A/N Hello. There are most likely gonna be a lot of chapters getting uploaded over the next few days. Anyway, glad to see more and more people are enjoying this story. It really makes the whole thing worth while. That and the fact that it's kind of fun to write this.
Chapter 4
"Gotta hurry!", Alexa told herself as she ran down Route 1 to the professor's lab."Why did they have to show up today!?" Up until now, the reason Alexa kept going back to the professor's lab was a secret between, the professor,Alexa's mother, and herself. Somehow, however, some local nuisances had figured out what was going on, and earlier they decided to tease Alexa about it.
"Hey girlie, where ya headed?", said the leader with purple hair and a black jacket, who Alexa recognized as Zac.
"She's probably off to be rejected again. You'd think she'd give up," mocked Tom, a smaller, rounder fellow with gray hair and a red blazer.
"Oi, honestly, how long's it gonna be 'fore she can take the hint?", spat the third teen, a tall, thin kid wearing a black striped polo shirt and matching hat named Yao.
"So what if I am going to get a pokemon?", Alexa hissed back. "The professor says every pokemon has different reactions to people!"
"Oi, get a load o' what girlie spewin'" laughed Yao.
"Then if every pokemon has different tastes, as you put it," Zac said in a questioning tone, "why is it that every pokemon you've met has turned you down? I think it's time you learned the cold, hard truth. You'll never get a pokemon."
This hit Alexa like a truck. She was no longer willing to sit here and deal with these ignorant jerks. "I don't care what the trash thinks," she said in a tone that would've scared a Darkrai. "Now get out of my way."
The boys could tell they had broken Alexa and stepped aside. "Fine,"Zac said, "but you can't deny the truth. Let's roll boys!"
"Catch ya on the flip loser," the other two boys called as they followed Zac.
"Whew!", Alexa sighed. "Now that that's over." With that, the girl continued to run to the professor's lab so she could finally get her partner. But as Alexa now approached the front door to the lab, her heart began to pound in her chest. "They're wrong," she assured herself. "I just hope I'm not too late." She wasn't she wanted to know what would happen, but she was determined not to be sad on her birthday, so she shook away her sorrows and knocked on the door. When the door opened, Alexa wasn't met by the professor, but by Lillie, his assistant. "Alola Lillie. How have you been?", Alexa asked.
"Alola Alexa,"Lillie groaned back. Alexa guessed that she must have just woken up."I'm fine, thanks. How about you? That job still going well?"
"Yeah, it's great," Alexa replied.
"The professor's not back yet," Lillie said. "He had to go pick up the pokemon. Why don't you come in and wait for him?", she suggested.
"OK, thanks!", Alexa said. She entered the large house, which by comparison completely dwarfed her little apartment. She walked over to the sitting area and took her favorite spot on the couch.
"I'll make us some tea," Lillie offered and disappeared into the kitchen.
"Sounds great!", Alexa replied. The professor's Rockruff had heard her voice and bolted straight to the couch to pounce on the girl. "Hey Rockruff," Alexa said with a laugh. "Good to see you too bud." Rockruff then darted to the kitchen and stood next to Lillie, who froze once the small dog got close to her. For some reason, Lillie seemed to be unable to get too close to pokemon. Rockruff looked at Lillie disappointed for a moment,then ran back over to Alexa.
"You OK Lillie?", Alexa asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," Lillie replied, easing up now.
"Well if it isn't Alexa and Lillie, the dynamic punch duo," came a voice from the front door.
"Alola Professor!" the girls chimed together.
"Woah," said professor Kukui. "That was kind of creepy. Anyways, perfect timing Alexa. I was just about to get the pokemon ready. Happy birthday by the way."
"Oh that's right!", Lillie exclaimed from the kitchen. "It is your birthday. Congrats."
"Thanks," Alexa said, warmed by the friendliness she was being showered with. "In a way, I'm kind of glad i never got a partner," she thought. "Without it, I would never have become such good friends with Lillie and the professor." Alexa's mind began to wander back to all the times she'd come back to the professor's lab. Back to how the professor was always so nice to her, and how Lillie would insist on making tea just so that the two could hang out a little longer.
