Chapter 6: Stay With Me
The sun rises a few hours later, shining directly in my face which effectively wakes me up in an instant. I groan to myself as I cover my eyes from the suns bright rays.
"Ngh...why's it so much brighter than usu...al..." I said the last part as I took a quick scan of my surroundings, realizing that I was still outside in the chair...on the back deck.
"Shit, did I fall asleep? Wait, what time is it?" I said, checking my phone only to realize that it must have died at some point last night when I conked out.
"Well that's great. Damnit, I hope we aren't late..." I said, getting up from the chair, freezing for a moment as I grab the doorknob of the back door.
"Who am I kidding...at this point I wished this moment would have never even come." I said to myself.
I pep myself up a bit before slapping the sides of my face to wake up and prepare the best I could. There was no going back now.
"Alright, come on...game face time. Just...gotta get through this...for her. It's all for her...right."
As soon as I walked inside I quickly jogged to the kitchen and began to make a pot of coffee for us all before calling out to them over the counter.
"Alright, time to get up you two...huh?"
As soon as I turned around to the living room, Maya and Whitney were nowhere to be found.
I glance over at the clock on the wall and my heart had almost fell into my stomach.
"Shit, it's 8:22!"
My anxiety began to build to heightened levels as I began looking around the house, calling out to them. "Guys? Where are y'all?"
No response, just dead silence.
"Come on, quit playing this shit isn't funny!" I called out into the sickening silence of my now lonely home.
I clutch my chest as my heart rate began increasing at an alarming rate..at this point I felt like I was about to pass out.
"No...there's no way she would have...I mean...they wouldn't..."
Suddenly I notice a piece of paper on the side table next to the front door, which I knew for a fact wasn't there before.
"Huh? What's..."
I hesitantly walk up to it before picking it up and unfolding it. It was a note from Whitney.
-Dear Hayden:
Went ahead and walked Maya to the lab since the professor woke me up when he called this morning. Guess your phone must have been dead since he said he couldn't get in touch with you, hence why he called me instead. Elm said Miss Gertrude would be there for about 7:15 so we'll just wait for you there. She told the professor she's looking forward to meeting you as well.
P.S. Don't be too late she says she can't stay super long. :p
My eyes grow wide as I immediately dash out the door, tossing the note onto the ground.
I felt my blood pumping as I ran at blazing speeds down the street towards the lab.
I was so focused that the world around me had gone silent. I could hear nothing...feel nothing. I had one goal on my mind and it was to at the very least be able to see her off properly.
"Damnit...haah...haah...gotta...keep...moving!" I said, almost screaming at myself.
With every breath I could feel my adrenaline kicking into overdrive. My heart was beating at an unhealthy pace, but at this point I couldn't care less about it. I simply knew that I had to get there in time...no, that I WOULD get there in time. No matter what.
After about five minutes or so, I finally arrived at the lab, almost bursting through the doors as I ran up to them.
"Ahh...haah...Maya...haah..I'm sorry I was...late...haah...phone died...and...what...where is..."
The only faces I had seen standing around the lab were Whitney, Elm, Frank and Angie. They were all sitting down with distraught looks across their faces, the air now filled with dread.
I continued panting, trying my hardest to catch my breath as I frantically look around the room, my heart sinking deep into the void that now filled me as I sat down in utter defeat.
Whitney was finally the first one to speak up.
"Hayden...I'm sorry...I...I tried to stall them as long as I could...she was on a really short schedule and-"
"The fuck is this..." I said, gritting my teeth so hard that I may as well have filed them down. Tears began flowing down my cheek as I looked up to her with an expression of pure anger. "WHY DIDN'T YOU GET ME UP?"
"Hey, I had no idea you were gonna sleep in! I tried to wake you up, but you looked like someone who hadn't slept in ages, so I let you be. Granted, I didn't think you'd sleep THIS late, nor let your phone die. I tried calling you like ten times, as did Frank when he got he-"
"Tried..." I said, clenching my fist and slamming it onto the table. "Tried?! What did you do Whitney? Poke me one time and then say 'oh well fuck it I tried'? Why would you even think about leaving me at the house for something so important as this?"
"Hey dude, don't yell at me...you're making me the enemy here! I'm not even the one who decided to leave you sleeping! Maya was the one who-"
Suddenly Whitney covers her mouth as if she had just said something illegal.
My heart sank completely when she said what she had said.
"The one who...what?"
She simply shakes her head, still covering her mouth as she refuses to answer.
"The one who WHAT Whitney?!"
Frank lets out a loud sigh from the corner of the room, rubbing the bridge of his nose, annoyed. "Nice going Whitney."
I raise an eye at Frank, almost disgusted by what he said. "Frank...you...knew too? And you didn't tell me?"
"Believe me...I wanted to, but Maya absolutely insisted that we kept quiet. She said it would be too difficult and would rather just go as soon as possible. Look, I'm...I'm sorry man i didn't know what to even do at that point."
"But...you're my best friend...why would you..."
Suddenly, Whitney stands up, taking a few steps towards me with an annoyed look. "Haah...look, as much as it kind of pissed me off too, she begged us to respect her wishes and unfortunately we both went through with it. It's already said and done so...I'm sorry Hayden."
I sink back into the chair, fiddling with my palms as I stare into nothingness.
