Catalyst
In a flash of light, May's Pokemon suddenly disappeared. The Thunder hit the ground, dissolving into nothingness. May almost fainted in relief. Her gamble had paid off, as good as she had dared it would turn out.
"Now, Blaziken, use Sky Uppercut on Cacturn! " The ground erupted below Harley's pokemon, and the Cacturn was sent flying into the air.
"What just happened? " Chase, Jasmine, and the rest of the other coordinators were rapt by May's performance.
"Her Skitty used Eevee's Dig, and pulled them both underground. Amazing, " Drew breathed. I guess she was right about her own style after all...
Cacturn lay on the ground, down for the count. Harley gasped, then his face grew dark with rage. "Hit that Skitty with Will-o-wisp, Bannet! "
"Send it right back with Doubleslap! "
The ball of intense fire was sent back flying into the Ghost pokemon. "Now, finish him off with Fire Spin, Blaziken! "
Bannet could not move fast enough. The fight was all over. May had won, and beautifully so.
Harley withdrew his pokemon, eyes still dark with anger. "I'll get you, May... someday... " He swore under his breath, too quiet for anyone to hear.
May hugged her Pokemon, then withdrew them as she whispered to them, "Rest, you guys. You've earned it. "
Offstage, Drew took a couple of steps forward to congratulate May, but Chase beat him to her, and the younger coordinator bit his lip as he backed off again.
Let her go, he chided himself. Just let her go.
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The first rounds of battle were over. Drew, Chase, Jasmine and May had all won their respective battles, and were resting in a lounge area that overlooked the stands, were the audience were milling about, buying food, conversing, etc.
Drew was sitting by himself as far away from Chase, May, and Jasmine as he could, eye on the people below, but his attention on his rival and her friends. His face was emotionless, concealing the torment that thrashed just beneath the surface that anyone who knew him could sense from across a crowded room. It was if there was a electric energy of discontent, anger, but mostly sadness.
His aura, however, was not felt by the three other people in the room, who were too busy discussing the rest of the contest to pay any attention.
"So, what comes after this, May? "
"Well, we're matched up again for the second round, then the winners of both battles compete for the ribbon in the third round. "
I really hope I get to battle Chase, Drew mentally growled.
The Johto boy seemed to have heard Drew's threat, for he commented to May, "I really hope I don't have to battle Drew. He really seems to know Contests and Pokemon. "
"You know your Pokemon, too. I'm sure you'd do fine. "
Jasmine threw Drew a pitying glance over May's oblivious shoulder. The Gym leader then slyly rammed her elbow in between Chase's ribs, in the pretense on leaning up against him. "Chaaase, you promised me that you'd take me down to the lighthouse at the break, " she pleaded.
"Ow- wha- ? Oh, right! I did. We've still got a few minutes, so lets go in- actually, let's go NOW. " Chase put on a forced smile as Jasmine practically drug him out the door, leaving Drew alone with May.
May gave the pair a curious look, then chanced a glance at Drew. "What are you thinking about? "
Peachy. Jasmine is trying to get me and May back together by leaving us in here all alone. I swear I'm going to- Huh? Did May just ask me something?
Oh, crap she did, and now I'm going to look like an idiot for not listening. I guess I should just go with the honest approach. "Hmm? "
"I said, What are you thinking about? "
You. The words were in his head without his even thinking them, and almost escaped his mouth before he bit back that response and muttered something or other about Roselia.
"Oh. " May looked out the window. I wonder, was there ever a time he would have said, 'You, May'?
Was there ever a time when I would have said that to him? Yes... but I don't think he likes me anymore.
"So, has Chase asked you out yet or anything? " Drew managed to say in a politely indifferent tone.
"Hmm? Oh, no, no, no. He wouldn't. He likes Jasmine, and she likes him. Haven't you noticed? "
Ah, so that's why Jasmine is trying to set us up. She thinks Chase is unconsciously flirting with May, and doesn't want May to get hurt. "No, I haven't noticed. Of course, I haven't been around them very much. "
"Yeah... " May felt a pang of guilt hit her. Maybe I should have been nicer to Drew. I think I can see now why he's been such a jerk. Maybe he feels left out.
"I'm sorry if you've been feeling left out, Drew. I really missed talking to you. "
Yeah... left out... Drew thought. "I missed talking to you, too. "
"Are we friends again? " May turned her big blue eyes on him.
"We always were, " he said simply.
She smiled at him, and he felt his heart skip a beat. At that moment, there was nothing he wanted to do except throw his arms around her, confess his feelings, and forget everything bad that had ever happened.
"May... " He turned to face her.
"And we're back from the break. It's a beautiful day here in Olivine, perfect for a Pokemon Contest. Drew and Chase, you are our first battlers. Please get ready, you will be on in five minutes. "
"I gotta go, " he said, getting up abruptly, hoping she would not ask him what he was about to say.
"Oh, well, good luck to the both of you! "
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"... and one more thing. If you ever, and I mean, EVER flirt with someone again, I will strangle you with your spinal cord, got it! YOU ARE MINE. "
Jasmine had a hold of Chase's shirt collar, and held him close to her face as she finished her tirade. "Got it... "
Jasmine let go of Chase and pushed him away as he did so, and the boy had to stumble to regain his balance and spare himself the indignity of falling over backwards. "Ok, sweetheart! I'll see you later! " Jasmine's voice was as sweet as sugar as she waved to the recovering Chase.
Drew looked first at Jasmine, then at Chase, then jasmine again. "What just happened? "
"Oh, what, that? Jasmine was getting a little jealous and angry at me for 'driving a wedge between you'. "
"Really? She doesn't look like the jealous type. "
"Oh, you'd be surprised... That spinal cord line? She meant it. And she could do it, too. "
Drew gave Jasmine another look. "That's a little bit more than scary. "
"Heh. But really, I'm sorry if I have driven a wedge between you two. I was just trying to be polite. Aaaand I understand if you hate me. "
"Good. No misunderstandings there. "
Chase laughed. "Heh. Good one... " Drew gave him an icy look.
"... you're serious, aren't you? "
"See you on the battlefield, " Drew remarked as he passed.