A/N: Woaahhh my updates are getting slowwww T__T

Sorry guys, but College coursework has been eating me alive D:

Which also means the time I have been spending on this my brain just doesn't work anymore xD This chap took me 4 fricken days to write! D:

Anyway, enough complaining ^_^

(Ash's POV) ENJOY

I was sat in my room fiddling with Dawn's birthday present. I'd be giving it to her today, which meant today I'd have to tell her how I feel; and I wasn't looking forward to it.

I got up over to my window, trying to predict weather, and it wasn't looking good. Not the best of days to be going to a beach. It was bleak, cold and cloudy. But it least it wasn't raining, the sky wasn't planning on it since I could see clearly into the city, so that was something going right. We all agreed to meet at Dawn's and drag her out the house, but all week she was refusing to see anybody, nobody knew if she was ready to be socializing again.

I had that feeling again in my mom's car as she drove me to Dawn's house. The feeling that made skydiving just feel like a few minor butterflies, one more turn from my stomach and it would be falling out of my butt. I tightly gripped the box I'd be giving Dawn shortly for support, to stop my hands from shaking and keep a steady heartbeat.

I caught mom glaring at the square, black box I held as she stopped at the traffic lights, before smiling at my face. "She must be worth it for you to be spending a years allowance on" She mused, pulling away as the lights flashed green again. "You haven't even spent this kind of money on Misty; I mean she's been for friend for life."

I shrugged looking down at Dawn's gift. "Go on, say it, we both know what you're thinking mom." I sighed. She knew how I felt about Dawn; I don't go buying obscene expensive gifts for just any girl. Ever in my life.

"I have honestly no idea what you mean sweetie" Mom stated with sarcasm. I'm supposed to be the immature person here. I puffed and ignored her comment, not bothering to argue.

"Hey you made it!" Misty called from Dawn's doorstep as we pulled up.

I smiled hopelessly at her from the car window and turned to my mom. "Guess I'll see ya tonight"

"Don't wait up right?" Mom winked back.

I rolled my eyes at her and slammed the door behind me. I winced at the group waiting at the door, everyone was here. I shoved the box on the inside of my jacket as I approached them.

"Said I'd come didn't I?" I reminded Misty. "But… Is Dawn?" I asked hopefully.

"Yeah she's okay now" May cut in. "We told her if she doesn't move her butt were staying out here all night singing Happy Birthday repeatedly at her doorstep"

"Great." I exhaled lightly with a laugh, thank god that plans gone. "So where's this beach we're headed off to?"

"Not too far" Candice answered below us, sitting on a step. "My dad should be here any minute to drive us."

I didn't like the sound of that, I was hoping for it to just be a short walk from here.

"Geez the myths are definitely true and it comes to how long it takes for a girl to get ready" Gary complained as he rolled himself over on the lawn to stretch.

The rest of sweat dropped, he was right but Misty was having none of it, she threw her backpack at him in disgust.

"HEY! CALM DOWN GEEZ!"

"Shut up and quit complaining!" Misty yelled back.

I face palmed as they carried on arguing in the background and prayed for this day to hurry up and be done with. Especially the suspected rejection I was going to get later on.

"I got an idea to shut him up" May whispered, she walked over to Gary pretending to trip over him. "PILE ON!"

"WHAA?" His muffled voice came from under May.. and everybody else that joined her to bury him under.

I could've joined in, but as Misty being the last person to throw herself on the pile, I think I'd be in a pretty awkward situation… I decided to sit it out; but it was pretty entertaining to watch anyway with Dawn as she stood at her door, betting myself on how long it'll take for Gary's face to turn purple.

Wait. Did I miss something?

I did. And it was Dawn, I didn't even clock her standing there, she was so silent and timid. Smiling at the commotion that occurred while we waited for her, it took me a while for it to sink in. To finally see her smile again, I just snapped at her in excitement.

"Hey happy birthday!"

Yeah, nice going Ash. Like that didn't make you look and sound like a complete douche at all.

She flinched back in shock as I said it, came on way too strong I think. It was weird; I wasn't feeling that motion sickness feeling as I gazed at her like some cheesy lovesick fool.

