Wow it's been a long time since I updated this story. I have that problem. Sorry about that XP So how was everyone's New Year? I've been sleeping for about twelve hours every day now and it inevitably turned me into jelly. I feel like I'm not actually in my body, if you get what I mean. You probably don't 'cause I'm making no sense. Anyways I'm wondering how long this story will take, but I have a couple of sweet bits to add in so I hope you will enjoy them when they come :)

Reviews:

AnimeFreakzoid911: Aww, thank you even though that was ages ago XD And thanks for being a new reviewer to me :) Love the avatar of Yukina by the way.

AdorableMe: Yeah I'm making them the comedic pair in this story I think. There has to be some comic relief after all XP Thanks for being a new review too :)

Guest: Thanks for liking the story :) I'm glad you like it even though it's been a while since I updated.

Alethea R. Grey: Short, but sweet :) Another new reviewer! It makes me happy getting them.

Thalanthus: Wow that review made me gush ^~^ There's a group? I thought it was just fun to write for the sake of it. It's not really my thing but maybe it's becoming something more to me. And yes I'm continuing this! I don't like leaving things unfinished, depends on what it is but still XP Thanks for being a new reviewer, and thank you for being so sweet :)

Chapter Three: A Rose and its Thorn

No One

"I can't believe he convinced her," Gary said in awe as he observed Drew and May with a curiosity you would use with pair of animals at the zoo.

Leaf rested her chin in her hand as she stared at them with the same intriguing eyes as Gary's. "Well, Drew always had a way with words."

For the past twenty-four hours they had watched the two Coordinators as if they were celebrities, which in comparison made Leaf and Gary appear like stalkers. And they most likely were.

"Yeah, but now that they're actually going to enter the Games it's going to make things a whole lot harder for us," Gary pointed out with a shake of his head. Deep down he wondered he helped Drew. Sure they were friends, sure they were alike in some aspects, and sure they had known each other for most of their lives…

Perhaps Gary didn't need to figure out why he helped Drew. It was pretty self-explanatory anyways.

"Oh, are you scared?" Leaf chided with a smirk. "What happened to the all mighty Gary and his ego filled balloon head that could block the door to the Contest hall?" She raised her arms to her side as another added effect to pull his leg. "I'm still surprised we managed to get in here." Leaf couldn't help but snicker to herself on the inside. Teasing her partner was just too much fun.

Gary chose to ignore Leaf's on scheduled snide comment and continued examining May and Drew, who were currently rehearsing their interview layout for the Games. Although it didn't look like things were going smoothly for them, and their meeting with the judges was right after theirs. At times May would flail her arms up with an angered expression on her face, while Drew would sigh and slap his hands down his teeth clenching face. One day was obviously not enough time for them to get ready for this interview.

Gary didn't have to worry about it because he and Leaf got everything down pact. She was a natural born actress, and he could fool anybody with the way he felt so physically comfortable with her. They played the couple act down to a T. It even amazed him at times.

"Hey, no silent treatment on me, buddy," Leaf ordered lightly as she poked a finger at his chest. She stood up from the bench outside the interview room when the last couple that entered treaded out, dragging their feet in disappointment all the way to the exit. "We have to sell this lovey-dovey thing, remember?"

Gary, putting on his million dollar smile, wrapped an arm lazily around her waist while tugging down her round white hat, which made Leaf grunt in annoyance. She didn't like it when people, mainly Gary, messed with her hair.

"Got it princess," he said coolly as he manoeuvred her into the interview room where three familiar judges awaited lined up in their panel positions. The sun at noon sent a warm glow to the room from the ceiling-to-floor window situated behind them.

Seeing as the only piece of furniture in the room other than the judge's table and chairs was a burgundy red sofa made for two placed in front of them, Gary and Leaf made the obvious move to take their places on the couch.

Gary's arm was now laid casually around Leaf shoulders as she leaned into him with a goofy smile that somehow suited her. The judges had already made silent observations about the two.

"This is Leaf Green and Gary Oak of Kanto," Vivian introduced from the side as she read off the clipboard in her hands.

