CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: CLOSER

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Sassy was in a good mood that day, free of her typical malfunctions. She revved to life on Dan's first try and didn't blink any of her dashboard's lights to show off like she usually did. Neither splutters nor clunks emitted from her metallic bodice. Dan insisted that he had 'figured her out'.

Sassy's speed decelerated once she hit gravel. The rocks crunched under the pressure of her tires, moving aside as she plowed through. One could spot a colorful building with various enclosures in its backyard during the drive down the road. Pokémon of all different shapes and sizes lazed in the corral, lifting their heads up to watch the party drive past. An ivory house emerged before the convertible, three stories tall and full of charm.

"Damn, Shortcake. Your parents must be loaded." Jay whistled.

Alice's modesty colored her cheeks in embarrassment. "We're not that rich. It only looks big because it's not a normal city house."

Dan shifted Sassy into park mode and turned around to face the backseat passengers. "Do you guys want any help unloading?"

"We're good, thank you," Alice assured politely. The last thing she wanted was for Dan and Bailey to grow overly comfortable at her home and decide to stay with them overnight rather than their hotel.

Bailey chirped, "Y'all have fun catching up with your family. We'll come 'round eight to get to the tower."

Jay, Alice, and Ken unloaded their luggage from the trunk and carried it to the front door where Irene was waiting. The older girl clapped her hands together and wasted no time tackling Alice in a hug, making both boys take a step away to avoid a collision. A strangled yelp escaped the younger sister's throat as the peppy brunette crushed her between her arms.

"It's been so long! Things have been so boring without you and Ken," Irene exclaimed, speaking too loudly into the dazed Alice's ear. She finished spinning Alice in circles and laughed as her younger sister wobbled, trying to regain her lost balance.

"Yeah," Alice agreed, holding onto the porch for support. She still saw doubles swimming in her vision. "It's nice to see you, too."

Irene softly knocked into Ken's shoulder. "I see that you're looking good, too." She shifted her gaze to Jay who was waiting patiently with a friendly grin. "You're Jay, right? We haven't met. I'm Alice's older sister, Irene."

"That's me," Jay confirmed, amused. He jokingly added, "I didn't know Alice liked me so much that she bragged about me to her family."

"The way you invent scenarios to boost your ego is astounding," Ken noted, rolling his eyes.

The remark rolled off the other's back like water from a Ducklett, and he chuckled. "Back at it again with the sarcasm. You hurt me, Kenny Boy."

"Stop calling me that absurd nickname."

Irene and Alice giggled as the two bantered back and forth then began bringing their things in. Alice relaxed the moment she crossed the threshold and let out a heavy breath she hadn't realized she'd been withholding.

The comforting sight of the eclectically decorated foyer and the scent of her home's candles greeted her instantaneously. A lukewarm feeling tugged at her heart, but not in a painful manner. No, instead it reminded her of how much she'd missed the feeling of home. The sense of belonging to a place where people loved and cared for her put the girl at ease.

She frowned. Those said people were nowhere to be found. She asked Irene, "Where is everybody?"

"Mom and Dad are picking up groceries, and Gram and Gramps are at the daycare," Irene answered. She glanced at Ken and Jay who were arguing. "Are they going to be okay rooming together?"

Alice bit back a snicker when Jay boasted how his greater height and age made him more mature than Ken. Ken wouldn't have it.

"Yeah, they calm down after a while," she promised. Huh. Even Ken and Jay make the house feel homey.

* * *

A mattress fell from Jay's and Ken's arms with a dull thud. While the blond left the room in search for sheets to cover it, Jay stayed put and took a seat on the ground beside it. He scanned the plain room made up of purple and blue colors, curious of his surroundings. A picture frame placed on a mahogany dresser caught his attention.

Jay picked up the frame and tilted his head. It was a picture of a family — two parents and a son. The father evoked images of his own house as he harbored sharp features. However, he laughed in the photo. His dark blue eyes squinted at the lens as he laughed, ridding him of intimidation. To his left was the mother who had an oriental appearance. She was petite and dainty, reminding Jay of a doll with her snowy white skin and tender smile.

Standing between the two was a familiar face giving a shy grin. The blond boy shared his father's hair and eye color as well as the majority of his facial features, but his smile was identical to his mother's. A Growlithe Jay battled before nestled its face into the boy's side.