Her smile changed into a bashful giggle. "Hey, Ash and thanks I guess."

She still seemed like something was bugging her; maybe dragging her out in the cold wasn't the best idea. The sandwiched together group heard me yelling and brought themselves to their feet.

"You guys, before you say anything, I don't wanna hear it. Please" Dawn asked. "I don't wanna any gifts either; I just want this to be a normal day, that's the only present I want." She gazed along everyone to make sure they understood.

"Sorry I know that sounds kinda bossy but I just don't really feel like celebrating." Her eyes flickered to the left, and met mine. My only reaction was to look away, that was the last thing I wanted to hear from her. But I didn't wanna give up, I was going to give her the bracelet, and I was going to tell her how I feel. Now or never right?

Kenny decided to break the silence. "Alright, we won't say a word Dawn, we promise. Right you guys?" He said brightly.

"Yeah, whatever you want" May agreed, followed by nods and murmurs of agreement from everybody else, while Candice walked over to give Dawn a hug.

Somehow all 8 of us managed to squeeze into Candice's dad's work van nicely. It was 35 minutes of sitting awkwardly in between Misty and Dawn, who could've cheered up about it a bit more. Misty however seemed pleased enough. It was pretty claustrophobic in there, all I could smell was Dawn's sweet scent of musk as she quietly twirled her hair next to me. Or hear her sighs; she obviously just wanted to be back home hibernating. I thought she was looking towards me now and again; but maybe I was just being paranoid.

"Okay were here!" Candice called from the front seat; the first word that sprang to my mind was finally.

We jumped out the back and gathered our things to take a walk down the beach and find a spot. I'd been to beaches back home, but they grim, dirty and full of out of towners. This place was different. The weather wasn't exactly on our side, but it was still a beautiful place.

Large silver and black pebbles that shimmered from the sea water were scattered under our feet, that got buried into the mustard sand with every step. It was quiet, nobody but us. It wasn't exactly a large beach, which made it more appealing to me, nobody else to cause noise pollution and trash.

While the others cleared old wood and debris from the chosen spot, I took the opportunity to sit and admire the view. The water was calm, to match the sky, that still looked clear. I watched cloudy looking heaps of water glide ahead of the small waves that came towards us, bringing with it a cool breeze that fascinated my senses. The smell of fresh was exhilarating, it wasn't your usual smell of strong salt it was, indescribable. Everything was so peaceful; I could just the quiet murmurs of seagulls gliding above our heads, which wasn't at all distracting.

It wasn't exactly a desktop background image; the scene didn't fit them standards at all. But it was good enough for me.

"Hey come on man!" Tracey yelled from the group, I walked over to them where they were gathered in a circle sitting on the bits of wood they found, while the rest of the driftwood was randomly thrown together in the middle.

After watching the guys attempt to light the fire with no luck what so ever, I decided to bring my attention to the girls. Dawn in particular, she stayed silent and nodded every now and again while Misty, May and Candice chatted mindlessly about Prom at top speeds that no other human being could keep up with. Now was the perfect opportunity, at least it was saving her from the other girl's mind boggling conversation. I told myself over and over not to think about what I'd say to Dawn, to just say whatever came to mind, so I could get it right.

I got up confidently and casually walked over to the group, trying not to lose my nerves.

"Lemme guess Ash, you wanna know if you'd like netting on your dress?" Misty laughed.

I raised an eyebrow at her and pretended I didn't hear that, her humor wasn't always a winner.

"Actually Dawn? Would you like to… Take, a walk with me?" I breathed.

Her head snapped up as if in shock, followed by her signature warm smile.

"Sure, okay" Her smile got bigger as she left her seat and climbed over Candice to stand beside me.

We strolled away slowly, keeping quiet until we were at a safe distance from everyone, privacy was crucial in this situation.

I took off my jacket and placed it flat on the beach, the cold got to me instantly, I exhaled sharply and smiled hopelessly at Dawn to hide my shattering cold teeth.

"Have a seat" I insisted, holding my hands out.

"Thanks" She grinned, sitting down. "It really amazes me how you don't feel the cold, do you have some kind of bionic skin or something?" She mused.

