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Chapter 13

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon!

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Dawn absorbed May's advice when her eyes hardened and a frown crossed her face at her realization: she had to confront Paul.

Dawn adjusted her pink and beige purse on her shoulder nervously. She shifted her weight from her right to left constantly. She stood standing in a mostly empty train station; it was 4am after all. Dawn hoped that her mother wouldn't be too upset with her; she did leave a note on the table explaining where she was going. Dawn leaned against a stone column while she waited for the coming train. She wore medium wash skinny jeans, a white elbow-length cardigan, a white beret, white knit boots with beige wedge heels, the silver heart necklace from Kenny, a white bracelet/watch, and pearl dangling earrings.

Dawn heard the oncoming train and stood up straight. The train came screeching to a halt in front of the train station. A pair of sliding doors conveniently stopped in front of her. A hissing noise signaled the complete stop of the train and then the doors slid open with ease. Dawn stepped inside and felt the warmth radiating around her. She opened her purse and found her ticket stub. She pulled it out and read the assigned seat: Cabin C, Aisle 8, Seat A. She quickly located a worker and he directed her toward the direct of her seat.

Upon reaching her seat, Dawn looked around the cabin and saw few people. Most were adults dressed in business suits. Dawn glanced at her watch and saw the time was 4:15am. She leaned back in her seat and quickly fell into slumber land.

Dawn awoke with a start when a voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "We should reach Veilstone City in approximately half an hour. We hope you enjoyed your trip with Sinnoh Transit." Dawn sat up and peered at her watch. It read 12pm. Dawn internally panicked, she didn't think that the train was going to be this long. She would have to take the bullet train back. Dawn looked out the window and saw barren fields from the harsh winter. About 15 minutes later, Dawn began to see the city. Her heart began to race in anxiety. Once the train came to a stop, Dawn got off and left for Paul's house.

Her pulse was racing at 100 miles per hour. She hadn't exactly thought out the plan completely through. Dawn bit her lip before raising her hand to the doorbell. Her hand lingered there for a moment before sighing and relaxing her arm. Dawn took a deep breath in and shut her eyes tightly. She continued to breathe deeply. Her eyes flew open and she put on a straight face. Dawn raised her hand confidently and rang the doorbell. She smiled proud of herself when the realization finally hit her: what the heck was she supposed to say? Before she had any more time to think it through, the door clicked open.

Paul stood there with a scowl on his face; he eyed the girl in front of him and promptly shut the door. Paul scoffed before he saw that Dawn had placed her foot between the door and the doorframe. Paul, still with a scowl on his face, pulled the door open. "What do you want, troublesome?" he offensively asked.

"To talk," Dawn replied, not meanly and not happily.

"There's nothing to say," Paul went to close the door again when Reggie came into the room, wiping his hands on his apron. The door had shut all the way when Reggie came in.

"Who was that, Paul?" Reggie questioned. In return, Paul scoffed and immediately walked out of the room. Reggie shrugged and went to open the door. When he opened the door, Dawn was sitting on the door step, her elbows in her lap and her hand resting in her hands. "Dawn?" Reggie called out in disbelief. The brunette turned around and smiled. She proceeded to stand up and brush herself off.

"Hi, Reggie!" Dawn greeted happily.

"What are you doing in Veilstone city? Because if I remember correctly, the contest season hasn't started yet," Reggie interrogated.

"Well," Dawn started sadly.

Reggie caught onto this and said, "Dawn, why don't you come in? It's cold outside anyways." Reggie stepped outside and led Dawn inside the house. Dawn sat down on the couch as Reggie went to the kitchen and returned with snacks. He came into the living room and placed the sandwiches on the glass coffee table and then went to side on the armchair across from the couch Dawn was sitting on.

Dawn saw the sandwiches and graciously thanked Reggie before digging in. "Sorry about Paul. I don't know what his problem was," Reggie apologized.

Dawn finished her sandwich and took a sip of water before responding, "It's okay but I was hoping to talk to him." Dawn paused before continuing, "Did he ever tell you what happened between us?"

Reggie thought about it before answering, "The gist of that you two dated then you dumped him." Dawn's anger boiled at his response but didn't let it show. "Is there more?" Reggie asked sensitively.

"Much more," Dawn replied quietly before proceeding to explain the story like she had to Kenny. Once she finished, Dawn's face was looking at her lap and tears collected at the corners of her eyes. Silence ensued in the living room while faint rock music could be heard coming from the staircase.

