Stella rolled her eyes as Nerissa challenged her to a race. She liked competitions as much the next girl, but there was no way she was going to exert herself in this heat. She hated running, especially when the temperature was as high as it was. She wasn't going to get sweaty and out of breath just to win some ridiculous wager, how disgusting! She wouldn't want to be seen sweating like some kind of commoner. That would be downright embarrassing. Never mind the risk of heat stroke, and skin cancer that came with being out in such weather for too long.

She pulled out a paper fan from her purse, opened it, and started fanning herself with it as she continued her leisurely stroll to the store. Even worse than the heat, was the crowds of people pushing past each other like a bunch of ruffians. If there was anything worse than sweating, it was bumping into one of these people, and the awkwardness that usually followed. 

As she expected, Stella was the last one to reach the store. Emil and Nerissa had been waiting there some time, but Stella didn't care what they thought. She wasn't willing to sprint through the streets of Goldenrod like a madwoman. "Have you lost your mind?!" Stella scoldedd Nerissa while continuing to fan herself. "Did you honestly expect [i]me[/i] to race you in this heat?! Don't make me laugh. A lady like myself wouldn't be caught dead sweating and panting. Seriously, how childish can you be?!" 

She turned to Emil, and saw his face had turned red, was drenched in sweat, and was catching his breath. Did he really take up Nerissa's challenge? Stella giggled to herself. At least Emil was a child, he had an excuse. Nerissa was old enough to know better. "Oh, you poor dear! This heat must be getting to you." The blonde said as she started fanning him. "By the way, you forgot these back at the Gym." She took out Emil's Plain Badge, and TM disc, and put them in his hands. "Maybe next time you won't run off before the Gym Leader has a chance to give you your badge, hm?"

After fanning him for a moment, she closed her fan, put it away, and walked up to the entrance of the Department Store. "Now, as for the terms of our... [i]wager[/i]..." She pulled out her credit card from her purse, and held it between her fingers for the other two to see. "The two of you should consider yourselves lucky I'm feeling charitable today." It wasn't worth arguing about the fact she never agreed to this bet. She knew very well that she had more than enough money to pay for a few Pokeballs, anyway.