Now just imagine me with a jar. It's labeled; Suppression.
I open that jar, stuffing it to the brim with the cloud of anxiety that is attempting to suffocate me.
Forcing it into the jar I seal the lid of suppression and chuck that thing as far as I can.
Boom, avoidance.
Then I won't think about it. Yeah, yeah, that sounds good.
That sounds healthy.
I'm going to do that.
With that in mind. the moment I step out of those woods I chuck that imaginary jar as far as my imagination can go. Leon gives me an odd look since the jar was only visible to my imagination, but all that matters is that it is gone now.
Visualization is key to help with discarding the unwanted jar after all.
"Alright, you two." Leon set the gate back into place and slammed it shut. Our journey into the woods was officially over. "Let's try to not go wandering into out of bounds areas."
"Like you do," I say.
"I do that by accident." he points at me with a huff. "Anyway, I'm going to head out first. You two double-check your supplies and meet me at the Poke Lab." he gave a salute and ran off.
I was half tempted to vault back over that fence and B-line back into those woods just to spite him.
Watching him go instead with a frown, Hop was quick to pick the enthusiasm back up.
"Well, at least we can start our journey now!' Hop seemed eager to just forget everything that had happened. I wasn't as convinced.
I still felt on edge, glancing back at the gate.
Not that my jar of suppression didn't help, but even it couldn't seem to get ride of the foreboding feeling I had along my spine.
"Make sure to tell your Mum we're leaving Byla." Hop nudged me, "She'll go spare if you leave without a word. Even worse than Lee just did!" He gave a wink, which was more of him just blinking twice, real fast, and rushed back down towards his house.
I lifted my hand halfway then lowered it back down.
I was emotionally drained. And the day had hardly begun.
Turning to head back to my house, which was thankfully a direct left shot from me, I sigh.
Walking in I contemplate the idea of crawling under the nearest rock and making that as my home.
I could probably make it work. Dig out the ground below the rock and make an underground cavern. Get a couch in there- no, a futon. Yeah, get a futon and a big Tv.
Live there for the rest of my life.
"Hey, Mum." I say as I instead, walk through my front door. Who was I kidding? Living underground. I didn't have the patience to reinforce those walls. I'd die from the slightest cave in because someone walked above the surface.
Oh well…
This is it. I was leaving. My heart had never felt so heavy before. Perhaps I just wasn't a fan of change or something. Or maybe this whole pokemon journey just reminded me too much of my Dad…
I don't know. It just felt too hard.
"Sweetie!" my Mum pulled me into her arms to patted my head. I felt safe, loved- and terribly sad. "You're going to do amazing things out there."
"Mum…" I say. "Is it alright if I- call? Call home I mean?" I asked. I wanted to ask if I could stay, but I felt like we'd just be going back and forth like before.
My Mum had a look on her face I hadn't seen before. Torn.
"Oh dear, of course, you can. I want you to be able to grow on your own, but that doesn't mean you don't have my support. Call me as many times as you want." She handed me her cellphone. She got it for work but ended up just using her home phone anyway. "I'll always pick up."
I look down at the device, scrutinizing over its several different buttons. "Okay." I agree.
My Mum smiles, pausing to tilt my head.
"Honey, are you alright? You look pale."
The slumbering Weald hadn't put me in the best mood for this whole journey. Not like I was in a better mood before.
The idea of losing someone, being left alone- those thoughts terrified me. I had serious issues about that when I was younger.
Abandonment issues I guess, as the nurse down the road had described. Without my desire to know this information.
She said it in passing, acting so smart and nosey.
I wouldn't even call it that severe. I just didn't like the idea of change and people leaving me…
I guess maybe I have a little bit of an issue with that.
I thought I had gotten better as I got older, but maybe in truth, I had just tucked them away somewhere deep inside me.
"I'm… fine. Just not eager for this." I say softly. I run my finger over the phone, sliding it into my pocket. "Thanks for the phone."
