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.
Responses to Reviews...
Saikono-san:I know! I love Gary! :D
Pear-Shaped: I really annoyed that they didn't put Marina, Jimmy, or Leaf in the anime! I feel that Marina and Jimmy would've been great traveling partners for Ash when he was traveling through Johto! And unfortunately, she's only going to make a few cameos in this story. :P I'm so happy that you love the Hunger Games!
LAPKat: Lol, believe me, the drama and fun is far from over. And there's some tragedy coming up, too! We have twelve more chapters to go! :)
SunshineTails: Lol, aww! :D And well, it's kind of hard not to know what the main shipping of a story on Fanfiction is considering the fact that the shippings/pairings are always listed. xD Glad you find my plot original, though! Thank you!
Pokemaster: I'm sorry, but I didn't understand a word of your review. I found it highly amusing, though. xD
Contestshippingfan: Eh, I don't really like fighting, so neither of them are the fighting-type (lol, no pokémon pun intended). But, I will tell you, that there is going to be somemajor conflict in the last ten chapters. :)
Claudette14: Why are guys with the name Gary so amazing? I'm going to name my son Gary in the future. And I'm definitely going to be one of the first people to buy the DVD and I'll be watching it over and over until Catching Fire comes out. Cato and Peeta are just...too gorgeous for words. D I do plan on inserting different shipping moments in the upcoming chapters. My favorite shipping is obviously Contestshipping. Second would be Brunetteshipping (of course xD). And then, third would be Questshipping. I don't really have a fourth, though. I really haven't given any other shippings much thought. Do you have any good fics revolving around a shipping that I haven't mentioned that you could recommend? I'd appreciate it. :)
SpikEarPichu'sTrainer: I'm sorry to say, but I'm really not going to be going in depth with your characters because I really can't find a spot to fit a long cameo! You see, I already planned out the entire storyline back in February or so, so if I change things to fit in your cameo, I'll be throwing myself off. All three of your characters will still be appearing, but the love triangle may or may not be written. :\
Fprmr1: Lol, don't forget, most of the characters are under the age of 21, but I'll see what I can do. xD
Blademon: Don't apologize! Just so long as you start reviewing again to make up for the lost ones. xD Thank you for everything you said!
chocolatehell: Mmm, Drew and Gary are both very civil guys (well, how I characterize them, anyways), so there isn't going to be any physical conflict—I hate fighting. But thereis going to be a huge issue in the last ten chapters involving the two and May. :) Anyways, I forgot to write it in the PM that I sent you, so I'll just include it in this response. I hope you had fun at your prom if you went (you told me that you had a possibility of going)!
And I did change my username, but I forgot when I posted the last chapter, lol! Thanks for being the one to remind me! xD It's Mademoisella, now since Mademoizelle ended up being taken, which is fine. I like Mademoisella better. :P I'm a chocolate freak, too! Especially dark chocolate. There's something about the slight bitterness in it that just attracts me to it.
I've been wanting to read the Millennium series for the longest time, but I can't get my hands on the books! I really hate borrowing books from the library (I don't know why. Maybe it's because I hate the feeling of having a due date?) and I don't feel like buying them yet, so I don't know when I'll get them. I definitely won't be watching the movie anytime soon, either because, one, I just don't do horror movies, and two, even if I do pucker up the courage to watch the movie, I don't want to watch it before I read the books. And plus, I want to read the Pretty Little Liars series first (thanks to you :D).
The Last Poison Apple: Thank you! :D
Chi-Chiwawa: Lol, he didn't even get near her! xD And I agree with you about everything you said about those guys, especially Chace Crawford. God, how is it even possible for someone to be that good looking? I forget the Avox's name, and I was really upset when Thresh died! I hated his death in both the movie and book! But I suppose I'm glad that someone else killed him. I would've been devastated if Peeta or Katniss had to be the one to do it. :\ And I think Drew Van Acker or Drew Roy could be the one to play Finnick. Notbecause they're both named Drew, but because they're so incredibly good looking!
dorkyreader859: You'll see what happens in this chapter, eh? :)
TopHatsNPyros: Same! Tears filled my eyes when I was writing the chapter, too!
xDragonairx: Dragonair is boss. And beautiful. :) Misty's mallet! And her lure! Two of my favorite things from her! Gotta love that girl! ;D
Shiningheart of ThunderClan: Lol, you know, you gave me an idea with your review. Thanks. :)
anon: Thanks!
