This chapter we get to know Layla a bit more, her personality, faults, etc... Some familiar names come up and some new ones ;)
There were a lot of things Layla was prepared for when she got her Nursing degree, but essentially running a daycare when she was just an attendant was not one of them. Especially the final day of the tournament where all the uppity people are going to parties and leaving their pokemon in the Daycare's hands. Even though they're technically not a boarding service, Camden cannot say no to more money.
"Okay, ma'am," Layla drones on the phone listening to a complaint. Her eyes follow one of the staff playing with some pokemon and longs to join them. She's not even sure what the conversation is about anymore, just that she wants this woman to hang up and fast. "I'll be sure to take it up with the manager."
"I thought you were the manager?" the woman's scorn can be felt in waves.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Layla scrunches her face to fight against the oncoming headache. "No, ma'am. I'm just an attendant, the manager is out on business right now."
"Well, you let him know everything I told you!" the woman shouts before hanging up.
"Ugh!" Layla smacks the phone back into the cradle. Her head thunks onto the desk. "I loathe people."
"That's why you're here right?" Elise giggles, coming over to hang on the counter.
Annoyance spikes in Layla and she sits up. "I may be paid well, but not well enough for this shit. Where is Camden?"
"Went out to lunch," Elise replies, heading back to break up a fight between two Meowth.
They're siblings and often their play gets aggressive when they're too hyped up. Elise uses a squirt bottle to break up the fight, the feline pokemon hissing and darting away from the unexpected moisture. Peace returns to the play area, leaving Layla to glance towards the clock with a scowl.
"Yeah, an hour ago," Layla mutters to herself.
She writes up the complaint on a post-it and leaves it on Camden's folder to find later. Pushing away from the desk, she stands and stretches her back, grimacing at the aches it causes while turning this way and that. She's getting too old to be working all his responsibilities with none of the benefits.
A job's a job, she reminds herself.
Daycare work in Celadon isn't a bad job, either. Taking care of rich people's pokemon all day gets them paid handsomely and it looks good on her resume. The only problem is that management sucks and the other workers aren't held as accountable as she is. Ever since she took over the reception job as well as the attendant job, Camden hounds her for her service. One thing is out of line, he's pulling her to his office to scold.
He's also been lax on his own job, who takes lunch for more than an hour?
The thought leaves Layla as she gathers all the paperwork for the pokemon present today, over 30, and grabs an attendant to help with exams. Part of their daycare package is an exam, and grooming. For this many pokemon, Layla tried to implement a different system to account for overflow, but Camden wasn't concerned. Again, anything that makes him more money he doesn't care about the specifics...
Elise flips on the tv to watch the tournament continue on.
The trainer made it through Will and Koga yesterday, today they're fighting Bruno, third in the lineup. The fighting type master looks intimidating on screen, he's been part of the Elite Four for years now. A familiar face on the screen as he directs his pokemon through the field. His battle style reminds Layla of the Champion, Lance's, straightforward as if daring trainer's to meet them head on.
Layla doesn't mind the background noise, even some of the pokemon gather to watch the screen. Though she isn't sure how much of it they actually understand, she gets they might just enjoy the sparks fly and bodies move during a battle.
One by one, Layla does her job, her mind eventually losing its bite towards work as she enjoys each pokemon's personality. Pokemon that come from big headed, rich business men and women tend towards a snobbish nature. It isn't until you dig a little deeper, and gain their trust, do they warm up to a person.
Even now, as she checks a well known designer's Ninetales, the pokemon ignores her until she hits his usual spot. A couple scratches under the chin and he's like a puddle in her hands, grumbling affectionately and pressing his warm body against hers. It makes her giggle and she urges him over to the attendant for his brushing. Almost immediately, he's back to his snobbish self, turning his nose up at the attendant as she coos at him.
"These pokemon adore you," the girl, Liza, grunts.
Layla can't help but laugh at Liza's glare at the pokemon refusing even the slightest bit of affection. When he looks over at her though, the Ninetales rumbles again, his tails swaying softly as if in a breeze.
"They'll love you too," Layla hums, checking a Growlithe's ear for mites. "Give it some time."
"I'm not sure what Camden would do if you left," Liza admits after a struggle to put Ninetales' collar back on. "Please don't, by the way. We would drown."
Layla sighs, ruffling the fire type's fur. "I won't without warning, but I need to do what's best for me."
