A/N: END OF FLASHBACKS! YAY!
Okay so this chapter might be a little harder to keep up with, because this is where the actual story begins.
Ages:
May- 19
Brendan- 19
Drew- 20
Wally- 21
I REALIZE that normal 19/20 year olds PROBABLY wouldn't be out living on their own yet, but this is the Pokémon universe people. When has Pokémon ever followed the rules of our real society? Plus its fiction so I can pretty much do what I want with it anyway, haha :P
Anyway, on to the story! Hopefully it can answer most questions!
P.S. Don't kill me for May dating Drew right now
Disclaimer: We don't own Pokémon.
"May? May?"
May heard her name being repeated and quickly snapped out of her little daydream. She shook her head, blinking a few times and looked next to her, seeing the familiar face of her boyfriend, Drew Hayden.
"Are you alright?" he asked, slight concern in his voice. "You just zoned out there for a few minutes."
She rubbed her eyes with her hands. "Yeah, I'm good, just tired. I didn't sleep much last night."
He nodded in understanding, leaning back against the couch. They were in May's apartment, watching TV in her small living room on a typical Wednesday night.
May worked directly underneath Steven Stone for the Devon Corporation, as his assistant. It was a fairly easy job, and it got her by. She had a quaint little two bedroom apartment in Mossdeep, she could provide for herself and her Pokémon and that was enough for her. She had bigger plans, but for now, it was a good paying job that got her by. And she loved working with Steven, especially after meeting him on her journey with Brendan. He was damn generous as far as bosses go, as he usually didn't require assistance and always paid May four times more than what is necessary. She always tried to get him to give her less, to no avail. "You deserve it!", Steven would always insist.
May let out a small chuckle at the thought of Steven, but Drew didn't notice, engrossed in the sitcom playing on the TV. She yawned, stretching her arms and legs and glancing at the clock. 7:58. Drew would probably have to leave to fly back to Lilycove soon, before it got too dark and his Flygon wouldn't be able to see very well.
She got up to turn the TV off, but right as her finger was about to push the button, the TV blared "Breaking News!". May had never been one for watching the news, but the picture of her now very much grown up childhood best friend next to the news anchor's head was enough to capture her attention.
She lowered her hand from the screen and walked backwards to the couch, where she plopped down without removing her eyes from the screen.
"Good evening, and welcome to Hoenn Nightly News at 8!" the anchor announced with a pleasant smile on her face. "Tonight, we bring you exciting breaking news- the Hoenn region's current Champion, Brendan Birch, has reached the two year anniversary of his Champion crowning!"
May's stomach felt like a thousand Beautiflies were flying around in it. She didn't know why; her childhood crush was completely unjustified. She had just become interested in boys when she left on her journey, and Brendan happened to be an attractive boy whom she spent 95% of her time with, so naturally she'd think she was in love with him. It was simple to figure out, and say that she never really loved him. Besides, she hadn't seen him in two years; ever since he became Champion, he was so engrossed in his work that he never called.
So why in the hell would these Beautiflies explode in her stomach at the mere mention of his name, much less seeing his picture?
May tried not to answer that question in her head as she continued to listen to the anchor and various interviewed people talk about how much they like Brendan and what he's done for Hoenn. She sighed, sinking further into the couch. She hadn't spent this much time thinking about Brendan in a long time. Usually, he'd pop into her head randomly as she laid in bed some nights, but she'd drift off to sleep before she could really think. But now? Now she couldn't get him out.
Being pulled out of her internal conflict, May felt fingers being intertwined with her own. She looked down to see Drew's hand holding her own. She exhaled deeply, letting herself be relaxed-
"I'm just glad to be here. This was always my dream as a kid, being able to be the Champion and the strongest trainer in Hoenn, all while helping keep Hoenn the incredible place that it is. I love this region, and the people in it. I'm living my dream."
May froze as Brendan's voice rang through the speakers of her TV. She looked up from she and Drew's intertwined hands to see the man himself, Brendan Birch, on a live video chat with the news station from the Pokémon League.
The anchor continued to ask Brendan questions about himself and the League, though May only half paid attention to what he was saying as she studied him. He was the same Brendan, that's for sure- just older, more mature, growing into a true man. May felt her chest swell with a strange mix of pride and longing- she was so unbelievably proud of his accomplishments, yet she wanted more than anything just to see him again.
