The Only Exception

14.

Sorry for the delayed update. Enjoy!

"How's your leg, Dawn?" Ash asked.

"It's fine. No broken bones or anything." She said.

Ash smiled at her, "That's great."

"Were you able to shoot the Pokevision video?" She asked.

Ash scratched the back of his head. "Sort of. We still have until 9pm so we're waiting on you to shoot the video."

Dawn looked over at her leg. There weren't any broken bones but it did hurt to move. She wasn't able to actually walk yet so it'd be hard to do anything. "I think you should do the video without me."

"Huh? No way! We're on the same team and we should—"

"Ash, I can barely walk let alone stand. It's best if you just shoot the video without me." Dawn told him. Ash hung his head in sadness, feeling awful at that fact that if he had only saved Dawn in time, she'd be able to join in on the video.

He felt a hand on his head and looked up at Dawn who was smiling at him, "no need to worry."

He smiled lightly at her, "Alright.. but, when your leg heals up. We're taking on the next activity together!"

She chuckled at him, "you got it. Now go."

He smiled at her one last time as he ran out the emergency room and went to look for his other friends.

Serena and the others weren't too far from the camp. They found another good spot to film and waited for Ash and Dawn's return. "Hey, I'm here." They heard a voice call out and looked to see Ash running up to them.

"Where's Dawn?" Bonnie asked.

"She can't walk or stand so.. she's gonna sit this activity out." Ash said.

"That's too bad.." Clemont said sadly.

Serena could hear fireworks and confetti bursting inside her mind. Finally. It was just going to be the four of them again. She took the basket of Poke puffs in her hand and went up to Ash, "let's start filming then!"

"Wait, Serena. Instead of the Poke puffs, how about Dawn's Poffins?" Ash asked.

"That's a great idea! We can't let those go to waste!" Bonnie smiled.

Serena sighed. Of course... Dawn was somehow always with them even if it was just something she made. "Sure..."

Team Ambipom went on with the video without Dawn. After they were done filming, they went on to editing it.

Dawn was able to walk a bit and made her way to the cafeteria to watch the Pokevision her friends made.

Team Ambipom claimed first place for their Pokevision video earning them 10 points.

"That was a great video guys!" Dawn smiled.

"It would've been more great if you were in it." Ash said. She

Dawn looked at him surprised while Serena looked at him worriedly.

Ash blushed after realizing what he just said and turned away from her, "I-I mean like.. it's because you're part of the team! So, it wouldn't really be a video without you!"

Dawn chuckled at him, "thanks, Ash."

Serena glared at the two. She hated the way Ash was able to compliment Dawn without any hesitation. Why couldn't he be that way with her? What did Dawn have that she didn't?

She snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed Ash got up from his seat. He then walked out of cafeteria and she went following after him.

"Ash! Wait!" She shouted.

"Yeah?" He asked, turning around.

"Where are you going?" She asked him.

"Just by the beach side." He told her.

This was her chance! "Great! I'll follow you." She smiled as she took his hand in hers and they began walking towards the beach together. They sat down at one of the campfires together while Serena called out Fennekin to light it up.

"Thank you, Fennekin." She smiled as she looked over at Ash. "Ash, I wanted to ask you something."

"Go for it." He told her.

"Well.. you see, they're giving us a break from activities for tomorrow. So, I was wondering if we could spend some time tomorrow!" She smiled.

Ash thought about it for awhile. He wasn't exactly being a good boyfriend right now and he thought that maybe he could make up for it if he were to spend time with her tomorrow. But, something didn't feel right about spending the day with Serena.

"Okay, sure." He smiled lightly.

"Really?"

He nodded his head at her, "I haven't been a good.. boyfriend so I could probably make up for it."

"Oh, Ash! Thanks so much." She said as she gave him a peck on the cheek and went back to the cabins with Fennekin.

Ash sighed as he looked up at the night sky. "I don't think I'm cut out for this kind of stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

Ash jumped as he looked behind him to see Dawn. He sighed in relief as he patted the empty space next to him and told her to sit down. The starlight haired girl went and sat next to him.

"Relationships.. and.. love." He said.

"Then why bother staying?" She asked.

"Because.. I feel as though something might work out." He told her. "But, so far, it's like nothing has been working out. I don't treat her the way she wants to be treated. I don't initiate anything. I don't even say anything remotely sweet about her."

"Again.. do you love her?"

Ash shrugged his shoulders, "I don't even know myself what I feel about Serena." He then looked over at Dawn, "how about you?"

Dawn's eyes widened at him, "w-what do you mean?"

"The guy you like, do you.. love him?" He asked.

Dawn looked down at the ground. Luckily, it was kinda dark so he couldn't see her blush. She sighed and spoke, "I do love him."

Ash felt something in his chest. A pain that he didn't know how to describe. Why did hearing Dawn say that feel painful? He didn't understand. "How does he make you feel?"

"Well.. all sorts of things. Happy, sad, angry... loved."

Ash felt even more hurt after hearing that. Why? Why was it that hearing about the guy Dawn likes or.. loves hurt him? Maybe it was because he was afraid of losing her? That she would forget about him? No, it was more than that, he just couldn't tell what it was.

"Loved, huh?" He said.

"Well.. he really cares about me." She smiled, "the same way I care about him."

Ash smiled lightly at her, "That's great, Dawn."

Dawn smiled at him as she got up from her seat, "I'm gonna head back. You coming?"

He shook his head at her, "I'm good. I'll see you back at the cabins."

She nodded her at him as she started walking back to the cabins. Ash sighed as he buried his face into his hands.

What am I going to do?

Hiya! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I don't know what they did on the 4th day of summer camp because bulbapedia doesn't state it and I don't watch the XY series as much so I decided to just let them all have a break.

Update you soon!