FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

By the end of the day, Julie felt bothered. She was a block from home without knowing why. However, she realized what it could be. Julie had already been getting close to Midnight. They were now intimately close.

What hit her was that he still wasn’t her pokémon, and Julie left in a few months. She would most likely be away at college; what would she do then, go back and visit the high school to pet him for an hour? She began rethinking their relationship, but he'd taken her innocence and made her feel better than she ever had. It was too late to throw it away, but how was she was supposed to keep it?

After their intimate act leading to the best climax she would never experience again, Julie could say she was happy for once. Midnight made her so happy. She felt like the most dependent soul. She depended on her mother, her antidepressants, Alyssa, and now Midnight.

Whenever Julie met him in those halls, just as excited as he was to see her with his rings aglow, it made her day. It filled her with an intoxicating warmth, and those brief encounters were when Julie felt everything was right, even more when he was between her legs earlier.

Midnight never left her thoughts and especially wouldn't now. She was far more than attached. This was a hopeless, mystifying adoration.

She took a left to her patio from the road, locked her bike up, and opened the door. Her mother sat on the living room couch with many pillows while reading a book, so Julie saw her when she entered. Her mother was in comfy black pants and a thin sweater.

The couch sprawled the wall of the substantial living room. A glass table was before the couch, a flat-screen TV was on a shelf ahead against the wall above a fireplace they never used, and two curtained windows were against the wall with stands before them. They held antique jars, vases with colorful designs, and pots holding pricey red and blue spheres with glossy glints from The Underground in Sinnoh, the largest and most visited mine in the world.

“How was your day, sweetie?"

“It went fine, just… tired. I'll do some homework and come down later." She went to hug her mother, sighing against her body heat and embrace.

Julie's day had been absolutely amazing. Too bad she couldn't tell her mom why. "Almost got tapped by someone's side mirror too. They were driving way too close to the bike lane."

"You're cold, Jule, and please be careful out there. I'm looking into buying a car, then I'd just drive you to school." She returned it and kissed Julie's cheek, then reached behind her and pulled out a pair of white gloves after her daughter stood. "I bought you these today."

Julie grinned and took them, turning them in her hand. "They're so cute. Thank you, Mom." She leaned in to share another hug with her.

Her mother chuckled and patted her back. "Don't want your hands falling off out there anymore."

Julie stood again. "I'm definitely wearing them every morning."

"Good, and I'm making us dinner soon. I also cleaned a bit when I got home, so I vacuumed your carpet and replaced the bedding. I'll call for you if you aren't in time."

"Awe, thank you, Mom. You're really the best." She stood when her mother broke it. "Don't worry about the trash tomorrow, by the way. I'll take it when I leave."

The truck came twice a week on Monday and Thursday to pick up everyone's trash. Julie occasionally forgot about it, leaving her mother to gather the kitchen and restroom bags and drag the bins to the curb, but Julie wouldn't put every task on her.

"I appreciate that, Jule; I know you had a long day. Go warm up. I'll turn the heater on. Love you."

Julie nodded and turned, first grabbing a water and pretzel pack, then heading upstairs. "Love you too!" She threw her backpack on the floor once in her room and scanned her clean carpet, new blanket, and sheets. Her mother had made her bed neatly too. Julie appreciated her so much.

She kicked off her boots and set her new gloves on the nightstand with her kitchen stuff, then slumped onto her bed. Julie would take her mom's advice and shower. She needed a hot one to wash away the cold, clear her head, and clean herself from her recent locker room experience.

But she would do that after eating something since her stomach was growling, so Julie went back downstairs and peeked into the kitchen, seeing her mother looking through the fridge. She wasn't up to chat, but she had to go into the kitchen to get a snack.

She trudged back upstairs and to her room. "Pretzels'll do for now." Julie would shower first, after all. She'd be in the mood to talk afterward. She undressed and tossed her clothes into the hamper, taking a new change from her dresser and entering the restroom. Julie flipped on the light and went to turn on the shower, taking a minute to adjust its temperature.

