Me: Heheheh! Since we are playing truth or dare, I'll make it more interesting! (Begins to scribble frantically at desk)
Paul: What are you…?
Dawn: (peeks over shoulder) Ha-ha! Great idea! High five!
Me: (high fives Dawn and smirks at Paul)
Paul: What did you…?
Ash: Hey what's up?
Paul: Gaah!
Me: We'll before we play truth or dare I'm going to fill Ash in about the little situation-
Paul: (slaps VolknersGirl over the head with a pillow) You will not!
Me: Will too!
Paul: (lunges to cover VolknersGirl's mouth again and lands on the bed instead)
Me: get off! I'm still going to tell him! (Struggles under Paul's firm grip)
Paul: you will not!
Me: GET OFF!
Paul: No!
Me: Fine Dawn you tell Ash! (Still struggling under Paul's weight)
Dawn: (glance at Paul and half smirks) Back to the story while Ash get's filled in.
Me: Wait! There is one…more! POOF!
Reiji: Hi!
Me: now tell them! Paul, get OFF! You are choking me!
Paul: you can't die in the story unless u type it so no.
Dawn: Like I said back to the story!
As Dawn ran closer to the pokemon center. She was looking down and not watching where she was going. The doors of the pokemon center slid open and she ran straight into the arms of Reiji Shinji. Dawn momentarily looked up and then the tears began to fall more heavily and she buried her face in the breeder's shirt.
"Dawn? Wha-?" the breeder looked up and noticed the commotion. He saw his younger brother's purple hair among the crowd and saw the trainer struggling to get out. Then the pokemon doors slid open again and out came Ash.
"Reiji- huh?! What happened to Dawn?" the young trainer asked worried. Reiji sighed and lifted Dawn away from him. She looked up. He had a caring look and said
"Dawn…stay with Ash and I'll go deal with Paul." The girl didn't move. She had her hands tucked in front of her still sobbing. The breeder headed over to the group and Ash moved towards Dawn and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Dawn…what happened?" He asked.
"He…he…" she looked down.
"What did he do?!" Ash asked angrily.
"He didn't…it was the…he…the…" she couldn't form a proper sentence and burst into tears on the ground with her head in her hands. Ash leaned down and placed a hand on Dawn's shoulder again. She stared at her friend's kind face and moved closer to him. She sobbed into the other trainers shoulder and Ash didn't move. He only kept his hand on her shoulder.
Meanwhile Reiji had reached the group and forced his way into the center where his brother was. He grabbed the younger trainers arm and pulled him out of the circle. The fans made to follow but Reiji turned and held up a hand.
"Paul needs to take a break, and do some chores." He said.
"Who are you?!" A girl exclaimed.
"His older brother Reiji Shinji." He announced and moved away dragging Paul with him.
"Let go of me!" Paul said shoving his brother once they were well away from the fans.
"Paul, you made Dawn cry again." Reiji said calmly.
"What do you mean again? And why do you care anyways?" Paul glared at his older brother. Reiji let out a sigh.
"Before you told her you liked her and all, she had confided in me that she really liked you. Since then she had always come to me when you did something. Sometimes she was really happy and cheerful, telling me that you had actually glanced at her. Other times she would come unhappy that you had mad Ash angry and wishing the two of you could get along. One time she even came to me crying because of it. The point is, Hikari-chan is a very sensitive person that you have to be careful, considerate and over all nice around!"
"Since the two of you talk all the time and since you like her so much why don't you be her boyfriend?! I don't care! You even gave her a nickname!" Paul scowled.
"So did you, … Troublesome." Reiji replied. Paul glared at his brother and turned away. But the scene he saw did little to improve his mood. Troublesome crying on the ground because of me, with Pathetic holding her. Just great! He thought. Paul marched to where they were and stood menacingly over Ash.
Dawn looked up and shone angry eyes at him. "Go away Paul Shinji!" she said standing. Ash stood along with her.
"What are you doing with Pathetic?" Paul asked.
"That is none of your business!" Dawn scoffed.
"You know it is!" Paul replied.
"Why?!"
"Because you are his girlfriend." Reiji said coming up behind Paul.
