Chapter 19: The Confession

"Wow!" May said excitedly, running forward.

Nurse Joy had driven May and Drew up Mount Coronet where they arrived at the Pokémon Center at Lake Acuity. May kneels down at the lake, gazing into her reflection in the water.

Drew walks up behind her, staring out at the crystal blue lake. "Beautiful day, huh?"

"Yeah. Sure is." May sits up straight and looks up at Drew. "I wish we could stay here longer."

"We can't, April. The whole 'losing my memory' thing put us behind schedule."

"Speaking of that…do you really remember everything?"

Drew nods.

May stands up. "Every moment with me?"

Drew smiles. "Every single one…June."

"Hey!" May yelled.

Drew chuckles.

May's anger fades. "Hey…I never asked yet, but…how did you suddenly get your memory back anyway?"

Drew shrugged his shoulders. "I don't even know. They just…came to me."

"Huh. Odd."

("Course, if May knew the real reason I got my memory back, things might get awkward between us. If she finds out that the necklace is really for her…we'll both be too shy to face each other. That is…if she still feels the same way I do for her…")

May smiles. "Well, I'm glad you have all your memories back."

"Me too."

"Do you think we can stay for a little bit longer to enjoy the scenery?" May bats her eyelashes cutely.

Drew stares at May for a minute before sighing. "Fine. We leave tomorrow morning."

"Yay!" May throws herself at Drew to hug him. "Thank you, Drew!"

"I'm…not much of a hugger…"

May pulls away. "Right. Sorry." She giggles.

"You're good. I'll go rent us a room in the Pokémon Center."

"Kay. I'll be here."

Drew turned around and went to the Pokémon Center. May sat down again, facing the lake.

After Drew rented a room from Nurse Joy, he got a copy of Coordinator's Weekly off the rack in front of the counter. He opened it up, leaving the Pokémon Center while reading.

May notices Drew. "Ooh! Can I read that too?"

Drew stops at May, reading something…shocking. He slowly looks up from the magazine, expressionless.

"Drew?"

"How did…why are…"

"What?" May stands up. "What is it?"

Drew shows May the page he was reading. May's page.

May gasped and read. "The Princess of Hoenn May has been stealing the movie star Julianna's boyfriend! May has been caught with the Coordinator Drew holding hands…hugging…and kissing! She must still hold strong feelings for him after they broke up. There was one major witness at these secret events…May and Drew's longtime rival Harley. He witnessed her stealing Julianna's boyfriend with his own eyes."

"I can't believe that guy." Drew said, arms crossed.

"Harley gave the magazine people fake pictures?!" May yelled.

"Actually…they're not fake. He took those when we were actually together."

"So he's framing me!"

Drew nods. "He's clearly trying to make you look bad."

"Hasn't he had enough of that?!" May throws the magazine to the ground.

"I guess not. I can't remember the last time he tried to trick or embarrass you. It's been a while. I wonder why he's back to his old self."

"Grr…where is Harley? I need to have a word with him."

"What good will that do? He'll only do more awful things."

"Did you have something in mind as a way to get back at Harley?"

"…I think we should just let it go."

"What?! Are you crazy?!"

"Hear me out. He won't listen to us if you yell at him. If he sees that we choose to ignore the rumor that you supposedly stole me from Julianna, maybe he'll just back off."

"I don't think he will, Drew."

Drew shrugged. "It's your call."

May started walking towards the Pokémon Center. Drew follows.

When they enter the Pokémon Center, they freeze. Many surrounding trainers in the lobby…lounge…cafeteria…all turn to look at May and Drew. With many glares directed at May.

May gulped. "Do you think they all saw the magazine?" She whispered.

Drew doesn't respond. He shoves his hands in his pockets.

May took a deep breath before walking forward. The glares follow her.

Drew follows May, casually glancing at the many possible 'haters' she received.

"How selfish can you be?!" A Coordinator yelled at May.

"They were happy in love!" Another Coordinator yelled.

May and Drew stop. She looks around, scared. "I-I…I didn't mean to…"

"What do you mean you didn't mean to?!"

"You kissed Julianna's boyfriend!"

"I-I…" May could feel her eyes getting watery. She wants to run. Leave the Lake. She knows when she's not wanted. She looks at Drew. Why isn't he saying anything?

Drew can see May's glossy eyes and he does something unexpected. May tries to rush past him to leave, but he grabs her hand to stop her. "I'm the one that kissed her in that picture." He said angrily at the glaring eyes. Everyone in the Center, including Nurse Joy, gasp.

