A/N: So this is gonna start being updated every Wednesday so I can stay on top of it and my other fic which won't be a big deal because there's probably going to only a few more chapters. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

To be honest, if Max knew how much attention I was truly paying to my opponents, I would've given him a heart attack. Most of the league seemed like a blur, I was only truly paying attention when Max was battling, or if he wasn't battling, I found myself looking at him. He barely took his eyes off the battle, a huge contrast to me, I was just staring off into space. The way he seemed to analyze every attack, every movement by every Pokemon, I couldn't explain why I liked watching him so much.

"Hey, we gotta go," Max said, snapping me out of my daze.

"Right, I'm sure Clemont is planning some kind of huge dinner or something," I said.

The group had already left without us. Max and I both stayed quiet, there was some kind of tension I couldn't explain.

"Is that Max?"

A small group of reporters ran over to us, actually, they ran over to Max, I was just standing next to him.

"Those were some incredible battles today, Max, no wonder you're next in line to become the new Petalburg City Gym Leader," a reporter said, trying to get a comment from him about the future they had planned.

"Yes, my team had moments where they shone, but if we're talking about incredible battles, Bonnie here had most of them," Max said, smiling at me.

"Ah yes, Bonnie, one of Lumiose City's best battlers, what was competing in a League after three years away like for you."

"Oh, uh, getting back in the arena where I'm not judged on my Pokemon's moves was really refreshing, it got me thinking outside of the box instead of sticking to the same four strategies that I know the judges approve of, I wish I had paid more attention to the battles so I have a better idea of my opponent."

"What caused you to sign up, it was a shock to most fans when they announced your entry."

"Well, as you know, I knew the Champion before he was champion so we'll talk occasionally, and he asked me to compete, and after a bit of urging, I decided to," I said, this answer seemed to satisfy the group because the lead reporter nodded and gave us some words of encouragement before walking off to harass the other two competitors that were left.

"Way to move attention on to me," I said sarcastically.

"Anytime," Max said, over-exaggerating a bow, "Honestly, it drives me nuts that no matter what, if any reporters come over to us, they always talk to me and force you out of the conversation. Remember Johto, you got second place while I got into the top 8 cause of Tobias and the reporters still crowded around me and forced you away," he said after he stood up.

"Oh yeah, I remember, I tried to talk to you and a reporter pushed me away saying they didn't have time to talk with anyone besides you and they couldn't have anyone diverting your attention from them," I said.

"Yeah, reporters are entitled as heck, I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

"There you two are," Dawn said as Max opened the door, "It's about time, what took you so long."

"We ran into some reporters and had to entertain them for a little bit, sorry for being late," Max explained.

"Yeah, dealing with reporters sucks," Ash said, "I really wish I could tell you guys that it gets better, but it's only gotten worse."

"You also have to remember that you're married and having a child with one of the most prominent, skilled, and popular performers in the entire world," Dawn said, crossing her arms.

I looked over at Serena, who opened her mouth to protest before May interrupted her.

"Serena, you literally swept everyone at your first Grand Festival, you were one of the youngest Kalos Queens in history, you are the longest-reigning Kalos Queen in history, and you're married to one of the strongest champions in the world, everyone knows your name, so don't try to be humble."

"Dinner's ready," Clemont called from the kitchen.

Max and I shoveled food into our mouth, no one judged us, we had been battling all day, and as Ash would say, Pokemon Battling takes a lot of energy.

Max stood up and thanked Clemont for dinner.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm gonna go train outside," Max said, grabbing his bag.

"Don't push yourself, you have a huge match tomorrow," Ash said, Max simply nodded and left.

We sat in silence for a few more minutes before Ash stood up, "I have some training I've been putting off for a while, and I want to make sure Max heeds my advice about not pushing himself."

Clemont and Drew were working in another room while Dawn, May, and Serena were with me.

"Okay, you guys have been making comments about me being dense the whole time I've been here and I wanna know why," I blurted.

Serena and Dawn turned to May.

"It's up to you, May, should we tell her or-" Dawn said.

"Tell her," May responded.

"You aren't even gonna think about it?" Serena said, I was growing more confused with every word.

May waved her hand, "He's been 'hiding' it for years, it's about time she knew."

"What are you talking about," I groaned.

"Max has a crush on you," May said with a singsong voice.

"HE WHAT?!" I yelled.

"Yep, and he has for years."

Okay, my best friend has had a crush on me, is this what Ash felt like after Serena confessed.

"I'm gonna go," I said, I needed to be alone, this was overwhelming.

I sat upstairs for a while, hugging my knees to my chest with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders.

I heard a soft knock on the door.

"Bonnie? It's me, Serena, can I come in?"

"Yeah," I called.

Serena came in the door and looked at me. I pulled the blanket over my head like a hood and looked at her, she almost looked like she felt bad for me.

"You doing okay?" She said, sitting down next to me and rested her arm on my shoulders.

I simply shrugged.

"That bad huh? I'm sorry, your world just got flipped over, it's really hard, I get it."

Serena wrapped her arms around me and mumbled something, "I know you need comfort but I'm also staying because this blanket is super soft."

"Thanks for the help," I said, "How long was I missing the hint?"

"About four years, my patience was starting to run thin, and I'm married to one of the densest people in the world, now, speaking of my husband, I'm gonna go find him."

Serena gave me one last hug and walked out the door, leaving me alone.

Dedenne and Squishy came to my feet. I scooped them up and rested them on my knees. I stared at my partners in silence for a bit before everything dawned on me.

Why hadn't I seen it before, Max fought with Trent after my loss because he didn't want to travel without me, he tried to focus attention on me because he wanted my side of the story because he was too shy to ask me, he hated Trent so much because Trent liked me.

"I'm officially an idiot," I said.