"Who says I want to be anymore?! Maybe I don't! Maybe I want to be someone else's girlfriend!" Dawn said and turned on her heel stalking into the pokemon center. Shinx looked up at the three boys and wondered how to react. Obviously one of them had made his mama mad, but which one? He liked the black haired one, the little purple head was his mama's friend and the tall purple haired on didn't seem mean at all. Shinx shook its little head confused. Reiji noticed and scooped up the little pokemon.
"Let's see if we can find your mama ok?" he said to the baby. It looked at him and struggled to get down. Reiji placed him down and the Shinx ran into the center after Dawn with Reiji close behind.
Paul growled and Ash hurried after Reiji and Shinx.
Dawn sat in the farthest corner in the back of the pokemon center away from Brock, away from Nurse Joy and away from everything. Baby Shinx came over and sat on her lap. She stroked his fur gently. She didn't know what to do. The only person she confided in about Paul was Reiji. Even her mom didn't know! Her shoulders dropped and she hung her head. Then Dawn felt a hand touch her shoulder. She didn't even bother to look up.
"Go away Reiji-san." She said. The use of his formal nickname didn't sway the older breeder. Instead he took her hand and pulled the young coordinator to her feet.
"I have an idea. How about we go out? To someplace we can have fun?" he asked.
"A date?!" Dawn exclaimed in surprise.
"No!" Reiji laughed. "Your friend's would come too! We can go to the Veilstone Square. You still like that right Hikari-chan?" Dawn smiled at her nickname.
"Yes! How did you remember!" she exclaimed with a smile.
"Babysitting you and Paul and taking both of you to Veilstone Square almost every week seems to be an event that stuck in my mind." The breeder smiled.
"Yes, but I don't think Ash will like the shopping very much." She made a face and Reiji laughed.
"No but he can do what you used to do, and stare at all the people around. He can even battle some too! They have added a battle area in the Square!" Reiji said. Dawn nodded.
"Alright! I'll go get my bag!" she smiled and raced off with Shinx at her heels.
As Paul walked along the road he wandered without thinking of where he was going. When he finally saw he was moving, he realized his feet had led him to Veilstone Square. The very same place Reiji would bring him and Dawn when he babysat because Dawn's mom was in a contest. It was true that the Shinji's had a long history with Dawn's family, especially after her father died. When they were young the cold hearted trainer cared very little for the spirited blue haired girl he was always around, but eventually he did start to develop a crush on her. When her mother retired from coordinating then Paul didn't get to see her anymore and he just told himself she was gone forever. Little did he know that she would end up being his rival's best friend and that all this would happen. Paul let out a sigh and sat on the corner bench like he always would to watch Dawn play tag with Reiji. He imagined the little blue haired child chasing his 14 year old brother. Then she changed as did the scene. He saw instead a 14 year old Dawn chasing his older brother and eventually tagging him and running over to Ash. Then Paul saw her enter the Square with Reiji. He shook his head to clear the vision. No, she was still there.
"Come ON!! Reiji-kun!" she pulled the older breeders sleeve as Ash and Brock walked behind them. Dawn hurried over to the first shop and marched in with the breeder at her heels. Ash went looking for a battle and Brock walked off to chase some pretty girl that had just passed. The little Shinx looked confused at having everyone go in different directions and soon lost sight of everyone.
"Shinx!!" it called helplessly. It began to dart through the people and cry out. Paul sighed and stood. He walked over to the Shinx and scooped it into his arms. This at least would give him a chance to see Dawn and if possible apologize. The Shinx looked at him thankfully and purred. Paul made a face of disgust and placed the pokemon on the bench. He picked it up by the tail and dangled it for a moment. The Shinx looked at him upside down and wondered what was happening. It wasn't frightened just curious. The pokemon really was a baby. It was very small, Paul observed. Smaller than an average Shinx. He put it down and sat back on the bench, ignoring it. Then Dawn burst into the Square searching frantically for something. Reiji too. Then he spotted his younger brother and pointed saying something to Dawn. The girl blazed and stormed over. Shinx lifted its head from its paws and ran to her gleefully. She scooped the Shinx and cradled it in her arms. Then she glared at Paul.
