Rosa's Pov

I had a difficult time trying to avoid everyone in school. Most of the time, it can't be helped in class, but avoiding them in the hallways and even in the library was difficult. I'm sure they were concerned about me and everything, and even if the whole situation about the dinner probably isn't on their mind anymore, I was now worried about Hugh most of all.

As soon as I saw him in the hallways, he yells at me and stomps my way with a angrier expression than he usually wears. I end up running and hiding, later hearing him groan so loud that the school probably shook a little.

I don't want to face Hugh after what I caused. His family almost got hurt and Jenny's Purrloin could had gotten killed. I don't regret saving Jenny, but if I wasn't so focused on trying to go to the mainland, he wouldn't have offered to take me and things could had been fine.

"I'm going to be patient from now on..." I said to myself as I look for every book I had picked up in the library to scan over them "Cheren called someone to help me, so I shouldn't push anything" I threw the last book I had in my hands from the last time I was studying in the library and groaned "I can't find the bookmark... It's completely gone" I rubbed my eyes "Nate threw it away, and now I lost it... What have I done? I was so focused on the study that I lost it" I put the book back and sat behind the library desk at lunch time "Oh well... It could had been worse. He could had thrown it in the trash without me knowing" I sighed "He threw it away, so I guess it was meant to be lost"

"You okay?" The librarian asked me, eating her lunch.

"Yeah!" I smiled "I was just looking for some book. Someone probably has it"

"Students can't check out books anymore. Maybe you didn't look hard enough" That's right. It's almost graduation. We have one more month left and I haven't came close to helping Kris. I was the one that put this responsibility on myself, but I have to work fast in order to help her and Ethan.

"Hey" I almost screamed when I saw Nate notice me behind my desk. I calmed down my racing heart for a long moment before giving him a smile.

"Oh! Hey there" my hands were shaking on my lap. He just stared at me for a moment before looking at my bandage "Oh, I'm sure you've heard about what happened"

"Yeah..." he looked a bit uncomfortable "You... Holding up okay?" I was a bit surprised that he asked, but I'm sure it was because his friends were the ones wondering.

"I'm totally fine! I lost a lot of blood that made me pass out, but I'm better than ever!" I smiled big, showing my teeth "I didn't get the chance to ask Hugh, since I'm Uh..."

"Hiding from him?" I bowed my head, ashamed "he's been trying to talk to you"

"I can't face him" I admit, surprised I've been talking to him for this long "Not after what happened" he put his hands on the desk, making my heart run wild when I saw that he got closer.

"He's been concerned about you" I looked at him confused.

"What? No..." I shook my head "He should be mad at me"

"What for?" I looked down.

"Team Plasma..." he got a bit closer, which made me jump back and stare into his serious eyes.

"You think they followed you because of that story you told us at dinner?" I played with my fingers nervously.

"They did follow me... That's the thing"

"Have they done it before?" I closed my eyes and nodded "Can I ask? Is that why you had that cut on your face?" I flinched, widening my eyes "and your ankle?"

"W-Why would you think-" I turned away.

"You're not that clumsy, from what I remember" I frowned "so you admit to the cut as well? Did they do that?"

"N-No-"

"You just lied" he slowly glared "You're so obvious when you lie! Rosa! Why didn't you tell anyone?!"

"It's not a big deal! I can handle myself!"

"Really!? Because it didn't seem that way when they attacked you in Hugh's house! You don't even have a Pokémon! What were you thinking!?" I shut my eyes and looked down, trying to maintain my tears "Everyone was so worried about you and you're just running away from them! Hugh felt so guilty for being unable to protect you!"

"No! He hates me! If I never showed up, it wouldn't have happened!"

"Hates you!?" I spotted Calem and Brendon walking into the library "Why in the world would he hate you!? You protected Jenny!"

"I wouldn't have to if I-"

"It wasn't your fault!" He shouted. I dropped my shoulders, silent as he made himself lose his breath "He doesn't hate you... It wasn't your fault..." he looked down "Why are you so stupid?" My heart shattered "You keep yourself away from people... and don't even have a Pokémon... Who does that?!" I glared back at him, not caring if my tears were streaming down my face.

