Chapter 5 is here, enjoy!
The day had been like any ordinary day. Getting to school early to get a head start on any work I could get ahead on had been a part of my routine since I started high school. It was the best time to get anything done before my friends would swarm me and drag me places mostly against my will. The school was swarming with more than typical Friday excitement. A familiar face stood near the entrance to the library.
"Noelle! How are you?" The boy asked, as I stopped before him. "Ready for tonight?"
"Yeah, it'll be fun," I said with a false smile. The boy, Mark, had asked me to prom and I had accepted. He was one of the strongest trainers and would most likely be our valedictorian so it would've been silly to say no to someone like him. All my friends pestered me into it but it really should be a fun night. "I'm gonna head inside and finish up some homework, I'll see you tonight?"
"Of course, we'll swing by your place half an hour before," he said, with a warm smile. He seemed to lean forward but I quickly went inside the building.
Was he trying to kiss me? Are we a couple? I sat in the library with my headphones in and my head lowered on crossed arms until my phone vibrated and my body jolted. A text reading 'Come outside, you forgot to eat, didn't you?' brought a smile to my face as I gathered my stuff and walked outside.
There stood my best friend; a quiet, somber boy with stubble and hair nearly at his shoulders. He held a plastic bag and tilted his head towards a nearby bench. He handed me half of a breakfast egg sandwich, silently beginning to eat as I did the same. I looked down as I slowly ate.
"Thanks… you're a lifesaver, as always," I said. He smirked and nodded.
"One of us has to be the responsible one," he replied. I sneered at him.
"And how late did you stay up playing video games yesterday?" I asked. He shrugged and we laughed.
"I made it, didn't I?" He replied. "You're coming home after school today, right?"
"Y-Yeah, I'll be there for a bit before they come to pick me up," I responded as he stood up. He put his hands in his pocket and turned away to start walking. Don't go, let's keep talking.
"I'll see you then," he said, leaving as quickly as he came. I stared at the sandwich and sighed, rubbing my forehead.
Things had been so weird between us ever since I came back. We were inseparable as kids but when I moved, we pretty much stopped talking. Moving in was probably not a good idea but I
thought things would go back to how they were. I rubbed my eyes with my palms and took a deep breath, biting into the sandwich, tasting my favorite combination of breakfast foods like I always got to.
The excitement in the air continued as the school gathered in the gym for an end of school celebration since some seniors were ready to not even come back, except for us who cared about attendance and final grades. I smiled and tossed one of my pokeballs into the air, letting my starter out. My Bayleef stood happily near the few other Pokémon my friends had let out.
"I forget how cute she is," a classmate said, kneeling down to pet my Pokémon, who closed her eyes in affirmation at the attention.
"Truly such a brat," I said, jokingly but still resting my hand on her head. My partner happily spoke to the other Pokémon until her head turned and she began running off. "Hey, slow down!"
"Where is she going?" a friend asked. I followed her with some people from my group coming with me.
We weaved through the crowd until we found my Bayleef rubbing her head against his leg. He looked up at me with a smile as he sat on a bench with one hand holding his phone and the other on my Pokémon. I smiled and walked up to them.
"That's the guy she's always hanging out with, right?" one of them said behind me. After a whispered reply, the first girl continued. "That loner kid with no Pokémon?"
"Sorry, she always seems to be able to find you in a crowd, huh?" I said, giggling. He looked up at me, squinting from the sun rays peeking through the windows, with a smile.
"It's alright, don't worry. Always happy to see her," He said, as she sat beside him. My own Pokémon liked him more than she did me! "I'm fine watching her if you need to do something, I was gonna be here for a bit."
"No, it's alrig-," I began, as one of the girls tugged on my arm.
"We were going to get some food, if Bayleef wants to stay, you should let her," She said, with her own smile. I looked at her for a second before turning towards him. She quickly continued, as if knowing I was about to invite him. "Mark saved us three seats, he said it's super crowded by the food trucks."
"Heh, go have fun, don't worry about us, Noelle," he said, as Bayleef looked up as if agreeing. Invite him anyway, you coward. These girls are just acquaintances because they think you're
popular. They started to pull me away as he waved gently; the two boxed lunches on the floor behind his feet surely being better than anything at this place.
I stared at myself in the mirror; I had spent more time on makeup and hair tonight than I've had the past month. My godmother smiled as she ran over and hugged me, commenting on my dress and hair.
"You look beautiful," she said, taking pictures to surely send to my parents. I smiled awkwardly and looked over at the closed door near us. He went straight home after school and into his room, probably falling asleep since he wasn't going to prom. The woman put her hands on my shoulders, snapping me out of it. "Enjoy yourself, you only get to go to one senior prom."
