So, here we are. Chapter 4. This one's the final preliminary chapter, and also the shortest one yet. It's short because it was getting too complicated; if I'd continued everyone would've lost track of who, what and where. I'd like to thank the people who add this story to their Alerts, and those who Favorite it. I'd also like to ask once again if you could review it. I really need some feedback every now and then to hear from other people what I'm doing right, what can be improved, and what flat out sucks. Thanks in advance, and most importantly, enjoy!

Chapter 4: Explanations, Worries and Reassurances

The next day was the last day before the Contest. Since it was a day for resting, the group decided to sleep in. Ash was the first to wake up. He looked at the bed at the opposite wall and smiled when he saw May's sleeping body. He liked watching her when she slept; she looked so cute. He had wondered before if watching someone you love sleep was creepy, but he'd shrugged it off. He knew he'd heard people say stuff about how their boyfriends or girlfriends looked cute when they slept, so he figured he wasn't the only one.

When May stirred, he quickly lay flat on his back, hoping she didn't catch him looking at her. May didn't wake up, however, merely shifting to her other side, and so Ash once again looked at her. Now he could see her face, and he smiled.

"If only you knew…" he whispered.

But he knew he wouldn't tell her yet. There had to be a good moment, a moment where everything would definitely be right. He and Dawn had decided that Ash would tell May about his feelings after the Contest, and that he would use the time they had until that moment to gauge her opinion of him.

He glanced at the clock, and saw that it was already nine. He stretched and got ready to get up, being as quiet as he could be so as not to wake his friends up.

Outside, the sun was shining. Ash walked into the sunlight and closed his eyes, letting the warm rays touch his face.

"Hey, Ash. Up early, I see," someone behind him said.

Ash recognized Drew's voice and he opened his eyes, looking to his side to see the green haired Coordinator standing there.

"I guess the same goes for you," Ash replied.

He felt uneasy around Drew, now that he feared May might like him. Drew smiled, or smirked would probably describe it better.

"You got me there. So, did May talk to you yet?" he asked.

Ash nodded. "She told me you wanted to travel with us. What I'm wondering, though, is why? I mean, I don't mind or anything, but I'm just curious."

Drew gave Ash a confused look. "Didn't May tell you?" he asked, cocking his head questioningly.

Ash shook his head. "No, she said you'd tell her why after the Contest." Ash felt something was up, and continued, "Or did you tell her already?"

Drew nodded, a serious look on his face now. "I figured she'd just tell you, but I suppose I might as well fill you in. I…I like May a lot. You could say I'm in love with her," Drew said. He noticed, to his own surprise, that telling Ash about this was way easier than it had been to tell May. Even so, he knew there was still a red glow on his face.

"You're…in love with her?" Ash repeated, feeling his stomach twist and turn. If Drew liked her, was it really all over for him?

"From your reaction I gather you like her too?" Drew asked, narrowing his eyes a little.

Ash sighed. "Yeah…" He really didn't know what else to say. The old Ash would've probably told Drew to stay away from May, but he knew he couldn't do that, especially if May indeed liked Drew.

Drew nodded, "I see…"

For a while neither boy spoke. They just stood there in the morning sun, each with his own thoughts.

"Knowing what you do now, would you still be able to travel with me if May would want me to?" Drew asked, looking Ash in his eyes.

Ash sighed. "I love May, Drew. If she's happier having you around, then I won't prevent you from coming with us," he said.

"That's…very generous of you, Ash." Drew seemed taken by surprise by Ash's words, and Ash knew he had expected another response.

"Just because I have no problems with it doesn't mean I'm just going to let you take her, though. If May is happier with just us, without you, or if she loves me instead of you, will you accept that?"

Drew nodded solemnly. "I love May as well as you do, Ash. I will do whatever makes her happy."

He turned around, and looked over his shoulder back at Ash. "I told May to decide after the Contest. Do with that info what you will. I'll see you around, Ash."

With those words, he walked off. Ash walked in the other direction, sitting down beneath a tree that gave him a good view of the Pokémon Center's doors so he'd know when his friends came out.

'So that's what she was hiding…' he thought to himself.

'So why did she seem so…down when she told Dawn and me? If she's not in love with Drew it shouldn't be a problem to tell me, but if she is she'd be happier, right?'

Ash shook his head. "Ugh, I really don't get girls," he said aloud, leaning into the tree.

No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure out a reason for May's behavior. Unless she actually thought he liked Dawn…

'But why would she think that? I haven't been around Dawn any more than usual; she has no reason to think I like her,' Ash reasoned with himself.

While Ash was having his dilemma, his friends had noticed he was nowhere to be found.

"Do you think he went for breakfast without us?" Dawn asked, while fixing her hair in the mirror.

("No, he wouldn't go off alone. He hates being all alone,") Pikachu said. ("He probably went outside to enjoy the morning sun.")

"Maybe one of us should get him, then," Brock said. "Knowing Ash, he wouldn't like it if we ate breakfast without him."

"I'll get him," Dawn said, finally perfecting her hair.

May shot her a suspicious glance, wondering why Dawn was so eager to get Ash.

'Could this mean…nah, I'm just being paranoid,' she thought to herself.

She was still worried about Dawn and Ash possibly being together, but she knew she couldn't let it show. After all, if she started distrusting her friends, what would be next?

Dawn walked outside, looking for Ash. She wanted to make sure he'd act normal during breakfast, and not do anything stupid like look at May all the time. She spotted him under a tree and went over to him.

"Hey Ash! Are you coming for breakfast? It's not like you to go off on your own like that," she said.