He looks the same, Jay mused. He placed the picture frame back and bit his lip. What does my crazy uncle want with them?

He glanced up as Ken reentered with yellow sheets and plush, white blankets. "I got it," he insisted, taking them. "So how long have you been living here with Alice?"

Ken settled on his own bed, crossing his arms over his chest. The room appeared half its size with another guest staying. "A few months, at most."

"It's a sweet house." Jay dressed his mattress then opened his backpack and started rummaging through it. "How long are you staying here?"

There was a long pause. "It's undecided."

Jay looked up at Ken just in time to see his forlornness fade into indifference. So even the ice king has family problems. He debated on questioning him. His curiosity encouraged it, but he didn't want to get kicked out of the household for creating a terrible argument.

Instead, Jay said, "It's cool that you have a place to stay. I've been adventuring through regions since I was ten. My family can't handle my awesomeness."

"Your loud personality's not for the faint of heart," Ken teased, unable to resist a jab. Not that Jay minded, of course. It was all they did when they spoke.

The fossil collector fished out his old Gym Badge case and clicked the seal. Three rows of dusty pendants sunken into soft cushioning stared up at him. The corners of his lips fell.

"Yeah," he began, his typical cheeriness dissolving, "actually, I did go back once. I didn't realize I didn't want to become a Champion until my third region in. When I told my parents, they flipped. They said I was 'wasting potential' and that 'collecting rocks' wasn't a good career. We got in a fight and..."

Jay's words died off as he stared at his Gym Badges, and Ken deduced the rest. The blond disliked seeing him so deflated. Jay was supposed to be the outgoing one full of boundless energy, not this.

Ken attempted to console him, "Your parents should research more on the subject. They'll see that evolutionary stone and fossil collectors earn generous amounts of money for their findings."

"They wouldn't bother." Jay sighed, closing his eyes. He could see Casper's cold stare and hear his fake sincerity as he explained why their parents acted how they did. "They're too busy working on their damn project. Everyone thinks I'm stupid, so they never told me about it."

He should have revealed this to Alice. She'd handle this better than myself. Ken pursed his lips. 'Put yourself in others' shoes'. "Endeavor what you want to, Jay. Your own happiness should come before your family's."

Jay chuckled dryly. "Easier said than done, Kenny Boy."

"Do remember that Dan, Bailey, Alice, and I support you and your career."

He struck a chord within Jay. He searched Ken's gaze for any traces of lying or sarcasm. There were none. If he hadn't the self-restraint, Jay would've hugged Ken. He wagered that the blond would push him off and never let him within a three-foot radiance of him.

"Thanks," he said, grinning. He laughed, forcibly shaking off the despair surrounding him. The giant tossed the Gym Badge case into his bag and pushed it to the foot of his temporary bed. "Damn, I didn't mean to lay all that on you. I blame the room's colors. It's depressing in here with all this blue."

Relief filled Ken as Jay displayed his normal antics. He wondered if having friends was always this mentally tiring. If that was the case, doubted he had the capacity to withstand such a challenge. He needed to train and strengthen his endurance.

That reminded him: he hadn't told Jay about his romantic attempts. "Jay, yesterday I gave Alice the Togepi..."

* * *

The Bristows were no stranger to preparing excessive amounts of food. After discovering that there would be a guest other than Ken, the dinner plan multiplied to a buffet that could feed an entire football team. Several diverse entrées, a plentitude of side dishes, and a mountain of rolls stacked high one atop the other conquered the massive table.

Ken sat between Alice and Jay, directly in front of the rolls. His eyes glazed over and his mouth watered. All thoughts concerning the participation of discussions flew out his mind as he filled his plate.

"How's the tour so far?" Joe prompted. He sat at the head with his plate full of whatever anything he was handed. If it was on his china, then it was on a one-way street to his stomach.

"It's, uh, pretty decent," Alice replied, concentrating on cutting her steak. "I mean the places they take us are great, but Dan and Bailey are kinda—"

Ken paused mid-bite to interject, "Irresponsible and disappointing."

Alice would've face-palmed if she weren't holding a knife and fork. She laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, they're a little out there."

