Hey there, everyone! Haven't heard from me in a while, eh? :P

I am sincerely sorry about the lack of stories from me since the epilogue of Love Unexpected. Aside from A Christmas Diamond and my revisions of Love Unexpected, I really haven't given you guys anything to read. School had put me on writing hiatus and stripped me of all of the inspiration and time to write.

But now that summer's here, I'd like to try to start a new story for you all! The love story in this one is based on a recent experience in my life that rallied enough emotions within in me for me to want to put into words. Also, I'll be killing two birds with one stone with this story because it also doubles as the rewrite of Absol! I know. About time, right? xD

A new chapter will be posted every week like Love Unexpected, so hopefully you'll all stick with me throughout this story? I promise I'll work hard to actually finish this story so you guys won't be left hanging this time haha.

As always, happy reading! I'd like to say that my writing has matured and improved during my long absence, so please enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing that is affiliated with Pokémon.

Chapter 1

In all my years of traveling, I have only flown on a plane twice.

The first time was the year I turned nine. That year, my parents decided to take a vacation to Mossdeep City, an enormous island located on the eastern edge of the Hoenn region. We lived in Petalburg City, which is on the opposite end of the region from Mossdeep, thus leaving us with no choice but to fly. At that time, I was still a young child who was always eager to try something new. I had never flown before, so I was curious as to how my first flight on a plane would be. Unfortunately, it was not as pleasant as I had anticipated. My stomach revolted throughout the duration of the flight, and I got sick at least four times. The vacation in Mossdeep did not compensate for the dreadful flight there. Or the one back home.

The second time was the weekend my baby brother, Matt, was born. I was twenty years old the year that my mom became pregnant with my parents' third child. At first, my younger brother, Max, and I were slightly apprehensive when we found out that our forty-year-old mother was pregnant. Though my mother was a healthy woman, we still worried about the risks that came with pregnancy at her age. But our concerns were quickly dismissed when the doctor assured our family that my mother was in suitable condition to bear a child. That was when we allowed our excitement to fully take over as we awaited the arrival of the new addition to our family.

After finding out that the baby was going to be a boy, my dad chose to name him Matthew, a name that contained the beginning "Ma" in both Max and my names, Maxwell and Maybelle. A couple months later, I received the news that Matthew had been born, and immediately rushed back to Petalburg from Lilycove City, where I had been competing in another Grand Festival. The plane ride was as agonizing as I had expected it to be (the memory of my first time on a plane was fresh in my mind) but I can truthfully say that getting to meet and hold my baby brother was well worth the torture. However, I can't say that I will be voluntarily opting for a plane when there are other available means of transportation any time soon.

This current flight is the only exception that I plan on making, but I blame myself entirely for it. If I hadn't lost my ferry ticket yesterday, I wouldn't be suffering. The ticket was for the last ferry from Lilycove City, where I had just participated in a contest a few days ago, to Slateport City, where I had to board a train to get to Rustboro City for another contest. Of course, I had considered other methods of transportation to get me to Rustboro. But after realizing that none would get me to my destination in time for the contest, I grudgingly bought a last-minute ticket for the plane that would take me straight to the Rustboro Airport. The only positive that I have been bearing in mind to preserve my sanity is the fact that I will be given two days to spend with my family before the contest.

Thankfully, the pilot announces that the flight is about to end, which means that I only have a couple more minutes before ultimate relief for my stomach. I took pills prior to boarding the plane to combat motion sickness, but they have done little to quell the rebellion that has been raging on in my belly. The claustrophobia that has been plaguing me throughout the flight certainly hasn't been helping my condition either. I was assigned the window seat in this row, which left me with little movement space for hours. But I tell myself that the pain is almost over. I survived through five hours, I can endure another five minutes. I take a deep breath as I close my eyes, and clench my hands as the plane makes its steady descent from the sky.

The airplane bounces when its wheels land on the airport runway. I suppress a groan as my stomach protests against the plane's velocity down the asphalt, a speed that is far too unsettling for my comfort.

