Adventures in the Insane: A Pokemon Story

Rooftop Errors

Jay's POV

     "Where did Mew run off?" I turned my back for a second to grab a soda pop from the vending machine and the little she devil had disappeared. "Kris is gonna kill me." I sat down on a nearby bench and put the pop to my head. There really was no use in looking for the psychic Pokemon, especially if she didn't want to be found and I no longer had the energy to try. Mew had dragged me to each meteorite in the city before she somehow forced me to climb on top of Alan's house and drop a random note down his poor excuse for a chimney, demanding afterwards that we browse EVERY floor of the department store. I was beat. 

       "Flowers, sir?"

      "What?" I looked up with the pop still to my forehead. A man in a candy striped uniform, a little older than I was, with a cart sporting an assortment of treats, flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, and other trinkets, smiled at me holding out a small bouquet. "Um, no thanks." 

      "You sure?" He drew the flowers back toward the cart anyway. "A bouquet of flowers may make your lady friend more forgiving. And if it's not forgiveness you're looking for, it's sure to boost your confidence in telling her what you need to say as she smells those flowers and smiles." 

       "I'm not really waiting for anyone," I smiled apologetically. 

     "We're all waiting for someone." His smile spread across his whole face. "The trouble lies in making sure we stop waiting and hold on to the things we truly want out of life. Here," he dug into his cart and pulled out a saran wrapped rose shaped chocolate. "I only have the one left and they sell better in bunches, so it's free." 

        Not wanting to offend the friendly cart vendor, I took the candy rose from him with a small smile. "Thank you." 

        "Actions speak louder than words, but sometimes a lady needs to hear the words. Have a good afternoon, sir." With that he rolled his cart towards the elevator and pushed the down button, waving to me before he got in. 

       "So ends this week's episode of strangely philosophical cart vendors on roof tops," I chuckled to myself, twirling the candy rose between my fingers. 

       "Jay!" Without meaning to I hid the chocolate rose behind my back as my head shot towards the staircase where Kris was leaning on her knees trying to catch her breath, so I had a moment to stare in shock at what she was wearing. Never- and I mean never- had I ever seen Kris in a skirt. Sure I'd seen her wear pink when she accidentally washed her red clothes with her whites and was too stubborn to go buy herself a couple new T-shirts. "J-Jay," she stood up straight and walked over to me with Mew on her shoulder playing with her ponytail. 

      I stood up as she approached. I don't even know why. "Kris, I-" Forming words was a little difficult as I was still focused on admiring the feminine quality of her attire. "I-" 

      "We need to talk, mister." Her face was still flushed red from overexertion. 

      "Why did you take the stairs?" I mentally slapped myself. Compliment her or something already. "You look... nice." Oh, yeah, that was great. 

      "Mew made me take the stairs," she let out a breath of air as her face started fading back to it's normal coloring. "And thank you. Now, can we talk?" 

       I fell back onto the bench, subtly stuffing the candy and soda pop into my pack next to me as Kris untangled Mew from her ponytail and remained standing over me. I knew what she wanted to talk about, but I wasn't sure what to say. My mind strayed briefly to the cart vendor and what he said about a bouquet of flowers. "Kind of wish I had bought the flowers."