Me: Sorry this took a *long* while!

Dawn's POV

Leaf ran over to the mysterious thing, aggravated. "We have to help it guys!"

May hadn't even moved, she was just standing in place and trembling, and honestly, I was starting to get worried. What was wrong with her?

"May, you okay?" I asked her.

May gulped and nodded. Then, she put on an indifferent look.

Ash took a close look at it, Pikcahu squinting at it. "I have a feeling I've seen it before…"

Misty snapped and exclaimed, "I know! It's a Manaphy!"

I took a second glance at it to make sure she was right. It didn't look anything like a Manaphy.

Manaphy was a blue water pokemon with droopy, flipper-like arms, two antennae, and exaggerated eyelashes. It had a ruby embedded in its chest. However, this creature was all bloody, and it didn't have a ruby. And one of its antennae looked like it was going to fall off.

I felt like I needed to puke all of a sudden. That was just gross.

I swallowed, and my dry throat burned. I staggered over to a bush near the edge of the beach, thinking nobody would notice.

Leaf's POV

I wasn't really sure what it was. I thought it was a water pokemon, and it resembled a manaphy somewhat. But, it was just so bloody and messed up that you couldn't tell.

Misty squatted down to its level and squinted at it. "It looks like a Manaphy to me." She squinted some more, all the way until her cerulean eyes were little slivers. "Yep, it's a manaphy."

Ash peered at it too with a sudden interest. "Hey, it looks familiar." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw May cringe.

Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and nudged the pokemon. Pika pi? The pokemon didn't move at all. It really seemed like it was dead. I found tears brimming in my eyes, even though I had never seen its species in my entire life before.

Dawn's POV

I finally reached the shrub. I straightened out my skirt, tucked in my shirt, pulled back my hair, and took a deep breath. Then, I proceeded.

You made it sound all dramatic. All it was was just belch, throw up, rinse, and repeat a bajillion times.

Oh, I wished I could have rinsed. My mouth felt like trubbish afterward.

So, I kept vomiting in the bush. It was nothing special, believe me. I hated it, but I couldn't stop. I wasn't sure if an upset stomach, or if seeing a bloody thing that looked a lot like the mystery meat at our school caused it, but I was barfing like there was no tomorrow.

I found myself wishing my mom was here. She had always helped me when I was like this.

"Spit it out, Troublesome," a gruff voice said behind me, and I didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. Paul was here, seeing me at my worst.

Well, he's seen you in the morning. He can probably expect anything from you now.

Oh yeah. I forgot about that.

I was in too much pain to say anything, or even act embarrassed. I belched again, and he sighed. He stood there as I coughed up a million meals into the already-reeking bush.

Oh, the poor vegetation. This beach's wildlife will now suffer greatly.

Oh, the poor environment.

I stopped for a second to catch my breath. I just felt so sick. I wanted to lie in my bed at home right now, with my mom to pat my back, soothe my hair, and chase all the pain away.

I got ready for another heave of vomit when Paul did the unexpected. He put his hands on my back and started rubbing circles. He kept a hand in my messed up hair and tousled it around.

I sighed, finding sudden relief. I felt like I was done with my…business.

Ew, you made that sound wrong.

Oh…yeah, I did.

"You done, Troublesome?" I turned around to see Paul smirking. For once, his bangs were out of his face, and I saw his true expression, his onyx eyes lit up for some odd reason. "I never thought a girl like you could put up an impressive display like that."

I whirled around and threw up again into the bush.

Leaf's POV

Misty had picked up the manaphy in her arms and started cooing at it for absolutely no reason.

"Guys, let's take it to the Pokemon Center!" I exclaimed, and we all stated running in random directions.

"Dudes, the Center is this way!"

"No way man, it's this way!"

"Your sense of direction is even worse than before; no wonder we always got lost in those forests. It's obviously this way!"

"Yeah right, Mist. You know you were always the one who held us behind because of your fear of bugs. Scardey-Skitty, Scaredy-Skitty, Scaredy-"

"OH NO YOU DIDN'T-"

"Guys, where is the Pokemon Center?" Marina screamed, dramatically falling onto her knees into the sand.

