Update April 2013: This chapter has been updated and revised from its original version. Past errors have been fixed and adjustments have been made but the plot of the chapter, characters, and events have remained the same.

Have I ever told you guys that you're all the biggest bunch of sweethearts ever? I don't think I have. I'll do that now: you're all the biggest bunch of sweethearts ever! :D Happy reading everyone! Please keep those reviews coming!

Responses to Reviews...
chocolatehell: Are you serious? If so, thanks so much! I'm glad I was able to make you anticipate the update! :D But of course I wouldn't kill Drew! He is the main male character! This story will also be pretty long. Around 40 chapters perhaps? I'm really liking where I'm going with it and the response I'm getting so I'd like to keep it going as long as possible. I have a lot in store for it, too. :)
Pear-Shaped: Lol! It's okay :)
LoveLoverGrl: Haha! Dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnn. :D
EeveeTransformed: YES! I'm getting a cookie! And I love you, too! :D I kept writing! Here's the next chapter!
Jace'sVampiress97: Hah! Me too! I wouldn't be able to hold onto my sanity. I'm going to give her an award for good sanity keeping. :) *gives away to May*
Fprmr1:Thanks for saying that about Absol! Sorry I don't update on a weekly schedule with it like I do this fanfiction, but it's kind of hard to balance two stories and school at the same time. :\ I'll try my best to update at least once every week though! :D
Monochrome13: Hehe, I'll make sure she doesn't! :)
The Last Poison Apple: Why thank you :D
LuvAllPokemon: HAHAHA! Ohmygosh, you are the cutest thing ever! :D "DA FLUFFINESS OF INFINITY PILLOWSSSSSSSSSS!" You sound like me when I cuddle with my pillows! They're so soft and fluffy. :3
Pokemaster: Hah! Can't you just imagine how angry he'd look if Dawn really forced him into a pink shirt? :D
PokemasterHAHAHA: Lol! I laughed so hard while I wrote that part because I couldn't get the look on his face out of my head! :D Or, at least what my mind conjured up of his face.
leontinees: Do you really like them that much? I might just incorporate them in towards the end then just for you. :3 And also to make up for always missing the N in your name! Do I really? I'm sorry! I honestly thought that I got it right every single time! I promise not to miss it again! D:
Namcitaable: He is! I've always loved that guy. :) My story and I thanks for you for calling it a marvel!
Claudette14: Aw! I'm sorry for making you cry! Don't cry! Just keep in mind that he'll get her in the end! :D
Blademon: Thank you so much! You're very sweet. :D
Shadow Lilies: Hehe, hurray for gushing! :D
misspokemonpro: That rainbow cookie was too cute and yummy! Thank you! :D *gobbles it up*
ponyiowa: Hehe, let's read on and see, eh? ;D
Chi-Chiwawa: Haha, aw! I'm sorry, but I love Gary too much to make him a womanizer. :) It's totally fine that you haven't reviewed in a long time though! Just so long as you're still reading my story! Start making up for it now? :D
Pokemaster: LOLOLOL! Nah, I don't hate you. You made me laugh! :)
Heatherflower: Now that I think of it, the beginning was sad. What is it with me and making my story sad? Tsk tsk. ._. My work and I are flattered that you called it awesome. :)
saratiger: Thank you so much! I hope you really do review every chapter from now on! Reviews like yours make me smile. :D
Under The Elements: I'm confused by your review... ._. But regardless, thank you very much! :D
KK: Did I really? Success! I love reading! Glad that I got you on board! :D
LiteBulb: Thanks :)

Love Unexpected chapter 16

The next morning, May arrived right on schedule to check Drew out of the hospital. Since the contest wasn't until another three days, they were able to kick back and relax and explore the city. They had already gotten through all of their training and preparing, so they didn't have to do much at all.

Drew surprised May, though, when he announced over lunch that he would not be participating in the contest.

"What?" she exclaimed, nearly choking on her sandwich. "Why not?"

Drew sniffled and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"How am I supposed to participate with this cold? I thought it would've passed overnight, but it's only gotten worse if anything. I'd rather sit out than sneeze up a storm in the middle of an appeal or something," he told her.

As if on cue, the inside of his nose began to tickle and he quickly grabbed a napkin to sneeze into.

May grimaced at the sight. He did look pretty sick.

"But what about getting a ribbon?" she asked him.

Drew shrugged. "I don't mind if it means helping you."

"Helping me?" she asked, confused. "How would it help me?"

"If I don't participate, you'll have a better chance of winning," he explained, as if it should have been obvious. He put a hand out to stop her from objecting when her mouth opened. "Relax, it's not like I'm going to purposefully be sitting out of every contest just to increase your chances of winning. This just happens to be a coincidence that I don't mind about."

A small, grateful smile graced itself across May's lips as she stared at him.

