"AGGRRHH!" I sat up in bed. The memories of last night suddenly hit me, as strongly as the sound of my alarm clock did. That girl-- I just couldn't--

I groaned as the sun streamed through the window, and put my head under my pillow. I hate getting up.

"Yeah, I know Jay. But let's make a special effort today, huh?"

"Shut up, Houndour," I mumbled from underneath the pillow.

"Oh, come on up. It's already 7:30. What's the boss going to do if you sleep in late-- again?" Houndour said, trying to find my face under the pillow.

I groan again, but I knew I had to get up. Houndour's right. Goivanni was going to be fuming if I was late again.

"That's the spirit!" Houndour said as I grumpily swung my legs out of bed and thumped my alarm clock in a bid to make it shut up too. Unfortunately Houndour doesn't have an 'off' switch.

I got changed quickly. I need Houndour to help pull me through, even if he does read my thoughts all the time. Don't ask me how he does it. I'm no good with physics, or science. If I was I'd probably be in a laboratory. As it is, I'm here.

I wake up Murkrow, who is snoozing on top of the wardrobe. "Time to get to work, buddy," I say.

I lock up the apartment and take the lift downstairs. The Team Rocket HQ has lots and lots of stories, so no-one ever uses the stairs.

The HQs are disguised as an office block. Anyone entering would probably think; that's what it was.

When I reach the 2nd floor, I am greeted by a loud babble of voices. Naturally, people can't eat without talking, and this floor held the 'restaurant part of the HQ, and the storerooms. I take eggs and bacon and some pokemon food, and find a table.

People often think that Team Rocket members treat their pokemon with abuse. Most of us don't- we are too soft hearted to give them the whip or anything. I wouldn't dream of doing that.

I was eating my bacon when Rob sat at my table with his Hypno and his Psyduck. Rob is my best mate. We arrived on the same day, and have stuck up for each other. We are both pokemon thieves, of the same 'order'.

"Hi Jay!" he exclaimed. Rob is always so full of humour. He's the joker of the pack.

Rob sipped his coffee. "What's up, man?" he asked me, "Not a girl is it?"

I made a face at him, and we both laughed. I'd never tell anyone-- not even Rob-- about that girl I met last night.

Rob looked at me and stirred his coffee. "So everything's OK, yeah?"

"Yeah," I lied. Houndour looked up at me from its food, and frowned, but didn't say anything.

My mate slapped me on the back, sending his coffee flying. "That's just like you, Jay. Moanin' and you're as right as rain. Don't worry, I'll fix you up with a girl."

"It's just that...oh, nothing. Err... I just had a dream last night..."

Granddad felt my forehead. "I'm not convinced. But you haven't got a temperature..."

I pushed his hand away. "Granddad, I'm fine," I reassured him.

"Sorry, Swallow," Granddad sighed, "It's just that you mean so much to me..."

I felt a bit mean. Grandad's my only relative since Grandma and Dad died, and his only grandchildren are me and my younger sister. I don't know what happened to Mum (Grandad's daughter-in-law).

"What are you going to do today? Go to the shops with your friends?" Granddad continued.

Bellosom stirred in my lap. I gave her a scratch behind the ear. She fidgeted and leapt down. Sunflora took her turn to be scratched. I didn't even notice, but continued to stroke the pokemon in front of me. Honestly, a Rydon would have leapt up in front of me and I'd still have stroked it.

I stood up and put my bowl in the dishwasher. Bellosom and Sunflora followed me out of the door when I had finished.

***
Rob had got a new coffee and was stirring it endlessly. I finished my bacon and took a long drink of mineral water. Suddenly Rob leapt up. I rescued the wobbling paper cup just in time.

"Marie! Over here!" Rob bellowed across the room. About fifty heads turned in our direction, including that of a young woman with long blond hair and a Wigglytuff. She grinned and hurried over with her tray.

Marie sat down. "Hey guys, what's up?" she asked. Marie has been our friend since we discovered we were in the same training group. She looks after the captured pokemon.

"We were talking about fixing Jay up with a-- Mmmpphh!" Rob began, before I slapped a hand over his mouth, sending Rob's coffee flying for the second time that morning.

Fortunately Marie is not a good listener. She ignored this little episode and began talking to us herself. "Did you hear? In pokemon room 492 they've got two adorable little Eevees! Twins! If you want them we'd better go now, before someone else gets there."

I thought that was quite cute. But I knew that all kidnapped or captured pokemon could be taken home by Rocket Members. At a price.

