Calem was laughing at me when I panicked about seeing a Pokémon on a flower that turned out to be it's home and source of energy. Trying my best to ignore him, I kept on looking around the flower beds for Z to ask around and see if any of the Pokémon know anything
We were nearly close to the big city, somewhere known as Lumiose, the largest city in the region, and also the fashion capital. It's a place Greg always talked about. It was his dream to make it to the point where we can manage to go all the way to the top, and the top happens to be the place close by. I put on a special outfit just for this moment, just in case I hear from Greg that I wasn't lying about keeping my promise
As I kept my eyes on Z, I wandered around to stare at the flowers. I remembered Serena and I would always go and find the "prettiest" flower and give it to mom. Because I don't have much creativity, I didn't know what was pretty and what was prettier than the other. I'd often give my mom the crappiest flower while Serena knew exactly how to make my mom smile
There was a specific flower that caught my eye. I kneeled down to touch it, only to hear a clicking sound go off. Calem took another Polaroid picture of me and shook the film
"Will you stop that?" I stood up, annoyed "when I said to 'take a picture, it'll last longer' I didn't mean it literally" I held my hips as he kept a smile like I was joking "why don't you take pictures of something else instead of me?"
"Nah, this is much better" he pointed his camera towards me again, trying to find a good angle.
"Excuse me?" He lifted his camera
"Like I said the other day... I take pictures of what I think is precious, I take pictures of what I think is beautiful" my cheeks started burning "those photographs in the studio was for artistic reasons, and taken with a very expensive camera. This camera was given to me by my dad. He told me to take pictures of what I liked" he chuckled "and I only take pictures of what I like with this camera" he took out his photo album from his bag and stored my picture inside "that frame from the studio was also taken by this camera. Taking these pictures makes me feel a little more..." he sighed and looked around, trying to pretend he wasn't trying to take pictures of me
It would be considered creepy to most people that he's taking and keeping photos of me, but because I was hidden with a scarf, it didn't bother me
I took out my glasses from my bag to put on, only to use them to not have others look at me. I don't use it like I would with my scarf. My eyes aren't something that will make anyone notice I was Serena's twin. My eye color and shapes weren't nearly as close as hers
While she had soft green eyes, I was given sharp blue eyes who knew how to use them for intimidation. I might have to order myself some sunglasses of same pair, since these were a little cracked, probably from the incident back in the forest, from Greg. It's been awhile since I've checked in with him anyways
I walked to the near by fountain in the middle of the route and took a seat to take out the skates from B's mouth and dump them on the floor. Somehow, I'm tempted to try them on... it takes me back to the time when Serena tried teaching me how to skate since she was so good at it. Since I have my own now, I want to at least see if those lessons worked during all these years, even if I sucked when she taught me and never succeeded
As I put them on, I noticed Z floating towards me. It stopped to look at Calem getting approached by two individuals in colorful scarfs and mask. They looked a little shady, and Calem just stood there, hurrying to put his camera away. Z got curious and hurried to snoop
"Z!" I loud whispered, trying to get it to get out of their conversation. I hurried up my skates and immediately almost fell, using the edge of the fountain for support. Z floated behind Calem, listening in on their conversation. I had to make my way over there to get it out of being nosy like it likes doing from time to time.
The way Z learned how to be nosy was by me asking it to follow scammers that often try to intimidate Greg for something. Z would often record things as evidence for police to get rid of them before I mess them up if necessary. Z shouldn't be recording since I didn't ask it to, so I had to get it away
Pushing myself to stand, I struggled to skate my way to the group and sneak my way to at least grab Z and move, but as always with me wearing skates, I slipped and fell on my face
"Oh!" Calem chuckled and helped me up, keeping hold of my arm to keep me from falling again. I looked down, trying to hide how red I was "watch it there" he dust off my skirt without asking "does it hurt anywhere? You didn't hurt your knees again, did you?" I huffed and looked away
"No, I'm fine" I looked down at Z "Z, don't snoop around when you're not told to do so. There's no scammers around here, let's go" Calem waved at me
"Yeah, probably should let it get away from this conversation" What..? I found it weird how... it seemed like he minded that Z was around this one time instead of the other times it followed him around the place trying to talk to random people. Just who are these people in mask that Calem felt so secret about?
