Welcome back! There's isn't that much I can say, but I hope Chapter 2 pleases your eyes! :D

Kori's POV:

I took another nap after school finally ended. I planned to wake up at around sunset, but I got a rude awakening instead.

"Wake up my little sleeping shorty! I got yo' pills."

My ears twitched at the first word and I looked at to see a Bayleef staring down at me. He grinned as he dropped a white paper bag on my face.

"Why're you in my room?" I said with a slight amount of irritation in my voice. I sat up and look at the bag he gave me. There was a logo of the local pharmacy in the forest, which was simple a red cross in the middle of a red circle, which was in the middle of a red diamond. PVS Pharmacy was printed underneath it.

"I could ask you the same thing. I thought I would see you studying your ass off over there." He pointed out of my room and at a couch.

"Yeah, but today took a lot of me." I yawned as I took out a small, cylindrical bottle from the bag.

"What do you mean? What happened today at school?"

"Some girl tried to talk to me first period. She insisted on sitting with me at lunch today too, which we did."

"You make it sound like a bad thing." He chuckled, "Who is she?"

I opened the bottle and swallowed one of the pills inside it. "Some Sylveon, I think her name was Sylve or something."

The grass-type raised a brow, "You mean Sylvia? Yeah, I've seen her around. Seems cute. You into that sort of thing?"

I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, she wanted to hang out afterschool with me. Which isn't really something you say to someone you've just met."

"Unless they want a piece of your ass." He looked at me, "What did you say?"

"I said I was busy."

"Aww c'mon. You just throw away your only chance at love? Just like that?"

"Yeah. And shut up about that love stuff. It doesn't work that way."

"I'm just teasing man, but you really like, need to get out there once in a while." He grabbed a Cheri Berry off the same basket I took an Oran berry out of this morning and popped it in his mouth. "Hey, you're running a little low on berries." He pointed out as he chewed, "Is like the only time you go outside is to get more food?"

"Pretty much." I yawned again.

He took another Cheri Berry out of the basket and ate it. "Well, I'll see you around Kor'."

"See ya, Rook."

He proceeded to walk out of my room and probably home, or with the bunch of jocks he hangs out with.

Since I'm unfortunately awake now, I might as well get to studying for the finals. And maybe gather some more berries since it looks like Rook made my supplies even less. I hopped out of bed and stretched before going onto my couch, setting out multitudes if stabled papers I got today onto the coffee table in front of me and getting straight to work. I ended up falling asleep again before it was completely dark out.

When Saturday come around, I got up early in the morning to collect some berries, because less 'mons are up and about. There was dew just about everywhere today and it made the scenery cold to touch, even the air. Maybe I should go for morning walks sometime.

I padded around with a my berry basket in my maw, scanning just about everywhere for berries of any kind. Most of the berry bushes were picked clean or weren't ripe enough, though there was still a plentiful amount for the picking. I decided that the next berry batch would be my last after my basket was filled to a satisfying amount.

I set the basket on the ground near the next bush I found and picked it of it's Sitrus berries. I heard something rustle in the distance as I did so, but I didn't think much of it.

I've learned that it's never a good thing to go against your gut after that.

Sylvia's POV:

Saturday is just the best! You get to wake up and sleep whenever you want! It's pretty much the best day of the week. Not to mention that it makes me feel especially hyper today. I woke up super early today and dashed out of my den towards Kinzy's, since we had established a time to hang out on Friday. I jumped through shrubbery and other natural obstructions as I ran. It was getting me a little soaked from all the dew on it, but it's a good way to really wake up for the day.

It was like I was bursting through wall after wall, and not knowing what I'd see next, I saw clearings, flowers, and just about anything you'd see in a quaint little forest as I breached through each wall of leaves. There was, except, one thing that popped up that isn't really something you'd that's naturally from the forest.

Upon going through another obstacle that looked to be in the edge of a small clearing, I saw a Glaceon picking away at some berries. My eyes widen as I finally realized the situation, but not in time. I tried to slow down but ended up tripping over a berry basket next to the poor eeveelution. I only saw him pick up his head before I crashed into his side. We barreled over eachother with the berries flying higher over us.

I groaned as my head stopped spinning. I opened my eyes to examine the aftermath, and I found myself right on the stomach of the unfortunate receiver of the blow. Our eyes met when he eventually opened his eyes as well. I shrieked when I realized who it was.

"Ohmigosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" I said as quickly as I got off him. "I'll help you put your berries back."

