Flashforward
Ash and Dawn were both slow dancing now. Dawn had her arms wrapped around Ash's neck while Ash had his arms around her waist. It was obvious that Ash had been trying to hide his blush but Dawn just simply smiled back.
"Ash… I want to tell you something." Dawn began.
Ash's nervousness began to fade and was replaced by concern.
"Huh? What is it Dawn?"
"Well… it's this thing that I've been holding onto for a long time now and I think now's the best time to tell you."
"Well ok. Let's here it."
"…I love you Ash." Dawn then leaned forward to kiss Ash who now had his eyes wide open from the revelation. However, Ash gradually melted into the kiss and kissed her back. They parted after a while to allow the moment to sink in.
"I think I need to tell you something as well Dawn." Dawn stood still to listen. "I love you too." Ash said in a calm voice. Instead of kissing him again, Dawn instead brought herself closer to Ash almost hugging him while slow dancing. All was good until…
*BANG* A gunshot rang out.
"What the hell? Dawn did you…?" Dawn's eyes were now wide open as she slowly collapsed in Ash's arms. It was evident that she had been shot; near the sides of her stomach. Ash and Dawn both slowly fell to the ground with Dawn on Ash's lap.
"No…. this can't be happening…" Ash suddenly looked up and found Misty holding a handgun with smoke coming out from its barrel…
End of Flashforward
Back in present time…
"So Ash, you finally ready to go in?" Dawn asked. Both Ash and Dawn were now outside gymnasium where the dance was being held at.
"Yep, let's go." He opened the door to the gymnasium and the sound of the music nearly deafened their ears. The entire gym was loaded with people; most likely due it being the fact that it was the last dance of the year. Among the crowd, Ash quickly spotted out his friends. There was Gary, Solidad, and May. Paul couldn't make it and Ash's other friends didn't bother to come. Both Ash and Dawn walked over to greet their friends and also to catch up.
"So Gary, found anyone to dance with tonight?"
"Of course I have. Sit back and watch." Gary then walked over to a random girl and spoke with her for a moment before walking off with her.
"Catch you later Ashy-boy!"
"Hey! Don't call me that!" Gary gave him a smile and a wink, signaling that he was just kidding, before walking off.
"So Solidad… have you?"
"Nope. But I plan on asking Drew."
"What? Why him?" asked Ash.
"I dunno… ever since the guys found out that Drew's dad was just a plain ol' janitor at another school, they all ditched him and now I feel sort of bad for him."
"Wait, how come I never heard of this? So… his dad was never a high ranking army general or anything like that?"
"Nope. Nobody wants to hang out with him anymore now that he's a loser. But he still came to the dance anyways. I heard he's near the refreshment stands by himself. I'll see you guys later, k?"
"Yeah, see you after the dance Solidad!" Ash yelled as she walked out of the gym and to the refreshment stand outside.
"And you May? Did you manage to find anyone?" Dawn asked.
May gave out a sigh of defeat. "No… but I was about to ask you Ash. Could you slow dance with me just once? PLEASE?" May gave Ash a pleading face; which apparently didn't seem to affect his judgment.
"Um… let me just talk it over with Dawn for a few moments May… I'll be right back…" Ash took Dawn's hand and dragged her over to a corner where May couldn't hear them.
"I know… you don't want to hurt her feelings." Dawn said.
"How did you know?" Ash asked.
"Because you're a nice person Ash. I know you don't want to hurt other people if it isn't necessary. Go on, slow dance with her. Just remember to slow dance with me before the entire dance is over."
"Wow, thanks Dawn!" Ash gave her a friendly hug. "I won't forget who I asked out to the dance."
"You'd better not!" Dawn replied in a jokingly tone before giving him a wink. Ash returned the wink before rushing back into the crowd to meet up with May.
"Well?" May asked.
"Alright. I'll dance with you May, but don't think that this makes us any closer than friends."
