Desperate and Stare

"How could anyone like Drayton?" Kieran asks as he looks at Crispin. He props his arm up on the table, cheek resting in his hand.

"Hm?" Crispin tilts his head, confused by the sudden question. "Well, don't people like him cuz he's strong?"

"I guess..." He's not wrong. Drayton is a strong trainer and in a school that prides itself on battles, that has to mean something. "But, there has to be more than just that, right?"

"Well, he's a good guy! I mean, I know Lacey yells at him a lot, but he's always tired. He never says no to helping me out with my food, though!"

Kieran sighs at Crispin's answer. The fiery boy doesn't get it, but maybe that's for the best. A part of him wishes he could think the same.

Golden hues go from his classmate to the boy in question sitting across the room. Lacey is standing beside Drayton, the latter sitting back on the couch while trying to drown out her scolding, probably.

Kieran truly does not get it. People like him, sure, but he can't understand why.

Strength is one thing. From what he's been told, Drayton became Champion during his second year, which is pretty amazing. No one else had done that before, not until they were in their third year at least. He set a new record for the youngest Champion at the school.

But aside from that, what?

His personality...it's nothing special. If anything, it's annoying. Drayton knows how to get under his skin. If he wants to rile him up, he can do it with a few easy words, and Kieran falls for it every time.

Despite the teasing, he isn't a bad guy. Drayton has never truly hurt him. The name-calling gets a bit redundant, and he wants to forget about that time, but he does deserve it after ruining his version of the club. And he hates to admit it, but a part of him is getting used to being called Ex-Champ.

Still, he did help orchestrate the plan to knock some sense into him. If he hadn't pushed Juliana to join the club, he might still be that obsessive version of himself. He shivered thinking about never returning to normal.

Maybe Drayton does care more than he lets on. He's not one to ask how anyone is doing and get caught up in some troublesome tasks. But he will offer to lend a hand, stay beside you if you just need someone at your side. Sometimes he'll offer a snack or find a way to indirectly cheer you up.

Okay, maybe he isn't all that bad.

Plus...he is pretty smart. Not that he shows it. His grades are abysmal due to him skipping classes. He does enough just to get by. Outside of class, he really knows his stuff. Kieran had spoken to him about type advantages and how he managed to defeat Lacey despite his team being weaker. He had expected Drayton to brush off his question, yet he'd told him that type advantages can work against your favor. Kieran had to probe more out of him, but it was insightful and good to note down for the future.

His biggest flaw is his lack of motivation. Obviously, he's allergic to anything that involves paperwork. Sometimes, Kieran thinks he's allergic to just moving in general, with how he sighs about having to move from a couch to a chair in the same room.

Drayton is different when he is motivated, though. It's a rarity, but Kieran remembers seeing it before. During battles against an opponent who can really challenge him, he seems to light up. It's subtle, and most people wouldn't be able to tell, but Kieran can. The way he trusts in his Pokemon to battle, to win.

He wouldn't mind seeing that flame ignite in his eyes again.

The more he thinks about him, the more he comes to terms with the fact that he isn't so bad after all. Not that he would admit that aloud.

Kieran's gaze focuses on him. Drayton yawns, still listening to Lacey ramble about club activities. Amarys had jumped in, trying to help, but she had as much effect on him as Lacey did. Whatever they want him to do, he'll most likely brush it off onto Juliana.

Or him if he feels like it.

Drayton looks away from the girls, and their eyes meet. They hold each other's gaze for just a moment, two golden hues meeting. Drayton gives him his cliche, lazy grin as if trying to win someone over.

Kieran hates that his heart thumps a little in his chest.

He turns his head away, looking back at Crispin instead. He hadn't realized the other boy was still trying to point out some good points for Drayton.

"Besides all that...he's our friend!"

Friend.

They are friends, right? After everything? Drayton is comfortable around him, at least he assumes so whenever he walks up to Kieran and slings his arm around his shoulders. He teases him more now than ever, asks for a battle every now and then, and even lets him stay in his secret, cozy spot in the Polar Biome.

They had to be friends.

When he looks back at Drayton, he finds the other boy free from the girls. Another yawn escapes him, he stretches, and then goes limp in his seat. Maybe it's just the lighting, but he looks really relaxed and peaceful, basking in the glow of the club room.

Nope.

No.

He's not thinking about how Drayton looks good right now. Kieran shakes his head to try to get rid of those thoughts. He really regrets bringing up that topic now.

Crispin nudges him, bringing him back to reality.

"Hey! Drayton is calling you!"

Kieran looks over and finds Drayton waving at them. He would prefer if he were waving Crispin down instead.

"Ugh. Can't he just come over here?" Kieran grumbles. But he still gets up from his seat.

He already imagines what he's going to ask him. Probably to look over the newest students who want to join the club, or go talk to one of the teachers in his place. Kieran can already hear Lacey telling him not to let Drayton push him around, but it's hard to say no to him.

"What do you want?" Kieran asks, sounding more annoyed than he would like.

"Bad mood?" Drayton frowns, feigning a pout. "Didn't eat the chocolates I left out for ya?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah." Drayton points to a small bag of chocolates on the table. The bag is open, an invitation for others to take some, yet it still looks full. "Brought them over for ya."

"Oh...you didn't have to."

"Hey, if I'm gettin' myself a snack, I figured I should get others some too."

Was it true? Kieran didn't see him get snacks for the others. Then again, they didn't have a sweet tooth like him. Maybe this was going to be used against him? Get him something tasty so he would be easier to sway when it came to getting on his good side?

"You really think too much," Drayton says.

Kieran tenses when he realizes he's gone quiet, thinking too much over a free snack.

"Sorry," he replies and scratches the back of his head. "Thanks. You can tell me next time instead of just leavin' it there."

"I was guna tell ya, but then Lacey came over," Drayton sighs. He looks defeated, even his hair seems to droop slightly.

"She wouldn't bother you if you just did your work."

"Aw, you going to bother me about that, too? After I got ya a snack?"

Kieran turns away from him, not about to fall for his teasing, not this time. Well, he might if he keeps talking while he heads back to the table to try the chocolate.

The small bag lies open for him. It's practically tempting him to eat more than just one. And he most likely will eat everything in one sitting. For now, he reaches for one, a small chocolate that's shaped like a Pokeball. He pops it into his mouth, chewing on it.

The outer chocolatey shell breaks and out comes some more liquid chocolate. It's surprising, but tasty. He remembers having these once before. They were pretty hard to find, and the school store rarely stocked these.

He glances back to Drayton, but the other boy is already getting comfortable in his seat, looking ready for a nap. Kieran holds back on asking him how he got these. It probably wasn't easy.

Kieran turns back, picking out another one and popping it into his mouth. These taste sweeter than when he first tried them.

Maybe Drayton is likable, but he's never saying that to his face.

Nope.