First entry in the 365_drabbles challenge on Livejournal.
She was the last person he expected to see walking into the Pewter City Pokemon center that evening.
She'd aged beautifully in the last seven years, that was the first thing he'd noticed. She was taller with a slightly more angular face and longer hair, which she wore in braids now rather than her usual pigtails. She'd traded in her bandana for a beret and more than grown into her figure.
But he'd recognize those eyes of hers anywhere.
"Fancy running into you here, May," he said, and she gasped.
"Brock! I didn't recognize you," she laughed. Brock blushed and ran his fingers through the goatee he'd accquired at some point.
"Yeah, well..." He smiled. "So, what brings you here? There a contest in Kanto I didn't know about?" he asked.
"There's one in Goldenrod City, actually," she said. "I've been on the road for two days and wanted to stop and rest for a while, and here seemed like a good place!"
"Is Drew with you, or are you going this one alone?" Brock asked. May smiled sadly.
"Drew and I kinda split up," she said. "We're still friends, but he needed a break from the limelight and we're not as close as we used to be. Last I heard he'd moved into an apartment in Sinnoh with Harley."
"Sorry to hear that," Brock said. "So you're single now?" Almost immediately he kicked himself. "Ah, sorry! That was pretty insensitive of me wasn't it?"
May laughed.
"Actually, I'm glad you asked," she said. "After Drew and I parted ways, I did some thinking...Brock, this is gonna sound crazy, but I used to have a crush on you. Back in the old days." She blushed. "I guess part of my reason for coming here was you..."
"...wow." The word came out in a croaking sort of manner. He couldn't deny that in the old days he'd found her adorable, but her age and his preference for older women had kept his feelings toward her from going any further than brotherly. Now that she was older and sounded like she was offering herself to him, he didn't know what to think.
"I hope that's not creepy or anything," May said. "I mean, I haven't been stalking you or anything!"
Brock stepped forward and took her hand.
"Would you like to go out to dinner with me?" he asked. "I'd like to do some catching up."
She smiled warmly.
"I'd love to."