Estimated Reading Time: 21 Minutes

.

Leafstorm

Ness awkwardly greeted himself. She frowned and was about to turn away, but Lucky came out of his ball again.

Lucky: "Espii! Espeon." (You! I don't like you.)

Ness: "Hey! Get back in the ball!"

He returned Lucky once again, but Lucky kept coming out. They kept doing this dance until Leaf took a step forward. Lucky was on high alert. He was ready to attack if she came any closer.

To Lucky's surprise she knelt down and put her hand out. Lucky was so sure she was going to send out her Squirtle and they were going to fight. The Espeon looked at her hand confused.

Leaf: "Hi, cutie~"

Lucky: "Espii?"

She grabbed a treat from her purse and handed it to Lucky. The Espeon sniffed it. He took it from her hand and started munching on it.

Lucky: "Espeon~" (Delicious~)

She let out a cute giggle and Lucky's guard was down. He went up to her and rubbed his cheek on her hand. She started giving him lots of pets.

Ness: "H-how did you do that?"

Leaf: "You gotta show them that you're not a threat, but a friend."

Ness: "Oh."

Lucky: "Espii~"

Lucky laid on his back and Leaf happily started rubbing his tummy. Ness went over to the two and squatted down to pet his Espeon with her. As the two were petting Lucky, he noticed her hand.

Ness: "Oh!"

Leaf: "What?"

Ness: "Your nails. It's pretty. I like it. Did you do it yourself?"

Leaf smiled.

Leaf: "No, I got them done professionally."

Ness: "Nice! It looks good on you. I love the flower addition to it."

Leaf: "T-thank you."

Careful Leaf. He's trying to charm you. She should leave and do her own thing anyway. She stood up and he looked at her.

Ness: "Whoa! Your hair! It looks so good. I love the pink."

Leaf's heart skipped a beat. She's definitely blushing. She looked away and said "Thank you."

Ness: "Is pink your favorite color?"

Leaf: "Yes."

Ness: "Pink looks good on you. Never knew brown and pink complimented each other well until I saw your hair."

Leaf: "Yeah? You think?"

She tucked some of her hair behind her ear.

Ness: "Yeah, it's such a cute combination."

Leaf: "You think my hair is cute?"

Ness: "Yeah."

Leaf: "I wanted to try something new and a little risky today."

Ness: "You got it done today?"

Leaf: "Yeah, my nails too."

Ness: "That's awesome! Where did you go? I need to trim my hair. It's getting too long."

Leaf: "Hmm, I don't feel like sharing."

Ness: "Aww c'mon, you gotta."

Leaf: "Nope~"

Ness: "Don't you know sharing is caring."

Leaf: *Giggles* "It's called Monty's Spa."

Ness: "Sounds expensive."

Leaf: "It was, but I did a whole spa treatment."

Ness: "Oh yeah? What else did you do?"

Leaf: "I relaxed in a fancy hot tub and got a nice massage."

Ness: "Aww, lucky."

Lucky: "Espii?"

Ness: "No, not you."

Leaf chuckled.

Ness: "Well, anyway, thanks for telling me. I'll book a schedule when I have the chance."

Leaf: "Yeah, no problem."

Ness stood up and Lucky latched onto his left shoulder.

Ness: "Well it was nice seeing you~"

He turned around and started walking up the stairs.

Leaf: "Y-you're leaving?"

He stopped in his tracks and widened his eyes. Wait, does she want him to stay? Is this his chance to make it up to her?

Ness: "Uh, yeah, I mean unless you don't mind me sticking around."

Did she just say that? She didn't mean to. She let her guard down a little because of her good mood and she ended up enjoying the conversation they were having.

What should she do? She's supposed to hate him, but she felt lonely. She didn't want him to leave and even though she's supposed to avoid him, she secretly didn't want to.

Leaf: "Uh…"

Ness: (She looks uncomfortable. I should go.) "Um, I mean, it's fine if you're busy. No need to feel pressured haha…"

Leaf: "N-no, um, I don't mind."

Ness: "Really?"

Leaf: "Yeah."

He walked down the stairs and approached her.

Ness: "I'm surprised you want me to stay. You usually try to avoid me."

Leaf: "Guess it's a weird day today."

Ness: "I'm not complaining. We haven't had the chance to hang out."

