Next up…the second chapter in our heroes' little flashback! This was originally part of Chapter One, but I felt like I should split them up because it seemed too long; also, I edited this about a million times to get it just the way I wanted it, but I think it was worth it. Now, enough bragging on myself. On with the show!
~PikaForce
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The wind was howling now outside the country house; the storm had swelled to a true tempest. The bedroom was filled with creaks and moans as the gale rocked the sturdy framing, and outdoors the lightning slashed through the torrents of water, creating a violent pattern of flickering droplets on the windowpanes.
A young brunette woman stirred in bed, sticking out an arm to see if her husband had left. He had.
The woman rolled her eyes. No surprise there. Drew Hayden could hardly stand storms. Truth be told, she felt the same way, although she'd never admit it to him out of stubborn independence. It was true that something of the Haydens' old childhood rivalry still remained in their relationship, creating an occasional stubborn argument or rift between them. But Drew was just so desperate to kiss and make up every single time that…well, May couldn't help but forgive him. At least, almost every single time, she amended with a small smirk. Nobody's perfect.
Sliding off the bed and into her red fuzzy slippers, May bundled herself into a robe and, after peeking into the baby's room, headed down the dark stairs in search of her husband/rival/partner-in-crime.
She realized that the power was out when she saw his shadowy form draped partway across the table, illuminated by candlelight. If we had power, he'd be IMing a certain Ash Ketchum right about now. She smiled as she approached him, sliding her hand across his head. Her fingers came to rest on something that felt like…paper. Paper?
Peering into the candle flame, May could have sworn that there was a scrapbook under there. But that couldn't be true. Drew and scrapbooks just didn't mix…or did they? May smiled, bemused by such a thought.
I'm about to die of curiosity, but…will I wake him? One way to find out… Sliding her fingers beneath the book, the brunette woman slid the volume – very gently – from beneath Drew's green head, making sure that he was still out cold before looking at the page that he had apparently fallen asleep looking at.
Suddenly she jerked her hand back. Something was smeared across a corner of the page. Something wet. "Eww!" May said in a loud whisper. Note to self: Figure out a kind way to tell Drew that he drools when he sleeps.
Ignoring the undesirable corner, she scanned the rest of the page, recognizing the people and places in the pictures as if she'd seen them all yesterday. She smiled affectionately at Drew. He'd kill me for saying this out loud, but…he really is such a sentimental. These were photos from when she was fourteen years old – twelve years ago. And Drew had been the same age…so young, and yet, not so young… Smiling, she lit a candle from his burning wick and sat down on the old, overstuffed recliner with the bright flame of the candle shining from the cherry side table nearby.
To be fourteen again…thoughts of the past mingled in May's tired mind, eventually blending the present and past as her head drifted closer and closer to the back of the chair. She dropped off the cliff of consciousness and immersed herself in dreams as her head lolled back, her eyes closed, and her fingers went limp on the carefully bound pages…
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"…You'd better hurry up, Coordinator Extraordinaire," Misty taunted, narrowing her eyes at the green-haired boy.
His hands in his pockets in the typical cool-guy slouch, Drew walked over to the now-deserted reception counter at the Hoenn Premiere Pokemon Contest. But something about the way Drew walked exuded confidence. It almost made May smile as she stood watching him walk away. Her smile evaporated as she realized that Ash and Misty were staring at her with totally clueless and knowingly smug expressions, respectively.
"Boys," May muttered, attempting to cover for herself with an awkward smile. "Always acting so cool." She bent down and was about to pretend to tie her shoe – before she realized that it had no laces. Real smooth, May Maple. Will I be this awkward forever? Like, even when I'm…twenty!? Ugh, heaven forbid…
"Well, I've got us a couple of room keys," said Ash, totally oblivious as usual. He twirled the jangling metal on his finger. "I'll go on up and stick our bags in." He grabbed Misty's and May's bags from the chair near the one that Drew had been occupying, then headed over to the elevator and was soon enveloped by the sliding silver door.
Misty shook her head in frank disbelief. "Since when is Ash so…polite?" she murmured. After both males were out of earshot, she leaned down and hissed in May's ear what she'd been waiting to say all along. "Don't talk next time I hand over the dough! Let me cover for you."
The brunette stood up at last from her "shoe-tying" position. "You sound like a mobster or something," she scolded matter-of-factly, crossing her arms in an exaggerated motion. "And besides, I dunno, it just seems…weird. I mean, going behind their backs, and all…Drew especially," she added, her face coloring slightly. "I've known both guys for years, Misty. Are you sure we're doing the right thing?"
Misty crossed her arms, glaring at May's slightly red face. "It's about time you got together with him. The grass-head's crazy for you."
"No, he isn't," May insisted, although her eyes softened a bit. "You can tell by the way he looks -"
"- You can tell by the way he looks at you that he's nuts for you, May," Misty said with an air of finality. Her self-assurance annoyed May. May growled under her breath and refused to reply.
The two girls began to walk up the stairs together, passing the overloaded elevator. "Well," May said after a time, a definite twinkle in her deep blue eyes, "does that mean that we get to repeat this little process – with you and a certain Ash Ket-"
"YOU - WOULDN'T – DARE - !"
"O-Okay, okay," May choked out, trying to release Misty's hands from her throat. "I surrender."
Misty graciously relinquished the death-grip, laughing off her embarrassment (both at the mention of her black-haired friend and at the fact that she'd freaked out so much at the mention of a blossoming romance between them…). "Hey, May," she said in her 'let's plan something' voice, "I've seen Drew playing around with -"
"Before this continues down the path I know it's about to, I just want to say that I'm not gonna spy on Drew! I've already done…" May trailed off, her face crimson as she stared at the opposite wall. I've already embarrassed myself once today – I'd really rather not do it again.
Luckily, her redheaded friend didn't seem to be paying much attention. "Drew's got a new iPod, and he's been showing it off to everyone. Wanna go sneak a look?"
May blinked. "Wait…what?" Drew's got a new touch? He should be happy with his Classic…the thing's not even that old; heck, he was showing it off to me only three months ago…
"Never mind," Misty said, her impatience – and excitement – rising. Her fingers reached for May's gloved hand. "Just follow me."
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So…whaddya think? Interesting? Surprised that I randomly stuck an iPod in? Just to go on record, I have not watched the recent movie Seventeen Again, nor do I plan to. I liked the concept, but I honestly didn't think I could write May and Drew at seventeen years old and keep them in-character. So yeah, you get Lucky Fourteen. (Y'know, a play off of "lucky thirteen"? Get it? Oh, well…)
Also…REVIEW, GUYS! C'mon, I know you can do it! Really, in all seriousness – you like it, you love it, you're neutral, ya hate it – I don't care how you feel about the story, but I really appreciate reviews! They're what keep me going!
Finally, all credit where credit is due.
iPods and iAnythings © Apple
Pokemon © Satoshi Tajiri and the Pokemon Company
Thanks to all my readers, and all the people who have added L14 (as I've dubbed it) to their Favorites and/or Watch lists!
~PikaForce