Chapter 10

"How old are you, Kai?" Shay had said she was 7, so Drew assumes Kai is too. He's just trying to get to know the boy, especially since May and him live together.

"Seven." is all the shy boy says. Drew has noticed that Kai doesn't say much, but he's not sure if that's because Kai is shy or because Kai doesn't like him. Kai was hostile towards him during dinner on Monday.

"How do you like living with May?"

"I'm right here." Said brunette reminds them as she eats her second helping.

Chuckling, Drew takes a bite of his food. He's missed May's cooking. Of course she's a good cook if she loves food. "Forgot. You're such an airhead I really thought you were air for a moment there."

She glares while throwing a balled up napkin at him. "You're still a grasshead."

Smirking from the name, Drew returns his attention to Kai who has been cautiously watching him. "So how do you like living with May?"

"She's nice." admits Kai. Him and May have formed a nice relationship, but Kai still hasn't spoken his mind to the woman. May feels like he's still cautious around her, though he has been growing more comfortable with her.

"If you ever need any help with May, give me a call." grins Drew mischievously. He loves teasing May.

"You're only here for today." May reminds the man who now turns to face her.

Although he's hurt by her comment, he knows it's true. She wants nothing to do with him. This dinner is only because she lost the bet. "Okay, May."

Hearing his dejected voice, May fights the urge to look up at him. If she sees those pained green eyes again, she'll do something she shouldn't do, like invite him back to dinner. There's a reason her and Drew lost contact with each other, and it all started with him years ago.

Flashback

Drew has been sighing a lot lately. This week has been very rough because Drew got knocked out of the Kalos Grand Festival in the 3rd round. He didn't even place in the top 16, but May didn't either. Last year, he lost in Kanto in the top 8. Why is he getting worse? He had made it to the final rounds when in Hoenn and Johto.

His pokenav vibrating gets his attention as he sees a text from May. The only thing that has changed these past two years is him traveling with her. Yes, they have a lot of fun, and Drew loves traveling with his crush, though maybe they're having too much fun? He hasn't been as focused on training like he used to be because she's around.

At first, Drew agreed to travel with her since he believed they could help each other improve. However, it seems like the contrary has happened because they must be distracting each other. As much as Drew hates coming to this conclusion, he knows it's true. If he wants to be a Top Coordinator, he needs to start traveling alone again. That way, he will be solely focused on himself and his Pokemon.

Letting out a sigh, he reads May's text asking him if he wants to get dinner together. Replying, Drew gets up to head to the cafeteria in the Pokemon Center. He instantly spots his traveling partner because she always has mounds of plates around her. With his heart aching at what he's about to do, Drew approaches her.

Despite losing yesterday, May looks happy. She always tries to stay happy no matter what, which is something else Drew likes about her. Looking up at him, May's eyes shine brightly as a smile breaks out on her face. "Get some food, Drew!"

Sighing, he sits down across from her. As much as he hates having to ruin her mood, he has to say this now before he backs out. It's for the best. And just because they'll be traveling separate, it doesn't mean that they won't be friends anymore. They can still call and text. Maybe they'll run into each other too! It'll be like when they were traveling around Hoenn and Kanto separately because May was traveling with Ash. "I'm gonna travel alone next year."

May lowers her arm to rest on the table while she looks him over. She can tell that Drew is upset for saying this. She also likes traveling with him because he's her crush. "Why?"

"I did terrible this year, May." Drew gazes into her blue eyes, and she sees the disappointment in his. "I'm gonna travel alone again to refocus."

Nodding, May also agrees with him since she did terrible this year too. Even though she loves traveling with Drew, he's right. They both should spend some time alone to refocus. "Okay, Drew."

After the two eat dinner together, May announces that she's leaving in the morning to go back home. Drew, though, will be traveling to Sinnoh where he will train and practice new techniques. He wants to start preparing for next year's Grand Festival already. Throughout the years, the communication and the visits with each other will be less and less until they each win their titles. Then, the two become strangers again.

Flashback Over

"Thanks for having me over." Drew says while slipping on his winter coat. Kai had gone to his room to work on homework after saying bye to Drew, so May is walking Drew out.

"Thanks for helping me cook and wash the dishes." replies the woman.

Once Drew zips up his coat, he turns to face her. Looking into her sapphire orbs, the man genuinely tells her, "I wanna be friends, May."

"I don't need your friendship anymore, Drew." While it pains her to say this, especially as she watches his smile fall, May knows it has to be done. Her relationship with Drew is better as strangers.

"Why?" If this is his last time talking to her, he wants answers. Plus, Kai isn't here, so Drew won't hold back. He's missed May and their friendship. Ever since meeting her again, Drew has been finding more purpose with his life. He's enjoying it again. Maybe it's because she reminds him of his youth when he was traveling? No. Drew knows it's because he always has fun with May.

"I don't need to answer that."

"Yes, you do." He sternly tells her. "I wanna be your friend, but you won't be mine. Did I do something to you?"

Frowning at her, May crosses her arms over her chest. "You should go now, Drew."

"No!" he exclaims in frustration, which makes her flinch. "I never did anything to you, but you're pushing me away! It's not fair! I need to know why!"

Glaring at him, she replies, "Fine, Drew! You wanna know why? It's because I know you'll leave again once the contest hall is built! And then I won't ever see you again, which is how life should be!"

"What makes you think you won't see me again? We'll be friends!"

"Oh, like how we were friends and then strangers after we became Top Coordinators? Save your words, Drew."

"I won't make the same mistake twice!" insists the man as he grabs her wrist to keep her from walking away. "Please believe me, May."

