*Bella's POV*

I lay comfortably on the couch, reading a book. Emily walked past in a hurry. She frantically packed her saddle bags. There was bounce in her step and a song on her lips. She hummed quietly as she ran back and forth. She was excited because we're going to the beach for the weekend. Dash and his family are going with us, but...

"Em," I said quietly.

She stopped humming and looked at me expectantly. "Hm?"

"I... I'm not coming to the beach."

Emily frowned. "Why not? Are you sick?"

"No, I'm fine. I just... I don't really like the beach. You go have fun though."

"But..."

"I'm really sorry Em."

"Oh... Okay... Will you be alright by yourself?"

"I'll be fine."

"Okay then."

"Don't worry about me. Go have fun."

"Well... bye then."

"Bye."

Emily tossed her bags over her back, tightened the waist straps and smiled at me one last time before walking from the house. I watched her go with a sad smile and a sigh.

******

*Dash's POV*

"Everyone ready?"

"Yip!" Said Bambi.

"Uh-huh," answered Chris.

"YES! Give me the beach! Woohoo!" Shouted Sophie.

I chuckled and shook my head. "We're just waiting on Bella and Emily. They'll be here soon."

"Actually... Bella isn't coming."

I turned around and saw Emily smiling sadly.

I frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No, she just doesn't much like the beach."

"Oh. Oh well, that's too bad."

I grunted as Sophie jumped on my back. She leaned over my head and I couldn't see her winking at Emily.

"Dashy! Bellie's going to be SOOO bored! You should stay and keep her company."

"Huh? Why me?"

"Because!"

Emily smiled gently. "Don't worry about it. I'll stay here with her. We can do something else another time."

I sighed. I couldn't let Emily stay here while we were out having fun... and besides, this might earn me a few brownie points.

I smiled at her. "Don't worry. I'll stay here with Bella."

Emily's eyes lit up. "Would you?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, no problem."

"Thank you!"

She hugged me tightly and I blushed furiously. Huh, who knew she wanted to go to the beach that badly? Emily broke the hug and looked at me with a huge smile.

"No mummy or daddy?" Said a small voice.

I turned and saw Bambi looking at me with big sad eyes. I laughed and hugged her.

"Don't worry. You're going to have lots of fun with Sophie, Chris and Emily. Alright?"

Bambi looked at the ground and didn't say anything. I chuckled and tilted her head until she was looking at me.

"Hey, I'll see you again tomorrow afternoon. And I'll have had plenty of time to think of awesome bedtime stories!"

Bambi tried not to smile but she couldn't help it. A little grin snaked its way onto her sad face. She nodded.

Emily thanked me again and they all walked away. I waved at their retreating figures. When they'd gone, I finally realised the position I was in. I was going to be spending the weekend with Bella. I groaned, and then I scolded myself. It's all for Emily. It's all for Emily. It's all for...

My head tilted in confusion. My ears flopped to the side and I found myself thinking. Since I'd met the girls, I'd spent more time with Bella than Emily. And the Glaceon wasn't so bad. She's not as violent as she was before. She's actually funny and kinda smart. And, full disclosure here, she's pretty cute. Maybe this weekend won't be so bad after all.

I walked back to the house, emptied my saddlebags and repacked with other things I might need: A book. Some games. A few band-aids (just in case). I looked around with a satisfied smile. I was prepared for a weekend with Bella.

I locked up the house before turning down the road and walking towards Bella's. I let my mind wander and enjoyed the stroll. It didn't take me long to get there.

I knocked on the door and a moment later Bella answered.

She frowned in confusion. "What?"

"Yo."

I walked past her and into the house. I took my bag off and dropped it on the table.

"Hey! What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be at the beach?"

"Change of plans. Everyone else has gone to the beach. I'm babysitting."

Bella fumed. "Babysitting? Emily asked you to watch me?!"

"She didn't want you to get lonely."

"Right, she'd rather condemn me to a weekend of mindless chatter."

"It was either me or her. Did you really want her to stay behind because of you?"

Bella was silent for a moment. She glared at me. I smirked at her. I'd won this one.

"So, what do you want to do?" I asked.

"I'm going to read. You can go home or whatever. I don't care."

"Aw, don't be like that. Come on Bells, we're friends, right?" I teased.

She gave me a blank stare. "Not in your wildest dreams."

I chuckled and walked closer. "Say what you will. You mightn't admit it, but we both know the truth. All the teasing, the nagging, how much we see each other? Doesn't that make us friends?"

"It makes you a stalker."

"Under that cold exterior you're a softy."

"What did you call me?"

"S-O-F-T-Y. You're a softy."

Bella glared at me and for a second, I thought she was gonna freeze me solid (again), but then her glare fell. Now she just looked sad.

"Dash... please leave."

"No."

"Why not!?" She yelled.

"Because I stayed behind to keep you company. I don't want you getting lonely."

"Why do you even care?"

"Because I've seen this before."

"Seen what?"

I moved into the loungeroom and jumped onto one of the couches. I lay down and gestured to Bella. She sighed and jumped onto a couch opposite me.

I smiled gently. "You're scared of something."

"What makes you think that?"

"Like I said, I've seen it before. What's got you worried?"

Bella looked at the floor and didn't say anything.

I could understand the situation she's in. "You should find someone to talk to. If not me, Emily or Pearl perhaps. All progress starts with the truth. Others can help if you let them."

Bella didn't move and didn't say anything. I stretched and jumped from the couch.

"I'll show myself out. If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

"Wait!"

I stopped walking and looked at her. She had been staring at the ground but now she fixed me with an icy glare.

"If you ever mention any of this, I'll deny it and then I'll kill you."

"Huh, subtle."

I jumped back onto my couch and smiled at her. She sighed tiredly.

"Emily and I have been alone for a long time. We hardly remember our parents. We were always moving and just trying to survive, but now... we finally have a place of our own. We have friends."

She looked at me with a sad smile. "We're not alone. Emily's happy now. She's good with Pokémon and everyone likes her but... not me. Heh, the first time we met I was rude to you. Shouting and whatnot. I'm not used to having friends or a home. I don't know how to do it. I'm trying. I really am, but I just don't..."

I chuckled. "Feel better?"

"A bit."

"Good. Now keep going. What is it that you feel you can't tell anyone?"

"I've never had a friend before. I don't know what it is to have a friend or how to make one."

"I said it before, and I'll say it again: We're friends."

"But why? How? What makes us friends?"

"I don't know!" I laughed. "But does it matter? You don't need a reason! A friend is a choice. Sometimes an unspoken agreement!"

"I don't know..."

"Hey, trust me. It's what a friend would do."

Bella glared at me. I laughed and shook my head. I rolled onto my back and smiled at her.

"Anything else you wanna talk about?"

"You may be my first friend, but you drive me crazy."

I grinned. "Now you're getting it."