Jake's cell phone vibrated in his Charmander pajamas, played a ringtone, and woke him up.

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you, been here all along so why can't you......

"Hello?"

"Morning!"

He instantly woke up at the voice of the caller. He had forgotten feeling like this, one word and he was immediately alert. It wasn't completely unfamiliar. It had just been so long since he had felt this strange yet somewhat soothing sensation.

"Hey, Melody. What's up? Isn't it kinda early?"

"It's 10:30. Don't tell me you just woke up?"

"Hey no need to play mother. I can take care of myself and decide when I sleep and when I wake up."

"Excuse me, mister?"

The way she said that made Jake think about apologizing for a split second. It wasn't like she had any authority over him.

"Haha. Nothing. What'd you call for?"

"Just a wake up call and to confirm the plans. So we're briefing Ash at today's etiquette lesson right?"

"Yes. Granted he'll learn the basics of being a gentleman, but we'll have to give Ash the lowdown on this."

"How are we going to take care of 'Pretty Boy'?"

"I've got a bit of a surprise for him. He won't be seeing much of May or Ash. Well, really anyone."

"Oh, sounds good. I'll see ya later then. Over and out."

Jake smiled to himself and closed his phone. However, he had just realized that Ash wasn't in his room at the moment. He had been so distracted by his call that he didn't notice his absence.

He walked down the steps to the living room. He saw a note on the kitchen counter that read "Out to get some cereal and other things. Chinese good for breakfast? Be back by 11:30."

Jake remembered that the nearest restaurant didn't open until 11 and that his erratic tastes led him to finish the last of the cereal a few nights before as a midnight snack. This same erratic taste told him that he craved popcorn as a small 'breakfast appetizer.' "To each his own," one might say.

He grabbed an apple juice from the refrigerator and proceeded to eat on the couch. Jake found Ash under the blanket on the couch cuddled next to May with Pikachu contently in between. The little Pokemon's sensitive ears heard Jake's footsteps, and Ash's partner stirred and awoke.

"Pika?"

"Hey, Pikachu. Want some popcorn?"

The aroma of the popcorn caused Pikachu to jump out from between the two onto Jake's arm. He took a seat at a nearby chair and placed Pikachu on his lap as he held the popcorn. Pikachu leaving the couch caused Ash and May to move closer and wake up. Ash woke to the smell of popcorn and the sensation of something on his chest. May stirred gently and woke up feeling rested and very comfortable. She usually woke up earlier, but spent a bit of time looking at the stars. Besides, it had been a while since she had slept this comfortably.

Ash didn't really notice too much out of place until he felt that Pikachu was no longer with him. He inquired, "May, did you-?"

"Morning, Ash,"she said as she removed her head from his chest to stretch her arms.

"Sleep well?"

"I'll say you lovebirds did," Jake interjected.

Immediately regaining full consciousness of his surroundings, Ash rose in an embarrassed stupor.

"Um, well, what happened at the time was?"

"That you two were cuddling, aw...."

"Hey! Look, we just happened to fall asleep like this," defended Ash.

"Whatever you have to tell yourself."

Ash's face turned red as he grunted in protest. May saw this display of nervousness cute and endearing. Of course, she probably would have done the same, given how embarrassed she would have been. It was a relief that Jake didn't tease her.

"Joanne's going to be back in a little bit. I made some popcorn for us to snack on until she does."

Pikachu cheered in approval, "Cha!"

After breakfast, Jake announced, "Well, so much to do today, Ash. We best be off."

"Ok," he said with a hint of discontentment.

May and Ash exchanged a quick look of disappointment before he exited with Jake.

Well, at least we'll have dinner together.

Melody was waiting for her two friends out side of the dance studio today.

Ash asked, "Something wrong inside the studio?"

"No, nothing's wrong. We're just going to start out with your first etiquette lesson."

"I don't really undestand."

Melody stood aside so that the boys could proceed in. Ash opened the door and was about to enter before Jake stopped him.

" A gentleman always opens the door for the lady."

Ash complied and stepped back still holding the door so that Melody could enter.

She gave a small bow and graciously thanked him.

When everyone was situated inside, Jake began to instruct his hero on basic matters of etiquette and interaction. Most of what he said didn't have much to do with the ritualistic motions of society, but rather how a man should treat a lady.

"Respect her. Always. Even when you think that she's wrong. You remember what Melody said? Women are always right. To an extent that's true, but in the sense that if you want her and love her, you'll try to understand her point of view and how she sees things. You might not always see eye to eye, but remember that in a sense 'she's always right', so respect might not make a whole lot of sense, but really what matter of the heart does?"

"I get what you mean. I mean I would ask the same thing of her or anyone else, so it's only fair that I respect her like I want to be respected."

