XashXdawnX - Just wanted to give a warning that a part of this chapter could be triggering so read with caution. I own nothing, all rights go to the respectful owners.
It was finally the weekend and Leaf was ready for the party tonight. She had been going crazy with boredom at home. She had gotten word that her friends were going to be at the party tonight.
"Are they even my friends anymore?" Leaf wondered to herself.
What would she do if they weren't? Go back to being a loner like she was at her old schools. That sounded boring and she didn't want to really do that. But what other option did she have?
Well there is another option...
"Not happening." Leaf muttered.
Why not?
"That's dangerous. And I'm fully having a conversation with myself. Cool. Arceus, I need other people!"
Thankfully, her contacts had came in yesterday so she wouldn't have to wear her glasses to the party. She walked to her closet and looked at her clothes.
"What to wear..." she muttered as she shifted her hangers to the side, looking at her options.
"I need to make a statement. If I'm going to be without Shauna and Serena, I need to look as if I never had them before. I need to look better than what they will because usually, they help me..." Leaf said.
She shifted the hangers again, sighing. She had no idea what to wear! She didn't know fashion that well!
She looked at her phone. Before she thought too much about it she grabbed it and typed a message and sent it.
"You'll never believe who just texted me." Dawn said, sitting up on Ash's bed.
"Who?" Ash asked.
Gary looked up from his book, waiting.
"Leaf,"
Gary coughed. "What?"
"She needs fashion help."
"And she asked you?"
"Yeah, she doesn't know what to wear to the party tonight. Usually she would have help from the two idiots she hangs out with, but she doesn't know if they're friends still. She isn't the greatest at fashion for parties. And she wants to outdo them both."
"Girls..." Ash muttered.
"Right?" Gary asked.
Dawn smacked Ash and threw a pillow at Gary.
"Well I will see you guys at said party." Dawn said as she hopped off of Ash's bed.
She pecked Ash's lips and was out the door.
"What just happened?" Ash asked.
"Leaf just reached out to Dawn..." Gary muttered.
"Do you think we might get her back?" Ash asked.
"I don't know, but I sure hope so." Gary replied.
"Me too..."
"You know I wasn't expecting you to text me." Dawn said as Leaf hopped in.
"Well...I suck at fashion and you were always glued to those fashion magazines." Leaf replied.
"So what's the goal?" Dawn asked as she started driving towards the mall.
"Well these are outfits that we've worn to parties before." Leaf said as she pulled some pictures up on her phone.
When at a red light, Dawn looked at them quickly.
"Okay...well those are...statements." Dawn said.
"Nice way of saying slutty." Leaf said and laughed.
"I think I know just the thing. It'll be sexy, but classy."
"It's a party, Dawn."
"I know it is."
"Okay..."
"Try these on." Dawn said, handing a few dresses to Leaf.
"But-"
"Nope. Go."
Leaf sighed and walked into a dressing room.
She looked at the options. All were dresses.
"Hmm...she's still got it." Leaf muttered as she grabbed one of the dresses.
She was now dressed in a light pink party dress. The top half was strapless and bedazzled while the skirt of it was tulle and poofed, falling to her knees.
"So I'm not really feeling the pink." Leaf said as she stepped out.
"Yeah, I knew the pink wasn't gonna be it." Dawn said.
"Then wh-"
"I wanted to see the dress. They only had pink in the style. Okay, so strapless is a yes. Tulle...not so much. Next!"
Leaf went back and changed into dress number two. A sleeveless dress that was form fitting and green.
"I usually like green, but this is just not setting well on a dress."
"I agree. I like the look, but it's too much green. Next!"
Leaf changed into the last dress that Dawn had picked out. It was actually a two piece dress. The top was strapless and covered in jewels and sparkles. The skirt flared out, but didn't have a lot of tulle, it was just enough for a nice poof. It was purple.
"Wow..."
Leaf walked out and didn't comment.
"What do you think?" Dawn asked.
"I'm speechless, honestly. This is amazing."
"I knew that was gonna be the dress."
"Really?"
"Yep. It fits your style the best. Now change and I'm gonna find you some shoes."
Leaf laughed and went to change.
By time she had changed and hung the reject dresses on the rack, Dawn had found heels.
"These!" she cried.
Leaf looked at the heel. A black stiletto.
"Love it! You're amazing at fashion, Dawn."
"I try,"
Leaf went to pay for the dress and shoes.
"What are you wearing?" Leaf asked as they left the store.
"A sparkly, cocktail dress that's silver."
"Umm thanks for helping me..." Leaf muttered.
"Of course, Leaf. Want me to help you get ready?"
"Could you?"
"That's why I offered."
Leaf smiled.
"So, have you heard from Serena or Shauna since the fight?" Dawn asked.
"Nope. I think I just ended that horrid friendship." Leaf replied as she set her bags down on Dawn's floor.
"What are you going to do if they're not your friends anymore?"
"No idea..."
... ... ...
Leaf looked at her reflection.
"I have to say that this is by far my favorite party look." she said.
She was wearing the dress that Dawn had chosen for her. Her makeup was a smokey eye with a nude lip and her hair had been curled and pulled back so it didn't fall in her face.
"Glad you like it." Dawn said, smiling and nodding at her reflection.
Dawn's dress was a silver, sparkly cocktail dress and she had on clear heels. Her hair was straight and she had teased it some to add volume. Her makeup was done in a smokey eye with a pink lip.
"Gary's coming to get you right?" Dawn asked.
"Yes, I texted him earlier. We'll meet you and Ash at the party."
Dawn nodded her head.
Dawn had left, but had left a key for Leaf so she could lock the house. Leaf was now just waiting for Gary to arrive.
