Later, as I walked past the Pokemon Center, I caught a glimpse of her inside, her cheeks still flushed from the riveting battle she had, strands of sweaty hair stuck to the side of her face. My breath hitched. She was still as beautiful as ever. She seemed to have sensed my gaze, because she turned, her jawline disappearing from my view. We locked eyes for a moment, through the glass window and I understood what it meant when other people said a thousand emotions flashed across her face, because it did seem like she had a huge range of emotions playing across her face. She quickly jotted down the forms, handed them to Nurse Joy and strode towards me, passing a gaggle of fans. I guess here it comes, there's nowhere to run now.
'Hey,' Ronnie started. 'I… I wasn't sure you would come.'
'I wasn't sure I would either,' I looked away, bitting my lips. I couldn't bear looking in her eyes.
'Can we talk?' Ronnie asked, her beautiful green eyes pleading. 'Please?'
I wasn't sure I heard that tone from her before. Mari, who had come back wondering why I stopped walking, nudged me and jerked her head.
'Go,' She said.
My heart thudding, I said, 'Ok.'
Ronnie took my hand, and at this point, my heart was ready to explode. I wasn't ready for this. With a start, I realized how much I missed her. All feelings of resentment flew out the window the moment she was standing right in front of me, replaced by a sense of longing. Ronnie led me to the Ever Grande Hotel, passed all her fans with a polite smile, and into a room. Her room, I realized, seeing a familiar jacket draped on the chair. I haven't been in the same room as her in like forever.
'Cara,' Ronnie said, after closing her door. 'You didn't reply me.'
'I was really angry,' I told her, wincing when I saw a flicker of hurt in her eyes.
'I know,' She looked down. 'I'm really sorry.'
'I was angry,' I brushed my finger against her chin, tilting her head up.
Then I dropped my hand, and pulled my other hand, still in hers, away.
'But it doesn't give me an excuse to say what I said,' I admitted at last, rubbing my hand against my arm.
And it was the truth, I realized. It was what was eating away at me. The guilt of shouting things at her, things I didn't mean.
'What?' She asked, a frown creasing her forehead.
'I'm sorry,' I dug my fingers into my arm. 'I didn't mean to call you a coward. Everyone processes their grief differently. You're not a coward. You're anything but a coward.'
'I… what?' Ronnie seemed to be at a loss for words. 'No, you were right. I've been running away. But no, Cara. I wanted to apologise to you. How on Earth did that turn around?'
'I don't know?' I phrased it as a question.
She rubbed her neck, a slight smile on her lips, which disappeared as fast as it came. 'Look, I was angry too. I said things I didn't mean. I should have told you about the poachers. About Ariel. I shouldn't have tried to protect you because you don't need it. You are strong. And a damn good trainer. I was just blinded by my past.'
'Ronnie, I…'
She reached out to pry my fingers off my arms.
'Cara,' She continued, cutting me off. 'I… I was a coward. Like you said. I didn't dare to tell you because I was scared of losing what we had. And then I did.'
'Ronnie, do you know the reason why I almost didn't come?'
Her eyes locked onto mine, a questioning look accompanied it.
'Because I was scared I'll ruin it forever.'
'You were?' Ronnie said, slightly stunned.
We were silent for a while, until it became unbearable.
'I missed you, Ronnie,' I told her, because I felt that if I don't get that out, my heart would explode.
'I… Wait… You missed me?' She looked up, a smile crept up on one side of her face. Oh how I've missed that annoying smile.
'Yes. And then I was just avoiding you because it was my fault. You were just trying to protect me but I… I shouted at you, said all those things I don't mean. I'm really sorry, Ronnie. I…' I was blabbering now.
'You missed me.' She stated, as if not quite believing what I said.
'Yes damnit Ronnie,' I might have let out a half growl.
Then, as if she couldn't bear it any longer, she crossed the distance and gave me a hug. I turned my face into her hair. She released me, brushing her thumb across my cheek, and tilted her head down to give me a kiss. Oh how much I miss her kisses, her soft lips against mine. I cup the back of her head, threading my fingers through her hair, as I kissed her back. She made a soft sound of surprise. We stayed like that for a while, hanging on to each other until she pulled away.
'Arceus, I was so scared we were over.' I told her.
'So was I,' She admitted, giving me another kiss.
'Are you still mad at me?' Ronnie asked, her eyes searching mine.
'No,' I grabbed her in for another kiss. 'Are you?'
She kissed me back in response. 'No.'