While it regulated itself, she set her clothes atop the toilet's cover and stepped into the tub shortly after. Upon the water hitting her leg, she could confirm it was warm, so Julie stepped in and let the water run over her hair and face. She didn't bathe too often. If she did, it was when she was uber-depressed, if then.

She glanced up at the detachable shower head, which reminded her of Midnight, funnily enough. There was a time around when she first started getting curious with her body where was in the shower constantly just so she could use it— and not for washing purposes. It had started up again as a phase two years back, but she rarely did it nowadays, and it wouldn't fulfill her after Midnight had shown her the light.

And now that Midnight was on her mind, she fell onto the situation hours ago. The one where she'd skipped lunch and wore an outfit that she shouldn't have. How could she come up with a reason for it if Alyssa asked again? "Might lose your best friend if you hide this..."

Julie ran her hands through her hair to let the water permeate it, its warmth running down her sides and legs, then grabbed her loofah that hung on one of the nozzles. "Then again, you also might lose her if you confess the secret even you're shocked to know you have."

She leaned against the wall out of the water while it pattered against the shower floor, reaching for the fragrant body wash on the shelf and holding it at her side. What if her best friend thought she was a loser for being in a veritable relationship with the faculty's pokémon and started spreading the fact?

Julie popped the bottle's cap and poured some over the sponge before setting the wash back and holding the loofah under the water. She then applied it to her body, scrubbing over the top and sides of her thighs and hips. It left suds that trailed slowly down her wet skin. "Alyssa would never do that..."

After she showered, took care of her appetite, brushed her teeth, and studied, Julie attempted to sleep for the next day. She was bundled under new lush and lovely sheets that insulated her in warmth.

This time, Lilly wasn't with her in bed taking up the leg space and must have gone outside for the night, which was fine since she'd just dirty her blanket anyway. Julie was used to sleeping alone, though, as she had all her life. She didn't even have a stuffed pokémon.

Since she never had a pokémon or boyfriend to keep her company, she genuinely needed to consider going out to catch one or fall in love with someone. Truthfully, Julie wanted neither because she instead wanted something she couldn't have that bashed two pidgey with one stone.

Which reminded her— she grabbed her phone from under her pillow and unlocked it, going to her gallery and grinning timidly at the first video’s thumbnail in her camera album among many. They were categorized ones of past photos that included her father, recents including her mother, another exclusively of pictures and videos of herself and Alyssa from the past and present, and a dedicated Lilly album. She tensed her legs. "Lost itt," Julie whispered.

Public sex with a pokémon.

It still wasn't worth the risk, but by miracle, she hadn't gotten walked in on, so it almost was. It couldn't happen again, though, not a chance. Luck wouldn't always be on their side. Julie hid the video within her files and locked her phone, slipping it back under her pillow.

---

She entered school the next morning dressed as casually as possible in skinny jeans, a tee, gray and white jacket, and her new gloves. She'd skipped breakfast again but had eaten a breakfast bar and would eat lunch today. Julie usually wasn't hungry during mornings unless she hadn't had a decent dinner.

She yawned while walking down the populated hallway full of laughter and buzzing. Julie stood on her tippy toes at times to ease the soreness in her thighs.

Lines of students opened and closed lockers and entered classes early to talk to teachers.

Teachers made a beeline through the halls on the way to teach; immature boys goofed off that Julie slipped by.

That was when she noticed something odd. Ricky stood by her locker. "What the..." She'd forgotten to talk to him yesterday, but why was he there again? Julie approached. “Hi… Ricky."

“Oh, hey, how’s your morning?” Ricky grinned, edging a smirk while leaning against her locker, which blocked access to it.

“Fine… but, you're kind of standing in front of my locker."

“I wanted to know if you'd thought about what I asked."

Julie sighed. “Ricky… I really, really don’t want to do this right now. It’s early, and I hav–”

“It's a simple answer. That’s all I need.” His grin faded.

Julie tilted her head slightly. “I think you should stop this… whatever you're doing. It's weird, and I told you I'd think about it."

The talk around them began to die.

“It doesn’t take that long to think about it. Do you dislike me the way you do everyone else? You know, you could tell me that instead of playing with my feelings.” He stood now, bearing over her.

