Hello everybody! Here's the third chapter of "Amazing Grace". This was interesting to write, and I hope I did the scenario justice. Without further a ado, chapter three.
-=Amazing Grace=-
In a Time of Conflict and Turmoil
After the Storm
Bright, pleasant rays of sunlight shone through the lone window on the wall in Jeremy's room, casting their warmth across the length of the space and onto the two forms lying peacefully in the twin sized bed nestled in the corner. The carefree tunes of songbirds and the high pitched chirping of late summer cicadas filled the air, generating a symphony only nature could perform. A soft breeze blew through the open window, stirring the air and bringing a sense of freshness to the room. It was a wonderful tableau that would have embed itself in the memory of any who saw it for certain.
Jeremy's form began to stir as a ray of light bathed his face with its warmth. He moaned softly, unwilling to arise from his slumber. He was comfortable, more than he'd care to admit if he was fully conscious. Grace was firmly pressed against his front, her rounded rear shard softly digging into his chest. The shard was warm, warmer than the rest of the Gardevoir's body. This was an indicator of Grace's joy and happiness; she must have been having pleasant dreams. During the stormy night, she had somehow managed to grab Jeremy's right arm and pull it over her lithe form like a safety belt. The boy's narrow arm didn't provide the coverage of something such as a blanket, but it was still plenty warm, and in her sleepy state she hadn't cared.
Minutes passed as Jeremy fought the inevitability of waking up; all the teen wanted to do was fall back to sleep and get some more rest despite having slept soundly through the entire storm filled night. He clenched his eyes tightly and buried himself deeper into his mattress, but none of these actions would stop the sun from rising or the day from moving forward. As the noises of his neighbors outside and his family a floor below began to fill the air, Jeremy sighed in defeat as he submitted to the unavoidable. Opening his eyes, he was greeted to the sight of Grace's soft, mint green hair. The young man involuntarily inhaled lightly in his sleepy state, taking in its scent. Its aroma was sweet and smelled like a field of wildflowers, though Jeremy didn't know whether this was because of her nature as a Pokémon or the floral scented shampoo that she used. If he had to guess, it was most likely the latter, but one could never know for certain when it came to Pokémon.
Jeremy let out a short breath and smiled at the Gardevoir lying in front of him. Her breathing was light but steady, a certain indication that she was still claimed by sleep's embrace. Grace had once told Jeremy that she always slept best when it stormed. Whether this was because she spent the night in the company of another or the thunder and rain lulled her asleep she wouldn't reveal. While Jeremy couldn't see her face, she was undoubtedly sleeping with a serene expression displayed by her features.
"Did you sleep well, Jeremy?"
Or not.
Grace's breathing remained steady as she used her telepathic powers to communicate with the boy. To an outside observer, it would seem as though she was still sleeping soundly. Jeremy shook off his surprise and laughed lightly as he nodded his head in response to her question, making no attempts to move away from the Pokémon he now knew was awake.
"I did, actually. I had some good dreams," the young man stated with an airy smile, although the statement's recipient couldn't see it. Grace continued to remain still but eventually started to move about beneath the bed sheets as time continued to pass. The girl began to stretch her stiff, rail like limbs beneath the sheets. Grace's soft gown brushed over Jeremy's legs as she moved about, its cool, smooth texture dancing over his skin like silk. The fabric had an incredibly unique tactile quality to it. Touching it was like being caressed by silk, velvet, and the sun's warm summer rays all at the same time. Some might say such a comparison was an exaggeration; Jeremy knew those who said such things had never actually touched the fabric.
"Really? What about? Me?" she asked innocently. As Jeremy and Grace had grown up, she had never lost her childlike nature or carefree attitude. Rosa would often chastise her for, "acting like a Ralts" when Grace would exhibit this nature, but it was rarely in a negative tone of voice. Rosa loved Grace as much as she loved Jeremy, Claire, and David. She was her child, if not through blood then through spirit. The same was true for John and the twins, although Claire and David instead viewed her as a big sister.
There were many times growing up when John had advocated treating Grace as his God given daughter, even when social norms would have normally condemned such a thing. The majority of society viewed Pokémon as pets, companions and -in unfortunate circumstances- tools of war and destruction. Even esteemed Pokémon researches such as Professor Samuel Oak and Professor Joseph Birch who viewed Pokémon with the utmost respect didn't see them in quite the same light as the Benper family, at least not ones like Grace. The Ralts that Jeremy had rescued in his youth was treated like any other human by the boy and his family. This behavior was contagious, and by Grace's Kirlia years nearly the entirety of the small town treated her in a similar fashion.
It wasn't always like that, however. At first, John and Rosa treated Grace like a pet. It took several months before Jeremy's parents recognized that Grace wasn't just a typical Pokemon. The Ralts used logic; Grace thought for herself. She was fully aware and capable of complex reasoning. Not only that, she viewed them as her parents. The months following her rescue were strange to say the least for the Benpers. In the end though, no one could say making the adjustments in regards to Grace weren't worth it, especially John and Rosa.
Still, Jeremy viewed Grace differently than every other person in Twinsport, even his parents and siblings. Grace was never like a sister to him in the way that she was to Claire and David; the Gardevoir was something else, although he didn't quite have a word for it. Their bond went deeper than the others he had with his friends and family; Jeremy couldn't even explain it if he had to. It confused him, but he had long since learned to stop questioning what they had and just accept it.
If Jeremy was forced to put into words his relationship with Grace, he would have to call her his best friend, although saying such a thing would seem somehow shallow. Still, it was the most fitting thing he could come up with. They were always there for one another, through the good and bad; that's how best friends are.
As the seconds continued to pass, Jeremy began to feel the sensation of touch returning to his otherwise numb right arm. He noticed that Grace still firmly held it in her embrace, holding the appendage close to her chest. He felt as his hand brushed up against her warm, crimson shard. She was hugging it like how she used to hug her favorite toys and stuffed animals when she was a Kirlia. The position only made Jeremy laugh lightly as memories of Grace in her earlier form filtered into his head. Jeremy could feel Grace's confusion and realized that he still hadn't answered her question.
"Ah, I'm sorry Grace…! Actually, my dreams were about you." A brief surge of joy pulsated from Grace, causing Jeremy's body temperature to rise slightly. By this point in his life, he was used to Grace's unique abilities as a Gardevoir and thought nothing of the act; of course, he still liked how it felt. Grace's ability to affect one's senses through her emotions was by far one of her most unique traits. How much a person felt depended heavily on how close they were to Grace, both physically and mentally. In Jeremy's case, he was more or less in perfect synchronization with the Gardevoir when they were in contact with one another; she was, after all, his best friend. Growing up alongside her had created a bond far stronger than that of mere acquaintances; they were family.