"All part of being a superhero" I smiled back. My stomach dropped in embarrassment, I hoped I wasn't showing an insanely huge ego, just carrying on our inside joke from the incident in the cafeteria.

Dawn looked down as she laughed lightly. "So what did you wanna talk to me about?" She asked looking back up at me.

I took a deep breath, still attempting to hold my nerves. I didn't wanna tell her straight away, I wanted to say something that would throw her off first.

"About Monday" I sighed. "Kinda broke a promise there; I wanted to be here for you. I'm really sorry."

Her eyebrows pushed together as she gazed at me sympathetically.

"No it's not you're fault, I don't want you here all the time."

If that was supposed to reassure me, it actually stung. Her eyes widened at me as she smacked her mouth.

"WAIT, NO, I'M SORRY!" She quickly reacted. "That came out wrong!"

"Don't worry I know what you mean Dawn. I'm glad just glad you're okay"

She breathed and relaxed as she blushed at me.

"That actually wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about" I braced myself for the next words; the only bit I planned was to give her the present first. Hopefully it wouldn't make my proposal look like a bribe though.

Dawn arranged herself to cross her legs on my jacket, until she was interrupted.

"OW! What the hell am I sitting on?" I think that question was to herself.

She got up on her knees and rummaged her spot, until she found her present

My eyes widened in horror as I watched her exam her find, I was hoping to give it to her myself, but it was kinda late for that now.

"Go ahead, open it" I said with certainty.

She gazed at the box curiously before slowly removing the top of it, to reveal her find.

"Sorry for this but, Happy Birthday. Again" I smiled.

Her jaw dropped in surprise as she stared down at the bracelet in her palm.

Her eyes shot up and met mine as she tried to hold back a smile to be sure. "You're kidding right? I, I mean are you serious?"

I nodded silently at her closing my eyes.

She shook her head at me in disbelief. "You really didn't have to.." She drifted off, staring back down at the box.

To hell with her not wanting any presents it was her sweet sixteen after all.

"Oh my gosh, I, I just… Thank you, thank you so much Ash" She breathed, covering her mouth with a free hand.

"Here, I'll put it on" I insisted and knelt up towards her. As she was already in front of me, we were too close now. She watched my face as I carefully took the bracelet out the box and wrapped it around her left wrist. When my hand brushed against her soft, warm skin it cut her a short breath, she snapped up and met the deep gaze in my eyes. My hands were still on her wrist, she was so delicate, I didn't wanna let go, it was like lunch out on the benches last week all over again. But surely nothing could ruin this now?

Before I any chance of that could happen I decided now was the right time. To just go for it, even if it sounds like gibberish maybe, just, maybe she would understand what she means to me.

"Dawn…" I started, hoping this was going to finish right.

"Hmm?" She blinked at me as I grabbed her attention, like she came back to her senses.

I let go of her and sat back down, she mirrored my movements afterwards.

"Look this is gonna sound really crazy but over the past week and so, you've become a really big and important part of my life" I waffled in one breath.

Dawn watched me with a straight face, pulling her eyebrows together like she didn't understand.

"Ash-"

I laughed nervously to cut her off. "I'm, sorry can I just say this now before I start sounding like a complete idiot?"

She nodded and became even more intrigued, I'm surprised if she didn't know what was coming; being myself was a terrible giveaway.

"I don't know what it is about you but…" I looked down at my hands; they were shaking like a broken washing machine. I felt a huge lump in my throat like I hadn't swallowed a pill properly. "I find it just impossible to explain I, I just…" I was crumbling before Dawn's eyes, it was a stupid move to keep thinking about this, I needed to just go ahead and blurt it out before it was too late.

"Basically, in a nutshell" I sounded like I was asking a question. "Dawn I-"

"HEY ASH, DAWN COMMON DON'T YOU WANNA EAT OR NOT!?"

You gotta be effing kidding me…

I can honestly say at that point, I'd never wanted to strangle anyone else in my life more than Kenny.

I cringed as an angry sense ran down my back, forcing its way down before it exploded in my head, and opened my eyes.

