As sunlight streamed into Gary's room, the rays hit Leaf's face, causing her to stir from her slumber. Blinking in confusion, she looked at the items in front of her. A desk covered in papers, a laptop in the middle of it opened with its screen dark, the chair not pushed under the desk with a few clothes thrown on it, a nightstand with a lamp beside the bed.

She knew this set up even though she hadn't been here in years. She was in Gary's room.

As her mind cleared of the grogginess she remembered last night. How that guy had almost succeeded, Gary stopping him, taking her home, letting her stay, her asking him to sleep beside her because she was scared.

She then realized that Gary's arm was still wrapped around her, protectively. She smiled to herself at his actions. He hadn't hesitated and he had known she didn't want anyone else to see her in her vulnerable state. He always knew what she was feeling, despite her walls. He knew that they had been falling last night and had taken her out of the prying eyes of others.

She saw her phone on the nightstand and reached for it, being careful to not disturb Gary who was still asleep. His soft snores were the only way she knew since he was so still. She yawned and opened up her text messages, seeing one she knew she hadn't sent.

Staying with Dawn tonight.

Shockingly, the response was an agreement with no questions.

She silently thanked Gary for his thinking of that, because if not things would have not been well this morning. Plus, she was in no hurry to go home. She put her phone back on the nightstand, before she snuggled back into Gary's embrace. A small smile coming across her face as he subconsciously pulled her tighter and closer to him.

Gary woke up about half an hour after Leaf had fallen back asleep. He glanced at her and saw that she was still asleep. Her hair covering her face slightly, one hand under her cheek that laid on the pillow, and the other against his chest, lightly holding onto his shirt.

He smiled at the sight. Right now, he was able to see her without her tough exterior and without her walls up. She was calm and at peace. No worries that she had to deal with. He missed this Leaf.

He carefully brushed her hair from her face and he just looked at her. His mind wondering so many things, he just wanted to know what had caused her to change so drastically and he hoped that one day she would open up to him and reveal the truth to him.

Leaf's soft snores filled the room and Gary just laid awake, letting her sleep. She was too content to wake up, plus she deserved it after last night.

She shifted slightly, burying her face in Gary's neck and he felt her breath on his neck as she slept.

As Gary laid awake he also began to wonder if he was beginning to fall for her. This fake relationship at times felt so real and not like an act. But Leaf was so hung up on the bet and afraid to lose, claiming that she couldn't lose it. Gary no longer cared about the bet. He just wanted her back to herself.

He also wondered if she would be in their friend group again since Serena and Shauna had basically removed her from their group. Or would she decide to be a lone wolf...

He glanced at his clock and saw that it was nine. Usually he was awake already and up for the day, but he didn't mind still being in bed. He just wanted to make sure that Leaf was okay. He wanted her to know that he was here for her no matter what.

A small cry pulled him from his thoughts. He glanced down at Leaf and saw her face scrunched up. She was having a bad dream.

"No...please..." she mumbled.

Gary shook her, "Leaf, wake up."

He shook her harder, "Leaf!"

Her eyes snapped open and she looked around wildly. Her breathing was ragged and her eyes were burning.

"Hey...it's okay. It was just a bad dream." Gary said, causing her to lock eyes with him.

Gary could see the unshed tears that threatened to fall. She was trembling as she sat there, staring at Gary.

"It's okay, Leaf. You're safe," Gary said, softly.

The tears fell and Gary wrapped his arms around her. She clung to him as she cried, her body shaking, her voice failing her as she tried to speak. Gary ran his hand through her hair and whispered to her.

"You're safe, Leaf. I got you,"

She took a breath and pulled back. "Sorry," she muttered, brushing her hair from her face.

"Why are you apologizing?" Gary asked, wiping a tear from her cheek.

"I've just been crying a lot recently. I'm a mess,"

Gary brushed her hair back. "You've always been a mess though, Green."

Leaf heard the teasing tone in his voice and shoved his shoulder.

"Shut up!" she laughed.

"Got you smiling."

"Thanks,"

The two were now in the kitchen of Gary's house, enjoying breakfast and each other's company. Leaf was at complete ease right now, her walls were down, and Gary could only see her old self.

