The long awaited, chapter 4: In Too Deep. Lots of Oldrivalshipping!

Sorry for the wait, midterms are next week. And I'm so nervous!

By the way does anyone know how to put up pictures in the story or on my profile? For those people who would like to see how the characters would look if they were human, I found pictures. Drew is blonde and Paul's hair is black but besides that they are really good pictures. Dawn's hair is actually blue! If you know just review or PM me please. :)

Me: I'm so excited for these pictures!

Ash: Who looks like me?

Me: Not telling till I know how to post them

May: Uhm, excuse me. I happen to have a problem that I have to go on a date with DREW!

Drew: You act like I actually enjoy your company, Miss Maple.

Leaf: SurferGurl14 doesn't own Pokémon or the pictures of us, which I already saw!

Ash: Not fair.

Gary: Can we just get to the damn date already. This chapter is all about me.

Leaf: You mean all about us.

Me: Anyway on with the story. Chapter 4: In Too Deep. Some of it will be told in Leaf's POV.

(Third person POV)

"Stupid date, stupid Drew!" May grumbled around as they got ready for the date with their next-door neighbors.

May looked over the outfit that she picked out. A jean skirt with a red tank and a white V-neck shirt with a rose on it. Red flip-flops nicely complimented it.

"I'm almost ready!" May yelled into the next room, which was Dawn's.

Finally May walked downstairs and plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV. She turned the channels and stopped on a channel that was currently running 24.

"Misty, 24 is coming on!"

Misty immediately ran out of her room. "Which episode?"

"The one where Jack and Chase get a lead on the virus after they raid the crack house."

Misty was wearing white shorts and an orange tank.

Leaf ran down wearing a strapless green party dress with white leggings and green sandals. Dawn came down wearing a white halter party dress with netted black legging and her signature black high-heeled boots.

Suddenly Misty and May felt underdressed.

Dawn gasped, "why are you wearing that?'

May was puzzled, "Because it's a date not a party."

Leaf looked uncomfortable. "Well me and Dawn sort of saw the guys from the window, they are already ready. And they are wearing like button down shirts with ties and jeans."

Misty ran back into her room and quickly came out wearing a blue spaghetti strapped dress with gray boots.

May whined, "what do I wear?"

Dawn grabbed her and ran upstairs and found a red strapless dress with a white belt underneath the bust in her closet. "This, and keep your shoes."

The bell ringed downstairs.

Leaf yelled up to them, "The guys are here!"

Misty opened the door to reveal their dates.

Ash wore a gray button down shirt with a blue tie. His hat was nowhere to be found.

Drew wore a green button down shirt with a white tie worn loosely around his neck.

Gary was wearing a white button down shirt with a gold tie swinging loose.

Paul wore a black button down shirt with a pink tie loosened around his neck.

They all wore nice jeans.

"Are you guys ready?" Gary asked, peeping his head through the door.

Misty ushered them inside, where they saw Leaf engrossed in 24, and May and Dawn absent.

Ash handed Misty a stuffed penguin.

Misty blushed, "Aw. Thanks Ash!"

She gave him a small hug, which he happily returned.

Gary walked over to the couch where Leaf's eyes were glued to the TV. He waved a teddy bear in front of her face.

"Hey Leaf," he said, sitting next to her.

Leaf parted her eyes from the TV and looked over at Gary, "Hi."

He put the teddy bear in her lap. "That's for you."

Leaf smiled at it, "Thanks," she shyly looked at Gary then looked down.

"Still not talking to me huh?"

Leaf was too busy playing with the teddy bear. Gary cracked a smile.

"Where's," Drew began but was cut off by Dawn walking downstairs ushering May down as well.

Paul looked over Dawn and looked away as she walked over to him.

"Here," he said handing her a stuffed dog with a pink collar.

Dawn looked at it and smiled, "It's so cute."

She gave Paul a hug, and Paul, shocked, uncrossed his arms and wrapped the around her. As they parted their faces brushed.

May looked over at her friends who were playing with stuffed animals then over to Drew. Instead of pulling out a stuffed animal, he had a bouquet of roses and handed them to May.

"Roses for a pretty girl."

May took the roses and thanked Drew with a small hug.

Ash put his arm around Misty and led her outside. The others followed.

"So where are we going first," Leaf inquired.

Before Gary could answer, Ash blurted, "To eat, I'm starving!"

Gary got his hand ready to smack Ash across the head, but Leaf grabbed his hand to stop him.

"After that we can go to that new carnival." Drew pointed out.

May's eyes widened, "Awesome!"

Maybe this night wasn't going to be so bad after all.

They walked into Misty's favorite Italian restaurant. They had eaten there every day ever since they moved there. Which was about a week. The employees knew their names.