The kiss started out warm and gentle, her thumb brushing my face and her lips soft. Then it turned urgent, and I felt as if fire was coursing through my veins. I tightened my grip on the back of her head and slide my other hand down to her butt, pressing myself against her. She gave a moan, and push me back onto her bed. The lush bed of a luxurious hotel, completed with satin sheets and soft mattress that didn't have springs digging into my back. Climbing on top of me, she pressed her lips against mine. It seemed like we were making up for lost time. I couldn't get enough of her kisses, urging for more. She obliged, her hands slid downwards from my face, brushing my breast, then all over my body. She littered kissed on my lips, my jaws, my neck, everywhere. My skin burned where she touched me. Her crop top had ridden up, exposing her delicious abs, so I tugged at the hem, wanting to get rid of it, needing to feel her skin against mine. She pulled the shirt over her head and bent down to kiss me again. Her fingers grasped the bottom of my shirt. I moved to pull it off when she held on.
'Wait,' Ronnie gasped, breathing heavily. 'Are you sure?'
'Arceus,' I was breathing just as hard. I licked my lips, where the taste of her still lingered 'Damnit Ronnie.'
Then I met her eyes, still searching mine for confirmation. I realized I'm grateful that she is the sort of girl that asked first. I thread my fingers through her hair lightly, bringing her in for another tender kiss.
'Yes, Ronnie,' I told her. 'I am sure. Make up sex is best sex, right?'
Ronnie smiled then, a full one. A real one. Tugging my shirt over my head, she pulled me in for another kiss. And oh boy, it wasn't just the best, it was phenomenal.
Afterwards, I laid on the bed facing the ceiling, Ronnie's hand stroking my stomach. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.
'What is your full name?' I asked, because this seemed like the sort of moment.
'Veronique Gabrielle Laurent,' Ronnie smiled, another full smile, the kind that transformed her face into something extraordinary. Wow, if she smiles like this during sex, we should have it more often.
'What?' Ronnie demanded, seeing the smile on my face.
'Nothing, it just seemed very… not you,' I finished lamely. At her raised eyebrow, I clarified. 'Very girly.'
'Oh, I'll show you girly,' Ronnie's fingers went from stroking my stomach to attacking me with tickles.
Squealing, I fended off the offending fingers when I realized her surname was Laurent. I sat up with the epiphany. It was a common enough surname but…
'Laurent?' I asked her. 'As in, Dominique Laurent of the Elite Four?'
'Yes, Dom's my sister,' Ronnie said, pulling me back to lie down facing her. 'Are you ever going to tell me what R stands for?'
'Never,' I declared. Then, at the threatening look she gave me, and her fingers ready to attack, I burst out. 'Rowen! Don't tickle me. Oh, Arceus!'
'Cara Rowen Young,' She smiled, giving me a kiss.
We laid there in silence for a while, enjoying the feel of each other's company.
'When did you realize you missed me?' She asked, after a while.
Surprised by her sudden question, I didn't answer immediately.
'Fortree Gym,' I admitted at last.
'I looked in the crowds for you. Then when I realized you weren't there and I realized,' I gulped, looking down. 'I realized how much you meant to me. How I missed your constant support. How you were always there for me.'
'I was there,' Ronnie confessed.
'What?'
'I was behind you. I didn't know if you wanted to see me.'
I looked down, blushing. Oh how I must have looked, searching the audience for her.
'Wait, so those moves you did today…?'
'Which ones?' One of her eyebrows quirked up in a suggestive manner, her fingers brushed my thighs in case I didn't understand her question.
'Ow ok yes I may have taken some inspiration from you,' She said when I smacked her. She grinned. 'You're inspirational.'
'You literally like just obliterated an Elite Four member,' I reminded her.
She smiled at that.
'I missed you too, Cara,' Ronnie slid her hand behind my back. 'You were always there for me too, you know. I missed how you could always cheer me with up with your stupid jokes. How positive you were. Then I started to miss… just being around you. I was so scared, when I thought I drove you away.'
'I said things I didn't mean too,' Ronnie told me.
'It doesn't matter,' I said, because it really doesn't. 'We both did, and it's out there. That's why I have you, don't I? To challenge me to be a better version of myself.'
'You do that to me too,' Ronnie stroked my hair, then she declared. 'From now on, I will always be there for you.'
'How do you always know what to say?' I shifted closer to her, snuggling against her, a smile tugging up the corners of my cheeks.
'Because it's true.' She gave me a squeeze, cuddling me, pressing a kiss on my forehead.
'I'll promise to try to be less reckless.' I told her.
'Um hmm.'
'So, you like fast, huh?' I trailed my fingers up her inner thighs. Two can play at this game.
She was confused for a second, her eyebrows drawing together in a frown, though her mouth parted with a pant. If I could peek into her brains, it was sure to be scrambling to gather enough scattered brain cells to process my sentence. Then, she remembered. One night in the forest of Route 116. Before I even knew she liked me.
'That's not what I meant!' She exclaimed. 'But hmm, please continue doing what you're doing.'
I smiled as she gave in.
