I Caught Myself

SIX

"Mom, I'm just gonna go out for a walk," Brendan said, pecking his mother on the cheek. It was roughly 6:50pm, and it was already dark.

"Okay, honey. Just come back in time for dinner." Delia smiled. Brendan nodded and walked towards the table where he and May had been seated for about an hour.

"May, you wanna come with me? I can show you around town." Brendan offered. May looked up at him and shot him a glare.

"If it's with you, then no thanks."

"Fine." Brendan answered, retrieving his offer. Melissa looked back at May with a look of annoyance. Brendan was about to disappear out of the house, when Melissa called him back.

"Brendan, I think what May meant is that she'll love to go with you." Melissa sweetly said. Brendan glanced at May, then back to Melissa.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Maple, but I think she was pretty clear with what she wanted," Brendan answered.

"Yeah, mom. I was pretty clear." May whined. Melissa shook her head.

"May, go. Tour with Brendan. You might find some friends or something along the way. It'll be fun." Melissa reasoned.

"But, moooom…"

"No buts, young lady. Go," Melissa said strongly, the words picking May up from her seat and forcing her to march towards the coat rack. She tugged on a jacket and slipped it on before storming out of the house infuriated.

Brendan stepped through the doorway and closed the door gently. He looked at May, keeping a straight face. "You know, you can always just stay here if you don't want to go."

May kept silent, her arms folded below her chest. Brendan sighed. "Okay,"

Brendan started lurching off in another direction, ignoring the fact that he left May in front of her house. It was no problem, anyway. If she had any dilemmas, she could just go running back home. But no. Instead, Brendan looked back and saw May coming after him.

"Brendan! How could you just leave me there?!" May asked, her tone picking up volume.

"Well, you were being so difficult,"

"Difficult?"

"Well, yeah." Brendan answered. May cooled down. She sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Sorrrryyy," She retorted. Brendan cocked an eyebrow at her.

"That's all?"

"We've only just met. What else do you want me to say?"

"Well, at least say it right."

"Okay then. Brendan, I'm sorry. Are you happy now?" May asked, sick of all this repetition.

"Mildly." Brendan answered, continuing his pace. May followed.

"Where are we going?" May asked.

"To my dad's lab." Brendan answered.

"Hi dad!" Brendan smiled, his hand resting on one of Professor Birch's shoulders. Professor Birch took his eyes off of work and marveled at his son.

"Hi Brendan," He uttered, prying the lab goggles away from his face.

"We're at the Maples'. Dinner's almost ready, and I wanted to ask if you're joining us," Brendan replied. Professor Birch took a look behind Brendan and found May there, a blank expression on her face.

"Oh, tell your mom I'm going to be there." He smiled. "Hello, young lady."

May shook her head slightly and stepped away from behind Brendan, carefully revealing herself to the professor.

"Uhm, hello sir," May replied. Professor Birch studied her for a few seconds before the thought established in his mind.

"You're Norman's daughter, aren't you?" He announced. May nodded, but hesitated.

"Well, I'm not his real daughter, but…" She uttered. Brendan seemed to notice this, which raised curiosity, but William didn't seem to hear it.

"I should have known. I've seen you in the pictures," William answered. "Tell your father I'll see him soon,"

"I would, sir, but…he's not at home right now," May answered quietly. This fact disturbed William for some reason.

"Oh. Why ever not?"

"We moved here so he can work in a gym. He's in Petalburg right now, sir."

"Oh. That Norman. Always off doing his training." William answered, followed by a hearty laugh. May laughed at some distance in time too.

Brendan shifted his weight from his right foot to his left. "Okay, dad. We gotta go. I promised mom we won't be too long, and that we'd get there before dinner."

"Okay, son. Tell her that I'll be in just a little while," Professor Birch added, before waving his hand towards the door from where they entered earlier. Brendan and May stepped out of the lab and stood there silently for a while. A cool breeze hit their faces as they stood in silence.

"So, what now?" May asked, her voice as mellow as the still night.

"Let's go back to your house. I can take you to tour the town early tomorrow, if you're up to it." Brendan offered. May nodded her head.

"What's up, May? You've suddenly become so quiet," Brendan asked.

"It's nothing," May answered, the same quiet tone being used. Brendan thought back and remembered what she had said earlier.

"I remember. What did you mean by you're not Norman's real daughter?" Brendan asked, trying to be gentle with this fragile, emotional girl.

"Nothing. It's nothing," May replied.

"It can't be nothing. Come on, tell me." Brendan answered, gripping her arm strongly yet gently.

May sighed. "Fine,"

Brendan stood there with an idiotic smile on his face. May rolled her eyes and stared in a different direction.

"I said that because…well…because I'm just adopted," May answered. Brendan's eyes widened in disbelief. She took her eyes off of him and stared into the pitch blackness. "They adopted me when I was eight. My mom wanted a child of her own, but she couldn't be impregnated, so…"

Brendan looked at her in awe, still silent. This silent gave May comfort for some reason. "I'm just glad that they took me in. When they brought me into their family, I was so happy. It wouldn't be like those colder days I've seen for years before they took me."

"Do you have any idea who your real parents are?" Brendan asked. May shook her head, trying to stop bitter tears from streaming down her face, but to no avail. Tears rolled down her cheeks, as she closed her eyes. She felt his fingers wipe away some of the fresher tears, and she felt warmer for some reason. She felt his arms envelope her into a comforting embrace. This made a tint of red appear on her face.

"I'm sorry about that. It must have been tough to live like that," Brendan offered. May nodded her head, feeling her lips curve up.

"But I was able to get through it. That should warn you not to mess with me. I learned a few things from my experiences," Brendan laughed, pulling away from her. That was more than enough to comfort an emotionally disturbed girl. But something in him craved for more. He was unconditionally drawn to her.