Me: I bet you guys thought I forgot about this story! Who's ready for Chapter 17?
Drew: No one.
Me: Well I'm posting anyway.
Paul: Whoop-de-frikin-do.
Ash: We wished you forgot.
Gary: I was looking at the review; they all said you're a terrible writer and need to stop this story.
Leaf: No they didn't.
Gary: SHHH, Leaf!
May: Surfergurl14 doesn't own Pokemon.
Paul: Thank God!
Me: Anyways…. Chapter 17: Stealing A Kiss
"Drew, you need to come out of the closet-err you're dressing room," Gary coaxed the mad-ridden boy.
Slowly the door opened and Drew stepped out, emotionless.
"Well," Paul asked.
"I lost," Drew spoke quietly.
Ash nodded, sympathetically.
"I lost," Drew repeated. "How could I lose? I was supposed to be the winner. Everyone thought I would be the winner!" he declared angrily.
Drew inhaled and exhaled, "Well I guess I have nothing else to lose."
Placing a sly, arrogant smirk on his face, Drew walked to the stage where the play was picking back up.
Gary pointed to Drew as he walked away, "That's my boy!"
Drew, Dawn, Rudy and May were acting on the stage, while Gary, Ash and Paul were whispering backstage.
"Yeah, he needs to not to be bothered by the honeys," Gary was saying.
Leaf popped behind him, "Who? Drew?"
Ash answered, "Yeah."
Paul slapped him upside the head.
"What's wrong?" Misty asked.
Gary tripped over his words, "Drew is having a problem with a girl…"
Leaf exploded, "Drew doesn't like May?"
"Why?" Gary asked his girlfriend, "Does May like Drew?"
"Duh!" Leaf told him, her eyes widening, "She likes him a lot."
Paul whispered to Ash, "She has no problem exposing her best friend's secret."
"Well Drew likes May too," Ash offered up.
"Then let's get them together!" Misty exclaimed.
Paul shushed her, "Do you want the audience to hear you?"
Dawn popped up, coming from her scene, "I have just the perfect plan. I could hear you from onstage but Drew and May didn't hear you."
Leaf nodded, "What part of the play are we at?"
"The part where I tell Davis that I'm not interested because I'm in love with Jerkface over here," Dawn nudged her head in Paul's direction.
"Excellent," Paul concluded, "we tell Drew when he gets backstage in five minutes."
Gary and Paul pulled Drew aside as he walked backstage while the Bennett sisters were complaining about their love problems onstage.
"You will take May backstage and we'll lock you two in a closet and you'll get together, okay?" Gary hurriedly explained to the confused Drew.
"She likes you too," Paul blurted out.
Drew nodded and smirked. "No," he told his friends.
"What?" they yelled.
"I have a plan of my own," Drew smiled, mischievously.
Paul and Gary smirked at each other. Drew had already figured out what he was going to do.
They both concluded, the stakes were higher than ever before.
Back onstage, Leaf was flouncing in her and Gary's secret meeting place.
"Oh Mr. Wickham!" Leaf batted her eyes, "We cannot keep meeting here in secret like this!"
"Why not?" Gary relied, bored. "I have no problem with it."
"But I cannot keep defying my family's wishes," Leaf screeched.
"God, woman. Do you want the whole town to hear you?" Gary covered one ear.
"I'm serious George! I feel bad doing this."
"Well," Gary shrugged, "There is only one solution. You and I will run away."
"What!" Leaf whispered.
"Lydia, run away with me. Together we can make ourselves a life that is ours. No one can stop us, not even your family. I love you and I know you have mutual feelings for me. I could never stop loving you. You have killed the monster that I once was."
Leaf's lip quivered and she nodded her head as Gary pulled her into an embrace.
"One more thing," Gary pulled out a box and opened it, "Will you marry me?"
Leaf snatched the ring, "Of course I shall!"
Ash paced the room as Paul watched him.
"Joe, I can't stop thinking about Jane," Ash supplied Paul. (Zoey starts playing the song Home by Daughtry in the background.)
