Adventures in Hoenn

Chapter Thirteen: Heat Up in the Hot Springs

*Brendan's p.o.v*

I was asleep in my tent when I smelled something cooking. It was a bitter smell that caused my nose to wrinkle. I woke up and opened the tent flap. I saw Alex's dad boiling coffee. Alex and May were awake already with their Pokémon out as well.

''Good morning, sleepyhead!'' Alex said cheerfully. ''You slept like a rock. And you snore like my dad! As in really loudly like a chainsaw!''

''Oh, sorry,'' I said embarrassed.

''I don't snore that loudly,'' Alex's dad retorted. ''Would you like some coffee, Brendan?''

''Oh, yes,'' I said. ''Thank you. Do you have any sugar?''

''Sadly, no,'' Alex's dad replied. ''You'll have to use these berries to sweeten it.'' Marshtomp started to chatter and held out his bowl for some coffee. ''Are you sure?'' Alex's dad asked pouring him coffee. ''It's really bitter.'' Marshtomp swigged the whole bowl of coffee in one gulp. The look of disgust on his face after wards was priceless! He ran around the camp madly looking for water. He took our canteen and he was quickly relieved.

''Marshtomp!'' Alex said in an annoyed tone. ''That's all the water!'' Marshtomp chattered in an apologetic tone.

''It's okay, Alex,'' Alex's dad said. ''We're almost to Lavaridge Town. You shouldn't yell at your Pokémon like that.''

''You're right, dad,'' Alex sighed. ''Sorry Marshtomp.'' Marshtomp chattered forgivingly. I noticed that Kirlia had an interest in Alex's dad's Gardevoir. Gardevoir looked at Kirlia as he came up to her and smiled. Kirlia just looked down at the ground blushing. Alex and her dad laughed.

''How cute,'' May commented. We spent a little while longer eating breakfast before heading off down the path. Alex's dad and I were walking by each other's side as we watched May and Alex walk ahead of us.

''Thank you for protecting Alex for so long, Brendan,'' Alex's dad said to me.

''You're welcome, sir,'' I said.

''If I may ask,'' Alex's dad began, ''what do you think of Alex?'' I was caught somewhat off-guard by this question.

''Well,'' I said scratching the back of my head nervously, ''I think she's cute, spunky, smart, kind, and brave. I would do anything for her. She's in danger here in Hoenn. Who knows what would've happened to her if she was travelling the region alone.''

''Right,'' Alex's dad said sadly. ''I feel that I can trust you to protect her. My wife thinks so as well. Alex means a lot to me. Right when she was born, I fell in love with her. She's my pride and joy and I don't know what I would do if I lost her.'' Alex's dad stopped walking and looked me in the eye with a serious look on his face. ''Promise me, Brendan,'' he said seriously, ''if anything happens to me, protect Alex for me.''

''Y-yes sir,'' I said nervously. Alex's dad smiled and nodded in approval.

''Hey guys!'' Alex called out from down the path. ''We're here!'' We ran down the path to meet the girls and saw Lavaridge Town.

''Great!'' I said rubbing my hands together excitedly. ''Where's the Gym?''

''It's always 'Where's the Gym?' with you guys!'' May nagged. ''Can't we do something fun for once before we do the Gym?''

''W-what do you want to do?'' I asked. May looked around and her eyes suddenly lit up.

''A hot spring!'' she screamed happily with her eyes sparkling. ''Let's go in! Besides, after camping in the forest, we're filthy!'' She does have a point, I thought looking down at myself and the others.

''Alright,'' Alex snorted in an annoyed tone. ''Let's go.'' May squealed in delight and ran into the changing rooms in the blink of an eye. We followed suit and met each other in the spring.

''This does feel really good,'' Alex said in a calm tone.

''Yeah,'' I added.

''Do you ever take off your hat?'' May asked me.

''I don't like to take it off,'' I said holding my hat defensively.

''You know,'' Alex said, ''I noticed that you wear that thing all the time. Don't you wash that thing?''

''It's fine!'' I said sweating.

''C'mon, let's see your real hair!'' Alex said trying to take off my hat.

''No!'' I yelled. We struggled a bit when Alex pulled off my hat exposing the top of my head. Everyone went wide-eyed.

''Brendan,'' Alex said shocked. ''You're…bald!''

''Yeah,'' I said angrily. ''Are you all satisfied now?! I was born bald and everyone at school mocked me for it! I bought this hat for obvious reasons.'' Everyone else at the spring then started to laugh at me. I covered my face in shame.

''Stop it!'' Alex shouted. ''You people make me sick! Physical appearances aren't everything! Brendan is the sweetest guy I've ever known.'' Alex then hugged me tightly. ''I'm sorry Brendan for pulling off your hat,'' Alex said apologetically. ''I still think you're cute either way.''

''Thanks, Alex,'' I said smiling as a blush crawled across my face.

''I think you're cute, too,'' May added as well as she hugged me as well. I could hear Alex growl faintly.

''How sweet,'' a voice said. We looked up and saw a red-haired girl looking down at us. ''You two have genuine chemistry between each other,'' the girl said referring to Alex and I. ''I feel that you two are just made for each other.'' Alex and I looked at each other and smiled while blushing as the girl then got into the hot spring. ''I'm Flannery by the way,'' the girl said smiling. ''I'm the Gym Leader for this town.'' My eyes lit up.

''You are?!'' I asked happily. ''Please fight Alex and I! We came all this way to fight you!''

''Sure!'' Flannery replied laughing. ''Let's do it tomorrow. Today's my day off.''

''Okay!'' I said. ''It's a date!'' Alex glared at me intensely. ''I didn't mean literally!'' I said dropping sweat.

''You two really are meant for each other!'' Alex's dad said laughing.