Otay I updated like three stories yesterday so let me get to work on these next ones! This is my favorite story so I'll try my best to make this a good chapter that will last you until I get the opportunity to update again which should be like…Tuesday if my teachers are nice and don't give homework. Who knows…?

VV

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Day 1: Part 3: Forever

"So, how do I look?" May asked as she stood before her two friends. Riley and Rolyn gasped and clapped in approval at their brunette friend's appearance. She looked even more adorable then she already was. She was wearing a red spaghetti strapped dress that ended just above her knees and over that she had on a white shrug. On her feet were white flats and her hair was left out but she did not get rid of her chopsticks, even though they clashed with her outfit completely.

"You look so cute May!" Riley complimented with a sweet smile. May returned the smile with gratitude. Riley was simply wearing a pair of white shorts and a pink halter top. She still had her cap and goggles on her head and she traded her flip flops for some pink flats.

"Yea May you look really nice." Rolyn commented as she pulled her hair up into its classic side ponytail. She was wearing a mini skirt with a green tank top and a black t-shirt under that. She had on black boots instead of her normal sneakers.

"You two look nice too." May said. Riley thanked her and Rolyn rolled her eyes as she attached her pokeball belt around her hips.

"Ray asked me if I wanted to hang out at the festival with him!" Riley piped clamping her hands together before her. Her cheeks flushed with excitement as she grinned at her two friends.

"Drew said he was going with me too." May sighed as she took a seat on her bed. The guys were probably waiting for them in the lobby. They didn't need that much time to get ready because they were simply going in their street clothes, finding no need to change.

"I guess that leaves you with Jason, Rolyn." Riley commented after a small period of silence that hung over them. Rolyn shrugged. She had been in a snippy mood most of the day; actually ever since her pointless argument with Jason after his battle.

"Gee thanks for dumping me with him." She muttered. Riley pouted and her expression turned hurt. May gave her a confusing look.

"What's the matter?" May asked. "You seem kinda mad." Rolyn glanced at them and laughed lightly trying to play off her foul mood. She smiled at them and headed for the door.

"C'mon guys! Let's go!" She said with as much enthusiasm as she could. She rushed out the door and out of sight and Riley and May exchanged looks. Riley shrugged and went after Rolyn but May stayed rooted in spot. Something was wrong and she knew it.

"Please can we, please, get some more candy!?" May whimpered as they passed yet another stand with candy. Drew rolled his eyes at her and continued to pull her along. She had, had enough candy for the day. Anyone could tell by the way she was so hyper. Ray had taken off about thirty minutes earlier and Riley had quickly followed because of that. Rolyn and Jason were still close behind but they didn't speak much except for a sarcastic insult here and there.

"Candy is the last thing you need right now May." Drew sighed. May huffed and picked up her pace so that she wasn't being dragged along.

"You ruin all my fun." She muttered as she tucked some hair behind her ear and pointed her nose up in the air. Drew chuckled lightly at this.

"It's what I was born to do…well that and beat you in contests." Drew retorted smirking in her direction. May's eye twitched before she snatched her wrist from his tight grip and placed her fists on her hips while still keeping up.

"Excuse me Mr. Arrogant I could beat you anywhere any time! You don't have to be such a jerk about it." May said narrowing her eyes in a glare.

"Especially since the both of you got brutally beaten by me!" Rolyn inserted. Both Drew and May looked over their shoulders at the ebony haired girl who was smirking evilly at them.

"That was a fluke!" They said in unison. May glanced at Drew and he did the same to her.

"Aw, you guys even say the same things…" Jason cooed throwing a dirty look in Rolyn's direction. She returned the look and stuck out her tongue at him.

"No we don't!" The two coordinators said, once again, in unison. Rolyn could not help but laugh and Jason smirked in a knowing way. "Stop saying what I say!" May slapped a hand over Drew's mouth and smiled innocently as his eyes narrowed into a glare.

"There now you can't say what I say." She said in a matter-of-fact tone. Drew pulled her hand away from his mouth and smiled at her sarcastically.

"You're a genius May." He muttered. May smiled brightly at him but her eyes were narrowed as well because she had caught his sarcasm.

"You guy's got some issues…" Jason laughed shaking his head.

