Part IX: Driving the Point Home
I left the bathroom to find my rival's Pokémon all back in their capsules and his black duffel bag swung over his shoulder. I just tried to ignore the stabbing feeling of regret in my stomach as I headed over to place my pajamas in my bag and to collect my yellow carrier from the floor. A burning in my back told me that my rival had decided to watch on as I quickly stashed my clothes and picked up my bag. Swinging the yellow strap over my shoulder, I looked back at my rival.
"...It's been nice." He suddenly looked to the window as his cheeks grew bright. "Last night was...interesting, to say the least. It wasn't how I would request to spend my evening," He suddenly looked back and flashed me a smile that made my heart race. "But I liked it. So, thanks."
"Pfft," I lifted my head with a proud smirk to hide the fact that my heart was sent on hot pursuit from just one look. "Your evenings are apparently very boring if that was unusual for you. You should see a normal night with my team; things are much more exciting than that!"
I could have sworn that for the slightest second, my rival's face lit up.
Twenty-Five, I held a proud look as my last thought from the previous night slipped back in my mind, relishing in the lull in the activity and the quiet. I love my rival. I found myself releasing a proud 'humph' before unclipping a Pokéball with a flourish. Using quick and flashy movements to direct attention away from my bright cheeks, I recalled all of my Pokémon besides Skar.
Silver noticed the odd choice in partners and looked back to me. I ignored how that stupid thought kept bouncing in my mind over and over again. "You're leaving Metal-for-Brains out? He's not exactly land-oriented, you know."
Love. Love love love. My thoughts pounded on as I arrogantly strutted for the door. "What does it matter to you, little Psyduck-Butt? Perhaps I'm not planning on traveling by land today." I love my rival. I'm in love. I'm in love with my rival. Oh, why did I have to fall and make myself into a fool? I'm trapped, I'm trapped! Flipping my hair with a smirk to clear my mind, I motioned for my trusted partner to follow me. Sharp claws rang out against the wood floors as he clumsily waddled to my side.
"It's been fun, little boy," I took a glance over my shoulder and found him giving me puffed, bright red cheeks of flustered annoyance. "But I'm afraid that I have places to be. Being the Champion of Johto and the strongest Trainer around means that I have little time for fooling around with boys." I gave him a chuckle and a curt salute as I headed for the door. "Tata!"
The instant my eyes switched to the hallway, I was blinded by a flash of white light.
I covered my eyes with a roar of confusion as footsteps pounded behind me. A tight grip on my shoulders and a yank set me crashing back into a soft surface, while a harsh caw of warning rang out above the clamor. Equally piercing yells questioning told me that the 'soft surface' I had backed up into was the chest of my rival and that 'tight grip' was his hands as he pulled me away from the doorway. The daze of a flash started to wear off, allowing me to shake it off and take a look at the source of the problem.
Standing in the hallway was a young boy with an Abra beside him, a camera resting in his hands as a grin crossed his face.
Terror slipped down my spine as I recognized the Rainbow Feather logo on his lanyard. "Oh no..." I stumbled to my feet as the grip on my shoulders loosened. "Oh, not the Ecruteak Chronicle. Please, not you."
"Alright!" A squeal of happiness sent a cringe to my face and my rival stepping backwards. "A clear picture of Lyra Soul with the strange redheaded guy! This'll sell for big Poké, huh Abra?" The Pokémon beside him let out a cheerful cry as the boy gave us a salute.
"Well, I'll be off!"
And before my rival could even so much as complain about being called 'strange redheaded guy', the boy and Pokémon teleported away.
"What was that?!" My rival helped me to my feet as I swayed slightly from the shock of being discovered in this cold mountain town. "Who was that guy and who's he calling 'strange redheaded guy'?!"
I became aware of a light nuzzle on my hip as Skar tried to sooth my frazzled nerves. "That," My voice was a mumble as little dots raced in front of angry metallic orbs and bright cheeks. "Was Baxter Wentworth, the apprentice photographer for the Ecruteak Chronicle."
"A newspaper?" My rival tilted his head as his shoulders hiked up. "Why would they bother to come all this way to take your picture?"
"No no no," I shook my head and fixed my bag strap as it dug in my jacket and started to sting in its place. "Not a newspaper, a tabloid."
"A...tabloid." My rival had obviously no idea what I was talking about, so I gave my head a final shake and stood tall.
