WARNING! Strong language.

Steven stares at his bedside table, hoping it would be enough to turn off the alarm.

"Crap" He mutters to himself, realizing he'll have to get up.

He throws the alarm on the floor.

"I'm up now. Happy?"

Steven walks up to the bathroom, groaning. He looks at himself in the mirror.

I look like hell...

And he did. His skin was pale and had pillow marks, his eyes were a bit grayer than usual, he carries dark circles under his eyes.

He decides to hop in the shower. There was no time to waste. He wants to get out before his father wakes up. It was better that way.

•••

May wraps her bandanna around her head. Max looks at her, smiling.

"What is it? Do I look okay?" May asks.

"Oh, nothing. You look amazing, as usual" Max reassures.

"Max..." May looks at him with suspicion.

"Nothing! You just look too nice for a school trip to Mauville."

May chuckles. Max crosses his arms. He's been jealous for a few weeks.

"I'll bring you a Ralts doll from the Game Corner."

"I can't believe you're gambling under the legal age, Maylene..." Max places his hand on his forehead, disappointed, then grins. "Go get yourself a Torchic doll as well."

"Sure will!" May kisses her brother's cheek before heading out for the day.

•••

You're surprised to see two trainers fighting at the entrance. They're actually fighting with their fists, not having an usual Pokémon battle. You didn't know what to do, so you just backed off carefully.

Not carefully enough, because you end up bumping on someone.

"Watch your damn step!" The person growls. You turn around to face them.

A lump forms on your throat.

"I-I'm sorry, Stevi..." You correct yourself before he notices. "Steven."

His expression softens.

"It's fine, (Y/N). I'm the one who's sorry" He takes a step to the left. "I'll see you around!"

He waves at you and walks away.

"I bet."

What was that? For a second, I almost felt like Steven and I never parted our ways...

•••

Wallace had pure shock stamped on his face. Just like you, he had millions of questions running through his head. For you and his friend's sake, he just shook it off and went to find May. He figured she would love to hear about this.

(Time Skip)

Lunchtime rolls around. You pack your stuff and leave. The hallways are more crowded than usual. Then you remembered today's the day you despised.

School trip.

"Please, no..." You mutter in disgust, slamming your locker shut.

•••

Students gather around the cafeteria, waiting for the bus to arrive. They were talking, laughing, playing with their Pokémon.

You were hiding in the storage room, hoping no one would find your location. Even though you regretted your decision to come to school, it was better than staying home alone.

You hear footsteps nearby. The doorknob turns around a couple times.

Crap.

"Hello? Is someone in there?"

You hold your breath. It was the Spanish teacher's voice. If you got caught, you would get in so much trouble.

She tries a couple more times before giving up for good.

I should go. There's no way I'm escaping this school trip.

Sighing, you unlock the door and carefully sneak out the storage room. As usual, the hallways are empty. You can hear the student's voices all packed together in one place. You take a deep breath and enter the cafeteria, looking for your best friend.

"(Y/N), where have you been?" She asks.

"I forgot something" You lie, shrugging. She seems to buy it.

"Usual (Y/N)..." You two laugh. "Let's hope we'll end up together."

"What do you mean?" You frown.

"The teachers are picking the groups."

"Oh, Arceus, and I though this day couldn't get worse."

You grab your best friend's hand. She feels a pair of eyes sizing you two up, but she remains quiet.

A teacher walks up to the cafeteria and asks for silence. He proceeds to divide the groups. You and your friend keep your hands together, just hoping you would end up on the same group.

"(Y/N) and..." The teacher looks around. "Steven."

Your expression drops.

Is this a joke? This has to be a joke.

Your friend pats your back. You slowly get up from your seat and walk up to Steven. He has no expression on his face.

Inside, he was freaking out. The moment he was waiting for the last four years has finally arrived, and he wasn't ready.

What am I supposed to say?! How do I act?

Steven felt his muscles hardening. He needed a break. When you and the teacher weren't looking, he snook out of the cafeteria and went straight to the bathroom.

There, he stared at his own reflection. His eyes were glowing for the first time in years, that same glow he had as a kid. Steven barely recognized himself. He almost saw his young self in the mirror.

•••

At the cafeteria, May's crystalline eyes meets Wallace's turquoise ones. She waves at her friend, telling him to join in.

Wallace sits down, almost struggling to breathe. He couldn't wait to tell May what he saw earlier.

"You look awful" She states.

"Thanks. Good morning to you, too" Wallace puts on a fake smile. "I need to talk to you about Steven."

"Again?" May stares at the ceiling. It's not that she didn't want to talk about Steven, she was just done with him.

"I know you two got in a huge fight yesterday, but..."

"'But,' what? I'm done trying to get some sense into him. Steven treats me like utter crap and I'm not dealing with him anymore."

It felt like a heavy weight has been lifted from her shoulders. It felt good to finally say that Steven was toxic out loud, for everybody to hear. May even smiled at the end of her sentence.

"Well then," Wallace stands up. "I just thought you'd be happy to know he seemed to soften a little bit this morning."

"Wait!" May yells before Wallace walks away, her cheeks blushing. "What do you mean?"

He discretely points out at you.

"He bumped into (Y/N)."

"Is that it?" May sighs, underwhelmed.

"Yes. But, I don't know, he seemed to change when he saw her face. Looked like the old Steven."

"Hm..." May places one hand on her chin. "They are partners on today's trip. Do you think we can find some answers?"

"We'll have to wait and see" Wallace shrugs and walks away.

Here's to an interesting day.

•••
Final A/N

Eh, screw the schedule. I'm updating whenever I want...

Actual pic of me trying to write new chapters asap: