Hi guys, I hope you like this chapter
Chapter 4.- Smiles that make me mad
It was another day in Vermillion City. The Pidgeys were leaving their nests to fly away with their parents, paperboys were out on their route to deliver the news to every house in the neighborhood, and of course, our special girl faced her usual morning problem.
"Why is my hair so hard to fix" Chloe would curse as, with a brush, she tried to fix her long maroon hair, which bristled every morning. She always had to ask her mother for help to do her hair, which made her angry; when she was younger, but now at almost sixteen, she was embarrassed that she still couldn't do it by herself.
As usual, her mother came to her room to solve the everyday problem, "Chloe, you are still having problems with your hair," Her mother told her, seeing the predicament her daughter was in.
She didn't want to admit it, but she needed her help if she wanted to get to class on time, "Yes, mom" She said, defeated like every morning, "Don't worry honey, your hair is hard to fix, but soon you will do it on your own" Her mother calmed her down while gently brushing her hair.
"You had the same problem at my age?" Chloe asked her as she looked in the mirror, and her mother worked her magic, "Of course I did. I struggled just like you to have my style, although my hair was never as beautiful as yours," Her mother told her very happily.
Chloe was very grateful to her mother for always being attentive to her. Since she was a little girl, she has always felt her mother's support since she viewed her mother as a friend and confidant. So, she couldn't hide from her the confusion she had on the subject of the hillbilly town boy.
"Mom, could I ask you something," she asked, still somewhat unsure, "Yes, honey, what is it?"
"Well, it's about boys," Chloe told her, very embarrassed to bring up the subject with mother, "Oh honey, how fast you've grown up, you're old enough to think about boys," Her mother told her very happy and excited, which made Chloe more embarrassed.
"Mom, it's not what you think. Lately, I find myself more irritated than usual and all because of the attitudes of a very annoying boy" Chloe complained about the times Ash was driving her crazy and how lately he had been acting very weird with her. "You know Chloe; there is an unwritten rule when you meet boys."
"What rule, mom?" She asked him prey to her curiosity. "Sometimes the people who are so different from us are the people who intrigue us the most and, in the case of boys, are the ones we are most attracted to," Her mother told her about the "law of opposites."
"Wow, but what are you talking about? How could I like someone so annoying and childish" She exclaimed, denying any interest in her father's assistant. "Chloe, not everything in life is black and white, it's part of growing up, and you know if it affects you that way, it could be that if you like him but don't want to admit it."
"Yeah, I doubt it mom" Chloe sighed, already trying to end the conversation, "By the way, can I know who that is," Her mother asked her, very curious about her daughter's first crush.
"I don't think it's worth talking about him mom, I'm telling you I don't like him," Chloe replied, trying to keep her mother from finding out the truth. "It's okay. I know that for a teenager like you, it's better to have a little privacy."
"But you better introduce him to me the day you bring them home," She whispered to her daughter, making her blush with embarrassment, but she kept quiet to stop showing off.
After 15 minutes, she finished fixing her hair in her braid, "Ready honey, beautiful like every day."
Chloe put on her laurel bun to finish and was ready for school, "Thank you so much mom, sorry if I keep bothering you with this" She said a little sorry, "Honey, no matter how much you grow up, I will always support you and take care of you" Her mother told her and then gave her a loving hug.
After a quick breakfast, Chloe decided to take Eeeve to school while Yamper stayed with Parker. Chloe felt a little bad for Yamper, as she had noticed that he had become a little distant with her after capturing Eeeve.
The route to her school was the same as always: the same scenery, streets, and people. Another quiet day for the professor's daughter. Everything was going to be normal until she ran into her nemesis again, the boy from Pallet town.
He was standing at the bus stop along with his Pikachu, right in front of her school. "What the hell is he doing here? He is supposed to be out with Goh to another mission in another region. What is he doing at school, at my school." She said to herself, very unsure and nervous about approaching him, but there was no escape, as he was in front of the entrance.
Unable to help herself, she approached him to question his reason for coming to her school, "What are you doing here" She asked him a little aggressively. While Ash just looked at the building, still not paying attention to her.
