Popularity or Love
(Forgetting you)
Dawn rolled over from one side of the bed to the other, holding her pillow with a smile on her face. She had been thinking about Ash for a while now, which resulted in her insomnia. She just felt giddy inside thinking of him. How he walked her home and gave her his jacket. She was just happy.
'I wonder if he went home by now.' She crawled down the bed and reached for the mobile that she had left on the ground. She could easily find it because the moon light was directly on focus through the window.
She went back to her bed, under her blanket and turned the screen of her phone. She frowned seeing the time.
'4AM… geez, by now he must be sleeping like a puppy.' She smiled picturing him in a cute puppy, sleeping under the blanket with his head slightly poked out.
She quickly shook her head and dismissed the thought.
'Should I try to call him?' She thought. Shook her head. The thought again, until she just called, unaware of why she was calling him this late at night.
Her heart beat increased as the first tone reached her ears, followed by three more until it stopped and she almost jumped up from her bed.
"Hello? Dawn?"
She widened her eyes listening to his voice. She didn't think through this much. Why did she even call him? She quickly cut the line and hid behind her blanket, pretending like nothing happened.
She stayed like that for a few seconds until curiosity got better of her and she took her phone only to see Ash was calling her. Her phone was on silent. She hesitated whether to pick or not. What will she say?
'Why am I even thinking so much, it's just Ash!' She nodded quickly and answered the phone.
"Hel-"
"Dawn are you okay? Is everything alright? Where are you?" His voice was full of concern, which completely took her by surprise. She didn't know how to speak for a while. Her face heated up for reasons beyond her understanding.
"I- I am f-fine." She stuttered. Something that was unusual for her. She could hear a sigh of relief from the other side.
"Why did you call this late then? I thought you got lost again."
Dawn smiled widely. She was enjoying every moment of his attention towards her. He was worried for her. Just knowing that made her super happy.
"No I a-am fine Ash. I called…" She trailed off. Why did she call him even? She was thinking for a few seconds before something in the back of her head said the reason which she just blurted out, unaware of its meaning. "I just wanted to hear your voice."
"Hear my voice? Are you alright Dawn? You sound weird." Ash inquired with suspicion and slight worry.
Dawn frowned. "I am not weird!"
"…Right."
She bit her lips nervously understanding what was going through her head. She didn't understand before but now things were getting clear to her. She is always thinking of him. Meeting him makes her happy. Just his attention makes her feel special. It only meant one thing… she was falling in love with him.
Soon after she confirmed this on her head, she widened her eyes and quickly cut the phone.
"No No No NO!" She shook her head as she sat down. "What am I even thinking!" She slapped both of her cheeks to come back to reality.
"Me and Ash? Love? No way!" She shook her head.
….
She stayed silent for a while.
'But why not?' She thought after calming down a bit.
'Because he is a loner. A loser. Snap out of it Dawn!' Her inner self answered for her. She didn't defend it. She knew it was her own thoughts at the end of the day. She wasn't going to deny them.
'But I don't care… he is so sweet to me… worries about me… look he even gave me his jacket!' She tried to reason with herself.
'And? Boys are sweet with you all the time. What difference does he make? Apart from the fact that he will make you a laughing material in school.'
…
'He is different… he is not like other boys…' She saddened remembering all her mischiefs against him which he paid with kindness.
'And how would you know? You only know him for a month or so. Snap out of it and see the bigger picture. He is not right for you. Your friends will laugh at you. Dawn, one of the most popular girl in school going out with Ash the loner, loser and antisocial introvert. See? Does it make sense? Nope.'
…
She fell back on her pillow with frustration. She didn't know what was right or what was wrong anymore.
'Besides you don't even love him, trust me. You wouldn't be having all these thoughts if you loved him.'
…'Is that right…'
'I am positive. You are confusing gratitude with love. I would suggest you avoid him as much as you can from now on. These feelings will shower away just like that.'
…
'Right… I should just stay away from him.' She was hesitant from her decision but did her best to convince herself. 'That's for the best…'
'Yep! Good job!'
(Scene Change)
The next day of school went by usual fashion. There wasn't anything different except for the fact that Ash wasn't mad with Serena anymore after last night.
He even shared his lunch with her on the roof top.
"You still remember this place?" Serena questioned as she looked towards the horizon, leaning against the water tank. She had to agree, for some reason this place was peaceful. This is where Serena and Ash used to spend their time when they were kids.
