"Hey Dawn?" Cynthia knocked on the door, repeating her actions again when she got no response,"Are you awake?"
The previous week, they had gone for the interview at Goldenrod and to tell the truth, the week had been exceptionally hard on Dawn. She had locked herself in her room, barely coming out for the rest of the day. Or for the week.
Cynthia took a deep breath on getting no responses. When they first met, Dawn talked about how she missed Ash and how much she wanted to go back. Thinking about the popstar's happiness, Cynthia always advised her to talk to Ash.
Dawn, however, always declined.
"What if he doesn't remember me yet?" Whenever she asked that, Cynthia didn't know what to say. Cynthia could just hold her close and try to sooth her, she could just lend the younger girl a shoulder to cry upon.
"Due to the misunderstanding, his family thinks me to be immoral. I just can't go back there," Dawn used to say when Cynthia put forward the idea of asking the other family members for information.
So, Cynthia did what she did best. She began cheering Dawn up. Making her meet orphans, taking her to old age homes. Dawn was a kind girl, she could quickly relate to the orphans, thanks to her own past, and thus, began spending more and more time with them.
In Saffron City, Dawn, or more technically, Zoya, had expanded the old age home to give refuge to old, unwanted people. She used to visit it every weekend, sing songs for them, listen to everyone's story. She found the peace she was looking for in this commotion. Whenever anyone asked why was the old age home so important to her, she used to say,"I get blessing from so many people. Everyone treats me like their own child."
Though the old age home distracted her most of the time, Cynthia and Tobi often found her playing with kids at an orphanage. Whether Dawn knew it or not, Cynthia noticed the far away look in her eyes, the sad smile she had on seeing the kids or the soft pat she used to give her never existing belly.
Cynthia understood.
Dawn wanted a family, a kid, with the man she married, Ash. For the blue haired woman, it was just a dream, a dream she was pushed away harshly.
So Dawn was again confronted by Cynthia. This time, Dawn's answer was different.
"I love him and that's why I've to stay away. My parents were gone when I was born, I lost him on our honeymoon. When he was back, he had no memories. I'm a bad omen."
And no matter how hard she tried, the blonde couldn't fix or remove the false thoughts which were engraved in Dawn's heart.
She knew that only a Raven Haired boy could make her believe in herself again.
Make Dawn remember her place, remember her old self, remember them.
After knowing that Ash had got his memories back, she just couldn't sit and watch Dawn suffer like this. This time, Cynthia promised herself, she would take actions instead of just verbally trying to make Dawn understand.
"Open up," Cynthia knocked again, this time with more force,"Volkner is here."
"Why?" Came a hoarse, shaking reply from inside the locked room.
The simple answer by the girl inside sent a relieved wave in Cynthia's body. At least the girl was alive.
"He is here to talk about the world tour," Cynthia added.
"You can manage everything. Go ahead," Dawn answered, not bothering to open up.
"You don't want to know where we are going?" Cynthia asked again.
"No."
"But we're going on a tour of Ka-" Cynthia was cut off when Dawn answered again,"I'll go anywhere. Get me out of this city."
Cynthia shook her head. "To Kanto," the blonde added in her head.
Leaving the moody girl behind, Cynthia made her way back to the main hall, smiling awkwardly on seeing Volkner waiting.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Volkner turned and frowned,"Where is Zoya?"
"Umm.." She had to think something quick,"PMS problems."
Volkner gaped and then turned away, embarrassed,"No need to be so blunt, you know."
Cynthia gave a relieved sigh only to frown the next minute when she saw so many letters lying on the table. Following her gaze, Volkner answered,"Oh, these letters? They have been coming nonstop after the interview. The show was a hit."
Cynthia nodded, then asked,"Have you brought the papers?"
"For the world tour? Yes," he handed her the envelope,"Sign and send them in a week. The world tour starts in a month."
''Sure."
.
"May," Ash was tapping his feet to relieve his tension,"Have they replied yet?"
The brunette, now irritated, growled,"Shut up, Ash. Its the fifth time you asked me in an hour. They haven't reported yet and why aren't you at the hospital?"
Ash shifted as he made himself more comfortable on the chair at May's office,"I took half day off."
May was surprised. He hardly took rest, even on weekends.
"You must be desperate," May laughed,"Dawn will be found out soon."
"Hopefully," he whined again,"They haven't replied to any mail?"
May nodded,"Yeah. I tried contacting Zoya, lying that whether I could add the part of gloves just to talk to her still..."
"Its like she just broke all connection, right!" He impatiently asked.
"Yeah," May exhaled deeply,"There are no reports from Golden Voice office either."
As if on cue, the phone rang up making May jump in her seat. She growled at Ash,"If I get a complain or suspension because of you, you're dead."
"But May..."
"No; you know that having a family member with you during work hour is prohibited," May glared at him harder,"I'm throwing you out after this call."
Ash didn't say it on her face but her sister in law was being extra grumpy today. He just hoped the reports would be positive.
He blamed it on hormones.
