Chapter 2

Best friends

"You got him?" Drew asked, fiddling with the key in the lock.

"Mmhmm." May hummed in response, struggling slightly under his weight. As the door opened, she power walked past and gently laid him in the closest bed. She removed his glasses carefully, placing them on the convenient bedside table, removed his sweater vest and shoes before folding the former and placing them both at the foot of the bed. Drew watched her, fascinated by her motherly instincts, as she carefully pulled the comforter from beneath him and covered him lovingly, tucking him in. He roused for a moment, milky eyes gazing at her, and he reached up to her, reverting to a much younger version of himself.

"Love you Sis..." he mumbled, hugging her around the neck. She smiled softly, returning the loving embrace.

"I love you too Maxie..." She whispered, and he released her, falling backwards, mumbling something incoherent. He seemed peaceful.

May sat next to him on the bed, stroking his hair as he eased back into sleep.

"Sleep in the deepest sleep, my love, the sky will open to you..."

Drew blinked. She was singing to him.

"You will find, all of your dreams there wait, all, will wait up for you
For this world is dark and cold
And this world is tired and old
And the years to come will see daughter and son
Living within the sky
The heaven sent beauty sky
So dream away
Dream away
Soon this world will end
Just dream away
Dream away

For tomorrow, we dine, in heaven..."

She didn't have a brilliant voice, it was about average. But it carried the tune, and seemed to lull the smaller boy to a pleasant slumber, and somehow, within her careful, hushed tone, it gave a real sense of tranquillity through the room, as Max fell into a deep sleep. Satisfied, May stood, eyes flaring in surprise for a moment as she saw Drew still stood there.

"Oh! I forgot you were stood there..." She whispered, careful not to awaken her brother. "That's, er, a song I heard a while ago. I sing to Max sometimes, when I'm around. I just... yeah." She flushed, embarrassed. Drew smirked.

"It's nice." He softly commented, and she beamed. "... I... hm."

"What is it, Drew?" May looked at him carefully. "Are you alright?"

Drew swallowed a lump in his throat.

"I'm fine, just... Let's go on a walk."

While it wasn't structured like a question, his eyes were laced with hope. May blinked, but smiled and nodded.

The two walked out, clicking the door shut, and locking the door so no one but Ash and Brock could enter, and Drew sent his Roserade to return the key to the three in the lobby.

"Why don't we give it them ourselves? We're going through the lobby to get outside." May pointed out, and Drew shook his head.

"No, because they'll ask where we're going, and I'd rather no more songs." He smirked. "Which is why, oh ye of little brains, we are going out the back, into the gardens."

"Oh... alright!" She grinned dizzily, and he rolled his eyes.

"You really are dumb May."

"Hush your noise."

"Huh, Roserade?" Ash jumped slightly as the Rose pokemon passed him the small silver key.

"Let me guess, Drew's taken May somewhere and didn't want any more songs." Brock grinned.

Roserade nodded.

Drew sneezed.

"Bless you!" May chimed.

"Thanks." He sniffed slightly.

"So what's on your mind, Drew?"

The two were walking amongst the Pokemon centre gardens, where the trainer's pokemon were kept overnight. There were multiple types of habitat condensed into one place – there was a lake, a large grassy plain, and a rocky, mountainous area towards the back, which was just a crumb of the edge of Whirl cave, one of the wonders of the pokemon world as it allowed you to travel downwards in the cave, until you were level with the bottom of the sea, yet, you remained safe and dry within the cave walls. If you listened, you could hear the sea swirling around outside you. Many trainers explored, but only the toughest managed to somewhat survive the powerful wild pokemon within. Some claimed to see a great white bird, but they were ignored.

The coordinators sat next to the lake, and May removed her shoes, allowing her feet to dip into the cool lake water.

"I... I'm fine, really. I just felt like getting some air." Drew lied convincingly, and May rolled her eyes.

"Sure you did." She nudged him. "I know you better than that."

He glanced at her. She did know him. Very well in fact.

"And you've not been teasing me half as much as usual. Something is so up."

He laughed slightly.

"You have a point." He smirked. "But... well, I don't know."

"Don't know what?" May encouraged, looking him dead in the eye.

