Trainer to Be

Chapter 7

I hear a knock on the door and bring Pikachu back into his Pokéball, despite his protests. I run down the stairs and unlock the door. "Wassup Leoni?" Brooke basically sings her words. "Guess what?"

Yawning, I wave back. "Morning Brooke, shouldn't you still be asleep? It's 9am."

"Never mind sleep!" Brooke pushes past me and collapses on the couch. "You'll never guess what just happened." Flopping down next to her, I shrug my shoulders. "Liam just invited us to his birthday party!"

"So?" I ask. "He's our friend dumbass. Reality check, friends invite each other to parties."

"Liam's not just any friend! He's Liam!"

"Hey butterfingers, gonna let me out or not?" Pikachu shouts. I sigh and release him. He death stares me. "Oh, hey Brooke." He says, noticing my best friend.

"Hey Pikachu." Brooke high fives my sarcastic Pokémon. "What's cooking?"

"Not much, haven't been dropped down the stairs recently. It's pretty good."

"Ok Pikachu chill your beans." I bring Pikachu back into his Pokéball, he's already annoying me. "So, who else got invited?" I ask Brooke.

"No one special, just a few of the guys and us." She shrugs. "No, Nora isn't invited." She reads my face and laughs. "Girl, you look like you think it's a bad thing."

"It is a bad thing." I reply, puzzled by her final statement. "Nora's our friend."

Brooke laughs. "She may be your friend but she sure as hell isn't mine."

"Why not? She's so nice and kind and friendly and..."

"Can't you tell it's just a façade?" She snaps. "She's a fake Leoni, she's toxic. Stay away from Nora or I swear to god I'll be having words with her and you know what it's like when I have to have words with someone."

I get up. "I'll show you out."

"I can show myself out." Brooke pushes past me and out the front door, slamming it behind her.

"Well damn, what's up with her?" Pikachu asks from inside the Pokéball. "Speaking of which, what's up with keeping me in my Pokéball?" I release him from the Pokéball. "That's better. Now, what are we doing today?"

I yawn. "Nothing much. I was going to spend that day in my pyjamas watching anime."

"That's so boring though." Pikachu climbs onto the couch. "How about we go and see that Nora girl?"

"No Pikachu."

"Why not? Her Charmander is hot stuff."

"Pikachu!"

"Literally. She almost burnt my ear off."

I laugh. "I thought you meant..."

"I know what you thought I meant." He says. "Honestly, for a ten year old you sure are dirty minded."

I go bright red. "In what way is that dirty minded? Besides, you're not exactly one to talk."

"Am I not?"

"No."

"In what way?"

"Ugh, never mind." I turn away and fold my arms. "You really annoy me sometimes."

He chuckles. "I suppose it's what I live for."

My phone buzzes. I glance at it, it's Nora.

Nora: Hey Leoni 😜

Leoni: Hey Nora

Nora: My dad's taking me to the Pokémon Battle Stadium next weekend

Nora: Do you wanna come with us?

Leoni: I'll check with my mum

Nora: Cool

Nora: See you on Monday 👋

Leoni: See you Monday 👋

"Who was that?" Pikachu asks.

I put my phone back down on the table. "Just Nora." I shrug. "She wanted to know if I could go to the Pokémon Battle Stadium next weekend."

He looks puzzled. "Next weekend? Isn't that the same weekend as Liam's party?" He asks.

I face palm. "Oh crap it is. I'll have to tell her my mum said no."

"Or you could tell her she said yes and bail on Brooke." He says. "I mean, think about it. Liam's party is only fun for you. But going to the Battle Stadium? Well, that benefits both of us."

"I can't bail on Brooke." I say, disgusted at the idea. "She's my best friend."

"Sure you can. All it takes is one text message." He hesitates. "Or you could go to the party and leave Nora hanging. She might even invite someone else, you never know."

I gasp. Would Nora stoop as low as to let someone else in our secret just because I didn't show up. Brooke did say she's toxic; I guess I shouldn't underestimate her. "Fine. I'll bail on her." I mutter through gritted teeth. I can't believe I'm doing this to Brooke.

"That's all I needed to hear." Pikachu picks up my phone, struggling to hold it in his tiny paws, and hands it to me. "Do it." I scroll down my contacts list until I find Brooke.

Leoni: Hey

Brooke: Hey bestie 😘

Leoni: About Liam's party...

Brooke: Leoni I swear to god if you say you can't go I'm going to rip your lungs out

Leoni: Sorry honey

Leoni: I can't make it

Brooke: 😱

Brooke: Prepare to loose your lungs

Leoni: Make sure to give them to Liam as an offering 😂😂

Brooke: Actually burn

Leoni:  You know you love me 😏

Brooke: Do I?

Leoni: Yup

Leoni: Gotta run

Leoni: See you Monday

Brooke: Monday 👋