Chapter 2 (Iris' POV)

Time has a way of changing so much, I'd figured out that for sure. But one thing that never seemed to change completely was that nervous fluttering in my stomach each time Drayden called me.

So once again it felt like eternity staring at him on the other side of the video monitor. And that was still pretty dumb I knew, I mean everything that we had been through should have made me really confident, but I still felt like a little kid in front of him. Maybe it was just because of all the questions and uncertainties already spinning around in my head, but I wasn't sure.

But either way the only thing to do was face your fears head on.

"I haven't been neglecting my training, I still want to stay as strong as ever." I nodded. "You can count on that, Drayden."

He nodded right back before pressing his fingertips together and leaning forward. "I never expected any less from you, Iris, but that wasn't my only concern when I asked how you were doing."

"Oh…" I just squeaked out, suddenly feeling a little stupid for not realizing that before.

"So," he pressed calmly. "How are you fairing on your new path?"

"Uh good, I guess…" I mumbled out before swallowing hard. I knew it sounded less than convincing, but I didn't mean it to be.

His eyebrows raised slightly, before a little frown appeared in his eyes. "I can't say you were ever one for second thoughts."

I frowned as I looked down. "It's not second thoughts, just...thoughts in general."

"Concerning?" He asked, making me spell it out.

"Uh, my life I guess… Hoping I'm doing everything, right."

For a second he didn't say anything, then he just focused on me, and seemed to be trying to collect his thoughts. "The first steps on a journey do not take you to your destination, any more than the last steps would lead you back to your starting point. But it is all the small steps in between that take you to your goal. A habit of second guessing yourself would only slow you down, or even hinder you from reaching the place you're seeking."

"Yeah...that makes sense…" I whispered, feeling like a little kid again.

"However," his face softened until he was almost smiling. "You were always the most restless child. Never willing to wait or even sit still for most of my lessons. The world was the only classroom big enough to hold your undivided attention. And I take it not much has changed in the many years in between?"

I grinned a little as I rubbed at the back of my neck. "Yeah, I guess not. But um, it's just hard for me to wait and see what happens, you know?"

He chuckled. "Yes, I understand. But a path is more than just a starting and ending point, it is made up of all the moments in between. And, I must say it would be a waste to simply overlook them."

All the moments inbetween…?

That made me stop and think, think about how the way things were right now wouldn't last forever. Not to say Cilan and me wouldn't always be together, but things would change in our relationship eventually, that was just normal growth. It made me think of Fraxure, I'd wanted him to evolve for so long, and I was worried if I was doing something wrong in training him. But when he finally did...well the truth was I knew he'd never be an axew again. Which was okay, but...well I was just glad I'd enjoyed all the years when he was. I'd always cherish those memories, that part in our lives together.

Maybe it was the same with me and Cilan…? Maybe I was just worried over nothing after all?

"Drayden…" I whispered. "Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead, Little One."

I looked up at him suddenly, more than a little surprised. He hadn't called me that in years, in fact the last time he'd called me that was because I'd almost broke my leg falling out of a tree. I was so upset I could hardly see straight, but it wasn't the pain that had me worked up. I'd never told him, but really I just hated him being disappointed in me for messing up again. I hadn't been more than seven years old, but...

"You see…" I mumbled out, trying to think how I wanted to put it. What I really was trying to say. "Do you think...I'm cut out for wherever this path might lead me? I really don't want to let Cilan, or anybody else down…"

In between the lines I'd meant him too, but I just couldn't bring myself to say it.

"No path, or those who care about us enough to walk it with us, will ever require more than our best. But I'm afraid you're still missing my point, if you felt the need to ask me that?"

I bit my lip. "No it's just, I...well worry is all."

He shook his head. "Which is a waste of energy and time. But if you really want to worry about something…" he almost smiled, and I figured it was his way of trying to be funny. "You have a press interview to attend this weekend. The league expects it of their champion."

"Oh man!" I moaned before I could stop myself.

"Now, Iris…" he said with a certain firmness in his voice, and now I definitely felt like a little kid again.

"Okay fine, I get it…" But nothing could take the sour look off my face, I hated interviews.