"I do." He answered and looked at her. "You remembered too?"
"Well of course. I remember everything about you." She smiled at him, catching him off-guard and hypnotized for a second under her beautiful smile.
He looked down rather shyly and nodded. Serena noticed it but didn't press the matter and just smiled on her own.
"Say Ash, why are you not mad at me anymore?" She enquired after a brief silence.
"I got no reason to. I was being childish before. I can understand you don't want to be laughed at. No one does really."
Serena wasn't expecting that as an answer at all. Her mouth was slightly open in surprise as she looked at him.
Ash looked at her and smiled. "It's all good. We can meet here so no one will catch us together."
…..
She looked down and nodded. Her fist curled in a tight clutch, shaking, Ash didn't notice her distress and just looked forward, enjoying the half sandwich that she had shared with him.
"A-Ash," She called out in a shaky voice.
"Hmm?" He looked at her with the sandwich on his mouth.
She looked at him and smiled. She leaned forward towards him and took a bite of the sandwich from his mouth, inches away from their lips meeting. Ash widened his eyes, completely shocked from her action. She noticed it and smiled slyly and deepened the bite and got closer to him until he jumped back. His face was completely red and he looked at her as if she had stolen one of his kidneys.
"Y-Y-You!" He stuttered like a girl, pointing his finger at her in an accusing manner.
She stuck her tongue teasingly before running down the roof, leaving him completely flustered.
He quickly shook his head and slapped himself as hard as he could.
"Ouch!" He winced. "Damn that witch!"
(Scene Change)
The bell for the final class rang and everyone left the class in hurry. Ash gathered his book and packed them and tried to spot Dawn. He had to give her the maths notes but for some reason whenever he tried to talk with her today, she was no where to be found. Either she would not notice him or just plainly ignore him. Ash quickly spotted her walked to her.
"Dawn."
The mention of her name startled her. Not because someone called her, but who had called her.
She slowly looked behind her and nodded.
"Um… something wrong?"
"N-"
'Dawn no more sweet talk! Geez!'
She stopped herself and did her best to put on an angry face.
"What do you want?!" She half yelled and half whispered. Her conflicting feelings were affecting her more than she thought it would, even after ignoring him for most of the day.
Ash wasn't too shocked at that. He just realized she wasn't liking his presence. He wasn't dumb. He knew Dawn didn't like him nor did she consider him as a friend. Every good moment they shared were mostly out of gratitude from her part because of that night. However he did like her and thought her as a friend… at least someone fun to talk to.
He wouldn't however force himself on her if she didn't want to be associated with him.
He handed her a bunch of handouts which she took and looked at him in confusion.
"Huh?"
"These are… umm all the maths that you need to revise for exam. I didn't get time to check everything last night, I was quite sleepy but I am sure everything's fine." He explained as his eyes trailed off from her towards the door where Serena was standing and waved at him with a cheeky smile of her.
He sighed. She was going to make fun of him more from now on. He didn't mind though. After all he loved her… something he wouldn't say out loud.
Dawn on the other hand looked at him without blinking. She felt horrible for having all these negative thoughts about Ash who spent his night time to make notes for her just because he wanted her to pass.
She was about to thank him but stopped.
'Good, don't even dare Dawn! Remember the social effect it will have!'
Dawn looked down sadly.
"I will take a look later." She quickly turned around and packed her bag and left. On her way, out she saw Serena who smiled at her. Dawn smiled back, regardless of how forceful it was.
As Dawn was a good distance out, she could hear Serena and Ash talking. He had said something which had caused Serena to laugh.
Dawn was so tempted to look back but decided against it and just kept on her track.
'It's going to be hard to avoid him…'
'No it's not. Just find a boyfriend and you will forget him in no time.'
Dawn shook her head. She didn't want a boyfriend… well she did if it was Ash… she quickly shook her head again.
'Gosh I am going nuts..'
"He Dawn!"
She looked on her side and could see Gary. Instantly her face changed from sadness to anger. Flashes of last night coming back to her head again.
"What?!"
"Uh… I just wanted to say I am really sorry."
(THE END)
Author's Note: Here's the latest chapter/. Hope you enjoy it. A lot of you are suggesting AshxDawn. I will see what I can do! It's still open to decision for the pairing.
Misty: Review! You ungrateful readers! Or I will tell Everyone about Ash Meeting Dawn secretly! Muahahahaha!
