Caught

Chapter Two


Had the air suddenly gotten colder in the last few minutes or so? Dahlia stood with her heels together, fists clenched tightly around the base of her parasol, and glanced around. It had struck six a few moments ago (she could hear the church bells from her spot in the secluded alleyway) and she wondered why Doug was late. It didn't matter. His absence just meant she could spend more time calculating her response.

Her first attempt was going to be a "I'm so sorry, I didn't know" reaction. She would beg and plead and whimper and hell, she'd bring out the puppy-dog eyes she hated but people seemed to love. She'd make it seem as though she was horribly sorry for any trouble she caused, and she wanted nothing more than to just go home and rest. And, being the sucker he was, she knew he'd believe it.

If that didn't work, she'd pull the "regretful girlfriend" card. I'm sorry, forgive me, I love you, please forgive me and all that other crap she had gotten off bad soap operas her step-mother used to watch. She'd give him a pleading look, a nice, big hug, and possibly kiss him, and hopefully he'd re-think his ideas about yelling at her, forget about her possibly stealing a bottle of poison. If he even questioned her about the poison: "Oh, what's that? I don't even know why'd I'd need such a thing!"

And if worst comes to worst, she'd deploy her last resort: she'd show a little of her true self to him. She'd give him a small glimpse of the true Dahlia Hawthorne; if she gave him the full image, he'd possibly die, and she didn't want more on her plate - at least, not right now. But if she loosened her facade just a little to scare him into silence, it could work.

As she'd been thinking over her options, a small figure had come into the distance. Hunched over, hands in the pockets of that stupid leather jacket of his. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Dahlia lifted her arm, waving as he came further into view. She could now make out his hair, his shirt, and his features. He didn't wave back, merely looked at her, lips pressed together tightly. Might have to be option two...

"Doug," she said happily. "I'm so glad you called. It's been forever, hasn't it?"

"Don't act dumb, Dahlia," he said, voice clipped as he stared at her. "I didn't want to believe it was you, but I saw you with my own eyes! You had the bottle in your hand, and you kept looking around as you left... What did you need it for?"

Shaking her head as if she had no clue, she gazed up at him. "What bottle?"

"Dahlia, I swear..." He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing deeply. "I don't want to keep arguing with you. I didn't say anything at first because I thought it could be for school, or something stupid. But then the newspaper, with the stupid article about Diego Armando... You were with him that day, Dahlia! That day!"

"You suspect me?" she asked, whimpering. "You think I put him in that coma?"

He ran a hand through his hair, messing up the bangs he had probably spent a few hours this morning perfecting. She knew he was vain about his hair. "What else is there to think? The facts are all right there, I just need... proof."

"And you don't have any," she yelped, trying to sound horrified. "Why are you making such accusations if you don't have any proof? I wouldn't do that! I can't even dream of hurting a fly, let alone some nice man who just wanted to clear up suspicion on me!"

"Dahlia, I-"

"Why would I kill the man who going to rid me of all the rumors surrounding a case? It would just add to the suspicion, wouldn't I?" She rubbed a hand at her eyes, which were - thankfully - starting to look red like she was going to cry. "I'm not that stupid, Doug, and I'm insulted to have you think I could kill someone."

His hands twitched by his sides. "Then what did you do with the poison?"

"Why do you keep insisting I took it-"

"Don't lie to me! I saw you take it! You can't just lie and say you didn't, when I clearly saw you leaving with it in your hand." Doug shook his head, refusing to listen to Dahlia's small whispered pleas. "Just tell me what you did with it."

Last chance with option one.

The parasol dropping to the ground with a clatter, Dahlia darted forward, jumping up just enough to wrap her thin arms around Doug's neck. She sobbed into Doug's neck, her tears feeling fake even to her, and shook her head. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to take it. I didn't know it was poison until after I opened it! Some girl told me it was useful for cooking." She sniffed again.

Obviously, her plan wasn't working - he remained stiff, even after she flashed him her puppy eyes.

"Dahlia, someone in my department wouldn't give you false knowledge. Even if they hated you. They wouldn't just tell someone that a poison capable of killing people was something that could be used in cooking." He looked tired. "Can't you please just tell me the truth?"

Plan two in action.

Fingers flexing, Dahlia made sure her lower lip wobbled. "Okay, you're right. No more lies. I... I'm writing a novella for class. In the story, a character dies of poisoning. And... it seemed nothing on the internet was helping, and I wasn't sure- I'm sorry! I took advantage of the fact that you, my boyfriend, worked in the lab, so I snuck in and stole some. I used it on a plant, that's it!"

Doug looked appeased. "Is that all you used it for?"

She sniffed, rubbing at her eyes. "Yes."

