"Jazz, aren't you gonna be cold," Peridot asks me. I get why he's probably worried 'bout me. I'm only wearin' a jacket and a hat. But I'm always wearin' a hat so I guess that doesn't count.

"I'll be fine Perry," I say. "I'm used to it." I frown after I say that. I don't like thinkin' 'bout livin' in Snowpoint City. I hated it.

I look over to Peridot. Dammit, he looks kinda sad. Ever since I got hurt 'bout a week or two ago he's been this way. Damn you Russet. Why'd you have to go and try to blame it on him anyway?

"Hey, if it makes you feel better, I'll at least put on a coat," I say with a smile. I've been told by a lot of people, including Perry, that they like it when I smile. Not that I do it much.

"You look really good when you smile." ...Why'd you hafta say that? How do I even respond to that? I guess I should probably thank him...

"Um, thanks Perry," I say quietly while turning away from him. I'm not embarrassed so I don't exactly know why I'm blushing. I wonder can you blush cuz you like somebody? If you can then that explains a lot.

I search my backpack for a coat to put on. I know he didn't say it'd make him feel better but I know it will. He's always looking out for me. I find the black one I bought in La Fear City, or whatever it's called, a few days ago and pull onto myself. I look at Peridot who's putting a lime green scarf on. Besides the scarf, he looks like a giant orange and blue ball. Looking at him right now, I can't help but laugh.

"What's so funny," he asks. But cuz his scarf covers his mouth, I can barely hear him.

"Nuthin'. You must really don't like the cold, huh?"

He shakes his head. "Nope! I hate it." I can understand why. He is from a city that was right next to the ocean. Olivine City, Johto. He told me it was always nice and warm there and the sun was always shining.

Me, well the cold's never really bothered me. It was always cold in Snowpoint, most of Sinnoh really, so I just got used to it. The heat never really bothered me either. I found that out when I was in 1st grade and we took a field trip to Sunnyshore City. It was pretty hot and everyone was sweating a lot but me. Guess I'm not really affected by weather.

"Okay, I'm ready," Perry says after he puts on his backpack. I nod and the two of us leave the room. We check out of the Center and start walking to that gate thingy. The older kids are already there. Me and Perry overslept so they got ready and left before us.

"Come on guys," Peridot says once we get there. He doesn't sound too eager to be going. I guess he doesn't wanna go out in the snow. "Let's get to Anistar City before it gets too dark." I'm sure no one else noticed Russet scoff. He doesn't like Peridot. He's never liked him and I hate that. How could you not like Perry?!

"He's right," Cerise exclaims. I remember this girl who challenged the Snowpoint gym who wore a coat like the one she's wearin'. She went on to win the Pokémon League."Maybe we'll make it in time to challenge the gym leader!"

"Then let's go people," Russet mutters. I glare art him but still follow them onto Route 19. Or was it eighteen? Might've been sixteen...

We go down this little slope and see six Mamoswine. Yesterday we decided that we're only gonna use two: one for the older kids and another one for me and Perry. I'm really happy with that set up.

We choose the first two we get to. "How do you get on top of this thing," Cerise asks. I remember how to. They showed us how to when I was in preschool. You get up on one of the tusk and feel around for this hole thing on its leg or shoulder or whatever part of its body it is. Then after you find that you put your foot on the one right under it. Finally, you pull yourself up. I know it's sposed to be some more steps to make it easier, but I'm impatient.

I get on top of the Mamoswine. I look over to the others and see that Sienna is already on top. I guess she must've done this before.

"Just like that," Peridot asks while looking up at me. Haha, his face is already reddish, even more than usual! I nod and talk him through it 'cept for the end when I just pull him up. "That was easy," he says happily. I smile a little. I don't really like smiling around other people. Sienna and I talk Cerise and Russet through getting up on the Mamoswine. Surprisingly, it doesn't take them long and we're off in about two or three minutes.

I look at Peridot. He doesn't seem as excited as I thought he'd be. He spent most of yesterday and the day before talking 'bout how he wanted to see that Sun Dial in Any Star or And A Star or whatever, but now he doesn't seem to excited.

"What's wrong Perry," I ask him. He doesn't respond. "Perry? Hey, what's wrong?" Still no response. I wave my hand in front of his face. "Peridot, snap outta of it." He blinks and looks at me.

"Huh? Sorry!" I grin a little.

"What were you thinkin' 'bout?"

