Chapter Nine: The Truth Comes Out

ASH

I find myself actually taking something from my conversation with Paul earlier this afternoon. It isn't like I normally don't, because Paul and I are as much best friends as we are brothers; which is odd, considering our complete opposite personalities. But we do have one thing in common; our past. It made us stronger as siblings, we always told each other everything, still do.

Anyways, earlier today I called Lea and asked her if she wanted to go on a date with me. She seemed really happy when she ecstatically said yes. So now, I'm in my car in front of her house getting ready to pick her up.

I immediately get out of the car to get her at her door.

When I knock, she answers right away. "Hi Ash," she says with a big smile on her face as she leans in for a hug. When we let go of each other, I get a better look at her.

"You look amazing." That's an understatement. She looks flawless. She's wearing a sapphire blue flow-y dress that sparkles, and it looks really good with her purple hair.

"Thank you Ash, you look really handsome yourself."

"Thanks." I'm not wearing anything special; dress pants, shoes, and a royal blue buttoned-up shirt.

She closes the door before locking it and follows me back to my car.

We pull up at this Italian restaurant called La Sera. It was hard getting last minute reservations, until I told them that I was a Sicara, then it was relatively easy.

We get into the restaurant, and immediately the hostess recognizes me. "Mr. Ash Sicara!" Everyone turns their head towards me.

This is actually considered weird because I'm not the first child, so I'm just a regular person –who happens to be in the family with the present running king, the son of the possible future queen, and the brother of the possible future prince. The reason for my recognition is usualy not from the Ash part of my name.

But at least I know that is someone likes me, they like me for me, because I get no part in this gig; like Lea whom I'm actually surprised even likes me as much as she seems to, especially since she's best friends with Dawn.

Anyways, we're in the middle of eating our dinner when she comments, "Hey Ash, I'm glad you asked me to dinner. Never in a million years did I ever think you'd ask."

"You were waiting for me to ask you?" I ask, amused.

"Well, yeah. You're a really great person, and well," a light blush appears across her face, "I kind of like you. I knew it the first time we hung out. You're a really cool, down-to-earth person even though you're famous. I wouldn't mind being around you more often."

I take her hand and smile at her. "I'm starting to like you too," I say. This makes her smile grow. I'd like to say that I like her back, but the problem is that she's a Berlitz supporter. I hate that that's the reason I can't bring myself to like her. I do though, she's great. But I've been trying for so long to get dad to love me as much as he loves Paul, that this would only backtrack my progress.

I hate myself.
I'm a terrible person.
I'll never be happy.
Is this my fault?

yes.

PAUL

What the fuck. That did not just happen.

Well technically, it didn't just happen, it happened yesterday afternoon. I didn't get a good sleep, or rather any sleep last night.

I don't know what to think.

Do I think dad killed Dawn's mom? Yes, definitely, abso-freaking-lutely.

I don't have a doubt in my mind.

The reason I'm here is because dad personally asked me to assassinate Cyrus.

He did it.

I decide to find out for myself though. I get into my car and drive to my house.

When I get there, I ask the butler is dads around. "No he isn't. Master Sicara will be home in about half pasted, Sir Paul."

"Thanks Ernie," I say as I walk upstairs to my room.

"Paul?"

"Hey Ash!" He runs up to me.

"What's going on? Why are you here?" he says with a smile on his face.

"I came to talk to dad." I contemplate telling Ash about dad killing Dawn's mom, but I decide against it, and what he doesn't know won't kill him.

Ash brings me to his room, we both sit down on these big bean bag chairs that he has.

"So, how did the date go with that chick?"

"Lea? It went alright."

"That bad?" He almost gets a laugh out of me.

"No~, it was actually really great, I had a good time."

I raise my eyebrow. "Then what was with the alright?" I ask.

"She really likes me."

I give him a stupid look. "Ok, and?"

He looks down. "I'm not sure I like her back like she likes me."

I shake my head vexed by his stupid response. "You had one date with her. You're being stupid. Stop being an idiot and man up. Do or don't do something with this chick, but stop being a whiney bitch about your feelings."

Ash looks unnerved by my outburst. "Says you."

I continue to stare intently at him.

