Okay…here we go! This was interesting (and I will admit, challenging) to write. But hopefully, it's worth it! Once again, I'm not good enough to own Pokamon. Satoshi Tajiri is. And I'm not good enough to have written "Every Little Thing," but apparently, The Police are. So I don't own their song either. Or iPods. So enjoy, R&R, all that good stuff, etc. etc. Thanks for reading!

-Pika

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Every little thing she does is magic

Every thing she do just turns me on

Even though my life before was tragic

Now I know my love for her goes on…

It was odd to see people's mouths moving, or see a small child dropping something heavy, and yet not be able to hear the sounds that should follow. It was a feeling that May was experiencing as she walked to the backstage area set up for the Hoenn Premiere, ruby-red headphones quieting the chaos around her while pumping The Police's smooth beat into her ears.

Realizing that she was entering the restricted area marked FOR CONTESTANTS ONLY, May turned her rival's iPod off, slipping her headphones off her ears as she flashed her Contest Pass at the little desk set up before the door. Just before she was about to continue on, however, an interruption occurred.

Straining her eyes to make out what was causing a wave of confusion in the crowd, May couldn't help but laugh as she realized who it was.

"Good luck, May! We'll be rooting for you!" cried a voice. Blasting through the packed waiting area, a familiar redhead shoved her way to the front amidst cries of "Hey!" "What're you -" "Hey, watch it!" "Look out!"

May embraced her friend, a grin spreading across her face. "Thanks, Misty. It means a lot." Especially what with all the pressure that comes with being in an exclusive Contest like this one, she added silently.

"No problem," the Cerulean Sister replied easily, seeming to read May's mind as both pairs of blue eyes met. "Watching you in your element is as rewarding as watching my fellow Gym Leaders in theirs. So go get 'em!"

"I sure will!" said May. She cocked her head as a thought suddenly occurred to her. "But what did you mean by 'we'?"

"I meant 'we'," Misty repeated simply. She reached back past an unsuspecting man and grabbed Ash by the ear, dragging him forward. He glared at her as he massaged his ear.

"Ouch," Ash sulked. "Well, anyway, good luck, May. Misty will definitely be cheering for you, but I'll probably be getting my numerous injuries treated. OW!" he repeated as Misty smacked his arm. "We'll both be in the stands cheering," he modified his statement grudgingly. "Come on, Misty, let's go! I want to get in line for the snack bar before the Contest starts!"

Misty shot a helpless, humorous glance at her best friend before taking her turn at being dragged around. See you afterward, she mouthed before being swallowed up in the vast crowd.

"Will do, Misty – hey! Excuse me," May cried, interrupting herself as she was jostled by someone attempting to brush past her. "Watch where you're -"

"Hey! Watch where you're -" said her offender at the exact same moment.

"- going," the brunette finished, heaving a sigh as she realized who she'd run in to. "Drew. Hi."

With an all-too-familiar sweep of a hand through his hair, the Coordinator made a show of studying his jacket before replying. "So…are you prepared?"

"Sure I am," said May, with a little more fire than she had intended. Although she didn't want to admit it, the brunette had been hoping that Drew would at least wish her good luck.

Drew chuckled at her spirit, an action which she was well-accustomed to. It was just a part of their relationship – he the calm, omnitient rival, she the fiery, passionate competitor. But then the grass-headed boy did something different - he looked at his shoes, stepped back a few paces, then glanced up again, only to return his gaze to his shoes.

May had never seen him this fidgety. Finally she had to speak. "Um, Drew…what's wrong with your feet?"

"Nothin'." He had to practically force himself to meet her eyes. That was unusual; even he was aware of it. "Just – with your new style, I mean – do your best, okay?"

The heat had begun rising in May's face at his words, and it only became worse as she realized the implications of his statement. "Well, why…why wouldn't I?" she asked, curiosity overriding frustration.

The call for all Coordinators to assemble resounded through the anteroom, and Drew was evidently using it as an excuse to avoid his rival's question. "Just…don't let anyone influence you. No one else can do this for you, so…go for the win, May."

May tried to say something, but a throng of eager contestants was pressing in on her, and she didn't think any sound would have come out if she'd spoken just then, anyway. Go for the win? Of course I will, but…

When the crowd at the door had thinned out somewhat and May turned around to confront her rival, he was gone. No rose. No more words. No nothing. The space that Drew's being had occupied was soon filled with other Coordinators…but the restless space in May's heart was nevertheless empty.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"Gimme some," Misty ordered. A handful of popcorn was passed into her hand, and just as swiftly entered into her mouth. "Thanks," she remembered to mumble through a mouthful of the buttery kernels.

"Welcome," said Ash shortly, his eyes glazed over as he stared at the stage. Their pre-Contest entertainment consisted of a stand-up comedian and a so-called President of the Pokemon Contest League. Neither one was exactly what you would call 'entertaining.'