She smiles, "Go find a dream.' my mother kissed my forehead.
"As a pokemon trainer?" I frown.
"Byla, there are so many wonderful things to do out in the world today. Pokemon training is just one part of it. Find something you truly and honestly love." She gave me a wink, "Who knows, maybe this will even give you the courage to tell Hop how you feel."
"Who says I haven't been trying?" I gasped, offended. "My life has been filled with failed attempts and being punted into the friend zone so hard that I'm left to singing sad heartbreak country tunes!"
"Well, that's really your own fault."
"HOW?" I demand
She bats her eyes, "You aren't very direct with your words, for starters. Listen, I know when you really truly want Hop to know how you feel, you'll tell him."
Folding my arms I puff my cheeks out, grumbling. "Well… I guess I'll get going now."
With a flick of her finger, my Mum adjusts my hat, "I'll meet you by the train station to see you off."
"Sure thing."
I'd love to tell you I had some deep revelation on my way back down the road. That I came to terms with my own worries, swallowed my pride to prepare for this journey, et cetera.
I'd like to say that.
Ended up just biffing it on a rock and rolling a few feet.
I hate this path. This one, in particular, is terrible. The casualties that happen here are a continuous hazard.
I've actually texted Leon about this path many times over the years, each complaining about it's structural instability.
Not that Leon is who you should call to fix roads, but I figured he might know someone who could fix it. He does.
But instead of calling them he took it upon himself over a year ago to try and fix it.
He insisted that since it's his home town, he should fix it. No one else who lived here agreed. He did it anyway.
So he brought a shovel, some cement, and a kitchen roller. To flatten the cement.
As you might have guessed, this didn't go over well. Or, should I say, Roll over well. Haha, self Byla humor.
Long story short he ended up pouring the cement over a chunk of the dirt road, then attempted to roll it flat with a kitchen roller. He couldn't reach the entire expanse and stepped INTO the cement to get the rest.
Oh, but this isn't even the end of that.
He was crouched to roll this hand made cement, lost his footing, and fell backwards.
We got him out eventually but his feet and butt are now forever immortalized in our small town road. People come from around the globe to see those cement indents.
Recently Raihan has been trying to get agreement to make this a thing. Like, a hall of fame where everyone just makes cement versions of their butt.
The online votes are skyrocketing in agreement for this action. I'm concerned it will actually pull through.
Because you know where they'll put the rest. Right next to Leon's. It'll be the walkway of butts.
I don't want to be a child born in the butt village. I will be the butt of everyone's joke, but literally.
BUTT LITERALLY.
My Byla humor is too strong right now! I would end up mocking myself, that is how bad it would be.
It would be too easy!
Covering my eyes as I passed the cemented monstrosity I quicken my pace.
Making it past okay, I adjust my bag and sigh. I was going to have the back of an old man by the end of this.
But really... I was going to miss this town. Even with it's creepy Leon butt monument.
Turning around the corner I pick up my pace, smiling when I spot the familiar fluffed jacket Hop always wore.
Meeting him at the beginning of Route one I adjust my hat. "Hop." I greet.
"Byla." he gives a nod in return. "You ready?"
"More or less." I answer
"You doing okay? You seemed a little shaken from the Slumbering Weald."
I look at my feet before saying, "Yeah, I'm okay." I feel more like myself then I did before, though still rattled to my core. My stomach wasn't sitting well either, but it hadn't since this morning.
Gripping the rim of my hat Hop lifts it to look me in the eyes. "Show me a smile and maybe I'll believe you."
"I don't think a man who just gave me most of his money the other day can afford my smile," I say coyly.
He snorts, "Oh, you're charging now are you?"
"20 dollops of fairy dust. Take it or leave it."
Hop shakes his shoulders, loosening them up to begin a bargaining price, "How about the button I found on the ground a bit ago. It's shiny."
I indulge him, "How shiny we talking about here?"
He whips it out, twirling it between his fingers and letting it shine in the sun. I let out a low whistle. "Man, that is shiny."
