Update June 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.

I have three things I have to say:

1) I've changed Brock's age from twenty-three (or whatever I had before, I forget) to twenty-eight. Sorry, I meant to put twenty-eight originally. :P

2) May's dress is actually a dress that Selena Gomez wore! No shocker that I would use one of Selena's dazzling dresses considering she is my fashion inspiration. So, if you'd like to see the dress in real, just look up "Selena Gomez butterfly dress" and you'll get a real life picture of it! Unfortunately, it's a butterfly print, not beautifly, so you're all going to have to use your own imagination. :)

3) I'm thinking about making a Twitter for everything related to my fanfiction account. I've actually thought about this a while ago, but I kept forgetting to ask you guys for your opinions about it. Luckily, chocolatehell, an awesome author and a reviewer of mine, reminded me of it. It's good so that I can actually talk to you guys more than once a week! So, here's me asking for your opinions: should I or should I not make a Twitter? Leave your answers in the reviews!

Now, without further ado, the next chapter of Love Unexpected. As always, happy reading and please review. :)

Responses to Reviews...
Fprmr1: Hehe, nah, I can't do that to Brianna! I actually like her for a change. ;D
Itssupereffective: You're a guy reader? My gosh, I'm really flattered! I never expected to have a guy read my fanfiction! Thanks so much :)
Pokemaster: I'll to incorporate your character, but it'll have to be at the end because I only have one more contest planned. Please be patient if you want to see your character appear! And Patience is Rewarded is actually either going to continued being postponed or just deleted altogether, I'm afraid. I can't think of anything else to add onto it. :\
Claudette14: Well, let's see if I can change your thoughts in this chapter? :)
ElsieLorraine: I want to thank you for everything you said! I'm glad that you liked my portrayal of May and Brianna's relationship! I wanted to try something new since I've always felt that the two of them had a potential friendship (even though I'd hated Brianna's guts in the past :P). It's definitely fun to write! You'll see who I bring back in this chapter. :)
BittersweetSienna: I agree, I like my Brianna a lot better. The anime one was soooo annoying! And Myra's actually a character that one of my reviewers created, so I gave her a cameo! I honestly thought your joke was funny, though. :)
Pear-Shaped: Haha, thanks!
EeveeTransformed: I'm sorry. xD I could use a female minor character in an upcoming chapter! A bridesmaid to be exact, hint hint. ;) And yes, we're more than half way through with this story. I'm actually pretty sad; I like writing this story. :( But I'm also happy since this'll be the first story that I've ever finished. :)
chocolatehell: Oh gosh, let me attempt to respond to your review! Lol, this will be long guys, brace yourselves for a lot of scrolling if you're not Samia...
Fanfiction is evil! Well, sometimes. It is letting us unleash our imagination, right? :) My app really does act like an a-hole sometimes! I remember going an entire month without being to download or read any of my favorite stories because it's then-latest update crashed it! Unfortunately, it was the only—and still is the only—iPhone app for fanfiction out there. I'd make one myself (one where you could actually update your stories on!) but I'm not that smart. :P But definitely play me in Scrabble! Do it! Just give me your username when the time comes and we'll play each other! :) And that's a crazy coincidence! But at least your dad told you before he did, right? Mine just cut it off without notifying me. -_-
Ugh, I'm really starting to worry about my junior year. I made the mistake of picking two AP classes and two language courses next year. Not mention that I'll be taking calculus instead of geometry because I skipped two math classes. I'm going to DIE. I'll definitely check out your Spanish project, though! Me gustaría verlo! Is that right? Lol :P
Please introduce me to your friend, Nikki, someday! I would love that! I haven't met many people with the same name as me in my lifetime; it's nice when I get to do so! :)
Psh, don't be so modest! You're an excellent author and you should take pride in that! It's definitely a boast-worthy talent of yours! You deserve all the shameless advertising!
Hope I made you blush! Muahahahahahhahaa. :D
May's dress is actually the butterfly dress that Selena Gomez wore when she performed "A Year Without Rain" live at the 2011 People's Choice Awards! I swear, that girl couldn't pick an ugly piece of clothing to save her life! I love her style! But enough about Selena. xD
