HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Valentine's Day is, by far, MY FAVORITE holiday of the year! I love romance, so a day of romance really fits my taste, doesn't it?

Now, I understand a lot of people think it a so-called "Halmark Holiday", or whatever, but there is a lot of historical background to it. Believe it or not, the occasion goes back around as far as AD 197. A lot of people back then were named "Valentine", and there are several legends about the origins of the holiday. It's speculated that the holiday got its start when a priest, who was incarcerated for performing illegal weddings for soldiers who were not allowed to marry, healed the daughter of his jailer. Before his execution, he wrote a letter, and oddly enough, it was signed "Yours, Valentine". Again, this is just one legend of many.

However, association between Valentine's Day and romance didn't start until around the 11th century, possibly 1001-1300. So, there's more to this holiday than most people might think.

Now, back to business: this ContestShipping one-shot is a typical unrequited love story for Drew. His popularity with girls precedes him, but there's one girl he has his eye on because she doesn't seem to notice him: May! Think you know where this is going?

The sun was rising over Petalburg City on one particular day of the year. In a particular mansion, the sunshine poured through a window, and then it woke up a particular boy with green hair. Opening his eyes, he stretched and yawned before sitting up. Getting a good look, his hair color matched his eyes: emerald green.

"Yawwwn… Another morning." The boy said, as he stretched again, while letting loose yet another yawn.

This boy's name was Drew. He got out of bed and went into his walk-in closet before changing into a school uniform that consisted of a blazer and plaid pants, as well as black, leather shoes. Drew's blazer was red and white, with black accents and the school's coat of arms on the front lapel; it was a Poké Ball on a shield of red, black, and white, just like his blazer, and behind the shield were lightning bolts.

Walking by his bedroom door, he forgot to take into account the date.

The calendar was on February, and the fourteenth was circled, which was the day's date. He totally forgot that the day was Valentine's Day; a day of the year filled with romance, something Drew was not exactly fond of.

Drew soon left the house after eating a breakfast consisting of eggs benedict, orange juice, and a large belgian waffle. He yawned a bit and then he said, "Another day, another chance to show off my Pokémon."

The school Drew attended was Pokémon Prep Academy, a school that had many courses for people who wanted to go into any field of Pokémon of their choice. Drew was one of the top students in the Pokémon Coordinator Course, which specialized in appeals and contest battling to earn ribbons and Ribbon Cups.

As soon as he made it to the school, he went to his locker, and then one of his best friends came around: Gary Oak, the grandson of the famous Professor Samuel Oak. Gary was a brunette/auburn haired boy with black eyes and he was wearing a lab coat. Gary, true to his heritage, was a student in the Pokémon Researcher course, and was the direct apprentice of Sinnoh's Professor Rowan.

Gary was also one of Drew's best friends; they were not only seen as popular boys, and had their arrogant sides to them, but they were also great with girls, albeit that one trait was not something Drew in particular liked.

"Mornin', Drew." Gary said.

"Hey, Gary," Drew said, as he began unlocking the lock. "How are you this morning?"

"Swamped." Gary said.

"Swamped? With what? Homework?" Drew inquired.

"No, not homework, Drew. You know how it is for us popular guys this day of the year," Gary said. "Open your locker, and presents, chocolates, and cards fall on you like an avalanche."

"What day of the year?" Drew said, but as soon as his locker door opened, just like Gary said, presents, chocolates, and cards poured onto him. The chocolates and such were all pink, red, white, with hearts, ribbons, and everything.

It all pointed to one thing: Valentine's Day, and Drew was one of the few boys who had the brunt of the school's girls after him. Other boys were either not as lucky or not lucky at all. A few boys did not even get one Valentine, but not all of them took it hard.

"Dude, don't tell me you forgot that today is Valentine's Day!" Gary said, face-palming himself.

"Would you believe me if I did?" Drew said, as he got out of the pile.

"Yes." Gary said.

"Look," Drew said, gesturing to the gifts. "As usual, all the girls go bonkers over me."

