Cool for the Summer



Nights like these were so perfect, just like a scene out of a romance.  The stars above seemed like they were in reach from where they lay high above Paldea.  The dark sky surrounding them was so clear.  The air was warm enough to be able to spend the night outside like this, but the early spring breeze was cool enough that the body heat they shared was comfortable.  If Arven had his way, he'd do these silly things like meet Cassia at the top of one of the region's old watchtowers to camp any time she asked him.  If he had his way, he'd do things like this with her for the rest of his life.

The nights were getting shorter with summer right around the corner.  As Arven held onto Cassia's hand while gazing at the night above, reality set in that things were about to start getting busy in the coming weeks.  His heart sunk upon realizing that between finals and preparing for graduation, they may not have many nights like this left. Who knew how things would change when they were no longer students?

Arven could hardly believe it had only been six months since they first met.  It wasn't long, but already he couldn't remember what life was like without her.  He didn't want to remember.  He never wanted to feel loneliness like that again.  He had done a lot of growing up over the course of the school year- a lot of growing up, moving on, and letting go.  Cassia had been there beside him through it all.  She was beside him now, but would she always be?

He sighed and shut his eyes. He knew she wanted to be a professor, but he didn't know where that would take her.  Would she stay in Paldea?  Go back home to Unova?  Maybe move to Galar or Johto or somewhere else far away from him?  He tried to ignore the sting of the emotions that crept up on him.  It was a topic they never seriously discussed, but he decided now was just as good a time as ever.

“Cassia?”

“Hm?”

“Have you… thought about what you plan on doing after graduation?”

A soft laugh left her and she shook her head.

“Why do you ask?”

“I dunno,” he said.  “I guess I've been wondering for a while, but there was never a good chance to ask.”

She hummed for a moment, followed by an exaggerated sigh.

“Truthfully, I still haven't decided yet,” she admitted.  “I know I probably should have my shit together by now, but I have no idea where I'm going to stay or what I'm going to do…”

His hand reflexively squeezed hers, as if he feared someone would take her away.  This subtle motion wasn't lost on Cassia.  Her head turned from looking at the stars to looking over at him.

“Arven… Is something wrong?”

He swallowed hard.  He felt her eyes on him, but couldn't meet them right now.

“Nothing, it's just… I dunno…  You're not…”  He paused. It hurt his heart to even think about it.  He almost didn't want to know the answer, but he didn't want to be in for a surprise in a month or two.  “… You're not thinking about going back to Unova, are you?”

She raised herself up on her elbows and lifted her head.  She didn't say a word; she just tried to study his expression in the moonlight. The way his bangs cast a shadow over his face made it difficult to see if he looked as hurt as he sounded.

“Because I… I really hope you don't,” he continued.  His voice had gotten so soft, it could barely be heard over the faint sounds of Nymbles and Lokix on the ground below.  He continued staring up at the stars above.  Moisture welled in the corner of his eyelid, threatening to spill over. The silence beside him made his chest feel so tight.

“I'm sorry.”  His vision grew bleary and he rubbed his eye with his fist.  “It's selfish, I know but I… I dunno…  It’s moments like this when the thought of ever being alone again… kinda scares me. I’m so happy with you.  I don't want to go back to living like that.  I'm… I'm not saying you have to stay here, or that you can't move somewhere else just…  Take me with you if you do.  Please, Cass…”

“Arven.”

She reached out her hand and cupped the side of his face.  She tilted his head up.  He let her pull him close to her, pressing their bodies together.  He rested his face against her chest.  

“Arven, I promise you… As long as I live, you'll never be alone again.”

As she stroked his hair, he could hear her heart beating.  It was the most comforting sound in the world.  He breathed out a shaky exhale and melted against her.

“Jacq has talked to me about furthering research with his Pokédex app,” she admitted.  “I think it's great.  My one complaint is that it only has Pokémon native to Paldea.  If I were to take it back to Unova, it'd be useless. That's kind of the issue all over. You'd think with the advances in technology these past 25 years, it'd be easier to maintain, but no one is keeping a true national dex.  Maybe it's too daunting, maybe it's too much work…  Still, I think that may be my focus in the field— unifying the regional dexes.  It'd no doubt require some travel to collaborate with professors in other regions.” She paused to look down at Arven again, brushing his bangs away from his eye.  “But if it does, and I do go that route, you're welcome to come with me.”

His heart swelled.  He always thought she sounded so intellectual. He was so proud of her and how smart she was; he was positive that his parents would have been impressed if they had ever met her too.  If anyone could take on a project of such magnitude, he had all the faith in the world that it would be her.  He'd love to be by her side supporting her the entire time.  After all, they'd already traveled the region together; why not the rest of the world?  And who knew what kind of cuisine other regions would have that could bring back home?

“I would love to,” he said.

She smiled and kissed his forehead.

“So, what about you?” she asked.  “What's your plan?  What do you want to do after we graduate?”

A smile crossed his face.

“Okay, don't laugh,” he started.  “It's a little… sappy…  Not nearly as ambitious as yours.”

“Promise, I won't laugh,” she said.

Arven couldn't fight off the blush that crept across his cheeks.  His goals after graduation were so painfully domestic; he didn't know how she'd react to hearing them.  With a deep breath, he gathered the strength to tell them to her.

“Well, I guess first I want to find a place to live after we move out of the dorms…  Preferably with you,” he started.  “I mean, somewhere to stay when we're not traveling the world. A home for both of us.”

“Yeah?” she asked with a grin.

“Yeah…  I was thinking maybe the lab on Poco Path where I grew up? It used to be my parents', you know. Now that all the stuff with their estate is settled, it's… I guess it's officially mine now…”

She nodded along, but didn't speak.

