(REMAKE IS UP!) Restitution (CLOSED)

Chapter 26: Competition

Eric and I went walking down the street towards Veronica's house. It wasn't far, but with how tired I was, it might as well have been miles on end. On the way, Eric and I only spoke up a few times. I really wanted to keep looking for the others, but with how hot it was getting, and with it starting to get to noon, it was only a matter of time for when I would have to come back in and eat. Not only that, but by seeing that Empoleon, I started feeling more and more paranoid. I looked around constantly, trying to see if I could spot him. Thankfully, I couldn't see him as we walked down the street.

Can I ask you something else? Eric asked. I glanced at him before looking back around.

"What is it?"

These other Pokémon that you're staying with, Veronica and her parents, you said that they were a Braixen, a Delphox, and an Incineroar, right?

"Yeah?" I answered questionably. "I said that already."

And you and Veronica bred with each other, right? My face lit up like none other. I looked back at him, my mind trying to transmit some kind of message to my mouth.

"H-How did you know that?!? I-I never told you about that!" He only looked at me and chuckled a little bit while smiling.

You just did. He said. I felt my muscles tense up. I realized I got played. Clenching my hands, then lunging at him, grabbing him by the shoulders as I shook him violently, I felt not only embarrassment, but anger as well.

"I'm gonna kill you for that!" Despite my angered threat, Eric only seemed to laugh as he grabbed my shoulders and gripped them tightly, stopping me from shaking him.

Relax. He said calming down. It's just a question. He pushed my arms with his as I looked away, my face still beaming red.

"S-So what if I did?" I questioned sharply, trying to calm myself down. He patted me on the back, still giving that crooked grin.

There's nothing wrong with that. Eric said. Frankly, I'm astonished with how many you've bred with. I cringed and squirmed as he put that in my head.

"Can you not read my mind like that? Please? It's freaking me out when someone reads into my thoughts."

I'll try not to pry. He said. But I wanted to ask. You said that yesterday, you and Veronica ran into a problem. Was it the entourage like the Empoleon? I purposefully left out Amanda, mainly because I thought I'd never see her again. I honestly found her as someone who was nothing more than greedy. I had Veronica to thank for driving her off. Still, I felt I should be honest. I shook my head.

"No," I said, "not them, it was someone else."

Someone bad? Eric asked. I gave an expression that said he might be stretching it.

"I wouldn't say bad." I admitted. "More just... I don't know how to really explain it. She more only looked out for what she wanted and didn't really care about anything else."

So like a narcissist. Eric said. I looked at him confused.

"I don't have a clue what that word means, but sure, let's go with that." Eric looked at me, a face that seemed to show some concern, but he brushed it off as he asked his next question.

So, who was it then? I looked back at him, relaxing a little bit.

"Her name is-" Suddenly, I felt my arm being seized, then I was pulled in the opposite direction with enough force to make me turn around to stop myself from stumbling to the ground. When I caught myself and saw who had grabbed my arm, my eyes widened as I saw her smile. "A-Amanda!!"