Trust me, Brianna won't be CLOSE to how annoying she was in the anime. I HATED her, so I took the liberty of portraying her differently in my story. Though I have to agree with you, it MAY have been her voice in the anime that annoyed me so much. I hated the new voices for all of the characters (especially Ash, Drew, and May!) so I just stopped watching pokémon after enduring the rest of the episodes with Drew and May. I still shudder just thinking about how terrible the voices were. They ruined my favorite anime. Ugh.
I agree with you on the Harley/Solidad thing as well. We can both thank Glory for that, lol! But I just wanted to change things up a bit by matching Brock with Solidad, instead. May will be visiting the two and Ash and Misty, too! The reason for her visiting them should please a lot of Pokéshippers out there, hehe. ;)
I've heard of that trilogy! I've been meaning to get the first book so that I can see for myself if it's really that good as some people say! I am BEYOND excited to see the first Hunger Games movie! I can't wait! :D
I love rambling, I really do. You should hear me when I ramble! I pick the randomest topic that runs through my head at the moment and then I just go on and on about it until I think of something else! Geez, I talk too much. :p
I'm really stressing about my junior year. It's going to be here in just six months time! Gosh, I WILL die. Ugh. I don't even know if I'll be able to write as often as I get to now! Waah. I want to be in first grade against. Dx
There's no such thing as a late review as long as you still review! I appreciate and thank you so much for taking the time out of your day for writing such a long review for me to respond to! I haven't had that much fun in a long time! :D You didn't scare me with it at all! Did you get my long review, though? I tried to get it to be as long as yours, but I think I failed. Looks like I really have to make a Twitter. Lol, I'll talk to you soon, Samia. Bye!
fractured fairytales: Thanks for bringing up Scorpius and Rose! I went to check out some fanfictions revolving around them and I fell in love! I love them almost as much as I love Dramione! Have you ever read Chronicles and Paremnesia by Josephinee? They're sooo addicting! I'm already rereading both fics!
dorkyreader859:Thank you!
Monochrome13: Didn't I? I feel proud! I packed a lot into this one, too! xD
FlygonFan: Lol! Thank you so much for that name you called me! That was so cute! xD Didn't you tell me about that guy before? I believe I shared a story with you, too. :P Haha, Brock is no longer a playboy. He's very committed to Solidad, and I mean very committed. Committed x2, lol. You'll get this after you read the chapter. ;D I agree with you on the thing about Taylor Swift's songs! I wonder if she's a Contestshipper on the down-low, lol.
Jace'sVampiress97: I laughed my head off when I was writing the horror movie scene! That's what with me and my friend! Geez, the memories. xD Go ahead and use May's appeal! I'm flattered that you actually liked it enough to want to use it! :D And Harley, Solidad, and Brock are just mentioned, unfortunatley. I'll try to bring them back again whenever I can! Thanks so much for you comment about this story and Absol, by the way! I'm mega flattered! :D
LuvPeaceCandy: THANKS!
lyrical-harmonies: Alright, I'll say it: it's Ash and Misty. :D
Pelkasauras -Cherry3456: YES! I made your day again! Hope I do again with this! :D
The Last Poison Apple: Here it is!
Sora-May: It's fine! I should be thanking you for taking the time to read and review despite being busy! That's very sweet of you!
LoveLoverGrl: Who says he doesn't? xD Lol, jaykay!
starlit wishes: You're very kind! Thank you for reading my story and reviewing so quickly! :D

Love Unexpected chapter 24

Drew couldn't believe whom he was seeing on the telephone screen. His childhood friend and coordinating mentor was sitting beside Brock Moulder, one of the most popular Pokémon Breeders of their time, in their home in Pewter City.

He hadn't seen her in years after she arrived in LaRousse City for a contest so many years ago. It had been his first contest, and he still remembered the advice that she had given him after she had beaten him.

"Never give up. No one learns how to walk before they fall" were the exact words that she had said to him after she found him crying underneath a tree outside of the contest building. It was because of her and those words that he became so dedicated to coordinating. He would never forget what he did for her.

But then she left to LaRousse City to continue on with her own journey. They still kept in touch, and she often gave him advice about coordinating, but aside from that, their brief conversations never included anything personal.

