Trainer Fanclub

Zoey smiled at him, but Gary still kept the same expression on his face.

"Y…You're…alive?"

The girl walked up to him. "Yes…I'm not a ghost…and I didn't die when that ship sunk…it's a long story so you probably don't want to hear it…"

"I…I thought…"

Jessica shoved her way out of the crowd and gasped when she saw Zoey. "Zoey?! How did you get here?! I thought you were still lagging it back at Celadon!"

Gary shot Jessica a surprised and offended look. "You knew she was alive and didn't tell me?!"

The blonde giggled nervously and sweatdropped. "I-It completely slipped my mind! Heh heh…"

Zoey decided now would be a good time to talk. "I decided to check out the Trainer Fanclub after I got the Marsh Badge. Joey is downstairs being bombarded by his fans, so I decided to explore this place. But…seeing as I have no fans, I'm gonna leave."

She began to head back down stairs when she felt somebody grab her hand. "No…wait…" Gary had caught her before she was able to descend.

"Yes?"

"I…I want to talk to you…"

"Why? I mean, you have your fangirls to keep you company right?"

"But I don't wanna talk to them." That statement stabbed every Gary fan in the room. "I wanna talk to you."

He began to pull her over to an empty table in the back of the room. She didn't know why he was being so assertive, but she knew this was his personality anyway. Once both of them sat down, the remaining girls sadly returned to their own tables, minus Jessica who crossed her arms and pouted.

"She had to come at the moment I was finally able to get some alone time with him!" she grumbled to herself. Then she went back to her own table and fans.

Eevee sat on the table next to Zoey. Gary noticed.

"You caught an Eevee?"

"Yes…it's a long story…"

"Before you tell me anything…I want to know…how are you still alive?"

"You make it sound like you want me dead…"

"No! I don't mean it like that! I would never want you to die! I just…I just…can't believe you're alive…that's all…"

Zoey smiled sweetly and then began to tell her story. She told him of Lapras and Marina and how they were able to save her.

"I see…" He looked out the window, and then looked at her. "Zoey…I…I haven't seen you ever since the S.S. Anne…I…" He blushed. "I was…really worried about you…"

Her cheeks became a little pink. "W…Why?"

"Because…I thought I lost you…forever…" His blush deepened and so did hers, but the boy avoided her eyes. "And…I don't want you to die until I beat you at a Pokemon battle in the Indigo Plateau…you're my rival."

"Oh is that all?" She was a little offended.

"No…it's also because…I guess since you were my best friend…I still felt a bond with you somehow and when I assumed you were gone…I didn't want to think about it…"

Zoey's eyes became glossy. "Gary…"

"But now that I know you're alive…I'm relieved…and…well…that incident made me realize I shouldn't have stopped being friends with you…so I'm gonna try to be a better person and rival towards you."

"Thank you…"

"Now…explain how you got the Eevee. Oh and did you get any new Pokemon? Meet any new people? Tell me all the accomplishments you've made too."

"Calm down! I'll go in order from the point where Lapras saved me! Geez…"

Zoey began to tell Gary about her adventures after she was saved from the shipwreck. She told him about the twins and the Ghost Brothers, about how she saw Zapdos flying in the sky, the Cherry Blossom Festival, Team Rocket's hideout in the Game Corner, the Snorlax blocking the road, Officer Jenny and her biker ruse, the Safari Zone (leaving out that she and Joey had almost kissed of course), the Power Plant and Elekid, and the dojo. Gary laughed at some parts and sometimes asked her to clarify things he didn't understand. He also was hiding the jealousy whenever the girl mentioned traveling with Joey. Zoey also told him about how her Pokemon evolved and the new ones she's caught.

"Wow Zoey, I'm impressed. A little."

"Gee thanks…"

"You've managed to get a Snorlax, Eevee, Rapidash, Marowak, Hitmonchan, and also got your previous Pokemon to evolve! I'd love to see them."