"It's that way. Keep it down, will ya?"

We all looked over to find this girl with wet purple hair down to her ankles, and caramel eyes. She had on a light pink bikini tied around her neck, and baggy shorts waving around her knees. Her mid-riff was revealed, like Misty's, and she looked like she had just come out of the showers after a swim. She peered amused at us, yet it turned to seriousness when she saw the manaphy's condition.

"I hope that's not yours, because you've seriously treated it badly if it is. How could you, as a trainer, do something terrible like this? It is your responsibility to-Ugh! I don't have time for this lecture! Come on, stop standing like deerling in headlights, we got to get to the Center fast!" Without warning, the girl snatched the pokemon from Misty's arms and started sprinting down the beach, toward the shower areas. We all followed suit.

Dawn's POV

By the time I had finally gotten my stomach under control, the rest of the gang was nowhere to be seen. I was less than amused. So was Paul.

Um, in case you haven't noticed, Paul always looks less than amused.

I know that, it was just a spur of the moment thing to say!

"Well, we gotta going." I looked up at Paul. His eyes were covered with his purple bangs again, and I had to resist the urge to reach up and brush them out of his face.

The next thing that happened was COMPLETELY unexpected though. Paul's hand brushed next to mine, and his fingers intertwined with mine. I gasped slightly. I felt like swooning. I thought it felt so right.

But, when I saw the small smirk forming on his face, I swatted his hand away, slapped him on the shoulder and stormed away.

Leaf's POV

After what seemed like hours of running, we finally reached the pokemon center. The girl burst in, and was dashing toward Nurse Joy when somebody interrupted.

"Hey, Iris, you know that you're not supposed to run in the Pokemon Center." A tall green-haired teenager stepped up to her. He was feeding a baby igglybuff in his arms. His eyes were also green and they shone with confidence. He smelled like herbs and hospitals.

Looks like a clone of Drew.

Nah, not really. This guy was better than Drew.

The girl, now identified as Iris, flushed red. "Shut up, Cilan. I have better things to do than talk to you."

"Oh-ho! Really, is that so?" Cilan handed the igglybuff to a nearby nurse, smiling. Then he turned back to Iris, smirking. He rested a hand on a table and leaned into her. Iris leaned back, stumbled, and took a step back. Now, she was blushing furiously.

"I would suggest you be nicer to me, Iris. I know you inside-out!" Cilan put a hand on his chest haughtily, and Iris huffed.

I could see where this was going fast, so I tapped Iris on the shoulder lightly, to remind her of why we were here. "Well, Cilan, get out of the way, I'm here on important business!" With that, she shoved him out of the way and ran away, all of us going after her.

"Hey, Iris, don't you wanna know where Nurse Joy is?"

Dawn's POV

I briskly walked toward the shower areas, since there were many footprints leading in that direction. Paul was still behind me. He had given up the chase long ago, and now, we were not talking at all.

Suddenly, I tripped over my feet and my face hugged the sand.

"It's not that bad, Troublesome, you only fell in sand," Paul remarked, catching up with me. I frowned so much that Paul looked happy. Honestly, I'd rather be stuck with nobody than him.

That's not what you said in Chappie 11…

Oh, shut up. We have to go through the phase of denial, or it's not fun.

"Now, please help me up so I can leave His Rudeness alone?" I retorted, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Your wish is my command, Your Highness." He instantly made an equally sarcastic comeback as he extended a hand toward me. I reached for it, and he hoisted me up. Then, he dropped me back in the sand and sprinted away.

"What the freaking fudging hell Paul! Paul! PAUL! I hate you, Paul Shinji! I freaking hate you! I hope you go die in a hole! You don't deserve to live in this world! Go die in a fire! I never want to see your disgusting trashy face of rubbish ever again! You'll regret this, Paul Shinji!"

