- N - = Nicky's part

- J - = my part

Chapter 027 - Make-up and suspicion!

- N -

"Mmh, I dunno. I can't imagine Riley feeling insecure..."

Serena nodded. It did seem like Riley was the paragon of self-assurance but, if she knew anything about love, she knew a person didn't have to be self-assured to be good at love.

"Well," She tried to phrase her answer properly, "I think the courage it takes to admit your feelings is a little different from the courage it takes to, say, face a monster like Riley does. Arceus knows, I've felt both." She laughed. "Some people may be very brave when it comes to fighting, but downright petrified when it's time to tell someone they love them… myself included…"

She sighed quietly, but perked up the moment she felt Amy's enthusiasm with her make-up. She'd never seen the purple-eyed trainer this excited before, and it warmed her heart to know she'd connected with the shy young woman.

As they listened to music, Serena's smile broadened. While she wouldn't be able to tell Amy everything about Roark, she'd still be able to tell her about Zoroarks – who knew? Maybe she'd be able to figure it out by herself?

She nodded as Amy admitted they were beautiful. She loved looking at Roark on nights of a full moon, the way the torchlight flickered over his fur, the intensity of his gaze. He was perfectly lovable as a human, but as a Zoroark, he had something else… a hint of danger, maybe, that attracted her to him.

"Unova seems to be a very cool region. You have superb pokémons there!"

Serena chuckled. "Yeah, it's a nice place for a visit, but not to stay," She admitted. "Maybe you could come by one day, I'll show you around Nacrene city… Although I have a nagging feeling that silver haired friend of yours might be going there soon enough – it's attracting a lot of trainers these days, especially now that the gyms are being recognised on a National level,"

As the final notes of Reynardine died, Serena stood up and motioned for Amy to follow her.

"C'mon, the washroom's this way." She led the way to a thick wooden door and turned the brass handle to a long bathroom, compete with a long marble-topped sink, and several cubicles. Serena made her way straight for the mirror, laying out cosmetics onto the marble table top.

"I always come prepared," She admitted, indicating the small battalion of compacts and powders, perfumes and salves that she came armed with. She picked up a small silver tube of pale red lipstick. "What do you want to do first? Lips?"

She waved expansively to the make-up. "Just use them." She said in a hostly fashion. "What's mine is yours – unless you need help, that is." She smiled. "Just ask."

Turning back to the mirror, she examined her own face, pulling at her ponytails annoyed. With a grunt, she tugged her pink hair loose from the two loops and shook her head.

"That's not for me." She sighed. "It might look good on every other pink-haired loser in my family, and I may look exactly like them… but… I don't think that hairstyle suits me at all."

As she said it, she shrugged off Roark's clothes. Under his baggy outfit, she had her usual t-shirt and jeans. "Much better." She smiled, stuffing Roark's jacket and trousers into her bag, which she now slung over her shoulder.

"Hey, Amy… remember what I said earlier about being afraid to admit you love someone?" She asked, hesitant. "Well… I don't know…"

She chewed the inside of her cheek.

"I never told Roark about me leaving at the end of the year," She admitted. "I… I don't know," She shrugged. "I just never had the courage to tell him. I don't know how he'd react."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Stephanie giggled as Roark looked away, uncomfortable, from her foot. She shook it until it snapped back into place and resumed her position leaning against the bench. He really was pretty cute all flustered like that – if she'd been Serena's age, she probably wouldn't've hesitated falling for him like the Joy had.

She was almost sorry to upset him by mentioning the beast.

"Sigh, Stephanie, you just won't stop, will you?"

She flinched. She wasn't expecting a reaction quite like that. She'd expected at least a little more enthusiasm from him, but it seemed Roark really did hate talking about that subject.

"…But, to begin with, it's always night when things happen, so they can't be sure. And anyway, Zoroarks are Unovvian pokémon, or didn't you listen to Serena last night?"

Brown nodded. There was something odd about his expression – a cross between fear and self-control. He was, she realised, trying not to sound defensive. She relaxed slightly, glad he wasn't mad at her.

She listened to his explanation of Lucarios and Luxios, almost convinced. Almost. A lingering, nagging, tugging feeling played at the corners of her mind – something she wasn't entirely sure of told her not to believe every word she'd been fed. As much as she wanted to trust Roark, she knew he wasn't telling her the whole truth.

"So, Stephanie, there's not such beast… Stop worrying about that, really."

"I guess…" She admitted.

Rodent purred, rubbing his check against her hand until she relented and rubbed his belly. They stayed that way, the thought of the beast and the lingering silence like a heavy funeral pall over their heads.

Riley's arrival was a welcome one. Glad to have something new to talk about, Stephanie jumped on the new development, asking Roark about his clothes.

"Oh, uh, well, shirt, trousers, shoes. And Serena always forces me to wear a bow. I'm very simple when it comes to suits."

She pouted slightly – considering how well-dressed Riley always was, it seemed almost disappointing to find Roark going to the Dance so casually.