"It is. We got a deal?"
We lock eyes, standing there for who knows how long before I crack and smile. Hop hands me the button a second later with a smug laugh, "Got'cha~"
Sliding the button into my pocket for important items, wanting to cherish the gift, I look back at him. "Here we go." I exhale, looking out to route one. "You going to catch some pokemon?"
"Right now? Nah…" he says. "Kind of want to just use the first route or two as a time to just get to know my current pokemon. Let them get to know each other."
"Sounds like a good plan." I moved to take a step forward but Hop stops me. Standing between me and the route, he folds his arms with a smirk, "Well, I guess I have no choice but to allow you passage this time around."
I snorted, realizing he was still on that, "You know what Hop~ I don't even feel interested in this measly route one…! In fact-" I grin, "I'm going to head right to route 2, where the stronger level 5 pokemon are."
He gasped, "Without me?"
"You ran to route 1 without me." I point out
"I totally waited for you…! I mean, it's not like it is far. It's right outside my house." he pointed to it, his front door only steps away.
"Excuses." I scoff.
Turning to the route we eye it carefully.
I lift my hands, opting to be the first to venture into the wild. Hop watches with bated breath as I approach the slightly knee tall grass. Giving him a long look I take one step in.
Then proceed to fake my death and fall over.
It was meant for a silly joke. But I ended up falling right onto a Skwovet.
It shrieked so loud it scampered out and over my face, scratching it up mid-process. "ECK!" I roll away, gingerly touching my poor face.
Hop slid to my aid, his lips curled like he was trying his best, and failing miserably, not to laugh. "Are you okay?"
"Ooouch… Ouch..' I whined, tapping the scratch lightly. "Not my best move…"
"You got good moves?" Hop challenged. I jab him in the gut for being cheeky.
"You try then, smarty pants."
"Walk through tall grass and not just trust fall into a pokemon?" he stood looking confident, "Easy." a descent 5 steps later and he turned back with a triumphant smirk. Only to then shriek like a banshee a moment later. I leap almost 3 feet into the air with a start.
"What? What?" I demand
He lifts his leg to show me, a form clinging to his ankle. A caterpie dangled loosely from his skin, it's small mouth clinging tight.
Hop screamed again, waving his foot around wildly. I shake my hands around my body pointlessly, pacing a little and letting out something kind of like a scream? It was basically me saying "Hee-Yaa." in a weird wobbly way.
"Do those things even have teeth?"
"I don't know! It's going to eat me!" Hop wailed, hopping back and forth.
"You're too big!"
"Do you know what kind of voracious appetite this thing has? I'll be gone within minutes! Pure muscle swallowing me whole!" he gave his leg a few good kicks, attempting to punt the creature off with sheer force of will.
This only proved to me more how likely we were to die on this journey. Eaten by caterpies... wouldn't that be a way to go.
Finally freeing himself of the little buggar by sending it North with a good solid kick, Hop huffed a few times. Running a hand through his hair he straightened his back and looked back at me. Collecting himself he cleared his throat, "T-There. Easy…"
"..." I look down at his leg, "...You think that will scare?"
He touched the bite mark lightly, frowning, "Do you think it will?"
"I bet it will. You're greatest war wound... Caterpie."
"Can't we say it was something more... I dunno, vicious?" he whined
"Oh yeah, take your choice." I gesture to the other 3 level pokemon. "Skwovery, Wooloo, Rookiedee?"
His cheeks burned, sinking downward to disinfect the area with some medicine he had in his bag. "This is the worse."
"At least it wasn't a Metapod." I offer my condolences. "I mean, those things don't even have mouths...Can you imagine if they did?" I didn't even realize Caterpie's had mouths big enough to get such a gnarly bite off a person. Leaning closer I wince, "Do you think this is like a zombie bite? Will you turn into a caterpie?"
"That isn't how things work."
"You don't know that. This is the first I've ever heard of a Caterpie biting a person!" I insist.
