RMWJ: Chapter 19

"I don't know, the portrayal of women in that movie was really problematic for me," Scott said diplomatically.

Ree looped her arm in his and rolled her eyes. "Dude, I wasn't even looking at the ladies. I was all about the men in that movie. Mm."

"But only three women had speaking parts in the entire movie! And they were all in heels or barefoot, and one of them never actually wore pants," he said.

"One of the men never wore pants."

"Okay, so that's fair. But what about heels? I don't see you pulling on heels when you want to go kick ass."

"That'd be impossible. I'm terrible with heels," she said and stuck out her tongue. "How do you even notice this stuff?"

"How do you not?" Scott asked incredulously. She shrugged. "Even when they were being badass, they were still overtly sexualized. Fighting games are the same way—hell, all games are the same way these days. I just don't see how you aren't tired of it yet."

"Maybe I'm just disillusioned. Or desensitized," Ree replied.

Scott sighed wearily. "Okay, look at Metroid. Look at Portal."

"Awesome games."

"And female protagonists. They're not sexualized, they're in actual clothes, and they kick ass. So why can't we see that in more games?"

"Aww," Ree teased, "are you grumpy that Garrus is ignoring your fem-Shep in favor of calibrations again?"

"Not even the characters in my games treat women fairly," Scott whined, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. "But seriously, no... I don't know. It just sort of rubs me the wrong way. You're allowed to hit me if I ever treat you unfairly, okay?"

"Duly noted, Scottie."

-.-.-

Chapter Nineteen: Ree Majors' Wonderful Journey Of Idle Chitchat

-.-.-

"You are under arrest for assaulting a gym leader."

"You can't treat me like this! I have rights! I have the right to beat him up!"

"Let her go, let her go! It was my fault!" Burgh cried, one hand over his bloody nose. Ree glowered at the two UFOs until they released her. And then she turned her glare on Burgh. The rest of the group was staring at her with mixed expressions, mostly shock or amusement. Elesa looked mildly sick.

She was staunchly avoiding looking for Tori's reaction.

"Why the hell would you say something like that out loud!" Ree demanded, though it came out as a whine. She was actually still enjoying her flat stomach and lack of evidence (morning sickness aside), thank you very much, and didn't need her issue thrown back in her face like that. Especially in front of certain sheltered conservatives.

"You know, it can't be a secret forever! I thought you would have at least told your companion this time—you seem like the type not to care, honestly! I'm sorry," Burgh said. He tilted his head back, nose pinched, and Elesa pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at the blood.

"I just—does it look like I'm advertising the fact yet?!" She made a wild gesture to her belly area.

"You certainly act the part of the hormonal mother-to-be," Elesa remarked dryly.

"Do not start with me," Ree shot back.

"Ree?" She flinched and didn't turn to face Tori. "...Is it true? Are you actually—oh gosh, are you pregnant?"

She braced herself for the onslaught of judgment and scolding. This wasn't going to be fun. "...Yeah. I am."

Ree stumbled forward, off balance; Tori threw herself at her in an excited hug. "Oh my gosh, congratulations! That explains the food and the pickiness and oh gosh, that's so cute! I didn't even know you were married!"

"..." She took a moment to process all of that, standing there with Tori hanging off of her like a very heavy necklace. It probably would have been easier if Tori hadn't made such assumptions. Ree delicately pried her friend off, and then held up both hands. "Do you see any rings?"

Tori stared at her with large eyes, computing.

"...It means she's not married," one of the gym trainers, the one Ree had decided to like, chimed in.

"You're not in this discussion," Ree barked back. She decided she didn't like him anymore.

"Hey, free soap opera. I'll take my entertainment where I can get it," he replied, just as easily.

"Rolan, stop it," Elesa said tiredly. "Everyone, let's just calm down. There's nothing at all to be so excited about; women get pregnant every day and it's her own damned business if she is or isn't."

"Unusually charitable of you, Elesa," Ree said suspiciously.

"I don't want your lover's quarrel in my gym."

"I'm not with her!" Tori said, rejoining them at last. Ree rolled her eyes and Burgh hid a chuckle beneath the bloody handkerchief. "I just... You're not... Why would you choose to have a baby if you're not married, Ree?"

"I didn't choose this." The words were out there before she could censor herself. Tori dropped back off of their plane of existence while she tried to realize that oh my gosh there was an unwed pregnant gal in front of her. Ree would be surprised if she ever heard the end of this.

