Ethan's Pov

I leaned on the wall as I watched Nate staring at nothing in particular. No matter how many times I yelled at him or picked on him for what he was doing, it's like the switch in his head turned off.

Anything I did didn't work. Even as far as to hit him in the stomach, he took the hit but didn't get mad about it. It was getting really annoying, and I didn't know what to do to make him say something!

The guys are off somewhere with the girls, looking for Rosa or whatever, so I was left with this loser going off into space. We were at the outlook, looking at the scenery from the high staircase we climbed to keep him busy, or just continue to think in his own little world.

"Why did I get stuck with you anyways?" I asked him, not getting a response like before "everyone said it was because you yelled at that little girl. What's the big deal? All you did was yell at her. She's a tough girl, she knows how to handle stuff" I shrugged "For a girl that small, she has guts. I'll admit that"

"I feel like she hates me even more and won't ever look at my face ever again" he said. Oh, so he finally talked.

"Why does that matter anyway? She's a loser. She has no friends and a total waste of time" I walked to the staircase "I don't know why you even care. You were the one that allowed those other kids and I to beat on her" I pocket my hand and looked at him stiffen up.

"It was no fun, but I'll admit that she takes some work to get on her nerves. Stupid bitch always dare to start something. If it weren't for Hugh, I would had probably messed up that pretty face of hers" I observed Nate carefully, seeing him slowly turn to show the death anger in his eyes. I smirked and turned away.

"So what if she hates you? Give her another reason to. You're better than she is, aren't you? Aren't you the strongest trainer in trainer school?" I chuckled "You're acting like this over a girl after you've dated so many? Even an idol? Man, you must've really gone down hill" I walked down the steps "If you get down to her level, that'll make you the loser" I laughed "No pressure or anything" I looked back at him ignoring me.

"Don't do anything stupid when I leave" I finished.

"I won't..." he responded again "I know I've been selfish, so I'm not going to be selfish and leave everyone behind" I left him alone and walked around the city on my own.

It doesn't take much words to break Nate or even Brendan. They always stuck with me and even if they got upset, they quickly apologize if their mind's slipped. Personally, I don't really care what they have to say to me, but it makes me laugh how they cower whenever I'm around something they probably like.

They think I don't notice their real motives. I know Brendan likes all these girly stuff and making dresses and all that weird stuff, and I know Nate doesn't really have an outgoing personality.

He is the big show of the school and is likable by everyone, always helping people and encouraging others. That's cute and all, and even if I make sure to not mention it to keep him around, his dull personality is really annoying.

This is something that even Hugh doesn't know about. Whenever the other boys and I had bullied Rosa when we were little, I notice the shine from Nate's eyes disappear. He was scared of me, and didn't want me laughing at him again after making fun of him for playing with a girl all the time.

I've always knew that when the day that happened, he laughed to pretend he didn't care about her so that I'd stop making fun of him, but I already saw a part of him disappearing. When hearing that Rosa moved away, he stopped talking for a few days. Even the way he plays video games is a bit creepy.

In the most rebellious and bloodshedding games we play, till this day, every time I went over to his house to hang out, he never shed out an expression when it was time to play against each other. It made things boring, but the fact that he was able to put on a mask amazed me. I kept him around, just because it was funny to see him struggle to try to be the cool guy I could make fun of so easily.

These days, when we're around our other "friends" he'd put on that mask and act like an normal person. He knows when to get mad if I say something that's a bit too far. Even so, I could confirm it wasn't just me that he'd had a dull personality with. He would often be caught around a lot of people, but usually when no one is looking, he removes the mask and says nothing. All he does is think, and I knew what he was always thinking about.

I walked to the hospital around the evening time. Since Nate's friends were too busy searching on where Rosa went for whatever reason, they placed him upon me to be responsible.

They didn't know him like this. Even Nate doesn't know I know him like this. He can think for himself just like any ordinary person can, so I left him alone until he was ready to go home on his own.

I visit the hospital everyday around evenings before I have to go to work at nights on weekends. I made sure it was still visiting hours before proceeding to see the patient I always visit and think about everyday for the pass few years since elementary school.

My long term girlfriend, since we were as young as 7 years old, were always together. She traveled with me to Unova to attend the famous trainer school that only accepted the best students with the best scores in the middle school entrance exam, all just to make sure I was on my best behavior and didn't slack around and go pay pool like I always did.

I didn't do much of that now a days, since pool required a lot of focus. I always had my mind on my girlfriend, but I was sure to study well enough on my own so that one day when she woke up, she won't be upset that I was only on the edge of failing.

I could admit, the reason why I'm the most feared person in school was because I was always angry that I didn't have my girl with me, and that I was terrified if she never woke up. I'd get in bad moods and eventually do things I don't mean to do. As time progresses, it slowly started to become who I was.

