Chapter 1: Secret Feelings

It was a cool, clear starry night. A bright full moon hung in the night sky, acompanied by millions of stars.

Below this was a large, grassy field dotted with numerous colorful flowers and a few large oak trees.

May found herself gazing at the young trainer beside her rather than this beautiful setting. She, along with this boy, was still up, unlike her other male friend and he younger brother. The fact that they were asleep was confirmed by their unusually loud snoring.

The bright light from the campfire that was placed in the middle of these trainers lit up the whole area while giving it some warmth from the chilliness of the night.

May finally decided to speak rather than stare the young boy down.

"Ash?"

"Yeah?"

"I've got something I want to tell you," May said quietly. The young trainer, now known to us as Ash, turned and looked at May. Or, to put it more bluntly, gazed into her eyes. May took a deep breath before letting out what she had held in for so long.

"I-I love you."

At first, Ash seemed surprised, but then, a warm smile spread across his face, as well as a light blush.

"I love you too, May," he replied quietly, and began leaning toward her. May felt like leaping into the air with joy, but controlled herself and responded to Ash's actions by leaning forward also. Pretty soon, their lips met, and May felt her heart soar. She wrapped her arms around Ash's neck, deepening the kiss.

"May? Can you hear me? Wake up!" May's eyes fluttered open. "What are you doing? Trying to smother the pillow? Trust me, I've tried it, and it doesn't work." May looked down and found herself embracing a pillow tightly, like she had seemingly been doing to Ash's neck just a few minutes before. She felt her face heat up in a blush and let go of the pillow, putting it back in its place at the head of her bed. It had all been a dream. The field, the beautiful night, the kiss, everything.

"C'mon. Brock and Max are waiting for us downstairs." A boy stood over her with an urgent look on his face. May felt as if she wanted to melt just looking at him. This boy was none other than Ash Ketchum, the boy from her dreams, and the boy she secretly loved with all her heart.

Ash snapped his fingers in front of her face, snapping her out of her trance-like state. "Hello? Did you hear me? Brock and Max are waiting for us downstairs," he said. May gave him an annoyed look.

"Yes. I heard you. Now get out so I can change, would ya? I'll be ready in a few minutes," she replied, throwing the blanket off of her. Ash held up a hand and turned around, walking toward the door.

"No thanks. I'll show myself out," he called jokingly over his shoulder. May rolled her eyes but smiled a little as the young trainer walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. She climbed down the ladder of the bunk bed that she had slept on that night and turned toward the nightstand placed between the two bunk beds in the room. She unzipped a yellow pack and pulled out a red shirt, bluish-black shorts, a white skirt-looking thing and black socks. A red bandana sat beside the pack. May picked this up also. Laying them all on the bottom bunk bed to her right, she began to get ready to change.

Ash walked back down the stairs and into the lobby of the Pokemon Center he and his friends were currently staying in. As he walked into the large, sunlit lobby, he was greeted by his friends, along with an all too familiar person standing behind them.

"Hi Ash," Brock and Max chorused as he approached them.

"Where's May?" Max asked, looking around the room for his sister.

"Oh, she's still getting ready," Ash replied. Max went wide-eyed.

"You mean you walked in on her while she was getting dressed?!" he cried. Ash blushed heavily.

"N-no! I meant she hasn't gotten ready yet. She was still in the bed when I came in," he replied. Max seemed to relax.

"Sorry about that," he said, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't embarrass you did I?"

"Well considering the fact that your outburst attracted the attention of everyone in the lobby, yes," Ash replied, gritting his teeth at Max.

"Hey Ketchum. How've ya been?" Ash whirled around.

"Since when do you call me by my last name?" he asked the green haired boy standing behind him.

"Meh, just felt like it," the boy replied, flicking a strand of hair out of his eyes. Ash gritted his teeth. He hated it when he did that.

"Hey guys! I'm ready!" Everyone turned to see May walking down the last bit of stairs. She stopped short when she saw the green haired boy. "Drew?" she asked, astonished.

"Yeah, it's me," the boy replied. "Figured I'd drop on by since I knew you guys were staying here. Also wanted to wish you luck in the next contest." He flipped a rose May's way. May caught it. After looking at it for a minute, her gaze shifted to Drew, then Ash.

"Um, thanks," she said.

"No problem. See you around," Drew responded, then walked off, secretly flashing Ash an evil "I'm gonna steal her from you" look. Ash held back the urge to stick his tongue out at him. He knew that would be childish.

"So, you guys ready to move out?" Brock asked, breaking the awkward silence that had formed in the group. Ash immedietly perked up.

"Yeah! Time to go get my next Frontier Symbol!" he said, punching the air. May smiled to herself. He may have grown older, but Ash still had his cute little ways of getting excited.

"Hi Ash, long time, no see." Everyone turned around to see a young girl with shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes. She wore a red tanktop with a pair of faded blue jeans along with red and white shoes. (Made her up, by the way)

The girl pranced over to Ash and took his arm. Ash seemed surprised at this, though he shouldn't have. He quickly covered up for his astonishment by saying something casual.

"Yeah, Dani, it's been a while," he said, putting on a fake smile. "Now, please let go of my arm." The girl reluctantly released Ash's arm.

"So, where were you headed off to?" she asked.

"Um, to the Battle Arena for my second Frontier Symbol," Ash replied.

"Second? Wow, I never realized you were that far already," Dani said, stepping closer to Ash.

"I only have one," Ash replied, stepping away from her. "And, we really need to get going, so I guess I'll...see ya around?" He was trying desparately to get away from her.

"Actually, I was wondering if I could travel with you and your friends," Dani replied, once again taking a step toward Ash. May gritted her teeth at this. Did Ash not see that this girl was flirting with him?

Ash was very aware of this fact, and when Dani asked if she could travel with him, he almost shouted, "Are you crazy? I'd never let you travel with me!" But, instead, he kept quiet and tried to say a normal "No."

"Uh, um I-" The word just wouldn't come out of his mouth. Ash shot May a "I don't know what to say!" look. May didn't notice this. She was too busy staring angrily at Dani. How dare she try to take Ash away from her!

"I-I guess so." There three words broke May from her thought train immedietly.

"I guess so?!" she cried. Ash and everyone else looked at her in confusion. Realizing what she had done, May covered her mouth. "Um, I guess we should, uh, move out," Ash said. He then started leading the way out the door.

I can't believe this! May thought to herself. Ash is actually letting her travel with us? What's wrong with him? Dani, who was walking a few feet ahead of May, turned around and made a face at her. She then slowed her pace until she was walking side by side with her.

"I'm going to make sure Ash has no time to be alone with you whatsoever. I've already claimed him, he's mine, so back off, or you'll regret it," she said, then picked up her pace again until she was walking between Max and Ash. May's face burned with anger.

You can't claim a person like you can a thing! Ash is a living, breathing thing, and she thinks she can claim him as her own like a toy in a store? She thought angrily. Oh, you just wait, Dani. You don't have any idea what you'v got coming. You're gonna learn once and for all not to come between me and the person I love.