"It's not how it works though!" Setting a large bandaid over the wound he stood. "There. Done..."
I give him a long and unbelieving look. A little unsure I stepped into the grass with him. We stood like a pair of idiots for 2 minutes, waiting for pokemon to come our way.
When none did, either too busy eating or minding their own business, we kept walking.
Rushing around a few more caterpies, not willing to risk that situation again, we dive out of the grass with a victory screech.
"Survived!"
"Easy as pie." Hop brushed back his hair dramatically.
"If you say so man." I snort. Offering his arm to me I roll my eyes and take it again, similar to the last time we walked down the Wedgehurst to pick up Leon.
Hop often made a habit of this whenever we walked down to this town.
Sure would miss this when we left.
Walking into the town borders of Wedgehurst I stare at Leon's pokemon, standing alone at the station. "Hey, Charizard." I say to the lone pokemon.
It sniffs in greeting.
"Where is Lee?" Hop pats it's head, looking around. "He's not lost, is he?"
It gives a small look to it's left, to the building across the road. It was the research Lab of the town.
Leon was leaning against the door to the establishment, going through his phone without a care in the world.
"Ah, there he is." Hop looked relieved
We rush over to meet him, ready to get this show on the road.
"Ah Byla! Hop!' Leon waves, "Quick question- where is the station?"
I jab my finger to the left. Literally two houses down. Right behind us. In clear view. "It's over there."
"Ohh!" He gasped when he could even see it from there. "Charizard!" He calls to his pokemon. As if he didn't realize he had wandered away from his own pokemon.
Seriously….
This was our champion.
How...?
Though, I suppose you don't need great directional sense to be a good pokemon trainer. Still, it feels like it should somehow show in his training too.
"You two ready?" he asked
"Ready as I'll ever be." I mumbled.
Walking into the research center I stared around dully. Books upon books of Pokemon research lined the walls. Not that discovering new pokemon and research itself was lame, it just didn't strike my interest. I wasn't that interested in what the past held I guess.
The past was the past. No changing it. I suppose one could always learn from it, as the saying goes, but besides that I really don't see the use of learning so much about it.
The future, ever terrifying, felt like a more pressing thing to focus on.
I once tried to make one of those "5-year plan" sort of things, and within a week that whole system went tumbling down.
Hop was downright fascinated by everything, on the other hand. Running his fingers over the spines of the books in awe. "Look at all this research." He says softly He slides one book out with care, flipping it open to scan over a few pages. "Look at this one, Byla." He held it towards me. "It has so much information on grass types…!" He grinned wildly. Delving deeper his eyes seemed to be glued to each word. Hop did always enjoy reading and studying.
Mostly pokemon. Types, battle moves, general traits, and personalities. He had journals worth of info he had gathered just from watching Leon's fights alone.
To be honest, when we were younger, I thought Hop would grow up to become a pokemon researcher. Our daily escapades on traversing route one's wilds so he could observe the Pokémon's daily lives was just the start of that thought.
He just seemed perfect at it. All dashing in his white lab coat.
I suppose Pokemon training is a close second to research itself.
"I wonder if they have any books on Grookey's. I want to bring out all of Hip's potential." He scanned the books carefully.
"You can probably ask Professor Magnolia." Leon chuckled
"Careful, Hop. Your nerd is showing~" I tell him
"Where?!" he panicked, covering himself before realizing what I said. "...Was that an insult?"
"Only if you take it as one. Some people are proud to be called Nerds." Leon says thoughtfully.
"So say-eth the other nerd," I interject. He huffed as if insulted, posing dramatically.
"BARK!" Turning at the sound of a bark I cooed as a small Yamper appeared.
"Hey there buddy." Leon seemed to recognize this pokemon and keeled down to pet it's head. "This little guy is the best for finding your way around. Back in the day when I first started my journey, I would always get lost-" No surprise there, "And Yamper would always come to my rescue and show me the way."