"I mean, it's not like you guys can't ever talk again at least!" Whitney said, trying to brighten up the atmosphere a bit. "I mean she still has the phone you know, it's not like-"
"OH RIGHT OF COURSE! Yeah how could I have forgotten? The phone. Thank you Whitney. for clarifying about the phone." I said with pure anger and sarcasm.
"Maybe I should just call her and tell her that I'm sorry that I couldn't even be here on time or show my face for the last fucking time I'll probably ever see her hm? Or hey, maybe I'll just tell her I'll send her a goddamn postcard here and there huh? Wouldn't she love that? Or maybe, I should just-!"
"Hayden..." Elm said softly, putting his hand on my shoulder as he walked up and sat next to me. "I'm sorry but...they're telling the truth...it was her choice in the matter. I think...she herself knew that it would be a bit hard on the both of you to separate, so it's...already said and done I'm afraid."
I begin to open my mouth, but could find no words to say. I sat there in silence for a few minutes before all of the bottled up feelings began to just pour out. I did my best to hold my tears back as much as possible though that proved to be quite the hurdle.
"Hayden..." Whitney said as she noticed my now tear stained cheeks, walking over to me and hugging me from the front to comfort me. "I'm...so...so sorry."
I just shake my head, sniffling a bit as I wipe my eyes with my shirt sleeve. "Don't be. This is all my fault."
"No Hayden it isn't...like I said she's the one who wanted to leave without-"
"No, that's not what I mean. I'm not talking about being late or anything like that."
She cocks her head to the side a bit as she breaks away from the hug. "Then...what are you getting at?"
I heave a heavy sigh as I prepare myself to basically pour my entire heart out.
"Look...last night, Maya came outside to talk to me for a little while since she couldn't sleep. Everything was fine at first, but right before she went back inside she started asking me...if I was happy that she was leaving."
Everyone in the room looks towards one another momentarily before looking back at me without saying a word.
"The first time she asked me I just sort of brushed it off...told her that I was of course happy for her since her wish came true, though...admittedly, I think I was just lying to her to make her feel better...and I shouldn't have done that."
"What...do you mean by that?" Whitney asked, now curious herself.
"Well, if I'm being honest...the thought of her leaving so suddenly...or, well...her leaving period...I hated it. I hated that I had to sit there and pretend that I was happy, even though in my heart I truly should be for her. 'This isn't about me', 'This is what she wanted'...these are things I kept telling myself, yet..."
I trail off for a moment, trying to catch myself from choking up again.
"Yet...I still selfishly felt that way anyway. You know...before she walked inside, she even asked me one more time...asked me if I was really happy that she was going back. It was as if she was giving me the golden chance to change my answer...but you know what I did?"
After asking, the whole room remained silent as they awaited anxiously.
"I STILL lied and told her that I was happy for her...I told her that was all that mattered, and she even gave me ANOTHER chance to say something else but...I didn't say shit. I stood there like an idiot, and I didn't say a goddamn word. I couldn't. God, how badly I wanted to, you just don't know...but I COULDN'T."
The room falls silent once more before I finally hit my wits end.
"Fuck man!" I shouted as I slammed the back of my fist against the wall next to me and stood up from the chair, pacing back and forth now in front of everyone.
"What is my problem?! Why the fuck can't I just say the things I want to say when it's the most important time to do so? God! I could even see in her eyes the way she looked at me...it was almost like she was silently begging for me to TELL her not to go! But what do I do? I screw it up like some...ignorant dumbass!"
"Hm...I knew there was something up with you last night. that face you made when Elm told you over the phone...that said it all." Whitney said, placing her hand on my shoulder to comfort me. "Why didn't you just say something...or talk to one of us? Why do you always try to fight these battles yourself?"
I heave a heavy sigh, plopping back down in the chair as I bury my face into the palms of my hands.
"Haah...I don't know Whitney. I'm just stupid I guess."
"Hmm...so...allow me to make sure I have this straight...you're...NOT happy for her correct?"
"You make it sound like I'm a piece of shit when you say it like that."
"No...that's not what I'm gettin' at. I just want you to say it with honesty."
"I...I mean I thought I had already made it clear that I wasn't happy about her going, but it was selfish and-"
"God dammit Hayden, just answer the goddamn question, please." Whitney said in a bit of an impatient tone.
"NO OK? Hell no. I can't force her to stay, but God I wish more than anything that she would have. That better?"
"Yes, it was. See how easy it is to be honest?"
"Is it though?" I said with a raised eye. "You're not giving me much of a choice in the mat-"
"A ta ta...not done. Why are you not happy?"
"...The hell kind of question is that Whitney?"
"Just answer the question dude."
"I'm just not, okay?"
"You upset that she won't be with you anymore?"
"I mean, of course I'm upset about that, don't be stupid."
"Because she's become a big part of your life so quickly?"
"I...I mean, yeah I gue-"
"Because you two have bonded so well so naturally?"
"I...well, yeah."
"Because you'd be lonely at heart without her?"
"Yes, that too."
"And you cherish the time you've spent together?"
"Yes Whit-."
"And you care about her so much?"
"Jeez I already said yes!"
"...And because you love her?"
"I said ye-!"
I stop dead in my tracks as I had just realized what she asked me.