"... If you know..."

A small silence past between them. She looked at him curiously.

"... Is that supposed to make sense?"

He twitched in frustration.

"Look, if you don't know by now you never will, so I should really go." He muttered, standing briskly, a hot feeling pounding at his cheeks. May jumped to attention, leaping after him barefooted.

"Hey! Hey, what don't I know? If you don't tell me, how do I know?"

"... It doesn't matter."

"Drew!" She groaned, exasperated. "Well... as soon as you figure out what you want, just tell me. I'm your friend, I'm here to help you. One of the reasons you're my friend is that I know you're there to help me when I need it."

"Is that the only reason you're my friend?" He bristled. "So that I'll help you?"

"No!" Her eyes widened as she back tracked. "No – you're my friend for so many reasons! Because I know I can talk to you, because you make me laugh, because I care about you!"

"..." He paused. "I used to be horrible to you. How can you still care about me after how I treated you?"

"Because you changed." She said, quite simply. "You began to help me, guide me, and you were a real friend to me. So I cared about you like you seemed to care for me."

"... I guess I did, didn't I?"

"Why?" She pressed "What reason did you have to change around me?"

Another silence echoed between them.

"May...?" His throat went dry. "When did our roles switch? When did you become the one who was in control of the situation?"

She blinked at him, a silent plea for him to explain.

"When did you become the mature one?"

May paused a moment, reflecting.

"I don't think either of us is mature. We're both very, very childish. You're the kid who wants to grow up, and become superior to all the other kids, and I'm the kid who relies on people too much." She scratched the back of her neck, looking at him with big eyes. "What a pair we make."

He looked at her, still ready to bolt from the gardens.

"I... I never thought about it that way."

She grinned.

"I like it when we're alone. You act like you, and not like Drew." She paused. "Hey, that totally rhymes."

He chuckled.

"You never change, do you?"

"Nope!"

"Good."

She walked carefully to his side, and with the naivety of a child, gently placed her hand on his head.

"Drew, I don't know if this is an identity crisis, or something more, but..." She cocked her head, looking at him carefully. "You've really become my best friend, after all this time." She flushed. "That's probably not the same for you and sorry that'll have embarrassed you... But anyway, what I mean is, you can trust me. I want to help you. I care, Drew, I really do care about you."

He looked at her carefully, eyes widening.

"... I've always wanted to help." She finished lamely, moving her hand and smiling weakly. She began to retrieve her shoes, and then made her way to the door inside.

"May?"

"Yeah Drew?"

"... You're my best friend too."

A small smile made its way to her face.

"Goodnight, Drew."

"So..." Dawn elongated the word as much as possible, the two girls in their respective beds. May glanced at her and giggled at her expression. "Where'd you and Drew go?"

"For a walk." She bluntly replied, smiling slightly. "He wanted a chat."

"... Do you like him?" Dawn asked slowly, leaning forward slightly.

"Of course, he's my best friend!" May continued to smile at the other girl, and Dawn smacked her forehead.

"I mean like-like. As in, you want to push him into a closet and tear off his clothes." The slightly younger girl replied pointedly, and May turned a funny shade of crimson.

"O-Of course not! That's very inappropriate! Besides, Drew and I are just friends." She protested, blushing profusely.

"Best friends." Dawn corrected.

"Yes, we are." May sniffed, nestling into her bed. The blush just wouldn't fade, and now she had mentioned it, it lingered in her mind.

"... So you wouldn't mind if I asked him on a date?"

"... No. Go for it. Why should I care?" She snapped. Unhappy thoughts remained with her the rest of the night.

"Good morning May!" Brock smiled as she came into the lobby the next day. It was quite late on in the morning, and she somewhat relished in the fact she was the second to last person to get up. She also relished in the fact Ash wouldn't be up until one in the afternoon.

"Morning Brock!" She replied brightly, as he passed her a plate of toast.

"Got you some from the kitchen. Just thought I'd warn you, Dawn has gone off looking for Drew..."

Something in May's head clicked together, and she didn't like it one bit.

"... Whereas Drew went off training early this morni-!"

"Excuse me." She set the plate down on a table, and left, in a sour mood.

Brock blinked.

May never turned down food.

