A/N: Guess who's back with a brand new chapter ;]

This took me SO fricken long it was driving me crazy! X_X I hope nobody else suffers writers block to my extent D:

Not a lot to say (: I hate to babble in these anyways :P

(ASH'S POV)

There were 34 missed calls when I got home from soccer practice. I didn't intend to ignore Misty unfortunately I just wasn't there to answer. I felt like cowardly and wasn't exactly handling the situation in the best manner; I knew what I had to do.

After a quick shower I sat in a towel on my bed, constantly trying to get hold of Misty. I looked to see if she was online, sent endless e-mails but no replies; I was starting to get worried. I decided to get dressed and see if she was home but just as I was about to log out of my computer, Dawn appeared online, suddenly the 'make it up to Misty plan' went out the window. I figured I'd catch up with her later hopefully; I didn't wanna leave it silent between us for too long.

I skipped a heartbeat and smiled amorously to myself when I saw 'Dawn… has just signed in' appear in a box at the bottom right of my screen. I was too nervous to click it straight away, I was afraid my reflexes would come out and I'd say something stupid. I thought whether or not to talk to her first, or just leave it a couple of minutes to not seem too suffocating. All I could hear in the back of my mind is "Fess up and be a god damn man, you're being paranoid!" It's given up all hope for me and is screaming "Get over yourself!" At the monitor. The voice at the back of my throat. I just wish I listened to it but instead I tell my instincts to disappear and go with the spontaneous approach on life, which is where the 'stupid reflexes' were born unfortunately. Whereas my instinct was yelling "Think before you speak!" At me.

I stared at Dawn's screen name on my contacts list, looking the lyrics in her personal message that read; 'You, appear, just like a dream to me.' I was pretty taken back by it, what could it mean?

A new window opened on my screen with an alert sound as I browsed through my music list.

"Hi" Dawn wrote. "You okay?" With a smiley to end.

I grinned bashfully and took a deep breath before writing "Hey, great thanks you? I'm guessing you got the note I left" Andadded a cheesy smiley.

"Yeah thanks, I got a little disappointed when you left so fast until I saw it" She wrote back.

"Disappointed?" I repeated to myself, does she actually like me that much that she didn't want me to leave?

I found that out as we talked until the early hours of the morning, about everything. I found out that we had a lot more in common than I thought. I told her about my childhood, growing up without a dad since he left when I was 3. Turned out Dawn was in the same situation, her dad abandoned her mom when she was pregnant with Dawn. It was comforting for the both us to finally talk to someone who understands.

I questioned her about the lyrics in her personal message, to which she told me it's a song she's dedicating to somebody when she comes to sing it at the upcoming school talent show, which has been prepared since before I arrived here. She begged me to take part until I gave in and told her about my possible talents. Our love for music came into the equation; she's an aspiring singer, while I told her I occasionally pluck on my electric guitar and tap the piano. She became more intrigued which was where I almost spilled that I overheard her singing in a lesson on my first day, and that led to my detention. But I didn't want that guilt hanging over her. All in all, she was worth the dark circles that hung from my eyes the morning after.

I sat at the table in my kitchen, struggling to stay awake as my mom glared at me from the corner of my eye, making breakfast.

"Here sweetie." She placed a bowl in front of my nose, a little too loud to make me snap up in confusion for her own amusement.

She sat the other side of me sipping her coffee. "Late night was it?" She grinned.

I twisted my eyebrows and nodded at my bowl of cereal.

"What were you doing up all night?"

I fought to keep my eyelids open as I looked up from my breakfast at her.

"Talking to middle aged men using my webcam" I replied, trying to keep the genuine in my face.

She chocked on her coffee and widely glared at me I all seriousness. "Excuse me?"

"Kidding mom?" I rolled my eyes as best I could; it's a hard task when you've hardly slept a wink.

"You'd better get going, you'll be late for the bus" She told me, changing the subject. "But I still want you to tell me when you get home."

I sure wasn't looking forward to that.

We exchanged goodbyes at the front door, only hers involved an uncalled for kiss on my cheek right in front of the school bus. I wasn't gonna hear the end of that today.

I strolled into home room with a hand stretched over my face to hide my huge yawns.

"Well, well" Tracey grinned as I parked myself at my desk. "Looks like somebody else had a late night."

I lifted my head to look at him, supported by my arm leaning on the desk of course. "Huh?"

He nodded towards Dawn sat in front of me, I couldn't see much of her but from her head slightly tilting now and again and random quiet mumbles coming from her, I knew she was trying to nod off.

I sighed into my arms and smiled to myself, I thought it was really cute of her.

