Month 5: May of Ordeals (eighth part)
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Surprise! A quick one days later! Wanted to get this out for the fic's birthday, but stuff happened. Wasn't expecting it to run this long. In fact, aside: the "Month" designations for chapters are an artifact: it was only as long as there were months, and they replaced "Chapter" stylistically. The scope of it blew up, albeit in a good way.
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May of Ordeals (eighth part)
May 13rd, 2015
"So how'd your date go?"
"Oh, stop wit' that."
"You even got dressed up for the occasion." A giggle.
"Wasn't gonna go out lookin' like a ragamuffin. An' not like I had on my Sunday best."
"But you dressed better than when you work."
A pause. "All right, ya got me. Wanted to look nice for it, ya know?"
"He is a cutie."
"Real sweet, too. He's a good friend."
"You wish he were older?"
"A gal can dream, can't she?"
After getting back to the Gym, the first thing Kallisto did was head up to the trainer's lounge with the others. They gathered on the large couch to watch and listen to the perturbing exchange. Eddie and Tono sat on his left and right respectively, and Ollie peeked in from behind. There was a little more to their conversation, but this is what stood out.
"There you have it," he said as he gauged his friend's reactions. Tono's expression was unreadable. Ollie's face had almost comically dropped. But it was Eddie who responded first.
"Yo," he spoke up, unimpressed. "What if it's just chicks joking around?"
"And what if it's not?" He restrained himself from shouting. "We need to act now, Hankstein."
"Do what you want, but leave me outta this." Eddie got up and walked out the door.
Kallisto could not believe that - someone he thought was always going to have his back turned away, and now of all times! How could Eddie ignore something like this?!
"What do you guys think?" he asked his remaining friends.
Ollie clapped and cackled. "Let's get her!"
"I will support whatever you decide," Tono neutrally stated. He crossed his arms and tapped a finger. "One thing I will say is that we shouldn't make a fuss about it, just to be certain."
That was the sort of support he was looking for. What Eddie was doing now - and what Nori did 99% of the time - was not constructive. "Thanks, Tono. That sounds good," he replied. He was wondering if it was better to go public or not, but his best friend had preemptively told him not to. "In that case, I know what I'm going to do."
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May 14th, 2015
Nori woke up on Thursday to an unusually quiet Gym. Normally at around this time, there would be footsteps and murmurs from below, the sound of the staff getting ready for opening hours at 9am. On rare occasions, there would be a challenger in the lobby waiting to face Volkner. Today, there was only a lull.
He didn't think much of it as he prepared breakfast. He made himself peanut butter toast and got his Pokemon a few treats, enjoying a pleasant meal with them while he listened to the news on the radio. When they were all done, he got his backpack, recalled his Pokemon, and went downstairs.
It was as dead as it sounded. He found the lobby virtually abandoned. The concessions stand was closed up, Mrs. Stetcher wasn't in her usual booth, and the lights were dimmed. The boy peeked into the arena, finding no one present. He did hear some faint murmuring from the right hallway. He hurried over to find Marshall and Brodski in conversation.
"What's going on?" he asked the two.
Brodski shrugged. "Go ask Mr. Denzi."
He went and did just that. He went to the back room, pounding on the door. "Hey, Volkner!" he shouted. There was no need to use an indoor voice when barely anyone was around. "Are you back there?"
"I'll be right over!" the Gym Leader hollered back. The door swung open after several seconds. The Gym Leader didn't even have his coat on, just his dark brown jeans and the white undershirt. "What's happening?" the boy asked. "Is the Gym closed or something?"
"Yes," came the terse reply.
"Why on a Thursday? Is it some sort of holiday?" The boy paused. "Birthday?"
"Dealing with something internal."
Nori tilted his head. "What sort of thing?"
The Gym Leader closed up like a Shellder. He turned away, looking up at the ceiling while twiddling his thumbs.
"Is it...not something I should be asking?" Nori slowly asked.
Gradually, the Gym Leader faced him, although continued to avert his gaze. He scratched his cheek. His mouth opened a couple times, but no words came out of them. "I guess I should tell you," he soon conceded. The blond man took a deep breath before he said his next words. "We had to let one of the staff go."
"What?! Wh-who?" Nori wasn't sure what it was, but he instantly feared the worst.
