Me: Hey guys. I'm so sorry with my lack of updating. I've been so busy this week. School is really killing me. I'm in my final year too so I really need to pass.

Ash: It's only been a week, Erin.

Me: Gee, I know that. *smacks him across the head*

Ash: Oww *holds his head* Why'd you hit me?

Me: Cause it's fun.

Ash: I feel so abused.

Dawn: *smacks his head* You're right, Erin. It really is fun.

Ash: Oww Dawn! What the hell? I thought you loved me

Dawn: *rolls her eyes*

Gary: Erin still doesn't own us so no suing is needed.

Me: By the way, we're back to Dawn's POV. And if you're interested, I have a new story up that I will be co-writing with EarthBolt100 called The Essence of All Power. I'd appreciate it if you would check it out.

Ash: Oh that story? I liked the first chapter.

Me: *ignores him* Here's the third chapter of Ice Box. Enjoy :D

Just so you know, Ash is 16, Dawn is 16, Misty is 16, Gary is 16 and Brock is 19!

"Dawn!"

I snapped myself back to reality and I fell off the chair I was sitting in when I heard Brock calling my name. I don't think you could say he was calling my name, more like screaming. I turned around and glared at him. "What the hell Brock?!" I snapped at him, "did you really have to scream at me?"

Brock nervously put his hand behind his head. "Sorry," he apologized to me. "I tried calling for you a million times and you didn't answer me."

I felt extremely guilty after Brock said that. "Sorry about that, Brock."

Oh, oops. I might have forgot to tell you one thing about me. If I start thinking about something, no one can get through to me. I would never ignore Brock on purpose like I did.

In case you haven't by now, I spent the last couple of minutes worrying about Ash. It's been a couple of hours since he left to bring Misty's Pokètch to her and he still hasn't come back. I thought he would have been back by now but he never came back. I wonder if he's alright. He seemed fine when he left. I wonder why he hasn't come back now.

Ok, maybe he didn't exactly seem fine. But he's a big boy. He knows how to take care of himself.

He had told me that Gary and Misty have spending more time together then they should be and he barely has seen her. I could see it really bothering him too. Believe me, I don't blame him for letting it bother him. If I had found out my boyfriend was spending way too much time with one of his friends, who also happened to be a girl, I'd want to know what the heck is going on.

But I'm telling you the truth, Ash should have been back by now and it's really bothering me that he still hasn't come back. I hope he's ok.

Ok, I'm probably making myself worry for no reason. I'm sure Ash is alright. He knows how to take care of himself. He is a big boy after all. I have no clue why I'm worrying about him. Everything I've learned about survival while being traveling with Ash and Brock I learned from Ash.

Ok, most of it I learned from Brock.

But still, Ash has been traveling around more regions then I have. He knows how to take care of himself. I shouldn't be worrying about him so much.

"Dawn?" Brock called out to me. I picked my head up and looked at him. "Is there something bothering you?"

"Nope," I tried to convince Brock. Ok, I really am a horrible liar. I didn't even believe myself when I said that. Brock gave me an unconvinced look. "No need to worry, Brock," I said, using my catch phrase. "I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."

Brock shook his head, "you're not fooling me, Dawn."

I really can't fool anyone, can I? I asked myself. "Honestly, Brock. I'm fine."

"Ok, if you insist." Brock turned around and walked towards the door. "But the way you were acting before; worrying about Ash. It's almost as if.." he cut himself off and he looked right at me with a look of shock written all over his face.

Oh, no, I thought to myself. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Please don't tell me he figured out my secret. Please tell that he didn't realize that I'm in love with Ash. I looked at him. I needed to know what he made him stop mid sentence. "Brock, what's wrong?"

He turned around as he put his head down, "Oh my god."

I looked at him and put my hands up. "What?"

I heard him mutter something underneath his breath like, "I should have realized," but I'm not so sure that's what he said. He turned around and looked at me, "Dawn," he started off, "you love Ash, don't you?"

I stared at Brock in shock. How exactly did he figure that out? I thought I my feelings pretty good. How did he figure that out. Are my feeling for Ash that obvious. I guess I'm really bad with that as that well. I thought to myself as I blushed a bit.

"Well," Brock pushed a bit, "Do you?"

I sighed in defeat and I looked at Brock in defeat. I really can't fool him. "Yeah, I do Brock." I said, turning around. "I love Ash." I said, finally admitting my feelings to myself out loud for the first time.

I still really want to know how exactly Brock was able to figure that out. Does someone want to tell me how Brock was able to figure that out? I honestly thought I did a good job with hiding my feelings for Ash. But, apparently, not good enough if Brock was able to figure it out rather quickly. I guess Brock is full of surprises.

Brock looked at me at me in shock, "oh my god."

