If I Were A Boy
Keith: and here I thought you were abandoning us
Me: ah no...
Keith: anyways, she does not own anything except for her OCs
Me: =O since when did you jump the gun at saying the disclaimer?
Keith: Since I became a minor character in this story!
Me: oh boy...
Chapter 3
Ashleigh walked over to the house she was looking to buy while leaving Summer in the hands of Teah under the supervision of Karrie. She sighed as she realized it wasn't the best arrangement of people, but at least Summer's dream could come true. Teah, Hannah, Sarah, Nick, and Dark came following her to the region to investigate the Ranger regions and their sexist government. Almia, Fiorre, and Oblivia was going to go under a huge revolution caused by the meddling of Teah, Hannah, and Sarah with the help of who knows how many others.
Meanwhile, Kellyn met up with Kaleb at the first opening ceremony. The other ranger escorts included Crawford, Jack Walker, Sven, and Barlow.
"Geez, I hate having to sit through these things," Kaleb said.
"What? You have a hot date we don't know about?" Jack Walker asked and Kaleb turned bright red. "Oh? You actually do? Surprise, surprise."
"Good news is that we get to meet up with the Operator and Mechanic escorts," Sven said.
"Sweet, wonder if we can wrangle in some hot dates, well besides Kaleb, 'cause he's always been a party pooper," Jack Walker replied with a smile before falling asleep during the ceremony. Afterwards, they met up with the other escorts for the other schools on the island. The operator escorts included Luana, Rhythmi, and Linda. The mechanic escorts included Wendy, Kate, Zenya, and Ellen. "Hey ladies, who wants to have lunch with me?" Kaleb and Kellyn rolled their eyes together in sync.
"You payin'?" Wendy asked.
"I think I'll pass," Kate replied while Zenya frowned.
"Let's all go out together!" Luana exclaimed. "I had a fantastic nap today."
"I'll go, but only if the guys pay," Ellen challenged.
"But you'll devour our salary," Sven replied.
"Oh why not?" Crawford asked.
"If Jackie's paying, I have no problems with it!" Barlow exclaimed.
"I have a lunch date with some friends," Rhythmi said as she filed her nails.
"I would love to go," Linda said before hugging Jack Walker's arm.
"Zenya?" Jack Walker asked and Zenya replied by walking away. "At least talk to me woman!" Zenya stopped and turned around. "That's better." She threw a rock at Jack's head.
"I'll go out with you the day you stop being a sexist," Zenya replied before walking away.
"OW! That hurt!" Jack exclaimed. "And strangely, in more places than just my head."
"Are you alright, Jackie?" Linda asked.
"He'll be fine," Sven replied. "He's got a hard head."
"Kellyn, heard Kare's going to be an Operator," Wendy said. "Ya think she'll survive without getting into too much trouble?"
"That's debatable," Kellyn replied. "She's not happy with the idea, but it's better than her blowing up the mechanic's school."
"I'll keep an eye on her," Rhythmi said. "Now, I believe you, Kate, Keith, and I have a lunch date?" Kellyn nodded. "You and Kate go ahead, I need to finish up paperwork. Is Kaleb joining us?"
"No," Kaleb replied. "I actually have someplace I need to go and I actually have plans."
"Gasp! Really?" Rhythmi asked. "You're growing up so fast!" Kaleb glared at her and she smiled. "I'm just teasing. I'm glad you found someone special."
~with Summer~
"So you need to be careful when you start getting your period and use tampons when you can and pain killers for the cramps." Teah reminded Summer as she got her hair cutting materials together. "Also, use binding when your boobs and your hips come in more. Hopefully you won't get boobs as big as mine." Summer blushed.
"You're awkward," Hannah said bluntly as she worked on the computer.
"However, it's the truth, I wouldn't want to force this upon Karrie because her curves are getting very hard to hide, I can tell," Teah replied. "And it's not like I'm a pervert."
