May's Crush

Chapter 29:Change

Ash stood back and tried to take in every detail about what he saw as she stepped down the stairs.

Her feet were now clad in red and black running shoes with white bottoms. She retained the short, black socks from her previous ensemble, as well as the black shorts that hugged her upper legs. Her white skirt had been replaced with a red one, with a white stripe up the center of it all the way to the neck of her red blouse. On her hips hung a new, green pack, replacing the yellow one she started her journey with. Her red blouse ended at her neck, featuring a black collar similar to the red one in her previous fashion statement, although this one was folded down, appearing more formal. This new top had no sleeves, leaving her arms bare up to her gloves. The new gloves still featured black fingers with white palms, but also had a hole in the back, revealing the skin on the back of her hand. The gloves extended further over her wrists, featuring a green ring that matched her new pack. Atop her head, newly cleaned, dried and tied lovingly, was the bandana that Ash had bought for her several days ago.

She stepped off of the bottom step and stood in front of the boy. Pikachu leapt onto Ash's shoulder to get a better view of May's new look. Avoiding eye contact with either of them, she asked, "How do you like it?"

"It's-I-Um-I mean-" Ash stumbled over the words.

"Pika!" Pikachu smiled.

"I think he likes it, sis," Max smiled at Ash's ineptitude.

May giggled at Ash, glad to have the boy's jumbled approval.

"Yes!" Raine cheered. "Now, Ash and May, I need you two to come with me!" She grabbed both of them by their arms and began pulling them up the stairs. Raine turned her head to the other mothers, "You two need to go find something to do. I can handle the next part." She turned to her daughter. "Go get lots of printer paper and color ink cartridges from under the desk up front and come up to my room." Cyndi saluted her mother and ran off.

Raine pulled the couple into her room. A short, blue carpet covered the floor, and along with the purple wall paper, gave the room a chilling feel. While most of the room was taken up by the bed Raine and her husband shared when he was with them, a small computer desk with a printer sat in the corner. Raine began searching though the papers on the desk, looking for something. She reached down and picked a small ball with a cable attached to the back of it off her desk. She quickly booted up her computer and began pounding away at the keyboard. Ash and May watched as a window that showed the palm of Raine's hand appeared on the screen. The woman spun the ball in her hand until the camera's lens focused on Ash and May. The trainers stood bewildered as they saw themselves on the small screen.

"Now, I need you two to pose for me," Raine explained, turning the small camera towards them.

"Pose?" Ash blushed. "Wh-whaddya mean?" May looked away from the boy and blushed as well.

"You two are going to help me advertise the store," Raine smiled. "You did say you'd help if you could, right?"

"I did, didn't I?" Ash sighed. "But why us?"

"With all the publicity at the battle tomorrow," Raine excitedly smiled, "I'd be stupid not to have the people who beat Misty advertise for me!"

"So, what's your plan?" May asked, still not having wrapped her head around the idea.

"I'm going to take some pictures of you two posing together and put them on fliers," Raine explained as Cyndi came into the room carrying lots of paper and a few small boxes. "After the battle, I'll get them distributed, and people will come from all over the city to buy the same outfit that the girl that beat Misty wore!"

"This is all a publicity stunt?" May raised her eyebrow, slightly annoyed due to having been reduced to a marketing tool.

"Yes, but I need you!" Raine grabbed her hands and pleaded. "This is my chance to reinvigorate the store! It's a blessing from the Almighty God!" Raine leapt back and raised her hands into the air.