Misty munched thoughtfully, completely ignoring the President of the Pokemon Contest League. "D'you think May's nervous?"

"How would I know?" Ash seemed to be torn between watching the President nervously stumble over words and having his popcorn reach his mouth. Sadly, when he tried to compromise he only ended up with spilled popcorn that had missed its target by inches. "May never looks nervous anymore," he stated with a note of triumph in his voice (the popcorn had entered his mouth!). "But who knows if she really is or not? Drew's not sweating, that's for sure."

Ash's redheaded companion quickly picked up on the "boys vs. girls" tone of the comment and responded in kind. "You know that May's at least as good as him by now. Girls are always cool under pressure," she added with a wink.

"Oh yeah?

"Yeah!"

"Oh yeah?"

"And now," a voice over the intercom announced, "our Coordinators!"

Misty's and Ash's cheers were drowned out by the roar of their fellow spectators as a line of Pokemon Coordinators wound onto the large platform. May was near the middle of the line, with Drew at the head. Misty had to admit that Drew looked totally distant and unconcerned, while May's stance and fiery eyes made her appear more like a live wire.

Apparently, Ash had noticed too. "Told you," he muttered in her ear. "Drew's definitely more calm."

Misty knew that he'd only been that close because of the noise level, but her heart couldn't seem to register that fact. "Yeah, right," she said, red-faced as she shoved him away. "Being a little edgy before a performance, or a battle, is important – so May's at the top of her game."

Ash only had time to respond with a smug look before the intercom blared, "TIME FOR THE PRELIMINARIES!"

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

May's eyes were focused completely on the large, overhanging screen in the locker room. She was unconsciously twisting her hands together as the computer-operated randomizer shuffled the pictures of the sixty contestants. Behind her, fifty-nine other teens were watching just as anxiously.

With a small 'blip,' the contestants' pictures reassembled in a totally new order. May finally found her confidently grinning face in the middle of the pack. Drew, she couldn't help but observe, was fourth.

"Hmm," came his voice from just behind her. "I'll be able to get it over and done with, at least."

"That's one way to think of it," May replied idly. Often the two rivals would talk to each other about statistics or other competitors prior to a Contest, sometimes without ever making eye contact since she liked to sit and he preferred to stand. This promised to be one of those Contests.

Good, the brunette thought, it's just like any other Contest. Almost, except for afterward –

"And you're in the thirties somewhere. Right in the middle."

"Yup." May shook off any thoughts but those purely focused on competing. Save thoughts about the "date" for later, May. "That's about where I like to be," she said, just talking to hear the sound of her own voice. "That way I don't have to set a standard at the beginning, but I'm not the last one that anyone remembers at the very end."

"Why not be remembered?" It was hardly audible. "You deserve to be remembered, May."

May frowned. "Drew, did you just say something? It sounded like somebody said -"

"No, it was nothing," he said hastily.

"Okay, then," said May distractedly, taking out her Pokeballs. "I wonder which ones I'll use…"

Drew left her to her musings ("Once girls get going, they never stop!") and went to get a drink of water. He let his thoughts drift as he grabbed a bottle from the cooler at the back of the room.

Why am I such a coward? Whenever something meaningful comes out of my mouth, it's so quiet that nobody can hear it, even her…I guess I'll have one last chance, and that's tonight. But maybe before she goes out to compete in the secondaries, I'll do something special…yes, because she's sure to make it past the preliminary round…

With a new, haphazard, half-formed plan in mind, Drew came back to May's bench. He realized that he was carrying two water bottles, and without really thinking bopped her over the head with one.

"HEY! WHAT -" The brunette blinked. "Oh. Hey, Drew."

Wordlessly he handed her the water.

She blinked again. "Thanks, but…why the niceness? Aren't you going to get angry and insult my skills or something?"

"Hardy har har," he said dryly. "Not right before a, exclusive Contest like the Hoenn Premiere, silly."

"Oh," May said again, now downing her water bottle. "Okay. It's kind of a nice change."

Drew stepped around a gaggle of chattering female Coordinators and sat down on her bench, staring at his bottle cap. "Is it?" he asked quietly.

May raised an eyebrow. Her rival hardly ever sat down before an appeal, let alone next to her. Her emotions seemed numb, however, because of the Contest so close at hand. "Is it what?" she asked, staring off into space.

"Is it a nice change, me not insulting you?"

"I said what I said."

"Aw, c'mon. Don't do that."

She refused to look at him, studying the stat board instead.

"What would make you trust me?"

The brunette started, her wide eyes turned to his. "Trust you?" Drew, I do trust you. It's just hard for me to know exactly why.

"Yes." He had come from sitting on the opposite edge of the bench to being within elbow-nudging length. And this he did.