Volkner took a deep breath. He again turned away, lowering his head. "The assistant medic. Betsy-Ann Jostein."
"What? No way. Why? Kallisto did it, didn't he?!"
Volkner didn't answer. No, it was more like he couldn't. His silence said more than he could with any words or gesture, although he managed a nod to erase all doubt. Nori screamed, almost a primal wail. Without waiting for answers from the Gym Leader that probably weren't going to come anyway, he stormed out of the Gym.
---
Nori had half a mind to march directly to Gama Memorial Senior and confront Kallisto right there on the spot. The only reason he didn't was because he wasn't sure how some preteen kid going into a high school would go over, let alone to yell at one of their most beloved students. But he had a plan in mind. He wasn't going to wait until they got back to the Gym, if it would even be open today.
As he left school, he quickly spotted Kallisto's convertible in the usual spot. The fat piece of trash, the nerd with his head up his ass, and the king himself were there, with the huge jerk approaching.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU GUYS DO?" he screamed at the top of his lungs. He got everyone's attention by doing so, just how he wanted it.
Eddie took one look at him, and to them, and said, "Told ya." The dark-skinned teenager walked off, leaving his friends behind. Nori paid him little heed.
As for the other three, they were wide-eyed. "We were stopping a pedophile!" Ollie shouted.
"Hebephile," corrected Tono. "There is a fundamental difference."
"Whatever, she was trying to take advantage of you!" the fat teen insisted.
"No, she wasn't!"
There were many angry shouts and insults from around him. As Nori got closer to the convertible, someone grabbed him from behind. He whirled around and nearly punched them square on the jaw, stopping just short when he saw it was Volkner.
"Nori, calm down," the Gym Leader urged.
"No!" He would not, COULD not calm down right now.
"Wait!"
Most of the onlookers went quiet as this sharp word cut through the air. The driver's side door swung open, and Kallisto stepped out. He raised a hand, silencing the rest of them. He looked straight at Nori.
"This is all my doing. Don't blame anyone else."
He was up and admitting it? Right in front of everyone? He glanced around for reactions, and most of them seemed confused. Something felt off, but regardless, Nori voiced his discontent. "I can't believe this. Why did I ever think you had a point with any of that stuff you said? You just want everything your way! In fact, I bet this is still about not wanting me to have a girlfriend!"
The nerd harrumphed. "This has nothing to do with that. And in fact–"
"Shut up!" he snapped at the nerd. "I wasn't talking to you!"
Kallisto looked back at his friend, waving him off. "Hate me if you want. I know you'll understand what I did some day, and thank me for it."
In reply, Nori advanced threateningly. He'd been wanting to fight Kallisto ever since he jumped him from behind anyway. Yet the head Gym Trainer made no attempt to get his guard up. In fact, he stepped back, held his arms at his side, and stood wide open.
"Look. Here," he offered himself up, giving the boy pause. "I'll give you one free shot at me."
Nori instantly drove the tip of his foot directly into Kallisto's nutsack. The head Gym Trainer clutched at it, yet remained standing. He didn't scream, he didn't fall over. In fact, he coyly smiled up at Nori while lightly wincing.
"There you go," he said, only angering the boy further. How did that not hurt him?! He kicked him as hard as he could and he wasn't wearing anything! "Feel better?"
"No!" Nori wanted to kick him in the face next. But what was the use?! He'd probably just not get hurt by that either somehow! He flipped Kallisto off and stormed away from the whole situation.
Volkner quickly caught up with him, able to keep pace with Nori's run with a light jog. The boy glared at his mentor. He was not in the mood to deal with anyone. Yet, the persisting Gym Leader was able to change his tune with only six words.
"She wants to talk to you."
He froze up. "Where?!"
---
Kallisto and the others were going for a drive. They had unexpectedly been given the day off by Volkner. While Tono had suggested using the opportunity to train, the head Gym Trainer and Ollie had no idea what they were going to do. Not only today, but moving forward.
The heterochromic teenager sighed. Part of him did not want to intervene here, yet he also felt he needed to. Perhaps he could've acted less drastically? Perhaps it would've been better to confront Betsy-Ann herself? It was too late at this point, however.