"There are so many great memories in this house." Leaf said, setting her mug down and looking around her.

A look of longing had came across her face.

"Everything was simpler. There wasn't so much drama or the worrying of a label at school. Not a care in the world. I miss the old times...I really do."

She sighed, wrapping her hands around her mug. "Those days are over though..."

Gary placed his hand on hers. "They don't have to be."

She pulled her hand away and shook her head.

"Those days are long gone, Gary. Nothing's the same anymore. It's the past."

"But you can change, Leaf."

"I can't Gary."

Gary could see that she was about to put her walls up and the facade would be back.

"Don't!" he cried, grabbing her hand.

She stared at him, shocked by his outburst.

"Don't what?" she asked, sounding genuinely confused.

"Don't put your walls up and shut me out. Please, don't do it again, Leaf."

"I don't do that." Leaf responded.

Gary felt his eye twitch in annoyance. Was she being serious right now?!

"Are you serious?" he asked.

She hugged her stomach, a sign she was uncomfortable. Her eyes were downcast.

"It's just easier to push people away and put on a mask." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's easy to be someone else. I can't be the girl you used to know. I'm not the five year old who colored on this very floor with you. I'm not the eight year old who broke her arm falling off of my bike because you dared me to ride down a hill. I'm not the ten year old that tripped you in this house and ended up causing you to fall down your stairs, resulting in a broken arm. I'm not the awkward girl in ninth grade. I'm not the same Leaf Green and I can't be..."

"Why Leaf? Why can't you?"

"It's easier this way." she replied, a sad smile on her face.

"Leaf-"

"I need to get home." she interrupted.

Gary nodded his head. He wouldn't push her anymore. He could tell that she was uncomfortable and she had revealed more than she had intended.

"I'll get my keys." he simply replied as he got up.

Leaf nodded her head and got up. She set her plate in the sink and rinsed out her mug. She heard Gary's footsteps coming back downstairs, so she headed for the doorway.

"I grabbed your things and put them in this." he said, handing her a small duffel bag.

"Thanks,"

As she put the bag over her shoulder, she realized she was still in his hoodie.

"I'll get this back to you."

"Keep it. It looks better on you anyways."

Leaf followed him in silence to his car. The drive was silent besides the music playing on the radio.

Leaf walked into her room, dropping the bag on her floor, before walking over to her dresser. On top was a little music box with an Eevee on top. She opened it and removed the flashdrive that was inside it. Flopping onto her bed, she booted up her laptop and plug the flashdrive in.

"I'm gonna regret this..." she muttered.

She clicked on the only folder that was saved on the flashdrive. She clicked on the first picture to make it full screen.

A picture of Ash, Dawn, Gary, and herself filled her screen. Another picture of her on Gary's back after she had ran and jumped on his back. Thankfully, he had caught her, but afterwards had started spinning with her on his back, both of them laughing. Herself and Dawn sitting on the bleachers before school one morning. Her and Dawn dressed for a dance. A picture of herself and Gary covered in flour, after a flour fight when she had tried to bake some cookies with Gary one day. Ash and Dawn had arrived shortly after the fight had finished and Dawn had snapped a picture. The four of them in their swimsuits after a day at the lake. Ash and herself smiling goofily at the camera.

Leaf stared at the picture that now filled the screen and remembered what had happened afterwards. The picture was of herself and Gary, at her last birthday party that she was friends with them. Gary had just given her this necklace with a beautiful 'L' on the chain. He had clasped the necklace around her neck and she had hugged him. The two had nearly kissed if it hadn't been for her mom calling for her. The picture was of the two staring at one another, Gary held one of her hands.

She slammed her laptop shut and curled up in a ball on her bed. She smelled Gary's scent on the hoodie that she still wore, since it was his. She closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. Her mind was racing. Her heart was beating rapidly. She felt hot, but refused to take the hoodie off. She didn't feel like she was here currently.

She took a breath and allowed the tears to fall.

She needed security and the only thing that would offer that right now was burying her face in Gary's hoodie. She knew she shouldn't have looked at the pictures. But against her better judgement she had. Now she was torn.

What do I do come Monday? Should I be me or keep the mask?

Please R&R