May and Drew look at each other. She shows him a small smile.

"Now everyone back off." Drew said angrily before leading May further inside, holding her hand. They go upstairs to their room.

May sits on her bed and Drew sits on his. "Thank you for that, Drew."

"No problem. I just can't stand rumors that go that far."

"I'm going to teach that Harley a lesson." May punches her palm angrily.

"Chill, April. We don't even know where he is."

"My name is May. And I'm sure we'll see him in a Contest soon. And when I do…" She punches her palm twice.

Drew sighed. "Do what you want."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

May and Drew hear someone banging on the door. "Who the heck is that?" May asked.

Drew gets up to go answer the door. The color drains from his face. He stands in front of an angry Julianna.

"DREW!" Julianna screams before gripping Drew's sleeve and dragging him away.

"Whoa. Umm…Julianna…let's just talk." Drew tried.

Julianna forces Drew to the lobby. May quietly follows them.

Julianna pushes Drew back and his back hits a wall in the lobby. The Coordinators and Trainers around them turn to stare.

May peeks around the corner.

"What did I just see in that magazine?!" Julianna yelled at Drew. "The trainers here said that you confessed to kissing her?!"

"Listen, Julianna…" Drew tried.

"I'm not done yet!"

Drew stayed silent.

"Why did you kiss your ex? I thought you told me that you have no feelings for her anymore! Did you lie to me?!"

"No, Julianna. I…"

"No what? You don't have feelings for her? Or you didn't lie to me."

"Umm…both?"

Julianna screams before gripping Drew's collar. "You listen here, Drew…" She said under her breath so only Drew would hear. "We had a deal…"

Drew lets out a breath. "Julianna…"

Julianna keeps staring closely at Drew.

Drew keeps an emotionless face. "…I think this has gone on far enough."

Julianna gasped and released him. "What?"

Drew glanced side to side for any signs of May. He doesn't know that she's around the corner. He walked past Julianna and took a deep breath before confessing to everyone in the lobby. "My relationship with the movie star Julianna…" He glances at Julianna to see her reaction. She's just looking away from him. He faces forward. "…was never real."

Everyone in the lobby gasps.

"All the pictures you saw of us together…wasn't real. I was traveling with her, but…I've never developed feelings for her before. I was only playing along with this fake relationship to help her get out there. She wanted to bring more attention to her career, and I respected that. I'm sorry that our fake relationship went this far….but it's over now. I travel with May again, and I'm happy with that." Drew turned to leave, but…

Someone ran past him, heading for the doors. Drew turned his head and gasped.

"May?" Drew runs after May. He follows her out of the Pokémon Center. "May! Where are you going?!"

"Leave me alone, Drew!"

Drew could hear the sniffles in her voice. He sped up to catch up to May. He stopped in front of her.

May came to an immediate stop. Tears are streaming down her face.

Drew cautiously steps forward and embraces May. She sobs into his shirt. He gently pats her back to try and calm her down. "May, I…I'm sorry…"

May pushes Drew away from her. "You lied to me!"

Drew frowns.

"You…y-you lied…I thought that we could become close again! I thought that you'd never lie to me! You said! You said you'd never lie to me about anything!"

"I-I know, May, but…"

May sniffled. "I…I trusted you. I believed you when you told me that Julianna was really your girlfriend. I told myself…'as long as Drew's happy…then I'm happy'. I…I thought we were getting to be close friends again…I actually fantasized…being with you again."

"Me too…"

"But…I never thought you'd hurt me this much."

"I…I'm so sorry, May…"

"Solidad knew it all along. She figured something was going on with you. But yet…I trusted you more."

Drew doesn't respond.

May took a deep breath. "I…I need some space."

"You mean…"

"I'm going to travel alone again."

Drew could feel his eyes tearing up.

"I won't like it, but…"

Drew nodded. "I respect that decision." He sniffles. "Again…I'm so sorry for lying to you. The deal I made with Julianna included me not telling anyone about it."

"…that's not the Drew I know." She sniffles. "The Drew I know wouldn't make a deal like that. Just tell me why you did."

"…I was too depressed about our breakup. I thought that…maybe if Julianna could make me smile like you could…I could move past it."

May wiped her eyes. "Drew…I'll never get over our breakup. Because being with you was the most exciting and happy moment in my life."

"Same…"

"I always have fun when I'm traveling with you." She took a deep breath. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

May looked away from Drew before walking past him to get on her way to the next Contest. He watches her.

("I messed up big time. I wish you luck, May…I hope I'll see you again really soon.")