"I don't think they'd want to be in a room full of people. They might be claustrophobic. You never know."

He smiled at her, something he rarely did anymore. "Zoey…I…I really missed you…"

"I missed you too Gary…"

Jessica was getting extremely jealous.

"How dare she…" she began to say to her fans. "Trying to steal away Gary from me again when she already has that other boy! She makes me so mad!"

"What do you want us to do Jessica?" asked one of her fans. They would do anything for her.

"Hmm…" The blonde thought about it for a few moments, and then smiled deviously. "So…she wants to be on better terms with Gary huh? Well then, we're gonna have to give her a make over."

"That doesn't make sense…wouldn't that just make him like her more?"

"You'll see when this plan comes into play. Now then, here's what we'll do." She began to tell her subordinates her nefarious scheme.

--

After Joey finally managed to get out of the first floor, he walked up to the second floor, looking for Zoey. When he spotted her he smiled, but when he noticed Gary there too, he frowned and became jealous.

He walked over to them and said "There you are Zoey. I thought you left."

"Oh hi Joey! I came to the second floor because I couldn't breathe down there!"

Gary glanced at Joey, and Joey glanced at Gary. They said nothing to each other, but Pikachu and Eevee could already see the lighting between their eyes. The area around them suddenly got tense.

Zoey looked at Joey, and then at Gary. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing," both boys said.

Jessica walked up to Gary. "You still didn't answer our questions Gary!"

"Go away Jessica…" He felt her tug at his arm and drag him towards his fans. "Hey! What's the big idea!?" She shoved him into the crowd of fans and they began to swoon over him again.

"Sorry Zoey," began the blonde. "But Gary needed to get back to his fanclub. Joey, you should go too. It's not everyday somebody gets to see their idol. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my people. You should too Zoey. Oh wait, you don't have a fanclub do you? I thought not!"

She pushed Joey towards the stairs. "Go on. You should bask in the glory of your fame!" Then she skipped off to her table.

Joey didn't go down the stairs. He looked back at Zoey, who was sitting at the table all by herself. Eevee was the only one accompanying her.

The boy walked downstairs and towards the receptionist.

"Excuse me Miss."

"Yes?"

"I'd like to start my own fanclub."

--

Eevee looked at her master and saw the sadness in her face. The little fox's ears folded down. "Eevee…"

Zoey looked lonely and depressed. "I guess I got too full of myself Eevee…I was sure I'd have some fans seeing as how I'm his daughter…but I guess…this is what I deserve for being conceited…" Her eyes were watery and she wanted to cry. She tried to hold it in, but those tears slowly began to fall down her face. She was loosing confidence just because she saw how nobody was her fan, cheering for her to keep going. This was a stupid reason of course.

"Vee…"

"Zoey?"

She looked up and saw Joey staring at her with a sympathetic expression. "Were you…crying?"

She sniffed and wiped away the tears. "No…"

"You can't lie to me. I know you were crying." He sat down next to her.

"Joey…I thought you went with your fanclub…"

"Nah, I decided to go to the fanclub I registered in."

"Which one?"

"Yours."

She looked at him, surprised. "But…I don't…"

"I made it just now." He chuckled. "Apparently, I'm the president of the Zoey Fanclub as of today!"

She smiled at him as he continued talking.

"Even if you don't have a huge crowd of people like Gary and Jessica, there's still those who believe in you and are still cheering you on, like your mom, the professor, the twins, and the rest of the friends you've made along the way. And I'll always be cheering for you too Zoey. I'm your number one fan."

She began to cry and said "Thank you Joey…" She hugged him, sobbing. He blushed on contact, but then smiled and embraced her.

Jessica walked over to them. "Joey?"

"Yes?"

"My fanclub would like to ask you a few questions."

"Why?"

"You can be a fan of more than one person you know. Now come on." She grabbed his arm and yanked him away from Zoey. She watched him being dragged off towards the Jessica table.