"And I always had to put my journey on hold to help you, Leon. Geez… Why do you keep coming in here?" The voice above huffed. From the balconies, Sonia appeared. Dressed in her normal attire. Her pulled up hair bounced softly at the side of her head as she descended the stairway like a Kalos region goddess. Cause people are beautiful over there~
Anyway...
Ah~ Sonia~
Now let it be known, I am all for Hop. He is my one and only if I could just work up the courage to tell him that. But Sonia was definitely a close second in terms of crushes~
A first love almost, considering she had been my babysitter when I was younger.
She was mature, cool, and beautiful. And at that point, Hop was- a gross snot ridden 7-year-old dirt eater.
And Sonia didn't do that. So what more can I say?
Alas, I am very aware of our age difference (A good 10 years) so I know I had no chance. But a kid could dream, right?
And my 6-year-old self certainly did. Daydreaming our dramatic and cheesy wedding. Where we would then spontaneously fly off into the sunset in a carriage drawn by dozens of butterfrees.
To my embarrassment, I think I even asked her to marry me at some point. To which she laughed and replied that perhaps she would consider it if I ever grew taller than her. A lie of course to satisfy me, but I sure did drink a whole lot of milk that month.
And cried when I stopped growing. It wasn't fair. She was like a flipping amazon.
"Hey, Sonia." Leon waves.
She raised her eyebrow, "Looking for info on another never before heard but super strong pokemon?" she sighed
I look at him, "Like we saw?"
"No I was- I asked her about a different pokemon yesterday." he leans closer to whisper so Sonia won't hear, "A secret goal of mine is to discover a pokemon no one has ever seen before." he admits. "So I can bee the one to name it and such."
"Nerd." I whisper back
"Oh really?' Hop smiles, "That would be super cool!"
"Right?" Leon nods his head wildly.
Ah, these dorks.
"I wish you would stop with those outlandish requests, Leon." Sonia slid over to join us. "Hi, Hop, Byla." she greets. "I heard you two are heading off on your pokemon journey."
Were we just the talk of the town or something?
"I remember my journey." Sonia sighs nostalgically. "Travelling the country, seeing all types of pokemon, leading Leon around because he always got lost."
"I didn't get lost that often-" he trails off when everyone, even Yamper gives him an unbelieving look. "Okay, maybe I got lost a few too many times…" he frowned
"Yeah, and then I had to cook for you because you would get lost for so long you'd run out of food supplies." she huffed
"Your food was always so good." his eyes twinkled at the thought.
"I know." she says, prideful. "That aside, what are you all doing here?"
"They need pokedex's." Leon points to us, trailing down to Yamper. Face curling into a fond expression he followed yamper to the door. "I'm gonna go play with yamper! Get them set on the right path will ya?" with that he was gone, unable to resist the cuteness of the dog and following him right out the door.
"Wha- Geez that Leon. What does he think I am?" rolling her eyes, Sonia motioned for us to get closer. "Hey, you two got Rotom phones right?"
"Sure do." Hop pulls his out with a flourish.
"Sure don't." I say with a similar flourish, wiping out my flip phone~
"Just as dramatic as always." Sonia snickered, "Rotoms sure are nifty. Got a map and navigator. Yet Leon still manages to always get himself lost."
That really says something about the man, now doesn't it.
"You good without a Rotom, Byla?' Sonia inquired
"Yeah, I brought a compass and a map." I slide my phone back into my pocket.
"Good." Pushing past the subject, Sonia put her hands to her hips, "So, do you two love pokemon?"
I gave a slow shrug, "I suppose so." They weren't terrible that was for sure. I love my Mum's wooloo's, and munchlax, and Hop's Wooloo…
Starting to really like my new pokemon too.
"Then you two must know a lot about them?"
"Yes!" Hop pulls out his journal. "Pokemon are the best! I keep track of all their skills, attributes, locations and diets!"
"Oooh whoa." Sonia reads over the notes, admiring the detail put into them. "If I didn't know any better Hop I would think these were done by a fellow researcher."
