Heya, people!

Did you expect me to vanish as well, huh? And guys, don't tell me you forgot about me already! Hopefully not! Actually, just kidding!

By the way, I'm back after a reaaaaaaaally long time! I get it! Even I realize it that I am active after a huge time gap! You all know the reason since I keep blabbering about it in almost all the chapters? So, yeah, just like the usual! Life gets in the way! ; p

And guys, did you check out the latest episodes of Miraculous Ladybug season 2?! They are super awesome! Those who have given up...please, go and watch and enjoy! (I know, I'm telling you all as if it's some latest news...but I couldn't tell you this the last time! So, I thought I might as well, now! *winks*) There is a lots of romance and hints between Adrien and Marinette! You just gotta watch it!

For now, I'll keep this note a lil' bit short! You guys might be excitebeto read the new chapter, right? Then, feel free to!

Chapter - 20

Truth and Dares~

We had spent the whole ride with an awkward silence between us. How could I talk to him even after we agreed that we won't talk about it?! Yeah, I'm taking about where he almost got a look of my...ahem...! It was such an embarrassing moment! I cleared my throat. "I guess, we should wake them up. We're about the reach home."

"Y-yeah."

When we reached the house, I parked the car in the garage. Ash turned around to the people behind us. "Guys, wake up." He shook Drew and May lightly, and their eyes opened.

I unstrapped my seatbelt and asked Ash, "Hey, Ash, give me the those two... l'll carry them inside... it's better that they don't wake up from their sweet dreams." I smiled as he handed me Pikachu and Piplup, but I could hold onto only one.

"I will hold Pikachu and you carry Piplup. Let's wake up Leaf and Gary first." Ash chuckled. I nodded as I turmed off the ignition, climbed down the car, and opened the doors of the last seat, where Leaf and Gary were.

I whispered, "Wake up. We've reached our house already. C'mon!" I shook them lightly.

Leaf yawned. "We reached home this early?"

I saw her trying to fall asleep again. I shook my head and patted her on the shoulder. "Yes. Now, get down, all of you, or else you'll fall asleep again!" I said, in hushed voice to avoid waking the Pokémon up.

Gary stretched his body as he got down out of the vehicle. "Man, I feel so much better now!"

I saw Drew and May also climb down of the car. Once we were all out, I clicked a button and a shutter closed down, locking the garage. I went to ring the doorbell and, in no time, the door opened.

Mom greeted us, "Welcome back, everyone." She moved aside, giving us some space to get in. "How was your mission?"

I flashed her a thumbs up. "Awesome!"

"Are you all hungry? It's time for dinner anyway," she asked, glancing at the clock.

Drew nodded. "Yeah, Johanna. We are really hungry." He laughed and gave an embarrassed smile.

She chuckled. "I knew that you all would be!"

"Mom, be back in a sec." I signaled for Ash to follow me, and he nodded.

Ash went into the room he was staying in, putting Pikachu on their bed. I did the same thing as him and placed Piplup on my bed, and then pulled a blanket over him. Once we were done, we climbed down the stairs.

We all made out way towards the dining table and seated ourselves on the chairs surrounding it. Dad came out of his room as he sat down as well. "Why do you all look so sleepy, except for Ash and Dawn? Was your operation today really that tiring?"

Ash replied, "Actually, they fell asleep in the car... so their drowsiness still hasn't gone away. I think that, after having a meal, they might be freshed up."

I nodded. "We didn't sleep, as I was driving the car and Ash... wait... why didn't you sleep?"

"Because I wasn't feeling the need to?" he responded.

My mom served all the dishes on the dining table. Once we started eating, the sleepyheads felt more lively. Once we finished our meals, we were on our way back to our rooms. When we reached the room, I stretched. "I feel very tired."

May had entered the bathroom to change her clothes. I turned to her. "You change your clothes in here. I'll use the spare room to change, so that way we can get rid of these clothes early." I got up to take my night suit from my closet.

Leaf smiled. "Alright."

