Brendan's POV
I fell off my bed that morning, waking Nicole up.
"Why are you in my bed?!" I yelled.
Nicole looked at me with a hurt gaze. "Mom's in Johto, and she told your parents to look after me."
I narrowed my eyes.
Nicole nodded.
She blushed slightly, "You do remember, right?"
I shook my head. Nicole stood up, stretching herself out.
I tackled her off the bed. Nicole screamed and landed in a pile of my dirty clothes.
"Is it wrong that you spark a feeling in me?" I whispered.
Nicole shook her head, lost in my tawny gaze.
I got off her. Nicole stared at me, then snapped out of it.
"What was that for, you arrogant shithead?!" Nicole snarled.
I winced.
"That hurt, you know! And I landed in your nasty, sweaty clothes."
She threw one of my dirty shirts at me. I yelped as it landed on my head.
"Serves you right." Nicole muttered, and stormed down the stairs.
I shook it off me, shaking my head in distress. I had always had a huge crush on her, and I had blown it by telling my secret to her.
Then I realized it.
May had been watching us.
I whipped around. "May, I know you're in here!"
May fell out of my closet, a sneer on her face.
"Don't look at me like that." I said.
May giggled. "She doesn't like you."
"Would you shut up?" I snapped.
I pinned her to the floor. May dug her fingers into my shoulders, her teeth bared in a threat.
I snarled. "How dare you say that?"
May glared at me. "She threw a shirt at you!"
I bristled but said nothing. May flipped me over and pinned me down.
Nicole's POV
"So, what's goin' on?"
I smugly came in the room, snickering at the view.
"Nicole, do you like him?" May asked, a sneer laced in her tone.
"Ew!" I screamed, pelting down the stairs. "That's disgusting!"
"What is?" Brendan's mother asked, washing the dishes.
"Your wonderful daughter thinks your son likes me! I hate him!"
"Really?" Brendan's mother asked. "He talks about you all the time."
"He does?"
She nodded. "You and Brendan look so cute together."
I blushed. "I don't like him at all. He's so arrogant."
"He's trying to get your attention." His mother paused. "He doesn't like you, he loves you."
"What else did he say about me?"
"He said he'd die to save you." Brendan's mother fixed me with a clear, unblinking gaze. "He owes everything to you. He said he was sorry that he left you all those years ago."
When I went back to Adale. I blinked back tears. "He meant it?"
She nodded again. "He crossed his heart and swore to Rayquaza."
I stared at the floor.
I felt hands grip my shoulders and warm breath on the back of my head. "It's true, sweetheart."
I felt my heart speed up. "I still hate you."
Brendan sighed behind me. "Even if I'd die for you?"
I was silent. I could feel his heart beating against me.
He spun me around, so I was facing him. Suddenly he didn't seem so arrogant anymore.
He tilted his head to one side and grinned sheepishly.
I grabbed his wrists. "I.. I think I have a crush on you."
May pulled her brother away. I heard his bones crack as his wrists were snatched out of my hands.
"Ow," Brendan hissed.
"We get it. You love each other." May spat.
"May, dear, leave them alone," Brendan's mother said.
May let go of him.
"Come on, Nicole." He took my hand and led me outside.
"Did I hurt you?" I asked.
"No, but May did when she snatched me out of your hands. Now that stung." He shook his free hand off. "I'm fine now."
A Manectric barked at me. I let out a whimper and hid behind Brendan, not sure if it'd hurt me.
"Shut up, Manectric," Brendan ordered. "Before Dad shoots you."
Manectric whined, its tail drooping between its legs.
"You alright?" Brendan asked, turning to look at me. "Did he bite you? Manectric doesn't like other people who don't smell like me."
I shook my head. "I'm fine."
Brendan smiled. "Good."
I let go of him. "It's more romantic out here."
"Ew." Brendan joked.
"Shut up!" I shrieked, elbowing him in the side.
Brendan laughed and took my hand again. "I'm kidding."
An injured Electrike limped out of the grass. She whined and looked at me with huge black eyes. "Tr-Trike?"