"It's the first time I'm in your school, it looks very modern, but I don't like that it's so square," Ash commented to her, comparing Chloe's school to the Pokémon school in Alola.
"Don't ignore me and tell me why you came here," She asked again, now more insistent. "Relax, your father sent me for an assignment to your school, something academic," Ash replied, still not looking at her.
"Look, you already showed me that you know a lot of things, but I doubt that my father sent you here for something like that," Chloe told him, still not believing him. "Right, you're right, I'm lying. I only came here to follow you because I have nothing better to do," Ash said with all the sarcasm he could muster.
Before Chloe could answer him, the school bell rang, announcing the start of classes. "You shouldn't be late Chloe, you don't want to miss your classes today," Ash told her, then gave the girl a wink. Chloe was again speechless with anger as she saw him toying with her again.
Still, with all her pride, she left without another word, walking into the building. However, she didn't know that her friends, Mika and Violet, saw the whole thing.
Arriving at her classroom, Chloe didn't give her time to sit down, as her friends came to bombard her with questions, "Chloe, who was that boy you were talking to in the hall?"
"What are you talking about" She replied, trying to deny what had happened. "Don't play innocent Chloe, we saw you were talking to that cute boy outside," Mika exclaimed, blushing at the thought of Ash.
"Besides, you can tell he's older. I wish I have an older boyfriend. I never thought you'd get a boyfriend before me, Chloe," Violet told her, making Chloe jump with shock and embarrassment.
"Wow wow Ash isn't my boyfriend. Are you crazy" Chloe furiously blushed, just imaging being Ash's girlfriend. "Oh my gosh, you like him" Violet exclaimed before Chloe grabbed her.
"Listen carefully, that boy, it's one the most annoying people that I know, so don't imagine things that are impossible," Chloe exclaimed, her friends felt her anger and grim aura, so they stopped teasing her.
Minutes later, her class teacher arrived and asked everyone to take their seats. "Good morning, class," Mr. Suki greeted his students. Everyone greeted their teacher like every day. "Ok, let's forget about Ash for today. At least at school, I can be away from him," Chloe said to herself, ready for another ordinary day at school.
"Ok, class, today we have a special guest with us. Professor Cherise kindly sent us one of his research staff members for a special lesson for our social studies class.
Everyone in the class started to chat, wondering who this expert would be. However, Chloe quickly realized who is this "expert." "Wait a moment; there is no way my father would send him to my school to teach in a class, in MY CLASS. It must be Renn; yeah, there is no way Ash is going to be my teacher today."
"Well, class, I hope you make him feel welcome. He is our guest and expert for today's lessons. May I present Mr. Ash Ketchum" Mr. Suki exclaimed. Everyone looked surprised when Ash entered the room. Since he looked a lit bit older than them, but he was still a teenager.
"Hello everyone, my name is Ash Ketchum. I come from Pallet Town, and Professor Cherise sent me to help you with your Pokemon interaction class." Ash exclaimed while presenting himself.
Chloe couldn't believe this. The guy desperately tried to avoid became his teacher for today. She tried to hide behind her books in a fruitless effort to avoid Ash, but it was in vain since he already saw her.
"Mr. Ketchum may be young like you, but his research and experience in the field help professor Cherise in his latest research about Pokemon interactions and behavior." Mr. Suki explained
Ash looked carefully at the class. They looked a lot like Chloe, city kids who lack the experience of facing the outside world. But at the same time, they looked more excited or static, unlike Chloe, who always looked stoic and emotionless.
Suddenly he saw one of the students raising his hand. "Do you have a question" Ash asked with curiosity. "Yes, I think I saw you before. Did you participate in the Ever Grande Conference 4 years ago?"
"Yeah, I did, I came at top 8 that year" Ash replied happily that someone remember his past records. "Wow I saw that battle when I was a kid, it was awesome" The boy exclaimed overexcited.
Everyone started to whisper and chat of Ash, realizing that their teacher it's a successful Pokémon trainer, "Did you enter any other championships?" Micca asked him with a flirty tone, something that Chloe noticed.
"Well, I have been travelling since I was ten. I comped in 7 league regional conferences on Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova and Kalos. But recently I won the first Malaho conference in the Alola region" Ash explained very casually trying to brag about it.