I collected my clothes and exited the room, closing the door behind me. I went into the spare room and undressed myself, after locking the door. When I was just in my lingerie, I pulled off my peach coloured track pants and shirt. I zipped up the shirt, on top of my white undershirt, and got rid of my headwear and let my hair loose.

Ah, I felt very light and comfortable now!

I exited the room and shut the door behind me, and then knocked on my bedroom door. "Are you guys done?"

I heard a muffled voice say, "Yeah, come in!"

I entered the room and put my clothes in the closet, and then looked around. Leaf was dressed in a green track suit, and May was wearing something similar, but in orange.

"Hm, I don't think we all will fit on one bed, so let's all sleep down on the futons. What d'ya say?" I said, with my finger under my chin. I quickly took out the futons from the bottom of my closet.

May asked, "Need some help?"

I nodded. "Please?" The other two girls helped me take the sheets and lay them down. After putting them on, I brought some blankets from the same place and pulled them over the futons.

"Oh, the boys won't be comfortable on the same bed either. I should show them where the bedsheets are kept. Wanna join?" I asked Leaf and May.

Leaf nodded. "Of course. That way, we'll see what they are doing!"

May winked. "Let's surprise them by our little visit!"

We all exited our room. The boys' room was across from ours, so it was only about two steps away. We heard laughter and voices from inside, so we thought that they were probably dressed already.

Leaf quickly opened the door without knocking. She pushed the door wide open, which resulted in our jaws dropping on the ground floor, eyes widened and embarrassment clearly written on our faces because of the view in front of us.

There were the three boys in just their shorts, completely shirtless.

I actually didn't care about Gary, as I was pretty used to it and I couldn't really careless about Drew...but my eyes were only stuck on Ash! No matter how hard I tried to look away, I couldn't! Anyway, to my stupid, bad luck, Ash was standing right in front of my view—I mean, directly in my field of vision!

The three were staring at us, faces completely blank. It looked like they were having a fun time, before we barged in like that...

We all stammered, "S-sorry!"

We then shut the door and all sighed a breath of relief. May turned to Leaf and exclaimed, "You shouldn't have opened the door without knocking!" Her face wasn't as red as ours...maybe because she was used to seeing her boyfriend? Might be.

Leaf replied, "I thought that they were already dressed because it had been almost an hour since we came back to our rooms!"

I turned to the two. "I think it's our fault, though. But, it's theirs, too. Man, it was so embarrassing!" I put my face in my hands; I could feel that my cheeks were burning.

Leaf placed placed a hand on my shoulder. "Same here, Dawn."

"Me too," May replied.

Our heads shot up in her direction. "Why are feeling so embarrassed?! You are his girlfriend!" We both said simultaneously.

She blushed as she scratched her cheek and turned in the other direction. "Uh... I have never seen him shirtless..."

Our eyes turned into small dot, dumbfounded. "Not even once?" Leaf questioned, still not believing.

She shook her head. "N-no."

"You have been in relationship for one year!" I exclaimed.

She said, nervously, while shaking her hands, "Hey, we have never gotten intimate in our relationship, okay? It's just that... I have never saw him like that... that's all. Also, the circumstances like these never occurred before..."

We all nodded, and this time, I knocked on the door. "Let's knock, this time."

The door swung open to reveal Gary, still shirtless. He said, casually, "You all can come in." I saw Leaf's face starting to heat up, her eyes a bit wide.

Leaf stuttered, "S-sure."

We all entered the room to see Ash laying on the bed and doing something on his mobile, while Drew was standing in front of the mirror and adjusting his hair... And neither was wearing a shirt...

Drew asked, "What's up?" I saw May staring at him in shock.

Gary nodded. "Yeah, why did you all run away when you entered before?"

My nerve twitched as I said through my clenched teeth, "Will you mind putting on shirts first? It's making us uncomfortable. And, for your kind information, we're all girls."

