Monday, June 15

"It's so cool how we're going to the same place." Keith propped his arm up on my shoulder.

"Yeah," I echoed. "It would be even cooler if we got assigned to the same place after school. You, me and Rhythmi."

Keith moved his arm. "But why of all places in the Union Triangle did we have to be assigned to Vientown? As in the Ranger Base that Kate is assigned to?"

"I'm interested to meet this Kate character," I mused.

"You shouldn't be. You'll regret it the millisecond you meet her."

A few minutes later, we reached Vientown. In the center of town was a red building with plants growing out of the roof, presumably the Ranger Base. The town also contained two houses and one barn with a farmyard, which was populated by a snoring Miltank. "It's a cute little town," I said.

"Yeah, but Kate ruined it with her ugly face."

I rolled my eyes. "Will you shut up about Kate? I bet she's not even that bad."

Keith scoffed. "Wait until you meet her!" I punched him. "Ow!"

The base was empty except for the purple-haired Operator. "Hello!" she said as we entered. "You must be Kellyn and Keith. We have a Mission ready for you."

Keith's eyes widened like those of a kid who had come downstairs on Christmas to find a pile of presents stacked higher than the tree. "Really? A Mission?"

"Yep!" She produced a package from under the desk. "The Base's staff are at Breeze Hill. Just go through Nabiki Beach and it's up a set of stairs. Deliver this important package to them. Don't drop it or turn it upside down, and do NOT open it!" She gave me the package. "Good luck!"

"Th-thank you," Keith stuttered.

I left the base followed by a shell-shocked Keith. A quick glance around the town showed that the beach was located west of the Ranger Base. "This way," I said. Keith followed robotically.

A rustic sign was placed at the beginning of the path to the beach. "Nabiki Beach," I read. "Those who meet here become good partners" As if to justify the sign, a boy and girl a couple years older than Keith and I sat by the water sucking the faces off of each other. I wrinkled my nose. "Ew."

Keith's reaction was similar. "Why don't we just... pretend that isn't there?" We silently agreed and walked awkwardly past the couple.

We walked up a set of stairs and saw another sign denoting the location of Breeze Hill. "We're here..." Keith's breathing grew heavier. "I wonder what's-"

I grabbed his arm and started up the stairs. "Keith, this isn't the time for a panic attack!"

Waiting for us at the top of the hill were five people: four in Ranger uniforms and one in red overalls with a tool belt around her waist; the Mechanic. There were two male Rangers: Crawford from Outdoor Classs and a big, dark-skinned guy with red and blonde dreadlocks sprouting from his head like an Oddish's grass tuft. There were also two female Rangers: one with short, dark hair that flipped up and one with brown pigtails atop her head. Pigtails' eyes widened and she sprang up. "Keith!" She threw herself at said guy, knocking him to the ground.

I noticed the picnic blanket under the remaining Rangers. "Um... here's the important package," I said awkwardly.

The other girl hopped up and accepted the package. "Thanks... if that's Keith, you must be Kellyn?"

"Yeah."

Pigtails got off of Keith and returned to the picnic blanket. "Yes! Lunchtime! Took you noobs long enough."

I raised an eyebrow. "Lunchtime?"

"Yep!" She tore open the package. "You just brought us our lunch!"

I facepalmed. THAT's the "important package" we had to bring?! But I had a seat on the blanket, because I was hungry.

"Okay, introductions!" Crawford said. "I'm Crawford. You know me."

"I'm Luana," the dark haired girl said.

"I'm Elaine," said the Mechanic.

"Barlow," the other guy said.

"And I'm Kate!" Pigtails chirped.

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, so you're the famous Kate?"

She turned tomato red and giggled. "Famous? Uh..." Wow, what a stereotypical teenage girl. No wonder Keith can't stand her.

"So," Luana said. "What did you think of our traditional lunch prank?"

I shrugged. "Well, you managed to scare the shit out of Keith. Not that that's a major accomplishment." Keith elbowed me in the side.

Kate giggled for the thirty-second time since I'd met her. "I remember bringing the lunches on my one-day internship."

"Good for you, Kate," Keith mumbled.

"I dropped the package-" how, were you too busy giggling to hold onto it? "and the sandwiches got all mushy..."

"Nobody cares, Kate," Keith said, maintaining his tone.

Suddenly, we heard footsteps on the stairs. "Help!" a masculine voice said. "Rangers!"

Everyone spun around to look at the source of the voice. "You rang?" Crawford said, a mischievous grin on his face.

It was the kid who, until recently, had been making out with his girl on the beach. "Pokemon are going crazy! They've surrounded my girlfriend!"

Barlow sighed. "Crawford, you do this. Why don't you take Kellyn and Keith with you? We'll call this a Rookie Mission."

Keith's eyes lit up. "A real real mission?"

I rolled my eyes. "Why are you still sitting there?"