He watched May nodding, adding yes, that will be great, surely, at the end of her sentences. Her expression was rising, her face showing extreme happiness. Whatever the news was, it was awesome, he could sense it.
As soon as May slammed her phone down, Ash raised his eyebrows,"Ma-"
"Guess what, it was Volkner. He wants us, I mean me and my crew to work for him," she was now jumping in her seat.
"You already have a job May!"
She gave him a deadpanned look,"I mean, they're starting a world tour and want me to record their travels!"
Ash, now interested, asked,"Which performer?"
May smirked widely, using her left hand to fan her face for dramatic effect,"Zoya."
.
Ash was smirking a little as he watched Drew opening his mouth and closing it, unable to say anything.
Drew couldn't believe what Ash had told him. The news seemed to good to be true. Did May know? Or was it just Ash?
"You're kidding," Drew spoke up after the long silence, unable to say anything else.
Ash shook his head, confidently,"No, my dear cousin. I'm absolutely not joking."
Drew blinked harder,"How do you know?"
"I'm a doctor, Drew. I can tell," Ash said, shrugging. Drew took in the information, going over what Ash told him about a minute ago. May was still at her office, filing documents she would be needing for the upcoming tour.
"Did you tell anyone else?" Drew asked, calming down a little when he understood it was true. Ash shook his head again,"No. I wanted you to know first."
Drew took a deep breath then exhaled deeply before getting up and hugging Ash, making the other man chuckle. The chartreuse boy began sobbing softly,"This is the best news I ever received Ash, thanks."
The raven haired boy began parting his back to soothe his tears,"Come on Drew. I don't want my nephew or niece to think that their father is a cry baby."
Yes. May had conceived after three years of trying. They had wanted a baby since their first year but due to pressure of work and little time, they just couldn't pinpoint when they actually wanted it. But as time passed, this subject was brought up over and over again. Drew didn't knew why May was so scared to have a kid but it didn't stop them from trying. Now, after three long years, they were finally going to become parents.
"So, now lets tell May," Ash suggested as he passed his sobbing cousin a box of tissues. Drew shook his head, smiling,"I'm taking her out on a date tonight and I'll tell her there. You can tell everyone else."
"Deal."
"But how did you know Ash?" Drew couldn't help but ask. The raven haired man sweatdropped,"She was being moody and was having more sour foods than normal so I checked her up."
"Without her knowing?"
Ash laughed,"I told her that it seems that she had caught flu so she obliged. Moreover, I didn't want to dampen her thoughts if it were false." And she is extremely moody now. I can't control her mood swings, Ash added in his head.
.
The ring was lying dormant in his pocket for more than a week.
Paul was going over the sales of the month, his other hand inside his coat pocket, fumbling with the ring. He glanced sideways, seeing Serena typing something on her laptop, looking extremely busy.
The day after he had bought the ring, he decided to tell her how he had been feeling since they first met. Only to chicken out at the last moment.
*First Failed Attempt*
Paul knew he was bad with words. Thus, instead of just going and asking Serena to be his girlfriend, he wrote a note,"Gotta tell you something."
Serena, who was busy with her work, found him scribbling something on his notebook and almost screamed,"Paul! That's not a copy! Its your cheque book!"
That day, he couldn't even look up at her due to embarrassment.
*Second failed attempt, next day*
This time, he wrote his confession on a piece of paper and coolly placed it on her desk before she arrived.
As she arrived at her desk, she pulled out all the papers which were lying on her desk and dumped it in the shredding machine, his confession with it.
"Why did you do that?" He asked her, confused.
"Don't you remember?" She sighed as she was massaging her knuckles,"you told me to discard all the previous years complains which were taken care of! These were those papers."
"You didn't check it?" He deadpanned.
"I did last day and thus, there was no need!" Serena chirped as she sat in her chair, whistling softly, oblivious to the murderous aura emitting from her boss.
Obviously, using plain paper for confession is a bad idea.
*third failed attempt*
Two days later, Serena offered to take him to McDonald's for lunch and he couldn't thank God enough for the opportunity.
When Serena was busy with her phone, he took the responsibility to order for them, which included hiding the ring case on the food tray.
The whole time, he was waiting for her to look at the box lying on the plate beside her but she hadn't even spared a glance.
It was as if the case never existed!
*lastest failed attempt*
It was friday and Paul was about to leave for home, however, after dropping Serena at the bus stop. Her car broke down due to complete 'unknown' reasons the morning she arrived. He definitely didn't mess with it.
"Well, lets go!" Serena hopped inside the passenger's seat and did her seatbelt.
''Hn," he started the car.
Serena noticed he was driving slower than usual but didn't comment on it.
Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts.
About the man in driver's seat.
"What'cha thinking?" He asked, his eyes never leaving the road.
"Stop doing those things, Paul!" She whispered softly. He couldn't help but ask,"Sorry?"
"Those attempts at confessing," she gulped, hard,"I am just..."
"So," he sighed,''You knew."