"Well?" She asked, determined to get everything out of me. "Simple question, answer it."
"What, am I being fuckin interrogated now?"
"Hayden, just answer the frickin question."
"No, I've answered enough questions."
"Do you love her? Answer it."
"Dude, what is up with you? Why are you so persistent?"
"Do. You. Love. Her?"
"Whitney, just drop it."
"Jesus Christ Hayden, just-!"
"Alright already! Yes! I love Maya, okay! I love everything about her! The way she cheers me up so easily every morning, or whenever I'd get home from work sometimes from a bad day and she'd be right there to comfort me, or when she'd get so excited when she'd do something right for the first time any time that I'd teach her something new! I love the way she smiles and gets excited every time I make us coffee first thing in the morning, I love the way she confides in me for everything and makes me feel useful, I love her voice, I love her mere presence...I love all of it! There's nobody, pokemon, person, whatever, that's ever made me feel the way that she does okay? There, you happy?"
I begin panting a bit hard, trying to catch my breath after saying all of that in one take.
Whitney just smiles and nods. "I knew it."
"If you 'KNEW' it, then...why did you even make me say all of that?" I said, throwing my arms up in the air out of aggravation.
"Why? Do you regret it now that you said it to all of us?" She asked genuinely.
I look around to each of my friends who had been in the room, almost forgetting that they were there and all heard it as well.
"No...I don't. If anything, I only regret the fact that I was too stupid to sit her down and tell her myself in time, but I already blew that."
Suddenly, Whitney had a devilish smirk on her face. "Alright, I think that's enough of that." She said before looking over her shoulder into one of the pitch dark corners of the room we were in. "Ya'll can come out!"
I immediately raise an eye before catching the attention of a few moving shadows out of the dark corner of the room, my jaw almost hitting the floor as soon as they had come to light.
After a few seconds, the shadows had fully emerged, revealing none other than who I could only assume was Miss Gertrude, along with none other than Maya standing next to her, who had been fiddling with her thumbs nervously, absolutely refusing to even remotely look at me due to extreme embarrassment.
"My my." Said Gertrude, covering her mouth with one hand as she smirked. "That was quite the passionate speech young man."
"Wha...but...you.." I said, pointing at Whitney. "You said they..."
"I'm sorry for lying. But I did what I had to. We all did, actually." She said, smiling a bit proudly.
"What you had to...what?" I said raising an eye at her.
"Especially after she herself even told me how she felt last night. I even woke up and heard you both talking outside last night, so I figured she was finally telling you everything, but of course, both of you are so damn stubborn that we needed to give the two of you a little push...though mostly you Hayden." Whitney said, folding her arms and shrugging. "Hey, it worked didn't it?"
"If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at me." Frank said, suddenly stepping forward. "This was mostly my last minute idea anyways."
"Are...are you kidding me? What the fuck for Frank?" I said before quickly covering my mouth and facing the older woman who had the look of someone who had been enjoying the plot that had been unfolding in front of her. "Um..sorry...uh...about all the cussing and all. I apologize. I'm sure it's...not a good first impression."
She simply smiles and shakes her head before chuckling a bit. "Are you kidding? You got some serious fire in you kid! And I can see you're very passionate about my Maya here as well, yes?"
Maya just buries her face into her paws, her face as red as it's ever been.
"Mama, stop..." She said, her voice resonating through her paws.
"Ah...right...that means you both...uh...heard...every..." I trailed off as I could begin to feel the embarrassment taking over me, though I couldn't even begin to express how happy that I was that she was still standing in front of me.
Just five minutes ago I had thought that I lost the chance forever to tell her goodbye properly, and to tell her everything else as well.
I let out a big sigh before taking a few steps forward to face the both of them directly. "Um...it's nice to actually meet you Miss Gertrude, especially after I thought I blew that chance." I said, before extending my hand.
She gently shakes my hand and nods. "You as well. I'm so glad you were there that night to save her from...what could have been something very horrible. I guess I am also partly to blame for trusting those people who originally came to take her in. They seemed...so genuine too...I can't believe I..."
Maya stops her in her tracks, putting her paw on her shoulder to reassure her. "Mama...it's...it's okay. You didn't know...none of us did. I would NEVER blame you for what happened."
She lets out a little sigh before smiling, patting Maya's paw that rest upon her shoulder before turning back towards me. "You are truly a godsend young man. I think it must have been fate to have such a wonderful person be there just in the nick of time as you did. I thank you truly, a thousand times over if I could."
"Oh, come on now. I think you may be giving me a little too much credit. I just did what my heart told me in that moment...I don't know, as you said...maybe it was fate that told me to do so."
"Ah yes...fated it would be to have such a handsome young man become her knight in shining armor, just like in the storybooks that I used to read her...wouldn't you agree Maya?" She said, smirking as she side eyed Maya playfully.
"Mama come on!" Maya said, her face now completely red behind her mask.
"Now, I believe there might be something the two of you formally need to talk about now that we're all here?" Gertrude said, walking over to one of the chairs, sitting down as she awaited some sort of response.
I swallow the lump in my throat and steel myself before nodding and turning to Maya, who had still been facing away due to her own embarrassment.
I take a deep breath and breath out a few times, it was now or never.