That was why he was so surprised to discover that she was married to Brock Moulder.

Arceus, married. His most important friend and mentor was married to Brock Moulder. His friend, Solidad Sciola.

No, correction: it was Solidad Moulder née Sciola now. She was married.

Arceus, he hadn't realized how much he had missed her. He instantly regretted not attending her wedding when he had received her invitation last year.

But seriously? Brock Moulder? She had said that her fiancé's name was Brock Moulder, but he hadn't expected it to be the Brock Moulder.

"Yes, it's me," Solidad Moulder breathed, a huge smile breaking across her beautiful face. "I can't believe it's you! You're all grown up!"

Drew couldn't help but return her smile. It really was her.

"I know. And you're married!" he replied.

Solidad nodded happily. Then, she placed a hand on her stomach, surprising both Drew and May when the gesture drew their attention to her midsection.

"Yes, and I'm also pregnant, too," she informed as she rubbed her stomach through the fabric of her tunic.

May marveled over Solidad's protruding belly; she had forgotten that Solidad was pregnant. Brock had given her the news months ago when Solidad was only two months along. It was amazing how big Solidad had gotten in just seven months; her stomach was ballooning out of her like a beach ball! How could she have missed it when Solidad first sat down?

"Geez, how many months are you? You're so big!" May beamed, while leaning forward to get a better look.

Drew rolled his eyes at her vain attempt; they were talking on a phone, in case she failed to notice.

"I'm due in a little over a week!"

Brock grinned cheekily as he thought about becoming a father.

"And she's having twins! I'm going to be a daddy times two!" he blurted proudly.

Drew and May turned to beam excitedly at one another before May turned back to the screen.

"What's the gender?" she asked, barely able to contain her glee.

"They're both boys!" Solidad answered.

"That's amazing! I'm so happy for you guys!"

"Thanks! We're very excited! I can't believe we're actually going to be parents soon!"

"Have you decided on the names yet?" Drew asked.

"We were thinking Caleb and Joshua."

"Caleb and Joshua? Oh darling, those names are beautiful!" a new voice gushed.

Drew and May snapped their heads in the direction of the sudden voice, while Brock and Solidad craned their heads in a vain attempt to see who it was. All four of them gaped when Harley suddenly squeezed himself onto the seat beside May and placed his head directly in front of the camera.

Solidad took a moment to register the face of the purple-haired man. After appraising him for a moment, she finally recognized the face of her childhood best friend.

"Harley?" she beamed.

"That's me, honey! Long time no see! I haven't talked to you in a little over a year, and now I find out that you're pregnant with twins? Oh my Arceus, you're going to be a mommy!" he cried, clasping his hands together in glee.

Solidad chuckled. Her friend hadn't changed a bit, even in all the years that she had known him.

"Yes, Harley, I'm going to be a mommy!" she said.

"Oh my, and Brock! You're just as handsome as the last time I saw you!"

"Thanks, Harley. I can say the same for you," Brock chuckled.

"Not as handsome as you, deary!"

"Harley!" May cried in protest as the man began to wedge himself even further on the small seat that she had been sharing with Drew. "There's no room!"

"Oh, go sit on your boyfriend's lap," Harley responded, waving a hand dismissively as he continued to wiggle until he was comfortable.

"Drew's your boyfriend, May? When did this happen?" Brock inquired.

"Yeah, you guys are dating?" Solidad added with a pleasantly surprised smile.

"No, we're not dating!" May answered a little too quickly, much to Drew's dismay.

"She claims that they're not dating even though the sexual tension between the two of them is clear as day," Harley inserted with an eye roll, surprising May with his words. "It'll happen eventually, though—don't worry. They are traveling together, after all."

"We're just traveling together. It doesn't mean we're going to date!"

Drew frowned as May continued to deny her feelings for him as Harley continued to insist that they were going to end up together.

Seeing this, Solidad tried to put an end to the debate before it got too out of hand. Harley was a sweetheart, yes, but sometimes he was much too straightforward for his own good, and simply didn't take other people's feelings into account whenever he spoke. He had been the same way ever since he could talk. Solidad still remembered when he had made her cry after making a mean comment about her hair when they first met. Being only three-years-old at the time, Solidad had cried over the words.

