
"Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it." Her shoulders quaked. "I just couldn't think of any way to make you understand. You're so dense."
"One to talk," he countered softly. She laughed half-heartedly.
"Maybe. So what are you going to do?"
Ash was quiet, unsure of what to say. "I . . . I don't know," he admitted after long minutes. "Shamin, look at me, please."
She stiffened and didn't move.
"Please."
She did so slowly, turning her whole body, then raising her head to look at his face last. She met the same confused face as before.
Ash looked at her, her cheeks wet. "I . . . don't know, Shamin," he admitted.
"Know what?" her voice hoarsely whispered back.
"I don't know if, if I love you," he said quietly, avoiding her gaze for a moment. "I like you, and I don't want to lose what we have right now." He touched her hand gently.
"I know."
He smiled, then ran a hand through his hair sheepishly. "I'm afraid, okay? I, I don't know what's going on or what to really do. Ya know?"
She laughed, looking away. "I'm sorry."
"No," he said hard, and she looked back surprised. "Don't be." He blushed. "I mean . . . well, I don't know what I mean. Man, this is happening so fast." He ran his hand through his hair again.
"We can slow down," Shamin said quickly.
"Even if I know you can kiss like that?" Ash joked weakly.
She blushed, but looked him in the eyes.
"You know," Ash said slowly, tilting his head and leaning back on his legs.
"Hmm?"
"You've got really nice eyes. They're so . . . blue."
"Thank you. Your eyes aren't that bad either. They're very brown," she smiled.
"No." He brought his hands on either side of her face, and seriously studied the azure orbs. Shamin shivered under the gaze. "They're really big and sweet. Angelic, sort of. And pretty."
She touched his hand, and he brought them down quickly. "Really?"
He nodded. "Oh, yes, they are."
"Thank you," she said sincerely. "Shan?"
Ash blinked at the name, suddenly feeling guilty that he had lied to her for so long. "Shamin, I—" She silenced him when she placed a finger against his lips.
"Shh."
He looked at her Angel-Stolen eyes and his words melted.
His heart was beating frantically and slowly he moved forward. She moved forward as well. When Ash felt his lips touch hers, it was like an electric current was passing through him, and he quickly pulled away.
He could feel his cheeks red, but he smiled at her.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Shamin whispered.
"No," he admitted sheepishly.
They came closer again, and this time Shamin touched his hair with her hand.
There was a flash!
They pulled away and looked at the source.
Pikachu was grinning as she stood on the camera. Her eyes were wide and wet like she was crying. "Pikapi ka Chupi pikachu. Pi chu chu!" she sniffed.
Ash laughed at her and her words. "You're sappy!"
Pikachu smiled at them, and both Ash and Shamin looked back at each other. "We'll go slow," Shamin whispered, kissing his cheek. "Now let's go find Miriam."
"Yes," Ash whispered kissing her hand, grinning like a dork.
"Now who's sappy?" she teased. He laughed.