But she knew he was busy, and the Brendan she knew will always make time for what's important to him. And if she was important to him, he'd call.
Right?
May began a new train of thought, but she was abruptly cut off by hearing the anchor ask another question.
"Do you miss your friends and family?"
May felt her breath hitch in her throat- here's the moment of truth.
This question seemed to throw Brendan a little bit, as his face twisted for a split second before he composed himself again.
Like a professional. May laughed to herself- knowing how much of a dolt her best friend could be.
"Every day." He said, a hint of remorse in his voice. May's eyebrows shot up.
He continued. "I see my family every so often, they make a trip up here and I spend some time with them. I talk to my cousin a lot, he's one of my two best friends," He smiled slightly at this, but his smile quickly faltered. "I haven't seen or talked to my other best friend in a while."
The news anchor pressed. "Who are these best friends? Why haven't you seen the other one?"
Brendan was silent for a second.
"I don't really know. I'm just… busy, I guess."
"Do you have a message for them, if they're watching?"
May felt her heart skip a beat as Brendan scratched the back of his neck on the screen.
"Hey, mom and dad. Miss you. Wally, I know we talk a lot but you need to make it out here soon! And May… I hope you're waking up okay without a kid outside your window yelling at you. I miss you." His face was genuine as he smiled at the camera.
"Thank you for your time, Brendan." The news anchor said, as Brendan waved before his face camera was removed from the screen and the news anchor continued onto another story about the Move Deleter.
May stood and turned off the TV, standing in front of it for a second before turning around and looking at Drew, his expression passive.
"It's getting late," he announced, standing up. "I should probably get going."
May glanced at the clock again. 9:07.
"You have a contest tomorrow!" May remembered, slapping her hand to her forehead and earning a single nod from Drew, his signature smirk in place.
"You have a pretty terrible memory, Maple." He mused, walking to the door and putting his coat on. May gave him a short hug.
"Sorry I've been acting so weird, I don't really know what's gotten into me." May fumbled her apology, looking down.
"It's okay May, I understand." He smiled slightly, letting her go and opening the door. She gave him a quick goodbye kiss, before he gently closed the door and she heard Flygon flying away.
May groaned and walked back over to the couch, plopping down. She noticed her red tank top, grey sweatpants and messy bun in the reflection of the turned off TV. She sighed- she really is a wreck.
And of course, the cause of this wreck is none other than Brendan Birch.
His words echoed in her brain long after the TV special was over. May… I hope you're waking up okay without a kid outside your window yelling at you. I miss you.
She smiled slightly to herself- she'd spent all of this time trying to block him out, and he always weaseled his way back in, some way or another. And she missed him too, much more than she wanted to admit to herself.
But why? Why didn't she want to admit it to herself? Why is it bad that she misses her best friend?
Because I'm not thinking of him as my best friend.
May's eyes immediately widened.
She was not about to think about Brendan this way again. She has Drew, a tall, handsome man who is a top Coordinator in Hoenn. Any girl would love to be with Drew, and May loved Drew. So if she loves Drew, why are these thoughts of Brendan not going away?
Because I never got over him.
May threw her head into a throw pillow and screamed, alerting her Blaziken in the other room who peeked her head around the corner. May flashed a thumbs up to the Pokémon, before Blaziken rolled her eyes and walked back into the other bedroom. Her trainer could be so dramatic sometimes.
May gathered her thoughts before reaching for her PokéNav, immediately dialing a number she knew by heart.
"Hello?" Wally answered on the other end. "May? What's up?"
"Can I crash at your place tomorrow night?"
May's request threw him off, but he answered her. "Yeah, of course. Is everything okay?"
"I need your help."
"With?"
"…Boys."
Wally sighed. "May, you know I'm not good at talks like that. I barely know Drew…"
"Drew is not the one I'm talking about here."
Wally blinked and sat up. "What?"
May sighed. "Brendan."
Wally was silent for a few seconds. "I'll see you tomorrow."
May laughed dryly, hanging up her PokéNav. She walked to her bedroom, climbing into bed and trying to drain her thoughts of the Hoenn region Champion.
It didn't work this time.
A/N: AHHHHH LONG CHAPTER!
Why is May with Drew? Why is Brendan in contact with Wally but not May? Why hasn't May tried to contact him or visit him?
All will be revealed… ON THE NEXT EPISO-
Yeah I'm gonna shut up now, ANYWAY R&R as always!