She leaves it at that, though the words don't feel as true as she wishes they were. It's been a couple years since she moved to Celadon, and now she feels as though this is where things grow stagnant. So much happened to her in this city, it feels strange to even think about leaving it behind. It has made her into the person she is today, scars and all.
Her thoughts get drowned out by the cheers from the TV, a pokemon goes down at the hands of Bruno's Hitmontop, and focuses again at the task at hand.
While it's not the rush that would come with working at a Pokemon Center, she'll take what she can get.
Pickups for pokemon not staying the night usually come around 6pm and as the time nears, Layla feels no surprise Camden hasn't returned. She wastes no time in taking charge for the night, something she's grown accustomed to in the past few years working here. The other attendants aren't here full time, nor are they looking to stay in the job long term, and so, have little issue with her doing so.
While the battle rages on the screen, clients start to file in, one by one. Most want to chat about the tournament, or ways the place could improve their care, but Layla brushes off their conversation in the hopes they'll leave sooner.
"I can't wait for the contest season to start up!" One woman raves as Layla prints out her receipt. "That Autumn gal is such a sight to behold, don't you think?"
"Actually, yeah. I love her displays," Layla replies, allowing herself to delve into a short conversation, but not for long.
More owners enter the lobby and she ushers the woman off with a smile.
As Layla takes payments and does returns the attendants do clean up. Spraying down the rooms the pokemon stayed in, gathering the blankets and such for laundry and closing out notes on each pokemon in their computer system. As much as Layla hates some parts of the job, the system they have going for them is as efficient as what she's seen in Centers across the region.
While they clean, a few of the staff pass by the TV to shout updates on the battle here and there. Not one for battling, Layla only replies every once in a while with a comment of her own. She's never had an interest in the league challenge or anything like that. Though, she supports whatever trainers want to do as long as they do it right.
The pokemon that'll be left overnight get put in their kennels with their things and everyone gathers as the last pokemon on Karen's team goes down. Her Houndoom lets out a final cry, much to Layla's chagrin as a shiver runs down her back.
She tries to keep personal feelings out of her work, but it's nearly impossible with a Houndoom. Just seeing the pokemon on a screen makes her skin crawl and her heart race. Her hand flies up to her scars hiding under her under armor shirt, as though it'll get bigger just looking at the pokemon.
"Wow," Elise breathes. "I never thought I'd see it. The Elite Four are so strong, sometimes I think they're too strong."
"Or maybe trainers are getting weak," Alex pipes up, gathering her things. "Whatever it is, I am looking forward to seeing Lance on my screen tomorrow."
Elise grins. "Me too. He can be my champion any day."
"You guys," Layla groans. "Keep it in your pants."
They laugh, Elise grabbing her bag and water bottle. "Layla, you can't tell me Lance isn't easy on the eyes."
"Oh, he is," she retorts. "I have a poster of him at home."
There are more peals of laughter from them as they finish up the closing list and clock out at the monitor. Layla watches them do so with longing. Since Camden hasn't returned, the paperwork and financial stuff from the day is left to her, though it's not in her description. She struggles with letting it go undone and would rather have a glowing recommendation than a regular one.
She watches them go with a short wave before settling at the computer to close out the register and prepare everything for the next day. The time alone is nice, though, it lets her come down from the high of working. Her brain, usually spinning with her to-do list, finds a calming rhythm in counting the money and returning emails.
So as she clocks out and closes out of the program, she feels less annoyed and more tired.
The day's not done yet, though, and she holds back a loud groan as Camden sidles up to the door right before 7pm.
"Layla!" he greets with a smile.
His brown hair is swept to the side, his dark large brows raised as he grins in such a fake manner she wants to smack it off his face. He's definitely charmed a lot of people with that smile, including Layla when she first started. Now, she knows what truly lies underneath, what kind of scum bag he really is.
"Hi, Cam," her voice comes out flat.
It wasn't always like this.
When she started here a couple years ago, he was more attentive to his duties and urged everyone to take equal share of the work. There's no clear time when it changed, she had noticed some things he'd missed and filled in as a team member should, and then suddenly, she was doing everything. It wasn't until her best friend had pointed it out to her that Camden was doing it on purpose so he could slack off.
"Come on, tell me what I missed," he gestures for her to lead the way to the office.
He's a tall man with a medium build, almost athletic though she saw him run once and wondered if his body was falling apart at the seams. His long brown hair is usually back in a ponytail that curls at the end. Sometimes he has a beard, other times he's clean shaven and wears glasses. He looks like a regular guy, but all she sees is a dickhead.
