Chespin's POV:

After finishing my second berry, I hurry to one of the berry bushes and pick another large berry. I'm about to eat it as well when out of the corner of my eye I notice Sophie cocking her head when Squishy refused the berry she offered it.

Bonnie was right; I guess I do have a thing for Eevees. First Sylveon, then May's Glaceon (she wasn't at all interested in even being friends so I gave that up fast), now Sophie. But I think I have a better chance with Sophie than I ever did with Sylveon since she's not scared of me like Sylveon was. And there's no Bunnelby in the way this time. Actually, I think she might like me back.

When she leaves Squishy I walk over to her, the berry still in my hands. "Hey, Sophie!" I smile. "Oh, hi, Chespin!" She smiles back. Wow, that smile...

"Uh... Uh... this is for you!" I hold out the berry. "Aw, thanks!" She nuzzles me. I know it's probably just her being friendly, but I go bright red anyway, making her giggle. She takes the berry and eats it. I watch her, a huge dumb grin on my face. I hear Bonnie making a remark about how I'm 'at it again', but I don't really listen.

That Poipole floats down next to me. "So what do you think of Sophie?" It asks cheerily. "Back off, she's mine," I tell it. "What?" Poipole tilts their head. "We can both be her friend, though. She was my friend first."

"You're as dense as Ash," I sigh. Then Poipole understands what I mean and starts laughing. "What's so funny?" I snap defensively. "Sophie wouldn't like you as more than a friend! She just doesn't seem to do that! Especially since you're not a wild Pokémon!"

"What does me having a Trainer have to do with anything?" I ask, confused now. What could be the problem? Clemont isn't that bad.

"She's been scared of humans ever since an incident happened a while back," Poipole explained. "She's working on it, which is why she let that blonde girl pet her, but normally she won't let humans touch her unless she's known them for a while and she knows they won't hurt her. The only reason the girl got to touch her is because I told her that everyone here was alright."

"What incident are you talking about?"

"I... it's not my place to say," Poipole shakes its head. "Don't ask Sophie about it, okay? It'll just upset her."

"A-Alright," I nod, confused. What incident could he be talking about? "But why would that mean she wouldn't like me as more than a friend?"

"Because she knows you'll have to leave with your Trainer and she wouldn't be up to getting caught as well," Poipole explains. "And she wouldn't want to make you choose between her and all your friends."

With that, Poipole drifts off again, leaving me sad because I know it has a point. Sophie's scared of Trainers, why would she want to be caught by one.

I look over at Sophie, who's chatting to Sylveon and May's Glaceon. I guess she's a fan of Eeveelutions... like me. Heh.

I come over to them all. "... so get ready for Chespin," Glaceon is saying, making me stop. They're talking about me? I decide to listen in to find out what they have to say.

"Why should I be worried about him?" Sophie asks in confusion. "Chespin's nice, don't think he's not," Sylveon smiled. "But he's a little... extra nice to Eevees, know what I mean?"

"... are you saying he has a crush on me?"

"Yup," Glaceon nods. "It's sickening, isn't it?"

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Glaceon.

"I don't think it's 'sickening' at all," Sophie shakes her head, much to my excitement. "I think it's sweet. We can't really act on anything, though, so that's a bit of a problem."

My excitement fades, but I still have a smile on my face. She thinks I'm sweet. That's at least progress, right?

"Well do you like him back?" Sylveon asked curiously. "It's much too early to tell," Sophie shakes her head. "I don't like anyone on first fight. Not in that way, I mean. If we hung out more, I might like him and I might not, but right now I can't really decide anything."

"That's actually really sensible," Sylveon nods approvingly. "Chespin could really do with a win, you know. I was pretty scared of him as an Eevee. I was scared of everyone, but he was always really loud and energetic so he scared me the most. I only trusted Bunnelby at first."

"Why did you trust Bunnelby?" Sophie asked, looking at the rabbit. He noticed, smiled and waved at Sophie, then went back to his chat with Luxray. "He seems really nice, but what made you trust him more than the others?"

"Well... if I say, I could get him into a bit of trouble," Sylveon giggled nervously. "Especially with Chespin, apparently."

What. Did. That. Bunny. Do?

"Did anyone get hurt?"

"No, of course not!"

"Then I won't tell."

"Okay, I'll tell you," Sylveon agreed. "So after Serena - my Trainer, the girl over there with that boy - saw me, I ran away, but everyone decided to try and find me again. One way they tried to do this was setting out Poképuffs so that I'd come over and try to eat them."

Hey, I remember this!

Wait...

Oh, she did not...

"I noticed them all and snuck over to one of the Poképuffs when they were all looking the other way. Bunnelby noticed me, but instead of telling the others like he was supposed to, he told me to enjoy the Poképuff and then pretended not to notice me. Chespin kept trying to take the Poképuffs, so he got the blame. He's always stealing Poképuffs. He loves food."

"Grr! Bunnelby!!!"

I start chasing Bunnelby around, angry. I got the blame because he wasn't doing what he was supposed to! That jerk!

While Bunnelby ran away from me, confused but knowing better than to stay still, I noticed Sophie chasing after us, laughing her little head off, clearly thinking this was all a fun game.

Honestly, this was enough to calm me down, but who am I to spoil her fun?