"It's good to be 'out there'," her grandfather chipped in, grinning. "People like them make life more interesting."

Mother handed a bowl of salad to Jay and commented, "I bet those two are overexaggerating. Are they, Jay?"

The black-haired teen shrugged and passed the greens to Alice who then, in turn, forced it onto Irene. "It takes a while for Dan and Bails to grow on you. I'm a super guy, but it still took Ken forever to come around."

Tell me about it, Alice thought, choosing to stuff her face rather than express herself aloud. You had it a lot easier than what I did, too.

Jay took it upon himself to list the positive aspects of the tour, shielding the Bristow family from the negatives. He had a suspicion that Ken would be more than ready to enlighten them on the subject. His chatter caused time to fly by and before they knew it, Sassy's obnoxious horn was blaring outside the house.

"I think I'll stay here and talk," Jay said, waving his hand in a shooing motion. "I don't wanna be a fifth wheel on your guys' double date."

"Double date?" Irene echoed in an elated tone. Ken saw a striking resemblance between her and her sister as she gasped.

Nevertheless, Ken was relieved that Alice wasn't present to hear his remark. He glared at Jay for his brash wording and retaliated, "Do not spread lies."

"Whatever you say, Kenny Boy," the other taunted, smirking.

Jay refused to yield his teasing until Alice arrived with her purse in tow. She assumed the tension clouding the two boys was that of the norm and didn't give it a second thought.

Alice and Ken piled into Sassy and then the four were off to Lumiose City. The sun started setting on the journey there, painting the skies orange, pink, and lavender. It lowered behind the grassy hills, and the shadows it cast expanded across the area. The lavender covering the sky deepened in minutes, trading sunlight for darkness.

In the blink of an eye, early night had fallen and Sassy had reached the bustling nightlife hub that was Lumiose City's Central Plaza.

Older families and couples arm-in-arm moseyed about, gawking at the architecture illuminated by bulb fixtures of all kinds. Fairy lights strewn on café the roofs, lamplights shaped as globes marking the sidewalk, and others brightened the court. Mimes and musicians alike performed for crowds and filled their hats to the brim with cash and coins.

The focal point of Central Plaza stood above the rest. Literally. A grand structure conceived from the artistic passion of legendary Kalosians climbed into the nighttime sky and glowed. Its glaring were so bright that one could spot it from a town away. Prism Tower served as both a Pokémon Gym and Kalos' most endeared landmark.

One suffocating elevator ride crammed with far more people than the occupants were comfortable with, the original tour group made it to Prism Tower's highest level. The journey skyward had been a disturbing as both the walls and floor were composed of glass to provide a panorama of the city.

Many 'oohed and 'ahhed' and pointed in wonder at distant buildings. Alice, on the other hand, caught sight of the transparent floor and prayed to Arceus to guide her to safety.

An open-air floor awaited the group, and it possessed an energy entirely different from the rest of Lumiose City. The air was hushed save for the gentle strumming of a band holding guitars and the modest murmur of visitors. A chilled wind blew, but nobody was fazed for they couldn't tear their eyes off from the view overlooking Lumiose.

"Whoa," Alice whispered, at a loss for intelligent comments. She latched onto the guardrail with a white-knuckled grip, and tentatively raised to her tiptoes to look directly below.

Ken nodded in agreement, although his stare averted from the scene to scrutinize Alice's movements. He wouldn't put it past her to discover a fault in the rail and topple over. "It's an extraordinary sight."

His shoulders relaxed as she settled on her heels. She removed her hands from the gelid steel rail and rubbed her chilled fingers.

"I haven't been here since I was ten," she recounted, continuing to massage her numbing hands, "and it was a lot different. I came with Irene and we only went to the first floor because my stomach hurt. It turned out I had food poisoning from an expired microwave dish."

"Microwaved dishes are not to be trusted in the first place," he chided. She opened her mouth to object, but he cut her off. "Jay did something peculiar this afternoon."

"What he'd do?" she asked, taking the bait.

Ken leaned forwards, propping his elbows on the rail. Thousands of white, manmade stars set on the ground twinkled at him akin to those placed in the sky. He answered, "Jay told me that his family opposes his dreams and shuns him."

Alice wrapped her arms around herself and slowly shook her head. "That's awful."

