Chapter 5! Thank you guys again if you've gotten this far!
This is the old Chapter 6, just to let you know~
Diamond and Sapphire sat together inside Diamond's room, sharing a plate of rice balls to celebrate finishing their first two weeks of school and enjoying their day off. Outside, a light rain had started over the island, covering the main path in a slight mist. Sapphire suddenly leaned closer to Diamond, staring at him intently.
"Are ya gonna do it Dia?"
"What? No! Wait, do what?" Diamond jerked back, shocked by the sudden question.
"The dance. C'mon! Just do it! It's just a few simple words." Pleaded Sapphire. "And you'll have lots of fun."
"Yeah, but what if she says no?" Diamond countered.
"Then she says no." Sapphire shrugged. "But ya won't know if ya don't ask!"
"I'll ask later. I still have time."
"Time? I guess so. There's still a week before the actual dance, but it'd be better if ya just got it done and over already." She continued. "What if some other guy has already asked her? Then ya gonna be goin' alone or, even worse, not goin' at all!"
Diamond sighed "Please stop."
Sapphire looked about ready to explode but stood up and walked out of his room, taking the rice balls of course, not wanting to hurt her new friend in her rage. She had tried for the past hour to get Diamond to ask Platinum to the annual Fall Dance. They had one for every season. Sapphire usually didn't mind going though, since they always got a few extra days off so the teachers could prepare for the occasion. That gave most kids ample time to find a partner or a way to skip the dance. 'Oh, but not Dia. He's either too shy or too stubborn.' Sapphire was walking towards the kitchen when she had an idea.
'Maybe if I can't get Dia to ask Platinum out, I can get Platinum to ask him out! Yes! That's a...' ,She sighed at her thought, realizing one thing wrong with it. 'A terrible idea. Platinum is even more stubborn than Dia is! And does she even like him? Really looks like it, but she would probably deny it. Ahh! They're too stubborn, they can deal with it themselves. I have my own problems to deal with.' And with that, Sapphire stormed off to find Ruby.
On the opposite side of the house, Dia and Sapphire could not have imagined what was happening in Yellow and Blue's room.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Platinum was happier than she had ever been. Yellow started to laugh at how her friend looked, jumping around and laughing. Unknown to Diamond and Sapphire, Yellow and Platinum had listened in on their conversation with a little help from Blue. She had set up microphones under Diamond's bed the night before so that Platinum could potentially spy on him. Platinum felt guilty at first, and a bit like a stalker, but she was willing to try anything to go to this dance with Diamond. It was strange, she was always so confident and sure of herself. But when it came to Diamond, petty things became tyranitar-like problems. Yellow was there helping out. She had come to Platinum earlier in the week for help as she was in the same situation.
"Platinum! Are you in there?" Yellow was knocking on the girl's door.
Platinum poked her head out. "Yellow? Please come in. Do you need something?" Yellow was fidgeting nervously, staring at the ground and refusing to make eye contact with Platinum. The younger girl tried to speak to her again. "Yellow? Are you all right?" The worry was clear in Platinum's voice.
Yellow took a deep breath before talking, the words spilling out of her in one breath. "Okay, Platinum. You know how every season we have a party where you take a... partner and well, it's more of a dance, but anyways, it's this saturday and I was thinking about asking Green, but I'm too shy to ask and I'm afraid he would say no, so could you help me find out if he would say yes before I ask him?" She stopped, took a deep breath, then looked at the stunned girl. Platinum, shocked at how much the girl had said in a short amount of time, her brain trying to register it all. When she noticed that Yellow was staring at her she laughed a little and composed herself.
"Well... I can see why you need help, but I am not really sure I am the one you should be asking... "
Yellow just laughed. "Actually, you're the best one to ask. Blue would probably tell me to try to seduce him or something. Crystal's smart, but I don't think she would know much about asking people out, and Sapphire would probably just tell me to suck it up and ask him out. So really, that leaves you as the best candidate." She concluded.
Platinum thought about this for a minute and realized that was probably right. But what would she know about asking a guy out? "Alright, how about we make a deal?" Yellow looked at her with a confused face. "If I help you invite Green, could you help me invite Diamond? We can go together. I am afraid he might have already accepted another girl's invitation." Platinum mentally slapped herself. 'Why should I care if he is going with another girl?'
The older girl sighed in relief and smiled. "Of course I'll help! Don't you worry Platinum, I'm sure he's just waiting for you to ask him!"
Platinum giggled at her friend's sudden personality change. "Yes. That sounds... wonderful."
After letting her friend calm down, Yellow finally talked. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go ask him!" She laughed.
