An interlude from the party, where we explore some of the more tense aspects of the relationship between three girls.

Rosealine gold: Well you're in luck, they're going to have a talk soon enough.

KedharS: No, she's gotta be real, I'm sure there's one out there. I just have to find her.

Aquahaze675: Not exactly.

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: Indeed, Cynthia is a great obstacle to overcome indeed.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 402

"Maddi, do you really not want to stay with Cynthia over the break?" Sango asked. Just the question put a scowl on Maddi's face.

"No."

Sango looked at Maddi. She was clearly irritated, the scowl was enough. But Maddi often looked irritated, and Sango had spent enough time with her over the last few weeks to see when her irritation was hiding something a little more complex.

"You really hate Cynthia that much?"

Maddi sighed.

"It's not… it's not that I hate her," she clarified. "I just… I find it difficult to get alone with people like her."

Sango could understand that.

"So you don't think you'll be able to deal with her for the entire trip?" Sango asked.

"She's going to get on my nerves a lot," Maddi said, scowling. "I just know it. She's too… I can't describe it. You're energetic and all, but Cynthia… I just want her to leave me alone sometimes. She's way too annoying."

"What?"

Maddi and Sango froze, turning around. Cynthia was standing behind them, eyes wide and mouth open. Her face was pale with shock.

"Cynthia!" Sango gasped.

"I-I see…" Cynthia said, beginning to tremble. "I-I saw you two out here… and I thought Sango… was talking to you about the trip, Maddi… I came to join you guys, but I-I didn't… I didn't know that you… that you felt that way about me…"

Maddi was still stunned. She fumbled out, "w-wait, Cynthia, that's not what I-"

"N-No, it's fine, I get it," Cynthia was frantically wiping her eyes, trying to keep a shaky smile on her face even as her body trembled with the urge to break down crying. "I was trying to be friends with you but I crossed too many lines… I just never learn, I always get on everyone's nerves… I-I'll be going…"

Cynthia turned and ran back for the ballroom, but she was stopped by a hand wrapped tightly around her wrist. Sango had caught her easily.

"Sango? What-"

"We're going to talk about this," Sango said, pulling Cynthia over to the balcony. "You, Maddi, and me. The three of us."

Sango scanned the balcony and saw, fortunately, that there was a table and some metal chairs set up at the far end. She turned to Maddi, whose face was dark with shame. The brunette nodded, and followed Sango to the table as she dragged Cynthia along behind her.

"Look, Sango, it's fine, okay? I know that I-"

"No," Sango said, giving the two girls a glare that made them flinch. "We're talking about this. You guys are my friends, and I don't want you to hurt each other. Okay?"

Maddi and Cynthia shut their mouths and nodded. Satisfied, Sango turned and kept walking.

"Wow, ever since you started getting into pokemon battles, you've really absorbed some domme energy, Sango, it's kinda hot," Cynthia said, unable to help herself. Maddi rolled her eyes in frustration, Cynthia was just…

The girls sat down around the table. Cynthia shivered as her butt touched the cold metal. Her dress was sleeveless and revealed her shoulders, and it was winter. Maddi handled it a little better, and Sango was used to putting up with tough weather.

"So, uh… what now, then?" Cynthia asked, glancing at Sango. Maddi didn't say anything, but her eyes held the same question.

Sango sighed and rubbed her temples, Silver floating down next to her and rubbing against her cheek. Sango looked at the two girls.

"I think… I think honesty is the best place to start," Sango said. She turned to Maddi. "Maddi… is that okay with you? Telling Cynthia how you feel about her?"

"I already heard," Cynthia said, her voice cracking in pain as she looked down.

"…I guess," Maddi muttered. "Cynthia… I don't hate you. Really, I really don't."

"Then why would you say-"

"Let her finish," Sango gently chided her.

"But I can't say that I like you very much," Maddi added. Cynthia winced. Maddi sighed, reaching up and rubbing her temples. "Cynthia… I know that you aren't a bad person. From what I've seen, you really are a very nice girl. You care about your friends, your pokemon, you even care about someone like me, even when we aren't that close. I really… I do find that admirable about you."

Cynthia's eyes brightened and her face turned up.