"So is there something you're not telling us Ash? 'Wink, wink'" Tracey teased.

I sat back up rubbing my eyes one last time to wake myself up. "Alright, we stayed up all night talking to each other online, so shoot me."

"I won't, but I think I know someone who'll be glad to" Tracey replied, looking over at Misty on the other side of me.

I glanced over at her, she had her headphones in which was a relief she couldn't hear what we were talking about. I face palmed and sighed as I just remembered..

"Shoot I was supposed to talk to her about… Well you obviously know, so go ahead and mock the situation even more" I puffed.

Tracey shook his head at me sympathetically. "Dude, why would I do that? We all know you're pretty pissed about what happened and that's why Misty's so quiet." He admitted.

I groaned and leaned forward into my arms. I felt like a total douche, all I was doing was making Misty feel worse in causing her to think I don't wanna talk to her. But, surely she got my missed calls from yesterday? I made a mental note to talk to her later alone, while the register was being called.

A surprise school assembly was called which cancelled first lesson. Students would usually

object and have a moan when the word 'assembly' came on over the speakers around the school, informed by Principal Oak. But anything that made lesson time stay away for as long as possible, everybody got pretty hyped over.

By the time I walked over to the immensely large assembly hall that could easily seat a thousand students, I felt shockingly more wide awake. I noticed there was something different about the area I was in, not exactly the location and people I was with, but the actual surrounding. It was like I was breathing different air. And I know I've felt it before but just couldn't put my finger on where though.

I sat in between Kenny and Misty as we took our seats near the middle rows of the hall. I looked further down the row of seats either side of me, Dawn wasn't sitting with us. I also now noticed it didn't feel the same when I was sat, the seats were the same I just couldn't figure out what was altered.

Once everybody was settled Principal Oak entered the stage and took his place behind a pedestal.

"Good morning students" He began, then waited for the school to chant back to him.

"Now I've called upon this assembly for some good news for everyone but first, to open the assembly I have a special treat."

A wave of exited murmurs from students filled the hall until the Principal waved his hands for attention again.

"A student would like to present a demo from the performance she is planning to do for next week's talent show. She's very nervous so I hope you'll all give her a chance, so without any further a do I'd like you to all please welcome, Dawn Berlitz singing 'When I look at you.'

A round of applause and roaring cheers automatically filled the hall as Oak walked off the stage and Dawn entered it from the same side holding a microphone and stand.

I was a little confused, wasn't she just as tired as I was? And now she's bright, beaming and ready to sing to the entire school? It didn't make any sense; I thought I was going crazy.

She stood just in front of the pedestal and placed her microphone before her.

"Hi, um I guess this is dedicated to a guy who… Doesn't exactly know who he is but defiantly will when I've finished so…" She took a deep breath. "Here goes." She nodded to her left cueing the music from backstage.

I watched her curiously thinking about what she meant by it being dedicated to a guy. I felt a little jealous wondering who it could be; Kenny was my first guess, what with him being her best friend. But then I leaned more toward the other guys of the group, and finally, the possibility that it could be me? I just shook the idea out of my head before Dawn started to sing.

As she sang through the first verse, I felt as if her voice took me under a spell, like she was some kind of siren. I watched her in an absent-mindedly daze totally oblivious that her eyes were completely locked on to mine. When I finally realized, she started to bring tears down her eyes half way through the chorus. I snapped out of my daze and started to get worried, of course I didn't understand why she was crying, so without thinking I found myself pushing past student's legs trying to get out of the isle and made my way over to the side of the stage. Dawn immediately stopped singing when I reached her.

The only thing I wanted was to reassure her; she turned to me with her sapphire eyes filled with hurt.

"Ash…" She whispered tearfully to me. "It's always been you."

I breathed and leaned my forehead against hers as we closed our eyes.

"I know." I told her. But I didn't know. I had no fricken idea! There was something screaming inside asking 'What the hell? I'm so confused I don't get it!' It tried to push its way up but something else was controlling my actions… And it wasn't Dawn for once; it was the unidentifiable force I've been feeling the whole time.

Dawn broke away from me and stared into my eyes, shaking her head. "I love you Ash… Always."

Before I could respond she sealed us with a soft kiss. Unknowingly in front of the entire school who stayed silent. I took her in my embrace and raised my hands up her back, exhaling and falling naturally into her body and breathing her scent. I felt her hands rise slowly against my chest and settled to my shoulders.

I thought nothing could take this moment away from me, I wouldn't let it. But unfortunately for me I wasn't in control of things.