shanafan. sapphire21:Lol, I saved all of that for this chapter. :)
OrangesAreAwesome: It's fine! I understand! I'm just happy that you took the time to catch yourself up with my story! Thank you! :D
FlygonFan: Lol, you're a Penguinshipper? And nah, Team Rocket isn't going to be making a cameo. They're not exactly Ash's best friends and even they're considerate enough to not try anything at his wedding. Not to mention all of the boss trainers and coordinators who would blast them away with their boss pokémon. ;D As for the Pikachu and Misty's water-type pokémon thing...I'm really upset that I didn't think of that! That's very cute. :D And Psyduck...I'll see. :)
LoveLoverGrl: Here it is! xD
BittersweetSienna: Lol, Drew meant after they began dating. But you're right, they did argue like that before. ;D There are twelve chapters left, so that means we have about three more months of updates to go. :)
EeveeTransformed: Lol, Ash and Misty's day! Contestshipping fluff was moved aside for a chapter. It's back now! ;) And oh my god, I'm totally going to use that pickup line! I really liked it! It's so cute and cheesy! ;D And don't worry, I spend my time reading Pretty Little Liars spoilers. I have less of a life than you do. :p
Contestshipping Beautifly: BAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I'm SO not going to comment on anything you said! I'd be mad spoiling the story if I do! ;D
leontinees: Where have you been? I've missed you! And yeah, I've always wondered about that. Why aren't there any weddings in the anime? :\
Love Unexpected chapter 28
"So, you're dating May?" Dawn catechized the green-haired boyfriend of her friend, who stood beside her, while May took a picture with her family and the newlyweds.
The guy in question nodded slowly, while eying the short girl warily.
"Yes," he answered.
"And May's dating you?"
"Um...yes."
Paul snorted from where he stood behind the two of them.
"What was the point of asking that? If he's dating her then she's obviously dating him, too," he stated with an eye roll.
Dawn turned to glare at him. "Shut your mouth before I shove your PokéBalls down your throat."
Drew coughed to hide his laugh at Dawn's inadvertent innuendo just as she turned back around to face him.
"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by my jerk of a boyfriend," she began, raising her voice near the end just to make sure that Paul heard her loud and clear, "Since you two are dating one another now—and also traveling together—I just wanted to let you that you'd better not break May's heart or I'll break your pretty face, okay?"
Drew blinked in surprise. "You're very violent for such a small person, aren't you?"
Dawn gave him a pseudo smile as she hummed in agreement before allowing her face to morph into something very close to a glare.
"Well?" she pressed.
"You have my word that I will never hurt May," Drew vowed, sincerity wrapping his words like a blanket.
Dawn nodded to show her approval, while Paul stepped up to her side, turning to face Drew.
"Good, make sure you do take care of her," he began, startling both Drew and Dawn, who blinked up at him in shock. "As much as I hate to admit this, she's as much my friend as she is Dawn's. So, if you hurt her, I won't hesitate to hurt you."
Dawn could hardly contain the large grin that spread across her lips as she stared up at her boyfriend in wonder.
"That's the most humane thing I've heard you say all day besides 'congratulations' to Ash and Misty," she said.
Paul simply grunted in response, evidently disappointed in himself for showing benevolence.
"Well, I can assure the both of you that I won't be hurting May any time soon—or ever, for that matter," Drew promised after getting over his state of awe. "She means a lot to me."
"Perfect. Then we're reassured," Dawn told him with a smile.
"Reassured about what?"
All three of them turned around to find May approaching them with her family. She strode right up to Drew's side to grab his hand.
"Reassured about what?" she repeated.
"Nothing," Drew answered before anyone else could. "Dawn and Paul were just asking some questions about the Kanto region, is all."
"Oh, you guys are planning on traveling in Kanto?" May asked, genuinely surprised. Then, she turned to Dawn. "You never told me about this."
"It was just a thought," Dawn insisted, playing along with Drew's lie. "Paul and I are going to get through Sinnoh before we start thinking about any other regions. Anyway..." She bent forward to glance past Max at Ash and Misty, who were waving her and Paul over. "I think Ash and Misty want us to take a picture with them. Let's go over, Paul."
Max stepped closer to his sister to give Dawn and Paul room to pass by him. Pushing his glasses up with his finger, he glanced downward, only to see Drew and May's intertwined hands. He wrinkled his nose in disgust, while he eyed the clasped hands beside him with disdain.
