Soaring through the clouds, Laria felt the cooling breeze brush past her and play with her long, wavy hair. She was riding on her Salamence, one of her very favorite pastimes nowadays. Before she had thought it a waste of time, time that could be used for other things, things like trying to figure out how to impress Aaron, doing homework, taking care of the rest of her Pokemon, and, yes, trying to figure out how to impress Aaron. Now, though, she knew that relaxation was something that she needed badly.

Ah, yes, Aaron. He was sooo shy the first time I met him, she thought. But I was shy, too. Now she urged her Salamence higher, faster, and closer to the sky and the sun. All she wanted to do was stay up there all the time and fly, fly away from her worries and cares and dreams, all those worldly things everybody was supposed to think about. But up there, nothing bad could ever reach her, her and her Salamence.

She sighed, though, and still thought of her boyfriend. I wonder if I really love Aaron, she wondered. Maybe I'm just fooling myself and just think I love him. Laria still thought that it was very sweet when, in junior high, Aaron had said that he liked her and she admitted she liked him back. After that, all her friends had teased her for a while, until they realized the couple was getting serious.

They were surprised when we announced we were going on a date, she mused. Really surprised. I wonder what they're doing now. Probably flirting with hot guys or out at the mall picking out girly T-shirts or studying for that test...

Aaah! The test! Quickly she told her Salamence to land on the ground again, to which he responded with a humanlike sigh and a sharp spiral down toward Earth, her homework, and her boyfriend.

When Laria got off her Pokemon, she felt heavy and burdened again, not like when she was soaring through the sky without a care. Still, she knew it was necessary for her to go home and live out the rest of her life. Then, she saw Aaron.

The two of them literally threw themselves into each other's arms for what seemed like an eternity. Then, they let go. "Where were you?" he asked. Seeing the disgruntled Flying/Dragon Pokemon standing to one side, he answered himself. "Oh, out flying." Laria suddenly remembered what she had forgotten to give him this morning and leaned over quickly to give him a small, well, you know.

"Is that for me?" he laughed playfully. "Who else?" the girl replied. Walking back to the Pokemon pens where Aaron worked, the young couple chatted about their day. However, Laria never once mentioned the thoughts she had had while drifting among the clouds.

Late at night, Laria started thinking again. She knew that it was possible that she really truly loved Aaron, but she knew that what she was feeling was most likely just false affections. She sighed and rolled over in her bed, resolving that she would do what she had waited to do all these years she had known Aaron-- in the morning.

The next morning was a bright and sunny one, perfect for a picnic in the park. The Pidgeys and Spearows were happy and content, and the Ledyba crawled around joyfully while soaking in the beautiful scene. Laria, though, felt a bit nervous as she prepared her breakfast and Aaron's. When she heard footsteps coming, she quickly tried to straighten up that awful, messy, bedhead/flew-on-my-Salamence-yesterday hair. However, the sound she had heard was only the footsteps of her adopted sister, Sheila. Phew, she thought, relaxing a bit. "Why're you so nervous?" Sheila asked. "Uh, I'm not nervous!" her older sister answered. How does she tell?! Laria almost wanted to scream from all the pressure.

Then, finally, Aaron walked in looking equally nervous and stressed. Gee, wonder why both of them are nervous today, Sheila thought. Guess it's none of my business.

Laria and Aaron were both too scared by themselves to notice that the other was looking very, um, different today. But anyway, they tried to start with a casual conversation.

Aaron: So, uh, did you go outside yet?

Laria: Uh, not yet.

Aaron: It's nice outside.

Laria: Yeah. Sure looks like it is.

Laria thinking: How come I can't make decent conversation today, of all days?

Aaron: Lots of Pokemon outside.

Aaron thinking: She must think I'm so weird today!

Laria and Aaron thinking: I've gotta do it now.

Laria and Aaron: I love you!

After this, you can imagine that Sheila threw up, Laria and Aaron kissed, blah, blah-blah, blah-blah. Whatever. And they lived happily ever after.

No, they didn't! But it was still a pretty good ending. What really happened was this.

Laria and Aaron, for a moment, were frozen in time. In that moment, all they could think about was the other person. In that moment, they knew that the only one they could ever love was the other person. In that moment, they knew that they would soon have to kiss. And they did.

"Eeew! Do you guys know that I'm still here?!?!" cried poor Sheila. "I've been here watching you guys since the stuff started, and I think I've had enough of it." She hurried off to the restroom to, yeah, throw up. Now the story ended.

-------

Liked it? I'm gonna make another romance fic centered around Sheila now! *evil cackle* Remember, reviews, reviews, reviews!