Hey everyone! I'm still alive! I'm not dead... just tired. I'm really sorry that I'm getting this up so late. I got so caught up with mid-terms and school and dance competitions coming up (and now passed) that I didn't have any time to work on writing. Now that most of that is over, I should be getting the next chapter within 3 weeks of the one before it. If I don't, I'm sorry. My excuse will probably be either school/activity related or writer's block.

And sorry if Ash is a little OOC. I took the age increase to increase Ash's maturity level.

I DO NOT OWN POKEMON

(While girls were on terrace)

~Ash's Point of View~

Misty pulled Dawn, May, and Leaf outside to calm them down.

"Come on guys!" I whined. Their pestering had started earlier this year than ever before. "Do you really have to be so mean to them?" I already knew their answer. Although none of them had to, they each had their own reason for doing so.

"Yes, I have to." Drew replied, flipping his hair. "I don't know what it is. I just love seeing the anger in May's eyes when I annoy her."

"And what about when she declares war?" Paul mocked. "Will you still love the anger in her eyes when you are sending your men needlessly to die?" Drew stared at Paul, shocked that he even spoke.

"Who are you to say anything? You do the same to Dawn, you know. How can you be so sure that Dawn won't fight back?" Drew watched Paul with a smirk as he stared at the floor, defeated. He was about to rub in his victory when he heard Paul mutter something under his breath. "What was that Paul? I didn't hear what you said. Can you repeat it?" Gary and Ash just glanced at each other before slowly backing away. Even Pikachu ran for cover, because they all knew that they didn't want to get caught in Paul's anger.

"I said she won't." Paul repeated, this time glaring at Drew.

"She will if you don't stop." Drew nervously replied. No one (well, except for Dawn of course) could help from being scared when Paul glared at them.

"So will May," I muttered. "and so will Leaf. What you all are doing to them isn't okay. It needs to stop."

"Dude, chill. My little Leafy would never get mad at me." Gary stated, relaxing and resting his arms behind his head.

"Are you blind?" Drew and Paul answered in sync.

"What? Leaf loves me. Even though she doesn't like to show it in public, she is madly in love with me."

"Yep. He's blind." Drew face-palmed.

This was getting out of hand. It's so obvious why they annoy them. Well... except to them. I'd tell them and stop this, but I don't wanna be the one to tell Dawn that Paul loves her and face his infinite wrath. But I have to do something... maybe I should just remind them that I know.

"Guys, this stops now!" I said, trying to remain confident. I could already feel Paul glaring me down.

"What stops now?" He snarled in response.

"Everything. No more teasing, no more annoying, and no more hitting on any of the girls! Got it!" The three boys just glared at me until Drew broke the silence.

"I'll at least do it... on one condition."

"What is it?" I replied. He always got scared when Drew said these kinds of things; he'd always be thinking up crazy plans. Drew leaned in closer to me, just in case the girls came back in, and the rest followed his example.

"I'll do it... IF... you stop chickening out and finally ask Misty to marry you. We all know that you have the ring with you; you've been playing with it nervously for the past fifteen minutes." I sweat-dropped. I was trying really hard to hide my fear, but I couldn't help but question what her answer would be. Would she say yes? Or would she break my heart?

"Is it really that noticeable? Wait... Do you think that she noticed?" I asked, now freaking out based on the fact that the girl I'm madly in love with might know and that the surprise of it was ruined, but, before any of the guys could respond, they saw the girls returning from outside. The room immediately went silent as the girls each took a seat next to each other, and it continued to remain that way until I finally decided that I would break the silence. "Well... Everyone's here... Um... Let's get started."

Thanks for reading. I hope that you enjoyed reading this chapter. Make sure that you leave me a review with your opinion because, like I said before, I'm just beginning to write and I could always use some support to know that people actually care to read my story and criticism so that I may become a better writer. Talk to you guys later.

-dawncole12345 signing out