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The envelope was egg shell white and sealed with a glittery golden wax in the shape of a pokeball. In your hands, the envelope felt smooth and perfect, straight and stiff. With care, you placed the envelope into your bag, then gracefully and gently put your bag on your back.
It was currently the off season for the gym challenge and during your champion reign of four years, you decided to have a fun event for the off time. Often you spent these months bored or hunting for rare Pokémon. It was difficult to spend time with your best friend , Hop, as he was always busy with assistant stuff year long. But this envelope would change that. Inside the envelope was an invitation to a large ball and Pokémon battle event you had managed to put together with the help of the other gym leaders.
Only problem was that the other gym leaders agreed to a rule that you must have a date so attendees would be able to double battle with their partners. This includes you and it felt like a personal attack to get you to ask out your best friend. A few gym leaders found out about your crush on Hop and everything had gone downhill from there. The teasing was awful and often you wanted to vanish into the earth below your feet.
With a heavy and nervous sigh, you left Wyndon stadium and jogged over to the Croviknight taxi parking. Calling to the nearest one, you gave the driver some change and asked to be brought over to Wedgehurst. The driver nodded, opening the door to allow you in.
The flight from Wyndon to Wedgehurst was long and mildly chilly. Casting your gaze over the edge of the cart, you watched as the ground zoomed away. The sun lit the fields and cities with a warm golden glow, giving you a warm confident feeling. Turning back to the inside of the cart, you gave yourself a pep talk. You could do this! You were just asking him to be your partner for the event. He wouldn’t take any romantic context from that right? Not that you’d secretly mind if he took it like a date. Maybe if things went well you could confess?
Quickly you shook your head and patted your cheeks as they warmed up to the thought of confessing. What if he didn’t like you in return? Would he want to stop being friends? How bad would the rejection feel? Would you ever be able to face him again? You two could still be friends even if he didn’t share the same feelings right?
Suddenly you’re bumped up off your seat as the cart hits the ground near the Pokémon center in Wedgehurst. You had spent so much of the ride concerned about giving Hop an invitation that you didn’t notice the taxi landing. The driver opened the door and thanked you for picking his cab. In return you thanked him for his and his corviknights service and got out. Standing at the intersection of the Pokémon center and the shops, you watched the taxi leave. Suddenly your anxiety spiked and you were hesitant to head down the way and turn towards the lab.
You could just run off right now to your parents house. Taking a deep breath, you told yourself that this wasn't a confession, you were giving your best friend an invite. Problem was you were not the one who put the invitation together. In fact, it was the gym leader, Leon, and Sonia who got together to write this specific one and they did not allow you to see it. A few more deep breaths and you forced yourself to make your way to the lab. You gripped your bags straps tightly, questioning why you didn’t just make an alternative invitation for the event to use for Hop.
During your walk, you had been looking at the ground fretting, not noticing how quickly you actually arrived at the lab where Hop was supposed to be. Reaching out, you grip the door handle tightly, a nervous sweat starting to form.
“I can do this… I can do this…I can-” as you were encouraging yourself, the door opened, launching yourself into the person who opened it.
“Ah, I’m Sorr-OH! Y/N!” A strong pair of hands grasped your shoulders. It felt like a boulder had dropped into your stomach, you knew exactly who that voice belonged to.
“H-Hi Hop…” You looked up at your best friend while steading yourself away from him. He let go of you once he was sure that you were on your feet.
“I heard someone talking in front of the door instead of coming in so I came to see what was going on. I’m glad it's you! I haven’t seen you in so long!” He grinned down at you. Silently you observed how much he had grown over the years. He had really hit a growth spurt and was significantly taller than you. His golden eyes observed you carefully as you stood there silently looking back at him. A slight pink color dusted his cheeks as you stared for a little too long.
“I-is there something on my face?” he asked nervously with a smile, reaching up to itch his cheek.
“O-oh no… Um..” you looked away towards your bag and reached in for the invitation, swallowing nervously. You were here now, better to get this over with.
“I swear I wasn’t… I didn’t write this but… Uh” You fumbled with your bag before grasping the invitation and nervously handing it to him with a shaky hand, “ There’s a doubles event and I …I was wondering if you’d… be m-my-” You were cut off as Hop reached for the invitation and began opening it.
“I’d love to be your doubles partner!” He smiled brightly at you, already knowing the rest of your sentence. You two had known each other for so long, he could easily guess what you were going to ask. His hands easily opened the invitation which gave you more anxiety. What did it say, what was about to happen, hopefully it didn’t say anything that would ruin the relationship you two already had.
As Hop read the letter, his eyes grew wide and his cheeks burned a bright read. He cleared his throat and folded the invitation up quickly, glancing at you then looking away. Fear brewed in your stomach with the reaction you just witnessed.
“W-would…” Hop started, clearing his throat again, failing to find his voice as it cracked.
“Are you okay? What did it say?” you questioned, trying to not let the fear and anxiety eat you.
“W…Would you like to go on a d-date…before the event?” Hop blurted out loudly and very quickly.
“H-huh??” The fear and anxiety flew away and was replaced with excitement and confusion, your cheeks burning as bright as his.
“Go on a d-date with me…” He pouted slightly, “P-please?”
“Y…Yes but..why?” You began reaching for the letter in his hand. Quickly Hop held it up, high enough so you couldn’t reach it.
“N-No! You can’t look at this…” He panicked, backing away, reaching for the door to shut it on you. Glaring at him, you rushed in, and tried jumping up for the invitation. Hop continued to hold it high but you grabbed his arm and started pulling it down.
“Show me what it says!” You yelled at him.
“No!” He yelled back. During your squabbled, Hop tripped, falling backwards with you on top of him. The letter fluttered out of his hand and in a quick flash, you reached out and snached it while laying on top of him.
“Y/N… Please don’t look at that..” Hop begged, wrapping his arms around your torso, hoping it would prevent you from even reaching the invitation he dropped, not knowing he was already too late. Unfolding it, you realized a picture was attached to the invitation.
“H-Hop…What.. Is this..” you asked, staring at the picture. The picture in question was a photo of you two right before the challenge during a sleep over at Hops. In the picture, you were asleep and Hop leaned over giving you a kiss on your forehead. Looking down at Hop, you saw his face was even more red, a red you didn’t think possible.
“L-look…I…” He paused before looking at you. Flipping the picture over you noticed Leon's writing. ‘If you don’t confess I’m showing them this picture ;)”
“ I’ve liked you for a really long time…” Hop muttered into you as he pulled you close so you couldn’t see his face. Pulling yourself away and positioning yourself so you were face to face, you smiled at him brightly.
“I like you too, you goober.”