Five Hours
#44 of All They Knew
At 5:40 p.m., Skye had ordered her ticket to Akala and was in her outfit and white socks for tonight standing in front of the restroom mirror. She ensured her hair looked fine and straightened out her shirt for the last time as she'd spent a lot of time helping her mother in the kitchen, and Aaron's ferry docked minutes ago. "Okay..." Skye walked out to the kitchen, where her mother was still busy cooking. Ruki was sitting by the dining room table and stopped grooming his tails to look as Skye entered.
"Someone looks pretty tonight," her mother said, grinning at her.
"Thank you." Skye returned it shyly. She'd tried her best.
"Dinner will be ready in about thirty. A bit after Aaron gets here."
"That's fine. It'll give time to settle. Let me know if you need more help." Skye went and sat on the couch to rest. She spent a lot of time making sure her appearance was as perfect as could be. She always did, but this time there was an extra push for Aaron.
Ruki walked over from the table minutes after Skye sat and sat beside her feet. He was quite excited to see Sylmi again. He put in the effort to grant Ruki a genuine friendship here and in Sinnoh.
Skye's phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and saw Aaron's number, promptly answering it and holding it to her ear. "Hey... oh, you two are walking now? All right, I'll see you in ten. Just knock." Just as Skye hung up, her father walked into the living room after getting ready in his room. He wore a tan dress shirt and jeans.
"Hey." He sat beside her.
Skye tried not to appear tense in his presence.
"How are you feeling?"
Goodness, the small talk. "Fine..." She glanced at him. "Excited to go out." Mostly that she'd be away from home for a bit.
"I'm sure Ruki'll miss you this time," he said.
Ruki glanced at him. He missed her every time. Granted, they were usually together-- but still.
"He might, but I'll be back in just a few hours, not long," Skye replied. She didn't intentionally take a jab if it was perceived that way, but she wouldn't feel bad if so. There was a beat of silence before his next reply.
"Well... going to go see if your mother needs help for a minute." He had to have felt the environment. He stood and walked to the kitchen.
Ruki looked behind at Skye, even he felt it.
She shook her head. "I'm fine." She needed air. "I'm gonna wait for them out front." Skye stood and walked to the door, slipping on her white sneakers and opening it. The climate was warm outside. Streetlights illuminated the pavement. Skye walked down the steps and looked west down the road people were walking on. She easily made out a sylveon and his trainer in the distance, which caused her to grin. She was just in time. Skye raised her hand and waved, hoping she didn't single out the wrong pokémon. She received it back from the trainer and saw Sylmi speed up to a trot. Skye had to get Ruki. She jogged to the door and opened it, which Ruki shot his attention to. "Ruki, come out, quick!"
He hastily walked over and brushed past her legs while slipping out the door.
"Be a sec. They're here!" Skye said.
Got it!" her mother replied.
Skye closed the door and looked back to see Sylmi already giving Ruki's chest an affectionate nuzzle, Ruki grinning as he did. "Awe, hey, Sylmi."
"Syl." He looked up at her.
Aaron lagged, but he caught up moments later. Skye was dressed adorably as usual. He looked over her outfit multiple times. Aaron dressed casually as well. He was in black jeans and running shoes, a white jacket, and a black long-sleeved shirt. "Sylmi was anticipating this."
"So was I." Skye met him halfway, embracing his waist with her arms and resting her cheek against his chest. She softly sighed and closed her eyes.
Aaron hugged her side with her right arm, his left hand on her upper back holding her closely. "You sure you're okay?" he asked.
"Yeah..." She needed that more than anything right now. Skye broke it, watching Ruki and Sylmi conversate for a moment. "Wanna come in?"
"Of course. Let's see how bad my nerves act," Aaron replied.
"C'mon you two," Skye interrupted Sylmi and Ruki while walking up the steps and opening the door again.
Skye's mother glanced from the refrigerator once they all entered, her father beside her. "Hello, Aaron," she paused what she was doing and smiled at him.
"Last name?" Aaron quickly whispered to Skye.
"Amory." She grinned.
"Hi, Mrs. Amory," he quickly replied. Aaron then turned to Skye. "Beautiful last name, by the way..."
Her father finally spoke, and he came off friendly, fortunately. It'd hopefully stay that way. "You can sit if you'd like. Dinner will be a while."
"Thank you... sir." Aaron felt more nervous interacting with him, although he expected it.
"Nin." Meanwhile, Ruki had hopped onto the living room couch and was prompting Sylmi to join him.
Sylmi nodded and wasted no time jumping up and sitting beside him, his left ribbon brushing against Ruki's fur a few times. "Vee, Sylve." He told Ruki he was glad to spend a few hours with him, though he was unsure what they'd do.
