So here is the next chapter of The Summer Continues. At the minute it is so hot in the UK, seriously I'm surprised I'm not a puddle of goo. Anyway, I think this chapter will be good enough for a cool down.

Big thanks to splitheart1120, geko gurl, KuraiDawn, Starfire1407, Monochrome13, ninetailsgirl94 and rin916 for reviewing the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

Chapter Four: Ice Skating

It was times like this when Paul wondered how he got talked into things. He thought he was a stubborn boy that couldn't be moved with a ten foot pole. Yet as he looked around the arena he saw that, in fact, he was just as weak minded as Ash in a candy store.

He watched as a couple of ten year olds fell over on the ice, not at all impressed at his current situation. How had he been dragged into this? He should really start paying attention to Gary whenever he made plans. Then again, it wouldn't have helped Paul any now. It wasn't Gary who had arranged this, it had been Linnet. Linnet announced this great idea after the cinema escapade the other day to which Paul snuffed her off. Later, when Paul had met up with the boys, they were approached by Dawn. Dawn had asked Paul to go ice skating with the girls and invited the other boys too.

Needless to say, he was stood next to the ice rink right now.

"It's going to be so much fun," Dawn said happily as she walked towards the ice. She already had skates on her feet, the traditional kind as if she was a seasoned skater. Linnet followed wearing similar boots.

"Skating always is, Dawnie," Linnet said, "That's why we used to rock out loud when we were ten!"

"You've done this before then?" Gary asked as he limped towards them. He tried to look cool but failed.

"Of course," Linnet replied, "We were champions when were younger."

"I still am," Dawn said proudly.

"I forgot you continued with it," Linnet said, "You were always the most gracious skater."

"You figure skate?" Gary asked, "Wow, I'd love to see your moves."

"Wouldn't you just," Linnet snapped before she pushed Dawn onto the ice. Within minutes the cousins were swirling round gracefully on the ice.

"Wow, I knew Dawn was good, but not that good," May's voice seemed to pull both Gary and Paul from watching the other two dancing. Misty and May were supporting each other as they walked. They giggled at each other before stepping out onto the ice and skating a few feet.

May was the first to fall down. Misty seemed to be quite good at skating and so she didn't fall over so easily. Paul raised an eyebrow as Dawn skid over to May and helped her up.

"We should go and show them how it's done," Gary said loudly as Ash and Drew stumbled over to them. Paul rolled his eyes. He could see this ending badly very soon.

He was correct. Within a few minutes of being on the ice, Drew and Ash fell over, taking Gary and May with them. The four teens were in a clump on the ice, slightly dazed at what had happened. No one attempted to help them up. Paul let out a sigh before he stepped onto the ice. He didn't let go of the side just yet, not wanting to make a fool out of himself as quickly as the others. He stood casually, leaning on the side, watching with a smirk on his face as the other four tried to get onto their feet.

Eventually, Misty came over to help out. However this seemed counter productive as she was soon on the floor beside them. Paul let out a small chuckle.

"You know you could come and help," Gary snapped at Paul as he got onto his knees.

"And why would I do that?" Paul asked, "It's amusing to see you five struggle."

"Only Paul Shinji would think that," Drew commented. Drew slowly made his way back to his feet. He stood in triumph for a few seconds before he skated off, waving sarcastically to his two friends.

"Jerk!" May yelled. As if by magic, May jumped to her feet and went chasing after Drew. The others sweat-dropped as the brunette began to chase Drew all around the rink. Gary finally got to his feet and pulled Misty to hers. They glanced at each other before pulling Ash up. Ash wobbled a few times before he was back on the ice.

"Just leave me here," he moaned.

"Suit yourself," Gary said before zooming off. Misty let out a sigh before helping Ash up once again. She dragged him over to the side beside Paul.

"Thanks," Ash said.

"No problem," she replied before leaving the two guys on their own.

Paul looked round to find Dawn skating happily round the rink. Every now and again she would do a twirl or a jump, landing gracefully each and every time.