"Hey you."

Zoey turned to find five girls looking at her.

"Yes?"

"Well…we saw how those two boys were looking at you."

"It's apparent they might like you."

"So we decided to give you a makeover."

"No need to thank us. Now then, just relax and let us do the work."

The five girls made sure Zoey stood sitting down, and then began to paint her face with cosmetics. She could feel them applying various things to her skin and she felt she was becoming pretty like other girls she had seen. She began to get excited because when she thought of Joey seeing her like this, she was content. She felt the same way about Gary too.

"There, all done!" said the girls. They moved away from her and gave the signal to Jessica.

"Well that's enough questions for Joey girls," she said. "You can leave now."

"Man…you guys sure can talk a lot…"

He began to walk over to Zoey, but the stopped a few feet away from the table. "Uh…"

Zoey opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Hey Joey!"

"Um…Zoey?"

"Yeah?"

"Are…are you planning on joining the circus or something? Not that there's anything wrong with that…I mean because the circus is cool and all and you really need talent to get in…you have a lot of talent but…"

"What are you talking about?"

Some of the girls began to giggle and then laugh. It spread around the room. Soon Gary's fans heard the laughter and ceased bothering him to see what was so funny. When they saw Zoey, they began to laugh too. Laughter was contagious.

"Why are you guys laughing?" asked Gary. When he pushed himself out of the crowd, he saw Zoey and was shocked. "Zoey?"

"Why are you guys all laughing at me?!" she cried. Joey handed her a mirror he found lying on a table, and she looked into it.

Her eyes widened when she realized she was painted looking like a silly clown. Not to mention the girls did a horrible job. It looked like the work of a five year old.

"I…I look so ugly…"

Jessica was holding her sides because they were hurting due to all the laughter. Zoey felt a lump in her throat and tears began rolling down her cheeks, the paint starting to smear.

Gary walked over to her. "Uh Zoey? Are you gonna become a juggler or something?"

Jessica tried to contain her laughter as she approached them. "Wow Zoey! You look great! That image really suits you seeing as how you're a complete joke!"

"Don't talk about Zoey like that!" Gary and Joey both said.

Jessica realized her plan partially failed. "What do you see in her?!" she shouted at Gary. The room became quiet.

"What are you talking about?"

"Zoey's not that great! I don't know why you like her so much! She's not pretty, she has no curves, and she doesn't even have that much of a girlie personality! I mean yeah she was your best friend, but that's all she should be!"

"Jessica! Who I like shouldn't matter to you!"

"Well it does!" She herself was on the verge of tears. "I like you a lot more than she does! I practically love you!"

He looked at her and blinked. Zoey couldn't take this anymore. She rushed when she got up, causing her hat to fall off her head. The girl began to head towards the stairs.

"Zoey wait!" shouted Gary.

The girl turned around, but Jessica wouldn't give up. She pulled Gary towards her, and kissed him. A large gasp was heard throughout the room.

Zoey's heart took a dozen stabs, and a dozen more when her friend didn't pull away. This time, the tears were falling faster, and she ran out of the building and out into the city, blinded by her watery eyes.

"Eevee!" shouted her Pokemon.

"Zoey!" called Joey after her. He saw how much pain her face revealed. Nobody liked to be laughed at unintentionally. The boy became angry and clenched his fists.

He glared at the couple and walked over to them.

Gary pulled away from Jessica and said "Why'd you do that?!"

"I'm sorry! I couldn't help myself!"

"I don't like you that way!"

"Then why didn't you stop kissing her?"

Both turned to see Joey glaring daggers at them, mostly Gary. "You could have stopped, but you didn't."

"Quiet Joey. I don't need comments from you."

"I can say whatever I want. I can express my opinions too. And my opinion about you is summed up into one word: asshole."

Gary narrowed his eyes. "What did you call me?"

"You heard what I said."

The boy walked up to him and glared. "I don't know where you get the guts calling me asshole seeing as how you know nothing about me."