"I can't believe you guys are dating," he expressed.
"It's not really that hard to believe, is it?" Drew asked with an amused smirk as he looked from May to Max.
"For me, yes, considering the fact that she is my sister."
"Your older sister," May corrected.
"Does it matter?" he countered.
"Max, that's enough," Caroline reprimanded her son in a gentle tone before turning to look at her daughter and her boyfriend. "It's great to see you two getting along so well, dears."
"Thanks, Mom," May said with a smile.
Norman cleared his throat as he placed a hand on his wife's back, politely interrupting her before she could respond.
"As happy as your mother and I are to see you two getting along so greatly, we still expect for you two to behave yourselves while you're on your travels," he said firmly, yet gently. "Can we trust you to do that?"
"Absolutely, Mr. Maple," Drew answered on behalf of himself and May.
"Good," Norman said. "And please call me Norman. We were on first name basis before you began to date my daughter, so after should be no different."
Drew nodded with a smile. "Will do, Norman."
Norman gave him and May one last nod of approval before dismissing himself and his wife.
Max shook his head as his parents took their leave.
"Well, that went better than I expected it to," he admitted.
May cocked an eyebrow at him. "Were you hoping for it to have gone worse?"
"Maybe. I was kind of hoping that I would be able to say to Drew what I said to Evan a few years ago."
"Oh really? And what was that?"
Max turned to Drew with a menacing glint in his eyes. "If you hurt my sister, I'll hunt you down and pulverize you."
May glared at him in disbelief, while Drew chuckled, wondering just how many times he would be receiving threats for the rest of the day.
"You won't be getting the opportunity to do that because I won't be hurting her," he assured.
May smiled up at Drew as Max nodded his acceptance.
"Great," he expressed. "Now that I've played the role of the brother, I can go on with my life. Just make sure you don't get her pregnant or anything—I think Dad might kill you before I do."
May gasped in shock before sending a mock punch flying to her brother's arm.
"What's wrong with you?" she screeched.
"Hey! I'm just saying! I don't want to become an uncle so early in my life!"
"Get out of here, Max Maple!" May laughed, letting go of Drew's hand to muss up her brother's navy hair.
"Whoa! Watch the hair, Maybear!"
Drew busted out laughing before he could stop himself. "Maybear? Is that what your family calls her at home?"
"No, Ash and Gary came up with that name for her, but I use it sometimes just to piss her off. We call her—"
Max didn't get to say the name before May clamped a hand over his mouth, using the other to shove him away. He ran away chortling.
"Your brother is awesome," Drew remarked with a laugh as May came back up to him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You think so? I find him incredibly annoying."
"He's funny. He'd make a great uncle for our babies someday."
May threw her head back to laugh. "As if I will be having your babies."
Drew chuckled with her as he brought his arms around her waist to draw her close. "Why not? I think we'd make very cute babies together."
"Hm, I keep picturing a baby boy with a big head full of grass hair," she said as she played with a button on his shirt. She smiled up at him teasingly. "I don't think so."
"Hey...I don't have a big head."
"You're right, but you do have a big ego. That's not exactly an ideal trait for my son, either."
"But I'm so good looking. Imagine how many girls would swoon over our son if he ends up looking like me."
"And there goes that big ego!"
Drew laughed before his cheerful expression faltered a bit after realizing that he had a question that she needed to answer.
"Who's Evan?" he asked.
"A guy that tried to ask me out during my sophomore year," May answered.
"Did he succeed?"
"No," she responded simply and surely. She smiled at him when he still remained a little uneasy. "Are you jealous?"
"Maybe," he admitted through a slight smirk.
"Don't be. He wasn't very good looking, anyway," May lied.
Evan was actually quite handsome, if her memory served her correctly, but Drew didn't need to know that.
"Oh really? How so?"
"He had these big buck teeth and large ears that stuck out of his head. He looked like a raticate."
Drew laughed, knowing that she was lying but enjoying the boost she was giving to his ego. "Not at all the traits you would want for your son, right?"
May grinned cheekily at him. "Not at all."
A person cleared his throat from behind them just as Drew leaned in to peck May on the lips. Turning around, May was mortified to find that it was Brendan standing behind them. His amber eyes nearly stopped the beating of her heart.
"Hi," he greeted, the expression on his face unreadable as his eyes leapt from Drew to May. They lingered on May as he went on to say, "Sorry to interrupt, but do you think I could talk to you for a moment?"
