Yvonne and I walked through route 7 after leaving the battle chateau after having my rematch with Viola and finally getting enough energy to get back my Bug badge. It didn't take a lot of effort the second time, but I really was just sleep deprived the first time.

We didn't leave the chateau on a good note. Shauna ended up saying some really rude things to Yvonne after she told us she talked to the guy I battled before.

"She's a whore!" Shauna shouted for everyone to hear "how could you let a whore follow you through this journey!? I didn't think you rolled like that, Calem!" She was so angry that I didn't know how to respond. Yvonne was crying beside me, and I couldn't properly defend her "having a whore traveling with you... You must've paid her to come. You're so shameful! You're just trying to replace Serena!" After she said that, I understood why she was so upset. She thought me bringing Yvonne was like I was replacing our friend, but that's not it...

"I'm sorry..." Yvonne cried the entire time we walked "I don't want to cause you any problems... I didn't want this to happen" I stopped to pet her head to try to make her feel better.

"Hey, you don't have to apologize. She doesn't understand what's going on, and even if I try to explain, she won't have any of it. It's better to just let her cool down. I hope she realizes what she did in front of all those people. I don't know what that guy said about you, but you don't deserve to be treated like this" She sobbed more and tackled herself into my torso for a hug.

"I'm sorry..." she cried, rubbing her face on me "I'm sorry... I'll defend myself soon, but I wasn't ready" I hugged her back.

"You don't have to prove yourself... You're okay on my book" she let go and smiled at me with multiple tears on her eyes. I chuckled and wiped them away for her.

It was wrong of what Shauna did, and even if Yvonne was set out to be like a whore, she wasn't doing it for herself. Though what we did last night was a bit... different, I felt like she just needed my comfort, and I was the only man who could do it without trying to take things too far. After I was done, we went to sleep on the same bed and nothing else happened. She slept like an angel and even woke up like one. Seeing her happy made me happy, but I hated how others looked at her...

"It'll be a long road to get to the next city. I hope you're up for it" I said. She pumped her fist.

"I'm ready! I think there's an aquarium I'm dying to see!" It's been a long time seeing an aquarium. The last time I saw one was when I was 14 and looking around with Serena. She loved water Pokémon and always wish she could get a specific one that was too far out in the region where we were not old enough to explore. I promised that I'd get her what she wanted by the next summer, but that never happened.

I smiled at the memory of Serena constantly asking me to battle her after running into each other a lot during the journey.

The next city from where we are will take a while to get to but feeling that relief once we get there will bring back the memories of when Serena and I met up there at the same time and battled. Her smiled never left my mind, even after she loses.

The road to Ambrette Town was a long and bumpy one. We had to get pass a cave full of Zubats who kept chasing us and dragging us back every time I had to run for my life. While at the moment of recovery, Yvonne fought as hard as she could against dozens of Zubats with her Pokémon. A Pokémon I never seen her use was a Delphox, who I would assume Serena would have if she was still around.

Constantly trying to compare the both of them wasn't fair to do. Shauna was upset that I was trying to replace Serena, and as much as I want to compare the both of them, I shouldn't do it. It didn't even seem like my friends thought the same way I did. Yvonne and Serena are the complete opposite, so whether she might have the same Pokémon, they're two completely different people.

"There were so many Zubats!" Yvonne groaned after we made it out the cave in one piece, out of breath "How are you feeling?" She asked me leaning on my shoulders to get my air back "Stand up. It'll be easier to breath that way" I stood up and raised my arms to the sky to inhale some fresh air, which I really needed after being in that place for days already.

"Yeah" I sighed "That was a workout" she giggled.

"Looks like you're getting the hang of running for a long time!" I smiled at the change. I don't have as many episodes as I use to have, but I still pass out and vomit from time to time and still hold a lot in my mind. I knew something like that was still going to stick around, but I can already start seeing a change "Pretty soon, you won't need me anymore to follow you around" I looked at Yvonne rubbing her arm, saying that almost in a disappointing voice, but tried hiding it.

"Don't say that" I pet her head, confusing her "We're going to stay together as long as you're willing to stay with me" her eyes sparkled "and for however long you want the contract to last" she nervously laughed and rubbed her head.

"Y-Yeah!" She pumped her fist "I like being on this journey with you! I'm already having so much fun! I don't want this to end!" I chuckled.