"So...um...you uh...heard everything earlier then." I said, rubbing the back of my neck out of nervousness.
She clutches her arm with her free paw, still turned away, before nodding slightly.
"Then...let me answer your question from last night...properly this time." I said, before taking a step forward and taking her paw with my hand. "Maya..."
"Y...yes...Hayden?" She asked, finally looking at me directly.
"Maya...I WAS happy for you. I was happy that you would be reunited with your caretaker, I was happy when I first saw how excited you got when we started this a few months ago...I was happy because I knew I was going to make YOU happy."
She remains silent, now staring directly into my eyes, patiently awaiting what I had to say.
I take one last deep breath before looking directly into her eyes and pouring out everything that I had. "But as for you leaving...for you not being here with me anymore...the thought of not waking up and seeing you on my couch playing on your phone, or you trying to make coffee or breakfast in the morning when you woke up first anymore...I just couldn't deal with it. How could I possibly be happy with a life that would no longer include you directly by my side?"
Her ears began to perk up as her eyes had begun getting a bit watery. "Hayden..."
"Look, I meant everything I said, and I'll say it one more time while I know that you're listening." I said, now grabbing her other paw as well into my other hand. "I love you Maya. I...don't want you to leave me...at all...but, with that being said, I will support whatever choices you make and I will always be here for you if you ever needed me. I just...wanted you to know that before you left."
Her lip begins to quiver a bit as a few tears begin to stream down her cheek. She nods before letting go of my hands, walking over to Miss Gertrude who had still been sitting down.
"Yes Maya? Something on your mind?" She asked with a genuine smile.
Maya takes a deep breath before nodding and sitting down next to her. "When I first heard that you were coming...I was...beyond excited to say the least. I wanted nothing more than to see you again since the day I was first taken by those...people."
She pauses for a moment before looking up at her caretaker, her eyes still a bit glossy from before. "I don't know why but...when Hayden first took me in, it was the first time I had ever felt so...at home again, since the first time that you had found me. I never ever thought that it would be possible to feel that with someone else. At first, that was all it was...but...I...I think something may have changed along the way." She said the last part as she looked over towards me with a smile.
"I see. And...you're happy I assume?" Gertrude asked, patiently awaiting her response.
Maya simply nods before the tears begin to flow a bit more. "Mama...I...I'm sorry...I'm so selfish...you came all the way here to see me and take me home, but now...I...I..." She bites her lip and digs her claw into the side of her arm before facing her caretaker directly. "I want to stay here! I'm so sorry! You came all this way and I was so excited at first to go home, but now my feelings are all over the place and I...I-"
Gertrude places a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile. "Maya, dear...how are you the only one who doesn't see it?"
"W..what are you-"
Gertrude dries a few tears from Maya's cheek before pulling her into a tight hug. "Sweetie...you ARE home." She said, glancing over towards me and smiling before looking back at Maya. "Home is wherever YOU want it to be dear. You take care to remember that, got it?"
Maya wipes the tears that had been streaming down her mask "B-But, you only just got here...and you're already gonna leave..."
"Ha! Sweetheart, the tickets here are cheap! I can quite literally come to visit you whenever you would like. May even bring the lot of your brothers and sisters next time!" Gertrude smirks before looking in my direction. "That is, if you would allow of course."
"I can assure you, my door is open to you. You're part of Maya's family, which in a sense makes me feel like you're part of mine too." I said with a genuine smile.
"Well, there you have it then." She says, reassuring Maya as she breaks away from the hug. "Besides, this is a cozy little town. May even look into getting a small plot of land over here, we'll see." She said the last part as she stood up, giving Maya and I both a little wink.
I couldn't help but to feel pure relief with how everything had ended up turning out. It was as if the biggest weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
"Well, with that being said...I guess I probably should go ahead and head back, wouldn't want to leave your brothers and sisters waiting on me too long now would I?"
"Wait...you sure you don't wanna stay for like lunch or something? Not to toot my own horn, but I'm a pretty decent cook." I said pointing to myself a bit proudly.
"I second that." Frank said, raising his hand.
"Third." Whitney also chipped in.
She simply smiles and shakes her head before bowing a bit. "Thank you, but this time I'll have to call for a rain check. Next time, I promise."
"I understand. Well...my birthday IS next week on the 10th...if that's better for you?" I asked, raising an eye in anticipation.
She puts a finger to her chin, glancing over at Maya who was also waiting anxiously for her answer. She simply smiles for a moment before nodding. "Seems I'll be clearing my schedule for the 10th then!"
Maya's eyes light up before she squeezes her tightly once more. "Thanks mama! You're the best!"
Gertrude ruffles her hair a bit after hugging her back for a few brief moments, letting go after quite some time. "Oh come now, how could I not with the face you were just making. Guess I'll be back on the 10th then it seems." She said, now walking up to me and smiling.
"Take good care of my Maya now, ya hear?" She said jokingly prodding my chest.
"Yes ma'am, you can count on it." I said proudly.
She extends her hand as she smiles, patiently awaiting me to return the gesture.
I stood there for a few moments before smiling, shaking my head as I wrap my arms around her for a hug.
"Thank you Miss Gertrude...seriously. I know this has to be hard for you to basically let her go once again even though you just got to see her again, but I don't think you realize how happy you've actually made me, even though we just met."