The confession of his dream's focus caused Grace to release Jeremy's partially numb arm as she pushed herself up off the soft, springy mattress. The Pokémon turned so her deep, cherry red eyes locked with Jeremy's own sapphire ones. They sparkled brightly with joy, as though somebody had just told her she'd won the national lottery.
"Really?" the Gardevoir asked, delight emitting from her core as she awaited her friend's response. Jeremy nodded his head, causing Grace to close her eyes in a childlike manner while giving him an enormous, toothy smile. "I'm so happy!"
Grace was emotional, some would say to an extreme extent. This became evident when she began speaking to Jeremy late in her Ralts evolution, although it truly didn't show until she was in her early Kirlia years. While he never viewed it as a problem or issue, during one of Grace's checkups the physician they frequented asked if she was over emotional. While Jeremy had told him no -a boldface lie-, the physician told him that her species of Pokémon was literally known as the 'Embrace Pokémon' for their strong emotions and their sensitivity to emotions. He told him they could issue her medication to mellow her out if it ever became an issue.
The Benper family never returned to that physician. Grace's emotions were as much a part of her as the ruby shard that jutted out from her chest and back. To suppress or to attempt to control them in anyway not only would be to deprive Grace of her true self, but also was a sin against nature. When she cried, he would cry. When she smiled, he would smile. These emotions were natural and defined who Grace was; she shared them with Jeremy because she trusted him. To take them away would be to lose his companion and friend.
"Well, how about you? Did you sleep well?" Jeremy asked in return. Grace opened her serene eyes and stared softly at the young man in front of her. She nodded her head momentarily before turning her gaze downwards.
"I had a really good dream..." the Pokémon began, a delicate smile upon her lips. Seconds passed without another word. Grace lifted her head and gazed gently into Jeremy's eyes, asking, "Do you remember when we first met?" The question had an obvious answer; how could Jeremy forget?
"Of course I remember, I still have the scar to remind me," Jeremy looked down at his left arm and gazed at the large scar that the wild Rattata had left him all those years ago. The scar itself was faintly visible, but definitely there. As he had grown up, it stretched out and had become distorted. Only those close to him knew that it was the result of a bite wound. To Jeremy's surprise, a green arm stretched out next to his own, mirroring his actions.
"I still have mine too, even after all of my evolutions," Grace stated. She raised her right hand and rubbed it over her left forearm; her finger began to trace circles around a patch of fabric a little below her elbow. Through the silken fabric, she could feel a bump in her otherwise flawless skin. The scar had grown with her, just like Jeremy's. "I still remember everything from that day. I would never have this scar removed, not for anything."
Jeremy stared at Grace, an eyebrow raised in confusion. What was this all about? The Gardevoir had never acted like this in the past. Was she being... sentimental? Turning to her friend, Grace noticed his confused look and realized what she had been doing. Her cheeks took on a reddish tint as she grew embarrassed, crying out, "Ah, sorry! I was just curious."
This answer did little to sate Jeremy's curiosity, but he didn't press the issue; it's not like he would be able to coerce an answer out of her anyways. While Grace may have acted as carefree as a child, she could also be as stubborn as one as well. Several quiet moments passed before Jeremy finally let the issue go and let out a lethargic sigh.
"Well, I guess we should stop bumming around and get up," Jeremy said as he lazily swung his feet out from under the sheets so they hung over the side of his bed. In one quick movement, the boy slid off his mattress and onto the cool, hardwood floor. Its glossy surface reflected the sunlight upwards, filling the space with a natural ambient light. The young man's legs felt wobbly but only because he had yet to stretch them after his prolonged period of slumber. Turning around, Jeremy was surprised to see Grace fall down across the bed, occupying it fully; it was incredible how much space her petite form could take up! "You coming?"
Grace closed her eyes and grinned happily. "I think I'll stay here for another few minutes." She reached out and grabbed Jeremy's pillow, pulling it close to her chest. "Your bed is more comfortable than mine." Jeremy laughed, knowing full well that the Gardevoir just didn't want to get up. If there was one thing they had in common, it was their hatred of the morning. The hatred wasn't rooted in the rising sun or the birth of a new day; they both just hated getting up. After all, Grace wasn't lying when she said his bed was comfortable! Claire and David would often times be sent by Rosa or John to, "awaken the dead", an act that the twins enjoyed immensely.
"Okay, but don't complain when the little minions come up and start jumping on the bed," Jeremy laughed as he stretched his arms, stretching his tight chest muscles. He could hear Grace's delightful telepathic laughter echoing through his head. After a few more large stretches, Jeremy let his body go lax. Making his way over to the door, the boy was brought to a halt when Grace once again spoke up.
"Jeremy, can I ask you a question?" Turning back towards his bed to face the source of the question, Jeremy saw Grace had turned onto her back. The Gardevoir's left arm was stretched into the air, her eyes fixed on the scar that blemished it. Gone was her carefree, cheerful demeanor; in its place was an unreadable, stoic one.
"Uh... yeah. What is it?" Jeremy asked, his tone of voice making no attempt to mask his curiosity about her strange behavior. What was the matter?
"Will we always be together as a family?" Grace asked. The Gardevoir sounded almost… sad as she asked the question. This seemingly genuine concern surprised Jeremy. The question was one of the most reflective, if not poignant, things she'd ever asked him, and was out of character for the Pokémon. It seemed like the answer should have been obvious, but both knew all too well that families sometimes break apart.
As long as Jeremy still drew breath, however, he'd do everything in his power to ensure that wouldn't happen to his own.
"I have no doubt in my mind that we'll always be together. You, me, Mom, Dad, Claire and David; we're all family, and nothing will ever change that." Grace remained still as Jeremy spoke, absorbing his words of confidence and comfort like a sponge. "Even if dad goes away on business… or Claire and David go off to school eventually, that doesn't change anything." Awkward silence filled the air when he finished speaking; Grace remained completely quiet. Did she want further reassurance? What prompted such a strange question to begin with? Both of these question, and many more, ran wildly through Jeremy's racing mind as he tried to make sense of the situation, or at least get a vague understanding of where these questions came from.