Drew shifted the hold around May's waist uncomfortably as he took Brendan's request. He didn't know if he should let go of May and let her talk to her friend, or hold onto her and keep her from leaving his side.
May made the decision for him when she gently eased herself out of his hold and took a step in Brendan's direction.
"I'll be right back," she told him with a reassuring smile.
Then, she took the remaining steps to get to Brendan, who nodded at him in acknowledgement before walking away with the brunette.
Drew could feel himself growing uneasy as he watched them go.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" May asked hesitantly, after Brendan led her up the stairs of the side porch of Harrison and Daisy's home. She leaned back against the railing, while gripping the bar with her hands.
The nervous gesture didn't go by undetected by Brendan, who, to her surprise, laughed, sounding much like his old self back before the whole mess at the end of the spring.
"Don't look so scared, May," he told her.
May could feel herself relaxing a bit at his light tone, but she could also feel a part of herself holding back, a cautious reflex.
"Aren't you..." she wanted to ask, but ended up trailing off.
"Aren't I mad at you?" Brendan finished for her.
She nodded. And then, to her utter shock and relief, he shook his head.
"I'll admit, I was pretty mad at you for a while," he began to say, and May could feel her breath hitch. "I was mad at you for insisting on traveling with him after I told you how I felt about you. I felt as if you were choosing him over me, and I couldn't understand it, especially since we knew each other so much longer, and we talked about traveling together long before he even came into the picture.
"It definitely took me a while to get over that, but I eventually did." He paused shortly to give her a reassuring smile. "But once I ran into you at Mulberry City, and you refused to leave with me again, all the anger I felt before returned—and worst of all, the rejection did, too. I got rejected from you all over again."
"Brendan, I'm so sorry!" May interrupted, guilt and desperation evident in her eyes. "I never meant to hurt you. I just—"
"May, chill, it's okay," he cut in before she could go on any further. "As I told you, I'm okay now. Sure, it hurt like hell, and that's why I left, but I'm beyond over that now. I came to my senses and realized that I was wrong for trying to get you to go back on your word to leave with me.
"I've known you for years, so I should've remembered that you're a girl of your word—you were raised that way. You didn't make a promise to travel with me, but you did with Drew, and asking you to go back on that promise was completely inconsiderate of me. Instead of respecting you for your integrity, I shunned you for it. And I was wrong.
"It took me the longest time to realize that I was wrong—and stupid. I was losing my best friend and pushing her away, all because I couldn't accept the fact that she couldn't bring herself to go back on her word or return my feelings for her. I would never want to lose you over such insignificant reasons."
He paused to sigh before looking into her eyes. "I'm so sorry, May," he said. "Can you forgive me?"
May gaped at him stupidly for a moment, not believing what she was hearing. She was expecting him to yell at her or make her feel so bad that she would just want to crawl into a hole and die.
But not an apology. He hadn't done anything wrong. What was he apologizing about it?
"You're asking me to forgive you?" she asked him once the lump in her throat disappeared.
He suddenly appeared more worried than he was before. "You can't do it?"
"No!" May exclaimed, a little louder than intended.
Brendan looked heartbroken. His mouth fell open for a split second before he managed to reel it back in. He pushed away from the railing and took two steps away from her.
"I understand—I mean, I did leave you without a word," he stammered. "I don't deserve your forgiveness. I messed up, I kn—"
"No, no, no! That's not what I meant!" May cut in, grabbing onto his wrist to keep him from moving away any further. "I forgive you! I completely forgive you!" Her voice lowered a few decibels. "I...I was just worried that you weren't going to forgive me. You didn't do anything that needed forgiveness and I would've completely understood if you didn't want to be my friend anymore.
"But I didn't want to lose you, so I was scared stiff that you never wanted to see me again. I was actually going to ask for your forgiveness, but then you...apologized to me and I was just...stunned." She blinked as she realized how stupid she sounded.
So, she took a deep breath and met Brendan's eyes with a remorse-filled gaze. "I'm really sorry for putting you through so much pain, Brendan. I nearly ruined our friendship and I'm so sorry."
Brendan gave her a smile, his eyes full of sympathy and understanding. Then, he opened his arms, inviting her in for a hug.
She didn't wait to run into them, immediately throwing her arms around his waist.
"I'm sorry, too. Let's never let anything get in between our friendship again, okay?" he mumbled, pressing his chin to the top of her head as he held her close.
