Squirtle

"Squirtle," you answer, not even really needing to think about it. You'd made your decision days ago, after all.

Catching up, Green smirks at you and jokingly rolls her eyes. "What a surprise, a guy going with the pokémon that grows cannons when it evolves."

"Hey, I put a lot of thought into that choice," you argue, pretending to be offended. To be honest, you are a little insulted, but it's mostly just joking around.

Green shakes her head and chuckles, unfazed by your feigned outrage. "Hey, as long as I get my bulbasaur, I won't say anything about you overcompensating with your giant turtle-cannons."

"Yeah, yeah. You'll be begging for a ride when it evolves into a blastoise."

Green quirks an eyebrow and shoots you a sly look. "Begging for a ride?" she asks wryly.

"Yeah—" you begin, before realizing your friend's implication. An image of greens face flushed with pleasure appears in your mind, and you blush furiously. Stammering, you try to clarify, "I- I meant- What I was-" Finally, you get your bearings and manage to say, "On- on its back, because they can surf. "

Green laughs and punches you in the arm. "I was kidding. You know, how we always do? Wait, is mister first-in-our-class-been-working-for-this-his-whole-life actually nervous?"

"Um, yeah, maybe a bit," you half-lie, keeping your eyes on the road ahead. You're definitely nervous, but not about graduating.

Your best friend sighs, then speeds up her pace to get ahead of you. Turning around, she grabs your shoulders and stops you in place. Firmly, she states, "You are Red, the most crazy dedicated trainer ever to come out of Pallet Town. I promise you can walk across a stage, pick up a ball, and fight an exhibition match against me." With a grin, she adds, "I might even let you win."

You tense for a moment at the contact, but you can't help but grin at that last line. It's classic Green, and somehow that's helping you see her as the friend you've had all your life, and not the woman you saw in a private moment last night.

You lightly push off her arms and resume walking toward Professor Oak's laboratory. Without looking back, you say, "Thanks, Green. Seriously." After a pause you add, "and there's no way I'm letting you win."

Green laughs dismissively, then quickly turns and hurries to catch up with you. She matches your pace, and the two of you walk in a comfortable silence for a while, until she abruptly asks, "Wanna make a bet?"

"What?" you ask, caught off guard.

"A bet," she repeats. "We'll bet on who wins the match. That's how real matches work anyway, right?"

She has a point. Most matches do have a wager attached, usually money. "Yeah," you agree, then grin and add, "but I wouldn't want to take all your money at the start of your journey."

"Right," she says sarcastically. "Do I really need to list the times I've kicked your ass in practice matches?"

"Sorry," you say abashedly, scratching the back of your head in embarrassment. "I still don't think it's a good idea to bet on the match though. I don't want to start without any money either."

Green goes quiet, and just when you think she's dropped the issue, she says, "What if it's not money?"

"What else would we bet?" you ask, curiosity piqued.

"Hmm... Okay, the loser will have to obey one wish of the winner. How about that?"

Your cheeks flush again, as images of last night, and thoughts of several things you would like to make Green do, come to mind. "Um, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"What, are you scared?" she teases, grinning.

Shaking off your dirty thoughts, you shrug and say, "Fine. Don't blame me when you lose."

"Don't worry," she replies, still grinning, "I won't have to."