"What?" the trainer asked.
"Humph!" Dawn turned and walked away into another store. Paul growled. He reached out and grabbed her arm. Reiji took this as a sign to get lost and slipped away.
"Let go off me Paul Shinji!" Dawn demanded.
"No." Paul replied.
"I'll scream." She said. Paul waited a moment then placed his hand over her mouth so he was directly behind her.
"Look, I'm sorry!" he growled softly in her ear. She licked his hand and Paul snatched it back. Dawn wasn't convinced.
"I don't care!" she said and ran off. Paul wiped his hand on his shirt and went after her. They went out of the Square and into the forest on the other side. By the time Dawn stopped she was in a horrible mood and her temper was about to explode. She swung around and gave him a death glare. Naturally, seeing as it was Paul Shinji, this had no effect.
"Are you going to listen now?" he asked.
"What do you want?!" she demanded. Shinx hid behind her boot.
"I only wanted to say I'm sorry." He growled again.
"I don't CARE! Leave me alone Paul!" Dawn was close to tears now.
"Before you told her you liked her and all, she had confided in me that she really liked you. Since then she had always come to me when you did something. Sometimes she was really happy and cheerful, telling me that you had actually glanced at her. Other times she would come unhappy that you had mad Ash angry and wishing the two of you could get along. One time she even came to me crying because of it." Reiji's voice echoed in Paul's head. "The point is, Hikari-chan is a very sensitive person that you have to be careful, considerate and over all nice around!"
"No! Not until you realize that I really am!" he growled again.
"I don't care anymore! You…you're too much! I…I'm not ready for this! I can't go through this any more! Maybe I am better off with Ash or Reiji! Or maybe even nobody at all!" By now Dawn had tears pouring down her cheeks. Paul made a face and the next thing she knew he was pressing his mouth firmly against hers. Dawn stood in shock. She hadn't expected this at all! Then rain began to fall but neither of them noticed it. When Paul pulled away he was still standing closely to her.
"Don't say that anymore." he whispered. Dawn was frozen. "And…I'm sorry…" She couldn't believe it. Paul actually cared about her this much that he would go through all of this just to apologize.
"No…I'm sorry." She said looking away from him. "I didn't mean…I was just…I'm sorry Paul!" she said and threw her arms around him. Dawn sobbed into his shoulder hoping he wouldn't refuse her apology, hoping he wouldn't refuse…her. Paul only smiled to himself and hugged her back. Then they heard a splashing noise and moved apart.
"There you two are!" Reiji said. "We are heading back to the house because of all this rain, come on!" he led the two teens out of the forest. They crossed the square quickly and were soon on the road hurrying to the Shinji household. Dawn took Paul's hand and smiled. Ash came up from behind soaking wet already and scooped up the forgotten Shinx and held it under his vest to shield it from the rain and Pikachu ran alongside and Brock came up at the end.
When everyone arrived at the house, Dawn plopped onto the sofa. Paul plopped down beside her and Ash on the other side. Brock and Reiji both collapsed into chairs and Shinx shook his wet coat out. Then Dawn sneezed.
"Bless you." Both Ash and Paul said at the same time. Reiji laughed.
Then Dawn sneezed again. "Maybe you should take a hot bath Hikari-chan and change into dry clothes. You are free to use the shower." Reiji suggested.
"But I don't have any other clothes except my pajama's and they are back at the pokemon center." She said. Reiji smiled.
"We'll find something. You go now and I'll put it on the bed in the room you claimed as yours when you stayed here." Reiji said. Dawn smiled and nodded.
"Thank you." She said and hurried to use the shower. Ash stood to use the bathroom and Brock began to cook after asking. That left Paul and Reiji.
"What do you plan on giving her smart one? We don't have any girl's clothes!" Paul said.
"It's better that she wear boy's clothes than get sick." Reiji explained with a grin. Paul raised an eyebrow.
"So what do you plan on giving her?" he asked.
"You decide that, it's your drawer!" Reiji grinned again.
"What?! Why mine?!" he asked.
"Mine are too big, you wouldn't want it falling off now would you?" Reiji smirked. Paul turned bright red.
