Gladion pulled away almost immediately, grabbing Megan and pushing her behind him as if to shield her from the new presence. He didn't want a repeat of last time they encountered her. He glared down at the person, and let her name escape his lips in the form of a low menacing growl.

"What do you want, Natalie?"

The blonde giggled, unfazed by the warning glare the male was sending him as she tilted her body to the side to peek behind him. She sent Megan a friendly smile, almost as fake as her hair colour.

"Hey, long time no see sweetie~" She waved, which made the younger girl unconsciously flinch. Gladion let out another growl and once again blocked Megan from her view, which made her pout "Wow, you were never this protective with me... What's with the sudden change of attitude?"

Gladion crossed his arms "I think we both know by now that your intentions aren't innocent. I'm not letting you get near her."

"That's cruel... I just wanted to chat with your new girlfriend~"

"Yeah well you can chat with her with me between you, or you can scram--"

"Gladion, wait." He felt Megan tug against his hoodie, causing him to glance at her from over his shoulder "What's so wrong with just letting her speak to me?"

"What's so wrong? Megan, she attacked you."

"I know, and I admit I'm not comfortable around her--"

"I am right here."

"--But I provoked her and started it. I know what she's capable of, now, so I'll be careful with what I say."

Gladion turned around a little more, face softening slightly as his gaze focused directly on her. Obviously she didn't want to do this, but she was willing to if it meant getting Natalie to leave them alone. He didn't want to leave them together, because he didn't know what Nat could say, but it seemed like he didn't have a choice. As Megan said, Natalie was like a parasite, and she would keep coming back unless they did something. Sighing with defeat he faced the girl completely, leaning forward so his lips were close to her ear.

"I won't be far away. If she tries anything shout for me, and I'll be there as fast as I can." He whispered, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek afterwards. Megan was surprised, but nodded regardless. Gladion stepped away and turned to Natalie, giving her another warning glare.

"Don't you dare try anything with her."

Natalie smirked "I wouldn't dream of it."

That's not reassuring...

Not arguing any further Gladion turned, giving Megan's shoulder a light squeeze as he walked past her towards a nearby bench. He wanted them to at least be in sight of him, for all he knew Megan could get too prideful and try and solve it alone. She shouldn't have to solve anything alone... not with him around

Megan let out a breath and turned to Natalie "Alright, you've got me alone. What do you want to talk abou--"

She shivered as an evil smirk formed on the female's lips.

"So, what are your intentions with Gladion~?"

What?

"I, uh... why do you want to know?" Megan tried to sound defensive, but it only came out as a stutter. Natalie snickered.

"Well, I just wanted to tell you about how Gladion is as a lover."

"Not interested."

"Excuse me?"

"We both know you only dated him for pleasure, not anything else." Megan's eyes narrowed "That's not what I want."

"Then what do you want, huh brat?" The fake blonde pouted "Surely you aren't looking for an actual relationship with him, are you?"

"So what if I am?"

"Because you don't know anything about him."

...

"What did you just say?" Megan asked, her tone and expression darkening as she stepped forward. Natalie didn't even flinch as she continued to smirk.

"It's true, you don't know him." She began twirling her hair around her finger "If I'm so wrong, tell me three things you know about him."

"Well, he lives with his mom and--"

"I mean personal things."

Megan froze. "W-Well, uh..."

She tried to think of something, anything to prove she knew about the blonde male. But she realised, there was nothing...

Natalie knew that by Megan's expression that she had won this argument. Too easy "Just as I thought, although to be honest it's better this way. Details are such a turn off, you know. In my opinion, you two are better as friends with benefits than as a couple."

The other clenched her jaw "I am not in it for the sex."

"We'll maybe he is. Have you thought about that?" Natalie asked.

"Shut up, Gladion wouldn't do that..."

"Obviously you don't know him well enough to prove--"

"I said SHUT UP!"

Almost immediately after she shouted she felt a pair of arms envelope her from behind.

"I think you should leave now, Natalie." Gladion's voice rang through her ears, and his warm breath brushed against the top of her head. She realised it was him holding her.

Natalie stared at the two of them, and Gladion was prepared for her to bark back. But instead she gave him that fake smile again.

"Okay, we're done with girl talk anyway~" she turned on her heel and began walking away, waving at the two from over her shoulder "toodles~"

When she was gone Gladion's grip softened, and his head lowered to nestle itself into her shoulder "Are you alright?"

About a month ago, a gesture like that would make her gag, but now it was like a dream come true. Well, it would've been... if she hadn't listened to Natalie. But guess what? The words wouldn't leave her head.

In my opinion, you two are better as friends with benefits than as a couple.

We'll maybe he is. Have you thought about that?

...

No, that's not Gladion. She knew that much.

You don't know anything about him.

"Megan?"

The girl tensed "Oh yeah! Yeah, I'm fine!" She laughed nervously. Gladion didn't buy it, and removed one of his hands to place on her shoulder.

"Megan, look at me."