"Good, they should contact you with further details as the week progresses. And, Iris," he added in at last minute.

"Yes?" I asked.

He smiled a little softer at me. "Most importantly, don't lose sight of why you are walking this path… If you keep that in mind, I don't think you'll see the need to doubt your course."

With that the screen went black again, and I was left in the pokemon center lobby to think it over. Not that my answer, my reason, wasn't as plain to see as the nose on my face. How could it not be when I'd been living practically in a botanical garden. Sure it was funny and ridiculously, but at the same time, I knew all those irises stood for something…

Maybe I was still just trying to really accept it, to believe it… And maybe it was time I finally did something in return. Sure, I'd always tried to do my best to show Cilan how much I cared, but he had went over and above, hadn't he? But what could I do? What did he really want? What would be special to him? Cilan's world was mostly made up of spice racks, fishing lures, and neatly pressed suit vests. But somehow or the other, I'd managed to be a part of it too. Yeah in spite of the fact I didn't have anything to do with any of those things. But maybe it wasn't really about things anyway?

Maybe it was more about just being there. And when I stopped to think about all the flowers he'd sent, was it really because he was just that jealous? And if he was, then what did that say about how he felt? In the back of his mind was he a little worried about us too? Was he worried somebody could really come between us? I couldn't help but think back to what happened in the scale chamber, all those things I felt from him. He was hiding secret fears about me caring about and respecting him for who he really was. What else could he be hiding?

I sighed.

We both were still really new at this, and had a lot of our own insecurities. But that didn't change how much we loved each other. And that was way more important than worrying about doubts or even some path. I knew that was true, and I couldn't doubt it at all.

But almost before the thought had formed in my head I heard Nurse Joy walk up behind me. I just grinned with a sigh when I saw her arms full of, yeah you guessed it, another bunch of irises…

Walking back upstairs to my room I just sat down the vase next to all the rest.

"Ure?"

I looked over at Fraxure and sighed. "Yeah I know, we really need to talk to him about this…"

I almost didn't bother looking at the card, but I figured why not, it was only the ninth one in three days? But as soon as I flipped it over, I realized this wasn't Cilan's handwriting at all, in fact I recognized it from the mysterious card before. And sure enough it was another note from my "dearest secret admirer."

Only this time it had a different weird line written on the note: "But won't you wait for me?"

I felt myself frown. Maybe it was just all the paranoid training I'd gotten from Cilan, but I automatically thought to put the two lines together.

"Time waits for no one. But won't you wait for me?" I glanced over at Fraxure after I said both lines out loud.

"Ure ure?" he mumbled seeming confused.

I shrugged. "Well, it hardly sounds like the work of a hardened criminal. And it's still way too soon to call this guy a stalker either, but…" I sighed again. But something inside my stomach was telling me this wasn't good news. That something was wrong about it. But it wasn't like I had any evidence of that. And really the bad feeling didn't have anything to do with all the conspiracies Cilan would have been coming up with. No, if anything I just didn't like the thought of someone besides Cilan showing me all this attention. I almost felt a little guilty even reading the card. Which was crazy I knew, it wasn't like Cilan owned me, but…

But the truth was I hated any kind of unwanted special attention, whether it was flowers, or that annoying interview Drayden just had to tell me about.

I sighed again as I flipped the card back over. It wasn't worth all the drama Cilan would have launched into, but at the same time this guy seemed pretty determined, whoever he was. Something told me I could expect another bunch of flowers, or even worse, a knock on my door with heart shaped chocolates and some fanboy with a rose clamped between his teeth. I grinned suddenly, thinking about it like that certainly did a lot to take any menacing feelings out of it.

The truth was, the guy sounded pretty sweet actually, so I wanted to let him down easy. I'd just go to the florist and ask if they knew who was sending them, then I could just drop the fact that I was already in a relationship. Easy, simple, and Cilan wouldn't even have to know, so he wouldn't get any more bent out of shape. Or at least that was the plan anyway…

With Fraxure by my side we headed out toward the florist across town. I honestly thought my picture might have been hanging in the lobby as customer of the month after all the money Cilan must have dropped in the last few days. When I got there the shop was mostly empty except for the woman behind the counter, sniping at an arrangement. But she turned to face me as soon as she heard the bells on the door ring when I stepped in.

