Piers finished packing around 6:15. He didn’t get why his friends- er- these people- wanted HIM to go camping with them. He always turned anything good into some terrible incident. Piers didn’t want friends..... Even if those three were always there for him.... even when he first started his Pokémon adventure. He tried to get it out of his head, but the same thought kept coming up. *Do they... Care for me...?”

Piers didn’t want them to....... he didn’t need them to. I could take care of himself fine. He’s taken care of his father, mother, and sister, ever since he entered the Pokémon challenge. But now it’s easier since his mom disappeared over 14 years ago, and his father shot himself. Piers always hated his father......he couldn’t be trusted.... got drunk every night... Piers shook his head. *Stop thinking about that no good piece of sh*t. Your better off alone anyway.* He picked up his bag and Pokémon then headed out the door. He then sighed. *This is gonna be a loooong night....*

He walked back to Hammerlocke and looked at the sunset. “That.....is a little nice.....” He smiles and remembered when he was happy...Back when his family and friends were having meaningless fun... “Heh.....” Piers looked out the entrance and walked down the steps. He immediately noticed Leon kissing Sonia. *A lot has definitely changed...* He kept walking then when he got at least 6 feet in their space, he decided to be a give a surprise appearance. “Alright, when you punks are done makin’ out, we can go.” Raihan immediately lifted his head at Piers voice. “You came!” He just looked at the dragon eyed giant. “I may have changed a lot, but I still keep my word Rai.“ Raihan just nodded and picked his stuff up. “Lee, Sonia,” He looked back at the long black and white haired man. “Piers. Let’s get camping!”

Raihan had sped ahead, running to the campsite he picked. Lee and Sonia going after him. Piers, walking behind them, not wanting to have attention. He kept walking until he heard whimpering. “Huh?” He looked around not seeing anything, but then a moving bush caught his eye. “That’s weird.......” He set his stuff down, then walked over to investigate. Piers was sure to be careful, just in case it was a trick. He peeked in the bush, and his eyes widened. A pink ringed umbreon, with claws marks, bites, and tears. Piers immediately picked it up and examined it. “Oh my....... you need the Pokémon center-“ The mention of the Pokémon center made the umbreon freak out and start wiggling a lot. “Ok, OK! No Pokémon center.... I’ll heal you myself....” He picked up his stuff and headed after Raihan and the others.

Piers got there, to see his friends were all set up and Sonia was already cooking. He walked by them and started to set up his. He had set a blanket on the ground for the injured umbreon. “Hey Piers! Need some help setting up?” *Stupid dragon.......but I guess I could use it..* “......fine....” Raihan started to help out with the structure of the tent while Piers tended to the pink umbreon. Raihan took notice of what Piers was doing. “Hey, what are you doing?” He didn’t really feel like answering, so he leans out of the way of Rai’s sight so he could see the Pokémon. “Oh arceus! How did it get hurt that bad?” Piers sighed and just kept working on it. Knowing Piers didn’t want to talk with him, Raihan went back to helping with the tent.

Piers started to blush, he didn’t notice till Raihan commented on it. “Hey Piers, you’re turning a bit red.” He immediately covered his face with his hair. “N-no I’m not, you jerk.....” Raihan turned away and sighed. “Right....” As soon as he realized Raihan was hoping for some thing, Piers felt guilt build up in him. “........sorry......” Hearing this made Raihan tilt his head. “Did you just say...Sorry? To me??” Piers immediately regretted saying that. “F-f**k off....*

“Wow...That’s got to be the nicest thing you’ve said to me in a long time.” Raihan smiled, while Piers heart sank. *How long has it been since I’ve cared for someone other than my sister....? ........I’m that terrible of a person, aren’t I........* Piers sighed. “Yeah....” He finished healing the Umbreon and picked it up. “What shall I call you......” The umbreon lifted her head and licked Piers face. “How about..... Candy?” The umbreon nodded and smiled. Raihan watched this and it lifted his spirits. *Piers is really kind when it comes to Pokémon and kids.......* He finished setting up the tent and he put Piers bag in there. “Everything’s set up now Piers. You wanna help me find berries, or you wanna help Sonia cook?” Piers thought for a second. “I’ll stay and help. I’ll have to take care of Candy for now. I can’t let her roam around with her injured self.”

Raihan nodded and walked off, grabbing Leon. “You’re helping me, but don’t wander off.” Sonia looked at Piers. “So......it’s been a long time since we’ve had cook out..” Piers tried to make her feel comfortable. “Yeah..... I guess it has, mate....” Sonia stirred the pot. “Yeah.... Piers.... Did you forget about me over the years? Because a couple weeks ago you had to ask for my name....” His heart sank more. “I......I’m sorry.......You just looked two different....” Sonia lit up. “Oh. It’s fine! Don’t worry Piers. At least I remembered you. Maybe we could sing some songs tonight to cheer you up?” He looked up. “I...I would like that.” She smiled and walked over. “I remember how cute and sassy your sister was when we first met her.” Piers snickered. “Yeah.... slapped Rai’s hand when he tried to touch her....” Sonia laughed. “It was adorable. And how cute and sensitive you were when she did that. ‘O-oh! I-I’m sorry! She I-isn’t really o-ok with p-people touching her’” Piers lightly punched her arm.

“I did not sound like that!” Sonia giggled more. “Yeah. It was definitely higher pitched and you apologized more than once.” He rolled his eyes and pet Candy. “I guess I was a bit of a fragile person back then.” She had gotten back up to stir the curry. “Though, what changed you Piers?” He was caught off guard by that question. “....I guess I just felt like I needed to toughen up....” Sonia looked sympathetic. “But you could’ve just asked us to-“ Piers stopped her mid sentence. “I didn’t need to interrupt your lives, Sonia. I was too shy and I needed to toughen up on my own...” Sonia just nodded. “I get it. We’re all just happy you decided to join us. Especially Raihan.” Piers looked up. “Raihan?” She just grinned. “Yup. He’s missed you a lot. He tried to make the most of your time together when batting.” He looked down and thought about what she just said. *He missed me? But why? Does he care that much?* “...Thanks for letting me know Sonia.” She shrugged. “No problem. I’m glad I got to talk with you.”

“Yeah.......” “It’s been a strange night....”

-End of chapter 2-

Ye

Yeah

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