A faint, vulgar voice was calling my name in the background as I was still kissing Dawn. I recognized it as it got louder and louder and before I knew it; my perfect moment was taken away from me in a flash. All I could see was darkness, and then I heard my name again. Only this time, it was very loud.

"MISTER KETCHUM WOULD YOU PLEASE WAKE UP!"

I was back in control again. But that was the only good news I was aware of.

The bad news was I realized I was sat back at my desk with my head buried into my arms, so I still only saw darkness.

"I WILL NOT ASK YOU AGAIN!" The voice called one last time.

I shot my head up in surprise and blinked repeatedly to gain focus of the blurred scene before me.

I squinted my eyes to try and get a better look at the person stood in front of my desk, I soon became fully aware it was Mrs. Claridge, and I was still sat in homeroom.

"It was… All a dream?" I asked myself. Mrs. Claridge raised an eyebrow and folded her arms.

I knew that look, she was about to blow up in my face.

"Yes, it was Ash. But I'll tell you what's not. Your appointment in the detention room during recess! Now would you please get to class!"

Must be my lucky day. I thought to myself, dropping my head back to the desk.

After an unbearable hour of struggling to get through a P.E lesson, trying to keep up with the fitness activities without collapsing of exhaustion and occasionally tripping or getting a ball to the head. I sat through another hour of Chemistry listening to Candice and Tracey drone on about their own date arrangements for Prom, I was actually glad to catch a nap during detention.

As I sat there, once again with my head in my arms, I thought to myself; 'Is it even possible to get a detention without Dawn's help?'

I shook my head at the thought. Of course it wasn't her fault, she controlled me emotions but not my actions.

I thought I couldn't go on making mistake after mistake; I just wanted try to be happy here and the people around me too. The only way I could be happy though us if I was with Dawn. Just seeing her enchanting smile made my stomach drop, but in the good way. I promised myself I'd fess up and tell her, but every time I try to, something got in the way… Maybe its best if she doesn't know, maybe telling her would just make everything worse than it already is, I just didn't know whether to take that chance.

Math was quiet as usual, apart from notes being thrown at my head from Jessie whenever the teacher wasn't looking. On every one her phone number was written, I just rolled my eyes and threw it in the bin next to the teacher's desk in front of me.

When the lesson finished Jessie tried to catch up to me out in the corridor, when May came to my rescue and slid in front of her to talk to me.

She tapped my shoulder to turn me around. "Hey!"

Before I could respond she spun me back around and dragged my arm.

"You're welcome!" May whispered.

"Is she still following me?" I whispered back, tempted to look behind.

"Just keep walking!"

We managed to push our way to the cafeteria and take a seat with Dawn, Misty and Candice.

"Where are the guys?" I asked, sitting opposite the trio.

Candice nodded towards the dinner queue, looking like a battle zone as always.

"Getting our food" She smirked. "And since you're here, I think you should go get May's lunch too."

I raised an eyebrow and turned to May next to me.

"Well that is no place for tiny girls like us" She grinned.

I sighed and smiled back as she handed me her money.

"Anything in particular?"

"Surprise me Ash." May winked.

I rolled my eyes at her before fighting my way through the dinner line while dragging poor Kenny out with me, trying to balance mine and May's lunch in my hand.

"Take your time guys!" May complained, snatching her lunch from me.

I looked at Gary, Tracey and Kenny before glaring at May and sat down.

"Well you know what girls from now on you get your own lunch because the guys quit!" Gary puffed.

I nodded in agreement with Tracey and Kenny and smirked.

While Gary and May continued to argue in the background with Candice trying to calm them down and Tracey trying to restrain his laughter. I couldn't help notice why Dawn, Misty and Kenny were all so quiet. They hardly touched their food or said a word; I wondered what had gone on between the three, if their quietness was all connected.

I took the opportunity to take Misty aside and have that talk with her at last.

"Misty.. Do you… Have a minute please?"

She looked up from her food to me with sad eyes and softly nodded at me, looking very uneasy.

I took a walk with her out into the garden where I sat with Dawn a few weeks ago.

"Listen…" I began as we sat on the benches. "I just wanted to say sorry really, for being a total douche to you."

"Ash-"

"Please, Misty." I interrupted her. "I just need to let you know how I feel."

She nodded. I took a deep breath and took a hand from her lap.

"I shouldn't have reacted the way I did and, I don't know what the kiss meant to you but I'm gonna be really honest and say I just wanna be friends. I'm sorry if I've been giving you the wrong idea." I breathed.

I studied her reaction carefully, and it wasn't at all was I was expecting.

She shook her head at me in confusion. "Ash you got it all wrong, it didn't mean anything to me I was just fooling around I didn't think you'd take it so seriously." She sounded genuinely offended by my assumption, which sure put me on the spot.

