Thanks for all the kind reviews. Cookies go to Forever New Yorker, bluelotus22, Pikachu0711, Amulet Misty, Kaileyhicago, and smiley232! Sorry for the cliffie; I couldn't resist! I really loved writing his chapter :)

Without further ado:

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon!

Last time:

"Well," Kenny began nervously. "Um," Kenny's mind raced to find words but none came. Kenny gave up and sighed, "Maybe this will explain it?" Kenny reached under his seat and pulled out….

Dawn had day-dreamed about this moment ever since she became friends with Kenny again. In her day-dreams, she was cool and confident and knew what she was going to say but in reality, she was speechless.

Kenny's heart was racing at 100 mph. Time seemed to slow as he waited for a reply. He replayed the moment over as he waited.

Kenny pulled a bouquet of white violets from under his chair and swallowed hard. Kenny hoped that Dawn knew what white violets meant. He searched her eyes for some sign but couldn't read her surprised eyes.

"Dawn," Kenny called nervously. Dawn stared at the flowers in awe; she knew that they meant "Let's take a chance." Dawn knew what he meant by that, sort of.

Kenny couldn't take the waiting. "Dawn, so," he attempted. "Will you go out on a date with me?" he stumbled over his words.

Dawn's eyes widened in realization; that's what he meant by take a chance. Dawn didn't know what to say. She hadn't thought about the Paul incident in weeks.

"Kenny," Dawn smiled. "I am flattered and I would love to," Dawn started happily and Kenny's eyes brightened, "but, I feel like I need closure." Kenny's eyes saddened but nodded in understanding. Dawn saw this gesture and then smiled, "No need to worry right?"

"But that's when I worry the most," Kenny mumbled under his breath so Dawn couldn't hear. Kenny offered the flowers to Dawn but Dawn shook her head. Kenny frowned and raised an eyebrow in question.

"I can't promise you anything, yet. So I can't take the flowers but I do love them!" Dawn tried to end on a happy note. However, Kenny still had a dejected look upon his face.

"Friends?" Kenny asked hopefully.

"Of course!" Dawn laughed. "We were never not friends!" They both laughed and Kenny proceeded to take out his wallet. Dawn placed a hand on his before exclaiming, "No way am I going to let you pay again! You always pay so it's my turn."

"Nope!"

"C'mon, Kenny. Please!"

"Never!"

Dawn sighed and gave up. "Fine." Kenny punched the air in victory and paid. They walked out together and began the long walk home. Once they stepped out of the heated café, Dawn shivered and Kenny noticed this. He stopped walking and took off his jacket then proceeded to place it on Dawn's shoulders. Dawn smiled gratefully and they continued to walk.

Once they reached Dawn's house, Dawn opened her door and walked in. Kenny held his place on the porch. Dawn stepped into the doorframe and grabbed his hand to pull him inside. For a small girl, Dawn could pull pretty hard. Kenny dug his heels into the wood but Dawn managed to pull him inside to her warm house. Kenny stumbled from the force but eventually regained his balance. Dawn walked him to the kitchen and made hot chocolate. They sipped the hot chocolate and let the heat consume them. Dawn and Kenny drank their drinks in silence until Kenny stood up and went to put his mug away.

"Dawn, I gotta go. My mom needs my help taking down Christmas decorations," Kenny pointed his thumb to the door. Dawn looked around her house and frowned when she realized her mom and she hadn't taken down the decorations.

"Okay. So I'll see you later?" Dawn asked hopefully.

"Yeah, later, Dee Dee," he smiled, waved and walked out the front door.

Dawn sat on her bed contemplating her situation. She wanted to accept that date but she just couldn't. She needed to finish her business with Paul. Her heart was pulling her in one direction but her head was pulling her in another. She groaned and spread out on her bed. She had an idea. She suddenly sat up and pulled out her laptop.

She immediately opened the chat service and double-clicked on May's name.

"Hiya, Dawn," May greeted clad in a red trench coat with a corset band under her bust, dark wash skinny jeans, a black scarf, a black purse, and black ankle heeled boots.

"Dressed up?" Dawn raised an eyebrow in question.

May flushed, "Yeah. Just a little."

"And makeup?" Dawn gasped at her friend's makeup. "It looks great!" Dawn gushed over her best friend's outfit and makeup.

"You think so?" May asked hopefully.

"Are you kidding me? Drew is going to drop dead when he sees you!"