The situation on the beach was much as the beach boy had described it: the beach girl was trapped in a ring of excited Pokemon- a Starly, a Munchlax, and a Pachirisu. "We'll each capture one and release it once it's calmed down," Crawford said. "I got the Starly."

"I'll take this blue thing." Keith trotted over to the Munchlax and initiated the capture.

I shrugged. "...I guess that leaves the Pachirisu?" I pushed the button on my Styler and started capturing. She was a relatively easy capture, but it would have been easier if she would stand still for half a second and stop breaking my Capture Line. Crawford and Keith finished their captures about a minute before I did. Upon its completion, the Pachirisu vaulted onto my shoulder and rubbed its head against my ear, squeaking happily. "Aww, you're so cute!" I gave it a scratch, which was followed by an electric shock. "Agh!"

"I think it likes you," Keith said, patting its head. "It might want to be your Partner Pokemon."

Crawford sighed. "Well, unfortunately, Kellyn, students at the Ranger School aren't allowed to have Partner Pokemon. You're going to have to release it."

I rolled my eyes. "You sound like that weirdo nature guy who wouldn't let me bring my iPod on the camping trip." I picked up the Pachirisu and placed it on the ground. "But rules are rules. You gotta go, little guy."

She chirped as if to say "Okay!", then scampered off into the bushes.

Keith patted my shoulder. "Sorry, Kellyn."

I shook my head. "Nah, it's fine."

"Thanks, Rangers," the boy said. His girlfriend kissed him on the cheek.

Crawford grinned. "It's what we do." He pushed the voicemail button on his Styler. "Voicemail! Voicemail! Crawford calling. Barlow, we have successfully released the Pokemon. Is this Mission clear?"

"Clear as day," came the reply. "Now come eat."

"Mission Clear, kids," Crawford repeated. "Do your Ranger Pose."

I hadn't yet developed mine, but it was probably now or never. I pushed the capture button on my Styler enough for the antenna to shoot out, then pointed it to the sky, my free hand resting on my hip.

"Good job," Crawford said. "Lunchtime."

* *

Keith, Isaac, and I were alone in the dorm that night. Technically, our internships were only supposed to last one day, but with all the students traveling to Fiore, it wasn't realistic.

It wasn't normal for Isaac to be in the dorm at this particular time of night. He wanted to sleep, but we made him play some of Janice's lame board games with us. "Sorry, Keith." I flicked his blue piece back to his Start with my index finger.

"Kellyn, you suck." He picked up the piece I'd kicked his out with and pitched it into the trash. "Whoops. I guess this game's over." Isaac smirked.

"All right, well screw board games. Keith's just going to mess up any we try to play," I said. "We're graduating soon. How d'you guys feel about that?"

"As long as I don't get assigned to Vientown-" I punched Keith before he could mention Kate.

"Altru Inc.'s already offered me a position," Isaac said.

"Wow, that's cool. But, uh, what's Altru Inc. again?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Stupid Fiore kids," Keith said snidely.

"Shut up, Keith."

"Well," Isaac explained, ignoring our exchange, "they've been around for a hundred years inventing new ways to produce energy. They want me to help with their work on a top-secret project."

Keith became intrigued. "Ooh. A top-secret project."

Someone knocked on the door but didn't open it. "Yeah, Janice?" Keith yelled.

"I'm not freakin' Janice, Keith!" Rhythmi replied. "Kellyn, can you come out here? I have something to tell you."

"Sure." I stood up and walked out the door.

Keith followed me out, sat at a table and folded his hands. "What's up, Rhythmi?"

"None of your business," she said. "Go away."

Keith gasped and dramatically placed a hand on his chest. "Rhythmi! After all we've been through!"

"Let's go to the Library, Kellyn," Rhythmi suggested.

"Won't that little 'SHH!' bitch tell us to shut up, though?"

"She's in Fiore."

"Okay, fine." We went down to the library. Keith didn't follow.

I slid into a chair at the table closest to the door. "So, what's up, Rhythmi?"

She smiled giddily. "You... you know Isaac?"

"No," I said sarcastically. "Yes, of course I know Isaac. This school isn't that big."

"Well, uh... he kissed me."

My jaw hit the floor. "What?! When?"

She giggled. "His assignment was on the way to mine, so we walked together, and he did it before he went into his..."

I had, obviously, never been kissed. "How was it?"

"It was kind of weird... But it was nice."

"You guys would be really cute together, you know."

"You really think so?"

I smiled. "Yep."

She shook her head furiously. "But you can't tell anyone, okay? Especially not Keith."

I gave her a thumbs-up. "You can count on me."

*

I slid the door to the dorm shut behind me. "So, Isaac. What's it like swapping spit with Rhythmi?"

"KELLYN!"

* * *

sorry for the delay! i figured out how to make the writer work (finally). i will try to update soon. laterz