You drew stars around my scars

But now I'm bleeding

~ cardigan, TS

"So?"

A blue haired girl looked up at the woman standing beside her, her eyes fixated on the woman who felt like she was getting swallowed up by the blunette. The lack of response was making the blunette even more irritated and she twirled in her seat, facing the laptop in front of her again.

"I don't understand how can they not find the mistake even after going through it again!" The girl said as she massaged her temples. "Maya, please get me a cup of coffee."

Maya, the brown haired girl, nodded and walked as fast as she could in her heels. The blunette went back to the file in front of her and sighed. It was going to be a long day.

Her phone beeped, signalling she had received a message but she didn't have time for that. Within minutes, Maya came back with a brimming hot cup of coffee and placed it in front of the concentrating girl.

"Mam, the delegates from Sinnoh will be here in an hour." Maya spoke up, going through the blunette's schedule,"Then you have a meeting scheduled with the heads of different branches."

"Okay, prepare all the files as discussed before, Maya," the girl took a sip of her coffee and calmed down a little. "This coffee is great. Thanks."

There was something enchanting in the way Maya made coffee. Even though the coffee at her office came in packets and all everyone has to do was add hot water, somehow the coffee Maya made for her always tasted the best. No one knew why but it was the truth. Coffee made by her always calmed her down no matter how hyper or restless she got.

Maya gave her a small smile,"Thank you, Miss Berlitz."

The girl, Dawn Berlitz, began going through the file again. If she could find the mistakes in the copy, why couldn't the others? This was really getting on her nerves. Her phone beeped again and she sighed. Picking it up, she quickly put that into silent mode and kept it back in its place, the face upside down on the table.

The day passed like a flash. First there was the meeting with the delegates. Then there was the quarterly meeting with head managers of all the branches of Pearl Company. And at the end of the day, she was exhausted.

"Mam," Maya gently shook her Boss who was resting with her eyes closed,"Your Mom called me a while ago. You should call her back."

Dawn picked up her phone and felt a shiver run down her spine on seeing 5 missed calls from her Mom. Even though she was 23 years old now, so many missed calls from her Mom made her feel like a little girl again.

Crap. She was in a lot of trouble.

"Maya, you can leave," Dawn said, seeing the clock had already stuck 5.

"Yes Mam." Maya bowed down,"Have a nice evening." Dawn could faintly hear the sound of Maya's heel tapping against the white, marbeled floor and groggily called back her Mom.

"I called you 5 times!"

Dawn winced in her seat. "Sorry!" Dawn felt really crappy for ignoring her Mom like that,"I was caught up in meetings and my phone was on silent."

"I keep telling you to never keep your phone on silent!"

Dawn could sense the annoyance in her mom's voice. "Sorry. Won't happen again."

"Yeah! You say that everytime but end up repeating it!"

Trying to change the topic, she asked,"Okay? Sorry? But why did you call?"

She was twirling the paper weight on the table, waiting for her mother's reply. Her Mom was muttering something about how she always brushes off the topic and Dawn's lips curved into a smile.

But nothing in the world could have prepared her for what was coming.

"Leaf and Gary are coming to meet you."

Now? After all these years? When was the last time she saw them? When was the last time they exchanged any words? Dawn couldn't even remember to be honest.

"What?" She said as she sat up straight, keeping the paperweight back in its place. The photoframe on her desk glistened from the sunrays entering the room and Dawn blankly stared at the picture of her, her Mom and a little girl in it.

"Yes. They tried reaching out to you but couldn't because your number changed. Ended up calling on our landline and said they had to meet you. When are you coming home?"

Dawn glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. "If there's no traffic then by 6 pm, hopefully."

"Okay then. I told them to come around that time so I guess that's okay."

"Did they say anything about why they were coming and all?"

"It didn't sound anything serious and they didn't give me any information. Sweetie, have a safe drive. I'll see you in an hour."

Dawn disconnected the call and slowly got up, shoving her phone into her purse. She began making her way out of the office and was greeted by a lot of employees who were on their way out too. She was interacting with them like usual but her mind was fixated on the talk she had with her Mom.

Why did Leaf and Gary contact her after 4 long years? Was everything okay? Did Ash know they were coming to her house?

Ash. A name which hadn't popped up in her mind for a while. She pushed back all the thoughts which were twinkling around and went inside her car, sitting silently in the backseat as Shane, her faithful driver for years began their journey home.

