Oh my gosh. So I had typed most of this chapter, and then my computer crashed and my family lost like everything in the computer that wasn't backed up, so I lost the chapter. So now I'm retyping it. Sorry for the long wait. It took a while to get the computer fixed. Then I had insane writer's block and had to go back to school and this is my busy season, so updates will be sloooooow.

Now, about the fact that the profanity always shows up as ! $% instead of the real words. I type the real words in the word document, but since I'm typing on the family laptop, it has a filter installed that blocks swear words on the internet. So when I upload this to Fanfiction, it becomes part of the internet and the stupid filter "corrects" the "bad words." I wasn't sure if it even showed up that way to you guys at first, but now I know it does, and I plan to do something like this when one of those words appears. For example, I want to use the word "bit^ch". I'll just throw in an extra symbol, and problem solved. Hopefully.

Now let's get on with this. Retyping this really gets on my nerves, but I'll try and make it as good as the original.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dear Dawn,

I'm glad that you're having so much fun at Undella Town. And it sounds like there's going to be a lot of romantic drama between your friends and those guys.

I sure do miss you. I wish I could kiss you through my laptop. I can't wait to spend the day with you when you return. And I can't wait to wrap you in my arms.

Love,

Kenny

Chills ran down Dawn's spine as she read the short e-mail. Partly because she was imagining the hug Kenny had promised, and partly from the guilt she felt about not telling him that Paul had kissed her. She closed her laptop and sighed, but the other girls didn't hear her. They were all getting ready to go to the beach and practice with the boys for the sports events. For once, Dawn was the first to be ready to leave. She wore short black shorts and a pink sports bra, with pink and white tennis shoes on her feet. Her blue hair was tied back in a cute ponytail, and a stretchy pink headband kept any loose hairs in place.

Dawn and May were going to practice volleyball with Ash and Paul, while Misty got in some swimming practice and Gary surfed. Then they were all going to go for a run together.

"Wow, Leaf. Are you wearing that to try and impress Gary?" Misty asked sarcastically as she put on her white cover-up over her blue swimsuit.

Leaf folded her arms. "I'm going to work on my tan because I don't have anything to practice before the run. I don't want visible tan lines, so it's necessary that I wear this." The brunette stood in a lime green bikini. It was strapless, and a tad bit low cut at the waist. "Besides, you're not wearing your usual one-piece swimsuit. You're wearing a two-piece, so don't tell me that you're not trying to impress Ash."

"I'm not. I just got tired of wearing the same swim suit every time."

"Yeah right," Leaf said as she rolled her eyes. She packed shorts, tennis shoes, and a sports bra into a beach bag to put on later. No way was she running in a bikini. Misty had put a pair of her tennis shoes in the bag as well.

May adjusted her pigtails and sat on the bed next to Dawn. She wore a red sports bra and gray shorts with red and black tennis shoes. Nervously, she double-knotted her shoelaces. She could sense tension building between Misty and Leaf.

"Ash has seemed kind of down lately. Did you hurt his feelings with your insensitive attitude?" Leaf asked coldly.

Misty hesitated for a moment, taken aback by Leaf's comment. "Nothing happened between us. Everything is fine. At least I'm not who*ring myself to him like you do to Gary."

Leaf froze in anger momentarily. May and Dawn didn't dare breathe as they watched the fight unfold. They wanted to stop it, but the air was thick with bullets already. It was too late.

"I don't who*re myself to Gary. I don't even like Gary. He's a pervert. And it's no wonder Ash stopped liking you. You really are a bit^ch, Misty." Leaf took Misty's shoes out of the beach bag and threw them on the floor. "You can carry your own dam*n shoes to the beach." With that, the brunette walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Misty stayed behind, her face cold and stony. She was trying not to cry.

May exchanged a look with Dawn, then rushed out into the hallway after Leaf. Dawn would stay behind to comfort Misty. The redhead was staring down at the floor now, a sad expression on her face.

"Misty… What really happened between you and Ash?" Dawn asked calmly, getting off of the bed and moving across the room to her friend. She wanted to direct her attention away from the fight with Leaf, and maybe uncover the real reason behind the girl's recent moodiness.

"We kissed," Misty choked. She was close to tears now, her green eyes growing wet.

"Why is that so upsetting to you? Don't you like Ash?" Dawn asked gently. She was slightly confused at her friend's negative reaction to what seemed like a positive thing.

"I do. I like Ash a lot," Misty admitted. "But I loved Rudy. And I'm not so sure that I can move on. He keeps calling me. He still hasn't given up. He's so persistent that it's hard to believe there's no feelings for me behind his motives. I'm just really confused right now."

"I understand," said Dawn. "It must be hard being caught in the middle of two options. Especially when you think both of those options are good ones. But Misty… I can guarantee that Ash will treat you so much better than Rudy could ever be capable of."

"I want to believe that, Dawn. I want to let go of Rudy and love Ash. But I just can't do that yet."

"That's fine. I just wanted to let you know where I stand. Now let's go to the beach."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Why did you do that, Leaf? I know Misty's comment was a bit much, but you practically used a rage attack on her." May stood next to Leaf, who had laid out her beach towel and was putting on sunscreen. Black sunglasses covered her eyes, not allowing May to read the girl's emotions very well.