Grace sighed and lowered her arm, turning her head to glance over at the young man. The Pokémon forced a smile and nodded her head, a sign of her understanding. "Yeah, I'm sure you're right. Sorry, I was being silly." Jeremy continued to carefully observe the Gardevoir, but once again decided to let the issue of her strange behavior go. Something was bothering Grace this morning; Jeremy felt as though that was a cause for concern. Whenever something weighed heavily on her mind, she would fall into dangerous, emotional traps. He'd have to talk with her sometime, possibly later today, if she kept up the unusual behavior.
"Okay, Grace. Well, I'll be downstairs. Don't sleep for too much longer," Jeremy smiled with forced cheer. "Do you want anything for breakfast? I can make you something." The offer was an obvious attempt to get Grace back to her normal self. Grace raised one of her curvy green arms to her face and extended a narrow finger, putting it on her chin in a thinking motion.
"I'm okay. I'll make something when I get up," she declined his offer after a few moments of thought. Grace once again buried her head into the soft, springy mattress and hugged Jeremy's pillow close to her chest. "I don't know how much longer I'll be here anyways."
Jeremy laughed and rolled his eyes at the childish behavior; unlike before, his joyfulness was genuine. That was more like the Grace he knew, and it made him happy. "Okay, fair enough." The teen again turned towards his door and exited his room undisrupted. Walking down the long hallway that spanned the length of the house's second floor, Jeremy's eyes drifted towards the dozens of photos that hung from its walls. Walking down the hall was a literal walk down memory lane. Pictures arranged mostly in chronological order showed every member of the Benper family as they grew up. An outside observer could gain much knowledge from the photos; after all, a picture is worth a thousand words. A wall full of pictures must have been worth a novel.
Claire had taken to dancing growing up and was an active member of Twinsport's lone dance studio; many photos of her in different outfits hung from the wall, each marking a different recital. These recitals were excruciatingly difficult to get through for Jeremy; he and David would often loiter around the lobby or the performance hall buying cheap candy from the vending machines while the dancers performed in the main theatre. The boy couldn't even rely on Grace to hang out with because she'd become entranced by the different groups as soon as they dancing started. Apparently she loved watching the different routines and even practiced with Claire from time to time. When she was a Kirlia, his parents offered to enroll her in dancing lessons. Grace had declined and said she was perfectly fine just watching. This seemed like a lie, but John and Rosa weren't going to force her to do anything she didn't want to do.
Turning his gaze from a picture of his sister, Jeremy found his eyes resting upon a photo of his younger brother.
David had taken up athletics. He had the body of a linebacker and put it to good use on the gridiron. Many photos of the middle school student that had been taken by the local paper were cut out and framed by his parents. He was somewhat of a local celebrity; many predicted if he continued to perform at such a high level he'd get a full athletic scholarship to the University of Kanto, one of the most prestigious colleges on the continent. Nobody knew where he got the genes to become such a behemoth for his age; he was nearly as tall as his father and surpassed his older brother in height just several months ago. Genetics were a weird thing.
Then of course, there was Jeremy and Grace. The dynamic duo, if you will, was the subject of many photos. Jeremy's eye darted from photo to photo, each one bringing back fond memories of his youth. School events, family vacations, and general life events: there were photos of them all. Jeremy stopped as he reached the end of the hallway, his eyes locking with the most recent addition to the wall, a photo from the day of his graduation.
Graduating high school wasn't something he had considered to be a major accomplishment; it was an accomplishment no doubt, but not to the degree many were making it out to be. The majority of his classmates acted like they just graduated from the University of Kanto with a doctorate in Pokémon Neurology or Physics; Jeremy realized that while graduating from high school was a significant milestone in his life, and he was very excited, he still had much further to go. Despite this attitude, Grace was excited for her friend, arguably more so than his parents or the other graduates.
The photo Jeremy was looking at was taken shortly after he received his diploma. As soon as the ceremony had ended, the students threw their hats into the air in celebration. Grace had run from her seat to Jeremy's position amongst his classmates and embraced him in a hug. One of his fellow students had captured the moment with their camera. Jeremy, dressed in his black graduation gown, looked to be in total surprise as Grace hung from his neck with the largest smile he'd ever seen. His friends and classmates laughed heartily in the background, only adding to Jeremy's embarrassment at the time. Still, who was he to decline such a celebratory action?
The photo that hung on the wall complimented his recollection of the moment beautifully. It was arguably one of his most cherished memories. Life had been so simple up until now. Alas, the teen had an odd feeling that all of that was going to be changing in the near future. Jeremy didn't know where the feeling came from, but it was unsettling to say the least.
Not wanting to let such negative thoughts penetrate his mind so early in the day, Jeremy turned his eyes away from the wall of photos and descended the staircase at the end of the hallway. Each step he took brought him closer to the commotion that seemed to be originating from the kitchen. Looking down at his watch, Jeremy saw that it was nine thirty; he hadn't checked the time when he woke up and didn't realize how late it was. Jeremy sighed, thinking, "I should have set my alarm…" He didn't want to sleep the day away after all!
Coming to the base of the stairway, Jeremy made a beeline towards the kitchen. He was, after all, hungry. Upon entering the kitchen, Jeremy saw his entire family sans Grace getting ready for the day. John sat at the head of the kitchen table drinking coffee from his favorite mug. The only thing missing from the possible cliché was a newspaper, but Jeremy's father didn't care too much for those; he preferred to get his news online with his computer tablet. Claire and David were loudly debating who had the rights to the last toaster pastry while Rosa watched with a raised eyebrow.
"I'll just throw the thing out if you two keep this up," Rosa warned, her voice carrying with it a distinct tone that only a mother could achieve. The twins quieted for a moment, not wanting to further provoke their mother. Regardless, the argument continued not through words but through gestures. Even though they were behind the counter, it was obvious they were trying to discreetly kick one another, their feet out of view from their mother. Rosa was about to intervene again when she noticed Jeremy stepping into the room. "Ah, you're up late. Sleep well?"
"Of course he slept well, it stormed last night!" Claire taunted her brother without missing a beat, earning the girl a stern look from her target as well as Rosa. The three siblings mostly got along great, but every once in a while they'd try to get under each other's skin, often to great effect. They each had their triggers and buttons, and after living together for so long they knew what everyone's was.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jeremy asked defensively, although he knew exactly what she meant. As he got older, Grace's trips to his room on stormy nights became less and less acceptable. Acceptable may have been the wrong word, perhaps 'age appropriate' would be a better phrase. Jeremy's younger siblings -and to a certain extent his parents- could never understand why the two acted the way they did on stormy nights, even if he tried to explain; hopefully they'd never be in such a horrific situation that would lead to such behavior in the first place. Regardless, Claire's comments had struck a nerve, and Jeremy just wasn't going to sit by idly while he and Grace were mocked by his younger sibling.
