Project: Titans -- A Pokemon Story (OC x Piers)

Chapter 46

The concert carried on for two hours, and not once did I put down the guitar.

It was exhilarating, being onstage with Piers. I had too many years of unused time--onstage, making music, singing, playing guitar--stored in me, and now was the time to unleash my pent up energy. The floodgates had opened, and there was no way I would let them shut again.

"Cheers, Spikemuth," Piers yelled into the microphone, and everyone erupted into cheers. "You've been an amazin' crowd tonight!" He was drenched in sweat from the lights and moving around, but the smile on his face was so huge it was contagious. I beamed as I ran up next to him, and shouted suddenly, "Now who's ready for a dance party?!"

Piers stared at me, and I shrugged, grinning. "The night is still young, and this is a celebration! Come on; hit it, Meowsie!" Meowsie, who had scurried off to the side to attach Marnie's phone to the speakers, started a familiar pop song; Call Me Maybe by Carlie Rae Jepson, it sounded like.

I shooed Piers out of the way before taking control of the stage. Now, I was the goddess of the concert; the immortal. "I wanna see you give your best moves, Spikemuth," I grinned, stomping my feet to the song. "Come on! Circle up! Don't make me come down there and wipe the floor with you!"

The threat of challenge made everyone in the crowd hurry to form a circle as everyone started to strut their stuff. Joshua started breakdancing surprisingly well, Patricia did a few back handsprings, and Dorothy twirled around for a solid minute, but stumbled out a moment later. Even Marnie got in on the fun, messing around and laughing as the grunts chanted her name. The songs playing counted the time, but soon even the number of them dissolved into wild fun and laughter.

"C'mon, Gia," Marnie yelled to me suddenly when we were halfway through a song. "Let's see ya bust a move on the dancefloor!" Instantly, all eyes turned my way and started shouting agreements. "C'mon! Join in! We wanna see ya dance!"
"Alright, if that's what you want," I grinned, adrenaline spiking again. I leapt off the stage and trotted to the center of the dance circle. And I waited, anticipating the right moment to start.

It goes on and on and on and on, when me and you party together. The movements came back to me as if I'd done them yesterday; arm circle, move it across my body, scoop downwards, cross feet and turn. I wish this night would last forever, cause I was feelin' down now I'm feelin' better. With the dance came memories of my past, memorie I hadn't let surface in a very long time.

And it goes on and on and on and on, when me and you party together. I wish this night would last forever, forever....The friends I'd danced this dance with, laughing faces that evaporated into smoke as a waiting Spikemuth faded back into focus. And then, the beat dropped.

I wanna scream and shout, and let it all out. Hip-hop was not a foreign dance to me; in fact, I did it quite often. I slipped into the comfortable rhythm I'd found whenever I danced. All the movements felt natural as I let my hips swing, popped and locked, rolled my body and swung my arms around. Everyone was awestruck as I struck a final pose, panting and sweating under the hot lights and stuffy atmosphere. Then, they burst into cheers and jumped and screamed.

I was quickly lifted up in excitement and paraded around before getting dropped by one of the coolers one of the grunts had brought for the party. I quickly cracked open a soda and guzzled it down, relishing the refreshing coolness it brought to my body, heated with excitement and sweat.

I felt abuzz with energy, and I laughed as the night wore on and Spikemuth partied on. But, the looming shadow always creeping in the darkest part of my mind reminded me this was only temporary. A mere blip in my lifetime as a Team Rocket operative. I would never see Piers, Marnie, or anyone from Spikemuth every again once I left. The thought of leaving was surprisingly painful to entertain, so I forced myself to push it aside and watch Marnie getting twirled around by Team Yell.

"Oi," Piers smiled, sinking next to me. "How's it goin'?"
"I'm good," I forced a smile, looking back out at the crowd. "Just tired. It's been a while since I last danced like that."
"You're pretty good at it, y'know."
"I know. I've been doing it since I was six."

