She loved her life. At fifteen she thought she had it all, that she was living her life to the fullest. Dawn Berlitz loved her life.
Living in the Sinnoh Region in a small town called Twinleaf, she spent her summers just talking everything in.
The blue-haired teen sat in front of her vanity, brushing away at the knots in her hair, reflecting on another day well spent. She had ridden her bike to Lake Verity where she met up with her friend, Barry, to take some scenery photos. Barry takes pleasure being Dawn's model sometimes; although she was a bit bummed to hear that today was the last day she was going to spend with him. Apparently, he had been accepted into some boarding school a region over.
"Don't worry Dawn, it's not like I'm dying," Barry had reassured her, "I'm gonna be visiting during breaks so no need to worry! And if I don't I'll let you fine me!" Barry gave her a playful nudge using both their inside jokes.
"Fine… I'll just find another test model for my photos," Dawn gave him a bright smile.
Barry sat down on the ground and looked to the sky giving her a little laugh, "Let's be real Dawn, I'm your best model; nobody can compare to me." Dawn sat down next to him, looking out to the lake nodding in agreement. "But, when you do miss me, just look at my amazing photos."
Dawn would consider herself a photographer; she finds enjoyment and happiness when she captures a moment that could quite possibly take someone's breath away. It was a hobby she picked up on a couple of years ago when she found an old polaroid in her mom's closet. Her mom felt bad that she was using such an old device she went out and bought her a digital camera. Through the years, her cameras slowly evolved to higher tech digital cameras to a mini DSLR to an actual Canon DSLR. She had kept all her cameras on a shelf, collecting dust but still reused for different occasions.
The teen walked over to her bed opening up her laptop, scrolling through all of the uploaded photos from today's mini trip. She landed on a photo of Barry getting chased by a squirrel and she couldn't help but laugh.
"Dawn honey! I need to talk to you!" Her mom call from downstairs. She yelled back a response, pushing her laptop aside and rushed down the staircase. Taking her place on the couch, she sat with a little bounce before smiling at her mom, "What's up?"
There was an uneasy smile on her face as she brought her hands out in front of her, holding an opened envelope and a plane ticket.
The younger of the two hesitantly grabbed the papers from her mom, scanning the front of the opened letter with the words 'Oakwood Academy' printed on it. Standing up, her eyes gave a quick glance to her mom before walking around and reading the content of the paper aloud, "Dear Ms. Dawn Berlitz, we are glad to inform you that you and 2,000 other applicants have been selected to attend Kalos' most prestigious academy. Oakwood Academy opened last summer and has ranked number one in schooling. We hope to see you in August for the start of the school year —mom what is this?" her arms fell to her side giving her mom a look of utter confusion.
"I know you love it here, but I can't keep homeschooling you honey, and you know I just got a new job which requires me to move around—"
"So, you're just gonna send me away? Without even asking me?" She gave her mom a disgusted look. It was just such an unthinkable thing to do, especially to your own child! Dawn just thought it was too cruel.
"It's for the best Dawn," Johanna sat down in the arm chair, "You talk on the phone with your friends from camp for hours at a time and you haven't even been to camp or seen them since you were twelve. I just think it's time you branch off, meet new people."
Dawn was in utter disbelief. She didn't understand, she was so happy with how her life has been going, she thought she had enough friends. Everything about her life was familiar; no change whatsoever. She was being flung into such a new situation she couldn't think straight. Of course, what her mom had just said was all in good intentions but it still stung.
"I guess I have no choice now," the teen stood up, staring down at the plane ticket in her hand, at least she'd still be with Barry, "When do I leave?"
Johanna gave a warm smile, bringing her daughter in for a hug. She knew it was a tough decision, but she knew for a fact that Dawn would do great, "Your flight leaves first thing tomorrow morning, go run upstairs and start packing. I'll go get the suitcases and boxes and help you."
Dawn let out a sad and annoyed grumble; packing all her stuff was going to be such hassle.
Looking down at the ticket once more, she gave it a tiny smile looking on the bright side of things, 'To a new beginning.'
The young brunette paced back and forth as if one was watching the same scene over and over again. Leaf Green has been expecting a letter from Oakwood Academy for over a month. It was an agonizing wait for a letter that determined whether or not if she was moving to anything region or stuck in the same school for another four years.
The pacing continued for another five minutes before a voice broke her from the trance she was in.
"Mail time!" He sang waving an envelope in the air.
"Gary you're not the mail man," Crossing her arms, she walked off her porch towards him, "How'd you get my mail anyways? I've been waiting literally all day for it."
"Let's just say I know a guy," He gave her an innocent smile as he dangled the letter in front of her face, "Want it or not?"
Rolling her eyes, she scratched the letter from her annoying neighbor. It was always like this —they were always like this. Gary would do something that would annoy Leaf to no end and Leaf would be left with the urge to punch him. Nothing has changed. Even after seven years; it was a routine Gary had no intentions of breaking.
'If there's a brochure I'm in… if it's just a piece of paper, I'm out' the brunette mentally prepared herself. Taking a deep breath, she ripped open the envelope. Her heart dropped at the sight of a white paper. There goes her dream of getting away from her uneventful life.
Pulling it out of the envelope, another slip of paper fell out, gently landing on the ground. As she reached down to pick it up she took notice of the shape, "No way…". Flipping it over, it revealed a scheduled flight to Kalos, "Oh my God…"
Gary's head whipped around, "Oh my God what?" His voice was a bit frantic, something that Leaf pushed to the back of her head, "Did you get in?"
Leaf brought the papers in her hand behind her back hiding it from him and gave him a questioning look, "Why do you care so much?"
"I need to find out if I have to find a new girl to annoy, I already need a new best friend," he scoffed trying to play off his uncool demeanor earlier. "So, what is it? You in or not?"
The brunette let out a soft sigh giving him a playful smile, "Guess you'll just have to find out," turning on her heel, she walked back into her house to tell her family the news, but not before giving him one last glance over the shoulder.
Exhaling a short breath, he shoved his hands in his pockets watching her retreat into her house through the screen door. Gary failed to bite back a smile, he dropped his head and shook it a little letting a tiny laugh out before walking off the porch. Giving the house one last glance his smile grew bigger, "This is it!"
"What's it?" Gary turned around to see his best friend before throwing his hands in the air, "Wait what happened? Did you—?"
"Ashy boy, you should be packing! Leaf shouldn't be going to the airport all alone!"
"So, she got in?" Ash began to smile, "Wait… but that mean—"
"Don't concern yourself with me bro," Gary threw his arm around Ash, leading him away from Leaf's house, "I'll see you soon so don't worry, alright okay bye."
Ash watched Gary walk off with an unusual bounce to his step. But he definitely was not going to stay to figure out why it was there.