Natalie

When Jet opened his eyes he noticed two things. First, that all of his things, (including his clothes), were gone. Second, that he smelled as if a Pokémon, (most likely an Eevee), had urinated on him while he was passed out.

He got up from the ground and felt his head throb. He groaned when he saw that even his boxers and his socks were missing. He looked into the sky and saw that the sun was directly in the middle of the sky. I must've been out for about six hours.

His head gave another painful throb. Deciding the best thing he could do would be to head to the Viridian and call the cops, Jet began to walk. Jet winced and groaned at every twig, thorn, and rock he stepped on. He found that his body was pain from the last three days of training. That, coupled with his throbbing head and his sore shoulder, made it extremely difficult to keep going.

Ten minutes later, Jet found himself at the pond where he had found his new arch enemy bathing. "God damn it!" he said to himself in an undertone. He went in the exact opposite direction of where he wanted to go. Then he figured, Well, since I'm here, might as well wash the smell of poke-piss off me.

Jet got into the cold water and swam around for a bit. He didn't have a rag, so he tried to wipe himself off with his hands. As he shivered from the cool air getting out, Jet found that he was very glad that his father didn't know just how much worst he was doing on his journey.

Jet walked in the direction that he remembered was east, and hoped he would find the road soon. By the time he did, he had already been scratched by dozens of branches and was chased by a very unsavory Raticate. Figuring since he traveled east to get to the road, Viridian should be to his left. Though how many miles, Jet was completely unsure.

Jet walked, naked, for about an hour along the side of the dirt road before a pickup truck going the same direction he was pulled over.

"What in the hell happened to you, boy?" asked the middle aged man driving the vehicle.

"Long story short," said Jet, covering his privates with his hands, "I was robbed."

The man in the truck got out and said, "That's a damn shame, you headed towards Viridian?"

Jet nodded and said, "I would appreciate a ride, I can sit in the back of your truck."

The man laughed and said, "Yeah, I can give you a ride. Got a burlap sack in the back that you can use to cover up."

And so the nice man cut the bottom of the sack so Jet could where it around his waist, and gave him a ride into Viridian. Jet figured he would just go to the Pokémon center and call the cops there. He would also call Brian and get him to bring Jet some clothes. Jet hoped the cops would be able to find his stuff soon, because all of his Pokémon were on his belt when it was taken.

Jet was sure that if the girl tried to summon Thorn than he would probably escape and come find Jet. He shuddered when he realized that she was probably going to sell his Pokémon instead of keeping them. How the hell did I get into this mess?

"There you are, the Viridian Pokémon Center," said the good Samaritan who helped Jet in his time of need.

"Thank you so much, you don't know how much I appreciate this!"

The man laughed, "Not a problem at all."

Jet left the truck, gripping the sack he was wearing as he did so to prevent it from falling down, and entered the Pokémon center. The receptionist at the lobby looked up and said, "What the hell? You can't come in here looking like that!"

Jet walked up to the desk and said, "I'm sorry miss, I was robbed."

The woman changed her attitude immediately, "Oh you poor baby, do you want me to call the police?"

Jet smiled and said, "Umm, in a minute. I'd like to get a room first, if that's ok. I'm a registered trainer, my ID number is AD781227."

It seemed to take a minute for Jet's request to register with the lady at the front desk. When it did, she said, "Uhh, I'm not sure if I can give you a room. We have a shirt and shoes policy here."

Is she fucking kidding me right now? Jet asked, almost pleadingly, "Will it really matter if I'm naked if I'm in my room? Would you rather I wait for the cops outside?"

The lady said, "I'm sorry," she genuinely looked it, "I can get a manager if you'd like." Jet nodded.

While the receptionist paged a manager, people started to gather around in the lobby to stare at Jet, who was looking very self-conscious about himself at the moment.

The manager walked in the lobby and said, "Leave now or I'm calling security."

Jet was about to argue back, but the receptionist beat him to it, "He was just robbed, Bill! He wanted to know if he could get a room while he waited for the cops. He's a registered trainer."

The manager, Bill, apologized, "I'm so sorry sir! Yes, we can get you a room. We'll call the police right away!"

