"Relax. You're in good hands" The girl told me as I was being placed on a large soft couch. I dug in my bag to take out my medicine and took it with the water bottle I still had on me.
Luckily for me, the girl who opened the door for us was fully clothed and wearing the same blue skirt I first saw her in. Her and Valerie were in the kitchen talking while the water was boiling in the tea kettle. Soon after, they came over with empty cups with a tea bag inside.
"The water will be ready soon" the girl, named Yvonne, sat in front of me on her own couch chair while Valerie sat beside me "Are you feeling okay? Would you like some more water?" Yvonne asked.
"I still have some. Thanks..." I sighed and looked at my bouncing leg "I'm sort of nervous..."
"I would think so!" Valerie giggled "This young man told me how he's always studying to be the top student in his school and-" she basically told everything I told her to Yvonne. Yvonne stared with a surprised look on her face the entire time before the water started shouting "I'll get it!" Valerie got up to get the kettle. I was faced with Yvonne... and I really didn't know what to say.
"U-Uh..." I blushed, bouncing my leg more "Sorry... I don't usually talk to pretty girls" Yvonne smiled and leaned forward.
"Don't worry about it. I'm just like any other girl. You don't have to be nervous" she crossed her leg over the other "So you're interested in having me travel with you as a companion just in case your condition stops you in the middle of it? Will you tell me more of this condition?" I nodded and told her my symptoms and the reasons on why it got so bad, though I left out my missing friend. Valerie came back to pour the water into our cups and go back to the kitchen "I can understand why you'd want a companion. Although it may seem pretty fun, I do offer other services if you would like to hear them"
"I'm not really interested in the PDA or rated X stuff" I said truthfully, which made her snort in laughter.
"Rated X? I wanted to keep myself from saying this, but are you a nerd?" She giggled. I groaned and looked away, hating to be called that... even though what I do seems off that way from my studies and games and anime... I'm not all that out there! "Sorry! I just never heard anyone describe it like that!" She calmed down and nodded "That's good to hear though. I am only 20 years old, and because I'm not 21, I cannot sleep with my clients if it's part of work. That's not in my services" That's good to hear "I'm sure it's a bit weird to hear that since 18 is considered an adult age, but I'm not ready for that commitment" she waved her hand "I probably still won't add it to my services once I do turn 21"
"That's good to hear" I said. She went over to her desk to pick up some papers while Valerie came back to sit next to me while I picked up my cup of tea.
"How are you liking her so far?" She asked quietly and excitedly. I cleared my throat and set the cup down after taking a sip "She's cute, huh?"
"Yeah..." I hate to admit it, but the more I look at her, the more she's starting to look more like my friend "She is, but I'm still not sure about this. She'll most likely reject me"
"Well. You'll never know unless you're sure" Yvonne came back with a small packet of papers.
"This is a contract we give our clients before we offer our services" She explained "Before I explain what I offer, a payment will have to be discussed. I don't know if Valerie told you, but I don't take cash or cards. I take jewelry! The shinier and more valuable, the more services you get! Just like how the girls take different price ranges for different services, I do the same with the value of the piece. Do you have something you may want to offer? Or maybe a picture if you don't have it on you?" I gulped and looked down, looking at my pocket.
"It may not be as valuable to you, but it means a lot to me" I dug in my pocket for my key ring and took off my keychain to set on the table. Yvonne stared at it with wide eyed before slowly picking it up.
"And this is..?" She lifted it to the light to see it better.
"It's a keychain my good friend gave me before she went missing" she stopped and looked at me "She disappeared 5 years ago, and I haven't seen her since. She gave that to me as a sign of our friendship" she rubbed her finger on the metal with the half broken heart that has the word 'best' on it. She had the other half that said 'friends'
"You're giving this to me even if it means that much to you?" She got up to go to her desk to pick something up to probably look at it better "Why would you offer something that's this personal to you..?" I looked at my hands and scratched the skin around nail of my thumbs.
"I would hate to offer something that important, but I have to keep moving forward. Losing my friend was another main reason why I became this way, so this may be my chance to let go and get better" she didn't turn to look at me.
"Yvonne?" Valerie called. Yvonne looked back at me with a deep frown on her face.