"She's really good, isn't she?" Ash asked. Paul grunted in reply. Ash glanced at Paul slightly. "Sooo…"

"What?" Paul snapped. Ash rubbed his head slightly.

"Er… When are you going to… you know, ask her out?" Ash asked. Paul blinked several times at his dim-witted friend.

"Never, perhaps," Paul replied, "She doesn't seem to like me."

"So you're being chicken about this?" Ash asked, smirking at Paul. Paul glared at Ash but then stopped himself.

"Guess I am," Paul admitted. Ash's smirk disappeared instantly. He leant back on the on side and let out a sigh.

"How to make a girl like you?" Ash pondered, "She really likes skating. Why not ask her to teach you?"

"You're joking, right?" Paul stated. Ash rubbed his head.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot," Ash replied, "You're Paul, that means you're stubborn, cold and mean."

Ash gave Paul a pat on the back suddenly.

"There's plenty of other fish in the sea," Ash told him before skating clumsily away. Paul blinked once again.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Paul yelled. Ash shot Paul a goofy smile before he tripped over and fell flat into Gary. Paul let out a sigh. Embarrassing friends.

"You're not skating?" Dawn asked. Paul flinched as he heard her voice. He looked at her. "Oh, I get it. You're scared of falling over."

"Yes, because that's it," Paul replied sarcastically, "I don't skate."

"Have you tried it before?" Dawn asked. Paul nodded once.

"My brother dragged me along a few times," Paul replied, "But I never enjoyed it."

"You're not doing it right, then," Dawn told him, "See you, grumpy."

She skated away. Paul let out another sigh. He looked down at the rental skates. He should really skate and make us of his time. Reggie, his older and slightly effeminate brother, had taught him how to skate properly when he was younger. Paul shrugged. He pushed off from the side and took a few strides away from where he had just been stood.

Paul looked around, attempting to locate his friends. Drew was skating beside May, talking to her about something at the far side of the rink. Linnet was helping Misty skate a little while away while Gary and Ash were once again on the floor. Paul smirked and skated up to Ash and Gary.

"Looking good," Paul remarked as he stopped by their side. Gary and Ash glared up at Paul.

"Shut it, Prune Head," Gary snapped, obviously annoyed at being made fun at. Paul skated off, leaving the duo on the floor. "JERK!"

Paul found Dawn skating round the rink. He fell into step with her. She glanced at him and pulled a face.

"Thought you didn't like skating," she said.

"I don't enjoy it," Paul corrected, "But I got bored watching everyone."

"Poor you," Dawn said sarcastically. Paul glanced at her. She looked annoyed by his presence.

"Have I upset you?" he asked, putting his hands in his pockets, "I mean, I like to keep tabs on who I've annoyed and who I've not."

"Really?" Dawn scoffed.

"A sort of self regulation," Paul told her, "Making sure I don't upset people too much."

"You're such a jerk, you know that," Dawn snapped at him. Paul smirked at her.

"Tell me something I don't know," he said, "I've worked hard to become the big, bad jerk."

"You don't say," Dawn said.

"Are you mad at me because I said I didn't skate?" Paul asked. Dawn made an 'hmph' noise and threw her nose into the air. So that was it. Paul rolled his eyes. "I never said you shouldn't skate it's just that I don't like it."

Dawn ignored him and sped away. Paul let out a sigh before speeding up to catch up with her. She glared at him as he fell into step with her yet again.

"What do you want me to say?" Paul snapped, "You're acting like a toddler."

"I want to become a professional skater," Dawn told him, "I train for hours on end. If you don't think skating for leisure is fun then how do you think I feel when I've broken my ankle twice over the same stupid routine? That is not fun."

Paul and Dawn glared at each other for a few seconds until Paul tripped over something – or rather, someone. Ash gave Paul a goofy grin as Paul did a forward roll onto the ice. Paul grimaced at the impact.

"That hurt," he muttered before he sat up.

"Ha, Paul fell over," Ash sang.

