Pokémon : Black Rising

56. Talk about Awkward...

I exhaled as I exited the Mossdeep Gym with Riolu on my head and the Mind Badge in my badge box. I couldn't believe it. I was one badge away from the Pokémon League!

Just when I thought I could enjoy the rest of the day, enter my former teammates; on their way to challenge the Gym. I thought of darting into the tiny bushes and hide there till they passed (for which, I have no idea why). But it was too late. They'd spotted me and stopped in their tracks.

I looked away to avoid eye contact. My hands reached for my head but instead, landed on Riolu's giving him a scratch (and he clearly enjoyed it). Tiyana walked faster than Margret. Stopping beside me, she huffed and walked ahead. Margret rubbed her elbow after pausing in front of me. "Hope you're doing fine," she said.

" I'm good. How are you two doing?"

" Tiyana's really mad at you... if you couldn't tell. She has been training hard just to beat you. "

I rubbed my neck. I mean, I attempted to. Riolu's back intercepted my hands. The guy was enjoying the free massage. "Yeah... good for her I guess. What about you? Are you mad at me too?"

Her cheeks turned red. " I-I... what...?" She took a long breath, "I can never be mad at you Tyler. It's because of you and Tiyana that I'm who I am today. Both of you showed me the correct path. If you hadn't...I don't want to imagine what would've happened..."

I was genuinely taken by surprise. I never knew her feelings were this deep...

After a pause, I changed the topic. "You didn't get ambushed again, did you?"

" No, why? Did you? "

" I kinda led myself into one. As you can see, I'm fine. It's-- "

" Margret! " Tiyana's yell interrupted me, "We have a badge to win. You coming or not?"

Margret said, " Well... bye I guess. I have to help her. "

I nodded. " Pass on my hi to her. And yeah, good luck with the battle. It could get rough. "

With a nod, she walked away. I sighed when I got far enough. Riolu chuckled. I tickled him. "You little! Enjoyed the backrub or what?"

He laughed in response.

Minutes later, Riolu and the gang were taking the rest they needed at the PokéCenter. I, on the other hand, was walking around the city to kill time. I really wished I didn't run into Eliot 'cause another battle was the last thing in my mind. Speaking of which, hadn't Brant challenged me too? The memory made me sigh so I decided to escape as fast as I could.

When I was marvelling the Mossdeep Space Center, a high tech place for launching rockets and space shuttles into space for reasons, I heard an extremely familiar sonic boom. At first, I waved it off as a rocket launch but the sound grew louder and louder. I turned around and I was literally shocked. Flying towards me, was a shiny Salamence mounted by the most powerful trainer in the world...

Dad stepped off Salamence and walked towards me. He had a serious look on his face which spelt bad news. The first thing he did was to pull me into a tight hug. Something which happens not too often. He pulled back and looked all over me, scanning me for something. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

I was puzzled. " What do you mean, dad?"

" I mean, did Team Black do something to you after Entei lead you into a trap?"

My mouth was hanging open. "W-What are you talking about?!" How did he know?!

His face was as serious as it could get. "You don't have to act, Tyler. You and I both know what I'm talking about."