The last few days has been a relaxing time. Caleb and I decided to relax after taking on two trials in 2 days. In the meantime we traveled across Akala Island getting a feel for the island. We got to meet fun people and adorable Pokemon.

On top of that we trained quite a bit. I still can't beat him one on one but I'm getting better. I was able to beat a few trainers up along Route 8 and that made me feel good.

I also found out some new information on Gladion from Carl. The day after I told him to look him up Carl video called me and told me some tidbits even though there wasn't a lot. Apparently, Gladion's Silvally is a synthetic Pokemon. It was created in the Aether Foundation. They also did some weird experiments in there but nothing concrete was found on the internet. Lastly, Gladion supposedly took over because his mom was sick and he didn't trust the high ranking employees to do good.

All in all it seems that Gladion is one of the good guys. He wants to keep Pokemon safe and make sure that his mom's company does good as well.

...

It's about 9:30 AM and I'm pretty tired. Caleb went to go get some breakfast from in town and I'm just being lazy in bed. That's when I get a video call from Carl.

"Happy Birthday!" he yells a bit too loud for my tired ears.

Oh right. Um it's my birthday. Now you know.

"Yay," I say sarcastically, "I survived another year!"

He shook his head with a smile.

Then his little sister and parents joined the call and wished me a happy birthday. They asked me how my Island Challenge was going and were happy when I told them it was going well. They told me they wanted to see me competing in the Alolan League Championship. I only promised them that I'll try. Carl jokingly rolled his eyes at me.

Carl was leaving tomorrow to go finish his getting the last couple badges left. And then it's the Hoenn League Championship in a few months. He was pretty excited about that.

"My Grovyle evolved into Sceptile yesterday. We were training and well, you know my Treecko, he doesn't like losing. When Numel was beating him he just evolved. Numel didn't stand a chance."

We both laughed.

Carl picked Treecko out of respect for my dad. I also think he did it for me because that's how Carl is. Not to mention we both loved Treecko and wanted one. I'm glad he picked Treecko.

His Treecko used to play a lot with my Skitty. Their personalities actually started to rub off on each other. Treecko started being sneaky eating food and Skitty...well I guess he got the attitude from Treecko now that I think about it.

"You know I'm going to try and come to Alola to see you compete, right?"

"Carl, come on. I don't even know if I'll be able to complete the trials here," I said.

He shook his head. "You are too down on yourself, Cam. Have some faith."

"Yeah yeah yeah."

"So what are you doing for your birthday?"

I shrug. "I haven't a clue."

"Well does that Caleb fella know it's your birthday." I nod my head. "Oh okay. Well please enjoy your birthday. For me." I hate when he pleaded. He always had this vulnerable look on his face.

"I will, Carl."

We said goodbye and promised to chat in a couple days.

When Caleb came back he had a few Malasadas with him. He thought he would get a couple extra because of Skitty.

We weren't going to do too much today anyways. There is going to be a festival, Akala Day, in the city tonight. Apparently, people wear masks and/or costumes and do a lot of dancing. Recently they've added Pokemon battles as a way to respect the Guardian Deity.

I've begun to understand some of the customs here in Alola. It's vastly different than Hoenn. Hoenn is rather boring if I'm being honest. There is a great sense of culture and tradition in Alola where Hoenn lacks it. I'm not trying to criticize either Alola or Hoenn. I think both regions are fine but Alola is kind of more interesting. I'm actually looking forward to the festival today and for whatever other traditions and customs occur.

I'm not exactly sure the point of the festival but each island celebrates with a similar festival. This week is actually called Alola Week for the region. Yesterday, Melemele Island had a festival.

I wonder how that was and if my mom went out and enjoyed it.

I haven't really talked to my mom since I left. She called once and we've messaged each other but that's it. I think we're both kinda avoiding talking to each other for as long as we can. I'm not sure how I feel and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Caleb can tell something is on my mind because he keeps glancing over at me as he eats. I've been pretty quiet.

I've noticed that Caleb is a lot more aware of his surroundings and how people feel than I originally give him credit for. Sometimes it's like he knows what I'm thinking and it's strange, but also heart-warming.

"How was the Malasada?" he asked me as he took the last bite of his. I had taken my last bite moments ago.

"It was good."

"Do you want to do anything today?"

I shake my head. "Maybe utilize the large pool for once," I say with a chuckle. Tide Song Hotel has the largest pool I have ever seen and we've been here for a week or so and haven't used it.