They waited for a waiter after they found a table for eight. Okay, it was a booth.

A teenage guy walked over to their table. "My name is Andrew; I'll be your waiter for tonight. Can I get you something to drink?"

Dawn pouted, "Thanks for acting like you don't know us, Andrew."

Andrew scoffed, "Please Dawn I knew you were in here from the moment you walked in the restaurant, I heard your boots from the kitchen."

Ash put his arm on the booth, "what's up Andrew?"

"Working, Ash. What else?"

"Hey Andrew, we'll take our regulars, ask the girls what they want," Paul said.

Misty smiled, "We'll have our regulars too."

Andrew wrote some stuff on his pad then turned to Leaf. "And what would the lovely Leaf have to drink. You change your drink every time."

"Just water."

Gary shifted uncomfortable that Andrew was flirting with his date, "Come on Leaf, have some vodka."

Leaf just looked at him like he was crazy.

Andrew wrote water on his pad, "Whatever Gary, no matter how much alcohol you give her, she still won't go on a second date with you."

They all laughed as Andrew winked at Leaf and walked away. When he came back with their drinks, Gary put his arm around Leaf. Andrew and Gary exchanged a look as he did.

They all ordered food and began to eat. Everyone was having a good time. Even May who was dreading the date since yesterday.

But Leaf kept her head down most of the dinner. Gary kept his arm around her and when they began to eat he took his arm from around her and put his hand over hers. She was sure it trembled in his.

After dinner they all headed toward the carnival.

Misty screamed, "Bumper Cars!"

Ash chuckled, "You want to go on those?"

"Hell yes!"

"Then come on."

"Race ya!" Misty said taking off, Ash followed pursuit. They were laughing.

Paul laughed, "If Ash loses, remind me to hit him on the head."

Dawn tipped her head to the side. "You know," she said to Paul, "you look better when you laugh."

Paul's scowl immediately returned.

Dawn's eyes lit as she saw one of her favorite pastimes. "Paul, let's go to the Haunted House!"

Paul shrugged and put his hands in his pocket, "Sure."

Dawn giggled and linked her arm with his, hand still in his pocket and walked away.

Drew smirked at May, "Hey Red, bet I can beat you at those games." He pointed toward an area where people were playing different games to win prizes.

"No way Drew," May said, accepting his challenge.

They walked away arguing.

That left Gary and Leaf standing there.

Gary sighed. Leaf didn't even talk to him.

Well it was only for one date. Date, discard, repeat. That was Gary's process.

But for some reason he didn't want to let her go.

Leaf was his. Or was he hers?

(Leaf's POV)

Gary turned to look at me, "Well? Isn't there anything that the lovely Leaf would like to do?"

I shook my head, "I don't know."

Gary took my hand. "Let's walk around till you find something you want to do."

I felt guilty. I was probably ruining the whole date for him. "Or we could do something you want to?"

Gary looked at me and then faked a thinking pose, "Well let's see, we could take a romantic walk or go on that super huge, super fast scary roller coaster right after we had dinner."

I smiled, "A romantic walk sounds nice."

He ruffled my hair just like he used to and gave me a smile. It wasn't impatient or bored or fake. It was nice.

I wish I could act normal. But I can't around him. Especially, not after I saw that picture in his room.

Our picture.

I heard Gary laugh. We were passing the bumper cars and Misty was beating the hell out of Ash.

"Hold on," he told me, "I have to take this picture for Paul."

Sigh, why did I have to leave him?

*Flashback*

Gary and I were playing in a cove off the Orange Islands.

"Hey Leaf, look at this!" Gary walked over to me and put a green tropical flower in my hair.

"It looks amazing on you."

I blushed.

He gave me a bracelet that day. It had a green tropical flower on it. I wore it every day.

I never was able to read his mind. But I didn't care. Not knowing was what drew me to him in the first place. I longed to know his thoughts. And what he thought about me.

Ever since I was little, Gary was my best friend, my most anticipated rival and the love of my life.

The only love of my life.

Every day with him was a dream.

One day after school in 7th grade, my mom gave me the worst news of my life.

"Leaf, sweetie?"

"Yeah, mom?"

"I don't know how to tell you this but I'm sending you to the Sinnoh region."

"What?"

"Sorry, sweetie but there is a really good school there."

"But what about Gary?"

"He's staying here, sweetheart."

My heart was in pain. I could feel it crying.

Telling Gary was worse.

"Leaf, what's wrong?"

"I'm going to school in the Sinnoh region."

"What?" His features of worry were replaced with anger.

"I'm sorry."

"Save you're sorry and go. Just get the hell out of my life!"

"You won't miss me?"

"No, I don't care what you do."