"So what if I do that?! Anytime I'm around people, I disappoint them!" His face softened "Is it a crime to want to give people space and live their life without me being in the way?! Why would I want friends when I'll just let them down in the end?! I'm better off alone!" I stood up "and I will not get another Pokémon!" I shut my eyes "I'm working my butt off to take care of my Pokémon whose been asleep in the hospital! I don't have time for this! I don't have time for anyone!" I sobbed "I'm trying my best... So don't yell at me!" I limped away from my desk and faced him "I know I'm stupid! I'm so stupid that I let bad things happen to me!" I frowned "and that's okay... As long as I don't disappoint anyone anymore" I grabbed my bag and ran out the library as fast as I could, cupping my mouth to hide my sobs.

Everything he said... I didn't want to listen. Hugh doesn't hate me? It wasn't my fault? No, that's where he's wrong. It's a false claim. The total opposite. I need to focus on helping Kris and Victini. That's my top priority... but my heart... Nate looking at me with those angry eyes... It hurts so much.

"I'm sorry..." I slouched into a corner and cried, holding myself "I'm sorry..." I pulled my hair "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I'm so stupid... I'm sorry I've never been enough... I'm trying" I sobbed "I'm trying..."

My feet took me towards Mr.Cherens room, where he was eating and grading papers. I peeked into his room, hoping I wasn't disturbing. He noticed me right away and put his stuff down.

"Rosa? What is it?" I walked into the class and held my hands together after wiping my tears away.

"I wanna leave" I said, holding my brave face "I can't wait until after school! I want to go to the mainland!" Cheren sighed and leaned on his seat.

"What is this about? You have something you're trying achieve, aren't you?" I nodded "and you're positive it will work?"

"I've seen enough dreams to tell me the answer!" I've met Kris long enough for her to help me on what I should do. Cheren took out his phone and dialed something.

"I don't know what you're talking about" he closed his eyes "but I heard that this gentleman that's going to escort you will be waiting in Floccesy town. You didn't hear it from me" I bowed deeply and ran out of school, ignoring that my ankle was still in pain.

I've waited days since my recovery to go to the mainland. My hospital visit delayed me, and I had to go to school upon Cheren's request if I wanted him to get me help.

Now that it was Friday and I have no intentions in waiting any longer, I'm leaving to find my answer! It was just then that I was close to the exit, where I saw Ethan walking out the bathroom. Without reason, he stuck out his leg and made me fall on my arms.

"You shouldn't run in the halls" he told me, trying to be slick with his overly cocky attitude. I used a locker to stand up and looked at him with a face of disapproval "Why are you looking at me? I wasn't the one that ran"

"I wasn't the one who stuck out his leg and tripped me" he shrugged.

"Who's going to believe you?"

"Who said I have time to talk to you?" He looked confused. I don't dare to let people walk on top of me whenever they want. My only concern in my mind was me being the one to block someone's road to success. Ethan was not one of these people who even cared about anything but himself, but I'll make sure to make him know that I wasn't going to put up with his crap like his friends does. I know what he's really like, and I can say that I don't blame him for being this way. But I'm not going to let him say what he wants and let him get away with his actions.

"Oh? Got better things to do?" He asked "It seems to me that you were aiming to leave school early. What's the hurry?" He pocket his hands "It's not like you have any friends to get to"

"I don't, but I have a Pokémon I need to see"

"Oh? So you have a Pokémon?"

"As a matter of fact, I do"

"You seem confident in your words all the time. I bet this Pokémon isn't as strong as you make yourself out to be. You put on quite the act. You could be an actress" I chuckled.

"Thanks" he rolled his eyes and glanced away "I believe you can to, with that attitude you bring up at everyone. Honestly, is it really necessary? Behind that tough guy act is a really cool guy who likes having fun"

"What do you know about me? You don't know anything" I hid my hands behind my back, smiling.

"I know enough" I winked "like how your favorite Pokémon is a Chikorita and you're hoping you'd get one when Professor Elm lets you travel through Johto?" He flinched and took a step back "and how-"

"Stop!" He pushes me into a locker with his hands pressed beside my head "How do you know that?! Only one person knows that!" He glared, breathing heavily "Who told you that?!" I softly patted his shoulder.