"Now I see your reasons," Burgh said. Ree nodded. "Well, we may as well take advantage of the drama bomb I inadvertently let loose. Anyone else have any great confessions for us? Strangers and gym leaders make great psychiatric help, let me tell you."

No one offered anything. She wasn't really expecting anyone to.

"Right." He sighed and pulled the handkerchief away. It looked like his nose had stopped bleeding, though there was dried blood over quite a bit of his mouth. "Now that everyone is fairly calmed down, let's just all relax again and have, I don't know, nice discussions."

"What's going on that they had to shut down the gyms?" one of the challenging trainers asked.

"I think you owe us at least that much for an answer," Ree added archly.

Elesa and Burgh shared a look. "There's been an incident," he admitted. Elesa's expression darkened and she turned from him, looking at one of the UFOs. "As you all know, international tensions are strained right now. And the underground goings-on of Unova has never been bloodier. This cannot leave this room, you understand, but there may have been an attempted kidnapping of a gym leader."

The trainers stared at the pair, silent and surprised. "...attempted?"

"We're not sure who's behind it, but Iris has gone missing after a scuffle in the gym. And after what happened to Jasmine last month..."

"What happened to Jasmine?" one of the gym trainers gasped.

"Who's Jasmine?" Ree echoed.

"Jasmine is a gym leader from Johto, and she was threatened inside her gym. Violence against gym leaders has been on the rise, with trainers getting more and more skittish," Elesa explained. "Sinnoh's issues haven't been helping this feeling in the least."

"Wait, so then isn't Burgh being outside of his gym and here sort of a bad thing if there's another leader missing?" the gym trainer pressed.

"I left my secretary in charge," Burgh replied.

"Kev?" Ree asked. He nodded. "...You left a non-native in charge of your gym during a political scare? You left Kev in charge during a political scare?"

She watched as he visibly paled. "...Well, it's not like I knew this was going to happen today! Elesa and I see each other every two weeks, that's nothing new!"

"Who's Kev?" Elesa asked curiously.

"Very capable new guy."

"The cute one?"

"Yes."

Ree ignored their discussion and had her phone out, scrolling down the contacts list to Kev's number. She tapped out a text at light speed. "Whatever you do don't do anything stupid and stay calm."

The reply was just as fast. That was worrying. "why are you n harry both telling me that" was all he said.

"Stay inside & keep everyone out"

"youre worrying me ree"

"Burgh, he doesn't even know what's going on!" Ree accused, waving her phone in the air.

To her surprise, she wasn't the only one texting. One of the female gym trainers looked up from her smartphone, light reflecting off her glasses. "Burgh, sir, you know Carrie, right? She says there's nothing going on at the gym right now."

"Why the hell are you two here and not in Castelia?" Elesa demanded with venom.

"There are gym leaders here. There's not one in Castelia, and the gym is already turning away trainers because of it. There is no need to shut down the gym and cause more of a stir," the operative replied wryly. "It was sort of a lucky break."

"How did you even know Burgh was here? He just showed up a little while ago."

"All gym leaders have psychic locks on them in case of emergencies," Elesa replied dismissively.

That snapped Tori out of her shock. "What?!" Ree winced at the high note. "That's barbaric!"

"That's how it works here! Gym leaders are valuable, as celebrities and as officials."

"Wait," one of the challenging trainers interrupted, hands up to try to keep the peace, "then why doesn't anyone know where Iris is?"

"It just takes a skilled dark pokémon or another psychic to break a psychic lock. They're not perfect," one of the gym trainers replied on reflex.

"That's right," Burgh agreed. "They're just a precaution, one all gym leaders take. That's all. But now that you've joined us, girl, how about we all just sit back down and take a breather."

Tori plopped down, still looking a little shell-shocked. Ree gingerly sat down next to her. The UFOs gave Ree a couple of evil looks, but sat down on either side of the gym leaders as well.

"We're safe in here, whatever happens. We have two gym leaders and two UFOs in here—stop laughing," Elesa spat at the chuckling challenger. "You're the one without a badge, so I don't see what's so funny."

"No, no, it's funny that you think we're worried. We wouldn't be the targets here. And you're the one with the injured pokémon."

"I still have four good ones, more than enough to teach you a lesson."

"Honey, calm down," Burgh said, placing a hand on her shoulder. The model huffed and turned from the snarky challenger.

