Lesson 20: Incorrect worries
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
Cheren considered the unexpected request, part of him wanted to ignore the question which probably consisted of a sudden whim.
Nacrene City is already in sight, whatever it is it can't delay our journey… Listening won't hurt.
"Depends on what 'personal ' means." He replied inviting her to continue the conversation.
Bianca gave her friend a long searching stare, the serious look and her reluctance to talk about it made him even more curious, talking was never a problem with his childhood friend, getting her to shut up, now that was a challenge.
"D'you think I'm fat?"
Damn it
Stumbling over his own feet he shot her a pointed glare. Unbelievable! Trust that stupid idiot to act all serious about such a silly topic.
"Is this about what those guys said to you?" he inquired a slight furrow on his face.
They had encountered some trainers their age, one of them had been rather… appreciative of Cheren's female travel companions. They were rather vocal, but shouldn't she be flattered?
"Yeah, sort of…Kinda… I mean 'Junk in the trunk'?" She exclaimed waving a hand over her body which Cheren followed appreciatively, before he realized he was staring. "That's rude! I feel like some huge pile of meat!"
Studying his friend from the corner of his eyes, Cheren swallowed his hard words, a slightly different approach would be necessary in this kind of situation.
"Did you hear the stuff they said to Ashe?" He asked arching a brow.
She nodded, eyes wide.
"Do you see her worrying about it?"
When she remained silent Cheren shook his head and sighed, "Allow me to demonstrate."
"Hey Ashe!" He said raising his voice calling his friend who was walking ahead.
"What's up?" She called back.
"Have you gained weight?"
Bianca gasped and stared at her childhood friends.
Ashe who gave her bespectacled friend an appraising sort of look narrowed her eyes, the next second she burst out laughing, "Who knows? I'm on a seafood diet after all. I SEE food and I eat it. Get it?" she asked turning her back on them an nudging her grass starter. Both the Pokémon and Cheren rolled their eyes but couldn't quite stop the affectionate smile that tugged at their lips.
"Next time something like that happens, and there will be a next time, you do the same thing Ashe did." He advised shoving his hands in his pockets, one hundred percent sure that both Bianca and Ashe would attract male attention on the road again, you'd have to be blind not to notice their good looks.
"You want me to give them the finger?" She exclaimed clasping a hand over her mouth.
"Gah! No!" Cheren barked ignoring Ashe's loud snort.
"You just challenge them to a battle like she did. And-" The teenager rubbed the back of his neck, fiercely hoping he wasn't blushing, "Can't believe I'm saying this, but you're perfect. Just the way you are. So stop worrying about such a thing."
Bianca paused mid-step, nervously shuffling her feet she stared at Cheren's straight back through blond bangs. The person she had looked up to for the biggest part of her life had suddenly grown so much taller.