"Pervert!" he growled and went to his room to pick out something for Dawn. He decided on a black shirt with sleeves, and a pair of navy pants. He himself decided to take off his wet jacket and replace it with a long sleeved navy shirt. He placed a smaller, grey sweatshirt on the bed for Dawn and walked back into the living room.
When Dawn came out of the shower and looked at the bed she giggled. These must be Paul's clothes! She thought. He never wears anything other than those shadowy colors! Dawn quickly changed and slipped on the warm sweatshirt. After pulling her messy, tangled hair into a ponytail she re-entered the living room.
"Feeling better?" Reiji asked. She nodded and sat between Ash, who was back from the bathroom, and Paul who was ignoring the other trainer. Paul glanced at Dawn and smirked.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing." He replied.
"WHAT?!"
"Nothing! It's just big on you!"
"No duh! And you need to get brighter clothes! Dark colors like navy and black are dull!"
Paul pulled on the sweatshirt hood and shoved it over her eyes. Dawn giggled and lifted it back.
"Hey!" She glanced at him searching for a way to seek revenge. Nothing occurred so she grabbed a pillow and whacked him over the head with it. Paul half growled and grabbed it from her. He lifted it as if striking back and Dawn inched towards the side where Ash was. She squeezed the poor trainer into the corner as Paul advanced at the last second Ash darted off the sofa as Paul whacked Dawn. She scowled playfully tackled him for the pillow. Paul held it just out of her reach very well, considering the fact that she was on top of him trying to grab it. Dawn gave up and moved into Ash's corner with a pout. Paul smirked and tossed her the pillow. Dawn grinned and picked it up. When Paul's head was turned she smacked him with it. Paul growled again and grabbed it. He tossed the pillow onto the floor and tickled her until Dawn surrendered.
"Ok! … I give! ..." she giggled. Paul smirked again. "Stop smirking!" she glared with a smile.
"You're convincing!" he laughed at her lopsided scowl. Dawn stood on the sofa about to pounce on him when two hands grabbed her waist.
"Hikari-chan! No standing on the furniture!" Reiji said in a 'parent/teacher/babysitter' imitation voice. He laughed and hoisted the blue haired coordinator off the sofa.
"You're not the babysitter anymore!" Dawn said in an imitation whine.
"Awww! Baby Dawn wants to stand on the sofa and jump on top of Paulie?" Reiji said in a baby voice. Both Dawn and Paul grabbed the pillow and hit the breeder across the head continuously. Ash laughed.
"I don't think they liked that very much Reiji!" he said between laughter.
"I- realized- that-!" the breeder said between blows. When the two had finished Dawn plopped down onto the sofa again and her ponytail splayed out behind her. Reiji sat next to her and lifted it.
"This will break a brush!" he said. Dawn swatted his hand away.
"Too bad! I'm tired and don't feel like dealing with it right now." She said.
"It's only going to get worse when you sleep." He warned. Dawn shrugged. The breeder sighed and left the room. When he returned Reiji was holding a comb. He plopped back onto the couch and turned Dawn by the shoulders so she was facing Paul, and had her back to him. Then he undid the ponytail and began untangling her hair.
"Just like when you were younger! You really haven't changed Hikari-chan!" Reiji said. Dawn blushed as she felt the familiar brush strokes.
"Ah-ha! She's blushing!" Ash exclaimed with a laugh. Paul smirked but Reiji only smiled. When he finished, Reiji pulled Dawn's hair into a braid and tossed it over her shoulder.
"There!" he announced. Paul smirked again.
"You look like you did when we were five." He said. Dawn patted her braid.
"I know! I'm just that perfect!" she said and made an egotistic face.
"Not!" Paul said. She scowled at him again.
"No pouncing!" Reiji laughed. Ash did as well and then Dawn realized something.
"What happens if the rain doesn't stop?" she asked.
"You'll sleep here airhead!" Paul mocked. She glared at him.
"I KNOW that! But what I'm saying is where will Ash and Brock sleep?"
"Oh, they can have your room and you can share Paul's." Reiji said with a strait face. Both teens looked at him wide eyed.