"I thought you only had three pokémon?" another challenger asked timidly.

Burgh tried to keep in a laugh. It came out as an undignified snort. "See, discussion. I like this. Who here thinks Elesa and I only have three pokémon?" No one dared raise their hand, though Ree had thought that. "We're only allowed to battle with a set amount at a time. We keep more, due to self defense, pets, other trained pokémon, whatever. I'm personally trying to get Alder to let me battle with my scolipede, but he won't."

"I have two zebstrika, and one of them has a broken leg right now. I can still use his brother for my gym battles, and no one's actually noticed."

"I'm sorry," Tori mumbled.

"It happens. Regardless, I am still more than enough to take any of you down," Elesa declared haughtily. "Some more easily than others."

"Bitch," Ree hissed.

And so began the longest three hours of Ree Majors' life.

-.-.-

Scott trailed into the Nimbasa pokémon center. It was unusually deserted, which suited him just fine. He was tired, hungry, and sunburned; the last thing he needed was noisy kids and their noisy pokémon. He yawned and pulled his hood off, then trotted across the lobby. Okay, maybe a quiet pokémon center made him nervous.

"Hello?" He already had Vince's pokeball out, having just returned him. He rolled it between his hands on the counter. "Is anyone here?"

"Oh!" A nurse peeked out from a door just down the hall, clearly surprised. "Welcome! I'm sorry, we've been a little short-staffed lately, and trainers don't usually appear during the middle of the day—I'm rambling, sorry—"

"Hey, it's okay. Just want some check-ups and basic stuff, nothing pressing," Scott said.

"Ooh, you look rather red. Just get through the desert?" she asked sympathetically as he started pulling pokeballs out of his backpack. He nodded vaguely. The last thing he wanted was to remember all of those days in the scorching sun. "I've heard it's been unusually hot out this fall, too. I hope it cools down soon."

"I don't. I'm from Castelia—even this far north is making me skittish."

"It doesn't get too bad here. Nothing like in Icirrus, that's for sure." He winced. He had tried to go there in February once. He had gotten frostbite on his fingers and Vince had almost died.

He slid his ID across the counter and she looked it over, a little longer than usual. It tended to be a quick glance, but she was actually studying it. "...Is there something the matter?"

"Oh? No! Nothing. Just looking it over," she said, too quickly, and passed it back to him. Scott played with the card while he watched her tap away on the computer. He could see that she was inputting his team's species names.

"The center seems quiet today," he remarked.

"Yes, it is."

"I didn't see the ferris wheel going, either."

"Today's just a quiet day in Nimbasa."

"Right." Something was definitely up.

His suspicions were confirmed when she asked brightly, "Would you like a room? We have plenty free right now and you could settle in while I take care of your pokémon."

"Is there a reason why you'd like to keep all the trainers in their rooms?" Scott asked mildly.

The nurse flinched as though he had hit her. "N-No! Just—Just asking a question!"

"Look, miss, I'm not a kid. Did something happen?" He tried reason.

She tapped the keys a little harder than necessary. "Nimbasa is allowed to have quiet afternoons like any other city, mister Felton. We can't be partying all the time."

"Oh, is that the reason the lights were out at the gym, too?" He tried honesty.

And that won him the battle. She hissed a "shh!" at him and cast furtive looks about the empty lobby. Then, in a low voice, she said, "I don't know how you found out, but I'll have to ask you to keep quiet about all of this. We're trying to avoid a panic or any sort of dramatic behavior."

"Right, down-low. Got it." He couldn't help but wonder what had happened that had put the center staff on alert. And if the gym was involved, it was possible it was some sort of training emergency. Hopefully it was just something like an accident, not anything too dangerous. The last thing he wanted was crazed mass murderers, human or pokémon, prowling the area.

Especially not if Ree was around.

"Say, miss, I'm looking for someone."

She gave him another suspicious look, lips pursed. "And what is your relation?"

"Significant other." He caught her eyes go down to his hands and he quickly jammed them in his pockets. "Did I say spouse? It's a serious relationship, that's it."

"If you give me a name..."

"Ree Majors."

She turned back to her computer and pulled up a new window, a list of names. He craned his neck to try to read, but she scowled at him and tilted the monitor. "...Yes, it seems like a Majors is staying here, and has been for a couple days."

His heart leapt. "What's her room number?"