She hesitated for a second before smiling ear to ear. "How may I help you, Champion Iris?"

I rubbed at the back of my neck. "Just Iris is fine. But anyway…" Now that I was actually thinking going through with this, it did seem pretty awkward. "Uh, about all the flower orders I've been getting lately…. Could you maybe let me know who sent them?"

She seemed to be thinking for a second, before she smiled. "Normally we don't get requests to give out that sort of information, but I don't see the harm so…"

She walked over to a pad and flipped back a few pages and seemed to be skipping from a list. "How far would you like me to go back?" she asked looked over her shoulder at me.

"Just the last few days." I answered back.

She nodded before looking at her notes again. "Alright, here we are then: ten orders of purple irises from our very own gym leader, Cilan," She glanced back at me as if she wanted to see the look on my face. I just nodded and coughed into my hand.

Grinning wider she read on. "And two orders from-" But just before she could read it off I heard a voice that made me jump.

"Iris?"

I spun around to see none other than Cilan standing there with a puzzled look on his face. Glancing back at the clerk I wished I'd never had this crazy idea in the first place. The last thing I wanted to reinvigorate our press appeal was some rumor that I was secretly seeing someone else. Some weird guy sending flowers. Because honestly, one weird guy sending me flowers was plenty enough.

For a second neither of us said anything, until we heard a clink on the counter and both turned to look at yet another vase full or irises. "I just finished your arrangement, sir. Now," she said trying to hold back a laugh. "Would you like to hand it to her, or should I?"

Now it was Cilan's turn to look like he had his hand caught in the cookie jar. So sighing I reached to grab the bunch of flowers. "Yeah, I'll just take them, thanks." Then grabbing his hand I drug him outside and out of earshot of anybody else.

Then I just raised my eyebrows at him as what I was thinking was written all over my face.

He gave a shy smile. "I intended this to be the last for a while, honestly Iris."

I sighed. "Fair enough, thanks anyway."

"I wasn't expecting to run into you here of all places though." he frowned. "I hope you weren't returning the others?"

I shook my head. "No of course not, it may be ridiculous how jealous you are, but I still appreciate the thought."

He smiled. "Well that's certainly a relief. I wasn't sure if it may have been a bit too much, I didn't want to alienate you with an overly forward show of attention."

I just grinned and shook my head at him. "Oh Cilan, you're too sweet for words, yet almost as clueless as they come on certain things..."

He laughed. "How's that?"

I sighed. "Never mind, don't even worry about it..."

But then, when we both got quiet, I couldn't help but wonder if I should just tell him why I was here in the first place. I knew he'd be upset, but I hated hiding things from him. So taking a deep breath I just looked up at him.

"Look, Cilan...can I tell you something, and you promise not to freak out?"

He looked confused at first before he nodded. "Yes, but… I'd hardly consider 'freaking out' as an option to anything."

I smirked. "I'll remind you of that in a second… But no, I um...got another vase of flowers from my 'secret admirer.'"

I watched his forehead bunch into defensive lines, but he didn't say anything, so I went on. "The thing is, the notes have had lines of poetry or something on them both times."

"P-poetry…?" he squeaked out.

I nodded. "Yeah, something about time not waiting for anybody, but him wanting me to wait for him."

Cilan's expression quivered for a second or two before he took in a deep breath and tried to compose himself. "Fitting verses to express his feeling I suppose…" he awkwardly adjusted his bowtie. "However, I agree with you, jealousy has much too untasteful a flavor for a gentleman to entertain."

I smiled. Just keep telling yourself that, Cilan…

"Well, the point is, I wanted to ask about who sent them, that way maybe I could explain things and tell him politely to stop?"

"That could work…" Cilan mumbled rubbing at his chin. "Or it could be just the trap he's hoping you'll walk into!"

I facepalmed. Just when I thought we were getting somewhere…

"Uh Cilan, I really don't think this has anything to do with a crime…"

Cilan frowned. "Maybe, but we can't be too careful. If anything, I should be the one to deliver the news."