I looked at Brock sadly and nodded somewhat timidly. "I'd always felt something for him since the first day I met him." I said, just barely over a whisper. "And now I'm positive that it's love."

But, it's not like my feelings for Ash matter. Ash is with Misty, not me. I don't stand a chance with him. Not now, not ever. And it's really killing me too. I need to accept the fact that Ash loves Misty, not me. I won't ever have a chance with him. Ash and I are best friends, that's it. Nothing more. I hate to admit it but I have no chance with him.

I looked at Brock sadly. "It doesn't matter, anyway." I said, looking at the floor. "Ash loves Misty, not me."

Brock looked at me sadly, "oh, Dawn."

"It's ok, Brock." I said and gave a small smile. "No need to worry. What matters the most right now is that Ash. If he's happy with Misty, then I'm happy too. He deserves to be happy."

What's really bothering me is do I deserve to be happy as well? I know that Ash loves Misty and she loves him too. They're happy together. So, why can't I be happy for them? Ash is my best friend, I should be happy for him.

"Dawn," Brock called out to me. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I felt tears starting to well up in my eyes but I didn't dare let them fall.

Yes, this whole situation has me ready cry. Here I am in a tough spot. I'm hopelessly in love with my best friend but he doesn't love me back. He already has a girlfriend and they're happy together. I finally admitted my feelings out to loud to myself. I really don't know what to do. I want Ash to be happy but I just hate that I'll never get the chance to be his girlfriend.

And it's really killing me too.

"Dawn," Brock called out to me again. I finally turned around to look at him. "Are you sure you're ok with the fact that Misty is the one Ash loves?"

I closed my eyes and sighed. "Yeah," I lied to him. I may have said that I'm ok with it. But in truth, I'm not. I'll never be ok with it. "I'm ok with the fact that its Misty that Ash wants to be with. They really do belong together. I'm ok with it."

I could tell that Brock knew that I'm not ok with it.

Truthfully, Ash's happiness is the most important thing right now. I've never seen Ash as happy as he is now with Misty. I'm happy for him, I truly am. He deserves to be happy.

But at the same time, do I really deserve everything that I've been putting myself through for the last couple of months? I've been denying my feelings for the raven haired boy for the longest time now. And I finally admitted it to myself, and to Brock, that I truly love him. Do I really deserve this?

"You sure, Dawn?" Brock asked me, giving me a sad look.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. Ash and I are best friends. That's it." I told him. "I accept that. Both Ash and Misty truly care for and love each other. They should be together. Even if that means that I can't be with Ash, I'm still fine with it."

Brock looked at me sadly. He felt so sorry for me. Everything that I've been doing to try to keep things as they are. I know a lot of people wouldn't even think to do what I've done.

"I'm gonna go for walk," I said, looking at Brock. "I need to clear my head. I'll be back later, ok?" Brock nodded. I managed to give a small smile as I made my way to the door.

I'm honestly trying so hard to keep things as they are now.

And my life is falling apart because of it.

"It sure is nice out today."

I looked around at the trees, enjoying every minute of this nice long walk I took. It really was a good idea for me to take a walk. It sure has helped me take my mind off Ash. I really haven't though about him much since I came out here up until now.

Who the hell am I kidding? Ash is always on my mind.

"Get a grip Dawn!" I yelled, clutching my head with my hands. "I really need to stop thinking about Ash so much. We're just friends, that's it. We're never going to be more. Besides, he's with Misty."

That's much easier said then done.

I'll never stop thinking about Ash. Who am I kidding? He'll always be on my mind and there's no way to stop it. He doesn't love me. He loves Misty and that's really killing me. I'm hopelessly in love with a guy who will never love me back. We're best friends, that's it. Why can't I accept that? It's so hard seeing him with Misty. They're happy together so why can't I be happy for him?

Maybe in another lifetime Ash would be mine.

"How the hell could you do this?!"

I seriously jumped when I heard that. That yell really scared the living daylights out of me. That guy sure did sound pissed too, like he would snap at any moment.

"Oh my god," I mumbled underneath my breath. That voice sure did sound awfully familiar too. It sounds like Ash.

"I'm sorry," I heard another voice, this time a female's voice. She sounded like she was crying too. Was that Misty that Ash was yelling at? It sure does sound a lot like her.

I ran to where I heard the voices coming from and I saw Ash and Misty in the middle of the park. Misty was hysterically crying and Ash looked really angry too. What the heck is going? Why is Ash so mad and why is Misty crying too? I'll tell you one thing, I've never seen Ash so angry in my life. It's actually scaring me a bit.

"How could you do this?!" Ash exclaimed as he turned around. "I loved you Misty. I gave you the world. How could you do this to me?"

