Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter. I'm not sure how much I like this one. We'll call it the dreaded "filler" chapter.
The plot will pick up, again, next chapter, haha. Please enjoy, and remember to review when you're done ; )
Pokémon vs. Trainer
It was the middle of October, two months into the school year, and May was sitting in her homeroom, listening to the morning announcements. After the incident with Drew and the Battle Room, May seemed to run into him more often. He still teased her and called her names, but he was friendlier and less invasive as though he was making an attempt to be her friend. May decided she liked this side of him.
It occurred to her that Drew used his popularity to mask his true nature. Although he came off as arrogant, haughty, and selfish at times, she began to see glimpses of him out of the limelight. The group of "friends" he always had trailing after him could be better described as fan boys, and Drew didn't actually seem to care about any of them. From what May could gather his only real friends were Brendan Birch and, to a lesser extent, Nate Berkeley. He seemed to have some respect for Ash and Gary Oak, but May wasn't sure she would go so far as to say they were friends. He was a loner by nature and seemed to prefer his own company or the company of his pokémon to those of other people. For as well-liked and admired as he was, she could sense he was lonely. Of course, he would never admit it, and she in turn would never bring it up.
May's train of thought was broken when Dawn suddenly squealed and clapped her hands together in excitement. She turned to May and whispered, "What are you going to be?" At the blank expression on May's face, Dawn elaborated, "Do you want to be a Pokémon or a Trainer?"
"What?"
Dawn sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. "Weren't you listening to the announcements at all? We're having a school wide competition this Saturday! Have you ever heard of Humans Versus Zombies?" May shook her head and Dawn continued, "Well, it's like this. If you're a human, you have to defend yourself against zombies with a nerf gun or something. If you're a zombie, you have to tag a human to "kill" him. If you can survive as a human for the entire game, you win. Or something like that. Anyway, this is like that except we'll be pokémon and trainers!"
"Oh," May said, trying to absorb what Dawn was saying and listen to the rest of announcements at the same time. "I guess that could be fun."
"Oh, it will," Dawn whispered. She reached over and grabbed May's arm excitedly. "You have to be a pokémon too, ok? We'll watch each other's back."
It turned out Pokémon vs. Trainer was a big deal at LaRousse Academy. The entire school from Eighth grade to Senior year participated, and the professors encouraged involvement by lightening the work load for the weekend and even offering extra credit. Certain classrooms were "safe" zones where pokémon could get refreshments and relax for a set time limit without having to worry about being stalked by trainers.
The morning of the competition, Dawn and May met in the dining hall to sign up. Various tables were set up with assigned letters posted for the students. Pokémon were given infrared-sensitive vests to wear over their clothes. If a trainer hit the vest with a poké ball, a target would light up, and the pokémon was given the choice of either sitting out the rest of the game or becoming a trainer. Trainers were given Velcro flags to hang around their waists. If a pokémon managed to grab the flag without being hit with a poké ball, the trainer automatically became a pokémon or was given the option of sitting out the rest of the game. The pokémon were given tasks to complete to keep them from hiding in one spot all day.
Of course, there were rules. Trainers couldn't use anything other than poké balls to "capture" pokémon. Pokémon were allowed to steal the poké balls from trainers, but if the poké ball touched any part of their vests, the light would go off. Trainers and pokémon could go anywhere on campus except the dormitories. Doors to classrooms were to be left unlocked. Trainers couldn't come within twenty feet of "safe" classrooms. Other than that, anything went. May signed her name and checked the box next to "pokémon". She received her vest and began slipping it over her head when she heard a voice that made her cringe.
"Well, well, if it isn't Madame Klutz."
She turned to see Drew sauntering toward the sign up table. "Oh. Hi, Drew," she said, glancing at the flag on his belt. "You're a trainer?"
"Yep, and it looks like you guys are pokémon. How cute. Say, how about we make this a little more interesting?"
