Chapter 61

Seeing the news on his BuzzNav, Drew grimaced, unable to think as his bed shook, co-inhibited by an irksome sibling who was overkeen to keep his mind off the news. With obvious irritation, he glanced at Lisia, who was bouncing at the bottom of his bed, even preventing him from drinking his water smoothly. So far, he'd managed to spill a third of it on himself, and he did not appreciate it, especially in lieu of the news he was trying to read on his device.

'Lis, will you stop?' Drew scowled at the younger woman, though she completely ignored him as he took a pained gulp, grateful for something to quench his thirst.

'No, and I won't while you're reading that horrible article. Honestly, you should know better than believe that! Tell me, have you even seen the appeals round yet?' Lisia scowled at the man, her turquoise eyes narrowed in anger, stopping long enough for the older man to sip in the water.

'Why should I not believe it? She's not exactly here, is she? Instead, she's out having dates with Steven Stone and Gary Oak! I'm not looking at any of her predictable appeals,' Drew hissed back at his sister, his eyes glaring bitterly as he crushed the plastic cup in his hand.

'Wellllll would you be with her if she kept snapping your head off? You wonder why she's out having dinner with Steven and lunch play-dates with Gary, but you're not giving her an incentive to be in these deplorable walls, are you! Far out, I never thought you'd be this hopeless with women!' Lisia snapped back, poking the man painfully in the chest. She noticed with some satisfaction that the man winced slightly at her words.

'She's really making it obvious that she's missing me, especially with all these smiles I'm seeing in these pictures! Let me just Xtransceive her straight away!' Drew snorted irritably, swatting his sister's hand away.

'Drew, you're my brother and I love you, but don't be this vindictive, it's not you. You've supported me through everything, why can't you let me support you just this once?' Lisia whispered as she jutted her lip out slightly.

Recognising the tell-tale sign of his sister's mood going south, Drew sighed. If Lisia allowed herself to be ruled by her dark emotions, there was no telling how long they would last—or who she'd affect. Drew could already hear the lectures from Wallace and Wally, not to mention his mother, and he was not in the mood for it—especially when he couldn't run away and avoid them.

So, with a resigned groan, he muttered, 'fine, I'll watch it, but don't you dare record this anywhere!'

'My sweet, older brother, I can't believe you! It's almost like you don't trust me!' Lisia gasped with a faux drama that Drew blinked at. He could read her every expression, and knew better than to trust the twinkle in her eye.

'Give me your Xtransceiver,' Drew responded to the woman without even glancing at the door as he adjusted the size of the screen and opened the application.

'Why do you know me so well?' Lisia pouted before handing it to him, her expression filled with a childish resentment that Drew knew well.

Typing a quick message on PokéTube's search function, Drew frowned as he saw the camera zoomed in on May's pristine face, make up covering any of the freckles he'd grown to love. Other than the makeup which masked the features on her face, Drew found himself noticing just how unlike herself she seemed. Instead of offering the observers in the stand her ready smile, she looked withdrawn, uncertain.

Was it her lack of exposure to contests that had made her like this?

Resenting the version of May he was watching on the screen before him, he saw her smile shyly into the camera before chuckling, appearing startled by the sound of her voice as it resounded around the stadium.

In a shaky voice, she began, 'I'm sure you must all be wondering what I'm doing here, talking instead of actually giving the appeal I planned. Well, I'm not too sure what to tell you, but I promise that I will be showing you an appeal shortly.'

Drew felt his throat constrict as he noticed her sapphire eyes, which seemed to lack their usual lustre. He saw her pout slightly before the young woman continued, 'you see, very recently I was reacquainted with an old friend, a close friend, someone who was always there for me. He not only encouraged me, but showed me affection in a completely unique way, and he was never afraid to chastise me or challenge me.'

Hearing this, Drew felt his breath hitch in his throat. There was a slim chance that she was discussing another, but considering her melancholy exterior, he had an inkling that she was describing their turbulent relationship. Her voice shook with emotion, but she continued, 'I suppose we had a relationship where I always thought he'd be there, and now I'm faced with a reality that he might not be. And that scares me, so much more than I can say.'

He saw her laugh once, though it didn't meet her sapphire eyes, and sounded hollow to his ears. She sniffed, blinking back tears, as she continued her speech, 'you see, we had an adventure with some of my closest friends, over in Almia. I can't believe it, and it was stupid, dangerous and utterly reckless.'

Recalling the events which had happened after their return to Almia, Drew blinked in confusion. They had done everything they could have, to the best of their abilities. Sure, May had left him far too many times, wilfully exposing herself to more danger than he was comfortable with, but the scenario itself had been reckless, and their actions themselves catalysed by their surroundings.

With a frown, he responded, 'no it wasn't. We had to do it, for the pokémon.'

However, the woman didn't hear him. Instead, she continued, 'I thought that he'd be ok, despite being down to his last pokémon. I wasn't there for him, like he'd always been for me, and I hate myself for it, because it left him in this state where he can't even wake up.'

He saw her offer the camera a watery smile before she continued, 'the reason why I'm telling you all of this isn't so you can pity me, but it's so he can hear this, and so he might just understand why I had to take one of his best friends away, even if it was only for a brief moment. Drew, please just wake up, I don't care if you can't use your legs, or if you hate me. I'll help you walk like you've helped me learn the ropes of contests, I'll support you like you've always helped me. I'm sorry I left you the first time, and I can't believe I left you a second, even if I gave you some of my pokémon so they could look after you in my place. I promise that I'll never do it again. Please, just wake up. I need you, so do Roserade, Masqueraine, Absol, Butterfree, Flygon, Feebas and Zorua. I know it probably means nothing to you, but I dedicate this contest, and my part in it, to you. You who've helped me not just through Hoenn, but through Johto to Kanto back to Hoenn and now even in Almia. Please just wake up.'

Swallowing a lump of emotion that built up in his throat, Drew didn't notice as his sister entered the room, taking the device out of his hands and pausing it.

In a soft voice, she whispered, 'do you see why I can't believe that she'd do anything with Gary or Steven? She was too devastated by what happened to you to just forget about it. She's heading out to the next competition, you know?'

'She's what?' Drew hissed, glaring at his sister as though she were personally to blame for this turn of events.

In response, the woman shrugged, 'hey, don't you go blaming me. She must have gotten sick of waiting for you to grow up, not that that surprises me. Don't worry, though, Drew. You're so close to actually getting through to her, don't give up now.'

Recalling the way the woman's lips pouted, as well as her swollen, puffy eyes, Drew knew that Lisia was right. Suddenly, all of the mean things he'd ever said to May came back tenfold, making him want to kick himself.

He had to make it up to her somehow.

A/N:

I have a poll on my profile for travel buddies/a contest partner for May. I have an idea of who I'd want to write about, but I thought I'd leave it up to you to decide.

Also, awwwww I had to get some Drew x Lisia sibling interaction in here, hope you liked it hehe

Sorry this is a little late btw, I've been knackered this week (not sleeping well heh) and I'm only just updating things now (including Pat r eon, but it's better late than never :))