"You know what?" She perked up, "You should get yourself a suit! Something nice and fancy like Riley's!"

Riley laughed, "Well, that can be arranged." he added, accommodatingly.

"You have to look good, you're leading the Dance! If you're the first to dance, everyone's going to be looking!" Stephanie insisted. "Think about how much Pinky'll go crazy when she sees you!" She laughed, long, hard, and jarring enough to make the fur on her Raticate bristle. It wasn't exactly infectious, but it did set a smile on Riley's face.

"You can see if anything fits you later tonight when the shop opens for the evening," He offered. "I'm sure Rigel'll let you try something on."

Brown screwed up her face. "Rigel?" She asked, "Is that the name of the old man in the tailor shop?"

Riley nodded smartly, the new fedora rose and fell with his head like a stately crown. "Rigel's had that shop as long as the shopping emporium's been here." He explained as the group mounted the escalator down to the basement. "He's pretty accommodating when it comes to things I need – I'm sure he'd love to help pick out something for you." He added to Roark.

Brown looked at both men. If Roark had been trying to control himself, Riley seemed to be doing the same. While Riley was definitely being friendly, there was no denying the fact that he was eyeing the redhead with the beginnings of suspicion. It seemed almost as if, just like she had, Riley couldn't trust Roark wholeheartedly.

They finally reached the basement and it didn't take them long to find the restaurant Riley had talked about. He was right – it was near-impossible to miss. The Reynardine took up nearly a third of the basement, and was humming with gentle trumpet music.

"What song's that?" Brown tilted her head. Rodent did the same, an ear in the air to catch the final few notes of the song.

"Reynardine." Riley noted, pointing up the restaurant sign. "Quite fitting, don't you think?"

They passed the black stone beast, frozen in mid leap, with a snarl forever on its face… along with something else a little less permeanant.

"Are those glasses?" Stephanie pointed up the a beast's face, giggling. "How cute!"

Still, she tried not to mention the beast itself – she didn't want to upset Roark. She wasn't entirely sure how much he liked being in a restaurant where everything reminded him of the beast.

- J -

Amethyst had never felt so assured as when she was with Serena. The pink-haired woman had managed to explain everything about love so perfectly! Amethyst was impressed, and found herself disliking the idea of leaving Oreburgh.

Somewhat different but also very alike, that was what described both women. It had taken more time getting attached to Serena than to Stephanie, but it had been definitely worthy. Not to mention all the places Serena knew that Amethyst didn't.

"C'mon, the washroom's this way."

"Okay!" Amethyst exclaimed, happily; she left Riley's jacket on the chair backrest and followed the Joy.

Her cheeks burnt and she felt quite clumsy, but nothing of that mattered to the purple-eyed woman. She was going to, finally, look decent! When had been the last time she'd wore make up? Maybe four years ago, at Pink's house...

Once in the washroom, the chestnut-head admired Serena's wide range ok make-up, mouth agape. Oh! Those purple shades! Oh! She even had black shades! Amethyst was so enamoured with eye shades that she didn't notice the tube of lipstick in Serena's hands.

"What do you want to do first? Lips?"

"Uh... I'd love to, but no." Amethyst replied. "I mean, not now. I'm going to eat, it would be pointless if I painted my lips. I'll leave that for the Dance!"

"Just use them. What's mine is yours – unless you need help, that is. Just ask."

"Thank you." The chestnut-head said, impatient; she didn't know where to begin. "Gotta love those purple shades... I think I'll combine two of them! I'll use light tones and will leave the darkest ones for the Dance."

Amethyst took two small boxes of the collection of purple shades Serena had. She gave a glance at the black shades and the darkest purple shades: she would use them for the Dance. And she might mix purple with pink or golden make-up!

"I think I'll only do my eyes for now." Amethyst sentenced, after having a look at the whole collection. "But for the Dance, I'm going to do my eyes, lips and cheeks! Yay!"

The purple-eyed trainer made a silly dance while jumping in joy. She finally approached the mirror and started applying the make-up on her eyelids. Serena was by her side, also looking at herself in the mirror.

"Don't worry, I can do it myself." Amethyst said. "Pink taught me."

But Serena seemed more worried about her hairstyle at that moment. The younger woman smiled with sorrow as Serena criticized her hair... and her family, as usually.

"Well, if it's any consolation," The chestnut-head said. "I think you look pretty with those loops. You might not like the hairstyle, but you still look good. Well, you're very attractive, so I think you'd look good with any hairstyle!"

Definitely, alcohol was still in her head: Amethyst never dared compliment anyone's looks. Maybe she should get a bit drunk more often? Well, women liked when people complimented their looks, so she was sure that Serena'd appreciate her compliment.

Without Roark's clothes on, Serena's curvy body was way more obvious. Even with that simple, plain outfit (t-shirt and jeans), she was very pretty. Amethyst looked at the pink-haired woman's reflect on the mirror and bit her lip, kind of jealous. If Amethyst wore that outfit, she'd look like a long-haired boy!