He shakes his head. "Nuthin' really. I just... I have a bad feeling about today."

I frown. "Watcha mean?" He shrugs his shoulders.

"I dunno. It's probly nuthin'." He shakes his head and his green eyes widen with excitement. "But hey! I'm finally gonna get to see the Sun Dial!"

I laugh at that. He always changed the subject easily. "That's right Perry. Now you can stop talking about it."

"Oh... Have I been annoying you?" I shake my head. I swear I'm gonna kill Russet. If it wasn't for him, Peridot woulda just laughed that off with some kinda response.

"Nu-uh, you've just been really excited about it." He nods in understanding but I know he's still upset. I sigh inwardly. Fuck you, Russet.

"Silex, use Ember!" Cerise yells at her Fletchinder. I wonder why it's not a Talonflame yet. It's pretty high leveled. At least I think it is.

Silex sends the tiny burst of flame towards the Delibird it's aiming for. It tries to dodge but it's way too slow. It gets hit directly on its chest and falls back comically into the snow. It hops back up quickly and reaches into its little white bag. It must be about to use Present. It pulls a little red and white wrapped box out and throws it at Silex. Silex dodges so I don't know if it were a healing one or a damaging one. All the while, Russ has his Espurr, Malin, use Psychic to get Sienna and her Eevee, I think her name's Averie, outta the snow.

See, a few minutes ago, that Delibird knocked Sienna and her Pokémon off of their Mamoswine. Which brings us to where we are now.

Malin gets Sienna and Averie outta the snow and onto the Mamoswine. Sienna's eyes are closed like she's been knocked out or somethin'. I wonder what's her deal. She's been spacing out more than Peridot over the last few days. I turn my attention back to Cerise and Silex. It looks like the battle is just about over.

"Silex, let's finish this," Cerise yells. "Quick Attack!"

"Fletcha!" Silex flaps his wings and zooms straight toward Delibird but something strange happens. As he got closer, the spot around his beak starts to glow red and starts to go up his body. Then he burst into flames.

"Oh cool," Cerise yells again. "You learned Flame Charge!"

"Wow," I say. "I've never seen a Pokémon learn a move like that."

"Really," Perry says. "It's on that Pokémon training show all the town." I make some kinda confirmation sound. I don't really watch TV that much.

Then something even stranger happens. Just as Silex is about to hit Delibird, a Sneasel runs right in front of it. It doesn't look like it was trying to defend it or anything but it still got hit by Silex's Flame Charge.

"Huh," Cerise asks. Russet looks confused to but does this kinda half laugh.

"Hey, if I were you, I'd catch that Sneasel instead." Why can't she just catch both of them? Wouldn't that make more sense? Delibird's already pretty weakened and Sneasel's already knocked out.

"I guess you're right." Cerise throws the Pokéball she was holding at the Sneasel. I don't see the Delibird. Wonder where it went. The Pokéball clicks, sealing the capture.

"Awesome," Cerise says. "Silex can you get that for me?" Silex puts the Pokéball on his back and flies to Cerise. "Thanks buddy, return." She puts Silex in his Pokéball and holds up Sneasel's proudly. "Now I basically have a guaranteed win for my next gym!" I roll my eyes. She always gets so cocky before battle and usually ends up losing or getting to close it.

"Jazz," Peridot says a few minutes later. He was staring at the older kids' Mamoswine that whole time. I'm sure it was just at Russ.

"Will you come with me to the Sun Dial after we check in?" I look at him weirdly.

"Of course, why'd you even ask?" He looks away. I swear I'm gonna beat Russet's ass. "Perry, you don't annoy me and I don't hate you. I like bein' around you, okay?"

"Okay..."

"I'm serious, Peridot. You're my best friend. Well, my only friend. I could never hate you. No one could!" He giggles.

"Well, I guess I am pretty lovable!" I actually laugh at that. A real laugh. Sure, it's only been like a week or two since he started changing, but it looks like I'm finally getting my Peridot back.

"Jasper, come on," Peridot says. "It's coming on in like three minutes!" He's talking about the news. We finally got into the town a while ago. It's a really pretty looking city and the Sun Dial looks fucking cool!

"Just a sec," I said. I was putting Timo's Pokéball on my belt. I didn't wanna risk doing it while we were going through that route. I don't have an actual clip and the one that comes on the Pokéball isn't the most reliable. I finally get it to clip on. " Okay, let's go." We had out to the lobby and sit on the couches in front of the TV.