"Definitely," she agreed. "You're signing yourself up for a lifetime commitment."
Brendan chuckled. "I'm never going to be able to shake you off, huh?"
"Uh huh. Just like the big head and the little head of a weezing—we're stuck together," she giggled, hugging herself even closer to him.
Brendan chuckled once more and did the same.
After taking a couple of minutes to patch up their friendship, and informing each other of all the significant new details of one another's life, they made their way back to Drew.
To May's utter relief, Brendan was completely fine when she confirmed the fact that she and Drew had gotten together. In fact, he even appeared happy for the two of them, insisting that he was glad that things ended up the way that they did. She found someone who made her happy, and they wound up being friends again, even closer friends than they were before.
May couldn't be more thrilled to have her best friend back. She loved him to death, she really did.
In a platonic way, of course.
"Sorry for taking May away for so long, Drew. Here she is," Brendan said as he approached Drew. "We just had some things we needed to clear up."
Drew eyed his girlfriend's best friend warily before directing his gaze at May.
"Is everything alright?" he asked, more her than Brendan.
"Everything's great," May answered, beaming happily at him.
He let out a breath of relief. "Good."
"Not quite yet."
Drew's and May's heads snapped to Brendan with the speed that defied the laws of gravity. He watched their reactions through half-lidded eyes, but he couldn't keep the merriment out of them. They were even too startled to notice.
"Relax, I just wanted to tell Drew that if he ever hurt you," he said, and then gestured at May, "I'd track him down and hurt him times two." He blinked as he realized how threatening his words were. "Well, now that I said that, I guess it'll be difficult for you guys to relax. Sorry, guys."
Drew blinked at him before turning to May and carefully taking her hand.
"I'm never hurting you," he breathed, a smile slowly spreading from his face. "That was the fourth death threat I received in the past hour."
All three of them laughed.
"You two are such beautiful babies," May cooed to Brock and Solidad's twin boys.
She held Caleb in her arms, while Drew cradled Joshua in his, sitting close enough to her to allow the two babies to touch one another.
Drew watched her as she did so, his eyes twinkling with affection for her. It was sweet to see how maternal she was. The way she handled Caleb (and Joshua prior) was just great.
And then, suddenly, Caleb morphed into a baby with green hair much like his own and blue eyes identical with hers. He couldn't help but imagine her holding their son.
He quickly shook the thought from his head, though. He was much too young to be thinking about children.
"Your sons are so cute, Solidad," May said to the mother of the two boys.
"Thanks, May," Solidad breathed with a smile. "They're cute now, while they're tired out and quiet, but once they start crying, it's a whole different story." She paused and checked the watch on her wrist. "As a matter of fact, I should probably be heading back up to my hotel room with these two right now. They haven't been getting much sleep today."
"Do you need some help taking them back up?" Drew inquired.
Solidad shook her head with a kind smile. "It's just a short trip up in an elevator from here. Just stay here with May and enjoy Ash and Misty's reception."
Drew nodded and handed Joshua to his mom, while May went to place Caleb into his stroller.
After making sure that her back was turned and she was out of earshot, Solidad leaned into Drew's ear to whisper, "She's good for you, sweetheart. Take care of her."
"I will," Drew stated firmly. Then, he wrapped his arms around her to pull her in for a hug. "Nice seeing you again, Solidad. I've missed talking to you."
"As I have missed talking to you. Be sure to pay me a visit in Pewter before you two leave the Kanto region," Solidad instructed him, while rubbing his back with the palm of her hand. Then, she placed a kiss on his cheek. "Take care, sweetie."
Drew waved goodbye to her before she went to hug May goodbye and to push her babies' stroller out of the wedding reception.
He headed over to May's side afterward, while she grabbed her cup of punch and took a sip from it. They smiled at one another once they met each other's eyes.
Just then, all of the wedding guests at the reception began to laugh when Ash wheeled in a brand new bike as a wedding present for Misty, who began to laugh at the sight of the bike, and her psyduck, who was perched on the seat with a glass of punch in its hand.
"Oh, so you wait until now to replace my bike?" she asked her new husband. "And what's Psyduck doing on the seat?"
"Yeah," Ash replied with a goofy grin on his cheek. "Sorry it had to take so long—I guess it was my subconscious mind telling me to wait so that I wouldn't have to come up with a wedding gift to give you." He turned to look at the seat, blinking in shock as if he were just noticing Psyduck's presence. It grinned cheekily at him while giving him a wave, and he shrugged. "I don't even know when or how Psyduck got up there. Bonus, I guess?"