May eyed Drew suspiciously, not liking his smug expression. "What?"
"Let's make a bet. Whoever turns to the other side first loses."
"Fine," May said, "but if I win, you have to stop calling me names. Got it?"
"Alright." The corner of his mouth turned up in a smirk. "But if I win, you have to do whatever I tell you for a week."
"What?" May shrieked. "No way! That's crazy, Drew!"
He gave her a casual shrug. "Alright, if you don't think you can win. I'll just have to tell everyone what a coward you are."
"I'm not a coward!" May balled her hands into fists. "Fine, you're on!" They shook on it, and Drew walked away chuckling. May watched him go and suddenly felt her stomach tighten with apprehension. She had to win this. There was no telling what horrible things he would make her do if she lost.
"Um, May?" She turned to look at her blue haired friend. Dawn was watching her with a worried expression. "Do you really think that was a good idea?"
"No," May replied, "but I can't back out now. Will you help me?"
"Of course."
It was nearly two hours into the competition. May and Dawn hadn't seen any signs of Drew, but they'd come across plenty of other trainers on their journey across the campus. Their first task was to retrieve a pokémon from the storage unit—inside the Academics Building—and deliver it to Professor Hawkins. It was taking longer to reach due to the number of trainers milling around the main entrance.
"Okay," Dawn whispered, crouched down next to May. They were hiding behind some bushes in front of the Administration Building. "Let's make a run for the back door all right? Ready… Go!" They jumped out of the bushes and sprinted across the yard. May could feel blood pounding in her ears, the adrenaline surging to her legs. The feeling was exhilarating! There was a shout and someone threw a poké ball in their direction. It landed with a rustle in the grass a couple feet away.
The two girls ran around to the back and threw the door open. "Quick!" May squealed, pushing past Dawn. The door banged open after them, and May caught a glimpse of their pursuer over her shoulder. He was a tall guy with brown hair, a red bandana tied around his head. They ran down the hall, their footsteps echoing off the tiled walls. Something whizzed past May's ear, and she jumped as a poké ball landed on the floor a couple feet ahead of her, bounced off the wall, and rolled back toward her. She ran around it and followed Dawn into a hallway that branched off to the right, attempting to lose their pursuer in the maze of hallways and doors. They ran into a small room that was used to hold training equipment. They waited with baited breath until the trainer's footsteps passed by and faded down the hallway. May put her hands on her knees and leaned over, breathing hard. "God, that was close," she said. "This game is intense."
Dawn nodded and gave a breathy laugh. "I have a stitch in my side. I'm so out of shape."
"Just keep breathing."
After a couple minutes, May looked around to assess their situation. "Well, what do you want to do now?"
"Let's stay here a little longer," Dawn said. "What if that guy's still out there?"
May rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms above her head, attempting to loosen her muscles. "What if he finds us in here? Then we're really in trouble."
Dawn reluctantly agreed, and the girls ventured out, peering cautiously around. The hallway was empty, and there was no sign of their pursuer. They walked back the way they'd come, made a couple detours, and finally found the glass doors leading to the pokémon storage unit. Students could borrow the school's pokémon for training as long as they signed out for them and returned them within twenty-four hours. May entered her Student ID number and opened the door, ushering Dawn ahead of her. They walked to the back of the room where rows of poké balls sat nestled in their holders. May put her name and Student ID number on the sign out sheet and grabbed a random poké ball. "Mission complete," she whispered triumphantly.
"Now we just need to get it back to Professor Hawkins," Dawn said.
May hummed in agreement and placed the poké ball carefully on her belt. They turned to leave but a sudden motion near the door caught their attention. "It's Drew," May breathed, dragging Dawn back behind the shelves. "Be quiet!"
Drew looked up and stared through the glass doors as though he'd heard them. Then, to May's horror, he entered his Student ID number and stood in the open doorway, peering around with an unreadable expression.