It felt refreshing to talk with Piers; a cleansing voice to wash away the dark cloud in my head. "So, since you're basically finished with Spikemuth an' all," he said, turning his gaze away from me and fidgeting with his hair. "An' Marnie's pretty good t' take care o' herself..." he trailed off, face starting to gain color. Oh God, was he being shy? Why did I find that so adorable?

"S'pose I was wondering' if ya'd like t' take a walk with me through Wyndon tomorrow," he finally murmured. "Y'know, get a change of scenery from Spikemuth. See a town that didn't have a roof over it."
"Are...are you asking me out on a date?" I asked, a bit shocked with surprise.
"Would ya say yes if I was?" he asked, trying to disguise his nerves by smiling (and failing).

Before I opened my mouth to answer, another song started up. This time, it was slow and sweet, with a keyboard background and soft drum beats. Pairs of grunts walked onto the dancefloor hand in hand, put their arms around each other, and started to dance. "Dance with me," I blurted out suddenly.

Piers looked shocked for a split second--it was more like a demand than a request--but nodded, took my hand and led me onto the dance floor. We soon fell into place among the other grunts, and I slowly put my hand on his shoulder and my other hand out. I must've been through about a million girls...I love 'em and I'd leave 'em alone.

It was clear he didn't know how to slow dance; his arms and feet were everywhere. I didn't care how much they cried, no sir; their tears left me cold as a stone. But after a few quick corrections and a couple of near-miss toe stomps, we were swaying in rhythm to the song.

But then I fooled around and fell in love~
I fooled around and fell in lo-o-ove~
I fooled around and fell in looooove~
I fooled around and fell in love~

We danced in perfect sync, like two puzzle pieces fitted together; a perfect match. It used to be when I'd see a girl that I liked, I'd get out my book and write down her name. "Remember dancing like this?" I whispered, slowly drawing closer to Piers. But when the grass got a little greener on the other side, I'd just tear out that page. "How could I forget?" he smiled, and we both laughed at the memory of the masquerade.

But then I fooled around and fell in love. As we danced, I felt a magnetic pull from deep inside me; something I'd never felt before, but it lit up my core like a space heater. I fooled around and fell in lo-o-ove. Piers had sparked something in me, from the moment we'd shared that almost-kiss when Ford was here, something seemed...different. I fooled around and fell...in loooove! I fooled around and fell in love~

Now, with the heat of the crowded stadium and my rising body temperature, being drawn closer to Piers with every breath I took, the blare of the slow and sensual electric guitar solo, how I was aware of the movement of his hands to both my hips and mine to his shoulders, how he leaned down so close I could see his clumpy eyelashes and small acne scars on his face, the pieces of my emotions all fell into place.

Startled, I stumbled away from him before he leaned down further. "S-sorry," I said quickly, heart pounding in my ears. I didn't want to see the confused hurt on his face, so I turned and I ran. As the final chorus started, I fled the stadium and let the lights and sound of music fade as tears started to fall down my face.

I ran hard, hoping that I could mask the beating of my heart as adrenaline and not passion. I didn't stop, didn't once look up until I turned down the familiar street to the apartment complex. I took the stairs three at a time, not bothering to use the elevator. I couldn't stop moving; if I ceased, my thoughts would take over, and I knew that now I wouldn't be able to make them quit.

I threw myself through the front door, collapsed on my couch that wasn't really mine, and I started to sob. I needed time, I needed space, I needed anything at all so I could forget; anything to remind me of my loyalties and make my traitorous heart stop loving Piers. But that was impossible now. 

I opened my heart when I shared my songs, my dance, my guitar. He'd found his way in, and now there was absolutely no way to get him out, just as there was no way Marnie or Spikemuth or anybody here in Galar could ever leave me.

Eventually, I forced myself to rise and go find a piece of paper and a pen. As much as my body wanted to keep crying myself into exhaustion, I forced down the sadness long enough to write a note. After all, I never answered Piers' question.

Piers,
I'd love to go to Wyndon tomorrow.
Gia.