Chapter 11
I guess the last chapter was good enough, umm, sorry for leaving you all at such a cliffhanger. XD :D
If any of you're wondering what the characters do for a living are, then they are as follows:
Ash- doctor, but can sing too.
Dawn- an aspiring singer
May- journalist
Drew- gym instructor
Gary- painter
Leaf- dancer and a student
Serena- student
relations- Troy-Samantha, married, parents of Drew and Gary
Delia, mother of Ash
Daniel and johanna, married, Serena's parents
Leaf , Gary's girlfriend, May Drew's wife, Dawn Serena's sister.
Harrison, Dawn's teacher
And the main shipping are pearlshipping, anti amourshipping, leafgreen or oldrival shipping, contestshipping (If at any point of time, you all think there is romantic tension between any two characters, not including the shipping above, tell me or understand its either care or necessary for plot development)
Such a long author's note -_-
Let us start the chapter without furthur delay.
..
"What are you talking about Ash?" Daniel eyed him in confusion. Serena however was too shocked to say a thing. She decided it would be best if she kept quiet. Her heart started beating rapidly and she could hardly form any words.
Ash was looking at Daniel with questioning eyes. Serena had told him that her parents knew about Dawn's relationship, so why was Daniel reacting like this? Was he uncomfortable in discussing these things with him, if so then why? Ash believed that he was an easy going person, with a broad mind, so it could not be the reason.
Ash cleared his throat and asked again,"I am talking about Lucas, Uncle."
"I don't know any person named Lucas," Daniel said, thinking deeply as if trying to recall. He turned to Serena and asked,"Do you know any Lucas Serena? Is he your friend? Was he supposed to attend this ceremony?"
Serena looked at Ash and then at Daniel. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She cleared her throat and tried again. This time the voice was more ruffled, unclear and low, her voice sounded rather peculiar and strange. Her eyes were wide opened with shock and fear.
"What's going on?" Johanna arrived, sensing the tension in the air. She looked at Serena hoping she would explain but her daughter was rather busy in examining her shoes. She glanced at Daniel and pleaded,"What is happening over here Daniel?"
"Aunt Johanna, do you know any boy named Lucas?" Ash asked again, his voice sounding desperate and heavy.
"No son, there is no such boy whom we know."
..
"I can't wait for the engagement to commence,"Leaf said enthusiastically while playing with her hairs. Drew sat next to her where as May was gone to collect the rings. Gary sat on a seat next to Dawn, both of them conversing and chatting happily, though it was before Leaf broke the usual atmosphere.
"Dawn, one thing is bugging me,"Gary asked eyeing her curiously. Dawn bend her neck and threw her hands in defence,"If you don't tell me what's bugging you how will I help?"
Drew and Leaf stopped chatting to pay attention to their conversation. Gary asked,"You said no other family members of your's are so good at singing. It is quite unnatural as you are exceptionally talented." Leaf, though annoyed at the question was still curious. She added,"Yeah, I thought your parents were singers too."
Dawn let out a soft laugh and said,"No, I guess I am lucky." The rest of the group smiled.
"Sorry to interrupt you all but I guess something is wrong over there,"Drew said pointing to where Ash and Dawn's parent were.
"Why do you think so?" Gary asked, looking at the stage. Dawn's eyes widened,"Dad is pissed about something, I am sure. Let me go and check." She got up but Leaf caught her wrist,"I will come too."
Drew and Gary got up and said together,"You all can't leave us behind!"
..
"Dad, what's going on over here?" Dawn asked as soon as she reached the stage. Gary and Drew stood close to Ash and tapped his shoulder. Ash looked at them which such an expression that they were unable to comprehend. His eyes showed a mixture of happiness, helplessness, anger, distrust and hurt.
Ash gripped Dawn's shoulders and shook them lightly. Dawn was a little shocked but looked at him with expecting eyes. "What?" She asked.
"Who is Lucas?" He asked at the verge of shouting.
"How will I know?" She said sweatdropping.
"Is he not your boyfriend? Don't lie Dawn!" Ash yelled. Dawn jerked away his hands and took a step back. She swallowed her lump in the throat and her hands curled into a fist. Daniel put an assuring hand on her shoulder.
"Look Ash, you can't accuse me like this. I don't have a boyfriend," she said taking a deep breath.