Ash stood up and came to us. "Sorry, but we can't. We all sleep like this only: shirtless. Also, this time, we don't have any girl staying with us in the same room. So, we have our freedom to do anything we like." He crossed his arms. He had directed all those words towrads me, reminding me of the memory when we were in the hotel...

I blushed, as threw my arms in the air, huffing, "Urgh, fine!" I crossed my arms and turned the other way with my cheeks puffed out.

Leaf was still blushing, but didn't show it. "Hey, Drew. What kind of a boyfriend are you?"

Drew looked taken aback by her comment, "What... do you mean?"

She sighed as she wrapped an arm around May's shoulder, who was looking anywhere but at Drew. "See this girl! She is your girlfriend, isn't she? Yet she is feeling shy around you after seeing you shirtless! She should be kinda used to seeing her boyfriend like this!"

"Leaf!" May exclaimed, embarrassed.

Gary nodded. "Yeah. Learn something from these two, they are not even our girlfriends, yet they keep seeing us without shirt... ain't I correct, Leaf and Dawn?" he teasingly asked with his eyes half-lidded.

We both blushed in embarrassment, and shouted at the same time, "Shut up, jerk!"

"Ow, my ears!"

Drew went to May, and he caught her shoulders, making her stare into his eyes, "Is this true?"

May nodded. "Y-yes."

The chartreuse-haired boy sighed, "I'm so sorry for making you uncomfortable!" He embraced her, pulling her close to his exposed skin. At first, it looked like she was shocked by his gesture, but slowly melted into his warmth, and she wrapped her arms around him.

"Wow." Was the only word that escaped my mouth.

Ash cleared his throat. "Ahem, your reason for coming in?"

I turned my head away from the lovebirds to Ash. "Oh, yeah, I was here to tell you that... this bed won't be enough for you all to sleep, s-"

I was cut off by Ash sarcastically saying, "Oh, really? Thanks for informing us."

I gritted my teeth. "Your welcome." I then sighed. "So, I was here to tell you where the futons were actually kept." I went to the closet and opened it. I crouched on the floor to remove the futons. "Here, they are." I pointed to them and the boys nodded.

Gary winked. "Alright, thanks."

I smiled. "No prob!"

Leaf said, "Since, our work is done here, we're going to get going!"

I nodded as I went to the door. Leaf pulled May away from Drew while she was passing by them. "Sorry, Drew, but we are going to be taking her along with us. You both can get intimate the next time you both stay in the same room."

I laughed. "Bye."

I saw Drew's eyes widen and mouth wide open. Also, he was blushing at Leaf's suggestion, and Gary and Ash were laughing at his expression.

We closed the door behind us and entered in our room. As soon as we entered, I collapsed on my bed. "Man, I am sleepy." I was about to close my eyes, but, just then, I felt the other two yank me up and making me stand, both holding on to my hands.

Leaf shook her head, saying, "Nope. You're not going to sleep now."

"W-what?!"

May winked. "Did you forget that we were going to have our girls' night?"

Leaf nodded with an evil smile. "Yep, so... that means that we are going to gossip... and have some fun!"

"Nooo!"

I was sitting in a circle, with Leaf and May, my arms and legs crossed, and an annoyed look on my face. They had taken a nap in the car and now they were forcing me stay awake with them! I hadn't taken even a blink of sleep!

"C'mon, Dawn! Don't sit there with your cheeks as puffed like a balloon!" Leaf giggled as she poked my cheeks.

I puffed my cheeks even more. "You all slept in the car and I didn't... and because of that, you all are so fresh now, but me? I didn't sleep a wink!"

May laughed. "Aw, you're so cute!"

"Have you guys been hearing me out?" I asked. "I am complaining!" I threw my hands in the air to show them.

"Okay, so let's play truth or dare!" Leaf suggested. "What do ya say, May?"

"Hello! I was saying something!" I waved my hands.

May nodded. "Yeah, I think it's a great idea!"

My jaw dropped. "You guys are ignoring me, aren't you?"