Julie took a step back, bringing a hand to hold a drawstring on her jacket. “N-No, it isn't that... I’m– I'm not ready to date yet.”

“Like I'm gonna believe that. You were dressed like a desperate slut yesterday." Ricky smirked and glanced at chuckles from students in proximity. Everyone was watching.

Julie could choke; her cheeks paled.

"You want everyone's eyes on you." He shrugged. "You've gotta be lonely after choosing to be the most awkward girl in the entire school ever since you got here. Everyone's got a breaking point, but we're the weirdos when we want to talk to you. Is that it?"

"Everyone caught on. That's why no one ever asks her egotistical ass to prom!" A female's voice came from the crowd.

“Ricky… p-please move," she said in a gentle, timorous tone. Her hands quivered, tugging slightly on her drawstring.

He folded his arms, peering at her and lowering his voice. "You're a nobody here, Julie, but hey, I can fix that... maybe the big guys too. I mean, we all saw the tight shirt and leggings showing off those juicy tits and thighs of yours. You obviously want it bad. They'll shape you up good and show you something better than your hands and imagination every night."

Julie held her breath, taking shallow, silent breaths. Her expression dimmed, and her legs were bricks.

"They'll put that mouth of yours to use too since it's shut all the time, may as well stuff it so you're useful for something. What do you even do outside of sch–"

“F-Fuck off, Ricky. Quit being a douche!” Julie gritted her teeth and pushed him with enough force in one hand to move him aside.

“Hey!” He leaned and shoved Julie onto the ground, which knocked her earphone out her ear.

It knocked the wind out of her upon her falling onto her side, and she'd pushed her arm out to break it, landing on her loose earphone.

Gasps and subtle giggles erupted around them but faded and reduced to silence shortly after.

Ricky stood over her. “You should quit acting like you’re too good for everyone just because you've got a face. That's all you have concealing the worst personality I've seen in a girl. You don't give a damn about anyone but yourself, and that makes you a bitch. It’s why no one likes you! I tried giving you a chance to redeem yourself.”

“Julie!?” Ricky turned around and saw Alyssa pacing toward them. He stormed off and bumped her shoulder while on his way.

Alyssa jogged to Julie and knelt beside her. “Julie..." Alyssa held her hand while Julie wiped her eyes filled with tears.

A handful of students or more still watched the ordeal.

Julie, Alyssa, and Ricky. All three ended up in the principal, Mr. Willams' office, located before the third corridor's stairs down an exclusive hall and dead end. They sat in chairs before his desk.

He was tall, chubby, and intimidating, with short blonde hair on a mostly bald head and glasses to top it off. He wore a dress shirt and khaki pants. “To summarize… Ricky, you shoved Julie to the floor because she pushed you with her hand, correct?”

Ricky nodded.

“And Julie, why’d you touch him?” The principal wore a stern glare; he was tall and held a natural intimidation factor.

Her cheeks were red and eyes glossy from crying on the way. “H-He wouldn't move. He was blocking my locker while insulting me so much..." She leaned against the chair, sniffling.

"And what did he say exactly?" Mr. Willam asked, eyeing all three with a focus on Julie.

"Uh." Julie glanced at Ricky from the side, whose eyes were down, then looked at the principal. "M-Mostly general taunting, referring to my appearance. I don't remember. There was a lot of commotion." She noticed Ricky take a couple of glances at her.

“Hm... Thank you both for cooperating. I'll try and get in contact with your parents shortly. On that note, I don't want you two interacting anymore, and Julie, you shouldn't have laid a hand on Ricky to begin with.”

Julie wanted to roll her eyes but instead nodded. He'd crushed her earphone after pushing her to the ground too. She was lucky she left one at home but preferred wearing her left.

Mr. Willam gave them punishment before dismissal, Ricky receiving a heavier one, a suspension for five days, while Julie only got two. She didn't want to see her school for a while anyway, so she'd take it.

He sent them both home early, and Alyssa went with Julie despite it meaning she'd miss a class. Julie couldn't find it in herself to thank Alyssa or even look her way, for that matter, but she was grateful for her company.