"A gossip magazine about famous people." I motioned over my shoulder before twisting my finger in a circle beside my head. "They're the people who make up those crazy stories about so-and-so and whats-his-name going out on a date and who's breaking up and who's having affairs with who." His eyes grew wide as I narrowed my eyes. "And they've just taken a picture of us together to publish in some newest scandal."
I started to walk down the hall as my rival scrambled after me.
"So," He quickly caught up and started walking backwards to talk to me. "They're going to use that picture and use it in some article about us dating?"
"Pfft," I rolled my eyes and prayed that my cheeks wouldn't flare up. "I wish." I wish that we were. Ignoring the treacherous half of my mind that wanted to count the ways my rival made my heart flutter—in other words, the weak half—I went on with my point. "They'll probably use you in some article about me cheating on Falkner."
"Ch-cheating on Falkner?!"
I stopped as my rival froze in the hallway, anger and something that looked like hurt flashing in his eyes. A cold regret slipped in my veins as he once again looked utterly crushed by the mention of the Bird Specialist. Oh no. His hands balled into fists as he tilted his head down to the floor, forcing his bangs to cover his eyes. I've done it again. Not again. Not now.
"You-you were..." He let out a growl before snapping his head up towards me. "I should've known that you and that...that Pretty Boy were a couple!" My eyes grew wide as Skar simply watched us with narrowed eyes. Anger dripped from every sound as his eyes lit up with an intense rage. "You talked about him yesterday, spent months with him after the Ho-Oh incident..." He quickly turned his head away as his hands slipped in his pockets.
"I should have known that you've been hanging out with that loser."
I found myself speechless as my rival once again jumped to conclusions. He thinks that Falkner and I are...dating?! I tried to keep myself from either breaking down or laughing at the situation. He thinks...Falkner and me?!
"No way," A harsh tone of disgust slipped out of my mouth as I stared at my rival's back. "There is no way that Falkner and I would ever become an item!" Red locks shifted ever so slightly as Silver glanced over his shoulder through his flaming shield. "Falkner is just a friend with a bird," I paused as I remembered a few quick winks and sly flirts from the blue-haired sky dweller. I grimaced as the image of Falkner's smug grin flashed in my mind. "Who may or may not have a thing for me, I'll be completely honest."
"If you're being honest," I found myself gulping at the icy tone he was using, something I haven't heard in a long time. "Then just cough it up and admit that you're dating. You just said that they would use it in an article about you cheating on Falkner, so get it over with and admit that he's your dumb boyfriend." Crimson locks swished as he turned his attention back to the hallway's shortening stretch.
"Didn't I just say that the Ecruteak Chronicle was a tabloid magazine?" I tried to keep myself calm as my heart raced. I couldn't let him walk away now. I knew that Silver was dangerous in this state. Only he wasn't dangerous to me or to others...
He was dangerous to himself.
"So what?" He simply shrugged, acting as if he was unfazed by the whole thing. "They'll make up that you were cheating on him and going out with me on the sly." I raised an eyebrow as his voice distinctly squealed at 'going out with me'. "That'll sell plenty of papers, magazines or whatever and you'll have to play Champion and be the good little girl you've always been and fix things like you always do."
I didn't even hide the stabbing pain that his assumptions brought.
He's always been like this, pointing a shaking finger at me and my 'goody two shoes' self just seconds before he retreats. All this talk of being the 'chosen one', the 'Champion', an 'idol' and a 'hero' was starting to become far more apparent and common as of late. To make matters worse, it seemed that every time he brought it up, it brought some type of wall along with it.
I can't let him do this, not again.
"Silver," I reached out and grabbed his arm, not even loosening my grip as he flinched at the contact. "I'm only going to say this once. I am not a liar, not now and not ever. I would never lie to you, especially about something like this." Metallic eyes slowly peered out from burning red locks as he tilted his head towards me.
"I do not love Falkner the Bird-Boy, not even a little bit."
He took a sharp breath as he stared at me. For an agonizing moment, my heart was the only sound in the hall. Please, Silver. I looked at him with genuine tears in my eyes. The thought of Silver leaving right now in this fume scared me. Not just slightly concerned, but scared me. Silver was unpredictable on his own, but in this state...
I wouldn't put it past him to run away and never look back.
