Hey guys! Thanks for all the comments! I'm glad you're liking my stories! Sorry the chapters are so short; they look longer on Microsoft Word. I'm adding a few stuff to the stories, so they'll be longer soon. Thanks for your patience!

Sleepless Nights on Lake Valor

Chapter 2: Just Need to Think

Dawn's Point of View

It was beautiful outside, if not a little chilly. A crisp, gentle breeze blew. Waves quietly collided against the sand, stars twinkled clearly in the sky, and the hushed sounds of vehicles and pedestrians drifted over from Veilstone and Sunyshore. I knew going outside for fresh air would be great for me, especially this early in the morning.

I walked through the front porch and down the stairs to the beach right in front of the cabin. Not wanting sand to get into my boots, I decided to leave them at the base of the stairs. Walking over the coarse yet soft sand, I made my way barefooted to a lookout point over Lake Valor. The view from there was amazing. There were some cute little binoculars that allowed people to look farther out to the other side of the lake. After climbing up a few more flights of stairs and walking across a wooden walkway, I reached the end of the boardwalk and leaned against the railing. The lookout point had a bird's eye view of the area: the lake to the north, our cabin to the south, more beach to the west, Veilstone City to the northwest, and Sunyshore City to the east.

Looking back at the cabin, I mentally thanked myself for suggesting to stay here for the week. Instead of staying at the Pokémon Center like we often did, I planned to rent this small cabin for just the three of us. I guess that decision was made because we wanted to get closer together. Oh! Not like together, together... more like a family bonding sort of thing... And, um, we got tired of the towns and bright lights.

Anyway, getting to this place was pretty difficult. The Pastoria Marsh. Rain. Mud. Not a good combination. That's all I really need to say, right?

Oh, and speaking of getting closer together—I came out here because... well, you know. I just need time to think. About the Grand Festival. And other things. A certain someone and his—oh, where am I going with this again?! My feelings were starting to take control of me again! I sighed and took another sip of tea. Looking toward the lake, I closed my eyes and just stood there, thinking, while the wind blew in my face. I heard a door open and close in the distance. I abruptly opened my eyes and turned around, but no one was there. Was it the wind...?

Closing my eyes again, I contemplated the good times between Ash and me. I looked back on the times when I got lost and Ash came to rescue me, when he cheered me on even though I lacked self-confidence as a Coordinator. Heh, I also remember the time Lyra asked me if I liked Ash at the Valley Windworks. I guess that was when I started to notice these new feelings start to come up. Ignorance is bliss, huh? I just wish he wasn't so dense. I've been really careful not to give him any hints, but even when I make really obvious slip-ups he's always oblivious to them. Thank Arceus.

Then, I imagined the ideal scenario if I were to win the Grand Festival. Ash would run onto the stage and give me a congratulatory hug. I'd back away and lock gazes with him, transfixed by those special brown eyes of his. The temptation to move closer, and closer, and closer still would be too powerful—I wouldn't resist and eventually we'd get so close that our...

"PIKACHUUU!"

I felt a startling yet relatively painless jolt of electricity flow through me, which woke up from my little daydream. When I opened my eyes, I saw Pikachu in front of me, its eyes shut tight. My first concern was the condition of my hair (obviously).After making sure my precious hair was okay, my next concern was Pikachu. Did I... kiss him? I noticed a tiny lip gloss stain on its cheek. Ah, well that's my answer. I guess Pikachu came out here and I grabbed and kissed it on accident...

"I'm sorry, Pikachu!" I apologized.

Pikachu opened its eyes and quietly said, "Pika, pika!"

I smiled at the Pokémon and let it go. It ran off to the porch, curled up, and began to fall asleep.

"Aww, that's so cute." I stared at Ash's beloved partner, enamored, then turned back to the lake and closed my eyes again in thought.

Maybe I should just tell him now, before I become more stressed out during the Grand Festival. Will he reciprocate my feelings with his own? I just need more time to think—more fresh air. I just closed my eyes even tighter.