Pokémon

Hello everybody. So I was absolutely ecstatic when I saw how many people have been reading my story, and even more so when I saw that people were adding it to their favorites list or putting it on alert. Oh, and my two reviewers!!! Yayyy, I was so happy I almost cried. But, I would be even happier if I had more sooo... please review! Remember, reviews will make me want to update faster, and if you like my story then that means more Alex for you! Get it? Got it? Good.

Now presenting... (drum roll) The awesome people that made my day!

KuraiNezumichan: Thank you sooo much. I mean seriously, you have no idea how much your review made my day. I'm so glad you like the story! And sorry about the wait for the update. Sometimes I wondered if people actually liked the story or I was just writing for nobody, but at least I found out at least a couple who like it. xP

KitsPokePeople: Thanks! I'm glad you like Alex. Funny you should say that.... lol. Thanks for reviewing! You're awesome!

Okay, so I was kind of hoping to be able to post another chapter this week but now that I think about it, I highly doubt thats possible since so far I have two tests and two projects due, not to mention my piano homework and practicing. But, luckily I have most of next week off so I will most definitely update then and then... never mind, I'll tell you later. Now, story time!

Chapter # 10 - Jerk Magnet

"We think you should travel together!"

"What?!" Paul and Alex shouted. They shared a stunned glance, then gaped at their brothers.

"Wait, something's missing." Alex paused to fish out a bottle of water out of her backpack and took a long sip. "What?!" she shouted, spitting all of the water in her brothers bewildered face.

"Yeah, why not? You both travel alone most of the time so some company would be good for you." Reggie said. "Plus you two seem to be friends...ish, or at least you haven't killed each other yet…" Ryan added while wiping off Alex's saliva water that ran down his grimacing face. "So gross." He muttered.

"Well I don't see how that will work at all." Alex said crossing her arms over her chest defiantly.

"And why would that be?" Demanded her brother.

"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but Paul is probably going straight to the Pastoria City gym after he leaves here." After seeing Paul nod she continued. "Well before I go there, I'm staying at Lake Valor for a few days, so there's no way that could work."

"Why Lake Valor?" Ryan inquired.

"Well, because the Wallace cup is being held there. You remember Wallace, top coordinator, used to be the Hoenn's Sootopolis gym leader, and Hoenn's master champion, well he's hosting it."

"But, if I remember correctly, Lake Valor is on the way back to Pastoria isn't it. You both could stay at Lake Valor and then head off to Pastoria after that." Reggie suggested.

"…. Yeah, I guess it is. Paul, what do you think?"

Paul remained quite through the whole exchange, thinking. He didn't travel with anybody because they would slow him down. But maybe, she could help him get stronger. Watching stupid contests were a downside, but he couldn't stop himself from saying, "Whatever, fine. Just don't get in my way."

Alex raised an eyebrow and stared at Paul as though he had magically grown two other heads. She had expected him to put up more of a fight for their independency. 'I swear you purple headed jerk, you better not be an ass to me or you'll be sorry. Hey, I think I said that to Gary once…*mental sigh* I'm like a jerk magnet.'

"Great! Now Alex, Ryan, why don't you two stay at our house tonight and Paul and Alex can challenge the gym tomorrow."

"Sure, thanks." The brunettes said.

~The next morning~

Ryan woke up from his restful sleep and rolled over to check the time. It was 7am and bright sunlight poured in from the widow. He rubbed his eyes sleepily, also noticing his sister still peacefully resting in the bed next to his. He smirked. 'Guess I better wake her up. If she isn't up by now she must be in a really deep sleep.'

"Lexi." He whispered poking her. She didn't budge. "Lexi." He raised his voice slightly, poking her cheek. "Rise and shine Lex." He said, shaking her shoulders gently. This time, she turned onto her stomach, stuffing her face in the fluffy, white pillow. "Lexi!" Ryan said forcefully. "S'too early. Go back to sleep." Mumbled the drowsy brunette, rolling over to the point where she landed on the floor with a thud, taking all the blankets with her. She seemed unfazed and curled up on the floor amongst the warm covers, along with her eevee. "I didn't want to do this Alex. Plusle, shock wave."

