Just starting off... (Pokèmon Fanfic)

Chapter Eighteen

We ended up spending the night.  Jade slept in her full sized bed, Lin slept in Grandma's queen sized bed, Dex offered to sleep on the couch, and I slept in my full sized bed. There was a lot of tension that night so I hooked up one of my old systems and we played for a while. I went to bed last and finally beat a game I had strived to beat before I left, but couldn't.

I had woken up early that morning from stress still in my brain. I had been outside since early the next morning to get a bit of fresh air.  I had a few thoughts on my mind.

The story was what I was looking for, I thought, but I had remembered something more extraordinary than belief.  I didn't get it!  There is something more to that story; there had to be!  There was no way that belief was the aspect of my entire interest in the story, was it?

My mind was filled with scratched memories.  I felt like something was missing from this whole mess.  My heart was all over the place and can't give me a clue as to what to do.  Nothing made sense.  Nothing ... fit.

I guess by this time, I had been sitting by the shore for a while because Lin had come out.

"Hey," She said softly.

I turned around putting a smile on my face, knowing all to well it was fake.  "Morning Lin," I replied, trying my best to sound as if nothing is wrong.

"You okay?" She asked.  I didn't want her to feel like she was the source or had to deal with my problems.

"Yeah," I said.  "Just needed to clear my head."

"Something's troubling you," She said.  I knew she'd say something like that.

"Nothing of concern," I said.  There was no way I was going to flat out lie.  So I avoided the truth.

"What is it?" She asked.  Stubborn one, isn't she?

I turned back toward the ocean and walked toward the shore.  "Why do you want to know so badly?" I asked in response.

"Because I want to help."  The response I expected.

"This is a matter I have to deal with on my own." I stopped walking, still facing the water.  I was starting to get angry, but not at her.  I was getting angry at myself.

"But you don't have to."

Tears started to flow down my cheeks.  I was holding my entire being back.  "It would just be another burden you have to carry."  I am grasping to anything.

"Do you think I came to hear your excuses?!" Her sudden raise in tone slightly surprised me even though I expected it.  Her tone went from angered and stern to light and almost apologetic. "I came to help you, whether that be physically or emotionally."

"NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE!!" I yelled, dropping to my knees.  "No matter what way I think of it, there is always an open end.  I was hoping that story would give me something as to why or... something!  It just doesn't ..."  I stopped.

Lin had rushed over and smacked the back of my head. She got down on her knees in front of me. "Do you think I understand the whole situation?  I don't, but that doesn't mean I'm stressing over it."  She brings my head up to look at her.  "Enjoy what you are given.  We'll deal with this together ... as a team."

I hugged her and broke down. She was there, hugging me back.  "I feel him.  I feel his presence.  I feel his want to kill me and the lengths he's willing to go.  I don't want to die, but I don't want anyone to suffer for my sake.  I'm scared."

This must of taken her by surprise.  "I'm scared too.  I don't want to lose you to him, yet I know you'll have to face him.  But all I can do is believe that things will be alright."