"You're someone who knows someone who knows someone I once knew."
The woman looks surprised to hear her name. She studies Drew in turn, her expression unreadable. What feels like ages pass before her lips finally pull into a warm, familiar smile that sends his heart racing. "It's been a long time, Drew," she beams, her voice strong and warm with the faintest undertone of shyness.
The little girl, now sporting a furious blush, picks up her Torchic and Budew, dashing away to hide behind May's legs.
"Oh Mel, there you are, I'm glad to see you caught your Torchic," the brunette gently gives the child a pat on her bandanna-clad head. When Mel says nothing, May quirks a brow in concern, "Is something the matter?"
Drew can only watch as Mel whispers something into May's ear. The brunette nods in understanding, sneaking a quick glance at the male Coordinator's direction before bidding the little girl to "Go on home and tell your dad about it. If he says no, tell him I said it's alright."
Mel's eyes shine in adoration and lets her Pokémon down in order to give May a tight hug. With one final pat on her head for good measure, Mel hurries home, grinning from ear to ear.
"Cute kid," Drew remarks once the little girl is out of sight.
"She takes after me," May chuckles.
He hesitates for a moment then goes on to ask, "Is she-"
"-Wearing my bandana? Yeah. She saw some of my old pictures and asked if she could have one like it. I gave her the real thing instead. I'm kind of surprised you remembered. And glad," she adds, the corners of her lips pulling upward, "Are you here for the Contest?"
That hadn't been his question but he doesn't get the chance to ask it again. Because when she poses the question she's looking at him with such joyful eyes and the warmest smile he's seen in months. The sight brings heat to his cheeks, makes his heart ache, and promptly throws all coherent thought out the window.
But he's Drew Hayden and he neverloses his composure. At least, not for long.
"Y-yes," he coughs, bringing a hand to his mouth to try and hide the faint scarlet on his cheeks. It doesn't work and he can tell because May looks like she's fighting the urge to laugh. His response is to go on the offensive, "But I don't see how that would matter. You've been MIA for the past decade, I take it you won't be joining the Contest?" As he is unable to hide the blush, so too is he unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.
The brunette looks taken aback by his biting assumption. Her arms fold behind her back as she looks askance, "I would but as the person who organized it, I thinkthere might some conflict of interest there."
Green eyes blink. "What? You mean youorganized a Pokémon Contest for Petalburg?"
"Obviously not overnight. But I gotta admit, I didn't think it would take thislong to get everything set up. In between raising Mel and helping with the Gym, turns out not even a Sceptile's Leaf Blade can cut through the Pokémon Council's red tape. If it weren't for the people I met while journeying with Ash, I think I would have to keep at it for another five years."
And suddenly all the angry, bitter things he'd said about her, the harsh accusations he made of her giving up Coordinating comes rushing to the forefront of Drew's mind. But the guilt knotting in his stomach turns into something else as he listens to May talk about her trials and tribulations. Whether it was traveling from one town to another to finding the right signatory or all those sleepless nights when Mel was starting to teeth, Drew couldn't understand why she didn't think to tell him.
He remembers the way Solidad and Harley insists he should give her the benefit of the doubt. Did they know about it? The thought that the older Coordinators would keep information so important from him makes his blood boil. If they did, it would most likely be because May asked them to and that feels very much like betrayal. The usually calm and composed Coordinator has built up a lot of resentment over the past twenty years and it's taken its toll.
It doesn't take long for her to notice his hands are balled into tight, white-knuckled fists because he's not even trying to hide his fury. His temper flares at May's question, "Why are you angry?"
"Why?" he growls incredulously, green eyes sharply glaring at her, ignoring the bewilderment rimming her blue eyes. His handsome features twist into an angry, uncharacteristically ugly scowl as he enumerates his grievances. "Really, May? You don't know whyI'm angry? I knew you were slow when we were children but I thought you'd eventually smarten up."
At this point Roserade is tugging at his sleeve, trying to calm him down while Blaziken instinctively stands in between him and May. But he ignores both Pokémon as he hotly finishes his tirade, "Yes, we were rivals when we were children but for Arceus' sake, I also thought we were friends."
May stares at him, her mouth slightly parted in stunned silence. It is an eon before her eyes turn skyward and with a soft, shaky voice she speaks, "You're right. I-I suppose I haven't been a very good friend over the years but... it's not like I was avoiding you or anything."
"It certainly seemed that way to me," he shoots back acidly together with a flick of his hair. He expects her to either mumble and apology and excuse herself or to yell back at him for whatever grievances she may be harboring. But people change and a lot can happen in a year. What more in twenty?
He shouldn't be surprised that she gives him that same warm, hopeful smile that steals his breath and almost soothes his temper.
He shouldn't be surprised when she takes a deep breath, looks him straight in the eye, and says "Come have dinner with me and my family. We can catch up better somewhere private rather than out here."
He shouldn'tbut he is. Reluctantly, wordlessly, he nods his head. And her smile becomes so radiant he has to look away because he is still angry at her. And he knows if he keeps looking at that smile he might not be able to maintain his fury. The walk to the Petalburg Gym takes some time, any awkward silence thankfully staved away with their Pokémon communicating with each other in hushed but friendly tones.
But it isn't long before the chatter becomes white noise and Drew becomes painfully aware of May. Walking side by side in a steady, relaxed pace reminds the chartreuse-haired Coordinator of their journey when they were children, of the times when they were so close their hands would brush against each other, usually accidentally but sometimes not.
"I can't believe you still do the hair flick," her teasing jars him out of his thoughts.
"I can't believe you quit Coordinating when you were doing so well," his tone is curt, almost disgusted. "Some Princess of Hoenn."
