Once on Cinnabar Island, Mige was ready to start training for Blaine. Jenn, though, kind of needed a break. So did Benjamin. After what happened—being captured a second time like that….she wasn’t going to let it happen again. Mige understood. He assured her that he’d be fine and told her to take care of herself. Mige would go off to train while Jenn sort of just…decompressed.
Eventually, Benjamin managed to convince Jenn to get up, get out, and walk with him. They talked a little, and they got to know a little more about each other. When it came to family, Jenn sort of shut down and asked to change the subject. Benjamin apologized for touching a sensitive subject and asked her about the kind of work she did for Professor Oak. She appreciated how well he handled that. It was more than she was expecting of him, certainly.
After a few days, Jenn would be willing to train with Mige again and he convinced her to enter the Volcano Tournament (sponsored by Volcano Burger). While at the tournament, they ran into Will Tahjiri and Lara again. Jenn entered the tournament along with Mige. She fought Will in the second round, and was defeated.
The next day, Jenn cheered on Mige as he faced Blaine on platform suspended above lava. It was metal as hell. Lara would also get her badge, though Will Tahjiri lost. While at dinner afterward, Mige got a call from Bill about needing help with something in the Sevii Islands. Mige asked if any of them wanted to go with him. Benjamin was actually going to be working on a piece for another art contest, Will needed to train for his rematch with Blaine, and Jenn also declined, as well. She felt like she needed some time to figure some stuff out. What she wanted, and didn’t say out loud, was some time for herself.
She’d gotten really involved in Mige’s life; helping him with his dream, training with him, pining over him. She felt so mixed up, all the time, and figured a few days on her own would help to clear her head. Plus, she wanted to start running and finding ways to get stronger so that she wouldn’t ever have to be a victim again.
While Mige and Lara were in the Sevii Islands, Jenn did her best to exercise and occupy her time so she didn’t think stupid, petty, jealous thoughts about Lara being alone with Mige. She got up to run and swim every morning, and started getting into practice bouts at the park. Benjamind would join her sometimes.
One night, after going swimming and resting on the beach with some beers that Benjamin had stolen from a convenience store (Jenn didn’t know that part), Benjamin asked her what the deal was with her and Mige. She groaned.
“I guess that was inevitable, huh?”
“Kinda.” Benjamin said, “When I first met you guys I figured you were an item. But I kinda picked up that wasn’t the case. So, what’s up? You exes? One sided pining?”
“Not that it’s your business, exactly, but no. We’re…just friends.” she said.
“So one-sided pining. Got it.”
“Shut it.” Jenn said, giving him a playful nudge with her elbow. They watched the waves lapping against the shore.
“It might be none of my business,” Benjamin said at length, “But Mige is kind of an idiot. He’s a great guy, don’t get me wrong! But if he can’t see you for…you know, everything you are? Then he’s an idiot.”
Jenn cleared her throat and shifted where she sat, muttering a sheepish ‘thank you’. Benjamin grinned.
“Don’t worry about it, Greene. Just speaking it like I see it.” he said and clinking his bottle against hers. The beach patrol came up soon after, forcing the two of them to run away, laughingi nto the night.
The Road to the Indigo Plateau
Mige returned from the Sevii Islands, and by then everyone was ready to get going. Jenn asked where they were off to next. Might considered the question. He had eight badges now, so he could go fight other gyms but honestly, he just kind of wanted to head back to the cottage and train there until the League started in April.
They chartered a boat to Pallet Town, and after visiting with Professor Oak, they decided to attend the local carnival. Jenn took in the sights while Mige and Benjamin hit the midway. While she was wandering around, she ran into Sammy of all people.
“Jenn? Holy cow, it is you! How’s it going?”
“It’s going.” she shrugged.
“Right on. You here with Mige?”
“Yeah. I don’t know where he is, though.” she added quickly. Sammy chuckled and asked how Mige’s gym challenge was coming along. Jenn told him that he had actually just earned his eighth badge and signed up for the Indigo Conference.
“Right on, right. on.” Sammy replied, “I just got my eleventh badge a couple weeks ago. I would have gone for twelve, but the Earth Gym is closed for the rest of year. But still, I’m pretty happy with it.”
“Cool.” Jenn said, unimpressed and unamused. Still, she found it difficult to move from her spot or really say anything to him. Sammy wished her and Mige luck before walking away. Jenn was relieved, and went to find Mige to warn him about Sammy. When she found him, Sammy approached not long after.
Sammy treated them all to Donphan Ear treats. The loudspeaker annoucned a Grass Pokemon Competition would be held in the main pavillion. Registration ended in five minutes. Mige and Benjamin both really seemed like that wanted Jenn to compete, so she did.