*****

Reggie busied himself in the kitchen, making everybody a hefty breakfast. Paul watched him, eyeing the stairs to see when their two guests would finally decide to show themselves. He had wanted to go out and train before his gym battle, but his brother said it would be rude and gave him one of the family glares, and even if an angry Reggie was a rare sight it was still horrifying, even to him.

"Hey Paul, do you think somebody should go wake those two up?" Asked Reggie. He was answered as there was a light thud followed by some crackling and a faint burning odor wafting over the breakfast aromas. "What the hell? Hey, you get back here!" Loud footsteps crashed down the stairwell and Alex landed on the floor before them, pinning her brother under her, one arm painfully held behind his back. Her hair fuzzed up on her head and her already black pajamas were slightly charred.

"You little – why I outta…" She gave an annoyed growl and stood up. A bright smile lit her face as she looked at Paul and Reggie. "Good morning," she waved, "I think I'll go get dressed now. Oh breakfast smells really good by the way." She sang skipping back upstairs.

They both blinked a couple times, confused. Ryan moaned, struggling to stand. He must have noticed the befuddled expressions on the brothers' faces for he said, "Get used to it. I'm going to go get dressed too."

Alex came down a half an hour later; her damp hair clung to her head and wetted the back of her jade top. She picked up a piece of toast off the table while saying "Good morning again, thanks for the breakfast Reggie, see ya later." She gave her trailing eevee the corner crust off the bread as they headed towards the door and slung her tan backpack onto her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Ryan asked trotting down the stairs.

"I can't wait for my gym battle so I'm going to get there as soon as it opens! Smell ya later Ry." Her eevee and her replied running out the door.

The small town was just starting to wake up as Alex arrived in front of the gym's glossy glass doors once again. Her serious face had returned and she confidently strode inside.

"Is anybody here? I'd like to have my gym battle now." Her voice echoed through the spacious gym.

~ Back at Reggie's~

Ryan finished a wonderful breakfast along with a quiet Paul and a chatty Reggie. "I wish Alex would have waited for us before she raced off to the gym. I wonder how she's doing." Ryan sighed.

As he said this, Paul stood up and made his way to the door.

"Where are you going Paul?" his brother inquired.

"Where do you think? The gym so I can get my badge and leave."

The two looked at each other before scrambling out the door after him, shouting, "Wait, we're coming with you!"

~Back at the gym~

Riolu watched intently as a battle raged on between it's own evolved form and his trainers cubone, Skull. He mirrored some of the movements they used, pretending to be in an intense fight as well. He wanted to become strong for his trainer and battle like all of the other pokemon. Eevee giggled beside him as he fell on his bottom and resembled a bewildered kitten that just toppled off its chair. He felt the presences of other people approaching the building, or the gym as his trainer called it, and turned to glance at the door. He recognized the three people who entered from yesterday, so he again focused on the battle.

Also by her trainer's side sat eevee, keeping an eye on the child next to her. She turned when he did as Alex's out of breath brother and friends tried to quietly take a seat to watch her. Her trainer didn't seem to notice as she was too into the battle. She knew they were in a good position at the time. Charizard and herself had taken out two of the pink-haired leaders pokemon without much trouble at all. Her muscles were itching to fight some more, but she was recalled to give Skull the chance to battle, and being the loyal little eevee she was, she obeyed. Although, she was ready to pounce at her trainers word.

Cubone slammed roughly into the ground. He glared at lucario as he shakily stood up. This was the last pokemon the leader had, and Alex had thought this would be an excellent time for him to appear in his first gym battle. He had trained a lot over the past few days, wanting to make Alex proud, and she was. He wasn't going to lose after both Isis (eevee) and Hotshot (charizard) had won. He looked back to see Alex and Isis smiling at him encouragingly, and little Aura fighting…the air. He conjured up a sandstorm and hit his opponent with very high effects. Both panted heavily.

"Lucario finish this off with aura sphere!" Maylene, the gym leader, called.