Maybe she should buy a place here, in Viridian City, so that she could save 2 hours of travel time from Pallet Town to this City every day. But then what will she do with the mansion back in Pallet Town? And if her Mom could handle going to and fro from Pallet Town everyday, for years, why couldn't she?

She loved the car rides too. She could aimlessly lurk on social media without feeling guilty about not resting. The long distance home lowered the chances of paparazzi catching her off-guard. And it gave her time to think.

And sometimes she hated the long ride home because she was left alone with her thoughts and everything would eat her up alive.

She was home soon and watched as Shane slowly parked the car in front of the door. She slowly got out, her eyes scanning the area for any proof that the two people were here. Seeing nothing, her muscles relaxed and she went her way into the house.

Only to be greeted by three pairs of eyes watching her as she walked into the house.

"Hey, Sweetie!" Johanna wished her daughter as soon as their eyes met.

"Hey Mom." Dawn began making her way towards the couch, feeling unnecessarily judged with every step she took towards them. Her Mom had changed into one of the fancy gowns to entertain their guests, Dawn noticed and hoped that she didn't look too tired.

"Long time no see!" A brown haired boy said as he got up and extended his hand. Dawn took his hand and shook it calmly.

"Hello, Gary." She had hardly any time to process anything when a hyperactive voice took her by surprise.

"Dawn!" The brunette leaped into the girl's arms and Dawn had to take a few steps back to maintain her composure after the sudden impact.

"Hello, Leaf." Despite everything, Dawn smiled. Maybe she was just overthinking everything.

The brunette broke the hug and gave her a grin. "How are you? Man! It's been so long since I talked to you!"

Yeah. Because you all went on with your lives. "Yeah." Dawn tried to muster it with as much politeness as she could,"What brings you two here?!" She sat down on the couch, opposite to them and propped one leg over the other. Her full sleeved shirt was rolled up and all she wanted to do was get into her comfy pajamas and sleep the exhaustion away.

The smile on Leaf's and Gary's faces grew. Whatever it was, it was something good, Dawn could feel it. There was this mystical aura around them that she couldn't put her fingers upon.

"Here," Leaf said, fishing out a card from her bag and handing it over to Dawn. "Read it."

Dawn curtly took the card, feeling today's exhaustion seeping up on her. All she wanted to do was take a bath and go to bed. The card on her hand was black in colour, but with gold designs embedded at the borders. There were light hearts imprinted all over the card which could only be seen if inclined at a certain angle.

She eyed the card curiously, reading every word and each word was like a blow to her chest. So this happened in the past 4 years.

"You two are getting married?" Dawn asked, finally processing all the news. "Congratulations!" Her heart felt so heavy and she didn't know if she was jealous of the couple in front of her or feeling pathetic because she didn't have this much surity in her life. Well, it wasn't like she was single but getting married with her present boyfriend- no. It would never happen. Not in this lifetime atleast.

Leaf smiled widely, holding Gary's hand. "We didn't want to sent it by mail," Leaf began, her free hand resting on her lap and Dawn could see the small yet beautiful engagement ring on her finger. "I wanted to deliver it to you in person. And you have to come."

"I will try," Dawn began,"You know work is-"

"We want you to be there, Dawn," Gary spoke up,"It would mean so much to us if you come."

"But-" Dawn tucked her hair behind her ear, staring at the card so that she wouldn't have to look at them. "I really-"

"Its a small event, just friends and family," Leaf tried again and Dawn looked up to face her. "You don't have to worry about a thing. There won't be any paparazzi there. Please, you have to come, Dawn."

Leaf's puppy dog eyes would always throw her off balance. She could feel her iron resolve melting away as the memories of their school life flashed in her mind. Knowing she would have to go, Dawn gave up. "Who is the bridesmaid and bestman?"

Dawn could see Laaf shifting awkwardly in her seat and silently put the invitation card on the table. Leaf felt a little wave of embarrassment wash over her and she slowly squeezed Gary's hands, taking short yet deep breaths. "Sorry for not being in touch for so long, I mean-"

Dawn waved it off, wondering if her question sounded rude or offensive. "Oh its fine. Life happens. No hard feelings. Its not like I went out of my way to contact you all either."

"You are in contact with Lyra though," Gary said, passing her a grim smile,"I can understand that you didn't want to keep contact because of-"

"Have some cookies, darling," Johanna said, pointing at the plates in front of them. Dawn mentally thanked her mother because she stopped Gary on time. She didn't want to hear his name or what happened between them in the past. Atleast not now.

