Well as stated previously Pokémon does not belong to me. Hope you guys enjoy the fic

Chapter Two

33May33

As the sun rose May found herself still up in the loft feeling refreshed after finally being able to sleep for more than four hours a night. She could hear the commotion going on downstairs her roommates were probably already awake. May smiled thinking of her best friends Misty Waterflower, Dawn Berlitz, Ashley Smith, and Esme Oak. They all moved in together in an apartment in Cerulean City after they had graduated from their high school; they just didn't want to separate from each other.

May frowned slightly as she remembered Ashley and Esme were currently visiting their families in Pallet Town. Her thoughts were interrupted however by the sudden sound of Sparks Fly being blasted from the stereo's speakers downstairs. May smiled they had a sort of ritual every morning. They would crack up the music to the highest set volume on the stereo and jam out every morning. May brushed her hand through her hair and sat up from the couch. She slipped out of the loft and made her way downstairs.

May witnessed the commotion the moment she set foot in the living room. Misty and Dawn were running around like chickens without their heads, and their arms flapping above their heads as the danced goofily. May couldn't hold back her laughter," Guy's what is going on?" She managed to say in between laughter. The girls stooped their dancing and shared a knowing glance at May.

Misty shot May a sympathetic smile, "Well after what happened with Sky we thought a distraction is just what you needed." Misty responded. Dawn giggled, "Yep that's why we decided to dance like a bunch of idiots for you." May giggled remembering the sight of her friends odd dance moves.

Misty smiled at May before saying," We also set up one more distraction for you May." May looked at them skeptically but decided to just go along with them," That's really sweet guys, but what is this other distraction?" "Yay! Well we know how much you like singing, so we…" Dawn paused to add excitement. "Decided what?" May asked. "We sighed up to be camp counselors at Ashley's mom fine arts camp!" Both Misty and Dawn shouted in unison.

May smiled she really did like the idea. Singing always helped her just like dancing or playing her guitar. "Alright I'm in," May said excitedly. "YAY! Let's go pack we gotta set out to the camp first thing tomorrow morning, since it opens in like a week!" Dawn yelled already pulling her two roommates to the upper loft where all their instruments were kept.

**Esme**

Esme surveyed the familiar faces in her living room. She turned her attention to the rambunctious silver haired teen that was currently arguing with her boyfriend Gary Oak. "Ashley Smith you can argue with Gary later about who is a better guitarist. Right now our main concern is Drew." Ashley blushed and shrugged apologetically," Sorry Esme, so what do you suggest we do to help?" Esme sighed and sat down next to a boy wearing a red baseball cap.

"Well I don't think we should actually meddle too much, after all the attraction is obviously there, but we should try to at least get them together as much as possible. So what we really need is a way for May to notice Drew. Does anyone have an idea on how to achieve that?" Esme looked around expectantly at her friends. Ashley looked deep in thought; her brows furrowed in concentration, while her older brother simply stared adoringly at Ashley. Esme contained the giggle that wanted to burst out. The boy next to her was scratching the back of his head clearly clueless to the matters of the heart.

"I GOT IT!" Ashley yelled as she jumped up from the couch. Gary and Ash both jumped startled. Esme giggled," Okay enlighten us Ashley." Ashley sat back down and leaned forward clearly excited by what she was about to say," Well mom put me in charge of assigning cabins, and camp counselor pairs, and what area each councilor would be teaching. I could always pair up May and Drew, and assign them the same cabin. Hopefully after spending so much time together they'll fall for each other" Esme contemplated the idea, it was a long shot but it was the only thing they had going for them at the moment. Esme looked at the faces around her they seemed to think this was better than nothing.

"Alright that seems like the only thing we could do, but Ashley you still haven't explained why your mom wanted us to volunteer so badly?" Gary questioned. Ashley looked away embarrassed," Mom is having trouble financially, so she had to let the instructors go." Ashley turned back to them her face looked concerned," All of us have experience with instruments plus dance not to mention were great vocalists so she was hoping if we volunteered she would be able to round up enough money so she wouldn't have to lose the camp." All the heads around her nodded understandingly Ashley smiled gratefully and continued," Mom was hoping that by us volunteering it would generate a larger crowd, ya know especially since The Sweethearts just recently debuted our first single."

Esme smiled as she remembered their previous year. After graduation the girls had started a band The Sweethearts and to their surprise five months later they were offered a recording contract. Esme knew how important the camp was to Ashley's mom so she didn't mind having to spend a month teaching hip hop classes. Although the prospect of teaching hormonal boys a dance that required a lot of physical contact didn't necessarily please her, but she would do this for her dear friends Ashley and Drew. From the faces around her she may have been the only one. Ashley noticing this as well tensed up her body becoming very rigid and her eyes showed the worry that was masked by an expressionless face.

