Dawn sat in the booth of the diner, nervously tapping her fingernails on the table.

The door to the diner swung open, and in walked Hilda, May and Iris. "Hey girl!" May chimed, before she took a seat beside Dawn. The lovebirds sat opposite from Dawn and May.

"So what's going on, Dawn?" Hilda asked, concerned. "Girls.. I caught Misty.. cheating on Gary." Dawn admitted, causing the trio to blink in surprise. "I'm not really good friends with Gary.. but I'm not sure what to do.. he really likes Misty and she seems to make him happy.. but it'd be so wrong not to tell him." Dawn explained.

"Is that why Serena isn't here?" May asked. Dawn sweatdropped, "I felt like I needed your opinions.. you guys don't know Gary very well either so I thought with your help we could make a logical solution. I love Serena, but she would be very biased." She explained.

"Well obviously tell him.. sure she makes him happy, but what Misty is doing is wrong. He deserves to know the truth." Hilda explained. "But we don't know Misty or Gary well at all.. for all we know, they could be in an open relationship." May suggested. The brunette wasn't a fan of open relationships, the thought of sharing Drew with somebody didn't sit well with her, but she knew some people liked the idea of them.

"If they were in an open relationship.. I'm sure Gary would be all over Serena." Iris grinned, causing Hilda to laugh. "Guys.." Dawn sighed, wanting to stay on topic. Usually she was fine to tease her friends, like Serena, but this was a serious conversation.

"No actually, Iris has a point. If they were in an open relationship, Gary would probably, also be all over someone else.. not necessarily Serena." May admitted. "I think you should tell him. It'll hurt him, as he and Misty have been together for.. well definitely a while.. but I think it'd be for the better." Iris explained.

"If someone found out that Drew was cheating on me, I'd be gutted if they didn't tell me." May admitted. Hilda nodded, "I agree, think you should tell him." She said.

"What should I just call him?" Dawn asked, nervously. "I think so.." May agreed. "We'll help you with it, we'll be with you the whole time." Hilda smiled. Iris smiled too. Dawn smiled back, "Thank you guys. I really don't want to be the bearer of bad news.. but you guys are right.. Gary deserves to know the truth.." Dawn sighed, placing her phone on the table.

-

Serena knocked on Gary's door, before taking a step back. She held his leather jacket in her arms, finally returning it. It was crazy to think she hadn't seen Gary since she was in hospital.

The door swung open and a spiky haired brunette stood in the doorway. "Serena!" He boomed, his face lighting up. This caused Serena to smile, "Hey Gary!" She chimed back.

"This is for you." She said, holding out the serpent jacket to Gary. "I tried to stitch up the holes on the back.. I'm not an incredible sewer though." Serena sweatdropped. Gary took the jacket back excitedly, "It's fine, thank you! Come inside." He said, pulling the jacket on before he walked inside. Serena followed behind him.

"How's things? Have you been feeling better?" Gary asked, before turning to face Serena. "Honestly, yeah. Staying with Dawn and her Mum have really helped.. I feel so much safer with them." She admitted. "Tomorrow Johanna and I are gonna go to the police and see what we can do." Serena added. "That's awesome, I'm really happy for you." Gary smiled. Serena smiled back.

"Now what's this homework I'm helping you with?" The girl asked. Gary sweatdropped, Serena had a good memory. "I wanna have a smoke first, then we can get to it." He decided. "Fine.." Serena hesitantly replied.

The pair went out the back door, and onto the balcony. There were two hammock chairs on opposite sides of the balcony, and between them, a comfortable bench. The pair sat in the hammock chairs, though Gary sat in the right one, as the wind wasn't blowing towards the left one which means he wouldn't blow smoke into Serena's face.

"So what happened with the competition?" Gary asked, as he was lighting up a cigarette, the cartoon sitting in his lap. "Ursula got us disqualified.." Serena sighed, before she explained the situation. "Wow.. that's rough. Dawn surely isn't keeping her on the team, is she?" Gary asked. Serena shook her head, "Nah she got booted." She admitted.

