Hello! Welcome to my second Contestshipping fanfic! c: To be honest, I actually think this idea is taken somewhere on the site. But regardless, I still want to write it. Just know that I'm not stealing any ideas from anyone. That would be incredibly unoriginal and boring, wouldn't it?

Disclaimer: I don't own the amazing guest services found in the Pokemon Center.

Arranged For Love

{Chapter 1}

My morning can't be more ordinary than it appears. The sky is a mixture of clouds and blue, seemingly indestructible from the light breezes and bright sunshine. Taillow singsong from the trees, mixing in their melodic chirps with other Pokemon cries. Trainers eagerly converse outside, coordinators quickly warm up their star Pokemon, and the guest services from inside are passing by to assist occupants.

Three knocks on my door finally snap me out of my reverie.

"Guest services," Nurse Joy recites cheerfully. "You're May Maple, correct?"

"Yes," I answer, extracting myself from the window.

"Great," she responds, while setting down a laminated card on my desk. "There's a call for you at the PC. You might want to order something first so you'll get breakfast delivered while you're gone."

"Thanks," I say gratefully. She smiles and bows before hurrying off to another guest's room.

I pick up the card and twirl it in my fingers, indecisive. After about a minute of thought, I dial the kitchen's number and proceed to request pancakes, orange juice, and oran berries. Not wanting to disappoint whoever was waiting at the PC, I rush out of the room and into the lobby.

If I knew what message would be waiting for me, I would stop running and immediately retreat into my room again. I would hide out in this wing of the Pokemon Center forever, training my Pokemon in the surrounding forest and entering them into local competitions as an anonymous contestant.

Sadly, I was receiving this message for the first time in my life.

"May," Max breathes a sigh of regret. "I was hoping you would opt out on this call. That way, I wouldn't have to tell you."

"What type of greeting is that?" I tease. "How's it going in Petalburg?"

Max looks at me with a grim expression and continues speaking. "Do you even know why I'm talking to you over a PC?"

I frown and study his expression. Max would typically be outside, training his team for an upcoming battle. He did seem particularly annoyed as well, as if he was being forced to talk to me.

"No idea," I conclude, provoking him to sigh again.

"Our parents are lazy," Max fumes. He briefly turns away from the screen before continuing. "I'm supposed to deliver the message here, while they hide away, safe from being attacked."

"Message?" I say curiously. "Is there a reason for calling, then? I thought you were just reporting your adventure progress."

"Gosh, you sound like I'm playing a video game," He grins, but his face falls in an instant. "That's right. There is a pretty serious message here. You're engaged to Drew Hayden."

"Are you serious?" I say slowly, taking time to absorb Max's words. "I'm engaged to Drew? That's insane. It's not even possible, and I can't allow it."

I begin to panic, causing Max to flinch. "Drew? The walking vegetable? That Drew?"

"Yes, that Drew. Green hair, green eyes-"

"Is there another Drew Hayden?" I ask frantically.

"Yes, but he's the only Drew Hayden who has green hair and green eyes. According to the description I just gave you-"

"I'm not engaged with him!" I yelp and throw my hands up in surrender. People in the lobby are giving me strange looks, but I simply brush them off. "You win, Max! This prank totally worked. Congratulations!"

Max bit his lip. "I should have used this situation when it wasn't real. That way, I would win all the time."

When I don't say anything, he continues. "Sorry to burst your bubble, May, but this is the honest truth. You are engaged with Drew."

"How did Dad allow it?" I demand in disbelief. "He would protect me, right?"

"Of course," Max responds immediately. "It's just...Drew's parents met our parents, and..."

"Can I avoid Drew?" I whimper. "Even if I'm engaged to him?"

"May," sighs Max. "That's not possible. And according to my Poketch, he should be arriving in your current Pokemon Center in about two minutes."

"You're explaining this situation to me later. I need to go," I say, agitated. "Actually, you are all explaining this situation to me later. Bye."

At the front of the center, a large shadow dives toward the ground.

Flygon, I realize. He got here pretty quickly by using fly.