I'm staring out into the night, trying to hide the pain. I'm going to the place where love feeling good don't never cost a thing and the pain you feels a different kind of pain.
Paul gave him the obvious answer, "Good back to her then."
"But Darcy-"Ash was cut off.
"Maybe Darcy was wrong," Paul looked down, "He is in love himself. He'll understand."
Ash smiled, "Thank you Joe. I shall write to both you and Darcy after I arrive at the Bennett's house."
Ash rushed out the door and Paul saw Dawn standing on the staircase, shaking her head no.
Paul watched her go upstairs.
Ash ran outside and hopped on his favorite horse, Lightning. He started riding towards the Bennett's house.
I'm going home to the place where I belong and where your love has always been enough for me. Not running from, I think you've got me all wrong. Don't regret this life just for me. All these places and these faces are getting old so I'm going home.
And I'm going home.
Ash rode quickly along the dirt road leading to the house where Misty was waiting.
The miles are getting longer it seems the closer I get to you. I'm not always been the best man or friend for you but you're loving makes so and I don't know why. You always seem to give me another try.
Ash arrived to the door of Misty's house and took a breath and as he was about to knock, he gazed, deep in thought and sad towards the audience. He shook his head sadly and walked away from her door.
Paul followed Dawn up the stairs.
She sneered at the sight of him, "You're a hypocrite. I don't wish to speak to you."
"You have every right," Paul answered to her malice.
"Then why have you followed me Joe?" Dawn asked curiously.
"Because I want you to listen, not speak to me."
"Then speak," Dawn commanded.
"I am going to speak to your brother, Georgiana. I'm telling him that I wish to marry you, whether I have his approval or not."
Dawn's eyes lit with excitement, "Oh my! That is wonderful news!"
Dawn threw her arms around Paul's neck.
Paul watched Dawn's anxious look, "What?"
"Well we must get going. Speak to Darcy immediately!"
Paul chuckled, kissed her cheek and grabbed his riding hat before they were out the door.
"Oh Mr. Darcy! Please come in!" Melody exclaimed.
May rolled her eyes while Misty sighed, picking up her needlework.
Misty looked at May, "He is probably here for you."
Drew walked into the room where May and Misty sat.
Melody cried, "Oh no!"
Misty was the first to stand, "What has happened mother?"
"Lydia has eloped with Mr. Wickham!"
"How is this possible?" May asked.
Melody held out a note which Misty read aloud.
Dear Mother, Father, Jane and Elizabeth,
I have run away with Wickham and we have been married. It cannot be annulled. We are very happy together and I wish that you will approve. We will return home, married, in three days.
Love, Lydia.
"Oh bloody hell," Drew remarked.
"Bingley?" Paul asked as he saw Ash watching Misty's house from afar.
"Joe? Georgiana?" Ash asked, "Why are you here?"
"I have come in search of Darcy," Paul told his raven-haired friend
"He is in Jane's house."
"Have you spoken to her yet?"
"Would I be standing out here if I had?" Ash harshly replied.
"Then let us go together," Dawn reasoned.
They walked through the Bennett's front door.
"Mr. Rose?" May stood.
"Mr. Bingley?" Misty whispered.
"Joe? Bingley? What are you two doing here? Where is Georgiana?" Drew immediately asked.
Paul held up one hand to calm Drew, "She is here, but I must speak with you Darcy." Dawn appeared behind Paul.
"And I request the presence of Miss Jane Bennett," Ash asked, "Alone."
Misty nodded and followed him.
"Darcy, I am marrying your sister. She has accepted me and I will marry her whether you approve or not," Paul told Drew sturdily.
"I would not have it any other way," Drew smiled at Paul, "But do bring in Georgiana. I wish to speak to her."
Paul bowed, "As you wish." Paul walked out the door as Dawn walked in.
Drew nodded and cleared his throat, "Georgiana, maybe you should think about this. I don't want to see you hurt like when you dated Wickham."
