::MAY::

I don't know what possessed me to break out like that, but I did. As I ran out of the room, I could hear Chloe and Drew calling me but I ignored them. Just as I turned the corner, I could hear Chloe hastily defaulting the match to Ash and Misty while Drew swore in frustration. One more thing he can add to the list of reasons to hate May.

"May! Slow down!"

I refused to look back to see who it was. Voices blurred in my mind. Hot tears streamed down my face. I was intent on getting out of here fast. I took some random turns before bumping into a beefy chest. I looked up and saw one of Gary's many beefy security guards.

"Thanks boys. I can take it from here."

Gary took my hand and dragged me into the nearest room. I didn't have the strength to resist. All I could do was sob and sniffle.

"What the hell, May?" he asked.

I sobbed even harder. Gary snapped his fingers at someone. A few moments later, I was handed a large, blue tissue box.

"Now tell me what happened," Gary insisted.

After a couple of sobbing and sniffling moments, I finally managed to stop crying for a couple minutes to tell Gary the whole story, from the kiss after the Sinnoh Grand Festival all the way to me flipping out 10 minutes ago. Meanwhile Gary quietly nodded.

"Holy crap. That's a hell of a mess you're in," he said quietly. I nodded.

"Listen hon," another voice piped up, "you're only causing more trouble for yourself." The speech was slightly slurred but it was still unmistakably Chloe's cynical voice. "Just breakup with what's-his-face already. I'm talking to Drew about breaking up with that sl*t Betsy or something."

I stared at Gary, shocked. "Don't be surprised hon," Chloe said calmly from the other end. "People owe me stuff. They do favors for me. Never let your guard down if you're dealing with me. Toodles!"

Gary blushed. "She's right you know." I cocked my head in confusion. "You are causing trouble for yourself by continuing to be with Brendan. We all know you like Drew. Hell, he's pretty sexy. But you're in denial. Usually, I don't agree with Chloe, mostly because she's usually drunk, but I agree with her on this. She's even sobered up to get you and Drew together."

"I'm not in love with Drew!" I burst

"Drunk or angry thoughts are true thoughts," Gary said.

"D-Drew's only a friend!"

Gary rolled his eyes. "Look. You can't deny everything in life."

"And neither can you Gary," Chloe piped up from the walkie talkie. "Leaf really likes you. It may not be as obvious as May and Drew-y here or even Ash-y boy and Misty, or Dawn and Paul, but she really likes you. Make a move already. She's shy. You're multi-millionaire researcher Gary Oak. She really likes you but she's afraid she's not good enough for you. Make a —" Gary awkwardly shut off the walkie talkie.

"You and Leaf?" I ask curiously.

Gary looked down and twiddled his thumbs awkwardly. "We're childhood friends..."

"You two would be so cute together," I gushed.

"Like you and cabbage-head?" Gary retorted.

I blushed. "We speak no more of each other's love life?"

"Agreed."

::CHLOE::

"Damn it, he cut me off!"

"It was kind of your fault for bringing up Leaf..." Drew said quietly.

"F-ck that. I'm here to talk to you about May."

Drew fell silent. He nervously pulled at a hole in his jeans.

"Stop denying it Drew. You heard what May said. She's confused too."

"Well screw that!" he yelled. "I have a clingy girlfriend, all my friends are trying to meddle with my life and my best friend/rival is confused as hell about how she feels about me!"

I picked up my vodka. I know I've been trying to get sober, but damn is that demon hard to resist in times like this. I could feel the alcohol working itself through my body, relaxing me and keeping me from slapping the kid.

"Drew, dear," I start, "you had to do something, and don't make me make you do it. I'm connected with everyone. I can easily set something up which forces you and May together. You're already going to be sleeping in the same room." I took another swig of vodka. "She really likes you. Sure she's confused about it, but in the end, what drives this whole crazy situation is your feelings for each other. Just get on with it. Make your move. Dump that sl-t Betsy or whatever."

"Her name is Brianna."

"Details, details," I reply, waving him off. A second later, I hear a dimmed crash. "Damnit. I thinkI'mgunnahavetapayfurthat," I slur.

"I thought you were trying to get sober," Drew stated.

"DoesitlooklikeI'msober?" I take another swig of the vodka. If I'm drunk, there's no harm in drinking more right?

Drew was furious at me. "May's right! Stop meddling! And if you are going to meddle, I trust a sober Chloe more than a drunk Chloe!" Then with a furious swipe, he knocked the vodka right out of my hand. Glass shattes over the pristine marble floor as the remaining vodka spills out.

