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Tracey paced his room anxiously. He was deeply shaken by the sudden shrill ringing of an incoming phone call. Realizing the camera was off, he sighed in relief, and managed to stammer and weak, "Hello?", to the faceless interruption.
"Tracey!". He recognized Daisy's panicked voice, "There's, there's a really, really big problem here! You need to get over here. Really, like, right away!". "I'll be there in a few hours, Daisy!", he answered, without hesitation, "Just hang in there, ok?".
He proceeded to end the call and pull open the curtains. It was already beginning to snow, so he would have to hurry if he wanted to make it. Once before, he had narrowly escaped the weather and found shelter in a Pokemon Center on the way to Cerulean Gym.
Come to think of it, that time wasn't really an emergency. Daisy needed someone to help her rehearse her lines for her new role. The time before that, she wanted an opinion on a costume for the water ballet. No, he couldn't consider such a thing. She sounded really worried this time, and the storm was on its way. His friends were waiting. He had to give them the benefit of the doubt.
He arrived in the city after half a day of cycling and changing busses. Violet and Lily exchanged vacant looks as he made his dramatic entrance, "Where is the problem?!". Misty merely hid her face in embarrassment. "I can't believe you called Tracey.", she groaned, "Don't you know he's super busy?".
"Am I here because you're bored?". The room remained silent.
"Ok.", Lily crossed her arms, "Last time we were stuck here with Misty, she would not get off our backs about us keeping the props in the pool, when she knows there's only like, two days between each perfor-", "All right already!", Misty interjected, "It so happens I have plenty to get done today, so I'll be at the pool if anyone needs me!".
There was enough accumulated snow to confine Tracey already. Daisy later discovered him alone in the hallway, sketchbook in hand with blank page facing upwards. He gazed silently into the aquarium as the ripples of light danced against the bottom.
"She'll come around.", assured Daisy. This wasn't really what Tracey wanted to hear her say, but nodded and forced half a smile, still, "I know.".
"Well, I know Professor Oak doesn't really do a lot when the weather gets like this, so...", she continued. "You really think he won't?" Tracey lifted his head, "I mean.. I really hope he doesn't try to do anything without my help..". "Um, I think he'll be ok, Tracey.". Of course she wouldn't understand, he thought to himself.
"You know..", he spoke softly so as not to disturb the enclosed Pokemon and not cause the cavernous hallway to echo, "You all realize you can invite me over for no reason, right?". He could no longer contain his sincerity, though being a normal amount of confrontational took every bit of courage he had (and it sounded much less gentle in his head).
"Misty misses you and Ash and Brock. I think I miss you, too.". Her response surprised him. "But you.. Y'know. You've got lots of friends. Though, they seem a little hard to talk to..".
It's true that, she had made many eclectic friends (Tracey likely meant they were a very attractive, eccentric group.). Prior to her acting career, however, it was difficult for her to form and maintain meaningful friendships. It was not an easy subject for her to address. In time, she had grown to value Tracey's company.
"They understand me."
Tracey continued to stare into the tank for a time. "Maybe you would understand.".
He presented the sketchbook he'd been holding. Her head tilted as she proceeded to flip through the pages. A pattern was clear; one or two pages each of his usual drawings of various Pokemon, followed by one of The Professor. In most depictions, he seemed almost lost in a daydream. "It's wonderful, you know- so mysterious, when he's lost in thought. I sneak in a quick sketch and.." Daisy wasn't responding, "I draw him a lot.. The Professor.". "Why?" She returned the book to his hands, now trembling in embarrassment, "I don't..", he nervously stammered, "I don't know my own heart, I think.".
Daisy hid a giggle behind her hand while Tracey hid his flushed face behind his sketchbook. "That's so dramatic.". "I-I-... Uh!!", His voice was finally elevated, but to a cracked, high pitch, "I know I can't do anything about it! I just-!", "Relax, Tracey. I'm just teasing you.".
Tracey relaxing was absolutely not possible at this point. He forced another smile.
"To be honest, I don't think I really, like, know mine either. I mean, it never says much.".
Tracey was content with this. He didn't want to press for more, though Daisy might have been beginning to make more sense to him.
In the commotion, Misty finally discovered them. "What?! You're still here?!", "I guess I am?" Tracey raises an eyebrow nervously. "Ugh, ok. Come on, I'll make up the sofa, I guess.", "We could watch a movie or something, huh, Misty?", "Yeah, yeah, ok.".
Daisy chuckled slightly and shrugged.