"I can't give that away without her consent. I can give you a room and you're welcome to try to catch her in the lobby or call her, but unless she confirms your relationship, you're going to have to find her the old-fashioned way."

"Gee, thanks," Scott huffed as his heart sank again. He wasn't sure if that had been changed due to the apparent emergency or if it had changed since he'd last been seriously training. But at least he had a confirmation that Ree was in Nimbasa!

He laid down on one of the couches, relishing the space to himself, and texted Maya. He told her that he had located Ree again. She didn't reply right away, which meant she was probably busy. Scott closed his eyes for a brief moment. He was just now realizing how sore he was. Still burnt in a couple places and sunburned as well. He had forgotten how rough pokémon training and traveling could be on the body.

If Ree was in Nimbasa, it was likely she was trying to get the badge. He tried to remember what Maya had said her team was. A snivy, a whimsicott, and a pidove, or was it a purrloin? Either way, she likely wouldn't have a very easy time. Scott had breezed through Elesa's gym with Vince and Nigel, exploiting weaknesses, but knew that Elesa could be difficult for trainers who weren't prepared for her.

If something was going on, however, the gym would be temporarily shut down. Nimbasa was a big city and keen on fashion, so she could be out shopping to use up time, or perhaps at the amusement park. She could even be in the center, in her room, with those traveling companions of hers. No, just the girl now, he thought, sourly recalling the cold treatment he'd gotten when looking for her in the Castelia gym.

Before Scott knew it, he was falling asleep, glad to be inside, out of the sun, and on something soft. Ree could wait for just a little bit longer.

-.-.-

"I gotta pee," Ree announced. Elesa pointed to a door across the large room. She got up, ignoring the looks she got, and marched there with as much dignity as she could muster. The past hour had been nothing but her and Elesa sniping at each other, and idle smalltalk. It was incredibly boring and incredibly stressful. The fact that everyone knew her dirty little secret was like a song stuck in her head. It wouldn't leave her be, and so she was acutely aware that everyone knew, and they were staring at her like a pregnant girl, not just Ree.

She wasn't expecting Tori to come after her. She should've, considering that she was one of those who knew and kept giving her weird looks. Ree slammed the stall door shut in her face before she could corner her.

"Ree, we have to talk!" Tori chided and stepped back.

Ree snorted at her in response. Her companion kicked the door, making her jump. "About what, Tori? Tell me what exactly you want to talk about."

"You! Your—choices."

Ree decided to wait that one out. It was very tempting to simply sit in the stall for forever, too. No judgy looks and no bitchy gym leader. Not to mention the fact that sitting on the floor was hard on her butt.

"Ree, please. I just want to know... how that could have happened to you."

"Well, you see, when two people love each other very much—or get drunk, you know, sometimes that's fun—"

"I'm being serious!" Tori hissed and kicked the door again.

"I got knocked up. There's no grand story to go along with it, sorry to disappoint," she said dryly.

"But—you're such a smart girl!" Ree paused, then realized Tori was being serious still. She tried not to laugh. "You shouldn't have been doing that stuff anyway, you're too young—"

"Excuse me, but I'm not the kid like you are. I'm two years older than you!"

"I haven't been out there whoring around!"

"...It was with my boyfriend," Ree said, a little hurt by the outburst. "I've been dating him for a year and a half."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, it was just... reflex. I'm really sorry."

"Tori, what put that stick up your ass? Teenagers have sex. It's a thing we do, be it good or bad."

"I was just raised... differently, I guess."

Okay, going from sitting on a floor to sitting on a toilet wasn't that much of an upgrade. Ree sighed, gave up on her sanctuary, and flushed. Tori was leaning against the sinks, careful not to touch too much of the wall behind her.

"Why aren't you with your boyfriend now?" Tori asked, seeming timid. Probably afraid of another argument.

"He doesn't know," Ree said simply and turned on the water. She washed her hands, and then splashed colder water on her face. Her shorter hair stuck awkwardly to her cheeks and forehead, but it was refreshing. "And I don't want him to know. This is my fault, probably, and even if it wasn't, I'm not going to involve him."

"You started this training journey when you knew you were pregnant?"

"I'm clearly not great at thinking things through."

"Is that why that UFO has a lock on you?"

"Oh, yeah. He's in cahoots with my baby doctor, and she's keeping an eye on me through him. It's not that bad, promise."

"Ree, why didn't you tell me?" Tori asked quietly. Ree didn't answer her and dried her hands, back to her. "...You weren't going to tell me, were you?"