Taking that as a compliment he folds his arms behind his head with a giddy grin, "Thanks."
"Well then, since you two seem prepared-" though I would say it is Hop that is prepared, not me, "I'll give you two some pokedex's. These are a gift from my gran. Soooo, in return you have to go visit her."
"We have to go visit your grandmother?" I repeat, confused by such a request.
"Yes," Sonia says sullenly, "She is an old lady who lives out of town on her own. She doesn't get many visitors. SO! You need to visit her and say thank you."
"Still doesn't feel like enough of a reason-"
She cuts me off with a glare, "Look, my grandma is a lonely old lady who seriously needs more human contact. Please, for the love of Arceus, just go say hello. I need meat shields so her full attention doesn't turn on me."
This felt more like blackmail than a gift with the way Sonia glared at us, but we agree nonetheless.
"Alright fine, fine." we take the blackmailed pokedex's and take our leave.
Falling to Sonia's terms we took our journey towards Professor Magnolia's estate. Knowing we would need to go through route 2 we exit the building just to be stopped by Bob .
"Hi Bob." we greet the man. Bob was the kind of man you didn't normally start conversations with. Wasn't mean or anything. He was just… odd.
Speaking of, he gives a crooked smile, "You two going on your Pokemon journey." he whispered, spit smacking me right in the face from his lisp.
"...Yes." we frown at him.
He gives us a shifty look, hands us a potion, then dashes back into town.
Hop looks about ready to drop the potion. "That was weird."
"Right? That was so weird!" I gasp
"So weird!" He puts the potion down, not wanting such a strangely handed off "gift" from the shady Bob. Not that Bob was a bad guy. He just appeared out of nowhere and gave you free stuff. I've never proven if the random stuff is okay or not. It was just too weird to ever really attempt so I never tried.
Sprinting away from the vial we make a dash for route two, stopped from time to time to wave to a few fellow town members.
All eager to ask us how we felt about the journey, even handing us some prepared meals for the road It was nice, seeing how much they showed their care through these gifts.
Wedgehurst was a pretty nice place after all.
Everyone was great!
Well… almost everyone.
"Nice bag, kid." I turned at the mention of my overly heavy bag. Mr. Trent was leaning against his shop counter, his beady eyes scowling at me.
I contemplate not even answering him, but do so anyway, "It was my Dad's."
"I know. He always carried that oversized suitcase around," The man huffed, "Of course you're heading off on your adventure with it. Even without that bag of his you look like the spitting image of your father." he grouchily spoke, spite in his tone.
I recoil slightly, hands tightening along the straps of my bag till my knuckles turned white, "I'm nothing like my dad."
"Yeah? We'll see about that when you come back. If you ever do." he sneered. This wasn't an uncommon occurrence. My dad wasn't a very liked man in this town. In any part of the region, for that matter. He was bitter and selfish, always bragging about his power.
That is… until a young and undefeated champion beat him.
But that uh- that was a story for another time. I'd rather not get into it.
"Hey.' Hop says, unamused. "You got a problem, Mr. Trent?" He steps between me and the shop keeper.
The older man huffed indignantly, "Hop." he says, "Just making sure you two stay on the straight path, like Leon. And don't go gallivanting off to who knows where like a certain man we know." he gives me a stink eye. "We don't need any more trouble makers."
"Odd, especially since the only one stirring trouble is you." Hop slammed a few bills on the counter, "I'm purchasing these berries." with that said he grabs my arm and leads me away. I'm starting to remember why I don't often come down here to Wedgehurst.
"That guy is the worst." Hop grumbled when we were far enough away, "Always putting his nose in other people's business."
"It's fine, Hop." I tell him.
He turns to frown at me, "It isn't! He was disrespectful and mean!
I blink rapidly, lowering my head downward. Not sure what else to say I shrug again. "Used to it…"
Hop makes a snatch for my hand, tugging me back up along the hill. I'm stumbling over my own feet to keep up, gawking at my neighbor. "Hop?"
