Okay…now for those of you wondering why the heck I stuck an iPod in, you're about to find out. (You know who you are.)
As for the goings-on in this rather long chapter (at least by this story's standards), you'll just have to read and find out! And that's all I'm saying. ENJOY!
~Pika
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
May's and Misty's hotel room happened to be one of the quietest and most peaceful, since it was set back in a corner overlooking the nearby beach. If the windows were opened, the sound of briny waves breaking could reach the occupants' ears, and the scents of the sea would waft through the room. At the moment, however, the girls were investing their time on more pressing affairs – that is, checking out Drew's iPod and sulking, respectively.
Tilting her head to the side, May contemplated the sleek black device that she held in her hand. "Come here, Misty. Don't you want to see it? It was your brilliant idea to get it from Drew, y'know."
Misty only sniffed, her arms crossed. Stretched across the length of one of the two beds in their hotel room, she was scratching her arms and legs irritably. Stun Spore appeared to have more…effects…than May had realized. Apparently, it made an excellent itching powder as well as a temporary solution to violent arguing.
Seeing Misty so uncomfortable spurred on May's already bothered conscience. She rose from her bed and plopped down in front of her redheaded friend, leaning over earnestly. "Wanna see it?" she said softly, coaxingly. "It's really cool…"
A hand darted out to snatch the iPod from May's tantalizingly upraised hand. "Okay, okay!" Misty cried, unable to hold in her curiosity. Pressing a button eagerly, her brow wrinkled as the screen asked her for a password. "What is it?" she asked.
"It's 3265," May said, smiling as she returned to her own pile of blankets. She'd intended to get a good night's sleep in preparation for the Contest Preliminaries in two days, but with Drew's iPod and Misty's incessant curiosity surrounding it, the Coordinator doubted that she'd get the rest she needed. Oh, well. It was worth it for the deal that I made with –
"So…" Misty said, tapping the screen busily, her eyes glazed over, "what was that deal that you made with Drew?"
May gulped. "Uhm…"
"Not telling, eh?" Misty, in a good humor now, shrugged. "That's okay. You have all week to tell me," she said, winking slyly.
Her best friend rolled her eyes; she was used to Misty's scheming. But this time, May had done some of her own…the thought both amused her and filled her with uncertainty. Should I have done that? Shaking her head as if to clear it, a thought suddenly occurred to her. Turning to face Misty, she asked, "Why'd you want the iPod so badly?" May's eyes narrowed. "And why Drew's?"
Misty, still enraptured by the gem in her hands, didn't respond…or at least, she was pretending to be enraptured so that she wouldn't "hear" May's question.
However, May had a plan. She stroked her chin in an exaggerated thinking motion. "Well, I hope it's not because you like him…" she said in a sing-song voice. The brunette didn't really believe this was true of Misty, but a small part of her mind (the pessimistic portion) wouldn't leave the prospect alone. The doubts only abated when she thought of the way Misty talked about Ash when he wasn't around…May couldn't help but smile, reassured once again. This plan of hers was going to be fun to carry out, indeed…
Misty shot bolt upright in bed, still clutching the iPod. Score! May thought triumphantly, turning back to the business at hand. "Who's talking? I don't like him!" Misty yelled. "I wanted to get the iPod because -"
May leaned forward on the edge of her bed. Yes? YES?
"- I wanted it because it's all part of our plan. The dare," the redhead said, breathless with the revealing of her master plan. "I thought this might…enhance the process."
Seriously? May quirked an eyebrow, deflated somewhat. "How so?"
"I thought, maybe, y'know, Mister Hayden might have some" – Misty leaned forward dramatically – "love songs on this little beauty." She waved Drew's pride and joy in the air for emphasis, which invoked the "shake to shuffle" feature. The speakers began to blast a song unfamiliar to Misty. May, however, screamed with delight, and began singing at the top of her lungs (and with decent pitch at that):
"I used to rule…the world, seas would rise when I gave the word. Now in the morning I sleep…alone, sweep the streets I used to roam…"
"What IS that?"
May paused in her singing long enough to respond shortly. "Viva la Vida. You know, Coldplay's song?"
Misty shook her head in a negative, still listening intently. "This isn't a love song," she mumbled, downcast, as the song continued.