"I'm not very confident about this. Listen baby you know I love you, and I would love to help your mom, but I stopped dancing for a reason. There's just too many painful memories associated with it." Gary said as he grabbed hold of Ashley's hand. His thumb leaving comforting circular patterns on the upper part of her hand. Ashley's eyes and face softened and she nodded in understanding. Esme sighed she too knew all too well what her older brother was referring to. The incident occurred only five years ago on her twelfth birthday.

Flashback…

The cold tile floor and the smell of disinfectant and disease loomed heavily in the air. Esme shuddered as she passed by a door that looked into a room; a lonely patient lay there looking ghastly. Esme gasped as she saw her older brother sprawled on the bed looking so defenseless and broken. Gary turned and locked eyes with his younger sister. He motioned for her to seat by his bedside. Esme obliged as a sob escaped her lips," I'm so glad you're alright Gary," She cried into his chest sobs already streaking her face. Gary rubbed her back soothingly," It's alright not even a car crash could hurt me Esme." Esme trembled at the thought.

Esme pulled back and sat on the chair set next to the white hospital bed. She could tell that her brother had recently cried as well," The doctors said I won't ever be able to dance professionally again Esme. The damage to my legs was too great I suppose," Gary stated in a monotone. Esme knew all it was only his shield and that deep down he was hurting. Dancing had become his life since Ashley and he discovered it at the young age of four.

She embraced him again, and this time Gary allowed his tears to flow freely. The two siblings stayed embraced into each other's arms in sadness until their grandfather and Ashley had come in.

End of flashback…

"Garry I understand that this is hard, but my mother was hoping you would at least consider teaching the vocal training class?" Esme looked at Ashley skeptically," I thought you would be teaching that Ashley?" Ashley looked over at her and shrugged tiredly," I decided to help out with the dance area of the camp" Esme, Ash, and Ashley turned to Gary's direction. They could all see the inner struggle this was causing him, but in the end he looked up at them and smiled," Sure I'll help out in the vocal training. I even have the perfect song picked out." Ashley hurriedly embraced him; while Esme smiled at her brother proudly.

Ash chuckled, "So Ashley how many classes are we all going to teach?" Ash questioned. Ashley picked up her cell phone and strolled through the recent text messages until she found the one from her mom.

"It says there are three major sections of the camp. The first is the Instrumental/ Vocal section, which is located in the north side of the campground. Then there is the large cafeteria that is located in the center of the camp ground and of course the large auditorium and last is the Dance area which is in the southern corner." Ashley looked up from her phone and turned all of her attention on Ash," Since you have the most experience with instruments I was hoping you would help out Dawn, Misty, May, and Drew with that area. Oh your partner will be Misty." Ash nodded in acceptance earning him a grateful smile from Ashley. She then turned her sapphire orbs on Esme.

"Esme I'll be your partner for the hip hop class and Damien for ballet." Esme sighed in relief,' Thank goodness she thought.' Ashley than laid her head on Gary's shoulder. Esme smiled at the young couple," Gary Briana will be your partner for your classes." Gary nodded absentmindedly as he stroked Ashley silver haired locks. Suddenly Ashley's phone beeped signaling she had a message. Ashley looked over it and a large smile began to form.

"It's Misty she's saying that they are already at the camp, and... NO way!" Ashley remarked. "What's wrong Ashley?" Gary questioned his girlfriend. Ashley shook her head," Nothing it's just that the girls sighned us up to perform at the Fruti Music Bar." Esme stared at her friend excitedly," I love that place!" Then an idea popped into her head," This is perfect guys!" Esme squealed.

Gary turned toward her," How so Esme?" Esme giggled," Drew, Paul, and you two could sign up and Drew could sing all these lovey dovey songs dedicated to May. I mean what girl wouldn't want to get serenated," Esme finished explaining proudly. Ashley giggled," I like the idea, I'll text Drew right now to tell him."

Esme turned to the two boys she noticed both were smirking, and conversing secretly with their eyes," What's with you two?" Esme questioned. Gary looked over at her and chuckled at her annoyed expression," Just the idea of Drew singing it's quit amusing." Ash nodded in agreement.

Esme rolled her eyes, but secretly she had to agree with her older brother and Ash. She really hoped Maybell and the Grasshead would become a couple, and that Ashley's mom wouldn't have to sell her camp. After all Esme had very fond memories of the place.

"Well let's all go to bed we have a long drive to La Rousse tomorrow," Ashley stated getting out of the sofa and heading to the front door of the Oaks residence, Ash and Garry following behind her. Esme waved goodbye to her silver and back haired friends as she headed for her bedroom to get some needed rest before the long journey.