"It seemed easier not to."

"Why? Don't you think I would've noticed in a couple months? Or—Or weren't you going to travel with me for that long?"

"Tori, I just don't think these things through! I wanted to put it off for as long as possible, regardless of whether or not we stuck together! Now please, drop it! I don't want to get chewed out by you for my life choices."

"Chewed out?" Tori echoed, sounding appalled. "Is that what you think I'm in here for?"

"You seem to be doing a good job at it so far," Ree said and rolled her eyes.

"I am trying to figure out what's going on! I just found out one of my friends is pregnant, running from her boyfriend, and I—I'm confused, and a little concerned! Sorry for worrying."

"This is why I didn't want to tell you!" Ree spat. "I knew you'd turn this into something bigger than it is and throw a hissy fit about it! I don't need you preaching at me for my choices or being pregnant or whatever!"

"You think I'd disapprove?" Tori asked, suddenly quiet again. Ree had the feeling she had gone too far, and tried to think of a way to backpedal. Tori continued. "Did you think I'd be angry at you, Ree?"

"But you... you sort of were..."

"I'm surprised, yes. But I'm mad that you were keeping it from me! I'm mad that you don't seem to trust me with that sort of secret—and I'm hurt that you think I'd react so badly it was preferable to jump through hoops to keep your secrets safe from me!"

"No, Tori—it's just—you're kind of judgmental about these sorts of things!" Ree tried.

"Y-Yeah, but I'm not going to be mad at you for them! I may disapprove, but it's done now. Ree, you're my friend, even if we haven't known each other that long. You're really cool, if crass, and your pokémon are great, too. You don't know everything about me, fine. But I wouldn't stop being your friend just because of something like this!"

With that, Tori stormed out of the restroom, door swinging shut behind her. After a moment, Ree groaned and pulled at her hair. She had kind of counted on Tori blowing up at her when she found out, but definitely not for those reasons. She had her pegged wrong, or maybe she simply hadn't trusted her enough. She obviously wasn't shallow enough to dump her by the wayside for that.

She rejoined the group and sat back down beside Tori. They didn't say anything else about their discussion. The group made idle chitchat again, comparing strategies against certain types of pokémon. It wasn't terribly exciting, but it was cool to hear about the other trainers. Two were from Nuvema, and the other was from just outside Undella. They lapsed into sharing tales of where they grew up, and the gym trainers told them about things they had seen in Nimbasa over the years.

Elesa and Burgh talked quietly by themselves. It didn't seem like anything too suspicious, and when Ree tried to eavesdrop, it seemed to be about how long a skirt should be to be considered formal. It felt a little strange, seeing them interacting as friends and people, rather than facing them down from across a battling arena.

Eventually, the group started up a heated debate about their favorite pokémon. The two gym leaders leapt into the discussion, loyally defending their types of choice, and one of the UFOs joined in after a couple arguments, too. The other seemed to be busy texting.

Less than half of them actually owned what their favorite pokémon was, which was slightly surprising. Tori was in the gray area. "Swanna are the best! I have a ducklett, and I can't wait for her to evolve! They are graceful but strong, and there's even been plays written about them!"

"My zebstrika is far superior to that water fowl," Elesa said smugly.

"This isn't about battle potential!" one of the challenging trainers chided her. "Otherwise, shouldn't the legendary pokémon be default favorites?"

"Legendary pokémon are just that—legends and myths," Tori scoffed. "Things for churches and cults."

"That's not true! Arceus is our one true savior, and His will created the world!" one of the gym trainers snapped.

"Back to favorite pokémon," Burgh broke in. "I don't want any religion in this discussion. Maybe next. Give us a chance to steel ourselves."

"My favorite pokémon is the best, so we can wrap up this discussion," Ree declared. "Heatmor! I'm gonna catch one some day." She even had a stuffed toy of one, though she hadn't brought it with her to the gym.

"Those are only found way north, before you head to the elite four," one of the gym trainers, Rolan, pointed out.

"So it'll be strong when I catch it."

"I'm going to save up my money so I can go overseas one day. I want to go on a real safari in Kanto," one of the gym trainers gushed. "I'll get a license beforehand so I can bring back anything I can catch. I'd kill for a pikachu."

"Boy, I know how that feels. You call me up when you go over and I will totally come with," Burgh agreed with a dreamy sigh. "I've been wanting to catch a scyther since I was a boy..."