"You out of all people!" he says, raising his voice and turning to face me, "your ex-girlfriend is dead, there's nothing you could do about it, and yet, you still let her get in the way of everything! It's been four fucking years Paul, and all you do is blame yourself. You don't even want to get close to any other girl because you think they –somehow- will have the same fate as Amy. Stop talking shit out of your mouth Paul, you're worse than me!"

I don't even take a second to think, I punch him on the left side of his jaw.

I stand up and yell, "Shut up! Don't you even think you can understand what I've been through, don't even try pretending!"

I then leave his room slamming the door behind me. Ash doesn't follow me and I head to my room.

The first thing I do is walk towards my unlit fireplace. On the mantel was a display of pictures and achievement awards. I scan them all. My favourite picture is one that's just Ash and I. I was seven years old, while Ash was six and we were jumping our old trampoline. The picture was taken while we were both in the air laughing about something.

I take the picture down to get a better look. Back then, things were different, simpler; better. What just happened between Ash and I? We aren't the type of brothers to solve problems in fights.

I turn back and walk towards the two lounge chairs that are placed in front of the fire place. I sit down in the left one, still holding on to the picture in hand.

What happened to Ash? What happened in his room is not the Ash I know. The Ash I know would never use someone's insecurities just to make a point.

That's something I would do.

I don't know what's going on, but I'm really worried about him.

Just then, I hear the door open from a distance and I hear Ernie say, "Welcome back Master Sicara. You have a visitor. Sir Paul has returned to the mansion."

I take the picture out of the frame, put it in my wallet, and walk out of my room closing my door behind me.

He is jogging up the stairs when I get to them. "Paul!" my dad exclaims with a hint of confusion in his voice.

"We need to talk," I say while walking to his room. He follows suit.

"What's this about?" he asks once he enters his room and closes the door behind him. I have yet to face him as he did to me about a month back when he assigned me to kill Cyrus.

"Tell me something," I start, my voice stern, my back still facing him, "Are the rumours true? Are we truly the ones to blame for the death of Cyrus' wife?"

He laughs. I turn around to face him. "What's so funny?" I demand.

He laughs some more. My eyebrows furrow together. I get annoyed but I wait for his answer patiently; although, losing patients with every "ha" that comes out of his mouth.

He then turns his attention to me. "So, you finally found out." I continue my harsh glare at him. "They never have proof though, I was that good. That's what brought us back on top."

I looked at him in –half- disbelief. He so easily admitted to it; he said it so nonchalantly. On the other hand, my dad also asked me to do his dirty work and assassinate Cyrus. So this behaviour is not something I haven't seen before.

"I can't believe you!" I yell.

He stays quiet, it doesn't seem like he's moved by my outburst though. "What did she ever to do you?!" I ask accusingly.

"My dear boy," he starts, "What did Cyrus ever do to you?"

It takes me a few seconds, but then I say, "If anything, he single-handedly almost threw us in the streets. I accepted for revenge, you did it because you probably had nothing better to do!"

"You don't know that," he says calmly.

"Then why?" I demand.

"Some things Paul, you don't need to know," he says as he starts walking towards the door, "you weren't supposed to know that I single-handedly murdered Joanna, so that last bit of information you could find out on your own too." He walks out of the room.

I'm still looking at the doors he walked through, my eyes wide open. How could he!

I'm so upset right now I could easily shift my mission and make him prime target.

I stalk out of my house and get into my car. I purposefully hit my head against the steering wheel and left it there.

What the fuck is going on with the family I once knew?

I put my key into the ignition and turn it. I finally lift my head up and put the stick shift in drive.

I think dad would be pissed off if I get distracted by my "mission". I step on the pedal and head for the Berlitz' mansion. I bet he'd be really pissed if I got distracted by a certain someone.

DAWN

I'm sitting in my dad's office. There is absolutely no reason to be in here; none. But I don't come in here very often and I need a quiet place to think. Nobody goes into my dad's office unannounced or uninvited; nobody except my dad and I.

I hate that my mind is on Paul so much. Though, don't get me wrong, my heart is still mending from the whole Kenny situation, but I'm not bothered enough to cry endlessly about him. Mostly, I'm upset that I lost a really good friend of mine due to my stupid feelings, but some of it is obviously due to him rejecting me.