May and Dawn stood stock still, hardly daring to breath as he walked slowly toward them, armed with a poké ball. The girls shrank back against the shelves, trying to stay in the shadows. Then May's foot caught on the wheel of a cart of pokedex, and she tripped, sending them crashing to the floor. Drew spun around, and his eyes lit up when he saw them.
"Run!" May screamed, "Dawn, run!"
They ran around the shelves of pokémon, but Drew hit Dawn in the back with a well aimed poké ball. The target in the middle of her vest lit up like a Christmas tree, and she stared at it in surprise. "No…"
"Dawn!" May stood, frozen in indecision as she stared at her friend, the light on her vest blinking red and blue. Drew was already pulling out another poké ball.
"Run, May! Don't worry about me!" Dawn exclaimed, putting herself between her friend and Drew. "Go!"
May ran for the door. Out the door. Down the hallway. She could hear her friend yelling encouragement, and then Drew was at the door, running after her. He threw a poké ball, but she dodged it with a squeal. She turned left, but her momentum was too much and she nearly crashed into the wall. She raced on, ignoring the sharp pain in her side. If she stopped now, Drew would catch her, and she'd lose the bet. She had to get the poké ball to Professor Hawkins. She couldn't let Dawn's sacrifice be for nothing.
She could hear Drew close behind her, breathing as hard as she was. She couldn't remember which way to go, just kept running in a loop, trying to lose Drew. Another well placed poké ball hit her in the arm, but it didn't touch her vest, so she was safe.
Then May made a stupid mistake. She ran into a room, effectively trapping herself. Drew followed her in and stood in the doorway, breathing heavily. After a moment, he said, "I gotta admit, May, you're more of a challenge than I thought you'd be."
May said nothing, just backed as far away from him as she could, eyeing the poké ball in his hand warily. There was an open window in the corner, if she could just… But Drew had already caught on to her plan and was moving to block her. "No, you don't," he grinned. "You're not getting away that easily."
May's mind raced as she frantically tried to think of a way out of this mess. Drew was down to two poké balls. If she could get him to use them, he'd have to waste time retrieving them, and she could make a run for it. She looked around, but there was nothing she could use as a shield, and Drew was closing the distance, raising his hand to throw a poké ball. At this range, there was no way he would miss. She suddenly remembered the pokémon on her belt and was hit with an inspiration. It was time for a last ditch effort.
"Poké ball, go!" she shouted, tossing it at Drew's feet. A bright light lit the room and a Squirtle appeared, looking pumped up.
"Squirtle!"
Drew's mouth dropped in indignation. "Hey! You can't do that! It's against the rules to use pokémon!"
"Is it?" May asked, grinning cheekily. "All it says is that we can't use our pokémon. It doesn't say we can't use the school's pokémon. Besides, if I'm going to lose, I'm not going down without a fight."
Drew looked outraged for a moment, but then his expression changed to realization, and he grinned. "Well, well. Of all people, I wouldn't expect you to bend the rules."
"Desperate times and all that. Now, if you don't want Squirtle to use Water Gun on you, drop the poké balls and go stand by the door. I know you have two left."
Drew dropped the two remaining poké balls and held up his hands in a placating gesture. Then he shoved them in his pockets and went to lean against the wall. "Fine. You got me, May. Now what?"
"Squirtle," she ordered, "make sure he doesn't go anywhere." Squirtle looked at her in confusion but did as it was told, and May went to the window and peered out, checking to see if the coast was clear. She swung her legs over the window ledge and hopped down onto the grass. "Good job, Squirtle," she said. "Return." The little turtle dissolved into a stream of red light and disappeared inside its poké ball.
May looked over at Drew, who was still leaning against the wall, watching her intently, his smirk back in place. She flashed him a mocking victory sign and ran off.