Alexa was soon brought back to reality by the professor's snapping. "Alexa!", he called.
"I'm here!", Alexa replied, startled.
"So, whaddya think?"Kukui asked, and Alexa's gaze fell on three very familiar pokemon. A round, green owl with a bow tie made of leaves, a thin black cat with red markings curled up to the owl's left, and an extra happy seal balancing a balloon atop it's head to the owl's right.
"Oh yeah! The pokemon!", Alexa happily exclaimed.
Lillie looked over confused. "Are you ok Alexa?", she asked.
"Yeah," Kukui commented. "You kind seem like your mind had teleported." This made Alexa chuckle. She did always laugh at the professor's puns, even if they were bad.
"No, I'm alright," Alexa said between laughs. "I was just thinking, is all."
"So, who are you gonna pick?", Lillie asked curiously. Alexa was unsure. She did always tend to like Rowlets, seeing them as very charming pokemon, not to mention she knew that Rowlet's final evolution was Decidueye. However, she did think that Popplios were very funny and adorable. And while Alexa didn't particularly dislike Litten, she couldn't say that it would've been her first choice.
"Let me think," Alexa said, pondering her options. "I think I'm gonna chose Rowlet."
"I'm not surprised," professor Kukui chuckled.
Alexa then sat down a few feet away from the small bird pokemon, waiting for it to decide. After five seconds of silence, the Rowlet turned its head towards Kukui and flew into his arms. "Oomph," the professor gasped as the pokemon flung itself into his chest. "Hey, I thought Rowlets couldn't learn headbutt!", he joked.
"I'm sorry Alexa," Lillie said from the couch.
"It's cool!", Alexa chimed. "I'm fine, really."
"Why don't you try another one," Kukui suggested. Alexa looked at the pokemon again, this time choosing Popplio.
"Please be careful. I've read that Popplios are slight show offs," Lillie warned.
"Now Lillie, don't discourage Alexa's choice," Kukui said. "Rrrrock!", Rockruff barked in agreement. As it turned out though, Lillie was right. The Popplio looked at Alexa for a moment, then did a perfect back flip on the table, smacking Alexa with its tail and knocking her against the couch. The Popplio then turned its attention towards the fish tank on the other side of the room and slid towards it.
"Bummer," Kukui groaned. "You alright kiddo?"
"That looked like it hurt a lot," Lillie commented.
"No, it wasn't that bad," Alexa assured them, even though it was obvious she was trying to hide the pain.
"Well, maybe third time's the charm," encouraged Lillie.
"Yeah," mumbled Alexa. She looked towards the small fire type, its steely gaze piercing her soul. "Litten," she said in an almost motherly tone. "I'm sorry to bother you, and I know it's difficult for you to learn to like someone, but it would mean so much to me if you decided to be my partner. So what do you -", Alexa was interrupted by the Litten attacking her, ferociously scratching her face. The pokemon then walked over to the couch and lay down next to Lillie. Almost immediately, Lillie froze again.
"Well that was just plain rude!", Kukui scolded the cat. It seemed unfazed and continued to sleep.
"Professor," Lillie said, her voice drowned with worry.
"It's alright, it won't hurt you while it's sleeping," Kukui assured his young assistant.
"No, it's not that," Lillie responded. She slowly raised her arm and pointed straight towards Alexa, who was now sobbing quietly, hiding her face in her hands.
"Alexa, are you alright. Did that hurt?", the professor asked, his focus now locked on Alexa.
"No, I'm fine," she lied between sobs. It seemed as though the Litten's rejection had completely shattered her spirit, leaving no trace of happiness. Normally, Alexa was never this sad, even on her worst days, and she definitely never cried. The professor and Lillie were now extremely worried. "It's just - I - I think I should go."
"Do you want me to come with -", Lillie started, but Alexa had already gotten up and was heading for the front door.
"Alexa, wait," Kukui pleaded, but that was the last thing she wanted to do. Alexa didn't want to stay where she wasn't wanted, where she'd never be wanted. Without a word, she walked out the door.
"You," Lillie finished, staring down into her tea.