"I didn't mean anything. If I was afraid of lightning and thunder I'd sleep well too if somebody slept with me. I'm not a little kid anymore though, so I wouldn't know." That was a low blow, and a completely unwarranted one at that. David started to snigger, amused by the two's growing conflict; things were quickly getting out of hand. Rosa let out a sigh of frustration; this was not how she wanted her morning to go.
"I'm not afraid of any storm!" Jeremy shouted. He was going to continue but was cut off by his mother.
"Quiet, both of you! Claire, you should know better than to act like this. I don't know what's gotten into you this morning, but I can guarantee that you'll be cleaning up after meals for the next week," Rosa shouted, her tone of voice and mannerisms making it clear that any attempt to fight the punishment would only make things worse. Claire shut her mouth and glared irritably in the direction of Jeremy. The teen had no sympathy for his younger sister; she'd started the fight with a completely uncalled for comment. She got what she deserved.
The mother let out a breath of frustration. Seeing the situation was now defused, Rosa turned her attention to her eldest son. "Jeremy, this morning Professor Oak called for you. I'm pretty sure it's about your application to work at the Pokémon sanctuary in Goldenrod."
This revelation caught Jeremy's attention. Several months ago, Jeremy still hadn't decided what he wanted to do with himself. Twelve's years ago if Jeremy had been asked that question, he would have almost certainly replied, "I'm going to be a Pokémon trainer!" However, the traumatic experience of watching Grace be attacked by a wild Rattata had changed his perspective on Pokémon battling. Even though sanctioned Pokémon League battles and wild attacks were vastly different, he still was uncomfortable thinking about sending Pokémon into battle for the sake of sport. He vowed he'd never battle Pokémon as long as he lived, and that was a vow he had kept faithfully since that fateful day many years ago. Still, Jeremy loved Pokémon and knew his future would involve them somehow. Shortly after graduation, a chance encounter with Professor Oak at the Twinsport Pokécenter opened a potential doorway to his future.
The professor saw something special in Jeremy. For the professor to say such a thing was an honor. He'd been told that Oak had a keen eye for people talented with Pokémon. The two had exchanged numbers and kept in contact. The professor had helped Jeremy plan for his future and suggested he go into Pokémon research and science as an outlet for his love of the creatures. Goldenrod had a large Pokémon sanctuary that was on the forefront of Pokémon care and research. Admittance to work at the center was next to impossible if you didn't know somebody who could pull some strings. Luckily for Jeremy, he was on good terms with one of the most influential Pokémon researchers alive.
"Did he? What time did he call?" Jeremy asked about the missed call. Rosa looked over at the wall clock, noting the time, and shrugged her shoulders.
"I'd say about fifteen minutes ago. You just missed him." Jeremy cursed quietly to himself upon hearing this. His disdained for the morning certainly wasn't helping him today! It wasn't a big deal; he'd just return the call. Still, he would have rather been able to answer the phone when Oak had tried to contact him this morning; what did that say about Jeremy as a person if he wasn't even up by nine o' clock?
Nodding in acknowledgement, Jeremy said, "Thanks," to his mother and walked out of the kitchen. The boy made for the living room where he could call Professor Oak in peace and quiet; he could ward off his hunger for a bit longer if it meant securing his future. Arriving in the living room, Jeremy walked over to the end table that had an old, corded phone placed upon it and sat on the arm of the large, leather couch situated next to it. Taking a deep breath, Jeremy picked up the phone and dialed Professor Oak's number; it was a number that he knew by heart.
The phone began to ring, causing Jeremy's stomach to tighten. Apprehension began to set in. What if Oak had only called to tell him that he wouldn't be able to get Jeremy a place in the sanctuary? What if everything he'd been planning for the past year fell through? What would he do with himself, with his future? He had no alternative plans; everything was contingent on this possibility. Would he be condemned to work down at the local grocery store his entire life? Would he-
"Hello, this is Professor Oak," the elderly man answered the phone. A lump formed in Jeremy's throat as his nervousness peaked, making it difficult for him to speak. Trying to clear it, Jeremy coughed lightly and responded, speaking quickly and with apprehension evident in his voice.
"Hello Professor! This is Jeremy Benper; I was told I missed a call from you this morning?" Jeremy asked politely. Professor Oak was a man who warranted respect from trainers and researchers alike. To even have the opportunity to speak with him was an honor.
"Ah, Jeremy! It's good to hear from you!" Oak spoke in an upbeat voice, seemingly happy to have his earlier called returned. This was a good sign; Jeremy began to calm down and only now noticed that his hand had been shaking. "I was hoping you'd return my call. I have news about an opening at the Goldenrod Pokémon Sanctuary."
"Really? Th-That's great!" Jeremy exclaimed, any nervousness still left dissipating as Oak finished his sentence. It didn't take a neuroscientist to figure out what the opening meant for Jeremy, but he wouldn't do any celebrating until he heard the words come from Professor Oak's mouth, or in this case the phone.
"It is. I have put your name forward for the position. I assume you believe you're ready for it?" Jeremy nodded his head, a fruitless effort considering Oak couldn't see him.
"Yes sir! I've been waiting for this opportunity for a while now," Jeremy admitted. He heard Oak laugh on the other end of the line as he finished his sentence. Was he coming off as too desperate?
"Excellent! Your love of Pokémon is what drew me to you in the first place. I'm sure you'll do just fine at the sanctuary." Hearing Oak's words of encouragement did wonders for Jeremy's confidence. Even now, he knew that he wanted to work with Pokémon but felt he didn't have the experience required to do so. Not having the required experience and being ready were two different things though. Working at the sanctuary would be a trial by fire, but the teen was okay with that. Everybody had to start somewhere; truly, what better place to start? "Still, I haven't even told you what the position is. Wouldn't you like to hear that?"
"Ah- I suppose that'd be a good thing, yeah?" Jeremy scratched at the back of his neck, a nervous habit he'd formed over the years. "Is there a specific part of the sanctuary I'd be working at? Or a certain position?"
