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“Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur.” –Ennius
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
“If I have to get yet another call from Director Cyrano that you have cut any of your classes, I will rip you from that school in a heartbeat, Drayton, do you understand me?! I have given you more than enough chances to step up your game and you have blown them all! You are an adult now Drayton, start acting like one!”
Drayton’s grandfather’s deep voice bellowed and filled the entirety of the League Club room. Thankfully, it was only him in there at the moment, as most of the other students were either in class or out in the Terrarium. He lay slumped over the table, lazily eating one of the many half-eaten snacks he had strewn about on the table, looking up at his phone through half closed lids.
“Yeah, whatever, I hear you,” Drayton responded dryly. “Bye.” Without a second thought, he hung up on his grandfather and leaned back in his chair and sighed. “That was the fourth call this week… He’s getting more persistent,” he thought to himself, pursing his lips. Staring into the space across from him, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure standing in the doorway, who immediately hid once they noticed they were seen.
“You can come in, Juliana,” Drayton called out to the figure, as he sat back up in his chair, the legs hitting hard against the floor. “It’s just me in here.”
Juliana peaked her head in the doorway and slowly emerged. “Sorry, I promise I wasn’t eavesdropping…” she mumbled. “I just heard a lot of yelling and I got worried…”
Drayton took another bite from his snack. “No, you’re all good,” he replied with his mouth full. “That wasn’t the quietest phone call in the world. I half expected the entire school to hear it.” He pointed to the chair across from his. “Take a seat.”
Juliana pulled the chair out, dropped her bag, and sat down. “Who was that on the phone?”
“My grandfather,” Drayton replied. “Sounds like a charming guy, doesn’t he?”
Juliana furrowed her brow. “Drayton…”
“It’s fine. I get a phone call from him every day and all he does is yell at me. I’m immune to it at this point.” He shrugged.
“Why does he yell at you?” Juliana placed her head in her hands, looking Drayton in the eye.
“Because I’m lazy and cut class a lot.” He picked up a nearby pen and began twirling it between his fingers. “You know that. But I already know everything they’re going over in class. Why do I need to go? It’s pointless.”
Juliana frowned. “I know the feeling, Drayton, but you just have to . That’s the way it is. I bet the others feel the same way. But why is Director Cyrano calling your grandfather?”
Drayton’s eyes widened as he dropped the pen. Juliana looked intensely into them. She noticed for the first time that he and Kieran had a similar saffron yellow hue to their eyes. But while Kieran’s eyes were now bright and full of promise, Drayton’s were dull and tired . That latter part, she never realized until now (because she has never been this close to him to see.) She glanced over his face, inspecting his finely well-shaped eyebrows and maintained skin. She caught a glance at his hands holding his snack, and noticed his clean, manicured nails. It was no wonder that every girl in school adored him – he obviously cared about his appearance regardless of his lazy demeanor.
“I forget you’re not from here,” Drayton responded, throwing the now empty wrapper towards the trash bin, and ultimately missing. “My grandfather Drayden is not only the Gym Leader of Opelucid City here in Unova, but the mayor too. Pretty big stuff.”
“Your grandfather is a Gym Leader?!” Juliana called out in shock, jolting up from her chair. “That’s so cool!”
Drayton gave her a half smile. “Sometimes it has its perks. Sometimes, it bites you in the ass when you decide to cut a few classes.”
Juliana sat down slowly. “Oh, I think I see now,” she said dejectedly. “Sorry for not reading the room…”
Drayton tilted his head. “It’s okay, Juliana. I’m not upset,” he responded sincerely. He slumped over the table and crossed his arms. “Y’know, when I first came here, I was the most talented trainer, surpassing even the oldest students.”
Juliana returned her head to her hands. “I believe that,” she smiled.
“In my first few weeks, I joined the League Club, challenged the Elite Four, and climbed my way up the ranks. I was the Champion in no time. A first-year student as Champion. Previously unheard of. I actually hold the academy record for longest standing Champion. My grandfather was elated when he heard the news. He showered me with praise. It felt really nice.” Drayton paused, seeming to reminisce on happier times.
“However, things started to get boring. I finished my first year strong, but the next year, it started to go downhill. None of my classmates had improved much over the summer break and none of the first years were strong enough to battle me, not even through the League. Even the other Elite Four members from that year – who are all graduated now – couldn’t keep up with me.” He closed his eyes. “So, I started to slack off. Battling was the only thing that had kept me going that first year. Because of years of studying and training with my grandfather, I already knew everything they were teaching in class. So, I started cutting a few classes, but then that turned into a daily occurrence. But I’d show up to the midterm and final and ace it, and that pissed off the professors, which I get. They started calling my grandfather and letting him know what was going on. My grades started to slip, and at first, he was just worried. Figured it was just a phase and I’d get over it. I made it through my second year, but it wasn’t as good as my first.” Drayton picked up another half-eaten snack nearby.
