Oh my god the amount of plot it buuuuurrrnnns!

Nanowrimo is doing wonders for the amount of writing I do in a day :D 2000 words a day for me… that's almost a chapter a day :O Shocking! However, it also means that my amount of editing on the book has fallen dramatically (not that it was that good before) because I have to get that 2000 words done before the days out, and we all know I'm a procrastinator!

To make matters worse, my old as me computer is acting up again! It keeps freezing, then won't do anything and I have to turn it off the wrong way! Fpweihjfpjweopfje!

Anyway, this story is so filled with drama, and angst, and three humongous plot development parts that it almost hurt to write it. Let's just get to the big bunches of killing and shtuff. (Oh, right, lots of people will be dying in this novel )

Anyway, hope you enjoy the read. But before you start… Review Time!

FluffyMareep: What is Silver doing with that chick? Don't we all wonder? Sadly, the only one who knows is… ME! :) But no worries, you find out in this big chapter of plotiness. I'm hoping to include Falkner in some later chapters, cause I like him to :D

Sapphiet: Thanks. It will be… either of those :) I'm not telling! I don't know how anyone can wear heels like that, but my own sister does and I'm all like WTF. I don't agree with fruit diets, but I thought that it fit in with Wendy's personality overall, she just seems like the kind of person to worry over her weight. Lance and Wendy!~ 3 3 Almost love them as much as Me and Lance Heehee :D You'll find out about Silver in this chapter (and about Ethan, and about Team Rocket Dx) Thanks a ton for the review!

Izzzzie: All of those characters have played too large of a role in the games for me to not include them! Like I've mention above, you'll find out in this chapter! Thanks for the review, hope you enjoy this chapter.

Splitheart1120: I'll help you *takes out chainsaw* Muhahahahah watch out for my death scythe, Silver! (has been reading too much Black Butler) Thanks for the review!

Happy face: I can't promise anything, but I can say that there will be lots of EthanxLyra action in the coming chapters! Thanks for the review!

Thanks for reading! R&R and I'll love you forever!

Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon or anything about it. *tear*

Chapter 6

I was one big boiling pot of anger.

Sadly, the crowd didn't realize this, and the closer I got to Silver, the more packed together they were and the more they refused to budge. I could have screamed, but finally just rolled back on my heels, glaring at the back of a mans head. I'm surprised his brain didn't combust.

Spinning on my heel, and almost falling over, I stalked back towards Lance, who was looking sheepish, rubbing a hand through his red, spiky hair, "Well, this is an interesting development."

My eye twitched, "Like hell it is! Whatever that kids up to, I'm going to get to the bottom of it!"

"What's his name again? Tyler… er, no, something that starts with-"

"Silver! The very definition of a back stabbing bastard!"

Lance gave me a knowing look, "You seem to be taking this rather personally, Lyra."

I bared my teeth at him, "Of course I am! He said he was voting for Ethan! He knows Ethan is best for this country, " I dropped the volume of my voice so only Lance could hear what I was saying there, "Yet here he is prancing around with that whore!"

"Uh… did I miss something?" Wendy's bewildered voice helped me calm down a little and I took in a breath, clenching and unclenching my hands and I turned to face my black haired agent.

Then burst out, "Yes you did! Silver's dating that slut Rosary!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Seriously?"

"Seriously!"

Lance looked dumbfounded, "Do either of you realize that we are in a populated area, filled with many people that could be listening in on this conversation?"

Oh right… "I don't give a shit!"

"Stop swearing Lyra!" I half expected Lance to smack me over the ear, but he just glared down at me, his eyes sparking.

"I find it rather endearing."

I cringed, watching Lances eyes travel up and looking at the person behind me. Just perfect, this was totally not the right time. I spun around, staring up at the very tall figure of Ethan.

He smiled down at me, eyes sparkling, "Hey, Lyra."

Involuntarily, I flushed, rubbing my suddenly sweaty hands on my dress, "Uh… hey, Ethan."

There was a moment of silence, only the chattering of people and the slow drawl of music cutting the awkward air. Ethan fiddled with his fingers, ducking his head so that his dark hair covered up his eyes, while I looked away, still half angry over Silver and half embarrassed that Ethan had approached me even when I'd made it so obvious I wasn't interested.

"Do you want to dance with me, Lyra?" The words came out in one big rush and my cheeks flamed up even worse. Ethan still had his head ducked, but I could see a blush working its way up his pale cheeks.