"Lyra is different," Dawn spoke up, keeping eye contact with Gary. She was going to fully use the business training her Mom had engraved into her. "We met up whenever I came back to Pallet Town from uni and she was always around at that time. Our timings were somehow always compatible. Its not your or my fault that our university schedules never matched."

"And you being in different country didn't help either," Gary added. Dawn knew that they were all making excuses to cover up the negligence on their part and she couldn't be angry because she knew she was doing the same.

She couldn't just meet up with Ash's friends without remembering him.

"May," Leaf spoke up finally, breaking the silence,"She is my maid of honor."

"Nice." Dawn saw Gardenia coming towards her with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. "Hey, have some coffee! Its directly imported from Aspertia Town. Tastes the best."

"We had some tea before," Leaf politely turned the offer down,"But thank you for the offer."

Dawn thanked Gardenia who handed her the cup of coffee and turned her focus back to the Couple. "So," Dawn took a sip,"Gary? Who's your best man?"

"Ash is the best man," Gary said and paused when he noticed Dawn freeze on hearing the name. He could cut the tension in the air with a knife. "Have you talked to him after, you know-"

"No," Dawn replied in a heartbeat, her fingers wrapped around the warm cup,"We kind of knew that talking to each other would open up old wounds and we didn't have the guts to do that." Seeing Leaf's apologetic face, Dawn gave her a reassuring smile,"Its been 5 years, Leaf. And it wasn't like we ended on a sour note. It just wasn't meant to be so it's fine. I am totally okay with him being there. I just hope he is okay with me being there too."

Leaf looked like she didn't believe it. It was almost like she was asking Dawn why things went down all those years ago. "He is totally okay!" Leaf tried to reassure her.

Raising her eyebrows, Dawn let out an amused laugh,"You asked him before inviting me?"

"Are you an idiot?" Gary shook his head, looking hurt,"We were going to invite everyone close to us. Just gave him a headsup."

Dawn could feel her heart shattering. She wanted to know so many things, so many questions were running wild in her mind. What was his response? Was he really okay with her coming? How was he doing after the break-up? Did he forget her? Of course he did. Otherwise he would have contacted her, right? And was she really strong enough to hear these answers if she asked them?

No.

Dawn knew she wasn't brave enough to relive it all over again.

Dawn lay in her bed, staring at her ceiling. She had taken down the fluorescent stars she had put on the ceiling when she was a teen and now replaced it with simple white paint. She sometimes missed seeing the stars even though they were artificial.

It made her feel relaxed but ever since she came back from her University, it just got on her nerves for no apparent reason.

Or maybe she knew the reason but didn't want to acknowledge it.

The conversation with Leaf and Gary kept replaying back in her head. They were getting married in three months, in Pallet Town lake. She didn't even know that the authorities allowed marriages to be held at that place.

And from what she could remember, most of her classmates and friends were going to be there. Misty. Lyra. Serena. Clemont. Drew. May. Paul. Lucas. Brendon. Ethan.

And of course Ash.

The wedding couldn't happen without the best man.

Dawn closed her eyes. She hadn't thought about him for so so long. How was he? What was he doing? Where did he finish his medical studies? What field of medicine did he pursue? What hospital was he affiliated to?

Did he have a girlfriend?

She tried shaking her thoughts away. Things like these wasn't supposed to rile her up like this. Its been 5 years since they broke up on good terms but why the hell did his thoughts kept intruding her so much?

Dawn could figure out what was going to happen. She was going to go the wedding. She would meet Ash there. They would exchange a few laughs and joke about how they weren't meant to be. He would make a comment on how childish they were when they started going out. She would reply that they were just in idea of being in love with each other. They would get drunk, tease Gary and Leaf, joke about his being a dense doctor who didn't know when the nurses were hitting on him and he would get on her nerves because he knew he could always get away with him.

And she also knew how she would come back home with the hope that he would reach out to her again and how he wouldn't. He would move on with his life and she would be stuck in the same dilemma she was 5 years ago.

Forgetting him was hard and took up all the energy she had.

And she couldn't do it again.

She wasn't in love with him. Maybe she was when she was 17 but now, after 6 long years, if someone asked her if she loves someone, she would say no.

Did she want him to contact her?

Absolutely not.