"And just like every year, it's a big pain to rummage through all of these chocolates and gifts from girls you don't know or like." Gary said.

However, Drew was digging through the presents and then after he tore through the pile, he sulked, blue links over his head and drops of sweat pouring down his face.

"Crap… Not again." Drew said, complaining.

"Dude, none of these chocolates are from girls you like, so why do you tear through them like that?" Gary said.

"Exactly why I do it," Drew said. "Because, every year, I keep hoping, praying, and expecting that at least one has the name of the girl who I really want as my main squeeze. The name of the girl who I want as mine."

"And every year, her name is never amongst the gifts?" Gary said.

Drew nodded sadly. However, he heard feminine giggling and voices from behind him. He stood up and turned around to see a girl with brown hair and blue eyes giggling and talking with another girl with blue hair and blue eyes.

"There she is," Gary said. "The girl your heart is set on."

The blue-eyed brunette was May Maple, the daughter of the Petalburg Gym Leader, Norman. Her best friend, the blue-eyed, blue-haired girl, was Dawn Berlitz, the daughter of the famous Top Coordinator, Johanna Berlitz.

"Oh, May… So beautiful…" Drew muttered, going red in the face for a second.

Drew's eyes were shinning as he laid eyes on the blue-eyed brunette and he felt his heart beat louder and harder as he went red in the face. Drew then noticed that May had a heart-shaped chocolate in her hand, and Drew grew hopeful that it was for him.

'Could that chocolate be for me?!' Drew thought, a smile of hope growing on his face.

"Oh, May, that chocolate you got from Brendan is so cute! You must be so happy." Dawn said.

Drew then felt a rock fall on his head as he heard this. He felt upset that May had yet to show him how she felt about him.

"I know, but… Brendan… He's a little on the arrogant side. I don't like guys like that." May said, as she tossed the chocolate away.

Drew sighed in relief as he wiped sweat from his brow and then he said, "Maybe there's hope…"

"Just because she rejected someone's chocolate doesn't mean she has eyes for you, Drew." Gary said.

"That's true, but I've wanted her to look in my direction with love in her eyes at least once for years! Since our first year in Pokémon Junior High!" Drew said, frustrated.

"Then just say something to her! Just tell her how you feel. You're not going to get anywhere if you just wait for her to come to you." Gary said.

"You're right, Gary. I have to go and tell her how I feel now!" Drew said, as he was about to step forward and talk to May.

However, out of nowhere, almost every girl in the school crowded around Drew, asking about whether or not he liked their gifts. Drew tried his best to tell all of the girls 'no'. Drew was, for lack of a better word, overwhelmed.

"No… NO, I didn't like it… I have my heart set on someone else…" Drew tried saying, but it was going in one ear and out the other.

He looked over to May, who merely looked at the scene with scorn.

Drew sweat dropped, trying not to look like he was enjoying the attention. This only backfired, as May "humphed", turned her face away, and then she told Dawn, "Let's go. Looks like Don Drew needs some privacy with all of the girls."

Dawn and May then left and Drew started crying sadly while saying, "Oh, May… Why can't you notice how I feel?"

Gary held back laughter and then he said, "Seriously?! Don Drew? What the heck?"

Drew then left the crowd, who were still squealing and screaming over Drew, and then they all grew quiet as they saw their "Prince" go after May.

"Where's he going?" "Maybe he's going to get cards for all of us to say "Thank you"!" "Or maybe he has his eye on a girl!"

May and Dawn were walking towards the classroom. May was spouting off how angry it made her to see Drew soaking up the attention like a sponge. Dawn was listening intently, but decided to lighten the atmosphere by changing the subject.

"Sorry to change the subject, but May, if you really did like a guy, what kind of guy would be your type?" Dawn asked.

"Someone who didn't get full of himself because more than ninety percent of the girls in the school idolize him." May said, with an aggravated groan.

"Still miffed over that popularity scene with Drew back there?" Dawn asked.

"No joke about that…" May said, upset.