"It's not like Z cares what you talk about anyways" He nodded in understanding
"Right" he nodded, smiling sweetly. I rolled my eyes and turned away to leave
"Idiot"
"Hello?" I stopped my start on my skates, thankfully since I forgot they were on. I was too much of a rush to take them off. I looked over at the couple Calem was talking to. It was a girl and boy who from what I can see up close, has quite the fashion sense "who might you be?" The guy asked politely. I can somehow feel heat coming from Calem's direction
"Sorry" I glared "but I didn't come here to start conversation"
"Aren't we sassy?" The girl giggled. I looked at their mask, seeing that they looked like they were trying to be some kind of characters I recognized from Serena's description of the defenders of Kalos or something. She showed me a picture of these people in their exact outfits they had now. Coincidentally, like I remembered before how Serena likes talking about her friends, and she showed me a few of them from pictures... I distinctly remembered how I recognized a pair of her friends who were assistants to a Pokémon professor, to look just like the Defenders of Kalos like in the poster. I confronted her about this, but she was as clueless as she... often can be
I lied about not knowing all of her friends, even if there were so many, it was hard to not soak in everything that girl talks about "Nice to meet you, we are the defenders of Kalos!" the girl, I believe was named Sina, flipped her hair in a conceited way "You might have heard of us before, right? We are quite famous" I tried to not let her snobby act get to me
"She's not from here" Calem talked for me. I looked at him to confront him on not talking for me, but his expression quickly threw me off. With his words, his expression gave off a annoyed angry look to his face, one I didn't expect someone as cheery and annoying as him would wear at all "don't talk to her. She's got nothing to do with you" my mouth opened a little
"Oh Calem, we're just trying to be friendly" she giggled. The guy, which I believe was.. Dexio? He crossed his arms in terms of trying to look serious
"We were surprise you got yourself another friend... has nothing happened yet?" I looked at the guy confused. What does he mean by that?
"Does she know anything? Oh, that's right. You want to pretend like it all never happened" Sina asked "Things never change. Your friends might be fine, but we were hired by your mother in order to keep everything under control and keep you out of trouble" I peaked at Calem starting to shake while biting his lip. His eyes looked like mine when someone pisses me off. It's... strange to see it on him
"My mom might have hired you two, but as you can see... I'm fine. I'm better" better?
"Better?" She laughed "Is that so? This is the first time in a month we haven't checked up on you. Could you explain what happened during the month that we should take notes of?" She held her chin
"Nothing you need to worry about. I've done nothing wrong" Dexio nodded and looked down at me
"Sorry, I didn't catch your name-" he offered a hand I immediately slapped away, catching him and Sina off guard
"That's because I didn't throw it. I'm leaving now" I turned, only to have Sina grab my shoulder. I nearly snapped, hating to be grabbed in that way. Calem saw me with the calmest expression he can hold, which somehow calmed me in a way, mainly confused on why he was bahaving this way. Who are these people to Calem to make him change his personality like this? I heard that his mom hired them to keep him out of trouble... what is that suppose to mean?
I slowly, calmly as I could, turned to look at Sina "hold on!" She said "I would like to ask you a few questions" I turned to her completely
"How many times do I have to take interruptions like this... I'm busy" Calem snorted
"No one is stopping you. These people are useless. How about we go?" He turned to walk away. I wanted to follow, finally agreeing with him for once, but was held back by Sina still wanting to ask a question
"What do you want?" I groaned, annoyed. Dexio raises his hands
"Nothing, they're innocent questions. It shouldn't take long" I looked back at Calem standing in place with his back turned. I'm as eager to leave to find Serena as he is eager to leave these people who seem a bit shady "when did you meet Calem?" Do I really have to answer these questions to get them off my back? I sighed and rolled my eyes, giving up
"I don't know... a few weeks ago?" Calem turned to look at me
"You don't have to answer their stupid questions, Sophie" I looked at his upset, panicked face
"Are you friends?" Sina asked
"I don't have time for friends" I said
"So you're not?" Dexio blinked confused "hm..." he held his chin to think of more stupid questions "well, what are you doing with him?" I narrowed my eyes, finding that these questions aren't getting innocent
"I won't be with him for long. I have things to do here and because I'm new to this region, he's guiding me" Sina cupped her mouth, hiding her smile
"Seriously?" She raised a brow "you knew him for a few weeks and you're trusting him with your life?" What is she getting at?