May rolled her eyes, still singing, "And for some reason I can't explain, I know Saint Peter will call my name…" she shook her head at last as the song drew to a close. "Misty, what in the world makes you think that of all guys, Drew would have something as girly as a love song on here?" she queried.
"Oh…I dunno," said Misty slowly. "Drew just sees like kind of a, well, a guy that would do that for a girl he liked…I guess it's just female intuition," she finished loftily.
Well, that was insulting, Best Friend! "In case you haven't noticed, there's another female in this room, and she's none other than Yours Truly," May retorted, lounging against her bed's headboard. "Lemme see the iPod. And no one said that he actually likes me, either," she added.
Misty surrendered it with a smirk. "You'll see," she muttered.
As the two females lounged in their room, the sun gradually sank below the tree line, and the sky became immersed in shimmering darkness. The stars twinkled indefinitely among the cottony clouds. The tide was drifting in, and the moonlight cast a strange and mystical hue on the waters.
The brunette Coordinator was feeling lighthearted as she flicked through the songs. As she spent the next several minutes engaged in song-browsing (none of which were romantic thus far), she became so immersed in Drew's selection – picking out songs she knew and liked, making a mental note to listen to some she didn't know, and wrinkling her nose at a couple that she wasn't too fond of – that when Misty tapped her on the shoulder she jumped.
"What, Misty?"
"What were the numbers for the password again?"
May didn't even glance up, her voice a monotone. "It's 3265."
I wonder if they translate into anything," mused Misty. "Like a secret message, y'know?"
"I wouldn't count on it," May warned, still flicking through songs. "Drew's not that deep."
"How do you know?" Misty frowned thoughtfully. "I'm gonna try out different combinations." And with that, the redhead took out a pencil and piece of paper emblazoned with the hotel name ("Premiere Suites") and opened her Pokegear, using the letters that lined up with each number (similar to a cell phone) to crack the code.
After May got bored with looking at her rival's song collection, she started watching Misty work. When a good ten minutes had gone by, she asked, "Found anything?" But what is there to find? "L-O-V-E"? If Drew actually was that thoughtful, the brunette thought, a small smile gracing her lips at the thought, he'd have thought of something creative.
"I've tried every single combination," an exhausted Misty said at last, slapping the pencil on the bedcovers in defeat. She started to turn away, but suddenly her eyes lit up. "Wait, I think there's one more…" she jotted the letters down, scanning them quickly as she tried to think of any significant meaning behind them. Sighing loudly, she rolled over. "Nothing doing." The Cerulean Sister swung her legs over the bed and lethargically got to her feet. "I'm gonna take a shower," she said, still itching her arms as she zombie-walked to the adjoining bathroom. "Try to find a good movie playing, will you?" The door shut behind the girl with finality.
May was feeling sleepy, too, but the prospect of a good movie was appealing. Turning the iPod off, she grabbed the TV remote and smashed a button, jarring the old set to life. As she changed into ruby-red pajamas and removed the crimson bandanna from her head, she found her eyes straying toward Misty's piece of paper.
Finally, May got up and padded over. Peering down, she found that there were numerous clusters of four-letter combinations (most of which made no sense) scrawled across the page, all of which were crossed out except the last one, which Misty had apparently been too tired to eliminate.
May read the last entry. D-A-M-L. "Nothing there," she muttered, turning back to the television. "Definitely nothing." She was almost disappointed.
Suddenly May had an idea to end her boredom. By the time she had figured out what to say and do, her victim was stepping out of the shower, in clean cerulean-colored pajamas.
"Hey, Misty," May began carefully, "You know about the plan Drew and I hatched?"
"Mmhmm," said Misty, wringing out her wet, red coils.
"It involves you." As the brunette had suspected, Misty stopped mid-wring. "How so?" she said, repeating May's earlier suspicious question.
"Well, first of all, you have to go through with this, because then you and I will be even with our dares," May said quickly, wanting to get this over with. Why had she even wanted to do this for fun? It was torture. "We hatched up a plan that'll work out really great…for you and Ash," she finished in a very small voice.
"WHAT!?" Misty screamed, already reaching out a hand to wring something else – May's neck.
"Wait, wait!" May hollered, preparing to bodily defend herself.
"HOW COULD YOU, YOU CRAZY -"
"WAIT A SECOND!" May roared, showing a complete lack of consideration for the more elderly people in the building who were perhaps already trying to sleep. "YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!"