Gary's pocket shook, as he received some messages. He took it out of his pocket, to see Misty had messaged him.

Misty: Hey babe, I love you so much. Please don't ever forget that ️

Gary just smiled, "God I love her.." He chuckled. Serena tilted her head, confused. Gary turned his phone around to show her the message, before he placed his phone back in his pocket. He'd reply soon, but usually if he started texting Misty, the pair would end up texting back and forth for hours.. right now Gary wanted to spend time with Serena.

"You really like her, huh?" Serena asked. "Like? That's an understatement." Gary chuckled, before taking a puff of his cigarette. Serena sweatdropped, in her opinion, Gary and Misty were in a toxic relationship.. she hoped one day Gary would realise that for himself.

"Have you got your eye on anybody, short stuff?" Gary asked, breathing smoke out. "Hey! I'm not much shorter than you." Serena huffed, "But uh.. no not really. I've just been focusing on myself lately.. a lot has been going on." She admitted. "Yeah that's fair enough.. I respect that." Gary replied, with a slight smile. Serena couldn't help but blush lightly, "He looks breathtaking when he smiles.." She thought. "Wait - why would I think that?!" Serena blinked, blushing a bit more, as she was embarrassed.

Gary raised an eyebrow, "What has you looking so red?" He asked. "Uh- it's nothing it's just.." Serena trailed off. "You should smile more.. you look more attractive when you smile." She admitted, before realising what she had told him. "Serena, what the actual fuck!?" She thought to herself. Gary just chuckled, before taking another drag of his cigarette. "I can say the same to you princess, you look prettier when you smile." He replied, casually.

Serena didn't know what she was blushing over more, the fact that Gary complimented her, or the fact that he gave her such a nickname. "P..princess?" She blurted, before giggling. Gary then blushed, "I guess that's sticking now." He admitted, embarrassed. "Just don't tell your girlfriend.. she might try and come after me.." Serena giggled nervously. Gary sweatdropped, he couldn't argue that - Misty was the jealous type.

-

"Okay.. I'll call him now.." Dawn decided, bringing up Gary's contact number. The group were now outside the diner, sitting beside Dawn's car. Dawn leant against the front of the car, while May sat on the hood. Iris and Hilda were standing on the opposite to Dawn, holding hands, as they peered down at her phone.

"Here goes.." Dawn bit her lip, before she called the brunette. "Just remember what we discussed." May smiled, reassuringly. "Right.. of course." Dawn replied.

"Hm.. who is calling me?" Gary blurted, as his phone began to ring. "Probably Misty being you didn't answer her texts." Serena teased. "Hush." Gary shushed his best friend, before he took his phone from his pocket. "It's.. Dawn?" He admitted, surprised. Serena blinked in surprise too.

Gary answered the phone, and held it to his ear, "Hello?" He asked. "Hey Gary, it's Dawn." Dawn replied. "Hey, what's up? Are you alright, I heard about what happened at the competition today." Gary asked.

Dawn had the phone on speaker, as the four girls listened. "Aw~ I'm fine, thank you. My knee was dislocated but it's starting to feel a lot better." She explained. "That's good to hear at least, better luck next time - right?" Gary replied.

"Yeah.. yeah true.. hey I have something to tell you.. Misty isn't around, is she?" Dawn asked. Serena raised an eyebrow, just managing to hear Dawn's voice from where she was sitting. "Misty isn't around, no.. why is that?" Gary asked, concerned.

Dawn sighed, "Gary.. I went into the school once our bus got back this afternoon.. and Ursula and I caught Misty and Paul practically with their tongues down eachother's throats. She tried to scare me into not telling you.. but you deserve to know.." She said. Gary blinked in surprise, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I'm sorry Gary, but Misty is cheating on you." Dawn finally said.