But in moments like these, she wished she could have talked to him like before and sorted it all out. Where did they go wrong? How did they screw up so much that they went from lovers to just acquaintances? And now to just strangers?

The more she thought about it, the more restless she got. She knew what she did wrong. She knew what he did wrong. She knew what she should have done but didn't. Instead of waiting for him to clear up all the misunderstandings, she should have done it on her own.

She just couldn't differentiate between ego and self-respect. What was she trying to do, digging up the graves like this? Its not like Ash would even spare a second of his time to think about the failed relationship. So why was she so hung up on that?

Hearing her phone ring, she picked it up without looking at the caller ID. She knew who it was without even looking at the name.

"Hey."

"Hey there," male voice from other side spoke up,"When are you free next?"

Dawn mentally went through her schedule. She had to make time for the wedding and had to pile up work upon work before the wedding arrived. "I don't think I can go out anytime this month. I have to go to hospital for mom's appointment. Maybe next-"

"Seriously!?" The man sounded irritated and Dawn closed her eyes. She really didn't want to deal with this. Atleast not now.

Lately all she wanted to do was postpone dealing with her problems.

"Yes. I have a wedding to attend in few months and-"

"Shit Dawn," the man lost it,"We haven't been able to meet up even once in the last month and you're telling me this month isn't good either? Are you fucking kidding me!"

Dawn could feel the headache forming. Why are relationships this draining?

"See, Ray," Dawn sat up straight,"You knew what you were getting into when you decided to go through this relationship."

She heard a sarcastic laugh and rolled her eyes. Men are a waste of time.

She was pretty sure Ray thought of their time was time gone to waste too.

"At first I thought it was cute how hardworking you were but now," Ray's voice turned flat,"Its just- terrible. We have been going out for four months and we met up just twice. This isn't how it is supposed to work."

"I get busy with work."

"Me too! I have my band practices too! I have to go on tour in a month and we won't be able to see each other for months!" Ray yelled,"But I don't ignore you the way you ignore me. I am not going to be the only one who is putting work in this relationship."

"I don't ignore you."

"I initiate a chat every fucking time. I am the one who always calls first. Dawn, this is too much for me. I can't do this anymore."

Dawn breathed out. "Fine then. Have a safe world tour. May your album become even more well accepted."

Ray let out a laugh,"So that's it? You're not even going to fight for us?"

"Do you want me to fight for you?"

Dawn could hear him let out a frustrated groan. "Forget it. It was never going to work."

"Its just you caught me at a bad time, Ray."

"Everytime is bad time if you do don't work on it. Dawn, you're an independent girl and maybe you don't want to be tied down. But that's not how it works. And I don't think we can ever work over it."

She knew it in her heart he was right. Distance. Timing. Nothing ever worked in her favour. No matter how enchanted she was by Ray and his music, dating him took a different level of commitment all together.

Maybe he was right. She didn't want to be tied down. Or maybe the initial excitement she felt during the start of the relationship had already died down sooner than she expected.

"So," She breathed out,"I guess this is it?"

"Yeah."

"Bye Ray. Be safe."

"I hope you find someone who can deal with you. And I am sorry I can't be the one who makes you comfortable."

"I hope you find someone good too."

"You don't have to do anything to announce our breakup to the world. I won't announce why and when we broke up either. Let them speculate. "

"Okay. I'll be waiting for your next album."

"I hope you'll be okay with the songs I wrote about you."

Dawn couldn't believe her ears. He wrote songs for her? For her?

"I inspired you to write songs about me? Sounds like a lie."

"Track 3 and track 9 of my next album is for you."

"So, a diss track?"

"More like my feelings during the start and middle of the relationship. If I write another good one, I'll tell you. Don't block my number."

She doesn't deserve him. She never deserved this pure feelings. "I am sorry that this is ending this way."

"Can't help it now, can we? I knew it from the first drink we shared that this wasn't going to last."

"I am sorry."

"You are so cruel, you know."

"I know."

With that she disconnected the call and closed her eyes again. Relationship wasn't supposed to be this exhausting. It wasn't supposed to make her feel like she could be somewhere else, in a better position. But what she shared with Ray was special in its own way. No drama. No screaming matches. The limelight of paparazzi was on him, a world famous singer who toured everywhere with his band. It allowed her to be in the darkness, away from the prying eyes of the media.

It was a cheap tactic but she didn't hate it.

