WEEEHOOO! See, told ya'll I'd update on Tuesday ;D

Easy candy indeed. . .

~Chapter Fifteen~

". . .And Kit misses you too!" I said into the phone. Kitsune jumped and my chest and belted, "Eeeeeee!"

Ivy laughed on the other side. "Yeah, why wouldn't he?" she laughed. "Ugh, you really should go. You haven't even been there a week and already I bet your phone bill's going to be sky-high."

I shrugged. "I don't care, but you're probably right. . .I miss you!" I sighed again.

"Meeeee tooooo!" Ivy pretended to sob. "Ugh, how are Steve and I going to explain it when we walk into school tomorrow all. . .messed up?" she kidded.

I smiled. "Well, we know Betsy and Brooke won't care," I laughed. I heard yelling coming from the kitchen. "Aw man. . .I think dad's yelling for the phone. I really have to go this time."

"Okaaaaaaay," Ivy whined. "Jump a big one on Joker for me, 'kay?"

"Sure." I hung up before we could say another word and stay on the line even longer. I had lived here for barely forty-eight hours and already I missed my friends more than I could bear.

"Eee?"

I smiled and stroked Kitsune. "Well, at least I have you and Jo to make it a little easier," I sighed.

"Eevee, ee," Kit frowned.

I stared at the ceiling. "No, I didn't tell her about Darrell, did I. . .I wonder why?" I rolled over, and Kit hopped from the bed to avoid getting squashed. "I hope he'll be there tonight," my muffled voice said. "It's my first day of school tomorrow! I can't stay at the beach too late for nothing."

The phone rang then. I groaned and got the cordless, still burying my face in the pillows. "Tamer's Crazy Pokemon. They're crazy, they're ours."

"Ummm. . .what the hell? Lindsey?"

"Steve!" I choked, and quickly sat up. "Geez. Don't scare me like that."

"Speak for yourself," he laughed. "So, what's up? Thinking of running away yet?"

"Ha, ha." I paused. The first thing that popped into my mind in response to his 'What's up?' was Darrell, but if I couldn't tell Ivy about him, I definitely couldn't tell Steve. Think Tamer, think. . .

"Nothing."

Oh yeah. I have such a way with words.

"Oh please, not 'nothing'. . .you're in Hoenn! There's got to be something up!"

"Ehh. . .well, there are Pokemon weirder than Spinark here, let me tell you," I improvised. "And. . .uhh. . .hmm, well the school's close, so I don't have to take the bus anymore. . ."

"Lucky you!" Steve sighed. "Ugh. I just remembered now I'll have to get on the bus ALONE tomorrow. That's going to suck."

I chuckled. "Yeah, well, I'll be there in spirit. Did the rent-in family destroy our house yet?"

"They haven't even gotten here," Steve replied. "I hope it's a bigger family, though. Kind of a waste such a small family like yours lived in such a huuuuge house."

"Hey, well, speak for yourself!" I laughed. "Your family isn't much bigger."

"My grandparents are living here," Steve defended. "Plus Iggy, of course."

"Of course." I sighed.

Steve paused. "Something wrong?"

I shrugged, even though he couldn't see me. "I don't know. . .I guess I just miss you guys. It's really hard being away from you."

"Hey." The joking tone in Steve's voice immediately disappeared. "It is hard. . .it's hard for us, too. But I know you. . .in a matter of days you'll have tons of new friends and you'll forget all about us."

"Yeah right!" I laughed. "How could I ever forget about you guys? You're way too important to me."

"Really?"

"Duh." I made a face. Since when had Steve ever doubted my friendship with him?

"Lindsey!" Dad called from the other side of my door. "I need the phone. Can you hang up please?"

"Fine!" I yelled back. "Hey, I have to go. . .my dad needs the phone."

"Okay," Steve sighed. "Well, have fun tomorrow. We miss ya."

I smiled a sad little smile. "I miss you too, Steve." I hung up before we could drag out the conversation like Ivy and I had.

~*~

It was harder to sneak out that night since Mom and Dad weren't exhausted from moving, but I managed it. I jogged all the way to the beach with Kit on my shoulder, wondering if Darrell was really going to be there. Why did I want to see him so much? I barely even knew the guy.

