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Sure, vines have thorns or whatever Brock is saying. But you know what else thrives on the vine? Juicy, succulent, grapes, or other delicious succulent berries for pokeblock, like specifically the Leppa berry or Oran berry.
Which, maybe Drew shouldn't be comparing the angelic essence of Maybella Maple to berries or other something, but it's better than the alternative.
For some reason, Brock is convinced May won't accept Drew's confession.
But why is he even listening to Brock?
Of course he possesses some respect for him because he's May's friend, and by extension, he guesses Brock is his friend, too. He's respectable for advice on Pokemon. Or on Pokemon medicine. On endless Pokemon knowledge.
But as far as matters of the heart, though? Drew might sooner consult Harley or an AI Rotom-bot before Brock, yet here he is. Enjoying what should be a nice, peaceful breakfast by himself at first but then Brock strolls along with a tray of food and decides he was absolutely approachable at 5AM.
"Just know, Drew, that it is very easy to get distracted by beautiful things," Brock states like it's something he's had far too much experience with, which he does, by the way, while clutching his chest in a theatrical, overdramatic way. Soledad has coolly rejected Brock's advances on numerous occasions, some of which Drew had bear witness to, truly a sight to behold. "But the same vines that sprout passionflowers and delicious fruit have thorns, my friend! If she can't see the value in your affections, fear not! Sometimes rejection is merely redirection!"
Drew gives him a pointed look while idly sipping on water. Not like Drew ever has bad luck in this realm, except for when it comes to a girl he actually likes and admires. With the recent Ribbon Cup drawing to a close, and some of her old friends showing up in person to watch her perform, even Ash, since he's retired from gym challenges since becoming Alolan Champion, it's been a blast from the past for Drew and company. Ash is even going out with the Cerulean Gym Leader, Misty, now. Brock has mentioned that to him earlier though Drew didn't particularly care beyond the fact that as it would turn out Ash was never a competitor for May's affections. That's nothing for him to worry about anymore.
"Right. Uh, you know I didn't bring May even once into this conversation," Drew mutters while spreading butter over a waffle. "I'm happy for her win, though. That's her second Ribbon Cup now."
"How many of those would you have to win to be satisfied with yourself, anyway?" Brock inquires, "Is there a limit?"
"I think so. After three Ribbon Cups, I think it's safe to say you can retire from the Coordinating World. It's great that they began asking former Ribbon Cup victors to do spectacles for each Ribbon Cup season, though. It gives them something to look forward to."
"Then you and May are about to be in the same boat as Soledad," Brock remarks with a grin.
"Me before May, more than likely," he scoffs while leaning back into his seat. "Though, she did beat me fair and square in the final match."
"It was a close call," Brock agrees, "When are you ever going to admit that she's surpassed you?"
"Oh, I openly admit it now. She just won't take the damn compliment."
Brock laughs. "That's quite the development between the two of you. It's heartwarming to see. Then again, Gary Oak is strangely affectionate around Ash in ways I'm still getting used to since they would be at each other's throats all the time when we were all still traveling."
Drew snickers. "We've all come a long way since our youth. I mean, I actually tolerate Harley now."
"So, have you even told May anything? How long has it been? The way you look at her... God, do you not even realize you're looking at her like that?"
"Like what?"
"It was literally caught on the big screen," Brock goes on, "You looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered to you."
Drew's face paled at that revelation. Oh God. Oh fuck. And it's on the TELEVISION too? He's exposed himself to the world before May even the faintest idea of these feelings that make him feel like he's about to lose whatever's left of his sanity?
Fuck.
"I, uh... may have hinted at it before the match but I don't think she understood what I meant."
Blatant Liar Award goes to none other than...
"Which is to say, all you did was give her a rose for Beautifly?" Of course Block clocks him. Of course he does.
Correctomundo. Not that he should admit that out loud but he's taking loss after loss after loss lately and this is just the icing on the cake.
Drew's speechless that even Brock is calling him out on his bullshit, but then again, when is he going to bite that bullet and confess? Brock has a point, and as it turns out he's wise in even this department.
"...I'll tell her today?" Drew professes in a pathetically weak tone, and Brock perks an eyebrow at his antics. He's not used to other sides of him, or something. He's not as open with May's friend as he is with May herself. And he doesn't like this.
No. Nope. Nononononono. Drew doesn't like this. He doesn't like that he's on the receiving end of such scrutiny from May's shockingly overly perceptive pals. This isn't fair.
This is downright harassment! As he slowly feels himself sinking into his chair... melting into the material... hoping he can just be absorbed into it and act as a chair for the rest of his life instead of facing the reality that he's nothing more than a fucking coward.
"Will you, Drew? Will you, really?"
The sun has risen mid-conversation and more Pokemon Center guests begin to pour into the cafeteria. At least he's not going to be alone to wallow in his self-pity over the fact that, despite all the male bravado he is still too much of a coward to tell his world how he really feels about her. The rest of the world knows, but she doesn't seem to get it. May doesn't know what she has right in front of her a lot of the time.
"I will," he promises, "You'll know how it goes as soon as it happens."
"If it happens," Brock replies as he stands up to leave, glancing over the table. "Here comes your chance. Good morning, May! Another Ribbon Cup in your hands?"
"Yep! I already have it shipped off for Dad to display it back at home," May replies while adjusting her hair. She's long since ditched the headwear and allows her beautifully thick, glossy brown locks to fall past her mid-back now. She wears a pair of rose studs Drew may have bought her one year. Definitely something casual a friend does for someone they care about, right? Absolutely.
Still, it's impolite to be gawking at her like she's the biggest runway model. Which, actually she puts every runway model to shame in his eyes. And he's definitely not biased, thank you. That's a perfectly objective conclusion to make about someone so ethereally perfect like May.
"Surprised you're not rubbing that victory in my face. Venasaur demolished Roserade," Drew remarks with an amused grin. "An excellent battle, indeed."
"Is Roserade doing alright?" she asks while sliding into his booth. "I bet everyone was beat after that. My Pokemon are having their best lives resting right now."
"Same with mine," Drew says, fighting off the flush on his face as he adjusts to give her more healthy space between them for Mew. "And don't worry, Roserade's fine. I take it you slept like a baby with how your face is all aglow."
"Calm down, Romeo," Brock whispers before excusing himself. "I'll leave you two to it. Congratulations again, May. We're all proud of you."
"Thanks, Brock. We'll grab lunch later today!" May replies while waving goodbye.
May lets out a content sigh before grinning over at Drew. And Drew's heart is racing. Drew's heart is racing faster than the speed of light and that's no exaggeration because God does that very bright grin knock his soul out of his body. He has to finally say something. He can't take another loss like this.
He's going to stick it to the man and finally be one.
"May, I um," Drew starts, and May cocks her head while waiting for him to finish tripping over his words Drew's always tongue-tied around her now... And she's probably wondering why. "I'd love if we can go for a walk on the beach and chat. If you're feeling fully alert now, of course. And not before you finished your breakfast. I'd hate to leave you and your gluttonous self starving"
"Sure thing, Drew," she giggles with a playful roll of her eyes at that little jab, and oh God he's losing his mind. What a perfect sound to hear so early in the morning. "Besides, I wanted to talk to you about what you said before our battle. I want to know if I understood what you said."
As May slips out of his booth to grab her a tray of food, Drew sits with that remark. Oh good. That means there's a fighting chance. That means whatever he says to her MATTERS more than he thinks.
Alright. He can do this. He can so do this. He's not aborting the mission.
Not this time.