Jet nodded and asked, "By the way, you haven't seen a cute brunette about this high," he put his hand just below his eyes, "dressed like the tomb raider with resident evil eyes and a demonic Eevee have you?"

Behind him he heard a voice that said, "You called?"

Jet spun around immediately and saw the mystery girl he was looking for holding out his bag, "All your stuff is in there. Including the clothes you were wearing and your Pokémon," she than scrunched up her nose and asked, "Why do you smell like animal piss?"

Jet snatched his bag and said, "You should know! You're Eevee did it!"

The girl just laughed, "No he didn't! That's a good idea though; I have to remember that one."

Jet glared at the girl who smiled at him, looking amused at his attire and his embarrassment. Next to him, the receptionist asked, "So… do you still want me to call the police?"

Jet turned to her and said, "No, I don't think that's necessary. But I would like a room to shower in and get changed, please."

Jet turned to talk to the girl that stole his things, but she was already walking away. Deciding it would be better if he didn't call after her and start an argument with so many spectators, he begrudgedly turned back to the receptionist as she made arrangements for him to stay at the center.

Before Jet went to his room to wash up, he had the manager take his Pokémon to the medical center to get healed. As soon as he arrived in his room, Jet went to the bathroom to wash up. If there was one good thing to be said about this experience, it was that taking a hot shower had never felt so amazing. Jet enjoyed it so much, in fact, that he stayed in there an extra twenty minutes after he washed up.

Jet had his hand against the wall and his head bowed as the hot, running water washed all of his troubles away. He suddenly heard a knock at the door. Thinking it was probably the manager checking if he settled in, Jet put on a towel and went to answer the door. When he opened it up, the mystery girl stood in the threshold.

"Well aren't you going to invite me in?"

She budged past him, thrusting a paper bag into his arms as she did, and opened the blinds on his window to reveal the sunset.

"Haven't you tortured me enough for one day?" Jet asked, vehemently. The girl simply looked back and smiled. Jet realized he was only wearing a towel and dropped the paper bag he was holding on the bed. He picked up a clean pair of boxers that he had previously laid out, and headed into the bathroom to put them on.

The girl said, "Oh please, it's nothing I haven't seen before."

Jet ignored her and walked back into the room to continue getting dressed. While he was pulling on his t shirt, he asked, "Why are you here?"

The girl smiled again, "To call a truce."

Jet picked up the bag and opened it. There was a delicious smelling food inside wrapped in tin foil. The girl sat on the bed and said, "They are from this amazing taco stand about a block from here. I'm Natalie by the way."

Jet took one of the Taco's out the bag and glared up at Natalie, "This morning you hated my guts and now you're buying me food?"

Natalie grabbed the bag, "Buying us food. There are six tacos in there."

Jet unwrapped the taco and bit into it. It was juicy and spicy, with little grilled pieces of steak and some sauce Jet couldn't identify. Natalie was also eating one of the tacos, which she pointed at and said, "Good shit, right?"

Jet didn't want to admit it, but it was one of the best tacos he ever had in his life. He walked over to a chair beside the bed and watched Natalie devour the taco before her. She paid no attention to any sort of lady-like etiquette. She dropped the filling regularly, and sucked on her fingers when the taco was done. After Jet was finished with his first taco, Natalie was already halfway through her third. The way she ate was sloppy and all over the place; it was also probably one of the sexiest things Jet had ever seen.

When she was finished her third she grabbed another one. Jet protested, "I thought we were splitting them?"

Natalie sucked the juice off her forefinger, "We are, what are you talking about?"

"You have more than me!"

Natalie giggled, "You shouldn't eat so slow then."

Jet was annoyed, but at the same time he found his liking for this girl increase. He asked, "Why did you take my clothes? How did you find me?"

Natalie shrugged, "You pissed me off last night when you saw me naked. And I don't forgive, I get even."

Jet shook his head, "No, I'm pretty sure I got the shitty end of the stick."

Natalie raised one of her eyebrows, "You shouldn't have been spying on me last night."

"It was an accident!"