"Have you been stood up for longer than five seconds?" Paul asked. Ash shook his head proudly. "Idiot."

Dawn skated round and looked down at Paul. She looked slightly concerned.

"You OK?" she asked.

"Yeah," Paul replied, "Should've been looking where I was going."

"That's true," Ash agreed. Paul pushed himself to his feet, leaving Ash on the ice. "Seeya."

Paul glanced at Ash before he skated off again. Dawn followed him. He was rubbing his neck in a pained sort of way. If he had broken anything then he would not be happy. Dawn scooted up beside him, peering at him oddly.

"Are you OK?" she asked.

"Fine," Paul replied. He moved his shoulder round in a circle in attempt to loosen up the muscle. Dawn watched him carefully.

"Want to get some hot chocolate?" she asked. Paul smirked and nodded.

Ten minutes later, the two of them were sat on a bench with polystyrene cups in their hands. A faint wisp of heat came from the hot chocolate inside the cups. They were watching the others skate, or in Ash's case fall over.

"You've got to admire his determination," Dawn giggled.

"He's going for the world record, knowing him," Paul dead panned.

"Why are you so mean?" Dawn asked.

"I'm Paul Shinji, Mean is my second name," Paul replied. He paused. "Actually it's not. I shouldn't have said that. You're going to find out my second name and then I'll be embarrassed."

"Is it that bad?" Dawn laughed, "I'll have to try my hardest to work it out."

"Second names are usually bad," Paul stated.

"I'm Dawn Annemarie Berlitz," Dawn said.

"That's pretty," Paul replied. Dawn frowned at him. "What?"

Her expression lightened: "I was expecting you to say 'stupid' or something after a pause."

"I am attempting to be nice," Paul said, rolling his eyes.

"It's because you're Paul Shinji, people expect you to be mean," Dawn said sarcastically. Paul smirked at her. The two of them smirked at each other for a while until Paul noticed Linnet out of the corner of his eye. Linnet walked off in the opposite direction to them, probably to use the bathroom or something. Paul sighed.

"You've known Linnet for a while," Dawn said. Paul nodded. "So you… like her?"

Paul blinked twice before he looked at Dawn.

"Because I've known her since first grade, I have to like her, right?" Paul snapped. Dawn flinched at his tone. Paul sighed before he leant back on his chair. "She's brilliant at shooting Oak down. Fantastic. If I could, I'd give her an award."

"And?" Dawn prompted.

"But," Paul corrected, "I have no interest in her. We've merely been friends and will be friends for as long as we can stand each other."

"And… Me?" Dawn asked shyly. Paul glanced at her. Her cheeks had gone a rosy shade of pink. Paul smirked at her.

"If you don't kill me, then I'm sure I'll be there to annoy you as long as you'll put up with me," Paul replied. Dawn looked into his eyes and smiled. She got to her feet.

"I have a preposition for you," she said. Paul leant forwards so he could hear her better. "I think that Linnet likes Gary but she won't admit it."

"Oak is crazy about her," Paul admitted, "Which is bad for my hearing."

"So if we can get those two together…" Dawn said.

"We'll both have headaches?" Paul asked. Dawn shot him a look.

"No," she said slowly, "Then maybe... we could become… better friends. Since Linnet is hanging with us this summer."

"What's in it for me?" Paul asked, leaning back.

"A chance to harass Gary?" Dawn suggested.

"I get that already," Paul replied. Dawn pouted.

"Fine," she snapped, "You can name your price when they're together."

"No limits?" Paul asked.

"It has to be within the law," Dawn said, hastily adding: "And within reason too."

She didn't want to have to do anything too embarrassing like go skinny dipping or streak or anything like that. Paul considered this for a few seconds before he nodded his head. Dawn held out her hand for him to shake. Paul took it and gently shook it.

"It's a deal," Paul told her.

So that's this chapter. What are Dawn and Paul going to do about Linnet and Gary? Well… I don't know either. See you on Thursday with an update.

RSx