But, Wait! There Is More!

But, Wait! There Is More!

I headed over to a spot between some buildings and closed my eyes. I opened the in Joy's Habitat, and I immediately heard the sounds of girls laughing and talking coming from behind the Poke Center, but then they stopped.

Frowning, I started to make my way to head around the building, but Lusamine came running around with her hands up, making me stop.

"Wait! Joy said that you can't come back yet, or at all! You are just going to have to wait like everyone else to see them. The girls are all very excited, so you better be the loudest one out there cheering for them all, got it?" Lusamine instructed, and I grinned at her.

"You think I wouldn't?" I chuckled, and Lusamine smiled.

"Joy and I will come out, and you can go with her to where the girls will be waiting to drop them all off. I will come and still be with you if you want, but I think the girls will be better with Jolene and Joy back there. They are much more motherly than I could ever dream of being," Lusamine said with a sigh, but I took her hand.

"You are just slowly getting used to things now. I am sure that all the girls are going to warm up to you soon. You have come a long way since I first met you, and I am happy that things are finally starting to smooth themselves out," I said, and she nodded.

"I guess so, but I really have to admire their patients. I kind of wish it was Jolene in here now. She would do better at this than me. I am not used to helping anyone but myself, and I was taught to be self-sufficient because there was no one that would help me otherwise," Lusamine explained, and I nodded.

"Give things time. I think that you will slowly get used to relying on us for things, and maybe you will even let us help you in the future," I said, and Lusamine smiled sadly.

"Landon? You look like you are worried about something," Jolene said from beside me, and I looked over with a look of surprise. I had gotten so wrapped up in my thoughts that I had almost forgotten that Tallia's mother was standing beside me.

"I'm just a bit nervous," I admitted. "This pageant means a lot to the girls, and I want it to go well for them. All of their hard work has paid off, and I feel like so much is riding on this performance."

Jolene smiled at me and patted my arm reassuringly. "Trust me, Landon. The girls will do wonderfully. And I'm sure you have trained them very well, so they are more than prepared for something like this. Just remember to encourage them from the sidelines, no matter what happens. That support will mean the world to them."

I gave her a grateful smile as she finished speaking, feeling somewhat better now that someone had reminded me not to let my nerves get the best of me. Inhaling deeply, I turned my attention back to the stage where Clive was introducing all the parties involved in the main event.

"Hey! They are starting!" Nemona said as she pulled Tallia back over to beside us.

"Yeah. I am surprised to see Miriam up there," I said as both girls came to stand with Jolene and me.

"Her? Nurse is always up there! She has a Tinkaton that she only uses for the pageants, and she tries to join them all if she can get time off," Nemona said, and Tallia nodded.

"Yeah, Miriam usually gets first or second, but they are really great performers, and they always get everyone going!" Tallia said excitedly and then waved at the stage. "Look, they are starting!"