She pauses for a moment before fully accepting and hugging me back. "Quite the contrary young man, I don't think you realize how happy YOU have made ME."
After a few brief moments right as I was about to back away, she pulls my head down a bit to bring my ear down to her level before bringing her tone down to a whisper.
"Also, word of advice...there are some pokemon who's egg groups are rather quite compatible with that of a humans. I've had quite a few stories I've heard in my time that the egg groups that are compatible, almost always favor the human genes in full totality, meaning the offspring would be perfectly normal, almost indistinguishable from that of full human parents. With that being said...I do hope you'll be careful just in case, yes?"
As soon as my brain was able to process the information, I couldn't help but to swallow hard as I felt my entire face get hot. "But..we've never...I mean I don't think we'd...ummm..."
She just raises an eye and smirks. Seems she was definitely the wiser to the situation.
"U-Um I will...yes...yes ma'am." I finally said in defeat.
"Mama...what did you tell him?" Maya asked, as she had noticed the weird behavior.
"Heh...just a bit of advice, nothing of importance." She said a bit deviously.
"Ugh...come on!"
"Well, with that, I'm off!" She said, looking towards the professor. "Would you be so kind as to give me another ride back to the port, Professor Elm?"
"But of course! It would be my pleasure." Elm said, standing up and grabbing his keys. "If you all leave before I get back, I suppose I will see you all in due time soon."
After we all exchanged our goodbyes, the two of them had left, leaving the last four of us to ourselves for a bit, though not as long as I would have liked.
"Jeez, look at the time!" Whitney exclaimed, throwing her handbag back over her shoulder. "I gotta catch me a little nap before I work tonight!"
"Oh...you gotta go already?" I asked.
"Yeah, sorry! Would have hung out today but I didn't realize we'd be here this long. Got a few errands to run too anyways, so I'll catch you guys later!"
After giving everyone a brief hug and once again congratulating Maya in particular, Whitney had left as well without another word.
"Guess, we're gonna head out too. Honestly, I barely slept and Whitney absolutely blew my phone up this morning about all of this, so I'm gonna probably catch me a nap as well. Later man, text you when I'm up later!"
"Nap? What, you're leaving t-?"
Just as quickly as the others, Frank and Angie had darted out of the front door, leaving only Maya and I alongside the now dead silence.
Surprisingly, Maya was the first one to say something, effectively startling me a bit.
"Um...so I guess...um...well, does this mean...I'm..."
I raise an eye at her, awaiting whatever it was that she was struggling to get out.
She lets out a little sigh before blushing profusely. "Um...the term you all use...for...you know...a mate?"
I ponder for a moment before the reality hits me as well, causing me to blush even harder than she was. "Ah...um...you mean like...are you asking me if you're my girlfriend now?"
She just remains silent for a moment before nodding. "Yeah...that's...that's it."
"Well...do you...uh...do you feel the same way about me? I...well, I technically never did get a reply to-"
"Yes!" She suddenly shouted, covering her mouth after feeling a bit embarrassed about her sudden outburst. "I...I mean...of course I do Hayden...how would I not after everything you've done for me...everything you've taught me...you made me forget about everything I even went through at first. It's like...being with you just...made all of my problems disappear."
Suddenly she takes a few steps closer to me, effectively making me as anxious as ever.
"With you, I can be myself...you make me feel stronger..."
She takes another step closer.
"You make me feel...whole."
She takes another step closer, now standing directly in front of me, grabbing one of my hands with her paw as she had done last night.
"You make me feel...at home. I...love you Hayden. I...I really, really love you."
I couldn't help but to smile from ear to ear as I nodded proudly. "Yeah...I really, really love you too Maya."
I pull her into a hug, embracing her as the two of us had let out all of the pent up feelings that had been welling inside, fully savoring the entirety of the moment.
After what felt like an eternity, we finally pull away from one another, staring into each others eyes briefly before I began gazing upon her lips. She almost instinctively began moving closer and I started to feel something well up inside me...
Something that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop if we started.
With every bit of strength I could muster, I slyly pulled away with a nervous laugh. "Ah...heheh...uh..we uh..should probably go ahead and go home so I can make lunch cause I'm starving."
She lowers her eyes to half mast, letting out a barely audible annoyed grunt, though she ultimately agreed and followed along.
"Jeez, I can't believe my mind was already going to that place after what Gertrude just said...I need to chill out. Can't just act like a freakin dog in heat right after she just poured her heart out to me." I said, mentally beating myself up.
The two of us finally leave and head back to the house, talking a bit normally on the way to try and break the awkward aura that had been surrounding the both of us after today's events.
We finally arrive and I waste no time in hopping into the shower since I had fallen asleep outside last night, also working up quite the sweat when I ran full speed to the lab this morning.
Maya sat in the living room, awaiting patiently for me to get out so that I could make lunch for the two of us.
As soon as I was done my shower, I tossed my dirty clothes into the hamper before making my way into the kitchen, opening the fridge and digging around a bit for something to make.
"Sorry for taking such a long shower, but I definitely stunk. Anyways uh...what are you feeling for lunch? You can pick this time." I said, holding the fridge open for her as she walks up next to me.
"Hmm...I'm not sure, I mean neither of us had breakfast this morning so I'm really hungry." She said, secretly taking in a whiff of my scent as she stood next to me.
