Here's the update! Finally...I know. I've been busy, sorry. :\ I really planned on getting this chapter up early this morning before school, but fanfiction wouldn't load! Then when I tried again after school, it still didn't work! The result is I'm getting it up now. Regardless of the delay, it's still here, eh? So please read and review? Happy reading. :)

Responses to Reviews...
chocolatehell: Did you really? Thanks for recognizing it! :D Hehe, I was going to go further with it...but then I'm trying to keep my story as rated T as possible so I had to refrain :p Sorry that it came too fast! This is going to be a rather short story so I couldn't take too long to get it in. :)
Candy Couture: Can I say that I love your username? It's so cute! :)
Tiger Priestess: You'll find out in this chapter. :)
Tanon: You probably won't read this, but in case you do, thanks for wishing me luck! And thanks for pointing that out! I must've deleted the 'e' by accident when I was going back to shorten the summary because I went over the character limit. :p
Pokemaster: Lol, thanks!
LoveLoverGrl: I probably should've. I went back to put one in for future readers. :)
Empress Empoleon: She's been on a cruise ship the entire time! The contest took place on a ship! :D And I'm not describing that girl for no reason. She's not of importance, but something about the color of her eyes will be. You'll find out in the next chapter or so. ;) Anyways, I debated on whether or not to make my story fanfic rated T, even with the sex scene because I feel like the rest of the stuff I have planned isn't very rated M material. Then again, I haven't written it yet, so that may change. I'll bump up the rating whenever I need to. :)
Obviously Citra: Haha, thank you!
Jace'sVampiress97: Thank you! :D
Glaceon34: Same here! :)
Pear-Shaped: Haha! Thank you! It was a bit awkward writing it, too, believe me! :P

Absol chapter 4

The ray of sunlight seeping into the room from the curtained windows stirs me out of my sleep the next morning. My head is resting on Drew's chest when I open my eyes and a wonderfully sweet feeling washes over me when I look up at his face. He's still sleeping, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm as his face expression remains cherubic. He's so deep in sleep that I'm startled when his eyes suddenly flutter open.

Drew stirs a little before he opens his eyes all the way. I'm amazed by how beautifully green they are even though he's just woken up. He blinks his emerald orbs a few times up at the ceiling before he drops them down to me. A smile comes across his lips which he presses onto the top of my head. "Good morning," he murmurs into my hair.

I'm oddly unable to meet his eyes after he pulls back to look at me, so I divert my gaze to the covers. Blush colors my cheeks. "Good morning," I say to the outline of our legs that's visible through the covers. Somehow, this makes me blush harder.

"No regrets?" he asks me after chuckling. I bring my head back up to meet his eyes in order to show that I'm not lying when I say, "None at all."

The brightest, most dazzling smile I've ever seen on anyone spreads across his lips at my words. It momentarily shocks me into silence. "Good, because last night was one of the best times of my life," he tells me. Just to distract my mind from sending blush back across my cheeks, I ask him to name a couple others.

"Well, one of them would have to be when I met you at the Slateport City Beach," he pauses to chuckle, rocking me as his chest vibrates with the motion, "We were so rude to each other back then."

"We?" I scoff incredulously. "That was all you!" He rolls his eyes at this and looks down at me. I chuckle at his expression.

"I'm just kidding," I mutter. Then I readjust myself so that I'm closer to his face and press my lips to his. Warmth spreads through me when he moves so that his body tents mine under the covers. I moan into his mouth, completely ready for a repetition of last night until he suddenly pulls away.

"As much as I'd like to continue in the direction that we're going, I am getting pretty hungry so we should probably go get some breakfast."

"To hell with breakfast," I growl, gripping his shoulders. I attempt to bring him back down, but he's able to resist with absolutely no effort. He chuckles arrogantly while I huff. Then inspiration hits me. I hum thoughtfully and wrap my arms around his neck. "Are you sure you'd prefer breakfast over me?" I murmur seductively, skimming my nose along his jawline and then stopping to press my lips to his chin. I watch as he gulps first before answering in an attempt to regain his self-control.

He fails.

"Alright, to hell with breakfast," he whispers and leans down to kiss my lips. I giggle before turning my head so that he gets my cheek instead. He pulls back to look at me in question.

"I've just decided that I'd rather get breakfast; I am feeling pretty hungry, so if you'll excuse me," I say and begin to slide down so that I can duck out from under him. One of his arms pulls me back up before I can.

"Don't you dare go anywhere," he growls.

I laugh and wrap my arms back around his neck. "Just so long as you don't go anywhere either."

His eyes smolder with sincerity when he promises me, "I'm never going anywhere anymore unless you're with me."

And with that, he leans down to press his lips to mine and we have a repetition of last night for breakfast.

