Chapter 5: Friends

May, Rapidash, and Drew are eating dinner in the dining room.

"So Drew, tell me something new about you." May said.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I want to know more about you."

"Well, there's really nothing else that's interesting about me. I told you that I've lived here alone with my Pokémon for a year to escape my parents. That's really all you need to know about me."

May frowned. "Well...I guess I was...hoping that we can actually be friends."

Drew's eyes widened slightly. He watched as May continued eating her food in silence. Now he's feeling a bit guilty. He didn't mean to make her sad. In fact, he doesn't like seeing her sad. He likes seeing her smile.

"May, I…" Drew started.

May looked up at Drew. "You called me by my actual name."

Drew smiled. "I'm sorry if I made you sad. It's just...there's something that I don't really want to mention. And it has to do with my family."

"Oh. It's okay. I understand. That's just like me."

Drew nodded. "But I'd like to be friends with you too."

May smiled. "Then let's. You don't have to tell me what you don't want to. Just like you told me, I'll tell you. Only if you want to tell me, then tell me."

"Thanks."

"No prob."

May, Rapidash, and Drew finished eating their food. Drew took the two plates and Pokémon food bowl and took them next door to the kitchen.

May heard the sink turn on and she stood up from the table. Her and Rapidash walked next door and saw Drew washing the dishes and loading up the dishwasher.

May walked to the dishwasher and grabbed a plate that Drew had in his hands and was about to put in. Drew looked at May.

"Can I help?" May asked.

May released the plate and Drew put it in the dishwasher. He dried his hands on a towel and faced May. "I can't ask you to do that." Drew said.

"You don't have to. I'm volunteering."

"Why?"

"I really want to pay you back for letting me stay here somehow. Let me help with chores."

Drew just stared into May's eyes a bit longer. He then smirked. "Are you sure you know how to do it?"

"I'm sure."

"Then have fun." Drew stepped out of the way.

May walked to the sink and looked at Drew. "I'll handle the dishes. You can do a different chore if you want."

"I'll just clean the counters, so I can make sure you don't flood my house."

"I don't think that's even possible."

"It might take weeks, but it's still possible to flood a house. Now clean."

May rolled her eyes and faced the sink. She grabbed a sponge and started washing the dishes. Drew grabbed a washcloth, wet it, wrung it out, and started wiping the counters.

"How do you do it, Drew?" May asked.

"How do I do what?"

"Clean the entire house. All by yourself."

"Well, the majority of the rooms aren't used, so I only clean those like once a month."

"Ohh...makes sense."

"And also, sometimes my Pokémon help with my chores."

"That's nice of them."

"Yep. We're all a team here."

"Like me and Rapidash."

"I guess so. I'd actually like to know more about your relationship with him. How long have you two been together?"

"Since I was five. He was a gift from my parents." May's smile immediately faded once she mentioned her parents. Since Drew is busy wiping the counters, he doesn't notice her frown.

"They gave you a Pokémon when you were five? That's a lot of responsibility, especially for a five year old."

"Yeah...I guess."

Drew heard May's tone of voice and he stopped cleaning and looked at May. May is holding a sponge and plate in her hands, and she's just staring down at the sink not moving.

"May, are you okay?" Drew asked.

May snapped out of thinking. "Never better." She answered. She continued washing the dishes.

"Well, when did you start traveling with Rapidash?" Drew asked.

"Since I was 16. Right now I'm 18. So it's been more than 2 years since I left home with Rapidash." May said. "We've been to so many places all over Hoenn. We've seen so many wonderful things." Her frown turned back into a small smile.

Drew walked to May and stood next to her. "Like what?"

"Well, I remember running with a stampede of Rapidash." May said. "It was so cool. We were surrounded by plenty of other Rapidash. And I remember riding on my Rapidash through this gigantic grassy field with my arms spread out with a bird. I felt the wind through my hair and it was so fun, feeling free and stuff."

"You two have been through a lot." Drew said. "You're a natural at surviving on your own."

May blushed slightly. "Thanks."

May just finished filling up the dishwasher. "What do I do now?" May asked.

"I'll start it." Drew said. May moved back and Drew opened the cabinet below the sink, grabbing the dish soap. He poured some into the small compartment of the dishwater. He then closed it and with a few button clicks, it started. He put the soap away and closed the cabinet. He faced May. "Thanks for your help."

"No problem. Dishes are easy."

"Do you know how to cook?"

"Umm...not...really…" May said. "I haven't even really tried." May had personal cooks in the castle cook for her, so she never learned.

