A/N: Can I just say that school is such a drag right now and even though I have few classes, the amount of responsibility from clubs and extracurriculars is bringing me down sooo much, and it might be reflected in my writing. If you see any errors, point them out!

BUT WOW CHAPTER 6 ALREADY?! I still remember writing that first chapter out of bitterness (reminder that this story sprung from my own horrible and bittersweet high school love) and then I was like "you know, I feel that Dawn would feel what I would feel, ya feel?" AND THIS STORY WAS BORN! Ahhhh, the memories. :)

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Sakura Touko: Thank you for always reviewing the sweetest things!

Gogoat: omg he totally freaked and so was I because HELLO ASH AND MISTY 5EVER! I was screaming in rage and he was screaming in joy.

flower power: Yes I'm so glad you agree I love writing bits of their friendship it's so much fun haha. And you'll see what happens! I don't want to give anything too dramatic away!

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Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! It's a little short, but nonetheless as important as the others.

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Chapter 6: Orenda

orenda

[aw-ren-da]
noun
1.
a supernatural force believed by the Iroquois Indians to be present, invarying degrees, in all objects or persons, and to be the spiritual forceby which human accomplishment is attained or accounted for
2.
extraordinary invisible power believed by the Iroquois Indians to pervade in varying degrees all animate and inanimate natural objects as a transmissible spiritual energy capable of being exerted according to the will of its possessor
3.
a mystical force or the power of human will to change the world around us. It is an opposing force to fate or destiny.

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In Greek mythology, there were the Fates. The Fates were 3 women who were in charge of… your fate. A string was used to represent your fate, one woman would decide when you were born by spinning the string. Another would decide how long your string should be, apportioning the amount of time you should get. Lastly, the third woman would cut the string, ending your life. According to the Greeks, for years and years the Fates would do this, watching the string grow and waiting for the sharp scissors to end the life quickly.

In Japanese and Chinese legends, everyone has the red string of fate. That string is tied to another person, your soul mate. You can tangle that string, try to break it, but in the end you will be pulled towards that person and you will be with that person.

So where does that leave us? Two different stories, one about life and death, the other about love. They're two different concepts, two different strings on with opposite objectives right?

The point is, your love life and your fate are intertwined to the point where they are the same string. Your love is apart of you life, and even when the fates cut it they can't cut your love. Because that string is unbreakable.

But what happens when you get a phony red string? Or when your string touches with another, intermingles, and becomes tangled to the point where you can't separate them?

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Drew started it, but it wasn't like it was his fault. Our strings didn't connect at first, but he provided the missing link that would surely entangle us. I wasn't expecting much to happen that day, I was only searching for answers about May and hoping that the blazing sun would stop being so bright and too warm. It was overwhelming and too intense for 7 in the morning.

I looked around the cafeteria for May, hoping that we'd continue our conversation from yesterday. Talking to May was eye opening, because she showed me how everyone else views my group, and how sheltered I'd been from the truth. From Melody's abrasive nature, to Drew's cocky attitude, things that I had grown accustomed to and accepted put other people on edge. I couldn't find May, so I set out for my usual group of friends.

"Morning everyone!" I chirp, in a good mood. "Where's Drew?" I ask. I needed answers. Why did he act like such an egotistical jerk towards May all the time?

"Grasshead said he needed to do something beforehand, but didn't say what." Melody said, before stabbing her scrambled eggs. I opened my mouth to ask her about her hostility towards May, but Gary opened his mouth before I could form a sentence.

"It looked pretty urgent though, he seemed nervous." Gary said. We made eye contact and I blushed. The sun was shining on him, making him look illuminated and absolutely breathtaking. I swiftly turn to face Melody.

"Maybe we should find him? He might need our help. After all, when is Drew nervous?" I suggest, slightly worried. Drew has an ego that sometimes surprises Gary's, so him being nervous is not an option. Melody nods in agreement, and her and Gary get up. I follow them.

"Nice hair clips, by the way." He said, pointing at my golden clips. I blushed and touched my hair.

"Th-Thanks."

Melody stops, and we stumble into her. I yelp in surprise, but Melody slaps her hand on my mouth.

"Look…" Melody pointed to Drew, who was in an intense conversation with a very plain looking girl with thick brown hair, thick glasses, and a thick stack of books. She wore white knee high socks and a pair of black high top converse. Her skirt was pulled down, almost to her knees and touching her socks. Her shirt was not ironed, and poorly tucked in. Her black blazer was stuff into her huge backpack.

"Leaf." Me and Gary say at the same time. I look at him, confused as to how he knows her, but he doesn't meet my gaze and continues to stare at Leaf. For some reason, this unnerved me. Melody shrugged her shoulders, not really caring who it was that she was looking at. Right now, her attention was focused on Drew. His fists were clenched tight, his body was shaking and his breath was short.

"You mean to tell me… you knew all this time?! And not once did you approach me?!" Leaf nodded, and Drew punched the lockers.

"I was asked not t-"

"BULLSHIT!" He screamed, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. Her books fall to the floor and her glasses tip off her nose. "Give me one reason why you shouldn't tell me that we-"

"Look, I get you're mad, and that you miss your mother and everything, but it's not like I'm in any position to tell you this. If I walked up to you, in the middle of the cafeteria, or during class, and told you this… you wouldn't believe me." Leaf takes Drew's arms off her shoulder.

"I'll be keeping in touch with you." Leaf says.

"Please."