::DREW::

I stumble up to the room we were assigned, given that we lost the battle to Ash and Misty. After she left, Chloe defaulted the match to Ash and Misty before calling Gary and making sure he got a hold of May somehow. Then she shooed the happy couple away before dragging me into an empty room.

I reach for the ornate doorknob and twist it. The room was lavishly decorated. The walls were a pale sea-foam green. There was a large window that took up one entire wall and opened up to a rounded balcony. It was a rather large room. When you walked in, the first thing you see is yourself in the mirrored wall. Then to your left is a California king sized bed. The frame is finely carved from what looks like high quality wood and finished with a shiny gloss. A thin, shimmery canopy goes over the entire thing. Next to it, on the side you enter from, is a small nightstand with a porcelain lamp and empty vase. I call out Roserade and ask for a couple roses to fill the vase with before recalling her. To the left of the bed is a vanity. Across the room from the vanity is a dresser. On top of the dresser is a large flat screen TV. On the right side of the room, there's a door that leads to the closet and a bathroom. There were visible beanbags sticking out from the closet.

I shook my head at the lavishness. "Oak family people," I chuckle. My luggage was already unpacked and neatly arranged in drawers. It was just a little bit too neat. Seeing as I didn't want to damage any of Gary's property, I find it adequate to throw off my shirt onto the ground. The minute it hits the floor, I feel a wave of untidiness wash over the room. Now it feels complete.

Just at that moment, May comes stumbling in with Gary steadying her. She takes no notice of me but Gary raises an eyebrow at my current state of shirtless-ness. He leads her over to the bed and turns on the TV.

"Hey dude," he says to me, "take it easy on her tonight. I know about this whole mess but she seems to be even more shaken up about it than you are."

I nod. "Thanks, Gary," I say.

"No problem dude."

I look over at May, who is now absentmindedly flipping through channels. I walk over to her and sit down on the bed next to her.

"What a mess we're in," I say, trying my best to stir up some conversation.

Her response was a soft whimper. Her large blue eyes are still fixated on the TV. Her hair was twisted up on the back of her head, loosely held together by a fragile plastic clip. I reach over and let it down. She pays no attention. I start running my hand through her soft brown locks. She smells like roses and strawberries. I inhale deeply, trying to get all of her scent.

We sit there for a while. After flipping through nearly all the channels, May stops at a music video channel. They were playing "California King Bed" by Rhianna.

Chest to chest, nose to nose

Palm to palm, we were always just that close

Wrist to wrist, toe to toe

Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose

So how come when I reach out my fingers

It feels like more than distance between us?

In this California king bed

We're ten thousand miles apart

I've been California wishing on these stars

For your heart on me, my California king

Eye to eye, cheek to cheek

Side by side, you were sleeping next to me

Arm in arm, dusk to dawn with the curtains drawn

And a little last night on these sheets

So how come when I reach out my fingers

It seems like more than distance between us?

In this California king bed

We're ten thousand miles apart

I've been California wishing on these stars

For your heart on me, my California king

Just when I felt like giving up on us

You turned around and gave me one last touch

That made everything feel better

And even then my eyes got wetter

So confused wanna ask you if you love me

But I don't wanna seem so weak

Maybe I've been California dreaming

In this California king bed

We're ten thousand miles apart

California wishing on these stars

For your heart on me, my California king

My California king

In this California king bed

We're ten thousand miles apart

I've been California wishing on these stars

For your heart on me, my California king

Right at the end, May leans into me and starts crying. She knows. I know. This song is our reality. I stroke her hair and hold her gently until she falls asleep.

A couple hours later, I'm still watching TV, but I'm getting tired. I strip off my jeans, tuck her in, and slip in on the other side. I reach my arm out for her tiny hand, but it seems light-years away. Still, somehow I make it. I stay like that for another good hour, listening to her cry and whimper in her sleep. She looked like a small, helpless child. All I want to do is go over to her and comfort her until the bad dreams are gone, but what's causing her tears aren't bad dreams; it's reality.

::MAY::

The next morning I woke up sweaty and gross. Sometime in the night, Drew rolled over next to me and slung an arm around me. I gently shook it off. He looked so innocent right now. A look of confusion and sadness was etched onto his face.

"Drew."

He stirred slightly in his sleep. "May," he moaned. I waited for him to say more, but all the stuff he mumbled was unintelligible.