I crossed my arms, seeing right through him. "You're just worried about me meeting him aren't you?"

He swallowed hard as his voice almost turned into a whimper. "Is it really that obvious…?"

"Painfully, Cilan." Was all I answered back.

His shoulders slumped. "I admit, I had hoped I'd handle this more maturely than I have…but," he bowed slightly as his voice got serious. "I hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me for such childish behaviour…"

I just grinned while I did my best to sound mad. "Nope, we're through, take your irises and hit the door."

He glanced up at me almost seeming stung at first before he heard me laugh. "I'm kidding, Cilan, seriously."

He stood up straight again and smiled a little weakly. "O-Of course."

But then I decided to take time to set the record straight. "If anything, this whole thing has showed up how you're not really confident in us, if you think some random person could come between all that."

He winced a little, and it seemed like I'd gotten to the point. "Yes, I suppose that seems true...but…" he gestured me toward a bench on the sidewalk a few steps from us. Sitting down the vase of flowers on the ground he turned to look at me. And more than anything I thought his eyes looked as sincere as I'd ever seen them.

"You see Iris, I don't mean to display a lack of confidence in our relationship. Because to do that would surely show disrespect for everything we've been through together. However…"

He reached for one of my hands and held it gently between his. "To simply assume that you're mine without reserve, would display the highest arrogance and disregard for the chance you've given me."

"Chance…?" I mumbled slowly, as I tried to get what he really meant. But that's when it all seemed to fit together at once. Just how he saw us, how he saw himself.

So I shook my head, and said what I thought he already obviously knew. "Cilan, it's not about a chance… You're not on trial or something. I'm not going to just change my mind when I've already decided how I feel about you. Isn't it obvious, already?"

"W-Well…" he stuttered, but I cut him off.

Looking away I frowned a little bit. "The thing is, I've already decided. You can call that rushing things, or me being childish, or whatever. But I'm way too stubborn to ever go back once I make up my mind. So until you're ready to give up on us, I'm gonna be right here. There is nowhere else, nobody else, and there won't ever be, that's why I'm here… So…"

I admit it still felt a little awkward to say all that to him, but in a way it felt so much better to just let it go. Almost like I wasn't as worried now either, because one way or the other I'd already decided on my path, so who cared exactly how long it would take to walk.

"Iris...do you really mean that?" he asked his hands almost trembling against mine.

I frowned at him and rolled my eyes, a little annoyed that he still didn't seem to get it. "Well, duh."

For the next few moments he didn't say anything, yeah not a word, but… But something in his eyes seemed to be changing, and I wished more than anything that I could have read his mind just then. What was he thinking so hard about?

But whatever it was, he just kept it to himself as he squeezed my hand a little tighter.

"To hear you say that makes me happier than you could ever know, Iris…"

I just stared at him, he really didn't have any idea before, did he?

"But I thought you already knew all that, silly…" I mumbled as I watched him grin.

He almost laughed with relief. "What was it you told me all those months ago, that it would just be too good to be true?"

I remembered saying that alright, it was the only answer I could come up with when he asked why I was so sure he couldn't return my feelings. So maybe we weren't completely different, maybe this was one thing we both had exactly the same…

"Well," I spoke up slowly. "You know what else would be too good to be true? Lunch with all the trimmings."

He laughed as I stood up and pulled him to his feet. "Alright, one lunch with all the trimmings, coming right up!"

I grinned. "See, who'd want to mess up something this awesome."

He smiled back at me. "Now you sound like Ash, thinking with your stomach."

I nodded. "Yep, but you know, love always did have a way of making me hungry."

He sighed playfully. "And it never seemed quite right to talk about it with your mouth full…"

I rolled my eyes again before letting go of his hand and running forward. "Last one there has to split dish duty with Chili!"

Balancing the vase of flowers awkwardly in one arm he tried to keep up, but we both knew how that was going to end up. But love has a way of messing with your head, because there I was slowing down enough to let him win. So I just took it all in, from how out of breath he was to the accomplished look on his face. Truthfully, right then and there, I wouldn't have cared if these days went on forever…

But I knew they wouldn't, maybe it was the look on his face back at the bench when I told him how I felt. Or maybe it was just me overthinking things, but I had this feeling. This feeling that before long both our lives would change, yeah change and never be the same again...

