Disclaimer: Inferno: Hahahaha, I'm glad- I was worried that no one was going to get what I was making fun of. Oh, and congrats on the baby! Yeah, girls are (sometimes) less annoying than boys X D Oh, yay! Another Cynthia's-theme lover! High fives all round, people. Hm… I think Ebaz is right about the Aroma Lady Elizabeth thing. And there might have been a trainer in the anime who was named Liza or something, if that counts. Franticfannatic and Lumpycheez: Hey, thanks for adding this to your favourites! Don't forget to review! Ebaz: Dude, that's cruel. Tests suck- would you like to request anything to make yourself feel better? Awwww, thanks! I don't know you're name, but I'll bet it's pretty, too. Pffft. Nob. That's so great. And thank you! I look forward to reading your reviews on my other latest chapters. (And for 'Awkward Questions', no, there is no particular reason why Ash is wearing pink underwear : ) I just thought it fitting.)

Question:

My Answer:

Characters: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REQUESTING THIS INFERNO.

PLEASE READ:

Inferno requested (like the genius she is) that I do a HoennShipping vs. NewRivalShipping vs. HoennChampionShipping fic, but I decided to spin it a little. This little collection will be done in first person, because it'll be me speaking. Yes, I know, I am shameless. If you don't like it then just replace my penname with May's name and pretend it's her, okay? Depending on who you guys vote to be the best match for me/May, I'll write a bonus chapter circulating around the two. So cast your vote in your review! I'll tally the votes on Friday.

Summary: OMG I'm so excited for this! *Squeals and jumps around the room excitedly, flailing all the while* Okay! Part one, here we go!

Choices (Part One)

The first thing I noticed was his eyes.

They were the colour of red wine, the shock of white hair that topped his head falling forward to veil them at times. His tan, angular face was creased in lines of unhappiness, but there was an unexpected dimple near his mouth that evened out what could have been an off-putting expression. His trim body was covered by a simple white T-shirt and dark pants, his exposed arms- surprisingly sinewy, with broad shoulders to match- glistening with a light sheen of sweat as he hefted a cardboard box from the moving truck onto his shoulder and carried it into the house next to mine.

I sat on my porch's steps, my ralts, Larka, seated on the grass below. We both watched as he exited the house and helped the pokemon movers with yet another box, vanishing from view again.

You think he's cute, Larka commented through the mind link that most psychic pokemon and their trainers shared.

What of it? I replied.

Go talk to him, then, she told me, tilting her head back to peer pressure me.

No way! The reply came back instantly, and I felt my face flush at the thought. I mean, he's just going to be one of those popular kids when school starts, I elaborated, trying to keep the wistfulness out of my thoughts. They don't like me. Why would he be any different?

She shook her head at me. So shy, she sighed. You know, you could give yourself a chance. Maybe he's nice.

Maybe he's a jerk.

Maybe he's not.

Maybe he is.

Maybe- oh, fine. She turned her head away. Your loss, Odile.

We sat there in silence for a moment before hearing a crash nearby, and the shattering of glass. The sound of a woman shouting sliced the air, and a small orange blur streaked out of the house. I stood up, alarmed, as it raced towards me, and Larka began to tell me to back away- and then the thing flung itself at me, and in the blink of an eye I found my arms full of downy auburn warmth.

Are you okay? Larka demanded, just as startled as I was.

"Uh- yeah," I gasped, looking down. I was met with the sight of a beak and two blinking saucer-like eyes, and I felt my mouth curve into a smile. The torchic ruffled its feathers in reply, chirping at me.

He really likes you, Larka translated, surprise giving way to her usual wryness. Hm.

"Jace!" someone hollered. "Jace, where are you?" The white-haired boy emerged from the house, his hands cupped around his mouth. "Jace!"

I felt my shoulders stiffen, and my teeth sank into my bottom lip. "You're Jace, aren't you?" I muttered to the bird pokemon.

He chirruped in reply.

"Of course you are," I sighed.

Oh, quit being timid and go over there, Larka urged. Man up already. This is a golden opportunity.

I shot her a dirty look, but willed my legs to start moving. Smirking, Larka shuffled behind me, and I took a deep breath as I approached the boy.

"Hello?" I called, and the boy turned, his gem-coloured eyes flashing as he glimpsed the torchic. "Um, I think I found your pokemon."

He exhaled as if a great weight had been lifted off of him, and his face, which had looked so tense before, relaxed. "Thanks. Sorry about that- he's never run off like that before."

"It's no problem," I answered. He leaned in closer so that I could pass Jace to him, and caught a whiff of the faint smell of leather and cologne that clung to his clothing. He pulled away slowly, his eyes on me as he cradled Jace in his arms.

"Well, bye," I said, flashing a smile before pivoting and beginning to walk away. It's not that I wanted to leave; it was just that I knew I would make a fool out of myself if I stayed.

Larka wrapped her paws around my foot, screeching, What are you doing? Introduce yourself! Flirt! Make small talk! Do anything!

"Hey, wait." I paused, blinking in surprise at the sound of his voice. "You live next door, right?"

I turned around slowly to face him. He was scratching his pokemon's head, his expression curious.

I fought the urge to fidget and tried my best not to look nervous. "Yes."

