Well, I'm back and I am currently typing from my dorm at school. Falling into college life was far more easier than I thought, given that I haven't memorized my schedule yet but it'll come to me. I just wanted to say a little thank you to all of those who have been reviewing and reading up until now. It's you're encouragement that has me typing because honestly there are times I just don't know if I want to continue this story but ideas come to mind and I get that one encouraging review and I have to continue, so thank you all. This chapter is dedicated to all my continuous reviewers, especially those who have been with me since Misinterpreted Love. Thank you and Enjoy…

~Rolyn~

Chapter Thirty Six: Return

"There is something so disappointing about returning ta school after a long break…" Alex commented pushing her food around on her plate at lunch. The girls had gotten through half of their day, time sliding idly by and excitement at an all-time low. It was strange and most of the girls seemed almost bored as they chatted about nothing during lunch while the boys went off to do whatever those Flygon boys did at lunch when they weren't sitting with their girlfriends.

The New Year had come and gone; they had celebrated the holiday together but back in LaRousse as Jennifer had hosted her annual New Year's party which consisted of many people she knew on the who's-who along with their families. It was an eventful evening filled with laughter and sharing the first kiss of the New Year for the girls and their respective boyfriends…

"I like getting back to school and reconnecting with friends again." Dawn said with a bright smile before popping a fork-full of salad into her mouth. She appeared to be the only Dragonite girl with a cheery, excited disposition, then again, that was what Dawn was known for. Alex always joked that her sunshine-like personality was in direct connection to her name. "I love school."

"You're a freak." Patou said flatly before taking a sip of her soda. Dawn pursed her lips before shrugging carelessly. She was generally used to being ridiculed for her love of school. "Can't winter break come back already? School is entirely too boring." She commented with a shake of her head.

"Well why don't we change that?" Rolyn offered with a shrug. "If school is too boring then we can liven it up a bit. When have we not derived excitement out of the most dry of circumstances?" She added with a laugh, thinking back to all the situations the six of them had gotten in within that last few months, not to mention the previous Summer when they had first met May…

"Well exactly what are we going to do?" The brunette finally spoke up, looking towards her ebony haired best friend. Rolyn shrugged a second time, thinking carefully on that particular question. "We won the games against the boys thus proving once again that we are superior but having another series of games would make things feel a little overdone…"

"Why don't you guys try out for the Spring showcase?" Marina inserted suddenly. All eyes turned on the aqua haired beauty who was tentatively sipping her water, before noticing she was being stared at. Her brow furrowed for a brief moment as she set down her water bottle, wondering what she had said that was so out of the ordinary for her friends to stare at her in such a manner. "What?"

"Ya mean acting?" Alex asked suddenly.

"No, that's the Spring Performing Arts Showcase…there is a difference between the two." Marina explained with a nod. "The regular showcase is basically an exhibition of all types of talents; kind of like a talent show but it is just for the fun of it. You don't win anything." She added in a matter of fact tone.

"But competition makes everything more exciting." Rolyn pouted, slightly put off by the fact that there was no fighting for a title. The girl loved to win, not because she was conceited…it was almost a Hayden thing. There was always fun when it came to a little sport.

"It's fun regardless," Marina said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Why don't you guys try out and do something. You can do anything from the performing arts to giving an example of an array of Pokémon attacks. Coordinators usually do an appeal."

"It sounds like a fun idea…" Patou said with a small smile. "What do you guys think? We could even do something together if you wanted. I think we make an excellent singing group if I do say so myself." She added with a laugh, thinking of the many times they had come together to perform a song, dancing and harmony included.

"I'm so in!" Dawn said excitedly. The navy haired girl would jump at any opportunity to perform. It was why she loved being a coordinator, she could perform and battle which was the best of both worlds. There was nothing like a good showcase and it was fun to spend time coordinating a performance, especially when she was with her girls.

"You just have to see Samia. She's coordinating this and she's also going to be the master of ceremonies for the showcase." Marina explained further.

"I don't know…" Alex grumbled crossing her arms over her chest.

"C'mon Alex! It'll be fun." Dawn gushed leaning on her friend's shoulder. Alex huffed before shrugging off the cerulean eyed girl. "Don't you want to spend time with us?" She added with a laugh, not being put off by Alex shrugging her off.

"I think we should do it." May offered with a smile. "We could even get the boys to help and even if we don't do it as one huge group like always we can enjoy each other's acts, right?" She added, her voice dripping with classic May optimism.

"Fine…I'll do it too." Alex sighed in defeat thus causing Dawn to squeal in happiness before lunging at her purple haired friend and squeezing her in a tight embrace. "Can't breathe…brain cells…slowly…dying…" Alex choked dramatically before letting her head flop to the side with her tongue hanging out. Dawn chuckled and pulled away from Alex, gently slapping the pink eyed girl on the shoulder.