"Couldn't have said it better myself."

"If I may interject for a moment," said Melody.

"I would just like to say that with respect comes honesty. Be honest about how you feel with her. Sometimes the knight in shining armor is just a normal guy that's real. And you're more than a normal guy. Plus, you're probably one of the 'realest' people I know, but just remember, be Ash Ketchum, no one else. That's who she'lll fall in love with."

"I understand. That's who I want her to see, understand, and love. I fell in love with May for those reasons. Although I think the world of her, I don't think that it was something really that stood out. It was just who she was. When we were on our journey together, we faced some pretty hard tasks, and it was then that I saw the real her. A lot of people say that the real you comes out when you're in life threatening situations. And you know what I realized? I saw the same girl. It wasn't anything extraordinary, but she was real with me. And when I'm with her, it's the realest feeling that I've ever felt before."

Jake and Melody looked at Ash and smiled. Melody was impressed by his expression of his feelings. Even though he may think that it was flawed, it was honest. It was what he felt. Nothing could have been truer for Ash.

"You'll be fine. Never change who you are. People may look at you and see a blunt, somewhat dense boy, but I just see you as someone who's honest with himself and others. That's very rare today."

"Thanks, Melody."

"Ash, do you get what we've been doing here?," Jake said, "All we've done is show you how to dance, open doors, pull out chairs and what not, but the most important thing that anyone could ever tell you is to be no one but yourself when you do anything. Just be comfortable with yourself and others will be comfortable with you. What do you need to change anyway?"

"Nothing I guess," said Ash jokingly with a bit of overconfidence.

"Haha. Exactly," Melody said with a wink.

"Well, this is the only person I know how to be, so no use in pretending to be someone else."

"That's the right attitude. Ok, we're going to have to talk about the arrangements for tonight. There is a small detail that I failed to divulge about dinner."

"What?"

"Drew is going to be there."

"What?!"

"Don't worry. I have a plan. He won't interfere. You can count on me. I'll be acting as a waiter tonight. I figured that it would be easier to block 'Pretty Boy' that way. He's never seen me before, so he won't suspect anything."

"Ok, so you'll seat him far away from us?"

"And I'll be his 'personal waiter.'"

"What about you, Melody?

"I'll providing some music on the piano. I'll be able to see if he gets too close to your table, and I'll alert his courteous waiter," she said with a nod to Jake.

"So when we get to my house, I'll leave a bit early. You already know what to do. Just be you."

Joanne drove Ash and May to the restaurant. Jake had already left for the restaurant claiming that he had some business to take care off.

"It's a shame you couldn't come along with us."

"Oh, it's alright. I've got a date tonight, so no worries."

After she parked, Ash exited through his door and walked quickly to the other side and opened May's door. He even offered his hand to help her out of the car.

"Well, mister, quite the gentleman aren't we?"

"You have no idea," he laughing.

"You guys have fun!"

Joanne wished them well and drove off.

Ash opened the door to the restaurant entrance. He told the hostess the name under which the reservation was made and then placed his hand on the small of her back to escort her to the table. May was pleasantly surprised by this. She didn't expect Ash to treat her like a lady. Not that she didn't think he respected her, but she wasn't expecting opened doors or pulled out chairs. It felt as though the were on a date, a thought that she didn't mind at all. However, because it was a table for two which puzzled her.

"Wasn't Jake going to meet up with us?"

"Well, I think he'll be sitting somewhere else. He said that this table was the only table available. His friend said that the others were reserved already."

"Oh, alright."

May didn't mind at all. Dinner with Ash was certainly nothing to complain about.

A green haired boy stepped in to speak to the host in the front.

"Name, sir?"

"It's under Drew."

"Last name?"

Drew gave the host a condescending look.

"Alright, it says that you have a table for two reserved. However, this was for 7:00. It's now 7:10."

"What are you saying? Haven't you ever heard of being fashionably late?!"

"Sir, if you cannot be early or at least on time to your reservation, you table will be given away. Now please follow me."

Drew followed to the back of the restaurant.

"You know you could walk a bit faster and show me the table. I'm a V.I.P."

Very impatient person? Jake thought to himself.

He led him to the very back of the restaurant to a table with only one chair. It was situated on a wall right next to the bar.

"Hey, where's the other..."

"Your server will be right with you."

Jake came to retrieve a menu and returned.

"What, you again? Where's the server?"

"Good evening sir, I'm Jake and I'll be your waiter for tonight."

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Anyone know the ringtone at the beginning? Also remember the name of the restaurant? I was wondering if that nod to Greek mythology was too vague.

I think that the dialogue might be a bit awkward, but then again I do speak a bit awkwardly at times.

Please read and review.