"So throughout your journey so far, you've only ever eaten at the Pokémon Center or a restaurant?"

May nodded. "Well actually, I take the food to go and we eat somewhere else. I told you how Rapidash is."

"Right. Well...did you want to learn?"

"Huh? Learn what?"

"How to cook. I can teach you if you'd like to try something new."

"Umm...I don't know…" May said. "What if I burn the mansion down?"

"I doubt that will happen with my good teaching, but I'll be with you the entire time to make sure you do everything correctly."

"Well...if it's not a bother…"

"No bother at all."

"Then okay. I'd love to learn."

Drew smirked. "Great. Then you'll make breakfast tomorrow."

"If you say so." May said. "But just warning you, it might be burned."


"So, what breakfast food did you want to try making?" Drew asked.

"Ooh! Can I make homemade pancakes? They're so good!" May said.

Drew walked over to a cabinet. "I knew they were good, but I didn't think they were that good." He took out a box of pancake batter and put it on the counter.

"They're probably my most favorite breakfast food."

"Well, you're in luck. This is the last box I have of pancake batter."

"Yay!"

"Now, grab a spatula and let's begin."

Time skip 30 minutes…

"I think I got it now." May said. She flipped a pancake over with a spatula. It made a sizzling sound in the pan.

"That was perfect." Drew said.

"I never thought that cooking could actually be fun."

"I'm glad you like it."

After a minute, May took the pancake on a spatula and carefully carried it out, placing it over another pancake on a plate. She then turned off the stove and put the spatula in the sink.

May looked at Drew. "So, what do you think of my pancakes?"

Drew took one of the two plates. "Let's taste them."

May grabbed the other plate of pancakes and they both walked next door to the dining room.

"Oh. Do you have Rapidash's food?" May asked, sitting down at the table.

Drew placed his plate on the table. "I'll go get it." He walked back into the kitchen.

Drew walked back to the dining table after a minute, carrying a food bowl. He placed it on the table next to May's plate.

"Rapidash, eat up." May said.

Rapidash walked forward and started eating his food. Drew sat down and May and Drew both took a bite out of their pancakes.

"Well, what do you think?" May asked. "It's pretty good, right?"

Drew smirked and flicked his bangs. "It's alright."

May glared at Drew.

Drew saw May's expression and his smirk changed to a smile. "I guess I'll admit...they're pretty good for someone who hasn't even tried cooking before." He continued eating.

May smiled. "Thanks!" She continued eating. "Glad you like them."


May is sitting in her room after dinner. It's nighttime and she's talking to Rapidash.

"Rapidash, do you think we should leave soon?"

Rapidash looked at May in confusion.

"I mean...I did only say that we'll be here for only a few days, right? Just until my leg heals. Do you think he'll kick us out once it's fully healed? Because I kind of like it here. And so do you. You love playing with his Pokémon. But yet, I also want to still travel around Hoenn and see more places."

Rapidash neighed.

"Yeah...he might not kick us out, and it'll be up to me to decide."

Knock knock knock.

May looked at the door to see Drew standing there. "Hi, Drew. What's up?"

"I came to check on your wound." Drew said, walking towards May.

"What do you mean? I feel great."

"I should take off the bandage then." Drew said, stopping at May.

"Oh umm...okay."

Drew kneeled down in front of May's legs. "I'm going to move really slow, okay? When I see the pain in your face, I'll freeze for a moment."

May nodded. With that sign, Drew started peeling down May's bandaid from the top. May felt pain when he was peeling it directly off of her wound. Drew would pause before continuing when he saw the pain by looking at May's face.

In a minute, Drew peeled the bandaid off completely. He threw it away in the trash can. He went back to May and looked at her leg. "It looks like it's healing fast. Try to not touch it."

May nodded. "Thanks."

Drew smiled. "I'll leave you two to sleep whenever you want." He started walking to the door.

"Hey Drew?" May asked once Drew got to the door. Drew stopped and turned around. "Umm...once my leg fully heals...which I'm sure will be soon...we'll be going, okay? Like I said when we first came here."

Drew frowned. "Right. I know. Be sure to tell me whenever you leave." With that said, he left the room.

"Do you think he'll miss us?" May asked. Rapidash neighed sadly. May looked at Rapidash. "You were starting to trust him too, huh?" Rapidash nodded. May sighed. "He's our friend, but yet, I don't want to trouble him to care for us anymore. So I think we'll only stay for a couple more days."