May waited until her father and Drew were flying by checking the air traffic out of Petalburg airport on her phone. Once she saw onscreen that their plane was en route to Unova, she quietly celebrated, knowing that she had a complete week off without either of their grief to put up with.

However that meant that she was responsible for taking care of herself and Max. In a way, her father had agreed to leave her behind and head to Castelia with Drew in tow. If she was ready to be independent and live by herself, a good start was in her own home.

He never hired maids to do things around his house, although a gardening crew came and did their work quickly once every week and a half.

Ever since entering her senior year of high school, May had carpooled with Dawn to and from, continuing it through college. She had her driver's license, but no car and they resorted to Dawn's old sedan, which broke down a couple years ago, resorting her to purchase a new one.

She had the access code, causing the gate to swing open and she went on the lavish concrete roundabout, circling around a fancy two deck fountain in the center.

May locked the door behind her and ran up to her best friend, a huge smile on her face after hearing Dawn's high pitched squeal of excitement. She wrapped her arms around, very much aware of how close they came to losing each other.

She was the closest thing May ever had to a twin sister, the childhood friend moving next door many years ago from Sinnoh became her best friend since they were both six.

"Never do that to me again!" Dawn mock-angrily hit May's arm, causing the two to giggle. "C'mon, let's go to that new wrap stand for lunch and get your stuff at Broadstone! I took the day off, so we can spend it together!"

The two of them hopped into the car and drove out onto the main street. A couple blocks away, Dawn flipped the turn indicator and zoomed onto the highway, heading towards the school.

She was someone May felt the most comfortable around. When her father held her back, Dawn was one who instead took her forward. Norman was not fond of her, but tolerated her since May's mother treated her like another sister. It was definitely a surprise that her father hadn't yet forbade Dawn from wandering on their property yet; however she was likely pushing her luck.

Dawn owned and operated her own small Poffin bakery outside a shopping square and was in Broadstone to complete her degree in business and marketing. She was as upbeat as a businesswoman as she was in her social and academic life.

"Um...fine I guess."

"No really May," She pressed, "How do you feel?"

"Alive." May couldn't stop the smile from growing on her face, "Something wonderful happened and I feel alive. So much more alive than I've ever been before!"

"Ah," Dawn reflected a mischievous smile of her own, "It's something? Or is it a certain someone? He is certainly quite tasty!"

"Someone?" She wondered if her best friend was not referring to Drew.

"You don't know?"

"Not really."

"Let me help you out. The Commando. Mr. Ash Ketchum?" Dawn dreamily said, "May that man is HOT! H-O-T with a capital G for gorgeously in front! You have to get on top of that man and stick your tongue down his throat!"

"Dawn!" May gasped, although her statement couldn't help a strong blush burning through her cheeks. "Stop!"

"Arceus, where do I begin?" She ignored her best friend's protest continuing to dream while driving, "Those auburn eyes. Holy shit, sexy as hell. They brim with warmth, but also cold determination. Black hair that's just the right length with that five o clock shadow that makes him look like a total bad boy! Then he has amazing lips that are perfectly fit for his face, look soft as pillows and nicely lined teeth that form a hot ass smile! He does that a lot to you, May. I think he likes you too!"

"Stop it Dawn!" She continued to protest, "I have Drew."

She huffed in response, "Drew…Drew's a boy. Now Ash…" Upon saying his name, Dawn began to purr like a Delcatty, "He's a man."

May giggled with her.

"What is he like?" She still was a bit dreamy over her fantasy of him.

"He's kind of protective," May saw Dawn begin to frown and held up her hand to hold off further opinions, "But it's a different kind of protectiveness than Dad and Drew. It's more like the kind where he will stand behind, guiding and intervening when you're in real trouble. I can tell he's strong, but at the same time gentle. Not only was he good at facing a fear with the two guys trying to harass me, but he guided me away from the fear and put it at the back of my mind. Even in the waters where Sharpedos are, he ignored it and kept me calm the entire time."

"May," Dawn was now pulling into a parking spot on Broadstone's campus, "What really happened when we were there?"

"He saved my life Dawn. I was worried that I was going to be raped when he burst in and killed both the men. He had gotten into hand to hand fighting against the guys with limbs flying in every direction and one of them was trying to attack him with a knife. I was so terrified that my savior would get beaten, but he didn't. In fact, he seemed like he had the advantage the entire fight."

"Oh May," Dawn put her hands over her best friend's not being able to imagine the things she had went through.

"When the place started going down, I don't even think he panicked. He found a solution in less than thirty seconds and soon enough we were out, swimming in the ocean to the island. The whole time we were there, I was scared that he would abandon me, but many times over he just told me that he would never leave my side."

Dawn was completely taken aback by her story. Once she had been rescued by another man named Brendan Decker, she had been taken aboard the helicopter which came under fire from many bullets before they flew back to the Navy ship. "What happened after that?"

"He climbed both of us on top of these cliffs and we made a fire to signal for help."

"Arceus!" Dawn exclaimed, "The nurses said he had surgery for a knife wound and he had been shot twice!"

"What!" May had only gotten the knife incident out of Ash, she had no idea that he had been shot too. "So he carried me even with all those injuries? He didn't feel weak or anything. I could still feel the muscles underneath his gear, he was so strong!"

"You felt his muscles," Dawn gave her a smirk, "There's other muscles on other parts of his body worth feeling."

"Shut up!" May still couldn't help it when both girls giggled as if they were sixteen again.