With this, there was certainly no chance of mending fences with Nori. He did his best to make sure his friends wouldn't get caught up in things as well. Yet on that subject, his biggest concern at the moment was Eddie. It was so out of character for him to walk away like that. The others had tried to call him, but he wasn't picking up, so they could only speculate what was going through his mind right now. He could only pray Eddie was only distancing himself from this incident.
---
Along the way, Volkner had confirmed many of Nori's suspicions. This was related to thinking she had an interest in him. Yesterday evening, Kallisto had spoken with the Gym Leader about his concerns, showing him a video of Betsy-Ann talking with her friend about him. When Volkner dismissed it, he asked several senior members of the staff for their thoughts. Coach Norling in particular was uncomfortable working with her given the allegations, and ultimately, Volkner's hand was forced.
The Gym Leader brought him to the woods he had been in so many times before. He bid him well and left for the Gym. Nori couldn't thank his mentor enough. He'd taken time out of his day to help keep him under control and make sure he didn't do anything he'd regret. Most importantly, he gave him the chance to see his friend one last time.
Betsy-Ann was waiting for him a ways off the beaten path, in a small clearing. She waved, and he went to join her.
"Thought you might like some closure," she said to him while leaning against a tree.
He slowly nodded. That, he did. One of Nori's biggest regrets was how things ended with Lux. He didn't get a chance to say goodbye, his friend was just gone. It nearly happened again.
"That rotten egg-suckin' dog. Can't a guy and gal just be friends?" she said, shaking her head. "When it gets down to it, him and his goons could piss off a priestess."
"I wouldn't have minded."
"Huh?"
"If you really did like me like that, I wouldn't have minded. Screw the age difference. Besides, it'd be fine when I grow up."
He wasn't sure what he was saying or where any of it was coming from. He moved towards her, but she held out a hand and lightly stopped him.
"Don't go talkin' like that, Nori," the teen said. "Y'know yer only thinkin'a that to spite Kallisto."
Nori sighed, looking down at his feet. "I...I guess." What was he thinking? He'd never even thought about it until now, and was uneasy over the possibility of her thinking of him that way.
"Relationship built on that wouldn't be healthy, for either'a us."
"I know..."
It was one thing to like someone and have them like you back. But he knew there was a stigma here, same as with him and Maylene. And if it was just to piss off Kallisto, well. That wouldn't be good, even if they liked each other and were the same age.
Kallisto. Nori scowled. This all was because of him. Who was he to decide how he should live his life? The boy's hands balled into fists. He said it was to protect him, but who was it really for? And who was he to intervene, especially on something that wasn't there? Nori inhaled through gritted teeth, breath trembling as he heavily exhaled. Kallisto thought he had to be a certain way in order to succeed. But then there was the assault, nearly drowning, letting his friends get away with so much, indirectly destroying his reputation, and now this. So much of his misfortune could be traced back to Kallisto and his friends. He tensed his muscles so hard he started to shake.
A comforting hand went onto his shoulder. "You gonna be okay?"
"I don't know," he freely admitted as he seethed. He took in a deep breath and held it for as long as he could.
"I reckon you'll recover," the teen patted him, gently rubbing his back.
Nori gradually let it all out. It did calm him down a little, but the cause was still festering within like a dead Skuntank lounging in the sun. Yet the worst part about this wasn't what he would have to go through.
"What about you?" he asked. The worst part was what could happen to her. "They said you were a hebbyphile."
"Hebephile. And I ain't that type." She sighed, leaning back against the tree. "I'll be leavin' town, though. Goin' home to Sandgem. Much to get away from him as it is to get away from this."
"But will you be okay?" That's what he was most worried about, more than not being able to see her again. Even if she did like him and for the right reasons, some people would hate her forever or think she just likes kids. That'd follow her forever, right?
"Lucky it's being kept hush. Only ones who know are y'all and some of the senior staff, and they ain't gonna blab."
Wait, as in, nobody else knew? Her reputation might be fine? Maybe? Except. "I..." He shuffled his feet. "I might've blown up on them in public. I'm sorry. I didn't say what, but still."
"Don't worry about that none." She didn't seem too concerned. Nori could only hope that was from knowing for sure, and not blind confidence.
"I'm going to miss you."
"Me too."
Nori reflexively opened his arms. Betsy-Ann surprised him by rushing for him and embracing him, actually lifting him off the ground slightly. He in turn latched onto her as tight as he could. This might been the last hug he'd have in a long time. He was going to enjoy it for all it was worth.