"Swear it on Ho-Oh's tail feathers?" A weak whisper leaked out of his lips. A sigh of relief gushed out as I stood just a bit straighter.
"Yes," Relief flooded more than just my systems, but I didn't bother hiding it from my voice. "I swear it on Ho-Oh's tail feathers." A chuckle escaped my lips as I found a small spark of relief in his eyes. "I'll swear it on Lugia's dorsal fins. I'll swear it on Celebi's antennae. I'll swear it on anything you want me to!" I could've sworn a laugh came from his mouth as I began to beam.
"Swear it on your Pokémon."
"I'll swear it on my Pokémon and I'll swear it on your Pokémon as well!" I released his captive limb as he slowly turned back towards me. He brushed his bangs aside and let his bright eyes shine through once again. "I mean it, Silver. Falkner is literally the last guy I'd ever consider as dating material."
He raised an eyebrow at this before giving me a sly look. "Oh, so I take it that Morty the Ghost-Whisperer is higher up than Bird-Brain?"
"Ew!" I shuddered in revoltion as he just laughed at me. Skarmory let out a relieved caw behind me, jolting me back to the fact that he was still with me. "Morty is old enough to be my father or something! Like I'd ever consider him!"
"Hey," He gave me a smirk and a shrug. "You said he was the last guy you'd consider, so I wanted to point out that Morty qualifies as a guy."
"Well then, wise-guy." I gave my nose a quick brush with my thumb before folding my arms and shifting my weight to my right leg. "Let me rephrase that so you won't keep bringing up old people. Falkner is the last guy my age or around my age that I'd ever consider."
"So," He looked around slowly before snapping back to me with a sly grin. My heart jumped at the sight, but I tried desperately to remain unaffected on the outside. "That would mean that I'm higher on that list than him?"
I gulped down a lump in my throat as he simply cocked his head. Oddly enough of me, any clever retort was reduced to mere sputters of sound in my mouth. Silver's grin faded before being replaced with a questioning glance. Oh crap! Crappy idea to push that button! Panic flooded my mind until all I could see was sparkling pools of sliver embraced by brilliant flames of crimson. Oh, why did I ever bring that up!?
Instead of trying to come up with an excuse, I just ruffled his hair and walked past him. Ignoring the sputters of confusion and the gradual teasing that would follow, I headed out towards the lobby.
My plight was foiled by Nurse Joy crashing into me.
Falling on my rear once again, I looked up to find the woman giving me a look of horror. Silver raced to my side as her mouth opened with silent gawks. I just rejected the tugging of my chest and let my rival pull me up by my overalls. My knees threatened to give out for a few heartbeats, but I shook it off with the dignity expected from a Champion and a regional hero.
"Oh my!" Nurse Joy's voice finally came out in a panicked gush. "I am so sorry, Ms. Soul! I'm so terribly sorry! I had no idea that you were still here and—" She noticed my rival standing beside me—and still gripping my left arm as we stood together—and a new wave of shock crashed against her face. "Oh my! You're still here as well? Oh, whatever shall we do?!"
Silver let out a huff at not being addressed by his name, but I just tried to focus on the woman's panic.
"Nurse Joy," I started with a calm tone, surprising me seeing as I had been reduced to incoherent noises only seconds earlier. "First of all, I prefer to be referred to as Lyra, not 'Ms. Soul'. Second, but honestly the most important point..." I paused for a moment before I managed to regain a firm tone. "Why are you so upset?"
Her blue eyes narrowed as she looked between us. She then started to wring her hands in front of her with a tight frown. "Oh, I thought I told everyone to evacuate last night, but I must have missed your room. Oh, how terrible this is!"
"Evacuate?!" Silver and I both let out a shocked shout at the same instant, confusion and horror seeping under our skin. Nurse Joy nodded sadly before letting out a sigh.
"I'm afraid that we're currently snowed in."
Author's Note: Tada! I, the amazing Illusion Of Insanity, have pulled off the greatest trick of my career! Feast your eyes on the often-done-but-difficult-to-nail cliché of 'snowed in'! Haha! Did you think that they were parting ways already, when we've only had one confession? No, my dear readers! We shall not have such a half-baked idea survive! We shall have a double confession and more, my friends!
In other words, things are going to get really interesting around here.
(Oh, and for some reason I kept writing 'Falkner' as 'Flakner' [as in flake-ner]. Make of that what you will. XD)