They were riding their bikes. Alyssa had a black one and rode it to school most of the time. She lived in Mahogany Town, east of Ecruteak, so she could walk the distance.

The journey through both routes and Goldenrod was utterly silent, filled only with nature and otherwise general city ambiance.

When they got to Julie’s house and stood in front of her porch, it was just as silent.

“You gonna be okay?” Alyssa faced her.

"Sure, I–" Julie cut herself short and pinched her eyes while firming her lips.

Alyssa opened her arms, and Julie didn't hesitate.

She took a step and fell into Alyssa's embrace.

Alyssa held her close and rubbed her back. "Just wish I'd have been there earlier to stop it..."

Julie started crying into her shoulder, holding back whimpers that came out as little mewls anyway.

“You’ll be okay.” Alyssa patted her back and continued rubbing.

Julie hugged her waist and stood there for another minute before pulling away. "I think I'm going to go to bed," Julie said between more sniffles. “Thank you again, Ali… I'll see you later."

"Oh, you will. Go get some rest. I'm gonna head back and get yelled at for being late to class. Love 'ya."

"You too." She wiped her eyes and turned to enter her home. Julie's mother was still at work, so she would break the news tomorrow. At least she wouldn't have to talk about it again today.

She dropped her broken earphone in the kitchen bin and trudged up to her room. Julie took off her shoes and pants after removing her items, unzipped her jacket and dropped it on the floor with her gloves, then lay in bed with her phone. She disabled the alarm for tomorrow before sliding it under her pillow.

Times like this were when she needed someone to hold onto for hours and reassure her that everyone was okay, that she was none of those awful things Ricky had called her. Julie's breaths hitched in her chest and came out as unpleasant whimpers while more tears welled in her eyes.

Her shallow breaths quickened while replaying him calling her a slut and describing the jocks using her body.

"Gh." She clutched the blanket as a deeper pain shot up her chest; she let out a quiet sob. All she had was Midnight, and he was at the school she'd been suspended from.

She glanced over past empty bottles and snack packs at the lone earphone on her shelf. She wouldn't take it on her next ride. Julie didn't know when she could again, but not anytime soon.

"They all f-frickin' hate me." She curled up on her side and closed her eyes, trying to take slow breaths through her mouth and regulate the shaky ones. "What did I do?"

---

After tireless thinking and off-and-on crying spells, Julie drifted to sleep and woke up every few hours until 8 p.m. That was when she'd finally fallen into a deep sleep. She managed to get enough hours in and woke up at 7 a.m. the next day to her mother's voice.

“Julie, are you up?" Her mother stood at the door to her daughter lying motionless in bed. Her eyes reflected a worrisome sorrow. "Julie?" She moved to take a step forward.

Julie sat up and rubbed her eyes, staring at her with a scratchy voice. "Good morning...”

Her mother shut her eyes and took a sigh, then focused back on Julie. "You slept in way too late. You were home early yesterday too."

"Yeah, I... uh, got suspended." She sat up and told her mother everything, every detail up to the insults.

“Absolutely not! We're going up there today; you did nothing to deserve suspension!" Her mother put her hand on her hip.

“N-No, Mom, I… please just let it go. I have three months left and want it to go as smoothly as possible," Julie pleaded.

She crossed her arms and sighed. "Fine... but that doesn't mean I won't give Willam a piece of my mind over call."

She grinned for a second. "Thank you, Mom."

---

Julie stayed in bed for hours in a state of desolation, using her dying device to scroll Veela and watch TV, which the news currently ran on.

She raised her head and looked at her door after hearing light knocking. "Come in..." she said, dull.

It opened; her mother entered with a steamy mug and a small plate with a fluffy croissant on it while approaching the bed. "I made you tea and a sweet croissant, sweetie. I thought it might make you feel better."

Julie watched her set them on the nightstand. She couldn't crack the slightest grin. "I appreciate it."

Her mother sighed and leaned over, reaching and brushing hair behind Julie's ear that had rested over her face. "Are you holding up?"

"Mhm." Julie sighed after her. "I just have to process everything."