But anyway, I feel like I would be betraying my family by doing something with Paul. My dad would probably disown me; because to him, he's still a Sicara and I don't think anything will ever change his mind. I also think that I'll be disrespecting my mother by doing such. Sure, his family may or may not be guilty, but I don't think my dad is making all this up.

"There you are Dawn." The voice made me jump.

"Dad!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I was just wondering where you went off to."

I smile awkwardly, "I'm right here."

He chuckles, "well now I know that."

I look away. "Hey, where's that Sicara boy?"

"Paul?" I correct.

"Whatever," he dismisses.

"I think he mentioned something about going for a drive," I say.

"Ah," he replies simply, clearly losing interest. He goes to the back of his desk and rummages through his drawers.

"What are you looking for?"

"My speech, I have to present it tomorrow before a golf tournament I've been invited to." I nod my head, though, I'm not sure he actually caught it because his eyes are fixed on the inside of his drawers.

That's when I spot it.

Black, shiny, and held at the waist.

"Dad!" I yell in shock. He's startled by my outburst.

"What's wrong-"

"What is that?!" I demand pointing to the object at his waist.

"What?" he goes for the side of his waist that I'm pointing at. "Oh, this."

I look in his eyes demanding an answer.

"It's for protection, Dawn."

I still stare at him; his answer wasn't good enough.

"It's only going to be used for protection Dawn, I won't kill anyone intentionally with it."

He takes out the gun from the pouch it was in and put it on the office table between us. "Get it away from me!"

"Dawn, the Berlitz and the Sicara's are the biggest rival family in Sinnoh. When Election Day comes closer, things might get crazy; between him and I, between our fans, the Sicara supporters against me, the Berlitz supporters against Giovanni. I don't know how it's going to go, but I do know that I want to keep us safe. And I'll do whatever it takes, alright?" he explains to me in a soft voice.

I give a slow nod. I do understand his point, but I know what a gun is capable of and I don't like it.

He takes the gun and puts it back in its pouch and takes his speech and puts it on the table. He then walks around and crouches down to my level. "I won't let anyone hurt us, alright Dawn."

I nod my head. He leans over to kiss my forehead before using the arm rest to pick himself up and walk out of the room after taking him speech from the table.

I hope nothing does get out of control

*&^%

As I walk downstairs, I hear the door open.

"Paul!" I say enthusiastically as I see him getting into the mansion and closing the door.

"Dawn," he says; his voice, of course, a lot less enthusiastic when compared to my greeting.

I run down the rest of the stairs till I get to Paul.

"Hey," I say and unexpectedly go to hug him- until I realize what I'm doing.

"That's ok," he says as he takes me back in his arms. I freak out for a few seconds before giving into the embrace.

"Wow, this is not you," I comment, chuckling lightly right after we let each other go.

"Dawn, I thought of this kiss, and…" he pauses looking nowhere but my eyes. I feel like I know what he's going to say, but I hold my breath. "Let's go with it," he finally finishes.

I'm shocked, but I smile to cover it up.

"What about the media? They'll chew this thing up like they did the Berlitz Ball thing. And what about my dad, he'll never allow it."

He smirks at me and puts his lips to my ear, "we'll just have to keep this a secret then won't we."

This is the craziest thing I've ever done; go out with someone secretly, and especially being involved in a relationship with the son of our biggest rival.

All this makes it more intriguing.

I'm starting to like Paul, he's different than anyone I've ever met, and I want to know more. He's definitely alluring, and I've already kissed him twice…

I wonder what it would be like- how he would be like as a boyfriend.

I'm up for something new.

But my mom…
my dad…
my family…
the biggest betrayal…

And that's when I kill my conscience.

Author's note: Hey everyone! So, I finally got this up. This is by far the longest chapter I have written for this story. I have two reasons for taking this long to come out with a new chapter, the first is chemistry making me it's bitch this semester. I hate school- why I choose to continue for seven more years definitely wasn't the rational side of me. Secondly! I have the chapters already written up, but only up to a certain point and the gap between the ones I'm posting and the ones I'm writing is becoming smaller. So I wanted to finish chapter eleven before posting this one up. Like I said, there will be 15 chapters in this story, so 4 more to go!

Anyways! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. We all found out, so now what will Paul do with this information? And how will not telling someone effect the story? Well, there are 6 chapters left :).

Keep Reading & Review for cyber hugs :D
PorcelainDollxx