Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon. :))
I present...
Chapter Twelve
"OMG! This city is sooooo huge!" May gaped in awe.
The group walked through Telyon City. It was late, 9 in the night, but everyone seemed more awake than ever. Lights lit up the night and signs flashed. May looked around, completely overwhelmed by the beauty of such a busy place, horns from some cars where blairing and there were people everywhere they turned. They continued to walk, sniffing the fragrance of food from a nearby fancy restaurant. Buildings were everywhere and Skyscrapers reached up farther than the eye could possibly see and in the distance, proud and tall stood the biggest and most elegant contest hall she had ever laid eyes on.
"Telyon City, the city alive day and night, is the home of the busiest and famous people of Rousse. The city's skyline has amazed even the most renowned critics in all the regions." Brendan nodded at the brochure and continued.
"Telyon City has been known as a 'Shopper's Paradise' and the 'Busy Lights'. Its hotels and restaurants are most enjoyable especially for traveling trainers, coordinators and such occupations. The city is most proud of 'The Hall' in which holds many of the most memorable Grand Festivals in the art of coordinating. Now though it has been seldom used for such festives but continues to hold contest for the guests entertainment."
May grinned at what she heard, despite the many things the brochure said one thing had stuck on May's mind. Shopper's Paradise ….. Her Paradise.
"Well, let's check in for the night." Brendan returned the little brochure back in his knapsack and turned towards the two teen.
Ven nodded, "Let's stay in that hotel then." Brendan and May followed her finger, and it pointed in one of those expensive looking hotels. The two childhood friends could only gape.
"Uh… maybe the pokemon center…. Kinda out of budget." Brendan's hand found their way up his head, he scratched it sheepishly as he looked at Ven's expression.
Ven scoffed at both of them. "Guys… Telyon doesn't have a Pokemon Center." Ven covered her ears in advance, her companion's face didn't look quite pleasing with the eye twitching and all that.
"WHAT?"
May looked around them, she had wondered if anyone would mind if they make too much noise, yet everyone was too busy to even notice and besides they weren't the only one whose loud.
Ven sighed as she glared at both of them. "I can't believe you're traveling Rousse and didn't even wonder the expenses. I'll pay but…"
They gulped. "You two need to stay away from me for one day. That day being tomorrow, get that? I'm getting enough influences from both of you dunce."
May's eyes narrowed, her eyebrows meeting for a brief second. "Well I don't mind, a day without you would be heaven!"
"We're on the same page then."
Brendan's face fell; he fiddled with his shirt before looking directly into Ven's hazel ones. "Well, there go my plans."
"Ugh, Telyon isn't going anywhere. We can do your plans or whatever some other day. Well, Au revoir." Ven walked nonchalantly towards the entrance of the mentioned hotel, 'Maxwell'.
Brendan and May shared a look before hurrying off after her.
"Telyon sure is beautiful." she hummed looking at the glass wall that over-looked the land of Telyon, with its busy streets and buildings and humans walking like ants , one would never think it created such a beautiful sight. She shaded her eyes when the sun hit her orbs complimenting the sapphire in them.
"Stop talking to yourself. You sound crazy. Oh wait I forgot, you are crazy! Forgive me your craziness." A laugh. A mocking and irritating laugh. She watched as her cheery mood in the morning, flew out the window.
She growled. She was glad that she had the chance to be away from the devil herself.
May sighed, that, May assumed might be the only time she had agreed with Ven on something and probably thought it was the best decision the hazel-eyed had ever made.
May picked up her white trench coat and fastened it above her traveling clothes. It was cold in Telyon, it wasn't snowing but it was chilly like a December afternoon. She then gazed over her bestfriend who was staying on the other side of the room.
"Brendan, you got to see Telyon at this point! It's absolutely breath-taking," May stated, closing her eyes as she focused her attention on anything calming other than Ven's comment.
The raven-haired teen, as to response, hid under his bed covers. "Stop mocking me!"
"Wow, very manly Bren." Ven rolled her eyes at her companion, or the blankets that were covering him were slowly shaking.
May blinked. She didn't suppose she said something wrong and she had no idea why he acted that way. She only said the view was breath-taking. May looked over the glass again and something clicked.