"Oh, I've heard of you two," Nurse Joy perked. "You were in the semi-finals of the 9th Pokémon League Tournament."

The pair nodded and Gary added, "But in the end I got ahead."

That earned him a playful hit on the chest. "Don't mind his ego," she said apologetically. "In all honestly if it weren't for that I wouldn't be dating him."

The judges all laughed, slightly curious on their relationship. There was only so much one could handle about their other half's arrogance. It took a great deal of patience, that, or if both were equally narcissistic.

"So tell us about your first date," Mr Contesta asks with an outfaced palm as an indication for them to speak.

The two share a loving look that the judges couldn't help but admire. However they were just trying to keep from laughing. They had been on a few dates sure, but they were in what they called an "open relationship", so acting this fluffy was quite entertaining for them.

"Leaf loves fairy tales," Gary said tearing his gaze from his partner. She giggled at his answer. "I took her to the Disneyland in Kanto after the Tournament ended." He passed her an affectionate glance. "It took me forever to convince her to say yes."

Leaf bashfully rolled her eyes. "Well we battled a couple of times. The ending score was three to five." She leaned into the three with a smirk. "I won in the end, so feeling sorry for him I agreed to the date." Leaf then lowered her head as she stared at Gary's yin yang pendent. Pulling down her hat she said softly. "It was the best day of my life…"

Nurse Joy and Vivian awed at them while the two male judges chuckled.

"I think you two will make a remarkable addition to the Games," Mr Sukizo said happily.

Mr Contesta nodded in agreement while Nurse Joy seemed to me in deep thought about something. "Disneyland…" she mumbled to herself.

"Here are the planned events," Vivian said making her way over to the pair, extending a white folder decorated with a rose border. "Everything about the Rosette Games is in here; the rules, filming schedules etcetera."

Gary took the file and helped Leaf up her feet. He opened it up and took a look while she skimmed over a page over Gary's shoulder.

"Oh, now I remember!" Nurse Joy said suddenly, causing everyone to look at her. "Wasn't there a couple who were banned there around that time?" she said absentmindedly as she tapped her chin to get her memories flowing.

Gary and Leaf instantly tensed at this.

"W-Well I guess we'll see you guys at orientation," The brunette boy said trying to divert the other two judges, who seemed to be silently considering who Nurse Joy was referring to. Gary latched his hands on Leaf's shoulders while tucking the folder under his arm to manoeuvre her out of the room before anyone could say otherwise.

"Oh well," Nurse Joy said with a light shrug of her shoulders. "I guess it doesn't matter. Shall we bring in the next couple?"

Leaf and Gary let out a relieved sigh; both from being accepted into the Games and from escaping their little incident on their trip.

"You're the reason why we were banned from Disneyland," Gary pointed out during their walk down the hall. He went back to reviewing the file while telling his brain to regard Leaf talking as white noise so he wouldn't get distracted.

Leaf huffed, flipping a lock of her hair behind her shoulder. "I have no idea what you're talking about." she said dismissively, but her tone told Gary otherwise.

"Oh really?" he began sizing up, sparing a glance out of the corner of his eyes. "So it wasn't your Wartortle who practically drowned Mickey Mouse?"

Leaf halted to give a pouty glare. "Well you were the one flirting with Minnie," she counteracted placing her hands firmly on her hips.

"Hey, no I didn't!" Gary said defensively, "She came on to me!"

And that is why they were never allowed to return to the kingdom of magic ever again.

As the two started bickering, May and Drew off the side suddenly stopped their own fight to observe them.

May uncomfortably scratched her cheek as recognised who the yelling boy was. "Isn't that your, um… friend?" she asked a little nervously. That couple was really going at it.

Drew waved off the two as if they were buzzing Venomoths' in his ears. "Forget about them," he said dismissively. "What we should be getting back to is this intimacy problem you have."

May groaned for the umpteenth time that morning. Not only did Drew – her temporary fake boyfriend – give her a wakeup call at dawn, but he also made her wear some silly froufrou dress that had a pattern that very much resembled her mother's picnic blanket back home. The pinching shoes on her feet weren't helping much either.

Now Drew demanded her to be comfortable around his proximity… how was she supposed to do that? They have been trying all morning but it came to no avail.

