Having finally had the chance to advance beyond Nugget Bridge, Leaf walked through the route where she spotted Blue who was facing down an Abra. She decided to wait by a tree and watch. The letter could wait considering how long Blue had been trying to catch it, if his tone during the call was any indication. She saw Blue take a deep breath before staring deep at the Abra. To Green's surprise, the Abra's eyes seemed to open and the Pokemon reached out with its hands. He took out his Pokéball and tossed it to the Pokémon. It seemed to open the ball itself in order to be captured. Green eagerly began taking notes of what happened. As she did, Blue approached her and brought her out of her note taking with a chuckle.

"How long have you been standing around here for?" he asked holding up the Pokéball, "Either way, if you're here, does that mean you have my letter?"

"Straight to the point as always aren't you?" she said with an eyeroll. "How did you do that? I though Abras can tell exactly what you're thinking?"

"Well, yeah, they can. Sabrina told me the trick was to think about helping them become stronger rather than think about trying to catch them. If you do, they'll have a conversation with you, and it worked." His words caused Green to stare at him a bit puzzled.

"Sabrina? As in the gym leader?" Green's expression indicated that she didn't believe his story in the slightest. "What would she be doing north of Cerulean?"

"She wasn't, I called her," Blue said with the most infuriating grin on his face. What did he know?

"You called her? Stop being ridiculous!" she said annoyed. She pouted as Blue pulled out what looked like a business card. "You're kidding... you actually got Sabrina's phone number?"

"Read it and weep," he chuckled.

"I never thought you could actually get a girl's phone number, especially someone like Sabrina's."

"Well I did, and I believe you owe me a letter?" he asked as he put the card back in his pocket.

"Yeah, yeah, here's your letter," Green said, pulling it out of her backpack. Blue grabbed it from her without so much as a thank you. "Hey! Ever heard of manners?"

"No way, Gramps is getting an award, and we're invited to the party? Awesome!"

"Yes, yes, anyway, you didn't happen to see Red did you?" she asked.

"Yeah, last I saw him was at Bill's but he probably left by now."

"Bill's? You mean the one who made the Pokemon Storage System?"

"Yep, he's an even bigger nerd than you are, so go ahead. His house is that way," Blue pointed towards a slightly forested pathway.

Green smiled and started running along to find Red, and possibly visit Bill if time allowed it. When she got close, she saw Red walking along the path, carrying an Oddish in his hands.

"Hey Green! How was defeating Misty?" he asked with a smile. Green smiled herself as she pulled out the Cascade badge.

"So, I take it you managed to catch an Oddish then?" she responded, reaching out to pet it.

"Yep, meet Belladonna!" he said holding the grass type out at her. The Oddish seemed to yawn as Leaf gently petted her leaves. "So, how'd you know where to find me? This place is pretty big."

"Blue told me, apparently you two managed to meet Bill?"

"Yeah, I think he might let you visit if you wanna talk to him too." Green looked excited for a moment but she thought for a moment and shook her head.

"I can see him at the party later. You should get your Gym badge first." She turned around and began walking back with Red.

"Umm, what party?" he asked confused.

"Oh, I didn't tell you? Right!" she said, turning back to him, "Grandpa won another Akari-Rei Award for Scientific Excellence!"

"That's the award you've always wanted to win right?"

"Yes, and so there's gonna be a party in his honor on the S. S. Anne, and Blue and I were invited."

"Well, I hope you enjoy then," he said, sounding a bit sad.

"I will, especially since my best friend is gonna be there," she said smiling at him.

"Wait, I thought I was your best friend," he said, which caused Green to giggle. "What's so funny?"

"You're coming with me you big dummy," she said producing the two tickets, "I'm allowed a plus one."

"Oh!" he said as he blushed to match his namesake. "Thanks for inviting me."

"What are friends for?" she asked with a giggle.

"Anyway, I think we should get something to eat before I challenge Misty. I haven't eaten since I left Cerulean."

The two of them returned to the Pokécenter and got food from the buffet. As they sat down, Green decided to let Red in on the gossip she'd learned earlier.

"Did you know that Blue got a girl's phone number?" she asked curiously.

"Wait, other than you and Daisy?" he asked a bit surprised.

"Yep," she said with a chuckle as she took a sip from her lemonade.

"Is it someone we know?"

"Well, not someone we know personally, but someone we'll probably meet on our journey sometime." Green was enjoying this game of secrets. Red was especially confused by that last answer. She put the lemonade down and watched him try to puzzle out the mystery.

"How would it be someone we'll meet?" he asked confused. "Wait, did he meet a gym leader from another city or something?"

"Bingo!" she smiled, "you have a 50/50 chance to guess which one it was."

Red thought about it for a moment. "Hmmm, since Saffron City is closer, I'll say Sabrina?" he asked as he accidentally grabbed the lemonade Green put down.

"Yeah, you got it, I was hoping you'd guess Erika since she seems more open than Sabrina is, but it was Sabrina. I just don't know how she put up with Blue's, Blueness, you know?" she asked as she looked at Red who was drinking from her glass of lemonade. Her eyes flicked down to the table where Red's glass was still next to him. Her face went red as she looked back up at him.

"Is there something on my face?" he asked confused as he set down the glass.

"That was ummm, my lemonade..." she said. Wild thoughts were running through Green's brain. If he drank from the same glass... that's sorta like kissing right? No, it's not it's just swapping spit by accident, but... actually kissing him? What would that be like?

"Earth to Green?" Red asked nervously as he waved his hand in front of her face.

"I'm okay! Sorry, I guess I did space out a bit," she said, still blushing like mad. "So... I guess you're gonna be heading off to challenge Misty then?"

"Yeah, I am, wanna watch?"

"Yeah I'll catch up later, but before you go, let me give you something." Green reached into her bag and pulled out one of the fossils she took from Team Rocket.

"What's this for?" he asked as she handed him the Helix fossil.

"For luck, I know you probably won't need it, but it never hurts does it?" she said with a smile, the blush on her face was starting to fade.

"Well, I guess I'll keep it then," he smiled and placed the fossil in his bag. "I'll be off to the gym now, I guess. See you in the audience."

"Bye Red," Green said, waving him off.

Red smiled as he walked into the Cerulean Gym. It had been a bit of time since his last Gym battle, and he was excited to show he could win on the first try this time. The boy gazed in awe at the massive pool in front of him. Standing on the other side was Misty, dressed in her signiature two piece.

"Hi, you're a new face! You must be Red?" she said with a smile.

"Hello, what are the rules of this gym battle going to be?" he asked waving back to her. He scanned the audience a bit and saw Green in the bleachers. Seeing her calmed him down quite a bit.

"This is your second gym challenge, so once again two Pokémon each." She took out her Pokéball.

"Sorry Blaze, I don't think this is your battle," Red said before taking out one of his Pokéballs.

"Let the battle begin!" she said with a smile, and the two threw out their Pokéballs.