"Thanks, Drew," she said softly.

Said guy returned her smile with a gentle smirk.

"No problem, just so long as you're happy," he expressed.

"Well, I'm not particularly happy that you have to sit out. I do feel bad," she muttered, blush blooming on her cheeks as she leaned down to take a sip of her seltzer.

Drew had to smile at the adorable sight. Just to tease her, he reached over to tuck the strand of hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear. The touch made her cheeks grow even redder.

"I have to say that color goes very nicely with your eyes," he commented. "I suppose if I'm going to be courting you from now on that I should be showering you with compliments like these every day?"

"Don't," May insisted, embarrassed as she turned her head away so that his fingers were no longer in contact with her cheek. "I don't want to walk around looking like a Tomato berry all the time."

"Oh, so compliments from me make you blush?"

"Compliments in general make me blush."

"Modesty, eh?" he inquired with an amused grin.

May nodded slightly and tore off a piece of her sandwich to pop into her mouth, avoiding his eyes.

Chuckling, he went on, "I find that incredibly attractive in a girl. Most of the girls in my life have always been conceited and full of themselves."

"No surprise there," she muttered with an eye roll. "The identical attract."

"I believe it's opposites attract, which is why I'm attracted to you," he retorted.

"Stop it," May groaned, while sitting back from the table.

She felt bad as it was for not returning his feelings; she didn't need his constant compliments to make her feel any worse. And plus, the blush that was burning the apples of her cheeks was embarrassing.

"Fine," Drew droned with an eye roll.

He smirked again when May leaned back in to continue with her breakfast, the blush disappearing from her face. He had to make her blush again, just one more time.

"Hey, May—there's only twenty-one letters in the alphabet, right?" he began.

"No Andrew, there's twenty-six," she answered, while looking up at him like he was crazy.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I keep on forgetting 'U, R, A, Q, T'."

"'U, R, A, Q, T'..." May repeated to herself, not quite understanding why he would forget those particular five letters.

The blush returned to her cheeks when she got the meaning, and she fought to suppress the smile that was tugging at the corner if her lips.

"You're so corny!" she exclaimed.

"Maybe, but I made you blush again, so I'm okay with it," Drew asserted, the smirk still present on his face.

With an eye roll, May balled up a napkin and chucked it at him before finishing off her lunch.

He laughed in response at the gesture and went on to finish his own lunch.

After leaving the diner that they had eaten in a few minutes later, they decided to head to the small park located near the north exit of the town, just a little ways from the Pokémon Center. It harbored the rather tranquil atmosphere that seemed to fall upon the entire town. The pleasant sound of the fountain located in the gorgeous botanical garden at the heart of the park resonated throughout the air. In the crystal clear water, many goldeen and seaking were swimming beside one another, giving the fountain some life and color.

"I think I could go for some of the ice cream from that cart we passed," May announced suddenly.

Drew paused beside her on the bridge that lead to the large pagoda at the center of the fountain. He looked at her in disbelief.

"You couldn't've decided that before we entered the park?" he queried, chagrin evident in his voice. "Now, I have to walk all the way back out there to get some for you."

"I wasn't asking you to go get it for me," May claimed, widening her eyes in innocence. "I was going to get it myself."

"No, you stay here—I'll go get it. The last thing I need is for you to wander off by yourself and get lost," Drew muttered with an eye roll.

May rolled her own in response.

"This park isn't all that big, Drew," she pointed out, but he was already walking off of the bridge.

"Yeah, but you'd be the one to make getting lost possible. Just stay here, I'll be right back," he called over his shoulder.

From behind him, he heard May calling for him to get her a chocolate popsicle, so he waved a hand to signal that he heard her as he walked away.

It was a short trip from the fountain to the ice cream vendor, so he was ready to head back in less than five minutes. Thinking that May would never expect for him to return so soon, he decided to take a detour into the forest so that he could surprise her from behind. However, the small twigs and fallen acorns that crunched beneath his shoes with every step made it almost impossible for him to silently creep up on her. Realizing this, he decided to give up on the sneak attack, and left the forest.

Just when he almost stepped out of the concealment of the trees, a powerful floral scent drew him back in. It led him even deeper into the forest, to the point where the sound of the fountain faded away entirely into silence. A couple of steps later, the source of the scent came into view. He nearly dropped the ice cream in his hand when he saw what it was.

"I've got to show May," he muttered to himself, and began to walk back to the fountain.

His feet slowed to a halt when he heard the shrill sound of a toddler's cry coming from the fountain. Stepping closer, he was able to get a good look of what was happening from behind tree.

"Aw, don't cry, sweetie," May cooed, while crouching down so that she was level with the little boy standing in front of her.