"Yeah, yeah, Dark will be your doctor for any physical examinations you have to take," Hannah said. "Since he's the least famous and the least noticeable."
"Yeah, the freaking ninja," Teah replied. "You don't think he spies on Sarah or any of us, do you?"
"He doesn't spy on me and according to him, he has no need to watch the weirdo sister of his last crush." Hannah said. "And he's smart, for a guy."
~with Kaleb~
"Ashleigh, we just got let out, so I'll head over," Kaleb said. "Where do you want to meet?"
"Um, right now I'm trying to buy this big farm house in Chicole Village," Ashleigh replied on voicemail.
"I think I know where you are, I helped out remodeling the place as one of my assignments once," Kaleb said. "I'll meet you there."
"You don't have to, I could always meet you at your place or something," Ashleigh replied.
"If we do that, you know my mom is going to what to take over the lunch date at her place," Kaleb said. "And it's no big deal, I don't mind the walk. Besides, I can take a Staraptor if I want to, or a Doduo."
"Okay, see you here then," Ashleigh replied before hanging up. Kaleb sighed and looked out to the sky as he crossed the bridge. He couldn't believe that he finally was going on an actual date with Ashleigh. He had started to give up hope on her ever coming to stay, to accept his feelings. He was determined not to blow it.
~with Ashleigh~
She sat as she tried to talk to the elderly owners of the house. The more she talked, the more she felt as if they were just toying with her. She had more than enough money to buy the place, expand, and improve the place, not like she really wanted to. She loved the house and the fact that it had acres and acres of land so she could house all of her Pokemon.
The elderly couple was dead set on giving the house only to a family, not a single young woman who has so much extra money from her travels she didn't know what to do with half of it.
"My Pokemon and I are family," Ashleigh said. "And I plan on staying here and I hope someday I will get married and have kids. Please, please don't reject my offer because I don't have a ring on my finger." The old lady smiled while the old man laughed.
"Ashleigh Reynolds, was it?" the old man asked. "Kaleb has told us everything about you for years."
"Glad you're finally here and to stay," the old woman added. "Pokemon are family, it's true. So I guess you do actually qualify to buy the house. Oh Stan, we could finally get that house in Oblivia we always wanted, by the resort."
"True," the old man said as he rubbed the old woman's shoulders. "We'll accept your offer on these conditions: when you marry, you must live here."
"And either pass this house down through generations or give it to a loving family who needs it." the old woman added.
"And take care of Kaleb and Summer, they are like grandchildren to us," the old man said and Ashleigh nodded. She was relieved that it all worked out. The conditions were...a little strange, but Ashleigh had every intention of doing just what the old couple asked her to do anyways. Kaleb landed a Staraptor by the front porch. "Oh, speak of the child."
"My oh my, he's got a date with you, doesn't he?" the old woman asked.
"Yeah, how did you know?" Ashleigh asked.
"He's acting flustered." the old woman replied.
"That and she was eavesdropping on your phone call before," the old man added and Ashleigh laughed.
"KALEB! COME GIVE NANNA A HUG!" the old woman shouted and Kaleb blushed as he entered the house and hugged the old couple.
"Hope they weren't too embarrassing," Kaleb said.
"Not at all," Ashleigh replied. "Stubborn and a bit devious, but not embarrassing, yet."
"She's buying the house and some day this house will have your children's feet running across it's floor, Kaleb," the old woman said making Kaleb and Ashleigh turn bright red.
"Nanna," Kaleb exclaimed. "Don't say such embarrassing things!"
"But I predict it will happen," the old woman replied.
"Just wait to have kids until after you two marry, alright?" the old man said making Kaleb and Ashleigh turn even more red.
"Gramps!" Kaleb exclaimed.
"We won't embarrass you too much more," the old woman replied. "With what we're getting for the house, we'll be moving to our dream cottage in Oblivia. We'll visit a lot and don't forget to invite us to your wedding!"
