For some people, love is the courting, the heart-stopping confession, and the beautiful flowers at the perfect moment. It's that one smile from across the room that says, "You're mine and I'm yours. It's that one call at 3AM and you end up talking until sunrise. It's the romantic night on the beach, the dash to the airport before they leave the country for life. It's the sincere compliments and the sweet words. It's the jealousy you feel when you see them talking to others, that they also feel for you. It's the person that you see every day and you can't live without. And it's beautiful.
For others, it's all about the small things. It's the handshake, the silly faces, the hanging out, the potato chips as you laugh on the couch. It's that one smile from across the room that says, "You have dried spit in the corner of your mouth." It's that one minute call at 3 AM just to laugh at your sleepy voice. It's the night full of antics spent running around the neighborhood for absolute no reason. It's the unspoken words. It's not caring about who they talk to, because you don't even have to worry. It's the person that, no matter how much time you spend apart, makes you smile at just the thought of seeing them. Is that not just as beautiful?
Ash Ketchum was in the middle of telling a very important story.
"And then Gary got drunk off the sparkling cider-"
"I DID NOT! How would I win the dorm handstand competition if I was drunk? You all suck, by the way." He sneered in mock pride.
"I think you haven't realized that being a five-year old gymnast isn't all that much to brag about."
"I don't think that! And I was Olympic-bound! Ask any of my childhood friends!" Ash paused then turned to himself.
"Hey Ash, was Gary an Olympic gymnast when we were five," He turned around to answer his own question, "No Ash, he only took that class because it was filled with underage women."
Dawn cracked up and started slapping Gary on the back.
"You're, too, much!" She wheezed between laughs.
A pair of arms encircled Ash's stomach.
"Hi guys!" May greeted.
"Hey, May." Ash smiled.
"May!" Gary waved.
"Mayhahahhahaa," Dawn started, "Listen to Gary's story!"
"Nahh guys I gotta go to class!" He started off, but Dawn flagged him down.
"Wait Gary, we're going the same direction!" Gary looked confused.
"I thought you had chemistry?"
"They finally fixed my schedule." Gary nodded and they walked away into the masses.
"Ash and May are so weird." Gary shook his head.
"Why?"
"When you think about it, they have a really weird relationship don't they?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well I mean, they hang out and talk and touch each other in public as if they were dating. I'm surprised Drew hasn't said anything yet." Dawn thought to herself for a bit. She lifted her arms in an un-girlish manner.
"Meh, if it's a thing, then it's a thing. If not then it's not. Relationships aside, as long as people are smiling, I don't think there's any problems." Gary laughed.
"That's exactly what Ash would say."
"Hmm, I wonder what else he would say if I asked about your childhood."
"I'll have you know I was a star student!"
"Was." Gary nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, when they changed the grading system from stars and smiley-faces to A's and B's, I became completely unmotivated…"
Dawn faceplanted in her desk. Chemistry was just too much. They were learning about mols, and...well is that short for molecules or a codeword for moles or a nickname for Molly but Molly phonetically sounds like Mall-ee and something about 22.4 Liters and atoms and Avocado's Number and chemistry and-
Well anyway, Dawn decided that whatever knowledge she could gain by staying in class was the same as if she wasn't in the class at all, and opted to "go to the bathroom". She wandered as much as her thoughts did. Rounding the end of the carpeted hallway, she walked up a spacious spiral staircase.
'You'd think there was a better way to spend money...'
Up and up and up she went, the floors with classes far beneath her. She finally reached the highest landing, with the exit to the roof. A large circular window illuminated the room with a calm glow. In the middle of the floor, was a limp body. What differed between this scene and your average crime investigation show was the sound of snoring. Dawn smiled to herself and nudged the victim's side with her foot.
"...And what are you doing?" Dawn asked. No response. She looked closer at his sleeping, smiling face, the zigzag marks on his cheeks and the messy black hair.
'How in hell does he keep up grades and battling stats if he doesn't go to class?' Then she made a face.
'More importantly, how can he just sleep with his face in the ground?'
Then she felt it. Warmth. The rays of the sun traced her skin softly as if a blanket contorting to her shape. The sound of Ash's snoring had receded and was replaced by the soft white noise of machinery and light breathing. Her concerns dissipated like smoke into azure skies and were replaced with a simple smile. She looked down at his sleeping grin.
"As long as people are smiling, huh?" She asked out loud.
'Maybe I can forget for a little bit.'
She sat down next to Ash to enjoy the feeling.
Warm.
Then she leaned on her arm.
Warm.
Then she laid down.
Warm.
Then she fell asleep.
"You know, you've slept with me twice in the last week, at least buy me dinner first." Ash said in a concerned tone.
"Hey now! The first time you told me to sleep, and what happened after was an accident! And this was an accident too! It was the perfect sleeping atmosphere!" Dawn shouted. Ash shook his head and shivered.
"Moreover, it's pretty creepy that you found me there during class, I chose it because it's the most out of the way place in the school."
"I was just wandering! I apologize if you don't appreciate my company!"
Ash thought, 'Actually it felt like one dream ended and another dream started." He looked up to find a slightly enraged Dawn.
"No, no! You're welcome to sleep in the secret spot anytime. Just keep it a secret."
"I better be," She checked her phone and exhaled, "I slept through lunch and now I'm late for next hour."
"What do you have?" She pulled out her schedule.
"App Battle? What the hell is that?" She took the paper and jokingly turned it upside down, as if looking for clues on a treasure map. Ash turned it right-side up.
"AP Battle, as in advanced placement. I definitely pegged you as a coordinator though." Ash said. Dawn thought to herself.
"Well you know what they say, coordinators can battle, but battlers can't coordinate." She looked up to see his pissed-off face, but he was already walking down the hall.
"Listen to people when they're talking!" She ran yelling after him, but Ash was too busy trying to recall his dream.
The same beautiful girl as always sat next to him, but the overcast skies darkened the scenery. Both Ash and the girl were crying. She looked up at him and asked:
"Why are you leaving?"
"Let's welcome Dawn Berlitz to AP Battle!" Volkner announced. But Dawn was too busy glaring at Ash, who had ignored her the whole way to class, apparently getting caught up in some dream he had. What crap.
"So anyway, today we're going to pair randomly and-" Volkner started.
"Isn't that what we do every day?" Murmurs of agreement were heard. Volkner facepalmed and regretted ever deciding to double his gym leader duties and teach this group of insensitive, rebellious children who never appreciated his well-thought out lesson plans and-he had an idea to change it up!
"All right! Today you can CHOOSE who you battle!" He congratulated himself while his students rolled their eyes, but followed orders. Immediately, Dawn whipped her finger at Ash.
"I want to battle him!" Dawn yelled.
Ash turned in the direction she was pointing as if there was someone else behind him.