That gives him even more time to be a jerk to me, doesn't it?

I run to my room at a pace that is at least three times my average speed.

*.~.*.~.*

There's a knock on my door about three minutes later. I lift the last bite of fluffy pancake towards my mouth, but I am petrified at the moment. My arm falls back to the table, causing the fork and plate to collide. I can't be undetected now, after that clear sound has pierced the silence.

"May," says Drew from outside. "I know you're inside. Please open the door."

Sighing, I lift myself from the seat and stride over to fulfill his request. "Alright."

As soon as I open my door, Drew walks in, as if he owns the place. "Thank you very much."

I glare at him. "What did you do?"

"Hmm?" He asks, totally oblivious. "I merely walked into your temporary room."

He is trying to be sophisticated so that he can totally tick me off at the right moment. I have to make sure that I maintain my cool.

"You don't know about our engagement?" I ask innocently. "I just learned about it this morning, actually. It was pretty shocking."

"Oh, right. Quite interesting, actually. Our parents seem willing to invest in this event," He mutters, obviously caught off guard. "Just for one stupid wedding, so they can see you dressed in white while kissing me."

"I wish it didn't have to be arranged," I admit.

"You would kiss me anyways, wouldn't you?" He boasts, smirking.

"Probably not," I answer wistfully. "I do have a crush on someone, even if I'm already engaged." A successful and believable lie, executed.

Drew flinches, visibly shocked again. "Who?" He demands. "I don't want any cheating in this relationship."

"Relationship? Aren't you against this marriage, too?" I ask, truthfully surprised. It didn't seem as if Drew cares much for what happens beyond this point.

"It's not like I have a choice," Drew says. "But I'm not stupid enough to just be angry for the rest of the time we're together."

He wins, so I decide to myself just then, I'll be happy. I'll find a way to pull myself out of this mess, then Drew and I won't have to get married.

"Time to forget useless crushes," I say as I shoot him a tight smile and hesitantly kiss him on the cheek. "I guess we're officially a couple, then."

He is completely astonished.

For now, I decide that I win the final point.

*.~.*.~.*

When we're seated at a restaurant for lunch, the mood is completely casual and relaxed. I have calmed down after agreeing to myself that I would act everything out. Now, we sit here as friends who have just united.

"What do you want, May?" Drew asks amiably, gently handing me the menu.

"Maybe some pasta," I decide. "It sounds really good right now."

"Yeah," agrees Drew. "I might try that, too. Let's wait for a waitress, so we can order."

"Waitress?" I ask suspiciously. "There are more waiters than waitresses here."

"No, it has to be a waitress," he argues. "I don't want any waiters flirting with you."

"That won't happen," I retort. "Last time we met, you said that I was as ugly as a Magikarp."

"Right," he mutters. "I was just joking then, May. You should know that."

"It hurt," I say sincerely.

He looks at me and reaches across the table for my hand. "I'm sorry, then."

I take his hand, incredulous at how smoothly we are putting on this act. "It's fine, as long as you don't mean it."

"Of course I don't," he says. "Oh! There's a waitress."

"No," I pout, dragging his other free arm down. "What if you flirt with the waitress?"

"You're my fiancee. From now on, I'm only allowed to flirt with you." he reasons.

In the end, it takes twenty minutes for us to wait for a suitable server that we both agree on.

He is the oldest employee, married, and a devoted worker. He is evidently annoyed that he fits into our curriculum of "married, unattractive, and uninteresting".

Despite this, we leave extra tips.

Well, that was fun to write. Drama hasn't happened yet, so I'm a little carefree right now. x3

In case you were wondering, May is holding a grudge against Drew, because of all the hurtful comebacks he throws at her. That explains her dread at the fact that he is now her fiancee. The mood changes when May decides to change her attitude towards the situation.

May is pretending now! Let's see how long she can keep up the act. c;

Review, please? I want to be inspired, praised, and/or criticized, because I only have a few ideas on how to continue chapter two from this point. I'll try to update soon! :3

~Sapphayn