Platonic

Chapter 55: Burst

Previously...

Once they got to Eggseter, they ate first before restocking on all their needed items. It was about a quarter till 3 when they left and headed back into the woods. They had about another 3 days until they would reach Mahogany Town. It was crazy to him how they were already a little over halfway done with the contest season, on their way to hopefully get their 4th ribbon. The time he had left was slowly running out.

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Once they finally arrived in Mahogany Town, they made it their first priority to go to the Pokemon Center. They reserved a room and ate a real meal, and he finally felt like he could relax now that they were back in civilization.

Until they ran into Brendan in the Pokemon Center lobby the next morning.

"No way! It's crazy seeing you two here!" Brendan said, sickeningly cheerful as always. Or maybe Drew just saw him that way because he perceived him as a threat, even though May was so much better off with someone like Brendan.

"Brendan! How are you?" May asked excitedly, her blue eyes sparkling in delight at running into a friend.

"I'm doing well! I take it there's a contest here?" He asked, casually throwing an arm around her shoulder and looking at Drew challengingly.

"You got it!" May said, completely oblivious to the stare down that he was currently in with the guy she called her childhood best friend.

"What brings you here then?" Drew asked, feigning interest. He just wanted them to take their attention off of each other.

"I've got a gym battle to win," Brendan grinned, showing off his confidence in his ability. He turned back to May, pulling her closer to stare down at her.

"So how's about you finally come to one of my matches then?" He asked cooly, raising his eyebrows slightly.

"Of course! I'm just glad our paths finally aligned! Our contest is at 1 pm. Why don't you come watch us, and then we'll go watch your gym battle?" May proposed. Drew had forgotten that promise she made to him. Brendan won't be so easy to shake off again.

"That sounds like a great idea to me," Brendan agreed with an easy smile. "Now why don't we all grab a bite to eat?" he suggested, nodding his head towards the cafeteria of the pokemon center. Drew silently followed as May said an enthusiastic "sure!"

Brendan sure had the worst timing. He was already getting discouraged from the lack of time that he had left to be a coordinator. Not only that, but he was running out of time with May. Selfishly, he wanted to keep her all to himself, up until the very last moment, but that wasn't fair to her. Besides, she was better off with Brendan anyways. Someone who could actually be there, and whose first instinct wasn't to conceal his emotions. Drew was emotionally constipated, and with all the little things adding up on this journey, he had already started to crack. It was only a matter of time before he would burst in a dramatic fashion, going down in a blaze of glory. Why did Brendan have to show up when he was mourning just how little time he had left with May?

He found himself not really able to say anything at breakfast. He just listened to Brendan and May's easy flowing chatter, the conversation flowing effortlessly seamless between them. He couldn't help but wish he could be like Brendan. Free from the heavy responsibility sitting on his shoulders, and free to pursue whomever he wanted. But Drew was not Brendan. He wasn't the son of a well renowned and liked professor. He wasn't on a journey to discover more about himself.

Drew was the only son.

The heir to a billion dollar company.

And Drew was a runaway.