Oh my god?! I thought to myself as I remember what Ash was telling me before. Is it possible? Could she really have cheated on Ash? Why would she anyway? I really thought she loved him.

"I'm sorry," Misty said as more tears made their way down her cheeks. "I never meant to hurt you, Ash. I really didn't."

"But you did!" Ash yelled, turning around to look at her. "You didn't think for one second that this wouldn't have hurt me?!'

Misty couldn't say anything. I could tell that she felt extremely bad about what had happened. I still want to know what happened though.

"I never meant for this to go on so long Ash," she said. "I honestly didn't."

Ash turned around and glared at Misty. "And just how long has this been going on?"

Misty looked down at the ground as more tears came to her eyes. She couldn't answer Ash's question, which really seemed to make Ash even more angrier then he already was. "Answer my question Misty! How long have you and Gary been doing this behind my back?!"

I knew right then and there that Misty had cheated on Ash. I balled my hand into a fist. Why in the world would she do that? I honestly thought she loved Ash, how could she do that to him. He loved her, he gave her the world. Why would she cheat on him. She was so lucky to have a guy like Ash, the man I love, and she went ahead on cheated on him.

Misty kept looking down as more tears came to her cheeks. "Six months."

I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. Six months?! I thought to myself. She was cheating on Ash for six months with Gary and Ash never knew about it? Why in the world would she do that?

"Six Months?!" Ash yelled. If I didn't know any better. I'd say that Ash was crying before, he is now. Not that I blame him. I would have been pissed too to find that my boyfriend was cheating on me. How the heck could Misty do this? "This was going on for six months?!"

Misty's crying was all the answer Ash needed. "I don't believe it. You and Gary had been sleeping together for six months and I never knew about it?"

"I'm sorry Ash," Misty said, reaching out to grab Ash's arm "I never really meant for this to go on so long. It was just in the heat of the moment and I couldn't stop. You have to believe"

"Don't fucking touch me!" Ash yelled, smacking Misty's hand away. "You're nothing but a lying, cheating whore, Misty. I should have seen that from beginning."

"Ash," Misty said as more tears came down her cheeks.

Ash literally couldn't take it anymore. He took something out of his pocket. "I was going to give you this to you," he said, holding a necklace with heart shaped locket in the middle and he threw it to the ground, "but it's useless now."

Misty bent down and picked up the locket. "We're over, Misty." Ash said., turning around I really couldn't believe my ears when he said that. "I think its best if you leave."

"I'm sorry, Ash," Misty said, turning around on her heel. "I really honestly am." She said before walking away.

Then I saw Ash do something I've never seen him do in my life. He collapsed to the ground, burying his head in his knees, and he sobbed. I really wanted to go over to him and hold him close but I couldn't. he's just so hurt right now and he wouldn't want me to do that.

I couldn't stand seeing Ash is so much pain. It kills me to see him hysterically crying into his knees. How the hell could Misty do this? Why would she want to either. She was so lucky to have such a good guy like Ash and she blows it by cheating on him, not to mention that she cheated on him with his best friend. If I was Ash, I'd never want to talk to them ever again.

I quietly tip toed out from behind the bush. "Ash," I managed to say. My heart was breaking into a million pieces by seeing him so upset.

Ash brought his head up to look at me and I felt my heart breaking into a million different pieces when he looked up at me. I've never Ash so angry in my lifetime. I really wanted to go over to him and hug him, making all of his pain go away. He would never let me do that though.

I couldn't believe my eyes and my heart broke into a million pieces with what Ash did next. He stood, giving me a cold glare, before he ran away from me and into the woods. "Ash wait!" I yelled as he ran away.

I wanted to go after him but I'm sure that right now, he really wants to be left alone. He just found out that his girlfriend had been cheating on him for six months. I'd want to be left alone too if the situation was reversed and I was the one who got cheated on. I can't say I blame him one bit cause I honestly don't, especially to find out what he just did.

I stood here in his wake after he ran away from me, my heart breaking into a million pieces.

Me: Well, that's it.

Dawn: That was such a sad chapter.

Ash: Yeah, but we're one step closer to Pearlshipping.

Me: Yeah, we're getting there. Just stay tuned and it will happen eventually.

Dawn: Sweet. I can't wait.

Ash: Me neither.

Me: Well, happy mothers day to all mothers out there.

Johanna and Delia: Thanks.

Ash & Dawn: Mom!

Dawn: What are you guys doing here?

Johanna: Sorry, we just felt like coming.

Delia: Yeah, cause this story is great.

Me: Aww, thanks. I think I'll end it right here.

Dawn: Ok.

Ash: Please people review. No reviews will only equal a very sad Erin but no update. =(

Dawn: Bye readers. Until next time.