Ruki had no ideas either. They wouldn't be able to go outside. "Nine," he replied. They'd have to let the night play out and see.
"You wanna see my room? I don't think you have," Skye offered.
He nodded. "Sure." And followed her down the hall to its end.
Skye pushed open her door and grabbed his wrist, leading him inside. "I'm not too decorative... Maybe when I get my own place."
Aaron eye's shot around the room for a moment before they landed on the only thing out of the ordinary: a pokéball sitting atop Skye's dresser. He stepped over to it, looking at the unique R engraved into it. "Do you have a second pokémon I don't know about?" Aaron asked.
She giggled and walked over, picking it up. "No... it's what I caught Ruki in on top of Lanakila. I don't use it, but it'll always mean everything to me." Skye gently placed it back on the dresser and turned to him. "Are you nervous? I can feel it."
Aaron swallowed. "There's no helping it. At least I don't stutter under anxiety."
Skye giggled quietly and whispered. "Here." She leaned up, taking his cheeks into her palms and softly kissing his lips.
Her delicate lips sent chills throughout his body, and Aaron couldn't help but hold her waist, leaning down slightly to complete and deepen it. He'd never get enough of her.
Skye pulled away. "Maybe that'll help..."
"Dinner's ready!" That was Skye's mother.
Aaron looked toward her voice, then back to Skye as he felt her poke his stomach.
"You'll do great."
--
The hour went somewhat better than Skye expected, but she was mildly annoyed by a few questions asked by her father. It was five minutes past seven by the time everything was cleaned up, so Skye knew she and Aaron had to get going. She currently stood by the door with him after he said his temporary goodbye to Sylmi. He and Ruki sat by the couch. "I'll be right out."
"Take your time," he said.
Skye closed the door behind him and went to her mother cleaning off the stove. Her father was on the couch. "We're gonna go now, mom. Thank you for dinner." She hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek.
"It was fun. Go have more of it... but be safe, hun."
"I will. Promise." Skye briefly squeezed her and pulled away, walking over to Ruki. She crouched, placing her palm on the side of his neck. "I'll be back soon, baby." She planted a kiss between his ears and grinned. "Be good. Love you. "
"Nn." He nodded, nuzzling her arm with his cheek. Ruki wanted Skye to create a life for herself. He'd have to get used to this over time.
"Keep him company, Sylmi," she said before standing and walking toward the door, reaching for the handle.
"Midnight, Skye," her father said.
Her hand stopped, and she turned her head to face him. "Yeah..." Skye visited the thought of getting the bag from under her bed, but it wasn't worth potentially being questioned or even shamed-- plus, she wanted to leave. Skye opened the door and quickly walked out to meet Aaron. "Okay, let's go."
They started the walk, at first silently strolling beside each other among rows of sleeping homes, a few people, and ambiance.
"Can't believe he asked if we thought we'd be long term..." Skye couldn't contain the lingering thought.
"Well, I guess I could see why. It's not like we'd know, but he can't expect much from a long-distance first relationship while we're so young," said Aaron.
"I know, but it's hurtful. Where's the optimism... or at least some faith?"
"...Skye, is this what's been bothering you?"
She nodded. "I wasn't going to say, but I have a curfew tonight because of him too. Midnight... It's humiliating and degrading."
"You know he can't be that way forever. You're moving on. He'll accept your decisions if he cares for you." Aaron glanced at her.
"Mhm..." Skye brought her left hand up slightly and touched his, to which he took it, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. "I want to forget it... Even if just for a few hours."
--
There were only twenty people and a few pokémon waiting at the Marina, so the boarding process progressed quicker than usual. The ferry started its hundred-mile journey after everyone was on ten minutes later. Most passengers were standing by the railing on the lit up front deck, including Skye and Aaron. Skye pulled out her phone. "It's going to be nearly nine by the time we get to Hano," she said, slipping it back into her pocket.
Aaron watched her and lightly smirked. "You'll probably be less stressed if you don't constantly keep track of the time."
"I mean... probably." Skye looked to the ship's rear, where no one was present. "You wanna go watch the waves, then?"
"That'll work," he replied, following her eyes and walking with her across the narrow side of the deck. Fewer lights were lining the walls at the back, providing a darker environment.
Skye leaned over the railing once she got to it, holding the bars and watching the thrashing dark waves disturbed by the ship under a starry night sky. She looked at Aaron standing beside her and grinned to herself. Skye appreciated him more than he knew. He'd been nothing but mindful and sweet toward her since they met, and he was nothing less now.