Chapter 13
Grand Festival Day 1: Appeals
A blizzard attack and psychic joined, creating a magical crystal scene, light reflecting from the ice formed shiny sparkles. Then, silver-wind and ice-beam collided, creating a flurry of scintillating arrows and rays; a beautiful and deadly combination. May smiled, or at least the best she could muster. Glaceon tilted her head sideways. Was that a disappointed grimace from her trainer? Beautifly hovered closer to the ground, eventually resting on May's head; a habit she always had. This time, May truly smiled.
Since she was in the second group of coordinators for the appeals round which meant she had a small break to brush up her moves. Glaceon and Beautifly were in excellent shape, but May still couldn't hide her worry. A worry that enveloped her mind like a blanket of darkness. May crossed her arms angrily, berating herself. Her focus should be the festival, not... anything else.
In the distance, a frenzy roar of a wild crowd cut through the air instantly, snatching her attention. The cheers from this crowd was much different than the others. A knowing grin curved on her expression.
The competition would be tough, but that's expected. With Drew, Harley, Solidad and Zoey participating, nothing less was expected. Speaking of Zoey, the coordinator greeted her as she step foot off the boat, much to her joy, welcoming her with open arms. After a small tour, they eventually bumped into Dawn and Serena, who May belatedly remembered after a while. The much needed reunion finished the day with the girls spending the night in conversations that never seemed to end, laughter that probably annoyed the neighbours and before slumber overtook them, they whispered goodnight, filled with electric anticipation for the day ahead.
However, May couldn't sleep that night, for reasons both good and bad. The stormy cloud that loomed over her head since the incident in Sunnyshore City shrunk the more she observed her fellow coordinators who would become her imminent rivals, drinking in their enthusiasm and mentally preparing herself for the coming matches.
"Must be Drew," she told her pokémon brightly. "No doubt about it!"
She beamed at the sound. The chance to speak to Drew eluded her, being the busy person he is. And when he wasn't training, a constant stream of intrusive fans surrounded him wherever he strolled, and judging by the scowl plastered on his face, May (and everyone else for sure) could see how much he hated the lack of privacy. His scowl was certainly unfriendly, but as he spotted her through the people, Drew- for a short, yet precious moment- gave a genuine smile, one that promised a long awaited reunion.
"Just a few more minutes left, then it's our turn to shine!"
"I can't believe you, Gary!" Leaf yelled, unable to stop her voice from cracking. She was a calm person, but this was enough to bring out the horrible rage she disliked. "After everything we've been through?"
"We decided things were off a long time ago," Gary countered evenly.
He watched as her anger withered and her eyes became glassy, and he watched her sniff; he watched it all without feeling the usual guilt for being the reason for her tears. The tears slip down and he felt nothing.
"We never broke up, though," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "You cheated, didn't you?"
"It was never a real relationship, May and I. It wasn't-"
"It was all fake, then?" Her tone was suddenly hopeful as she grasped his hands.
Gary slowly nodded, but regretted it as Leaf- without warning- hugged him tightly. "It was all for selfish reason, and it was all my idea. It was all for publicity."
"...You're idea?"
An uproarious cheer from the Grand Festival stadium tore through the air, but neither of them bothered to care. Leaf pushed him away and flopped on the park bench, dropping her head in her hands. She carried a warm hope when she travelled from Kanto to Sinnoh. A hope that gave her courage and glee when Gary told her he wanted to see her. But his words smashed that small hope she cradled into smithereens. How could he?
She looked up, narrowing her eyes. "What's so special about her, huh?"
"I stopped having feelings for you way before I met May. She just made me realise that." Gary sat beside her, ancient memories of them together swirling in his mind. He paused as she flinched at the movement, pushing herself towards the end of the bench and staring at the opposite direction.
"I'm sorry, Leafie."
"Don't you ever call me that again!" She whispered harshly, her hazel eyes now glaring at him. "You ruined what we had... I can't believe..." she trailed off, her voice growing calmer and distant. "I can't believe I thought I loved you."
Sudden memories of their first meeting formed in her mind, a hazy and soft recollection she had always cherished. They were children at Professor Oak's summer camp. She was extremely shy and he was, even as a child, supremely confident. And popular. One day, they went to explore the forest. She could vaguely remember a Kalosian girl who wouldn't stop whining about how much she wanted to go home. And a wild raven-haired boy who wowed the class with his climbing skills. But quiet little Leaf was alone, too afraid to make friends.