'Yes'? That's the best you can do? Larka muttered. Arceus, no wonder you're single.

"I'm Odile," I added, trying to keep my voice polite as I envisioned myself punting my sassy partner all the way across town. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Brendan." Still smiling, he stepped forward, offering a hand. I extended my own, and we shook, though I withdrew my hand quickly. "Hey, is that ralts yours?"

I looked down at Larka, who was holding onto my leg with one paw on her hip. "Yes. This is Larka." Who is being a total troll right now, I might add.

"Cool." He knelt down so that he was eyelevel with her. "It's an honor to meet you, Larka," he said, sounding almost amused.

You bet your ass it is, she replied, though we both knew he couldn't hear her.

He lifted his eyes to me. "Ralts are very rare. How'd you find one?"

"She found me, actually," I admitted, crouching down as well and stroking Jace's beak. He nipped at my fingers playfully.

"I read somewhere that they can sense emotions or something."

"That's true."

"So she sensed your emotions?"

I nodded. "I was…um, crying, one day…when I felt this tap on my shoulder. I looked over and there was Larka, holding a tissue box out for me." I felt a smile worm its way onto my face. "She had stolen it from my backpack, but it's the thought that counts. After that she followed me home, and we've been partners ever since."

He shifted so that he was sitting down, and I followed suit. "Why were you crying?" He seemed to genuinely want to know.

I waved a hand dismissively, flushing. "Oh, you know. Family issues."

He grimaced. "I do know. Sorry about that."

One of my shoulders rose and fell. "How did you meet Jace?"

"My uncle gave him to me for my birthday last year." He gazed fondly at the torchic, who had hopped over to Larka and was staring at her in a slightly unfocused manner. She was staring back, her head leaning to the side curiously.

"Oh. Is your uncle a breeder?"

"No." Brendan rubbed a hand over the bridge of his nose and seemed embarrassed. "He's a professor."

"Really?" Jace had turned suddenly away from Larka, and had wandered over to a patch of grass and seemed to be hunting for something. "What does he specialize in?"

"Pokemon habitats."

I blinked. "Isn't that what Prof. Birch specializes in?"

"Yeah." He winced, redness creeping along his cheekbones.

"So you're Prof. Birch's nephew," I rationalized, drawing my knees up to my chest. "But that means…"

"That I'm Norman Birch's son?" His smile had faded, and his cheeks were stained with embarrassment. His voice had taken on an almost bitter edge, and his shoulders stiffened as if bracing for a blow. "Yeah. It does."

"I'm sorry." It came out softly.

His head snapped up, his eyes round. "What?"

"Well, your dad's been living here for years now," I elaborated, praying that my words didn't offend him. "So I guess that means you haven't seen him for a while, if you're just moving here now. And being a gym leader's kid…Well, no offense, but I wouldn't want my dad to be one."

Brendan was leaning towards me, his arms on his knees. "Why not?"

"Because that's all anyone would care about. Not who I am, but who I'm related to. I'd get peppered by questions every day, have to live up to everyone's expectations…" I trailed off.

He gazed at me for a moment longer before commenting, "You're strange."

I blinked. "So they tell me."

"Oh, no." His entire face reddened. "I didn't mean it like that…it's just that no one's said anything like that before. They all just say how cool it is and stuff."

"And is that what you want me to say?" I asked.

Ooooh, Larka crooned. My girl's flirting! Seriously, you sound so coy. What next- you winding a strand of hair around your finger?

I took a steadying breath to keep myself from scowling.

"No," Brendan said, bringing my attention back to him. "No, actually, I don't. It does suck." He rested his chin on top of his knee, his lashes lowering to veil his eyes. "I-" He broke off, and burst out laughing.

I felt my eyebrows pull together. "What's so funny?"

He pointed, and I half-turned to see Jace carrying an overly large bouquet of buttercups in his beak. He stumbled over to Larka, his large eyes shining, and leaned over to offer them to her. A blush crept onto her cheeks, glaringly obvious against the whiteness of her skin.

Ooooh, I mimicked. My girl's blushing! Seriously, you look so bashful. What next- you putting your hands behind your back and scuffing your feet?

For once, she didn't have a snappy comeback. She seemed to have gone mute as she reached out to accept the flowers, hiding her face behind them. She murmured something in a different language that I couldn't understand, and Jace twittered in reply.

"I don't know what's gotten into Jace," Brendan remarked. "He seems to really like you two."

"It's sweet," I said. "I don't I've ever seen Larka be so shy before."

He didn't answer, and I glanced over to see him looking at me. This close, I could see tufts of brown hair that seemed to be peeking out from underneath his white hair, as if he had dyed it or was wearing a hat. "You know, I thought that moving here was going to ruin my life," he said in a voice that bordered on hesitant. "But you seem really nice. I have to go finish unpacking and tell my mom that I found Jace, but afterwards do you want to hang out? You could show me around town or something."

My breath caught in my throat. If it was any other boy I'd ask if it was a joke, since there would be no way that they would want to spend time with me…but with him looking so hopeful, and with Larka and Jace still smiling at each other, I couldn't bring myself to.

"Sure," I found myself saying. "I would really like that."

"Me, too," he answered as he got to his feet, and offered a hand to help me up.

I took it.