Leaf patted my head. "C'mon, let's play truth or dare!"

"I hate you guys, so much..."

"C'mon, lets start with Dawn!" May suggested. She and Leaf both turned to me, with evil looks shining in their eyes. "So, truth or dare?"

I knew that they would trap me if I chose dare... I answered, "Truth. I'm not going to take a dare."

Leaf pouted. "Damn, I was really looking forward to giving you a dare..."

May perked up, as she have an idea. "How about we play like each person gets to do both, the truth and the dare, and there won't be any choice, in that way so that they can do both the quests and the game will also end early?"

Leaf winked. "Great idea, May!"

I stared at them, dumbfounded. Then, I narrowed my eyes. "You guys have something evil planned in your mind, don't you?"

May nodded. "Anyway, lets pick a question for her... hm.." They both started to think about what question they would ask me.

Leaf snapped her fingers. "Hey, Dawn, what do you think of Ash?"

The May nodded excitedly. "Yeah, yeah! Tell us!"

My jaw dropped. "This is what you want to ask?! He is like a... friend... to me now..." I smiled as I said the word "friend." the flashbacks of when he was extremely nice to me in the past few days returning.

Leaf muttered, "Liar."

I smiled "Really, that's the truth... don't you remember that we practically hated each other before? But, after spending a month with him, I kinda like him now... as a friend..."

May pouted. "Really? Only a friend?" I nodded. "At least it won't take long for you to recognize him as more than just a friend!" She smirked.

I stared at her cluelessly. Then I asked, "What do you mean?"

They both giggled as Leaf patted my shoulder. "You'll understand soon enough."

Then, after some processing and repetition of her lines, I understood what she meant, and I blushed a deep shade of red.

I flashed them a smile. "I think I see him as a friend for... now, but if I do feel like I have some amount of romantic feelings towards him, then I'll tell you both, for sure. And be sure to give me advice on that one... pretty please?"

"Sure, you can count on us!" May grinned as she slapped my back, and Leaf just smiled softly at me. "Anyway, your dare, now... let's see..."

Leaf perked up. "I know!" She turned to me with evil eyes and her lips stretched in a smirk. "You should go to the boys' room and... get Ash's cap from him while he is asleep... alright?"

May squealed, "Yeah!" They high-fived each other for... trapping me...

I felt my eyes widened and my face twitched in distress. Why was I the only one to get trapped like this?! "If he wakes up while I am taking his cap... what will he think?! He will obviously take me as a thief or something?!" I tried to explain.

"Dawn," Leaf said, "this is why it's called a dare... you have to show how much guts you have! A dare can't be a simple one, can it?"

"Nuh-huh," May shook her head, agreeing with her point.

I sighed. "Alright, I'll do it. What's the worse that can happen, huh?" I got up from my place and went outside to the boys' room. I heard voices coming from their room, so it was obvious that they were still awake.

I quickly went back to my room and saw their questioning glances, and I explained to them the reason why I was back as I sat down in my place again. "May is up, next!"

She shrunk in her seat, afraid of what we might ask her to do. Leaf tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Lets take truth, first and then the dare. I would've asked you whether you had a 'one night' but, since you said that you had never seen Drew without a shirt until today... so, that answers the question."

I bit my lip, trying to think of a question. "Okay, let's make a simple truth and a difficult dare. So, May, tell us... who among you both, Drew and you, confessed, first? I mean, I am sure it would've been Drew, but still, tell us the whole story on how he confessed and stuff."

Leaf nodded excitedly. "Yeah, yeah, tell us about it!"

She scratched her cheek. "Actually... I was the one who confessed first..."

"What?!" Our jaws dropped.

"Y-yeah." She gave a nervous grin. "Listen quietly, and no interruptions, please." She glared at us and we nodded, and we each kept a finger on our lips."I did it because... I was really very frustrated with him! I tried to hint to him so many times that I liked him, but still he wouldn't confess! I got very angry at him, so then, out of rage, I slapped him and then, confessed..."