She drew her fingertips over her daughter's cheek a few times. "I called Willam."

Julie looked up at her mother with soft eyes from her touch. "How'd it go?"

"Long story short, he knows you aren't anything close to an issue and outperform at that school. He claimed he suspended you both so you can distance and calm down. I'm just glad Ricky got a longer one."

A slight grin tugged at Julie's lips, though it didn't reach her weary eyes. "You didn't have to do that. Thank you."

Her mother leaned farther and planted a kiss on her cheek before standing. "I'd never allow them to walk all over you, Jule. I'll leave you be. Drink your tea before it cools."

"I will..." She watched her turn and head for the door. "Love you, Mom."

She looked back. "I love you too. I'll come back in a few," she said before leaving and shutting the door behind her.

Julie soon sat up and took the mug, blowing off the steam before taking a sip and staring at the green-tinted water. "I wonder what flavor..." It was strong with a bittersweet aftertaste.

She set it back on her stand and looked back at the TV, which she sucked her teeth at while the reporters covered crime after crime. "That's it."

Julie grabbed the remote and switched off the JohtoNN channel, putting on a random pokémedia series with Accordian subtitles after having watched story after story of negativity around the region for the last hour.

Pokémedia programs— or pokéshows, were entertainment developed strictly for pokémon spoken in their language. To achieve this, sets had a joint human and pokémon director. Characters consisted solely of pokémon, typically ferals, surrounding situations that pokémon and even human children were drawn to, which had been researched decades ago to optimize the corresponding shows and movies.

Julie found them cute and often simple, as they opposed complex narratives.

As for the news? Fatal car accidents and stabbings, muggings, robberies, arrests, and trial and error on the development of nuclear warheads that would shake the world if they came to be; protests against laws in regions, rising tension between Unova and the SNDA surrounding missile tests that Unova had concealed info on, and threats of conflict between a couple of others.

A man dying after being brutally attacked by an Onix in Union Cave, rangers raiding stores that acted as fronts for organized crime up in northern Goldenrod, a young girl in critical condition after being swarmed by beedrill on a route, reports of wild pokémon kidnapping or assaulting people and video clips of incidents when city surveillance caught them.

One was of a machoke breaking into a Goldenrod market near closing time on a main street and taking any food items it could get its hands on after knocking the cashier and a customer out cold. It had left them with fractures and one with a severe concussion. The authorities currently had the machoke in a holding facility.

The other was on a smaller street after midnight of a sandslash and growlithe who had been waiting in a nearby alley for a victim. It was a slim woman walking down the pavement. The sandlash darted out and slashed at the back of her legs to trip her while the growlithe then hopped onto her back and nipped at the back of her neck in against her struggle, where they then pulled her into the alley.

The clip cut there before displaying anything indecent. Both pokémon responsible were caught two days later and may be euthanized for their depraved actions. Incidents like that made Julie fear riding on routes even during the day, where pokémon acted twice as confident.

Everything was brutal, threatening, depressing, and full of pokémon and human suffering. They lost their lives constantly for reasons that shouldn't be, and it all happened— the most heinous of crimes, more often than she could even think and at every moment because of how massive the globe was.

It was all so grim and nonsensical, which was why Julie tried not to consume it often so it didn't affect her daily outlook. Her current mood didn't help.

It hurt to exist sometimes, even more so when she had to get up and go to the same school every day, knowing what environment she was walking into while never knowing what they had in store for her.

There had even been a section displaying a number of both everyday people and big-time traffickers guilty of recent sexual crimes against teens and women, quadrupedal pokémon, and abuse against bipedals, a couple taking place deep within routes, and the channel plastered their mugshots on-screen, which Julie had to look away from because she was one of those people. That could have been her on the screen for the world to see.

News stations aired segments like that frequently to humiliate criminals, raise awareness, and deter said crimes.

Julie used to watch, feel awful for the affected pokémon, and satisfied that the criminals were behind bars. Now she had to worry about herself because of what she'd done with Midnight.