"Not one for plane landings, huh?" the middle-aged man beside me asks with an amused smile.

"Not at all," I answer, trying to offer him a smile of my own as I shake my head. "Actually, I'm not fond of anything involving a plane."

We share a laugh at this.

Once the plane finally stops, my stomach instantly settles. I swing my purse over my shoulder as I get up from my seat and ease myself out into the aisle, where I retrieve my carry-on bag from the overhead compartment. Then, I follow the line of passengers in front of me on the steady journey to get off the plane. Two pretty flight attendants stand at the exit to thank us for choosing Lilycove Airlines and to wish us all a wonderful stay in Rustboro City. One of them recognizes me and gives me a particularly friendly smile, even addressing me as "Miss Maple." I give her a warm smile in return before thanking both her and her coworker for the great service during the flight before I step out onto the jet bridge.

The amount of peace that fills me when I emerge into the airport terminal is so gratifying that I almost welcome the chaos that is bound to ensue in a few moments. I head over to the checkpoint after saying goodbye to the man who had sat beside me during the trip, and stand in line for the next available check-in counter. As I wait, I spare a glance over to the baggage claim that is just beyond here. A hoard of paparazzi waits by one of the massive conveyer belts as I had feared. I sigh to myself and reach into my bag to grab my sunglasses in preparation for the impending assault.

Sure enough, I am immediately hounded by the paparazzi the minute I arrive at the conveyor belt that will bring me my luggage. The camera flashes would blind me if not for the protection that my sunglasses provide. People pause to witness the scene that the photographers are causing, and I try not to frown. Paparazzi have never been on my list of favorite things. They started pestering me after I became a Top Coordinator by winning my first Grand Festival when I was sixteen. I have always tried to be courteous to them, and I think that is why they keep getting worse with their behavior. At least this current bunch has the decency to maintain a respectable distance from me.

"May!" they all chorus.

"Hello," I greet with the best smile I can muster.

"How was your flight?" one of the reporters asks.

My hands grow clammy at this question. A simple inquiry is always the beginning of an interrogation, and I have a very good idea of what these reporters want to know. The painful memories that I have been trying to repress for the past year will undoubtedly get resurrected when their questioning begins. I struggle to ignore the throbbing in my chest.

"It was good, thank you," I lie, wishing that my suitcase would hurry up and appear.

More cameras go off, but no other questions are asked for the time being. However, taking my time is not an option. I claim my suitcase the second it arrives, and then try to inconspicuously hurry to the exit doors of the airport. I nearly reach them before I hear the first of the dreaded questions.

How naive of me to think that I would have been able to escape them.

"May! Drew has seemingly disappeared from the coordinating scene in the past year! Would this have anything to do with your breakup?" one of the reporter inquires.

"You would have to ask him that," I respond, feigning apathy.

"Have you had any sort of contact with Mr. Hayden since you two broke up?" another asks.

"No, I have not," I answer, ignoring the pang in my chest.

"Neither of you ever disclosed any information about the split. Why did you two break up? Who was the one that initiated the split?" a third catechizes.

I do not answer any of the questions, but my mind replays all of the memories. My heart clenches in tune with each strand of recollection.

"Is there any chance for reconciliation in the future?" a fourth pipes.

I do not answer this either. I do not know the answer.

"Can we expect to see Drew at the upcoming contest?" a fifth finishes.

I put off answering this question because at last, I make it out of the airport. My dad's car is parked directly across from my exact position. Three security guards immediately rush up to escort me to it and to fend off the reporters (whose respect of distance seems to have waned) as I place my luggage inside the trunk. I thank all three of them when I am finished. They simply nod and back off as I make my way over to the passenger seat.

But before I slip inside the car, I turn to the paparazzi one last time.

"Any more questions that you have regarding Drew should be saved for him. He should know the answers best," I say. "Excuse me."

With that, I close the door and allow my dad to drive the both of us away.

Author's Note: And thus concludes the first chapter of the rewrite of Absol! What are your thoughts? Please leave me a review if it's not too much to ask. Thank you for reading. :)