"Thank you for telling me the truth." It was his turn to grab her - he pulled her in for a tight hug, squeezing her small body. She wondered why he was doing so, until he released her. "But you know... after this whole thing... I think we should take a break. At least for a few weeks, you know? Possibly a month. It'll be better."

Bending to pick up her parasol, Dahlia managed a shaky smile. "I agree with that." It'll make dating that idiot, Phoenix, a whole lot easier.

"Good."

They seemed to stand there awkwardly until Dahlia leaned up on her toes to kiss his cheek. She tried her hardest to make it at least seem that she was upset that they were on a break. "I'll miss you," she said softly, and then turned, squaring her shoulders, and then started off down the sidewalk, back down to her apartment.

All in all, the encounter had gone well. She had expected to at least have to glare at him until he realized she wasn't all sugar and butterflies, but he had accepted her explanation without needing proof. That was one of the reasons she ever tolerated Doug in the first place (besides her need to get into the lab). But she doubted this was the last time she'd ever see him.

It could only get worse after a break, right?

She arrived at her apartment door only to find Phoenix Wright talking with the elderly lady. She stopped, eyes wide, when Phoenix noticed her. "Dollie!" Please don't tell me you came up with a stupid nickname for me. "I was talking with Norma here-" That was her name? Dahlia hadn't bothered to remember it, if she had been told it, "-and I was just wondering where you were."

"Just out," she said gently. "I totally forgot about our date today."

"Oh." He looked disappointed, but became his cheery self again. "That's fine. I'll just wait while you get ready." He turned again. "Bye, Norma! Don't forget to feed your dog!" The older woman just smiled and went into the elevator, leaving Dahlia to wonder what the hell they were talking about.

She coughed. "I'll just... open the door, then."

Moving forward, she slipped her hand under the doormat and grabbed the key. Phoenix watched her, raising an eyebrow. "You shouldn't do that. Someone could just... steal your stuff." She wasn't worried about that - she had little to nothing in her apartment, aside from bare essentials, like food and clothing, and stuff in the bathroom. The books and other small things were either stolen or received from Iris, and she didn't care what happened to them.

"I know," she replied, if only to please him, and pushed open the door. She hung up her parasol on the coat hanger, and pointed towards the couch. "You can sit there while I get ready. Just, um... don't mess anything up?" she asked hopefully, smiling.

"Of course not!" He sat down on the couch, knocking off some of the more decorative pillows, and Dahlia almost face-palmed.

Heading inside her own room, she shut the door, rubbing her face with her hand. Please, someone tell me what I did to be in this situation. Actually... don't. She adjusted the hem of her dress, pulling it down and smoothing it. Her hair looked a bit messy, and as she ran a brush through it, she realized she actually liked the color.

It had been a nuisance growing up. When you're surrounded by people who all had neat, black/brown hair, you felt out of place. Then again, Dahlia always felt out of place, somehow. Life was never good. And apparently whoever put her in this position wasn't just happy with giving her a family who didn't care for her - they needed her to stand out, to show who she was. So she was the misfit, the One With The Red Hair.

Rolling her eyes at her lament, Dahlia fixed the braids resting on top of her head.

Pressing her hands around her dresser, she found the small pair of earrings she had stolen from a girl who had lived next to her for awhile. She pushed them in, smirking at the memory of a twenty year old blonde questioning whether she left them at her parents or at the bar. Dahlia looked around, trying to find a necklace to match.

Speaking of which, where was the necklace she had given to Phoenix? She had been too distracted by his overall presence to look at his neck. Would he really be so silly as to where a girly necklace that she had given him? She chuckled. You had to give him props for dedication to get the girl he wants.

Leaving the room, she smiled charmingly. "Okay, all ready."

"Alright." He hopped off the couch - she noticed with some alarm he had been balancing a picture of her and Doug on his knee - and got up, offering her his hand. She almost didn't want to take it, but she pushed herself, placing her own slender fingers in his hand. "So there are two movies we can see - a rom-com, or a horror."

She twirled her fingers through her silky hair. "Doesn't matter to me. Whatever you want."

"You sure? If you want to see a chick flick, I don't mind-"

"Horror is fine, Phoenix," she said happily, smiling at her as her eyes closed. She had realized early on in her life that if you smiled, let the blood rush to your cheeks, tilted your head, and closed your eyes, you could have any guy wrapped around your finger in no time. Needless to say, she had done the move plenty of times. "I don't mind, honestly."

Removing his hand from hers, he slung it around her shoulders. "I've never met a girl who passed up a chick flick."

She giggled. "Really?"

They talked about nothing at all as they made their way to the theater. She honestly hated their conversation, but couldn't help but input some of her own opinion into it. She had never, ever let her true self leak into the conversation before, but sometimes having an opinion makes you do dumb things. She locked herself up more carefully afterwards, feeling as if she stepped over some invisible line.