Leaf's POV

After we delivered manaphy to Nurse Joy, me and the girls, including Iris, sat in the waiting room. The boys had disappeared somewhere with Cilan, and allowed us some well-needed girl time.

"I met him when I was just starting my journey. We were both Gym Leaders, so we hit it right off. Of course, Ash was always there, but he was so annoying that I never really paid him any attention. I've always liked Cilan, no matter how dramatic or dumb he is sometimes. Now, I have a crush on him, but it's hard to show it, especially because he's become even flirtier than before."

I remembered who she was now. Ash had mentioned her when talking about his travels in Unova. He had also mentioned Cilan.

I patted her on the back as she stared at her feet.

Misty was pacing in front of her. She stopped and pointed at her. "I don't know why you're moping around. Go and tell him yourself." I rolled my eyes. This outburst was coming from a person who's had a crush on the same guy for nearly six years.

Marina gasped, "Misty!" Zoey shook her head.

Iris clenched her fists and got up. "No, you're right. I should-" We all pulled her back into her seat, and she glared at us. "What the heck, people?"

"It's obvious he likes you," I said. "Take it from me, okay? I've had experience with liking a flirty guy who you think doesn't like you back.

How 'bout you stay with us tonight, and we can come up with something?" I grinned.

A sleepover! What a great idea!

I know, right?

"You mean…a sleepover?"

No duh, Sherlock.

Look, it's not our fault that Iris was a little slow catching on there.

Everybody else agreed and pushed her on. Finally, Iris smiled and said yes, saying that she would be over with her stuff tonight.

I beamed. We could really help her here.

Gary's POV

The girl's were gone before we knew it, and me, Cilan, and the rest of the boys sat outside the Pokemon Center on the grass.

"Remember, Ash, when I joined you and Iris on your journey in Unova?"

"Are you kidding? Of course I do!"

Yay, a reunion.

My thoughts exactly.

Umm…I AM your thoughts.

I KNOW that.

"Yeah, we had to tag behind you everywhere," Cilan replied, grinning.

"Okay, cut to the chase, dude. You can have the lovely reunion later," Drew interrupted. "What's with you and that girl Iris?"

Cilan sighed. "Us three travelled through Unova together. Honestly, I always thought Iris was pretty, but I really started to appreciate her later on, when I saw her extent knowledge of pokemon, and the way she cared and loved her pokemon. And, then, there were always her lovely, wild, nature, and spiritual instincts that clashed with my scientific senses. Opposites attract, right?

But, she always seems to be indifferent to me, and she gets really turned off or mad every time I try to flirt with her. What do I do?"

"Stop beating around the bush, seriously!" Jimmy yelled. "You like her, right?"

"No, I don't!" Cilan shouted back sarcastically. "What do you think I'm trying to say here?"

"Look," I interjected, amused. "I know what it's like to crush on a girl who never seems to care about you, and get annoyed by you. I have experience in this field, take it from me.

Maybe you should come over tonight and learn from the pros." I gave him a thumbs-up, and I could feel Jimmy's glare in the back of my head for stealing his signature move.

Go plagiarism!

"Sure! I'm gonna get my stuff now! Thanks, guys!" Cilan dashed off, and we shook our heads after him.

That guy needs some serious help.

I know, right?

Dawn's POV

By the time us two got back to the cabin, it was already night. Everybody was sitting in the living room. They didn't even ask where we were.

Some friends. They probably think you two were making out anyway.

…NO. Just NO.

"Oh, Dawn, Paul! We have some guests coming over tonight!"Leaf said, excited.

I looked up at her surprised. "What?"

Nobody's POV

"Ash, is that the same manaphy...?"

"It might be, May. But, what's so bad about it? Don't you wanna see manaphy again? It thought of you as a mother, you know."

"Yeah, I do, but, right now? No. It would cause too many problems."

"What problems?"

"I can't act as a mom now! Not with...not with Drew around...It would be too embarrassing!"

"Hey, this could be a great opportunity for you, May! You could be a mom, and Drew could be a dad!"

*slap* "Shut up, Ash."