Drew was looking for May, and he found her walking to the classroom.

'There she is!' Drew thought, as he was determined to get the girl.

He then ran after May to catch up, when out of nowhere, Gary took Drew by the shoulder and said to him, "Calm down, Drew. Now's not the time. There are too many people around."

"Exactly why now IS the time! I want to make it clear to the school that there's someone I love." Drew said, as he then took off after May.

"Oh, man here we go…" Gary said, worried about what was to happen.

"Hey, May!" Drew shouted.

May and Dawn turned to Drew and then May said, "What's up?"

Drew's eyes looked around and saw all of the girls and boys watching them. Drew cleared his throat, and then he asked May, right out, "Will you go out with me tonight?"

May's jaw dropped, and then after looking around and seeing all the upset girls watching them, May was about to tell Drew 'no' when she saw the look of hope and determination in his eyes.

"EH?!" May said. "Come again?"

"I'm asking you out to dinner tonight, for Valentine's Day," Drew said. "So, what do you say?"

'I don't believe this… Drew Hayden, the school heartthrob… Is asking ME out?! How is this even real?!' May thought, clearly surprised.

May looked at Drew in the eyes; she saw how determined and hopeful they were, and how much he wanted her as his date that night. Looking around, May saw other girls and boys looking at the scene in anticipation of her answer.

"Um… Yes." May said, but it was more out of peer pressure (minus Dawn), than anything.

All of the girls gasped in shock; each one of them wanted Drew to ask them out, but May was the one who got the luck of having that happen to her.

Drew smiled, and said, "Okay; I'll pick you up at seven tonight."

Drew then walked away and May nearly fainted in Dawn's arms, before telling her best friend, "What have I gotten myself into?!"

"Congrats; one of the most popular boys in school wants you as his girlfriend…" Dawn said, with a hint of sarcasm.

"Never mind that… It's Valentine's, of all days, and all of a sudden, a boy asks me out! This is totally new…" May said, in mild distress.

Drew, as soon as he left the scene, jumped, whooped, and pumped a fist before shouting, "Yahoo! I have a date with May Maple!"

Gary caught Drew doing and said, "So, she said yes?"

"She sure did!" Drew said, as he was beaming with happiness and he then smiled. "Now to make the right plans!"

Drew then ran off and then he started looking things up on his iPhone to pull out all the stops for his date with May.

"Why do I have a feeling she only said "yes" out of peer pressure or something…?" Gary asked, looking around at the scene, and seeing the gossip going on.

Drew was running through the halls, and then he thought, 'This is my big chance! Once I pull out all the stops, May is going to be mine!'

Drew soon saw some flowers and such all over the school, and he was starting to get some ideas on what to do for the date.

Later that night, May was in her walk-in closet, looking through formal clothes in desperation. Tossing out dress after dress, May soon growled in aggravation as she said, "Darn it! I can't find a decent dress to wear!"

"Keep looking," Dawn said, from outside the closet. "I'm sure you'll find one."

"Easy for you to say, Dawn! This is the one of the school's Casanovas we're talking about here! I'm sure he knows what turns him on and what turns him off! I got to be perfect with this outfit choice." May said, in distress.

Dawn was in the bedroom with May, helping her best friend get ready for the date.

Dawn was picking out jewelry and such for the date and then she told May, "I can't believe you actually accepted Drew's offer. What brought that about?"

"Peer pressure," May said, as she was still rummaging through the closet. "With all of those other girls around me, and the reputation Drew has, I couldn't say 'no'. That, and his eyes were telling me that he wanted me, and he wanted me bad. I don't know how I'm going to get myself out of this mess."

"You could tell him the truth," Dawn said, as she kept looking through May's jewelry boxes. "Once the date is over, just break the ice and tell him you only accepted out of peer pressure."

"But what if I enjoy myself? What if I end up falling in love with that playboy?" May said.

"Then find a way to fall for someone else." Dawn suggested.