"Well I'm sorry if I can't let you touch me without flinching!" May apologised, faking sincerity. She would honestly rather keep Drew at a respectable distance considering he was still a stranger. A stranger who bought what she thought was an expensive dress seeing as the tag was nowhere to be found upon discovery. The unknown designer label box it came in was her only clue to its price. Too bad Drew chucked it out when she had changed and dragged her to the Contest Hall before she could even bat an eyelash.

Drew groaned, feeling a migraine coming on yet again. How could he stare at a computer screen for several days straight and be perfectly fine but this one girl manages to give him a headache every time they fought? Drew couldn't figure it out and honestly couldn't be bothered to. It's not like he had the luxury of time anyway.

Their interview was up now.

"Then it looks like you're just going to have to suck it up and deal with it," Drew said through gritted teeth.

He was about to drag the girl in the room by the wrist but thought it over and realised that the judges might not look at that as being very couple-like. Drew sighed again.

He had to calm down. He had to be gentle. He had to be a gentleman.

If he can talk May into becoming his partner then surely he could convince the judges to let them participate with only a one sided interview. May wasn't pulling her weight; or rather she couldn't, so Drew was going to have to do this all by himself. That actually might make things a little easier. All May had to do in the Games was show up and look pretty. Her Coordinating skills might come in handy too.

"After you," Drew said as he held open the door open for her. The judges on the inside smiled at the gesture while May raised a brow at it. Luckily none of them noticed as she was disclosed by the other door locked in place. His persona just did a complete 180 and now he was all… courteous… it freaked her out a little bit.

"Thank you…" May managed to say as she passed the threshold of the room. Drew internally groaned at her lack of enthusiasm.

Vivian smiled at the two before searching for their names her list. "This is Drew Hayden and May Maple of Hoenn."

The pair took a seat on the sofa and left some space between them. Although there wasn't much room to begin with considering it was so small. May had to swallow a breath.

"Ah, Miss May Maple," Mr Contesta addressed with a smile. Said girl jolted her head up in response. "Your performance at yesterday's contest was quite outstanding."

"T-Thank you," she said stutteringly with a small bow of her head. Drew was too close for comfort. His arm resting on the back of the couch wasn't doing much to help calm her nerves either. She couldn't concentrate like this.

"And ah, Drew Hayden,"

Nurse Joy's voice was able to break May out of her hypnotic state of mind. She looked up to see the woman was reading off a manila file. One each of the judges had. Was there information about them in there? How did they get that when she hadn't prepared anything? Then May remembered it was Drew she was dealing with. He had probably given them info about her. What else he found about her May did not want to know.

"It's amazing to see such a talented Coordinating couple," Nurse Joy gushed skimming onto the other side of the file where May's data happened to be. "So how did you two meet?

The brunette flustered at the question. She tried to keep quiet but the shriek in the back of her throat was threating to break out. Drew subtlety nudged her with his foot that rested on his left knee. That small motion told her to calm down, but it was harder nudged than done.

"We met in a contest in Slateport City," Drew replied as if it had actually been true.

May didn't know it, but she actually praised him for coming up with such a quick response. He gave her the basic answers to respond with when asked earlier in the morning, but she found her mind a blur at the moment. She just sat there like a doll.

"Oh, a contest, remarkable," Mr Sukizo interjected with a brief comment.

Mr Contesta nodded at the statement before taking a glimpse at the file in his hands. "So did you compete against one another?"

"Yes," Drew immediately said.

"I'm curious who came victorious because it says here that both of you acquired the Slateport City Ribbon." The other judges beside Mr Contesta took a look at the Ribbon Acquirements to see that both Coordinators had the same ribbon.

"I beat her one year and she won the next," Drew answered to clear the air. May grunted at it though.

She just as well looked up on Drew when she had the chance and briefly remembered looking at his Ribbon Collection online. May was the one who won the Slateport Ribbon before Drew had. Apparently he was in Kanto at the time when she was in Hoenn. Why he lied she did not know. But then again this whole thing was a lie. And May wasn't good at it.