We spend the day together after rediscovering life outside of his cabin room, relishing in each other's company. The news of what happened last night at the restaurant seems to have spread like wildfire because many people inquire about our current relationship statuses. Either that, or they all just notice how our intertwined hands have yet to release one another.

"So, does this mean that May's officially off the market?" an orange-eyed guy I recognize from the pool asks Drew. It's a good question, actually; I'd like to know myself if I am or not. All eyes turn to Drew to wait for his answer.

"Yes. As of last night, she has officially gone off the market for good," he tells everyone, and turns to look down at me with a smile. The way he watches me is filled with such intense love and adoration that it sends a warm, fuzzy feeling throughout my body. It's like he was a blind man who's just now seeing light for the first time. I never thought that it'd be possible for someone to stare at another in such a way, but Drew has proven me wrong. I almost have to look away, but I'm so happy that I'm able to smile.

And did he really just say that I've gone off the market for good?

"That's just too bad. That means Drew's off the market, too," I hear a girl whisper from behind me. I almost laugh at the words.

"Well, I believe May and I need to get going so that we may grab some lunch. Excuse us please," Drew says to excuse us and begins to pull me away.

"The people on this ship are like paparazzi," I state after we get away. He chuckles to show his agreement while leading me to a random café that I haven't gone into yet. The smell of coffee hits me in the face before we even get inside. It's so incredibly mouthwatering.

Our orders are placed in front of us a couple of minutes after we're seated. We hold hands over the table as we eat, unwilling to let go because of the time we've already spent apart. As we do so, we catch back up with one another again, filling each other in on all of the stuff that had happened in the past eight years. It turns out we both have been living practically the same life so there's not much to fill in on. Coordinating, hanging with our small circle of friends, spending time with family...the normal stuff. We don't ask each other about any of the people we have been with throughout the years, though. I certainly don't want to hear about any of the girls in his life before me and I'm sure the same goes for him. We're both content with leaving the past in the past.

Drew and I leave the café after we finish and pay for our meal. The sun seems to have begun to set unusually early today—even though it's the summertime—because the light that comes through the glass dome ceiling begins to turn orange. Already the ship's light are beginning to brighten in order to illuminate the ship for its passengers. Seeing this, Drew gives me a cheeky smile while he tugs on my hand. "Let's go to the deck and see if we can catch the sunset," he says. I agree and follow him out onto the deck.

The sunset outside is just as breathtaking as it always is. The bright yellow orb that is the sun is setting behind the horizon, casting its final glow for the day before the night sets in. Drew comes behind me and wraps his arms around my waist as I stand behind the railing. He leans down to rest his chin on my shoulder which makes me smile. We're the only ones out on the deck at this time, so I'm able to enjoy the sunset all alone with him. Content washes over me as I lean into his chest. For the first time since I've seen him again on this cruise ship, the silence that hangs over us is comfortable.

Then Drew breaks the silence when he asks if I regret what happened between us last night. I stiffen underneath his touch; that really does beg the question: do I regret what happened last night? Do I regret letting him take me away from Alec even though I was perfectly capable of doing so on my own? Do I regret following him to his room instead of mine? Do I regret standing still and listening to his explanation and apology for his eight year absence? Do I regret initiating the first kiss (ever) between us that conjured the desire and lust? Do I regret making love to my best friend? Do I regret rekindling our friendship and starting a relationship?

The answer is the same for all of those questions.

"No," I state surely, turning in his arms so that my eyes can stare into his in order to show him how sincere I am. He stares back at me with those beautiful green eyes of his. "I don't regret a second of it. I told you last night, I won't ever regret anything with you. The only thing that I'll ever regret between us is the eight years that we spent apart. I don't ever want to be apart from you again."

An endearing smile graces his features, his eyes softening with affection. "The same goes for me," he whispers, leaning toward me to press his forehead to mine. His breath fans my face as he promises me that we'll never be apart again, not if he can help it. "I'll never leave your side again. From last night until forever, I'll be with you every step of the way."

And then he descends his lips on mine. I sigh contently into his mouth as I melt into his embrace. My hands reach up to cup his face while his arms tighten their hold around my waist, holding me as close to him as possible. I don't know how long we kiss exactly, but we do for a while, engaging in the most meaningful kiss we've shared yet. Our tongues dance with one another like a couple dancing the tango on the dance floor. I'm breathless by the time he pulls away to press his forehead back to mine again. We both take a moment to catch our breaths.

"I have something to give you, can you wait for me here while I go get it from my room?" he mutters after he catches his.

I nod and smile before I lean in to kiss him again.

"Don't keep me waiting long," I tell him. He smiles back to me again. "I'll be back before the stars come out," he assures me, and then he pulls away to head back into the cruise ship. I turn back around to face the ocean as I wait for him.

"Oh, hi May, I didn't expect to see you out here," a voice pipes after a few minutes. I snap around, surprised at the sound after getting accustomed to the silence. My heartbeat slows down when I see that it is only Brianna. The smile on her face turns apologetic after she sees that she'd startled me. "Sorry, I didn't me to scare you."