"You slapped him?" Leaf asked.

"And then you confessed your love?" I said.

"Yes."

Leaf and I burst into laughter as we high-fived each other. "So funny!" Leaf had her hand on her stomach.

"You first slapped him and then kissed him?" I felt tears escape from my eyes. "So, hilarious!" Seriously! It was really ridiculous!

May fidgeted with her fingers as she looked down. "Yeah... I know, right. After everything that happened, I realize now how ridiculous it was... Anyway, after confessing to him, I had stormed away from him and he didn't come and see me for the whole day! I was more than just furious! He didn't even try to call me or meet me! So, I thought he didn't like me and decided to forget about him. I spent the whole might in distress, thinking that because of my one stupid action our friendship might be strained... then, in the morning while I was asleep, he was standing in front of my bed with a bouquet of roses in his hand."

"Wow! How romantic!" Leaf gushed.

I asked, excitedly, "What happened next?"

She nodded. "Then, when I asked him how was he there... he said that he had his own way... Before he could say anything else, I told him that whatever I said that day meant nothing and I wasn't thinking... then, he chuckled and replied that I was a very stupid girl to first hurt him and then, love him... he climbed up on my bed and kissed me before saying 'I love you', and then he threw the rose in the air and when they fell, it looked like we were in heaven! The red petals were falling on us while we were kissing, making it look like a perfect scene for romantic movies... I was really impressed by him and because of that, I felt my eyes get wet from tears of happiness."

"Aw, so romantic!" Leaf and I exclaimed said in unison, as we clasped our hands under our chins.

"After that... he touched my cheek as he brushed away one of my tears and... he swore that he would make me the happiest girl on Earth... He would never give me another opportunity to cry or let any tear of sadness fall from my eyes... Man, I had never felt that happy in my entire life!" She buried her face in her hands.

We sighed dreamily. Leaf said, "It was so cute!"

I chuckled. "Geez, it was so cheesy!" I nudged May as I smirked. "You're lucky, girl!"

"Yeah... I know... Drew is the best boyfriend ever..." She sighed as she got lost in her dream world of Drew.

"Now, it's time for her dare...," Leaf reminded her. "I have a perfect one for you. Since the boys are still awake, why don't you go and give your sweet BF, a visit?"

May cocked her eyebrow to the side. "Only that much? It's easy."

"Wait, my dear, let me finish," Leaf smirked. "Tell Drew the exact same thing he told you while proposing to you. The same thing that involved the happiest girl and swearing and stuff. But you've to convert it all into your point of view and instead of girl, you have to say boy, referring to him. In front of Ash and Gary. How is it?"

"Perfect!" I winked.

Her eyes widened as she nervously gulped. We dragged her out of the room and I knocked the door. Gary opened the door while laughing, it looked like they were laughing over something... He asked, "What's up, ladies?" I saw Drew and Ash sitting on the floor, in a circle, just like us. Maybe they were playing something too? Well, who knows...

We pushed May inside the room and Leaf said, "May has something to say to Drew, right, May?" She wiggled her eyebrows at her, causing her to become even more nervous.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Y-yeah." I could feel sympathy for May, really. I think we were a bit too hard on her, just now...

Drew turned to her and flashed a smile. "What is it, May?"

She walked closer to him as Ash got up to give her some space and walked up to us. He whispered, "Why are you both smirking?"

Leaf responded, "You'll see in no time." Gary and Ash nodded, and they also kept their eyes on the couple of our group.

May was sitting across Drew as she placed her one palm on his cheek and said, "D-Drew, I swear that... I'll make you the happiest boy, not on the Earth... I'll never give you any opportunity to become disappointed, ever in your life, again."

It seemed like Drew had understood what she was saying because his eyes had widened for a split second when he heard her speak, but now he looked at her with soft eyes. He smiled. "May, if you are with me, then that is enough for you to make me the happiest boy alive." He cupped her cheek while she spoke.

