A Late Start

Finalists

"So, made it to the finals huh kiddo?" Mom's voice crackled over the Xtransciever.
"Semifinals. but yeah," I reminded her. "Both of the last rounds are on today, so we should be done by around midday."
"Alright, think I might come down and see your last couple myself then."
"Alright, matches start at 9 today, and We're on first, so you'll have to be here by then."
"No problem, I'll see you then." She finished before ending the call.
"Uh. Okay, bye..." I said quietly to the blank screen before tucking the device back into my bag. A quiet knock suddenly rang out from the door to our shared room followed by Ethan's voice.
"Hey, Lexi. I'm back, are you dressed yet?" I glanced down, still in my Pajamas. I had asked Ethan to leave the room while I got changed, only to get distracted by the call from mom.
"Uhh, not yet. Give me like 5 more minutes." I called back, scrambling to get the loose cloth off of me.
"5 minutes? Are you kidding me, Lex I was gone for like 20. How are you not dressed yet?" He sounded mildly impatient, and I didn't blame him. I heard a quiet chuckle coming from my bedside as I pulled my skirt up from the floor. Quickly sliding the zipper up to keep it in place.
"Never a moment of privacy with you is there, bud." I teased Silas quietly as he hopped down from the cabinet. I pulled my black undershirt down over my shoulders before calling back to Ethan. "Alright, you can come in now." My vest slipped over my shoulders easily and I grabbed the purple scarf from the small rail that acted as the back legs of the single bed as the door slid open.
"Taking your sweet time in here or what?" Ethan remarked as he strode in from the hall, two brown paper bags in his hand. "What even took you so long in the first place?"
"I was just, fixing my makeup," I lied. Tying the scarf around my neck lightly.
"Since when did you wear makeup?" He looked at me with a raised eyebrow as he placed one of the bags on the bed next to me.
"Well, you know. Today's a big day and all, thought I'd go the extra mile y'know?" I tried to hide the embarrassment in my voice.
"Uh... huh. I must say though, you've either done a great job or a pretty terrible one. I can't see any difference between you normally and today." He leaned forward and ran his thumb gently over my cheek. Busted. "This some new brand? Cause it sure doesn't rub off like most." His tone had switched to vaguely mocking and he had a slight smirk on his face.
"Alright alright fine, you caught me. I... got distracted talking to mom," I conceded.
"I figured it was something like that. Besides, if you really were getting dolled up like that wouldn't you do your hair first?" He teased pointing out that my hair was still unkempt from the night.
"Like I would know, clearly you know all too well that I never really bought into that stuff."
"So what did your mom want?" He changed the subject almost immediately."
"She said she's coming out to watch out last few rounds in person."
"Ah, sweet of her. Sure you're okay with that though."
"So long as she's here to actually watch and encourage us, not just look for reasons to make me quit," I half-joked.
"Come on Lex, you know it was her idea for you to become a trainer in the first place, it's your mom. Of course, she wants to see you succeed."
"Yeah, you're probably right, but between Lucy judging how I do with Erah and mom being... Well, you know It's kinda hard to focus on just. Doing well and enjoying myself. I feel like I'm on trial or something."
"Ah, it's just nerves eating you up Lexi. Don't let it get to ya, remember. I'm counting on you here."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, lets's head down and see what we're up against." I held a small smile as I got up from the bed.
"You wanna maybe eat your breakfast first?" He pointed at the small bag he passed me earlier. "And don't forget the 'mon still haven't eaten either. We still have like an hour before we start, no need to rush."
"Eheh, right. Let's maybe slow down a little." I sat back down and took the small bag in my hand. "No need to rush."

Mom caught up with us just outside the battlefield with Lucy in tow. I had to let Erah out of his Pokeball so Lucy could speak with him while mom and I caught up.
"So, coming home with that big cash prize?" Mom asked as a tease.
"Well, Hopefully. We've already got 25 grand on the table."
"Not bad for a first-timer, making it all the way to semis." Ethan butted in
"We fluked into this with that team dropping out and you know it."
"Hey, either way. We're here now. Let's not have that stroke of luck go to waste eh?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Besides. It's not like third place is anything shabby."
"Come on Lex, have a little faith in yourself." Mom tipped her hat back in the ring. "You studied this stuff for years didn't you?"
"Top of our class, 5 years in a row." Ethan playfully slapped me on the back as he spoke.
"I still can't believe you never told me."
"Mom, you know as well as anyone why I didn't say anything." She looked down at the floor for a moment.
"Yeah, I guess I do. But look at you now, only a few months out the gate and bringing home 50 grand."
"That's only if we win you know."
"And we're going to. No way we're going out after getting this far." I couldn't help but be impressed by Ethan's confidence.
"Yeah, I guess there's no point backing down now that we've gotten this far." A loud siren rang out over the town, Indicating it was time for our match to start.
"Well, Here goes nothing." I gave mom a quick hug as we headed to the field, Recalling Erah on the way there.