Saying that they weren't surprise by May's sudden burst of laughter would have been like saying an elephant was small. Ven's eyebrows shot as the brunette continued to roll on the ground her voice glittering with the sound of cheerful noise.
Brendan popped his head out of the blankets to stare at May, he had known the brunette for a long time and by now knew she was unique yet… could Ven possibly be right about the crazy thing?
"Look, if you think will stare at you like idiots constantly guessing why the heck you're laughing like an overgrown pig that's happily rolling on mud, then you've got another thing coming."
May stood up and breathed, she couldn't blame her friends for thinking she was bonkers but she just couldn't believe….
"Br-brendan, yo-you're still af-afraid of he-haha-heights?" It took all her energy to not start laughing but her sad attempt showed in her words.
Brendan flushed scarlet as Ven's head snapped in his direction with apparent amusement on her face.
May sighed wiping her eyes for possible tears seeping through it. "I'm gonna go now before I die with Bren's expression." She exited the room, gulping her giggles as she traveled the hallway.
"My, my Brendan. Never imagined how much of a coward I'm traveling with," Ven shook her head, she brought her arms to her chest, resting her feet on the drawer not so far from her.
Brendan shot up and glared at her, he pointed a finger menacingly only to have an amused smirk meet it. "Ven!"
"Yes?"
"I'm going to prove that I'm not a coward. I'm going to prove that I'm brave enough to protect you! I'm not coward! I promise." He lowered his head, determination ringing in his voice as he punched his fist in the air. He nodded at her then ran to get his jacket then proceeded to go out; after all they had a deal.
The brunette sighed flipping her brown locks aside; she let a ghost of a smile creep through her lips at her friend's idiocy.
Ven stood up from her chair and slumped unto her bed. "Peace, finally."
She looked at their suite, waiting for something to happen. She eyed the three beds carefully before darting her gaze towards the kitchen, then some part of the bathroom which was in view. There was something in the air she did not appreciate. Someone else's presence.
Ven had a reason why she wanted to be alone, why she decided to create that deal. Half of it because she wanted to get away from her loud and active companions and the half of it was to figure something out or more… someone.
"I know you're there. Show yourself." Ven stated firmly, her eyes were roaming the room, her self on guard despite her calm posture. Then shuffling.
Suddenly she felt her head hit the ground as something pulled her chair backwards making her fall towards the ground.
Her head was aching from the fall, she clutched it gently as she struggle to stop her world from spinning. Her eyes slowly dropped and the last thing she saw…
Was a pair of Emeralds.
"May wait up!" The mentioned brunette turned around, waited for her friend then continued on walking. May had slapped her hand into her mouth again fighting the urge to laugh, just the sight of Brendan was making her crack up.
"Oh shut it!" Brendan huffed, shoving the brunette on the shoulders, the impact had caused her to step on her feet and fall over, her face had met a devastating fate with the pavement. "Oh…"
The brunette, who had gotten her face planted on the floor, sat up, consulted her right hand for support as she leaned it on the ground with her feet spread in front of her. While her other hand was hoisting her up, the other had resulted on comforting her sullen nose, which in fact had met the ground in a rather, surprising way.
Brendan took hold of her shoulders as he lightly shook them. "You fine?"
A glare had responded to his question, he stood up, backed away and held his hands in surrender.
"May!" Poor May had been forced to stand up as she was squeezed into a hug. At the glimpse of red long and straight hair, May had known who had attacked her.
"Mitchy!"
The mentioned girl pulled away and looked at May with those green eyes, happily. She grinned at her, eyes shimmering with gladness.
"May! Oh my Arceus! I did not-"
"Dawn!" May had exclaimed.
" – know you were here!" Dawn engulfed the ingénue in a hug, both girls had squealed and a while later Mitchy had joined. Sad though… Brendan had been left alone.
Brendan looked at them, amused. He had always wondered how girls get so much energy, especially when gossiping or talking about certain things. He felt people burning stares in his skull as he continued to gaze at the three girls, waiting for them to stop and notice he was still there. "Look at that guy, doesn't he have any shame? Checking out three girls in such close distance."
He heard a girl mutter; he had clenched and unclenched his fist trying to maintain his coolness.