Ash glanced at Serena and then at Dawn. Pulling his hair, he sighed,"It was a lie then?" Serena took a quick glance at her parents then Ash's parents. All eyes were focused on her, waiting for an explanation, an answer. She saw Dawn looking at her in utter confusion, trying to make sense of what was going on.
"I don't know what you're talking about, as far as I remember, I never told you about my boyfriend, a person who doesn't even exist! Neither do I remember telling you about any boy named Luc.. What was his name?" Dawn asked.
Ash looked at Serena and took a step towards her. Scared and busted, she backed away.
"Why did you lie?"
"Why does it matter now? Your Mom said you want to marry and spend the rest of your life with me. Why should you care whether my sister is single or taken?" She said trying to defence herself.
Gary and Leaf were looking at each other with wide eyes. They had sensed that Ash had a soft corner for Dawn but they dismissed it. Now, they were afraid about the events that were coming. Drew found Delia and his parents making their way to where they were. Things were going to get more uglier.
"Ash my boy, look at you!" Samantha worriedly said and placed a hand on his forehead. Ash was too angry to even reply.
"That doesn't cover your lie Serena, why did you lie?" Ash asked again, this time more furiously.
"What lie Ashy?" Delia asked, thinking what the heck went wrong. Ash hugged her mother tightly and whimpered like a small kid. It was a rare case when Ash wept in presence of company.
Ash looked up from the embrace and stared in Delia's eyes.
"Mom,"he started but stopped abruptly.
"Say it son, no one is going to judge you."
"I don't love Serena," he said. The whole group felt silent. Ash broke the embrace and pointed at Dawn. "I like her."
There was an awkward silence around. Troy motioned Samantha and his sons along with their wives to stay quiet. He believed Ash needed to sort this alone. Dawn's eyes were shining with new tears of hope and happiness but under the pressure of ugly reality, she couldn't help but curse her luck.
Ash continued,"I liked her since the first day I saw her. I know I will always keep on loving her. But Serena told me Dawn was in a relationship with Lucas and were going to get married. I may be in love but that doesn't mean I will force her into something she doesn't want. I am not that selfish Mom!."
"Oh Ash my boy, why did you agree for this marriage? I know you're not selfish but that doesn't give you the right to do something that awful to Serena!" Delia asked teary eyed.
"I was not thinking straight Mom, all I wanted was to keep you happy and I noticed how cheerful you sounded. I just didn't have the courage to break your heart."
"No Ash, you can't break this marriage, you can't destroy my dreams!" Serena yelled with teary eyes.
"Sorry Serena, we can't stay in a marriage if we don't love each other. How am I going to trust you again? You lied to get me, it is neither impossible nor improbable that you won't lie in the near future."
"Can't you see what I did was to get you!"
"But your way was not correct!"
Serena didn't knew how to counter that. She looked away and her eyes landed on Dawn. She gritted her teeth and said,"You must be happy now! You ruined my life! You will marry and have a happy life with him, and I will look and cry every time I see you with him!"
"No Serena, you got me wrong,"Dawn calmly said, trying to cool her anger.
Serena gave her a dirty look as if saying,' don't think I will ever believe a word you say.'
Get lost, just go away!" Serena tried running away but Daniel held her hand. He took a deep breath and said,"I want good for both my daughters, it is their life and their choice. I will respect every decision they make, try to rectify them if they are wrong. It is Dawn's choice whether she wants to accept Ash's proposal or not and it is Serena's choice whether to sit and sulk or keep working towards her future."
Serena stopped to listen to her father. Daniel continued,"I am disappointed Serena, you should not have done that. Ash you're at fault too, you should have not believed her. You don't have the right to break something which is so sensitive. I won't allow Serena to marry you even if she wants, I don't want to see her married life as a failure." Both bowed their head in shame. "I know you will rectify your mistake Serena, I know you will."
Ash cleared his throat and slowly said,"I am sorry."
Serena, however had different plans. She turned and went away, but not before giving Dawn one last glare.
With Serena gone, Dawn turned to leave too. But Ash held her hand and gulped. She turned to face him. Before he could say anything she said,"If you need your answer, I want you to follow me."
...
Was I able to make it dramatic? Or was it lame? Feel free to say whatever you feel!
This is darkestlightofhope signing off!