Leaf: "No, not really, huh?"

Ness: "Did you just want to walk and talk?"

Leaf: "I… Uh, Yeah ok."

The two started walking around the mansion. This is so weird. She promised to herself that she wouldn't get close, yet here she is, walking next to him.

Ness: "So uh, what made you want to go to the spa today?"

Leaf: "I work a lot. I wanted to treat myself."

Ness: "That's fair. You deserve it."

Leaf: "Yeah?"

Ness: "I see you working hard all the time. It must be stressful."

Leaf: "Life has been stressful for me lately."

Ness: "Yeaaah. Sorry if I added more stress."

Leaf: "Uh…"

She looked at him. He was looking straight ahead with a look of regret. He must be referring to the time when he went up to her and started talking about scheduling an abortion.

Leaf: "It's ok."

Ness: "No, it's not. I regret what I said to you at the PokeMart."

Leaf: "..."

Ness: "I wish I could take it all back. I just want you to know that I really am sorry. I do want us to start over, but I don't want to force anything or make you uncomfortable."

Leaf: "Wow, that's pretty mature of you."

Ness: "I'm not the best when it comes to people. Making friends is hard. Especially keeping them. I'm trying to be better and more empathetic."

Leaf: "You have a hard time making friends?"

Ness: "Yeah."

Leaf: "I see you with Lucas all the time."

Ness: "He's my best friend in the whole world, but also…"

Leaf: "Also what?"

Ness: "It's… Complicated."

Leaf: "What do you mean?"

Ness's options:

1. "I'd rather not say. Sorry."

2. "I fear that I'll lose him as a best friend."

He didn't really want to open up because he barely knows her. However, if he says the first option, then the conversation will become awkward. He didn't want to mess up this chance. She never goes out of his way to talk to him. He'll have to go with option two.

Ness: "I fear that I'll lose him as a best friend."

Leaf: "What! You two are inseparable."

Ness: "Yeah, I know, but right now we're dealing with some stuff."

Leaf: "I never would've thought. You guys always seemed like the perfect duo."

Ness: "We're not as perfect as everyone thinks we are."

Leaf: "That's crazy. Why do you think you'll lose him as a best friend?"

Ness: "Same reason why I upset you at the PokeMart. I'm not aware when I'm being a jerk."

Leaf: "Yeah, no kidding."

Ness: "Hey!"

Leaf: "Hahaha~"

He rolled his eyes and smiled. She caught it and couldn't help but find him attractive when he did that.

Ness: "Anyway, sorry to make the conversation all gloomy. I just want you to know that I'm gonna try to be more aware of, well, my shitty personality."

Leaf: "It is shitty."

Ness: "Ok, ow. My ego."

Leaf: "Hahaha! I'm mostly kidding."

Ness: "Mostly. Gee, thanks."

Leaf's stomach growled. She blushed and looked away in embarrassment. He looked at her and chuckled.

Ness: "Hungry?"

Leaf: "No!"

Ness: "Um, hey, d-did you want to…"

He scratched the back of his head and laughed to himself nervously. He does that a lot. It's cute she thought to herself.

Leaf: "Yes?"

Ness: "Well, I'm a little hungry too. Did you want to go to the food court and hang out more? But it's ok if you're busy, or have other food plans. I totally get it. No pressure at all. It's just it would I don't know, be nice to hang out a little more since we both don't really talk to each other (shut up me) because you're so busy with the Pokemon, which I totally understand. I mean Pokemon need lots of attention (I need to stop talking) and I assume that you eat with your Pokemon, so I don't want to take up your time with them and-

Leaf: "Yes, Ness. We can grab something to eat."

Ness: "Together?"

Leaf: "Yes."

Ness: "Really? Because I don't want you to feel like you have to."

Leaf: "C'mon, let's go."

She grabbed his hand. He blushed not knowing how to react.

Leaf led the way to the food court. She turned around and faced him. She noticed that his cheeks were pinker than usual. He's blushing! She got him to blush. Wait, does this mean that he likes her? Maybe even a little?

Ness: "Uh, yeah, so um, what are you in the mood for?"

Leaf: "I don't know. You pick."

Ness: "Me?"

Leaf: "Yeah, you pick."