"We have issues?" May questioned giving him an incredulous look. "You and Rolyn haven't said or done anything nice to each other all day since you won your badge! You two are supposed to be best friends and you act like this!?"

Rolyn clenched her hands into fists and glared at Jason for a moment before turning it on May.

"That's exactly what the problem is! I'm his best friend!!!!" She yelled catching the attention of other people who were just trying to enjoy the festival. May blinked in surprise and Jason's face fell as Rolyn turned on her heel and ran in the opposite direction they were going in.

"What's her problem?" Drew questioned. May shrugged and was about to go after her when Jason stopped her.

"I'll take care of it…" He sighed before going after her. May pouted in worry as she clamped her hands together watching him run after Rolyn.

"She'll be okay." Drew reassured while taking one of her hands within his. May willingly let him intertwine their fingers and she smiled at him sweetly.

"Okay I'll take your word for it this one time." She responded nodding.

"You don't believe me any other time?" He questioned giving her a blank stare. May pursed her lips and put on a face of contemplation and within seconds she was shaking her head while smiling in her normal cheerful manner.

"Nope." She said popping her 'p' for emphasis. Drew squeezed her hand tightly within his and she cringed. "Ow!"

"So are you going to use Charmeleon for this contest or Marshstomp?" Riley questioned as she playfully swung her feet back and forth over the tree branch she was sitting on. Ray had complained that the noise was really getting to him so she thought it would be relaxing if they sat up in a tree away from the Midnight Festival. It would be over soon anyway. It was already 11:45.

"I don't think it would be fitting for me to give away any information but since I'll beat you anyway I would have to say Charmeleon." He said tilting his head back a bit.

"Actually I could beat you Ray. My confidence has been getting stronger especially because of May, Rolyn, and Diandra." Riley informed him not feeling insulted like May would if Drew were to say that to her. Ray glanced at her, letting his forest green eyes meet her violet ones. Just like she said, they were filled with confidence.

"I thought Diandra didn't travel with you anymore." He said turning away from her. Riley laughed lightly and nodded. Ray could not find the humor in that.

"Well duh!" She said in a bubbly manner. "She calls me though telling me things she learns from coordinators she meets….and May, she was my absolute inspiration! When I saw her perform I knew that was what I wanted to do and her encouragement makes everything better. Rolyn, she's a great role model as well. She is so good that she won a ribbon cup on her first try but she started coordinating at a late age so she had time to train for this and when she taught me I knew I could do this! I wanna be like the both of them!"

"I think you'd do just great being you." Ray commented. Riley looked at him to see that his cheeks were flushed. She smiled at him brightly and grabbed him in a hug.

"Thank you…" She said quietly. He returned the hug and then out of the blue, fireworks lit up the sky. Riley gasped and smiled as she glanced at her watch. "It's midnight!"

Ray smiled at her and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Her eyes widened and her face turned bright red as she looked at him to see that he was now staring at the fireworks. In the dim light you could see the blush going across his cheeks.

"You're welcome." He said. Riley's shocked expression changed into a bright smile as she grabbed him in another hug.

"Rolyn!" Jason called after her. She ran faster in hopes that she would lose him but he was faster than she remembered.

"Leave me alone!" She yelled stopping momentarily to turn and glare at him. In that brief moment he could see the river of tears that streamed down her cheeks. She turned and shoved past people as she finally escaped the crowd and now found her way out of the festival. She was sick of it all anyway.

"Rolyn will you stop being a stubborn brat and listen to me!!" Jason ordered as he finally got close enough to clasp his hand around her wrist. She jerked her arm and growled in frustration.

"Let go of me!"

"Not until you talk to me." He said in a much calmer tone than she had. She relaxed and he let go of her wrist hesitantly not wanting her to run and when she didn't he placed his arms at his sides. She wiped away her tears and crossed her arms over her chest.

"There is nothing to talk about. I understand that you didn't get jealous earlier even though I wished you did, I understand that I'm your best friend and nothing more and I understand that you forgot everything that happened last year! I know it doesn't matter now!" She yelled at him but her voice wavered with her sadness.

"What are you talking about? Of course it mattered…" He retorted.

"You could have told me otherwise and I would have believed you! You forgot everything and you treat me like we never…like we never…" She trailed off as fresh tears made their way down her cheeks.

"Like we never what? Got together? Of course I remember Rolyn! Why would I forget the most important and best time of my life!? I love being with you…" He said with his tone raising; he was now getting angry.