She holds back a sigh as she follows after him to his little office tucked away in a corner of the daycare. The routine is the same as always, she sits at the chair and waits for him to log into his computer and pull up the records from today. A promising start, but it never goes past that.
His idea of these meetings is ignoring her explanation of how the day went, not caring about the complaints and pickups. She feels ire build in her stomach watching him brush off her words, why pull her into this meeting if he didn't care?
She's hungry and ready to get home.
"Are you still looking over the finances?" he asks after a quiet moment of him staring at his computer screen.
"Yes," she answers quickly, grabbing her purse. "I'm going to head out so I can get to those at home."
"Alrighty," he shrugs, as if wondering why she didn't say that earlier. "See you bright and early."
"I'm off tomorrow," she responds, shutting the door behind her.
It takes all her resolve not to twist around and blow off all the steam she'd been holding in all day in his face, but the day catches up and she feels exhausted enough already. With a sigh, she makes for the elevators to the ground floor and exits the building. Celadon the night of an Elite Four loss is bustling with people loudly picking apart each battle and boasting about how they could do better.
Some people love the Elite Four while others hope a fresh batch will be coming in soon. Layla doesn't really care either way, the group they have now are well rounded and have good morals for trainers to look up to. That's all she's really cared about when it came to a League so publicized and popular, though other regions take it way farther than Johto or Kanto do.
She keeps her head down as she passes a few bars buzzing with drunkards as she comes upon her apartment building. Usually she gets Aves to fly her home, but the cool spring air in Celadon soothes her nerves as she types in her code and passes the security house with ease.
Once inside, she checks her mailbox to find it empty and smiles, knowing just who got her mail for her. She practically skips to the elevator ready to take her up to the fifth floor and whips out her key once at the end of the hall. Some cooking, eating and talking with her best friend is all she craves after today.
"Oh, Layla!" a voice greets her as she enters her home, tossing her bag and shoes aside.
"Eusine!" Layla grins. It turns into a frown as she walks into the kitchen to find him sprawled on her countertop looking sad. "I just cleaned that this morning!"
"You were supposed to be home two hours ago," he pouts, ignoring her complaining and sliding off the counter. "What the hell?"
"Camden," she rolls her eyes and picks up the stack of mail he brought up. "I'm going to cook, now."
"Let's order takeout," Eusine perks up. "Then you can bitch to me about your boss. I love hearing it."
She sets the mail aside with a groan. "I want to cook, Eusine. I'm surprised you want takeout instead? Sick of my cooking?"
"Never," he shakes his head vigorously. "I'm just starving and it would be faster."
"Patience is a virtue," she holds up a finger.
"Fine, fine," he relents with a dramatic groan. "No one's ever accused me of being virtuous...You should just quit. Destroy the place and walk out."
"As much as I want to, I want to have a good record when I move to a different place," she responds with a laugh. She gets out some pots, wine, beef and vegetables. "Beef stew?"
"Yes, it was chilly today," Eusine grins. "Mom sent over some lemon Blukberry cake, it's in your fridge."
"Perfect dessert," she beams.
As Layla sets about cooking, she updates Eusine on her work day and laughs at his comments. It feels normal and good to come home and have some support from someone she knows so well.
It'd been years since they saw each other, when she moved after the attack, they lost contact. It was like another hole appeared in her heart losing him for so long. He was the other reason aside from the job to come back to Celadon. She just had to find her best friend.
The ad for the apartment was almost too good to be true and when she met with the landlord she was surprised to see Eusine's mother smiling at her in the lobby. His mother saw Layla's applications and accepted it right away, withholding the information that her neighbor was Eusine himself.
Life had gotten in the way and even though they drifted apart, the moment they saw each other it was like it hadn't happened.
Being in the city itself hasn't affected Layla as she thought it would. Eusine has been good about her mental health and she loves him for it. Despite the tragedy in the past, she finds herself still feeling the warmth and comfort of home living here.
"You're wasting your time there," Eusine insists as he sets up the table. "You could work anywhere!"
"I know, I know," Layla sighs. She slices up the homemade french bread, plates it and hands it to him to place on the table. She gets their bowls of stew and moves to sit, the aroma of cooked meat and veggies making her stomach growl. "I just need the money more than anything."
"Your dad's a doctor?" he replies, pouring the wine for the two of them.