She caught onto his palm, on her cheek, as she gazed into his emerald eyes. "Drew..."

Slowly, they both started to lean in and the next thing we knew, they were both kissing! We turned our heads away from their direction. Obviously, we'd feel a little bit of... you know... You can understand, right?

Gary chuckled. "You gave her this dare, didn't you?"

Leaf muttered, "Yeah, but who knew that a dare would become a kissing job..."

I nodded. "Drew is really that sweet kind of a boyfriend, isn't he?"

Ash crossed his arms. "You want one like that?"

Three pairs of eyes turned to him. I shook my head. "No, not that sweet, but not that tough, either. For me, anyone will work, but the guy should be capable of handling me and my demands, and should be able tolerate me. That's all, and, you know, it's very hard to find a guy like that. So, I am kinda not going to search for one, as he will only come to me... I don't need to worry about it! It's cool!" I whispered to him, so that only he would hear.

If Leaf and Gary heard that, then I would have to face a hell of interpretation from them!

Ash just stared at me. "You should know that there is no guy in the world who can tolerate you."

I laughed. "Correct, and you're one of them, right?"

He glared at me as he frowned. "No, I can tolerate you. If I couldn't, then I wouldn't spend my one month of life with you."

Why was he mad at me? Did I say something wrong? I stared at him with a clueless expression.

Leaf yelled, "May, lets go. Enough of your romance!" She dragged Leaf away once again, pulling me away from Ash in the process.

"Woah!" I yelped as the door closed shut and we entered back into our room. We positioned ourselves into the same order as before. I said, "Now, Leaf's turn!"

May smirked. "Since she was giving us the most dreadful truths and dares, now it's her time to face the situation as us." Leaf gave an apologetic expression. "Tell us whether you love Gary or not. Say the truth, okay?" I stared at her with glee.

She looked anywhere but at us. She nervously said, "I... I..."

I patted on her shoulder. "Hey, Leaf, it's alright. You can tell us, we won't tell it to anyone. This can be included in our books of secrets."

She nodded as she sighed with a small amount of blush. "Alright, I do love him. I don't know, but, he attracts me..."

"Alright." May nodded with a smile.

I tapped my chin. "Now, time for a dare. Aha... Okay, so, after the Twinleaf Town Festival, at night, after the display of the statue, there will be fireworks at exactly twelve. Your task is that you have to... kiss him on the... lips!"

Her jaw dropped. "What?!"

May slapped my back. "Great dare, Dawn!" She turned to Leaf. "C'mon, you have to do it."

She nodded as she sighed. "Alright, I'll do it. It has to be done at some point, anyway."

"That's more like it!" May grinned as we three burst into laughter. Then, she turned to me, "Dawn, it's time for your dare. I know they are already asleep, 'cause Drew had said that they were about to sleep when we were in there. Also, it's been almost thirty minutes since we returned from their room. So, best of luck, Dawn!"

I gulped. "Okay, okay. I'm going."

I exited my bedroom and made my way towards the boys' room. I didn't hear any voices or anything, and to make sure, I crouched and peeked inside from the keyhole and saw that the lights were switched off. I sighed as I slowly opened the door, making sure not to make any creak sound.

I sneaked in, shutting the door in the process, without making any noise. It was back to being all black and it took some time for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I saw Ash sleeping on the corner. It was a good thing that the boys were sleeping without touching each other's futons... they had a lot of space between them.

I took silent steps on the tips of my toes. When I reached the side where Ash was, I spotted his cap right next to his head. I just had to grab the cap and walk away from the room, that was all. What was the worse that could happen?

I kneeled down on the floor as I placed my hands on the ground and crawled a bit towards him. When I was next to Ash, still in that position, I was about to grab his cap-

I felt someone catch my hand, I was about to scream, but he placed his hand on my mouth. "What were you planning to steal?" I heard Ash whisper, and because of all that commotion, I was now laying down next to Ash. He was propped up on his left elbow, and I could feel him towering me with his body. Damnit, he was shirtless!