"I will… it's gonna be great," I responded. I went downstairs and sat down to wait for Mark to arrive with our friends. I lived the closest to the school so I was surely the final stop. I took my phone out and sent him a text to see if he was awake. My hands pet the Dachsbun that lazed around the house, resting on her usual spot on the couch.
After refusing the temptation to lay down and ruin all my preparations, I eventually got a text saying that they were pulling up. A knock on the door came soon after; I stood up and headed to the entrance with my excited godmother behind me. She opened the door when there was a knock, revealing a very handsome boy in a suit, holding a corsage and flashing a charismatic smile.
"You must be Mark, nice to meet you," she began. She did the usual small talk, making sure he had me back safely and before midnight, usual doting parent/guardian behavior.. "I'll be awake until she comes back, don't make me have to find you."
"I promise, ma'am," he said. She moved aside and I stepped forward. He placed the accessory on my hand and grabbed my hand. "Shall we get going?"
I nodded and got into the limousine I had no part in renting, greeting and being greeted by all the other couples. The drive was short and uneventful as everyone chatted idly about our outfits and looks. I smiled and nodded often, returning the compliments with hollow responses that were satisfactory enough.
The school was partly decorated during the day but now it looked extra spectacular. Something about a nice campus lit by artificial lighting made it all seem so much fancier. We merged with the sea of students walking towards the gym, waving at other students and teachers who had volunteered to chaperone. The air was lively as music filled the building; people were dancing, chatting, and enjoying themselves. Even people who barely talked were around… maybe they realized this truly was a once in a lifetime night. I wish he had also felt that way.
"You okay?" Mark asked, gently touching my arm. I nodded, flashing a smile. "Good, you've been quiet so I wanted to make sure."
"Yeah, just taking it all in. Let's go dance," I said, pulling him towards the dance floor to clear my head.
Everyone was right, I should enjoy tonight. I was here in the most beautiful outfit I've ever worn with a nice guy who likes me and has a promising future ahead of him. My throat felt heavy as I rubbed my nose amidst everyone. There were probably half a thousand people here yet I felt so alone for some reason. My hands rubbed my eyes, dampening my palms. A hand touched my face and I quickly grabbed it.
"You're not okay, what's wrong?" Mark asked me, as a tear rolled down onto his hand. I pulled my head away and pushed my way through the crowd, leaving the boy staring. Some people around us followed me with their eyes as I pushed my way through.
What the fuck was wrong with me? Why wasn't I happy? I stepped outside and avoided eye contact with the teachers as I headed towards the front of the library, hiding behind a tree and letting the tears flow freely.
"I'm such an idiot," I said to no one.
"What is wrong with you?" came his voice again. My date stood a few feet away from me. "I want to help you."
"Just leave me alone, I'm sorry I ruined everything," I said, quietly. He stepped closer. "I just need to be alone."
"I don't think you should be alone right now," he said, walking closer to me. "Let me help, Noelle."
"I said leave me alone!" I said, pushing him away. He grabbed my arm and I tried to pull it away. "Let me go!"
"Not until you talk to me," Mark said with frustration in his voice.
My wrist hurt as he pulled me towards him. Why couldn't he just leave me be? How could I explain everything in a way that would make sense to anyone else? Should I shout for help?His hand let go quickly as he moved back and grabbed a pokeball.
"She said let go," his voice said. He stood on the main path near us.
"Oh, you're that loser with no Pokémon," Mark said, tossing his pokeball in the air. His Charizard stood between us. "Stop him if he gets closer, Charizard."
"If it's a fight you want… I'll do it for her sake," he said, shakily pulling out a very old pokeball. He tossed it forward. "Help me, Dachsbun."
His grandfather's Pokémon… I had always seen it lounging around lazily but it had always been protective of us… I never thought she would ever battle again after his grandfather passed. She stood across from the Charizard with a determined stare. Mark turned his attention toward the pair, stepping onto the concrete.
"What are you even doing here?" Mark asked. The boy shrugged. Mark's face turned quickly to annoyance. "Just getting in our way for no reason?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you, you're going to want a fight no matter what I say," he said. He swung his arm. "Go, Take Down!"
Dachsbun rushed forward and slammed against the Fire type, who held its arms up to defend itself. The fairy type rushed back, panting from the recoil… What was he doing? Mark wasn't going to take the bait and use a fire move but Dachsbun had a rough time against Charizard if he just threw random commands out. Mark retaliated.
"Charizard, Metal Claw!" He commanded, as Charizard rushed forward and swung against the canine, knocking it back. Rush by his side and help him, Noelle. As my foot stepped forward, he turned to me.
"Stay there," he said, quickly. He turned back to the fight as Dachsbun matched his intensity. "Dachsbun, Covet!"