I swallow the lump in my throat as I laugh nervously, trying my hardest to brush it all off. "Heh..uh...yeah me too. You uh...want brunch then? I could do steak and eggs if you want."
Her eyes had lit up the second I said steak, as it was easily up in her top three favorite foods.
"Heh, I'll chalk that look in your eyes up to a yes." I said, pulling out the last pack of steak along with a carton of eggs. "Guess we'll need to hit the grocery soon too, these are the last two steaks."
"Kay...you um...mind if I help cook?" She asked, once again getting a bit closer to me than she normally would, almost rubbing up on me a bit.
"Oh...uh, sure. You wanna try cooking the steak this time?" I asked, once again trying my best to keep my thoughts as pure as possible.
"You gonna make fun of me if I mess up?" She asked with a playful glare.
"Well duh, of course I will." I said, poking a bit of fun at her. "But you'll be fine. I mean come on, you got me as a teacher you know."
She just playfully rolls her eyes at me as she helps get everything set up to prep.
I pull out some seasoning along with the cutting board and knife as she grabs the cast iron pan, almost struggling to hold it in her hands.
I couldn't help but to chuckle as she fumbled around with it before finally setting it down on the burner and turning it on.
"Okay...burner on...get the pan hot...then a little oil..." She said everything one by one under her breath.
I raise an eye and smile, a bit proud that I didn't even have to say much.
"Well, someone's been paying attention to me over time it seems."
"Oh! Uh...yeah...I mean...I've always kind of wanted to do this by myself."
"Hmm...any particular reason why?"
"Well...you're always cooking for me...so I wanted to be able to do it for you one day like this as your...um..." She said, pausing for a moment as her face became a little red. "You know..."
"As...my girlfriend?" I said, almost smiling from ear to ear.
"...Y-Yeah. I've thought about it for a good while now but...of course I could never tell you something like that before."
"So...I'm guessing you were feeling that way about me for a while?" I asked as I began cracking the eggs into a bowl.
She nods as she sets the steaks on the cutting board and begins to season them. "Yeah...yeah I have."
"Well...you're not the only one. I dunno...maybe it was just seeing you after you evolved that triggered it all for me...but I think deep down I was feeling that way for a while and I didn't even realize."
"R-Really?" She asked, her ears now perked up as she cut her steak into bite sized pieces.
"Yup, really." I said, seasoning the eggs in the bowl before I began mixing them.
She smiles as she tosses her steak pieces onto the hot pan, glancing over at me afterwards. "That...makes me really happy to hear."
I toss the whisk into the sink after I had finished beating the eggs, grabbing another pan from the cabinet and tossing onto the other burner. "Heh...well it feels good to finally say it all."
After my prep was done, Maya had insisted that I let her handle everything herself this time, so I did just that. After sitting on the couch for a short while by myself, she had finally finished up with everything, walking into the living room with a plate in each of her paws for the both of us.
She hands me my plate with a fork and knife before sitting down next to me almost snuggling up to me a bit.
"Thanks Maya." I said before examining the plate, the pleasant aroma now filling my nostrils. "Well I'll say one thing, it sure as hell smells good."
"Really?" She asked excitedly.
"Yeah, it does." I said as I cut my steak open, revealing a light pink center. "Man, and you even made it medium...nice."
"Well...I know you always say you eat it like that...so I tried my best."
"No no, it's perfect. Thank you." I said, slicing myself a piece before popping it into my mouth.
She sits and glares at me as if awaiting my feedback anxiously.
"Mmhm. Man, you learn quick that's for sure...it's good." I said before quickly eating another bite.
"Yes!" She makes a little fist pump to her side proudly.
I couldn't help but find myself staring at her again, losing myself in the moment once more.
She hadn't exactly noticed this time as she was too busy enjoying the fact that she had succeeded so well in her goal.
After the two of us had finished eating, we picked everything up and washed all of our dishes before sitting back down on the couch and watching tv. She cuddled up to me under the blanket we had shared and I found myself lost in what felt like pure bliss.
That was until she started acting a bit weird again like she did in the kitchen earlier.
After cuddling for a while there had been a few times that I noticed her sniffing me from time to time as we sat there watching tv for a few hours. Finally I let my curiosity get the better of me.
"Uh...Maya?"
"Hmm...oh...yes?" She asked, catching herself as she had been sniffing my shirt again.
"Uh...any reason you've been smelling me since way earlier? Does my shirt like, stink or something?" I said, lifting my shirt up to my nose and smelling it myself.
Her face had immediately turned red as she frantically shook her head. "No you don't stink! Um...you...uh, you actually...um..."
"I actually...what?"
"I..don't wanna say. It's gonna sound weird." She said, turning away from me.
"Well, a little too late for that now cause you got my attention."
She lets out a big sigh before looking me directly in my eyes. "You...smell really good actually. Like...REALLY good...it's almost intoxicating, and...it's making me feel weird."
"Weird?" I asked with a raised eye. "Weird like how?"
She lets out a little audible groan as she turns away again.
"Hey." I said, placing my hand on the side of her face. "You know you can tell me anything."
She leans into my hand a bit harder, rubbing her face on it as well as she begins to smile. " Haa...I kynoww I can..."