But Harley wasn't a mean person. He had immediately felt remorse the second he saw Solidad cry and, instead of making her cry even more, he had apologized and comforted her. He really wasn't mean. He just needed to learn how to filter his words before he spoke.

"Harley, drop it. You're making the two of them uncomfortable," Solidad said gently. "Let them handle their own relationship matters."

Harley crossed his arms over his chest and stood up from the seat.

"Fine, I have to go get back to my seat at the contest arena, anyway. I'll leave you two pairs of lovebirds alone, then," he huffed. "I'll call you later, Solidad. Bye, y'all."

Solidad sighed. "Bye, Harley."

Then everyone fell quiet.

Brock cleared his throat to break the silence that Harley had left behind. "Shouldn't you two be heading back to the contest as well?" he asked Drew and May.

"We still have a little bit of time left," May replied. "I wanted to call Ash, too, before heading back."

"Oh, it's great that you brought him up, May! He has a bit of good news to share with you, too!"

"Really? What is it?"

"I'll let him tell you that once you call him."

"Alright, I'll call him, now. Thanks, Brock," May said with a smile.

After the four of them said goodbye to one another, she dialed the number of her other friend's home.

"That Ash you guys were talking about wouldn't happen to be Ash Ketchum, would it?" Drew asked hesitantly as the phone rang.

May nodded once, unable to look at him.

Drew shook his head. How many famous friends did she know?

"Hello?" a man with raven hair said after picking up the phone.

"Hiya, Ash!"

"May!" Ash Ketchum exclaimed with a huge grin. "Perfect timing! I've been meaning to call you! How are you?"

"I'm doing great! I just got off the phone with Brock and he told me that you have some good news to tell me?"

"Oh! That's exactly why I've been meaning to call you!" Ash grinned. "Let me get Misty, so that we can tell you together."

"Okay!"

"Ash Ketchum's dating Misty Clearwater, isn't he?" Drew asked May as Ash went to go get his girlfriend.

"Yeah. They're living together at his mother's house, too."

"You really do have a famous group of friends, don't you?"

May shrugged nonchalantly, as if it wasn't a big deal to be friends with one of the top Pokémon Masters in the world and gym leader of the Cerulean City Gym. She didn't know what else to say to him. Luckily, Ash was quick to return with Misty.

"Hi, Misty!" she greeted as the orange-haired beauty sat down.

"May! I've missed you, sweetie! I was going to call you tomorrow so that Ash and I could tell you some news, but I guess Brock and Solidad beat us to it!"

"Not exactly. They didn't tell me what it was," May told her. Then, she furrowed her eyebrows. "What is it exactly?"

Ash took a second to intertwine his fingers with Misty's as he took her hand. They smiled at one another first before they turned back to the screen.

"We're getting married!" they announced.

Silence filled the air for a moment, and then...

"YOU GUYS ARE GETTING MARRIED?" May squealed loudly into the speaker, causing Drew to wince. "About time! Congratulations! When?"

"In two months! We just sent out the invitations three days ago! Are you going to be able to make it?" Misty asked.

"Absolutely! I wouldn't miss your wedding for anything! Is it going to be in Pallet?"

"We're actually having it in Viridian City!"

"That's great! I can make it in time then! I'm in Fuchsia City right now!"

"Oh yeah! Aren't you in that contest that's going on there now? What're you doing on the phone?" Ash asked her with a confused expression.

Then, his eyes wandered over to Drew, as if he were just noticing the guy sitting beside her. Excitement instantly took over his features when he realized who the guy was.

"Andrew Hayden? Aren't you that famous coordinator Andrew Hayden?" he asked.

Drew gave a subtle smirk that came off cool and friendly, even though he was incredibly flattered to have Ash Ketchum know who he was.

"Yes, I'm Andrew Hayden," he confirmed. "Nice to meet you."

"I just saw your appeal on TV not too long ago and now I get to be on the phone with you? This is awesome!" Ash exclaimed with the childish glee of a five-year-old.

Misty shook her head at her fiancé's behavior.

"Excuse his childish behavior, Andrew—he's always been like this. It's very nice to meet you. I'm Misty Clearwater," she said with a kind smile.