The ice-type coughed as he got up, rubbing the spot of impact on his side. "N-No no, it's fine." He got up and stood the fallen basket upright. Now that I got a better look on it, there was a small drawing on it that seemed to be poorly drawn with crayons. I'm not an artist, but I can tell that it's around pre-school level kind of art. It must be something of sentimental value, considering how much wear there is on the basket as well.

"I insist! I can't just leave after I ruined all your hard work." I immediately went to work on picking up the spilled berries anyway so it wouldn't matter if he said no.

It worked, and he sighed in defeat before he too resumed to pick up berries until all of it and the ones on the bush were put back in the weaved container. He awkwardly muttered a "thank you" before he picked it up with his maw and started to leave.

Before he could get far though, I complimented his basket and asked where he got it. He didn't react, and kept walking. I ran up to him and asked him again, keeping up with his pace.

"It's nothing important."

I pouted and gave him a playful nudge. "C'mon, you can tell me."

He was slow to respond, "It's... it's just a present." He finally said after a deep breath.

"From who? Your parents?"

"My brother."

"Oh, he seems nice. Does he live around here?"

"No."

"Do you know where he is now?"

"No."

"Well, tell him I said 'hi' the next time you see him, 'kay?" I smiled.

"...Sure."

I waited a moment to ask him something else. I wonder about his responses though, Kori and his brother must have some bad blood between them right now.

"Hey so… I was wondering - do you have any free time? Next week maybe?"

"Umm… I guess I'm-I'm free Saturday. Why?"

Oooo, good choice of day.

"Well, do you wanna hang out that day? I thought we should get to know eachother better! It'd be awkward if we didn't and you just keep popping up like this." I joked.

He curled his lips. "I'll think about it."

My heart sank a little, but this is probably the best I can get right now. I decided not to push the subject further and decided to give him space.

"Awesome! I'll be seeing you later then!" I veered off in another direction and back on my track. "See ya later!"

He only nodded in response. He seemed more focused on bringing his cargo back home right now. So I'll leave him too it. He's the type of guy to worry about school more than anything else, which is understandable.

Lily nagged me for showing up later than I usually do on meet-ups, to which I defended myself by telling my friends of my little run-in. They reacted with the usual - saying that I could've done better and that I should've been more persistent. Which I had just thought was a bad idea. When I managed to change the subject though, we were able to let it all slide. Though I have a feeling that it'll be brought up again.

We returned to the usual gossip around school, exchanging any significant news around the halls that we heard. Apparently there were a lot of rumors pointing in the same direction, which is that someone got someone from the school's cheerleading team pregnant. Which I think is ridiculous, who on their right minds would do such a thing? Especially now?

"Trust me Sylvy, this kind of stuff starts happening by the end of middle school." Lily assured me.

Isha and Kinzy nodded in agreement. I looked a Kinzy

"You're in the cheerleading team right? Is it true?" I asked.

"I think it is. The Pokemon in question has been absent for a while now."

"Who was it?"

"Some girl that's pretty quiet outside of practice. She's a Flaffy. Ring any bells?"

We all shook our heads.

I changed the subject once a period of silence ensued by bringing up another recent piece of news. I told them that someone got sent to guidance, because the staff thought he was depressed. I think it's just one of the brash boys that joke about those kind of things.

Kinzy argued that it he/she may be too stressed out by the finals coming up this Monday which is also reasonable, but I don't see how you can get so bummed out over it. How can you not be at least be a little happy that it's the last day of school on Monday (Except for graduation on Thursday)?

When I went home that afternoon. I decided that I should at least take a look at the packets we got to see if I actually know the stuff.

Kori's POV:

"So, how does it feel?"

"Good, I guess."

"What? C'mon, there's gotta be more feeling in you with that diploma in your paws. We're free man! We're fucking free!" Rook exclaimed, I half-expected him to start making out with the framed piece of paper.

I shrugged, "Yeah, I see your point, but that's not what I do anymore. You of all 'mons should know that."

"But dude, we fucking graduated, and you're frowning right now. Don't tell me you actually liked school!"

"I'm always like this."

"Well fine then. I'll see you around Mr. Lame." He huffed, before veering off in another direction.

I headed home and collapsed on the collapsed onto my couch. I felt a lot less content that I should be at this kind of day. A lot has happened over the last few days… well, just two things specifically, but that's more than what I can usually handle in a week. I had walked out of the school twice, one with a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders, and one with a certificate that allows me to get a mediocre job.