"I didn't quit Coordinating," she snaps, blue eyes flashing in anger. "I may have stopped joining Contests but I assure you, my Pokémon stillhave what it takes." Again he is reminded of their younger days when getting a rise out of her was so easy but still quite satisfying.
"Talk is cheap, May," he scoffs as he flicks his hair again.
"Oh I can put my money where my mouth is, I promise you that."
They fall into the same patterns, make the same banter with practiced ease it almost feels like no time at all has passed between them. But the moment is short-lived because they soon arrive at the Gym and reality reminds them both of just how much has changed.
"Hey Drew, it's been a long time," a bespectacled man greets, gloved hands holding back the Slaking and the Mightyena flanking his side.
It takes the Coordinator a few moments to recognize, "Max?"
"Oh good, you still remember my dorky little brother," May chuckles, "Is dinner ready?"
"Mom's just about finished with the food. Good thing Brendan was here to help Dad keep Mel occupied," Max sighs in exhaustion while adjusting his glasses.
"Oh? Brendan's back?" May lights up at the news and Drew cannot help but feel his stomach knot at this.
Before Drew could ask who this Brendan was, a bandana-clad blur shoots out of the house straight for May's legs, knocking the brunette off-balanced. Drew reaches out to catch May without even realizing what he's doing and she makes no attempt to refuse the assistance.
"Mel! How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing that? You're not a Pokémon so stop trying to tackle people!" Max scolds, taking the little girl by the hand and pulling her off May.
"B-but... But..." Mel whimpers.
"No buts young lady, you march yourself upstairs and wash up for dinner," Max orders with finality as they disappear into the house.
Drew says nothing on the matter, not because he doesn't have anything to say but because he's more preoccupied with the fact that May is pressed flush against him, her hands clutching his shoulders for balance, her head tucked neatly beneath his chin. She feels light in his arms, soft, warm, like she was made to fit against him perfectly. She was so close that Drew can't help but notice she smells like roses and he wonders, vaguely, whether or not she can feel his heart jack-hammering against his chest.
"Okay, break it up, I don't think you want Norman to catch you two like this," a male voice genially laughs.
The green-haired Coordinator turns his attention to the source and finds a man his age standing in the doorway. Green eyes immediately narrow at the black hair peeking under the brim of the man's white hat. "May, is he-?"
"Brendan Birch? Yeah, I'm surprised you know him," May marvels. Again, that hadn't been Drew's question, and again he is unable to ask because May is pulling away from him to give Brendan an affectionate hug. The sight makes the earlier knots in his stomach twist even tighter. She adds, "I mean you two don't really travel in the same circles, him being a Battler and all."
"I know of him," Drew admits. "He's Professor Birch's son."
"Is that what I'm known for? Here I thought it was because I conquered the Battle Tower," Brendan feigns disappointment but is soon smiling a friendly smile as he offers his hand. "So you'rethe King of Roses Mel's been going on and on about all afternoon. Kid's real excited to finally meet her idol."
"Please, just call me Drew," he suggests. The Coordinator is nothing but gracious to the general public and accepts the proffered limb.
"Drew it is! From what May's told me, I thought you'd be taller," Brendan admits with a good-natured laugh.
Surely after that little remark Drew cannot be faulted if his grip became tighter with each shake and he responds with "Funny, May never mentioned you."
A dark brow quirks at the Coordinator before ruby eyes flash a challenge. The corner of the Battler's mouth pulls into a grin while he draws back his hand back.
Green eyes taper into arrogant slits at the Battler. The corner of the Coordinator's mouth pulls into a cocky smirk while he flicks his hair to accept the challenge.
Meanwhile, blue eyes dart back and forth at the exchange between Battler and Coordinator before a sigh escapes her lips. May keeps her silence with full intentions to remain uninvolved in the stare-off between the two men.
Thankfully, May's mother chose that moment to call out to "Brendan? Could you come and help me bring the food to the table?"
"Sure, Caroline." Brendan pauses at the doorway, his gaze trained on Drew. "See you in the Gym after dinner. We can get Max to officiate."
"I suppose I could use a warm up for the Contest," Drew coolly shrugs.
May frowns, visibly displeased, "But Drew, I thought-"
"Relax, May, we won't be battling for too long," Brendan grins cheerfully as he slips into the house.
Drew is aware of the awkward silence about to descend. As is May, because she remedies the situation by explaining, perhaps even apologizing, "Brendan's kind of like Ash. They both tend to get excited whenever they meet a strong trainer and can't wait to challenge them."
"Who do you think is stronger?" the question is out of his mouth before Drew even realizes it.
May doesn't pause, doesn't hesitate, doesn't even bat an eye when she answers, "I am."
Drew openly stares at her brazen confidence.
A beat.
Then laughter.
"Y-you should have seen the l-look on your face, Drew!" she stammers in between hearty giggles. Even Roserade and Blaziken share the brown-haired woman's mirth. "Honestly though, I have no idea. But I am excited to see for myself after dinner. Speaking of dinner, come on. Let's go inside before Max and Brendan polish off all the food."
Author's Notes: I have no idea whether a person who participates in the Battle Tower is really called a Battler, but for this fic's sake (and most of my drabbles) I pretend it does. Oh and yes, I also happen to be a Hoenn-shipper and enjoy love triangles involving these three. Just a heads up that unlike this update, the next part is going to take some time because I'm still struggling with the pacing and the sequence of events.
To LuvAllPokemon, splitheart1120, LoveLoverGrl, and contestshippinggirl - thank you for giving this fic a chance and for your reviews.
