Strange Emotions

Chapter Three: Complications

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

Pure bliss.

Dawn collapsed into those strong arms, laying her head gently on his chest. She tilted her head up to look at his face and –

"Dawn, it's time to get up."

"Huh?"

Dawn groggily emerged from a nest of sheets on her bed at the sound of her mother's voice calling her to breakfast. She stared at her surroundings blankly, not recognizing her room momentarily. Then, she remembered her dream.

So vivid, so real. She had had the same dream for the past two weeks now. It always stopped right before she saw the person's face, either interrupted by her mother or alarm clock. And, after the endless week of questioning, she really wanted to know who he was.

But…

She was pretty sure she had a clue.

"See you, Mom," yelled Dawn after finishing her breakfast.

"What are you doing today, honey?"

"Uh… we're just hanging out."

"Uh-huh."

Dawn glared at her mom after she made that sarcastic comment.

"Oh, Mom, when is it going to be the last time that I have to tell you that he's my friend, not my boyfriend?"

"Never."

"…"

Of course. Mrs. Sarcastic herself. How could I compete?

Dawn leapt out of the doors and onto her bike, before storming off for Sandgem Town.

Johanna watched her daughter leave.

And grinned.

"So, what're we doing today?" asked Dawn when she met up with Lucas.

The boy shrugged.

"Anything, I guess."

"How 'bout the beach?"

"Sounds good."

The two arrived at the beach next to Sandgem Town in a few paltry minutes. They simply walked on the shore line, talking about this and that, letting the refreshing, cool water wash over their bare feet. Then, Dawn tripped.

"Whoa!"

A rock grabbed onto Dawn's foot and sent her tumbling straight into the unfortunate Lucas. They splashed into the water together, soaking themselves.

Lucas found himself staring at the girl, who was tightly clinging to his shirt. She slowly lifted her head, blue hair melded together in neat curls by the water, and giggled a bit, noting that they were both drenched.

He couldn't resist it.

He dived forward, smashing his lips to hers in a startling, fierce kiss. His momentum carried them both even further into the shallow water, where Dawn was struggling against him.

Finally, Dawn broke free from Lucas and got up, shocked.

"Lucas – what? No… this isn't…"

Her words were spasmodic, and she quickly ran away, leaving the boy lying in the water…

Dawn quickly opened her house door and smashed it shut, knocking out the glass. She flew upstairs to her room, where she changed into clean clothes and sat down confusedly on her chair.

"Dawn?"

The girl didn't turn at her mother's voice.

"Why were you drenched? And why did you break the door?"

Dawn was still speechless.

Johanna sighed, and retreated from her daughter's room.

Time was all she needed.

Meanwhile, Lucas trooped home dispiritedly, dripping water.

"Lucas?"

Lucy opened the door for him, curiously pondering the possibilities of what happened to get her big brother wet.

Lucas sighed.

"Thanks," he muttered to his sister as she held the door for him, before retreating to the sanctuary of his bedroom.

I can't believe that I just did that, thought Lucas as he collapsed onto his bed in fresh clothes. I can't believe it.

I can't believe he just kissed me, thought Dawn incredulously, staring blankly at her desk. I can't believe it!

But… I enjoyed it… while it lasted.

The two, stricken teenagers moaned.

What's going on?

Lucas fiercely scribbled words down on a piece of paper, before trashing it. He moaned. Writing was a favorite pastime of his and could take his mind off of nearly everything. But… that was the problem. Nearly everything.

Dawn… Dawn… Dawn…

She kept appearing everywhere. He would be writing, and then happen to find himself recording the adventures they shared. Or, he would be thinking about ideas, and the idea of the girl would pop into his head. Or… a million other things.

And her reaction to when he kissed her…

He couldn't stand it.

The way that she looked at him, afraid and shy. But also that glimmer of surprise and (dare he believe it?) excitement.

He didn't know.

Love was just too complicated.

Sadly, he put down his favorite pen; one of the best brands of fountain pen in Sinnoh, and, making it even more special, a gift from Dawn. He loved the pen, just because Dawn had went out to buy it for him and give it to him. He even remembered her saying,

"I know you love writing… so I got you this!"

And now…

Lucas looked at the pen queerly, and picked it up again. He grabbed one more piece of paper, and began to draw.

After a good thirty minutes, a profile of Dawn stood on the paper. Lucas filled in the last line, a stray strand of her beautiful hair…

And then ran out of ink.

Dawn's mother poked her head into her daughter's room again.

"Dawn?"

Dawn was resting her head on her desk, her hair splayed wildly.

"Dawn?"

A grunt.

"Uh… do you mind telling me what happened?"

A mumble.

"What?"

"How can I tell you what happened when I don't even know myself…"

"Uh…"

"Lucas kissed me, Mom! Kissed me!"

"And this is a surprise, why?"

Dawn turned around despairingly.

"Oh, Mom, don't treat this like a joke. He really did. And I have no idea why."

"Ever think that he might like you?"

"…"

Johanna sighed.

Talk about a troubled love life, thought Johanna wryly.

"Well… just consider this. Maybe you like him too."

And with that, Johanna left.

Dawn fingered a strand of her hair slowly. Gulping, she quietly admitted something that she swore she would never say to anyone else.

"Maybe…"