He held onto that wire of calmness. "I know right, so unbelievable." Then it snapped.
Brendan lunged forward towards his friends, sparing a glare at the two ladies on the bench who had been talking rudely about him, and they had scrambled to hide their face from is menacing gaze.
"Say… I'm still here, you know." His plan to gain May's attention as well as Mitchy and Dawn's had succeeded.
May blinked. He knew it… he had been forgotten! "Oh… yeah. Sorry Bren, I forgot, really. Umm, well, we're going shopping… do you want to tag along?"
"Yeah! It'd be fun, you won't mind carrying our bags right?" said Dawn her eyes had glimmered with excitement and something about that had frightened Brendan.
Brendan had paled. Shopping. The word had always frightened men, especially if they're with women. He had never understand why girls like to waste money on buying things that they may not need or they might. Mitchy's horrified face had only added to his fright, she was mouthing the word 'No' over and over again. Apparently, she had experienced shopping with Dawn and by her expression, Brendan had no plan to witness for himself.
May was bad enough… He would guess Dawn was worse. "Uh… no thanks. I think I'll go to the gym… and earn myself a fi-first badge," he stated, he rubbed the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly at the disappointed faces of both teen.
Abruptly, Mitchy ran to his side and clutched his arm. "And I'm coming with him. I haven't seen a gym battle for a while."
"Awww… Mitch, why?" May pouted, her arms had met her chest in a sulking way. Mitchy and Brendan both sent similar apologetic smiles, backing away as they waved.
Dawn tilted her head to the side then sighed. "Well… I guess it's just the two of us. Let's get going, I've got a lot of things to tell you!"
Grabbing her arm, they both waved at the two teens before disappearing alongside the crowd.
Brendan and Mitchy had stopped waving, silence swallowed both of them before Mitchy turned around and faced Brendan. "Well then, the gym's not too far from here, come on!"
"Why didn't you go with the both of them?" Brendan asked, his head had gestured towards the direction May and Dawn had went. Mitchy looked at him with humor as her hands planted a spot on her hips.
"Shopping with Dawn is like suicide! I learned that from yesterday," she laughed and a moment later Brendan had laughed with her.
They started to walk towards the Telyon Gym, well, skipped on Mitchy's place. Squeezing through the many people, they stopped in front of a tall, tall skyscraper. On the top was a circular looking building, Brendan assumed that it was the battle arena.
"Ready for your battle Brendan?" They took a step inside.
"More than ever."
Standing in front of them, with the same challenging look, was a man with black hair and blue eyes.
"Erick Justine, Telyon Gym Leader."
"I should be supporting Brendan." May slumped on her seat, she and Dawn had stopped for lunch on a café just a few miles from the mall they had been shopping for at least two hours.
Dawn shook her head, sipping on her hot cocoa. "May, their battle is probably over by now. And… look at all the things we bought!" Pointing at their shopping bags which laid on the floor, Dawn smiled as May laughed.
"Yeah, I've never had so much fun since the grand festival!" Dawn gazed at the laughing brunette, she smiled fondly. The minute May noticed her eyes, she stopped and looked curiously.
"What?" asked May.
"Nothing. I'm just really glad you're recovering from… you know…" Dawn's eyes were downcast as she fiddled with her skirt, knowing that there was a possibility she had hit something sensitive.
"Huh?"
"You know…" May looked at Dawn, she was obviously having a hard time saying what she wanted and for that, the brunette had gotten more intrigued. "About Drew."
She froze. "I heard that you had been down the past few weeks after his funeral. I'm glad that… you know… you're happy again."
May returned her friend's grin. "Yeah, I was… but…"
"But?" Dawn leaned over the table to hear May who was decreasing her voice to a whisper.
"Well… I'm not actually thinking about that now…" May tried to explain yet Dawn's expression said otherwise. "To be honest, I don't feel so sad anymore."
She had watched as Dawn raised an eyebrow, her lips going on a straight line. Knowing what she was thinking, May made haste to continue. "I mean, I know he's not faraway and I got the feeling he's always there…always watching me…" May unconsciously smiled, stirring her slightly cold cocoa. Her words had been true, Drew was always watching after her. Every step of the way, always.
