Part XI: One Crush, Hidden and Warmed, Please
The young woman let out a sigh as her hand numbly petted her trusted Arcanine. She had won this battle, but why did she feel like she lost? Perhaps it was because that her rival would now be boarding a ship to a distant land and leaving her far behind. Her heart dropped at the thought alone. Even after all she's been through with him, she couldn't change his mind. Even though they had grown so close over their rivalry, they still were not close enough to prevent such a tragedy.
"Lydia?" The woman turned around and found her rival standing before her, his red locks illuminated in the setting sun's rays and bursting into a dancing flame. "You were really great in our battle. It's amazing to think of how far you've come."
"Yeah," She swallowed down regret and bitterness as her voice faltered. "You've become quite the Trainer yourself." A smile entered his face as her words met his ears, causing her heart to be stunned for an instant and enter an all-consuming pounding.
Her heartbeat rang out in her ears as he ran a hand through his hair in the way that drove her crazy. He then gave her a quick salute in just the way she loved before putting a hand on his hip. "You bet I am, little Lydia! I'm going to become even better than you, just watch me!"
A small laugh escaped her as she narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, good luck with that Silvester."
"I told you to call me Silv, 'Dia!"
The girl just laughed before shaking her head at him. "Like I'd ever miss a chance to taunt you, dummy. A rival's job is never done!"
"Well," His light tone suddenly dipped and become far more somber. "It looks like your job might just be over, Lydia."
I honestly felt like puking at this point.
It's been over an hour of this, a painful romance between two rivals when both of them can't even so much as admit that they enjoy hanging out with the other person. One stubbornly sticks to pride and walls of cocky attitude to hide her feelings, while the other tends to act indifferent and pretend as if he doesn't even notice the girl he's been chasing after for years.
It didn't help matters that my own rival was eating this junk with a spoon.
"Why won't they say anything?" Silver was once again muttering his complaints to the air as he watched on, hypnotized by the dated movie. "They're both in love but they just keep hiding it. Now he's about to leave and they might never see each other again! They should do something before it's too late!"
I simply let out a heavy breath and tried to ignore how the male in the room was enjoying this more than I, a member of the feminine kind, who wasn't even remotely interested in this garbage. The only thing that prevented me from turning away in disgust was the heavy amount of battling this movie contained and even that was starting to not make up for the painful tension.
"'Dia," Silvester's voice suddenly gained a wispy quality. The sound made the girl's heart beat all the faster and forced her to gulp down the rising feelings in her throat. She couldn't fall. She was a powerful Trainer, not some schoolgirl! She was higher than stumbling over herself for a guy, no matter how sweet, smart, attractive and good at battling he was.
Oh great Mew! She really had fallen for him!
"Yes, Silvester?" She tried not to sound too hopeful as the boy took another step towards her. Sneakers squeaked on the contact of saltwater and sodden wood. Footsteps seemed far too slow as the boy closed in on his rival.
"'Dia, I've done some thinking and...well..." His voice trailed off as scarlet eyes met powerful blues. "It seems to me that maybe I'm..."
"You're what, Silv?" Her heart raced even faster as he stopped just inches from her face, their noses brushing in this enclosed portion of the docks. Could it be that he felt the same way about her? Had her wildest dreams come true?
"Come on, Silvester..." Silver was literally leaning forward in his seat as his fingers weaved together. "Say it, you idiot. You're going to loose her if you keep quiet. Come on, speak!" I gave him a slightly disturbed glance before turning my attention back to the movie. His talking to himself about the movie would be quite a bit funnier if I didn't have an odd feeling in my gut right now.
"Silv," Lydia's eyes grew wide as she found her rival taking a deep breath, smacking her face with a heavy warmth.
"Lydia, I've realized that somethings are a bit more important than winning." The boy started off his speech with narrowed eyes and a calm tone. "For example, helping those in need or being kind to your Pokémon outweighs victory. You've taught me that, and for that deed I thank you."
Her heart sank as his words met her burning ears. Was this only a farewell speech? Would her rival get on the ship without even so much as noticing the way she felt about him? Oh, if only she had the guts to speak up herself! She wanted to tell him, truly she did. However, a small fear of rejection held her back, tugging on the leash until it grew taut and kept her from speaking her mind.
"But, even though I've become stronger, there's something that eludes me." He paused for a moment before looking up at his rival with determination. "I've realized that even if I won against you, I wouldn't get what I truly want."
"What do you mean, Silv?" Her chocolate locks danced in a sudden breeze as the vibrant orange sea met the peach sky beside them. Evening was closing in, and soon Silvester's ship would set sail for Orre, whether he boarded or not.
"What I'm trying to say is that I know what I truly want now." A hand slowly slipped up to Lydia's cheek as the boy leaned in just enough for their forehead's to touch. "I've realized that what I want is you, Lyra."
Wait, did I hear that right?
I shook my head as the name suddenly twisted into my own. No, that couldn't be right. The brunette on the screen was not me, she was an actress with a slightly similar name that sounds nothing like my own when spoken out loud. That was not Silver's voice ringing in my ears and saying what the actor on screen had finally admitted to his rival.
My eyes grew wider than Pokéballs when I found that the names twisted in my mind the instant I heard them and became 'Silver and 'Lyra' instead of Silvester and Lydia. This was not a movie about the shaky relations between myself and my rival. No, this was a movie about two completely different people who just so happen to be rivals and have similar personalities.