"About the letter I shredded? Yes. Or about the ring case, yes!" She pulled her purse close to her heart,''I don't deserve your love."
Thoroughly confused, he halted the car to look at her,"What?"
"Just, forget it." She got down and caught the approaching cab, leaving the boy in his thoughts.
How would she stay in the same house she once tried to break? How could she bear the title of Mrs. Paul Ketchum when she tried to kill, accidentally, his own younger brother? How could she live with the guilt that indirectly she was the reason why Dawn left?
She just couldn't see them in the eye so how could she ever live a normal life?
.
The week was exceptionally long and their meeting was replaying in her head. Should she tell him? He looked so silent, so faraway, like his mind was not with him. He was just the shell of the cheerful person he once was.
Did he miss her? Had he moved on?
She should have asked him directly. But wouldn't that come out as plain creepy? He was a famous cardiologist now, she stayed up the whole night to 'stalk' him on social media!
She groaned again. Now knowing that Ash was fine, she just couldn't stop but think about the numerous possibilities. Should she tell him? Was he even in love with her after two years?
She heard Cynthia knocking again. She took a deep breath and asked,"Yes, Cynthia?"
"Volkner expects you to write some new songs for the World Tour," Dawn heard Cynthia exclaim happily,"Finally! A world tour!"
"Sure."
Cynthia asked again,"You're okay now?"
"Better, just needed some time alone," she softly said,"Lets visit the Art Gallery before we leave Goldenrod, okay?"
Cynthia smiled. Art Gallery by Gary. Somethings never change. So, the blonde smiled,"We will go out tomorrow. Its a official shopping day for us."
"Thanks, Cynthia," Dawn smiled. Cynthia reminded her of Leaf and May so much that it always calmed her down. Leaf! How was she? Had Gary finally grown balls and proposed her for marriage? May had a better relationship with Drew now, did they have any kids? Did Paul get a girlfriend?
How were Troy and Samantha? And Delia? And her own Mom, Johanna and Daniel? Was Serena doing fine? Had she moved on? Why did Ash disappear on their honeymoon? These questions were plaguing her mind and all lead to one person, Ash.
How would he react if he comes to know that the singer he idolizes is his own wife? They didn't sign the divorce papers yet, so they were still legally married!
A line began playing in her mind and she couldn't help but write it down.
Then picking up a guitar, she sat down, clearing her throat and softly stroked the strings.
Everybody needs inspiration
Everybody needs a song
A beautiful melody
When the nights are long
He was her inspiration. Would he be happy that she had kept her promise to strive and become one of the most respected singer?
'cause there is no guarantee
That this life is easy
Yeah when my world is falling apart
When there's no light
To break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you
Her mind did a flip when she remembered something. His finger! He was wearing their wedding ring still! He still remembered her!
When the waves are flooding the shore
And I can't find my way home any more
That's when I, I
I look at you
When I look at you
I see forgiveness
I see the truth
You love me for who I am
Like the stars hold the moon
Right there where they belong
And I know I'm not alone
But, that meant he hadn't moved on yet! He was still waiting for her. As much as it made her happy, it made her feel guilty too for causing him so much pain.
Yeah when my world is falling apart
When there's no light
To break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you
When the waves are flooding the shore
And I can't find my way home any more
That's when I, I
I look at you
She could just hope to see him again, even if its just for once. She would just tell him that Dawn wants him to move on, without her in his life.
You appear just like a dream to me
Just like kaleidoscope colors that cover me
All I need
Every breath that I breathe
Don't you know you're beautiful
Yeah, yeah, yeah
When the waves are flooding the shore
And I can't find my way home any more
That's when I, I
I look at you
I look at you
Yeah,
Whoa-oh,
You appear just like a dream to me
Unknown to her, her wish to meet him was going to come true soon.
Cynthia entered the driving seat, followed by Dawn beside her, in the passenger seat.
Dawn wasn't wearing her glove now, her hair was tied in a messy bun, her contacts gone, showing her real sapphire blue eyes.
"Feels good to be normal again?" Cynthia asked as she began making her way toward the shopping mall.
Dawn giggled softly,"Yes. When are we gonna leave for the tour?"
Cynthia answered without taking her eyes off the road,"The main tour starts in a month. We will be leaving in a week for official work."
"Which includes?"
"Assigning auditoriums, contacting charity houses, and other trivial things," Cynthia explained,"You're gonna perform in four places."
"Oh? We are going where?"
Cynthia gulped,"Don't freak out, it was Volkner's idea!"
Dawn raised her eyebrows. Why was Cynthia sweating so suddenly? Even the air conditioner was on! Why was she so nervous? Wait a second...
"Cynthia, don't tell me its..."
Cynthia sighed, confirming Dawn's doubts,"Yes. Our first stoppage is Kanto, Celadon City."
Songs used-
When I look at you by Miley Cyrus.
So, seems like the story picked up pace! Those who don't remember, the Ketchum's residence is in Celadon City and Berlitz in Saffron.
Well, see you next time! Read, review and favourite!
~ darkestlightofhope