At that, Dawn's expression softened. She gazed at her best friend with sadness, watching her ponder over her drink but she knew what was on the brunette's mind.
"You love him…"
May fell back on earth with a crash. Her head snapped up looking at Dawn with disbelief, her heart was thumping against her chest so hard blood was forced to rush through her cheeks.
"No! O-of co-course not!" May hid her face behind her hands. Dawn raised another eyebrow at her, why on earth is May acting like this?
"It wasn't a question. And…" She had dragged the word long enough to gain back May's attention, "Why do you even bother denying it? The boy's dead."
It fell on May like a ton of bricks. She kept silent and cast her gaze downward, towards her drink again. Dawn's hand attacked her mouth, recognizing the definition of her words, she regretted the very sentence.
"Sorry…" May sent her a smile, a weak one, but a smile nonetheless, "I know how hard it is for you."
"How?" The brunette arched an eyebrow. It wasn't like Dawn was close to Drew, wasn't she? She might have been a fangirl but it doesn't mean she felt the same way as May does…does she?
Dawn, as if reading her thoughts, grinned. "I may not have mentioned it before, not in the funeral since you were sensitive on things concerning him. But Drew and I… we go way back." She rolled her eyes, reminiscing those days. She let out a shadow of a laugh and this had prevented her to see the brunette's face.
May's hand met the desk, her sapphire orbs had widened as she looked disbelievingly towards Dawn.
"We're childhood friends, I lived in La Rousse when I was young, back when my dad was still alive…" A tint of sadness appeared on her voice, and then it went as quickly as it came and she managed to smile. "But we moved to Twinleaf when I turned eight… a year after my father passed away." Dawn's voice started to shiver; she closed her eyes and inhaled.
May looked sadly across the table as Dawn continued, "Drew and I lost contact after that. One reason why I didn't know you were a rival of his. I only knew he tackled on coordinating and became really good at it."
"Is it true? You and him… were childhood friends?" May asked. Dawn glared at her friend, crossed her arms on her chest. "Of course it's true. Are saying I'm lying?"
Sapphire orbs widen, a pair of legs stood up and hands met the table with a deafening crash. "No! I…. I-I'm j-just surprised is all. I… I didn't mean anything."
Dawn smiled at May; her brunette friend had gotten worked up out of something so little, again. She had known the brunette for almost four years now and she wasn't really that hard to memorize, by the way she was stuttering, Dawn already knew she didn't mean anything by that. After all it was a dead give-away.
May sat down, looked at the bags of clothes they bought then faced Dawn. "So… we're you and Drew close? As in…close-close?"
"Yeah… You could say that. Well, our families are really close," Dawn laughed lightly, "Almost like one itself."
"I see…" Then an idea popped on May's mind. "Do you…know his father? Andir Hayden?"
May noted how Dawn's eyebrow twitched and how her gaze had sharpened. "Do I ever…. The man's a sad excuse for a human…" she muttered lowly, low enough that May had hardly caught on.
Was this Andir really as bad as everyone made him look to be? Or… was he that horrible enough to kill his own son? Well, May assumed that he did. "Why?"
May only looked with eyebrows raised as Dawn seem to fidget with the hem of her skirt. She was hesitating, May knew. By the way she looked back and forth between her and her empty cup and the biting of her lips, May had a feeling she was going to spill something she shouldn't have.
Dawn took one heck of a deep breath. "Okay…I'm…," she sighed, "I'm not supposed to tell you this, not to anyone really, but I just… I just feel like you have the right to know… after all you are a part of it."
The brunette hadn't even dropped her brow from its raised positioned. "Part of what?"
"Part of his death. Part of Drew's death."
"Yeah!" A fist punched in the air. "I won!"
Mitchy laughed as Brendan shook Erick's hand after being given the Telyon Badge.
The match was not easy, considering Erick was an electric pokemon trainer and Brendan had started with his Swampert. He had lost in the beginning but with a little determination he had one, he had to admit though that the determination came from Mitchy's loud cheering and compliments. But nonetheless it was never easy to beat Erick.
He guessed it was true, that Rousse was more of a challenge than a region itself.
Walking out of the building, Mitchy and Brendan waved over to Erick then proceeded to return to Brendan's apartment where Ven would have no doubt staying in. He looked over to Mitchy who was skipping happily beside him, wearing those grins to adorn her face. "Where's Drea?"