I run a hand through his silky green hair before going to shower.

:::

"You sure did sleep in," Dawn commented when I came down for breakfast. "Is Drew still sleeping?"

My voice felt thick and raspy so I just nodded yes.

"F-ck that," Paul grumbled from the other side of the table, "you just wake up way to f-cking early."

Dawn turned around to argue with Paul. I didn't want to get dragged into their petty little fight so I walked into the kitchen and started searching around for food. From the other room, I could hear Dawn and Paul going at it again.

"Shut up, Paul! No one asked you to wake up this early!"

"Well then quit your obnoxious singing in the shower in the morning!"

"I think you can live one day without your precious full eight hours of sleep!"

"Maybe I can but I don't think you could."

"You take that back!"

I rolled my eyes. They constantly clashed with each other. Dawn's bubbly personality was always at odds with Paul's sulky, cold personality. Yet some how they fit together perfectly. Whenever Paul was with Dawn, he seemed to have more of a lively spark, and Paul had to be the only person known who can moderate Dawn's bubbling.

"Arceus, May, this place looks like a pack rabid Pokemon tore this place up."

I turn around and I see Drew standing there, still shirtless. I look around at the kitchen. Sure enough, I did leave a total mess in my wake. "I'm hungry," I pouted, my voice still raspy.

Drew attempted to chuckle. "You sound awful," he notes. "Go drink some water."

"Go put on a shirt," I retort.

An arrogant smirk appears on Drew's face. "I need to talk to you though," he persists.

"Not while you're wearing nothing but your boxers."

Drew smiles a bit. "Fine."

A few moments later, he appears in a halfway-zipped-up hoodie, which showed off his amazing abs. I tried not to stare but he caught me anyways.

"What? Am I too sexy for you?" he teased.

I shook my head. "What do you want to talk to me about?" I ask quietly

His head drops before rising again to look me in the eye. "I don't know where we stand right now," he starts, "but I want a fresh start... or at least as fresh as we're ever going to get. Let's face it, May. You know, I know, we're more than rivals. We're probably more than just friends, but with everything else going on, it's just too complicated." He runs a hand through my hair. "And truth be told, if I didn't have Brianna, I would definitely ask you to be my girlfriend. You're amazing, May. It only took me nine years to really figure out how I feel about you."

"Same," I reply softly, I nestle my head on his well-muscled chest. "And if I didn't have Brendan, I would definitely say yes."

He smiled at me. I smiled back. Then he wraps his arms around me. We stand there for a while, my head on his chest, his arms around me. We smell great together. He runs his hand through my hair.

"I guess this is a new flower," I say quietly. He smirks and out of nowhere, produces a crimson rose and braids it into my hair.

::CHLOE::

So they're just staying friends... I guess that's better than awkwardly not talking at all. I bang my head on a pillow before I feel like I need to go barf again. My body aches for a Bloody Mary to ease the hangover. Damn. I need to get sober.

I call up room service. "Get me a Bloody Mary, some crackers, and get Gary up here," I rasp.

Within moments, the items I requested, along with Gary Oak, are up in my bedroom.

"Arceus, Chloe! You look like a mess!" Gary exclaims.

"I'm crazy hungover! Of course I look like a mess!" I roll my eyes. "Anyways, I hope you don't mind I used your security system to do some eavesdropping. Drew and May are going to stick with the just friends thing but they have admitted they like each other so my master plan is to —"

"Give it up already."

I stop and turn around to look at Gary. His head's in his hands. "Take a break from meddling in their love lives already."

"Why?" I whined.

"Because it's driving you insane. You're hungover, hardly sober, and they've got lives. Just let life do its thing!"

I stare at him in shock. I was just about to protest when I come across a loophole. Gary only wants me to stay out of Drew and May's love lives... he never said anything about everyone else...

"Fine," I comply.

Gary looks up and gives me a tense smile. "Take it easy will you Chlo?"

I nod.

Gary gets up and walks out the door, but not before confiscating my Bloody Mary. "Really?"

"You know me Gary," I say flirtatiously.

Gary rolls his eyes but says nothing.

"And you're a fool to think I'm going to stop playing Cupid now..."

A/N: Wow this chapter was easy to write! I'm really feeling it! I'm back into this story. I might actually be extending it a bit longer than I planned, especially since I have little to no work done on all the side shippings. It just feels wrong to leave those little loose ends...