It wasn't always like this. When she was still awake and happy on my side, I was a pretty cool guy who was laid back and thought of the funniest jokes around, though my girl never seemed to find them funny.

I enjoyed gambling and playing pool. It was legal to do so at a young age in Johto, since they focused a lot on old ages and traditional doings and whatever. Unova wasn't like that, and since I lost my girl, I didn't even care.

She was where I always left her in the hospital. At the moment, I was in the middle of walking into the room while a nurse was helping her stretch. I jumped and covered my eyes.

"Sorry!" I said, blushing hard. I heard the nurse giggle.

"It's okay, I was just finishing" I sighed and opened my eyes, walking up to Kris sleeping peacefully in her sleep "I'll be back with some more saline bags in a bit" the nurse said before walking out. I just nodded and took a seat so I could stay close to Kris as she takes every breath in her sleep, making me want to stare at her until every wish I make comes true for her to wake up.

The way she got like this was no mystery. The only mystery was how to help her condition. We were so young at the time, using the Pokémon our parents gave us to take care of ourselves in a new region. We wanted to go out and explore, so we traveled into a forest that was close by our apartments and just did what any kid who dreams to become a Pokémon trainer would do...

Before we knew it, we had gotten too far into the forest and had got lost. There were some plants that gave off a unique pollen that went into Kris's nose when she had fallen. While looking for a way out, she was getting drowsy with every step she took. I carried her the rest of the way, and when we were found by police and paramedics, they have discovered that she was unconscious... and she hasn't woken up since then.

When given the news that Kris had snorted a unique pollen that was in hidden parts of the forest that only Pokémon can find, they told me that it may take some time to find a way to help her wake up again.

Days turned into months, and the more time went by, the more angry I got at myself, the more I hated myself and how I blamed myself for what happened. I stopped smiling and started doing bad things such as light things on fire, make fun of people, trespassing, graffiti, and all the kinds of things that Kris wouldn't approve of... but it was the only thing that could keep me from thinking too much about my mistakes.

When trying to feel better, I picked on a lot of kids to cope myself. I hated seeing them happy, and I didn't appreciate nothing at all. School meant nothing to me. Friends didn't matter to me. Being liked didn't matter to me, but the only one helping me stand was Kris... Knowing she was still sleeping in peace on this bed always made me hold onto hope, even if I can't stand myself sometimes.

I'd use others to help me get my mind off things. I become mean to them and threaten them with anything I found out or plan out just make fun of them.

Nate was the easiest target, and not because he gave all his time to his girl, which made me angry and aggressive, but because I'd notice how uncomfortable he gets when someone calls him out on being scared of something. He puts on an act just to avoid being seen as someone he was. I took advantage of him, and made him abandon Rosa. It felt good to separate them. Why should other people be happy and I can't?

I always knew the things I did and said were just another version of myself who wanted to block every sad moment in his head, and that person wasn't really me, but it's just the only way I know how to make myself feel better.

What makes things worse out of all my bad acts and words I thrown was when I went to the point when I lost hope in Kris ever waking up when years went by, and I wanted to end my life. It was late at night, and I was at the outlook, staring at the view while crying up to the moon, wishing things would just turn around for me. I asked for a sign, and I got nothing. I lost all hope, and Nate and Brendon were there to catch me when I threw myself off the bars... It had seemed I drove those two to hate me... and pity me.

"Nate is being his old self again" I said "Remember when I told you that when I told you some kids were hurting on his little girlfriend? Well, it seems like the two of them got into a fight and he felt a type of way, which made him go all quiet" I shook my head "His little girlfriend is so annoying, but she's really interesting. I can tell you that" I snorted "A little girl like that is enough to make a guy lose his personality just like that... I can understand" I frowned at Kris "I can understand a lot..." I took her hand and kissed it "How long must I live without you..? How long will you miss out on the world I want to show you" I bit my lips "Kris..."

"Rosa..." I looked at Kris talking in her sleep, like she does sometimes "Don't forget the..." I slowly dropped her hand, in shock "Rosa... It's getting dark in here..." tears fell from her eyes. I quickly wiped them away "Please... I'll try to run from it... as much as I can... but please..." she sniffled "Please... Find-" I slowly stood up and walked out the room.

