"He's here!" Dawn squealed and grabbed May's arm, "Ash's here!"
May felt her heart lurch in her chest and sprang to her feet to head out with her. She stopped at the parking spot where Ash was just exiting…a Manectric?
The elegant vehicle could cost as much as thirty thousand, except this one was painted in a dark gray fashion. The entire body was sleek, as the car was designed to be fast, maneuverable and an eye catcher. The way its engine was purring as he shut it off sent shivers down her spine at the raw power.
"You like the beast huh?" Ash grinned, extending a hand out and locking it. The lights flashed and it beeped once, "Goes from zero to sixty in less than three seconds with top notch handling. She was delivered to us this morning." It had already given the Jets an edge in catching fleeing suspects in cars.
Out of the shotgun seat of the car emerged a brown haired woman just slightly taller than both of them, but shorter than Ash. Her warm face cracked an easy smile that put all three of them at ease.
"I'd like you all to meet Jewell. She's our team's sniper."
After they exchanged pleasantries, Ash spoke up again. "So May, where would you like us to be?"
"Um," May started, "The main thing is to have a lot of fun. Our most favorite station is the wave pool. Do any of you surf?"
"It's been a while," Ash said, "But I know the basics."
"Excellent!" May exclaimed, "All you have to do is catch a wave with the kids! Is that something you'd feel comfortable doing?"
"Sure," Ash agreed, "Show me the way."
May began to lead him, but then suddenly stopped, "Oh my Arceus, I totally forgot about you Jewell!"
"No worries, do you need more surfers?" She didn't help noticing that May was completely enticed by Ash's presence and paid her no attention.
"Yeah," She was always in need of the people, but she wanted to get out of her embarrassing situation as fast as possible. There were other positions that needed to be staffed though.
"I surf from time to time too. I take it's a big wave pool?"
May and Dawn parted from Ash and Jewell for the majority of the day. Both Jets were quite impressed on how smoothly the event ran and the amount of children who showed up.
Ash was initially a bit nervous around them, since he had seldom spent time with one as an adult. Overall, about fifty kids had shown up, all in tiny bathing suits and cute colored goggles with enthusiastic attitudes. Not only was it to have some fun, but another way to cool off from the sun. The temperature was starting to creep towards a record high when midday had occurred.
The wave pool was unlike any other Ash had ever seen. It was almost a walk of its own to reach the other side and extended to a depth of twelve feet at the far end. There, the generators worked in a separate room to spawn waves that increased in size over time that were large enough for surfers. The right side had a couple of twisting water slides that were inactive at the moment and the other side of the pool was a long seventy five yard lap pool that was currently in the middle of an excited water polo match.
May reached one of the umbrellas and sat down in the shade watching the activity on the wave side. Jewell, Ash and a third surfer named Brawly were the only active ones to attend this late.
The Commando's partner, a little six year old girl had a bright pink life jacket on and she held onto Ash's hand as he used his free one to balance themselves on their board as the wave began to pick up speed.
The little one had the biggest smile on her face when they came to the shallow end. She stumbled a bit off balance, but Ash's hand set her straight as he led her ashore to her parents.
"You have fun Kelly?"
"Yeah!" She squealed, "We went faster than a plane!"
"You're a good surfer," Ash knelt down and extended a hand. Kelly enthusiastically gave him a high five from both her hands, "I'll surf with ya anytime bruh." He clenched his fist, extending his pinkie finger and thumb in a common surfer gesture.
"You bet!" Kelly excitedly bound away.
"Hey brah," May emerged from the umbrella and tossed him a bottle of water from her backpack, "How's the water?"
"Feels a little colder than I expected." Ash brushed some drops out of his hair before sipping, "Other than that the kids are great. Some of them came back twice or three times!"
As he was talking about a story of their recent surfing adventure, May had suddenly cut his one sided conversation out of her mind. This was the first time she had seen him shirtless.
There were times she would read magazines and see men with beautifully sculpted bodies and Ash's was no different. His most defined features were his triceps that preceded broad shoulders. Underneath the six pack abdominals sat a V shaped line that ran underneath a pair of green shorts. Her gaze wandered to the tattoos on his arms, both of them having writing that was a bit small for her to read at a distance and split by black thunderbolts. His front was bare, but she could tell that he had more art on his back.
