Chapter 17
"Kai!" shouts the purple haired girl from the living room. Bored from homework, she had decided to watch some TV where she saw a news story on Drew. What she didn't expect was May also being on the news as his mysterious lover. With Kai focusing on school work, he doesn't come out, so Shay now yells, "May's on TV!"
This gets the boy to hurriedly rush into the room where he also sees the pictures on the TV of May and Drew together. The Enbar parents come too and see the news story. Everyone watches in concern as the gossip is spreading about Drew cheating on Brianna with May. "That's a lie!" Kai exclaims in anger and reaches for the remote, but Shay keeps it away from him.
"We should see what they're saying about them!" insists the girl as her friend tries to wrestle the remote from her. While George attempts to separate the children, Pam gets the door because she hears knocking on it. Once the door is open, Pam is greeted by two figures with their jacket hoods up, and they quickly slip past her into the house where they let down their hoods.
"Turn it off!" Kai shouts with tears in his eyes.
"You're hurting me, Kai!"
"Stop!" bellows George in frustration.
"Kai Brenden Birch!" the hooded woman speaks, which makes the boy freeze. All eyes turn on her, and she says, "We don't hurt our friends."
Letting go of Shay, Kai runs over to tackle the woman in a hug. "They're lying, May!"
She hugs him back tightly too. "I know, but it's okay. I don't care." And May really doesn't care about the publicity. She's gotten enough of it when she was competing and when she was a Top Coordinator. However, she only cares now because Kai is involved.
The boy then looks up at her before turning his gaze to Drew. Glaring at the green haired man, Kai angrily exclaims, "You said you're friends with May, but you're hurting her!"
"Kai-" May starts, but she's interrupted by a hand on her shoulder.
Giving Kai a reassuring smile, Drew replies, "I never wanted to hurt her, but I'm gonna fix it."
"How?" shouts Kai.
Drew winks knowingly at him. "Just watch." He and May had talked about a plan as they flew on Flygon to the Enbars. Driving her car is too obvious in this city that knows her.
May looks at the Enbar parents, and she hands them a backpack while Drew also hands them another one. "Can Kai stay here until this dies down?" The brunette requests.
Smiling, Pam nods. "Of course! Kai is always welcomed here!" George agrees too, which makes May hug both parents. The Enbars really are another family for Kai.
"No!" shouts the boy. "I wanna be with you!"
May sighs and gazes into Kai's determined green eyes. "Right now is not a good time." She pleads with him. "So can you stay with the Enbars until I'm back?"
"No!" he firmly says again as he fights the tears from falling. "You said you'd never leave! Why are you leaving?"
"I'm not leaving you. I'll be back, Kai."
"That's what my mom said when she left me at the orphanage!" His tears are flowing now, and May is surprised by his words. Kai has never spoken about his mother before, but May never asks either.
Before she can respond, Drew cuts in. "Wanna battle, Kai?"
"No!" he shouts again while rubbing his eyes.
Drew then grabs the red bandana from Kai's head, making the boy glare at him. "You'll get this back after we battle."
"I don't wanna battle with you! I hate you! You ruin everything!"
"Kai!" May snaps, but the boy is too angry to care. This is his first outburst since he was left at the orphanage years ago. He's always been trying to be good to avoid trouble with May, however this isn't fair. May shouldn't have to suffer like this, and this all started once Drew got involved with her.
With a smirk on his lips, Drew holds the bandana high up to wave at the boy. "Guess you don't want this back, huh?"
"Drew, stop teasing him." May sternly tells her friend. If she can't get Kai to calm down, then she can at least get Drew to stop making the situation worse.
Nevertheless, like typical arrogant annoying Drew Hayden, the man ignores her. He turns to walk out the back door to the backyard, and the furious Kai chases after him. That bandana means a lot to Kai. His father once wore it, and he gave it to May who also wore it. She then gave it to Kai, so the bandana is very important to the boy.
"I'll take care of him, May." Shay's reassuring voice says as she takes the woman's hand to lead her out the backyard too. The girl had been quiet during the ordeal, like her parents, because she's never seen Kai this upset before. It not only scares her but worries her too.
Sighing, May squeezes Shay's hand. "Thank you, Shay." The girl is the best person for the job. She was able to reach Kai's heart before May could, so May knows he's in good hands.
The Enbars and May head out to the field where they spot Absol fighting Munchlax. Even though May constantly loses to Drew by two Pokemon, Kai only loses by one. The boy is a natural battler, so May expects nothing less from him, though Drew is surprised. Drew has heard how Kai is a great battler, but the man didn't think it'd be such a close battle.