Nurse Joy tilted her head at Drew. "I'm surprised you two are dating after competing against a battle," she said with a frown. Her forehead had wrinkles of confusions as she knitted her brows together. "I mean contests do get very brutal. How did you two manage to hit it off?"

"R-Rose!" May squealed unexpectedly. She instantly covered her mouth upon the outburst, but everyone was already staring at her. This time she managed to catch Drew's split-second glare.

"Excuse us?" Nurse Joy said, hoping May would clarify.

Taking deep breaths she began recovering her composure; the one she had at the a few days ago and not recently. "H-He gave me a rose when we saw each other in another contest…"

A blush dusted over her cheeks as she stared at her lap. This was embarrassing for her, not only that, but what she said wasn't fully a lie.

Drew blinked widely at her. He was surprised May actually remembered what he said. She seemed to like to have that subject avoided for some reason.

"That's right, I gave her a rose." The judges turned back to Drew and wrote something on a clipboard filled with several other review application forms.

This was the only way to compete in the Games. Registering was one thing for contests, but this was a special tournament. Couples actually had to compete even before it will even begin with these interviews. It was something about compatibility, and to make sure these lovers were truly together. How easily fooled they were.

"I guess I got a crush on her after our battle in the final round." May flushed again at Drew's words. He said them so freely, so naturally. It made her a little irritated.

"How sweet," Mr Contesta said, entwining his fingers. "Are you two planning to get married?"

She wanted to scream. May could hear it in her head, but her voice wasn't able to process the command. She would have settled for a spit take, but there was no water in sight. Perhaps it was better if she didn't; that would look a little strange. But marriage! She thought she wouldn't have to think about that until she was eighteen. Not that she had any planning to worry about…

Although she couldn't scream, May's eye somewhat twitched as she froze into an unanimated statue.

Drew, being the ever calm instigator, made a small chuckle as if he were embarrassed. His smile was almost had May fooled. The way he averted his gaze to the floor, his fringe covering his eyes, gave her a clear view of the dimple on his left cheek. She hadn't even realised he moved in closer to her.

"I hope to in the future," he answered as he made a move to put an arm around his girlfriend. "I have to admit I think about that sometimes-"

Literally, the second Drew laid a finger on May's shoulder. The next thing that happened stunned everyone.

The resounding slap made Vivian gasp while the three judges' opinion of the pair began to waver.

"Sorry, she's a little embarrassed being like this in front of people," Drew swiftly explained, grazing this stinging cheek. "May we have a private moment?" he asked the three, but it was more of a proclamation rather than a suggestion as he already took the mocha brunette's wrist and exited out the door, leaving the judges utter speechless.

"I'm not so sure about them," Vivian commented on the side as she leaned in towards Nurse Joy to get a second opinion. The looped haired woman stared at the door, as well as everybody else with the same unsure expression.

"Perhaps…" she trailed off, but soon a smile tugged at her lips. "But they do make an interesting couple…"

Outside the conference room and down to the furthest corner of the hall, Drew slammed his left hand on the lilac painted wall, with May pinned right in front of him.

She yelped when her head vibrated from the impact, that and recovering from the shock that he didn't hit her. What kind of gentlemen hit a girl? Then again, she wasn't really sure Drew even was a gentleman despite his self-proclamation of being one just a day before.

"I will never love you, and you are never to love me, understand?" he said upfront and straight, which paralysed May for a moment as she stared up at him, mouth slightly agape. "But you have to at least try and make this believable," the Coordinator added moving back from May, rubbing his palm slapped cheek with his free hand. It had started to grow crimson over time. Drew was surprised how hard she could hit.

May wasn't embarrassed in the position they were in., but she was tinging red out of shame for not pulling the act off as best as she would have hoped.

Her attention started to move down to the tiled floor, guiltiness evident in her eyes. I have to do this, she thought determinedly. Not for me, but for Dad…

Gaining back her composure by closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, the brunette stood tall and stopped leaning on the wall.

She took the hand Drew had rubbing his face and put it down to his side. "Come on let's get some ice for that." May suggested with a smile, not bothering to wait for him to answer as she already tugged the green-haired boy down the corridor.