Platinum started to walk towards the door, but paused before opening it. "Will it not seem strange to ask him right after he finished talking about it with Sapphire? And he would probably be suspicious about how I knew he was going to ask me out."
"Hmm...you're right." Yellow frowned at this a bit before going back to smiling. "You could ask him later tonight? I'll show you this great clearing in the forest that's very romantic! It's also by the stream. The rain should clear up by then." Yellow sighed again. "Oh... that sounds so nice."
"Really? That sounds wonderful." Platinum hugged her friend. "I will ask him to go while we're under the moonlight. That is the perfect atmosphere, correct?" Platinum had a faraway look to her eyes, imagining the scene.
"You read way too many romance books!" With the last word, Yellow threw a pillow at the daydreaming girl, hitting her square in the face and causing both girls to dissolve into laughter. Sitting up, Platinum suddenly turned serious, yet awkward at the same time.
"Yellow... I wish to thank you."
"Thank me? What for?" Yellow opted to stay lying down, cuddling a pichu doll. The other girl fidgeted with a ruffle in her skirt.
"For being my friend. Believe it or not, I have never been able to talk to another girl like this." Platinum blushed in embarrassment.
"Well, then you're welcome! I think...?" Yellow laughed it off, causing the other girl to giggle. Soon, they erupted into another fit of laughter that lasted long after the end of their talk.
Diamond was sitting at the edge of his bed, lost in his thoughts when a familiar voice cut through them.
"Hey! Dia!" The boy looked up to see his childhood friend burst through the door. Pearl ran over and jumped into one of the chairs in the room, spinning around in it for a bit and making Diamond smile, trying to subdue a laugh.
"What're you doing here Pearl?" He asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Pearl smirked. "I'm here to get you and Platinum together!"
Diamond looked shocked at this, and didn't notice his face was starting to get warm. "D-did Sapphire tell you?" He managed to stutter.
"Of course not! She told Gold, who told Blue, who told me!" With those words he slapped Diamond on the back of his head. "Sheesh, It's also pretty obvious you're head over heels for her. Well, obvious to everyone except her! And she's a lot nicer to you than everyone else, so that has to mean something?"
"She is? And you really think so?" Diamond's eyes lit up.
"You've seriously never noticed?" His friend shook his head. "What am I gonna do with you?" Pearl sighed. "Well, you should ask her tonight!"
"Tonight?"
"Yeah! Or even better, ask her now!" Pearl said, jumping out of his seat and grabbing Diamond's arm
"Eh? Right now? I-I'm not ready though!" His friend stumbled over his own feet, clearly nervous at the prospect of asking out his long time crush.
"Not ready? You've had years to be ready!" Pearl started to drag Diamond out of his room, with Diamond shouting protests.
"Can't I ask her later tonight?" Diamond begged.
Pearl sighed. "Fine. You better do it tonight. You can do it underneath the moonlight, or something like that. That's romantic in those stupid romance books, right? I'm sure she's read plenty of those..." Pearl added under his breath.
"Do they?" Diamond cocked his head a bit. "Well, I guess it could help if I do it in the dark." "Then maybe she won't see me stumble around like an idiot."
"Great! Remember, you better do it tonight!" Pearl ran to the door, adding a "Good luck Dia!", before running down the hall. Diamond groaned and looked at his clock.
"Hmm...Got a couple hours before dinner." Diamond stretched and laid back on his bed. "Nap time!" Soon, he was passed out in a deep sleep.
"Hey, Yellow."
"Yeah?" Yellow was too focused on her sketchbook to look up. Her pikachu, Chuchu, was curled up on her lap and sleeping.
"Can I talk to you?" Green asked.
At this, she looked up and blushed realizing that Green was the one asking her. "T-talk?" He nodded. "Well, sure I guess."
"The Fall dance is this saturday. You want to come with me?"
"Sure!" Yellow said this quickly, not even bothering to think about it.
"All right. See you later than." He walked away before she realized what she just said, not giving her time to change her mind. Yellow's brain finally clicked and she shot up in her seat. Chuchu fell on to the ground, stretched a bit, then curled up again to fall asleep.
"He asked me to the dance. And I said yes. I have to go tell Platinum right away!" She ran off up the stairs, forgetting her sleeping pikachu. Chuchu slept a little longer before a few loud voices erupted from the open kitchen doors. She perked up her ears slightly at the sound before drifting off again.
"So he's finally gonna ask her then?" Sapphire asked, taking a bite of an apple she'd stolen off the counter.