"I'm not sorry about what I said before at dinner. This attitude of yours will get you nowhere. Do you think I'm scared of you? Think again" I snorted "You'll regret picking on me" he took my chin and smirked.

"I'll regret it, huh?" He laughed "Make me regret it, then" a hand came from beside us and landed hard on his cheek. I gasped and looked at Hugh cracking his knuckles.

"Who you think you are? Picking on people smaller than you?!" His eyes were filled with so much anger... It was terrifying "Just for putting your hands on her, I'll show you where it really hurts!" He lunged himself at Ethan. I cupped my mouth and witnessed the two throwing punches at any body part they could reach while struggling on the floor.

Barry and Lucas came out of nowhere and tried breaking them up. Hugh... He tried protecting me. He doesn't hate me..?

Knowing this was the least of my problems, I turned away, looking back at everyone one last time before hurrying out the school as fast as I could. Before I had the chance to make it pass the front gates that were luckily open, I send out Hilda's Stoutland she lend me for however long I needed until I make my success in what I wanted to do in the mainland, and to make sure I was safe during my travels.

"Come on, Stoutland! No time to lose!" I shouted, jumping on its back. Stoutland groaned and ran as fast as it could to Floccesy Town.

For amount of time it took to get here... I've got to get myself a Stoutland! I made it to Floccesy town, but I didn't know where to look "I probably should had waited to know where I should look" I sighed "That's what I get for being in a rush" I frowned at myself "Hugh... Nate..." I got off Stoutland to pet it's head "Why did Nate come up to me anyways..? Did he really meant what he said about Hugh?" Hugh wouldn't had jumped Ethan if that was case. I didn't know what to think... but I have things I have to do first.

"I don't even know who I'm looking for" I groaned "I'm trying to get to the mainland here!"

"So you're the one I've been ask to escort!" I looked around confused "up here!" I looked up at a cliff and nearly have a heart attack.

"Alder!?" He jumped from the very high cliff "Wait!!" He landed safely for a big guy like him. I was out of breath just watching him. He laughed as he stood back up from his squat position "What were you thinking!?" I shouted at him. He rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you!" He laughed and held his hips "So, who would had thought that you were Hilda's little sister!" He laughed again "I haven't seen you since you were so young! We passed by each other all the time without me acknowledging that you were the same little girl! I wouldn't have known if Cheren didn't call to help yah out!"

"So you're the one that going to escort me to the mainland?" Alder is a man I knew ever since I was able to start working. He often comes to the daycare center to help us take care of Pokémon on days when he's not fooling around in his retired days, and will often find an abandoned Pokémon to bring to the groomers and give them a bath. I appreciate this man a lot for being so thoughtful towards Pokémon, and it's not everyday I get to see him. When I do, he tells the most amazing stories about his past life as a regular trainer before he became the champion.

"That's me!" Alder smiled big. I bowed, thanking him from the bottom of my heart "Hey, get back up! It's no big deal! I'm happy to take you to where you want to go! Where do you want to go? Nimbasa City for the roller coasters? The Marvelous Bridge? Oh! How about-" I waved my hands. Did Cheren not tell him what I wanted to do?

"I want to go to Necrene City"

"Oh! Okay! Anywhere else?"

"Probably Striaton City" he blinked confused.

"I would had figured you wanted to go somewhere fun" I sweat dropped.

"Did Cheren not tell you where I wanted to go?" He shook his head "I want to go to the library and later see Professor Fennel if I get the chance"

"Oh! Is it for a school project?" I looked away.

"Maybe" he laughed and patted my shoulder a little hard.

"Alright! Let's get on with it! We can take the ship to Castelia city! But first, we need to get you a Pokémon. I couldn't believe my ears when Cheren told me you didn't have a pokemon" I shook my head.

"Just take me to the library! We can do that later! You're here to protect me! Remember? Team Plasma may be on my trail" he nodded.

"Right... Don't worry kid" he pet my head "I won't let anything happen to you" I bowed once more before using Stoutland for transportation "Alright! On the way to Virbank city!" He rode on his own Pokémon and we were on our way to the big city. I really hope what Kris told me was right... or else I don't know what to do with myself. There's no other option. I'm not going to stop until I get my answers.