Chapter 16
Serena was still thinking about her encounter with Paul. She needed some more answers but he left without any furthur clarifications.
"His girlfriend has a husband and it is not Paul?" She asked herself. She made her way to the window and peeked outside. The moonlight was calm and comforting.
"That boy is sure mysterious. So unlike Ash," she spoke to herself. Ever since she had met Paul, she hardly thought about Ash and his betrayal. Now a new problem was bugging her,'why did Paul want and decided to talk to her if he knew the truth?'
Her thoughts went back to Dawn and Ash. 'I should not have done that. I not only lost a sister but also my parents trust.' She picked up a picture, in which Dawn and she had dressed up alike, both were wearing a blue frock with Pearl necklaces.
'She is so like me, cheerful, lovely and bubbly. But so different from me too. She is so good at singing and I, at studies. She never puts her own need above others and I on the other hand, was so keen on taking revenge that I hardly cared for her feelings.'
'She might never forgive me but I will take her forgiveness, no matter how hard I have to try. She was the one who made up the lies when I returned home late, she made me coffee when I studied late till night, she was even ready to let go of the man she loved for me. I was so wrong.'
'But what about Ash? Will he ever forgive me?'
...
"So?" Ash asked as he watched Dawn trying to keep her hair in place. He smiled at her failed attempts.
"Stupid hair, it won't just obey me!" She frowned. Ash laughed and took the brush from her hand and slowly started to run it through her hair.
"Be a little patient my Lady, otherwise you will make it worse," he said untangling some hair strands.
"I can't feel a thing you're doing on my hair,"she complimented. Ash smirked and replied,"Hands and art of a doctor you see." She tried to pinch his hand but ended up poking his torso. He laughed at her failed attempts.
"You remember your promise right?" Ash asked. She nodded,"Yeah, though I sing because I worship this gift, I had never thought I will sing to the public. But sometimes I guess you have to sing to preach." He kissed her temple.
"Are you done with your PDA?" Leaf asked and entered the room. Ash quickly separated from Dawn and coughed loudly. Dawn went to where Leaf was and welcomed her inside.
"Can we come in too?" May asked, Drew and Gary standing near her.
"Of course,"Dawn cheerfully said. Drew added,"We didn't disturb anything right?" Gary and May laughed seeing Ash and Dawn blush.
"Well, since you're new here, we thought to make you more comfortable," Leaf said. She picked up a comb and smiled,"Let me complete what Ash had started, your hair needs a little work."
"Ash has done only one thing from the bottom of his heart,"Gary said while Leaf was busy putting Dawn's hair in a neat bun.
"Can I know what is it?" Dawn smiled and asked.
"His doctorate studies, other than that, he has wasted his college life," Drew added and Gary smiled. May just laughed.
"Stop embarrassing me," Ash yelled but no one paid any attention to what he was telling.
It has been two days since they were married and Dawn loved the way everyone was treating her. It was like she had left her own home and come into another. There was no awkwardness or shyness. Gary and Drew treated her like her own sister and May and Leaf as their best friends. Her Dad was right, relations are based in love not blood connections.
"Thats good actually, it means all his attention was at medicine. At least his patients won't regret being treated under him,"Dawn backed Ash up.
"Just two days and you're already taking his side ha?" May teased her. Dawn blushed and dismissed it,"It is nothing like that."
"Hey, don't embarrass my bro like that, ya, he is a novice at love and relationship, and sleeps till midday, has a humongous appetite, sings in the bathroom but other than that, he is quite okay!" Leaf giggled. Ash glared at her. May added,"You forgot he is an eavesdropper!"
"Well Dawn, how about telling something about your childhood," Ash quickly asked, trying to change the topic. May and Leaf burst out laughing and Dawn giggled. Ash gave her a defeated look,"Come on, not you too. Two psychos are bad enough."
Gary signalled the group to keep quiet. He and Drew looked at each other and asked Dawn,"What did you see in Ashy-boy?"