"The pleasure's all mine, Misty. Please call me Drew," Drew insisted with his charming, trademark smirk.

"This is great! I'm meeting a famous coordinator!" Ash cried out.

May gave him a teasing frown. "Are Solidad and I dead? We're famous coordinators, too, y'know," she reminded.

"Yeah, but this is Andrew Hayden!" he insisted with an animated wave his hands, almost smacking Misty's face in the process.

"Watch it!" she cried in protest. while grabbing his hand to hold it securely in her lap.

"Sorry, sweetheart," Ash apologized and reached to hug his fiancée.

Misty rolled her eyes but returned his hug just the same.

"Aw, you two lovebirds," May cooed, smiling at the apparent affection that the couple felt for one another.

"There's nothing to coo about, May. You have a boyfriend, too, don't you?"

Drew froze at Misty's words, while May furrowed her eyebrows. Since when did she have a boyfriend?

All three pairs of confused eyes turned to the brunette.

"What boyfriend?" she asked Misty, just as confused as they all were.

"Drew?" Ash asked her back. "You guys are together, right?"

Drew let out the breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding. Thank Arceus that it was all a misunderstanding—he almost thought that May really had a secret boyfriend. If that were really the case, he didn't know what he would do. Having Gary as his competition was more than enough; he didn't need a boyfriend in the picture as well.

He did, however, get a secret satisfaction out of the fact that everyone seemed to think that he and May were a couple. Unfortunately, the only one who wasn't on board was May herself.

"Oh, no—Drew's not my boyfriend," May corrected quickly. "We're just traveling together."

"Really?" Ash asked, genuinely surprised as he glanced back and forth from May to Drew.

"She's telling the truth. We're not together," Drew piped up. "But I do like this one girl very much, though. Unfortunately, she's refusing to accept me at the moment, even though she knows she has feelings for me. There's just something holding her back." He gave May a brief glance, eying her reaction to his words. "Have you guys ever went through something like this before? I could use some advice."

May wrung her hands in her lap as her throat closed up. It didn't take a genius to figure out what girl he was referring to; she just didn't expect for him to be so bold as to tell Ash and Misty. Even Ash, who had always been the most gullible one in any group, could tell who it was. It was clear in his expression.

Misty's expression mirrored his from beside him, her green eyes reflecting the concern in his brown ones at the sudden tension in the air. A person could have cut it with a knife.

But then, something very close to recognition flickered in Ash's eyes. It suddenly occurred to him what thing Drew was referring to. Or rather, what person Drew was referring to. He remembered a conversation that he had had with May not too long ago about her strong feelings for Gary. She had told him that she was positive that she was falling in love with the brunet professor, and that the distance between them was making the feelings grow instead of dwindle.

Could it be that she still liked Gary and so refused to accept Drew because she couldn't let Gary go?

"I've never went through that type of situation before," Ash said, breaking the silence. "But the only thing I can tell you is to be patient. She'll come around eventually."

"That's what I hope every day," Drew responded.

"We wish you luck then, Drew," Misty told him with a kind, understanding smile.

"Thanks, Misty."

May cleared her throat and tried to put on the most convincing smile that she could muster. But just like her mother and brother, she failed to convince anyone.

"Well, Ash, Misty, we should be heading back to the contest building now. The battle rounds are about to start soon," she said.

"Oh, right! You guys need to get going! Good luck to the both of you!" Ash responded, instantly perking up.

"Absolutely," Misty added. "And Drew?"

"Yes, Misty?"

"You're invited to our wedding, if you'd like to attend. We'd like a chance to get to know you better, and maybe we'll be able to help you out with your predicament if you still need it by that time."

Drew nodded, while giving her a bittersweet smile. "Thank you, Misty. I'd like that," he told her.

Of course, he meant his attendance at Ash Ketchum and Misty Clearwater's wedding. Not the assistance that he would possibly require from them if May still refused to accept him by that time.

"Well, we should let you guys go now. See you two soon," Misty said, and then waved goodbye with Ash before hanging up the phone.

May immediately stood up from the seat that she and Drew had been sharing for the past half hour.

Drew barely had time to register her absence before she had put enough distance between them to fit three tauros. He was hurt and worried to say the least.