Phoenix glanced at the long line. "Why don't you go grab the food and I'll buy the tickets."

"I wouldn't know what to get you," she said softly. "I don't eat during movies, so how about you grab the food and I'll buy the tickets?" After some coaxing he finally handed her over the money, jogging over to the food stand.

Dahlia turned back to the line and tapped the man who was second-in-line.

"Excuse me, sir," she said, her eyelashes fluttering. "I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but my legs are hurting from standing so long. I'd just love it if I could hop in and buy my tickets. I wouldn't trouble you at all, I promise."

He nodded at her. "Of course, sweetie. Go right ahead." He moved back so she could step in front.

Hah. Men.

Passing the money to the woman in front, who had adopted a strange look at the scene, gave her the two tickets. Dahlia gave a small smile and then found Phoenix standing at the front of the building. "Here you go," she said proudly, handing him his ticket.

He thanked her, and the two went in.

"Where do you want to sit?" he asked, looking around.

It wasn't too crowded. Dahlia lifted a finger, pointing to the back. He nodded and the two moved past people to grab the two seats in the middle of the last row. The lights, which were still on, reflected dimly on the necklace around his neck. All she wanted to do at the moment was reach over and rip it off, which, she knew, would be unwise.

Flexing her fingers to keep them from doing anything, she smiled at Phoenix. "I hope it's good."

Next thing she knew, the lights had dimmed, and everything was submerged in darkness. She shifted her seat, leaning just ever so slightly towards Phoenix. Perhaps, while he couldn't quite see her, she could get the clasp undone-

Light from the movie screen poured in, and Phoenix turned, only to see Dahlia with her back hunched, fingers like claws, aiming for his neck. He looked a bit uneasy. "What's the matter?"

She blushed. "I, um... uh... wanted to hug you. I just didn't-"

"Oh," he responded cheerily, and brought her in for a hug. Dahlia remained like that, awkwardly hunched over, her cheek being poked by his shoulder for the rest of the movie. The rage boiling inside her did nothing to help her mood towards him.

I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you-

"The movie's over," Phoenix said next to her, and Dahlia blinked. She had been so busy repeating her mantra that she hadn't noticed the credits soar by and the lights click on. They were the only ones in the theater now, and she looked embarrassed.

Touching her lips, she laughed sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I must have dozed off."

"It's no problem," he told her, and they both got up, making their way down the stairs. "You looked so cute I didn't want to leave you."

And how does one reply to that? "...Oh?" she said, opting to use her voice as her answer. It sounded high and melodic, sweet and charming, just like she planned. By the look on his face, he probably hadn't even heard what she had said, and she preferred it that way.

Back at the apartment, however, Dahlia was screaming inside. On the walk home, she had tried several times to grab the necklace without bringing up attention to herself, and each time, it failed. By the end of the night, she just wanted to strangle him with it, and run off with the bottle. I could let Iris take the blame for me.

Tilting her head, she smiled at him. "Thank you again for such a wonderful time."

"It was no problem," he said, smiling at her. "We should go out again."

I don't think I could suffer through something like that again. "I'd like that." Maybe I'll tell Iris to go on a few dates just to make it look like I actually care about him.

They stood in silence for a few seconds more. She noticed that he was leaning a bit closer than she cared for. Oh. He wanted to kiss her, didn't he? Dahlia inwardly cringed, and slowly took a step back. "Well," she said softly, her cheeks coloring, "It's been a nice night." She stepped into her apartment and closed the door, waiting a few seconds so he could leave.

Hopefully, he'd take her quick evasion as a sign of nothing else but a shy girl.

But, in her rush to get away, she'd forgot to ask him if he had the necklace back. Cursing, she ripped open the door, only to find the hallway deserted. I'd expect him to at least stay a few more minutes. Pressing her fingers to her temple, she shut the door, leaning against it. She had no plans about staying around here any longer, but she needed the bottle...

She pushed away from the door, heading towards the phone.

Iris needs to prepare herself for a boyfriend.


Oh. My. Goodness.

All the reviews made me happy and I just couldn't help but write! Seriously, though, if reviews like that keep coming in as much as they were yesterday, I'd have a chapter out every day. Maybe every other day. And that's hard for me. But, for reviews, I'd do it.

Also, a few notes:

In order to keep with my concept, a few things will have to change. First, in order for any real feelings to develop, Dahlia will need to meet with Phoenix a few more times than she actually did in canon. And the same goes with Iris. I'm going to be stretching the months out too, so that's a lot of chapters right there. And, because of the developments with Dahlia, Trials and Tribulations will be a bit different, too.

Sorry about any spelling or grammar errors!

-Emilie