Everyone looked astonished, especially Chloe. "No way, that must be a joke. He never mentioned any of this to me or Goh before. He never mentioned being the champion of Alola…. THE ACTUAL CHAMPION."
"OMG its true, look this article" One the students exclaimed while looking at article of Ash when he won the Malaho conference. Ash on the hand looked really embarrassed, since he just came in and already caused a commotion.
While everyone looked amazed of Ash reputation, Chloe looked more annoyed, seeing her classmates idolized the guy who she didn't like at all. For a moment they stared at each other, both looked with curiosity but stoic. The whole situation started to be awkward for Ash, so he started to focus on his assignment.
"Ok guys, Professor Cherise sent me to help you with your social studies assignment for today. So, they lent me a whole batch of Pokémon from the lab for todays lesson. Now maybe you don't know a lot of how to interact with Pokemon. But today my goal its to show how to connect with Pokémon and how they behave around people" Ash explained their assignment, making the whole class, except Chloe, to cheer in excitement.
"I like your enthusiasm guys. Now let's go the playgrounds so I can show you how its done" Ash exclaimed very excited. Everyone except Chloe followed Ash to the playgrounds.
Mr. Suki noticed Chloe´s mood and worried asked his student, "Hey Chloe, are you feeling well. You don't look so good".
"I´m ok Mr. Suki. It's just I'm not so fond with these kinds of lessons, that's all" Chloe lied to her teacher, trying hide her real problem. "Well Chloe sometimes you must face and experience things that you don't like to learn and achieve new possibilities. Maybe you won´t like it first but when you get the outcome it could really surprise you" Mr. Suki told her trying to cheer her up before leaving the classroom to meet with the class.
Chloe understood what her teacher meant but still difficult for her to dealing with these feelings. "Maybe my mom was right. I shouldn't be afraid of these new experiences. Even if Ash drives me nuts, I could still learn something about pokemon and connect more with Eeeve. What could possibly go wrong" she said to herself before leaving the empty classroom.
Chloe´s class came to the pokemon´s playground ready for their lesson making a big circle around Ash, who had a box full of pokeballs. "Ok guys its pretty simple, everyone will pick on these pokeballs which contain a random Pokemon. There are different kind of Pokemon from different regions. So maybe you don't recognize them all but don't be scared if they look menacing. All of them are very gentle and like to interact with people" Ash explained the class.
"Awesome, I hope I get a big and powerful Pokemon" One boy exclaimed, "No way. I will be the one who gets a strong pokemon" Another replied with the same excitement. "Of course, if some of you would like to interact with your own pokemon. You are free to do it, the purpose of these exercise its to learn and develop stronger bonds with Pokemon" Ash said. However, the only one who brought a pokemon to school was Chloe. Kind of ironic.
"Well at least I can trust Eeeve. Since she couldn't hurt me" Chloe said to herself in relief. "Ok guys, come closer and pick a Pokeball" Ash said. Everyone except Chloe picked a ball form the box.
"Ok now that everyone is ready, toss your ball and reveal who is going to be your partner for today" Ash exclaimed over excited along with Pikachu. Everyone tossed their Pokeballs revealing different creatures.
Some pokemon were small and cute like a Nidoran, Oddish, Flabebe or Cubone, while others were big and scary like Darmanitan, Rhyhorn, Golem or Gorluk. Chloe quickly recognized that some of these pokemon where in fact Goh´s. It didn't surprise her since her friend collection composed over half of the labs pokemon population.
"Ok now that you meet your partners, let start with something simple. Ask your pokemon to greet you" Ash explained the class before greeting his Pikachu, vowing to him. Some of the kids greeted their pokemon with ease while others had a difficult time since they ignored them or picked them up like the kid who chose Golurk as his partner.
"Remember, Pokemon can be very sensitive when they meet someone new, so have patience with them. In the wild Pokemon can sense your intentions when you approach them, that's why sometimes they can react with aggression if they feel threaten or if you don't show the respect to them or their home." Ash explained the class while they approach their days partner. Some students.
Ash had the students go through various tests with their pokemon to create a bond between them and learn more about each species' behavior.
