A/N: This chapter was prying on my mind all day! I couldn't even concentrate on my college assignment! D: But this is what I came up with in the end :D

BTW If you're an Ikarishipper I'm deeply sorry for the following turn of events.. But I'm totally against it tbh (Don't hate mee!) D:

Happy reading :)

"FOR GOD SAKE DON'T!" The words circled my mind before I recognized it was Dawn's horrified scream. My eyes twitched in shock and my teeth were grinding, I felt like my stomach was twisted around my heart and each end was being violently pulled. The last thing I wanted was to scare her.

I looked behind and paused; the entire cafeteria was staring at me, gob smacked, Dawn's scream brought everybody's attention to the scenario, it was silent.

Her hands over her mouth; her eyes sparkled as they bawled tears. May and Candice turned her away to comfort her. I felt hands wrap around my fist, pulling it down, the firm grip made me snap back into reality. When I turned to my right, it was Misty, I looked down at my hand which she was still holding, I felt her shaking, and her face was eager.

I realized I was still gripping into the boy's shirt and turned to him, his smug face was tempting me to push Misty aside and throw him over the table, but I thought of Dawn again and let go of him.

"Shame, I was hoping we could get to know each other a little better" he smiled.

Misty started pulling me away as I glared at him.

"I'll be seeing you around." I was positive he was going to get what's coming to him.

As Misty led me away the cafeteria was still silent, their piercing eyes followed me. I kept my hat down avoiding them. I looked back before we headed out the door; the boy was standing there waving at us and looking pretty satisfied.

The rain had stopped so we walked across the yard to sit on some damp benches. May and Candice were still crowded around Dawn trying to talk to her, who was ignoring them. I sat on the bench opposite them, took off my hat and held my head to my knees.

Misty came and sat next to me concerned and constantly repeating "Are you okay?" I blanked her and looked up at Dawn. Her puffy blood shot eyes were already fixed onto me, Candice turned around, she now knew that Dawn was staring over, her face had no expression at all.

The guys were standing in front of us, puzzled over why that just happened, but probably hoping for a fight. Though I was still looking at Dawn I knew what was going on around me. Candice nudged Gary and directed her head at the both of us staring, he whispered something I couldn't make out in her ear then they nudged everyone else to go and leave me and Dawn. May came over and tugged on Misty, I only realized her arms were linked around my arm when May pulled her, I raised my head to her and desperately smiled. She was still uneasy but May convinced her to leave me, she closed her eyes and squeezed my hand before being dragged away back into the cafeteria.

When I looked back over to Dawn she had her head in her hands, I got up to sit by her, and slowly scooted closer to her. I could hear her breathing deeply, she was still shaken up. I was suddenly aware that this is the closest I've ever been with her, the sides of our thighs were actually touching, but I didn't want to move away.

I felt my heart beating in my throat and gulped to try clam myself down. She was still covering her head, facing down; I didn't know what to say so thought quickly how to reassure her. I nervously reached my hand out to her leg and rested it on her knee, she was ice cold, I wanted to snatch it away from the instant shock of the cold but I just couldn't. She took one hand away from her face and gazed up at me, I was speechless, she still looked worried and it was my fault, I'd never felt so guilty in my life. She looked back down at my hand, I panicked and finally snatched it away, but she was freezing, so I immediately took off my jacket and draped it around her shoulders.

"Here" before she could respond it was already on her.

"Are you okay now?" It felt like a stupid question but I had to say something to her.

"Um, thanks yeah… I guess." her voice was shaky as she looked back up into my eyes, her face was still blank, but her mouth was now open. She stuttered with every breath she took trying to hold back the tears.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, watching her hands shiver.

She pulled her eyebrows together and gripped onto my jacket.

"Then why the hell did you do that?" she snapped.

"I, I don't know what came over me. I…"

I trailed off; her tearful voice left me bowled over.

She sighed and closed her eyes for a second, her shoulders shuddered as she took a deep breath through her nose, pulling my jacket around from her shoulders and holding it close.

"You shouldn't let Paul get to you" she sighed.

"Wow it's got a name? I don't even know him and I already wanna smash his face in" I forced through my teeth.

"I know, so do a lot of people but, could you just ignore him please? I don't wanna be responsible for getting you into trouble"

"I can't promise anything, I have a habit of doing before thinking" I admitted.

She smiled slightly and tilted her head to the side, examining me.

"Aren't you cold?" she seemed very concerned.

"Nah, I'm alright." Actually I was freezing, I didn't mind though; I'd do anything for her.

"By the way I'm sorry too, I'm just a hopeless wreck, and I can't even defend myself!" She tightened her eyes shut, gripping my jacket tighter, annoyed with herself.

"That's okay, I'll be kinda like a superhero I guess" I joked. "I never let friends get hurt if I'm around, that's one promise I can keep"

And there it was; the first unforced smile she ever gave me.

"You're a good guy Ash"

I softly smiled back at her with relief that she was feeling a lot better now.

I never thought my life would have a more than perfect moment like this. It was like when I first saw her all over again, my mouth went dry and my spine shivered, but this time not from the cold. A crazy impulse to lean in and graze my lips against her flowed through me. We were already only 6 inches apart, all I needed was a sign or signal to give me the all clear to do it.

Suddenly she stopped smiling, her lips were slightly parted and she started to lean in closer to me, this was it, this was more than enough indication to go for it. I moistened my lips as she closed her eyes, and started to lean in, more brisk than she was, and lifted my hand up towards her face.