"Alex, you should take up acting…" A new voice interjected. Alex's head snapped up and she whipped around only to flash a toothy, classic Alex Cramer grin.

"Well if it isn't mah fellow midget," Alex chuckled giving the newcomer a mock, two finger salute. Samia laughed lightly, glad that she could find some humor in her lack of height. Then again Alex could make just about anything humorous, no matter what the circumstances.

"Samia, Marina was just telling us how we should see you about the Spring Showcase." May said looking from Marina to the dark haired girl. Samia blinked in surprise before a bright grin came to her face. She was both shocked and expectant when it came to these girls. She didn't expect them to show interest in the showcase but she knew they'd catch wind of it, maybe contemplate participating.

"Really," Samia said pulling up a chair and taking a seat between Marina and Alex. "What do you need to know? If you have any questions, I know I can answer them." She added with a sort of playful, smug look.

"Well we were thinking about participating and since you are the go to girl…" Rolyn said with a shrug. Samia simply nodded as she reached into her backpack and pulled out a folder labeled performing arts.

"I'll just jot your names down but any concrete decisions about what you'll want to do or who you want to do it with is due two weeks from today." Samia explained as she wrote down the last name of the six girls. "Do you think any of your boys will want to get involved?"

"Unlikely…" Patou laughed with a roll of her eyes.

"I don't know…" Samia said with a sort of lopsided smile. "Jason already signed up to play an original classical piece on piano and I think Drew might be doing an appeal because his name is on the list too." Samia said looking over her list so far.

"Really?" May said sounding more shocked than she actually was. Samia giggled while nodding.

"Those boys of yours are sure full of surprises, but like I said, you don't need to know what you're doing like they do until two weeks from now. See me then and we'll talk about auditions and time placement." Samia explained just as the bell that signaled the end of lunch sounded. She huffed before standing to her feet, tucking her folder away in her backpack. "Time for 6th period…"

"Gross…" Alex groaned throwing her head back. "Ugh I should ask mah mom ta extend lunch…" She muttered shaking her head.

"Alex, lunch is already an hour long and you're mom has extended it before. I don't think she's gonna do as you say just because you're too lazy to go to class." Marina commented as she gathered up her belongings before pulling together her garbage and heading towards the nearest garbage can. Alex shot the blue haired beauty a rude look as she followed her example.

"Well ya'll try having a class with Paul and Jason and then complain ta me Brainy." Alex grumbled as she threw out her garbage and moved to exit the cafeteria. "I'll catch ya all later." She added with a quick wave.

"I better head out too. I have to go to an entire different building for Battle class." Marina sighed as she brushed any leftover residue on her hands on the skirt of her uniform. She flashed her friend's one final grin before going on her way towards Alexandra Arena.

"I guess that leaves the rest of us for coordinating." Samia announced with a smile.

"But I thought you were in performing arts with Marina." May pointed out looking slightly confused.

"May, Marina told us that Samia was a double mastery." Rolyn explained nudging the brunette on the shoulder. May made an 'o' with her mouth but she was still a little confused because Samia had not been to a coordinating class since the beginning of the year.

"I switch courses every semester, May. In the first semester I had performing arts for the first four months and now I'll be in coordinating with you guys for another four months." Samia explained the best she could. May nodded in understanding.

"What about the last two months of school?" Patou suddenly asked.

"I'll be switching between classes every other day by then." Samia responded. "Confusing, yes, do I mind? Not so much…" She added with a shake of her head and a smile. Rolyn laughed lightly.

"Well what are we waiting for? I don't think we should be late to class?" Dawn inserted standing to her feet, slinging her pink backpack over her shoulder. "My mom would kill me if I was late to class again. She asked Dean Cramer to inform her for every time I'm late…"

"Ouch…" Her four companions chorused as they gathered themselves together and headed towards the door.

May glanced between her nearly blank notebook page and the board as their teacher went on explaining the best way to utilize the battle time limit in a contest. May was basically half there, partially thinking there was no actual general concept to planning a battle out in under five minutes. You never knew what path a battle could take; sure you could make small plans beforehand but not every single detail. This was why she was zoned out, sighing through her nose every few ticks of the clock.

Beside her Rolyn was scrawling down notes every now and then only to pause to answer the message she received on her Dex, messaging her boyfriend no doubt. In many cases, Rolyn, like her brother wasn't really obligated to focus; they had a natural talent that simply could not be explained or decrease in standard but they could always get better, they knew that. On May's other side Samia took her notes diligently, knowing better than to slack off. Maybe May should follow the shorter girl's example…

Another sigh passed the brunette's lips as she glanced down at her left hand, laughing once behind closed lips as her eyes came upon her promise ring that was basically a rose wrapping around her finger. Drew certainly had an obsession with the flower and May hardly minded…A rose meant so much more than a romantic expression…it meant a timeless connection and a past so full of humor and trials leading into a future filled with so much potential.