"Gary! Not the nickname!"
"I think its cute," Dawn smiled, laughing a little.
"Well, we just know you met at the Sinnoh region, other than that, we know nothing,"May said while scratching her chin. "And done!" Leaf declared and put the comb back in its place. She came back and sat beside Dawn.
"She was singing when I first saw her,"Ash smiled at the memory. She nodded and smiled too.
"Which song?" Drew asked.
"Thousand miles,"Dawn answered, blushing a little. Gary however said,"Well, nice song ha?" Ash nodded.
"Well, narrate everything,"Leaf eagerly said while clasping her hands together like a kid waiting to hear a story.
"I was singing and then some bad boys teased me," Dawn smiled sadly,"Ash saved me from them."
"She saved me actually, she has a great presence of mind. If she would not have acted immediately, the jerks would have kicked my butt," Ash admitted. Drew burst out laughing and Gary smirked again,"You both are dependent on each other, aren't you?"
Leaf pulled Gary's ear and hissed,"You can't even find your clothes without my help. It doesn't suit you to tease them." Gary scratched his head awkwardly and admitted,"Okay Leafy. I will be quiet." Ash relaxed as the attention shifted from him.
"How about singing us a song now?" May suggested. Dawn asked,"Now?" Everyone nodded.
"Isn't it late?" Dawn asked a little unsure. Ash placed a hand on her shoulder and said,"There is no time for love or music."
Dawn smiled and held his hand.
I don't want to make a scene
I don't want to let you down
Try to do my own thing
And I'm starting to figure it out
That it's allright
Keep it together,
wherever we go
And it's alright,
Oh, well, whatever
Everybody needs to know
Dawn let go of Ash's hand and then swirled, and pulled May and Leaf with her. As a result, the girls were standing and smiling and the boys were looking at them with wide eyes.
You might be crazy
Have I told you lately
that I love you?
You're the only reason
That I'm not afraid to fly
And it's crazy
That someone could change me
Now, no matter what it is
I have to do
I'm not afraid to try
And you need to know that
you're the reason why
Ash stood up and pulled Dawn towards him. She hugged him and sang.
I don't even care when they say
You're a little bit off
Look 'em in the eye, I'd ssay
"I can never get enough."
'Cause it's alright
Keep it together wherever we go
And it's alright,
Oh well, whatever everybody needs to know
Dawn, pointed at Ash and then at her heart. She was smiling continuously and so was Ash. Drew pulled May, as a result she was sitting in his lap and he wrapped his hands around her. Gary kissed Leaf's temple and the latter just smiled and pressed her back against his front, relaxing into his touch.
If it was raining
You would yell at the sun
Pick up the pieces when the damage is done
You say it's just another day in the shade
But look at what a mess we made
Dawn stopped to give a dramatic ending. She spread her hands, as if trying to absorb sunlight.
You might be crazy
Have I told you lately
that I love you?
You're the only reason that
I'm not afraid to fly
And it's crazy
that someone could change me
Now,no matter what it is
I have to do
I'm not afraid to try
And you need to know that
You're the reason why
The whole room erupted into cheers and she smiled widely. Singing had never been so much fun before.
"If you kids don't go to sleep now, I will make sure you don't get breakfast tomorrow!" Troy shouted from downstairs. Ash took a look at the clock and sweatdropped. ''It is past midnight!"
Dawn yawned and so did May. Leaf had already fallen asleep in Gary's arms.
Gary smiled and kissed her forehead,"I guess I have to carry her to her room." He left with Leaf. Drew and May wished the newly weds goodnight and went to their room.
Dawn closed the door and smiled. "Am heading to the bathroom," she said and turned but Ash caught her wrist.
"What?"
"My gift?"
"What gift?"
"You sang a song for them, now you must dedicate a song to me," he smiled innocently.
"Neighbours are going to complain." She said.
"They can't hear us, it is a sound proof room," Ash smirked.
