Signing up for trouble
It was the next day, and May was curled up in her bed in the hotel room that connected to the Contest Hall. She was too gloomy to get up.
Drew must hate me now, she thought. Should I have told him? I don't really trust him after all, do I?
May grabbed an extra pillow, and hugged it. She felt so alone, so very alone. Drew was the only friend she had here from Hoenn, and now she didn't even have him.
The girl buried her face in the pillow, and cried softly.
Drew, in the room beside her, still lying on his back after a sleepless night, heard her however. He sighed, looked in the mirror, and winced at the welt in the center of his forehead.
You're a particular brand of stupid, he though bitterly. Beat your head into a locker a day before the contest.
As he showered, he ran over his plan for the day. One, avoid May at all costs. Two, practice. Three, avoid Harley at all costs. And finally, sign up for the contest.
He got dressed, brushed his hair so that it covered the welt, took a deep breath, and stepped into the hallway.
Right into May.
The girl stumbled forward as someone ran into from behind. She turned around, and saw a wet haired, surprised and obviously uncomfortable Drew with a large welt in the center of his forehead.
"Drew! Oh... um... "
"Hello, May... "
"You should put some ice on that welt. "
"Ok. Bye. "
"Bye. "
Having avoided eye contact for the greater part of the conversation, both coordinators turned around as fast as they could and walked off.
Well, there goes my day, Drew thought, looking over her shoulder as she walked off. Still, that went better than I-
Drew fell face flat on the floor with a mixed gasp and yelp of pain. Harley stood in his doorway, foot still sticking out in the hall, laughing out loud. "Oh, my god, Drew. You are very easy to- Gyaaahh! "
Drew had yanked Harley's leg out from under him, and the tall man fell to the floor with a yell. The younger coordinator pinned him to the ground and hissed at him between clenched teeth, "If you ever do that again, I swear I will- "
Chase pried him off of Harley, giving Drew a stern glance as he did so. "Save the battling for the contest. "
"Yeah, Drew, don't lose your head. " Harley quipped.
Ah, yes. Now I remember. I hate Chase.
---------------------------------------------------
Ice, Ice, where can I find ice, Drew thought, wincing in pain. This hurts a lot more than I thought it would.
There was a gentle tap on his shoulder. "Excuse me, Drew, is it? " Jasmine was standing behind him, holding an ice pack in her hand. "May I? "
Drew nodded. "Thanks... a lot, actually. "
She directed him to a chair, then held the ice pack on his forehead. "If you don't mind, may I ask what happened? "
"I beat my head into a locker, " he said with disgust and pain.
"... " Jasmine did not ask him anymore, but he could feel the questions buzzing around in her head.
After a while, she removed the ice. "There. That's a lot better. If it starts to swell up again, come and get me. "
"Thank you. "
"It is no trouble. "
Drew nodded to her, then went outside, back to his training area. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath of salty air, and steeled himself, rebuilding his resolve and confidence, that had taken a terrible blow the day before. But that was before. He had been weak, foolish, shaken. Not today. Today, he was strong, confident, ready for the contest. He tossed his hair out of his face, feeling like his old self again, and with a flourish, sent out Roselia.
"Ro-sel! "
"Petal dance, Roselia! "
She lifted her rose blossom arms, twirled around, and let out a gorgeous and strong Petal Dance that blasted out across the ocean, showering the waves with petals.
Drew looked confidently out across the ocean, then paused, feeling May's eyes on him. Ignore her, he thought, even as he turned around to look for her. She was standing on the ridge, Skitty behind her. She's come to practice here.
"Roselia, come back! " He swallowed, then headed up the ridge. "You can practice here if you want to, May. "
"Oh, that's nice of you. Ok... "
He brushed by her as he walked by, and they both felt the spark. May, however, brushed it aside.
Drew tried to, and failed. Ah well, he though, I had better go and.. sign.. up...
The sign over the sign up booth read, CLOSED.
"... " Drew froze in shock and horror. Then, in just shock. His name was on the registered contestant▓s sheet. "How... "
Jasmine handed him his contestant number. "Good luck, Drew. "
"Why are you helping me? "
"Because of May. She is my friend, and you are hers. "
"I'm not so sure about that last part, " he muttered under his breath.
"Trust me. You are closer than you think. " Jasmine waved goodbye.