Lost and Found

Chapter Nine: Transitions

"...so I was hoping that you'd let her stay with you guys while I'm at college," Matthew said to the older couple on the other side of the table. "I know this is kinda out-of-the-blue, but I really think it'd be good for everyone."

Harold and Janine Jeffries blinked at their son, then at the beautiful, dark-eyed young woman next to him, then looked to each other with another blink. "Well..." Harold started with a lift of his eyebrows and an awkward chuckle as he ran a hand through his thinning blond hair. "To be honest, this isn't quite what we expected."

"It's not as though we necessarily expected anyone in particular," Janice added while absently smoothing the skirt of her white-and-blue pleated dress. She then refocused her attention to the young woman. "It's just that when Matthew had asked about bringing a friend over, we assumed that it would be one of his trainer friends, or perhaps one of his future roommates." She smiled, though it seemed a bit forced. "And I'm sure you're a lovely young lady, but this still takes us by surprise."

"And...you used to be a Pokémon?" Harold asked, still having a hard time believing what his son had just told him.

"Y-Yes, sir," Cookie replied timidly; even though what she could sense from the Jeffries patriarch indicated a kind, gentle man, she couldn't help but be nervous before her favorite human's parents. "I was hatched a Hatenna."

"Hatched?" Janine said with a puzzled expression.

"All Pokémon hatch from eggs," Matthew explained. "I know it might sound weird for some types, but that's how they work."

"So would you lay an egg, or can you give birth like a human?" Harold asked before his manners could stop him.

"Dear!" his wife yelped with a whap to his arm.

The older man looked appropriately contrite as he rubbed the newly-reddened spot. "My apologies, Miss Cookie; my curiosity got the better of me."

"It's okay," the young woman replied with a duck of her head and a blush. "I think I understand why you'd ask."

"Oh, good grief; ignore him," Janine said, crossing her arms while giving her husband a look of disapproval. "It doesn't matter right now, anyway."

Harold opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by the sound of the front door unlocking. "Ah, that must be Karin," he noted, grateful for the distraction.

Less than a minute later, a young teenager dressed in blue denim shorts and a white short-sleeved blouse bounced into the living room, her long, brown ponytail waving with the movement. "I'm home!"

"You certainly are, dear," Janine giggled. "Welcome home."

Karin beamed at her family, but her smile quickly faded at the sight of the unfamiliar young woman sitting next to her brother. "Wh-...Who's that?"

Cookie glanced at Matthew with an anxious smile, so he nodded before looking over to his sister. "This is my friend, Cookie. Cookie, this is my sister, Karin."

"I'm pleased to meet you," Cookie greeted with a smile and a polite dip of her head.

The young teen's face bore anything but a smile as she made her way to a chair near the group and settled into it, folding one leg under her. "How...How do you know my brother?"

Cookie's smile faded at the emotions that she was sensing from the younger woman. "M-...Matthew helped me when I was in trouble," she explained, more than a little unsettled by the hostility that seemed to be directed toward her. "I was a lost Hattrem and he gave me food, and when I became human he saved me and took me to the hospital."

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Janine asked her daughter with an expression of worry. "Did something happen at school today?"

Karin quickly stood up and headed toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms. "I'm not feeling well; I'm gonna go lay down."