After a few seconds her eyes had opened wide as she just realized what she had said.
"Wait! No I didn't..."
"Knyoww?" I said, chuckling a bit to myself.
"Dammit...stop making fun of me, I don't do it on purpose! You just make me feel so...comfortable and...and sometimes I just feel so happy and stupid around you that I say stupid things and-"
"Maya..."
"Ah...y-yes?"
"You know, I really do love you." I said, the words almost rolling off of my tongue out of impulse as I caress the side of her cheek with my thumb.
She pauses for a moment and looks away before finally taking a deep breath, grabbing the sides of my face all of a sudden.
Before I could even think to ask what was up, she quickly pulled my face into hers and kissed me.
As much as it took me off guard, I welcomed every bit of it, reciprocating fully after a few seconds and kissing her back.
After a small amount of time had passed, we had finally pulled away from one another, slowly gazing into each others eyes.
She smiles and rests her forehead upon mine, nuzzling her nose against mine a bit.
"And I love you." She said, smiling from ear to ear before once again moving in for another kiss.
The two of us had fully taken in the moment together, though after a bit of time had passed without even thinking, in the midst of us kissing, I had began pushing my tongue into her mouth instinctively.
She finally stops for a moment to catch her breath and pulls back a little, gently brushing her lips with her paw.
"What...was that..." She asked, almost star struck.
"Oh...um...it's called a French kiss...sorry, did you not like it?" I asked out of concern. "I've uh...never actually done it before myself."
She shakes her head and smiles reassuringly. "Actually...it um...can we...do that again?"
I couldn't help but to laugh to myself, nodding and pulling her close once more. "Your wish is my command."
Once again we bring our lips together slowly but passionately, starting off normally before I found another opportunity to ease my tongue into her mouth once more.
She had accepted much faster this time, even reciprocating and clumsily wiggling her tongue against mine, though I welcomed it wholeheartedly.
This time around, we had gone for much longer, holding one another closely, rubbing our fingers through each others' hair as we continued on.
After a bit more time pressed, things began to take a slightly heated turn.
She pulls away once again, panting a bit as she turns away out of embarrassment. "Wait...Hayden...um..."
"I'm sorry...was that too much? I'm not trying to be pushy...I was...I guess I was just getting into it and lost my cool a little maybe." I said, nervously rubbing the back of my neck.
"No it's not that! It was really nice but...uhm..." Suddenly she trails off, effectively gaining my attention.
"But...what?"
She pauses for a moment and turns away to hide her flushed face. "Nevermind...it's nothing."
"No it isn't nothing...what's wrong?"
"I don't know why...but it feels embarrassing to say it."
"Come on Maya, you know you can tell me anything right?" I said, placing a reassuring hand upon her shoulder.
She lets out a little sigh before turning back to me with her face now completely reddened.
"Um...it's making my...you know...down there...um...like...tingly and really hot and...it feels...watery I think? I feel...weird."
"Oh...OH." I said, my face becoming the reddest it's probably ever been.
"What? Is...that a bad thing?" She asked, genuinely concerned.
I shook my head, snickering a bit to myself as it kind of gave me a bit of a good feeling to know I was the one causing her to get in that state.
"No...um...I'm pretty sure you're just getting turned on."
"Turned on?" She asked, tilting her head to the side a little before pointing to the ceiling fan. "Like when you turn the switch on for the lights?"
"Uh...no. It's just a term we use when someone is...well...in the mood." I said the last part a bit embarrassed at myself now that I was actually thinking about the current situation.
"It's basically meaning that...you're with someone you like and, well...when you make each other feel good...sometimes you get to that point, because it's your body's natural reaction and it's basically making itself...ready...uh...for...um.."
I trailed off a bit, now fully red in the face as I gestured down toward my lower region. I ended up having to turn away from her a bit.
She ponders for a few moments before I could only assume that she somehow figured it out on her own, as she had also gotten completely red from cheek to cheek.
She clears her throat for a moment before finally facing me again. "By ready, you...you mean like...for mating...don't you..."
"Uh...yes. That's pretty much it."
"Heh...well, if I'm being honest here..." She said, moving closer to me. "That sounds wonderful."
The way her newfound sultry tone had rolled off her lips and into my ears had almost sent me over the edge. I'm not even totally sure how I was able to hold myself back.
"Wait, hold on." I said, placing my hands upon her shoulders and gently pushing her back to where we we're both sitting and facing each other.
She tilts her head for a moment, a bit confused. "Is...something the matter?"
I was mentally beating myself up, screaming at myself in my head for not continuing, as I definitely wanted to more than anything. "Uh...no not technically, um...look I...I want to cherish every bit of this now that we've actually come to this point, you know?"
"But you already cherish me, do you not?" She asked in a still very confused term. "If I did something wrong then I-"
"No!" I shouted, albeit louder than I probably wanted to.
She jumps a bit at my sudden outburst, which made me feel even more like an idiot for doing it in the first place.
"Uh...sorry. I didn't mean to shout, I just didn't want you to get the wrong idea." I said, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"Listen Maya, it's just...I feel like if I let this happen so suddenly...that...I don't know...maybe that I'd be doing this the wrong way? Or...maybe like out of order? If that makes any sense."