"Isn't it like, illegal for gym leaders to want non-native pokémon?" Ree asked. One of the challengers nodded, too.

"Oh, so you're one of those types. I wouldn't be stupid enough to use it in my gym. I just want one for myself."

"There's nothing wrong with Unovan pokémon," Ree said defensively. Tori nodded in loyal agreement.

"But there are so many more types of pokémon in the world," the gym trainer replied. "Haven't you ever wanted to see something exotic, just because it's exotic?"

"There are zoos for that."

They briefly had a discussion about Unova versus the rest of the world, and were thoroughly divided on the issue. Not even Burgh and Elesa could agree on the topic. They did return to religion as well, thanks to the gym trainer, and she tried to point out the virtues of Arceus. Ree mostly tuned her out; she didn't give religion much thought. She was somewhat surprised it was so popular in Unova, since Arceus had supposedly lived in Sinnoh.

Smalltalk gave way to a battle as one of the challengers convinced Elesa to let him try. She won, but it was only narrowly. Closer than Ree had ever gotten, and that made her a little jealous. It also gave Tori a brief moment in the spotlight to show off the badge she had won.

They had just been picking out their favorite badge designs (to Elesa and Burgh's obvious interest) when one of the UFOs received a call. Everyone tensed. She had a brief conversation, mostly monosyllabic on her end, and then hung up. "Iris is safe, and the culprit has been caught."

"Who was it?" Elesa asked.

"We suspect a remnant member of Team Plasma." The UFO's eyes flicked towards the group of trainers, hanging on her words. "But it has not been confirmed yet. Anyway, we have been advised to lift the lock-down. The situation has been contained."

The power flickered back on in the gym, bathing them all in orange from a neon sign just above them. Ree blinked a couple times, adjusting to the change. "Hmph, about time," Elesa grumbled. She got to her feet and dusted off her dress. "Alright then, you're all free to go or continue with your challenges. Thank you for your cooperation. Bloody noses aside."

"Don't start," Ree warned.

"That's it? We're just done now?" Tori asked, brows furrowed.

"Yes. These sorts of scares are, unfortunately, not terribly rare. It's under control now, though, so why bother freaking out the training population further? With luck, this will be a minor story in the media and no one of import will have noticed that it was a nation-wide shutdown."

"Burgh, sir, we would like to escort you back to Castelia," the other operative said as he stood up.

"I just got here. We haven't even been able to chat, what with all of this drama."

"It would be better for the gym leaders to stay in their gyms for the time being."

"Ugh, fine. Honey, I'm so sorry. We'll have to do dinner next week." They hugged and he went off with the UFOs like he was walking to the electric chair. They vanished.

"Doesn't the way they treat people bother you?" Tori asked.

"Some people are just curt. If I had their job, I'd be a lot meaner," Elesa replied, shrugging. "Now off, you lot. Most of you need to heal your pokémon. And I heard more than one stomach growl during our chatter."

It was strange to see gym leaders in such a context, acting human and having lives outside of their jobs. They were such icons; it was like seeing different people. Ree mused on that as she and Tori walked leisurely back to the pokémon center. She donned her sunglasses against the setting sun, and they discussed whether they should go out to eat or just eat for free in the cafeteria.

Ree almost walked past him. She did a double-take at the sleeping blond boy on the couch; the center was almost empty, aside from him. Tori kept walking, unaware she'd stopped until she was almost at the counter. "Ree?"

She stared down at him. He looked a little roughed up, but that was unmistakably Scott.

She bit back her first impulse—to scream and bolt—and darted to the counter. "Shh! That—fuck me, how did he catch up—god, we're taking too long here!"

"What's wrong?!" Tori asked, alarmed.

"You know my boyfriend who I'm trying really hard to avoid?" She nodded. "That's him on the couch, napping like he didn't just give me a fucking heart attack."

"Oh my—that's him?" Before she could stop her, Tori crept back over, as silent as a liepard.

"Are you here for your pokémon or would you like a room?" The nurse behind the desk caught Ree's attention, and she hurriedly shoved Mitzi and Whippy's pokeballs at her.

"Tori! Stop it!"

"Oh, yes, that boy was in here asking about you, miss Majors."

"Did you tell him where I am?!" Ree asked, whirling around on the nurse.

"He knows you have a room, but I didn't tell him the number. We can't without your consent." She arched an eyebrow. "It sounds like you'd rather not have him find out."