Dawn was still locked on to me, totally ignoring Kenny's question he yelled from the distance.

She blinked leaning in, expecting me to finish. "You what.. Ash?" She asked in all seriousness.

I sighed, actually thinking of my next words. What was with the interruptions? My life isn't some kind of soap opera, there had to be a reason. Maybe me and Dawn aren't meant to be, maybe someone is saving me the pain of hearing the 'I'm sorry but can we be friends?' speech. As much as it killed me, I was just going to let it go.

"Doesn't matter" I said quietly, unable to look at Dawn. "I don't know about you but I'm starved, are you coming?" I got up and assisted my hand to help her up.

"Yeah, sure just gimme a minute I wanna see something, don't forget your jacket" She rejected my hand and stayed sat. I knew she made that up on the spot, she seemed really offended I didn't tell her what I wanted to.

(Dawn's POV)

"I'll see ya in a minute then" Ash told me, I nodded at him before he walked away towards our friends.

I didn't care if I was starving, and I didn't give a damn what Kenny had just yelled at us. At this moment in time I couldn't even function to breath properly. I started to shiver, but not from the cold I was perfectly warm, but just so irritated. I held onto my elbows and looked up above my eyelashes to hold back the tears.

I didn't understand what just happened, that could've been the most perfect moment of my life but instead it left me disappointed and confused. Was he even going to say what I was thinking he'd say? He couldn't have, or he would have just gone ahead and said it. Why else has he been the only one to give me a present, which, by the way looked extremely expensive. I shouldn't have to wait for something to happen; I didn't even know if anything was going to happen between us.

I watched the diamond charms on the bracelet sparkle from the sun, that was just peaking through clouded sky.

I'll never take this off. Ever.

"Dawn?"

I was cut short of a breath and startled by May creeping behind me like a god damn ninja.

"GEEZ MAY!" I panted. "Don't you want me to live to 17?"

"My badness" She laughed. "Everybody's wondering what's taking so long, are you okay?"

Her eyes clocked onto the glittering object hanging loose from my wrist.

"HOLY CRAP WHERE'D YOU GET THAT?!" She grabbed my arm to get a closer look.

"Umm Ash, he gave it to me just now" I admitted.

"Wow it must have cost him a fortune!"

"Yeah I guess." I stood there awkwardly scratching my head with my free hand.

May looked up with a raised eyebrow, I knew that look. "But that's not all that happened when he stole you from us was it" Yeah, that's exactly what that look meant.

I sighed and ended it before it turned into a C.I.A interrogation. "Yes May, he just wanted to give me a gift to cheer me up. Now what's wrong with that?"

She grinned letting go of my hand, putting hers on her hips. "Nothing Dawn, nothing at all." She said shaking her head. "Now common you're ruining your own birthday." She grabbed hold of my hand and dragged me back to our friends.

Food was being passed around the group as we sat down. Misty and Gary argued over who would get the last chocolate moose, no surprise there, while everyone else watched on and giggled with their own food. Ash kept to himself, he looked on at us but never said a word or got involved.

I sat in between Kenny and Candice which pleased me, I knew he wouldn't bother me, my closest friend next to May. Candice seemed to be occupied in braiding Tracey's hair who sat next to her, keeping themselves amused.

By the time we ate and discussed mindless subjects the sun was already down. I suddenly noticed the beach was even colder now, I shivered watching the black waves crawling smoothly towards us, we'd have to leave soon before the tide came too close.

Candice swung around to face me. "Dawn guess what?" She grinned.

I shrugged at her, sticking my bottom lip out.

She grabbed my hands tapping my lap with every syllable. "I'm going to prom with Tracey"

"Aww that's great you guys" I smiled, I really was happy for them; at least they can go now.

"But yano, as friends, nothing like Ash and Misty" She laughed.

I didn't laugh. I suddenly became livid with jealousy. What the hell were they going together for?

"What? They're going together like?" I stayed calm, trying to hide the ticking time bomb at the back of my throat.

"Well, nothing like that but I mean maybe after prom they'd probably kinda get together like." Candice wondered. "I mean Misty already likes him so why not right?"

