Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. I also don't own Three Days Grace. So today I am doubly sad.
"Anyway, thanks for having us over, Mama," Dawn said, embracing Johanna tightly.
Dawn, Johanna, and Paul stood beside Paul's car. It was a little after seven P.M., and Paul had insisted that they leave before it got dark.
"Honey, anytime!" Johanna said, hugging her daughter back. "That goes for you too, Paul."
"Thank you," Paul said, inclining his head slightly.
"Drive safe, you two," Johanna called as she walked back to her front door. Dawn waved as she buckled her seatbelt. Paul started the ignition and sped away.
"Thanks," Dawn said sincerely. "I really appreciate it."
"Why were you so weird after you went inside?" Paul asked, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.
"No reason," Dawn lied airily. Paul's dark eyes cut to her.
"Don't lie."
Dawn sighed exasperatedly. "I called my friend. She brought up something that was a, irrelevant, and b, totally incorrect. And plus, I don't like to talk about that, so I was upset. Satisfied?"
"No," Paul replied, flicking his blinker on and speeding into the fast lane. "What was it?"
"None of your business."
"Fine," Paul shrugged. He leaned forward and turned on the stereo, which immediately started blasting a song Dawn vaguely recognized. Dawn slumped back into her seat and crossed her arms.
Every time we lie awake,
After every hit we take,
Every feeling that I get
But I still don't miss you yet
"Stupid emo music," Dawn muttered under her breath. She raised her hands to her hair and methodically unwound her braids. When her braids were unraveled, her hair was wavy, so she combed it with her fingers.
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you?
"Such happy music you listen to," Dawn snapped sarcastically.
"You don't have to listen to it," Paul pointed out. "It's my car, and I'll listen to whatever I like when I'm driving."
"Who is this, anyways?" Dawn asked.
"Thought you didn't like it," Paul said. Dawn glared at him.
"You are so very irritating," Dawn murmured. There had been a lull in the music, so Dawn was fairly sure that Paul had heard what she'd said.
"Maybe," Paul conceded, stepping on the gas until they were doing 90. "But it's not like I'd choose you to hang out with if I could help it."
"Then why did you ask me to help you last night?" Dawn snarled. "You could've taken anyone."
"I already told you," Paul snapped back. "I didn't have to pretend to like you."
"You don't even know me!"
"You don't know me either," Paul said with finality.
"Arceus! You know why people like Champions that have girlfriends or boyfriends?" Dawn questioned. "Do ya? 'Cause they don't seem like cold, evil, jackasses if someone keeps them around!"
Paul rolled his eyes.
I
Hate
You
Hate
I
Hate
You love me
"I'm serious, Paul," Dawn snapped. "You're a good trainer – no one can deny that, and that'll probably get you to the top. But all anyone really knows about you is that you're a mean guy that treats his Pokémon like shit. And that doesn't seem so Champion-y, now does it? Maybe if you were nicer, you wouldn't have to take a girl you allegedly hate out to dinner!"
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you?
"Thanks for the psychoanalysis," Paul said coolly. Dawn exhaled sharply.
"Not one word of that got through to you, did it?"
"We'll be at your house in a half-hour at this speed," Paul said in answer. "Why don't we not talk until then?"
"Fine by me," Dawn spat. "I can't wait for you to get the hell out of my life."
"That makes two of us."
"Ugh," Dawn sighed disgustedly.
They didn't speak again for the rest of the car ride.
- / - / - / -
Paul skidded to a halt outside Dawn's apartment complex. Dawn unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at him.
"Thank you," Dawn said sincerely. "For today."
"Hmm," Paul hummed. Dawn, with great effort, managed to not roll her eyes at him.
"I guess I won't see you again," Dawn continued. "So... Good luck. With battling Cynthia. And the rest of your life, I guess."
"You too," Paul surprised her by answering. She smiled.
"'Bye, Paul," Dawn said, getting out of the car and shutting the door. She had walked to the shadows of her building before she heard him drive away.
Guess life's going back to normal now, Dawn thought wearily as she climbed the steps to her apartment.
- / - / - / -
Paul sped all the way from Dawn's apartment in Hearthome to his brother's house in Veilstone. If Reggie was awake tonight, Paul was going joyriding until Reggie went to sleep. He really didn't feel like talking about his day.
Fortunately, all the lights were out when Paul pulled up to his brother's house. Paul locked his car and walked to the front door.
He wended his way expertly through Reggie's dark house to his temporary bedroom. I've really got to get my own place, Paul thought as he flopped down on the bed. No better time than now...
Paul didn't even change before he drifted off to sleep, thinking about all that Dawn had said on the ride back, the song from earlier circling his subconscious.
- / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
A/N: Again, I don't own Three Days Grace. I just love them forever and ever amen. Oh and the song is I Hate Everything About You, by Three Days Grace. They are awesome I love them. And I know the chapters are getting a little shorter, but that will change soon, I promise.