Misty playfully rolled her eyes, while the wedding guests laughed again.
May shook her head as she laughed.
"That's adorable," she said, but Drew wasn't sure if she was referring to the gift or Psyduck.
After a moment of just lingering at one of the tables, conversing with anyone who approached them, the two of them sat down to watch the bouquet toss. All of the unwed, female guests huddled together in a mass right in the middle of the dance floor. Their hands were already reaching into the air as Misty walked to the front of the mass, putting just enough distance between them and herself for a fair toss.
"Aren't you going to join them?" Drew asked May after watching her take a seat beside him.
May shrugged.
"I don't feel like getting up again," she insisted, but then she frowned as she spotted a head of blue weaving through the mass.
A second later, Dawn emerged and hurried toward her.
"Never mind, I have no choice now," she grumbled.
Drew followed her gaze, his eyes landing on Dawn's approaching form, and he let out a laugh. Before they knew it, the blunette had seized May by the wrist and hoisted her up out of her seat, dragging her away and into the female crowd.
One short countdown later, Misty tossed her bouquet over her head and into the air for the eager girls to catch.
"Come on, May! At least attempt to catch it!" Dawn urged as she grabbed for the bouquet, which was bouncing to and fro from one pair of hands to the next.
"What's the point? I'm not going to catch it," May insisted, her arms crossed over her chest.
"You're such a party pooper!" Dawn accused.
"Am not!" May insisted.
"Yes, you are! Don't even try to deny it!"
"I don't need to deny it because I'm not one!"
"You so are! If you don't at least attempt to catch it, I'm never letting you live this down."
"Fine! If I attempt to catch it, will you leave me alone?"
Dawn flashed her a wide, toothy grin. "Yes."
May gave her a mocking smirk and raised her arms for a split second, grabbed at the air once, and then let them fall back down.
"There," she said triumphantly. "I attempted to catch it."
"That was not an attempt! That was you squeezing the air's ass!" her friend complained. "Do it again!"
"You rapist," May laughed. "Besides, what's the point? Someone already caught it."
When Dawn asked her who it was, she pointed to a purple-haired girl, who she recognized to be Iris, Ash's last female traveling partner.
Before the blunette could scold her, May quickly grabbed the blunette's wrist and dragged her out of the mass, laughing her head off the entire way, while everyone else cheered for Iris.
"You cheat," Dawn accused, pouting.
"I told you I didn't want to. And I'm not the one who told her friend to squeeze the air's a—"
"May! Watch out!" someone cried.
Dawn and May snapped their hands around just in time to see Iris falling into one of the female guests, who caught her just in time, after tripping over Misty's psyduck, who fell to the ground.
May barely had time to gasp when suddenly, a blur of orange and white entered her line of vision, heading straight for her. Her hands reflexively flew up to intercept the object before it smashed into her face. Next thing she knew, she was holding the bouquet in her hand.
Iris busted out laughing at the sight of the dumbfounded May.
"Well, I totally didn't mean to chuck that at your face," she joked as she bent down to help Psyduck get back up on its webbed feet. She gave a cute little pout afterward. "I just lost the bouquet."
Everyone began to join in with her laughter, while May turned to playfully glare at Dawn.
The blunette was doubled over in hysterics, gripping her stomach even when May smacked her arm with her hand.
But it didn't take long for the brunette to join in with the laughter as well, a blush blooming across her cheeks. She hurried back over to Drew, who had moved to sit with her family, to get herself out of being the center of attention.
"That certainly was an interesting way to catch a bouquet," Drew chortled once May sat herself down in between him and her brother.
May rolled her eyes at him and whacked him on the arm as well before turning around to whack Max, who gaped at her.
"What'd I do?" he cried out.
"Don't pretend like you weren't going to make fun of me," May told him with a smug smile. "That was me putting my Future Sight to use."
"I always knew you were a natu. You look just like one," Max grumbled.
"Just like I always knew you were a slaking," she retorted. "The resemblance you share with Dad's slaking is astounding."
"Slaking's boss, though."
"And Natu isn't?" May challenged. "I could peck your nose so hard, you'll end up looking like a probopass for the rest of your life."
Max wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Please don't bring your lips anywhere near me."