Dawn turned around and blushed,"It is already too late. You must sleep now, otherwise you will be late for tomorrow."
Ash closed the difference between them and kissed her lips. Dawn snaked her hands around his neck and he lifted her chin using his index finger. Then he cupped her face and using his other hand, explored her back. Involuntarily, Dawn moaned loudly. Ash smiled and broke the kiss.
The sweet tingling feeling was still lingering in her lips. But being too shy, she turned and without changing her current clothes, lay on the bed, blushing madly. Ash lay beside her, and hugged her from behind. She blushed more.
"Are you uncomfortable?" He asked. She turned to face him and said,"no." She hugged him back and buried her face in his chest.
Ash smiled,"Feels a little weird right?"
She asked why.
"I never shared my bed before, not even with Paul or Gary when we were young. Drew is just like me, he hates sharing bed."
"Am I challenging your territory?"
"It will feel weird if I don't wake up next to you from now on," he kissed her forehead. Dawn closed her eyes and hugged him. After a second, she opened one eye to see Ash still staring at her face. She quickly placed a kiss on his cheeks and closed her eyes.
Ash was happy as well as excited. It was the first time she had shown any physical affection towards him. On an impulse, he pulled her tighter if it was even possible.
...
In a dark, empty room, lay a bed with some dirty mattress. In one corner of the room was an iron stand, made for keeping cloths and the room had just one small window. The moonlight peeking from it was the only source of light in the room.
A man was sleeping in his bed peacefully. However, his facial expression just spoke the opposite, it was a face showing pain and hurt.
He clutched his bedsheets tightly and was breathing heavily. He was having a nightmare.
A red haired girl, with her hair in one sided ponytail was walking hand in hand with a black haired guy. Their hands were intertwined.
The girl lay a kiss on the man's cheek and said,"just one more month and I will make him sign the power of attorney. After that he will be a past case."
Unknown to them, a man had heard them. He turned around and walked in the opposite direction, muttering how stupid he felt.
He loved the girl dearly. Even in his sleep, he could hear her laughter and giggles. He could hear her calling his name sweetly,"Paul? Paul! I love you so much." Suddenly all the scenes faded away and Paul found himself in middle of a park, looking at the surrounding. He turned around but still found no one.
"Look in your heart, it always have an answer," a sweet blonde appeared out of no where behind him. He looked at her then turned away. He was not going to be fooled again.
The man, Paul woke up with a start. He had had the same dream again, but why did he see a sweet blonde smiling at him? This had never happened to him before. What confused him even more was the tight feeling in his stomach after having the dream.
"I can't feel for her, she tried to play with my brother's feelings!" He pulled his hair in despair. "But she did that as she loved him. Is she really bad? People change, won't she change if given a chance?"
..
Serena smiled sadly and put the picture down. She closed the window and returned to her bed.
While staring at the ceiling, a few tears escaped her eyes.
'I am really happy for Dawn. May be there is someone waiting for me too. There must be a reason behind every action and happening. I wish Dawn forgives me, Dad and Mom are hurt because of my behavior too. I have to make up quick.'
...
So, the final pairing has been decided. It is pretty obvious I guess, it is Serena X Paul. I am not sure if this shipping has any name or not. Actually I wanted to add Clemont as Serena's partner but in a chapter, I forgot to rectify a part which introduced Paul. So, I had to go with the flow. Sorry to those who wanted me to pair her up with Clemont. Am so sorry! May be in some other story of mine! Sorry to those reviewers who wanted to see her with Clemont ( or Calem).
And I hope Serena is no longer a j**k. Well, let me tell you one thing. Serena likes Ash and wants him in her life, so she behaved in that way. But beneath everything, she loves Dawn. She is just not good at showing her care and love. Moreover her parents like Dawn more which gave rise to jealousy in her heart. So she bottled up her feelings.
And I don't listen to duets that much, so if any of you know any romantic duets, tell me. I need help badly!
~ darkestlightofhope