She stopped. "Drea's…" she sighed, "She's sick and has to go back to our hometown… In Goldenville. That's why I'm with Dawn, she's my partner for this upcoming contest. The contest that's going to be held…. There!" she pointed towards the contest hall miles away from them but was still in full view.
Brendan followed her finger. "There's a contest?"
"Yeah," she looked at him, "You guys didn't know?"
"Well apparently." He sighed then looked at Mitchy hopelessly, "You know… Ven and May aren't the most updated team."
Mitchy laughed at that, her red slightly orangey hair swayed with the wind. "Speaking of May…"
"What about her?" Brendan walked in front of her, not bothering to wait.
"You like her… right? You know… like-like." she quoted her hands in the air and in the same time Brendan stopped right in his tracks. He abruptly turned around causing Mitchy to stumble on his front and land on her rear.
"You could have warned me!" Mitchy glared, her hand comforting her bottom as she desperately attempted to stand up. Brendan smiled sheepishly, helping Mitchy stand up to her feet.
Mitchy sent her a look, a look which he knew too well. "I… Okay…okay… So I like May, like that. But… come on, she's my best friend and well… she's really dense, so I'm not raising my hopes up and I'm just starting to move on…" Brendan trailed off; he gazed at the orange sky and the sun which was now nearing its end.
He stopped though, as he looked down and saw Mitchy blocking his way. Her green eyes were shadowed by her hair and then she looked up. "You like someone else?"
"Yes…" he turned red, eyes widening as he heard his own voiced say something he shouldn't have. "I mean-"
"No denying!" Mitchy pointed an accusing finger on him. "Who?"
Brendan waved his arms in the sky, Who exactly? "No one!"
"No one? Then you should start liking May again. You know what? I'm going to help you and I'm going t-"
"WAITwaitwaitwait!" he raised a hand to Mitchy's mouth which immediately silent her. "You're going to help me?"
Mitchy lit up as she grinned; she pointed a finger at him and winked, "Of course! I've always wanted to be a matchmaker!"
"But why?" Brendan scratched the back of his neck, he looked at the sky. "Because…"
Rubies had clashed with Olive ones. "Because I think you two would make such a wonderful couple."
Brendan had turned red, redder than Mitchy's hair and redder than Drew's roses. Mitchy looked at him innocently, she pinched his cheeks and stretched them. "You're red!"
He turned away and flashed her a sheepish smile. "So… how exactly are you gonna help me?"
"I still don't know." She shrugged and just as her shoulders fell, she grinned, teeth showing and eyes sparkling. "I have an idea!"
Brendan could only blink and then, "Meet me tomorrow and I'll tell you the plan!"
"Ok?" He raised an eyebrow at the departing girl, and then she turned around.
"Just make sure you come, if you don't… You'll meet my fist!" Brendan had a good sight of her raised fist and her threatening face before she broke down to a friendly grin. "Bye!"
Brendan shook his head, the redhead had ran towards the street and had nearly been hit by a bicycle. "Watch where you're going!"
He turned around and smiled to himself. "Me? You're the one who ran on the street!"
Brendan had laughed to himself as he heard Mitchy fighting with whoever had nearly hit her.
"You have two minutes to run, if you still want to live!" At that Brendan turned and saw Mitchy chasing after a kid on a bicycle, the boy looked frightened and had done his best to outrun the redhead. Finally they turned around the corner and Brendan lost sight of Mitchy.
He laughed then went to the elevator, back to his room.
Brendan stopped in front of the door and fumbled to find his keys. He wanted to surprise Ven then make fun of her surprised face, if ever she does get surprised.
Yet the shock was laid upon him when he heard a man's voice on the other side of the door.
"Ven, how many times will I have to do this?" An exasperated voice said, he heard the stranger sigh.
His ruby eyes widened and suddenly lost its sparkle. He felt his heart skip a beat and his whole mood fell.
Who is this guy and more importantly…what is he doing with Ven?
Hahaha! Bless Brendan and his thoughts.
Thanks for the review guys!
Anyway, the next chapter should be posted next week.
Review please!
-AlmostDrew