"You can come with me!" A small boy said, his grin wide. He was Gary Oak, the smartest boy she ever knew. "I know the names of all the bug pokémon in Viridian Forest. We'll win the competition!"
She blushed, tentatively walking near him. "You want to be my friend?"
"Of course! I'm friends with everyone!"
"Okay," she said, matching his grin. "I'm Leaf."
"Leaf? That's boring! I like Leafie better."
And years after their fateful encounter, they met again in Celadon City. A rookie grass-type trainer and a novice researcher began their journey together. Leaf prayed every night to see Gary again after she watched his battle in the Indigo League. Her secret wish morphed into reality a few years later.
"I remember you." Gary's voice echoed excitedly, his tone having a child-like edge though he was no longer a kid. "You're Leafie!"
A memory that once was something akin to a diamond to her was now something she would have to bury in the past. She saw his eyes flood with sorrow and sadness and though it pricked her heart, she knew she should no longer care.
"I am sorry."
"Goodbye, Gary Oak," Leaf stated quietly, her voice carrying an air of finality.
Unbeknownst to the pair, an purple-haired man watched them with a evil smile growing oddly wide. He didn't need his camera this time to capture a scandalous photo. A crass giggle made it's way out as he pressed the stop button on his video recorder. He really outperformed himself this time around. Who knew May was involved in something so shocking! The press- no, the fans and the judges at the grand festival will certainly not be impressed with her little game of fame. Ah, he knew the spiky haired boy was never her real boyfriend! May was always after Drew. He narrowed his eyes sharply, a cruel plan arranging in his mind. Harley will finally get his revenge on Hoenn's beloved princess- and that too in a way she will never recover from.
Now the real fun began.
May will not dare to show her face in a contest ever again after this! Harley squealed with delight, clutching the device close to his chest as if an imaginary hand would suddenly take his prized possession away from him.
As the curtains closed, Dawn sat down on her chair, sighing contentedly. The cheer of the vast crowd dwindled to a low hubbub as the MC started to talk to the judges.
"I hope Kenny gets through this time," she said to Serena, remembering the time Kenny lost his first Grand Festival. "I loved his performance!"
Dawn almost missed the feeling of standing on the contest stage, of performing with her pokemon. Almost. She now stood on the catwalk and showed off her pokemon in a different manner, but the contest stage would always have a space in her heart. After all, it was her second home for a long time.
"Is he your boyfriend?" She asked plainly, noting how Dawn flushed as red as a tomato as she waved her hands frantically in denial.
"He's just an old friend, really!"
Serena smirked as she heard Dawn's unusual high-pitched voice. She closed her eyes and replied as-a-matter-of-factly,"that's what they all say."
It was time. May took a deep breath as she stood behind the curtain. This was it. This was the moment she planned since her very first step in Sinnoh. She gripped the pokéballs containing Glaceon and Beautifly, each adorned with a blue confetti and gold shimmer seals respectively.
"And the next contestant from our second group to grace the stage, who needs no introduction-"
This was no time to think of Gary, even if a small part of her wished that he sat in the crowd, cheering her on. She smiled subconsciously, remembering how supportive he was to her along their journey. How he was always watching her in every contest she participated in. How she could distinctively hear his voice cheering her over the noise of the audience. Was he here now?
"-May!" MC Marian announced as the crowd roared in feverish anticipation.
And with that, the red curtains drew back and she emerged on stage. With every spotlight on her and the sea of people cheering her on, May was at home. This was her playing field, and her true love, her ultimate passion that no one could take away from her. No one.
"Beautifly and Glaceon, take the stage!"
"GO, MAY! WHOOOOOO!" Dawn cried, making sure she was the loudest person in her section.
Serena covered her ears, protection from Dawn's relentless cheering (seriously, she was like a personal cheerleader), still in awe of everything around her. The contestants, combination, cheers of crowds were unlike anything she had ever witnessed in Kalos. Dawn seemed unfazed, but Serena still struggled to digest the grandeur of it all. Drew's performance was breath-taking, she still couldn't forget his aracanine and flygon. As she scanned the stadium, confusion overcame awe when she noticed Palermo and Aria sitting separately in the VIP section. Abruptly, she ducked as Palermo looking towards her section, as if she knew Serena was here. She shouldn't be here though. Serena should be improving her skills and taking on contests in the Hoenn region. A member of the audience who who sat beside Serena stared at her awkwardly crouched on the floor.
"Glaceon, ice-beam. Beautifly, quiver-dance!"