"Gary, I lo-"

"Just shut up. I hope I never see you again."

With that he ran away. I never saw him after that.

My heart broke in half. It shattered. It was gone, just like he was gone.

The dream came to an end.

But I still loved him.

In 8th grade I met Dawn, May and Misty. They had the same power as me and they were the best friends I could ever ask for.

They slowly helped heal my broken heart. But it could never truly heal.

I still wore his bracelet. I thought if I wore it then someday I could see him again.

Now he's back.

Except he moved on. He forgot me. He didn't care about me. He didn't love me.

And I don't know what I feel toward him.

Fear? Regret? Could it be that I still love him?

My concise roared at me. 'Stop it Leaf, how could you still love him? After what you did? You're a monster.

A love from you would be twisted.'

I clutched my stomach.

But it wasn't my stomach hurting.

It was my heart, my past, my memories.

There was something about this place.

The air seemed to whisper that the past was very much alive.

Gary looked over to see me in pain.

"Leaf, are you okay?"

His face was filled with worry, the same worry he had before I told him I was leaving.

He looked me straight in the eyes.

It wasn't the air whispering to me. It was his eyes.

The past I could never forget is coming back to haunt me through those eyes.

I straightened myself back up. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure, do you want me to take you home?"

I shook my head. Gary took my hand and we continued walking.

I felt a pair of eyes on me. I looked over to see Gary staring at my hand.

My bracelet actually.

His bracelet.

His eyes widened.

Before he could say anything I hugged him.

"What's with the hug?"

I took a breath. "To say sorry that I'm probably the worst date ever."

"You're nothing of the sort."

Then Gary took me and kissed me full on.

I melted. It was magical.

At that moment there wasn't anything more I wanted than him.

There was never anything I could want more than him.

He was my heart.

I was his from the very first time I saw him.

Reluctantly, the kiss broke.

I found the courage to look into his eyes. They were filled with more passion than I had ever seen.

"I'm sorry," Gary hung his head.

He shouldn't have been. I wanted that kiss ten times more than he could imagine.

We arrived at the Ferris wheel where they were taking pictures of couples when they got to the top. The pictures were being displayed on a big screen.

I saw some familiar faces about to arrive at the top.

I nudged Gary, "Hey look."

Gary looked up and started laughing as a picture of the couple was shown on the big screen.

It was Dawn blowing Paul a kiss. Paul looked uncomfortable.

Then a picture of Misty and Ash was shown. They were giving each other bunny ears.

Gary laughed, "Do you want to go on that?"

"Nah, I like how you romantic walk is going."

He smiled, "Me too. But come on, I know a place behind the carnival. I think you'll like it."

I squeezed his hand, "Then show me."

I wasn't afraid of him anymore.

He took me around the carnival.

I gasped.

It was the beach. There was a huge rock surrounded by water. Twinkly lights were shining all around.

It was so romantic.

Gary jumped onto the rock and held out his hand and I jumped, landing in his arms.

We sat down and he put his arm around me. I leaned my head into his shoulder.

Someone from behind us called out, "Hey do you want me to take a picture of you two lovebirds?"

It was Dawn and Paul. Dawn, of course, brought her camera.

When we didn't answer, Dawn assumed it meant no.

"Aw," she said, "Come on, I don't have any of you two! I got great pictures of Ash and Misty and May and Drew. There are real cute ones of me and Paul."

Gary looked astonished, "Paul actually took a picture?"

I smiled, "Let's take a picture, Gary."

He smiled and we posed for the picture. He had his arm around me and it looked like we were leaning in for a kiss.

Click went Dawn's camera.

"This is so cute!" Dawn gushed.

"You guys look good," Paul admitted.

I looked at the picture. It was cute.

"Hey Dawn, send me that picture. I want to put it up in my room," Gary asked.

Dawn nodded.

Gary continued, "Now go away and quit spoiling mine and Leaf's evening."

Paul smiled and led Dawn away.

I leaned back against Gary.

There was no way I could avoid him anymore.

I was still in love with him.

And that, readers of this story, is the end of this chapter. It was pretty intense, was it not?

Just to say, just because Gary and Leaf kissed does not mean they are together. Oh no my duckies. That happens later on.

Stay tuned for Chapter 5: A game of Cat and Mouse. Contestshipping! (Don't you just love the title?)

May is tired of being a pawn in Drew's game. When she switches the rules, the tables will turn. Will Drew finally lose at his own game? And someone interrupts their date. Who is it?

In the B-story of this chapter, Dawn discovers a prophecy about none other than our four heroines. This prophecy may help her discover why our four heroes aren't able to have their minds read. Even though Misty thinks she's figured out why she can't read Ash's mind.

Now press the pretty review button if you want chapter 5. I mean it.