One Love, One Heart

Chapter 9: Awake & Alive

"You sure you're not hungry, May? It's unlike you to refuse food," a boy with green hair said.

"No thanks, Drew, you can go to the dining room without me," the brunette recommended.

"Alright, I'll see you at the cabin room," Drew told her and started walking to the dining room portion of the S.S Wailord.

As Drew left, May remained alone, thinking to herself on the deck of the marvelous vessel. It had stores to shop in, wonderful restaurants to pick from in the dining room, and organized cabin rooms to please every passenger aboard. Even so, all the things May loved didn't satisfy her at all.

May felt nervous, "I just want to get there already." She squeezed the handrails anxiously.

Her stomach felt like it was twisting and turning. Drew tried to lighten her mood up all day, but nothing worked because he knew his rival was busy thinking about reuniting with Ash.

"Why am I nervous? Ash is my friend, and I know he'll be happy to see me. Or is it because Drew is with me? Was it a good idea to let him come with me? They've been around each other before, and there is no sign of disrespect between the two," the coordinator continued to ponder in her thoughts.

May started to have her doubts about Ash and Drew being in the same room for a week, but why? Did it have something to do with the unresolved feelings she had for her rival and her mentor? It was only a few days ago she let those emotions come under the spotlight for the first time. The more she thought about how she harbored a crush on Ash and

Drew, the heavier the butterflies in her stomach felt. She knew Ash wasn't the romantic type like Drew, yet she couldn't help but feel he might have felt the same way about her.

She thought about how Ash volunteered to look after Max so she could fulfill her dream of participating in the Hoenn Grand Festival. He was always ready to throw down the gauntlet for her. In a way, he was like her knight in shining armor. She bushed lightly when she pictured Ash as a knight, but she snapped out of it when she heard her stomach grumble. "Ugh, I haven't eaten anything since this morning." The girl whined. She rubbed her stomach and regretted declining Drew's offer.

Behind her, she heard a pair of children running ahead while their parents told them to slow down. It reminded her of her family. She recollected her goodbyes to them this morning.

She knew it was never easy for Norman or Caroline to see her depart. Max seemed the most disappointed, but not because of May's departure.

"Do you have everything you need, May, even undergarments and everything else a girl needs?" Caroline questioned.

"Of course, Mom!" the daughter turned red, snapping a bit because of the humiliating question.

The ocean was a beautiful blue color, just like the sky above it. Petalburg Harbor was busy today. Many passengers were boarding their destined liners. The S.S. Wailord blew its horn, announcing it only had fifteen minutes before departure.

Drew was standing next to May, waiting for the goodbyes to end. Luckily for May, he didn't hear the undergarment remark. He stood there silent, wanting to board as quickly as possible.

"Well honey, this is goodbye for now. Tell Ash that the three of us send our best wishes. Knowing him, he will probably be training with you the whole week," Norman laughed.

"You're probably right, Dad, and he'll appreciate the best wishes when I tell him," May giggled in response.

It was Max's turn to say farewell to his sister. "I still find it unfair that you're going to go see Ash again without me for the second time. Tell him not to forget about his promise to battle me when I become a trainer," Max adjusted his glasses while speaking.