I was stunned; I couldn't believe what I was hearing. After all this time I had to go and fall in love with somebody who already likes someone else. It was too late for me; everything I thought about wasn't true. Wondering if Ash was trying to tell me his feelings, it was all my stupid imagination that got out of hand. I was completely crushed. Like somebody has just punched my chest to rip out my heart.

"Wow check Dawn and her bling, bling!" Gary walked over and interrupted us, probably noticing my bracelet screaming sparkles at him from the other side of the circle. "Wait a second…" He paused, examining it closer. "Hey, guys look at this" He wagged his finger gesturing Tracey and Kenny to turn and look at it.

"Isn't that the gift Ash bought for his aunt?" Kenny wondered, leaning in closer.

"Yeah, I'm positive…" Tracey continued turning his head sideways.

The mixed emotions in my brain selected a separate one, anger.

I looked at all 3 of them confused, shaking my head. "What do you mean? This is my birthday present from him."

"Oh my gosh it's so pretty!" Candice squealed. I wasn't in the mood for cooing over it with her.

"Dawn we saw Ash in a store buying that and he told us it's for his aunt" Kenny stated to me.

I glared at Ash across the beach, talking to May and Misty.

"Call him over please." I demanded through my teeth.

Gary answered my request. "Dude, get over here!"

I glowered down at the lie, resting on my wrist. Tempted to rip it off and let it shatter to pieces. I looked back up at a guilty looking Ash, not saying a word.

Kenny decided to take a stand in for me. "Ash why did you tell us that that. Was for your aunt?" He asked, puzzled.

I watched Ash's face turn bright red. His eyes shifted around all of us that witnessed.

"Oh yeah, about that…" He started to say. "She didn't really like it so-"

"Wait." I interrupted, standing to him face to face. "So you just THOUGHT you'd give it to me as, what a rejected second hand deal?" My voice got louder with every word; I felt the heat coming from Ash's face as it got redder. I couldn't believe I could actually get this angry with him, it scared me, big time. I sat back down to restore myself and not turn this into an Armageddon.

"What? No! It's not like that at all!-"

"Save it." I sighed. "Here you can have it back, I'm sure a refund would mean more to you." I rummaged the fasten, but couldn't get it off. I knew why when I felt a tear ran down my cheek, and I noticed my hands were shaking in rage.

When it did come off I held it away from me, like it was dirt, and dropped it in his hand that he held out. I didn't bother to look at him; I couldn't, I didn't want to be pissed with him.

"I'm gonna go home you guys it's getting kinda late."

"Common Dawn stay-"

"Sorry Kenny, but you guys can stay if you want I'm gonna call a cab."

I caught Kenny glaring in Ash's direction.

"Thanks for this guys, it was really fun." I lied; but I really did appreciate my friends doing this for me. I just wasn't in the mood for celebrations in the first place.

The group murmured "See ya" or "Bye Dawn" all together as I walked away getting my cell pone out.

I had to cheer up for mom when I got home. She didn't poke too much at me, I told her I was home early because of the weather. After supper I stalked to my room to retire to bed early, and began hibernating again.

I felt like an idiot. Honestly I wasn't pissed about the bracelet at all. I was stung by the news Candice informed me with, and wanted to take it out on Ash; I guess I chose the wrong moment. I shouldn't have done it at all, I looked like a spoiled brat, and I felt like it. Like an expensive gift like that wasn't good enough for me, because it belonged to someone else in the first place. I wished that I could take everything back, just because of my stupid jealously, he's not gonna want to speak to me ever again. I made him look like the villain, everybody's gonna think he ruined my birthday when in fact, he made it perfect in the time I spent with him.

I couldn't blame him this time for controlling my emotions. It was all my fault.

A/N: Is it me or is Dawn getting abit too emotional? D:

Don't worry, she'll be happy soon (:

I think I'm losing my internet ina few days forra while :'( (NOOOOOO)

But just a heads up, I'm NOT going to leave this story unfinished! Thanks to all the support I've been getting.

Thankyouthankyouthankyou :D

I'll try my best to update ASAP D: Till next time ;]