"Thanks for everything, Betsy-Ann," he whispered, fighting back the urge to sob into her shoulder.
The teenager nodded. "Till next we meet, Nori."
---
She held him for over a minute, until he reluctantly broke it off. With a tearful wave, Nori ran off as fast as he could without a further word, crying and quietly screaming. As he did so, Betsy-Ann plopped down on an old log. She felt pathetic.
There was one thing she didn't tell Nori at the end of last month. Ever since her failed second confession to Kallisto, she decided to move on. Yet try as she might, she couldn't get a date her age. No one would give her the time of day.
The painful truth was, she did have some interest in Nori. He had a lot going for him: cute looks, confident yet modest, a little sweetheart, would be there for her when she needed it, and needed her just as much. Yet she likely never would've gone through with it. There was too much problems.
His age for one. Even after July, there'd still be some folks throwing shade, and she wasn't just talking about them who think it's eighteen everywhere. Most over the age difference. Five years is a heck of a lot at their ages. Some'd say she was taking advantage of him, which was in fact some of Kallisto's crazed ‘logic.’ But she knew that better than he did. She knew if she asked Nori he'd say yes, just since he was so emotionally vulnerable. And that was something she might've never been able to get over, no matter the years-long threaded boundaries she'd set on intimacy.
It had to be hard on the boy, seeing another one of his friends get ripped away, like that Lux friend of his. She didn't want him to think of her as anything but a friend, especially at this point. It was all for the best anyhow. He deserved better than someone like her.
And maybe, this was a chance at a fresh start. Away from that darn Kallisto. May have been due to self-validation, but at least he had the decency not to drag her through the mud any further. She couldn't even begin to fathom what was going through his mind.
But him and his friends better watch out, she thought. She saw that look in Nori's eyes before he left. All his doubt about them was gone, and knowing him, he wouldn't rest till all their tails were cut.
---
Fueled by hatred, Nori stomped his way through the Gym as he entered. He ignored the people calling for him and went straight to the back. He was the only person in the history of the Gym to be given free reign back here, much less given a key to the place, and needed to use that privilege.
A large purple monkey with a cream face and body and two tails waved hello as he walked in. Nori and Pachi - who he had filled in - greeted Volkner's Ambipom. The Gym Leader's Pokemon acted as security during the day, with the strongest Gym Pokemon taking up the mantle at night.
He passed by the wandering Galvantula and entered the garage area. He spotted the Gym Leader easily enough - he was working under his vintage vehicle. His Toxtricity and Luxray were sitting nearby, and his Chatot was perched atop the brown automobile.
"Hey, Volkner?" he called out to his mentor.
The Gym Leader pulled himself out from underneath. He wiped his forehead with a rag and inquisitively glanced at him.
"So that challenge from Tono for exhibition day."
He paused. Kallisto had taken his friend away from him. They said it was to protect him, but there was nothing to it. He was willing to bet it was worrying about that dating thing again, if not something even dumber. Whatever the head Gym Trainer's reasons, all the goodwill and benefit of the doubt Nori was thinking of giving was gone. For him, and all his friends. He'd had enough. And he was going to make them pay. Starting with the nerd.
"I want to win this," he declared. "I want to crush him and rub it in his face. Can you help me?"
The Gym Leader, after a moment of surprise, wryly smirked and began to devilishly chuckle.
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A/N: And that's 'act' two of this fic finished. Like before, here's some behind-the-scenes for it: Betsy-Ann was a later addition despite being a focal point, if evident from her showing up at the end of February and only getting mentions in March. Her interest was never much because of the reasons she mentioned (the most I considered was a non-romantic kiss on the head), but I downplayed it anyway.
The news club also went through changes. They were faceless (besides Arumi) at first. Then I made them a hive, so to speak. Then I differentiated them just enough, making Lorant quiet to make things easier, with one other (Yuki) being a more major character.
Next will be another Gaiden chapter, where just like before, there will be some more notes and changing viewpoint to a totally different character.
The news club also went through changes. They were faceless (besides Arumi) at first. Then I made them a hive, so to speak. Then I differentiated them just enough, making Lorant quiet to make things easier, with one other (Yuki) being a more major character.
Next will be another Gaiden chapter, where just like before, there will be some more notes and changing viewpoint to a totally different character.
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