Shattered • Pokemon

5. Hearthrome City

The next morning.

Dawn's POV

I woke up around 7 that morning, with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I sat up, noticing I was the only one awake.

Serena, Misty and Bonnie were still asleep, as was May who'd fallen asleep beside me. Quietly, I got off of my bed, before exiting the room.

The uneasiness remained in my stomach, as I entered the lounge area of the Pokemon centre, noticing Ash there. "Hey." I greeted, going to sit beside him. "Hey.. you're up early." Ash admitted, moving over so I could sit beside him. "So are you." I replied.

"I couldn't sleep." Ash admitted, turning to me. "Neither could I." I agreed. Ash noticed how uncomfortable I looked, and his expression softened, "Is everything alright?" He asked. I sighed, shaking my head, "I'm feeling very anxious this morning."

Ash nodded, "Is it about Paul?" I bit my lip before nodding, "Yeah.. I guess it is... I'm worried he'll find me." I admitted. Ash stood up, looking at me, "Let's go for a walk." He decided. I stood up, giving him a confused look. "It might ease your anxiety if we go for a walk, to prove Paul isn't here." The raven haired boy smiled. I smiled back, already feeling the slightest bit at ease to the fact Ash wanted to help me to relax.

"Alright, lets go." I decided, as the pair of us left the Pokemon centre to go for a walk. It felt nice to be outside in the cool air. We walked in silence for a couple minutes, but it was more of a comfortable silence than anything, as I looked around, taking in the sights.

I decided to speak up, becoming curious. "What have you been up to in the past year?" I asked. Ash turned to me, "Well once school was over, I stayed in Twinleaf town for a while.. to help find you." Ash admitted, as I felt a bit of guilt for that. "After about six months the group kind of disbanded as we all went seperate ways. I went to Kalos and met Serena, Clemont and Bonnie." He explained. "We traveled together for six months and then I decided I wanted to rebattle Cynthia, so we came back to Sinnoh for that.. and here we are now." Ash concluded.

"How did you and Serena.. happen?" I asked, with a slight grin, as Ash chuckled nervously, "Is that jealousy I hear?" He asked. I shook my head, "No, I'm happy for the two of you." I admitted, with a smile. Truthfully, I was a bit jealous.. but Serena and Ash were clearly happy together.. I wasn't going to come between them.

"She helped me to.." Ash stopped, hesitant to continue. I gave him a look, curious to what he was about to say. "She.. helped me to get over you." The raven haired boy sighed. "I became miserable once you left.. we were together for so long and I loved you more than anything.. for you to suddenly disappear from my life really felt like a part of me was missing.." Ash explained. "Serena helped me to overcome my endless feeling of misery.. and I began to have feelings for her." The boy explained. "Two months ago, she asked me out.. and I was so thrilled. Now we've been happy ever since." He smiled.

I didn't smile back, which he noticed.. I couldn't stop thinking about how he said loved.. as in past tense. It was all my fault that he didn't love me anymore.. After all I did.. leave.. I also felt a lot of guilt that Ash had been miserable once I left.

We continued to walk around chatting and looking around. Truthfully, the area around the league was quite small, we were already back at the Pokemon centre.

I noticed May and Serena standing inside, a little bit far from the door but in our view. I bit my lip, in worry that Serena would say something rude, for Ash and I leaving together, alone.