Her mind wandered into another fantasy where he approached and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her face in for a kiss.
"May?" Ash asked for the third time, snapping her out of her thoughts. "You okay?"
She suddenly blushed, realized that she was looking straight at his abs. May turned away a little too quickly, having been caught. Now, Jewell had joined Ash's side, looking at her with equal concern. Why did he always have to look so good?
"Yeah," She sheepishly said, "Anyway thank you guys for coming. We do this every year so I hope you're okay with me begging you to come back."
"It's more the other way around," Jewell said as she hugged her, "We'd love to come on back."
"They're starting to close the pool down for the day," Ash said, "But we got time for one more wave. Want to join us May?"
"I don't know how to surf."
"It's okay, you can come out on a board with me." He looked at Jewell for support. "You in?"
"Hell yeah. Only thing better is some real waves!"
"I didn't know you could surf really well." May commented.
"I grew up in a little town called Pacifidlog. Surfing is done almost daily. Since I joined the military and the Jets, I've found myself having less time to enjoy."
"I don't know." She was reluctant to go back out.
"Look, if you're not comfortable with it, that's completely fine. I can call the rest of my team to meet us at the Endzone Grill."
"No I'll do it." May remembered Dawn's words of encouragement and vowed not to crumble at the prospect of an excellent opportunity. She grabbed the board, "What are we waiting for?"
Ash and Jewell grinned at one another before joining her in the surf.
"Just keep paddling." Ash instructed. He was just behind her, close to the surfboard's back. May was grateful again that even though he was partially lying on top of her, he was unable to see her face which was beginning to turn red and it wasn't from the heat.
"You're doing good." He reassured before directing both of them under one of the incoming waves, "Just keep going out."
With Jewell just behind them, they reached the deep end of the pool where the waves were barely an inch tall since the generator was closer.
"I'll give you two lovebirds some time." She called out to them, "This is Jewell One, requesting clearance for takeoff."
"Jewell One, waves are at a three six zero," Ash put on a radio operator's tone in his voice and made a fist like a radio, causing May to giggle at the lighthearted humor, "Have a safe flight."
"Thank you. Jewell One out." She suddenly paddled towards the other end just as a wave swelled up to an impressive height and propelled her towards the end. They heard a crash as the wave fell down, spraying the side of the pool with foam.
"Feels so peaceful out here." May felt Ash's body get off hers so that he could sit up. "I could spend all day out here."
"Me too," Ash said, "Unfortunately I don't surf as much as I'd like to. But when I do, it is relaxing."
Although he wouldn't admit it, the thought of the back of her body touching the front of his was having all his nerves firing. Sure he found her to be a rather attractive person and the idea of her being a damsel being rescued by a knight in shining armor contributed to his growing feelings, but he still didn't really know her well enough. She had become so attached to him after they escaped the Sea Mauville so it was possible she was liking him for his heroics and not his real self.
Only thing was that he was no hero, just someone who killed the bad guys and guided her out.
May would've probably freaked out if her clothes were wet from a pool, but this time she paid scant attention to it.
Ash didn't.
He found himself fascinated with her already. Her shirt was wet enough that it clung to her back, showing the straps of her white bra. Already the imagination was running and it felt pleasing for him to gently unclasp the restraints for an intimate experience.
No.
"I love it out here. Even if it's not the real ocean, it feels so serene." May whispered.
"The more we can erase the bad memories from your mind the better."
"Is this how you erase bad memories?"
Ash nodded, "There's a variety of ways I use to ease the stress of the day."
"Must get pretty stressful."
"No more than it does for anyone else," May looked at him in disbelief, he was writing off getting shot at and attacked as no more stressful than most others? "However we all have those days."
"Tell me about it," May mused.
Ash saw that the waves were starting to get larger since the generator was expending the last of its energy to recharge, "Well what do you say. Want to catch a wave?"
"Yeah! What do I do?"
"Lie down and enjoy the ride."
"Can I stand up?" She excitedly asked.
"If you feel you're up to it."
Ash suddenly started paddling towards the shallow end of the pool rapidly. The waves began to grow in front of them as they were carried away at a speed faster than his own capability.