"Well, in actuality the open position is for a general intern. I can't say for certain what you'll be doing, but I'm sure you'll find what you excel at in time and work in that part of the field. The facility is very open, and the staff is very helpful," the professor explained. "I believe you mentioned attending Goldenrod City University while you worked at the Sanctuary?" This was true, Jeremy had mentioned this to Oak in the past while talking about the possibility of employment at the sanctuary. While working at the sanctuary would give him an edge in the field of Pokémon research, going to a university or any form of higher education could only help him in the long run. If he ever wished to start his own lab like Oak or Birch, he'd need to be book smart as well as field smart.
"Yes sir, as long as the job would permit it," Jeremy answered. He didn't want to put too much on his plate. If working at the sanctuary was going to be too much work, he'd put off college for a little bit, at least until he got adjusted. His parents had agreed with him on this matter.
"I think you should be fine, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to wait a few months before starting classes. Ah, you're a sensible youth. I'm sure you've thought this over," Oak complimented. "Still, details are a bit unclear as of right now. I'll keep in contact, as always. While I can't say anything is one-hundred percent, I can say with no small amount of certainty that it wouldn't be a bad idea to start planning for a trip to the city."
Jeremy's stomach was doing flips. The conversation was everything he'd hoped it would be and more. How could he ever thank for the professor for everything he'd done? "I will! Thank you so much, professor Oak!" The elderly researcher chuckled at the thanks and cleared his throat.
"It really is not a big deal. I think you have potential and love to see the younger generation exploit whatever potential they have. Your love for Pokémon will get you far in the world, that I know for certain." Jeremy didn't know what to say. He thought he was just an average guy, yet one of the most renowned men in the Kanto and Johto region was praising him as something special? It truly did wonders for his self esteem and ego.
"I hope it will," Jeremy managed to respond. Background noises began to build in the phone's earpiece; it sounded like machinery of some sort. Something must have been happening in Oak's lab.
"I'm sure it will. I'd love to chat some more, but some test I've been running require my attention. I'll keep in contact if any more information floats my way. Have a nice day, Jeremy," Oak bid farewell.
"You as well, professor Oak," Jeremy returned. An audible click though the phone's earpiece signaled the end of the conversation. Jeremy let out his breath and smiled broadly, setting the phone down on its receiver. The profoundness of his conversation with Oak had yet to set in. It was monumental.
Jeremy had just taken his first steps into his future.
He needed to celebrate.
Still in a state of joyful disbelief, Jeremy walked back into the kitchen. The rest of his family, once again with the exception of Grace, still sat in their respective seats eating or talking with one another. It looked like Claire and David had settled their dispute; each had half a toaster pastry on their plate. Now, they were just fighting over the frosting packet. John looked up and noticed the ear to ear grin that Jeremy failed to hide.
"I'm guessing your conversation with Professor Oak went well?" It was, of course, a rhetorical question. Everybody in the room could tell how the phone call had went.
"I got an internship at the Pokémon Sanctuary," Jeremy stated, joy and disbelief mixing as he spoke. His family erupted in cheers -Claire included-, their praises and congratulations filled the room. Rosa swiftly rose to her feet and embraced her son in a hug. It was crushing, just like the ones Ashley gave him while he grew up. The entire situation was incredible.
"I'm so proud of you, Jeremy!" Rosa cried out. Jeremy wrapped his arms around his mother and returned the hug. He had no words; nothing would come to his mind. Rosa released her son after several moments and pulled back, looking him over as though she was inspecting him. "I always knew you'd make it in this world. This is just the beginning for you, mark my words." Jeremy nodded in agreement and returned the tender smiles his family gave him.
John was next to rise. The head of the Benper family walked over to his son and placed one of his large, calloused hands on Jeremy's shoulders. "You're really all growing up, aren't ya? I don't suspect Ashley can still call ya' 'Squirt', can she?" John laughed heartily and smiled. "Congratulations, son."
Claire and David were busy talking amongst themselves as the scene unfolded. They were discussing on what they should turn Jeremy's room into once he left. The boy rolled his eyes at such conversation and chose to ignore his younger siblings. Jeremy could tell the two were merely joking around. Still, it made him smile.
"I... thanks, for everything you've done, mom and dad." The teen looked around the room and realized he still had one more important person to tell. "I want to go tell Grace…! You better brace yourself. Who knows how she'll react to the news," Jeremy joked. In times of extreme emotional responses, those around Grace could sometimes feel her emotions, even when she didn't intend for them to. This didn't happen very often, but it wasn't out of the question either. All of this was part of being the 'Embrace Pokémon'.
Jeremy ran for the staircase and moved up the flight of stairs as fast as his legs would carry him. His heart was beating fast, partly because of his quick movements and partly because of his excitement. "How will she react?", he wondered. Would the Pokémon embrace him in a soul crushing hug, or would she dance around in joy? Running down the hall, Jeremy entered his room to find Grace sitting on the edge of his bed, looking down at the floor in apparent deep thought. Her face looked sad, depressed even. The Pokémon looked up, shocked by the sudden entry. She didn't have time to hide the forlorn expression that dominated her face from her friend.
"Jeremy, is something the matter?" she asked; however, there was an ulterior motive to the question. The Gardevoir knew she had been 'caught', if you will; the question was a way for her to quickly change the subject; hopefully Jeremy would chose to ignore what he'd just seen and continue with whatever he had planned to do prior to entering the room. Unfortunately for Grace, her friend wasn't having any of this and shot back with a question of his own, one that'd he'd been eager to ask since her peculiar behavior began.
"You tell me, Grace! What's wrong? You've been acting strange since we woke up, and now I run into my room to find you looking more depressed than... than -I don't know! You just look depressed!" Jeremy snapped, failing to think of an appropriate analogy. All morning he'd let her strange behavior slip by without a word; that stopped now. There was no anger or malice in his voice, just undiluted worry and concern. "Please, I know something is bothering you. Tell me what's wrong, Grace..." The plea sounded pitiful, especially coming from Jeremy. He didn't care though; Jeremy wanted to make it clear that she had him worried.
Grace looked at Jeremy with wide eyes, surprised by the teen's candor. She felt Jeremy's strong emotions flowing from him like a torrential river, warping her perception of reality. This only made the Gardevoir feel that much worse, a fact that Jeremy could feel as well. They were feeding off of each other's emotions.
"It's nothing... I'm just being a selfish per-, Pokémon..." Grace whispered harshly. A selfish Pokémon; what did she mean? Is that what she saw herself as? Clearly something was amiss, and Jeremy had no idea what it could be. Unspoken words were exchanged between the two as they observed one another. Every flare of the nose, every blink of the eye, every breath they took: all of it was under intense scrutiny.
This was not the conversation Jeremy imagined he'd be having with his friend when he entered the room.
