Hiya! I suppose this is like a mini-sequel to Introduction, which is when Dawn, Ash, and Brock meet up with Misty. This is off of a request from a reviewer going by the name Han. I hope this meets expectations! :)

"Okay, keep your cool, Dawn," the bluenette girl was saying to herself. "It's just Paul, who you've spoken to several times, on several occasions," she tried to assure herself. She had told Brock and Ash she was going shopping, but really, she had noticed that Paul was in the same Pokémon Center as them, and wanted to go talk to him without the boys being there. She was heading up to his room, gripping a piece of lined paper, and waiting. Not waiting for him; he was in his room. No, she was waiting for herself to stop freaking out.

Then the door opened, and Dawn yelped. There he stood, in all his...well, maybe glory wasn't the correct word. Perhaps darkness, or creepy, scary aura. Anyway, he stood in front of her, glowering at the girl who had been pacing up and down the hall. "What are you doing?" he asked, or rather, demanded.

"Erm...walking? Uh, exercise, ya know?" she tried. He just looked at her, not believing the obvious lie. "Eh, heh heh. Um..." What was she going to say? Now was not the time to blank! But, that's exactly what she was doing. She had no idea why it was just so difficult to just talk to him, but it did. Maybe it was his outwardly harsh personality, maybe it was the complicated look in his eyes, or the disconcerting way he never answered her, but whatever it was, it quite froze her up.

"Why are you in front of my door, talking to yourself?" he clarified coldly. She put her hands behind her back and rocked back on her heels.

"Um...I don't know...?"

He rolled his eyes. "Sure. Now, what's behind your back?" he asked instead. She pursed her lips and avoided his eyes, making his sigh in deep annoyance. "Look, I don't have the time for this. Tell me what you wanted to tell me, or leave. Now."

"H-How did you know I wanted to tell you something?" she stalled.

"...Call it instinct. Now if that's all..." He stepped back into his room and made to shut the door. Dawn yelped again and stuck her boot in between the doorway.

"Wait!"

He obligingly paused, but was clearly irritated.

"I...I..." But she got too scared, and shoved the letter she had been hiding into his hands and bolted, her face red with embarrassment. After she had left, Paul, back sitting on the edge of his bed, unfolded the letter, written in a light blue pen. It was indeed addressed to him, as said on the top.

Dear Paul,

I decided to write you a letter in case you wouldn't let me tell you what I wanted to say, or I couldn't get myself to tell you. I really wanted to tell you myself, but the fact that you're reading this tells me that obviously, I wasn't able to. But what I need to say, is that I really like you, as both a friend, and more.

We haven't exactly ever seen eye-to-eye, nor are we exceptionally close. But I just feel a bond with you, and I hope you see it too. Despite me traveling with Ash and you two being rivals and all, I can honestly tell you right now that I don't know who I want to win between you too. Because you are both my friends, and I want to be friends even if you don't.

And, if you only see me as an annoyance, then at least see what I think of you before you move on and forget about me. And when you do that, know that, though I know it would hurt me forever, I understand completely. The reason I've never said any of this is because...(well, you're going to think of me as a complete idiot for saying this, but)...I was really scared of how you would react. Do you hate me right now? Even more than before? Or are you not even blinking as I put my heart and soul into this letter?

I think that you're really strong, both on the outside and inside, that you train so hard for reasons private to you and yourself alone. And I accept that. But if you ever do need a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, for anything at all, I'll be there for you. Please know that I want to be there for you. But you have to let me in first. Remember that, please.

Love, Dawn.

Paul blinked. Never in his life had he received something so thought-out and planned, and something that so blatantly showed that someone (besides Reggie) cared. Cared about him, for him. Not as a dark, rude jerk, like he'd been labeled at home; not the silent, uncaring moron of a trainer, who hated each and every Pokémon he set his eyes on. But for him, Paul. And she cared.

But what I need to say, is that I really like you, as both a friend, and more.

Now, Paul was no idiot. But still, he had to wonder what she meant. The whole thing so clearly stated that Dawn, somehow, liked Paul (as a friend) and only wanted the best for him, despite what he would think of her. But that she really did like him? He never would have seen it coming.

The reason I've never said any of this is because...(well, you're going to think of me as a complete idiot for saying this, but)...I was really scared of how you would react. Do you hate me right now? Even more than before? Or are you not even blinking as I put my heart and soul into this letter?

That hurt, just a little. He didn't think she was a complete idiot. A little ditzy once in a while, sure. But he never hated her. And he didn't think he ever could. He definitely needed to clear that up. But it had never been his way to rush into anything. Now was no exception. But that wasn't a complete free-card, and nor was this unimportant enough (to either he or she) for him to ignore and overlook.

But how was he going to covey his message to her? Without sounding weak and pathetic, of course. There was almost nothing worse than a babbling, prattling fool. And so he just sat there, absorbing the messages she'd managed to get into him.

Meanwhile, Dawn was extremely jumpy with nerves right now. She'd gotten a few tips from Misty, mostly the fact that she should try her best to communicate in a way Paul would understand. And standing around while she blushed and tried to think up what to say was definitely not going to get her message through to him. So, she'd spent a lot of thought on that letter. The question was, would he actually read it? If he read it, would he care about it? If he cared about it, would it be the right kind of care, or would he hate her for poking her dainty nose where it didn't belong?

It was a lot for her to think about. But there wasn't anything she could do at the moment except lay on her bed in their rented Pokémon Center room and wait for the outcome.

The outcome came approximately twenty minutes after she'd run off, via a rough knock on the door. She froze; guessing who it was. But she couldn't exactly ignore him. Who knew the next time they would meet? So she pulled herself out of the bed and opened the door, to see an emotionless Paul, her letter, refolded, poking out of his jacket pocket.

Paul gently but firmly pushed the door so he could enter the room. And once there, he hugged her, tight.

Hum, a little bit of an open-ending there. But what did you think? I hope you enjoyed it! I sure did! Again, a request from a reviewer going by the name of Han. And again, I hope this met your expectations!

What did you think of Paul? I tried to keep him more in-character with the anime. How did I do? Remember, please give me any and all requests and suggestions (except guy x guy or girl x girl or Poké x person) !

This was based loosely on a personal experience, especially the letter.

Reviews and PMs are appreciated! :)