"NANNA!" Kaleb exclaimed.
"Go, go, shoo, off to your date!" the old man said before laughing. Ashleigh gathered her things as Kaleb grabbed hold of her hand. He ran out the door with her in tow to escape his grandparent-like figures.
"I'm sorry, they mean well," Kaleb said.
"I know, I could tell," Ashleigh replied. Kaleb hugged her and kissed the top of her head.
"You ready?" Kaleb asked.
"Sure, but are we riding the Staraptor?" Ashleigh asked.
"Oh right, you're fear of heights," Kaleb replied. "Almost forgot about that. How about a ride on a Doduo?" Ashleigh blushed and nodded. Kaleb released the Staraptor and went off to find a Dodou. He came back and smiled. "I suppose we should start off somewhat new, no secrets."
"Huh?" Ashleigh asked as she remembered what she had put into motion in regards to Summer.
"I, uh, I, um," Kaleb stuttered as Ashleigh walked closer to him. "Is this a good time for confessions?" Ashleigh blushed and turned pink.
"I suppose just about any time is a good time, except I'm not sure you want your Nanna and Gramps to overhear , that and I think you're mom is spying on us." Ashleigh replied.
"I think they can already figure out the truth," Kaleb said.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Ashleigh asked.
"I, I really, really like you," Kaleb confessed. "I've always liked you." Ashleigh turned red.
"I really like you too," Ashleigh replied and Kaleb turned pink before turning bright red.
"And I, I, I love you!" Kaleb said in a bold confession that shocked Ashleigh. Kaleb looked away with a red face as he was a afraid to look at her reaction. Ashleigh hugged him.
"I love you too!" Ashleigh exclaimed, this time shocking Kaleb.
"YES!" Mrs. Layton exclaimed as she accidentally revealed her hiding place causing Kaleb, Ashleigh, Nanna, and Gramps to laugh together. "Sorry, carry on." Kaleb chuckled and helped Ashleigh get on the Doduo before taking off away from his mother.
"So, what other secrets have we been hiding from each other?" Ashleigh asked.
"I almost quit my job to be with you," Kaleb replied.
"I wanted to settle down and date you a long time ago, but a previous experience with another boy made me not trust myself so I got scared and ran in case all the feelings and thoughts were just in my head." Ashleigh said and they went back and forth as they went to Pueltown.
"Anything else?" Kaleb asked.
"Well, as we speak Summer is being turned into a boy so she can become a Ranger," Ashleigh replied and she immediately covered her mouth as soon as she realized she let that secret slip. "Oops."
"Wait, what?!" Kaleb exclaimed as he stopped the Doduo in the middle of the forest.
"Well, she really wanted me to help her and some of my friends were in the region for their own motives and well...I thought it be helpful if I helped her with her dream," Ashleigh replied. "I'm sorry!"
"Which friends?" Kaleb asked as he tried to calm himself down so he wouldn't snap at his new girlfriend. "It's alright, you've always had a soft spot for helping people attain their dreams."
"Hannah and Teah," Ashleigh replied. "They're staying here with Dark, Nick, and Sarah, something about wanting to find out more about the Ranger regions. They've been here for a while, supposedly on vacation."
"The ones who can't keep their noses out of anything, great," Kaleb said. "If Summer is discovered as a girl while in Ranger School or out being a Ranger, she'll be put in jail at best. They'll probably kill her."
"What?!" Ashleigh exclaimed. "I thought this place was just sexist!"
"No, but I don't blame your, er, friends trying to find things out here," Kaleb replied. "I know something is up behind the scenes, but the higher ups never tell me much, even if I'm a Top Ranger now."
"Oh no, Summer," Ashleigh said. "I should have thought first and asked you about it first before opening my mouth." Kaleb ruffled her hair and smiled.
"It's alright, you didn't know and you were just looking out for Summer." Kaleb replied. "We'll stop by where Summer is then after the date. I'll try to help her out so she doesn't get caught."
