May POV
Present time
"I'm back," I called out tiredly, as I entered my house. To my surprise, Max was home.
Max smiled,"Hey Mey! Long time no see!" Last year, Max started his own pokemon journey in the Hoenn region. He was quite successful in the Hoenn league, being runner-up. "Hey Max, welcome home!" I gave my brother an affectionate hug.
My mom, Caroline, walked towards us and gave both a bone crushing hug. "Aww~We're all together again. It's been awhile since we all hugged~!" My brother and I exchanged hopeless glances. There's a reason why we don't have these hugs often. Then Mom gazed at Max with pride, "Congratulations for making runner-up in the Hoenn League! Your father would've been as proud as I was right now. Probably more."
"Y'think so?" Max replied hopefully. Mom smiled at him warmly. I fell silent. I always felt guilty about our dad.
After all, it was my fault dad got killed.
Feeling my calm composure gone, I hastily went to my room. Mom noticed my actions. She gave me a pleading look, "May don't blame yourself for his death." I didn't meet my mom's eyes. My father's death occupied my mind day and night. It was a never ending cycle. Not trusting my voice, I shook my head. I sped walked to my room before anyone reached me. As I entered and locked my room, Lunar was taking a peaceful nap. I crouched down and gently brush the poochyena's fur. My Pokemon are the only reason I live with this regret. Without them, I would've most likely done suicide.
-knock!-knock!-
I remained silent, continuing to brush Lunar's fur.
"May, it's me, Max. I need to tell you something. It's really important." Interest brought me to open the door. I put down Lunar back on my bed. As I opened the door to see Max, he gave me a brochure and a ticket. The ticket was for a trip to Kalos, while the other was about a professor. Seeing my confused expression, Max explained. "It's the Kalos region. I know you have a phobia to-"
"I don't have any phobias," I denied flatly. Max gave me a knowing look. "Mom told me everything about your health during my journey. You start to panic and faint when you see a pokemon mega evolve, right?" Why does he care so much? He's doesn't have the problem, so why bother?
"I really don't see why you care so much about it," I sneered. Max was taken back by the venom in my voice.
"May, I want to help you anyway possible. Why do you push people away from you?" Max pleaded. I pinched the bridge of my nose. "So about this professor," I started, avoiding that topic. Max narrowed his eyes, obviously seeing my tactic. "The professor is Sycamore, and he lives in Kalos. His main research is about mega evolution. Maybe if you understand it, you won't freak out."
"Max, I don't freak out. My memory just takes over my vision. I can't control it. Besides, I'm too busy to travel, being a gym leader and teaching contests at Rustboro." I reasoned. Max won't get off my back.
" I can take over the gym! And you can ask for a break at Rustboro! I'm sure they'll let you if its medical." Max argued.
"Max, I-" I stopped myself when I heard a crowd of people outside.
"Maples, we want to know to truth about Norman's Maple's death!"
"The world has been in the dark about Norman's death! Please, speak the truth and let the world know!"
"Was Norman's death really from a heart attack, or from something mor-"
"Great, the reporters are back," I groaned softly. Recently, news cast people were trying to pry out Norman's death from us once every month. When Dad died, We never gave the reporters any comments about Dad's death. We also told the people here at Petalburg to never tell them the truth how he died.
How he was murdered.
Yet as much as they irritated me, I fear them just as much. If I wasn't careful, I could end up on TV. Then all my friends could see me. A broken girl nothing more than a shadow of her old self. I feared their disappointment.
"Man, I thought they would stop coming months ago. You should've told me May," Max pulled me out of my dwelling thoughts. I stood up, "Let's go downstairs to Mom. And lower your voice your voice Max, we want them to think we're not here." I quietly scolded. Max nodded as we headed downstairs.
Mom looked up at us as we came down. Mom sighed at the front door.
"Is it already that time of month?"
"MOM!" I whispered, completely horrified of her wording.
"What?" Max asked innocently.
"Nothing!" I quickly tried to end the conversation. Max crossed his arms. I should've known that wouldn't work.
"May I deserve to know! What's the hidden message?"
"Max, you'll learn it later," I sweat dropped. There was no way I would give Max the 'talk' when there's a bunch of raging reporters at our doorstep.
"Maples, we hear your voices. Please open up the door for a few questions." Few questions seemed like an understatement. Soon a barrage of question came through the door. I cursed quietly.
"Why did you not comment about Norman's death on the day of his funeral?"
"Please come out the door and answer our questions!"
"May Maple, can you explain why you did not participation in last year's season of Pokemon contest?" I bit my lip at that question.
"May, was the reason you quit was because of your famous rival Drew Hayden?" I did a double take. That was the last name I wanted to hear.
Drew
My rival, my friend, my crush, my near lover.
But that was all past. I had nothing to do with his life. I cut the strings to our relationship. To all of my friends.
Max snarled, "Can't I just use my sceptile's leaf storm attack to blow them away."
"Believe me, I've thought of using my pokemon, but that would get on camera. It will make us a bad on camera, and make it to the headlines. We can't act rash," I replied.
"I don't care! They're invading our privacy!" Max clearly had it. I glared at him, "Well I do! I can't dishonor Dad's gym!" Max stopped, and understood my message.
I can't disappoint my dad anymore than I already have. Mom, Max and I sat down and waited as the reporters reluctantly left our house. I glanced at Max, "I'll take up the offer."
"What?" Max completely forgotten his offer to me.
"Going to Kalos. I'm getting tired of tiptoeing everywhere I go here. My pokemon also deserve to be out in the wild again." I leaned back on the couch. Max beamed at me, "May, that's awesome! I already booked your ticket to Lumiose City. That's where professor Sycamore's lab is! I signed up an appointment for you to see him-"
"Wait, you planned everything out? What if I said no?" I cut off Max's blabbering.
"Well, I planned that too," Max answered sheepishly .
"I didn't really have a choice did I?" I sighed. Max smiled, "Flight's in two days."
"I'll get packing," I went upstairs.
Author's Note: That was chapter! Right now, Lunar is just an extra detail, but trust me, he has a part in the story. Just wait!
So this is my first series fanfic, so bare with me. In case you didn't know, this is a contestshipping fic... Also I realized that I know almost nothing about the Kalos region.. yet my setting is there... Oh well XD
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN POKEMON