A quicker update this time! To address a question several of you asked: is Colress romantically interested in Rosa? Well, I can't spoil the story, but I would definitely call it flirting... Whether or not it's something more, you'll just have to see... If you have any questions etc feel free to PM me or ask on my tumblr account. As always, many many thanks to my readers, tumblr readers, and my reviewers Doieversleep, KinYuen97, Amy47101, Guest, Tacypoc, FallingStars84, and Haley Renee.

My Great Big Adventure

The last time Hugh and I had a big fight, I was the one walking away. I left on my own terms, and I came back on my own terms. It had been my decision.

But now...

Now Hugh had been the one to turn his back. This time he was the one leaving, and I didn't expect him to come back any time soon.

Honestly, I'm afraid he might not come back... ever.

Hugh has a lot of pride. So much pride, in fact, that it controls what he does and how he acts. He thinks he always will be the one running around saving anyone. He probably takes after his father, a strict karate master and former street-fighter who is very... "manly" with traditional "manly views." Hugh has to be the best with no room for failure, and back there at the tournament... losing time after time to Colress... and then being "rescued" by me, a girl? I think he is ashamed of that. Hugh can't admit when he's weak. He's always tried to be strong for his sister, and he's still trying to get her Purrloin back. I don't know what he'll do if... something happened to that Purrloin. Hugh gets very angry when those he cares about are hurt, and if he never gets back his sister's Purrloin... I'm worried he might never be the same again.

And because of all this pride and being ashamed at what happened at the tournament, I don't expect Hugh to want to talk to me for a long, long time.

Bianca said it's for the best. She doesn't know everything that happened, of course (like I'd tell her, the chatterbox), but she knows we had a fight. She's the one who found me crying in the hallway after Hugh walked away. She said that if he can't treat me like a friend, he's better off alone.

I know she's right, in that respect. He and I are probably better off this way.

But I love him. I still love the jerk.

When I said I those things to him, I was expecting him to understand, or to at least roll his eyes and give a 'yeah yeah.' And then we'd move forward. I never thought he'd get upset and yell at me... Ok, so it's not that unexpected of him I suppose, now that I think about it. But at the time I was so happy to see him and so glad he wasn't going to be tortured anymore...

I was hoping he would apologize or say he had missed me. But nooo, all he said was something about 'you need to be more careful.' Again with the telling me what to do! It's like he doesn't even realize how selfish he always is, and that makes him sound like a terrible person. But he isn't, he can't be. My Hugh isn't that type of person... is he?

Zorua is giving me a weird look.

"What now?" I asked. "I already fed you... Oh are you referring to Hugh, you cheeky little thing? I know you don't like him... Well, you wouldn't like him if the two of you ever actually met. He wouldn't like you either."

Zorua made a slight growl.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't let him hurt you. Besides, you'd probably bite his hand first anyway."

I patted Zorua on the head and went over to the window.

Still raining.

It's been storming all week, ever since the tournament ended. I've been staying at Clay's house with Bianca and Cheren. After Bianca found me in the hall, she and Cheren brought me back here, and Clay has been nice enough to let me stay here while I recoup.

The first day after the tournament, I slept all day. I wouldn't open the door for anyone, not even if they had food. Only Zorua watched over me. Well, I assume he was either watching me sleep, or sleeping himself.

I think the sleep did me some good, because by the next day, I was feeling a teensy bit better. Only a teensy bit though, as the pouring rain kept reminding me that Hugh was gone. Why does bad weather always come when you're already in a bad mood?

I wasn't ready to pack up and head out though. Thankfully Clay said I could stay as long as I liked, but that I would have to take care of myself. He had to organize a crew to clean up the stadium, and he also had to maintain his gym. Bianca actually volunteered to look after me, but I really didn't need someone fretting all over me like a concerned koala.

The third and fourth days of the week were spent looking at my xtransceiver. Debating whether or not to call Hugh, I had many ridiculous arguments with myself, and even a few with Zorua. In the end, I never called him, but I didn't exactly stop debating it either.

On the fifth day, Bianca went to Pokestar Studios for me and collected my laundry. It was really kind of her to do, after hearing my woes of no clothes. She told me it was no trouble; she was very excited to enter the backstage area, and she fangirled at just about everything. She really wanted to meet Christoph, but apparently he wasn't there. So since she missed him, she claims that next time I see Christoph, I have to give him her number.

I don't get why she's bothering with the pop idol… I'm almost 100% sure she and Cheren are dating. Or at least they want to be dating. They've been trying to hide it around me, but I keep catching them staring at each other or trying to hold hands. It's kind of cute, but also kind of annoying.