The fairy type rushed forward again and, when the Charizard went to defend, she swung around and bit Charizard's side before rushing back, holding a large, yellow berry that it quickly swallowed. Mark tightened his fist.
"Iron tail, go!" Mark said, as Charizard rose to the air and swung its tail down, making a loud noise as he hit the ground. Mark smirked before his face quickly changed.
"Thunder Fang, finish this fight," He said, as Dachsbun lunged forward from the dust of the missed tail swing. Her mouth crackled with electricity as she bit into the Charizard's body, causing it to fall backwards onto the ground, knocked out.
"How the… No fucking way you beat me," Mark said, running forward. Dachsbun growled at him before she was quickly recalled to her pokeball. The two boys rushed forward and started fighting.
I couldn't move, I was scared. Mark held him by the collar and swung at his stomach until getting a knee to the stomach himself. The pair fell to the ground with Mark throwing punches at
his crossed arms. The other boy eventually pushed him off and stood up, raising his fists as Mark ran back forward. The two continued until I finally spoke up.
"Stop it!" I shouted, stepping near them. Mark angrily turned towards me and raised his fist. I stared in fear and closed my eyes. I heard the sound of an impact but felt no pain. My eyes opened as Riley stood between us, holding his face.
"I beat you in a battle, you should leave before word spreads. Say Noelle got sick and had to leave early," he said, in a stern tone. Mark stood in a mix of shock, anger, and probably pain as he withdrew his fainted Pokémon and took off. Riley turned to me and I hugged the boy immediately. "Mom was right, you do look beautiful."
"Shut up… why did you come here?" I asked, holding back tears. He shrugged again.
"Something just… told me to come. I wanted to see you," he said, smiling.
"You're an idiot, you know that?" I said, laughing. "My idiot."
We walked in silence back home. People stared at the one boy not in formal wear. He held my hand and he looked the same as he always did yet… he looked fierce. He began talking as I looked up at him.
"You didn't want to come, did you?" He asked. I shook my head.
"I felt like I should though. Although… I knew you wouldn't," I said, quietly. He stayed quiet for a second before continuing.
"I wouldn't have, you're right," he said as expected. He stopped walking as we exited the perimeter of the school grounds. "You heard Mark. I've always been picked on by them. The years you were gone were a living hell for me but complaining won't change anything. Your friends always looked at you like an alien when you tried to invite me or just talk to me. Part of me thinks it'd be easier if you hadn't come back."
"Riley… do you really-" I began, feeling the tears welling up. He grabbed my hand tightly and began to run. I quickly pulled his hand back. "Hey, what are you-"
"I like to think I was never the selfish type but I think I need to be selfish right now," he said. He looked at me with an intensity I've never seen from him in a very long time. I nodded, took off my heels, and grabbed his hand as we began running.
He stopped talking until we reached his house. We walked inside an empty house; his mother and grandmother had dinner plans. He tossed the pokeball on the couch and let the Dachsbun out. She quickly returned to her couch and yawned, almost as if she hadn't been in her first battle in years. Riley led me upstairs, talking as we climbed.
"Part of me thought what I said earlier but… the other part realized that I love you," he said. My face surely reddened as he said it so casually. He stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to me. "I love you and I always will but… I'm not ready to be the man you deserve."
"What are you talking about you idiot…" I said, wiping my eyes. I had a feeling of what he meant.. He hugged me and we stood in silence for what felt like forever. "You're my best friend and I want to be by your side. I always did."
"I'm glad," he answered. "I just didn't want to get in your way."
"Since when do you know how to battle so well?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Hard to go to school these days and not pick up on things…" he said, avoiding eye contact. "She wouldn't let me go until I took her with me either."
"Well, thank you for cheering me up," I said, smiling. He smiled back and walked backwards, heading into his room. No, he couldn't leave now.
"Anytime, Noelle," he said, opening his door. My arm moved forward and grabbed his arm.
"I know I'll be leaving soon and we won't really see each other everyday anymore…" I began walking closer to him. "We should… make this night more memorable than it already will be."
"Won't this just complicate things?" he asked, quietly. I smiled and put a hand on his cheeks, leaning up and giving him a kiss on the lips.
"Only you know how chaotic I can truly be, Riley."
Seven years later, I sat next to him on a bed after running again. While he still never brought the topic back up again after I left and he acted like I annoyed him with every word, I still loved him and hoped for the day he would see himself as the man fit to be with me; just like I saw him long ago.
We stared forward as the egg began to shine. His face looked both surprised and nervous. I remained quiet and grabbed his hand as the light began to fade, leaving behind a small, fish shaped Pokémon hovering slightly above the wooden dresser.
He stood up and walked over to the incubator, grabbing the attached pokeball and extending his hand to the Pokémon.
"I wasn't expecting a Finneon… but I'm happy to meet you."