Though all drama aside, I was starting to rethink the whole being stuck washing dishes with Chili thing. But of course it was too late to do anything about that now…

Cilan smiled once he'd finally caught his breath again. "After that run, I think we both could eat quite hearty."

"Yep, sure can!" I said with a nod as I followed him inside.

I was expecting business as usual, but instead Chili and Cress were just standing and staring toward the kitchen suspiciously. Cilan tilted his head to the side, seeming as curious as I was.

"I see we're hardly busy at the moment but…?"

Chili turned to face the both of us. "Hey don't look at me, bro, we're just naturally curious when someone walks in off the street and starts raiding our fridge."

"Pardon?" Cilan asked blinking.

"I think she's the same young woman from before," Cress added in turning to me. "Your friend from Sinnoh I believe?"

"Yeah, the chick with the weird beanie cap." Chili said with a grin as he pulled on his hair in mock gesture of what he was talking about.

"Dawn?" I mumbled out before I pushed my way pass them and into the kitchen.

Sure enough sitting on a stool, Dawn was hunched over a tub of ice cream on the counter. It took a minute before she even bothered to look up.

"Oh...hi Iris…" She mumbled weakly before spooning another bite halfheartedly into her mouth.

"Dawn, what are you doing here…? And," I took a step closer to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "And are you alright, you seem sick?" Or at least I thought she might end up that way if she was bent on finishing the ice cream...

"Who me…? No I'm just fine…" She whispered out, in what had to be the least convincing performance ever. I took a step backward and crossed my arms.

"Well you sure don't look fine to me."

But before she could try to say anything else Cilan walked in and frowned. At first he just glanced at me and I shrugged, then he tried to smile.

"Oh Dawn what a pleasant surprise, though I might recommend saving room for a proper lunch, I was just about to fix something."

"Thanks, Cilan, but I'm not really that hungry…" She mumbled with her mouth still full.

I sighed before going for the tough love approach. So I just walked over and took the spoon out of her hand.

"Pip piplup?" Her pokemon asked with a concerned voice as he tugged on her leg. But she was too caught up in whatever was going on to even notice. So I took matters into my own hands and pulled her, protests and all, off the stool.

"Let us know when lunch is ready, okay Cilan?" I said as I pushed her up the steps adjacent to the kitchen.

"Of course," he asked back with a little smile.

It almost felt like dragging dead weight but I finally managed to get Dawn up the stairs and into the hallway, so we could talk in private.

"Okay, don't even try to make excuses this time." I said crossing my arms and giving her a serious look.

She sighed and leaned against the wall with a thump, which made one of Cilan's family photos hanging nearby turn crooked.

She hesitated at first, before she hung her head and let out an even bigger sigh. "It was horrible, Iris, like the worst thing you could even imagine…"

I frowned in concern as I took a step closer and put a hand on her shoulder. "What's horrible, are you alright?"

"Well you see...it all started when I managed to win the Wallace cup back in Sinnoh. And this makes my fourth win overall there, so it was a pretty big deal to me."

"How is that so horrible?" I asked softly, figuring there was more to it than just that.

"Yeah well that isn't the horrible part. Ash even showed up to watch me perform, I mean after all these years of him never being in person at any of my performances…"

I frowned figuring we were about to get to the horrible part, so I didn't say anything.

"And my mom threw this huge victory party for me and everything. My old friends from Sinnoh were there, and even some of the press. I thought it was going to be one of my most amazing wins ever...but then it turned into a complete disaster!"

"Easy, Dawn," I whispered soothingly. "Just tell me what happened."

"Ash happened as usual!" She shouted back, removing any doubt I had that this didn't have anything to do with him.

"Oh boy...what did he do this time?"

She frowned wider before slowly sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor.

"Pip?" Piplup asked with concern as he crawled into her lap. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her chin on the top of his head.

"Oh Iris, it was mortifying, he got up in front of everyone and started giving some kind of congratulations speech."

I frowned a little as I sat down beside her. "Yeah, and what was so horrible about that?"