She elbowed him back, trying to keep her composure. "Well, I guess it would take a lot…" she said, experiencing an inexplicable desire to stare at the ceiling.

"Despite the fact that I think you're playing coy, I'm willing to pay the price…in full," he said.

"Drew…Andrew Hayden, don't you…don't…you…"

"Don't 'Andrew' me," he said, leaning breathtakingly close to her face. His voice was gentle; musical with laughter.

"I won't," she managed to say before their lips –

"Drew Hayden!" The loudspeaker blared. "Number Four, Drew Hayden to the stage, please!"

The distant roar of the crowd seemed to throb in the couple's ears. Drew backed away, somehow keeping his feet under him; his face turned away, he strode quickly away.

"Drew!" May yelled, shaking her head in disbelief. "D-DREW!"

His eyes met hers for an instant over the heads of the fifty-eight others, then he raised a hand before disappearing (a means of transportation which he seemed to have at his disposal).

"Drew," said May, the sounds around her silencing as she retreated to the furthermost corners of her brain. "Andrew," she whispered as she put a finger to her lips. "Almost. So close."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

The effects of Flygon's DragonBreath and Roselia's Petal Dance were still shimmering throughout the building as the judges gave Drew their accolades.

"Remarkable! Absolutely remarkable!"

"Splendid; truly superb! Your combination as well as the final touch of Fire versus Grass was outstanding!"

"It was so sparkly and wonderful! A girl's dream!"

Drew thanked them cordially before returning his beloved duo to their Pokeballs. A girl's dream, huh? He wondered at Nurse Joy's statement as he walked off the stage with a small wave, which of course drove the females in the audience wild.

"And Drew gets a whopping 29.7!" He heard the announcer's voice receding as he drew further and further away from the roaring crowd that he loved performing for.

Suddenly he didn't feel like dealing with anyone else…but it seemed like he wasn't about to get any peace any time soon.

"Ohmigosh, Drew! You were, like, amazing out there!"

"Quit talking to him!" hissed another girl. "I mean, um, you were great, Drew," she giggled, her voice totally different as she addressed the green-haired boy.

"Thanks," he sighed, slipping past them as they showered more giggling compliments on him. It was going to be a long wait until May's round.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"May Maple! Number thirty-two, May Maple to the stage, please."

Shaking her head to clear it, the brunette slid off the bench and began to walk away from the anteroom, her mind a haze. She couldn't help but feel a pressing weight of failure, even before she'd made her appeal. She'd tried repeatedly in the last hour to shake the feeling, but it refused to unglue itself from her conscience.

Now it was time. And she hadn't even decided which Pokemon to use! She put a finger to her temple. Which two did I use during practice? Skitty and…and…

"For Beautifly."

"Oh! Thank you, sir," said May breathlessly. "I was trying to remember -"

"No. Really," Drew said, stepping out of the shadows. "For Beautifly."

The rose shone with a dull red hue. She took it wordlessly.

"I'm sure Beautifly is welcome," he said at last, flashing an uncertain smile.

"Yes, I-I'm sure." May worked up enough nerve to stare her rival in the face. "Drew…I feel like I'm -"

"No time to be feeling like you're not good enough," he said earnestly, nudging her forward with the tip of a shoe. "Go on. It's the one-minute warning."

She opened her mouth, then closed it. A thousand sentences started in her mind and died before they could reach her lips. "Yes. And, Drew -"

"Yeah?" It was hard to tell, but she thought that he was half-turned away from her.

"Thank you for the rose," she whispered, taking a half-step toward him. After a moment of indecision, she turned and reluctantly ran along the dark hallway until she reached the stairs, which led to the stage, which led to her performance, which led to…what? She was about to find out.

Meanwhile, Drew touched his cheek where he could've sworn her fingers had brushed it. Of course, there was no way to be sure. But no matter what had transpired, he felt better than he ever had before about giving a rose "to Beautifly," for the sole reason that he felt that he had justified the action…or at least, almost.

During the date, he thought smugly as he returned to the anteroom to watch her performance, during the date, well, things would be different.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Wow, this was hard to do…I really wanted to get something in before Thanksgiving, so I could take a vacation…and hopefully, I've earned it! (You decide and let me know via REVIEW!) So anyway, I hope you enjoyed this. I found it hard to describe the goings-on of the Contest in-depth without killing the ContestShippy plot, so I tried to keep the Contest stuff pretty obscure. Hope all you guys who are savvy on the technicalities don't mind. I'll probably keep doing that for the rest of the Contest.

Also, let me know if I'm getting our dear Andrew a little OOC…(Once again, review if it's bugging you…or if it's not, which is good!) And yeah, I think his full name's probably Andrew. If you don't hope it doesn't ruin the entire story for you, haha.

Thanks for reading! I really appreciate all of your great feedback and patience!

-Pika