He pulled on his shirt collar and looked away. He doesn't like picking because he used to choose everything for Lucas. Turns out it upset the blonde quite a bit.

Ness: "No, you pick. I don't want to seem controlling."

Leaf: "What?"

Ness: (Shit! Was what I said weird?) "Uh…"

Leaf: "Controlling? I was the one that said you should pick."

Ness is so awkward. When she was dating his clone, Nate acted nothing like this. It was so weird seeing "Ness" suddenly confident and cocky, but she got used to it. They were never close to begin with, so she didn't question his odd behavior. But now that she's finally hanging out with the real him it's weird adjusting from flirty to awkward anxious nerd. The two are completely different, but also similar. It's off-putting.

Ness: "Y-yeah, you're right. Sorry. Um, oh! I know a good one. Here, why don't you find a seat while I pay for it."

Leaf: "You don't have to pay for mine."

Ness: "I want to make it up to you for being a jerk and all."

She was going to say something, but he left. She rolled her eyes and smiled. She went over to a lone table and secured it. As she was waiting for him, she went on her phone until he returned.

Ness: "Hey, I'm back."

She looked up at him and saw that he brought two bowls of ramen. Her hands started shaking as he put her bowl down in front of her.

Ness: "Usually I would get a burger, but I haven't had ramen in a bit."

Leaf stared at her ramen bowl in shock. Her eyes were wide as she studied it. It's miso ramen. The same flavor that Nate got her. Sure it's the most common flavor, but what are the odds that both of them would get her the same thing for their first outing together.

He noticed that she didn't say a word and stared at her bowl.

Ness: "Uh, a-are you ok? Did you want something else?"

Leaf snapped out of her daze.

Leaf: "What? Oh! S-sorry."

He tilted his head in confusion and gave her a blank stare.

Ness: "If you want, I can get you something else."

Leaf: "No, it's fine. Sorry I got lost in thought. Thank you so much for the meal."

She took the pair of chopsticks and started eating. She turned to look at how he was eating. Unlike Nate who slurped up the noodles loudly and never failed to have a tiny piece of noodle on his cheek, Ness was more proper. He was a lot quieter and used the napkins like a proper lady.

Ness: "Mm! This is pretty good, huh?"

Leaf: "Yes, it's delicious."

Her heart was racing. This can't be real. Both of them did the same thing. She felt the strangest deja vu. It's the same scenario yet it's different somehow. It's messing with her head.

Ness noticed the sudden tone shift. He feared that he did something wrong. She became quiet. Oh no, was getting ramen the wrong choice? She doesn't like it, does she?

Ness: "Uh, sorry if you wanted something else. I should've gone with burgers haha…"

There he goes, doing his nervous cute laugh and averting his eyes. No, she shouldn't be thinking of him like that. She can't. This… This whole thing isn't real. Being around him is dangerous, yet so intoxicating.

Leaf: "No, I love it! Honest!"

Ness: "O-oh. Ok!"

She looked down and noticed that he bought a tiny bowl of ramen for Lucky. The Espeon has been eating under the table and she didn't even realize. He's always thinking of his Pokemon, huh? That's so sweet.

Leaf: "Teehee~ I didn't notice you got a bowl for Lucky as well."

Ness: "If I didn't, then he would attack me and eat my food."

Leaf: "How did you do that? I saw you carrying two bowls in each hand."

Ness smirked at her and used his telekinetic power to lift up the chopsticks and feed himself some noodles.

Ness: "Physic powers~"

Whoa, was he being cocky there? He reminded her of Nate just now.

Leaf: "Say, how did you get physic powers?"

Ness: "I was born with them."

Leaf: "Oh."

Ness: "Yep. Pretty cool, huh?"

Leaf: "It's really cool! What's crazy is you got an Espeon. A physic type just like you."

Ness: "I know right!"

Leaf: "Oh you know what."

Ness: "Hm?"

Leaf: "There's this Pokemon contest event going on. You dress up your Pokemon and show off their moves creating a beautiful display. It's different from your average Pokemon battle tournaments."

Ness: "That sounds like fun!"

Leaf: "I've done it a couple times."

Ness: "Did you win?"

Leaf: "Come on, I'm a champion. Of course I won."

Ness: "Does Red join too?"

Leaf: "No, he's more into battling."