Pearl nodded. "Yup, later tonight after dinner. He's gonna ask her under the moonlight. How cheesy!" He sat down at the table while Ruby and Sapphire leaned up against the counter.
"Don't be so jealous Pearl." Ruby teased. "I'm sure some girl will ask you. Maybe." The boy talked while looking at his reflection in the glass cabinets, fixing a stray piece of hair that had managed to find its way out of his hat.
"What!" Pearl sputtered. "Me? Jealous? I am not!" His friends dissolved into laughter at how worked up the boy was becoming. "Idiots..." Pearl muttered before walking back to his room. Ruby turned to Sapphire.
"So what about you? Has anybody asked you?"
"Nope! I've got someone I wanna ask though." She winked at the boy.
Ruby didn't catch the wink and laughed. "Just don't scare him away!"
"Hmph! Well what about ya, pretty boy? Any girl asked ya yet?"
He just waved the question away. "Oh, a lot have asked me."
Sapphire snorted at this. "A lot? Try telling the truth and say none."
"What? What's that supposed to mean?" He sniffed back. "I just turned them all down."
"Oh, nothin'." She started to laugh. "I just meant they probably wanna get a real man to go with them!"
"Ha ha, very funny, barbarian."
"Hey! I told ya not to call me that!" Yelled Sapphire.
"Then don't act like one!" Ruby countered.
"Ya jerk... forget what I told ya! I'm goin' solo to that dance!" Sapphire pounced, catching Ruby in a headlock. Crystal and Gold walked in just in time to see Sapphire choking Ruby. "Now ya better take that back before I snap ya neck!"
"Sapphire! Don't-" Crystal started before getting cut off by Gold.
"Oh relax, Crys. Have a little fun." He turned back to the fight. "Yeah! Go Sapphire! Wanna make a bet Crys?"
Crystal rolled her eyes. "Don't encourage them Gold." She whispered after, "1,000 poké on Ruby."
Gold smirked cockily. "Deal!" The boy laughed. "Easy money!"
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that..." Crystal smiled back at him, then turned to the two fighting. A mischievous glint in her eye, she gave an offhand remark to Sapphire. "Hey Sapphire. I didn't know you and Ruby were getting to be so intimate!" Sapphire looked as if she'd been punched across the face at what Crystal had said.
"Me and this wuss?" She sputtered. "Never! I would- Whoa!" Using this distraction, Ruby flipped and pinned Sapphire to ground. After holding her there for a few seconds, Ruby smirked and got off, dusting himself off before lending Sapphire a hand.
The boy then turned to Crystal, still with a grin on his face. "Thanks Crystal."
The girl laughed. "It was no problem. And sorry about that Sapphire." She smiled to Gold who was still shocked at what just happened. The girl giggled at her friend's face. "This should teach you not to gamble Gold. Now hand over my money."
"That was cheating Crys, and you know it!" He yelled.
"Oh, don't you go lecturing me on cheating Gold. I was just kidding, you don't have to pay me. But, you have to make it up to me somehow."
"Make it up?" Gold looked thoughtful for a moment. "Alright, then how about I take you to the dance?"
"What?" This remark stunned Crystal.
"You heard me. Come on! It'll be fun, and I know you don't have a date." Gold smirked.
"But I have so much work to do for Professor Oak! I have to file all his papers, grade those tests and I still have that research essay on delibirds."
"You work too much, you know that?" Gold gave her a warm smile. "So we're going to the dance. Make sure to wear a pretty dress, Super Serious Gal."
"D-Don't call me that! Ugh, you're so childish Gold!" She stomped off to her room, blushing and accompanied by Gold's laughter. Storming by her room, she stopped in front of the open door when she heard Platinum sigh.
"Oh, no..." Platinum put her head into her hands. She and Yellow were in her room, discussing solutions to their dilemma. The rain outside had not stopped like the forecast had predicted. It was still only a light drizzle, but that would be enough to make the entire bank muddy.
"Relax Platinum." Yellow soothed. "We'll just have to find another place for you and Dia to go."
"Like where?" Platinum retorted, not bothering to raise her head.
"Um, I have no idea. Maybe we should ask Crys. She knows the island better than anybody else."
"Alright, but we better hurry. Dinner is in half an hour." Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Platinum yelled.
Crystal popped her head in. "Hi Platinum. Can I ask for help with something?"
Platinum sat back down on her bed. "Sure, if I can ask you something after."
"Of course! Okay, so you know how the dance is in a week? I need help with that."
"Doesn't everyone?" Platinum muttered to herself.
"Excuse me?" Crystal cocked her head.
"Nothing. Forgive me." Platinum laughed. "So, you were saying?"