She stared blankly as a sylveon on-screen comically smacked an umbreon's face repeatedly with its ribbons while shouting mild profanities. The umbreon sighed after the sylveon let up, peering with red cheeks.

Shortly, the scene cut to commercials.

Julie had yet to form an appetite or had the motivation to do anything, even take an antidepressant, which was a bit backward. She also needed to wash her clothes and repaint her nails since the color was fading, but she definitely wasn't going to the mall and didn't have it in her to go to the garage to load the machine.

At around 2 p.m., while she read a nonfiction book from her shelf of many against the wall, her phone vibrated continuously; Julie pulled it from under its usual spot. It was a call from Alyssa, which she sighed at before answering. “Hey," Julie said, sounding plaintive.

“Feeling any better?” Alyssa asked.

“Not much.”

“Good, c’mon. National Park at three.”

“Alyssa, I–”

“Nuh-uh, I don’t wanna hear it. You're lucky I didn't choose the beach. I’ll meet you there.” She hung up.

Julie set her phone down with a sigh. It was Friday, as they'd scheduled, and she could use some fresh air too.

Julie lived close to the beach, speaking of. It was around ten minutes southeast by car, which was why the climate was that much colder overall compared to if she lived farther up north.

The beach's nickname was 'The Mile Stretch' because it extended far east and west of Goldenrod until reaching a cut-off where its docks started. It practically encompassed the city's east half. Due to its size, there were sections of the beach considered 'good' and 'bad' depending on the district of the city it was in. Julie's was in a better one.

She remembered spending hours there with Alyssa throughout her teens, playing volleyball, buying ice cream, and having fun in the waves. Julie didn't have the urge to do as much anymore unless Alyssa dragged her down there too, so her volleyball sat alone in the closet.

She got up and slid her book back into its slot. It was called 'The World's Most Successful Tropic,' with a high-resolution picture of Alola's four islands on its cover. It was about the initial discovery and explanation of the Alola region and its exclusive pokémon that had taken place hundreds of years ago.

The book detailed its history up until what it was today: one of the most powerful and prosperous first-world regions with the fourth largest and most robust economy behind Galar in third. Unova held second on the economic scale with an annual GDP that would be more than difficult to top, and Kalos was runner-up for fourth, so Alola had to stay on top of its development.

Alola used to rely heavily on tourism and agriculture through berries, as it was one of the world's largest exporters, on top of financial aid from first-world regions to grow its economy. After several decades of utilizing its funds to develop the region's infrastructure with a stern focus on Hau'oli and Akala, it was now a contemporary spectacle in appearance and from how it operated within to maximize cash flow.

Tourism and agriculture were still a main and vital source of Alola's income, but they were no longer its only source. It allowed the region to expand on its own, from five-star hotels to its famous shopping mall considered to be one of the best in the world. Construction was a growing and massive industry that employed thousands as Alola's government laid out more projects by the year to expand the region.

To this day, the government filtered money into improving education and quality of life for its citizens. It also built upon the Shopping District in Hau'oli City and the Hano Grand Resort in Heahea to draw in tourists by outsourcing popular corporations and restaurants to bring their business to Alola.

Captain Adrian Bay had discovered the islands while on an expedition with his crew transporting goods from Kanto to Sinnoh. A brutal storm during nightfall had thrown their ship off track, bringing them upon four mysterious and uninhabited islands that the crew was eager to explore at the following dawn. They did, mainly what is now called Melemele Island, and noted riveting details on paper of the island's layout and new pokémon the world had never seen.

After a day of exploration, before the next nightfall, Captain Bay called everyone and the crew's pokémon back to the ship, and they sailed the rest of the way to Sinnoh, a two-day journey from their current location. They'd told the government of their find, who'd sent groups of historians, researchers, and a couple of professors, who had stationed across all islands weeks later. They created toponyms for the islands and locations to talk about and refer to amongst themselves, many of which were kept to this day.

Julie couldn't imagine being responsible for discovering a region or island unknown to humanity and along with, new pokémon and berry types. That would be a grand accomplishment. It had to be out there.

Julie had read the one-thousand-page book several times before, but it enthralled her every time. History amazed her.