What she hated was the type of person she was becoming.

"Maya," Dawn groaned as she went through the file,"A coffee, please."

"You look exhausted, Miss," Maya said, feeling concerned about the young heiress. "Are you ill? Don't overwork yourself please?"

"I didn't sleep too well last night," Dawn closed the file, almost done for today. It was already 4pm and she really wanted to leave, go home and just sleep.

"You texted me to free your schedule for two days at the end of the week. I already did that."

Dawn passed an earnest smile. "Nice."

"I'll be back with the coffee."

Dawn watched silently as Maya excused herself and went towards the break room to fix her a cup of coffee. It wasn't like she was too busy with her work. She just liked to go over things so that the chances of something wrong happening decreases.

She also didn't want to be the known as privileged. She knew she was privileged. She didn't have to work as hard as others to get this position but maintaining the high standard her Mom had obtained in her prime was no easy task.

She couldn't let her Mom worry about something like this.

"If you have time," Maya spoke up, snapping Dawn out of her thoughts,"Go see a masseuse. You look really stiff and troubled. Maybe a massage would help."

"Can you get me a booking for today?" Dawn took the cup in her hand, feeling the hot liquid against her palms.

"Sure."

Dawn silently watched as Maya talked to someone on the phone and within a minute, passed a small paper print to Dawn, saying,"Here's the address. Your booking is 30 mins from now on."

"Then I'll be leaving soon," Dawn sipped her coffee. Maya really made the best coffee in the office.

"Take me to this place," Dawn said, passing the note to Shane as soon as she entered the car.

"A massage parlour?" Shane eyed the address curiously and then handed the slip back to her.

"You don't know the way?" She settled in her seat, putting on her seatbelt.

Shane shook his head, starting the car. "Never been there before but I know the area."

"Cool."

"Is everything okay, Little Miss?"

Dawn gave him a smile, and turned to stare at the cityscape. "Everything is fine. I am just a little tired."

"Is it related to the sudden arrival of your old friend yesterday?"

Dawn winced a little and Shane knew he had hit the jackpot. He had watched the little girl grow into a teen to an adult and knew her very well. Dawn sighed deeply,"Have you ever wanted to redo some parts of your life, Shane?"

"A lot of times."

"And if given the opportunity, will you do it?"

Shane shook his head, his eyes on the road. "Maybe I will. I mean who wouldn't want to live a life free of regrets. But those regrets make us what we are today and losing them would be a lot like losing our identity. Its a struggle, you can say. There's no right answer."

Dawn nodded, biting her lip. What was she even trying to ask him? What was she expecting to even hear? Everyone is different and so are their choices, responsibilities and priorities. She wouldn't find what she was looking for in someone else but what was she supposed to do when she didn't even know what she was even looking for?

She didn't even know what her heart wanted. Deep in her heart, she wanted to see Ash again. But at the same time, she didn't want to see him too. She knew she wasn't in love with him but the comfort she felt in his presence was intoxicating and she was hooked on it. She knew he would indulge in all her wishes because he was that kind and understanding but what type of person would she be if she keeps relying on his kindness everytime they meet?

She can't keep being unfair to him everytime.

And she can't expect him to drop everything just to entertain her wishes.

Humming the tune if a song which was stuck on his mind, a raven haired boy sat by the window, sipping his favourite tea. His one foot was dangling from the window pane while his back was rested on the frame as he watched the scenery around him. He could see the golden clouds turning grey with every passing minute and the cool evening breeze calmed him down. The black vest was sticking to his body and he pulled it a little to unstick the fabric from his body. Summer was never his favourite season.

He could hear the sounds of kids playing on the playground below and watched how some kids were running around, playing tag.

It was his daily lifestyle. He would go to the hospital, do his best there, come back to his apartment, take a bath then sit by the window watching the night roll in.

His phone vibrated and lit up and he got up, making his way to the table to fetch his phone.

The message brought a small smile on his face.

Gare Bear: Dawn is coming to the wedding.

.

.

A new story. Yup.

This story is basically a continuation of 'Hold My Hand' but you guys, who haven't read that story, won't have to read that to understand this. This is a separate story in its own. And those who all are here from that story, welcome back!

Do leave reviews! I really want to hear your thoughts on this chapter. What do you think happened between Ash and Dawn? What is going to happen between Ash and Dawn?

See you guys next time ! Bye!

~ DarkestLightOfHope