She didn't move.

"Megan." He called again, gently tugging her shoulder enough to turn her around. She wouldn't look up "What did Natalie say to you?"

"I..." Her fists clenched at her sides "Gladion what do you know about me? Like, personal things about me."

The male frowned "Um, well I know you like Doritos, your favourite colour's turquoise, you love wolves, you hate vegetables and thunderstorms, and you've been dancing ever since you were ten... do you want me to go on?"

I knew it...

"Then it's true..." Megan smiled bitterly at the floor "You know almost everything about me, but I know jack squat about you..."

Gladion was silent for a moment "Oh, Megan..."

She felt a hand under her chin, which lifted her head to once again look up at the boy. He was giving her a gentle smile "That's what you're upset about?"

She nodded slightly.

"Well in that case, come on." He reached down and intertwined their fingers "Let's fix that."

"W-What? Wh- Gladion where are we going?"

"We're going to help you get to know me more." The boy answered, giving her hand a light squeeze "Then you won't have to be upset about it."

"Seriously?"

"Of course. I'm gonna do my best to express myself to you."

That made her smile "You're so sweet, Gladion..."

"See? You've learned something already."

She laughed, finally letting him drag her along with him "Fine, you win... let's go."

---

Natalie walked through the park with her gaze forward, her hands in the pockets of her designer leather jacket one of her exes bought for her. She didn't remember which one, but that didn't matter.

What did matter was sweet success she was feeling right now. It was her intention all along to make Megan question her relationship between her and and Gladion, and it definitely was her intention to get Gladion to try and get Megan to know her more. To Natalie, Gladion was a boring sad sack who's only good in a relationship was in bed. She figured that once Megan saw that she was wasting her time, she'd leave him. And that'd leave Gladion all depressed and lonely.

Why was she doing this, you ask? Simple; she wanted her fuck buddy back. Also to see a couple crumble apart, but that wasn't the point. The point was that she had something she wanted, and if it came to it she would kill to get it.

If you think that's mean, then hear this. She even brought Leven into this. She knew he had a distaste for anything to do with the Artemus family, because his family company and his used to be enemies. And that's exactly what she used, the company. Leven told his father to sue the place Megan's mother was working at, and of course that caused the old hag to lose her job. Megan got depressed, went job hunting, might lose her opportunity to graduate, blah blah blah.

Don't ask how she knows about all of that. It's a secret~ (Aka author-chan can't think of a reasonable explanation)

Yep, everything that has been happening was all apart of her little scheme. Even the confession. She knew Megan and Gladion liked each other, even when they hated each other. There was always this look.

Pity. Those feelings would rip them apart.

And of course, if this plan didn't work...

She pulled out her phone, which had a picture up on the screen. A picture of Megan and Gladion, kissing.

She was sure Lillie would just love to see her brother's new little girlfriend.

Either way, their relationship was over. She didn't care who had to get hurt for it to happen. In fact, perhaps a bit of violence would make it even more entertaining.

(Evil bitch... sorry, on with the story)

---

"So, what exactly do you want to know?" Gladion asked, looking back at the girl. She gave him a smile.

"Everything."

He raised a teasing eyebrow "Everything?"

"Everything." She repeated.

He chuckled and pulled her into him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders "Well, I'm not really one to brag--"

Megan snorted.

"Hey, shush. Anyways, as I was saying I'm not really one to brag, but I was quite the fencer when I was younger."

"You fenced?"

Gladion nodded "Yeah. I think I still have my old helmet in my room somewhere."

Megan leaned into him more "That's pretty cool, Frenchfry. Any other secret talents I should know?"

"Well... I was pretty successful with girls during school--"

"Okay now that's a lie."

"Darn, can't get anything past you."

The girl giggled at his goofiness, but when she looked up at him his smile had suddenly disappeared. She frowned "Gladion? Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, it's just..." he paused and bit his lip "I know a lot about you, including about your family... and here I am talking about hobbies and telling jokes..."

He suddenly pulled her off the path and onto the grass, sitting the both of them down next to a large tree in facing each other. He took her hand and began rubbing his thumb across the back of it.

"Here's what we're gonna do. You ask me questions about what you want to know about me, and I'll try and be as truthful I can when answering them."

Megan's eyebrows rose is surprise "But what if I ask something personal?"

"Doesn't matter to me. The whole part of a relationship is trusting each other with our secrets, right?"

"Are you sure?"

"Would I have suggested it if I wasn't?" Gladion scoffed "I want this to work with you. I want to be with you, and I'm willing to let loose even my darkest secrets to make that happen. I trust you, and I want you to trust me too." He brought her hand up to his lips, kissing it softly "That's how much you mean to me..."

Megan blushed, a small smile making the way to her face. This was a secret relationship- or, going to be one. But, it still made her incredibly happy that it was him she was going to be in one with. Even if Natalie's words stayed in her mind.

"Alright then..." She smiled. "Let the secret revealing begin."

(I think I made Natalie too evil...)