Rosa... Rosa... Why did she say her name? I glared at the thought that Kris was thinking about Rosa and not me "What is this?!" I glared, stomping through the hallway "Rosa? What about Rosa? What did she do to Kris?" I kicked the wall, trying to release my anger without making a scene "That night... I watched her walk into her room while I was in the bathroom with the door cracked open... She put something on her forehead" I grind my teeth, growing angry "I swear to Arceus, if you hurt my Crystal, I'll make it to the point where Nate will-" I held my face, chuckling a little "Rosa... I'm not letting you get off the hook. As soon as I see you, I don't care if I hit a girl. I'll do whatever it takes to protect mine"

Nate's Pov

There wasn't much to really look forward to anymore. I realize my mistake and know that faking myself to be happy was worthless. I didn't even care about anything anymore... In all honesty, I didn't even care what Ethan was telling me and calling me before he mentioned that he was going to hurt Rosa's face.

My rage nearly snapped at him, but I wasn't sure if he was just saying that to get a reaction from me. He wasn't the kind to really mess with girls. He only ever messed with her and stopped after he got in trouble for beating her up with a group of other boys. I know him getting in trouble didn't do anything, but I know what made him stop messing with another girl again.

He had his days often. He would either be calm and not mean, or just straight up talkative and rude. I learned to get use to it, but I can't really blame him for behaving like this. I am everything he is, broken, but we express it in much different ways because the girls we loved isn't in our life anymore.

Ethan left and I decided to go home, since there was nothing I can really do. Everyone is out looking for Rosa. From what I heard, she ran away from school after Hugh rescued her from Ethan's grasp. I would had been upset at him if I didn't know him more than anyone. He won't hurt another girl again, not after what I did to Kris.

I got home a few minutes later, finding the front door to be unlocked "huh?" I went inside and saw the lights on. My mom shouldn't be home for another few hours.

When in thought, I spotted Serena sitting on the bar seat, helping herself to a glass of juice... maybe "Serena" I spoke. She casually looked my way and smiled.

"Welcome home!" I walked up to her "Still won't speak, eh?" I didn't respond "That's okay. You can just stand there and listen while I sit and talk" she giggled and crossed her leg over the other "The search party was called off" Oh? "Yeah! Apparently Hugh suggested that she went to the mainland by herself, but it was later confirmed by her sister, when Hugh called, that she was safe. Everyone is all relaxed and are home now. Me? I wanted to ask some questions. You know, because I'm pretty curious and don't like it when I don't get answers" I sat down to listen to her.

"From what Hugh told us, Ethan had his hands on Rosa in the hallway during lunch. I wanted to know your response long after Dawn snapped at you" Serena wasn't hard to understand. When she wanted to know something, she goes all out to get the answer as carefully as she could, even if it means trespassing into my home "but you didn't even flinch when you heard what happened. For someone who turned out to have a friendly past with Rosa, I wondered why you didn't react"

"I know Ethan more than anyone. It goes the same for Brendan" I explained "He didn't react either. But there are things I know that Brendan doesn't. I wasn't worried about Ethan hurting her. He's all talk"

"Believe it or not, but I was there at the exact moment Ethan tripped Rosa" she stood up "I watched carefully. Does that make you mad? That he tripped her?" My eye twitched. I held back my questions, knowing Rosa was tough enough to handle Ethan "He grabbed her face and got so close to her. How about that?"

"I know he won't hurt her" she huffed.

"How are you so certain? Ethan is a horrible person and everyone is scared of him" she crossed her arms "I even overheard what the two of you talked about over at the outlook" she smirked. I'm not surprised, since she would go all out for answers. I'm just surprised she doesn't know herself and has to ask me for answers "Sorry for spying" she's done that before "But I saw that reaction you made when he threatened Rosa again. Though it was a short reaction" she walked up to me "So is that it? You care about her, but you don't?"

"It's more complicated than that" I admit.

"How so?"

"He won't hurt another girl" she groaned, unpleased.

"You keep saying that! Tell me!" She huffed "I won't leave until I know!" She's gotten to the point where she won't leave. That's fine "What do you know about this whole situation?"

"I don't know why Rosa ran away. I know she can handle Ethan. As for Ethan" I closed my eyes "He won't hurt another girl"

"Stop saying that and give me-"

"He won't hurt another girl because of what I did"

"What you did?"

"Ethan is just as broken as I am. After what he did with Rosa back when we were kids, I became just like what you see now. I didn't care for awhile, especially when she left. I didn't care about anything but her. His taunts didn't mean anything while I was like this. My heart moved for me. I went to the hospital, following him there. There's a patient he sees almost everyday"

"A patient, you say?" She held her chin "I'm a little scared for you to keep going, but continue" I looked away.

"What I did wasn't anything serious. I knew my limits, but it was enough to make him stop hurting girls again. That's why I'm not worried about it" she frowned.

"What? What did you do?"

"I said it wasn't a big deal" she glared and grabbed my shirt.

"What did you do?!" I hummed, looking into her eyes, which made her flinch surprised.

"What did I do? I slapped her across the face in her sleep"