May gave out a sequel. "OF COURSE! THANKS ASH!" May instantly wrapped her arms around Ash's neck; almost choking him.
"May… air…"
"Oh! Sorry!" May loosened her grip around Ash.
"Phew… okay." Ash wrapped his around May's waist and swayed side to side. May had her big grin on for the entire time they danced and Ash was glad of it. At least she wasn't in the bathroom crying her heart out about the rejection.
After the song was over, May gave Ash a tight hug.
"Ugh… May…. Nothing more… than friends…" May, again, loosened her grip over him.
"Don't worry! I didn't forget about the promise I made. It was just a friendly hug!" May said with enthusiasm which made Ash's sweat drop.
"Anyways, you should go back to Dawn now… maybe even confess your feelings for her! Aw! It would be so romantic!" May said as she clasped her hands together.
Ash's expression immediately changed from gladness into embarrassment. "Wait, how did you…?" Before Ash could finish, May gave him a wink before running off. Ash stood there, clueless as to what had just happened.
"…Ah whatever… I gotta go find Dawn now." Ash then pushed through the crowd to get back to where he had left Dawn.
Meanwhile…
Dawn just sat on a chair, waiting; waiting for the Romeo of her life to come back to her. It had been a good thing that there was a chair nearby or she would've had to stand the entire time. She had her head down to think and reflect for a moment.
"Is this the right time to tell Ash? What if he doesn't like me? What if I'm pushing it? What if…"
"Hey Dawn!" a voice called from the crowd. Dawn instantly recognized the voice; it was Ash.
"Over here Ash!" Dawn yelled back.
A figure popped out of the crowd.
"There you are!" Ash said.
"Well, it's about time! What took you so long?"
"Oh… heh heh…" Ash rubbed the back of his head. "I kinda got lost in the crowd so I shouted out your name. But hey! The good news is that I found you right?"
"Yeah, you're right."
Just then, a slow song began to play. Ash started to fiddle around with his foot while Dawn was looking down at her own.
"Umm… Dawn?" Ash asked.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to dance with me?" Dawn knew the question was coming but was still stunned by it. It took her a moment to realize that Ash had been waiting for an answer and so of course, she replied with,
"Sure Ash." Dawn moved closer to Ash and he did the same.
Ash and Dawn were both slow dancing now. Dawn had her arms wrapped around Ash's neck while Ash had his arms around her waist. It was obvious that Ash had been trying to hide his blush but Dawn just simply smiled back.
"Ash… I want to tell you something." Dawn began.
Ash's nervousness began to fade and was replaced by concern.
"Huh? What is it Dawn?"
"Well… it's this thing that I've been holding onto for a long time now and I think now's the best time to tell you."
"Well ok. Let's here it."
"…I love you Ash." Dawn then leaned forward to kiss Ash who now had his eyes wide open from the revelation. However, Ash gradually melted into the kiss and kissed her back. They parted after a while to allow the moment to sink in.
"I think I need to tell you something as well Dawn." Dawn stood still to listen. "I love you too." Ash said in a calm voice. Instead of kissing him again, Dawn instead brought herself closer to Ash almost hugging him while slow dancing. All was good until…
*BANG* A gunshot rang out.
"What the hell? Dawn did you…?" Dawn's eyes were now wide open as she slowly collapsed in Ash's arms. It was evident that she had been shot; near the sides of her stomach. Ash and Dawn both slowly fell to the ground with Dawn on Ash's lap.
"No…. this can't be happening…" Ash suddenly looked up and found Misty holding a handgun with smoke coming out from its barrel.
"Misty! WHY? WHY DID YOU DO IT?"
The entire crowd now turned to face them; even the music stopped playing. Some people were already walking out the main door, fearing what might happen next.
"I couldn't let her have you Ash… I just couldn't…"
"SO IS THIS HOW YOU SOLVED THAT PROBLEM!" Ash yelled.
"I thought… I…" Misty stopped. She didn't stop because she didn't know what to say, but stopped because she saw Ash crying.