Caleb nods his head. "Sure, I would love to go. Get my tan on," he says with a grin.

"Dude you already have a tan."

"So?! I can have a better tan if I wanted. Maybe you can get a tan?"

I cackled. "I'm too white. Ima look like a Krabby at the end of the day."

He shook his head. "Oh stop. Just wear lotion." He got up and reached into his bag and grabbed a bottle of lotion and chucked it at me. "You'll still burn a little, but you can tan. You aren't that white."

I was THAT white.

The sun was baking. There have been a couple days here like yesterday that felt like Groudon had awoken to burn the planet into a desert. I'm gonna look like a Krabby.

There are quite the number of people here at pool side. Plenty of families. In the pool you have your assortment of people. Little kids playing and splashing at the shallow end. Teens and adults a little deeper throwing a ball around. Then, of course, a group of older folks at the deep end on those noodle things. There are also a few kids jumping into the deep end, but they keep getting yelled at by their parents.

Caleb and I take a couple lounge chairs near the gazebo. Skitty wanted to take a third but I made sure he didn't. I literally picked up the fatso and placed him on my chair where I had a towel set up for him to lay on.

Caleb took off his shirt exposing his lightly tanned body. Then he held out the lotion and ask me to put some on his back. When he turned around I kinda just looked at him and was a bit frozen. I squeezed some lotion and gently placed it on his soft skin. I rushed it a little bit because I felt weird.

Then he turned around and offered to do mine. When I declined , almost too emphatically, he chuckled and asked if I wanted to become a Krabby. I took a deep breath and took off my shirt.

When his warm hand touched my shoulder I initially shook as if I had a spasm. He apologized. Then he continued to rub the lotion on my back making me feel uneasy.

Uneasy cause I liked it.

I was disappointed when he was finished and I don't know why.

Or maybe I do.

"Cameron!" I hear Caleb yell.

Crap I was daydreaming.

"You alright? You seem distracted."

I was. "I'm fine, just tired," I lied.

We joined a few of the teens who were throwing a ball around. All of them were from different regions. Johto, Kanto, Sinnoh, and Unova. I don't know how long we played but it was for a long time. Every once and while I looked over to Skitty. I thought maybe he'd get lonely but I should've known better. He was fine just sleeping on the towels.

I eventually got out before Caleb. I kinda just wanted to relax on the lounge chair for a bit.

"How are you doing, buddy?" I said to Skitty as I took a towel from under him. He groaned but then yawned.

I rubbed his neck a little and he seemed to enjoy it.

I maneuvered my body so I can lay down without moving Skitty. He winded up laying on a towel in between my legs. I watched as Caleb played ball with the guys we met in the pool. For someone who has issues with socializing he was doing a great job with them.

"You shouldn't stare you know?" A voice said next to me.

"Gladion, what are you doing here?" I ask as I turn and see him.

"Meeting with a business associate from Kanto."

"Kanto?" I asked even though I heard him clearly.

"Yup. I'm looking to set up a facility over there to help injured Pokemon," he said expressionless.

I realized his Silvally wasn't with him so when I asked he told me that he doesn't like having Silvally out when he's in major cities in Alola. Especially when he is doing business.

"You should come to the Aether Foundation one day. I think someone like you would like it."

"Why do you say that?" I asked confused.

He looked towards the pool and his face lightly tightened. "You and that Caleb kid look like good people. You care about your Pokemon."

He looked down at my Skitty for a moment and that back at the pool. Something seemed to be bothering him, but to be honest he always looks like that.

"Are you going to the Festival, tonight?" I ask.

"Ha, no. Why?"

"I don't know. Thought maybe you would."

He shook his head with a smirk. "I have no time for crap like that."

He looked at me as I felt my face dropped. "Maybe you should make time. Have fun."

His gaze didn't leave mine for a few moments. He got up and took a deep breath. "Goodbye, Cameron."

"Bye."

As he was about to walk away, he stopped and turned around. He reached into his pocket and tossed me something. A necklace.

"Hoalola?" I asked reading the small engraving on the amulet.

"For anybody you think is a true friend, give that to them." He looked towards the pool and slightly smiled. "It was mine, but I had nobody to give it to. I think you have someone to give it to."

He looked at me, nodded, and proceeded to walk away.

I held the necklace in my hand and kept going over the engraving with my thumb. As Gladion left I became sad. He said he had no one. No one to call his true friend.