"May, I've known you since you were six. Don't even try and hide the fact that you have a huge crush on him. It's written all over you."

"It's not just that," May's face felt as if it was on fire when she did not deny Dawn's statement, "It's that he's so different that any other boy or man for that matter, that I've met before."

"What do you mean?"

"He told me things that I haven't heard in a long time. Specifically, things my mom used to say."

"Ash told you things like that?"

"Yeah, it's as if he could see past the part where I have a rich father and am just a girl who wants to go out and enjoy what the world has to offer." May nervously said, "Oh Arceus, Dawn. What do I do? After that time on the island with him, I don't want to ever go back to my old life again."

Dawn opened the door, the summer sun was coming through the windows and starting to make the inside feel like an oven. "May, those are some of the most inspiring words I've heard you say. Now all we have to do is surround yourself with like-minded people." That and dealing with Norman and Drew, the two biggest obstacles in her way.

"Go get your stuff," May was shooed out of the car, "And hurry up. We got things to do!"

"Why? What are we doing?"

"We're gonna get some of your favorite beer, get drunk and celebrate your new life plan."

"That's it?"

"Sure," Dawn gave another mischievous grin, "Unless you want to find where a certain Federation Commando lives?"

"Then just show up at his house?"

"Sure, why not? I'll bet he'll be more than happy to see you!"

"You would imagine that."

"Yeah, well imagine this. Your hands on those muscles of his and your lips all over that gorgeous mouth!"

"No!" Even though Dawn loved embarrassing her, May still admired the fact that when it came to boys, her best friend never held back on anything. It didn't matter how lewd it got, she spoke her mind and the same applied to everything else. "He's just cute. You know right?"

"Drew is cute." Dawn scoffed, "Now Ash is something you wake up the next morning all sore and then do it all again without hesitation. Now go get your stuff! We don't want to waste too much time!"

May wandered down the campus halls towards her professor's office and began to wonder if Drew and her were really meant to be. They were introduced by her father and she merely said yes to his invitation to date due to the fact she didn't want to embarrass either of them. Of course she loved him, but she just realized that it was more for her father's wishes and peace of mind than it was for her own.

Then there was Ash. From how much Dawn had described in detail, it was clear that she was smitten with him. He was clearly out of her league and if he had already caught Dawn's heart, then it was certain he had done the same to many more. The fact stung her that Ash was the closest thing to the man of her dreams and he was already untouchable.

"To life! And all the adventures it holds!" Dawn popped off the cap of two beers and held one of them out to May.

"Bottoms up!" They clinked bottles and took sips, savoring the familiar taste.

"Oh I know," Dawn wiped her mouth, "How about we do a little something to cheer him up if he's having a down day at work!"

"Like what?"

She sidled up to her best friend and outlined her plan.

"I love it!" May joyfully agreed, "But should we go through with it?"

"Why wouldn't we?"

"Well it's because he probably already knows I'm with someone. Why don't we take him for Brendan instead? I saw you gave him a look a little too long."

"Don't try and put this on me girlfriend," Dawn shot back, "Even though Brendan is pretty damn hot too."

"What can I offer Ash anyway besides any other girl? He's probably got one in every corner of the world?"
"How can you know if you haven't even asked about his family?"

"I don't know," May put her head down, "He already knows about Drew."

"Then he's assuming you're seeing someone."

"I am seeing Drew."

"Exactly," Dawn took a swig of beer, "You're saying you're perfectly happy with Drew?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then why are you not doing anything to change that? Why are you still with him?"

"I don't know," Dawn right now was not making things any better and their plan of putting May and Ash together was already shot.

"Well I'll tell you. He's basically conservative, safe, non-risk taking. Now that might be what someone else may look for in somebody, but not you. To me, he's just boring as hell and I bet a million other guys act just like him, minus the fact that he has enough money to rub it in his hair like shampoo and turn it green."

May knew she was right. Over time, she found out that the love she had for Drew was diminishing and in a sense his comfort kept her close rather than an affection for one another. In order to do move away, she had to converse with both him and her father, the latter being a rather dreadful thought. At the same time, she didn't want to hurt him.

"Still, I don't want to hurt his feelings."

"May! Do you think Drew or your father ever gave a shit about yours? Absolutely not! If they don't care about your own happiness, you shouldn't for theirs!"

"They don't have thick skin like you do Dawn!"

"Listen to yourself May! I've watched you break down over the course of twenty years with Drew and your dad manning the helm of controlling what you do everyday! You told me how you wanted to reshape yourself upon encountering the man of your dreams! I heard some of the best motivation from you and now here we are just a hundred and twenty minutes later and you're already shrouded yourself in doubt and denial! Do you want to renovate your life or not?"

May sighed, taking another drink. She suddenly found it strange that she was venting her problems out while consuming alcohol. Another big no-no her father strictly enforced, especially with Max in the house. "I'm just scared and nervous. What if I mess up?"

"May, something like this is not easy and usually never is. You need to look past everything your father has drilled into your mind about relationships and do what is best for yourself! I know that sounds selfish, but if you're satisfied with your life, won't it be worth it?"

"I suppose so."

"Not the response I was expecting, but at least it's not glum." Dawn gave May a hug, "C'mon, let's get started. I know the perfect thing."

What is this perfect thing?

This will likely be the last chapter of the week, although that is subject to change. I turn 21 in a couple days and am also working additional hours later this week. If an update is to come, it will likely be on the weekend.

Thanks for reading and reviewing, you give my writing purpose.