Some students developed a good relationship with their partners, especially those with small pokemon. In comparison, others seemed very arrogant and overconfident with their pokemon, which caused them to receive an attack or two.
"You are doing great guys, now that you have the attention of your pokemon, you must guide them through the obstacle course and complete it together. This will show if your classmates have confidence in you," Ash explained the next part of the activity. Quickly the students led their pokemon to the obstacle course, although some had some problems and some stumbled.
As for Chloe and her Eeeve, it didn't cost them anything to make the circuit since being so small and agile, Eeeve crossed it quickly, plus both were already creating a bond since he captured her. Ash noticed this. "Wow, I can see that they are already creating strong loops. Let's see if she can do it with what I have prepared," Ash said to himself, ready for the next part of his class.
"I see you and Eeeve are doing very well. I'm not surprised," Ash commented to her with a big smile, which made Chloe a little embarrassed and caused a bit of teasing among her friends. "However, the point of this exercise is to create strong bonds with different pokemon, so I brought an extra pokemon for you to interact with," Ash explained to her pulling a Pokeball from his belt.
"Hey, wait a minute, what do you mean, another pokemon? You said we could do the activity with our partner if we wanted to," Chloe scolded him, "Well, it's my class, and I think it would be a good enriching experience for you," Ash replied, very confident in what he was doing.
Chloe looked at him with suspicion and nerves, "Then why did he choose me to do it, there are 25 of us in my class and there are others with their pokemon. I don't understand this guy," she said to herself while looking at the pokeball. Even with several doubts, she took it and released the mysterious pokemon.
Out of the beam of light came a pokemon she had seen before. However, she didn't know that Ash had one in her position. An amorphous creature made of purple slime. It was the repulsive and slimy creature, plus it gave off a potent and stinky odor.
"MUKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK" exclaimed the pokemon; all the students grimaced in disgust and repulsion at the sight of such a pokemon so different from the others. Ash noticed that Muk was a little affected by the students' comments.
"Listen, guys, unlike us, pokemon have changed and evolved everywhere. Some may seem cute, strong, scary, or different, but they are all important in our ecosystem and world. So don't judge a pokemon by their appearance. They all have feelings and create bonds" Ash explained the importance of accepting all pokemon.
"That's why Chloe will show you what I say. Now pay close attention, Chloe, you will approach Muk and let him take this berry from your hand. You must guide him through the obstacle course when he does, and you will finish with a bow. You already did it with Eeeve, so it will be very easy for you." Ash explained the activity to the girl, who not only felt nervous but also a bit repulsed at having to do it with such a smelly pokemon.
The girl, Chloe, listened attentively to Ash's instructions, though her nervousness and repulsion were evident. She hesitated for a moment, contemplating the task at hand. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and nodded at Ash, determined to give it a try.
"Okay, Ash, I'll do it," Chloe replied, her voice wavering slightly. "But I can't promise I won't feel a bit uncomfortable with Muk. I'll try my best, though."
Ash smiled encouragingly at Chloe. "I understand, Chloe. It's normal to have reservations about certain Pokémon. But remember, every Pokémon has its own unique qualities, and they can surprise us sometimes. I believe in you, and I know you can do this."
Chloe took another deep breath, steeling herself for the task. She approached Muk cautiously, extending her hand with the berry. Muk, with its slimy, gelatinous body, looked up at Chloe and sniffed the berry curiously. Surprisingly, it seemed interested and reached out to take it from her hand gently.
Chloe felt a mixture of surprise and relief as Muk delicately grabbed the berry. Slowly, she started leading the Pokémon through the obstacle course, carefully navigating the different challenges and obstacles along the way. Muk, despite its appearance, proved to be incredibly agile and responsive, making the task easier for Chloe.
As they reached the end of the course, Chloe paused, realizing she needed to perform the final bow as Ash had instructed. Taking a deep breath, she gracefully lowered herself into a bow, with Muk mirroring the gesture in its own unique way. The crowd that had gathered to watch erupted into applause, impressed by the unexpected duo's performance.
Overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment and newfound appreciation for Muk, Chloe couldn't help but smile. The activity had not only challenged her preconceived notions but also taught her the importance of giving every Pokémon a chance. With newfound confidence, she looked at Ash and said, "Thank you, Ash. I never thought I'd enjoy working with Muk, but I did. I'm glad you pushed me to give it a try."
Chloe's cheeks turned even redder as she tried to hide her embarrassment. The wink from Ash had caught her off guard, making her feel flustered and unsure how to respond. She shifted uncomfortably, not used to this new side of their interactions.
"Uh, yeah, thanks," Chloe managed to stammer, still feeling flustered. She couldn't help but wonder if Ash's playful demeanor was intentional or just a result of his naturally friendly nature. Either way, it made her heart race a little faster.
Ash, sensing Chloe's unease, quickly realized his comment might have come across as too forward. He cleared his throat and tried to alleviate the tension. "Sorry if that caught you off guard, Chloe. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done. You handled the task with Muk perfectly."
Chloe nodded, appreciating Ash's attempt to address the situation. "It's okay, Ash." She replied before leaving with her class.
Chloe arrived at the bus stop, hoping for a peaceful ride home after her eventful day. However, her friends Mika and Violet immediately picked up on her presence and couldn't contain their excitement about Ash.
"Chloe, We heard that Ash came to our school today! How cool is that?" Mika exclaimed, unable to hide her enthusiasm.
Violet nodded eagerly. "Yeah, and we heard he did something amazing during the lesson. Tell us everything, Chloe! We want to know all the details."
Chloe hesitated, not wanting to be the center of attention or focus solely on Ash. She knew her friends admired him, but she wanted to talk about other things too. However, their excitement was contagious, and she didn't want to disappoint them.
"Well, yeah, Ash did come to our school," Chloe began, trying to downplay her own involvement. "We did this activity with Pokémon, and he showed us some really cool techniques and strategies. It was interesting."
Mika's eyes widened. "Wow, I can't believe you got to participate in something like that! What was it like working with Ash? Did he say anything inspiring?"
Chloe fidgeted, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the attention. "Uh, well, Ash was definitely enthusiastic about teaching us. He encouraged us to try our best and not be afraid to step out of our comfort zones. It was nice to have him there."
Violet leaned closer, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Come on, Chloe, there must be more! Did you have any personal interactions with Ash? Did he say anything special to you?"
Chloe blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and reluctance to share too much. "Well, we did talk a bit, but it was just about the activity and working with the Pokémon. Ash was friendly but annoying, as always."
Mika and Violet exchanged knowing glances, sensing Chloe's hesitation.
"You know, Chloe, I can't help but wonder if you have a little crush on Ash," Violet teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Chloe's face flushed bright red, and she quickly denied Violet's assumption. "What? No way! Ash is... he's just not my type at all."
Mika chuckled, enjoying the friendly banter. "Come on, Chloe, you can't deny that you seemed a little flustered earlier when we brought up Ash."
Chloe crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure. "I was just caught off guard, that's all. It doesn't mean anything."
Violet leaned in, playfully poking Chloe's arm. "Sure, sure, Chloe. We won't push the topic if you're not interested. But you can't deny that he's an impressive and charismatic guy."
Chloe sighed, realizing she couldn't completely avoid the topic. "Okay, fine. I'll admit that Ash is passionate about Pokémon and a great trainer. But he's just not someone I would be interested in romantically. We're different in so many ways."
Mika raised an eyebrow. "Different? How so?"
"You know, Chloe, sometimes opposites attract each other," Mika pointed out, offering a different viewpoint. "Maybe Ash's adventurous and spontaneous nature could bring some excitement and balance into your life. You never know what kind of connection might develop."
"I get that, Mika, but I prefer a more cautious and measured approach to things. I don't know if I can handle all the unpredictability that comes with Ash." Chloe replied a little annoyed.
"I understand your concerns, Chloe, but you never know what might happen. Sometimes, it's the differences between two people that create a spark." Violet explained.
Chloe knew what her friends told her made sense and sometimes he impressed her with her boldness and bravery, but she still was unsure how to address this topic.