"Hell no! Don't tell him anything about me—don't tell him when I leave, either! Here, heal those—I'll be in my room—I'll send Tori down to get them, okay? How long should they take?"

"Oh, not long—twenty minutes if it's basic care they require?"

"Right. Tori, get your ass over here!" Ree stage-whispered. Tori tiptoed away from the couch, and they retreated to their room.

"My, Ree, he's... cute," Tori said smugly.

"Well, yeah, but I'm trying to avoid him! Ugh, I hadn't wanted him to catch up yet..." She released Lala and Harper onto her bed, and then rummaged around for their medicine. "It's Castelia all over again. Second floor, again..."

She found their pill bottles and gave them both their doses, and took her own vitamins for good measure. Maybe she should use Tori as a reminding device for that. She was certain Lenore would kill her if she knew how often she forgot.

"You're not showing yet. You could go down and see him. He's following you, right? I'm sure he's very worried about you."

"No, I can't. If I see him... Tori, I just can't, okay? I'd become a big, blubbering mess and I'd probably throw up on him or something. So, supper's out, can't eat here. You can, if you want, but I'm headed out to fast food or something. You two, return again." Ree returned her two injured ones. She wasn't sure why she became antisocial as a default whenever she was on the lam, but hopefully Tori would understand. "Pick up Mitzi and Whippy for me, please?"

"You're showing an awful lot of trust."

"Just because I didn't tell you I was knocked up doesn't mean I don't trust you, Tori. Besides, I figure if you tried to run off with them, Whippy would kill you or something. No offense."

"None taken, but—Ree what are you doing?!" Tori shouted as she opened the window and sat on the sill.

"I'm climbing down so I can go eat," Ree replied, all innocence. She swung a leg out. "I've done this before," she added calmly.

"But you're—you can't, Ree! You're pregnant and we're on the second story!"

"Yeah, I know. But again, I've done it before."

"Get back in here!" Tori shrieked and grabbed her, heaving her back inside. She was strong for her size. "...Okay, Ree, I'll respect your wishes to avoid him. But please don't go playing galvantula and crawling around on the sides of buildings. We can just put you in a disguise, okay?"

Ree never could say no to a proper disguise.

-.-.-

Scott awoke to an audino gently shaking his shoulder. "Audi! Aud," it squeaked.

"Hmm?"

"Audi," it said and gestured down the hall. He could see the cafeteria from there; he assumed it was dinner time. He sat up, holding his head. He hadn't meant to sleep so long, but after so many days in that damned desert, he supposed a nap on a center couch was like sleeping on ducklett down and the softest of furs.

"Right, thanks." He sat up completely and let his hair down, combing through it with his fingers. He retied it and got up, aching in novel new ways. Great. He went over to the counter, still groggy, and got his pokémon back from where they held them for him. The nurse said that she hadn't wanted to wake him, since he had looked so tired. More like she had wanted to stop him from pestering her further.

The center was a little busier, at least. The sun was setting and the dinner rush was in full swing. A couple of trainers were leaving for outside restaurants, including a boy leading an unruly deerling, but the trainers were mostly headed in to the mess hall. His stomach growled; finally, real food! He could potentially catch Ree in there, too, since she probably wouldn't know he was there.

Scott chose one of the less crowded areas, since his pokémon were all fairly large. Not quite like the large golurk in the corner, but they still needed space. He scanned the mass of trainers for that familiar curly brown mop, but he didn't see her anywhere. He didn't see that redheaded girl she traveled with, either. He really hoped she hadn't left the center, but it was possible they were just late.

"Yeah, right," he mumbled to himself as he started bringing his pokémon food. He knew what they liked from experience, and kept them parked at the table while he fetched it for them. It was easier that way, even if he got his food last. "Sorry, Vince, but the golurk over there got the rest of the gravel. And Nigel, that's all you get tonight. You were getting fat off of all those sandile in the desert."

Scott and his team settled in for their meal. He kept his eye on the crowd, but he still didn't see Ree. The mess hall closed long after he was done eating, but he had been holding out hope to see her. She had to have found out he was there, somehow. She was actively avoiding him again.

He pretended that the realization didn't hurt.

-.-.-

Next Chapter: Well, Ree and Scott are once again in the same city. Will he finally confront her this time, or will Ree slip out of his grasp again? She still needs her badge from Elesa, either way, and how can she overcome such odds?