"I know enough about you to call you that word. You're arrogant and a jerk to Zoey. I don't know why she would even still consider being your friend."

"Are you jealous?" He gave a mocking smile, but Joey kept a strait face.

"Why would I be jealous of a bastard like you? Just because everybody thinks you're handsome and the greatest Trainer ever doesn't give you the right to think you're better than everybody."

"You disgust me. You think you're so perfect being nice and all. Who the hell is nice all the time?"

"I'm not nice all the time. I can be a real jerk to people I don't like. And I'm not perfect like you seeing as how your fans keep saying you're the best." Joey tried to calm down. "Just stay away from Zoey and stop hurting her. I'm warning you Gary Oak Jr."

The boy felt a punch hit his jaw. Joey didn't fall down, but he could feel something warm in his mouth and he knew it was blood. He put his hand on his mouth and looked at it, seeing red smeared on his fingers. He glared and punched Gary too in the jaw.

The boy was shocked and didn't expect Joey to hit him. But when he felt blood run down the corner of his mouth, he knew this guy wasn't playing around.

"I told you Gary, I'm warning you."

"You bastard."

The two boys began to fight and the fans stood away from the fray, afraid to get caught in the battle. Jessica was shocked and backed away. She didn't know they were going to fight like this…a battle was something she expected but not one that involved the boy's physical strength.

Gary managed to punch Joey again, but he kicked him in the stomach and the boy fell to the ground. But he got up and then charged at him sending a blow to the stomach too. The punching never seemed to cease and they were bleeding more now. Pikachu was scared, especially when she saw Joey's hat fly off since that meant he wasn't playing around. But the little mouse didn't want to do anything, and Eevee cowered next to her.

Joey was able to pin down Gary on the floor, still giving a menacing glare.

"I won't hold back Gary! I'll keep attacking you until you knock out!"

"Try me!"

"I don't know what Zoey sees in you…I can't even believe you two used to be friends."

"So then you are jealous." Gary smirked. "Well well. I doubt she'll ever like somebody like you seeing as how you've got a split personality."

Joey punched him again, and then Gary kicked him off, pinning down Joey now. Some of the girls watched intently and blushed, while some of them squealed. Jessica sweatdropped. My God…there are yaoi fans in here?!

"You can't beat me Joey."

"There you go again being an arrogant bastard. You asshole. You think you're the most incredible Trainer in the world."

"You're the asshole for telling me to stay away from my friends. What makes you think I'll listen to you?" He grinned mockingly again at him. "You'd never be able to beat me at a battle and you'll never be able to beat me like this." He then whispered in his ear. "And you'll never be the important person to Zoey either."

Joey kicked him in the stomach and they were both about to attack each other again, but some of the girls, and guys, stopped them from fighting.

"Gary stop it!" shouted Jessica as she hugged him from behind. "Leave him alone! I don't like to see you like this!"

Joey pulled himself out of the hold of the fans. "See Gary? You have Jessica as well as a bunch of other fans who adore you. That blonde loves you and seeing as how you didn't pull away the moment she kissed you, says that you don't mind."

He picked up his hat from the floor and wiped away the blood from his mouth. "Like I said, leave Zoey alone and stop torturing her with your freakin deranged mind games!"

He rushed towards the stairs and then Gary shouted "Why do you care so much about her anyway?!"

"Because I love her!"

The room became quiet and so did Gary. Joey blushed but his angry expression didn't go away.

"I promised myself I'd protect her and be there for her, seeing as how you'll never be. You and Jessica have fans, and while I may not have as many as you two, I still have people who are cheering for me. Zoey doesn't have any fans. That's why she was so sad when she noticed that fact. She needs somebody to support her and keep her confidence up. That's what I'm gonna do. I believe in her and I know she can do it. Some friend you are for not realizing her feelings."

He walked down the stairs, Pikachu and Eevee running after him, the little fox holding Zoey's hat in her mouth.