Yet, as I jogged to that beach, my heart pounded more and more at the thought of him. There was just something about Darrell that made me feel like this.

When I got there, it was just as abandoned as it had been the night before. Not a soul in sight.

I sighed sadly and walked down near the shoreline. I was wearing sandals, so I slipped them off and let the ocean tickle my feet. Kitsune crawled down my arm and ran up and down the beach.

"Don't go too far," I called softly.

"He seems to like the moon."

I spun around at the sound of the voice---I smiled when I saw the tale, pale guy dressed in black that was Darrell.

"Hi," I smiled.

He nodded in reply and sat down near me. Without making a sound, he reached into his coat and pulled out two Pokeballs---they were both black and lined with crystal. He tossed them in the air, and Umbreon came out of one. It shook its head, and with a nod from Darrell, ran off to chase Kitsune.

The Pokemon that had come out of the other Pokeball was a total mystery to me. It had white fur, a sort of evil-looking face, and this silver extension shaped like a knife protruding from its head.

"What's that Pokeomon?" I asked curiously.

"Absol," he answered. "My only other Pokemon."

"Is it a dark type like Umbreon?"

"Yeah."

I would think a dark-type Pokemon would love the nighttime, but Absol just yawned and curled up for a nap, and I giggled at that. Darrell turned to look at me, and I immediately felt all sweaty again.

"So apparently Kitsune has a fondness of Umbreon," he said. "That's probably why he crashed into me at the PokeMart."

I smiled. "Yeah, must be. He was probably so happy to see an Eevee evolution like himself. He doesn't get to interact with many different Pokemon."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Just my Ponyta, the Rapidash my parents own, and when I lived in Johto, Kit would chase my friend Steve's Growlithe everywhere. Iggy learned Flamethrower reeeeally quickly so he could just use that to keep Kit off his back."

Darrell stared out at the sea. "You probably consider yourself lucky."

"Eh?" I blinked at the change in the subject. "Lucky?"

"Yes," he sighed. "Anyone. . .would be able to tell from the way you talk that you have roots. . .friends who care about you." He looked down at Absol. "My Pokemon are all I have. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do. I just travel around everywhere. . .I was planning on leaving here in awhile."

I looked at him sadly as he continued. "I left home when I was seven. I don't even remember my parents. And now, a little less than ten years later, I still don't know who I am. I have no one."

I looked away and hugged my knees to my chest. My loose hair spilled over my shoulders. This was the most Darrell had ever said at one time to me, and it was too much to think about.

I looked back up at him. He looked so sad, staring at Absol. I suddenly found myself putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, well, I'm here now," I smiled. "I'll be your friend. I can help you find yourself."

What was I doing?! I didn't even know this guy.

Darrell stared at me for a few seconds. "That sounds about right," he replied. "I have. . .this feeling you're the only one who can help me."

I smiled again, sliding my hand off his shoulder. "Well, don't worry now---Lindsey Tamer is here for ya!"

"Tamer?"

"Oh. . .ha, ha, ha," I laughed. "Yeah, I never mentioned that. Lindsey Tamer. What about you?"

"Hunter."

"Darrell Hunter. . ." I whispered. I ignored my still-pounding heart and glanced up at the moon. "Ha, now no matter where you go, I'll be able to find you." I winked. "And speaking of going. . .I probably should. I start school tomorrow."

I stood up, and so did Darrell. I call Kitsune and he ran up to me.

"Lindsey. . .thank you," Darrell said, squeezing my arm gently. I turned to him with Kitsune in my arms.

"Yeah. . .of course," I whispered, looking up at him. My heart was beating so loudly, it was a wonder he didn't hear it. After a second, though, I felt Kit nip my arm.

"Ow," I complained. "Well. . .um, I guess that means I should go home. . ."

"Yeah," he said. "I'll be here. . .tomorrow."

I smiled without saying goodbye and took off for home, my heart pounding louder than ever. What was with this weird feeling?

'Darrell Hunter. . .' I thought. 'What is it about you?'

~*~*~

Hrmm. . .

Hey, the next update will be Friday, as usual! What a nice post-Christmas present, ha ha ha ^.^;;

Well why not give me 'presents' and review! –coughwinkcough- ~_^

Have a good holiday everyone!