Before I could even blink, the perfect moment was interrupted by Candice's unnecessary shouting from the other side of the yard. So much for her being the quiet one.

"Hey you guys! Are you coming in or not?"

I immediately jerked my hand away and scooched away from Dawn, she didn't move, she sat there motionless. Her jaw quivered as she slowly turned around to the rest of the group coming from the cafeteria waiting for us, then turned back to me, shocked. She hauled my jacket from her shoulders and held it away from her, looking at the floor, it was like she instantly hated me, I took it from her and threw it over my shoulder.

"We should, get going then" she suggested, then walked away before I could utter a word.

I slowly trailed behind her keeping a moderate distance and watched the group instantly split up as she reached them, leaving Misty, Gary and Tracey, while the others headed over to the other building. Dawn didn't even look back, why was she giving me the cold shoulder?.. Literally.

"Jeez Ash put your jacket back on its freezing, you're even making me shiver" Misty complained as I approached the group.

"I'm fine." I was looking away watching Dawn enter the main building.

Tracey coughed for my attention; I turned around to him as he was making eyes for me to look at Misty. She was stung from my firm reaction, yet another stupid reflex.

"I mean, I like the cold." I added with a smile before I hurt her feelings, to which she shook her head and smiled back.

I didn't pay much attention to Gary and Tracey trying to organize something to do after school as we all walked to Spanish. I was barely looking where I was going; I bumped shoulders with a few students struggling to walk past me, since I wouldn't move out of their way.

My mind was replaying the whole of lunch over and over; I was clouded with so many ways I wished I could change what happened. I only paid attention when I heard Misty mention Dawn's name in the background, when I heard her go on talking about a sleepover at her house I lost interest again.

When we got to class I was near enough the same, I ignored everyone around me. Gary and Tracey were trying to include me making suggestions about tonight, the teacher rambled on in the background and Misty just kept asking me if I'm alright. Even the crazy red haired girl from yesterday was looking over to me blowing kisses and winking; if I'm honest she scared me.

I was relived when school was finally over. As I took my seat on the school bus I checked my cell to find a voicemail from Gary; "Hey, gimme a call tonight if you're still on"

I didn't reply, my brain couldn't function to do that, I didn't even know what he was talking about.

When I got home mom was already serving dinner, I was starving since I hadn't eaten all day, but the thought of what happened today made me lose my appetite.

"I'm not hungry mom" I mumbled, dragging my feet up the stairs.

"Ash come back please I want to hear about your day!" she pleaded from the kitchen.

I couldn't ignore her too, she's alone in the house all day, and she deserved to at least have a conversation with her only son.

I suddenly remembered Principal Oak phoning her about me 'skipping class' as I sat at the table and took off my hat. I was expecting long words like 'disgusted' and 'appalled' being thrown in my face about it by now, but surprisingly, she was in a very good mood.

"What's for dinner?" I asked, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Corned beef hash, your favorite" she smiled.

"Great." I sighed. It was my favorite, but the way my stomach was turning the last thing I wanted was a pile of discolored mash in front of me.

"How was your second day sweetie?" she asked, putting the plate in front of me.

Maybe she was waiting for me to explain myself before dishing out my punishment, as well as my dinner.

"It was fine." She smiled at my puzzled answer; she knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Make any new friends?" she went on, sitting opposite me.

I wasn't a fan of sarcasm, especially from my mom; I might as well just come out with it.

"Yeah… um, look mom I didn't –"

"I know you didn't skip class honey, that's not you." She interrupted. "You don't think I know my own son after sixteen years?"

I smiled at her with relief, she knows me all too well.

"It wasn't my fault, I lied about knowing where I was going, well ok then so it was my fault, but I got lost then I saw teachers so I had to hide and –"

"Stop, stop. You don't have to explain yourself, its okay honey. But, just please make sure it doesn't happen again." Her smile changed, that was a warning.

My mom's never been firm with me as a kid. Growing up without a dad in my life setting boundaries and making all the rules meant my mom had to, but she always had a soft spot for me. Now I guess because I'm getting older, she knows I'm always gonna be in difficult situations and it's time she started putting her foot down, and I totally respected her for it. After all, I couldn't ask for a better mom.

"Don't worry about it" I smiled, I put her mind at rest every time I say it, it's good to restore trust every once in a while.

After dinner I took a shower to wash away the rain from this morning. As I quick dried my hair with a towel I gave Gary a call.

"Hey, what's this big plan then?"

"Ahh that's a surprise just be ready in 15 minutes we'll come pick you up" he answered.

"Alright… Are you sure the other guys don't mind me tagging along?" I wondered. "They're not put off me by what happened at lunch are they?

"Are you kidding? They wanna give you a medal! That guy's always been a jerk."

I cringed at that thought of the guy.

"Fine I'll see ya later" I sighed, then hung up.

I was thinking by the sound of his voice if it was to sneak in an x rated movie or spy in some girl's locker room. Knowing him all these years, either one of them options wouldn't surprise me.

A/N: Bleehh I know It's REALLY short but I'm going to make it up to you by trying to post two chapters tomorrow ;D Because I've cooked up alot of ideas xD

Hope you're enjoying reading this as much as I am reading your reviews, I can't thank you guys enough :)

Back tomorrow!