"I consoled him," he continued, surprising her, "and said that you, Dan, Bailey, and I encourage his pursuits."

A smile graced her features at his addition, and she nudged him. "Aw, good job. You did the right thing; you probably made his day."

"You think so?" Rosy hues obscured by the night dusted his cheeks as she beamed up at him.

She nodded. "I know so. I think it meant even more coming from you. You really don't compliment people a lot. It's a bigger deal when you say something versus, I don't know, Bailey, I guess."

Ken's brow furrowed. He'd never pondered on the importance of compliments. In a way, he supposed, it granted verification for one's feelings towards another. Articles he read did mention the importance of clarity between partners.

Ideas danced on his tongue, but his wit held them back. Praising her battling style would be too bizarre as it was completely off topic. He had to go beyond that. In Jay's words, he needed to 'escape the friendzone and be straight with her'. Wearing his heart on his sleeve was too daunting of a task.

"Alice."

She hummed. "Yeah?"

"I wish I met you years ago," he professed slowly, pushing himself to finish what he started, "because you've helped me further myself as a person."

Embarrassment swept Alice head to toe, and she would've fallen over in shock if she hadn't been holding onto the Prism Tower guardrail. Nervous laughter bubbled in her throat.

She ducked her head and stammered, "I, um, I think you're really, really overexaggerating. I'm not a saint or a superhero or someone like that." Her mind commenced a shutdown, replacing coherent thoughts with internal screaming. "You don't have to compliment me and say things like that just because I said you don't do it often."

Ken bent down so his face was a short distance from hers and reaffirmed, "I meant what I said. If it weren't for you, I may very well still be lost in the dark place you found me."

She shyly glanced up and saw his sincere face illuminated by the Prism Tower's lights. Traces of a reassuring smile ghosted his lips and an emotion she recognized from leads out of dramas gleamed in his eyes. Her heart leaped to her throat, and a flock of Beautifly stormed her stomach.

A faint gust passed, tousling their hair and clothes. Neither noticed; they were fastened in an entrancement that only they could understand.

Alice gulped. A distraction — she needed a distraction to calm herself. She held her breath and went with her first instinct. Testing the waters, the brunette touched the thick material of his jacket's collar then adjusted it, feigning composure.

Ken didn't scold her nor flinch on contact.

She focused on smoothing his top and confessed, "I'm just really glad that we met, period. You changed me a lot, too."

She released his jacket, and Ken caught her hands before they retreated to her sides. Alice's breathing hitched as he stared intently at her. Perhaps it was the trick of the lighting, but he appeared to be coming... closer.

Doubt struck the Sinnohvian, and he changed his plan. "Your hands are freezing," he stated, gesturing to her icicle-like fingers wrapped in his own. "I saw a vendor with food by the elevator. Let's buy hot drinks; they may have chamomile tea."

"Oh, okay," she agreed, the slightest bit of disappointment evident in her words.

Ken dropped her hands, but she clung to his right and he showed no signs of distaste. As selfish as it was, Alice liked the feeling of how her palm fit in his, and she didn't want it to end. He might've broken the moment, but she lingered in it and let it imprinted in her memory.

He'd silently affirmed her suspicion that night; Alice was sure that he admired her like how she adored him. And because of that, she couldn't erase the silly smile hurting her cheeks.

* * *

Jay was getting out of the shower when his phone began ringing. He wrapped his short, white towel around his neck and whistled as he walked to the dresser it was placed atop of. A groan escaped his lips when he saw the caller ID, and he reluctantly answered it.

"Yellow," he greeted, prepared for an onslaught of backhanded compliments.

"Hello," Casper said, his voice as cold as ever. "Are you busy?"

"Nah, I just got out of the shower." Jay entertained himself by flexing his biceps and making faces in the mirror. I need more protein. "What's up?"

"When you arrive in Laverre City, I need you to come to the Poké Ball Factory. Understand?"

Annoyance flared within him. "Yeah, I'm not stupid. Why do you want me to—"

With that, Casper hung up and Jay stared at his phone's screen. Something's fishy.

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Author's Note

Wowowow Jay got some more backstory and Kalice had an almost confession scene that upgraded their Relationship Status™ to a level neither of them really know :)))

Question of the Chapter: What do you think Casper is up to?