She entered with Gloom. Beyond Jenn’s own expectations, she managed to make it to the finals when even Sammy lost. In the finals, she faced off against a big lady with a big Victreebell. Jen and Gloom worked in sync with each other, using their Flash/Cut combo to take Victreebell down.
For winning, Jenn received a Sun Stone, which she used to evolve Gloom into Bellossom. After the competition, Sammy congratulated her. In his way.
“Good job, Jenn. I’m really impressed with how much better you’ve become! I gotta say, I think I could have pulled out the win if we’d fought, but I guess the dice didn’t fall that way this itme. Anyway, I gotta get going—I’m starting the Victory Road day after tomorrow—but I’ll see you guys at the Indigo Plateau!”
Benjamin remarked that Sammy was a douchenozzle.
The next day, they took a bus to Cerulean City. It was a very long and surprisingly difficult bus ride. Jenn’s butt was sore after a while, or maybe it was tail bone? Either way: she was uncomfortable. Benjamin sort of playfully teased her about her squirming in her seat, calling her “the dancing queen” and “jumping bean”, and so on.
Once they got to the cottage, they found Bill was out. Mige was happily greeted by his Pokemon. Mige mentioned he was gonna grab something from his room and be right back down. They waited…and waited…before Jenn creeped up the stairs and peeked into Mige’s room. He was fast asleep. Jenn smiled softly and shut the door. She told Benjamin, and added that Bill would want them to make themselves at home. Jenn claimed the guest room she usually stayed in (this was her third time staying there now) and Benjamin took the other one.
Jenn started cooking dinner as Bill returned hom. He was a bit surprised to find people in his house. Jenn explained the situation and Bill didn’t seem surprised.
“Oh man. It’s one of those days, huh?” Bill chuckled. Jenn asked what he meant, and Bill went on to explain.
“I’ve lived with Mige for years. I remember when he taught himself to code. I swear, he could barely parse a basic command/response structure at first, but he wouldn’t sleep until he’d figured out how to—you know what, you don’t care about coding. The point is, he’s always go-go-go until he just sort of collapses. He’d never admit he was tired, though—at least he never did to me.”
That night, Jenn and Benjamin would stay up late with the Pokemon, watching old movies and making fun of infomercials. Jenn laughed more than she had in a long time. She could swear she caught Benjamin gazing over at her once or twice, but she was probably mistaken. It’s not he liked her or something.
The next afternoon, while Mige and training with Bill, Benjamin took her aside and told her that he liked her. Oh, okay then.
“I don’t know what it is, I just—I’m super into you, Greeny. I think you’re really kind, and you’re super hot, and I really dig hanging out with you. You’re fun. So…yeah. Do with that what you will. I won’t like, I’d like it if maybe you felt the same way but yeah. I know how your anxiety can be sometimes, so just…take your time and figure stuff out. But at least now you know where I stand.”
Oh. So he did…okay. Wow. Jenn was conflicted. It wasn’t as if her feelings for Mige were gone. She loved Mige, and she probably always would. But at this point, she was pretty sure he didn’t like her in that same way. She’d kissed him—twice—and there was everything with the internship, with the big near-death events, and they’d spent so many months together and been through so much. He didn’t seem interested. Honestly, he didn’t seem like he cared about her feelings for him.
Benjamin DID care, though. He saw her the way she’d so desperately wanted Mige to see her. She couldn’t lie; she really liked the way he made her feel when they were together. Benjamin listened to her, and he made her feel important. After everything that had happened with Mige it was nice to feel like she was actually wanted. Was that so bad?
That night, Jenn went to Benjamin’s room and knocked on his door. When he opened up, she just grabbed him and kissed him. He happily returned the kiss, spreading a powerful warmth through her body. She kissed him passionately, all of the frustrations and grief she’s gone through forgotten as long as her lips were touching him. Jenn would ultimately spend the night with him there.
The next morning, Jenn came out of Benjamin’s room at the same time that Mige came out of his room. Jenn froze and felt guilty, offering an awkward, sheepish wave. Mige didn’t seem bothered. After she showered, she met Mige downstairs and told him about what Benjamin had said, and that she was gonna give the two of them a shot.
Maybe a small, tiny part of her wanted him to be jealous. He didn’t seem to be. In fact, he was supportive. That should have made her feel beter, but it didn’t. It just kind of hurt a little more.
The last little bit before the League was spent at the cottage. During this time, Benjamin would deal with Ryu trying once again to fight for her honor.
Jenn would spend her days training with Mige (sometimes with Bnejamin and sometimes without him) and her nights were spent with Benjamin. Honestly, she was feeling better as the days went on. Her anxiety didn’t magically disappear or anything, but she was finding it easier to manage with Benjamin’s help.
Every day, the start date for the Conference got closer and closer. Until finally, the Indigo Conference was upon them. Jenn was equal parts and excited for Mige—-she could only imagine what he was feeling. He seemed confident, though. Maybe that was a good omen…