“It's been years since anyone lived there, but I think it'd be fun to fix it up together.  Since you're gonna be a researcher yourself, it might be useful to you.  I don't know a lot about that kind of stuff, but I think it's a decent lab.  If you don't want it, we can sell it and use that money to find something more… modern.  Or closer to the city.”

“Sounds like you already had this all planned out.”

Arven scratched the back of his head.  “Yeah… I may have daydreamed during class once or twice.”

“That's okay,” she said with a smile.  “I'm intrigued.  After we get settled down somewhere, then what?”

His smile faded and he bit his lip.  He glanced up at the stars, trying to think.  They hung above him in the night sky, watching him with their glittering eyes.

“I guess I'll need a job to support us,” he laughed.  

“You don't have to support us, Arven,” she said.  “I have enough saved up that you don't have to worry about that.  I just need you to promise me something else instead, okay?”

Arven pulled himself upright.  His eyes sparkled as he looked at her.

“Yeah… Anything, Cass.”

“Promise me you'll focus on being the best cook you can be.  I want you to make your dreams come true.”

After a soft chuckle, he nodded.  He couldn't stop the huge smile that spread across his face.

“All right,” he said. “Deal.  I can do that.  Just be prepared for the best homemade meals you've ever had in your life once I have the time and a full kitchen to work with!  You're gonna come home to the best smelling house every day.”

She giggled softly and leaned her head against his shoulder.  The breeze swept through the air and tickled his neck.  Arven shivered and pulled her tighter against him.

“So,” she said.  “Anything other big plans?”

Cassia looked up at him with her warm eyes and soft features.  She was so beautiful.  He didn't care what the future held as long as she would always be a part of it.  

“Yeah…”  His voice grew quiet and serious.  “There's… one thing…”

There were so many things he could imagine doing over the course of his future with her, but one really stood out above the rest.  He hesitated before telling her.  He knew they hadn't been a couple very long and he knew that it may seem like he was going too fast, but he had never felt more certain about anything in his entire life. He licked his lips and forced the words from his throat.  

“I realized a while back I really wanna spend the rest of my life with you… And I want you to marry me.”

She pulled away from him to look him the face.  Her eyes were wide as saucers; her jaw hung slack.  “You… what?”

“We don't have to rush things,” he said in defense of himself.  “But… yeah.  I want to marry you, Cassia.  I can totally wait until you're ready.  I don't mind. I just want to wake up next to you every morning and watch the sunset with you by my side each night.  I mean, I know we can still do that if we're just dating and living together… but I want to call you my wife more than anything. Will you marry me one day?”

The world around them seemed to freeze for a moment as her eyes scanned his face.  He felt his heart dropping lower into the pit of his stomach with each second that passed in silence.

“Did you…” she began when the speechless feeling wore off.  Her voice trembled before it trailed off and she laughed in disbelief. “Are you… proposing to me?”

Arven drew in a sharp breath as soon as her question left her mouth.

“Oh, uh… I… I guess I am, huh?”  His cheeks turned bright pink.  He thought back over his words then he laughed nervously.  “I mean, I know this is way sudden.  It kinda slipped out and it’s not like I have a ring or anything, but I love you and I know I want nothing more than to marry you…”

“Yes,” she interrupted, choking up.  She threw her arms around him.  Her tears streamed down her cheeks and wet his neck.  “Yes!”

Arven's heart leapt to his throat as she squeezed him tight.  He buried his face in her hair and kissed the top of her head gently.  Did that mean they officially engaged now? Was Cassia his fiancée?  He felt emotional himself.  The tears that had been pricking at his eyes all evening began to flow, but they were now tears of joy.  Moments ago, he was worried he'd lose her at the end of the semester. Now, he was excited for school to be over so they could start their new life together.  It felt too good to let go now, but he did and held her by the shoulders.

“I'll get you a ring as soon as possible,” he assured her.  “Something really pretty that you can be proud of.”

She sniffled and wiped her eyes.

“Oh, please,” she said, giggling through her sniffles.  “I don't care if you give me a plastic ring out a machine.  I'd be proud to wear anything you give me.”

“Well… It at least needs to be gold, right?”  When she furrowed her brows at his statement, he grinned and clarified.  “To match Stringcheese?”

“Yes, of course!” Cassia laughed harder.  “You know me too well.”

Arven grinned and pulled her back into a hug.  He held her there for a long moment before he drew her closer and kissed her on the lips. After one last squeeze, he laid her back on her sleeping bag and lay beside her.  Cassia snuggled up against him and rested her head on his chest. Now that all that was out of the way, Arven could enjoy the beautiful evening again.

“You'll still do stuff like this with me, right?” she quietly asked.  “After we get married, I mean.”

The laughter that bubbled up in Arven after she said this couldn't be contained.  Frowning, she sat up.

“What’s funny?”

“Cassie,” he said, continuing to chuckle.  He reached up and pulled her back down, holding her against his chest. “Honestly?  That's what started all this…  I was hoping it wouldn't end after we graduate.”

“No way,” she replied as she began to giggle herself.  

Arven nodded, causing her to sigh dreamily.  She closed her eyes as she nestled closer.  For a moment, her breathing evened and he wondered if she finally fell asleep.  Then, she spoke in a soft voice.

“You know, I remember when we first met… You told me you were all about the great outdoors.  I didn't think we'd have much in common because I didn't really care for it before you.  Now, it doesn't matter if it's here or Unova or where ever, as long as we're under the same sky together, I want to keep having adventures like these with my best buddy.”

Arven hugged her tighter and kissed her cheek.  “Me too, bud.”