"Focus punch!" Cubone gathered up what was left of his energy and suddenly started glowing. He grew larger with some few other minor changes in shape until he stood as a marowak. The newly evolved pokemon ignored the sting from his wounds and ran forward, throwing his fist at the incoming attack to deflect it back at lucario. He watched as his opponent slammed into the wall and be announced, defeated.

"You were amazing Skull, take a long rest and we'll fix up your wounds as soon as we can." Alex whispered gently, returning her pokemon.

Only after she was awarded her badge did Alex notice her small audience. She grinned while holding up the badge for them to see.

Paul challenged the gym leader next and won effortlessly, no surprise there. As he received his badge, he said rather smugly, "You're the weakest leader I've ever fought." He played with the badge in his hand, "And this lightweight badge is just like you."

"Geez, that was a little harsh, Paul." Alex scolded as they exited the gym.

"Hn, it's true. Do you not agree?"

"…Whatever." She sighed.

After they healed their pokemon and Alex made a phone call to Professor Oak, Alex and Paul met up with their brothers to say goodbye.

"We're leaving. Bye." Paul said, stuffing his hands in his pockets and walking down the road.

Alex rolled her eyes, "Wow, what an emotional moment." Her brother chuckled and gave her hug. "I'll see you later Alex."

She hugged Reggie as well. "For Paul." She said at his quizzical expression. "Well, smell ya later." She winked and sprinted down the road Paul just had, exclaiming, "Paul, wait up!"

~A few days later~

Ever since they started traveling together, Alex and Paul hadn't really talked to each other all that much. Paul left her alone while she trained for the contest, and Alex seemed more irritable lately anyway. One day when she decided to take a break from training, she went to find Paul. She spotted him behind a bolder, watching something with a frown on his face.

"What are you doing?" She asked startling him a bit. Raising her brow, she peeked behind the large rock to see Ash's pikachu and some other dudes raichu battling. She shook her head. "Creeper." She muttered and giggled walking back into the woods.

Alex hadn't sleep well for the last several nights, she wasn't exactly sure why, but her mood was greatly affected by it. She thought it might be because she wasn't used to traveling with anybody, especially not one with a scowl permanently stuck on their face, never kept their pokemon out of their pokeballs unless they were training, so damn uptight and...cold. The fact that she was stressing about the contest wasn't helping matters either.

Alex sighed, getting up with a yawn and going back on the road, saying nothing to Paul as they left their campsite. She trudged her feet along the dusty path, barely able to keep her eyes open. Eevee felt like deadweight on her shoulder, forcing her to slightly hunch over. Paul was quite a ways ahead of her and as if finally noticing her sluggish pace, whipped around.

"Will you hurry up? You're holding me up from my gym battle, not only by your stupid contest, but also by walking so…damn…slow!" He snapped, turning back around and walking faster.

Alex stood frozen, glaring at the back of his stupid, purple, retreating head. 'Fine then, if that's how you feel. I'm too friggen tired to pick a fight right now. I bet you won't even notice that I'm gone. I'll just run up ahead, no need to bite my head off ' She took another path and brought out her houndoom. "Hey Doom, can you get me to Port Valor please? Quietly though." She stifled a yawn, resting her head on the large dog's neck as she climbed on. Houndoom nodded and galloped off with his weary trainer.

~Back with Paul~

Paul briskly walked along the road to Lake Valor. He was starting to feel guilty about yelling at Alex. It wasn't like he didn't mean it, and she knew that right? She looked a mess though, her dark eyes drooped shut and purple bruises showed that she hadn't been sleeping well. Maybe he should have been helping her with her contest stuff or something, supporting her. 'God, now I'm starting to think like Ash, pathetic'. But then, maybe she wouldn't have been so irritated. He guessed he didn't really mind going to the contest with her, even if it was a waste of his time. 'Shit, now I have to apologize'

He brought himself to a halt, not turning around, "Look, I'm sorry alright? I shouldn't have said what I did."

Nothing.

"Alex?" He asked spinning his body to look behind him. 'Oh shit, now I've done it'


Well, I'm super tired. Please review. Reviews are like fuel for my udates. But nobody likes a negitive nellie. Wow I need sleep so goodnight!