"Listen, I don't know what's wrong, but-" Jeremy was cut off by a telepathic voice.
"You won't underst-" Jermey fought fire with fire and refused to let the distraught Gardevoir finish her sentence, cutting off her telepathic excuse.
"Well, you haven't exactly tried to help me understand, have you?" Jeremy asked, quieting Grace. It was true; she had just woken up and grew suddenly distant. This was causing the boy a great amount of stress, and he was certain the Pokémon felt it. The shard that jutted from her chest and back was more than just a decoration; it served a unique but important purpose for the Pokémon. Grace remained silent, causing Jeremy to sigh; the conversation wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. "Listen, I feel gross right now, and I still haven't eaten. How about we both shower and go out to grab a bite to eat to talk this over? If Ashley's pancakes can't get you to talk, then I don't know what will." Humor was one of Jeremy's favorite outlets during awkward or sad conversations. He found it was one of the best ways to lift the mood in times like this, although he rarely had to do so with Grace in the past.
The atmosphere was tense as Jeremy waited for a response, anything, from his friend.
The small amount of humor worked. Grace sighed lightly and yielded to Jeremy's request. "I... I can do that." It wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear, but it was a good start. The Pokémon gracefully lifted herself off the bed, partially with her psychic powers, and onto her feet. The Gardevoir was definitely taller than the five foot, three inch average her species carried and was probably closer to five feet, five inches. "I'll go shower and then we can leave," Grace stated matter-of-factly. Jeremy nodded and watched as the Gardevoir left his room, noticing her normal, cheerful gait to be strangely absent; instead, it looked like she was trudging forward towards impending death. Jeremy's face contorted in a mixture of worry and confusion. He could only hope that he'd get some answers shortly.
Deciding he'd better start getting ready himself, Jeremy grabbed a quick change of clothes from his dresser and started walking towards the bathroom. The Benper house had two showers, one in the master bathroom, and one in a half bathroom connected to his parent's room. While there was no set of rules barring any person from using a certain shower, Rosa and John generally had exclusive use of the shower in the bathroom attached to their bedroom while their children used the shower in the master bath. As Jeremy approached the door to the main bathroom, he noticed it was open and the lights turned off. The teen assumed Grace had gone to his parent's shower to wash up. Jeremy entered the master bathroom, locking the door behind him.
Turning the lights on revealed a midsized room with a walk in shower stall as well as a medium sized bathtub. Against the mirrored back wall was a large, sage colored counter cluttered with hair products and brushes. Jeremy quickly disrobed and walked over to the shower stall, turning the solitary handle until water was pouring out of the showerhead. It didn't take long for the water to warm up. Stepping into the torrent, Jeremy let out a content sigh as the hot water rolled over his skin. It doused him with its warmth as it washed away the grime and oils that had built up in his sleep.
Normally, Jeremy would have enjoyed the sensation and savored it for as long as their water heater would allow, but he couldn't afford that luxury today. He and Grace had something important to talk about, and he wasn't going to waste any time standing idly in the shower, no matter how nice it felt.
Jeremy washed his body and hair thoroughly but quickly, causing soap suds to splash across the tiled walls and glass door of the stall. Lathering his face in shaving gel, the boy made quick work of any facial hair that had grown since yesterday morning. Jeremy preferred to stay clean cut. The young man remembered when he was younger, he wanted nothing more than to grow facial hair, like any middle school boy does. Now that he had it though, it annoyed him how often he had to shave. It was a classic case of wanting what you don't have even without knowing fully what it entails.
With the last of his five o' clock shadow gone, Jeremy rinsed his face and turned off the shower. He reached for his towel which hung on the shower door and began to dry off. It didn't take long; Jeremy stepped out of the stall and into the relatively cool air of the room, a cloud of haze pouring out from behind him. He shivered a bit as the cool air danced over his skin, causing goose bumps to form over his body. At least it was still summer; getting out of the shower in the middle of winter was a lot harder for Jeremy to do. The boy grabbed his clothes and quickly began to get dressed. He had brought with him a pair of khaki shorts and a plain, white t-shirt as well as a red, plaid button-up shirt. Jeremy turned to look at himself in the large mirror mounted on the wall as he finished buttoning up the plaid shirt, leaving the top button undone. He looked presentable, which was all he was aiming for.
Cleaned up and ready for the day, Jeremy stepped out of the bathroom and into the house's central hallway. He walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the door opposite to his. This was Grace's bedroom.
The door to her room was opened, revealing a bright and cheerful space. Like Jeremy's room, the floor was glossy hardwood and reflected light upwards, ensuring there was nearly no darkness present during the day. The walls were painted bright green with white and purple accents. The color choice was strangely enough not the Gardevoir's choice as one would think; the room had once been Claire and David's nursery; the brightly color walls were the last remaining remnants of the space's previous purpose. When Grace moved into the room herself after evolving into a Kirlia, she liked the bright atmosphere and chose not to have it repainted.
A bed was nestled in the far corner of the room against one of its two windows. There were several other pieces of furniture such as a dresser, nightstand, and television stand, all painted to match the room's walls. The space truly did look like it belonged to a toddler, but it fit Grace's -normally- cheerful and upbeat personality perfectly.
Stepping into the room, Jeremy spotted Grace standing in front of a full length mirror that was mounted on the wall. She appeared to be observing herself, twisting her lithe body to see it from different angles while occasional smoothing her gown out. The action wasn't dissimilar to how Claire would act when she tried on an a new outfit for her dance classes. Clearing his throat, the teen made his presence known with a small, clearly intentional cough.
Grace turned her eyes away from the reflective surface to look at Jeremy. She seemed slightly surprised by his presence and quickly stopped posing in front of the mirror. "I didn't hear you coming! Um, are you ready to go?" she asked as her cheeks gained a rosy tiny, seemingly embarrassed. The Pokémon didn't hear him coming? She was a Gardevoir! She could tell where everybody in the house was based on their emotions alone on any given day. The only reason she'd be unable to feel him was if her mind was deep in thought or she was under a great deal of stress.
"Yeah, I just have to get my shoes on, but those are downstairs. How about you? Are you ready?" Grace nodded her head in confirmation. The Gardevoir seemed uneasy, causing Jeremy to cock an eyebrow in confusion. He couldn't wait until they got to the bottom of her strange behavior; this was just plain weird. "Okay, let's get going then."