"You're probably right…" May said, still looking around in the closet. "Red high heels would be perfect… Or maybe black ones…"

"I suggest white, pink, red, or a combination of a few of those. It is Valentine's Day." Dawn suggested.

May soon saw something out of the corner of her eye, and then she smirked while saying, "Aha…"

"You found a dress?" Dawn asked.

"I sure did!" May said, smirking.

Dawn then saw something amongst the jewelry and then she said, "I think I found the perfect set of jewelry!"

May came out of the closet and then both girls looked at each other before saying, "Look out, Drew, you've met your match!"

Drew, meanwhile, was outside the door to May's house, and doing some last minute check-up on his outfit.

He was wearing a black, semi-casual tuxedo vest, without the bow tie, with black pants and shoes, and white cufflinks. Drew had a red rose boutonniere in his vest lapel. Drew had several tricks up his sleeve for the night and was more than determined to win over May… If only he was not so nervous.

"Okay, Drew, calm down, you can do this," Drew said, talking to himself to calm himself down. "You have the gifts and you have the clothes. Now, just turn on your true self and charm her with that, and you're a shoo-in to win her over! Just don't get tongue-tied!"

Drew, still worried, did a breath check, and for the ninth time in the past five minutes, took another breath mint and ate it, and then secretly reapplied deodorant without ruining the tuxedo vest.

"Okay… Here goes!" Drew said.

Drew took a deep breath and then rang the doorbell to May's house. He stepped away from the door so he would not get hit in the face and start the night off on the wrong foot.

After a few seconds, Drew sighed sadly, thinking May was not coming out, but then the door opened. In the doorway was May, wearing a short dress with a sweetheart neckline. The dress itself was red with a black sash and a rose on the sash. The skirt had a layer of transparent fabric with black flower designs.

May had a hand purse that matched the dress in hand, and was wearing ruby jewelry, courtesy of Dawn's selection. Her makeup was simple and subtle, but her lipstick was, no doubt, ruby red. Her hair was done the same as always, but she had a red rose barrette in hand. Her shoes were red high-heel pumps with a strap.

"Hi, Drew." May said, in a sultry tone of voice.

Drew's jaw dropped, but then he straightened his posture up, cleared his throat, and he said, "Good evening, May."

May smiled and slowly blinked her eyes as she stepped down the steps, but she stumbled a bit; Drew caught her in his arms and then steadied her.

"You okay?" Drew asked, concerned.

"I'm fine," May said. "Thank you."

Drew was so mesmerized by May's beauty that he totally forgot what was going on. Shaking his head to snap himself out of his daze, Drew then took out a bouquet of roses for May, and gave them to her while trying to keep himself from stammering.

He stuttered, "I-I-I-I g-g-g-got these for you, May."

May took the roses and then she breathed in their aroma before telling Drew, "Red roses… Representing passion and love."

"That's… Absolutely right." Drew said, still in a daze from looking ay May's beauty.

"Well… Shall we go?" May asked, as she wrapped her arms around Drew's.

Drew's face went red at this and then he smiled, saying, "Yes, let's."

Drew took May to a very fancy bistro where he and May had a candlelight table in a more private part of the establishment. Drew was really happy with the arrangements he had managed to make, and he was feeling at ease at the moment. He was waiting for a basket of breads for him and May to share while they waited for their meal.

'This is perfect! Just May and me alone, candlelit food, and now I can finally tell her how I feel.' Drew said, feeling comfortable.

May was fidgeting in her seat because she seemed very nervous. Her face was down and she seemed to be sweating. May's face was also tensed up and she was shaking.

'Come on, May, it's just a date! It's not like he wants anything else! Calm down, calm down…' May thought, trying to relax.

Drew noticed this, and then he gently took one of May's hands; this caused May to blush and she looked Drew in the eye.

Drew then told May, "I promise that this night will be perfect."

A waiter than came with a basket of bread and then he took out a violin and started to play romantic music for the two of them. Drew smiled at may amorously while May looked back at him, her lips in an 'o' shape, her cheeks tinted red, and her eyes sparkling with surprise.