Leaf walks away, and Drew drops to the ground sobbing. The three of us run up to him, not asking any questions until he was ready to give us answers. Drew latches onto me, sobbing silently, anger and sorrow racking his body through violent shakes and hiccups. Gary rubs his back and Melody pats his head. I needed answers, but right now Drew needed us.

He needed me.

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Drew and I didn't go to homeroom or first period. We decided to hang out in one of the school's garden, Elysium, an abundant garden with marble fountains, fruitful trees and flowerful bushes. Bird pokemon and bug pokemon alike resided here in joy and comfort, a refugee from the city smoke. Drew and I laid in the grass, soaking up the sun and listening to the silence, a peaceful melody that Drew needed. I did my best to keep silent, but I couldn't.

"My mother is Leaf's aunt, we're cousins." Drew said with a shaky voice, beating me to my question. "Last month, my mom left home. I never told anyone because me and my dad thought she would come back."

"But she didn't." I whispered. I could hear Drew's head shake up and down, rustling the grass.

"She left, and went to Leaf's dad, her brother. She's been living with them the whole time."

"Leaf Green is your cousin?"

"Yeah."

"I guess I can see it."

"Really..."

"Same eye color, thick hair, same facial shape." I got up and pinched his cheeks. "Well, it would be the same if you had less baby fat." I giggle and Drew slapped my hands away. A small smile was etched delicately on his face.

"Listen... Your mom left for a reason right? There's a reason for everything, so there's no need to worry! Everything will be explained in the end." Drew looked up to me and took my hand.

"Thanks Dawn." He said softly. Drew's hands were warm and soft, and they fit perfectly into my own. I tried to pull away, just because I could, but my hands refused to move. With Drew just imply holding my hand, I felt so safe. And with the way the sunlight fell onto his green hair and reflected off his emerald green eyes, I decided to clutch his hand tighter and prayed that Dialga would slow down time so I could stay here longer with someone who felt so safe and warm. Our eyes met, and I didn't pull away. After all the conflict and strange vibes I got from Paul or Misty, and even Ash, it was nice to have someone that could give me the safeness and security that I would at home.

Drew looked away first, but still held my hand. I cleared my throat. "Can I ask you questions about May?"

"Your new best friend?" He joked lightly, with some hostility in his voice.

"You know, why do you act like such a jerk around her? If you acted the same way you did with me or Melody, she'd be swept off her feet and into your arms." I said, holding his arm tight.

"Are you swept of your feet by me?"

"No bu-"

"Listen Dawn, I don't want to talk about this right now." I pouted, but wouldn't let the subject drop.

"Drew c'mon!"

"Dawn, no."

"Drew!"

"DAWN!" Drew yells at me and lets go of my hand, throwing it. "Listen, right now I need you to be here for me, not attack me and change the subject. For once, help me get through a problem, like I always do for you. Be my safe space." I widen my eyes and stay silent. Drew needed me, yet I needed answers.

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Leaf walks in, and I can't look at her the same. Her smile, her voice, her laugh, it's all so similar to Drew. Her hair, her eyes, her face shape, it's the same as Drew. I grab and pillow and slam it into my head.

"Hey Leaf."

"Hey..." Leaf drags on the words, and I have a feeling something else is going to be said. I bring down the pillow I had attached to my face.

"What do you think of me now?"

"Now?"

"Before and after."

"Hm." I clear my throat and move around in my bed, unsure of how to answer the question.

"Brutally honest." I smile at her.

"I would never give you anything less than that." I put my finger to my chin and think really hard. An idea pops into my head and I point at her. "I think you're efficient."

She tilts her head to the side, curious of whatever words are going to come out of my mouth.

"You only talk when needed, and you waste no time getting to your point. Short and brief answers, or small comments are what you usually say. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that, but I think if you opened up to people they'd be able to rely on you more." She sits down are her bed, which is across from mine.

"Do you think I should've approached Drew earlier?" I sighed and flopped back onto my bed.

"Yes. He's an emotional wreck right now."

She sighed and laid down and her bed. I clasp my hands together, intertwining my fingers and meshing them together.

Leaf and Drew? I never thought that there would be something connecting them, intertwining them together. Where do the rest of us stand?

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A/N: Why the title? It goes against the little speech about destiny/fate in the beginning, and implies that people can change their fate, and recreate their destiny. Although the characters will be connect, their lives will intertwine, it could arguably be fate, or be the fact that they went against their fate and that's how they began to mingle with each other. The fact that Dawn steps away from her group of friends towards May, she could be going against her fate by doing this, or it's fate that they meet. Her falling in love with Paul, did she change her fate or was it destiny? Totally debatable.

Does this chapter seem short, because I feel like it kinda is LOL. No Paul today! Of course, Dawn and Paul don't really have any classes together so it's not like they'd see each other all the time. But don't worry, he'll definitely be around! And as the story progress, start looking for how the 8 of them (Dawn, Paul, Drew, May, Leaf, Gary, Ash, Misty) are all connected. Right now you can make a few connections, but once the story is over it will be a huge giant mess that will confuse you to no end haha.

Poor Drew! If anyone was confused, Drew's mom (Leaf's aunt) left home and for the past month she's been hanging with her brother, Drew's uncle (Leaf's dad). The reason why is unclear, but will be revealed soon!

And May! May is a very important character to Dawn especially. She (like a lot of the characters) will help Dawn grow and develop (character development woohoo!) through out the story. But mainly, May gives Dawn a fresh perspective on everything, including herself and group that she hangs out with!

Please review, fav, follow, whatever you feel is necessary! See you guys next week! :)