The fans let go of Gary and he wiped the blood from his face. He was very irritated and annoyed.

"Gary…" began Jessica. "Don't listen to him…"

"Shut up."

"But…"

"I said shut up." He turned to face her. "It's all your fault. You're always tormenting Zoey. That's why she hates me more than she used to! What the hell is your problem?! Are you that blinded by jealousy that you can't for one minute think about her feelings?!"

"I wasn't the only one who tormented her! You act arrogant around her so I'm not the only one to blame!"

"I only act that way because I'm trying to…!" He stopped himself just in time. "I'm trying to…hide…my…"

"You're what?"

"Forget it. I don't need this."

Gary began to walk down the stairs, angry and sad. Jessica followed him while the fans were just confused.

"So…" said one. "Did you guys catch that all on video?"

"You bet we did!"

--

Joey had been walking all around Saffron, but couldn't find Zoey. Eevee and Pikachu were trying to sniff her out, but it was hard with all the people.

Suddenly, the little fox caught her scent. "Vee!"

"You found her Eevee?"

The little fox nodded and began running in the direction of the scent. Pikachu followed and Joey did too, the girl's hat clutched in his hand.

--

Zoey had been sitting on a large fountain near the park. She had been crying and sobbing for a while.

"I'm so stupid…" she said to herself. "How could I have not known something like this would happen…?"

She looked at her reflection in the water and saw her smeared and painted face.

"I look like a fool…and I'm pretty sure Joey and Gary thought the same way…but I really…I really wanted to just look nice for them…and pretty like Jessica…"

"Zoey?" she heard a voice say softly.

She turned around and saw Joey looking sadly at her. Eevee and Pikachu were next to him.

"Please…go away…"

"I'm not gonna leave you…"

"I'm an idiot…just…"

The boy sat down next to her. "Look at me."

Zoey shook her head and sobbed. Joey sighed and removed his backpack, taking out a towel and dipped it in the fountain water (it was clean water thank goodness). He then gently grabbed her chin and made her face him.

She opened her eyes and blinked, but then continued crying. Slowly and softly, he began to clean her painted face with the towel, moving her strands of hair out of the way. After about a minute or two, he was done. Even though the towel was dirty, he put it back inside his backpack.

"Please…stop crying."

"I can't…I…I was so embarrassed back there…"

"But why?"

"Because I was ugly…and…I thought those girls were gonna make me beautiful."

"Why would you even want to put on make up?"

"I wanted to look pretty…"

"But you're already--"

"No I'm not!" She was getting frustrated. "Stop lying to me! I'm not as pretty as Jessica and those other girls! They've all got nice complexions and shapely bodies! Me? I'm just an average looking girl with an average body! Theirs is more developed than mine…" She placed her face in her hands and continued crying.

"Zoey…I don't know why you would think they're prettier than you. Sure you may look average to you and other people, but there are some who see past that and can see that you're very beautiful." He removed her hands from her face and held them in his. "Don't think that just because you're not as attractive as they might be, that nobody would like you."

Zoey looked at him.

"You may not have all that sass or whatever, but you have the heart of gold and your Pokemon clearly recognize that. It doesn't matter if you're not the prettiest girl in the world or if you don't have a lot of fans. There are people who like you for who you are, and not for what you pretend to be. I'm one of those people."

"Thank you…so much…"

Joey smiled at her. "So please stop crying Zoey. It makes me sad if you cry. It makes the Pokemon sad too."

She sniffed and smiled. "Ok…I'll stop."

Joey kissed her on the forehead and she blushed, but smiled timidly. Eevee and Pikachu were really happy that she wasn't saddened anymore.

The two Trainers looked intently at each other, blushing because their faces were so close. Slowly, they closed the gap between them, their eyes closing as well and their hearts racing again. Their lips touched and a blush grew on their faces. Eevee and Pikachu looked embarrassed and covered their faces with their tails as their masters shared their first kiss.