"How are you doing?" Reggie asked carefully.

"I'm doing fine. My best friend helped me cope," Dawn admitted happily.

"Then why are you here? If everything's okay?" Reggie questioned.

"Well, the thing is. My best friend is someone I really like," Dawn paused, "and he asked me out." Reggie nodded in understanding. "But, I feel like I haven't closed everything completely with Paul. Do you get what I mean?"

"I get it. I'm going to get Paul," Reggie stood up and headed up the stairs, his destination being Paul's room. Dawn sat on the couch awkwardly; she glanced at her watch and saw that it was 2pm. She bit her lip; this was taking longer than she had expected. Dawn heard heavy footsteps on the stairs behind her; she turned around and looked into the dark onyx eyes of Paul. He remained glued to the stairs, making it obvious that he wasn't coming down. Dawn stood up and made her way around the couch and leaned on it for support. Tension filled the room as it should.

Dawn crossed her arms defensively, "Paul."

"Troublesome," Paul darkly replied.

She had nothing to say. She didn't know where she was going with this. Dawn took the moment to study his eyes: dark, ominous, scary, threatening, intimidating, menacing, aggressive, and dangerous. His onyx eyes were familiar; Kenny had matching eyes but the soul behind them was much different. His were welcoming, happy, joyful, and sparkling. They were complete opposites. Silence still ensued; glares were exchanged between the two. It was an epic glare-off. Dawn couldn't take it anymore.

"Why? Why, Paul?" Dawn interrogated.

"Why, what?" Paul roughly questioned back.

"Did you hurt me?" Dawn almost yelled. She stood upright and crossed her arms.

"Because. You were annoying and troublesome," he sneered, his words dripping with venom.

"Then why—," Dawn began to raise her voice, "did you even agree to go out with me?"

"Because. I thought that dating Ash's little girlfriend would throw him off in the Sinnoh league," Paul rolled his eyes as if it was obvious.

"Asshole," Dawn mumbled under her breath. "One, I am not 'Ash's little girlfriend'. Second, did you even think about how I felt? Third, you are such a douchebag!" Dawn yelled every word while marching up the steps and up to Paul. They were face-to-face. Their glare-off continued but Dawn's eyes had slight tears in her eyes. Dawn swiftly raised her hands and slapped him across the cheek, hard. A very red handprint was evident across his left cheek. And with that, Dawn promptly shut the door behind and began her trek to the Veilstone train station.

When she arrived, she purchased her ticket; this time she was taking a bullet train, so she wouldn't be out too late. She walked into the train station and patiently awaited the train. She glanced at her watch and the time read 3:05pm. When the loud woosh could be heard echoing in the tunnel, Dawn snapped out of her reverie and stood up from the bench she was sitting on. The quickly approaching train promptly stopped and boarded its passengers. Dawn located her seat and swiftly fell asleep in the comfortable leather chair. When Dawn felt the speedy train stop, she awoke and glanced out of her window and saw the familiar scenery of Twinleaf town. Dawn could see small snowflakes falling from the sky above and twinkling stars lighting up the dark sky. She stood up and bent back to stretch her spine. She glanced at her watch and it read 8:45pm. Her eyes widened and she grabbed her purse and ran out the sliding doors.

Dawn opened the door to her house and spotted her mom on the couch, sleeping. Dawn crept behind her and gently shook her shoulders, "Mom, I'm back." When Johanna finally came to, she smiled before frowning.

"Dawn, I was so worried about you! You shouldn't have run off like that!" Johanna scolded then relaxed, "Well, at least you're okay." She hugged her daughter before guiding her to the kitchen table. Johanna, clad in a pink robe, opened the fridge and found some lasagna. She took off the blue plastic lid and popped it into the microwave. The beep signaled it was done and Johanna placed it in front of Dawn along with a fork and knife.

Dawn's stomach growled and she immediately dove in. When she finally got a chance to speak, "Thanks, mom! This is delicious." She then continued to eat.

"I'm glad you like it," Johanna smiled.

Dawn brushed her teeth then pulled on a grey tank top and hot pink fleece pajama pants. She shut off the lights and climbed into bed. She closed her eyes and reflected on her day. She was proud of herself; it took courage to do what she did. She inwardly smiled but then the smile made its way to her lips when she thought of what tomorrow would bring. And with that, Dawn drifted off into a land full of happy dreams.

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