"I-I was only trying to make you laugh! It's b-better than to see you feeling sorry for yourself! You didn't have to yell at me if you didn't like it!"
Slade felt like a terrible hearing Danielle on the brink of tears, it crushed him inside to see her like that. One of the only true friends he ever had he had just verbally attacked. Suddenly memories from back in Celadon came back,
~~~~~
-Celedon City, 1 month before the start of school-
As Slade was returning home from his job at the pokemart he was walking down the street to the bus stop overhearing a couple of girls talking, "Hey, isn't that Slade?" The first one said who had long, blond hair, "Yea, Isn't he the one with the Growlithe?" The second one said, "I think so, it hasn't been confirmed though I wouldn't be caught dead talking to him." The two laughed at Slade thinking he couldn't hear them, but he was all too used to it. As the bus pulled up to his stop he got off and proceeded to head home. He could hear whispers and murmurs from kids around him and then, "Hey Firehead, please don't overheat and burn the whole city down!" One of the kid snickered at and rest rest of the kids tried to not laugh but some gave little giggles. He just continued on his way home trying to block out those who mock him.
As he arrived home his parents were waiting for him with a pokeball in their hands. They did not look happy in the slightest; their faces were so furious one little fly could snap them. "Slade, care to explain this?" His mother asked while holding the ball. That was Flare's ball, they must have found it. Slade just responded, "It's just a pokeball, why?" His dad then immediately said, "Don't fuck with us young man! The rumors were true and you know it, we found this in a little hole in your closet. So admit to us that you did have a Growlithe!" There was no point in denying it anymore so he just said, "Yea, they're true..." He said looking towards the ground. "I knew you had one the entire time! Why did you do it? Do you know how people will look at us now that we know you've had a Growlithe? We'll be the laughing stock of the whole town!" His father said ready to blow a a fuse any moment, "It's ok honey, he's gone now so just him the ball and end this." Salde's mother said taking the ball and putting it into Slade's hands. Though those words put him on edge, "Wait, what do you mean he's gone?" Slade asked looking up angrily, "Son put two and two together, we released him from the pokeball while you were at your job." His father said calming down a little. This put Slade in a total shock, hearing his father say that like he did him a favor disgusted him. Slade said nothing gripping onto his pokeball and heading upstairs to his room. He packed some of his most important stuff in a bag and waited for night to fall and at around midnight he made his way out of the house and out of the city. As he ran tears ran down his face like a streaming river. As he was out of the city and into forest he was able to reunite with Flare who happened to catch his scent and reunite back with him.
~~~~~
Slade wanted to say something, but he was too in shock of the memories pouring in he had tried so long to block out. Before he knew it Danielle was running away and him feeling worse then ever. He felt like he was just as bad, if not worse then his parents after those turn of events. His shock was only broken by a Vulpix who wanted Slade to go to Henry. He went over to Henry, silent with his face looking like it was shocked, and once Slade got there he could only mustard out a few words, "... Your Vullpix called me over here... is something you wanted?"