"Wickham is a fool; Joe is nothing of the sort. And what I feel for him is far more powerful than anything I felt for Wickham."
"Then if you are so sure of that, I give my permission."
Dawn hugged her brother, "Thank you! I love you so much!"
Drew looked at her, "I'm just happy to see you happy."
Dawn rolled her eyes, "Then gather your courage and pursue Elizabeth so that I may say the same of you."
"First I must apologize for being such a stupid and inconsiderate ass. Jane, ever since I laid my eyes on you, I couldn't keep my mind off you. You drifted in my thoughts every waking moment and my dreams, making each night be taken by storm."
Misty's eyes started to fill with tears, "Oh Charles…"
Ash bent on one knees, "I love you so much. Will you marry me?"
Misty grabbed his hand, "Yes, a thousand times yes."
Ash broke his character, "Awesome. Now where's that ring?" He started to search all his pockets.
"Pssst, Ash!" Gary called from backstage, "Here!" Gary threw Ash the wedding ring for Misty.
"Got it!" Ash announced and slid the ring on Misty's finger.
Backstage, Rowan slapped his own forehead in annoyance, and looked at his watch.
"Oh god! We only have fifteen more minutes. May, Drew get out there and do the final scene," Rowan commanded the two leads.
Paul and Gary snickered at each other. In reality they had around thirty minutes for the play but no one wanted to wait that long. When Rowan wasn't looking they moved his watch forward fifteen minutes.
Dawn gave Paul a look, "You didn't…"
Paul raised his eyebrows mischievously and Gary grinned.
Leaf hit Gary playfully on the head, "You guys are so bad!"
May sat under a tree when Drew walked up and approached up. She immediately stood.
"Mr. Darcy."
"Miss Elizabeth."
May smiled, "I must thank you for everything you have done; helping Lydia and Wickham, and helping Joe to persuade Bingley to come back for Jane."
"I did it all for you," Drew responded, "My feelings for you have not changed, if anything grown stronger. If you still have the same feelings you had six months ago, please tell me and I will be silenced forever but if your feelings have changed then," Drew cupped May's face in his hand, "if they have changed then my marriage proposal still stands."
May smiled, "My feelings have changed and I very much so wish to marry you."
May leaned forward to hug him, the signal that the play had ended, but Drew had other plans.
He cupped May's face as she came forward and kissed her lips. May was obviously shocked. Pleased by the response, Drew deepened the kiss.
The audience clapped around them but neither of the two lovers could hear anything.
Barry closed the curtains and Drew broke the kiss. He looked into May's sapphire eyes and saw nothing. Her eyes were empty.
Rowan clapped his hands, "Good job everyone. You all put on a wonderful performance, even though some of you broke character for a few moments." He looked at Ash who smiled weakly.
"You're all free to go home," Rowan announced.
May, who had not moved since Drew broke their kiss, started to sprint and ran out of the school building.
"No," Misty whispered.
Drew turned and saw May running and broke into a sprint after her.
Harley turned up, "Drew is getting terrible at disguising his feelings."
Paul, Gary and Ash all surrounded Harley. Drew had told them everything that was happening with Harley.
Paul cracked his knuckles. Gary grabbed Harley by the collar, "Maybe we need to step outside."
Ash laughed at Harley's whimpering.
They shoved him onto a wall of the backstage and took turns just beating him. Harley was punched, kicked and wet willed until he fell unconscious.
Dawn, Misty and Leaf who went searching for their boyfriends, saw this and gasped.
"Dude deserved it," was all Gary had to say on the matter.
"And Drew and May are going to get together so it doesn't matter if he tells the school that Drew likes May. This was because he was giving Drew a hard time," Ash explained.
Paul chuckled putting one arm around Dawn, "And honestly it was kinda fun."
"Gary, this is my brother, Yellow," Leaf introduced.
Professor Oak shook hands with Leaf as the four of them stood together.
"I like you better than all of Gary's other girlfriends," Professor Oak told Leaf.