The two made their way through the house and towards the front door. Jeremy slipped on a pair of sandals and patted down his pockets to make sure he had his wallet; after all, he couldn't pay for breakfast without any money. Looking up, he saw Grace gazing at a framed portrait of their family as she waited. Her expression was neutral; the Gardevoir was hiding any emotion she might have had, something she had an exceptionally difficult time doing. "Mom! Grace and I are going out for a bit!" Jeremy called through the house.
"Okay! Be safe!" the two's mother called back. Jeremy opened the front door and was hit by the warm, outside air. It was already close to seventy degrees, and it wasn't even noon. Today was going to be a hot one.
Grace and Jeremy stepped out of their house and began walking towards the center of town in awkward silence. Their home, along with the majority of Twinsport's residential area, sat in the hills above the town's center. This made the walk there relatively easy and mostly downhill. The two walked side by side on the wide sidewalk. The Gardevoir seemed to keep her distance from Jeremy, something that came off as peculiar to him. Then again, his entire morning had been strange; this was just another thing to tally on the list of Grace's odd behavior. Occasionally, a passerby would wave or greet the two. Grace managed to put up a convincing facade and greeted them in her normal, cheery manner, but Jeremy knew it was only an act.
The two were about halfway to town when Jeremy noticed a split in the sidewalk ahead. Going straight would take them directly into town and, in turn, to the diner that was their ultimate destination. Taking the other path would lead them away from town and through one of the area's many parks. It was admittedly longer, but would still lead them into town. A thought occurred to Jeremy as they neared the split. "Come on, let's take the scenic route." Jeremy veered to the left and stood firm as Grace eyed him over, unsure of what to make of the move. Slowly nodding her head, the Gardevoir followed the teen's lead without a word and began walking down the path.
Silence.
Minutes passed, and still no words came from the normally chatty, joyful Gardevoir. Usually he couldn't get her to be quiet, not that he often wanted that to be the case.
The two were about halfway through the park, and yet the silence still persisted. Around the half-way point, a large clearing had been created to make space for recreational activities such as picnics and get-togethers. Jeremy spied a bench slightly off the path and near the edge of the woods as they walked through the opening. Nobody else was around, and it was still relatively early in the day. He suspected that come noon, the area would be filled with families trying to get the most out of the quickly waning summer.
Without a word, Jeremy stepped off the sidewalk and onto the dried, greenish-brown grass, his destination obvious. Grace stopped and watched for several moments before following in suit. Jeremy took a seat on the wooden park bench and watched as Grace did the same. The Gardevoir seated herself to his left, smoothing her gown as she sat on the rough wooden surface. A long, tense, and awkward moment passed before Jeremy finally spoke up, breaking the long standing status quo of silence.
"I got a call from Professor Oak this morning," Jeremy stated, his gaze fixed on the tree line across from them. Grace made no response; the boy took this as a sign to continue. "He says he has an internship at the Pokémon Sanctuary in Goldenrod and he wants me to have it." Silence once again formed between the two like an intangible wall; the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves were the only sounds that could be heard in the otherwise tranquil park.
Jeremy waited for a response, but none was given. His mind was in tatters as he tried to figure out why. Why was Grace acting so distant? Didn't she care? Was she happy for him? Upset? Impartial? The emotionally charged Gardevoir showed no hints to how she felt, and that was driving Jeremy insane.
Finally, the Pokémon acknowledge his word and let out a soft, resigned sigh.
"I... figured as much," Grace admitted, albeit slowly. "I sensed your anxiety this morning when I was lying in bed after you went downstairs, but that quickly changed to… to something else. You were blissful. I guessed that something like... this had happened." So, she already knew? That made sense. He was admittedly delighted upon talking with Professor Oak. He bet the Gardevoir would have been able to feel his joy a mile away based on how happy he was just a half hour ago. That still begged the question of why she seemed so depressed; shouldn't she be happy?
"Then, why are you acting like this? I thought you'd be happy... like mom and dad were. Even Claire and David were happy," Jeremy noted, his voice not betraying the sadness he felt. Grace was disappointed -saddened- with this opportunity? That didn't make sense; she always told him growing up that she wanted him to flourish and to be successful. What made the Pokémon change her mind?
"I - I'm a horrible person," Grace whispered harshly through her telepathy, her voice more of a hiss than anything. Shocked to hear such awful words from his friend, Jeremy looked over to see her cherry red eyes watering up with unshed tears. "You have a chance to do something great -to work towards your future- and here I am acting like a selfish Kirlia who hasn't gotten her way….!" Her defenses began to crack, and the floodgates started to open. Everything that Grace had been withholding up until that point began to flow from her. Jeremy knew she couldn't hold whatever was bothering her in forever. Choked sobs began to form within the Gardevoir's throat as she fought her emotions; it was a futile attempt.
"What do you mean?" Jeremy asked, confused. He was finally getting somewhere with his stubborn friend, but he didn't know where that was. The teen's eyes widened slightly as he felt the weight of Grace's grief begin to press down on him like a physical weight; it was crushing, making it difficult for him to breathe. The Gardevoir's emotions were leaking from her, and she was trying her hardest to retain them. It must have been a horrifically difficult task for the Pokémon.
"You'll be going to Goldenrod; that's far away from here. You'll be- I won't-... do you remember this morning when I asked you if we'll always be together as a family…?" The Gardevoir looked over at her friend, a mournful expression on her face. It pained Jeremy to see her in such a distraught state.
"Of course I do. That was no more than an hour ago," the boy noted, empathy overcoming his features as he watched his friend struggle to remain calm; just what was going on in Grace's head? He'd never felt such powerful grief in all of their time together. "But what does that have to-"
Then just like that, realization hit Jeremy.
Grace was depressed that he'd be going away; they would no longer 'be together as a family', at least not physically or in her sense of the phrase. She wouldn't be able to see her friend anymore when he left, at least not like how she did now. Video chats over the Internet could only get so personal; she wouldn't be able to share her emotions with Jeremy over a computer; that required close proximity or physical contact. Grace would lose her best friend, the person who she could share her joy and happiness with, something very important for the Gardevoir. The person who she'd grown up with, her savior, was going to be gone, far out of reach and in a distant city. The person who comforted her on stormy nights: gone. Jeremy's going away would not only rattle his own world, but the world of the ones he cared about the most.
This all came back to him.