"Because of what he said! Sure at first it was just saying average stuff about how he knows I always give it my all, but then..." She clamped her eyes shut. "He told everyone that even though we've been best friends for years, he actually saw us as more than that…"

My eyes got wider as I leaned in a little closer to her. "You mean he…?"

"Oh sure, that's what I thought for about half a second before he opened his big mouth and finished! He had the nerve to say we were more than best friends, he said we were practically like brother and sister!"

I leaned back against the wall and let myself deflate. I wasn't even sure where he was, but I really wanted to beat him up, for his and Dawn's good. "Look," I started to say slowly. "That doesn't necessarily translate to him meaning it like you're taking it? He's just...well you know, so Ash."

Dawn bit her lip and for a second I thought she was about to cry. "Yeah yeah, I know, he never changes, and neither do we, we're just best buds, siblings even!"

"Oh Dawn…" I whispered as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "It's gonna be fine, I promise…"

"I sure wish I could believe that for once…"

I sighed, before trying to smile at her. "Do you remember what you told me about Cilan before?"

"Not really, my whole life is a blur of high calorie cookie dough right now, Iris…"

I grinned a little bit. "Well, it was a lot of stuff about making the first move because guys are naturally dense most of the time. And I happen to remember a line about being determined enough to fight for what you wanted in life."

She buried her face in Piplup's head. "Yeah, so I'm officially in love with a guy who thinks I'm his sister, and a raging hypocrite…"

I sighed, almost angry with her. "And I definitely remember you telling me not to do the 'low-self esteem' thing!"

"But Cilan is a lot different than Ash, Iris… He's not so dense for one thing."

I nodded. "True, but you'd be shocked how clueless he can still be. In fact, I'm pretty much betting on the fact that all guys are like that. The difference is, Cilan thinks he has it all figured out, while Ash doesn't even pretend to."

Dawn almost grinned, but it was too weak to really count. "Yeah I get that...but…"

"But, my point is you just don't know what Ash is really thinking or feeling. Cilan said he'd been avoiding me for years just so he wouldn't be tempted to ever tell me he wanted to be more than friends. And I was so out of it, that I didn't even know if I was coming or going when it came to him. Can't you see how messed up things can get when you aren't honest and upfront with this kinda stuff? It was you Dawn that kept motivating me to try and be honest, and I think it's about time you start taking your own advice!"

I felt her shoulders slump as she leaned back and sighed again. "Yeah I know… It's just-"

"What if he doesn't like you back, or what if he even likes somebody else? What if you make a huge fool out of yourself, and ruin your friendship? I already thought about all that too. But you know, sometimes you just have to give something your all, even if it means risking getting hurt. We might regret the things that don't work out, but it's a lot worse to regret the things that could have if we'd only tried. Besides," I looked Dawn straight in the eyes sincerely.

"There has to be something great about Ash, dense or not, or else you wouldn't care about him in the first place. Don't you want to trust that part of him...that Ash that made you fall in love with him to begin with?"

"Yeah...I get it…" She finally whispered before she leaned toward me and buried her face in my shoulder. I just held onto her tight and knew I wouldn't tell anybody she'd been crying. That was just how being best friends worked…

We must have stayed like that for a while, because finally we heard Cilan call up the stairs that lunch was ready. So Dawn slowly pulled back and started to wipe her eyes. "Oh man, I must look like a real mess…"

I smiled a little. "Yeah, but that's okay, I'll stall them downstairs while you get cleaned up, there's a bathroom right down the hall."

She nodded. "Thanks, Iris, you're the best…"

I grinned. "Or so I've been told. Anyway we can just go crash back at my room later if you want? Until you feel better, there's no point in being alone."

Dawn smiled a little bit for the first real time. "Yeah, I could use a place to crash tonight, I guess. And," she rubbed at her stomach and frowned. "Somebody to keep me away from that ice cream tub…"

"Pip piplup!'

She shrugged as she looked down at him. "Sorry Piplup, I know you tried your best. And sorry for ignoring you before..."

He waddled a few steps closer before smiling up at her. "Pip, piplup."

I grinned. "I think he's willing to forgive you just this one time."