"I'll see you in a bit. I have to get ready for the battle rounds," she offered lamely as an excuse to get some time away from him.

She didn't think she would be able to handle a walk to the contest building with him. What would they say to each other, anyway? She certainly didn't want to discuss their situation, especially after he had just brought it up to her friends.

It annoyed her when he did it, to be honest. He had no right to tell Ash and Misty about it without her consent. If she wanted her friends to know about their situation then she would have told them herself. They were her friends after all.

Then, she instantly felt the guilt hit her in the gut. How could she even blame Drew after all she had done to him? All that she was still doing to him? She was hurting him for crying out loud, and she had the nerve to blame him for wanting help! Anyone would do the same if they were in his shoes! Heck, even she would! How could she blame him?

Another reason why she couldn't walk back to the contest building with him.

"You're already ready for the battle rounds, though, aren't you? You're already dressed," Drew pointed out with a disappointed frown.

"Yeah, but I've just decided I wanted to swap out my pokémon."

"You don't think the ones you have with you now can handle a battle against me or the other two coordinators left?"

"No, it's not that. I just—"

"There you are, Drew!"

Drew and May turned to find at the approaching Brianna. She eyed the two of them with an unreadable expression before heading over to Drew's side and putting a hand around his arm.

"I was looking for you," she told him, completely disregarding May's presence. "I need to talk to you about something. Could you walk me back to the contest building?"

Drew looked as if he was ready to protest, but then Brianna tugged his arm and gave him a look. After a moment, he sighed and allowed her to pull him to the door of the Pokémon Center.

"We'll see you later, May!" the redhead called back to the brunette without turning to look at her.

May didn't know if she wanted to thank Brianna or curse her.

"Dragonfly, Flamethrower!"

"Dragonbreath, Flygon!"

The audience members watched with their heads pounding as the two flygon flying in the air shot their respective attacks at one another. They had been having trouble telling the difference between Drew's flygon and Myra's flygon ever since they both released one at the beginning of the battle. Had the two coordinators not been making sure that their pokémon weren't using the same attacks at the same time, no one would have been able to differentiate between the two ground and dragon type pokémon.

It was a frustrating battle to watch, yet it was too exciting to look away from as well.

"This has certainly been a suspenseful match! Neither flygon is letting the other get the upper hand!" Lilian said into the microphone. "But we only have a minute left of this battle folks! Let's see who wins!"

Drew's flygon swerved out of the way as Myra's flygon's Flamethrower broke through its Dragonbreath. Spiraling its way around the tunnel of flames, Flygon made its way to Dragonfly as Drew thought of what attacks he could use to beat Myra.

From what he had gathered from the past two minutes of battling against her, special attacks, like Dragonbreath or Flamethrower, had little to no use against Dragonfly. When one was used, Dragonfly would just use another more powerful special move to overpower Flygon's, whereas physical moves, like Dragon Claw or Steel Wing, did more damage to Dragonfly, and often resulted in a larger deduction of Myra's points.

As of that moment, Myra was still beating him by a small amount of points. He needed that to change immediately.

"Dragonfly, Dragon Pulse!"

Physical attacks it was then.

"Flygon, Aerial Ace!"

With incredible speed, Flygon shot forward like an arrow, making a beeline for Dragonfly. The oncoming shock wave that was pulsing from Dragonfly's mouth came closer and closer to it, tricking Dragonfly and the audience to believe that Flygon was headed straight into the attack.

But then, Flygon dove down right when the attack reached it and then headed up until it was directly in front of Dragonfly. After slamming a Dragon Tail into its opponent's face, Flygon flew back to Drew and accepted its praise for winning the battle.

Said boy returned his faithful pokémon with a small smirk and headed back to the back room as the crowd went wild for him.

"Drew! You were amazing!" Brianna squealed after Drew entered the room and launched herself into his arms.

Drew chuckled and hugged the girl closer to himself, surreptitiously smiling at the expression that May wore. It looked like something caught in between agitation and jealousy.

"Thanks," he said to Brianna after pulling away. Then, he glanced at May. "I believe you've yet to congratulate me."

May tried not to scowl at him. "I'll do that if you win the contest."

"I'll hold you to those words," Drew replied with a smug smirk.