"Ethan, I don't think that's for the be-"

"Friends are allowed to dance, Lyra. I'm not asking you to be my date," Ethan looked up at me with new found energy in his eyes and that was what done me in. I couldn't just say no to them.

"…Fine."

Ethan's smile could have made anyone cringe, it was that happy, and I didn't dare look back at Wendy and Lance, because I knew they would be both giving me knowing looks, leering at me with judgemental eyes. The very thought made me flush.

Ethan's hand on my waist was warm and sparks danced beneath my skin wherever his fingers touched me. I wanted so bad for it to just be my overactive imagination, but it felt too real to just be my head playing tricks on me. My heart rate accelerated as he took my hand in his, spinning me around in a tight circle. We were close, so close, bodies almost touching.

In an attempt to break the awkward silence still around us, I blurted out, "Silver's dating Rosary!"

No surprise showed on Ethan's face, "I know."

I twitched, "You know?"

"Yeah. Silver really likes her, too. He might seem like a bad guy, that Silver, but he's not. He came up to me before they started dating to ask if I was okay with him going out with her, because she's one of my rivals and stuff. It was really considerate of him."

I gaped at Ethan, than shook my head, "This is not okay. I don't know how you can say it's okay! He's probably going to vote for her!"

"And I have no problem with that."

"Bu-"

Ethan pressed a finger to my lips, shutting me up and befuddling my mind with his touch, "I'd rather not talk about this, not here at this moment, when I'm finally dancing with the girl I like."

I pulled my head back, letting loose his shoulder and pulling my hand free of his grip, or trying to, but he hung on tight; "You said this wasn't as a date, Ethan. Just a friendly dance between two childhood friends!"

He squeezed my fingers, warmth spiralling its way up my arm, "Maybe to you, but I'm allowed to imagine it's more than that."

"I don't like you that way, Ethan! I'm sorry, but I'm not interested."

He pulled me close again, wrapping one arm around my waist, and this time our bodies were touching. Everything seemed numb, and I barely registered that we were dancing again, moving in slow, tight circles, the other people and lights blurring around us.

"I just think you aren't willing to try."

I tried to pull away, but he held fast, "Do you have no respect, Ethan? If I don't want you, I-I have every right to walk away now. Let me go!"

"No."

"This counts as assault! I could yell out for help right now and you'd get taken off to some jail with charges of assaulting the champion! That's a heavy offense!"

Ethan just smiled down at me, like he always did. Always smiling, "Except you won't call out, because I'm your best friend and you wouldn't want me in jail. Who would you tell all your problems to?"

"Wendy! And you are a problem, Ethan!"

Finally something darkened in his gaze and a frown touched his lips. He let go of my body, but not my hand, "Come with me, somewhere more private," That was never good, but I didn't stop him as he led me through the crowd with ease. I didn't stop him as we reached the stairs leading up to the Elite Fours room, or stop him when we reached the very room that I'd been shot at in.

The window had been boarded up, the floor scrubbed and all the furniture moved against the wall. Ethan slammed the door behind us and finally let me go. I backed into the room, facing him, the furniture to my back and Ethan standing in front of the door.

His face was flushed and he reached up to run a hand through his hair, "I've never been forward, Lyra. I've always liked you, since we were little, but I never let it show because I figured someday you'd like me to. The time that we dated was the best of my life, but that was by your choice, but I'm done waiting. I'm being forward here and hoping you don't run, that I don't scare you off. I like you, Lyra. Will you please go out with me?"

My heart pounded violently in my head, my hands shaking at my sides, fingers hanging loosely, "W-with the e-election-."

"I don't give a shit about the election, Lyra, and if it'll make you seem biased if you date me. Let people think what they want to think! Just give me a chance!" Ethan surged forward and I flinched, half expecting him to hit me.

Instead, his hands came up and gripped my face, lips coming crashing down on my own. I'd never realized just how much taller Ethan was, not until now. I was so shocked, his lips pressing angrily against mine, with a passion I wasn't sure I'd be able to match. I could just stand there, not thinking, not seeing, but feeling that explosion of sparks in my head, making me dizzy.

Something came to life inside of me, like some switch had been hit. Without thinking I reached up and grabbed his hair, pressing my body forward and against his. I returned his kisses with my own fiery passion, letting the emotions run through my body like tidal waves that threatened to send me spilling over the edge.

Then, just as abruptly as he'd kissed me, he pulled back, leaving his forehead to rest against mine, his hands falling around to wrap around my waist, "I-I… thought you would punch me."

