"Hi, my name's May. Who're you?" The bouncy brunette grinned at me, her trainers squeaking on the shiny tiled floor of the Daycare Centre.
"I'm Dawn," I replied.
"Dawn...?"
"Yes," I responded defensively; what did she mean?
"Dawn who... well, this might sound silly, but... Dawn who travels with Ash Ketchum?"
"Yes, that's me. So you're the May he talks about, then?" I asked, shaking May's offered hand.
"He talks about me?" May gasped, and I was immensely suprised to see her blushing.
"Erm, yeah," I said, taken aback. "Mostly how great your Pokemon are, though, but yes, sometimes about you."
"Oh, goodness," May said. She looked dizzy. "Right... Is he here?"
"Yes," I said. May leapt in the air, her face jubilant.
"Oh, I've wanted to see him for so long!" she exulted, and turned back to me. "W-where?"
"Are you in love with him, or something?" I exclaimed, and May's delighted face fell.
"No," she said, her voice suddenly very small and deflated.
"Joke," I said, hesitantly. May's smile returned, but smaller and less obvious. "He's over there," I added, pointing to where Ash was standing in line at the counter, waiting to hand over his new Cleffa for Daycare.
"Great, thanks," May said, skipping away to tap Ash on the back.
He ducked out of the queue when he saw May beaming at her, and hugged her tightly. She left her hands gripping his arms as they spoke, and there was a lot of laughter between them. May was gazing, transfixed, into Ash's face.
"And this is Dawn," Ash said, leading May over to me.
"Yes, we've met," I said, smiling at Ash. "Shall I hand in Cleffa while you two catch up?" I said 'catch up' with deliberate emphasis, hoping May would get the message and calm down. She did not. Instead, she pulled Ash away and they walked outside.
"Well, fine," I said, somewhat peturbed. This May girl seemed nice, but obviously smitten with Ash.
I stood in the queue for a while, watching Ash and May through the glass doors. May wouldn't let go of his arms, though Ash didn't seem to mind. They were laughing dementedly together, acting out what I presumed must have been their previous adventures. I handed Cleffa into the Daycare, gave them Ash's name and headed out into the bright sunshine.