Unrevealed Affection

Dawn's POV:

Ash and I reluctantly follow Brock to his tent. Barry and Paul left as soon as they saw me storm off in anger. Apparently they didn't want to witness Ash's throat getting ripped out. I look out to the sky. The colors of orange, yellow, red and some streaks of pink and purple remind me of the days back in Twinleaf Town, before I met Ash and Brock, before I had all my Pokemon, before I started my journey. The days when I used to dream of setting out on the road to become a Pokemon coordinator, the days when I never used to worry about love.

Love.

I've never loved anyone, well, apart from Ash, obviously. But what does it mean to truly love someone? Does it mean to be willing to protect them at all costs, to be willing to give up your life for them, to need them more than life itself? Or does it mean to want to hug them, hold them and kiss them? I guess I'll never know the answer.

"Dawn? Dawn?" Ash says, snapping his fingers in my face.

"What?" I say, still half in my thoughts. I look around. We're inside Brock's tent. It's yellow with a blue sleeping bag inside it. I look around and see his backpack at the mouth of the tent. It looks pretty scruffy, with some of the backpack's contents lying around the place. It's nothing like my tent which is clean, tidy and neat. I'd hate to think what Ash's tent looks like...

"Do you forgive me?" he asks.

"Ash, I just want to know why you took part in something so stupid,"

"I just..." Ash takes a deep breath. "I didn't want you to end up with the wrong guy. I took part because I thought I could win and make sure that you didn't... get hurt or anything,"

"So, you were going to... set me free... if you won?" I ask.

"Basically, yeah," Ash says. I smile.

"Well, thanks, Ash. Just... don't do that again. I'm not something you can win just by winning a Pokemon battle," He returns my smile.

"No need to worry! I don't plan on -"

"So, this is where all of you are!" Lyra says, cutting Ash off. I didn't even hear her enter.

"Lyra! When did you get here? I thought you were on a picnic," I exclaim, hoping she didn't hear anything. I don't want other people involved in a fight that we just resolved.

"Yeah! When did you get here?" Ash asks, nervously.

"Oh, I just going here now! All I heard was Ash saying 'I don't plan on'. What don't you plan on?" Lyra asks, cocking a brow.

"I - uh - don't plan on leaving my training to the last minute! I really need to win this next gym badge," Ash lies.

"Ah, okay!" Lyra says and walks out. I look over at Ash.

"Nice save!" I say.

"Thanks," Ash says, scratching the back of his head. I smirk.

"At least that's sorted out," Brock says. We jump. I almost forgot he was there and I'm pretty sure Ash did too.

"Yeah,"

"So, Dawn," Ash says, coolly. "Do you know what's so important about next week?" I decide to act innocent and pretend that I don't know.

"Um... is it... your gym battle? A contest?" I ask. Ash shakes his head. "Ooh! I've got it! A tag battle! I love tag battles!" I say, chirpily.

"No! It's not a tag battle!" Ash says, sounding exasperated.

"What is it then?" I ask.

"Never mind," Ash walks out the tent, glumly.

Ash's POV:

I can't believe she's forgotten! So much for being my best friend! She can't even remember my birthday, which, by the way, is in exactly a week. Looks like I shouldn't be expecting a present from her. She's practically the only one I actually want a present from, but she can't even remember my birthday!