But a kid like me with their life revolving around academics (though I think that's pretty much everyone stuck with the education system parents condemn us to) would want to aim for more. I opened up my laptop on the coffee table and went on to a website of Chansey University, a college that I've been planning to go to two years prior. Luckily, applications were open for submission right now, so I went to applying straight away to ensure that I'd get accepted. There aren't a lot of requirements to get in, there are the simple ones, like having high enough grades. But for some reason you have to write a short little autobiography. This kind of thing really intimidates me into not wanting to enroll, but it's a good school, so I have no other choice. The university even provides free dorms, due to it being funded by both the government and community, you can't argue with that.

When I submitted everything, I reclined onto my sofa to prepare for another nap after my big typing session. I grinned knowing that I'll wake up without any worries anymore. I can do whatever I want this vacation, at least until the end of vacation, which is of course when college starts. The feeling of summer starting feels a whole lot more different than when weekends come around. Before I could even close my eyes, I remembered what that Sylvia girl had said before the finals.

Shit.

Great, now I have to worry about Saturday. I covered my eyes with exasperation and sighed. I gotta think about the positives, try to make the best of it maybe. Worst case scenario, she could be inviting me into a damn meth house or something. I don't know, anything that's not what basically defines us teenagers for being stupid is fine with me. Best case scenario, she'll forget the meeting all together, I don't recall her saying where to meet, so that's a good sign.

When the fated day did roll around though, she did unfortunately end knocking on my non-existent doorstep, so I might as well get the day over with.

"Hey Kori! How's it going?" She hollered at me.

I put away a book I was reading and got up. "Fine."

She padded back onto the grass with as I walked beside her. I decided not to question how she knew where I lived. The forest isn't really that big anyway.

"So, what should we do?"

"I don't know."

"Uhh… well, aren't you happy that there's finally no more school now?"

"I guess."

She pouted at me. "Aww c'mon, you can't be like this again! Smile a little for once. This is like, the best day of our entire lives!"

I tried to study her expression, but she looked away for some reason, so I couldn't see if she was actually serious or not. Then she asked something else.

"So, do you plan on going to college after?"

"Yeah."

"Which one are you going to?"

"Chansey."

She practically jumped, "Really?! Me too!"

"Umm… cool?"

"This is awesome! Great to know that there'll be some Pokemon that are going. Doesn't it suck to be in a place where everyone are like a complete strangers to you?"

"Yeah."

She sat down next to a tree and laid her back against it, so I did the same with another tree across from hers.

"Got any plans this summer? Going somewhere, seeing family, hanging out with friends?"

"No, I just p-plan to stay home."

"Aww, that's bogus, why don't we do something right now? We could pick berries together or something. It'll be the highlight of this vacation for you."

I didn't want or saw any room to argue, so I just agreed. She said that we have to go to her home to pick up some baskets.

"Follow me! I know where the best places are for berries!" She walked at a brisk pace after we left her den. She did keep to her word though, and after a couple minutes, she led me to a big area littered with bushes and small trees filled with berries. The area was a little cramped though. I was kinda awestruck, and it made me wonder how I never came across this place before.

"Here, we can fill up our basket in no time! It'll be fun, trust me!" She said excitingly. "You can keep the basket too, consider it a gift from me to you."

"Okay uhh... thanks."

We started picking berries after that, which gave me time to ponder if she was on crack or not. I looked up in awe as she raiding berries from bush to bush with her forepaws and her four ribbons. Maybe I should've became a Sylveon, then I could get my homework done way faster. I could've possibly tripled my work output, but then again, I don't think I'd be coordinated enough.

Sylvia filled up her basket before mine wasn't even half full, which was kinda embarrassing, but I obviously should've expected it. She ended up helping me after, humming a tune she starting singing in the beginning. There was something familiar about it, but I didn't care enough to try to recognize it.

When I was reaching for a Oran berry, Sylvia must've been aiming for the same one and we happened to not notice eachother. So I ended up touching her paw instead, which retracted immediately. There was an odd tingling sensation in my chest as it happened.

"Oh umm... sorry about that." She said quickly, her face was flustered.

"Umm, it's okay." I responded, I was a little confused, but it was best not to question it.

"So, you like Oran berries or something?" She brought up right after.

"Yeah I like them."

"Oh, cool."

She started asking random questions, some are what a parent would say after they come home. Like "How was school?" or "What's you favorite blah blah blah." After a while, she started asking about my life and other opinionated things. I thought it was weird that someone would be so intrigued by a life as boring as mine, so I for some reason happily obliged. It actually felt kinda nice, aside from Rook's sarcastic and dumbass shenanigans. My mind kind of tuned out after a while as I automatically continued to feed her curiosity. We talked until we heard that something was approaching, and fast. We looked at the where the sound was coming from just in time to see an adorable little Eevee pop out of a bush. He quickly locked eyes with Sylvia.