"Did you get that all on tape?" Leaf asked Gary as she re-watched the slap May gave Drew. She had to say, the girl was growing on her already.

Gary had to hold onto his stomach as he continued laughing. Somehow he managed to fall on the floor and that still did not stop him. Not that Leaf could blame him; they were replaying that scene over and over and over again.

"Y-Yeah," Gary choked out through his tears. "I knew something hilarious would happen!"

Leaf couldn't help but join in with him as she swung her legs over the armrest of Drew's personal chair back in his computer room at his home.

"Oh, the wonders of hidden cameras," she mused staring at the screen. "There's no way they're getting through after that."

The pair sat on a marble bench in the garden outside the hall.

May got up and released her Glaceon from its spherical chamber and had commanded it to use ice shard into the white stone fountain set in the courtyard out front. Surprisingly, throughout the entire Contest Hall, there was not one single ice pack to be found. And with Nurse Joy being held up in interviews, the sapphire eyed girl had to make do with what she's got, or rather who.

"Thanks Glaceon," she said gratefully to her Pokémon once the frozen pieces of ice it had shot into the water floated to the surface. "Return and get some rest. I bet you're still tired after yesterday."

With a chime like call, the evolutionary creature disappeared in a flash or red light back into its Poké Ball.

May minimised the orb before placing it back in her waist pouch – the only thing of hers Drew allowed her to wear – and exchanged it for a red and white checkerboard patterned handkerchief. She ignored the irony in the fact that it matched her dress.

Taking a reasonable sized shard from the water, she wrapped it around the thin cloth and walked back to the bench, sitting on the right side of Drew, who had his arms spread out behind him as he stared at the clouds passing by above him. He would have looked carefree if it weren't for the impassive expression on his face. It was unreadable.

"I'm sorry I slapped you…" May murmured, placing the homemade ice pack to the now noticeable mark on his throbbing cheek. The cold substance took the green-haired Coordinator off guard for a moment as he hissed at its touch, but soon found it comforting and helped the pain lessen by a great amount. "I just… never did this sort of thing before…" she admitted, dabbing the gradually melting ice onto his face.

Out of the corner of his emerald eyes, Drew somewhat glanced at her. Seeing her apologetic expression made him sigh. He was still pissed at her of course; however fighting with her won't solve anything right now.

"You mean you've never let a guy within a metre of you?" But that didn't mean he couldn't resist jabbing at her weak points.

This caused May to blush a light shade of rose quartz. She turned away bashfully, lowering her eyes to the gravel below them. "I-it was unexpected alright!" the brunette defended for herself, but it wasn't really making her feel any better.

"Besides," May began soon after to avoid the subject. "I bet you do these things all the time. So you could've given me a little more consideration."

The female Coordinator still kept the ice on Drew as he looked at her briefly before turning his attention back up to the sky. "When did I ever say that?"

May was surprised by his words. She slightly hummed in confusion as her gaze moved from his cheek to his distant looking green irises.

"I-I just thought… you know…" May mumbled, more to herself than him. She had somehow just assumed Drew had the experience considering he was handling things quite well. It was one of those first impression things to her guess. Shameless for her to jump to conclusions, but no one can stop impressions right?

"This is the first time I've ever done something like this too," he admitted, which made May feel a little better. That is until the Coordinator added, "But even I can act out something as simple as cuddling."

May sighed with a sweat drop looming over her hanging head. "L-Like I said it was unexpected!"

Drew couldn't help but laugh. May still attempted to save face, but he mocking her wasn't helping.

Then why did she still try?

"I take what I said back," Vivian said as she gazed at May and Drew through the window of the interview room. "They look pretty good candidates to me." She tilted her head and smiled at the amusing sight. The two bickering was quite comical.

The three judges had turned in their swivel chairs to observe the two that Vivian coincidentally spotted outside.

All of them shared a knowing smile.

Three couples down, now five more to go.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this; actually I do but have no idea what to fill the middle with. I don't want it to be just boring gibberish. So review please, not that I sound desperate or anything, and hope you guys have a new year's resolution to fill. Making them up as I go as we speak.

XOXO AsianBunny