It didn't aim to predict past events but to expand horizons and open modern minds to limitless possibilities that proved anything could happen at any moment, but also that the future was more or less in the people's control, dependent on the decisions they made and the trajectory they took. There were decades where nothing happened and weeks where decades happened. A life-changing localized or worldwide historical event, for better or worse, was brewing at this very instant and could take place the next day or a decade from now.

After reading that work, she was imbued with a sense of exploration. She wanted to go on an adventure. Julie sat back on her bed and eyed her wall map. "Where would you go?..." She grinned a little. "What if you biked to..." She shifted her eyes to Kanto. "Viridian."

Julie crawled over and sat on her knees before the map, raising her hand and pressing her index finger on Goldenrod. "I'd go north, so..." She started drawing her finger up. "I'm riding through Violet, Cherry, New Bark, the border... up twenty-six..." She stopped her finger at her destination and tapped it. "Viridian. That'd take days, but it'd be amazing," Julie whispered, then moved off the bed and sighed.

In listless motions, she put on the same clothes and took her jacket off the floor, shaking it out before putting it on again. She also fixed her hair in the restroom to appear presentable before heading to the park.

Julie went on foot this time in hopes that it'd make her feel better. It was warmer than usual underneath a blue sky dotted with clouds, too, making it more enjoyable to be out. She almost wanted to take off her jacket, but she needed it more than ever. She was glad the park was close by. It was slightly north of Route 35, next door to Goldenrod.

While walking, her posture more slouched than usual, a familiar melody on loop echo and filled the street with vivid nostalgia. Julie stopped and turned her head, watching an ice cream truck drive slowly down the road and pass her. She eyed the stickers under the window displaying what options it sold, from pops styled after various popular pokémon like pikachu and eevee to soft serve.

Julie couldn't help but grin. She'd memorized its schedule years ago and used to wait outside for that truck with her parents after school every other day when it came.

She also spotted a paper beside a few garage sales and for-hire ones stapled to a lamppost near the curb and double-glanced before stopping before it. It showed a photo of an eevee atop a bed; above it read 'Missing Pokémon,' detailing its name, gender, a phone number, and a 10,000 pokédollar reward for finding her. "Poor Bara." Julie would keep the eevee in mind in case she saw it, but if Bara got out of the neighborhood, well, Goldenrod was massive.

Upon leaving her area, Julie strolled downtown among countless people and noisy traffic. She slipped past and between bodies that occupied the sidewalk, keeping to the side by buildings with her eyes on her feet more often than not. She noticed more posters on telephone poles and wondered how many districts Bara's family had gone to.

She walked by a group of teens hanging out with drinks in their hands. Julie stuffed her hands in her pockets and kept her head down, bumping a woman's shoulder and glancing back. "Uh, sorry," she said as they met eyes, but the woman turned without acknowledgment.

---

After Julie left her city in over two hours, eventually forcing herself to take a bus, she was halfway through Route 37. Her calves throbbed, which told her she needed to walk more often. Julie had to do more than pedal, but her conditioning over the years allowed her to walk longer distances with little trouble.

She was also sweating under her jacket after so many miles of strolling, so she held the bottom with both hands and lifted it, shaking it out to let the air hit her upper body.

She'd taken residential streets through Goldenrod when possible on the way to avoid the commotion of main roads and had walked through one of the best and calmest neighborhoods in the city, where Jane resided.

The homes were huge, modern, and fancy with multiple stories, the cars were nice, and the wider roads and greenery were all upkept and perfect. Some houses had closed yards behind fences, organized trees, shrubs, and flower patches, while others were open with trimmed lawns and a couple of tall trees.

People sauntered the sidewalks with their pokémon, children, or families, strolled, or jogged. Many kept to themselves, but some gave her quick greetings.

Vibrant lavender and flower trees, willows, grass, and bushes lined the pavement in abundance and were present in yards as well. The air was fresher too. At least it seemed that way, and there tended to be more wild pokémon around because the area was closer to the outskirts, such as sentret and hoothoot when evening came. It brought some natural ambiance to the neighborhood.

