"So, I haven't seen Midnight… around the school recently," Julie thought aloud while in the shower before school about what to ask or say to the principal about his recent whereabouts, running her fingers through her soapy hair. "Has Midnight been around here? Just used to seeing him… ugh, no." This was harder than she thought. Anything asked by her would be odd. No other student cared about him except for Julie. She was singled out here.

"Whatever. I'll have to come up with something." Monday had arrived quicker than expected, and she already felt more nervous than she would be five minutes before a huge test. Julie dried off and was brushing her hair in front of the mirror after she got out of the shower.

"Like any other day, except you'll willingly visit the principal's office," She said while running the brush through strands, turning her face to ensure she didn't neglect any areas. After she was done, she grabbed her tee, skinny jeans, and her black jacket folded over the shower rack behind her. It faded into gray at its midsection, then into white filling the bottom half, styled with cute white and black pawprints.

She stared at her reflection. "Has to be done, or else you'll never know." She built up some courage and was eventually off to school. The forecast predicted a rainy day closer this afternoon to late evening, but she was never fond of heavy jackets. Besides, a little water never hurt her.

After entering school, Julie didn't say hi to a single person but gave a few half-smiles while she walked down the hallway. It wasn't very much a relapse, as it resulted from her not feeling her best lately, and she was leaning toward not caring again.

Julie felt there was no saving herself at this point. Everyone at this school had a preconceived idea of her. It was stuck like glue she couldn't remove. She just had to cut her losses and get out of here so she could start over elsewhere, and why did she care about validation from a bunch of people she'd never see again? It was exhausting as it went on and pointless now that she gave it more thought, but it was as if she couldn't help it deep down.

She sat through history and talked little with Max and Jane, but that was all she did. She often fell into a daze during the lecture about what could happen in the principal's office, which was very unlike her regarding regional history. Fortunately, the teacher didn't notice, and the class ended faster for her as a result. Julie had written notes off and on and had copied some of Jane's and Max's when she missed anything. They were both so kind to her, even after it seemed the entirety of the school was against her.

There were ten minutes left until her science class started, and as Julie exited the room and walked to her locker, she saw Alyssa waiting by it.

"Hey. You don't look too good. Eyes are kind of puffy."

Was it that obvious? She should have put on some concealer. She hadn't slept much last night. "I wanted to go to the office today during lunch, but I'm not so sure I can." Julie got her locker open.

"Sure you can. If you want to go today, then let's go. What's stopping you?"

"What am I supposed to say?" Julie shut her locker after getting her supplies. The more she thought about it, the more it turned her away.

"I think you're overthinking. Just go in there and ask. It's that simple. You love him more than anyone and have zero competition. It couldn't be any easier, honestly. It's like asking a ninetales what five plus four is. Besides, I'm going with you, remember?" Alyssa headed the opposite way. "So see you soon," she added.

Julie watched her fade into groups of other students. "She's right..." She had mulled this over throughout the weekend and had convinced herself to go through with it already. What was she so afraid of? Julie was willing to bet money that no more than five students even noticed Midnight wasn't present on the grounds, and not even they were curious or cared enough to seek answers. They'd be just fine if a jolteon replaced him tomorrow.

She sometimes wished she was like Alyssa in some aspects.

During her next class, Julie paid more attention and tucked her thoughts away for the time being, focusing on writing notes, raising her hand to answer questions, and listening to the teacher's lecture on breaking down cellular structures.

Alyssa may be correct about her overthinking, which wouldn't help her case when today was when she had to go to the office. The best thing to do was treat it like a casual situation and quit imagining worst-case scenarios, but she had a bad case of anxiety, unfortunately.

After math, like a countdown she kept track of even though she tried not to all class, she knew lunch was next. It's how it usually went with anything when she tried to stall the inevitable.

She rubbed her eyes while leaving the room and approached her locker with Alyssa waiting beside it. Julie felt the butterfree in her stomach while opening her locker and putting her things away.

"You ready?" Alyssa asked, leaning on another student's locker.

"Nope."

"That's the spirit; come on."

While they walked to the office, Julie tried putting herself at ease. It was a simple question— straight to the point, but she felt so iffy and overwrought having to ask it. They arrived in front of the office's gray door, and she looked at Alyssa. "You stay out here. I need to have a clear head while I do this."

Alyssa understood. This was Julie's situation at the end of the day. She was just here for support and couldn't wait for the outcome. "Sure. I'll chill out here."

With a deep breath, Julie grabbed the handle and opened it. One step more, and she'd be inside the office. She saw a counter with a red-haired middle-aged female receptionist wearing large glasses behind it and metal dressers tucked into corners behind her.

Julie walked to the counter and grinned before speaking. "Hi, missus Emery. I'd like to uh… speak to Mister Willam. I just have a few questions." Fortunately, not a stutter was present within her words, but a knot sat in her throat. It helped that Mrs. Emery had worked here for years and had a decent relationship with Julie's mother. They used to talk whenever Julie's mother came up to the school.