I barked out a laugh, gasping for breath, my hands falling from his hair to rest on his shoulders, "I… could like you back, Ethan. I won't deny that. When you touch me, it's like little fireworks go off under my skin… but I still don't think it's a good thing with the election, at least a good idea for us to be public.

He smiled, "Then we'll keep it a secret. It'll be fun, meeting up where no one can see us."

It sounded more like a soap opera to me than fun… "I don't know…"

Ethan kissed me again, pressing his lips against mine in a brief, exhilarating moment, bruising them red, before pulling away, "You really don't want to?"

I laughed breathlessly, before sobering. This didn't change anything, this fire in my veins and elation in my step. I pulled away and he let me go, straightening up and staring at me with a blank face, "This… doesn't change anything, Ethan. I'm still the champion and you are still a runner up for president. I carry to much weight in this vote to date any of the tributes. It would cause an uproar."

He opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off, "I'm going now and we won't dance again tonight, nor will we talk, or kiss, or even smile at each other. I… I admit that I like you, but I still can't date you… Bye, Ethan."

I walked around him and he didn't stop me, just standing there. My hands shook violently and I felt like crying, but I knew that I was doing the right thing. I had to be, because no one else seemed to be.

Nothing had changed back at the dance. Couples still waltzed around, other people talked and none of my friends seemed to have noticed that I had vanished. The food table had been replenished and I headed in that direction, using the crowd as a shield between me and Ethan for when he came out of the room and down the stairs

I took a cup of punch, sipping from it idly and watching with blank eyes as the crowd danced and shifted in front of me. My lips felt sore and were probably swollen but I hoped that people blamed it on chewing on them or my lipstick. My cheeks still felt flushed, but that could easily be contributed to the heat.

I needed something to distract myself from Ethan…

I may not have been having a lucky day, but this sure was good timing, because from the crowd came a very familiar boy, who brought a whole lot of anger out in me. Silver didn't see me, just moving over to the food, heading straight for the plates. I crumpled my now empty cup in my fist, before chucking it into the garbage can and strutting right up to him.

"What the hell?"

Silver jumped about a foot in the air, before staring at me in bewilderment, "Fuck, Lyra! Don't sneak up on me like that! What's your problem?"

I growled under my breath, glaring daggers at my old red headed rival, "What's my problem? What's your problem, dating that whore Rosary?"

Silver's silver eyes darkened and he glared at me. That look used to scare me enough to send shivers down my spine; it was the epitome of the quote 'if looks could kill'. I wasn't a little girl anymore and I met his gaze with my own, looking regal and ready to take his shit.

"She is not a whore, and don't you dare call her that."

"I'll call her whatever the hell I want to!"

"Not in front of me, you won't."

Sparks jumped between our gazes and the tension was tangible in the air. The crowd of people seemed irrelevant; let them hear what I had to say to a dick like Silver. I jabbed a finger, poking it into his chest. He stepped backwards.

"You do realize what this looks like, right? You, a trusty supporter of Ethan, dating Rosary! I believe you said to me only a few weeks ago that you though Ethan was the right choice for president?"

I watched his jaw tense, "Ethan is a good choice, but I like Rosary, as in like like her. Plus, I've listened through on her ideas for the country and I like them, they make sense, maybe more sense than anything Ethan's come up with. Plus, he's fine with it… have you been kissing someone?"

I flushed brightly, "Of course not! I don't date! And what do you see in her, Silver? She's so… fake."

He grimaced, "I see a whole hell of a lot more in her than I've ever seen in anyone else."

Why did that comment hit home? I glared at him, before shoving my hands in my pocket and turning around, "Whatever, Silver. Do whatever you want."

"It's not like he's not going to win even if I don't vote for him, Kotone! More than half the country is voting for Ethan!" He had a point there. Ethan was the most popular candidate.

I crossed my arms, still facing away from Silver, "It doesn't matter… what matters is that you aren't on mine and Ethan's sides anymore." Would it be so dramatic to say he'd crossed over to the dark side? I didn't think so. I sucked in a deep breath, and then began to walk away.

"When did you become such a bitch, Lyra?"

First name. That meant he was serious, "When I grew up, Silver." I half turned to face him.

"Well, if that's what happened, then I liked you more as a kid. At least you were rational back then."

I felt a sense of déjà vu in this conversation, "You don't know anything, Silver. We barely even talk anymore."