"I'll take it!" My eyes widened "Something as valuable as this... Even if it's made of real silver, the heart in this piece is very vaulable" she turned away again "I have many things here from my old clients" she moved from the desk to show me the bracelet, necklace, and ring stands on the wall "this is my personal collection. I had many clients who went through divorces or gave me their band after their partner passed away. Many of my clients come to me to relax and just talk about their problems. This keychain might not be as expensive as the rings and other jewelry I have here, but it's enough. I'll go on this journey with you" she smiled. I widened my eyes and stood up.
"Are you serious..?" She nodded and walked back to sit in front of me "The keychain is enough to have you come with me? Why?" I looked at Valerie "Why is a contract the only thing keeping others from doing something they shouldn't do. Not that I'm that kind of person, but that keychain is not that valuable-"
"I choose what's valuable to me" Yvonne said. I stared at her soft frown "I've lost someone as well... and I would hate to give up something that belonged to them, but we have to give something up in offer to feel better. I understand how you feel" she hugged the keychain "It's worth something either way, but I can appreciate what love is in here" I frowned and nodded.
"I would hate to part from it, but I need this in order to grow. I need someone who can come with me so that I won't have complications. If I keep getting sick, it'll get me nowhere" she softly smiled.
"I am qualified to take care of you. My mother was a nurse and I often helped her with patients in their houses. And to answer your question before, I have my own Pokémon that can protect me if a client tries something"
"You have your Pokémon? That's great!" I gasped. She blushed and glanced away, playing with her fingers "That'll be good since we'll be traveling Kalos together. Is this really okay?" She looked back at me and nodded.
"Yes!" She smiled softly "As for my services..." she started telling me almost all her amazing talents, involving teasing and lap dancing... Which I really didn't need to hear.
"I don't think you should tell him those little things. He's just a kid" Valerie teased "You may be 21 years old, but simply telling you something about anything sexual makes you blush like a teenager!" I huffed and stood up.
"Shut up. That's not my fault" Yvonne waved her hand to quiet her down and come up to me, a bit closer than I expected. I gazed down at her eyes, wondering if seeing them everyday will even be a good idea...
"Don't worry about it. Anything I can do, I'll provide! Your payment is already given to me in full, so I'll give you anything I'm willing to give!"
"Are you serious? Even going to places alone with someone you don't know? I know you have your Pokémon, but how are you confident and not scared?" She looked down to play with the keychain.
"W-Well... You see" she took a moment "I don't know... You just remind me of someone I just to had a crush on" Huh? "Though he didn't have hair as long as you!" She giggled. I played with my hair, knowing I needed to cut it soon.
"Yeah... I'll have to cut it tomorrow. Will that be okay? We can meet at the hair salon" she quickly nodded.
"Yes!" She smiled "I look forward to going! I never had to chance to see much of Kalos. This will be exciting!" I smiled.
"I'll respect your privacy and even offer to pay for separate rooms" she flinched and turned more red than before.
"O-Oh!" She waved her hands "W-Whatever works for you!" Her smile looked nervous "We can share the same bed if you want! It's fine by me!" I sweat dropped. I'm a bit confused on why she's freaking out, but I really appreciate that she's coming along "I'll look after you while you'll look after me! Are you a good trainer?" I snorted and held my hips confidently.
"Of course!" She clapped happily. I rubbed the back of my head "I told myself that I wanted someone to come with me so they could help me out with my condition, but I didn't think it would really happen" I looked around "Is there a pen I can sign? I'll have to read over the contract" she quickly shook her head.
"D-Don't worry about the contract!" I blinked confused. She sort of looked nervous. Is she okay?
"Yvonne?" Valerie questioned. Yvonne jumped and wiggled her arms rapidly "What's going on?"
"N-Nothing!" She shut her eyes and pushed me out her room "I'll meet you at the hair salon with the contract! I'll most certainly be there!" She kept her eyes shut, facing me from the door frame. I smiled, finding her to be pretty cute like this "H-Here!" She gave me back the keychain
"H-Huh?" She opened her eyes and puffed her cheeks.
"Just so you won't feel like I stole from you! G-Give it back when we meet up!" I looked at the keychain and felt a huge relief to have it back on me.
