Chapter 14

May's POV

I can't say I slept the rest of the night, because that would be lying.

Pain, anger, and sadness all rolled together in one emotion: that's what I was feeling. Why did I get so angry over a portrait? But I think what made me mad was that Drew actually broke it. He was always mean to me, but I never thought he'd take it this far. And that Misty and Leaf were too stubborn to help us.

In the morning, I got up and put on some makeup to hide the bags under my eyes and the new scars I bore. I wore a jacket to cover my arms and sweatpants for my legs. I heard Dawn still sleeping and decided to just leave her. And what's the worst they can do to us? Send us back home?

I walked out to the cafeteria and paid for the breakfast. I saw Misty and Leaf sitting at our regular table and immediately felt like punching them in the faces. So what if Dawn and I scream all the time? They should've taken the sound of things breaking as an emergency signal. Fuming, I walked over to an empty table as far as I could from our regular table and picked at my food.

Someone sidled in next to me. "Hi, May!" he said.

My mood immediately lightened. "Brandon!" I exclaimed, looking up. I was correct. I would recognize that mop of white hair anywhere.

"I haven't seen you around," he said, stealing one of my potatoes.

"I'm in the Coordinating classes," I told him, and I snatched one of his slices of bacon.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Drew look over at Brandon and I and narrow his eyes. Hee hee. Jealous you can't have a friend like Brandon, huh?

I moved to steal Brandon's potatoes. "What happened to your friends?" he asked, gesturing towards where Misty and Leaf were sitting. Misty was reading some book. Typical.

My hand fell to the table and I looked down. He lifted my chin with his hand. "What-"

A wad of chewed gum landed on Brandon's hand. He jerked it away and tried to get it off. Another person sat on my other side.

"Hey, May," Drew said. I averted my gaze and started to get up to move somewhere else, but Drew pulled me back down.

"May, who's that?" Brandon asked. "Ugh, stupid gum."

Drew smirked. "This is Grasshead," I introduced.

Brandon scrunched up his face to keep from laughing.

I finally looked at Drew and took satisfaction in his mad face. He got up and left.

For a second, I was disappointed. But then I remembered what he did and scowled at his back. "So, isn't Grasshead your rival or something?" Brandon asked.

"Yep," I said. In many things you wouldn't know, Brandon.

We joked around a bit, but then Tracey waved him over and he apologized to me and followed Sketchit, and I was left alone again. And that's when I noticed a piece of notebook paper sticking out of my food. Um, gross. I looked around and saw that Leaf was glaring at me and Drew was watching me with hawk eyes. Either Leaf did this... or Drew.

Despite my wanting to not have any more to do with either of them, my curiosity got the better of me and I unfolded the note.

May Maple-
Meet me in the garden at 22:00.

After dinner, I walked back to Dawn and I's dorm. I was going to ask her about the note, but when I got there, she was still sleeping.

Oh, well.

The whole day I didn't run into Drew or Brandon or Misty or Leaf. I didn't get any texts from them or anyone else, except Mom, who kept blowing up my phone asking me if I was okay.

And about the note, I refused to go. Totally, completely refused. Even though it was tempting, I didn't know where the garden was (Leaf probably would) and at 22:00? Isn't that 10:00 p.m.? That's past curfew.

I decided to write a letter to my family. Letters were more fun, and I liked to admire my very pretty calligraphy strokes I liked to use.

Dear Mom, Dad, and Max,

School's great! I share a dorm with Dawn and Misty and Leaf have their own. Dawn and I have the same classes, just not in the same order. I dunno about Misty and Leaf.

I'm pretty advanced in my classes, if I do say so myself.

This is for Mom only: STOP BLOWING UP MY PHONE!

Okay, now how are you guys? I'm writing a letter because they are more fun than pressing a button and talking *rolls eyes* and I want you guys to write me back! Then when I get home, I can bring all the letters y'all sent me and we can read them together! So fun!

Until next time,

Your awesome Johto and Galar Grand Festival winner,

MAY