Misty's hand quivered, inches from her friend's throat. "W-What?" she said softly.
"You've been trying to work up the courage to do this for a long time," May replied as evenly as she could, breathing deeply. "And the final objective of your dare for me was to go out with Drew – so we would be even." Calming herself further, she said, "You're almost fifteen years old, Misty. It's time you did this."
Misty's eyes flashed steel. "You're right. It is." Slowly, her hand withdrew, and May sighed.
"But that doesn't mean I forgive you," Misty finished, her mouth twitching. She rose to her feet and disappeared into the bathroom for a moment, and when she returned she was dressed again.
"Wait! W-Where are you going?"
"To ask Ash to go on a dinner date with me," said Misty with spirit. "I'll be back in about half an hour." And with that, she marched through the door, slamming it shut behind her.
"- Dangflabbin' loud kids!" came an old, quavering voice from somewhere down the hall. Laughing, May plopped down on the bed, at peace once again.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Drew was sprawled on his back and flicking through an identical set of channels in his room on the opposite side of the Premiere Suites, windows overlooking the forest nearby, second floor. So far, all that was on were old Westerns and Pokemon self-help shows.
"Your Stylish Secret Base", "Hoenn Leaue Prep", "PokeTravel Network – To Kanto and Bayond! Special", "Your Contest Pokemon's Potential" - His green eyes lingered briefly on the screen, on which an eager young Pokemon Coordinator was receiving instruction from an old veteran. Boring. The channel-surfing quest continued, with PNC (Pokemon NewsCast), High Plains Drifter – Drew half-considered watching, but declined – and a million more Westerns after that. With a sigh, he settled on Tips for a Better Contest, although he wasn't exactly on the edge of his seat (or his bed, for that matter). Instead, his thoughts drifted to his encounter with May.
I still can't believe we're actually gonna go through with her plan, he thought with a smile. But she definitely wasn't kidding. I'll bet she gets the ball rolling on our scheme tomorrow…He sat back on one elbow, contemplating the aspects of the plan with amusement.
Suddenly, several sharp knocks sounded on the door. The green-haired boy rose to his feet and padded across the room, saying, "Who's there?"
"It's Ash! Let me in."
Drew took a step backward, not in surprise at the caller, but at the speed in which Ash had been summoned. What do you know? May really is fast! Quickly recovering, the Coordinator stepped forward and undid the door latch.
Ash stumbled into the room, looking slightly dazed.
"Sit down," said Drew, indicating a spot on the wrinkled bedspread. He shut the door behind his friend as Ash scurried to the bedside. Snatching up the remote before Ash (whose brain appeared to be in a fog) sat on it, Drew muted the television and sat cross-legged on the bed opposite him. "So…why are you here?" he began without preamble, knowing what Ash must say.
"Well…I've got something of a problem – well, it's not actually a problem…"
Drew leaned forward, expectancy showing in his eyes. "What is it, Ash?"
Ash twiddled his thumbs, staring at them as if his life depended on it. "I need advice. Misty just asked me out on a dinner date."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"I think it went well," Misty stated for the fifth time. "Yes, it did."
May smiled amusedly, her eyes on the TV but her thoughts elsewhere. "Well, he said yes, didn't he?"
"Sure," Misty said, looking rather pleased with herself. "I just mean, I think I didn't make him go into shock or anything."
"Well," her friend chuckled, "even if you did, Ash would've gone into shock if any girl had asked him about anything related to a date." They both began to laugh, eventually leaning on each other and wiping tears from their eyes as they pictured the various other girls they'd met on their travels asking Ash out on a date.
Without warning, over the muted drone of Your Contest Pokemon's Potential playing on the tube, the hotel phone rang.
The two girls simultaneously dashed to it, each playfully trying to be the first to pick it up. Finally, May (whose gloves provided better traction) grabbed the receiver and hit the Talk button. "Hello?"
"Hey, May." The familiarly cool voice washed over the brunette. "Mission going well, I presume?"
"Very," said May with a wink at Misty, who stuck her tongue out, knowing who it must be.
"Listen, I got him to go through with it, but he's kinda freaking out. But he'll be fine."
"O-kay," said May slowly. "That's good…I think?" She laughed lightly.
"Look, why don't you come over and we can discuss this properly? I gather that the girl in question is with you at the moment."