"Hey sis'!" He yipped. "Guess what happened today!"

The Sylveon and I both exchanged surprised glances.

"Uhh… Nate (I'm sure you all can pronounce this right)? I'm kind of… busy right now."

The Eevee jumped up and down impatiently. "But I gotta tell you now! You won't believe it!"

She looked at me with hope that I'd understand the situation, which I did, and said. "Well, what?"

"So my class had this HUGE test a while ago. And when we came back to class from recess, my teacher was acting all suspicious and weird and she wouldn't tell us why. My friends and the rest of the class were all playing ball inside. And then, she went up in front of the class and announced that the test grades came back. And then we all screamed and shouted, and we were all just going crazy to see what we got. And thenmy friend even knocked over some tables. And then… and then…" He stopped to catch his breathe, "And then uhh... Oh man. I forgot what happened next!" Then he pouted.

There was something about him that was just so contagious. I couldn't help but smile as I watched.

"...Okay Nate, how about we talk about it later? Maybe then you'll remember what happened after. Alright?"

His face lit back up again. "Okay!"

He was about to leave but then he dropped his school bag. He noticed me after he picked it back up. He ran up to me.

"Oh hey mister!"

I returned his emotions with a friendly wave and tone. "Hey there little guy, what's your name?" I already heard it, but I didn't know any other way to greet him.

"My name's Nathan! But everyone just calls me Nate 'cause it's shorter." He pointed a paw at Sylvia. "That's my big sister over there! She's the best ever!.. Hey, what's your name mister? And are you guys on a date?"

"Nate!" Sylvia shouted, but he ignored her.

Normally this would be Rook saying that, and I would get annoyed. But I just can't be mad at this kid.

"My name's Kori, it's nice to meet you Nathan."

"Hey, you said my real name!"

"Do you hate it when Pokemon call you 'Nate'?"

"Not really, but you're just different! Hey, are you strong? Do you think you can teach me to be tough like you?"

"Well, why would you want to in this peaceful forest?"

"But what if there are bad guys around here? Mommy says that I'm going to see them when I grow up!"

"Trust me, you won't."

"Can you teach me anyway? I want to be big and strong!"

I chuckled at his playful demeanor. I stood up. "Well, I can try."

He look at me like he was staring at a giant statue. "Wow! You're so tall!" He tried climbing ontp my back, so I held out a paw to give him some help, though he probably didn't need it. I can probably bet that Nathan over exaggerates things a lot, since he's really about up to my stomach. We laughed as I playfully shook him around.

"Hey, c'mon sis'! It's fun!"

Sylvia made a steady approach, "Oh I don't know, I wouldn't want to crush him would I?" She had only made a few steps before pencils and papers started flying out of Nathan's bag.

"Whoops." Nathan said, and he jumped off me and started taking armfuls of his stuff and putting them back. He did it so quickly that I didn't have time to react and help. "Oh I just forgot about something!" And he started running off. "I gotta go! See ya sis'! See ya mister!"

We stared at the stop from where he disappeared. Some of his energy had rubbed off on me, which gave me the wits to talk. "Your little brother is adorable."

She scratched the back of her head and smiled. "Yeah. Sorry about that."

"No no, it was fine."

"You should see him at home sometimes. He's all over the place."

I chuckled "I bet."

I could feel my quiet self coming back to me as the awkward tension between us returned. Who would've thought a little kid was what I needed to stimulate my social skills? "So uhh… do you know where your brother went?" I asked, trying to keep my first steady conversation in a long while.

"I think he has some chorus concert to get ready for today. You remember, right? The end of the year one?"

Oh, I remember chorus. I hated chorus.

"Sort of. I don't remember it being this late though, it's usually in May. What grade is he in?"

"Second grade. Good times when we were that young huh? School had never been easier." The fairy-type eeveelution joked. "I guess they school curriculums change around over the years too huh?

I did some sort of half grin in response, along with that kind of silent snort where you just exhale quickly through your nose. We didn't have anything better to do, so we just talked while I tried to find a good time to leave.

The sun was still high in the sky, but I already feel pretty tired, thanks to Nathan. I was able to excuse myself once the conversation became as unilateral as is was before. She waved me off. She tried to ask if I had more time to hang out. This time, I had the guts to decline.

I walked off with a strange feeling in me, but it felt rather nice.

Sorry if the first two chapters seem a little weak, but in my opinion. No need to worry though, the chapters from here on out are going to be be much stronger! :D

There are likely some errors here and there, (which is a huge oet peeve of mine) but they should be minor enough that the sentence is still understandable. Please don't hesitate to point them out :)