As Drew returns Roserade, he approaches the dejected boy across the yard. Bending down, Drew extends his hand with the bandana. "You're gonna be a great trainer someday." Kai quickly swipes the bandana from Drew, but the boy keeps his gaze on the ground. Chuckling, Drew ruffles Kai's hair, much to the boy's dismay. "Now that you've calmed down, wanna hear our plan in helping May?"
The boy now gazes up into Drew's green eyes, and Drew sees some hopefulness in them. Smiling, Drew takes the bandana from Kai's hands to wrap around the boy's head. "I can do it myself." the boy mutters.
"Let me do something for you, Kai." Drew requests while finishing the tie. He then removes his hands to put on Kai's shoulders and study his job. "There. Much better."
When Drew stands up, Kai reaches out to grab his jacket, which makes the man curiously look at him. "Can I help?"
Drew smiles and extends a hand to Kai. "We're all on May's team. Of course we help each other."
Kai doesn't take the hand, but he walks past Drew to May and the Enbars. As much as Kai doesn't like Drew or what he's putting May through, Kai trusts the man will help her. He trusts Drew won't hurt May, which is enough for both males because Kai normally doesn't trust people. Plus, Drew saying they're on a team is accurate since May told Kai she's on a team with the boy.
Once Kai reaches May, his determined green eyes gaze into her worried blue ones. "I'm helping, May! We're a team!" He reminds her of their conversation a few days ago.
However, before May can tell him otherwise because he's s child who shouldn't be involved with this adult problem, Drew swings an arm around her shoulders, making her blush. "Yup! We're all a team, so we're gonna get through this together!"
"I wanna help!" Shay chimes in.
Smiling, the Enbar parents agree too. This causes May to look around at everyone in the yard who wants to help her and Drew, but especially her. The woman can't help but feel moved by these people who have welcomed her into their lives after she had left her own family in Hoenn.
Waving his pokenav in her face, Drew smirks. "I got more friends too if we need it." Though, Drew would rather not ask Leaf for help because he doesn't want to listen to her yelling at him.
May grins at them, but when a gust of wind makes her shiver, she suggests, "Let's go inside." Everyone agrees since they're also cold. It's nearing winter.
Once in the living room, Shay excitedly asks, "What's the plan?"
May looks at Drew since it's his plan, however she's surprised to see he's already looking at her with that obnoxious smirk of his. "To fight the media, you have to use the media." He says.
Petalburg City
"Come back after you earn more badges." The navy haired man chuckles while extending a hand to the boy.
Sighing, Shane shakes his hand. "She wasn't lying when she said I should come back after I earn 4 badges."
"Who?" Norman curiously asks.
Before Shane can answer, Norman's wife frantically runs into the battle arena. "Norman, it's May!"
Norman follows his wife, and Shane does too. It can't be the same May, right? May is a common name; however, Shane finds himself being worried. What if it is the same May he knows? Are Kai and Shay okay? What's going on?
Entering the lobby, everyone looks up at the large TV where there are pictures of Drew Hayden and May Maple hugging. The headline reads: Johto Top Coordinator Drew Hayden's Secret Lover? There are some pretty clear shots of the two, which only confirms to Shane that it's the May he knows.
The boy's attention is turned to the adults when Norman slams his fist on the counter, making Kenny the receptionist flinch. "What is she doing now?" Shouts the man.
"How do you know May?" Shane asks worriedly, causing Caroline to quizzically look at him. Shane then seems to register something. Norman's last name is Maple...and May is from Hoenn… Opening his eyes widely, Shane says, "Are you May's parents?"
Caroline hesitantly nods, but before she can ask how Shane knows May, Norman switches off the TV, which now makes Caroline gaze at her husband with concern. "Honey-"
"She made her choice." Norman snaps at his wife. It still hurts him that May left their family for that boy who has nothing to do with them! And now she's back with Drew Hayden? Norman never liked the male coordinator, even if Caroline did. However, now he's got May involved in some love scandal? What is his daughter doing? She needs to come home!
"You need to stop being stubborn!" Caroline knowingly tells him.
Ignoring her, Norman faces Kenny. "Close the gym. I'm done for today."
"Sir!" Shane interrupts the irate man. "Trust May. Please. She's doing her best." While Shane isn't sure what's going on with May and her parents, he knows Norman shouldn't be this upset at May.
Shooting the boy a glare, Norman replies, "And why should I listen to you?" Who is this boy acting like he knows May? Maybe he just wants information based on the news just now? Maybe he just wants to gossip? Norman has only known him for 20 minutes.