"Pleasure to see you, Julie. He'll be back in a few. You may wait for him in his office," Mrs. Emery replied warmly, slightly calming Julie's nerves.

"You too, and thank you." She walked through the space at the counter's left since the principal's office was behind it, then went through the door and sat in one of the chairs at his desk.

'What were you thinking, Julie? He'll think it's a joke or a waste of time,' she thought and sat stiff in the chair while waiting down the time. Her anxiety only made her feel worse about being here, and a part of her wanted to get up and ditch this risible idea.

The door then opened behind her. "Oh, hello, Julie! Questions, right?" At least he was kind, which thinned the air. He walked around and sat in his own significantly bigger chair across from her. Julie's mother calling him recently passed his mind upon seeing her daughter in his office, but that was a justified case.

"Y-Yes, just one." Julie brought her hand up to twirl her jacket's drawstring. She had to keep her composure. "...So, the umbreon I see around the school every day, Midnight... I haven't recently. I'm just curious about where he is because... yeah." She decided not to say she was worried about him.

"Hm. I'm surprised anyone asked. Well, I'm getting older, and unfortunately, I cannot care for Midnight the way I used to. I don't want to release him to the wild either, so I'm going to see if I can rehome him. I believe Midnight deserves a better quality of life as a young pokémon and is currently staying with a friend of mine. We originally were going to make a small announcement to the students, but I don't think they mind whether or not he's here."

Julie went stiff, stiffer than before, and she felt her heart drop, beating out of her chest. If that happened, it meant she would likely never see Midnight again, and she didn't want anyone else having him. She would provide him with the best life he could have. She knew she would. Julie couldn't imagine it and wanted to cry already. The students genuinely didn't care about Midnight, but Julie was the exception.

She had to say something, and mentally, she began panicking. She'd never felt so helpless but calmed herself as best she could. There was no way Julie could screw this up. "S-So... that means you're... y-you're looking for anyone to take him as long as they care for him well, right?" She squeezed the drawstring.

"Well… yes, I suppose anyone could take him as long as they tended to his needs, but I do have a few people inquiring about him as we speak. He'd go to a loving family or a passionate trainer, maybe even be an emotional support pokémon. Why do you ask?" He could feel and see how apprehensive she was but couldn't comprehend why.

Her chest tightened, and she found it difficult to breathe. Now, she had to give the real reason behind her visit to the office or leave it be and lose Midnight for good. Julie fought to get her next question out, but she didn't want him living with some family. She didn't want him to be a battle pokémon. None of that because Midnight was so much more. He was her soulmate— a caring, loving umbreon that no one could understand the way she did. "What if… so, wh-what if I were to take him?"

"Pardon? You would like to take Midnight?" Mr. Willam was taken aback by this statement. The last thing he'd expected was for a student from this school ever to ask about Midnight in the first place, and now one was asking for him.

She nodded. Julie didn't know how he felt about her advance and held her breath for the answer that'd shatter her.

He leaned back in his chair, eyeing Julie as if studying her. "...How old are you?"

"Eighteen, sir."

He had to think this over. This wasn't a situation he was prepared for, and several people had asked first. What was he supposed to tell them?

However, this instance intrigued him, and he couldn't tell Julie no when a reason had to lie behind her as a student taking time out of her day to enter the office solely to inquire about Midnight. No one had or likely would, and he wanted to understand and know where this came from. He also knew Julie to be a profound student and had seen her grades.

He peered, keeping his eyes on her. Mr. Willam hated to involve bias in the process of rehoming a living creature, but he couldn't live with himself without considering this. "Why don't you return on Friday after school? We may discuss this further. You should go to lunch and prep for your next period, but thank you for stopping by, Julie. Any other questions?"

"Uh, no. That would be all. Thank you for your time. I'll certainly be back." She let her arm fall to her side and grinned to herself while exiting his office.

Alyssa had been leaning against the wall on her phone while waiting for Julie, itching for the result. "Oh, finally. How'd it go?" She slipped her cell phone into her pocket and turned to Julie as she stepped into the hallway.

Julie exhaled and leaned over, releasing any pent-up emotions that she'd held in. She stood again. "He said to come back this Friday. I asked about Midnight's whereabouts, and he told me he was looking to rehome him. One thing led to another... then, like, I asked if I could take him," Julie smiled a little, proud of herself for asking the question she was previously afraid to bring up.

"Doesn't sound like a no to me. See? Wasn't that hard." Alyssa was relieved for her. Midnight was a major source of her happiness.

"I know. I mean, I don't have him yet, but Mister Willam said someone would just have to care for him and his needs. It's the only requirement." Julie sounded better already, and Alyssa would ensure she didn't lose much hope until then.

"Fingers crossed. That shouldn't be too hard for ya. You could easily tend to his needs… and desires as a bonus." She couldn't help herself. Plus, Julie's reactions were amusing.

"Alyssa..." Julie pushed her arm while her cheeks warmed.