"Misty's been such a bit^ch lately. Someone needed to snap her out of it," Leaf said coldly. "Oh look. Here she comes now. You'd better go play volleyball with Dawn and the boys. Quite frankly, you're irritating me just as much as Misty."

"What's gotten into you, Leaf? You're never mean like this!" said May, slightly hurt by Leaf's words.

"What's gotten into you?" Leaf retorted. "You haven't been yourself lately either you know. In fact, for quite some time you've been acting weird. We never confronted you about it, but all three of us noticed. It has something to do with Brenden, doesn't it? Get over it, May. He's just a boy. And Drew seems to like you. Why don't you turn your interests on him?"

Anger and pain flared in May's stomach. "Brenden wasn't just a boy," she said before stomping off toward the volleyball courts.

Leaf snorted and leaned back on her beach towel.

"That seemed pretty hot," a voice said. "Almost as hot as you look in that bikini."

"Shut it, Gary," Leaf said without even looking up.

"Still mad?" asked the auburn-haired boy. "After what you did to me, you'd think we'd be more than even."

"I wish to be left alone right now if you please," Leaf said curtly, lowering her sunglasses to give Gary a pointed look. "Go take your surf board and join Drew and Misty in the water."

Gary didn't respond. He just walked away. Leaf found that to be odd, but didn't question it. She terminated the disappointed feeling that rose in her chest. She wished he'd tried to keep talking to her a bit. But she knew better than to let herself start liking such a ornery and rude person.

No boy gets special attention from me.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Darn it, Paul! How could you miss that?!" Ash whined as the volleyball rolled away. Moments before, it had hit the sand with a satisfying thud, causing Dawn and May to cheer. It had been the game point and they had won.

"I can't believe we beat you three times!" May laughed.

"I can," said Dawn with a smirk.

"Shut up, Troublesome," muttered Paul. He wasn't thrilled to be taking a scolding from Ash, and the fact that the bluenette was acting so cocky irritated him. "You might want to calm yourself down. When you bounce around like that, your breasts go all over the place.

Dawn blushed madly at Paul's comment. "Stop staring," she spat, folding her arms over her chest.

May also felt uncomfortable. She remembered how Brenden had made sexual comments early in their relationship, and what they had ultimately lead to. She suddenly felt worried for Dawn. Did Paul have the potential to do something like that?

Drew came walking up the beach toward the group of four. Misty followed behind, not wanting to get too close to Ash. She had already put a pair of short athletic shorts over her bikini bottoms, and a blue tank top over her bikini top. Her side ponytail was wet and stuck to her face.

"You guys ready to run?" Drew asked, shaking his wet hair. May squealed as the water droplets pelted her. "Drew!" she shouted, punching his arm. He laughed while rubbing his now slightly sore arm.

"We're ready, Dawn answered. "I suppose I'll have to be the one to go fetch Leaf."

"Gary's taking care of it," Drew said. Sure enough, the two came walking up the beach a few seconds later. Leaf had put on short black shorts and a green sports bra, and wore green running shoes. She still looked irritated , and shot a quick glare at Misty before going to stand by Dawn.

May looked away, not wanting to make eye contact with the brunette.

Drew, Ash, and Gary all shot glances at Dawn as if to say "What is going on between those three?" Dawn shrugged her shoulders. She couldn't honestly say what had caused the tension between her friends.

"Come on, Drew, let's run together," said May, dragging the green-haired boy away with her.

"Will you be my running partner, Dawn?" asked Leaf.

"No. She's going to be my running partner," said Misty aggressively. The two girls stared each other down while Dawn stood nervously, not knowing what to do.

"Actually… I'd like to be your running partner, Misty," Ash said tentatively, scuffing his feet in the sand. Misty looked torn. She didn't want to further hurt his feelings by saying no, but she didn't want to talk to him about what had happened either. Picking the lesser of two evils, she walked over to Ash and the two of them took off running down the beach.

"I'll run with you, Leafy," said Gary, coming up behind the girl and tickling her sides. She shouted in annoyance and jumped away, only to be pursued by the auburn-haired boy. Soon he was chasing her down the beach.

Now Dawn and Paul were alone.

"Want to run together?" Dawn asked dully.

"No," said Paul, turning and walking away, planning to exit the beach area.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" Dawn shouted, jogging to catch up with him. He did not give an answer.

"You know I'm going to follow you," said Dawn.

"If it makes you happy," said Paul nonchalantly.

"Oh, it does," said Dawn.

"Doesn't surprise me. Slu*ts usually are stalkers," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I'm not a slu*t," said Dawn calmly.

"Think what you like," muttered Paul.

Dawn's heart sank. Why was he so convinced that she was like that? They'd only met a few weeks ago. She hadn't done anything bad in that time. He had no evidence whatsoever, yet he'd already reached his verdict in judging her.

Paul, I'm going to do whatever it takes to show you I'm not a who*re.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Sorry that it took so long to update this. I know this chapter is short. I'm sorry. I'll try to update faster next chapter. No promises. I'd feel bad if I made a promise and broke it.

Just a fun question to answer while you're reviewing if you want: What is your favorite Pokemon shipping and why? The "why" is optional if you don't want to take the time to explain.

Thank you so much to everyone who is reading this! And super thank you to all those who reviewed, followed, or favorited this story! You guys are awesome and I really appreciate the support!