"Really—" May stopped, "what?" May's face heated and turned red, "It's not for him!" Dawn giggled at her best friends antics.

"Okay, whatever you say," Dawn held up her hands in surrender.

"Cute jacket, Dawn," May winked. Dawn held a confused face before looking down at her outfit. She realized she still had Kenny's jacket.

"Oops?" Dawn nervously laughed.

May laughed, "Kenny's?" Dawn nodded sheepishly. "Ooh la la," May teased.

"Shut up," Dawn grimanced. "Can I talk to you about something?" Dawn asked quietly, which was unusual for her. She was usually boisterous and loud.

May noticed this and answered gently, "Sure, anything."

"Well," Dawn began and then proceeded to explain the earlier situation. After the explanation, silence ensued. Dawn fingered her heart necklace nervously and unknowingly. May caught this and decided that Dawn really did like Kenny. She took a breath in and broke the silence.

"Have you thought about going to see Paul and getting some of that closure you need?" May asked before the doorbell rang. The chiming echoed throughout May's house. May stood up and walked to the door and began to open it.

"No, I haven't," Dawn answered quietly.

May struggled with the locks while answering, "Maybe you should consider it."

"Mhm," Dawn hummed in response. When May finally got the door open, Drew stepped into the house without welcome and looked around.

"Ready to go?" Drew asked with his thumb pointing outside of the door.

May looked at Dawn with an embarrassed yet somehow pleading look. Dawn winked in response, "Go ahead. I'm fine."

May blushed and then nodded. She ran over to the laptop, waved and then Dawn's screen when black. Dawn absorbed May's advice when her eyes hardened and a frown crossed her face at her realization: she had to confront Paul.

With Kenny:

Kenny opened his door and threw his keys on the side table next to the door. He shouted, "Mom! I'm home! Are we taking down Christmas décor down now?" He sprawled out on his couch and kicked off his shoes. His mother's footsteps could be heard echoing throughout the house. His mom appeared on the staircase, dressed in jeans and a simple white shirt. She had chestnut hair that rested an inch above her shoulders and was styled in a sleek bob. Kenny had the exact same onyx orbs that she did.

"Yup, let's get started," Kenny's mom replied while pulling out cardboard boxes from behind the couch. Kenny took his as his cue and began to pull tinsel down from the mantel and rolled it. He tossed it into the box and began to take the ornaments off the tree.

"How did your plan go today?" Jocelyn, Kenny's mother, asked.

Kenny quickly swerved around and stared at his mom in disbelief, "Wha—Who—Why—Whe—Wher—How do you know?" Kenny panicked and his breathing became heavy.

Jocelyn laughed, "I saw you walk to the flower store and pick up white violets when I walked out of the pokemart. I have no clue why you didn't bring roses because they are obviously more romantic." She continued to take down decorations like what she said was no big deal but she knew that her son was still frozen behind her.

"That doesn't mean anything!" Kenny attempted to cover. He started to take down ornaments again to appear to be normal.

"Johanna and I always knew that you two liked each other!" Jocelyn gushed.

Kenny could feel the heat rising to his face. He remained silent and started to take down the lights on the Christmas tree.

"No need to be embarrassed! I think it's cute!" Jocelyn giggled.

"Mom!" Kenny complained.

"You still haven't told me what happened!" Jocelyn went over to her son and hugged him from behind while resting her head on his shoulder.

"Mom!" Kenny complained and attempted to squirm out of her grasp but in no avail. He shoulders sunk in defeat and made a deal, "If you let go, then I'll tell you what happened."

Jocelyn squealed in excitement and instantly let go of her son and pulled him down on the couch.

"What happened to cleaning up the decorations?" Kenny managed to say while being pulled by the arm down onto the couch.

"They can wait!" Jocelyn exclaimed like a young child.

"Fine," Kenny sighed and began to explain his story to his mom; he found this extremely uncomfortable. When he finished, his mother nodded and then gave him some advice.

"Give it some time. I can tell; it's going to work out," Jocelyn winked and stood up. She hummed while taking down some more decorations. Kenny sat there dumbfounded until he realized he should probably help take down the decorations. They worked in silence except for Jocelyn's humming.

I hoped that you liked it as much as I liked writing it! I didn't know what Kenny's mom's name was so I just picked one out. I hope this makes up for the cliffie last chapter!

So, please Review!

Strawberry ice cream sundaes for reviewers! :)