Something must be wrong.

"Wow, your Flygon is strong!" Dawn commented, watching the green dragon like pokemon soar through the air. Drew flipped his hair.

"Naturally."

"Do you like green pokemon or something?" She asked him, her midnight blue hair flicking over her shoulder. "Because you have a Roserade and a Flygon... and you have green hair."

He looked at her, a sigh escaping his lips.

"Look, bimbo, I don't choose Pokemon for their colouring. I chose them for who I think would make the best addition to my team."

She glared at him.

"I am NOT a bimbo."

He glared at her.

"Yes, you are. You're also annoying."

She huffed silently, and turned away, watching his Flygon seemingly dance through the air majestically.

"You're so lucky you're cute, or no one would like you." She pouted. "I don't know how May stands you."

"Firstly, I'm not just cute, I'm hot. No, gorgeous." He flipped his hair. "Second, you wouldn't know that, because you don't know me, and finally, I thought I already told you you're annoying. Why are you still here?"

"Because I'm trying to help you get May. Or rather, I'm trying to help May realize her feelings for you."

"... Pardon?"

"Just because I dislike you, doesn't mean May does." She sighed. "Shame, she could do so much better..."

"Hey!"

"Shut it grass head. Now, I asked May last night if she likes you. She said no."

"Then end of story." Drew muttered, a little sulky.

"Aha, you do like her."

"I never said that."

"You never said you didn't."

"..."

"Exactly! Now, I went on to ask if I was alright to ask you on a date. She said it was fine, but went all shirty and sulky." She paused. "I reckon she's just shy about this. You need to make the first move."

"Dawn, bugger off, now. I'm happy the way things are with me and May, and I don't need you ruining that." For a moment, Dawn saw a genuine care in his eyes.

Aha.

HE was scared.

"Humph. So you've never looked at her, and thought 'I'd love to hold her in my arms for more than a friendly embrace'? You've never wondered what it would be like to kiss her? You've never wanted to break down and say 'May, I love you'?"

He looked at her with wide eyes.

"Who the hell are you?"

Dawn smiled happily.

"Sweetheart, I'm a people person."

"When I find you Dawn, I will tie you to a freaking tree. I know you're just trying to make me jealous and it's not working. At all. Nope. Drew is my best friend, that's all. I'm just being protective of my best friend. That's ALL."

Power walking towards the practice field, May looked like she might murder someone.

Namely, Dawn.

Nope, she wasn't jealous at all.

"So, say I listen to you." Drew asked reluctantly. "What do I have to do?"

"Flirt with her! Ask her on a date! Tell her how you feel!" Dawn exclaimed, exaggerating wildly with her arms. "Heck, kiss her spontaneously and say 'May I love you' and she'll melt in your arms, she's a real romantic."

"I wouldn't be making her jealous..." he checked, giving her a look.

"Nah, I've already done that. She'll be here soon, and if I'm right, she'll be very, very angry."

Drew inwardly groaned as he heard a few branches breaking.

"Hey guys!" May stepped through the trees, a big, happy grin plastered on her face, a hint of menace lining her eyes.

"Oh, hi May! Just taking you up on what you said I could do last night..." She winked.

May loftily raised an eyebrow.

"Before you do, I'd like a rematch from our match at the Wallace cup."

"Really?" Dawn grinned, a gleeful look passing over her eyes. Drew looked between the two girls, Dawn grinning like a Cheshire cat, and May looking ready to get Blazekin to set fire to the other girl's hair.

"May... why are you mad at Dawn?" She glanced at him, and smiled innocently.

"I'm no-!"

"You're the worst liar, ever. It's okay to admit it, you're fighting over me." He sighed dramatically. "It's a curse, this beauty, a real curse."

"I'll hit you Drew."

"Oh May, you're not only mad at her, but me, for being ever so much more beautiful than you. I apologise, but like I said, I do not control this curse that holds me..." The smirk on his face was infuriating.

"It will HURT, Drew..."

"May, you couldn't hurt a Magikarp."

"Hayden!" She stormed over to him, and pushed him against a tree. "No more."

He looked at her, a warm look flickering for a moment to nudge her, reminding her it was in jest, before saying "Pushing me up against a tree, eh? Eager today..."