"Do you think they found anything," Peridot asks me. I shrug my shoulders.

"I dunno. Probably." Honestly, I hope they don't. I'm really scared that if they do... I just hope Malachi's alright.

The older kids sit down just as the news comes on. I recognize the lady. She's actually one of my favorites, Rebecca Jordan. She's not all dramatic like the other ones and is pretty funny sometimes.

"Breaking news," she says. "Authorities have found the body thirteen year old missing boy Malachi Olivine. Good evening folks I'm Rebecca Jordan."

"And I'm Jay Ryan. He was discovered earlier this morning in a crevice in Reflection Cave. A DNA test confirmed this to be him. He had multiple stab wounds to his body, mainly around his head and stomach. Investigators have ruled this a homicide. The search is now on for his killer."

"If you have any information on Malachi Olivine's murder, please call our hotline at 841-8477."

...No. No! No! NO! Malachican't be dead! Maybe I heard it wrong! I had to have heard it wrong. Malachiisn't dead! He isn't. I know I thought he was but that doesn't mean it's true. But now's not the time to think about how I feel. Now is the time to think about Perry.

Next to me Peridot is silent. He's staring at the screen all confused. Almost like he's in shock. He kinda looks like he's about to cry. I can't stand seeing him like this. I hate it.

Cerise is the first to say something, but she only says 'what' before she breaks down crying. I know the two of them were dating when Malicai went missing so this must be pretty hard on her. Russet and Sienna lean over to try to comfort her. Russet is talking to her while Sienna is holding her hand. She looks distracted.

Peridot stands up suddenly, making me jump but also masking me start paying attention to him again. "Where you goin', Perry?" My voice is really quiet. Perry didn't look at me.

"I-I'll be right back," he says as he runs away. I look at him as he runs off. That's when I realize what's happening. Peridot is running off just like they said Malachi did and that was the last time any of us saw him... I jump up and chase after him. I have a feeling I know where he ran off to. Hopefully he's there... No! Don't think about that! Of course he's there.

I run all the area that the Sun Dial is. I breathe a sigh of relief when I spot Peridot's blonde hair through the railing right in front of it. He's sitting on the platform thing right in front of the Sun Dial. I know he must be cold. He doesn't even have on a jacket. He doesn't notice when I come over, put my arm around him and hug him. Some of his hair blows into my face. I've always liked the way it feels. Like feathers. Really soft feathers. I run my hand through his hair to try to smooth it out. I know it won't work but I do it anyway. It feels really nice.

"Why'd you run away," I ask him. It takes a long time for him to answer. I don't try to make him do it faster. I let him take his time.

"Cuz I promised... Malicai I'd never cry again." His voice is really quiet. I almost can't hear him and I'm hugging him. "After you had that accident... M-Malicai made me promise to never cry again."

"But you're crying now. And you woulda cried if I weren't here."

"Yeah but....no one would've been able to prove it. If you have no proof I was crying then I wasn't." He's so childish. He puts his head on my shoulder and I take a deep breath. I can feel the tears on his face through my shirt. I wanna wipe them away but... that's not the type of thing a friend would do, is it?

"Now I'm alone again," he mumbles. I feel really sad at that for some reason. Almost like it hurt me. How can he think he's all alone?

"You have me, don't you," I ask. It takes him another long time to respond. I feel that hurt feeling even more now. He shrugs his shoulders first then he nods. I feel a little better, not much.

"I promise to be there for you. I'll always be there for you. I'll be like a brother for you. I promise." I pause and he nods. There's something I wanna say but I don't know if I should say it. But...what's the worst that could happen. I hug him a little tighter and say it really quiet. "Peridot, I love you."

He doesn't say anything for a long time and I start thinking stuff. Maybe we're both pestermist or whatever Cerise said that time. Maybe he didn't hear me. Should I say it again? Maybe he's mad that I said it. Maybe he's even sader now. He breathes in like he's about to say something and I get scared. What if he is mad.

"I love you too, Jasper." ...I kinda wish he didn't say that. I think I would've felt better if he hadn't. He doesn't mean it like I do... Dammit. Now I'm gonna cry. I can feel the tears coming and that lump in my throat, but I can't cry, not while Peridot, my Peridot is. Then he'll cry even more. He's my brother and I can't let him cry.

I can't let my brother cry.

I can't let my brother cry.

I can't let my brother cry!

I can't let my...brother cry.