Bonjour, mes amies! [Hello, my friends!] What's up?

"Hmm, what should we do?" It was a lazy, boring, and hot day in Cerulean City, Kanto for the three girls sitting on a bench. May and Dawn were both tired of swimming and insisted on a day of no swimming, which Misty had to admit as fair. Unfortunately, there wasn't much else to do at a water-type gym. They had already gone through catching up and gossiping.

"I don't know, Misty. Dawn?" May fanned her face with her hand. She was wearing denim shorts and a red razor-back tank top, a black rose patterned on the front [cliché, I know, but I think it would look pretty with or without Drew's influence]. All three girls had switched their shoes out for flip flops; Misty's were blue, May's were red, and of course Dawn's were pink, with yellow polka-dots. Dawn's hair was up in a ponytail, her beanie tossed aside from the heat.

"Sorry, May," she shrugged.

"We could battle," Misty pointed out.

Dawn frowned, but soon brightened. "Most of my Pokémon are at the Center, so, how about a manicure?"

"No, no!" Misty exclaimed. Dawn looked a little hurt, and Misty winced. "Sorry. It's just that the color is distracting when I swim. Sorry, Dawn."

"S'okay."

"Oh, I know! Why don't we...get some ice-cream?"

There was a pause as all three girls pondered that. "Yeah! That's a great idea, May!"

"Wait...hold up...I'm out of money. I spent it shopping." Dawn gave a sheepish grin, but she wasn't alone in her money troubles:

"And mine at the gym..."

"I'm broke, too..."

"Wait! I've got it!" Dawn pounded her fist into the opposite hand, sitting up and excited now. "Let's see if the guys will buy us some!"

"Good idea! Drew PROBABLY will...I think. Misty, I know Ash will. But, Dawn? Do you really think Paul is going to buy you ice cream? I mean, Ash might but you some if he refuses, but Paul might kill him. It's kind of a miracle they're past the hatred by now."

"...Eh, it's worth a shot."

"Okay, I'm in! And Dawn, I'll bring my mallet, just in case."

"Hey, Drew! Ash, Paul," May greeted, a happy smile on her face.

"'Sup, June? Dawn, Misty." Drew managed a cool guy-like wave to the girls, making May turn red with anger.

"HEY! My name isn't June, you know!"

"Oh, it isn't? Well, I'm really very sorry, April." It was practically a verbal smirk.

"ARGH!"

Meanwhile, Ash slid over to Misty, who pretended she hadn't noticed by smiling. "Hiya, Ash."

"Hey, Mist! So, whatcha doing?" Misty blushed and paused there, moistening her lips. Her eyes flickered over to Dawn, who didn't notice; she was too busy.

"Hi, Paul!" she grinned, cheerfully looking up at the young teenager.

"Hn," he replied, not bothering to look at her. Dawn tilted her head, confused.

"Aren't you hot in that jacket and those thick pants?"

"What do you care?"

"Well, excuse me!" she cried out indignantly. "Misty, get over here right now, please! I need you to deal with this mutton-head!"

"Mutton-head? That's the best you've got?" If Dawn's eyesight wasn't so blurred by rage, she might have noticed the humor in his eyes and the smirk on his face. He must have been spending too much time with Ash and Drew. But in Dawn's attempt, she dragged Misty away from Ash, who wasn't too happy with Paul for Dawn's actions, causing the solemn boy to glare. Somehow, Drew and May got involved, and they were all just standing there in a circle arguing loudly.

It took a long (long) time, but the six teenagers finally managed to calm down and go back to ignoring every insult handed out on a silver platter. "So, why are you three here, May?" Drew asked, deigning to say her name correctly, if only because he liked the sparkle in her eyes from him doing so.

But an embarrassed look stole over her face. "Um, ya see..."

"Yeah, Mist? WHY are you here?" Ash turned to the red-head, who grinned sheepishly, not unlike Dawn had earlier.

"Ah, funny story..." she sweatdropped.

"Yeah, Troublesome."

"Heh heh..." Dawn decided not to bother; instead she joined in with the other girls' simultaneous plea:

"Can we get some ice-cream? We're broke."

There was another lengthy, tense silence as the boys let this sink in. As expected, Ash broke into a grin. He even bowed, then put out his elbow like a proper gentleman. "Yeah, sure, Misty. 'Course I will. C'mon, let's go."

"Really? Thanks, Ash!" Misty forgot all about the other four behind her, her eyes reflecting her emotions (though poor Ash didn't even notice) as she linked arms and they departed all fancy-like before laughing so hard, the tripped the way over to the stand.

Drew noticed that May was gazing dreamily after them, and he rolled his eyes in disgust. "Forget it, May. No way am I doing th-"

"Aww, that was just so sweet!" she cooed, clasping her hands together like the hopeless romantic she was.

The emerald-haired coordinator blinked. "Did you even hear me?"

"What? Did you say something?" May blinked innocently, and Drew gave an exasperated sigh.

"Yeah. I said that I refuse to-"

She stopped paying attention before he had started though, not really speaking to anyone in particular. "Just look! Look at how they're walking! He's taking her for ice-cream! I didn't know Ash could be cute!" she gushed, not even realizing how red Drew's face was getting - from both embarrassment at her words and jealously. "...ow, what girl WOULDN'T fall for something like that?! How romantic, and-"

"C'mon, June." Drew now had her arm firmly hooked through his as he dragged her over towards the ice cream stand that was so conveniently on the way. May growled.

"What? Let go of me, you-!"

"Do you want that ice-cream or not?" There was a pause.

"Really? Aww, thanks!" May smiled up at him, and Drew felt something in his chest do a little illegal dance. Especially with that cameo summer outfit of hers? The cutest thing ever. He couldn't help himself, and May was left blinking and stuttering: "…Did…did…you just k-k-k-"

"Bye, Dawn, Paul!" Drew called over his shoulder.

"...Um, bye, um, guys..." Dawn sweatdropped. Had they really forgotten about she and Paul until then? Well, okay then.

"Hn." Paul grumbled to himself about being left alone with the peppy girl.

Trying to break the awkward silence, Dawn gave a cherry wave. "Hi, Paul!"

"You said that already," he deadpanned.

"I know!" She smiled, and a breeze came by, sending her hair to dance along the wind temporarily. He didn't reply, and so Dawn only slowly brought her hand down. Paul didn't even notice, so intent on trying not to see the way her precious navy locks fluttered in the breeze. Thus, there was a nice long quiet:

Cue the second, longer, even-more-so awkward silence.

"Hn. I suppose you want ice-cream?" It broke them both out of their stupor; neither could believe that Paul had just asked it. But there it was.

"Yes, please." Dawn's gratitude shone in her eyes.

"...Whatever. Let's just go and get this over with."

"Yay! Thank you!" She grabbed onto his hand in the thrill of the moment, but didn't let go afterwards either, causing Paul's face to warm considerably, much to his chargin. He snorted:

"Troublesome girl."

Ice cream for everyone, even though I had to go and get another blanket for my bed because it was too cold...

I left a message on the last chapter, so please go check that out even if you don't read the story, for some weird reason. :) I also have a poll going on my profile.

Reviews and PMs are appreciated! :)