A/N: Have a lovely, lovely week!
It was true that May's confession had not panned out exactly as she had prepared. For one, she had simply blurted out her feelings as soon as she saw that rose – that rose which was the culmination of all her hope that her rival-turned-closest-friend might return her feelings. And she was hopeful; after all, those flowers couldn't have all been for Beautifly and ever since Johto, maybe even Kanto, she had caught Drew looking at her often with such a soft expression that seemed more than platonic. Even still, May was not prepared for the wave of relief and pure, unadulterated joy that hit her when Drew said those scary, sweet words back to her. I like you too, May Maple. Everything about you… Those words reverberated around her head as the waiter came and Drew smoothly returned back to his seat, as she slurped the noodles in a daze, and as they slowly made their way back to the cottages.
The moon glistened brightly as the two coordinators walked along the harbor. Drew had always imagined that he would have been the one to declare his love for May, perhaps with one hundred and one roses, but this turn of events had him smiling wider than he had when he had won the grand festival only a few days ago.
He turned to look at the girl next to him, "May?" She turned to look at him, although she didn't quite meet his eye. He noticed her flushed cheeks and wondered if his were burning as well.
"Are your hands cold?" He reached out and gently clasped her hand. May remembered the first time they had awkwardly held hands. They had been running after Arcanine, way back in Kanto and she had tripped and fallen on air most likely. He had held out his hand to her and she took it and almost forgot to let go. Now they were comfortably holding hands in silence, with only the waves beating against the harbor bearing evidence to their new relationship.
"So…when you said that you liked everything about me, what did you mean?" May broke the silence. He smiled, "I like the way you get both angry and happy easily, I like the way you care deeply about your family and your friends and even people and pokemon you don't know, I like your smile, I like all the parts of you I didn't know existed until we spent more time together."
She smiled giddily, secretly desiring to hear more of this praise but not sure if her heart could take it. "I'll go…I was thinking about this yesterday on my run," she said happily.
"I like how you inspire me to want to be better, I like how happy you get when we go to a cafe and they have good coffee, I like your patience and your determination, and I like how you can tell you care about someone because your face lights up when you talk about them."
She paused, "that's what I wish I said to you earlier, but I was too nervous." May looked away briefly, towards the harbor, mildly frustrated at her perfectly good communication skills turning into mush when it came to talking about her own feelings.
Drew pulled her in closer, "It was perfect. "
They could see their two cottages in the distance now, but they walked slower than ever before. May pointed out constellations that her parents had shown her back before they moved to Petalburg City.
They giddily tried to take pictures using the latest feature of the Pokénav. Suddenly, a familiar ring tone rang out. May yelped, "It's Dawn!"
As she picked up, a flurry of excited speech came out of her Pokénav. May put her Pokénav closer to her ear. "May! What happened? Did you do it, did you ask him?!"
She smiled, looking at him, "Yeah I did, Dawn. It's official now, we're dating." The last sentence was spoken in a whisper of pure delight and disbelief, as May could scarcely believe the words coming out of her own mouth.
A loud shout of celebration rang out of the phone, "May May I'm so proud of you! I knew you could and you would. I can't wait to see you so we can talk in person! My schedule cleared up a bit because Hearthome Fashion Week is getting pushed back a week for the Hearthome City Parade. I think I can fly over and we can do coffee at the Battle Resort? Some R&R, too"
"I would love that! Coffee's on me, Dawn… and also, I need to hear more about this Paul guy you've mentioned. Apparently Ash also knows him?"
Dawn nervously laughed, "Okay, I'll tell you all about him. Just one more thing before I hang up and leave you two alone… can give Drew the phone, May? I need to speak with this man real quick."
May obliged and handed the phone to Drew, who looked somewhat bemused as he took it and put it to his ear. "Hello, Dawn Berlitz. How are you?"
"Hello, Drew Hayden. I'm good. Two things, real quick. I just wanted to say I'm so happy for you two, you have no idea how long I've been waiting for this to happen – I've been rooting for you two ever since the Wallace Cup!
"Thanks, Daw-"
"And second, this is obligatory stuff that must be said but I mean it with all my heart, don't ever make my best friend cry or I swear to you I will dye your hair purple so it finally matches that questionable purple vest you used to wear."
He raised his eyebrows, chuckling slightly, "Berlitz, I'll dye my hair purple too if I do. I promise I'll do my best."
"Good. All right, see ya!"
As Dawn hung up, May came to a quick realization. "There are so many people I've got to tell!" She gasped, stopping fully in her tracks, "I've gotta tell my family!"
Drew smiled, "I'll call Sol and even Harley tonight. And my grandma's gonna be so happy. She always asks about you, May."
She smiled giddily. They had reached the crossroads between the two cottages.
"I'm so happy I'm a little afraid," she confessed.
"Me too, but we'll take it one step at a time." He gently kissed her forehead, before bidding her good night. And in the cool summer breeze, May was left in a daze.