"Sadly, we only have until the end of summer, then I'll have to go back to school" she pouted.

"Awe!" She flopped her arms in disappointment, which I laughed at "Don't laugh at me!"

"We'll make the most of it. Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you something" we started walking again "Well... A few things, but where did you get your Dephox?" She flinched "My friend Serena use to have a Fennekin she received for the professor."

"She was a honor student too?"

"Well... Not really. She had bad grades and always skipped class. The only reason why the professor gave her a Pokémon was because of her only good grade in Battle strategy class. Any class that has to do with battling, she had good grades in. You can say she was a battle addict, but here I am, pretty much taking her place in that category."

"You did say she tried battling you a lot" she giggled "I don't really like battling all that much, really. As long as my Pokémon are strong enough to protect me, that's all that really matters" there's another thing that makes her and Serena completely different.

I had almost forgot to repeat the question I asked her before, but instead of reminding her, she stopped walking and walked backwards to hide behind me "what's wrong?" I asked.

"Calem!" I looked at Sina running up to me with her arms high to hug me. I groaned when she tackled me, almost knocking the air out of me, and hugged me tightly.

"S-Sina!" She let go of me so I can breath "Hey..." I gasped for air.

"Sorry!" She chuckled and played with her hair. Behind her was Dixio walking towards us.

"Calem. Good to run into you" Dixio came to shake my hand. Sina clapped her hands.

"See? I knew we'd run into each other!" She smiled big "You're passing the part of the land where we keep early middle school students from going farther than the city up ahead. A few middle school students had already passed this point" Yvonne pulled on my sleeve to get my attention.

"We're passing early middle school territory..." she looked excited "Let's hurry" I nodded and looked back at my friends.

Every grade level at our school always has to follow the academy's rules and stay within the territory of where they are able to go. Late elementary school students can only go as far as Santalune City, Santalune Forest, and Camphrier town until they have to take a bus to go home.

Middle school students can only go as far as the Connecting cave we just got out of, Ambrette Town, and Glittering Cave. Late middle school students can go up to Cyllage city and Geosenge Town. High school students can go up to Laverre City and Dendemille Town, where they can stay at their desired territories without having to take the bus home. As for a college student like my friends and I, we can go anywhere we want to go. Until we graduate, we can leave Kalos if we want to.

"We better get going. We had a lot of trouble in the Connecting Cave and need some rest" I explained. Sina made a face and looked at Yvonne standing beside me, still hiding a bit.

"Who's that?" Sina crossed her arms "Are you a student? I never seen you before" she spoke with her serious tone. Yvonne snorted and stood in front of me.

"Would you like to know?" Sina glared. I felt a familiar tension I didn't want starting.

"Yes, I would. Who are you and what are you doing with Calem?" Sina responded with a look of disapproval.

"I'm not a student, so don't worry about me being with him" Yvonne moved away to hug my arm, confusing me, but it made Sina angrier than she was before. Dexio just stayed in the background, as he usually does.

"I'll worry about those who are involved with the Pokémon Academy's students! I am the student body president! It's my job to make sure everyone is having a safe journey!"

"Careful. That vein on your forehead might pop" Yvonne sweat dropped, holding me closer. I could feel her breast soft rubbing against me, which automatically made me think about the other night and feel the blood rushing to my face. As soon as I felt the heat in my face, Sina got angrier.

"Look you! I don't know who you are, but this is a school credit related journey for our students! You are not allowed to participate!" She shouted at Yvonne, who looked annoyed beyond repair. I needed to stop the tension before it starts.

Before I could, Dexio pulled Sina back to step beside her "Instead of throwing a fit for no reason, please explain what made you bring Yvonne with you" I froze. N-No way! How does Dexio, the quietest guy in school, know her?!

"You know her?" Sina asked. Dexio closed his eyes, not answering that. I cleared my throat and explained why I had her join me. Sina calmed down a bit, but she was still angry towards Yvonne staring down at her like she was a pest.