May was divided between happiness and trepidation at the prospect of seeing Drew again so soon. After Misty's show of courage, going to see him would mean…asking him on a date - tonight. Was she ready for that bit of the dare just yet? Easy, girl, she chided herself. He might say no. But somehow that seemed worse still.
"Uh…May?" Came the other voice over the line. Was it her imagination, or did Drew sound just a little bit hesitant…or nervous?
"Okay. Right now?"
"Sure. I'll have the door unlocked."
May couldn't help but giggle. "You're making this sound like a secret mission." Misty leaned forward in interest, wondering what was being discussed.
"Whatever." May smiled at his answer, knowing that he was rolling his eyes. "Just come on over, 'kay?"
"Alright, over in five. 'Bye."
The second the line went dead, Misty pounced. "What secret mission!?" she cried.
May brushed her aside casually, trying to keep her clashing emotions in check. "Oh, nothing."
"The last time you said that, I ended up asking Ash Ketchum out on a dinner date," the redhead snorted.
"I'll be back in half an hour or so," May said, flying out the door before her friend could protest. As the door shut behind her, she could've sworn that a voice called, "Ask him out, already!"
The brunette smiled. Misty knew her well.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The TV was still on, but Drew's level of attention to it had lessened even more since Ash left, and even more still since he'd hung up the phone after talking with May. Worse still, the conversation with Ash was still echoing in his mind…
"You've gotta help me!"
"I'll try," Drew said. "Where are you going, exactly?"
"The Premiere Restaurant. It's just the one in the hotel, but -"
"- It's still a big deal, right?" Ash nodded mutely in response.
"Well, of course, you should bring her flowers or something -"
"Roses, right?" Ash smirked, regaining a little of his old confidence.
Drew blushed slightly. "Whatever's your favorite – or if you happen to know Misty's…"
"I don't." Silence reigned for several seconds. Then Ash burst out, "Drew, I don't want to do this! It's not worth it, anyway!"
Drew eyed Ash. "You don't mean that," he said quietly. "You like Misty a lot."
Ash's stubborn glare wavered slightly. "And if I did, so what?"
Drew's own stare was unrelenting.
"Oh, fine," Ash sighed, "It is worth it. But what I mean is, I'm afraid to go alone, and I was thinking -"
"Oh, great," Drew muttered. "Ash is thinking again. I don't know if I want to hear this."
"I was thinking," the Trainer pushed on, "that we could…maybe…" His voice became a tiny whisper.
"What?"
"…double-date."
"WHAT!?" Drew stood up abruptly. Honestly, how could Ash ask him that? He knew that Drew didn't date, least of all any fan-girls…and there was only one girl who he would even think of asking, anyway…
"Please, Drew! I can't go through with this without you!" Ash's eyes became large and watery, using the trick that worked every time – well, probably fifty percent of the time, he reasoned – when Misty was mad with him.
Not quite knowing why he was even considering this, Drew asked tersely, "If I did do this, who would I take?"
"Well, that's kinda obvious, isn't it?" Ash said innocently. "May, that's who."
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" Drew roared, taking a menacing step toward the black-haired boy.
In a flash, the future Pokemon Master was out the door. Drew slammed it with such force that his teeth rattled – or maybe that was because he was grinding them.
Faintly, a voice came through the wood. "So will ya do it, or not?" it challenged.
Unaware what he was saying, unaware what he was getting himself into, Drew Hayden shouted the first words that sprang to his lips. "F-FINE, I WILL!" he screamed. "GO AWAY, ALREADY!"
The sounds of Ash jogging away, no doubt with a triumphant grin on his face, echoed down the hall. Drew leaned against the doorjamb, exhausted.
What had he done? He'd called her, intending to ask her…that. But being the coward he was, he couldn't bring himself to do it over the phone. So, he'd invited her over instead, not knowing if that was better or worse.
He was about to find out.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
…Wow. This chap ended up longer than I had originally expected, but I suppose that's a good thing, right? It also explains the delay – sorry 'bout that, guys. So…it appears that all four of our heroes have gotten themselves tangled in a rather sticky mess! How will they get out? Well, they won't. They'll have to go through with it. But that's all part of the fun, right?
If you like, REVIEW! If you don't like, REVIEW! You know the drill.
Force be with you,
~Pika