"Heh... c'mon, we still have a while before lunch is through."

The rest of the day went great, and Julie no longer felt as hopeless. Nothing was guaranteed, but there was a chance, big or small, and she had closure on Midnight's whereabouts. It was all she needed to hold on to for now.

She was in bed that night while listening to heavy rain patter against the pavement and streets outside. It had been raining off and on throughout the day, and Julie was fortunate it hadn't been this hard during her ride home. She was thinking of what it would feel like to have Midnight be with her off school grounds once again. "I'd take him everywhere I went. and our nights... mh, wonderful." Wholesome or not. Julie felt warm and fuzzy all over. The only thing bothering her was the wait and split chance that she may or may not get him. It ate at her and put her in a constant state of anxiety that had no intention of leaving.

She hoped the decision worked out in her favor. She knew Midnight would be happiest with her, and it wasn't her being selfish. Julie saw it in those crimson-colored orbs and felt it in his soul whenever she spent time with him: a mutually exclusive and special connection. He wanted to be hers as much as she wanted him. They belonged to each other, and neither of them would be happy otherwise.

She turned onto her side. It was absurd to feel so intensely about a pokémon, but she'd already accepted it and then some. Julie felt lost and lonely without him. Lilly slept in her bed often, but no love was involved, and she needed that love in her life.

Friday would tell, hopefully. Julie would still have to get through the rest of the week without him brightening her mood, which would suck, but it was doable. She'd been doing it. Plus, she had Alyssa.

Soon after she closed her eyes, they opened to daylight— a quick transition. At least she felt well-rested. Julie yawned, took five minutes to wake up, and then got ready for school. She got her hair ready and clothes on quickly so she still had time to eat before leaving.

"Morningg, Mom," Julie said while entering the kitchen and seeing her wipe the counter with a cloth.

She turned around slightly. "Morning, sweetie. You seem more awake than usual."

"Do I?" Julie did feel a bit sprightly after yesterday's events.

"Well, you're usually a slakoth in the morning, so I'd say so." She hung the cloth on the oven's handle. She adored seeing Julie happy. It was priceless whenever it occurred and could make her tear up every time. "Want to help me cook again? I thought it was a nice mother-daughter bonding experience last time. I see a lot less of you these days, and I know you'll be heading off soon to start a life of your own." Julie was all she had for the most part since she'd cut contact with her relatives long ago due to not fitting in and breaking off.

They were a different breed and lived awful lifestyles, either involved with drugs or in near poverty. Some of them had cleaned up, such as her sister, who lived a city away, whom she got together with often.

So she left at nineteen, married soon after, and put her life toward finding success on her own and raising Julie to be the stark opposite. She'd attended a community college and transferred to a reputable university in Goldenrod, majoring in business management and nursing and earning a degree in both fields.

Julie's path looked even more promising. Seeing her daughter transfer to a university from high school would make her a proud mother, and Julie was shooting for Castelia at that.

She wanted to see her daughter fly higher than herself and would support whatever path she set her eyes on so long as it was viable. Unfortunately, her family being the way they were meant Julie grew up with none besides her father's side before the divorce.

"Of course." It had been a while, and Julie felt more than up for it. "But you know I'll always call and visit even if I'm away. I couldn't forget the best mom ever."

She smiled, "I'm glad I can be that for you, sweetie."

After cooking and eating breakfast with her mother, Julie grabbed her backpack and was out the door. She saw Alyssa waiting for her on the pavement in front of the porch, to her surprise, almost on it to avoid the sprinkler that wet the sidewalk's edges.

"Thought I'd ride with you through your chilly city to school since we don't anymore… if that's okay with you?" Alyssa leaned on her bike.

"Course' it is." Julie got her bike in minutes and rode past, turning onto the public sidewalk and signaling Alyssa to follow.

Alyssa pedaled quickly to catch up and slowed afterward to keep beside her. They had to turn off a driveway and ride along the road by stationary cars to let people walk past since their bikes took up the walkway, watching behind them for traffic. "How was last night? Get any sleep?"

"I slept just fine. Got trapped in my head, but getting information about Midnight was terrific."

It was nice to see her cheery and without worry, as Julie often tangled herself in her emotions, and her condition never helped. "Okay, so… off-topic, but I meant to ask— if and when you do happen to get Midnight, what would your mom think?"

"Oh, she'll be fine… but after I graduate, I want to travel to another region, and if I have Midnight, I'll def take him with me, so we'll be away for a while." Julie had made up her mind on that. It would bring her and Midnight closer and equal an unfathomable amount of fun.

"That's exciting, going on your first honeymoon. Just don't forget about me." Alyssa was joking but hoped she and Julie didn't stop talking one day. She wanted to grow with her best friend through life as they had during school.

Julie rolled her eyes. "Of course not. After my first trip, you and I could go on one together," Julie grinned as they went down the sidewalk. Alyssa gave her an additional positivity boost for the day, and she needed as much as possible while dealing with Ecruteak.