Oh Ho-Oh, I was that girl on the screen!
Well, not literally. But still, I was in the exact situation—minus the leaving part—with my own rival. I was stuck behind my mask of confidence and power when half the time I was fantasizing about my redheaded rival and the possibilities of become more than just friends with him.
My eyes snapped back to the screen just in time to see the two leaning in for the kiss. My eyes grew wider than they ever had before as I abruptly found myself imagining myself and Silver in that very situation, my rival leaning in with nothing but gentle eyes as we grew closer and closer. His hands would gently grip my arms, holding me in place and keeping me steady. Our lips would brush ever so slightly before—
No no no! I shook my head violently, shaking the couch Silver and I were sharing in the process. Stop this nonsense! You are a Champion and a powerful Trainer to boot! You will not daydream about how your rival's lips would feel against your own or holding his hand in yours with a strong confidence or falling back into his arms and letting yourself be held as the sun sets...
Horror slipped down my spine like a wet Milotic at the thoughts that raced in my mind. I buried my burning face in my hands just as the spot beside me shifted with my moving rival. I'm such an idiot. I'm absolutely pathetic. I'm acting like a lovestruck schoolgirl with nothing to do but dream about love and doodle my crush's name on my notes. I'm becoming weak!
"Uh, you feeling alright, Lyra?" I tried to ignore the poke on my arm as my rival's attention suddenly turned to me instead of the loud symphony music and crashing waves of the kiss scene. "You're turning red, you know."
"I-I am not!" I mentally slapped myself at the stutter and tried to clear my throat. I then let out a growl and shifted my attention to the stack of movies on the table. "I'm just sick of watching this crap! I'm getting nauseous and everything from all this sappy love junk! I say we watch something else!" I then started digging through the pile of movies, searching for one that didn't revolve around some love story that would somehow twist into being about myself and my rival.
"We've already watched almost the whole thing." Silver just slumped back into the couch with a frown as I knocked the pile over to see the middle of the stack. "Couldn't we just watch the end and call it good?"
"No!" My voice was frantic as I found the stack to be filled with romance, romantic comedy, comedy, dramas and soap opera box sets. Didn't this woman ever watch anything other than what Ethan's grandmother's personal favorites? "We're changing the movie before I puke!"
"You're probably just embarrassed by the movie or something."
My heart stopped beating as I slowly turned my attention to my rival. He was giving me his favorite look to scold me with, folded arms, narrowed eyes and stiff shoulders. His eyes felt like flames burning holes in my skull as he slowly blinked. My voice caught in my throat as he continued to stare.
"What did you just say?" My voice came out surprisingly cold, startling me with the chill that escaped my mouth.
"You heard me." Silver's voice was equally as distant as he shifted in his seat as to fold his legs. "You're just embarrassed. Your face is as red as my hair right now, your eyes are as wide as a Pokéball and your voice is doing the high-pitched thing it does when you're in denial." He seemed to think harder about this for a minute before shaking his head. "You know what? Forget it." He waved me off and pointed to the stack. "Choose a darn replacement movie and get it over with."
I gave him a huff of frustration before pulling a dark red case out of the pile. "Here!" I literally shoved it in his arms as the movie on screen started to fade out. "We'll watch this instead!"
His eyes slowly drifted down to the case before snapping back to my face. A paleness overtook his features as he narrowed his eyes at me. "The Clock Strikes Twelve?" The scepticism in his voice was not making me feel very confident about my choice, but I held my head high anyway. "You're not going to like this movie, not one bit."
"Oh yeah?" I folded my arms with a glare and leaned towards him. "And what makes you say that, Silver?"
"Uh, because this movie is actually rated 'R' and it won quite a few awards for being the scariest, most terrifying movie in a decade." I tried to hide the gulp of dread as I focused on my rival's eyes. "You wouldn't last the opening credits, let alone the whole movie."
"Yes I can!" I somehow found a flame of determination at the very idea of backing out. "Pop that sucker in and let's get going!" I jumped back in my seat and quickly rooted myself in my spot. "I'm going to prove that I won't get scared!"
"Fine," Silver just shrugged and peeled himself off of the couch. He then slowly headed to the DVD Player with a tight frown. "If you're so stubborn about it, then you can watch it." He quickly replaced the movie we were watching with the supposedly horrifying movie and turned toward me with folded arms. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
"I'll be just fine!" I tried to hold on to my stubborn shield as the movie started to load. My rival just rolled his eyes and sat down with a sigh. Ignoring his displeasure, I just tried to keep a strong face as the opening previews turned out to be just as terrifying and graphic as the real movie would probably be.
Oh, please don't make me regret this.
Author's Note: Muhahaha, I had quite a bit of fun writing this chapter. Who doesn't love a moment when they imagine kissing their rival? I know I love writing such cheese-in-a-can!
Oh look, Silver's pretty irked about missing the end. What? You thought Lyra would like this movie? Nah! Silver, as it was previously mentioned, seems to be fluent in chick-flick. This may or may not be related to the default movies provided in the rooms of all Pokémon Centers, which just so happen to tend to be romantic/feel-good in nature. Also, Silver may or may not be studying pick-up lines and how to actually 'talk' to girls by watching those movies. (But that's just crazy, right? /wink/)
Hope you're not lactose-intolerant, because there's plenty more cheese up ahead!