He removed his palm away from my mouth. "I... I..." I stuttered as my face started burning up.

He sighed at me and I felt his strands of hair drop on my forehead. He stared at me. "Say it, already and don't stammer this time." Man, his cologne was so strong... I could feel myself melt away in it!

I nodded. "I wasn't here to steal anything. I was here to do one of my dares!" I whispered quietly, making sure that I wouldn't wake up Gary and Drew.

He eyed me suspiciously. "What was the dare that you had to sneak up on me like this? Was it that you had to kiss me while I was asleep?"

"No!" My eyes widened as I blushed even darker. "I had to take your cap while you were asleep and show it to Leaf and May...," I admitted.

He narrowed his eyes. "That is nothing less than stealing, you know?"

I frowned. "Stealing means something you take by force and not returning it. I was just borrowing it... I would've returned to you in the morning, anyway." I realise that frown as I asked him with an innocent expression, "Why are you awake? I thought you were asleep!"

"I was asleep... until, you decided to sneak up next to me... you could call it an officer alarm." He shrugged.

I bit my lip nervously. "I'm sorry?"

He pursed his lips as he eyed me again. "Will you stop doing that?"

"What?"

"Will you stop biting your lip? I don't like it..." I quickly released my lips and let them stay normal. "Good. Anyway, I forgive you. It was just a dare, right?"

I nodded, a bit too quickly. "Yeah, it was just a dare! Okay, so, since you woke up... It makes it even more easier for me to do the task. Ash, can I borrow your cap till tomorrow morning?" I asked with a hopeful expression.

I saw him blush lightly. I inwardly smirked at it. "Alright, you can take it, but don't dirty it or anything, okay?"

I nodded as I flashed him a grin. "Okay! I'll make sure not to do that."

"Also, you can stop staring my chest now. It's creepy."

My eyes widened as I blushed even more, if I could, actually. I shook my head as I closed my eyes. "N-no, I wasn't s-staring at it! It's just that... your eyes are very captivating... that's the reason I was looking at your face."

He chuckled. "I could say the same for your eyes... they are very beautiful..."

I still had my eyes still closed, but I felt Ash's forehead touch mine and it felt like he had done it purposely. My eyes shot open at the touch, and I felt a sudden flip in my stomach. "I'll you the truth that... whenever I see you, it somehow calms me down and helps me relax, distracting me from my tension and stress. Thanks a lot. Although you're very irritating at times, I guess that's what makes me relaxed."

I ignored the insult and smiled. "Ha, I am glad that... at least, I make you feel calm... I thought that you didn't like me and hated me a lot... so, I'm glad that you like me, at least for that..." I couldn't ignore this warmth in my heart!

He chuckled, his head still on mine. "Yeah, I did hate you, at first... but, you aren't the type of girl that can be hated, you know? I tried to keep my hatred for you but... I couldn't. I must admit that you're someone special... to me..." My eyes widened as he nervously continued, "I mean... to everyone."

I closed my eyes, again, feeling as happy as I could ever feel. "Ash, thanks a lot. That means a lot to me... you're very... nice! I like you a lot! As a friend..."

"Yeah, friends... even, I like you... a lot... It's good that we're at least in some relationship... haha... Even if it's friendship..." I could feel his hot breath on my lips.

I saw him lean closer and closer, my breath hitched. What was he doing?! He doesn't want to kiss me, does he? But... I am not ready for a kiss! "A-Ash?"

"Shh." He placed a finger on my lips as he moved his face upward and kissed my forehead. I sighed. "G'night, talkative."

I smiled. "Night, Ash." I was about to go, but then I asked him, "Um... Ash, I gotta leave... so, would you mind getting up?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry." He moved aside and laid down on his bedsheet. He handed me his cap and said, "Here, take care of this and don't you dare lose it, alright?"

I nodded. "I wouldn't do that, even if you hadn't said it!" I got up, into a sitting position as I took the cap from him.