Tears began to flow freely down Grace's milky, white face when she realized Jeremy had figured out what was troubling her, the whites of her eyes turning red as they grew irritated. "See! I told you, I'm… I'm horrible! You've been given the opportunity of a lifetime, and I'm being selfish! I don't want you to go!" Grace audibly sniffled as she buried her head into her hands. "You said it yourself, everybody else was happy for you. How can I be a member of our family if I'm acting like, like- this!" the Gardevoir cried. Her cries were not telepathic, however. The choked sobs that she had tried so hard to suppress escaped her trembling, petite lips, ringing in the air with a clarity Jeremy didn't think was possible.
For the first time in years, Jeremy was paralyzed with uncertainty. Part of what Grace was saying was true, and he understood where she was coming from. However, he didn't view her selfishness, if that was even what he considered it, to be something that made her 'awful', quite a nasty word. To the contrary, it made himself feel awful. It suddenly dawned on Jeremy that not once since he started talking about his future had he even considered his family, Grace included. The teen had the mindset of, 'This is what I'm doing no matter what.' How was that for considerate? There were people who loved him and wanted the best for him, yet he was so quick to push them aside for an opportunity in a distant city?
Some would say that he was exaggerating, that this was the normal thing for kids his age to be doing. They leave the nest, and if somebody still in the nest can't deal with it, then that was their problem. If that was the case, then social norms be damned, he would not allow himself to act in such a way. What good was there in becoming a successful person if you had to discard everyone you loved along the way?
Turing his body and reaching out cautiously with his right arm, Jeremy placed a gentle hand on Grace's left shoulder. The Pokémon instinctively moved her body away from the hand, but her conscious fought the reaction as she moved herself towards Jeremy, allowing for him to better hold her. Grace buried her head into Jeremy's chest and wept freely into his shirt. The young man reached around with both arms and pulled her fully into his embrace.
"Shh... it's okay, Grace... You'll always be part of our family. We wouldn't be the same without you," Jeremy cooed, trying to calm the crying Pokémon in his arms. Her mind was a mental disaster; who knew what thoughts were racing through the Gardevoir's head? One thing was for certain, they weren't good. Grace's tears seeped through the soft cotton of Jeremy's shirt and wetted his chest. This behavior, these tears, were a physical manifestation of Grace's powerful emotional nature and tendencies. How stupid he'd been to not consider such a thing prior to this moment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you this much pain; I didn't mean to cause you any pain."
Grace rocked her head back and forth, still buried in his chest, and shouted angrily, "You shouldn't have to be sorry! I'm the one acting like a fool!" A hard sob got caught in her throat, causing her shake violently in her friend's arms. "You're too kind. I'm being selfish and you can't even see that. You insist it's somehow your fault; I can feel your guilt!" Jeremy raised a hand and ran it soothingly through her fine, silken hair.
Is that what he was doing? Was he taking the blame for something that wasn't fault? Maybe he was. Perhaps Grace was right.
Such thoughts, however, never entered Jeremy's mind. The weeping Gardevoir in his arm all but chased away such a notion. He felt as her emotional turmoil manifested as deep cries that reverberated through his body, shaking him to his core. With each ragged breath his friend took, violent sobbing and shaking followed in suit.
"Hey, it's all right. Maybe I am too kind, but isn't it selfish for me to act before thinking of those around me?" He inhaled sharply, taking in the scent of the woodland area and Grace's hair. Letting out a sigh, Jeremy continued, "We both have been acting selfishly today. Heck, I've been acting selfishly since graduation, yet you've put up with me for so long. Listen, I don't know what my future holds; this internship may flop and I'll be stuck working at Stelar's food mart until something else comes up." Suddenly, the prospect of being employed by the local grocer didn't seem so bad. Seeing Grace in such a… painful state made any option seem acceptable.
Grace pulled her body back at his words of comfort, eyes enflamed from her intense crying. "You... you're so kind, you're too kind! Ever since you saved me from that Rattata, you've done nothing but show me kindness and love. You should be able to be a little selfish. You deserve to be selfish!" A small sniffle interrupted her thoughts. "Even now, you take the blame for a problem that isn't yours."
Jeremy sighed, something he found himself doing a lot when dealing with the emotional creature, and pushed the Gardevoir's bangs out of her face, revealing her two misted over ruby eyes. Even enflamed with tears, their beauty penetrated his mind; oh, how it pained Jeremy to see them in such a state of despair! "Actually, it kind of is my problem. I've been acting completely self centered for the past few months and nobody had the guts to tell me." Grace stared at the boy intently, hanging on every word that came from his mouth. "This is the result of my ignorance. I know you may think otherwise, but I'm really the one at fault here, not you."
"But-"
"Just let it go, Grace." Jeremy smiled caringly towards the Pokémon. She stared at her friend in disbelief; how could he just accept how she'd acted? Better yet, how could he somehow take the blame for himself? The boy was an enigma, even for the psychic type. It took nearly a minute before her look of disbelief warped into that of vague understanding. The Gardevoir closed her bloodshot eyes and once again buried her head into the chest of her friend.
Grace wasn't going to try to understand; the Gardevoir would just accept what she had with thanks.
"Thank you, Jeremy."
Jeremy's only response was a light pat atop her head; he hadn't taken a word of Grace's emotionally fueled rant personally. It was just part of being a Gardevoir. The two remained like that for what seemed like hours, neither one wanting to interrupt the moment. It was only after Grace had stopped trembling did Jeremy finally speak, softly whispering into her ear.
"You know, I'm still pretty hungry. How about we go down to Franklin's and grab those pancakes I promised before?" Grace lifted her head and nodded in agreement, a light rumble coming from her empty stomach.
"I think that's a wonderful idea, Jeremy," Grace softly responded. When the boy went to move, however, he was stopped by one of the Gardevoir's green arms pressing into his abdomen, pinning him in place. Before he could ask what she was doing, Grace whispered, "Can I just stay this way for a few more minutes?"
The teen's surprise was replaced by understanding as he nodded his head. Truthfully, he wouldn't mind a few more moments in the company of his friend either.
Jeremy would enjoy every moment he had with her and the rest of his friends and family, for in a few weeks time he may not be able to see them at all. He would have frowned at such a thought, but the overwhelming positive emotions flowing from Grace like a wondrous song negated such an idea.
For now, he would just enjoy what he had.
I'd like to use this note to thank a good friend I've met here on fanfiction . net, Edge Feyera. It was his words that convinced me to continue this story, and he's an amazing author who I look up to. If you all haven't checked out his works, I'd highly suggest you do so. You'll definitely be in for a treat.
With that said, thank you all for reading, and I can't stress how much I appreciate your reviews. Whenever I see an alert informing me of a favorite, review, or subscription, I get a huge smile. You guys make it worth the while!