"Dawn! Stop staring! You're gonna kill Paul with your laser stare!" May whispered, taking another bite of her sandwich.

Dawn reluctantly turned her attention to the brunette.

"I can't help it! I like Paul!"

"Jesus, just go and tell him." Dawn almost chocked on her water.

"No! We're practically childhood friends! I can't just tell him!" May sighed,

"How about I tell Drew to go talk to him. And if he's your childhood friend, shouldn't you have no problem talking to him?" She noticed the slight blush.

"Ok, so technically not close childhood friends. I knew him in middle school." May stared at Dawn as if she was joking.

"Are you-nevermind. Look, I'll ask Drew to invite Paul to sit with us." Dawn fiddled with her hands,

"Ok...come to think of it, where is everyone else?"

"Misty's sick. So she didn't come to school. Ash is at the library. Apparently he forgot about today's test. So he's studying. Drew's tutoring." Dawn scooted close to May,

"Aren't you jealous? He's tutoring a group of girls. I mean, if that were Paul, I'd never let him do that."

"I don't let it get to me. He's just tutoring." Dawn narrowed her gaze,

"But you do get jealous. Why haven't you two confessed your undying love for each other. It's so obvious."

"Never, it wouldn't work out."

~~HinagikuAi~~

"Drew, can you get Paul to sit with us next time?" Drew's pencil nearly snapped, but that went completely unnoticed by May.

"Why?"

"Yes or no Drew." May asked, frowning.

"I must have a reason May, otherwise no can do."

"Forget it, I'll go to him myself."

Drew kept his mouth shut. He felt a tinge of jealousy sore through him. Why was May suddenly interested in Paul. He wanted to know but wouldn't press on the matter.

Paul walked down the hallways. School was finally over. He nearly made it out the door before hearing his name.

"Paul! Hey Paul!"

His day was ruined. He reluctantly stopped walking and turned back. May Maple. Great. The girl was practically sprinting towards him until Drew caught onto her wrist. The two seemed to have engaged in an argument, which he didn't need to witness. He decided best to continue home. So he did.

"Look what you did! He left! Why did you stop me!" Drew flipped his hair,

"No reason. You can talk to him some other time. Let's go home."

In that moment, Ash called out to the two and May walked to him.

"Sorry, but I'm walking home with Ash today. You can go alone."

Ash sensed the tension and silently cried in agony. He hated being in the middle of an argument. Not to mention he couldn't quite say no because Misty wasn't there to bail him out.

"Ugh, sure May. Let's go visit Misty on our way!" Drew sent daggers his way. He skillfully dodged his gaze and walked alongside May.

~~HinagikuAi~~

The next school morning Dawn panicked.

"Oh gosh, no, no, I'm fine with looking afar. Please don't-"

"Paul! Hey Paul!"May yelled, picking up the pace.

Dawn shrieked and hid behind Ash since Misty was still sick at home. Paul turned around and was about to not so kindly respond...until May tripped.

"Ow! That hurt…" She rubbed her nose. She stood up and dusted her shorts. Well that was embarrassing. Paul stood there, waiting for May to speak. His lips curved into a mocking smile.

"Need something?" May snapped out of her train of thought and stared at Paul.

"Yes! Come sit with us during lunch." His smile disappeared.

"No."

"Oh come on!" Paul scoffed and pointed toward Ash,

"You expect me to put up with that? No thanks." Ash shouted insults before Dawn elbowed him. She shyly went up to Paul.

"Um...I'd like it if you...you could join us Paul." Paul stared at Dawn for a moment. His gaze sent Dawn into a nervous wreck. Her blush spread and she nibbled on her lower lip.

"Why are you getting so nervous? It's unlike you Dawn." Paul responded, making the blue head face him in shock. He ruffles her hair, "I'll join you during lunch."

May stood in place, confused and shocked all at once. Dawn mood skyrocketed to a complete change. She smiled and swatted Paul's hand away from her head playfully.

"You're gonna ruin my hair Paul! I can't believe you completely ignored me once high school started!"

"You didn't approach either."

"Well because you said I was a nuisance in middle school!"

May watched at the two (mostly Dawn) chatted away about what was new. She sighed, Dawn could be such a difficult person to understand. She turned back to see Ash and Drew having their own conversation. She suddenly felt guilty for ditching Drew the other day. She approached the duo, and wrapped her arm around Drew's shoulder, his arm instinctively wrapping around her waist.

"Oh my gosh! Seriously! Just date already!" Ash yelled.

May laughed, "No way."

Drew flipped his hair with his free arm.

"Not a chance."

Ash threw his arms in defeat.

"I wish Misty was here!"

The bell rung and they all headed to class. Ash walking ahead. May smiled, "Drew,"

"Hm?"

"Sorry about yesterday."

Drew chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I was being a jerk. I didn't know Dawn had a thing for Paul."

"Me either. But you know he has a thing for her too."

"It's so obvious."

Ash overheard the last bit of the conversation and muttered to himself,

"You two have no right to say that. You're both obviously so head over heels for each other and yet nothing has happened."

"What was that Ash?" Drew called out after noticing the male talking to himself.

"Nothing!" Ash replied.