It was around midnight as Ellie sat in the lobby of the Budew Drop Inn, her left leg nervously shaking as she tapped her combat boot against the marble floor. Her mom would absolutely kill her if she was found hanging out with the Spikemuth punk, but Ellie could tell that there was some sort of bond that the two girls shared. Eevee sat fast asleep in her arms, the normal-type furball unbothered in his slumber by Ellie's jitters. Just when she believed Marnie wouldn't show, she heard a familiar squeaking in the distance. She eyed Marnie's Morpeko as she watched Marnie speak with a Gym Challenge staff member, and that caused all her nerves to wash away.
'Oh, thank Arceus.' Ellie muttered, taking a deep breath as she shut her eyes for a moment. Seconds later, however, she was not greeted by Marnie.
"Oi, what makes ya' think ya' can mess with Marnie!?" The largest of the four face painted gang shouted into a megaphone, rattling Ellie's brains as she was quick to go on the defensive, leaping to her feet. Disturbing Eevee from his sleep as she was too busy grabbing the large boy's shirt collar tight and shaking him about, causing him to squeal in fear as he watched a searing blaze form in the silver-haired girl's eyes.
"How about next time, you warn someone before trying to scare them half to death? Or so help me, I swear to Arceus, I will make sure you and your little geek parade are running home with those megaphones shoved so far up your-"
"Ellie! Let 'em go!" She heard from behind her, loosening her grip as she turned around to see Marnie with her arms folded over her chest, walking towards them before scolding the group that had disturbed Ellie.
"How many times do I have to tell you lot to stop tryin' to scare off the bloody gym challengers!? I can handle it on my own!" The punk groaned, her cheeks blazing red with embarrassment.
"E-Ellie, I'm so sorry that they bothered ya'. T-They're my fanclub, Team Yell...they always go runnin' 'round doin' this to people…"
"...You have a fanclub? These ogres are your fans?" Ellie asked, tilting her head and looking at Marnie like she'd just grown a third head.
"Oi, we heard that!" Another megaphone blast came in, Ellie could swear her eyes were now rattling like bouncy balls in her head as it began to ache dully, causing her to grab the megaphone and launch it across the lobby, hoping it shattered on impact.
"...Yeah? ...Don't all the gym challengers have a fanclub?" Marnie mumbled, a very agitated Ellie motioning her hands towards Team Skull and then toward the otherwise empty lobby to reveal that she in fact did not have a fanclub...nor did she really want one.
"Oh...uh…heh'..." Marnie mumbled as she tugged on her jacket sleeve, a blush forming on her face. She didn't know why Ellie made her so dang nervous and shy. Well...she did know why, she just didn't want to admit it.
"Sorry...I'm just so used to it...y'know?" Marnie mumbled, rubbing her hand on the sleeve of her oversized leather jacket.
Taking a moment, Ellie took a deep breath before she turned back to face Team Yell. "Can you numbskulls go and yell at Ball Guy outside or something? I'd like to talk to my friend...alone."
Marnie's ears perked up hearing Ellie call her her friend as her fanclub nervously scurried outside the hotel lobby. Just hours ago, Ellie was telling Marnie that she didn't like people.
So, either Marnie was not a person to Ellie...ouch...or she was an exception...much less ouch.
"You okay?" Ellie whispered towards the shy punk, Marnie's brow furrowing.
"Why are ya' askin' me if I'm okay? You're the one who just got a megaphone shoved in her bloody ear." She muttered, causing Ellie to laugh softly.
"Because it's not your fault that they did that, and I don't want you to feel bad about it. I'm fine." She whispered, scooping Eevee up in her arm as Morpeko jumped on Marnie's shoulder before Ellie took Marnie by the hand.
"You uh...wanna talk in my room? I promise, I'm not trying to kidnap you…" The free spirit laughed softly, Marnie unable to help blush at the contact.
"At this point, I think I'll take whatever kidnapper I can get." The punk muttered softly, the girls moving together as they walked into the elevator.