They continued to increase in speed when Ash smoothly flexed his legs and stood up, using his feet to steer them at an angle.
May wanted to be just like him, so she gently put her feet down as they made it halfway across the pool. By now, the wave had grown in size, pushing the board just in front while right on their heels.
She felt like a soaring Swellow for just a moment. Then the board wobbled and May lost her balance.
Out of reflex, she grabbed hold of Ash just behind, who was busy trying to correct their trajectory, however he was pulled down with her.
Crashing into the water, her feet found purchase at the pool's bottom roughly five feet deep and she quickly surfaced, coughing from the unexpected fall.
Ash!
Did he know she had accidentally pulled him off the board with her? Was he okay?
He surfaced a few feet to her left and spotted her. Moving over, she had a bit of a worried look on her face.
"Ash, you okay?"
He laughed. It wasn't a chuckle, but one that escalated into a hysterical manner as he finally found a moment to purge all the stress from his mind. "Of course I am!" He managed to stifle through, "I should be asking you that!"
"We fell though. Sorry about that!"
"Sorry?" Ash laughed again, "That happens in surfing. Did you at least enjoy it?"
"Of course I did!" May exclaimed, "That was the most fun I've had in a long time! Even though it wasn't really a full ride y'know? Let's do it again!"
"That's the May I know and love," At this, May blushed, did he say love? "However, they're closing up the place for the day. Besides, I'm pooped." He waded out of the pool and set the surfboard on a rack nearby, "What do you say we go to the Endzone Grill and relax. I can get the rest of my team over there and you can meet the rest of them."
"Okay sure."
May followed close behind Ash as they headed inside the Endzone Grill & Bar on the southwest side of town. She was instantly captivated by the place. Petalburg was known as a top-tier tourist destination in Hoenn, but the Endzone lacked a touristy atmosphere, instead having a rather local feel with sports gear, TVs and a bar at the left end. Today it was not so crowded, but it would likely be a different story on the weekends and holidays.
He led her to a table where Brendan and Jewell were sitting with two other men that she didn't recognize and two additional empty chairs.
"May, I'd like you to meet the rest of my Jets team. You already know Brendan and Jewell. This is Zack and Damien."
"A pleasure." Zack shook her hand.
Damien introduced himself and then whispered in Ash's ear. He grinned at the small conversation.
The rest of the night went on like Ash had predicted. Burgers and wings for dinner and a couple pitchers of beer later, everyone was talking with one another as if they had known them all for years. All of Ash's team loved May and she loved them.
"I got a pair of tickets to the Broadstone football game this weekend," Jewell held up the pair. "I'd take Damien, but he's a Tentacruel and won't go."
"Damn right I won't." Hammond couldn't wipe the grin off his face, even though she was a fan of the university's bitter rival.
"You like football May?" Ash asked. "Maybe we can go and see a game together."
"Of course I love football! My dad doesn't particularly though, but he tolerates Max on the high school team and I try and go to the game when he's gone."
"What will the tickets cost me?"
Jewell smirked after looking at everyone else, "Another pitcher of beer."
"Deal."
May excused herself to use the bathroom and as she left, the rest of Ash's team leaned in to begin a rather secretive conversation.
"She's a hell of a keeper Ash," Zack remarked, echoing what everyone's thoughts were.
"The fact that you saved her from evil people makes it all the better." Brendan agreed, "Women love a hero man."
"That's the thing," Ash said, "I don't want to rain on the parade, but we have a dangerous job. Besides, she's already someone else's material. I would never do anything to go between her and her boyfriend."
"From what Dawn was saying back at the office the other day, her father and boyfriend aren't very supportive of these new activities she's wanting to do."
"This life we live," Ash continued, "It's unpredictable and if something does happen to me, I don't want to drag her into the mess."
"You never know what might happen," Jewell said, handing Ash the tickets. "Why don't you start on something you both love?"
And I'm back! It's been a little longer than usual and I've been quite a busy man.
Also a shout out to all of you who are following this story! This one is six follows away from tying my most followed story; Soul Flare. Big thanks to all of you for staying faithful in my work.
Thanks for reading and reviewing, you give my writing purpose.