At that moment, May and Brianna were called out to arena. She didn't hesitate nor did she wait for Brianna (who had gone to hug Drew before leaving) to exit the room. Instead, she strode to the door and out to the arena, where she took her place at one end of the battlefield. The crowd made sure to welcome her with a hearty applause.

"Hey, May," Brianna breathed, coming up to her side. She half-heartedly waved to the crowd as she spoke, but kept her eyes on May. "I just wanted to make sure that—just because we're going against one another—there won't be any hard feelings between us. Will you promise me a real battle and not hold back because we're friends?"

May nodded, unable to speak because she didn't know if the girl was referring to the battle or Drew.

Not that she was fighting over the grasshead with Brianna, of course.

"Okay, talk to you in three minutes," Brianna smiled, and then jogged to her end of the new grassfield.

The battle went by in a rush. May pitted her venusaur against Brianna's umbreon, doing all that she could to take Brianna's umbreon down. She wasn't sure why, but she was battling with more than twice her usual amount of aggression. Whether or not it was because she was keeping her promise to Brianna, or feeling bitter over the fact that Brianna was pursuing Drew, she couldn't tell. But no matter what the reason was, she didn't understand it. She was frustrated beyond belief.

And the fact that Brianna had been beating her didn't help at all.

So, she just vented her anger out on the battle. With every command that she called, her anger oozed into her voice. With every attack that Venusaur failed to dodge because of its size, her anger grew. With every amount of her points that she lost, her anger threatened to make her explode.

But in the end, she wound defeating Brianna with her venusaur's Solarbeam, much to the surprise of everyone who had thought for sure that she was going to lose. Her points had been less than a fifth of the amount that Brianna had had, but she had still managed to come out on top. She let out a sigh of relief until realization hit.

Drew was her next and final opponent.

"May, that was a great battle! Geez, you were aggressive," Brianna exclaimed as she walked back with May to the back room.

"Well, I did promise to give you a real battle, didn't I?" May tried, hoping to convince Brianna that that was the reason for her aggression.

"That you did."

As the two girls entered the back room, May went for a quick drink of water to replenish her thirst. While she did that, Drew came up beside her and handed her her daily rose.

May eyed him with confusion as she took the crisp, red flower.

"What? I always give you roses. I gave Brianna one, too," the guy told her.

May peered around him to see Brianna twirling a red flower in her fingers. She felt a pang of jealousy flop in her stomach. So, he was giving her roses now, too?

"So you did," she stated.

Drew smirked at her. "Yes I did," he said in an almost bragging voice. "Are you ready to battle against me?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you might just lose to me."

"Emphasis on the might."

"Fine, you will lose to me."

"Says you."

"Says everyone."

"Ouch!" Brianna suddenly exclaimed as a thorn on the stem of her rose pricked her finger.

"What happened?" Drew asked, immediately going to her side.

"I got pricked," Brianna pouted as she held up her finger.

Drew took it into his hand and examined it.

"So you did," he muttered, using May's exact words.

Then, he did something unexpected that surprised both girls.

He brought Brianna's finger up to his mouth and planted a kiss right on it.

"There, all better," he said smugly, and then turned to head out to the arena, leaving behind a blushing Brianna and gaping May.

May felt sick as she followed him out into the arena. She was getting sick of him, absolutely sick of him. The thought of him was beginning to make her sick as she glared at him from across the field. That annoyingly smug look on his face repulsed her to no end. How could he smirk in such a way when he was torturing her?

One second, he was proclaiming his feelings for her for her friends to hear. The next, he was kissing Brianna's finger and giving her a rose. Surprise after surprise after surprise.

What in Arceus's name was wrong with him?

And then, as if she hadn't received enough surprises already, Drew released a completely unexpected pokémon, one that nobody had ever seen before, into the water of the field that had been selected for their battle.

A massive gyarados.

Author's Note: Sorry about not writing out Brianna and May's battle. I didn't feel that it was important enough. Besides, you guys have a battle with May against Drew's gyarados to anticipate in the next chapter! Didn't expect a gyarados, eh? That's my favorite pokémon, so of course I had to give it a cameo somewhere! Hehe, hoped you guys liked this chapter! Please review! :)