May waggled her eyebrows at him, while handing the bouquet over to Drew. She counted to three in her head before she lunged at Max, who cried out in terror, seizing his face in her hands and sending her head flying forward. Just when her lips were about to make contact with his nose, she lifted her head so that her chin came in contact with his nose instead, applying just enough pressure to make him yelp.
Drew pretended to play with the petals of the bouquet to keep himself from laughing. Meanwhile, Norman nearly choked on his drink as a laugh came up his throat just as the punch was working its way down.
Caroline, on the other hand, looked less amused.
"May Maple, that's enough," she reprimanded, her tone stern. "We're at a wedding reception. Your poor brother would probably prefer to get through the reception without a broken nose."
"Oh, Mom, I didn't peck him that hard," May insisted as she wrapped her arms around Max's neck, hugging him to her. "Isn't that right, Maxie?"
"Please tell her to get off, Mom," Max groaned, trying desperately to push his sister off him. His nose was already beginning to redden.
"Max and May are getting along just as well as the last time I saw the two of them together, aren't they?" a voice asked with a chuckle.
All five heads of the occupants of the table turned to see an old Professor Oak approaching them, his grandson and disciple following right behind him.
"Professor Oak!" Norman greeted. "Please have a seat and join us!"
Professor Oak nodded while coughing into his fist as Gary pulled two seats out for him and Leaf next to Norman. Then, he took the liberty of sitting himself down in the seat directly across from May, smiling at her when he met her eyes.
Drew shifted his feet uncomfortably underneath the table, not having missed the exchange.
"We didn't really get a chance to talk earlier at the ceremony, Professor Oak," Caroline said. "Are you doing well?"
"As well as an old man at my age can do," the professor responded with a hearty chuckle. "How are you all doing?"
"We're all doing just fine, thank you," Norman responded, smiling politely at the elder man.
"Ah, that's good to hear," Professor Oak said and turned to smile at Max. "Max, look at how handsome you've gotten. The last time I saw you, you were only thirteen! You're growing up to look just like your father!" He turned to May. "And May! You're getting more and more beautiful as you get older! I believe the last time I saw you in person was last summer when you came to visit my lab."
"That would be correct," May told him with a grin.
And after that response, she didn't have to reply to anything because Professor Oak was instantly engrossed into conversation by her father. She found herself having the same thing done to her by Gary.
Some time passed with everyone at the table just talking to one another. However, Professor Oak and Max and May's parents seemed to be more interested in holding a conversation with one another than talking with the children, so they simply disregarded them.
Drew, Gary, and Max found themselves in a conversation with one another, though it was rather difficult for the first two at first. Drew simply didn't know how to communicate with the last keeper of his girlfriend's heart. It was awkward talking to him, to say the least, and Gary himself found it awkward speaking to Drew as well. He wasn't particularly fond of the grasshead, especially since he was dating May, so he tried to avoid conversation with him as much as possible. To do so, he mostly tried to enter the animated conversation between May and Leaf. The brunettes had instantly hit it off, so it was far more easier talking them instead.
Not too long afterward, it was time of the garter toss. Misty sat herself down on a chair that was placed at the center of the dance floor for her, while most of the guests watched from their seats at their tables. Most of the unwed male guests were standing around the dance floor, forming a circle to ready themselves to catch the garter. Guys like Gary, Paul, Drew, and Max, stayed seated, though.
"None of you are even going to try and catch the garter?" May asked with an amused smile.
"Well, I don't plan on getting married anytime soon, so I think I'll just stay here," Gary replied before anyone else could, returning her smile with a bright twinkle in his eyes.
May simply shook her head, the same smile still fixed on her face, while Drew watched, trying to hide his dismay.
Wolf calls and whistles filled the room when Ash knelt down on one knee before Misty, lifting the skirt of her wedding dress slightly to duck underneath it. She blushed slightly as she felt him brush his lips against her leg as he traveled to the white garter wrapped around her thigh.
Once he reached it, he grabbed the edge of the lace material with his teeth, and gently tugged it down her thigh, over her knee, and then down the rest of her leg. He reappeared from underneath her skirt after pulling it over her heel-clad foot, looking slightly flushed and smug as he shook his head to make his hair fall back into place.
And then, he gave his head one, hard shake to throw the garter. It flew out of his mouth, soaring through the air to the right side of the dance floor. The white object continued its journey through the air, over the extended hands of the bachelors, and continued going until...
...it found refuge on Gary's face. Right over his eyes, blinding him with white lace.
May gasped to hide her laugh, while Professor Oak chuckled at his grandson's expense.