The toddler had his arm thrown over his eyes as he cried over the pain in his knee. A scrape was prominent from where he had skinned his knee from falling. He had been running up and down the bridge with his friends in a playful game of Tag, when he accidentally tripped over one of his shoelaces. As a result, he wound up with a scratched knee that stung with even the slightest movement of his leg.

"It hurts," he sobbed, tears trickling down his cheeks and leaving darkened spots on his yellow shirt.

"But if you keep crying, how are you going to have fun?" May asked him, hoping that the question would distract him from the pain as she placed a band-aid over his knee. "There. Is that better?"

The little boy nodded with a giggle as he pulled his arm away to look down at the dunsparce-shaped band-aid.

May smiled at him.

"Good boy," she said.

She watched as he extended his leg out and gave it a jiggle before thrusting his fist into the air.

"Squirtle! Aqua Jet! Go!" he exclaimed and then went off, leaving May blinking in surprise.

Drew smirked to himself as he approached her. Watching the entire encounter had made him that much more sure of his feelings for the brunette. She was just so loving, it was adorable.

"Sorry, were you waiting long?" he asked once he got close enough to her.

May's head snapped around to glare at him after recognizing his voice. She stood and began to approach him angrily.

"'Waiting long?' Of course I was waiting long!" she exclaimed. "Who takes ten minutes to get ice cream? The vendor wasn't even that far from here to begin wi—"

Time seemed to have slowed when May was cut off as she stepped on an empty soda pop bottle. It slid forward from under her foot, causing her to lose her balance and fall right on her knee, thus leaving a scratch that was even larger than the one of the little boy from earlier. It took her a moment to register the pain that jolted throughout her entire leg as it buckled beneath her and left her sitting on her calves.

"Ow!" she cried when she did. "My knee! It hurts! It hurts!"

Drew struggled to refrain from laughing as he watched her cry. It had only just been a moment ago that she had comforted a little boy. Now, she was crying just as hard as he had. A young woman of eighteen crying like a toddler, who couldn't have been any older than four or five...it was just too good.

"If you keep crying, how will you have fun?" he recited with an amused smirk.

May ceased her crying to look up at him through half-lidded eyes.

"You were watching," she accused him.

But he didn't confirm it. Instead, he extended his hand down to her.

"Want help up?" he asked.

"No thanks," she grumbled and stood up quickly on her own. She winced as the skin over her knee folded, but she didn't cry.

Drew smirked at her again. "Good girl."

"Hey," she droned warningly.

Drew simply stared at her with the amused smirk still on his face, waiting for something unknown.

"Well, aren't you going to do it, too?" he eventually asked.

"Do what?" she inquired, an eyebrow cocked.

"Squirtle! Aqua Je—"

"Shut up!" she barked, blushing burning away at her cheeks, while she steamed on the inside.

Spotting her ice cream, she snatched it out of his hand and tore off the wrapper before gobbling down the almost-melted chocolate popsicle.

Drew chuckled and followed her to the trash can on the other side of the fountain. He took her wrist when she turned around. She eyed him questioningly.

"I have something to show you," he told her. "Come on."

"Why are you taking me into the forest?" she asked when he began to tow her in the direction of the trees.

"You'll see," Drew insisted. "Close your eyes."

"Why should I?"

"Because I told you so, so just do it," he groaned with an eye roll. Why did she have to question everything like a small child?

With a disgruntled grunt, May obliged. Trusting Drew not to do anything to her, she shut her eyes and allowed him to lead her into the forest. They walked for a while, slowly making her grow impatient. She was just about to open her mouth, when suddenly, a strong floral scent filled her nose.

"What's that smell?" she asked him, while sniffing the air at the same time.

Drew smiled even though she couldn't see him.

"You'll see a moment. Just keep your eyes closed," he instructed, and lead her to walk the last couple of steps that took them both out of the forest. "Okay. You can open your eyes now."

May's eyelids gave way to reveal her eyes, returning her vision and allowing her to take in the beautiful sight before her. She could hardly believe what she was seeing and smelling.

"Roses?" she inquired, turning to him with a pleasantly surprised smile spread across her lips.

Drew nodded, smiling back at her while giving her wrist an affectionate squeeze.

"I decided that I'm going to be giving you a rose every day from now on. So, these are to make up for the past couple of months where I didn't," he declared.

"But these aren't yours to give," May laughed.

"They aren't, but this one is," he said, and then, as if by magic, pulled a perfect red rose out of his pocket and handed it to her.

He let go of the hold around her wrist so that she could hold and stroke the rose with both of her hands. The velvet soft petals felt dewy and smooth beneath her touch. The stem had even been rid of all its thorns so it was just one straight, undisturbed trip down for her fingers. Her expression grew soft at the flower as she gave it a twirl.

"Thank you," she said, looking up to meet his eyes.

Drew merely shrugged and smiled at her before turning to scan the field of roses. Even though they were beautiful, none of them could compete with the rose that he had given May from his roserade. However, it was still a dazzling sight to see the sun begin to set behind the field. The soft mixture of oranges and reds went well with the scarlet flowers.