"It's alright, I wasn't paying attention, that's all," I insist, returning her smile timidly.

Brianna chuckles awkwardly. Then she asks, "Where's Drew? I was going to congratulate you guys on the relationship if I ever saw you guys today."

"He went back inside to get something from his cabin. He should be out soon, but I'll thank you now on his behalf."

"So, it's official, huh? You guys are like the golden coordinating couple. Everyone's been talking about you guys today."

I smile to myself, but not at the fact that she called us the Golden Coordinating Couple. It's just at the fact that Drew and I are really together now. She beams happily at the sight of my smile and she laughs. "I'll take that as a yes. Congratulations May. He's a prize, hold onto him."

"Thanks Brianna, I plan on it," I say, laughing along with her.

"Good. Be sure to, you guys are good together," she replies. "Now, I think I'm going to head back inside. It's getting pretty cold and I don't want to be in the way when Drew comes back. Good night May."

I smile to myself after she takes her leave. Hearing all of that from the girl that used to harbor a huge crush on Drew puts me at ease. The feeling of acceptance has always been a sweet thing and I relish in it while I continue to wait for Drew. The stars have yet to come out yet, so, so far, he's keeping his promise.

People from within the ship begin to head out onto the deck so that I'm no longer alone. None come to disturb as they are caught up in their conversations. I let my eyes scan the crowd, sparing every other person a glance to occupy myself. I stare at a particular couple longer, though, when I see the way that the guy is staring down at the girl. The look in his dark green eyes is filled with the same amount of affection as he looks at the girl in his arms as Drew's when he looked at me. It's endearing to watch, but I don't want to look like a creep so I turn away. Drew will be out at any moment now.

Suddenly, the ship jerks to a stop beneath my feet. The movement is so sudden and forceful that it almost throws me over the railing. My hands grip the bar so hard that my knuckles turn white. A shaky gasp escapes my lips while I lurch forward, joined by the cries of alarm from those on the deck. It surprises me to see the air make a ghost of my breath and feel the bitter sting of ice beneath my hands. I flinch away immediately. When did it get so cold?

"What the hell was that?" a guy demands. That's a great question, actually, I'd like to know the answer to that myself.

A male voice blares out from the speakers hanging from the poles scattered throughout the deck. The frantic conversations on the deck seizes as everyone detects the hysteria that seems to be threatening to ooze into the voice as the speaker cries out in fear. "Don't hurt me, please don't hurt me," the man begs. "Please. Don't—"

His doesn't get to finish because his voice is cut off by his own blood-gurgling scream.

There is silence for a moment. I remain still, only my eyes moving and my mouth hanging open in shock. I scan the crowd, trying to find proof that anyone else heard what I just heard. Proof that what I heard wasn't just a figment of my imagination. To my horror, everyone else's faces are fixed into the same fearful expression. They heard it, too.

My eyes sweep across the crowd again, but this time I'm looking for something else. Thankfully, I spot the head of green amongst the crowd of people. I begin to make my way to it.

Screams fill the air when the lights inside and outside of the ship suddenly explode, raining glass shards down on everyone. The pieces are small, but I hear the cries of pain as some of them get into the eyes of those who hadn't closed them fast enough. I fall to the ground with my hands clamped over my ears as the noise claws at my eardrums. I keep my eyes clamped shut until I can't feel glass shards raining down anymore. Then, very slowly, I begin to open my eyes again. The head of green is my exact line of vision, only a few feet away.

My only thought is to get to Drew. I run through the crowd of screaming people, trying desperately to reach the head of green hair. Almost all of the passengers on the ship have made their way onto the deck after the announcement. They're all probably fearing that whoever it is (or whatever) killed that man is probably lurking within the ship. It's becoming so crowded that I feel as if I'm running through water, but I still persist. I run and call his name at the same time to get his attention. He hears my voice and turns in a circle, his head snapping from side to side in search of me, but he doesn't see me.

"Drew!" I call one more time. I'm only a couple feet away from him now so he hears me loud and clear. His head snaps in my direction, but before he even sees me, an ear-splitting blast erupts from the middle of the ship. The explosion throws debris and powerful gusts of air in every direction, causing the people who have been standing to fall to the ground. It shakes the whole ship hard like an earthquake, rattling the whole thing and coursing fear through my veins. A sharp pain shoots up my back when I fall down hard. I cry out, but my cry of pain is drowned out by the others.

Next thing I know, the ship is splitting in half and everyone is plunging into the depths of the sea.

Author's Note: Well, what'd you guys think? Very Titanic-esque, no? The plot is going to start rolling next chapter. Please look forward to it until then! No promises that it'll be up next week, but I'll try my best! Thanks for reading! Please be sure to review. :)