"WHAT?!" They exclaimed.
"I'm not sleeping with him!" Dawn said scooting away.
"And I'm not letting her into my room anymore, because of what happened last time!"
"That was years ago!" she said turning to the purple-haired teen.
"Well you still haven't changed!" he said.
"Calm down you two! I was kidding!" Reiji laughed. "Ash and Brock are welcome to sleep on the pull out bed here in the living room. Paul in his room, Me in mine and Dawn you take your room. Everyone clear?"
"Dawn has a room here?" Ash asked.
"Well it's not really hers; she just claimed it because Hikari-chan would spend the night sometimes." Reiji explained. Ash nodded. Then they heard a little Shinx's stomach growl. Dawn giggled as she accept the bottle Reiji handed her.
That night as Dawn placed the sleeping Shinx on her pillow, she spotted the CD and player she had left the last time she was there. She hit play and the song began to play softly.
Drew looks at me, I
fake a smile so he won't see Drew talks to me, I laugh cause it's just so
funny He's
the reason for the teardrops on my guitar Drew walks by me, can he tell
that I can't breathe? So I drive home
alone, as I turn out the light He's the reason for the
teardrops on my guitar Drew looks at me, I fake a
smile so he won't see.
That I want and I'm needing
everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl
he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live
without
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says
he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows
he's all I think about at night
The only thing that
keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep
singing, don't know why I do
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind
of flawless I wish I could be
She'd better hold him tight, give
him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky
cause
I'll put his picture down and
maybe
Get some sleep tonight
The only one who's got enough of me to
break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know
why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And
he's all that I need to fall into..
She had played this song whenever Paul was mean, or she missed her mom. Then Dawn hit play again and another song came on. It made her heart skip a painful beat.
You and me
We
used to be together
Everyday together
Always, Don't speak Our memories Don't speak It's all ending Don't
speak Don't
speak,
I really
feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This
could be the end
It looks as though you're letting go
And if
it's real
Well I don't want to know
I
know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't
tell me cause it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're
thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause it
hurts
Well, they can be inviting
But some
are altogether
Mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands
I sit and cry
I
know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't
tell me cause it hurts (no, no, no)
Don't speak
I know what
you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause
it hurts
I gotta stop pretending who we
are...
You and me I can see us dying...are we?
I know just what you're saying
So please stop
explaining
Don't tell me cause it hurts (no, no, no)
Don't
speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause it hurts
Don't tell me cause it hurts!
I
know what you're saying
So please stop explaining
don't speak,
don't speak,
oh I know what you're
thinking
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good,
I
know you're good,
I know you're real good
Oh, la la la la la
la La la la la la la
Don't, Don't, uh-huh Hush, hush darlin'
Hush, hush darlin' Hush, hush
don't tell me tell me cause it
hurts
Hush, hush darlin' Hush, hush darlin'
Hush, hush don't
tell me tell me cause it hurts
By the end, Dawn had silent tears streaming down her cheeks as she listened to the rain fall on the roof as she had millions of times when she heard this song. Then Reiji and Paul entered to say goodnight and found her crying quietly. Reiji heard the song playing and understood. The two brothers sat on either side of the young coordinator. She patted the sleeping baby, as tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
Don't speak
I
know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't
tell me cause it hurts (no, no, no)
Don't speak
I know what
you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause
it hurts
Don't tell me cause it hurts!
I know what you're
saying
So please stop explaining
These words echoed soundlessly, emptily, and worst of all painfully in the poor girls head. Reiji placed a hand on her back.
"Don't speak…
I
know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't
tell me cause it hurts…" Dawn whispered the words and became be
aware of two hands puling her into a hug. She didn't feel it
though. She felt empty…
Me: . . . poor Dawn! What is the meaning of this song? Why is she so upset over it? I'll give you the clues mentioned and see if you can guess. It's sad, both Reiji and Paul understand it, the lyrics are a DEAD giveaway, and patting Baby Troublesome (as Paul calls him) helps her slightly.
Paul: (no comment)
Dawn: hm…
Reiji &Ash: (bow heads)
Me: we can work on this game of T or D later…