"Right. Gold asked me to go, but..." She paused for a moment, tugging at her sleeve apprehensively. "I have no idea how to dance. So I thought you could teach me?" Platinum recalled all the dance classes her father had forced her to take. She also remembered how useless she believed they would be. Now, however, it seems they would come in handy.
"Oh, of course. But I do not think one week would be enough time to teach you." The younger girl started to go into the complications of rhythm and timing and foot work before Crystal stopped her.
"Oh! I just need to learn the basics so I don't look like a complete idiot."
"Alright, but could this please wait until tomorrow? I'm a little busy tonight."
"Oh... okay. Does tonight have anything to do with Dia?" Crystal said slyly.
"Yes. How did you know?" The younger girl sputtered.
"Well, it seemed like you two got along really well. I thought he would be the obvious choice." Crystal had a genuine look of shock on her face.
"Yes. I shall admit I do feel more comfortable around him." She added, "But I assure you, that does not mean any more." After catching Crystal up on their original plan and how the rain had ruined it, she asked her about places that would be up to par. After looking thoughtful for a minute, Crystal answered.
"You could always go to the cafeteria." She teased. The glare from the younger girl silenced her. "Sorry. Couldn't resist. But does it have to be all fancy? You could just casually ask him, I'm sure he'd be more comfortable with that."
Platinum smiled gently. "I guess he would be. Thank you Crystal."
"No problem! Also, it doesn't have to be completely non romantic. I'd really recommend you to ask while the sun is setting instead. It's also not safe to be outside at night. " The older girl reverted back to her old, cautionary self.
"I see... so I shall ask immediately after dinner."
"You could always skip dinner?" Crystal chimed in. "With the setting sun reflecting off the shimmering mist. That's nice? Or too cheesy?"
"No, it is perfect." Platinum laughed. "I'll just take him right outside, on the front porch." The girl smiled to herself at the prospect of how it would go.
"That settles all of our problems then! Oh, we better hurry down for dinner!" Yellow got up and walked to the door. "Better run you two!"
Crystal and Platinum got up and joined Yellow in walking down to the kitchen. Everyone had started eating already. Unfortunately, this meant the table was full. Blue and Ruby were chatting loudly about fashion while Red and Green distanced themselves from everyone else, talking strategies to each other. Silver sat in the corner, eating quietly. Gold, Diamond, Pearl and Sapphire however, were too busy stuffing their faces to talk. The three girls were left to sit at the counter, separated from the group. Gold looked up from the spaghetti he was slurping. "Hey, Crys! You gotta come try this food Dia cooked." Crystal looked disgusted as she sat down at the other side of the counter, determined to stay as far away from him as possible.
"Gold! You need to mind your manners!" She snapped. "Don't talk with your mouth full."
He swallowed and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Geez Super Serious Gal, gimme some slack. It's not like anybody but you cares how I eat. Well, you and pretty boy over there."
"Hey!" Ruby cried indignantly. "I don't... okay yeah, I care. To put it bluntly, you're a disgusting slob Gold."
"Damn, thanks a lot Ruby." The boy growled, earning a slap from Blue. Crystal thanked her before turning on him.
"Gold! Watch your language!"
"Fine, fine! I should just stop talking."
Silver sighed. "If only it were as simple as saying." Gold said nothing, sending a glare full of contempt towards his rival. Blue laughed.
"Oh Gold, do please continue. It was really fun slapping you." Everyone laughed with her except for Gold.
Diamond got up to get seconds, using this chance to talk to Platinum. "Hey... Platinum?"
"Yes?" She smiled back at him, causing him to almost drop his plate. He composed himself slightly before starting.
"Would you... like to uh..." The boy could feel his face was turning red fast and his throat felt dryer by the second. His palms began to sweat, loosening his grip on his plate. Again, he had to compose himself and with a little urging from Platinum, he continued. "I mean if you're not to busy... could I... talk... to you? After dinner?"
Platinum couldn't help the smile that came over her face. "Of course. I would be delighted to." He sighed a relief after that, while he was too busy with his thoughts, Platinum gave Yellow a wink. This didn't go unnoticed by Blue, who stifled a laugh and nudged Red, pointing at the two.
"Look Red!" She whispered, so no one else would over hear them. "Dia's gonna go 'talk' with Platinum! And I overheard Green and Yellow's conversation earlier today. They're going together to the dance as well!"
"What! Are you serious..." Red grumbled. "How do you know?
Blue giggled. "Microphones, duh!"
"Isn't that spying?"
"Your point? You wouldn't really expect any less from me. Especially with money on the line. Now pay up!"