After a while, the kiss deepened, and Zoey wrapped her arms around his neck, while Joey wrapped his arms around her waist. They were both really content but embarrassed at the same time. Passerbys looked at them and smiled, couples reminiscing about their first kiss.

This was nothing compared to what happened at the Safari Zone. This time it was real and even though it wasn't passionate, they still cherished the moment. Of course, the two teens didn't know three pairs of eyes were watching them.

After a few minutes, the two broke apart, and blushed deeply when they looked at each other.

"That…" said Zoey. "…was my first kiss…"

"Mine too…"

"My…my mom said I should share it with somebody I really like…and I'm glad it was you…"

Joey smiled. "That's what my mom said too."

She rested her head on him, and hugged him, smiling happily. He did the same thing.

"Joey…what are you thinking about?"

"I…I was thinking…whether or not…I should ask you to become my girlfriend…"

"I was thinking the same thing too."

"Really?"

"Yes…" She sat up strait. "Joey…I really like you… a lot. And…I would really like you to be my boyfriend…but…"

"You don't want it to interfere with your journey."

"Yes…"

He smiled. "I understand Zoey. Really. I don't mind at all. Right now, the most important thing is for you to complete that goal of yours."

"Then…maybe can we think about a relationship after?"

"Of course."

"Thank you Joey…" She buried her face in his chest and mumbled, "Olive juice…"

He blushed but then calmed down and said "Olive juice too…"

--

Gary was searching frantically around Saffron to try and find Zoey. He had to explain to her what happened.

That Joey guy isn't gonna win her over, he thought to himself. He's not good enough for her.

Little did he know, he was good enough for her, and she accepted him romantically speaking. Poor Gary was oblivious to this.

"Man…where is she?"

"Gary!"

He groaned because Jessica was still following him. She caught up to her crush and said "Look…I'm really sorry…"

"Sorry doesn't cut it."

"I know…but--"

"There she is!"

Both Trainers found Zoey walking around, but a fire of hatred burned inside Gary when he saw her fingers entwined with Joey's. Nevertheless, he was still going to talk to her.

"Zoey!"

The new semi-couple turned around to find Gary and Jessica heading towards them. Zoey was still hurt about the incident back at the fanclub and she didn't want to see either of them right now. She let go of Joey's hand and ran off.

"Wait Zoey!" he called after her. He was surprised she let go of his hand. Joey began to run after her, Gary and Jessica hot on his trail.

--

"I don't want to see them," she told herself as she ran through the city. She was getting to a quieter location of the large Saffron, towards the center. Poor Eevee was trying to run after her master.

Zoey turned around to see if they were still following her, but then she bumped into somebody and fell down.

"Ow…"

"Hey watch where you're going you dumb kid!"

Zoey stood up and after rubbing her sore spot, looked at the guy who said that. Her face was stricken with horror.

"It's…it's you…"

The guy realized it too. "Oh there you are. I almost didn't recognize you. You're that meddling girl who keeps interfering with Team Rocket's affairs! You remember when you beat me at the Pokemon Tower and Game Corner correct? It's payback time."

Zoey looked at where she was and saw a very tall building next to her. She read the sign: Silph Co.

"Welcome," said another voice. Out appeared the other man Zoey feared from Team Rocket.

"You've just stumbled upon our base in Kanto. The Silph Company building."

He walked out of the shadows.

"Otherwise known as the Team Rocket Headquarters."

So I decided to put this chapter up early since I had written it almost a month ago, and also because I don't care if I don't get a lot of reviews anymore. From this moment on, Zoey is going to be in a whole lot of trouble. :3 And poor Joey, Gary, and Jessica are going to be caught up in her problems as well. By the way, for those of you who think I'm making Jessica be a real jerk, there will be a turning point soon where her motives will change. Will Zoey end up with Joey in the end? Who knows. I'm still undecisive. ;3