"Same," Ashleigh said with a nod. "We're going to Pueltown?"
"Yeah, why?" Kaleb asked.
"No, Vientown is where Summer is now," Ashleigh replied. "Since Teah is planning on doing something big in Pueltown and there's more chances that people will recognize me in Pueltown. Not like I mind, it's a cute little city."
"Hmm, now that you mention it, Kellyn did mention I supposedly have a fan club now," Kaleb said. "Top Rangers are famous here, some more than others. It can be really annoying though, with all those girls trying to chase you down. Not sure how Sven and Jackie do it."
"You get chased by girls?" Ashleigh asked.
"Sometimes," Kaleb replied. "Especially when the crazy ones who think my glare and ignoring them is attractive." Ashleigh laughed.
"So we're both celebrities now, who would have guess?" Ashleigh said and they both smiled and laughed before continuing on their way. They stopped at a little café for lunch and caught up on what has happened with each other since the last time they met.
~with Kellyn~
Kellyn laughed as Keith told another joke with Kate. Keith was a Top Ranger too, but he got out of escorting duty with a different mission. There had been some attacks on Rangers that involved methods that none of the Rangers were accustomed to. Keith, being a son of a police officer and the brother of councilman, got to man the first team on the case. He was currently dating Rhythmi and together they were ranked in the top ten couples in Ranger Regions.
To think that just a few years ago, they were saving Almia together from Team Dim Sun! Now Keith was one of the most popular guys around and was still the goofball he used to with a bit more maturity. Nah, who was Kellyn kidding! Keith had ways to go when it came to maturity and the popularity thing was not helping. Rhythmi was currently ranked as the best Operator in the regions while Kate was among the best Mechanics in the regions with a basic capture styler to boot. Then there was Kaleb who had always been a bit of a loner, but always was a close friend to Kellyn. In some ways, he and Kaleb were closer friends than he was with Keith.
"What are you thinking about?" Kate asked.
"Just thinking of the old days," Kellyn replied with a smile.
"Yeah, when Keith didn't have an inflated ego," Kate said quietly causing him to laugh.
"So why is your sister signed up to be an Operator?" Rhythmi asked and Keith blinked. Keith had heard about Kellyn's sister, Karrie, but unfortunately, Karrie was never around when he visited, well except for when he visited Kellyn's house back in Ranger School.
"She can't be a Ranger and she's likely to blow up the Mechanics School," Kellyn replied. "That and Erma suggested it."
"Isn't she a tomboy?" Kate asked.
"If she was a mechanic then she could be like Kate," Keith said.
"You don't understand, anything she tries to fix that is technology related blows up somehow, literally," Kellyn replied. "She can use technology just fine, but as soon as something stops working the way it's supposed to, good luck."
"Yeah, she's pretty bad," Kate said. "It's too bad."
"Most Operators tend to be girly," Rhythmi said. "Do you think she'll survive it?"
"It's possible, but she might give Keith a run for his money as far as detentions and pranks go," Kellyn replied.
"What? No way a girl could beat me at that!" Keith exclaimed.
"Have you met my sister?" Kellyn asked.
"Once, she was a tiny shy girl who avoided me the whole time I was at your house back when we were students," Keith replied.
"She's not a people person," Kate said.
"I know, if only she could be a Ranger," Kellyn replied.
"It will be a good learning experience for her." Rhythmi said.
~end of chapter~
Keith: O.O I'm dating RHYTHMI?! WTH!
Me: you finally show up in the story and you immediately find something to complain about?!
Kate: well, he is Keith
Summer: and he is a boy
Ben: you made him your assistant
Me: T.T
Ben: Don't be mad, stay glad!
Mrs. Layton: KALEB FINALLY HAS A GIRLFRIEND!
Kaleb: STOP EMBARRASSING ME!
Rhythmi: congrats!
Ashleigh: Please review!