"Like I said before" I slapped her hand away, getting annoyed "It's none of your business" Calem took my shoulder, moving to the side of me
"We're looking for our friend, her sister" he said. They looked surprise before Sina just giggled and Dexio looked uncertain and serious
"Friend... sister?" He stared into my eyes, trying to see what Calem was talking about "your sister? You're Serena's sister?" I gave him my threatening eyes, making him freeze and gulp. Sina didn't notice and just looked at Calem, crossing her arms
"So that's how it is... you know, you should be careful on how you choose your travel companions"
"Excuse me?" I arched my brow confused "if there's something you want to say, say it" Calem's body suddenly started coming towards mine
"Of course you don't know... no one knows yet, but because his mom hired us, he's still a-" Calem's large hand grabbed the side of my ear and pressed the other onto his chest, holding me close against him
"Fuck off..." I heard him say before he pressed his hand against my ear, unable to let me hear anything he was telling them. I tried moving away, but I was so shocked at what he was doing. I could hear his angry muffles, and his fast racing heart
I relaxed myself, ignoring his muffling voice and listened carefully to his heartbeat. I never heard a heartbeat before aside from mine, neither have I been this close to anyone before. I suddenly felt so calm, I grew tired and thought back at how easily I can get angry at one little thing. I became this way because of that one man... the one that helped me break out of my quiet state
I came back to reality when Calem gently moved me away. I looked back at Sina and Dexio staring dead at me... "what are you staring at?" I glared, almost forgetting that I looked back at my past for a short moment and came back to who I became after those few years of being in the streets
"I think I understand now... just a bit" Dexio glanced away, holding his chin to think. Sina crossed her arms and shook her head
"No matter what you say, no matter how much time passed... no matter how much it looks like you changed, it's not for us to decide. How about visiting your mother for once?" she flipped her hair and walked away with Dexio "from what she told us, it's hard to believe in everything you just said" Dexio looked back at us with a frown
"See you later, Calem" Calem rolled his eyes and walked off. I bend down to grab Z and stood back up to make eye contact with the pair
"By the way... my sister is a huge fan" I said "it's too bad she never knew that her own friends are what you guys lied to her about" they stopped walking
"What are you talking about?" Dexio asked.
"Hmm clueless I see, Too bad, see yah later" I smirked and floated off with Z's levitation and reached Calem staring at the pair walking into a path that lead to Lumiose.
"Did they say anything?" He asked
"No, Friends of yours?" I asked. He looked at me and smiled, like what just happened never did
"No" he said as a matter of factly, smiling happily "how about we get going to Luminous? Shauna gave me a message earlier saying she was at the professor's place. It might be good to go there" were those two really that bad to pretend like they didn't just exist?
"Those two, they're friends of Serena. I would figure you'd be their friend too" his eyes widened alittle, quickly acting like he didn't just look shock there
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Serena isn't friends with those assholes" he looked to the side "those Defenders of Kalos are useless... everyone praises them, but what are they good for? Making assumptions..." he looked back at me normally, explaining everything throughly "I know all of Serena's friends. She talks a lot if you don't already know, and she often likes talking to me since I listen to her problems" problems..? "She isn't friends with those two, but admire them a lot"
"Wait a minute... she has problems..?" I dropped my mouth in shock. He noticed my expression and questioned it
"Yes. She doesn't tell you anything because-" I put my hand on his chest to stop him
"Don't... don't tell me. I want to find out on my own" I walked away, only to forget I was still wearing skates. Calem caught me before I fell on my face again, laughing
"Yeah, she did say you were pretty bad at skating" I sighed and stared at the ground as he helped me up "come on" he offered his hand "from what I learned, Serena isn't a very good teacher. Let me help you out" he took my hands without asking and started walking backwards as I stared at the floor, watching myself moving and shaking. What... am I doing..?
~~
Who are the defenders of Kalos? And why are they messing with Calem? What do you think he said to them when blocking Sophia's hearing? We also learned that the perfect twin has problems? Do you count this a cliffhanger? Next chapter should be up soon! Thanks!