"DREW!" She burst out laughing, releasing him from his hold on the tree, as she attempted to regain her previous serious composition.

"Right- rematch. Come on Dawn, unless you're scared!" She flashed her friend a smile, showing she wasn't that angry anymore, but the reason behind it remained. In May's opinion, Drew had been right. This was a battle for Drew.

And it took Dawn's interest in him for her to realise that.

"... Is this for what I think it is?" Dawn asked pointedly, blinking.

"Yes." May nodded.

Dawn grinned.

"Excellent. After I beat you again, we'll be on even terms."

"Fair enough. But you'd never beat me twice in a row."

"We'll see about that." Dawn's smile wavered slightly, as her mind flashed back to the grand festival. As she felt nothing for Drew, she wasn't concerned about that. But...

Was she even ready to battle again?

"Drew, call it." May grinned, playfully shoving him to the middle. He coughed slightly, unsure.

"Okay... This battle between May Mable of Petalburg and Dawn...?"

"Dawn Evans of Twinleaf." The girl winked. "And you better remember it!"

May was glad to see it had little effect on the referee.

"Yeah, her. Let the match begin." He yawned.

"Buneary, spotlight!"

"Blazekin, take the stage!"

The two pokemon, sensing May's subdued jealousy, riled up. Blazekin in particular tightened his fists and gave a few warning kicks in mid air.

"Blazekin is looking a lot stronger, May." Drew nodded. May grinned at him.

"We've been working with Dad a lot. Now, let's put that to use, use Blaze Kick!"

"Buneary, bounce and use ice beam!

The fiery kick was just about to land, when the small brown pokemon leapt upwards and shot a blue like substance towards Blazekin.

"Counter with Flamethrower!"

The fire cut through the ice with ease, and hit Buneary squarely in the chest, leaving a burn, as steam filled the practice clearing.

"Are you alright Buneary?" Dawn called. The pokemon stood up unsteadily, but looked ready for more. "Great! Use double kick!"

"Catch her Blazekin!"

As the Buneary flew towards the much larger pokemon, Blazekin caught her before she could make contact.

"Close range Overheat, and follow up with Blaze Kick!"

The fiery attack blew Buneary away, and before the weak Buneary could even think of recovering, the flames of Blazekin's foot came crashing into her, sending her spiralling upward.

As Buneary began to fall, Dawn panicked. Blazekin looked back at May, who nodded, and the fire type jumped up, catching the pokemon, and carefully handing the injured pokemon to the girl.

"At the Wallace cup, I wasn't even trying." May smiled. "Brock told me you'd been on a losing streak, and needed the confidence boost. I threw the match."

Dawn was silent for a moment, her bangs covering her eyes.

"So... I should never have gotten to the Grand Festival." She murmured.

"No." May cheerily replied. "I shouldn't have been at that match. I'm not a Sinnoh competitor, am I? And you fought your way to the final of the most prestigious contest in Sinnoh, not counting the Grand Festival. And, in the Grand Festival, you got to a semi final, on your first try. That's amazing! It's near legendary!"

"I did on my first Grand Festival." Drew pointed out.

"But no one likes you, so shut up." May gave him a smile, and turned back to Dawn. "You're a good coordinator Dawn. But don't stop now because of one loss."

The blue haired girl stared at May in wonder.

"You... knew it was on my mind."

"Because I was the same when I lost at Kanto. And Hoenn." She shrugged. "You move on, have better matches. Now go get that pokemon looked at, Blazekin is known for that combo, it's quite lethal."

"Like my Dragon formation." Drew smirked.

"That was cheesy, lame, and I beat it. So quiet." The brunette smiled, and Dawn rushed away, smiling.

"Not bad Mable. I can see why you're the favourite to win." Drew nodded, and May beamed, rubbing Blazekin's head affectionately.

"Well, I've not won yet." May shrugged. "I've got to, well, win first."

"Well said." He nodded. "You're still stupid though."

"Hey!" She pouted, giving him a look.

"... And eager..."

"Drew!"

Pokemon ©Satoshi Tajiri
Vardoger © -Little-Miss-Lia
Permission to translate or create a story
based on or following on from 'Vardoger' needed.