I was about to stand up when he said, "You know, I have a dare, too, which kinda involves you. So I'm warning you that you should be ready anytime, okay?"

"What if I say no?" I wondered.

He smirked. "Then I'll reveal it to everyone that you had come into my room and asked the cap instead of taking it away. And, did you think that I would actually help you out in your dare without getting you in trouble for no reason? Of course, I had this planned out as soon as I saw you here. So, it's kind of a favour, which you already took and you have to return the favor by going along with me in my dare. You can say that it's fighting a dare with a dare. Now, what's your answer?"

My mouth was hanging wide open. "You're really one devil! I can't believe that you did all that just for me to help you out in your dare? You're such an... evil guy!" I sighed as I said, "You won't take no for an answer, will you?" He shook his head. "Then, how can I not say yes... Obviously, it's a yes."

He pulled the blanket over himself. "Now get out. Bye."

I exclaimed as my eyebrow twitched. "How rude!" I slowly walked out of the room, and when I was out, I couldn't help but lean on the door with both of my hands on my chest, feeling my heartbeat. One of my hands held his cap, so his cap was held to my chest, making my heart go berserk.

I sighed dreamily. "Ash... why are you like this? Like a tsundere character of an anime... I don't understand why my heart starts to feel very fluttery but... I like it. Ash Ketchum... why do you make me feel like this? What does it mean? Once again, Ash... why are you like this?"

I went into the room to see Leaf and May already asleep in their places and the lights switched off. I also went to my futon, laid down on it, and pulled the blanket over my head.

"I could say the same for your eyes... they are very beautiful..."

I rolled in my place, as I felt my cheeks starting to burn up very much! I knew I had a toothy smile on my face as I reminisced about what he said me in his room..

"I'll you the truth that... whenever I see you, it somehow calms me down and helps me relax, distracting me from my tension and stress. Thanks a lot. Though, you're very irritating at times, but I guess that's what makes me relaxed."

Even if he did insult me and made a fool out of me in the end... but, I guess that's what his personality is like... if he wouldn't have done that, then I am sure that I would've doubted him about him being Ash... That was just like Ash...

"Yeah, I did hate you, at first... but, you aren't the type of girl that can be hated, you know? I tried to keep my hatred for you but.. I couldn't. I must admit that you're someone special... to me..."

Though I wasn't expecting him to say all of that... out of nowhere. I hugged Piplup close to my chest, and I felt him get comfortable in my hold. I could feel that stupid smile still on my face. Even though he was very scary, at first... I don't know why... but I could get comfortable around him...

"Yeah, friends... even, I like you... a lot... It's good that we're at least in some relationship... haha... Even if it's friendship..."

Ash, you don't know how... weird you make me feel... every time, you talk to me with that soothing voice instead of your usual arrogant voice... you're the only person who made me feel like this in my entire life... Just tell me who you are?! And what are you doing to me?! And how you are able to do that?!

I do admit now, that...

I might have a... tiny itsy-bitsy of crush on you... Ash Ketchum...

KA-BOOM! Finally, she admitted to herself! Wasn't that a huge surprise for you guys? (As far as I think, I didn't really give you guys any warning, right?)

...Whoa, what happened to Ash? Is that really the Ash Ketchum that we know of?!- That's what you all are thinking, right?! Yes? Maybe not? I dunno but...I really thought so when I re-read this chapter some days ago! Since I had written it long back! Anyway, what do you think? Be sure to lemme know your thoughts!

I personally loved the scene between Ash and Dawn in the boys' room! That made me so excited! Seriously! What about you?

Ah yeah, a question! - Do you think Dawn will confess in the next few chapters? Or do you think it'll take some time?

Think about it and lemme know through your reviews!

One more thing, how many total chapters do you this story will have? Any idea? I'd like to know what you think! So, do tell me!

And what's that thing about dare that Ash spoke of...?! What is he going to do?

Stay tuned and you'll know it the next time I update this story! Until then, keep reading!

Bye-bye! Signing off!