"You don't know do you…?... I loved her so much…"
Little did Ash know that Dawn was still conscious, listening to every word Ash was saying.
"Ash…" she said barely in a whisper. She started to close her eyes slowly but was interrupted when Ash grabbed her hand.
"Please Dawn... try to stay with me…" Ash said in a pleading voice.
Outside the school, the sound of sirens were heard.
"…Guess this is it then. My life's over, I'm sorry for ruining yours Ash…" Before Ash could say anything to stop her, Misty pointed the gun to her head then pulled the trigger.
"NO!" Ash shouted.
When Misty's body collapsed on the ground, the sound of the body hitting the hard floor echoed throughout his head.
"No… please… someone tell me this is just a dream… a bad dream…."
Just then, a paramedic squad busted into the gym. After they had examined the scene, two men ran over to Misty's body while the other's came running over to Dawn's. One of the paramedics took Ash aside which he reluctantly complied. Ash didn't want to leave Dawn behind, but he didn't want to risk interfering with the chances of her survival. When the paramedic had finished taking Ash aside, he turned around to go back when Ash stopped him.
"Please, let me go with her."
The paramedic looked at Ash for a moment then look back at Dawn's body before looking back at him.
"Alright, but don't get in the way." he replied.
"I swear on it."
. . .
Ash was in the hospital's waiting room now. He was waiting for the response as to what happened to Dawn. He prayed and prayed that she would be alright but hope was the only thing driving him now.
On the way to the hospital, Ash was in the same ambulance as Dawn so he got to hold her hand the entire way there. She had been unconscious but a part of his mind told him that she was still alive and that she still had a chance. Ash was heartbroken when they took her away into the emergency room but was somewhat glad when they told him that in around 12 hours, they would give him the results.
It had been almost 12 hours now, if not more and Ash had stayed wake the entire time. He couldn't fall asleep, his mind was constantly abuzz with activity. What if Dawn didn't survive? How could he move on in life without her? But then again, what if she did? Ash wouldn't be able to describe the happiness he would feel. Whatever the result was, one thing was certain; nothing would be the same again.
Dawn's mother had joined Ash almost half an hour after the ambulance had arrived at the hospital and Ash told her all about the incident.
Flashback
"I'm sorry Ms. Berlitz (Dawn's last name)… It's my fault that Dawn's in the hospital right now. If I hadn't invited her to the dance, none of this would've happened…"
Ash spoke shamefully as he lowered his head in apology. Normally, he thought that Dawn's mom would've gone berserk on him but instead, she placed her hands on Ash's shoulder reassuringly.
"No worries son. Don't blame yourself, you weren't the one who shot Dawn."
"But I-"
"Listen, I was thrilled when I heard from Dawn that you had invited her to go with you to the dance. I never saw her so happy in my entire life. That happiness really made my day. And honestly, don't blame yourself; it's not healthy for you. No need to explain that I would've gotten mad if you had hurt Dawn but the truth is, you didn't. I heard from some of the other kids that you and Dawn kissed. Is that true?"
Ash blushed before putting his head down again. Mr. Berlitz giggled before talking again.
"You know, if was forced to choose Dawn's boyfriend, my first pick would've been on you Ash. You're a really nice boy, and I'm glad of that."
"Thank you… Ms. Berlitz…." Ash said before he hugged her.
End of Flashback
Just then, a doctor came through the sliding doors with a clipboard in his hand and a pen in the other.
"Is Mrs. Berlitz present?"
"Yes I'm right here." Dawn's mother replied.
"Good, I need to talk to you please…"
The doctor then led her towards a door in which she entered nervously. He closed the door tightly behind them.
"Guess they're finally giving out the verdict…" Ash thought. "Please be okay Dawn…"
That wraps up chapter 4. There are two different endings and you are free to read them both.
If you're going to read both of the endings, I'd suggest reading the tragic one first and the happy one later.