It makes me a bit jealous too.

The sixth day, yesterday, was incredibly boring. The rain poured so badly and there was such terrible lightning, that the power went out for a long time. I basically spent the entire day in the darkness, taking naps and waking up only to go back to sleep.

Today it's still raining, but not nearly as bad as yesterday. I was just thinking about taking a walk outside…

…when the xtransceiver rang. The other xtransceiver.

Curtis! I'd completely forgotten about him! The last time I talked to him was… when Hugh hung up on him!

I quickly snatched the device out of my bag and fumbled to answer it. What was my fake name again?

"Hello! Ro-se speaking~" I chirped, just a bit too quickly.

"Hey there," Curtis's ever-cheery voice sounded. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"YES!" I squeaked, my voice jumping several octaves. "Yes, indeed it has… been a while… yes…"

Come on, get it together!

"Rose, are you okay?"

"Of course!"

"Oh, good," he replied. "I saw on tv where that psycho doctor kidnapped those Pokemon trainers at that stadium in Driftveil, and I know you're a trainer and such and… um, I thought… maybe…"

"No, no! I'm totally fine! Totally…"

Well, it's not a complete lie…

"Well, that's… good." Curtis's voice sounded a bit less cheery this time.

"Yeah," I agreed, unsure of what else to say. An awkward silence followed…

"Look, Curtis, about our last phone call, I'm really sorry about that," I apologized hastily. "My friend was being a jerk and hung my phone up."

"Is that so… makes sense," he said quietly, more to himself than me. "Well, I'm sorry too."

"For what? You didn't do anything?"

Because really, he didn't; it was all Hugh's fault. Just like everything else.

"For not calling you back sooner," Curtis explained, sounding sheepish. "I forgot you don't have my number and can't call me back." I bet he's rubbing the back of his head or something, but I can't imagine what it looks like since I've never seen him.

"Oh, it's fine. Don't worry about it."

"It's just that I've been super busy lately, working on my si—Never mind! My job is top secret~"

…what?

"What are you, like a secret agent or something?" I asked. But before he could respond, I remembered something. "Hey, wait a minute… Didn't you want me to guess your job a while back? You offered me a brownie or something…"

Curtis continued on as if he hadn't heard a word I said.

"Actually, I'm off work today."

"Listen, bucko, don't just ignore—"

Wait, what did he just say? 'I'm off work today.' He's off work. FINALLY.

"Does that mean…?"

"I could pick up my xtransceiver today, if you like," he replied quietly. "I mean, if it's convenient for you, that is… I don't want to bother…"

"Yes," I hurriedly agreed. It was about time he took this stupid thing off my hands and we met face to face!

Face to face…!

This would mean I could finally meet Curtis, and find out who he really was… but it also meant that he, in turn, would find out who I am. And he just told me he watched that Pokemon World Tournament on tv…

He would find out I lied about my identity. He'd have to recognize me. What would he do? Be upset that I lied? Or fan over me because of those stupid Pokestar movies? Whatever the outcome, it couldn't be good.

But… I really wanted to meet him. The rain had let up by now, and I was suddenly eager to get out of this house.

"Really?" Curtis asked, sounding anxious.

I paused. I'd already lost Hugh; did I really want to lose Curtis too?

.

.

.

.

What if he doesn't like me?

.

.

.

But what if he does?

.

.

.

.

"Yes," I breathed, "yes, let's, umm… Can we meet at the Nimbasa City amusement park?" You know, just in case he turned out to be a creeper… better to meet in a public place with lots of witnesses!

Curtis let out a sigh of relief. "Sounds great! How about we meet at the Ferris Wheel? Give me about an hour to get there, okay? I'll see you then!" Click~

I let out the breath I'd been holding during his response. I stared at the xtransceiver.

This was it. I was finally going to meet Curtis. I was overflowing with anticipation, excitement, and nervousness. I was so wrapped up in the excitement that I tried to put my left shoe on my right foot. Zorua snickered at me.

"You're staying here, you little troublemaker," I told him, fixing my shoes and looking around for my purse. "I promise you'll be fine. I'll be back in an hour or two, okay?"

He gave me a contemptuous look, but in the end, Zorua curled up on my bed.

I left a quick note for Clay and Bianca, telling them where I was going and that I'd be back. I didn't bother telling Cheren (the only person home at the house) because I knew he was currently asleep.

Locking the door behind me, I called out my Tranquil and held on tightly.