Unrevealed Affection

Lyra's POV:

Where's Ash? We're supposed to be a pair, but he's run off somewhere and I don't know how to find him. My legs ache from exhaustion. I've been walking through this endless tunnel for so long. I want company - I wouldn't even mind Dawn and she's my least favorite!

Suddenly, my Pokegear goes off. I hold it a few inches away from my face. Thank God, it's Khoury!

"Lyra?! Where are you?" Khoury asks.

"I-I don't know! Can you find me?"

"Yeah, just stay put! I'll find you as soon as possible, I promise," I decide to sit down. All that walking has tired me out. Marill starts throwing a few rocks that are nearby at the wall. I laugh. "Marill, what are you doing?" My Pokegear goes off again.

"Hey, Lyra! Great idea! Continue throwing rocks at the wall and it should make this process a whole lot faster!" Khoury smiles. I put my Pokegear away and then feel stupid for not realizing what Marill was doing. Oh, well.

I pick up some rocks and aim them carefully at the wall. I don't miss. I start to calm down knowing Khoury is coming for me.

I regret now that I chose Ash over Khoury. Yeah, Ash might be a friend but Khoury is someone I've known for ages... and... I... sometimes get butterflies around him. No! It's not love! I refuse to think of it as love! I don't love Khoury! Besides, Khoury seemed to have no objections about going with Dawn so he obviously likes her. I decide to look on the bright side. We're still friends, aren't we? Even if he does like Dawn, he'll never betray me! Anyway, he's entitled to like whoever he desires... I mean... he's... never going to -

I think I fell asleep because when I wake up, Khoury's shaking me awake. I look into his chestnut eyes, deep in thought. Do I love him or is it just indecisiveness between him and Ash? After all, I did go along with Ash through this cave, without even thinking about Khoury until before I fell asleep.

"Lyra?! Did you hear that?" I snap out of my thoughts.

"Hear what?" I say defensively, the fear of us getting attacked rising.

"Calm down! Nothing's going to attack us!" I calm down.

"I'm tired, Khoury," I say. Khoury nods.

"Same here," I watch him as he comes and sits next to me. I begin to blush. Yes, I definitely like - no love - Khoury.

Khoury's POV:

Lyra rests her head on my shoulder, falling asleep almost immediately. I yawn, my eyelids becoming heavy. I want to protect Lyra though. She's like... my life. Without her, my life is a black cloud. I take out my Pokeball that contains Totodile and let him out. He looks expectantly at me. I take a container of food out from my backpack and empty it.

"Protect us from harm, okay?" Totodile agrees, enjoying Brock's cooking. I put an arm around Lyra protectively and fall into the arms of slumber.