"I really appreciate this... I'll see you soon then!" She held her hands and spun side to side with a jolly smile on her face. I watched her do so, remembering my friend use to do the same thing when she was happy. I took a deep breath and offered my hand, surprising her "I'll see you tomorrow at noon" she nodded and shook my hand.
"Yeah!" I waved and left the building, feeling so stiff that I couldn't contain it. It's really happening... I didn't think this would happen!
"Why didn't you answer any of our calls!?" Shauna yelled at me through the four way call with my friends on the holocaster. I had to step into the restroom of my moms hotel room she stays at while she works in Lumiose for while. I couldn't start traveling since I'll be meeting Yvonne tomorrow, so I asked my mom if I could stay with her.
"Sorry, Sorry!" I rubbed the back of my head "But I got stopped in the middle of Lumiose and met someone" I didn't lie, but it wasn't the entire truth either. I can't tell my friends what I really did, especially Shauna. She would be angry if she found out I gave away my keychain to someone we don't know, but I still have it, so I can trust her... I hope.
"Someone?" Trevor asked.
"Is she cute?" Tierno asked. I blushed and huffed.
"Yeah... She's pretty cute. She said she wanted to go on a journey too, so I asked if she wanted to come along"
"Why would you trust a stranger to go with you on a journey? You don't know her" Shauna frowned, eating a marshmallow that she was eating with Trevor and Tierno as they were camping out in route 5 "I can't tell whether you've made a bad decision or not?" She rolled her eyes "well, tell us about her"
"Yeah! What's she like from what you know" Tierno said. I held my chin to think, thinking back at her nervous personality she didn't have when I first met her, but it was cute either way. I think it'll be fine.
"She kinda reminds me of Serena" I admit. My friends looked at each other with frowns on their faces. I know we agreed to never mention her again, knowing it'll only make us feel bad about her disappearance, but I said what I said "I don't know... They have the same kind of eyes, but she's a blonde with short hair and pale skin"
"That sounds like the total opposite of Serena" Trevor said.
"Yeah. Serena had tan skin and was a brunette" Tierno said.
"Anything else?" Shauna asked. I took a moment to think, wondering back on why she was taking her time to observe the keychain and accepted it so easily as payment.
"She seemed a bit nervous while talking to me, but she looked like she was looking forward to going on the trip. She told me she was good at cooking and massages. She told me she became a masseuse at a school in Snowbelle City, but she doesn't go to college. She's a bit older than you, Shauna"
"That's neat!" Tierno said "a masseuse can definitely help you relax since you're always so stressed out! And she can cook too! I can't wait to meet her!" I smiled, looking forward to it.
"Yeah... She also use to help her mom take care of patients, so if something happens to me, she'll know what to do"
"That's pretty good" Shauna said.
"She seems pretty shy, so I don't know when we will be able to meet up since you guys are ahead of me"
"We can meet up in Camphrier Town" Trevor said "I'm sure there will be a lot there that we can explore"
"Camphrier Town is too close to home. You guys already been there plenty of times. If you want to meet up, that's perfect fine, but don't let me hold you back on seeing more"
"Well, alright... but keep your location on this time, unlike earlier today!" I nodded, knowing I worried them.
"I'm sorry... My finger must've slipped when I did that, but it won't happen anymore. I swear" Trevor nodded, pleased "You guys have fun. I'm going to head to bed. My sleeping meds are kicking in" we hung up after saying goodnight and I looked at mom laying on her side of the bed with a pillow in between.
"Someone else is join you on the journey?" She asked, looking through her magazine.
"You heard?" She looked at me "Yeah, I met a girl that wanted to come, so I invited her. She's pretty nice, so I look forward to heading out starting tomorrow" she smirked and messed with my hair "Hey! Ow! Stop! My scalp is sensitive!"
"That's because you don't wash your hair all the time. Get that hair cut tomorrow"
"I will!" I glared. She chuckled and pulled my head to lay on her shoulder as she hugged me "mom?"
"I want you to be careful... I'm worried that something may happen to you, but if this girl is going to look after you, don't give her a hard time" I frowned and nodded, quickly falling asleep on the comfort of the bed.