Leaf giggled into the palm of her hand, while Max broke into a fit of laughter, despite Caroline's attempt to keep him from doing so. But even she had to admit it was funny when Gary slowly pried the garter off of his face, pinching it in between his thumb and index finger, eying it with disdain.
Brock's guffaw instantly filled the room and was soon joined by the laughter of the rest of the wedding attendees, who were all laughing at the young professor's expense.
"Real nice aiming there, Ashy-boy," Gary deadpanned as he held the garter away from his face, playfully glaring at his childhood rival, who had gotten up off his knee to take his wife into his arms as the first slow song began to play.
"I'm sorry, man. I honestly didn't mean to do that," he said truthfully, laughing as Misty turned her face away to hide her own chuckles. "I thought I had better aim than that, but I guess not."
"How hard could it be to fling it to someone standing just a couple feet away from you? There were at least seven guys standing in the direct path that you threw the garter in!"
"Oh, give the guy a break, Gary," May urged, wiping away a tear as she hiccuped from all the laughing that she had done. "You have to admit, that was really funny."
"Almost as funny as the way you caught the bouquet?" Gary challenged, a playful smile on his face.
"I think your garter catch may have beaten my bouquet catch. At least the bouquet didn't hit my face!"
"It was well on its way to! You're just lucky you have good catching reflexes!"
"Which makes your garter catch even funnier!" May chortled. "Your catching reflexes are worse than mine! Weren't you the star catcher on your high school baseball team?"
Gary laughed along with the brunette girl sitting across from him.
"I didn't receive a warning like you did!" he insisted. "Geez, May, if the superstitions about the catcher of the garter and of the bouquet are true then I definitely don't want to end up with you as a wife someday. You're so judgmental!"
Drew tried his hardest not to frown as Gary and May continued to laugh as they bantered. If he were an outsider looking in, he would assume that they were flirting, and he didn't like it. Thinking of the best excuse that he could to get the attention of his girlfriend back on him, he cleared his throat and gave her hand a light tug underneath the table.
Both Gary and May stopped their conversation when May turned her head to look at Drew. Something flashed in Gary's eyes as he did the same thing, but no one caught it in time to be able to decipher it. He watched as the grasshead nodded in the direction of the dance floor, telling May to dance with him no doubt. Sure enough, the smile on the girl's face widened and she nodded.
Gary felt an uncomfortable tug at his heart when she dismissed herself from her conversation with him, and then led her boyfriend to the dance floor. He eventually wound up asking Leaf to dance, taking her to the dance floor and positioning them so that he could get a good glance at Drew and May whenever he wanted.
Ears closed
What I hear no one else has to know
Cause' I know
That what we have is worth first place in gold
And I'm soaked in your love
And love is right in my path, in my grasp
And me and you belong, oh...
"Are you having fun so far?" Drew asked May, while discreetly stealing a glance at Gary from over her shoulder.
"Absolutely! I'm having a great time," she exclaimed. "How about you?"
"As long as you're having a great time, then I am, too," he said simply, giving her a smile.
"How incredibly sweet, yet cheesy of you," May joked, a wide grin on her face.
"Only for you."
"How generous. How could I ever repay you?"
Drew chuckled at her teasing tone before lowering his own into something softer.
"Just like this," he murmured, and then he leaned forward to press his lips to hers.
Once he pulled away, he stole one more quick glance at Gary Oak before bringing his eyes back to his girlfriend. It had only been a split second, but it was long enough for him to catch the brunet staring at the two of them.
He didn't exactly know how to place the look that he saw in the young professor's black eyes, though.
I wanna run (run)
Smash into you
I wanna run (run)
And smash into you
Author's Note: Uh oh, do I sense some Gary and Drew rivalry going on? ;)
Anyways, I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I've been updating late for the past two or three weeks! And to think that I actually had most of this chapter written before saturday, too. Maybe it's the fact that I feel like complete crap from this stupid pain in my throat. I feel like I swallowed a ping pong ball. Make me feel better by sending me reviews? They're highly appreciated. Thanks for reading. :)
P.S. Do you get why Drew laughed at Dawn's innuendo? It's dirty, I know, but I couldn't resist. xD
FYI: There really is a superstition for the catcher of the garter and the catcher of the bouquet. It is said that they're going to marry one another one day. At least, that's what I read. Let that puzzle you for a while. :)
Smash Into You
by Beyoncé