May hadn't thought much of the ring before though…she didn't think much of Rolyn's either, seeing as it was just a gift but it meant a lot more than that. It lived up to its name because it was a promise that what they shared would never die or be let go so easily and while the thought terrified May to pieces it also filled her with unimaginable happiness. She may have just turned sixteen but to think she found her indefinite future now didn't seem rushed or uncommon…she loved Drew after all.

"Pretty…" May jumped slightly, looking to her right to see Samia leaning over towards her, brown eyes locked on her sparkling ring. May cracked a small smile as she nodded in agreement. "Did Drew give that to you?"

"Yea it's a…"

"Promise ring…" Samia finished for her with a bright smile. "I knew because it's on your engagement finger…I guess you're the one Drew has been looking for." She added with a sigh and a small smile. "You have no idea how lonely that boy was before you came along."

"Really? But he had Jason and his sister…" May said lowly. Samia laughed.

"May, a lot has changed since you came to LaRousse," Samia began quietly. "I'm sure you've been told this before but Rolyn and Drew kept to themselves a lot…sure they had the Dragonite girls and the Flygon boys backing them up but they weren't as tight knitted as they are now…neither were they this approachable."

"People keep telling me that but when I moved here everyone was so friendly…the girls seemed close before I came and Drew seemed content." May commented.

"Yea well we all have our things to hide…they probably hid the reality from you because they wanted to impress you. I may have met you later than everyone else but I went to the camp and I saw you May…you're vibrant and happy and encouraging. You make people want to change." Samia whispered before facing forward.

May stared at Samia for a second before looking forward as well, noticing that what the teacher had written on the board was not what she was teaching ten minutes ago…or was it twenty minutes ago…May wasn't sure and since there was little time left, she didn't bother to try and catch up. She could always get the notes later, instead her eyes found purchase on her ring once again, smiling unconsciously as she remembered how she had gotten it.

Drew had smiled at her, pulling her into a hug prior to opening the gift she had gotten him for Christmas. As he pulled away, he reached behind him, pulling a small red box tied with a white ribbon into May's view. "And I believe this is yours…" He murmured, handing her the small box.

"Yes, I love presents!" May said with excitement of a child as she untied the ribbon. Drew laughed lightly, watching her carefully as she removed the ribbon and pulled the lid of the small red box. May's bright blue eyes widened as the glimmering rubies and emeralds of the silver rose shaped ring stared back at her. "Drew…"

"Remember that promise I made at your birthday? This goes along with it…" Drew breathed as he pulled the ring from its resting place and took May's left hand. May blinked in surprise as he slipped the ring onto her engagement finger. "I got you're ring size from Rolyn by the way." May couldn't help but laugh at that.

"You're so full of it." She chuckled, turning slightly to wrap her arms around his neck. Drew smirked at her before pressing his lips to hers in a brief kiss she gladly returned.

"You love me regardless…" He retorted smartly.

"You're lucky I do…" She shot right back, playfully glaring at him before leaning her forehead on his. Drew scoffed before placing a tender kiss on her lips that had the brunette beaming. She didn't believe things could be so perfect in it's own imperfect way…

"Ow!" May squealed bringing a hand to cover the spot where she felt a sudden sharp pain. She quickly looked up to see Rolyn staring down at her one eyebrow perked and her fingers ready to flick the brunette again if it came to that. May pouted lightly and began to gently rub her temple where Rolyn had gotten her the first time. "What was that for…?" May all but whimpered.

"May, the bell had to have rung at least ten minutes ago but you were so lost that you didn't even notice." Dawn giggled lightly. May blinked stupidly as she looked towards the clock on the wall. They were certainly going to be late for their next class which was gym; this meant that their time to change into their gym clothes had shortened which was actually a big deal considering girls took their time changing.

"The boys already went ahead of us…" Patou said referring to Drew and Ian, the only two Flygon boys who took coordinating along with the girls. "I guess waiting for their girlfriends seemed like too much of a bother." She added, her eyes narrowing just a bit.

"Temper Pat, we don't need another Alex." Dawn laughed bringing a hand down on Patou's shoulder. The golden haired girl laughed behind closed lips before nodding in agreement. "Let's just head to gym…no matter how much I know you are all dreading it…Rolyn."

Rolyn perked up at the mention of her name; she had just previously been writing up a fake doctor's note to get her out of gym. Dawn gave her a pointed look while May and Patou gave her incredulous stares, Samia simply laughed as Rolyn crumpled up the forged note and put on her best smile.