Glaceon transformed the stage into a glass of ice, an with Beautifly's move, the light reflected on the ice, creating shimmers of multiple rainbows across the stadium. As the temperature cooled, the fur on Glaceon stood on edge, like a million needles as the butterfly glided across the stage, dazzling the crowd with it's beautiful wings.
Serena gasped in awe, peeking slightly higher as she watched Glaceon. "So pretty!" She recalled her battle with May and how Glaceon did the same tactic against Sylveon.
"Shadow ball and psychic!" The two attacks combined in a powerful orb.
The indigo-violet hue reflected off the ice, now completely changing the cool and colourful ambiance into a mysterious mood as purple rays danced on the ice field. The sudden change in atmosphere caught everyone by surprise as they sat on the edge of their seats in wild anticipation. Even the judges' eyes widened in wonder and delight.
"She's doing so well!" Dawn cried, punching the air.
May exhaled slowly, her muscles relaxing as she took in everyone's reaction. Now time for the big finish, she thought confidently. "Now!"
The shadow-ball and psychic combination exploded in a flurry of fireworks. Glaceon jumped onto Beautifly, both flying through the sparkles and iridescent lights. As the shine eventually disappeared, the two landed in the centre as the stunned crowd roared back to life, clapping furiously.
"What an unprecedented performance of beauty! There are simply no words for such a wondrous effort from May and her Pokemon!" MC Marian cried into the mic while May took a bow.
Backstage, the coordinators let out simultaneous gasps of surprise, some amazed and most fearful as they examined their competition. Drew stood in the corner, arms crossed and a smile teasing his lips. He turned around and nonchalantly made his way out. As usual, he had only stayed for May's performance, and since it was finished he had no other reason to stay. Training was next on his priority list.
Across the room, Zoey stopped stroking Purugly, somewhat daunted. She had never seen Mr Contesta shocked before, and Mr Sukizo was rendered speechless, not a single "remarkable". Kenny's mouth gaped open; Dawn wasn't kidding when she told him about the famous coordinator. Ursula stood in front of the screen, irritated, and next to her stood Solidad, smiling proudly.
"She's bound to go through with that appeal, right Harley?" she said. She towered over Ursula, her hair tied into a neat bun. With no words replying to her comment, her eyes searched around for the older man, her silky red dress swaying as she moved. Her eyebrows furrowed, not able to sense his presence. Harley was part of Group B, so why wasn't he here yet?
"Not that brilliant," Ursula muttered at her before marching off in a huff.
Panting, Gary arrived at the Dome where the appeal round was currently taking place. He sighed in defeat as he watched the MC call the next coordinator onstage. Weaving through the screaming audience, he finally sat on his seat, disappointment running through his mind. He missed May's first performance, and she was purely the reason he was here. His eyes roamed around the stadium, trying to find a familiar face. He spotted Dawn, but she was too far away, talking animatedly with the girl next to her. He did not recognise anyone else. Gary glanced at he main board above with a thoughtful look. There were only two more contestants from Group B left, then a break before the final group of coordinators. He smiled with conviction, deciding he would meet her then.
"Don't worry, hun," cooed Harley, patting the girl on the head. "i can't imagine how bad it hurts when someone takes way the love of your life."
Leaf sobbed into her hand as he brought an arm around her shoulders. "if only there was a way to get revenge on them. Especially Gary..."
"W-why Gary?" Leaf hiccuped, her eyes red. Her heart still refused to accept what occurred earlier.
"Well," Harley began, feigning innocence, "Technically he cheated, right? Left you all alone and chose attention and fans over you. He never really cared about you, otherwise he would have considered your feeling before pulling off this whole thing. Gary Oak didn't even have the decency to break up with you properly, I mean that's the least he could have done."
Harley watched Leaf contemplate his words, his face smug. "And that May!" he yelled, outraged, causing Leaf to cringe at his sudden high-pitched voice. "I can't believe she would lead a man who was already taken. She is as thoughtless as i have known her, Leaf. Unfortunately I can't say I am surprised. See, she's quite promiscuous. Of course, we are just mutual competitors, but she's been just as cruel to me since our Hoenn days."
"She pu-unched you," Leaf said slowly, remembering why the man looked oddly familiar. "That n-news was everywhere."
"I'm sure it was," he said, gritting his teeth behind the tight smile. "Well, don't you hate her?"
"I hate what she's done to m-me..."
