Icirrus Arc: The Shock
"It's pretty late..." Jayden checked his Xtranceiver. "You want to get out bright and early tomorrow, right? You should go inside and get some sleep.",
"Fair point..." Mari yawned. "I do feel a little tired... And we have a long way to go.",
"Then you better go.",
"When are you leaving Icirrus?",
"Hm... I'll stay until the day after tomorrow and then move on to Opelucid. I've caught up to you pretty nicely 'til now, so it'd be a wasted opportunity to stay longer than necessary.",
"Hah... Alright then." They headed inside the Pokémon Center where Jayden sent Mari off with a kiss. "Have a good night and be careful on your way tomorrow.",
"Thanks..." She blushed slightly and waved at him. "You have a good night, as well. Don't stay up too late.",
"I've been running on sleep deprivation a lot lately. But I'll try to improve myself.",
"Better not make it a habit." She chuckled and then headed upstairs and quietly entered hers and Jacky's room. Her friend was asleep, so she inconspicuously closed the door behind her back and sneaked towards her bed, using the dim light of her Xtranceiver to see. She brushed her teeth and changed into her sleeping attire before laying down in her bed as well and falling asleep soon after.
The next morning, she woke up at eight. She got up and shook Jacky's shoulder. "Hey, wake up.",
"Nrgh..." She turned onto her other side.
"... Fine, I was friendly. Seems I have to get roughed with you." She grabbed her pillow and threw it at her.
"Ah!" Jacky winced and sat straight up with her hair disheveled, pouting grumpily. "Hey... No need to be so mean!" Then, she threw the pillow back. Mari caught it. "Get up", she reinforced her demand from before and started brushing and doing her hair.
"Meh", Jacky grumbled and did as she asked. She watched Mari tie her hair back into her usual two ponytails and then asked: "...Why are you always styling your hair in the same manner?",
"Because it keeps it out of my face?", Mari replied.
"But you could do so much more with it. Look, I dye my hair all the time or have it cut differently. I know you like the color and length of your hair, but you could at least change up your style every now and again, you know? Braid it, leave it open or do something even more creative.",
"..." Mari sighed and removed her hair ties again. "Better?",
"Hmmm... Can I try something?",
"What?" Jacky came over to her and took her hair in her hand before starting to braid it at the sides. She then brought it together in the middle and tied it so it formed a wreath around her head and fell down her neck, while the rest of her hair was left open. "Well, what do you think?"
Mari glanced in the mirror. "I never really wear my hair like that, but... looks good. Thanks.",
"No probs. My friend deserves to look especially good somedays.",
"And when those days are... is yours to decide?",
"Got that right.",
"Okay... Well, get ready, I'll make breakfast.",
"Got you. I'll take a shower in the meantime.",
"Do that. I think I have to buy some things from the store. I'll be quick about it. Just some eggs and milk, I'll be right back.",
"No rush!" Jacky disappeared into the bathroom.
Mari left the room key on the table and went down the hallways. She came past a door that was wide open. She stopped in confusion and then peeked in, noticing a couple of notes on the desk and candy wrappers that were spilled all over the floor. The bed wasn't done either. She recognized Jayden's bag next to it, although it had fallen over. "..." She quickly backed up from the chaos and continued on her way as if she had never seen anything. "Oh, good lord, it looks horrible in there... and he leaves it on display as well..."
She entered the nearest grocery store and grabbed the few things she needed. When she headed for the register, she came past a girl in a wheelchair. She tried to grab some canned veggies on a higher shelf, but couldn't reach them. Mari decided to help her out and handed her one. "You need these?",
"Oh, thank you." The girl turned her head to her and smiled. "It's a bit frustrating that some things are so high up...",
"Do you need more?",
"Two more cans would be nice. One with beans and one with corn, please",
"Of course. Here you go." Mari gave them to her.
"Thank you so much!" The girl took them gratefully.
"Why are you in the store alone? Don't you have anyone to help you?",
"Oh, I can move around in my wheelchair on my own just fine. I can live without it, in theory, but my legs are very, very weak so I can't stand for too long.",
"Oh...",
"I've gotten used to it, though. I'm Dawn, by the way!",
"Mari", she introduced herself.
"Thanks for your help, Mari.",
"Do you need more stuff? I could help you get around if you want.",
"No, thank you. I've gotten everything I need. But thanks for the offer.",
"No problem. Bye then!"
Dawn waved at her and Mari headed off to the register, checked out, paid and left the store.
Jayden's room was still wide open and nothing had changed about its condition when she passed by. "Does he not know how to make his own bed?" she asked herself. "He doesn't even seem to be here... This is no way to leave your room. Good grief, what a mess..." She went in, gathered all the candy wrappers and threw them in the trash. Then, she folded up the blanket neat and tidy and beat out the pillow. After that, she turned towards his desk and started piling up his notes so they wouldn't be scattered all across it. "There we go. This looks way bet-"
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from the bathroom and a very naked Jayden emerged from it. His hair was wet from the shower he had just taken and water was dripping down his bare skin. Mari turned around and turned pale when she saw him, and he froze in his tracks when he noticed her. One could hear the water drops hitting the floor as they both stared at each other for a couple of silent, shocked seconds. Jayden was the first one to find his voice again after those few seconds of horrified gawking had passed. "What the...?! What are YOU doing here?!"
It took a couple of more seconds for Mari's brain to realize and process what the heck she just saw and once the delay was over, she screamed.
Author's Note: No perverted scene will follow, so you can relax.