Chapter 4: Chasing Lovebirds
Umbriel Nox
Umber stared at his watch as he walked toward the elevators. It was nearly seven o'clock, and he had to get ready for a date.
The Opening Ceremony was still blasting behind him, but people had already begun to leave. It had been a great party, especially when Cynthia and Iris joined in. They gave out autographs and tips to trainers, and even wished Umber luck when he went to see them. It was all great and fun, but he had a date with a pretty girl. That should be a thousand times better, he thought.
Umber entered the elevator and looked at his watch, again. When he looked up, Aiden was standing in front of him, a large smile on his face. His hoodie was covered in cotton-like feathers and his magby was still dancing in the hood, clearly ignoring the bruises it had received.
"Umber!" he shouted, arms wide open. "Where have you been? Can you believe it? I won! I'm headed to the Leader's Suite now. Come with me!"
Aiden pressed the button that took them to the thirteenth floor before Umber could tell him not to. He didn't think he would've, however. Something told him Aiden might have a thing for Ambrosia, the girl he was going to see soon. Umber just stayed silent as the elevator rose. He put his hands in his pocket, fingering the pokeball that held Poochyena.
"Everything alright?" Aiden said, giving Umber a curious look. "You're not one to be quiet. Especially during a party!"
"Yeah, just tired." Umber lied. He began to think of a way to leave Aiden and get to his room. He wanted to change for his date, and he had no idea where his room really was. Sarah, the receptionist, hadn't told him earlier. Anger boiled in him, adding to the anger he felt toward Aiden for leaving him alone when he had won.
The elevator dinged open. Aiden stepped out. Umber thought of just closing the door and leaving, but guilt fell over him. He followed Aiden through the hall. To his right, "headquarters" could be seen. Umber leaned over to look down, and saw Sarah with her swablu, thirteen floors down.
Eventually, they reached a large door with a pink dragonair painted on it. In the center, a sign read 'LEADER'S SUITE' in golden letters. Aiden opened it in a quick slide of a golden key.
"Regine gave it to me," Aiden beamed and Magby smiled at Umber. "Now, let's see this 'Leader's Suite.'"
Inside, the door faced a wall that parted in two directions. To the left was the bathroom, a room nearly the size of normal guest rooms. To the right Umber could see a large couch and guessed that that was the suite. He couldn't help but look, and what he saw was a large room that divided into more rooms, each with couches covered with pillows and fluffed chairs. But what really caught his attention was the glass wall that led to the balcony. It was round and had a spectacular view of the ocean. The last traces of the sunset could be seen above the horizon. A little flame of envy lit inside Umber.
"Hah! Can you believe this, Umber?" Aiden said, putting Magby on the ground. The little Fire-type disappeared into one of the rooms. "Look at the view!" He jumped onto a couch and lifted a pillow. "Oh, Umber, you've got to feel this. It feels like altaria wings! I can't imagine the bed."
Aiden ran toward one of the rooms, searching for the bed. Umber heard the sound of someone jumping on a bed and Aiden shouting. He stared at his watch once again and decided it was time to leave.
"Hey, Aiden," he called out, looking at the plasma screen TV in one of the rooms. "I think I'm going to go search for my room. See you… tomorrow, I guess."
Aiden popped his head out of the room immediately. "I'll go with you. Magby, no fire! Come, we're leaving. Yeah, let me change real quick and I'll help you look."
Panic entered Umber, and before he knew it, he had said, "No."
"No?" Aiden said, squinting his eyes. Magby entered the room and put its arms on its hips. "Why not?"
"I mean, er, you should stay here. If you come with me, um, you might break curfew, you know? Making your way back here and all."
"I don't think we'll be out that long. But fine. If you don't want me with you…"
Again, Umber felt guilt. He feigned a smile and nudged Aiden. He was his best friend, after all. "Tell you what," he said. "I'll go to my room, unpack, and when I'm done, I'll come get you and we can both go back to the Ceremony until curfew. Maybe they'll extend it, just for tonight."
Aiden just stared at Umber. He felt him looking right through him. Then he saw Aiden's face soften and he chuckled.
"You better hurry, then," Aiden said with a laugh. "I'll be waiting." He turned and threw himself on a couch. "Here, in my suite!"
Umber just faked a laugh as he left. Once he closed the door behind him, he looked down at his watch. Twenty minutes had passed, and now he only had forty. He walked – more like sprinted – down the hall to the elevators. Music had been turned on in "headquarters" and more swablus seemed to fly around. What room was he in? What number had Sarah said? He tried to remember, but he couldn't.
A few minutes later, Umber found himself heading toward the reception desk. He had to ask Sarah what his room number was, even if it meant swallowing his pride. Immediately, a swablu landed on the desk between Umber and Sarah. It gazed at him with small, black eyes, ready to attack.