"Dang it Blue, you're turning into Gold." Red growled, handing Blue 3,000 poké bills.
Blue stuck her tongue out at Red. "Oh, you're just a sore loser. And besides, I need the money!"
Red scoffed. "For what?"
"So I can buy stuff."
"Buy stuff? When have you ever bought something?"
"I buy potions and clothes sometimes!" Blue winked. "I just usually get you or Green to pay for it."
The sun had set below the horizon by the time everyone finished, leaving the sky a brilliant shade of dark orange. Platinum and Diamond had left for their talk after dinner, leaving the others to clean up. Green had slipped out with Yellow before Blue could force him to help her wash the dishes. Much to his chagrin, Yellow had decided to make a detour by the front porch. She quietly opened the window.
"What are we doing?" Green whispered.
"I just want to see if Platinum is really going to do it." She assured him nonchalantly as they peeked out the window. He said nothing about this for a moment though, waiting to see if she would do anything else. The girl held up a hand, signaling for Green to be quiet. She relaxed after a minute though and turned to Green, expecting the obvious question.
"What are we doing? And please tell the truth this time."
"We're just checking up on them." She replied lightly.
"Why? It's none of your business." Green stated.
"Of course it is! She's my best friend! I just don't want her to be crushed if he says no..."
"You've hung out with that pesky woman too much."
Yellow laughed a little. "I know. I'm really sorry."
"Though it is nice you care for her so much" Green gave a soft smile. "But don't you think this is going a little to far?"
"I guess you're right." Yellow sighed. "I shouldn't be spying on them. I'm starting to feel guilty."
Green smiled a little. "There's the old Yellow. Come on, we should leave them be." The older boy got up and walked back towards a couch.
Yellow blushed a bit. "Oh, right..." She followed after him, throwing a last hopeful look behind, before running to catch up to Green. 'Good luck Platinum.'
Platina and Diamond were sitting on the steps of the front porch, unaware that moments ago their friend had been spying on them. They hadn't spoken much since they had sat down, and the silence was making the girl unbearably nervous. She looked at the boy sitting next to her staring out into the lake, noticing how unfocused his eyes were. She opened her mouth to speak, but Diamond cut her off.
"So the dance is coming up soon." He muttered quietly
"Yeah..." Platinum looked down at a lock of hair she had been unconsciously playing with.
Diamond swallowed a bit before continuing. "I wonder who our friends are taking."
Platinum pretended to look thoughtful before replying. "I'm sure Red and Blue will be together. So will Green and Yellow, Crystal and Gold, and maybe Ruby and Sapphire? I'm not too sure about Pearl though."
"Ah..." His face looked blank again for a minute before he responded. "So...has anybody asked you...to the...dance?"
"Me?" Platinum's mind was racing. She knew that he would ask her the question, but never really thought about how she would answer or react. She started, but her throat felt dry. Hesitating a bit, she coughed slightly and started again. "A couple of people have asked me." She said slowly, making sure to pronounce each syllable. "But I turned them all down." She added quickly, noticing the slight frown on his face.
"Ah. Well," He scratched the back of his head nervously. "W-would you like to... g-go with...me?" His face flushed as he said this. 'Yes! He finally asked me!' He quickly added after, "A-as friends of course!"
Platinum accidentally pulled a piece of hair out.
"Oh... friends." She looked down at the piece of hair she just pulled out. Diamond started to sweat a bit, noticing that she looked a little crestfallen. "That would be nice." She noticed concern all over the boy's face as he noticed the pause. He opened his mouth before she quickly cut him off. "It is getting dark. We should head back to the house now." Platinum looked up at the sky to see the moon had risen and countless stars dotted the darkness around it.
"But..." Seeing the look on her face, he decided it would be better to drop the conversation. "Okay, that's a good idea." They both headed back in silence.
'Stupid, stupid Dia!' Diamond mentally kicked himself. 'It was so perfect and I ruined it! Sure, she agreed to come but... Now she probably thinks I only want to be friends. Oh man...'
Platinum sighed to herself. 'That did not go like I thought it would. Does he really only think of us as friends? Hm, he did ask me to the dance, but as friends only... I have to talk to Yellow about this...' She paused, remembering that her friend was with Green. 'That leaves Blue, Crystal and Sapphire. It looks like I am asking Blue.'
Above the two, a lone star shot across the sky, leaving a misty, white trail behind it.
Yellow seems OOC, but I guess that's what hanging around with Blue will do! Anyways comment, give me constructive criticism (Seriously, I would love this as long as it's actually constructive~), flame, etc. Thanks for reading!