"I think I know a lot, Lyra. You are constantly judging, swearing, making sure things go your own way and you can't accept change. You might have grown up, but you are immature."

I clenched my hands into fists, turning around completely to face my former red haired friend, "I don't need to hear out my flaws, Silver. I know them like I know the back of my hand. You always act like you are perfect, but I think you should give some thought into your own flaws."

This time, when I turned and walked away, I didn't look back and didn't let his voice stop me from leaving. Even as I moved through the crowd, I felt cornered. Ethan on one side, Silver on the other and the whole of Johto crushing down on me. I felt like any wrong move would leave me flattened against the floor.

I knew that anything else bad happening would break me.

Somehow, I ended up dancing with Will, following along in his graceful movement, ignoring the predatory smile on his face. He always looked like that, but I knew that he was completely smitten with Karen. He was doing me nothing but a favour. Will always knew when I wasn't feeling well, even if he didn't comment on it.

I'd known that nothing good could come from this dance.

I romantic slow song came on, people breaking up into their respectful couples. Will disengaged himself, heading away to find Karen, already looking flushed and having a stupid smile on his face. Wendy and Lance danced, Wendy resting her head on his well sculpted chest and Kris and Morty moved like one, with just small steps that barely even counted as dancing.

And I was left alone.

Ethan was following my wishes, staying hidden away in the sea of people and Silver was probably off somewhere, dancing with his new lady. I hugged my arms, turning in a slow circle to watch the people. I shouldn't have felt bitter, but in that moment I wished for something like I saw in these people.

I was alone.

Wendy and I sat outside of the steps of the Elite Fours back entrance, hot mugs of coffee gripped in our hands. Wendy's face was flushed from the night of dancing and she was sweating, looking too warm to be comfortable. All I felt was cold. I was chilled to the very bone.

"This has gone more than perfect. This night is… everything I hoped it would be!" Wendy's gaze rested on the lightly lit night sky, a dreamy smile gracing her lips.

I gave my own smile, letting myself stare into the depths of my mug, at the swirls of milky coffee, "I hope it has been. You deserve it, after putting so much work into it."

Sighing, Wendy turned to me and said, "You're down, Lyra. I can always tell when you either aren't feeling good, or something's bothering you."

I gave a small frown. Luckily, I was a good liar, "It's nothing. My shoulders just bothering me."

Instantly I was assaulting by a bucket load of worry, "Oh my gosh! I never even thought of your shoulder! Is it bleeding again? Did you strain it while dancing? That's the arm that's always lifted to rest on the man's shoulder! It must have been strained all night!"

While my shoulder was aching, that wasn't my worst injury. It was something deeper. A sort of… realization. Between my feelings for Ethan, the fact that Silver was no longer a friend and that I just didn't seem to be able to fit into the romantic field of things I could be considered a complete wreck.

"It's not too bad. Just sore."

"Still…"

"I don't want you worry about me, Wendy. Not tonight, when it's your big dream come true. Just relax and let yourself have fun instead of trying to make everything perfect for me." I came off sounding more bitter than I should have and Wendy leaned back, looking annoyed and frustrated.

"Fine. I'll stop worrying then. I'm going to head back inside." She rose to her feet, turning and walking back into the building and letting the door close behind her, the drawl of music cut off to nothing more than a light murmur. I reached up and rubbed at my forehead, alone again-, with just my own company.

"What am I doing with myself?" The murmur of my voice was almost too quiet for even me to hear.

The mountainous range in front of me was beautiful, trees adding green to the shades of brown, the occasional river a startling splash of white foamy blue. Down here, away from the development of civilization, only Pokémon roamed. Pokémon and whatever spirits have taken it upon themselves to populate the area.

Behind me the door cracked open, casting a splash of light across my hunched over body. I didn't want to turn, because I was sure it was either going to be Silver or Ethan. I couldn't take Silver's judgemental attitude twice in a night, or deal with Ethan's romantic advances.

Instead, as I turned around, I saw Lance. He had undone his tie and it hung loosely around his neck, his hair a mess, cheeks flushed. It was the look in his eyes though, panicked and broken, that spelled out bad news. His voice was like a broken record, as if he'd been repeating the same words over and over again for the last hour.

"Bruno's dead."

Soooooo! I'm so sorry this chapter had so much crap in it x.x but it had to be done so we can start to get into the real story! There isn't any actual club dancing in the dance, because I'm too lazy to write about Wendy and Lyra bobbing up and down. Deal with it :P R&R and I'll love you forever!