“But my third year was really rough. I don’t want to talk about it. It was so bad, I ended up having to repeat it, which pissed my grandfather off. Duh. The only reason I was still allowed in the League Club was because one, my grandfather – the mayor of Opelucid City and its Gym Leader – donates a lot of money to the school, (which is giving nepo baby now that I’m thinking about it?), and two, I was still the strongest trainer on campus. Nobody, not even Cyrano, could deny that. Training my team was the one thing I didn’t slack on. When I wasn’t in class – which was a lot – I was out training my team. Figured I had to do something productive. Hell, I went and trained a whole new team because I was so bored. I even dabbled in other types than dragon.” Drayton crumbled the snack wrapper in his hand and placed it to the side.
“Last year was the year we got our current Elite Four. It was the biggest turnover in the club’s history. Lacey at the top, then Amarys, Crispin, and Carmine.” Drayton paused. “And I, Champion, of course. But you know how that all went down afterwards.”
Juliana opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. She did not realize that Carmine had been part of the Elite Four before her brother came in and swept everyone. Why did she never mention it?
“And now we’re here. My fourth year. Or my fifth year, I guess. Thankfully, I’m passing, but not by much.” Drayton looked at Juliana with a sad smile. “I really hope I can graduate at the end of the year. Not that I wanna leave you or anything, I just don’t wanna be in school forever.”
Juliana straightened her back and redirected her thoughts. “I know you can graduate, Drayton,” she reassured him with her biggest grin. “School isn’t for everyone. If you need help with anything, please let me know. I probably can’t help you with your actual schoolwork, but I can help you with getting to class.” She thought to herself for a moment. “I have an idea. Let’s make a bet.”
Drayton raised his eyebrows and sat up. “I’m intrigued. Go on…”
Juliana smiled wide. “For every week that you go to every single class, we can have a battle. Under one condition – it must be an entirely new team each time and it must be diversified. I’m not saying going and catching new Pokémon and training them up, but a different combination with different strategies. But if you don’t go to class – even if you skip just one – then we’re not battling. And I’m not gonna go easy on you – that I promise.”
Drayton’s eyes started to glimmer with hope. “Ohohoho, I like this…” he smirked.
“ And…”
“…and?”
“If you can do this for four weeks straight, we will have a Champion battle.”
Drayton suddenly looked like a deer in headlights. He was not expecting this. (He did not know what to expect but this? )
“You can battle for your Champion title back. I’ll make it official with the school and everything.”
“Juliana…”
“Nope.” She cut him off and shook her head. “I can be stubborn, too, Drayton.” She softened her gaze and looked at him. “With everything you’ve done for me, this is the absolute least I can do for you. You stood by my side since day one – and you didn’t even know me. It’s about time I repay you.”
Drayton pulled one of the corners of his mouth back and curled up his brows as if to say, “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to win each week to progress,” Juliana continued. “But in order to reclaim your Champion title, you’d need to beat me.”
“Obviously ,” Drayton chuckled.
Juliana tilted her head and looked at Drayton lovingly, like how a mother would look at her son. “You should graduate with your Champion title. You deserve it.”
Drayton rested his head in the palm of his hand. “You’re too good for this world, Juliana,” he sighed.
“I just hate to see you so upset,” she responded, frowning slightly. “Besides, I know this will not only boost your grades, but improve your relationship with your grandfather."
“You’re right,” Drayton said as he shook his head. “Alright, I’m in.” He stuck out his hand for Juliana to shake. She grabbed it firmly and reciprocated.
“I’ll go talk to Amarys to write up a contract of sorts and then get it approved by the school,” Juliana said standing up from her chair, swinging her bag onto her back. “If all goes well, we start on Monday. So get ready.” She turned and started to walk out but was quickly stopped by a hand on her shoulder.
She turned around to find Drayton standing behind her. Without a word, he pulled her into a tight embrace. He was much stronger than he appeared to be, as she was being squeezed like how a baby tightly embraces its favorite stuffed animal between his arms. But she did not mind as she returned the embrace, trying but failing to hug him just as tight.
“Thank you, Juliana,” Drayton whispered.
“You’re welcome, Drayton,” she responded, her voice muffled in his chest.
They both pulled away and Juliana noticed that Drayton’s eyes did not look as dull as they did a moment ago. She smiled wide and turned to leave the room, waving goodbye.
Drayton stood there for a moment, filled with an immeasurable love for Juliana (the most intoxicating friendship kind of love) before he returned to his seat. He shuffled through his bag, finding his class schedule. He groaned when realizing he was actually going to have to wake up early now but shook the negative thoughts away. He thought of why he was going to do this – for his grandfather, for Juliana, but most importantly for himself. He pulled out a notebook and began brainstorming strategies for his first battle with Juliana.