Shadows and Darkness (PKM Watty Best in Romance 2014)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

        The passing of a few weeks found Alice, once again, in Striaton. She hadn't seen Shadow since his confession on Route 4, and that unnerved her. Why was he staying away for so long.

        The time that passed had given her time to think. She realized that she had feeling for him since the incident in the Dream Yard. How long had he felt the way he did? She felt terrible. It must have been hard on him, knowing that she was completely ignorant.

        Then again, now that she thought about it, that may have been why he stayed away for so long. To let her think about everything. To get used to the whole idea.

        A small smile formed on her face as she stepped in the Gym/Restaurant, the triplets looking over at her from behind the counter. She walked over and took a seat.

        Cilan gave her a smile, and walked over to her. "Someone looks happy."

        Cress and Chili went over, as well, the bluenette glancing at the green haired male before looking at Alice. "Is there a particular reason for that?"

        She stared at her hands for a moment then looking up at the three. "I... Think I'm in love..."

        Cress turned to his brothers with a smile, and held out a hand. "Pay up..." The other two grumbled a bit before handing the money over.

        Alice blinked up at them. "You... Made bets on me...?"

        Chili gave her a grin. "Not so much on you, as on how long it would take you to admit that you actually fell for someone. Cress bet a few months at most, and Cilan bet at least a year."

        She tilted her head slightly to the side. "What did you bet on?"

        "That you'd never admit it."

        "Thanks for the vote of confidence..."

        "No problem." His grin widened, not seeming to notice her sarcasm.

        She sighed and shook her head, though a light smile settled on her face. She didn't know what compelled her to look up as the door behind them opened. It was a regular occurrence, as the Gym doubled as a restaurant, and it shouldn't have caught her attention. But, it did.

        Alice's eyes widened at the person now standing just inside the doors.

        With a small smirk on his face, Shadow made his way toward the table the four were around. He grinned down at Alice, who was still looking at him in slight surprise. "Yo."

        "Uh... Hi?" It came out as more of a question than a statement. "...Your hair is shorter..."

        Shadow blushed ever so slightly, and lightly tussled the, now neck length, white hair at the back of his neck. "It kept getting caught in branches and stuff whenever I was in the forest, so I just cut it off... What, does it look weird?"

        The ravenette glanced away, a light blush coloring her cheeks. "No, it doesn't. I... I like it..."

        The triplets looked between the two of them. Cress's head tilted slightly to the side, and he lightly pressed his index finger to his lips. "So, you're the one who's stolen little Alice's heart." It was more a question than a statement.

        Alice and Shadow both turned to them, clearly only just remembering that the others were there. Alice blushed more, and Shadow looked mildly surprised for a moment, before a grin spread across his face. He looked back down at Alice.

        "'Stole your heart', huh?"

        She pouted slightly and glanced away again. "Your confession made me realize a few things..."

        The whitette's head tilted slightly, his grin still in place. "And what were those things?"

        It was her turn to give a small grin. "One was that it's cute when you stutter." Shadow pouted at this, but still managed to look amused. "The other was that..." She stood up and took a deep breath, trying to gather what confidence she could for what she was going to do next. She stood on her toes and quickly pressed her lips to his.

        Her face was a very bright shade of red as she pulled away. "I love you, too."

        Shadow looked surprised and dazed at the same time, a dopey looking grin spreading over his face.

        The three Gym leaders were all laughing at both of their expressions, Alice casting them an annoyed look for doing so. Throughout the whole ordeal, none of them noticed that a certain pair of Pokemon had released themselves from their pokeballs.

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        Umbreon looked from the blushing Alice, to the grinning Shadow, to Purrloin. "Well, it actually happened. They both actually confessed."

        The purple cat turned to him with a grin. "Of course they did! They did have us to get them together, you know."

        "I pretty sure they managed to do it more on their own, than with our help..." He cast her a mildly amused look as she glared at him for pointing that out.

        "Oh, shut up..."

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I actually got it out at a reasonable(ish) time! XDD That's only happened a few times! XP

Oblivious little Alice finally had her realization and confessed back! Hurray! x3

Anyway~

Only a few more chapter to go before S&D is officially ended. I may or may not write a sequal. xP

Welp, you all know the drill: Vote, Comment, Follow, (Twinkies) and all that jazz :D

Farvel! [Goodbye in Danish (apparently)]

(Akane)

P.S. The picture to the side (I know it's on a different chapter xP) is more or less how Shadow's hair is now.  ^^