"That's completely understandable. It is not against the rules to have someone follow you through your personal journey. What you do in your journey is your business and as long as it doesn't involve ruining the school's reputation, I see no harm in it" he turned to Sina "let's go"

"How are you okay with this?!" She shouted at him "You heard him! He met her at a cafe! She's a stranger!" She pointed at Yvonne "I don't trust her!" Her and Shauna both "All you're going to be doing is drag him down! I don't even know what kind of trainer you are! Take out your Pokémon and battle me!" Yvonne was quick to grab her Pokéball before I held her back at the same time Dexio pulled Sina away "Let go of me!"

"Don't worry about her. I'll take care of it" he said "Carry on" I slowly nodded and pulled Yvonne by her hand and glanced at Dexio watching Yvonne stay close to me. I swear to Arceus, what can Dexio want from her of all things.

Without speaking a word, Yvonne and I made it to next town over; Ambrette Town "Calem..." Yvonne called me "I'm sorry for what happened earlier" I rubbed my face, trying not to let Dexio's business with Yvonne get to me "I tried my best to defend myself this time, but it kind of got out of hand"

"I'm not mad about that" I sighed "I'm sorry about Sina either way. I haven't seen her that angry since..."

"Since?" I looked at her.

"Since before Serena went missing" She blinked a few times.

"Serena was someone who skipped a lot and got into fights. I guess it's understandable on why the student body president would get mad at Serena... But what did I do?"

"I can't really tell you that. Even if Serena liked causing trouble, it's not something the student body president is in charge of. She's in charge of planning and organizing. It was the teacher's job to take care of troublemakers. I don't know why Sina and Serena had a bad vibe"

"Maybe they were fighting over you" she stuck her tongue out. I snorted, finding that hard to believe.

"They're just friends. I don't know why that would be the reason" Yvonne shook her head and walked pass me.

"Boys are so dense" I looked at her confused and hurried to catch up to her.

"Speaking of boys... How do you know Dexio?" she started looking at her towns map "Was he... a client?" She looked back at me, looking at my shoulders like there was something there. She lowered her map and faced me.

"You're shaking" I looked at my hands shaking "We haven't eaten for quite a while and forgot to take some for the road. Let's find a place to stay before we get something to eat" she looked around.

"Yvonne..."

"Do you still have enough medicine? It's important to take your medicine with food. Maybe we should take something to go so we can eat in a room" I took her shoulders so she could put her attention on my question. She looked surprised before looking down.

"Tell me" I said.

"You got bothered when you found that that guy was one of my clients... I don't want to see you like that again. It's not good for your stress levels" I bit my lips, wanting to know "Fine..." I let go of her starting to play with her fingers "He was"

"Dexio is so quiet that it's hard to start a conversation with him. What can he possibly want from you?"

"Quiet? I can't get the guy to stop talking" she waved her hand. Dexio? Can't stop talking? That doesn't sound right "He doesn't come often to my place. He says he comes after exams or whatever. I guess he just comes to relieve himself to me"

"Did he touch you in any way?" She took my hand and started walking me to find a hotel to settle in.

"No. He hasn't touch me" I sighed in relief "He mostly just comes to talk about this girl he likes and how she doesn't notice him because she likes someone else" she snorted "He doesn't have the best jewelry to offer. He offers cash since he can't get jewelry anywhere else. That's my only exception to give someone my services, if they can't find a place to get good jewelry."

"So, he takes your services...?" I gulped "What do you do for him?" she stopped, not answering me "I'm sorry I keep asking... but" I frowned "I want to make you feel better, away from the things you did. I know you're ashamed of what you've done, but if you open yourself up and tell me how much it bothers you, it can make you feel better" she looked at me and smiled.

"You're so sweet for thinking about how I feel"

"Of course, I do. You're my friend" she smiled a bit more and faced me "You don't have to tell me" She grabbed my shirt and looked down again "I don't want to force you-"

"I decided to never go back"

"Huh?"

"I don't need to do those things anymore... My mom paid off her debts, so I don't need to work there anymore. I will no longer give service to a disgusting man who uses me for their own benefit. You care about what I think and considers my feelings. If you really want to know..." she looked up at me, standing close to my face "Why don't I just show you?" I flinched "for every time we run into a man that's request my service, I will give you my best and final work. You are my last client" her eyes gazed into mine with a longing look in them "I'll give you every bit of me..."

"Y-Yvonne..." she held my cheek, making me freeze.

"Let me show you what I did since you want to know so bad" I gulped and let her drag me to a nearby hotel. W-What's happening...?