It was six hours into the competition, and May was lounging in one of the "safe" classrooms, sipping a diet coke and chatting with Misty. She'd tried to return the Squirtle to Professor Hawkins, but the turtle pokémon had popped out of the poké ball and refused to go back in, determined to stay with May. Professor Hawkins had been so impressed that he decided to give Squirtle to May as a gift. After that unexpected turn of events, she'd gotten the signatures of three professors from the science, foreign language, and math departments. Now, she had to journey to the Battle Room to pick up a questionnaire, fill it out, and return it to her homeroom professor. She glanced at her watch and realized with dismay that she only had five minutes left before she'd get kicked out of the "safe" room.
"What's your next task?" she asked Misty, hoping for an excuse to stay with her.
"Oh, I don't know. Something about signatures, I think," Misty replied. "I have to go to the Academics Building."
May nodded. "I already did that one. I have to go to the Battle Room. Want to go together?"
"Sure. It'll be safer that way."
May groaned and put her head into her hands. "I'm afraid to leave. What if Drew's out there waiting for us?"
"He's still after you?" Misty asked sympathetically.
"Yeah. He's been dogging me all day," May said, clunking her forehead against the desk dramatically. "It's like he knows where I'm going to be. I'm so tired," she groaned into her arms. "Should've had Squirtle take his flag."
"Why don't you let him catch you?"
"No!" May jerked her head up and looked at Misty in horror. "I can't do that! If I lose, I'll have to be his slave for a week!"
Misty's expression changed from alarm to confusion to understanding. "Oh. So that'swhy he's being so persistent." She tilted her head and smiled knowingly at May. "I think it's kind of cute, actually." May glared at Misty, not bothering to dignify that with a response. "Okay, okay, but seriously, I think I have an idea," Misty said, her face brightening up mischievously. "Let me call Ash. He got turned to a pokémon awhile back. He'll be able to help us."
May sat out on the steps of the Academics Building, in plain sight of anyone who happened to wander by. She saw quite a few pokémon sneaking around, but the trainers didn't pay much attention to her. She didn't know if it was because they were losing interest in the game or if they thought she was no longer playing because she was doing nothing to hide her status as a pokémon.
She didn't have to wait long before she heard the voice she'd been dreading. "Whatcha doin', May? Giving up already?"
She stood up and faced him, setting her jaw determinedly. "No, Drew. I've been waiting for you. I think it's time we end this once and for all."
A brief flicker of surprise passed over his features before he grinned smugly at her. "Yeah? What do you propose we do?"
May hopped off the steps and stuck her tongue out at him. "Catch me first, and then I'll tell you!" she shouted and began sprinting toward the back of the building. There were several large trash bins, where Ash and Misty would be hiding. All May had to do was lead Drew over there, and they'd ambush him. He couldn't possibly capture all three of them at once. One of them would grab his flag and turn him into a pokémon. It was perfect.
May rounded the corner and jogged back to where the trashcans were located, but there were no signs of Ash and Misty. She turned and faced Drew, feeling all her courage drain away. Where were her friends? They were supposed to be here when she came around the corner. They'd abandoned her in her time of need. She breathed deeply through her nose and made one final decision. She started forward with the intention of grabbing his flag, but stopped short when Ash came charging around the corner, bellowing out a battle cry at the top of his lungs. Misty was right on his heels. Drew spun around in surprise, seemed to figure out what was going on, and turned back to May, eyes alight with intensity. He threw a poké ball at her, hitting her directly in the chest. The target on her vest began blinking seconds before Ash grabbed Drew's flag and held it above his head, dancing around in victory.
May stared down at her vest in shock and glanced over at Misty who was frowning at her. "When did he…?"
Drew answered for her. "Right before Ash took my flag. Which means," he turned and lifted an eyebrow at May. "I believe I've officially won the bet."
Author's Note: Dun, dun, dun… cliff hanger! Well, not really. Anyway, like I said, the plot will continue next chapter. This was just to mess with May and Drew a little. Please review!