She shrugged, "Either way, I feel a lot better now that I got one up on you, so it's better this way. I'm not going to apologize for what I did, so don't expect it."

Jet wiped his hands on a napkin, "Fine, whatever. You still didn't answer my second question."

Natalie gave a devious little smile, "I figured you'd probably head to Viridian Pokémon center, so I was just going to leave your stuff here until you found it."

Jet frowned, "What if I wasn't headed here?"

Natalie rolled her eyes, "You got your stuff right? Then stop bitching!"

Jet couldn't figure out for the life of him how this girl could be so annoying and yet so sexy at the same. Natalie rolled up her trash and threw it in the bag before saying, "Look, we both did some things we're not proud of last night. I'm not mad at you anymore, you got your stuff, let's just start over, ok?"

She put out her hand for Jet to shake and said, "My name is Natalie."

Jet shook her hand and said, "Jet."

She giggled and said, "No, seriously. Jet?"

"It's short for Jethro." Jet said feeling a little annoyed again.

Natalie smiled, "Well Jethro, pleased to meet you. By the way, what were you doing in the woods that time of night?"

Jet shrugged, "I was training my Pokémon and got lost. You?"

Natalie sighed and fell back on the bed, "Sort of the same thing. I take my Eevee around there to battle wild Pokémon every few weeks. Keeps him happy." She yawned, "I'm so tired. I got like no sleep last night."

Jet leaned back in his sit, "Yeah, well, me neither." He then stood up and lay in the bed next to her.

She turned her body so she was facing him, "So Jethro, where are you from?"

Jet yawned and said, "Pallet Town. I use to work at the Pokémon Research Center there."

Natalie raised her eyebrows, "Wow, what's a lab geek like you doing out in the big bad world?"

Jet laughed, "Umm, I was raising these Pokémon who just hatched from these eggs. After they were strong enough to defend themselves, I was allowed to have one. So I just kind of…"

"Went on a thrilling adventure?" Natalie giggled.

Jet looked at her and smiled, "Can't say that it hasn't been eventful." He yawned again and asked, "What's your story?"

Natalie repositioned herself so she was using Jet as a pillow. "Not really much to tell. Grew up here in Viridian. Dad was a real outdoorsy type guy. Use to take me hiking or fishing with him all the time. A year ago he gave me Eevee for my sweet sixteen. Every now and then I take Eevee out for the weekend for training."

"So," said Jet, "You in school or what?"

"Nope," said Natalie, now talking with her eyes closed, "I graduated three months ago. I use to work at this restaurant as a server, but I got fired for being caught spitting on the customers food."

Jet smiled, "Don't get mad, get even huh?"

Natalie giggled, "Exactly."

Jet and Natalie talked and laughed for about an hour. Jet had never met anyone like her. Not only was she drop dead gorgeous, but it took absolutely no effort to talk to her. She was smart, funny, sarcastic, and seemed to genuinely like Jet.

She preferred to call him Jethro, and made fun of him for being what she called, a "lab rat". After talking for a while, Natalie just fell asleep. Jet, who was also tired and very sore, followed suit not long afterward.

When Jet finally woke up, it was 8:45 pm. Natalie was gone, and Jet was more sore than ever. Jet got up from his bed, and decided to check up on his Pokémon.

Jet got his Pokémon from the medical wing of the Pokémon center. He was told by the nurse that it usually took an hour for them to fully heal his Pokémon, so he wouldn't leave them there in the future.

Jet accessed the storage system and deposited his Rattata and his Spearow. Jet figured Brian was probably right. It was hard training all those Pokémon in such a short period of time. Jet called his parents to check in. He tried calling Brian afterwards, but didn't get an answer. He went to the shopping center to buy more pokeballs and restock his medicines.

When Jet arrived back in his room he stripped to his boxers and a T shirt and laid back down to go to sleep. He had decided that he was going head to the Gym tomorrow and see if he could fine Brian there.

Thinking back to the time he had spent with Natalie today, Jet grinned into his pillow. He had absolutely no idea how someone could hate him one moment, and then chill with him for hours the next like there was never hostility between them. What he did know was that those few hours he spent with Natalie were well worth his concussion.