"Brianna doesn't like me. I heard she made you stop calling Solidad." May's intense blue eyes glare at him.

"I don't even like her."

"But you've been with her for years! You let her drive apart your friendship with Solidad! Obviously, you'll let her drive you and me apart!"

"You drove me and Solidad apart!" shouts Drew in frustration. When May gives him a confused look, he continues in a whisper. Taking a deep breath, Drew says, "I hated hearing about you." He lets go of her and looks at the ground. "Solidad would always bring you up, and I hated hearing about the best friend I lost."

May understands because it's also the reason she has limited communication with Solidad. The older woman would constantly bring up Drew, even if she doesn't speak to him anymore. When Solidad heard about May living in Johto, she asked the brunette if she's seen Drew yet. Or if May will reach out to Drew. Of course May won't, but she hates being reminded of Drew.

"You need to leave." the adults turn their attention to the voice where they spot Kai standing behind Munchlax. Munchlax and Kai are glaring at Drew while Munchlax is in an attack position.

"Kai-" May starts, but is interrupted.

"Bye, May." Drew then turns to leave out the front door, and May watches from the window as he flies off on Flygon.

Sighing, she turns her attention to the boy worriedly looking at her. Kai isn't sure if he should've intruded, but hearing the shouting got to be too much. And then when he heard Drew blaming May for something, he had to come out. No one treats his guardian like this. "Are you okay, May?"

"Want a bedtime story?" the brunette gives him a warm smile while ignoring his question. SHe's not sure if she's okay though. Her head tells her she is, and that life is better without Drew. But her heart is aching at the thought of never being his friend again. At losing him for good.

Although curious about her behavior and avoidance of his question, Kai just nods. "Okay."

The two and Munchlax make their way into his room where May tucks him in. "Wanna hear a story about your dad?"

Kai's eyes light up with excitement because May never speaks about his dad. Just like with Drew, May avoids conversations about Brenden. May chooses to tell Kai about when Brenden first came to challenge her dad for his gym badge. It took Brenden two tries to defeat Norman, which made Norman admire him even more. May was so excited to have Brenden stay with them while he was in the city training to beat her dad.

The Next Day

"Did you find out why he came over?" Shay asks her friend since he's at her house hanging out.

Shaking his head, Kai replies, "Nope, but I don't care." He recalls the argument he heard between May and Drew last night, which still irks him.

"That's so cool how May knows him!" gushes Shay.

"May doesn't like him though." Kai knowingly tells her.

"I wonder why?" The two friends had talked about this on Tuesday after the Monday dinner. Shay hasn't asked May because she doesn't want to pry, and it's also not Shay's place to ask the woman personal questions.

Shrugging, the boy says, "Leave May alone. I doubt we'll ever see Drew again anyway."

"They do work together." Shay reminds her friend.

"That's it though. He'll be gone soon anyway." Kai isn't fond of Drew, so he's glad to know May isn't too. It just makes their lives easier with the man out of it.

"But you did say he won't leave her alone." Shay has been wondering about May's relationship with Drew. Are they exes? Is that why she doesn't like being around him or hearing about him? It'd explain a lot, but Shay had heard how Brianna is Drew's first and only girlfriend. Unless he and May dated in secrecy while they traveled together. There isn't anything on the web about Drew and May traveling together. "Maybe he likes her?"

"Didn't you say he's in a relationship?"

Shrugging, Shay says, "But he hasn't married her yet. There must be a reason, right?"

"The hurricane." Kai is tired of talking about Drew, but it's all Shay will talk about lately.

Frowning, Shay looks over at her friend who won't engage in this conversation with her. "It'd be cool if he and May started dating."

Kai shoots her a look. "No way."

"C'mon, Kai. Don't you want a dad?" May is like his mother, so having a man in the house will be nice for Kai.

Glaring at her, he gets up. "I already have a dad."

"I didn't mean it like that!" Shay insists while following him out of the room. She knows about his father's death years ago, but she never wants him to replace his loved ones. "Kai!" Shay worriedly calls to her friend walking quickly out the back door.

May curiously watches the two friends, and she notices Kai is upset. He rarely gets upset. Usually, when he's upset, it's about Brenden. Sighing, May figures Shay may have asked about his father again. However, May has allowed the kids to make up on their own, so she leaves the two in the backyard.

Groudon. How can she let these kids solve their own problems, but she can't even solve her own? She's constantly watched Shay and Kai talk it out and make up, though here she is avoiding Drew. What do they need to make up for anyway, though? It's not like May wants to be his friend again.

Actually, she does. She's missed him and their banters. Every time they would argue this week, she's felt herself reverting back to her younger playful days. Her happier days where she didn't feel lonely. However, she'd catch herself before she got too indulged in their arguments, which would result in her remembering that she and Drew are strangers. It's how they're supposed to be anyway.

Feeling the ache in her heart, May knows she's only trying to convince herself of her words and thoughts. She truly misses Drew. They always had so much fun together, and May appreciated his mentorship. He was a friend she could rely on while also providing him support too. They had a great friendship where neither one had to say much to know what the other was thinking. So what was Drew thinking last night?

The back door opening makes May look towards it again. Had the children made up already? However, it seems like Munchlax is just opening the door for Beautifly who flies in. When May sees the bright red rose her Pokemon is holding, she freezes. Ever since she and Drew went their separate ways years ago, May has avoided the flower. They remind her too much of him.

As Beautifly drops the thornless rose on the counter in front of May, she sees the note attached to it: I'm sorry, May.

With her mind and her heart battling, May looks up at Beautifly. Since her heart is currently winning the battle, she asks Beautifly, "Where is he?"