Julie had even seen a chikorita wandering in yards once. She only ever saw pidgey and purrloin in her area, if that.

The commercial area surrounding the neighborhood was just as classy, with plazas full of pricey restaurants, affluent stores, and a massive shopping mall full of the same. It was also home to one of the best hospitals in the Accord.

Every building was clean and modern in appearance, and the service was great the few times her mother had taken them over to eat or shop. The Goldenrod Aquarium was also around that area.

Back to the Route, only a few people were on it, sauntering or training their pokémon. She saw one leaning to pat their spearow's feathers, and a serious male trainer commanding their pichu to slice a bundle of tall grass with an attack.

It only brought Julie's mind back to Midnight. She imagined taking him to shops in Goldenrod or exploring nature among routes like these. The smallest things would be fun and bond them further. They were unrealistic fantasies but lovely to think about, and for a second, it filled her with fuzz.

After leaving the route in around ten minutes, Julie entered the park and looked around for Alyssa among crowds. She spotted her sitting on the large water fountain's edge, shaped like a pokéball, at the epicenter and went to sit by her. She glanced at people standing around and chatting, buying bagged cotton candy from a man pushing a cart, and at some wild eevee by the park's edge.

It was a spacious area with flower bushes, grass, and lamp posts lining the park's outskirts where people walked its trail while the center was all pavement. Adjacent to the trail on its outer end was a soccer field, two tennis courts with people hitting balls back and forth, and a brick building where one picked up equipment.

Pokémon here tended to roam about freely. They weren't as afraid of humans but typically stayed away from the center.

“So you came.” Alyssa grinned and crossed her legs, glancing at Julie's hands. "What's with the gloves? Saw you with them earlier."

“Mom bought me them..." Julie said and looked to watch the active fountain. "I’ve been thinking nonstop myself."

“About what exactly?”

“Well, some of the things Ricky said to me. I'm wondering if they're true."

“I mean, if you have to question yourself, I think it’s either because he got into your head, or you may have a few things to think about, not that it was right... Can I know exactly what he said to you? If you remember?"

Julie swallowed. "He... called me a slut because of what I wore, described himself and the jocks dominating me... About my personality and the way I carry myself. He called me a loser and a bitch for it because I rejected his advances two days before."

"The fuck?" Alyssa stared at Julie. "Why didn't you say any of that in the office? He was literally harassing and provoking you."

"Alyssa, please... I probably still would have gotten suspension, and I didn't want to drag that on. It'd get parents involved and become this huge thing."

She put a hand up and scoffed. "You don't know whether you would have gotten suspension, and it is a huge thing! You can't just let him spit on and abuse you like that, Julie. He's getting off easy, and now he knows you won't book him for it."

"I want to be done, okay?" More tears threatened to form that she held back, although her voice wavered. "Just about everyone at that frickin' school looks down on me. Do you think me taking care of one person will change anything? I just want to get through this and graduate..."

"Julie..." Alyssa looked down momentarily. "Alright." She set a hand on Julie's arm. "Then we'll do that. I got you, okay?"

Julie nodded with a sniffle. Ricky had definitely gotten into her head, but she couldn't rule out everything. Then again, she was as nice as could be to everyone when she chose to interact with them. Julie was out of three pencils and five pens because of Jane, for crying out loud.

“Oh, and speaking of, what was with that getup you recently wore, anyway?”

Julie sucked in her lips. "Let's save that for another time. I still want to know what this show was that kept you up all night."

"That? It's a mystery action exclusively on this new movie and show streaming service called Hitz. They've got a limited-time promotion going on to lure customers that lets you sign up for six hundred fifty. Kind of insane. I'll text you the info later so you can sign in under my account if you want."

"I'd like that. How much have you watched, though, and what is it called?"

"The entire first season, six eppies. Ate it up like spearow wings. You can take your time watching and tell me what you think since the second season isn't even announced yet. Title is Passion Bullet."

Julie was more of the drama and romance type, but she could appreciate a good action series. "I'll check it out. Thanks... and thank you for dragging me out here. I needed it. It felt like I was drowning in my bed."

"I know you needed it. That's why you're here."