'I never knew Drew was this romantic…' May thought, as she silently took a bread roll and started to eat it.

After the pair ate, Drew paid for the meal and then he led May out of the bistro. May once again tripped, and Drew once again caught her. He then asked May, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," May said. "Thanks for catching me again."

"No problem," Drew said, keeping a hold of May's hand. "Let's go to our next stop."

"There's more?" May asked.

Drew nodded; he brought May to the park, where there were decorations for the occasion of Valentine's Day all over the foliage and architecture for the day. Drew then brushed off a seat on a bench and sat May down while sitting next to him.

"Why did you bring me here?" May inquired, as she was still a little nervous.

"It's a surprise." Drew said.

May heard popping noises and then light flashed. May looked up and then she saw fireworks. Hearts, cupids, and almost everything representing Valentine's Day. She was very amused by this and her smile was bright as she was watching the fireworks.

Drew then took this chance to hold onto May's hand. She blushed and looked at Drew, who was smiling at her amorously.

May then turned her face away and then Drew asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Drew, but… This whole night was great, and all… However…" May began, but trailed off.

Drew, determined not to lose the girl, asked, "But what? What's the problem?"

"This was overwhelming for me." May said.

"The date itself?" Drew asked.

"Yes," May said, turning back to Drew. "The truth is, I've never fallen in love before. So, to suddenly go on a date was very overwhelming and nerve-wracking."

Drew's heart was snapped in half; she loved the date, but she had never experienced love before.

"Is… That so?" Drew said, trying not to panic, while thinking of ways to win May over that night.

"Yes," May said, with a nod, standing up. "But dating must be nothing new for you. With all of those other girls swarming around you like Combee to honey."

"I never dated any of those girls. Heck, all the attention is a bother." Drew said, running a hand through his hair.

"Oh, so you're nothing more than a playboy! Just like I thought!" May said, as she turned away to leave Drew.

Drew stood up, grabbed May's hand, and spun her around. Drew then looked at May seriously, and then he said, "Every single Valentine's Day… I've had to go through the tedious task of rummaging through all those chocolates and trying to find a way to reject the girls' affections. But it always backfires and I end up with more than I even want. Even so, I rummage through all those gifts, hoping that the name of the girl I love would be amongst them."

"The girl you love?" May said, suspicious.

Drew then kissed May on the lips, tired of his affections not getting through to her. He held it for a few seconds, and May struggled to get out, but Drew held her in place and then Drew broke the kiss, and looked May in the eyes.

May was looking at Drew in shock and then Drew said, "The girl I love is the girl who doesn't even know that I've been in love with her for years. That's you, May."

May then melted and tears started to form in her eyes. She hugged Drew and then said, "Oh, Drew!"

"May!" Drew said, hugging back, very happy.

'It's no use… I can't help but admit how I feel about him! Not when he's this close!' May said, as she hugged Drew.

Drew then kissed May on the lips once more, as he broke the hug, and then May kissed Drew back.

The night ended with a happy ending for May and Drew, but the next morning was what had Drew on pins and needles.

The next day, all of the girls in school were swarming around Drew, angrily demanding why he had not eaten their chocolates or opened their gifts to him.

Drew, feeling really happy to finally do so, proudly said, "I'm sorry, ladies, but as of last night, I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!"

All of the girls started to scream in misery; a few were even crying. Drew did not really care, as he soon saw May coming through the halls.

"And speak of the angel, there she is!" Drew said, as he then dashed over to May and then he gave her a hug.

"Morning, Drew." May said, with a smile and blush.

Drew picked May up by the waist and spun her around before giving her a kiss, causing all of the girls to cry loudly, but Drew tuned them out, as he was happy to finally get the girl.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

That ended well! I had put this story on hold while I thought up an idea for this chapter, and I also needed time to work on my other stories. You'll forgive me, right? Thank you!

Now, don't expect a St. Patrick's Day or Easter bonus chapter. Those two holidays are just not something my family does… Sorry.