"We should camp out here tonight," he suddenly suggested.

"Here?" May repeated with her eyebrows furrowing skeptically. "Are we allowed to do that?"

"Why wouldn't we be?" he challenged.

"But what about your cold?"

He shrugged and took her wrist again.

"It's no big deal," he insisted. "Let's go get our tents."

Smiling, May let him lead her through the forest, out of the park, and back to the Pokémon Center. There, they grabbed their tents and sleeping bags, and started back to the rose field. After setting up the campsite, they started up a fire so that they could see in the dark and warm themselves up. The flames instantly gave the area a settle glow that accentuated the beauty of the roses and gave the atmosphere a very cozy feel.

"Isn't this so romantic?" Drew joked, while looking over at May.

He felt something catch in his throat at the sight of her. He found it ridiculous how any girl could manage to look so gorgeous just sitting by a fire on a sleeping bag. Or maybe it was just his feelings toward her that made her look exceptionally beautiful.

He nearly stopped breathing when she turned her angelic eyes over in his direction. Even if they were half-lidded because she didn't approve of his joke, they still managed to make his heart flutter. Arceus, she was so beautiful.

"I don't find anything romantic about it, but it does feel nice," she admitted.

"Glad you agree with me," Drew breathed, while settling into his sleeping bag. By lying down on his back, he was able to gaze up at the night sky without having to crane his neck.

The milky black canvas was specked with tiny white stars, like diamonds against a bed of velvet. Drew had always loved looking up at the sky when it looked the way that it currently did, even as a kid. He still remembered how he used to sit out on the back porch with his parents on random nights back in LaRousse City, just to stargaze. There was always some calming feeling that washed over him every time.

Folding his arms beneath his head, that same feeling returned, and he suddenlygrew sleepy.

"Hey, May," he murmured, with his eyelids drooping. "Remember when you said you owe me something for saving Lillipup? I know what I want now."

May eyed him warily. She feared that he would ask her to kiss him, or something worse.

"What do you want?" she asked after a moment of hesitation.

She was confused when he instructed her to pull her sleeping bag over to place beside his and to lay down on it. When his arms went around her, she finally understood his meaning. Blush found its way across her cheeks for the umpteenth time that day.

"Just stay like this with me for one night," he requested, his sleepy voice so soft that May had to glance up to read his lips in order to understand his speech. "Don't go anywhere for tonight."

After yawning and wishing her good night, he shut his eyes and settled to sleep.

May stayed awake for some time long after Drew drifted off, not quite knowing whether or not to gently push away from him, or to just stay put. It felt awkward falling asleep in a guy's arms if the guy wasn't Gary.

She had fallen asleep in the brunet's arms before in the past when they were camping out in the woods (much like the way she and Drew were), so she knew what it felt like. She remembered how hard her heart had pounded in her chest and how much her cheeks had burned while she snuggled into his side. She remembered how much she had enjoyed that night's sleep and how hard she had smiled to the point where she had woken up to sore cheeks.

Now, as she lay in Drew's arms, she didn't know how she felt. Her heart was pounding and her cheeks were burning, but it felt different from how her heart had pounded and cheeks had burned that night with Gary. And she wasn't smiling nor was she was enjoying it. At least, she didn't think she was enjoying it. She didn't know if her blush and pounding heart meant that she returned Drew's feelings for her or not.

All she knew was that she was feeling a combination of things: guilt for being in Drew's arms, confusion over her feelings for Drew, discomfort for keeping her head hovered over his chest, and indecision between whether or not to push away from Drew or to fall asleep in his arms.

She thought long and hard for a while, but wound up coming up empty in the end. She did, however, end up placing her head on his chest after her neck began to torture her for keeping her head up for too long. Even though she had yet to come to a conclusion about everything, she could decide that she just didn't have the heart to disappoint him by pushing him away. She did owe him for saving Lillipup, after all.

So, instead of pushing him away, she settled into his side and fell asleep under the blanket of stars.

Author's Note: For those of you who got Drew's corny little joke at the beginning of the chapter, I'm giving you all a cookie. For those who didn't, it's okay, I'm giving you guys one, too! Hehe, anyways, here's the joke if you guys didn't get it: Drew said that he kept forgetting five letters of the alphabet which were U, R, A, Q, T. If you read it correctly, you'll see that U, R, A, Q, T is actually a compliment in disguise: you are a cutie. Get it? Huh huh? Do you get it? Corny, eh? A guy in my class said it to me last week and I almost died. Haha, I just had to include it! Please review for the corny joke! :D

P.S. I was picturing a Japanese botanical garden and fountain when I wrote about the one in the park. They're just so beautiful and majestic looking, don't you think? I love them so much. :)