Ash looked up, shaken from his thoughts. "I'm coming. I just wanted to get some fresh air. The morning sun makes me calm," he said, getting up and dusting himself off.

"Hey, I ran into Drew just now," Ash said as they walked to the Pokémon Center.

"Oh, what did he say?" Dawn asked, curious.

"Well…" Ash told Dawn everything Drew had said.

When he was finished talking, Dawn said, "Well, no need to worry. Like I said, if May liked him she'd have been dancing with joy. Just act natural, and don't give her the impression you know Drew's reasons for wanting to come."

Ash cocked an eyebrow. "Why's that? He told me, it's not like I went through private stuff or something," he said.

Dawn shook her head. "Just trust me on this one. I'm sure May had her reasons to keep it hidden; I think the best you can do is play along with her."

Then they reached the cafeteria, and they had to cut off the conversation to prevent anyone from overhearing.

Breakfast was quieter than usual, but that in itself wasn't anything strange. Before a Contest May and Dawn were usually more subdued than they would normally be, and Ash and Brock generally stayed quiet to avoid an outburst of anger.

Now, however, all of them could feel the unease in the air. Pikachu and Piplup shot each other awkward glances. They knew what was going on, but they were afraid May might misunderstand them, so they kept quiet, not realizing that both May and Ash already misunderstood each other.

Dawn and Brock kept neutral, not wanting to do anything that might betray any hidden agendas. As a result, for the first time ever, the friends felt awkward around each other.

To break the silence, Brock spoke up. "So, I was thinking that maybe we could go to Amity Square today. For May and Dawn it'll be a good chance to relax with your Pokémon for the Contest, and for the rest of us some sunlight and a cool breeze, away from training and battles, wouldn't be a bad idea either."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Ash said. The thought of leaning back into a tree and chilling out was a very welcome one, although he knew his mind would wander off to May eventually, probably after mere minutes.

May too welcomed the notion of relaxation, and she knew Blaziken would enjoy some time to stretch without any pressure as well. Like Ash, though, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep her mind off the matters at hand.

She hoped she'd get a chance to talk to Brock while they were in Amity Square. He'd know what to say to calm her down. 'Or at least, I hope he does…' she thought, as she shot a quick, melancholy glance at Ash.

Amity Square was exactly what one would expect from a place with such a name. In the park, Pokémon were allowed out of their Poké Balls to relax and play, but not to battle.

The trees were nice and green, there was a small lake with clear, fresh water and the gentle breeze that ruffled the leaves made the temperature very pleasant.

Ash and the others had installed themselves in a nice open spot between some trees, close to the shore of the lake. Due to the relatively early hour, the park was very quiet. Even despite the aura of perfection in the park, though, one couldn't help but notice the tension between the friends. Just like during breakfast, they were absorbed in their own thoughts.

"Imagine seeing you guys here," Drew's voice suddenly said.

Ash was startled, and he knew his friends hadn't heard the Coordinator's approach either. How come this guy always materialized out of nowhere? Next to Drew stood a green Pokémon with red eyes, white rose petal hair and three roses on each hand. The left hand had blue roses, while the right hand had red ones.

"We're just relaxing for the Contest," May said. Her eyes brightened now that Drew was here, something Ash noticed.

"Hey Drew, can we go for a walk?" May asked.

Drew looked surprised, but he said, "Yeah, sure."

May got up and turned to Ash and the others. "I'll be right back," she said.

Brock nodded. "Sure. We'll still be here when you get back, don't worry," he said.

When May and Drew walked off, Ash got up and pulled Dawn aside.

"You still think there's no need to worry?" he asked, sounding slightly panicked.

Dawn shrugged. "Of course. Why wouldn't I? Oh come on," she added when she saw that Ash was about to give her various reasons to worry, "Do you really think that just because they're going for a walk May likes him?"

Ash shook his head. "I don't know what to think," he said. "Did you see the way her eyes lit up when Drew arrived? Don't think that's at least a little suspicious?"

Dawn sighed. Ash was obviously at an all-time high of paranoia. "Well, no. I mean, they're friends, right? And we know May's been bothered by something for a while. Maybe being with Drew for a while takes her mind off things. Look, I told you before, if she liked Drew, she would have been dancing with joy at the opportunity of having him go with us."

"What if she's telling him he can come along now, then?" Ash asked, getting more hyper and panicked with everything he said.

"She isn't," Dawn said simply.

"How can you know that?!"

Dawn looked straight into his dark eyes, blue staring into auburn. She saw the confusion and fear there and she said, "Look, I'm absolutely sure she isn't telling Drew he can come with us now. Call it female intuition if you will, but I'm telling you, there's no need to worry."

Ash didn't seem to buy it completely, but he didn't appear to want to reject it either.

"Ash, please. You're driving me crazy," Dawn said.

She saw that Ash was pretty much being consumed by nerves, and she hated it. He shouldn't have to stress out so much. She realized with a shock that she was actually starting to feel angry at May for making Ash feel like this.

"Look, just ignore what Drew told you for a moment, and just focus on what May said. As far as she knows, you still know nothing about Drew's motives. So, she won't decide until after the Contest, because that's when Drew supposedly tells her what he wants, remember?"

Ash sighed, but then he managed a shaky smile. "That's true. Thanks, Dawn," he said.

Dawn smiled back at him. "That's what friends are for, remember?"

Dawn was glad that Ash seemed a little more relaxed, but she knew the hardest part was yet to come.

And there we are. The stage has finally been set, and now the actual plot can begin. I hope you're still with me after all this, 'cause the 'story' part of the story is on its way! See you next time, and in the meantime, why don't you review this chapter and all the others you haven't yet. See you!