Yellow, hearing this, turned to Gary and whispered, "If you hurt my sister at all, I will beat your ass up, got it?"
Gary, wide-eyed, just nodded.
Yellow hugged Leaf, "You did a good job."
Professor Oak clapped Gary on the back, "I'm so proud you actually did something in your life."
Gary groaned as Leaf giggled, "Grandpa…"
"So this is Paul's girlfriend!" Reggie said as Dawn approached with Johanna. Paul pinched his brother.
"Yeah," Dawn smiled.
"Thank god!" Reggie exclaimed, "When Paul told me got a girlfriend, I was expecting a creepy, goth girl who dressed in all black. I'm so relieved."
"Who do you think I am?" Paul asked his brother.
Johanna shook Paul's hand, "Thank you Paul."
"What did I do?" Paul asked, politely.
"When Dawn left Twinleaf, she was a mess. I'm so happy to see her happy and I think a lot of that credit goes to you," Johanna told him.
"Yeah well, I didn't like seeing her upset," Paul revealed.
"I'm glad she found you," Johanna smiled at him.
They looked over to see Dawn laughing at what Reggie was saying.
"And then Paul, at age six," Reggie went on with his tale.
"Oy!" Paul grabbed Reggie's ear, "What is going on here?"
Delia hugged Misty, "I'm so sorry for what happened between us before."
Misty hugged back, "How about we just start over."
Delia smiled, "Of course. I think you'll make a perfect girlfriend for Ash."
They looked over to Misty's sisters who were inspecting Ash.
"Hm, he looks normal," Daisy observed.
"Have you ever been to jail?" Lily interrogated.
"Why did you decide to ask out Misty?" Violet narrowed her eyes at the raven-haired boy, who obviously wanted to be anywhere but where he currently stood.
"Lily, Violet, Daisy! Stop creeping him out!" Misty yelled.
Ash hid behind Delia, "Mommy, help me!"
It was dark outside and May had no idea where she was heading. She didn't care. She just needed to be alone.
What had happened in there?
Drew wasn't supposed to have kissed her.
But he did…
And what she felt wasn't her.
How did she feel? Hurt? Angry? Betrayed?
She didn't know how to feel.
She loved him.
Her powers were drifting away.
She didn't want them to go.
She was just too confused.
May stopped running and stood at a streetlight. It was so dark and this light was her only source of light. She touched the cool surface of the pole and then touched her forehead. The full moon hovered above her.
What was happening?
Her ear perked at the sound of someone else's breathing. She already knew who it was.
"Drew," May's voice was emotionless.
"May," Drew emerged from the darkness.
She took in the sight of him and her powers immediately started going away. May gripped her head in pain trying to prevent it.
The darkness before dawn will the powers go gone.
Drew immediately came forward to take her into his arms, "What's wrong?"
Her powers were completely gone. She sighed, "Please go."
He let her go. They stood in the light of the streetlight.
Drew looked down at her hair, refusing to meet her eyes, "I'm sorry."
May stood, silent.
He went on, "Believe me. I'll make it so all of this never happened. You don't have to remember any of this, including me. It'll be as if I never existed." (A/N: Sorry to put a New Moon line in here, it just fit.)
May kept her head down and started at the ground.
He took her hand and held it, "And May? I am, truly, sorry for everything that's happened."
He kissed her hand and walked away.
May looked up and saw his back disappear into the darkness of the night.
End! I didn't mean for the last scene to be so dramatic.
So what do you think will happen next?
Chapter 18: Lift Me Up Again.
Junior year comes to an end and we skip to the last dance of senior year but May keeps thinking of her last conversation with Drew. Drew is the only one who can heal her, after he took part of her soul.
In the B-story: The guys and girls promise to meet on the beach to reveal the truth of what really happened that crazy junior year.
Review for the next chapter. Will be what Contestshippers have been waiting this whole time for! Promise!
Till next time! And I will put up a soundtrack for this story. We are only three chapters away from the very very end!