"Come with me." he laced our fingers together, giving them a soft squeeze.
Someone fetch me a couch, I'm about to swoon~
"What are we doing?" getting to the top of the hill we arrive at another shop. I've been here before. They sell clothes and accessories.
"Starting your adventure right." he declares, walking me inside. Already having an idea of what he wants he makes a straight shot for it, cutting around clothes racks. Getting to the hangers towards the back he stops and motions to the wall.
"There we go. Go ahead and pick." He says that with little explanation, gesturing to the bags in front of me.
Wait, bags?
"What do you mean pick?" I ask him,
"I'm buying you one."
"A bag?"
"Yes!"
"Hop, you- no no, you can't. These are way too expensive." I fumbled, his hand lifting to cut me short.
"I'm buying you one, end of discussion."
"You literally gave me your money yesterday…!"
"Not all of it! It's fine~!
Realizing it is futile to argue when Hop once he gets like this I sigh. "If you're sure." I turn away to stare at the wall of offered bags to purchase. There were so many choices and types. And colors!
This is why I didn't go shopping often. I was terrible with choices like this.
"Um…" I ponder.
"Just pick the first one that catches your eye." Hop sits back on some of the chairs offered, watching me.
"Easier said than done." I walk up and down the aisle, staring at the bags. Finding one, in particular, that was nice I pause to examine it.
Setting down my father's bag I grabbed the one that had caught my eye. I turn it around to view it from all sides, lifting my head when Hop insisted I put it on. Sheepish I slide it over my shoulders, turning for Hop to look at it.
It was a Canvas Rucksack. The navy blue one so it could match my hat. It was lighter, fitting comfortably on my shoulders. I do a small turn, liking how comfy it felt.
"You look great!" Hop praised.
My heart felt all a flutter, embarrassed and feeling pampered. "Then this one," I conclude, gripping the strap. I smile when Hop beams.
He lifts his finger to loudly proclaim, "Shop keepers! We shall be purchasing this bag!"
The shopkeeper looked at us with the most unimpressed look I've ever seen on another human being, "Hop. You know my name."
"Sorry Ginger." he looked down.
Ginger chuckled warmly, nodding. "We'll get it rung up here at the front then."
"What do I do with this thing though?" I ask, lifting my dad's heavy bag. Was it really okay to just not take this? Would my Mum be cool with it?
Hop was unsure, "Uh-"
"We can take it if you want. Keep it in the storage in the back till you come to pick it up later." Ginger smiled kindly.
"Really? Thanks." I unzip it to transfer the content. Making sure to secure the button Hop gave me first, I stuff in my tent, spare clothes, food, and my Mum's cellphone into my new bag. Strange.
I felt so angry when I packed the first time. Yet, having a new bag, especially one Hop gave me, made it feel so much better.
Handing over my Father's bag, happy to get rid of the thing, I smile. "Thank you."
Stepping back to let Hop pay for this gracious gift I give a long look at his back. Broad shoulders, relaxed and at ease.
He wasn't even slightly worried about this entire journey, was he? Only looking ahead.
I wished I could be that way.
If I could be as dazzling and wonderful as Hop was, who knows what I might be able to do.
Once he was done we walked out in silence, a heavyweight of… guilt, maybe, on my chest.
"Hop you… didn't have to buy this bag for me." I point out.
"I know. But I wanted to."
I tilt my head, curious, "Why?"
"Well.. because." seeing that "because" wasn't a good enough answer for me, he continues, "You shouldn't have to carry the weight of your dad's choices on your back."
His words hit me to my very core and I worry I might start crying.
"Hop." I choke.
"Hey hey, don't you start crying on me." he says sternly. "If you cry, then I cry, and we'll never get to Professor Magnolia's house."
I sniffle, swallow the tears down, "Right. Right." get yourself together Byla. Giving a little slap to my face, I nod. "Let's get going then."
YAY! New chapter! Super excited and having a lot of fun with this story XD XD