She raises an eye at me before shaking her head a bit. "Umm...not really. I mean...we're...you know...together now right? Should we not just mate?"
I rub the bridge of my nose, annoyed a bit at how she was making a lot of sense the one time that I didn't want her to.
"I mean...from a pokemon's perspective I...guess that IS the way it would usually be. But...well...ehh...human relationships are a bit more...complicated you could say."
"How so?" She asked, genuinely intrigued.
"Well, uh...for us...usually people will date for a while...get to know each other...they'll maybe then get in a relationship with one another if everything goes well, and then...well...after they feel super comfortable around one another after a few months or so, THEN...they would mate...or, well...have sex is what we usually say. We don't generally just find someone to do that with and be done with it."
Maya tilts her head a bit, putting a finger to her chin as if she was lost in thought.
"Well, to be honest a lot of pokemon also mate for life as well...so technically we are the same no?"
I thought about it for a moment and was about to say something on the matter before she beat me to the punch with something I definitely was not expecting.
"OH! There WAS this one time I overheard mama talk about this guy to one of her friends she was with a bunch of years ago and how the two of them would always just meet each other to...what did she say again...oh! To fuck! I think?"
My mouth was agape at her sudden outburst and I immediately face palmed.
"Jesus Miss Gertrude, what kind of life did you have in your younger days?" I said to myself mentally.
"Uh...well." I said, clearing my throat and trying my hardest to stifle a laugh. "Yes, that's another thing we say sometimes and uh...well, I guess there ARE occasions where some people could just be friends and still have sex with each other. We have a term for that too, it's called friends with benefits...the benefit being the sex."
"I...I see." She said looking away for a moment, almost seemingly annoyed a bit.
"Is something wrong?" I asked genuinely.
She remains quiet for a brief moment before turning back towards me with a bit of a serious look on her face. "Have...have you and Whitney-"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT." I quickly interjected.
She tilts her head at my sudden exclaim and raises an eye. "That was a quick response."
"I'm sorry...once again I didn't mean to shout or anything, but I could already see where your mind was going and I didn't even want to give it that chance." I said, heaving a heavy sigh as I explained.
"Look, don't get me wrong, Whit is extremely attractive yes...there WAS a point in time where I actually did have a bit of a crush on her, but that's all it ever was. I have a lot of respect for Whitney as a friend and would never want to lose our friendship, so...no. We have not even come close. I've never even had sex anyway...like not even once. Hell, like I told you, us kissing was the first time I ever kissed anyone."
She remains silent for a moment before scooting a bit closer to me. "So then...that would also make me your first mate as well...yes?"
I swallow the lump in my throat, hard. "Uh...yes, if we had sex you would indeed be my first."
She scoots closer once more. "And you would also be mine...and...I really want you to be, more than anything now."
I steel my nerves probably to the fullest that I have ever done in my entire life as I put forth my final resolve.
"Maya, listen..I really want this too...believe me, I DO. But...I want to show you what it feels like to be loved the right way, and I guess...I also want to figure it out myself along the way as well. You know...how to love you properly I mean."
She gives me a light sigh before looking up at me once again and smiling. "I understand Hayden, and honestly I love that part about you too. You're always so gentle and caring..." She said, grabbing my face and kissing me once again.
"Heh...well, what can I say?" I said smugly, trying to joke with her and bring the mood back up.
She just scoffs a bit playfully before nuzzling her head underneath my chin as she pulled me in for a hug, which I gladly reciprocated.
"Holy crap, I'm glad she didn't press any further...I wasn't sure how much more I was gonna be able to hold myself back from letting it happen." I mentally sighed to myself.
"Well, guess we should probably head to bed soon here." I said, glancing over to the clock in the kitchen, which read 10:45pm.
"Haaahhmmkay." She said as she stretched and stifled a yawn.
We both got up from the couch and went to my room, and as I hopped into my bed I could feel a small hint of embarrassment wash over me as I glance over towards her, who was just standing at the foot of the bed, fiddling with her thumbs.
"Oh..right...guess uh...this'll be the first time we actually sleep with one another huh?" I said, nervously rubbing the back of my neck.
"Heheh...y-yeah...guess it is."
I nod before clearing my throat and finally mustering up the courage to pat the empty space next to me, inviting her into her new space.
She let's out a little nervous sigh before finally hopping into bed and underneath the covers, quickly snuggling up next to me afterwards, wrapping her arms around me tightly and nuzzling her face into my chest.
"Mmmmn...you know, I think this is the happiest I've ever felt now that I think on it." She said, relaxing her grip a bit after hugging me tightly. "I'm gonna sleep very well I think."
I place my hand up to my mouth to cover a brief yawn as I myself began to feel a sudden wave of exhaustion.
"You could say that again. I'm definitely about to sleep good now."
We laugh a bit before looking one another in the eyes once more.
I smile and laugh to myself as I lean in to kiss her once more, which she gladly accepts, giggling a bit afterwards.
"I don't think I will ever get tired of doing that." She said, brushing her paw against her lips.
"I know I won't." I said kissing her on her forehead right afterwards. "Goodnight Maya."
"Mmhmmn...night Hayden." She said amidst another yawn, before burying herself into my chest once more and getting comfortable.
The two of us both wasted no time in drifting off into slumber shortly after, ready to start our newfound relationship head on after the morning came.