"Oh… I- I thought that you…"

"NO OF COURSE NOT!" She defended, waving her hands in my face.

I scratched my head, preparing for the awkwardness. "Oh, well, that's okay then I guess…"

Misty breathed slowly as if to say; 'Phew.'

"Can we… Can we still go to the dance together? You know… As Friends?" She cautiously asked me.

I smiled at her and took her hands again. "Of course."

Misty smiled warmly back at me and leaned in to wrap her arms around my neck, to which I hugged her back from the waist.

"Can't wait." She whispered.

"Me too."

It was a huge relief to finally get at least one thing straightened out, now I just had to try talk to Dawn one of these days.

(Dawn's POV)

'FINAL REHERSALS FOR TALENT SHOW AFTER SCHOOL TODAY'

I glanced at the notice sideways, smiling to myself. I couldn't wait for it, I was a little nervous since I'd never exactly performed in front of a huge audience before, but it was a good opportunity to show people I'm not the quiet, shy little girl they think I am.

It was about 3 weeks ago I stayed up all night talking to Ash, since then we've been closer than ever. I didn't blush or get nervous every time he spoke to me anymore, or have to think of what to say every time I saw him. But needless to say I still ached inside for what I felt for him. The never ending 'I need you' feeling.

It was also 3 weeks ago I agreed to go to the dance with Kenny. It was really awkward; I told him I'd think about it before giving him an answer 2 days later. But, he didn't seem as enthusiastic as before. I stung him by making him wait, because of my idiotic, selfish brain thought about Ash and if he's still going with Misty. Well of course he is!

We'd go as friends of course, no matter what people have said all our lives I never saw him in any other way, and he would agree with me. I hope.

The bell rang for the last lesson of the day which meant it was time to go over to the main hall and make preparations. While I stuck to my chosen act of singing, I sat in the audience with May - who was helping out with props - and giggled at Gary rehearsing his act on stage. A hopeless comedian.

"So a guy walks into a bar right, no.. wait…" He stopped and thought to himself for a moment as me and May face palmed.

"GOT IT!" Gary finally yelled into the microphone, everybody covered their ears and glared at him for causing high pitch feedback.

"Sorry!" He grinned, holding his hands up. "Anyway a guy and his crab friend walks into a bar right, and he places the crab on the bar and tells the bartender to watch the crab for a second while he goes to the bathroom."

"This should be good" May sarcastically mumbled to me, I giggled back at her.

"So when the guy comes back from the bathroom, he found the bartender beating up the crab. So the guys like; 'What are you doing? Why are you beating up my crab!' And the bartender says 'Because it was giving me all this!'"

Gary finished with making crabby claw actions with his hands.

Drew, who May was particularly exited about helping out with the show, was sat behind Gary, giving him a comedy drum roll after each gag.

I sweat dropped at the poor guy; May just simply shook her head holding it in her hands.

One of the students painting the back of the stage turned around and stared bluntly at Gary. "Dude, you suck."

He sighed and frowned back, I think he kinda knew he sucked; all we needed was some tumbleweed to float past to actually make him funny.

"Thank you Gary." The slim brown haired Performing Arts teacher sighed, who sat at the back row of the hall taking notes. "I believe Jessica is next with her rendition of 'Too Cool' along with Cassidy, Roxanne, Bianca and Francesca?"

"I believe the actual term is Jessie and her army of skanks." I muttered to May as Gary dawdled off stage.

Jessie strutted onto the stage shooing the prop makers and painters away wearing a short, gold sequined dress with gold leggings and heels. A sight enough to make anyone's eyes sore.

"Everybody make way, a star is coming through" She beamed, with a daring look.

"Alright girls. 5, 6, 7 and!" She snapped her fingers to the beats she called and started to sway her shoulders with her hands on her hips to the music, while the skanks mirrored her moves behind. It was very irritable to watch.

"Argh, jeez make the noises stop!" Gary mockingly wailed covering his ears as he sat next to me. Drew joined us on the other side and sat next to May, to which I grinned at.

After watching a lot of prancing around and to put it lightly, some sound barrier braking singing; It was my turn.

"Dawn when you're ready please" The teacher called from the back.

I gave her a short thumbs up and climbed up the side of the stage. Jessie purposely shoved past my shoulder and glared at me, to which I just smiled back.

"GO ON DAWN!" Gary yelled from his seat. I smiled and shook my head at him.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, imaging it was only Ash there I was singing to. My inspiration.

I opened my eyes to the sound of an audience applauding, it was the night. The night to show everybody what I was made of. And it was my turn in the spotlight.