"…But," Maddi said, Cynthia wilting. Sango could practically see little Growlithe ears pointing out of her hair and dipping down in sadness. "But you don't have any respect for personal boundaries. I've told you multiple times before when I wasn't comfortable with how you were treating me, and you kept repeating it. So if you want to know why I don't like being around you that much, it's because of stuff like that, Cynthia. Stuff like dragging me to the Pokemon Day party, or getting me into that escape room stuff? I keep trying to set up boundaries, and you keep invading them. That shows you don't respect me or my feelings."

"I-I'm sorry," Cynthia said, her face turning white and sickly with guilt. Maddi's accusations stung her. "I-I didn't mean to treat you that way, I was just trying to be friends with you. You always looked kind of lonely when you were by yourself, so I was just trying to bring you in, you know? Spend more time with you and get you in with my friends."

"But I never wanted that," Maddi replied. "I just wanted to be left alone."

The harshness in her voice made Cynthia feel even worse. She hung her head, Sango wincing sympathetically for her. Maddi wasn't wrong for feeling the way she did about Cynthia, and it was important for all of them to talk about it honestly. That didn't mean that Maddi's words couldn't still hurt though.

Maddi's voice softened, "I know you wanted to be my friend, Cynthia. But if you say you want to be my friend while at the same time not listening to what I tell you I want, then that tells me that, even if you want to be my friend, you really don't respect me or what I want, and that isn't a real friendship. That's you selfishly pushing yourself into my life. Even this trip, that's just something that you're trying to force on me, when I don't want to do it. That's why we aren't really friends. Because you aren't treating me as a friend."

Maddi turned to Sango.

"Sango isn't like that, Cynthia. That's why we're friends. That's why you and I can't really be friends, not when you're like this."

Cynthia was quiet for a long while. She was staring at her lap, her crimson hair shielding her face. Maddi and Sango stared at each other and then at Cynthia. It was starting to get uncomfortable.

"…I'm sorry," Cynthia finally squeaked out. She raised her head to look up at Maddi, her eyes puffy and red as tears streamed down her face. "I… I'm sorry, Maddi. I never… I didn't know any better. I just tried to be a friend, and I *hic* did it so badly… I had no idea you felt that way because I was such a selfish jerk… I assumed… *sniff* I assumed that you were just shy like Kitty and Nikita and needed to open up… I didn't know that I was hurting you so much…"

"Look, Cynthia-"

"And… and… *wwaaaa* I did the same thing to theeeeem… I'm just a spiteful, rude and invasive person who doesn't care what other people waaaaant!" Cynthia slumped over on the table and buried her face in her arms, shaking.

Maddi felt a little bad. Not about what she said, she completely stood by her assessments and she wasn't going to feel guilty for telling Cynthia how she felt. But in spite of her words, she didn't hate Cynthia. She hoped that what she'd said would make Cynthia reconsider some aspects of herself and grow to be a better person.

"Maddi, if I'm being honest, I'm not much better than Cynthia," Sango said. "I… see, I've also dragged people along on stuff they don't want to do, myself. Even Cynthia. I sort of dragged her on a mountain climbing trip at the start of the school year. So… I understand her a little. And I'm sure that she didn't mean anything bad by it…"

"No, I'm sure she didn't," Maddi said, shaking her head. "I'm just saying that when I want to be left alone and she doesn't leave me alone, well… it makes me feel like she doesn't respect me."

"I'm sowwy," Cynthia mumbled into her arms. "I didn't mean it…"

"I know you didn't mean it," Maddi sighed. This was really a pain. She hadn't wanted to make Cynthia cry. "Look, Cynthia, I don't really feel as upset as I might have sounded."

"R-Really?" Cynthia glanced up at her, staring at Maddi through bleary eyes.

"I'm tougher than you, at least," Maddi said, rolling her eyes. "I was just telling you how I felt. Why I get irritated with you. This isn't me spreading my heart open and bleeding all over you guys about how my feelings got hurt. So stop crying, okay? I'm fine."

Cynthia sniffled, sitting up and wiping her nose. She nodded her head.

…

She remained composed for all of three seconds before bursting out into tears again.

Maddi sighed. Cynthia's heart was one of the things she really did like about the girl, the fact that she could feel so bad for something so trivial. It wasn't like she had killed Maddi's pokemon or stabbed her or something, she had just been a little pushy and annoying.

Maddi glanced at Sango, asking her with her eyes if she could please do something about this. Sango sighed. She wasn't sure how to make Cynthia feel any better either.