"Well what are we waiting around for?" The ebony haired Hayden laughed with a shrug. "Let's go before we're late again…" She finished as she made her way towards the door. Samia and Patou followed her and Dawn shrugged before doing the same.

"Too late…" May sighed with a small smile.

"So, did you guys figure out what you wanted to do for the showcase yet?" Marina questioned as she sat herself next to Jason at one of the picnic tables in the court yard of the school. The final bell had finally rung and they were free to do as they pleased…although many teachers encouraged them to go home if they had no after school activities like Dawn or Jimmy did seeing as the navy haired girl was head cheerleader and Jimmy had football practice.

Paul didn't stick around purely on the fact that Dawn wasn't around he claimed he had dealt with enough stupidity for one day. Marina had her Stage society meeting but not for another few minutes so she decided to catch up with her friends before she went well on her way.

"Not yet…" Rolyn sighed with a shrug.

"But we know we won't be doing it as a whole." Alex added. "We decided ta do our own thing. I wanted ta try doing a dance routine with LeNoir." She explained with a sort of lopsided smile.

"Finally embracing the dancer we know you to be Cramer?" Jason said smartly with a smirk and a perk of a brow. Alex gave him a narrowed eyed look before mouthing a threat no one wanted to repeat.

"I think it's good that Alex is getting back into dancing," Aden said with a smile. "She's obviously so good at it and dancing is what she and Dawn grew up doing."

"You suck up more than a vacuum dude…" Patou said with a nod of her head and gentle pat on Aden's shoulder. The dark haired boy pouted a bit and she offered her most reassuring smile as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Aw but that's one of the reasons we love you."

"I don't know why but I don't feel any better." Aden said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes. Patou laughed openly as she ruffled his hair gently.

"I was thinking I could sing a song, maybe incorporate some of my Pokémon…I mean besides fashion, music is the love of my life." Rolyn said with a shrug.

Jason, who had his arm draped over her shoulders, pouted while pulling away. "I thought I was the love of your life…" He said with mock hurt shining in his greenish-blue eyes; they had once again changed at his will. Rolyn giggled lightly as she cupped his cheeks in her hands.

"Aw baby, it's you not me…" She said, stifling her laughter although Alex wasn't so kind. She openly laughed at his expense and this caused Jason's pout to turn into a downright frown. Rolyn cooed to him as she pulled him in towards her, pressing a kiss to his lips and murmuring how she was kidding.

"What did you plan on doing May?" Drew asked suddenly, nudging his girlfriend gently to coax an answer out of her. May blinked in surprise a few times before repeating the question in her mind. What was she going to do for this showcase? She hadn't really thought about it.

"May, you have to sing." Rolyn encouraged. "You're voice is the best out of all of ours and you have fans that aren't just us." She added with a smile.

"Yea mate, you're singing is second ta none" Alex agreed with a nod. "I would pay ta see ya sing."

"Good thing the event is free." Marina scoffed. Alex shot her a pointed look.

"Yea, good thing…" Alex chided before looking back towards the brunette, dropping her narrowed eyed look and smiling brightly. "So baby-girl what do ya plan on doing? Please sing and grace our impure ears with the wondrous melodies of ya talents." Alex commented dramatically.

"I don't know…" May laughed nervously. Even now, after all the praise she had received when it came to her God given talent of singing she was still nervous. It took a lot to go up in front of people although it never seemed that way. She had fun but she was still nervous out of her mind. Singing with her friends or at Alakazam was one thing, it was pure fun, nothing planned out and completely spontaneous…May couldn't help but feel like this was something else and it was nerve wracking.

"You need to totally drop those insecurities May," Patou said suddenly as though she had read the brunette's mind. May blinked in surprise as the turquoise eyed girl smiled gently at her. "You have nothing to worry about because you are amazing and it hardly matters what anyone else thinks…even our opinions don't matter. What matters is that you have fun, which I'm sure you will." Patou laughed.

May released a sigh before nodding in agreement, a sudden smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. "Okay, okay…I'll sing one more time." She breathed in defeat with a shrug.

"This will not be the last time you sing May…" Rolyn scoffed with a shake of her head. "Trust me, we'll be given more opportunities and there will come times when you're just gonna want to do it."

You all have no idea how many times I would type up a piece of this chapter and then suddenly stop then come back to it the next day. School has been taking its toll, ya know? Destroying my life and such but that's hardly what matters. What matters is that I finished another chapter leading up into the final ones. I believe we have nine chapters left at this point. This story as been a labor of love and I have been so inspired lately by college life that a sequel is sure to come. I'll make this an ML trilogy…Thank you all for reading and please review

~Rolyn~