Dawn couldn't find Paul anywhere, and she was starting to get annoyed. She spotted Reggie dancing with Maylene and made a beeline to them, before she lost sight of them again. "Do you know where Paul is?" Dawn asked, nearly yelling over the music from the sound system. Reggie obviously understood her, because he laughed and pointed to where Paul was. Spotting him, Dawn grinned and chirped, "Thank you!"

"Sure thing!" Reggie replied. Paul was leaning against a wall, right next to the door leading outside. He was watching her approach with hard, steely eyes.

"Hey-" Dawn started to greet, before he grabbed her wrist, tight.

"We need to talk." he stated coldly, pulling her to the door.

"Okay..." Dawn agreed slowly, unsure what was wrong with Paul. Dawn pondered what she could have done to make Paul mad, before he stopped in the middle of the front yard. Then, Paul did something he had never, ever done before. As Dawn came closer, whether to hug or kiss her, Paul pushed her back, roughly. Dawn stared at him, stumbling back, before her mouth dropped open.

"We need to break up." Paul stated, no emotion in his eyes or voice. Dawn's eyes widened, while her mouth resumed it's place, open.

"W-What?" Dawn finally gasped after a silent few seconds, "Paul? What's wrong?" Dawn asked, eyes starting to tear. Paul stiffened, attempting to not give up the plan right then and there.

"You're what's wrong." he snarled. Dawn stumbled backwards another foot. "You're only a loud, annoying, clumsy, loser." Paul continued.

"B-But....I love you...." Dawn sniffled. Paul scoffed.

"I forgot to mention stupid and naive also." Paul added, Dawn gasped as he continued, "I never loved you, I could never love you." he sneered at her. Taking one last glance at him, Dawn turned around for a few seconds, fiddling with something Paul couldn't see.

"Fine." Dawn stated, emotions hidden as she used her experience with Paul. Dropping something on the ground, into the thick layer of snow, Dawn bolted inside and upstairs to her room. Paul crouched down, digging around into the snow until he pulled out two things, a bracelet and necklace. Both things he had given her. His emotions nearly tortured him, and obviously, the heavens wanted to torture him too, as it softly began to snow again. The snow felt like hail though, as Paul leaned back up, slipping the jewelery into his pocket and stalking back into the house.

By the morning, Dawn had left to do some, 'coordinating training'. Although, when May and Misty wanted to come, she refused to let them. She had explained to the others why she looked so horrible, simply saying, 'Paul and I broke up' and dropping a ring in front of Regina on the table. As Paul came down, looking his usual stony self, everyone looked at him.

"What?" he snapped irritably.

"You broke up with Dawn." Ash deducted, although he looked almost as bad as Dawn, ruffled hair and slightly bloodshot eyes.

"So?" Paul snorted. Reggie took one more look at his little brother, and came closer, almost as if he were about to give him a hug. Reggie continued to stare at him for an immesuable amount of time, as Paul stared cautiously back, before he slapped Paul. The stunned silence spoke louder than words as Paul turned back to his brother, staring coldly at him. Finally, it was broken.

"Why did you do it?" Johanna asked. Paul guessed the question was directed to him, considering she looked near tears herself. "You two were so in love." At this reminder, Paul avoided everyone's gaze.

"I have my reasons." he stated roughly, but there was one flaw in his flawless plan. His voice betrayed him and cracked on the word, 'reasons'. And even worse, they all heard it. Paul stiffened.

"Why did you break up with her if you didn't want to?" Regina asked, knowing her son well enough to guess this is what had happened.

"I did want to break up with her." Paul lied, again nearly flawless, except for another crack in his voice. He coughed, "Must be getting sick." he lied again. They watched him dubiously.

"I seriously cannot believe you." Reggie hissed, showing how he was a brother of Paul, yet again, "When that girl came down here, she looked like she was about to burst into tears any moment." he growled.

Paul meant for his reply to be another uncaring 'So?' And he tried to ask it, but the word got caught in his throat and all that came out was a half-strangled noise.

"What is going on Paul?" Misty asked sternly.

"Talk to us." May begged.

"We'll help you, that's what friends are for." Ash promised. Paul looked down and away.

"I had to break up with Dawn." he mumbled, just loud enough for them all to hear.

"Why?" Drew prompted. Paul looked up and sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Did James every tell you who his leader was?" Paul asked, eyeing them and completly ignoring the question and changing the subject, all at once.

"Wait, what does that have to do with anything?" Johanna asked.

"No, I don't think any of us know who was leading James and Santiago." Regina anwsered his question, knowing he was completly serious.

"Well....I do...."

Dawn wandered aimlessly through Vielstone, trying to use anything as a distraction from the pain, unfortuantly for her, it wasn't working and she was holding in tears. Sighing, Dawn gave up, plopping down on a bench and cradeling her head in her hands. Squeezing her eyes shut as tight as possible, only one tear managed to escape. She silently, drowning in her misery, for an unknown amout of time. She felt more the she saw someone sit down next to her.

"What's wrong sweethart?" the man asked. Dawn took one look at him and felt a vague feeling of remebrence. She recognized him from somewhere, but she couldn't tell where. Also, something, her intuition possibly, gave her a warning. This man was dangerous, extremly so. She pushed the feeling away, feeling silly. It was then she realized she had yet to anwser the man.

"Uh....nothing, just my boyfriend, he broke up with me...." Dawn explained cautiously.

"Well, that's not nothing!" the man pointed out teasingly, trying to get her spirits higher. She smiled lightly.

"True." Dawn nodded. This guy struck a chord in her, he reminded her of someone, his blackish-purple hair and onyx eyes.... She let out a gasp. It was the fates. They were being cruel to her and making the helpful man look like Paul. She swallowed the lump in her throat, getting back to her normal cheerfulness. "Oh! My name is Dawn!" she realized they hadn't introduced themselves.

"Hello Dawn, it's nice to meet you," the man smirked, reminding her even more of Paul, "I'm Randy."