Thank you NyxAbsol for the fab cover! ^^ I superduperadore it!

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I've been with Rachel for about two months now. It's actually pretty funny; I've experienced lots of emotions I'd never thought I'd feel again--happiness, disappointment, excitement, jealousy, and contentment--the good as well as the bad.

And love. Let's not forget the most important thing I've felt. I guess love falls somewhere in between right and wrong. It stands on its own. It can be good or bad--it all depends on us, on how we think of it.

Me, you ask? For me, love is somewhere in the gray, sandwiched between white and black. Knowing I love someone and knowing that that someone loves me back makes me happy. For once, I felt just how warm and cozy love could be.

Rachel had no plans of going on a Pokémon journey. No matter how disappointed I may be, I'm still happy. At least I was out of that drab pound.

Sometimes I'd feel jealous because Rachel would bring home another Pokémon--one time a Purrloin, one time a Shinx, and one time a Torchic. "Pokésitting," she explained hastily to me, smiling wryly at my jealous expression. "For some extra cash." I had no idea what Pokésitting was, but I was sure I didn't like it.

There were other times when I'm so excited that I can't sleep. Not even my technique, the one I so precariously taught myself, wouldn't work. Apparently excitement was a powerful foe against my special little ability. Then Rachel'd take me for a walk or for some ice cream the next day and the excitement would evaporate. Only the happiness would remain.

And I trusted Rachel. Oh, if only you knew just how much I do! If she tells me to jump off a cliff in order to save my life, I would. No matter how absurd it may sound.

So when she told me that a friend of hers would be coming over later that night and that I'd like him, I trusted her.

Excitement coursed through my veins as I waited for evening to come. I looked over at the window. The sun was setting high up in the air. Evening was still a long way off.

I had told myself firmly that I wouldn't fall asleep. But my resolve weakened, because the next thing I knew, I came to the sound of the doorbell ringing.

Confused, I looked over at the window again.

The sun was gone and the streetlights outside were shining brightly.

Suddenly, I knew it was Rachel's friend who was ringing the doorbell. Barking excitedly, I bounded towards the door, wanting to meet him right away.

"Lillipup!" Rachel laughed as she came in the living room, obviously on her way to open the door. "You're more excited than I am!"

I barked in reply to her statement, and then sat down and watched her intently. Something was off about Rachel's face. Her lips were supposed to be a lightish-pink color... Why were they a deep shade of red now? Her eyes became a bit darker, her face a bit too white, and her cheeks were practically drowning in light-pink powder.

I tilted my head. She looked a lot prettier today, that was for sure, but I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. I liked to see my hero looking prettier than she usually did, but I didn't like the way it made her look different, like she was a different person than the Rachel that I knew.

Rachel opened the door to reveal a boy about her age standing on the doorstep. I barked excitedly and stood up, my tongue lolling on one side of my mouth.

"David, you came!" Rachel exclaimed, and I notice that her voice is about three octaves higher than her usual voice. I didn't like it one bit. I barked again.

"Of course I did." David replied. His voice was deep, and showed masculinity in every way. Rachel took a few steps backward.

"Well then, come in."

David did what she said, stomping on the welcome mat as he did so. I felt myself twitch with fear. Rachel had just cleaned that mat earlier this morning, and she hated it whenever I'd step on that mat. He was going to get scolded by her for sure!

Only, Rachel didn't seem to mind. She closed the door for him, and smiled--a little too sweetly for my own liking--at him, her cheeks rosier than ever. I continued to watch intently, my tail wagging expectantly.

Only, David didn't even seem to notice that I was there. "Is dinner ready?" He asked right off, staring straight at Rachel.

"O-of course! Right this way!" Rachel gestured towards the dining room, and that was when I made up my mind.

I would try and get his attention.

With a loud bark, I ran up towards David and playfully rolled over on his leather boots. I was sure he was going to notice me right then, because I was at my cutest when I played. Rachel told me so.

And he did notice me. Just not in the way I'd hoped.

"Get off me!" The boy screeched, shaking on his boot. Surprised, I backed off, whimpering. David shot me a look I knew was a glare, and he muttered, "Stupid mutt."

That did it. I started barking at him, anger vibrating from all over my body. I was contemplating whether or not I should bite him, when I felt Rachel's hands clamp around me tightly.

I gave out a whimper, cringing in pain as my Trainer's grip on me tightened even more. I looked up and saw Rachel's eyes, usually filled with kindness and mirth, be filled with an emotion I couldn't place.

"Lillipup, David's right; You're acting like a stupid mutt." That hurt.

And that was when I got thrown into the bedroom that Rachel and I shared. I turned around to show Rachel how sorry I was...

...And had the door slammed in front of me.

The lock clicked.

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