I'd been in a bit of a daze these past weeks. Not sure what I was doing until now.
The first day was scary. Nobody really knew what to do with me, including myself. They let me curl up beside Mamoswine's thick, warm fur and stare at the grass beneath me while I thought about what could be wrong with me.
All the time, either Payton or Ava watched me like a Luxray.
I'd refused to eat, I was close to being sick. They threatened me with a return to the hospital, but even that didn't bother me. I simply walked up the stairs and curled into a ball on the bottom bunk of my room. I felt stupidly lonely, and it got a little much. I fell hysterical, which was even worse than my zombie mode, but Brock told me I was getting somewhere, and he picked me up and put me in his bed. He slid in beside me and let me cry onto his shirt for a good hour. Ash then finally had the courage to face me at my worst, and held me too. The double bed clearly wasn't made for three people, but I was hardly the size of one adult, anyway. Even Pikachu managed to hold onto me that night, and I didn't feel quite so lost.
Looking back, I know I was ridiculous. Ash and Brock assured me that they thought nothing of it, but I saw the way they eyed me, as if I was cracking, and the emotions were about to burst through any second. I knew I was fine.
If Paul wanted to leave, that was fine by me. I knew I'd done nothing to upset him, and I didn't hold Ash responsible either.
The second day I stepped outside and released my pokemon. They all stared at me with frightened expressions. I must have looked awful. That was my turning point, seeing how my pokemon needed me to feel better, how could I not try for them when they tried so hard for me?
My down turned lips moved up at the corners, and we trained.
I hadn't realised what I was doing until now, I was planning to escape too. Ava and Payton watched me during the day, Brock and Ash by night. Of course, once they were out cold, I was free to go as I pleased.
It had been a month, and I hadn't thought of that day in a while. Now I looked back, I knew I was stronger, and ready to move. This was the night.
"Night Dawn." Ash yawned and got into his own bed. It had been this way for a while now. He just took up way too much room, plus I'd gained a little bit of weight too."Night Ash." I muttered back. Pretending to pull off my boots. Brock was already asleep. I guess I couldn't tell him goodbye.
I only had to wait ten minutes, Ash dropped when he was tired. I pulled my boots back on, and walked down the stairs, careful of the creaky step. I had to go into the living room for my bag, and a light switched on.
I froze.
"Going somewhere Dawn?"
I had to think quick; "I came for Piplup, I couldn't sleep."
"Fully clothed?"
I grimaced, and turned to see Ava perched on the arm of the sofa. She had one eyebrow raised and I knew there was no way I'd be able to talk my way out of this.
"Sorry." I muttered.
Her face softened, and she pulled me to sit on her lap; "I knew you weren't doing as well as you put on." She hugged me close as I fought not to cry. I would not show weakness to this woman I barely knew.
"I want to leave." I said sternly, pulling away from her, but she forcibly held me there and started rocking me. It made things worse, I felt stupid.
"You're not fit enough yet, and we've not been told it's safe yet." She tried to persuade me, but she should have known that would make things worse. Sure it wasn't safe, but Paul was out there.
I sighed, clamping my teeth on my lip.
"I know you miss Paul, but you have other friends here, and maybe that's for the best." She uttered, and I stiffened. She seemed to notice; "Why don't you go to bed, sweety, you look tired."
I nodded; "I want a drink, first."
Ava smiled; "I'll get you some milk, and bring it up to bed."
I smiled back at her; "Thank you."
She stood up, and we headed in different directions. I took my bag with me and headed for the stairs, but froze in place. My head turned, and I stared at the door. The front door was right there. She couldn't catch me if I got away fast enough. I was light, full of energy, and if I was stealthy, she wouldn't know I'd was gone until I was far gone.
It was a brief second of my short amount of time to make my decision. I stepped quietly to the door, checked around me, and then quietly slipped out of the door. I looked along the street, a busy city. I could get lost easily. Then I was running.
It took me mere minutes to realise where I was. Veilstone. Maybe Paul would wait at Reggie's, knowing I'd realise this! I tried to remember my way around the place. I spotted Maylene's gym, and knew the Meteor field was close by. If I reached that, I would find Reggie's easily. With the possibility of Paul being so close, my legs pushed faster.
I turned the corner faster than I though I could, but being lighter now, I guess it was possible. I saw his house with a huge garden for pokemon breeding just ahead. It would take me two minutes to get there.
I was banging my fist onto the door in a panicked hurry, I scanned the area to make sure nobody saw me. The road was empty, it was late. Reggie's door swung open, and I turned sharply to a groggy breeder. He blinked at me and his eyes opened wide; "Dawn? What are y-" I pushed past him and shut the door.
"Is Paul here?" I said quickly, and Reggie shook his head; "He hasn't contacted me in weeks, why?"
I blushed, so Reggie didn't know about us. He noticed it quickly; "Oh..." A devilish smirk drifted into his expression; "He told you then?"
"Told me what?" I feigned innocence, but he saw straight through me. Must run through the family.
He rose an eyebrow that made him look uncannily like his brother, it took my breath away. "I had a hunch he liked you. He spoke of you."
He didn't need to explain that Paul didn't need to talk of me often, if he noticed me at all was a compliment. Reggie sat me down on his sofa, and I explained the problem with Team Rocket, skipping over my reunion.
"And Paul ran away?" He guessed. I grinned, it seemed Reggie understood Paul much more than me.
I nodded; "but he might not be safe. Team Rocket threatened the police." I explained, and Reggie sighed; "Well we better find him."
"Uhh..." I bit my lip before muttering; "I'm not meant to be out either."
His eyebrows lifted in surprise; "wow, you'd do that for my brother?"
"Of course." I frowned, a little insulted.
"Huh." Was all he said, then he stood up, and took my arm. I followed him up the stairs as he watched me curiously; "so you and Paul...?"
I looked down, I wasn't sure whether Paul wanted him to know. Reggie didn't reply then until we reached a room. "You can stay in Paul's room tonight, we'll leave early and look for him."
I smiled up at him, and embraced him; "Thank you Reggie."
"You're very welcome Dawn." He hugged me back tightly, he could obviously tell I needed the support.
I found some of Paul's clothes in his drawer, and was sure he wouldn't mind if I borrowed his pyjama bottoms for the night. They were extremely comfortable, more so than my old ones. I slid into his bed hesitantly, but the smell drew me in. It smelt distinctly like him, and I fell asleep quickly, relaxed in the familiar smell that I missed so much.
Short, filler chapter. But it has something VERY important in it. A hint you may not expect.
I noticed the last chapter looks very similar to New Moon, and that may be true as I have been reading the Saga, and I may have been a little influenced, but I swear it wasn't intentional. That's why I made sure Dawn didn't end up being a Zombie forever like Bella. Ha. Hopefully that doesn't bother you that much.
Sorry for lack of Ikari, but I'm lacking a character...
Oh, and this will be the last update for a week, I'm off to my home land and I don't think they'll be internet. Reviews for when I get back would be nice though. Thoughts on what you think is happening, what I was hinting at, and what you want to see happen?