"Well, because they're so young... Ł600 each. Or so I've heard."

That was a lot. Still, think of it... cute little balls of fluff and fun...

And they were. One was slightly darker than the other, but, no doubt, they were twins.

"I'll take both of them," I say. "Unless you guys want one?" I ask them.

I knew I could. I had to. I dug Ł1200 out of my wallet among other stuff. We were well paid, but that was over half my money.

"I know that, salad-brain. But you can't pay for both of them. Although it's not quite enough it's still something to help." Rob gave me a 'don't-be-so-stupid-take-the-offer' look.

I carried the two pups in a large (free) carrier basket. I arrived in my apartment with Marie, Rob & Co.

I gently put the basket on my bed, and opened the door. The little Eevees tiptoed out.

"Shh little ones, it's OK. I'll go get you some food." They quivered at my voice, but were reassured by the large bowls of Pokemon Chow I brought back to them.

Half way through, the dark one lifted it's head. "Will you make me and my sister, Echo, evolve?"

Marie and Rob nudged me. "What did it say?" they whispered. They both knew that I could understand pokemon.

"Don't be silly," I said to the pokemon, "Of coarse I won't make you evolve." (Rob and Marie caught on).

The Eevee looked relieved, and went back to eating. The paler one (Echo) poked its head up.

"You see, I really want to be Espeon, a sunny pokemon, and my brother Twilight wants to be Umbreon, a dark and, er, cool pokemon. We also want to see the world, and we don't mind being split up. In fact, I'd like to have some space." Echo went back to eating.

Rob looked at his watch. "Agghh! I'm gonna be late for my 'private word' with Goivanni! And yours is in fifteen minutes, Jay."

Both my friends ran out of the door, leaving me biting the backs of my hands in a bid to stop me laughing at their panic.

"I send you on a simple task, and what do you do? FAIL! I can't believe you, Jay. There is no room for failure here. Now tonight, NO FAILURE! Understand?"

This guy needed a holiday. And how did he know I'd missed kidnapping that house's pokemon?

"I don't CARE! You've never, NEVER failed before at capturing the pokemon from twice as many houses! If you are successful tonight, we may think again about promotion! CLEAR?!?!"

"Crystal," I mumbled, looking at the list of homes I had been set for tonight, thankfully none of which were the girl's house.

"And I want to see you at training later today, GOT THAT? And I want you to WORK HARD!" bellowed my boss into my earhole. "NOW GO!"

I went, and saw Marie waiting outside, who had heard Goivanni's yells and had an attack of the giggles.

I kicked her playfully, and went on my way. Honestly. Goivanni could take a break once in a while. That shout was loud enough to stun a grown man five streets away.

***
I came back to my house LOADED with shopping. (I mean, I'm seventeen, what am I SUPPOSED to do?) As I came back Granddad (reading the paper) raised an eyebrow at the huge bags but didn't say anything.

I knew I was back late, being out for almost five hours. So I took a Galaxy bar out of my bag and put it in my Grandad's hand. He chuckled and let me sprint (almost) with the bags to my room. Grandad's got a soft spot for chocolate.

I spent a long time trying on the outfits I'd bought. I decided I would wear the white platform sandals and the white stained jeans to the school summer disco. But a top to wear...

I rummaged through the chest of draws for a suitable top, and found a (white) sequinned one. I like white, because everyone notices you, and I like being the centre of attention. I'd have great fun at the dance-- even if I did have no-one to go with.

I tried on the platform sandals I'd bought, and fell over straight away. Hmmm.

I tried holding onto the wardrobe handle and putting them on, THEN walking around. YES!

I lay down in bed. Outfit: sorted. Man of my dreams: still to come. Yes, I hadn't forgotten about him. Would he come tonight? Only time would tell.

***
My round completed, I arrived at the same window as the night before. The girl was there. I clutched a note and Echo's pokeball. I landed inside the room. The girl smiled sweetly in her sleep.

I released Echo and Twilight, and tied the note around Echo's neck. Twilight and Echo touched noses to say goodbye.

"Bye, Echo. Good luck," I whispered to the Eevee, calling back her brother, "This girl likes the sun. She'll let you be an Espeon. I'll check on you whenever I can." I'd noticed the girl's 'sunny' pokemon yesterday.

I slithered out of the window, shut it and climbed down the wall. There I collected my goods and I ran back 'home' to catch up on sleep.

I'm trying to make Swallow more like the average teenage girl. Like the names? I think that the names are cute. Bird Buddies!