Hate was a strong word, and Leaf never thought much of May. However, listening to Harley made her realize that she was just as mad as May as she was at Gary. Though she doesn't know May personally, Harley did, and his explanations put all the pieces together like a jigsaw. Gary was loyal, and remained like that until her met May. The information from popular media outlets also mentioned another coordinator-
"I thought May already had a boyf-friend?"
"Oh Drew?" Harley sighed mournfully. "Once he knew what she was like, he moved on, hun." Inwardly, Harley screamed in frustration. Did this stupid girl not have a single bad bone in her body? He just needed to hear one word! And he hated acting like he cared about her petty problems. He was actually sacrificing his time and talking to her, much to his annoyance. His performance was soon, and this silly Leaf wasn't co-operating with him.
"Do you hate May?" he asked again, stressing at her lack of answer.
"Yes, but-"
"-Brilliant!" Harley announced, standing up and stretching. "Watch my performances, darling. It will make you forget all about your problems! Just call me your fairy god-mother!"
Confusion etched on Leaf's face as Harley pranced away happily. She wiped a stray tear, a strange feeling bubbling inside her. Instinct told her that the man's words meant something else.
May sighed as she sat down backstage, an odd mixture of relief and worry bubbling up inside her. A hand resting on her shoulder brought her gaze up.
"Solidad," May stated, glad to see another friend.
"Your performance was neat, dare i say I'm a little worried!"
May laughed sheepishly, shaking her head. "Please, I will be lucky to even compare to you."
Solidad sat beside her, gesturing to the empty doorway. "Drew was seriously impressed like me. He only came to watch you perform and then left to train. You got him worried too," she joked.
Solidad's laugh echoed in her ears as she sprung up in surprise. "He was here? I haven't had the chance to talk to him." May asked, "Where is he now?"
"Off training somewhere as usual," she shrugged, hiding a teasing smirk. "I'm staying to watch Harley's performance. Are you going to watch with me?"
"I should, shouldn't I?" May murmured, reluctantly sitting back down. She wasn't as good as Drew, yet. She needed to assess her competitors, and watching Harley, a long time enemy, would prove to be useful. Had he caught new pokemon? Was tactics does he use? What sort of combinations has he come up with since their last match?
On the TV screen, Ursula twirled, releasing a Garchomp and Wormadan. Off to a powerful start, May pursed her lips. Dawn warned her about Ursula, her story of how she manipulated Dawn irrational fear of the adorable minun and plusle eerily mirrored how Harley used her fear of tentacools against her once upon a time. Was she as deceptive as Harley? If it was true, May would have to keep her at arm's length. Zoey rarely spoke badly of anyone, but she too told May to be wary of Ursula. Earlier today, she saw Kenny, Dawn's friend, glaring at Ursula too. At the time, she thought nothing of it, but now it showed that her observation was correct. May redirected her thoughts to the large screen; Ursula's Garchomp would be a formidable foe indeed.
"Ursula's finished..." Solidad muttered, concerned, "I wonder where Harle-"
"OUT OF THE WAY!"
All coordinators' head spun and watched a lanky man sporting a pink wigglytuff outfit, sprinting chaotically towards the main stage, pushing oblivious contestants out of his path. A fellow coordinator thanked May and Solidad for helping her up, dusting her dress while looking furiously at the culprit.
"MOVE YOU IDIOTS!"
"There he is," May deadpanned. "I wonder why he's late."
"Hey, Gary!" Dawn called loudly, her arm outstretched, trying to usher him over.
The crowd seeped out of the stadium as Marian announced a short break. The corner of her eye spotted his spikey hair, and she ushered Serena to wait. "Gary!"
This time he heard it, his eyes catching her hand waving at him. He maneuvered past the people and jumped over the chair, sighing exasperatedly at the slow people in front of him. After pushing past and receiving annoyed glances, he finally approached the two.
"It's good to see you, Dawn and..."
"My name's Serena!" the girl introduced lively. He gave her a brief nod.
"Did you see May's performance?" Dawn asked excitedly.
"No," He replied, deflated. "I had some things to attend to."
"Was that more important than your girlfriend's first performance?" she teased.
Serena's eyes widened, taking in the new piece of information. If she continued to buy magazines and keep up with the news, she would have been aware of the celebrity world, but alas she needed to save up on more important things like contest bows and new accessories... and medicine for her pokemon of course.
"I need to find May now," Gary blurted, his eyes darting around, agitated.
"Awesome! We were on our way to see her too," Serena said, glancing at Dawn. "You can come with us."
