A/N: Here we have it, chapter 100! I can't believe we're this far along (yet or already?). We still have a long way to go, though, but still, this is quite a milestone. Thank you to all of those who supported me along the way, I hope you enjoy the rest of the ride, and here's the next chapter!

Days

The day that is not a day

May

Thursday, February 13th

Her phone lit up in the darkness of the Pokémon Center bedroom as May pressed the button, blinking against the brightness to see the time. 01:27.

She dropped the phone back on the nightstand, rolling back onto the bed and sighing.

"Gaah, why can't I just sleep," May muttered to herself, pressing her hands against her eyes.

She turned on her side again, but already knew that sleep wouldn't come. With another frustrated sigh, May sat upright in bed.

Her thoughts were all over the place. The double battle from yesterday, Drew, the signed papers from her lawyer laying on her nightstand, the preparations for her next round, Drew, their conversation they'd had a few days ago, the statement for the press that she had to write, the Grand Festival in general, Drew and the look in his eyes: measuring, calculating, judging her and finding her wanting-

"Argh!" May balled her fists, the sheets wrinkling in her hands.

Sure, she had won the battle yesterday and she had passed on to the Second Round, but she knew her level hadn't been on par with what she had performed in the weeks before.

"Why can't I just get him out of my head?" May asked out loud, her hands going through her hair as if she could physically pull out the thoughts.

There was no reaction from the dark room; all her Pokémon were asleep in their 'Balls.

What was she doing here? Did she actually think she could win? And how dare she be here in the first place? Didn't she want to be a mother so badly? And now she was prancing around, trying to relive her teenage career, instead of acting like a responsible adult and getting ready for the future. Weakling! Hypocrite! Liar!

May clenched her eyes shut and shook her head, trying to ban those thoughts. But she remembered Drew's face, the way he had subtly crinkled his eyebrows, the glance in his eyes-

No. Those were thoughts made up by her own mind, and they only came up late at night in moments of silence. People liked her, she reminded herself. Her sponsors were supporting her, and the press was more than ever on her side. And whatever Drew thought- well, she did not care.

May swung her legs over the edge of the bed, deciding that sleep wasn't going to come anytime soon. She glanced around the dim room, only vaguely lit by the light of the lamppost outside, shining through the curtains.

She grabbed a pair of baggy trousers and a hoodie, putting them on over her pajamas. She slipped on her shoes, grabbed a random Poké Ball and her phone, and then quietly left her room.

The lights in the corridor were low, and May saw no one as she made her way to the lobby of the Pokémon Center. The lights were brighter there and May blinked a few times. The room felt unusually empty without the ever-present Nurse Joy, though May was sure that in a case of an emergency, the pink-haired woman would appear immediately.

Outside it was surprisingly pleasant, and May took a deep breath of fresh air. The sky was cloudy and there was moisture in the air, but for now it was dry.

May felt herself growing more awake as she started walking. The Pokémon Center lay in the center of Fortree City, and her feet automatically took her to the Grand Festival terrain, laying on the outskirts of the city. The streets were quiet, only the occasional car passing by. A few nocturnal Pokémon flew or ran away when she got too close.

May paused when she neared the edge of the city, the Grand Festival stadium with its artificial lighting visible in the distance, and the darkness of nature beckoning all around it. A yawn cracked her jaw open and May felt a wave of tiredness hit her legs.

Time to go back. Besides, this wasn't the moment to go wandering off alone anyway, and especially not out of the city.

As she started to walk back, a cold wind blew and May shivered. She pulled at the sleeves of her hoodie and then hid her hands in the front pocket, feeling the Poké Ball she had taken with her. Beautifly, she recognized.

Her feet felt cold and May shivered again.

Something moved in the corner of her eyes, though when she turned to look, there was nothing.

Suddenly, the night didn't seem so peaceful anymore, and May sped up her pace. Back towards the center of the city, back towards the Pokémon Center…

Another flash of something. Was that a human in the shadows? And glowing eyes-

May blinked and the image was gone. Her hand tightened around Beautifly's 'Ball and she hurried on. Her tiredness was all gone, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she quickly walked along.

When she saw the sign of the Center in the distance, May slowed her pace, feeling relieved and also slightly ridiculous. She must have been seeing things. The rush of adrenaline faded from her body, leaving her feeling slightly shaky and even more tired than before.

Right. Time for bed.

May entered the lobby of the Pokémon Center, and whatever thoughts she had been having screeched to a halt.

Drew was sitting in the lobby. He was looking straight at her, and the look of surprise on his face must be mirrored on her own.

His hair was uncombed, and she recognized the shirt he was wearing as one of those he used to sleep in.

"What were you doing outside?" he asked. There wasn't any accusation in his voice, only pure curiosity.

"I couldn't sleep," May answered honestly, too thrown off to even consider saying anything else but the truth. "But I think it's about time I went to bed, I thought I saw- Anyway, I should be off to bed." She let out a sheepish laugh and then wondered why she was telling Drew this. Here, in the bright lit room of the Pokémon Center, it felt even more ridiculous.

She expected a snarky comment or a roll of his eyes, but he only cracked a slight smile, and there was a strange look in his eyes, his eyebrows drawn together.

"You should be careful with your condition, going outside in the middle of the night during winter can't be good," Drew said.

May opened her mouth, all ready for an angry retort, but then she closed it again, feeling the energy drain out of her. What was the point of fighting?

(Besides, he might have a point.)

Drew had sat up straighter, as if ready to defend himself, and he almost looked confused when the expected response didn't come. Some emotion – sadness? – flashed across his face as he relaxed back in his seat.

Her pause was too long for her comeback to be considered witty, and her voice sounded tired when she spoke, "Staying on such an uncomfortable sofa in the middle of the night can't be good, either."

Drew quirked an eyebrow and he smiled slightly, but there was none of his usual arrogance in it.

"Goodnight," May whispered when the silence stretched on, and then hurried away.

"Sleep well, May," she heard Drew say behind her, his voice warmer than she'd heard it in ages.

When she had nestled back in her bed a few minutes later, May felt exhausted but also strangely at peace.

She was asleep within minutes.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I'm very curious to hear your thoughts about this chapter. I had fun writing it, Drew and May have such a complicated relationship right now, and they're complicated characters on their own as well. So this was a challenge but also enjoyable to write. I hope it was fun to read, too, thank you and please review!