"Look, Cynthia, it's clear that you feel bad about what you did," Maddi said. Cynthia nodded glumly, wiping her face again. Maddi sighed. Part of her knew she would probably regret this. But at the same time, she did believe that Cynthia could, theoretically, be someone she could get along with. Maybe even a friend.

"I'm not against you and I… starting over, I guess," Maddi said.

Cynthia blinked.

"Huh? What?"

"Look, you and I got off on the wrong foot," Maddi sighed. "But at the same time, I know that it's not because you're a bad person, you're just a little insensitive sometimes. Plus, we're both friends with Sango, and we're all taking care of baby pokemon together. Plus, you know… that other thing."

"What, that we're both working with the Commander?"

"Yeah, that," Maddi said. "So… look. I know I'm not the easiest person to be friends with. That's fine. Don't have a problem with it. But if you really want to be my friend… I'm okay with it. We can start over, take it slow, sort of… ease into things. But on my terms, you understand?"

Cynthia's face brightened and she nodded her head eagerly.

"And for starters, I'm not going with you guys for break," Maddi said. "Okay? We aren't good enough friends for that. I'm trying to be a little more understanding, as long as you be less pushy and overbearing. Just give me my space when I ask for it, and accept 'no' as an answer. Not sometimes. Always. Do that, and we can, slowly, become friends. Is that okay?"

Cynthia looked rather glum that Maddi wouldn't be joining her and Sango, but she nodded anyway. She was okay with that.

"…So what exactly are you going to do for break?" Sango asked.

"Stay here," Maddi said.

"They won't let you though."

"I'll be a squatter then."

"They're turning off the water and power in the dorms."

Maddi's expression soured. "I'll figure something out, then," she scowled.

Cynthia looked like she wanted to say something, but she kept her mouth shut. Sango could tell that Cynthia still wanted to invite Maddi, even if the girl wasn't exactly that receptive to it. Sango, admittedly, wanted Maddi to come with her, too. A trip with her would have been fun. But similarly to Cynthia, she wasn't sure if she wanted to push the issue.

"Um, Maddi…"

Maddi gave her a cautious look.

"…What?"

Cynthia couldn't meet her eyes. She sighed. "Look, I know… I know you already said no. But… are you sure you won't come with us for break?"

Maddi sighed.

"Look, Cynthia, I just said-"

"Wait, wait, it's not about you and I, like, becoming closer! You don't even have to talk with us if you don't want to!" Cynthia said, waving her hands frantically. "But… you don't have anywhere to go, right? For break, you're going to be kind of stuck, so I was just thinking you could stay at my grandparents' place. We'd give you, like, your own room, and everything, you wouldn't even have to see Sango or me. Or, I mean, just me, I guess…"

Maddi sighed. Admittedly, while she was less than enthused about going on a trip with Cynthia, she didn't really have anywhere else to go, either. And if Cynthia was really going to leave her alone, and was just offering to fly her out somewhere she could spend time at over the break, well… was that the worst thing?

"Look, I'll… I'll think about it," Maddi sighed. "Okay?"

"R-Really?" Cynthia asked, her face brightening. "O-Okay! We'll, um, Sango and I will be waiting at the pier, the south pier, where the boat will be. We're going to be taking the 7:05 AM boat, so meet us before then, okay?"

She shut her mouth, and became a lot more demure, realizing what she was saying.

"…Err, I mean, you know, if you want to," she said, shaking her head. "Like, if you don't want to, that's okay, I'm not trying, like, to pressure you or anything-"

"Cynthia," Maddi sharply cut her off, "it's fine."

Cynthia sighed with relief, and relaxed in her chair.

"I'm glad we could arrive at some mutual understanding," Sango said. "And Maddi, it's okay if you don't want to go, we understand, but… I'd still like you to come."

Now Maddi was feeling backed into a corner. She knew Sango didn't mean to, but, well, she was. She sighed, and turned back to Cynthia.

"Look, Cynthia, do you mind, um… leaving?"

Cynthia blinked.

"Huh?"

"I want to talk to Sango. It's something private, and I'd like you to give us some space," Maddi told her. "So do you mind?"

"No, absolutely not," Cynthia said, shaking her head and springing up out of her chair. "I'll be off to the party!"

She turned and headed to the entrance, pausing, and turning on her heel.