Gary hesitated. He wanted to speak to her alone-
"May will feel so happy to see us supporting her!"
Gary paused, realizing that this was one of the most important moments in May's life. He should be helping May, not drowning her in more problems. Leaf accepted the end of their old relationship. The issue was resolved, but perhaps he should inform May matter of them together would have to be on-hold for now.
"Let's go."
"I'm glad no one found this place," Drew said with a breath of relief. He stared at his pokemon resting on the freshly cut grass with a small smile. "I realise how precious silence can be."
"I suppose it's something rare for people like us," May agreed. As she searched for Drew, a familiar Roserade lead her to this recluded footpath leading to a small patch of grass by a stream. And there she found him, relishing the sunlight in the hidden meadow. The sight of Drew without a crowd of fans nearby was so unusual that May thought she was hallucinating.
Drew gazed fondly at her. "I'm glad we're finally able to talk. I've been wanting to see you for a while, but..."
He trailed off as May nodded, understanding his predicament. "Me too." Her eyes filled with mirth as she said, "Solidad tells me were impressed by my appeals. When are you going to admit that I've outdone you?" She teased, her hand on her hips.
Drew's head fell back as he chuckled. "Never would I admit such a thing. But you can continue to dream if that makes you feel better."
She crossed her arms, huffing. "Well, if it wasn't for our dreams, we wouldn't be here together."
Drew stopped smiling, as stared at her, his eyes dark and serious. "You're right. I hope we can always be like this."
May grinned at her dear rival, unaware of the somber tint in his emerald eyes. "I hope so too, Drew."
"Maybe something more, one day." May stiffened, an uncomfortable silence meeting his words.
"Drew-" She hadn't thought of Gary until now, and her heart winced. The pangs of uncertainty and betrayal hadn't left her side.
"I know," he brushed off, pretending to ignore the sting of rejection, but somewhat relieved that he finally confessed the feeling that he harbored for a ridiculously long time. For being a self-assured person, he was oddly a coward when it came to addressing his feelings. Perhaps because he promised to himself to hide his vulnerabilities. And admitting he loved her would undoubtedly make her his weakness. An obstacle to his goal of being top-coordinator.
"I'm sorry." She couldn't comment further. The mess that now has become her personal life was stressful enough. Did she love Gary? Yes. She knew that for sure.
"Don't be."
"If you said something earlier... much earlier," she whispered, "Maybe things would have turned out differently." She knew him too well now. She could see straight through his calm demeanor, and see that he was hurt deeply. Regret was poorly hidden on his face and she could see him licking his lips nervously.
"I know," he said wistfully, finally looking into her eyes. "Fate had other plans for us."
"It did."
"I don't think fate likes me," he said, half-jokingly, his forlorn gaze dropping to the grass near his shoes.
May laughed, bringing him into a consoling hug which he immediately accepted, wrapping his arms around her. He reluctantly let go as she pulled back, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder instead. "Fate does not hate you, Drew. If we are paired up together against other coordinators in the next round, then that is proof fate does not hate you."
"If that happens, then I concede." He said, his voice low and his eyes showing a hint of apprehension. "But, if that happens, and we win, then we will facing each other in the second round."
May winked. "Exciting, isn't it?"
Mirroring her smile, he held out a rose. May paused, surprised, at the sight of the familiar flower despite the fact it had been a while since she saw one as beautiful and as fragrant as the roses only he gave. This time, she took it from him and twirled in in her fingers as he beamed brighter than ever.
Gary balled his hands into fists while Dawn and Serena sighed in defeat, sitting on a bench nearby. Where was May? They searched the entire place, even returning to the apartment, but not a single trace of her. Despite Gary's protests, they eventually rested for a quick bite from the stalls near the Grand Festival Dome; this was where the coordinators who successfully passed the appeals will battle.
"I think we should head back inside," Dawn said, noticing the empty stalls. The shop owners started to close down and pack up. "We can't find May and Zoe's gonna be performing in the last group."
"I agree," Serena chimed in, eating the last bite of cookie in her hand.
"Solidad did mention May went to find someone. It was probably Drew."
Serena's and Gary's eyes widened simultaneously. "Drew?" they stated together, incredulous.
"I really wanted to see him too!" Serena whined, meanwhile Gary clenched his jaw.
"I'm sure she'll introduce you to him later."
"You said Solidad didn't know," Gary snapped, staring at her with accusing eyes.
"She didn't!" Dawn quickly replied, waving her hands defensively. "I'm guessing. Anyways, you coming?"