The doorbell rang and Leaf went to answer.
"Well you clean up nicely." Leaf commented.
Gary was dressed in dark jeans with a plaid button down and boots.
"You look incredible, Leaf."
"Props to Dawn. She knows her stuff."
As Leaf got into Gary's car she had to move a leather jacket.
Damn...Gary in leather will be something. she thought and then shook her head.
"Ready?" Gary asked as he parked on the side.
Leaf looked at the house, more like mansion, where the party was being held.
"Are you ready?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course, Leafy." Gary said as he slid his jacket on.
Leaf eyed him, appreciating the look.
"Like?" Gary asked, cocking his eyebrow.
Leaf just rolled her eyes.
"Show time, Oak."
Gary wrapped his arm around her waist as the two headed to the door to make their appearance.
As soon as they walked in, Serena and Shauna appeared.
"I didn't think you would show." Shauna said.
Serena's nose was bandaged and she was glaring at Leaf.
"In case you didn't know, you're out." Serena said.
"Like I care." Leaf replied.
"Bitch..." Serena muttered as Leaf and Gary went to walk away.
Leaf stopped beside Serena.
"I would watch yourself, Serena. Or I'll be sure to mess up more than just your nose next time."
She saw the fear in Serena's eyes and smirked as she walked off.
"Really Leaf?" Gary asked.
"It's fun," she replied with a laugh.
They finally met up with Ash and Dawn.
... ... ...
"I'll be right back." Leaf said to Gary.
"Okay,"
She pushed her way through the crowd of people and made her way upstairs. As she headed towards the bathroom her wrist was pulled and she stumbled back.
"Wh-"
A hand covered her mouth and she struggled, but it was useless as someone pulled her into a room.
... ...
"Hey have you seen Leaf?" Gary asked.
"Dawn went to get her." Ash replied.
"What do you mean?"
Ash's response was cut short as Dawn ran over.
"Guys follow me, quick."
"What-"
Dawn hurried off and they followed.
"Some guy followed Leaf and when I went to check the bathroom no one was there. I think..." Dawn trailed.
They hurried up the stairs.
"Ash, you check that side. Dawn, you stay out here and if we find her, tell the other." Gary said as he headed towards a door.
... ...
"You're the girl that messed up Serena's face. I had to see what you were like."
Leaf struggled, but couldn't get him off of her. She felt his hand on her leg.
"I thought this would be more of a fight..."
Leaf closed her eyes as she felt his hand start to slide up.
"You fucking asshole!"
The weight was off of Leaf and she opened her eyes to see Gary punching the guy.
"Leaf?"
Dawn was beside her now.
"Come on, let's get you out of here." she said.
Leaf followed Dawn out of the room. She saw Ash, talking to Gary. The girls waited outside of the room.
"Leaf, are you okay?" Dawn asked.
"I'm fine. Nothing happened." Leaf replied.
"Hey..." Gary said, softly as he approached.
Leaf looked at him and Gary could see through the act that she was putting on. Her wall was up, but it was close to crumbling. He could see the vulnerability breaking through, but she was trying to remain tough.
"I'm gonna take Leaf home." he said.
Ash and Dawn nodded their heads.
"I'll make sure..." Ash trailed.
... ...
Gary opened Leaf's door and she got in silently. He climbed into his car and looked at Leaf.
"Leaf?"
"I don't want to go home..." she muttered.
"How about we go to my place? I'll make you coffee."
She nodded her head. She had her arms wrapped around her stomach and Gary frowned.
... ...
"I don't want to go home..." Leaf muttered as they walked into Gary's house.
"You can stay here. Gramps, he won't mind. You're always welcomed here, Leaf."
Gary glanced at her.
"I'll be right back."
He hurried up to his room and looked through his drawers. He grabbed two items and went back to where Leaf was.
"Here, I figured you might want out of the dress." he said.
Leaf looked and saw that he had gotten a hoodie and sweats for her. She took the hoodie.
"I'm too short to wear your pants."
"Okay. I'll start on your coffee and you can go and change."
... ...
Leaf walked back out of the bathroom and bit her lip.
Gary glanced at the stairs and heard a noise. He walked upstairs and into his room where a bathroom was. Leaf was on the floor, crying.
"Hey...hey you're okay..." he said and slowly approached.
He knelt down in front of her.
"Leaf..."
She wiped at her eyes.
"I'm okay..." she muttered.
"Leaf, you don't have to act tough. What you just went through...it's okay to feel." Gary said and carefully grabbed her hand.
"I know..."
She squeezed his hand and stood up.
"Is the coffee ready?" she asked.
"Yeah, it just finished before I came up here." Gary replied as he stood.
Leaf nodded and walked out of the room, Gary following.
... ...
Leaf sat on the couch and yawned.
"Are you tired?" Gary asked.
"Nah, I'm okay." she replied.
A little while later Gary looked and saw Leaf sound asleep. He grabbed the mug that was on the table and put it in the kitchen before walking back to the couch. He carefully scooped Leaf up and carried her upstairs. He walked into his room and pulled the covers down without disturbing her. He laid her down on the bed and gently pulled the cover over her.
Gary started walking away, but stopped as he felt her grab his hand.
"Will you stay?" she asked.
"Leaf..."
"Please, Gar..."
"Okay,"
He slid under the covers and Leaf instantly curled up against him.
"Can you hold me?" she asked.
Gary knew she just wanted to be comforted after everything.
"Of course, Leafy." he said and pulled her closer and wrapping her in his arms.
He kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, Leafy." he said, feeling that she was relaxed and back fast asleep.
Please R&R