I stood anxiously backstage waiting for my cue, I listened carefully to Principal Oak describing myself as the next act, staring at the huge red and blue banner at the back of the stage that read 'SINNOH'S GOT TALENT' Until May, who helped paint it, scared me half to death by creeping up on me.

"Dawn!"

I jumped and just about managed to catch my breath. "What the hell are you trying to do to me?"

"Sorry." She giggled. "I just wanted to come give you a good luck hug!"

"Awww thanks." I leaned into her as she squeezed me tight.

"You look amazing!" May winked, letting go of me.

"It's just a white shirt, waistcoat and shorts May. Where not exactly talking glamorous here, unlike 'little miss diva' over there." I nodded towards Jessie at a well lit dressing table, fixing her hair.

"Just remember, don't look directly at the entire audience, keep your eyes on the back of the wall and you'll be fine."

"Okay" I grinned. "Just hope for me that I don't end up tripping over now."

"Please welcome, Dawn Berlitz!" That was my cue.

I took one last hug from May as she squealed in excitement for me and walked out confidently out of stage. The Principal gave me a hopeful smile as he exited the stage walking past me, I also saw my mom at the edge of the stage giving me a wave.

I got to the microphone and lost all my focus. Everything friends told me just rolled up in my stomach and constantly turned until it felt like it was going to burst. Confidence level was now plummeting at a high level of speed, and then I thought about what Ash told me before the show started.

'Just be yourself Dawn, nobody can expect anything more from you, because there's nothing more you can give apart from what you believe in. I believe in you too.'

I could hear his soft voice loud and clear in my mind, and I smiled secretly also remembering I had no idea what he meant at first, but it warmed my heart to know that he believed in me.

I wrapped my hands around the microphone and inhaled through my nose and nodded at May backstage to start the music.

As I waited for the intro, I ignored May's guidance and immediately caught sight of Ash in the audience. He noticed straight away and locked his eyes with mine, I couldn't see if it was certain from that distance, but I knew I definitely felt his eyes in mine.

"Everybody needs inspiration,
Everybody needs a song,
A beautiful melody,
When the nights so long."

I wanted to get through it as quickly as possible; soon enough I realized staring into Ash's eyes wasn't the best idea. I was singing to him, and it wouldn't be long before I felt myself breaking before him… Not to mention my mom and the entire school.

"'Cause there is no guarantee,
That this life is easy...

Yeah when my, world is falling apart,
When there's no, light to break up the dark,
That's when I, I...
I look at you.

When the waves,
Are flooding the shore and I can't,
Find my way home anymore,
That's when I, I...
I look at you."

I closed my eyes during the breather before my second verse. The lyrics reminded me of my birthday. How I was so happy to be with him, just to see his face when I got his present. And, how it all ended in tears...

"When I look at you, I see forgiveness,
I see the truth,
You love me for who I am,
Like the stars Hold the moon,
Right there where they belong,
And I Know I'm Not Alone,

Yeah when my, world is falling apart,
When there's no, light to break up the dark,
That's when I, I...
I look at you.

When the waves,
Are flooding the shore and I can't,
Find my way home anymore,
That's when I, I...
I look at you."

I started to crumble. My hands were gripping the mike too much and I started to shake. I felt a single tear fall from my face, followed by three more. I couldn't take the pain anymore; it was tearing every inch of my heart right down to the core. That was the only part Ash didn't possess, until now. Flashbacks of me appeared in my mind, when I cried myself to sleep with only one thought on my mind. That was enough; it was enough for Ash to take the last piece of my heart. I shattered in front of him. And hundreds of others that watched me helplessly.

"You appear, just like a dream to me
Just like, kaleidoscope colours that
Cover Me, All I need, every
Breath that I breathe, don't you know...

I love you.." I whispered.

The music stopped. My eyed opened to shocked members of a silent audience. I said something that certainly wasn't in the song. I was done here.

I ran off the stage into May's arms, soaking her shoulder.

"Dawn...?"

A/N: Oooft, a cliffy ;]

BTW if you're confused, from where it says about the assembly in Ash's POV is him dreeeaming.

And Dawn's song is 'When I Look At You' – Miley Cyrus

AND When Jessie is doing her rehearsal, it's taken from a scene in Camp Rock, called 'Too Cool' – Meaghan Martin.

Yeah, I'm a Disney freak xD I'm not happy about who I made as her little followers but honestly, I found it hard to think of anyone else o_O

ANYWAY

Next chappy I'm really exited about posting, PROM yay! :D I'm off to work on it now :P

So until then Pearlyshipperssss ;D