"Well… I don't know… I never told Roark about me leaving at the end of the year, I… I don't know, I just never had the courage to tell him. I don't know how he'd react."

The tiny woman turned her head back to look at Serena, one of her eyes already done. There was a worried expression on Serena's slim face which made Amethyst pity the older woman. She wanted to help her. No, she would definitely help her! Serena had always listened to her, after all.

"I'm sure he'd be very sad." Amethyst said; she turned her head back to the mirror and got started on making up her other eye. "And... I'm sure he'd do everything to be with you! Whether it implies YOU staying here or HE going with you."

The chestnut-head really meant what she was saying. It wasn't just to consolate her, it was the truth! Amethyst couldn't be sure about Roark's feelings since the guy was so shy, but there was something on the way he'd held her waist when they danced last night... or the way he looked at her - he always seemed to be in a good mood when talking to Serena!

"You're very important to him, I can tell." Amethyst said, still applying make up on her eyes. "I don't know what kind of things you two've gone through together, but he seems attached to you. I bet he'd be heartbroken if you told him you have to leave."

She stopped, looking at her own reflect in the mirror and flickering multiple times. It looked that she was already done.

"Too bad you have to go back to Unova." Amethyst added. "I said Roark could go with you, but I forgot he's the Gym Leader... Well! You can always come back when you finish your career! It would be in like a year or two, wouldn't it?"

Amethyst turned back at Serena.

"I'm done!" She exclaimed. "I didn't use a lot of make-up, I just went for something simple this time, but... how do I look?"

Trying to imagine how would Riley react, Amethyst blushed. For once, she didn't have to be afraid of showing her face! And all thanks to the woman in front of her.

"Isn't about time we go back to our table?" Amethyst asked. "Your dish could have been served already!"

Not to mention her own dish was already served... Well, it was hot enough. It should take it more than the ten minutes they'd spent at the washroom to get cold.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"You know what? You should get yourself a suit! Something nice and fancy like Riley's!"

"Well, that can be arranged."

"You have to look good, you're leading the Dance! If you're the first to dance, everyone's going to be looking!"

Roark bit his lip, overwhelmed. He JUST wanted to have lunch, dammit! Why were they planning an outfit for him for the Dance at that moment? Roark was about to facepalm when...

"Think about how much Pinky'll go crazy when she sees you!"

Well, that indeed changed things. The miner put his finger on his lips, thinking. He'd always been the one to drool over Serena's looks, but it might be cool if that time she was the one to drool over him. Well, come to think of it, she'd seemed to drool last night when she saw him without his t-shirt, Roark realized.

"Hehe, well, now that you mention it..." He stuttered, coyly.

Riley's suggerence seemed fine, too. Roark would have more free time that afternoon, so he could go to get some suit for himself - after his match against Stephanie, of course. However, Riley still seemed somewhat... distant. The miner guessed he was only being friendly because the teenager was with them.

But why was he so hostile towards him? What did Riley exactly know? Gahh! It was so hard to figure! Not to mention they'd always been friends... Not only Roark was worried but also sad. So, their friendship was ruined?

With those thoughts in mind, the group reached the restaurant. Roark frowned.

"Oh, so they went here." He said.

Definitely, the last place he wanted to go to. Why did Serena like that restaurant so badly? It brought the miner so many bad memories... about his past... However, Roark didn't want to worry anyone, so he hid his annoyance.

"Are those glasses? How cute!"

Roark flinched and looked at where the brown-eyed girl was pointing up, not really sure if he wanted to see. Exactly. Glasses. On the BEAST statue. And not any glasses. HIS glasses. What.

"Hey! Those are my reading spectacles!" The ginger exclaimed, embarrassed. "What are they doing there?"

Well, it definitely had to be Serena. Those glasses were inside the jacket she always used to wear everytime she visited that part of the town. If Riley (and Stephanie, definitely) hadn't been with him, Roark would have taken it as a joke, but that was the last thing he needed!

"Great." Roark thought, worried. "More similarities between me and the freaking beast! That's exactly what Riley needs... Sigh... oh you, Serena..."

Roark looked up again, trying not to look worried.

"Haha, I bet it was Serena." He said, attempting to laugh. "She's such a prankster! She always looks serious, but she's actually very funny, and she loves to piss me off, haha!"

The miner looked alternatively at Riley and Stephanie.

"Well, what about we go look for our ladies?" He asked.

Again, the simple thought of Serena cheered him up. Well, maybe not so much that time (because of her prank, which might have put him in the tight spot), but he was too blinded by love to mind.

Among all the tables in the restaurant, Roark spotted Riley's jacket on one of the chairs backrest. A waiter was serving a dish, while the other one was already served. The meal that was being served was definitely something Serena'd eat. The miner pointed at the table.

"Isn't that your jacket, Riley?" He asked. "I guess that's their table... But I wonder where are they!"