"He's not a surgeon, Eusine. I'm not getting a hand out from my dad," she replies. "Besides, I'm not broke. I just want to have emergency money set aside before moving to Olivine."
"So, you're punishing yourself?" he questions, taking a big bite of stew. "I will miss your cooking, that's for sure."
"Come with me," she grins, swirling her spoon. "What would I be punishing myself for?"
"I don't know," Eusine shrugs, chewing on some meat. "You don't like change. Moving to Olivine would be such a big difference, especially after what made you leave me in the first place all those years ago."
Layla sets down her spoon, her right hand moving to rub the scars on her left arm as she thinks about the fire. It was such a hectic time in her life, everything was fine until the fire happened and suddenly she's taken away to another city to start over. Leaving Eusine was hard enough the first time, to do it again, willingly? When she has all she needs here? The apprenticeship isn't even a sure thing, she has to apply when they open and get in...
She shakes those thoughts away, frowning at Eusine. "When did you become all zen?"
He laughs. "It's what I get for spending too much time with Morty."
"Who?" she frowns.
"Morty, my best friend," he snickers at her. "You're not the only one, you know."
"Uh, he sounds like an imaginary friend," she laughs.
"No," he rolls his eyes. "He's the gym leader in Ecruteak."
Layla sits up at that. "You're friends with a gym leader?"
"Of course," he scoffs. "You are too."
"Yeah, but I'm cool."
"Hey!"
"I don't believe it," she laughs. "But as long as he gives you good advice to give to me. I'll take it."
Eusine grumbles under his breath, but keeps eating as their conversation turns more toward his day and what he did. Hearing about his adventures and sightseeing makes Layla a bit jealous, she never wanted to be a trainer going on the gym challenge. But that didn't mean she didn't want to see the world the way a trainer does. Exploring caves, walking through forests and meeting new people, seeing new things.
She loves the idea for a short term trip.
"Do you think you'll get to meet it?" she hums, finishing her wine a little while later.
Eusine has already started to clean up the table and do dishes. "Suicune? I hope so. It's my dream."
"What would you even do? Catch it?" she gathers her bowl and glass. "Do you want to keep it?"
"That's what I thought at first," he replies in a gentle tone. "But Grandpa always thought a legendary pokemon's place is in nature. I know there are people that want to catch them, tote them around. But some pokemon aren't meant to be caught, I think."
"You want to befriend it," she smiles. "You're such a sweetie, does Morty know that?"
Eusine rolls his eyes. "Morty and I are bros. He knows everything about me, like you do."
"I didn't know you had another best friend."
"True, he knows of you. I've mentioned you a few times."
"Talking crap? Nice," she scoffs. He nudges her with his elbow and she laughs. "You know I'm kidding. Besides, I am still skeptical."
"Well, you're never meeting him," he replies with a shrug. "Don't want you two teaming up against me."
"Oh? He keeps you in check, how sweet," she laughs. "I'm glad it's a full time job between the two of us."
"Exactly why you two shouldn't meet," Eusine confirms.
The two finish up cleaning before Eusine retires to his apartment for the night, leaving Layla to shower and get ready for bed. She peels off her work clothes, light blue scrubs that feel only like a formality for her since she doesn't do much in terms of exams. Camden wanted her to seem more professional for client's coming in, making them trust the Daycare even more if a trained nurse was on site.
As she brushes her curls, after her shower, she thinks about her dream job in Olivine. Working at the center there, going on rescues to help wild pokemon along the coast and take care of trainers out there too. She loves the heat in Olivine, loves the cobblestoned streets, the farmer's markets and her good friend Jasmine lives there too.
They met at the gardening class Erika has every other week in her gym. Layla was surprised to find the Johto leader there, quite a far trek. But Jasmine was bored at home, and wanted to spruce up her house with some plants. Something the two have in common is their inability to keep plants alive and well. It brought them together and after hearing how Layla wanted to live in her hometown, Jasmine was elated to have another friend that was going to be living closer to her.
Until then, Layla has to put up with her crappy job and crappy manager before securing her apartment near the port in Olivine. Her father has offered to help multiple times, but Layla likes the thought of being able to do this for herself and would rather he help someone that isn't in the same spot as her. She's sure there's someone out there that needs the money.
She puts her curls up into a pineapple for bed, to keep the curls good for another day, before slipping under her covers.
Just a little longer, Layla, she reassures herself as she drifts off into a deep sleep. A little... longer.