Ness: "Hm, maybe I should give it a shot."

Leaf: "You totally should! Your team name could be… Oh! Oh my god."

Ness: "What?"

Leaf: "Nesspeon!"

Ness: "Whoa! Leaf, you're a genius!"

Leaf: "I can't believe you never thought of that!"

Ness: "No, I haven't. That's actually crazy."

Leaf: "You two couldn't have been more perfect for each other."

Ness: "Did you hear that, Lucky?"

Lucky ignored his trainer and continued to eat.

Ness: "Haha… Yeaaah we're still working on our communication."

Leaf: "Did you try out my tips?"

Ness: "Oh. I forgot about it."

Leaf: "Oh Ness…"

Ness: "Haha…"

Leaf: "Here."

She took a bag of treats out from her purse and handed it to him.

Leaf: "Whenever he listens and does something good, give him a treat, but not all the time. This way he doesn't start demanding or think just because he listens means treats."

Ness took the bag of treats from her and put it inside his rucksack.

Ness: "T-thanks!"

He smiled a bright smile and she felt butterflies inside her stomach. He's so adorable! So charming… She shouldn't, but she can't help it. He's such a dork and she loved it.

Leaf: "Careful though, Eeveelutions are difficult even with this tactic. You need lots of patience."

Ness: "Eevees are difficult?"

Leaf: "Oh yeah. People want them because they're so cute and all, but they're not beginner friendly."

Ness: "S-seriously?!" (I just had to be stuck with a difficult Pokemon.)

Leaf: "Yeaaah. You need to be patient."

Ness sighed in frustration. He could barely be patient with himself. He bit off more than he can chew, but it's too late. He loves Lucky and he doesn't want to think about giving him up.

Ness: "Thank you, Leaf. I appreciate your help."

Leaf: "Yeah, of course."

Ness: "You know, I am a little interested in Pokemon battles."

Leaf: "R-really!"

Ness: "Yeah, a little. Um, so maybe I don't know, we could… Battle each other."

Leaf felt unbelievably happy. He's interested in the thing she loves most!

Leaf: "YES!"

Ness widened his eyes. He gave her a shocked blank stare. Did he actually make her happy? He hasn't been able to do that since he got back. Is this progress? Are they friends now?

Ness: "Haha! Ok! Um, is it ok if you can unblock me then."

Leaf felt embarrassed. She blocked him because she wanted nothing to do with him, yet here she is, talking to the person she promised herself to stay away from.

Leaf: "Oh, right. Sorry."

She unblocked him and he sent a quick text to make sure that he got through to her.

Ding!

[- Ness

DM

Ness: Is it working?

Leaf: Yup

…

The two smiled at each other.

Ness: "Perfect!"

Ness checked the time on his phone. They've been hanging out for three hours already. Whoa! It felt like they were hanging out for twenty minutes.

Ness: "Oh wow."

Leaf: "What?"

Ness: "We've been hanging out for over three hours."

Leaf: "Shut up no way."

Ness: "Yeah. Time flies when you're having fun, huh?"

Leaf: "Yeah, no kidding."

The two finished up their food. They awkwardly looked away from each other. He didn't know how to end this. He didn't want to be rude, but his social battery was low.

Ness: "Uh, so this was fun, but…"

Leaf: "It was. I had a fun time hanging out with you."

Ness: "Me too!"

Leaf: "Anyway, I'm gonna go give my Pokemon some attention."

Ness: "Yeah, I'll let you do that. See you at work tomorrow?"

Leaf: "Yeah, I'll be there."

Ness: "Cool. See you then."

The two smiled at each other and went their separate ways. Leaf walked back to her room and headed straight for the bathroom. She washed her makeup off and brushed her teeth.

She summoned her Pokemon and gave them dinner. She sat on her bed and turned on her tv. She shook her left leg and couldn't stop thinking about Ness.

What is with her today? Why did she feel extra lonely and social? Because of this, she unblocked him. This isn't good. He's getting what he wants.

He's taking full control over the situation just like Nate. She's afraid of falling for him all over again, but… He's not Nate. He's Ness. They're two different people. Nate hurt her, but maybe Ness is a different story. Maybe she was being too harsh on him. Surely history won't repeat itself. There's no way that Ness would betray her like how Nate did, right?