"No." And with that he strode away, leaving a puzzled Dawn and dismayed Serena, who was still thinking about Drew.
"Do you think he'll notice me?"
"Sure, now let's go before we miss Zoey's introduction!"
An hour passed by, performance after performance dazzled the judges and enchanted the audience. Some unlucky ones failed to deliver and left the judges with a frown. Some were so outrageous, the crowd was rendered speechless by their ridiculous combinations. Zoey's Purugly and Mismagius showed off their spellbinding moves, and Dawn gasped when she discovered Nando was also partaking in the Grand Festival, astonishing the crowds with his melodious duo Chimecho and Kriketune.
"You know him?" Serena asked, his eyes shining. "He's amazing!"
"It's been a while," Dawn remarked, "I doubt he remembers me."
The air grew tense with excitement and wonder as the last coordinators took the stage. A red-head and her Venomoth and Mawile were the last ones. The curtain drew to a close as the judges conferred the future of the contestants secretly behind closed door.
"I don't understand how it works," Serena mumbled, shooting Dawn a quizzical look. "Can you explain it again?"
"First round is double appeals. Out of hundred, out eight are through to the next round-"
"Only eight?"
"Yes," Dawn explained, "The rules were changed this year. In the second round, the coordinators are paired up and battle each other. In the third round, the winning pair then battle each other. Winners of that match then face each other in the finals, and the losers battle each other for third place."
Backstage, the coordinators huddled together, staring at the screen. May, Drew and Solidad stood together, tense and anxious. Harley, cross-legged, was seated further away, a wicked smile on his face. Kenny paced worriedly, wishing he could make it through appeals this time around, and Ursula drummed her fingers on the table, despising the wait.
"The judges have decided the results!" MC Marian announced to the roaring crown, gesturing to the large screen above.
The first card spun and showed Solidad. She sighed in relief.
The second revealed Zoey, and then Harley. Zoey grinned brightly while Harley instantly let out a scream of joy.
Drew was next with Kenny's face after. He relaxed his muscles and shared Solidad's smile, while Kenny punched the air in triumph.
Nando. He closed his eyes in gratitude, after a fellow coordinator congratulated him.
Ursula; she jumped up and giggled. Of course she would go through! No one could say no to her talented Garchomp.
May gritted her teeth, giving in to the violent panic that was consuming her. Drew swallowed thickly, watching her blue eyes becoming glassy with tears. He couldn't bear to think about the possibility of May failing the appeals. She had too get through to the next round. She just had to, otherwise he would have no idea how to comfort her. Harley clapped his hands in delight.
"If poor May doesn't pass, then I won't need to show the world her lies!" He said to himself. "But then why did i go through all the trouble to get the precious evidence?"
"The last coordinator through to round two is..." Marian cried, every member of the audience holding on to her every word with sitting on the edge of their seats.
Dawn held Serena's hand tightly in anticipation. Aria watched the screen with gnawing interest. Serena blinked worriedly. Gary stood outside the stadium, staring at the large screen, shock colouring his face. He ran through the glass doors and raced up the stairs. He entered the main stage just at the right time.
"May!"
Gary laughed gleefully, cheering with the rest of the audience. She had done it!
Her name echoed in her mind...she could finally breathe. May didn't register anything except arms crushing her into a victorious embrace. Her once poisonous thoughts that clawed her confidence were drowned by the cheers in the background. As she opened her eyes, she saw Solidad and Drew beaming at her, but somehow her mind couldn't process their words.
I've really done it!, she thought, jubilation bubbling inside. Both Solidad and Drew were taken aback as May spun around in a split-second, and Drew noticed her smile shrinking. Was she expecting someone? May slowly turned back around, a frown settling in place of her smile.
"May, are you okay?"
"Of course!" May was elated, even though Gary wasn't here to celebrate with her, she realised dismally.
The screen shuffled the contestants and now showed the coordinators as pairs. In the first round, Harley and Drew versus Kenny and Ursula, while May and Solidad were to face Zoey and Nando. Drew blanched as Harley objected with a shriek. How on earth could he work together with that pathetic toad? Kenny and Ursula glared at each other, equally frustrated by the news. Nando ad Zoey shook hand and exchanged amicable words, whilst May and Solidad high-fived each other.
"See, fate does hate me," Drew grumbled to May. "There was a small possibility of us paired up, and it happened."
"Harley isn't as bad as you think," Solidad offered, "I think you two will make a great team if you set aside your differences."
The next chapters might be just as long. Please review!