After the bus arrived to her stop, she walked home, feeling happy the day was over, but there at the entrance he was, he was relaxing with his pikachu and talk to her
As the bus arrived at Chloe's stop, she bid farewell to her friends Mika and Violet and stepped off, feeling a sense of relief that the day was finally over. The bus drove away, leaving her standing alone at the entrance of her neighborhood. But to her surprise, there he was—Ash, sitting on the front steps of her house, accompanied by his faithful Pikachu.
Chloe blinked in disbelief, unsure of how to react. She had hoped to have a peaceful evening at home, but it seemed fate had other plans. Gathering her composure, she approached Ash cautiously.
"Uh, hi. What are you doing here?" Chloe asked him. Ash looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face as he saw Chloe. Pikachu perched on his shoulder, also seemed to greet her with a cheerful expression.
"Hey, Chloe! I just thought I'd drop by and see how you're doing. You did great in our lesson today" He replied with his typical grin. "Oh, um, thanks, I guess" She replied uneasy.
"I guess learning wasn't so bad after all," Ash exclaimed proudly, a twinkle of satisfaction in his eyes. "I guess I'm a pretty good teacher, huh?"
Chloe couldn't help but chuckle at Ash's self-assured statement. Despite his occasional cluelessness, there was no denying that his passion for Pokémon and his natural ability to connect with them had made the lesson enjoyable and informative.
"Well, I must admit, Ash, you did a great job today. The activity with Muk was certainly... memorable" Chloe admitted.
Ash grinned and said "Thanks, Chloe! I knew Muk could be a little challenging, but I'm glad you were able to guide him through the obstacle course. You did an awesome job!"
"See, Pikachu knows I'm a great teacher too! Right, buddy?" Ash exclaimed, his face beaming with pride as he affectionately pet Pikachu's forehead. The electric mouse Pokémon nodded enthusiastically, its cheeks crackling with sparks of electricity.
Chloe couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy as she watched the bond between Ash and Pikachu. Their connection was undeniable, and it was clear that they had been through countless adventures together. The sight of Ash's genuine care and love for his Pokémon made her heart melt a little.
"Oh, by the way, Goh and I are going to do some research for your father in the Unova region," Ash announced, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I was hoping if you want to come with us."
Chloe's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected invitation. The idea of traveling to a new region and embarking on a research mission was both thrilling and intimidating. She felt a mixture of nervousness and curiosity bubbling within her.
"The Unova region? That's... that's a big step. I'm not sure if I'm ready for something like that." She exclaimed with doubts.
"I understand it can be overwhelming, Chloe. But remember, you've already shown great potential as a trainer. This could be an incredible opportunity for you to grow and learn alongside us." Ash explained trying to convince her to explore new possibilities.
Chloe took a moment to gather her thoughts. She knew deep down that this was an opportunity she shouldn't let slip away, so she gave it a chance.
"All right, I will come with you, this time," Chloe finally accepted, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and determination. Ash couldn't contain his joy upon hearing her decision.
"That's fantastic, Chloe! I'm thrilled that you're coming along. We're going to have an amazing time!" Ash exclaimed over excited.
He flashed her a wide grin and gave her a playful wink, his enthusiasm infectious. Ash then proceeded to explain the meeting point and details of their departure, making sure Chloe was fully informed.
"We'll meet at Professor Oak's lab in Pallet Town in two days. From there, we'll head to the Unova region together. Make sure to pack all your essentials and be ready for a grand adventure!" He said before leaving.
"Don't worry, Chloe. I'll be there to guide you," Ash teased playfully, a hint of a flirty tone in his voice. Chloe's face flushed with a deep blush as she felt a mixture of embarrassment and delight. She quickly averted her gaze, feeling a flutter of nervousness in her stomach.
Chloe managed a shy smile before disappearing inside her house, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. Ash's playful comment had caught her off guard, and she couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper meaning behind his words.
As she settled in her room, the blush on her cheeks still refusing to fade, Chloe found herself replaying the moment in her mind. She had always seen Ash as Goh friend and an annoyance, but lately, their interactions had taken on a different tone, filled with teasing and playful banter.
"What was that all about? Is there something more between us? She told herself. It was funny how she tried to avoid him at any cost this morning but now she was going to a trip with him. It was just….great.