Dawn smiled as she reached to pick up Piplup and hold him close. "Thanks you two…"

I admit I may have used Dawn as an excuse to leave early without doing the dishes, but as always Cilan seemed more than happy to accommodate me in any way possible. Not that I wanted to take advantage of that...but there were times when it came in handle…

So we both headed back to to pokemon center, I of course, was lunging iris vase number 10.

"Hey, it was pretty sweet of Cilan to give you irises of all things, right?"

I tried to smile, but it was a bit of stretch… "Yeah, I guess you could call it that…"

I knew she'd get what I meant once we actually got back to the room. And sure enough, as soon as I twisted open the knob her jaw went slack. "So many irises, Iris!"

I sighed. "No kidding, and before you ask, yeah there's a funny and equally annoying story behind it."

Taking off her backpack and tossing it in an empty chair she grinned over at me, almost seeming like her old self. "This I've got to hear."

So I started at the beginning and went through the bits about the secret admirer, and of course how ridiculously jealous Cilan was. I was glad that by the end I'd managed to get her to laugh.

"Cilan, jealous, and here I thought he was too 'proper' for that sorta thing!?"

I crossed my arms as I leaned back on my bed. "Well think again. And I still doubt we've heard the last from that green-haired monster or my 'secret admirer.'"

"Still, it's pretty romantic, right? Having two guys fight over you."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, romantic or not I could do without it. Afterall, just dealing with Cilan is probably enough for a lifetime."

Dawn's ears piqued as she got that classic smirk. It was the look that meant she was distracted from worrying about Ash. Or at least for the moment.

"So you're already talking about a lifetime, huh? Any big news I missed while I was gone?"

I felt my face going red as I frowned and stared toward the wall. "Hey, it was just an expression..."

Dawn chuckled waving her hands defensively. "Okay fine, just checking."

It really killed me how quickly Dawn could change her tune when it came to talking about anybody other than her and Ash… But at least she didn't seem as depressed as before, so that was some good to come out of all her typical teasing.

"Anyway, thanks for the room, I hope you don't mind if I claim the top bunk?"

I smirked. "Sure go ahead, I'll just share the bottom with Fraxure."

"Okay, cool." She said as she climbed up the side ladder and disappeared into the top bunk.

Then looking down over the edge, she frowned. "And for before, thanks again for the pep talk. I guess I really needed it."

I smiled. "No problem, I was happy to. But you know, what is it you always say, no need to worry?"

She let out a playful sigh, before she grinned back. "Which is usually when I worry the most... But I can tell you one thing, if that Ash Ketchum comes snooping around looking for me, I'm gonna tell him a thing or two. Like that he's too goofy looking to be any brother of mine, for starters!"

I rolled my eyes. I wasn't sure how romantic of a confession opening that would make, or if it would even lead to a confession at all. But when it came to those two, I thought anything was probably progress.

"And," she added in. "I'll keep you in line too, no letting all this special attention go to your head, Iris."

I frowned. "Hardly, if anything I'm gonna be hoping I can disappear before this week is over. Drayden told me I have a press interview to do for the league this weekend. I really hate those kinds of things as it was, but now I'm worried they might ask about more than just battle strategies…"

Dawn blinked down at me. "Oh I don't know, usually official league things are all business, right?"

I shrugged. "Maybe, I guess I'm just hoping they don't ask too many questions about what I plan on doing from now on, because I honestly don't have a clue. Besides my usual basic training anyway."

Dawn smiled. "Well I wouldn't worry about it, you'll do fine. Mostly they just like seeing their champion on TV every now and then. And," she winked. "Who knows, maybe your 'secret admirer' will make an in person visit at the big event?"

I leaned into my hand. "Oh I hope not, there's no way I trust Cilan not to make a scene…"

She laughed. "Now that would be great TV!"

I cringed before sighing. "Why do guys make the biggest little kids of all…?"

Dawn's face softened a little, but she kept smiling. "That we may never know."

And I took that as about the truest answer out there.

So wishes…?

To disappear before the interview, never hear from my 'secret admirer' again, and possibly… Yeah just maybe, figure out where exactly I was headed in life.

Or should I say...where we were headed.

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