"Maddi… sorry, sorry for everything, okay? I promise, from now on, I'll be more considerate of how you're feeling, okay?" Cynthia gave Maddi a warm smile. Maddi nodded, and returned the smile with a small one of her own, nodding.

Cynthia wave to the two girls and headed inside to the party. Maddi turned back to Sango and sighed, slumping over in her chair.

"Thanks, Maddi," Sango smiled. "I know you don't get along well with Cynthia, but it means a lot that you're willing to give a friendship with her a try."

"She's a nice girl," Maddi replied. "If she can be a little bit more considerate of how I feel, then I think we can be friends."

She gave Sango a smile.

"I wasn't sure if you and I could have been friends at first, either," Maddi admitted. "But these last two weeks have been great, really. You're a pretty good friend, Sango."

"Oh, you know," Sango said, waving her hand dismissively to rebuff the compliment. "I-I'm not that great, just…"

Maddi smirked.

"Look, it's not like I'm unwilling to go, it's just, well…" Maddi sighed. "I'm not… I'm not the kind of person who opens up to people, you know? So going on a trip with you guys, that's more socializing than I'm used to."

"No, I totally get it, and if you're not comfortable with us, then you totally don't have to come!" Sango assured her. "Cynthia and I are just trying to be nice."

Maddi got out of her seat and walked over to the railing, staring out into the night.

"Maddi?" Sango asked, glancing over her shoulder. She slid back in her chair and stood up, walking over to her friend.

"Sango, you trust me, right?" Maddi asked. Her tone was quiet and serious.

"Yeah, of course I do," Sango said.

"…Of course you do," Maddi grinned, but her smile had a trace of sadness in it. "Look, Sango, I know I can be prickly. I don't… I don't make friends easy, because I tend to be a little colder than most. Even when I do have friends, I only like to be around them for short period of time. I just… I find it hard to open up to people."

"That's not a problem," Sango assured her. "You're a good person, Maddi, even if you are a little brusque."

Maddi nodded, brushing her bangs aside, smiling a little.

"Thanks, Sango. I'm really glad I got to meet you." Maddi turned to Sango. Sango blinked, surprised.

"I mean, I'm glad I got to meet you, too, Maddi," Sango smiled, "but just so you know, I like boys. I know I have short hair, but I'm not a-"

"I'm not either!" Maddi snapped, her face flushing. "This is just a friendship thing, Sango! Jeez!"

"I know, I know, I'm just being cute," Sango grinned, Silver laughing. Maddi huffed, blowing up her bangs. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the railing.

"I mean it though, Maddi, I really like you, and I'm glad I got to meet you," Sango said, patting her on the back. Maddi smiled.

"Listen, Sango… do you mind… if I talk to you about something?"

"Huh? Sure, what is it?" Sango asked, leaning in closer. Maddi sighed.

"Look, see… this isn't the best time, but… with how hectic today has been, I just… I've been thinking a lot. About us."

"Maddi, I just said-"

"Friends!" Maddi snapped. She sighed. "Remember when we were taking care of Grim? When he first hatched?"

"I remember us going all over campus getting stuff," Sango remembered.

"…You told me about your mom," Maddi said quietly. "About how she passed away, and how you still think about her, and you know she's watching over you."

"Yeah, I remember," Sango nodded.

"That… that was when I first started seeing you as a real friend, you know," Maddi told her. She glanced over at Sango, her visible eye moist. "You stayed with me the whole day helping me take care of my little guy, and you opened up to me about something personal like that. My other friends, well… they never stuck around long enough to really reach that point, so hearing you just… open up like that to someone you'd just met… it made me feel accepted like I never had before."

"Don't think about it that seriously," Sango said, shaking her head. "I just-"

"It meant a lot to me," Maddi interrupted her. "And that's enough. It's just… I haven't had a friend I've been willing to open up to before. But… I think I'm ready now."

"Huh? Ready for what?"

"I want… look, this is silly, but do you mind if I talk to you about something serious?" Maddi asked. "It… it's about my family."

"Your family?" Sango asked.

"I don't… I've never really talked to anyone about it before," Maddi admitted. "But honestly, you're my closest friend now. So do you mind if I tell you about what I've been through?"

Maddi glanced away from Sango to hide her blush, mumbling "I think… it might help us be closer friends, is all."

Sango's face brightened and she nodded, placing her hand over Maddi's.

"Of course. I'd love to hear it."

Next chapter, we get to explore some of Maddi's backstory.