"Want me to get the altarias?" Sarah mocked with a smile as she arranged her glasses. She looked stunning, even in her red uniform. She clearly prepared herself for this day, Umber noticed. "What can I help you with, Umber?"
"I really need to know where my room is," he said, without hiding the 'pleading' in his voice. He fought with the music. "I'm going to be late for something if I don't find it! Help me, please."
"A 'please,' and all. Umbriel Nox, you are desperate." Umber let out a chuckle. "Fine, I'll help you. 10-14, on the eleventh floor. Swablu will take you."
The little bird stared at its trainer with an angered expression. It chirped loudly. Sarah shushed it and it flew off, heading high up to the upper floors.
"10-14. Eleventh floor," Umber repeated, memorizing it. He stepped away from the desk and ran back to the elevator. "Got it. I owe you, Sarah."
"Yeah, well, I'll remember that!" Umber heard her shout as the elevator door closed.
When they opened again on the eleventh floor, a swablu hovered in front of him before taking off and disappearing between halls. Umber followed. As he turned and went deeper into the hall, he caught glimpses of the small cloud flying away. Then he saw it, on the floor, stretching its wings and singing in front of a door. Room 10-14!
He wanted to kiss the bird, but he just opened the door and entered his room. "I owe you, too!" he told Swablu as he closed the door. His room was much less extravagant than Aiden's. It had one large bed, a normal-sized bathroom, a desk with a chair, a small TV hanging from the ceiling, and a balcony where three people couldn't fit. The flame of envy returned.
Putting those thoughts aside, he went to his suitcase, which was put on the bed by the cruise's staff, and took out more suitable clothes. He took Poochyena's pokeball out. In a flash of red light, the small pup landed on the bed, glaring disapprovingly at Umber.
"Don't look at me that way," he told the pup. She looked away indignantly. "You're the one who's getting food. I'll make it up to you at the restaurant, I promise."
Poochyena had been angry with Umber for making him go up to Ambrosia and bark at her just so he could go talk to her. It was a deceptive trick, he admitted. However, all's fair in love and war. Or, in this case, tournaments.
Umber changed into a gray, long-sleeved t-shirt and put on jeans that were a darker shade of blue. He put on his violet, gengar-shaped earphones, given to him by Morty, the Ecruteak City Gym Leader, himself. He went to the mirror and combed his dark, black hair, searching for the hairstyle that made him look more handsome. Eventually he settled for a pulled-back look that accentuated the best features his face had: his sky-blue eyes and his sharp eyebrows.
By eight o'clock Umber was waiting in "headquarters." He hoped that Ambrosia would meet him there, since he never actually told him which restaurant they were going to. He sat with Poochyena in a small waiting area filled with cushioned seats.
"Looking good, Umber," Sarah shouted from behind her desk, giving a little giggle.
Umber just smiled and waited nervously for Ambrosia to arrive. Poochyena ran around the large room, chasing swablus. Music played and people and pokemon alike passed him as they waited. They waited five minutes. Then ten. Then fifteen. Then twenty…
Umber noticed Sarah trying not to look at him. Anger and embarrassment washed over him. He grabbed Poochyena and stood, deciding to head back to his room and forget about Ambrosia and Aiden and the Type Trainer Tournament and everything. He began to walk away, when suddenly a smooth voice called out to him.
He looked back. Behind him, Cubone at her side, wearing a white, one-sleeve dress that fell to her knees, was Ambrosia. And over her shoulders, in the distance, walking down the central stairs above the reception desk, was Aiden.
Author's Note:
Uh-oh! I don't think Aiden will like having secrets kept from him, especially about this. Will Umber get caught? What will Aiden do? Is this the beginning of a new love between Umber and Ambrosia? Is this the end of Umber and Aiden's relationship? Find out next chapter when we learn a little more about the characters!
So, I'm thinking of adding a little behind-the-scenes paragraph at the end of every chapter, after the author's note. It's going to be called behind-the-chapter and it will give a little insight into the making-of of each chapter or give a little story on the creation of a character or an idea. It's completely optional to read and isn't essential to the story because it's just for fun. I'll begin on this chapter and see if you all like it.
Behind-the-chapter:
Well, there's no behind-the-chapter in the first three chapters so I'll only say two things about them: chapters 1, 2 and 3 were written on my phone (notes) before being put onto word. I thought about posting them here, but it wasn't until I reached the fifth chapter (next one) that I really had to.
This chapter was the first one to not be written on my phone, I think. Well, on the pink dragonair, I thought of putting a dragonite on the Leader's Suite door, but decided a shiny dragonair would be better. Also, Sarah wasn't planned on appearing anywhere other than the first chapter, but somehow she just screamed, demanding to appear and now I have a few things in store for her. Chasing Lovebirds is the title because of the few 'chasings' seen, other than the obvious swablu scene. Yes, Umber knows Morty, but that will be discussed on another chapter!
If you liked the behind-the-chapter concept, or thought it was boring or too much information, let me now in a review! See you all next time!