"Then why did you come back like there was no recollection of anything!? I was so happy to see you again when I came here but you ruined it! Why!?" She yelled taking a step forward towards him. She looked up into his grayish-green eyes and he glared at her.

"Because I was afraid! I was afraid that you had forgotten! I was afraid that since we were separated for so long and we left things the way they were that you wouldn't care anymore and I was afraid of falling in love and then getting hurt…." He sighed. Rolyn blinked back her tears and stared into his eyes. They held such hurt and frustration.

"You loved me?" She questioned. Right at that moment fireworks began going off from the center of the festival. It didn't falter the moment though. Everything seemed silent.

"I still do Rolyn!" He growled grabbing her shoulders. Rolyn stared into his eyes for any hint that he was playing with her but they were sincere. She stood on her toes and placed a chaste kiss on his lips savoring the feeling she got when their lips met.

"I l-love you too…"

"Thanks for giving me that piggy back ride Drew. My feet were killing me." May sighed as Drew set her down in the grass. They were right next to a lake that had the Midnight festival was on the opposite side of the small lake. The pair had just escaped getting into an encounter with Vanessa who had spotted the two of them getting May candy of course.

May had gotten tired of running as soon as she started and Drew didn't think twice about ordering her to get on her back and taking off at high speed. They had lost Vanessa but just to make sure Drew brought them there.

"That girl makes me sick. When can she get the clue that you don't like her?" May grumbled shaking her head in disgust at Vanessa antics. Drew laughed lightly as he took a seat next to her. "What's so funny?"

"You are." He said simply. May quirked and eyebrow at him. "You become so defensive of me when it comes to Vanessa…or any other fangirl for that matter. It's like you're my personal attack dog" May's face flushed.

"I-I just think it would get rather annoying that you have someone practically stalking you, who doesn't get the hint that you're not interested. I'm just trying to help you." May retorted nodding at her own words.

"I never asked for your help though." He countered. May huffed and got to her feet.

"Well if you're going to be a jerk about it!" She exclaimed stamping her foot as she was about to turn and leave, however Drew grabbed her hand and pulled her back down next to. She plopped back down in the ground with a yelp and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Calm down Maple I never said I wasn't grateful for the help. I just want to know the real reason why." He said looking at her. She blinked stupidly and shrugged.

"I told you; it's because you're my friend." May lied. She was well aware that she acted that way out of jealousy. She didn't even know just how far her envy could take her until she met Vanessa.

"Okay tell the truth…" Drew pressed. She turned her gaze down into her lap, avoiding any eye contact with him.

"Um….I-I…" A sudden boom cut May off completely and an array of colors filled the sky. Both of them looked up at the fireworks that came from the focal point of the festival. A bright smile spread across May's face as another one was let off. "Oh wow…it's beautiful."

"Yea…." Drew trailed off. He looked towards her to find her completely engrossed in the display of lights in the sky. "Hey May do you think what Vanessa said was true?"

"What did she say?" May asked naively. Drew resisted the urge to roll his eyes and smiled at her instead.

"About the whole kissing the one you love at midnight thing; do you think it's true?" He asked once again.

"I-I don't know…" May muttered as she looked straight forward out into the lake. Another loud boom rolled through the air and May's head was suddenly jerked so that she was facing Drew. He had his hand on her cheek and this caused her to blush bright red.

"Well there is one way to find out."

With that Drew leaned in and placed his lips upon hers in a chaste kiss. May closed her eyes and leaned in even more so that, that one kiss could deepen. It was innocent yet passionate at the same time. Everything seemed to stop right there and the sound of the fireworks fell on deaf ears as they got lost in one another. May was content and this one moment reassured everything she felt, from the first time they met until now. He reluctantly pulled away and she smiled lightly.

"How long is forever…?" She questioned in a hushed tone.

Oh YAY all done! Woohoo! This chapter? Mega fun to write! This is the start of a whole new story practically. Everyone is with who they should be with but let's see what happens as the journey continues and the grand festival comes along. Who will win!? Rolyn: the one time champion rookie, Drew: The four time champion, May the three time champion, Ray: The rookie with the skills, or Riley: the rookie whose still trying to figure it out? This is gonna be good!

V i V a V e N d E t T a . . .