Drew's skin prickled as he walked away from the Pokemon Center, May only a step behind.

"Drew! Where are we going?"

"Somewhere," he answered cryptically. He glanced quickly up at the clouds looming overhead, then at his watch. Behind him he could hear May suppressing a groan of frustration. Oh, how he loved to goad her on.

"I'm going to go back if you don't reveal your intentions to me," she said warningly.

"Go ahead then."

"Drew!"

"What?" he said innocently, stopping to face her. She stopped, face flushed, panting a little. He had to clench one of his hands to keep himself from moving towards her. The sudden intensity of his gaze seemed to send her off balance.

"I... I don't know." Her expression was confused.

Drew turned again and started to walk away, but suddenly he stopped in his tracks as he felt a small prick of water on the back of his hand. Even as May opened her mouth to speak, the ground was speckled with dark spots, and the patter of rain soon became distinguishable. Grey clouds released their baggage in torrents as an ominous rumble sounded in the distance.

May spoke. "Crap."

"This way!" Drew pulled her toward a tree, trying to tug her by the elbow, splashing through the already-forming puddles. By the time they had reached it, the rain had intensified, and both of them were soaking wet and shivering.

"Great. Of all the people I could get caught in a storm with, it just has to be you," May said breathlessly. She flashed him a smile, and he laughed.

"There's a reason for that, you know," he replied, breathing slightly harder from the exertion. May noted to herself how interesting he looked with his shirt plastered to his body, every line of his chest showing through the fabric. For a moment the two of them simply stood there, staring at each other, willing each other to speak.

Drew took a breath and looked away. "Nice bra," he said, focusing every inch of his body on making the statement seem as natural as possible. May stepped back, startled, then blushed in embarrassment, pulling her thin jacket closer.

"Why are you looking anyways?" she sputtered indignantly. Her blush deepened as Drew's gaze raked over the rest of her. She shivered.

"I checked the weather forecast today," said Drew, nonchalantly. "I purposely brought you out here, at this time, just so we could get caught in the rain. Well worth it, don't you think?"

May gasped at the implication of his words. "Pervert!" she cried out, laughing, not knowing whether to be flattered or disgusted.

"It's a tactic. The two of us get caught in the rain, we go to my place because it just so happens to be close, and whatever happens afterwards--" he shrugged, "--happens."

A tingle of cold went down her spine as he turned to leave. "Wait wait wait." May stopped and stared at him. "Whatever happens, happens?" she said dubiously.

"Yes."

Their gazes locked, blue eyes and green.

"I think I like the sound of that," May said slowly. A smile tugged at her mouth. "Yeah. That sounds good. Let's go to your place."

"Because it just so happens that it's rather close," Drew stated again.

"Yes. Yes..."

I wonder, May thought as she followed him, what it is I'm really getting into...

~~roses~~

Thunder rumbled threateningly outside as May and Drew stepped into his apartment. May shivered, dripping all over the floor, trying to stay warm. Drew went into another room and emerged with a towel. "Here." He handed her the towel. "Sit down."

She sank gratefully onto a couch, clutching the towel around her like a security blanket. Another shiver racked her body. Drew left, leaving her sitting in the room alone. Her heart seemed to be pounding in her ears for no apparent reason. To distract herself, she looked around. Boxes were littered on the floor, half of them unopened. Walls and floor were bare.

Drew reentered the room, wearing a dry change of clothes. He walked over to the thermostat, adjusted it, then slid onto the couch across from May. One arm rested along the top of the cushions while he dried himself with another towel.

"You just moved?" May guessed, nodding toward the boxes.

"Yeah. I usually stay in Cerulean."

"Why did you move?"

He gave her an amused look. "None of your business."

"What?" she blurted out indignantly.

"Personal reasons," he replied. Actually, it's very much your business, but you don't need to know that, he said silently. "Besides, how would you like it if everyone went around asking if you were dating Ash Ketchum?"

"Wait-- we're not dating!" May sputtered.

Drew smirked. "Exactly."

"Agh, you make me so mad!" May stood, intending to leave, then realized there was nowhere to go. She plopped down again, fuming.

"You're so cute when you're mad."

"Shut up," she muttered. Drew eyed her curiously, green eyes flickering. "Why are we here, anyways?" she said irritably.

"It just happened to be close," he replied innocently.

" 'Just happened to be close,' " May snorted. "Sure."

Drip, drip, drip, went her hair. She sighed in resignation and resumed drying herself.

"Want to stay here for a while?" Drew suggested.

"Maybe." She caught his eye and nodded. "I guess I'll just stay here until the rain clears up, or until it gets late. Would you happen to have an umbrella?"

"Yes. But there are conditions."

May looked at him sharply. "What conditions?" she asked slowly.

"You have to let me walk you back to the Center."

A slow, helpless smile spread across her face. "How did I know it was going to be something like that?"

"Great minds think alike," said Drew, raising his eyebrows at her.

"Yeah. Yeah, sure." May laughed and brushed aside a few wet strands of hair. "Of course."

Drew bit the inside of his lip as he watched her. It's really annoying, he thought, how I have to break the heart of someone I actually respect. And... maybe want. A little.

"So. We'll wait until seven, and if the rain isn't gone by then, I get to walk you back," he stated.

"Deal." Then she promptly turned to the window and clasped her hands together. "Oh, great Kyogre, beast of the sea, please make the rain stop before seven PM today. Please, please, please," with a smile on her face.

Drew laughed. "Good luck with that."

"I can dream, can't I?" May said seriously. Then she suddenly burst into laughter, the sound trickling over Drew's senses like water. It was another few moments before she fell silent again, still smiling. "I sometimes really do wonder, though," she said, "if the legendaries can hear us when we pray to them."

"Who knows. Though I hope not. I'd like a chance to walk you back." Drew felt surprised at himself, because it was true. Every word. How rare, he thought, and stowed the note in his mind.

May's mouth twitched as she tried not to smile. "Thanks," not knowing what to say.

Silence fell. May's eyes flickered out the window, then the floor, to Drew's eyes. No. Look away, look anywhere but his green eyes. The color of poison. She shifted slightly, and almost saw him shift in response. But it was just a trick of the light. Right?

Her heart started to pound, even as Drew saw his hand twitch toward her. God, I need to stop fantasizing, he thought to himself. This is getting ridiculous. That Misty girl is going to be pissed. It's not like she's paying me, but I don't like leaving things unfinished.

He cleared his throat loudly, making May tense visibly at the sound. "Since it seems like you're going to be staying for a while," he said, looking out the window at the rain as calmly as he could, "do you want to shower?"

For a moment it looked like May was going to say What exactly are you suggesting?!, but she caught herself and replied, "Yes. Sure. But I don't have a change of clothes..."

"You can use the dryer." When May gave him a suspicious glance, "I'm just. Letting. You use the dryer. It's down the hall, in the room next to the bathroom. Stop thinking that everything I do has some dark ulterior motive behind it."

"Fine." She stood and noted with a grimace that the couch was wet. "I'm going to shower. And no peeping, loitering, trying to catch me in there, nothing. And I'll get my clothes myself."

"Paranoid, aren't you," he murmured, as she brushed past him. In truth, his mind was starting to wander in directions that made his insides tighten like rubber bands. He swallowed, mouth dry, and resorted to grinding his teeth at himself.

This... is becoming a problem. Then he chuckled inwardly. I wonder what I'm supposed to do when a girl becomes too attractive.