Letting out a nervous breath, Shane says, "She was my teacher, and now she's my friend. Kai is my friend, and he's my sister's best friend. I don't know what's going on, but I trust May, so you should too." Shane knows May deserves better than the doubt her father is giving her. Even though this seems like a terrible situation, Shane knows May can handle it, especially with his family's help and Kai's. Suicune, Drew is probably helping too. They're all a team.
Norman still storms away out the back to train, like he does whenever he's upset, which happens lately. This leaves Shane with Kenny and Caroline. Caroline gives the boy a small smile. "Did you want to spend the night here, Shane? We have the space, and you are a friend of my daughter's."
Despite feeling awkward with the current situation, Shane agrees. It beats the crowded Pokemon Center, and he wants to learn more about May. What exactly happened here? Who is May? He'll have to call his family later to learn what is going on as well as to provide his assistance, but for now, he will try to learn about what's going on.
Cinnabar Island
Hours later, Shay has been on the family computer for a while now. Drew and May have left, but Kai is sleeping over for the time being. "What are you doing?" he asks his friend.
"Posting the current 'unpopular' opinion." Shay replies without looking away from the screen.
Kai stands beside her to watch her furiously type. "I'm pretty sure you don't need to spend this much time doing it."
"Yes, I do!" Shay insists. "So many people are saying good things about Brianna and bad things about May and Drew! I need to put good things about them out on the internet. Then people will start believing May and Drew are actually good people too!"
Sighing, Kai pulls up a chair. "Do you really think that'll be enough to help them?"
Shay now turns to face her friend. Putting an arm around his shoulders, she's reminded of his painful outburst earlier, although he has been calm since his battle with Drew. "It's worth a shot."
Nodding, Kai knows she's right. Because May and Drew are going to be on the news soon, they left Kai and the Enbars with different tasks. The Enbar parents are to watch over Kai and keep him away from troublesome reporters while Shay is in charge of helping to change the public's opinion on social media. Kai, though, is in charge of helping the Enbars and watching Skitty and Munchlax. May mostly left these Pokemon with Kai so that he has a guarantee of her return, but she knows these Pokemon help alleviate Kai's worries the most.
Returning her attention to the computer screen, Shay asks, "So do you still hate Drew?"
"I never hated him. I just didn't like him." shrugs the boy.
"So you like him now?"
Kai frowns while he thinks about his interactions with Drew. Even though Drew has been putting in an effort to know him, Kai is still hesitant with the man. Maybe time will help them? If Drew sticks around that long. Kai finds himself bringing his hand up to touch the bandana Drew had wrapped around his head earlier. As much as Kai hates to admit it, Drew is the best person to be helping May right now. "We're a team."
Shay looks over to give him a smile before facing her screen again. "I like being on a team."
Watching his friend typing furiously to help his caretaker makes Kai's heart beat a little quicker. Shay has always been there for him. From when he was the shy new kid at school to now as he's trying to help May. He doesn't know what he did to get all of these great people in his life, but he's grateful for it. "We'll always be a team, Shay."
"I know." She grins without removing her attention from the computer. "We're a great team, Kai!"
He shyly nods before noticing the time. The news is going to start soon. "It's almost Drew's turn." He informs his friend while getting off the chair to head into the living room.
In the living room, he spots the Enbar parents already on the channel where the headline reads: Top Coordinator Scandal: Drew Hayden Speaks Out. Kai frowns at the title. He hates all this senseless gossip. It's not even true. Sitting beside Pam and George, Kai waits with them. Soon, Shay joins them too, and eventually, Drew appears on the screen.
Before Drew can even speak, there are already many reporters asking him questions. Obviously, he's doing this press release conference in Olivine City because that's where Brianna is, but it's also close enough to Cianwood for him to come back when he's done. He didn't want to do the interview in Cianwood to avoid more skepticism. Also, Cianwood is a lot smaller than Olivine, so he doesn't want people knowing he's there.
"Drew! Are the rumors true?" someone shouts.
"Are you really dating May Maple?"
"Are you cheating on Brianna?"
"Why'd you do it?"
"Do you think an apology will fix everything?"
Drew hasn't even said a word, but the reporters won't let him get anything in. Although annoyed, he doesn't show it. He's used to press conferences where reporters don't shut up. Obviously, his manager and the regional contest committee has been calling him non-stop, though he's ignoring them. Drew Hayden doesn't need them anymore.
Smiling warmly at the crowd, Drew decides to just speak. People usually quiet down when he starts. "Thank you for being here today." He says, and just like that, everyone stops talking. "I am resigning as the Johto Top Coordinator."