The Only Exception

21.

Sorry for the delayed chapter. I've been busy with other things.

Enjoy!

The group had made it to Shalour City and stopped by the Pokémon center to take a good rest. Nurse Joy walked up to group asking for Dawn. The coordinator looked at he confused as Nurse Joy began explaining.

"You had a call earlier from a girl named May. She said to call her back right away." Nurse Joy smiled.

"Thank you, I will." Dawn said as she walked up to the video phone while the others had went to their room. Dawn called the Slateport City hotel and asked for May, the receptionist quickly connected her to May's room where Dawn saw Drew pass by getting read to go to the beach.*

"Drew!" She shouted.

He screamed as he looked over at the video phone but smiled as soon as he realized it was his best friend. "Dawn! Wow, it's been awhile. Hey, is that a new look?"

"You could say that... Where's May?" She asked.

"Oh, she's just about to finish showering." He told her.

"Ahh, so, what are you gonna do?" She asked.

"I'm gonna head down to the beach for a battle against Harley. That guy thinks that just because I'm on vacation, I've gotten weak. But, we'll see about that!"

Dawn chuckled at him, "good luck then."

He thanked her and saw May get out of the shower as he bid her goodbye and started making his way out the room. May had sat in front of the video phone with a towel wrapped around her head and smiled at Dawn.

"Hey, Dawnie!" May greeted. Her eyes widened when she noticed Dawn's hair and she moved close to the video phone. "Did you bleach your hair!?"

"Well.. uh, you could say that I guess?" She laughed. "You called earlier?" She asked, not wanting to explain what actually happened with her hair.

May nodded her head at her, "yes, actually. But, Nurse Joy said you had left the summer camp."

"Yeah, sorry about that. Right now, we're in Shalour City."

"I'm sorry.. we?" May asked confused.

"Oh, that's right, I never told you. I'm traveling with Ash again in the Kalos region." She smiled.

May smiled at her, "that's great, Dawn. I'm so happy for you."

"So, why did you call? Is there something up?" Dawn asked.

"Oh, right! Where's your first showcase gonna be?" May asked.

"It's gonna be in Coumarine City." Dawn said.

"Coumarine City, hmm.." May said as she took out her digital map and started looking around Kalos. "So, that's right after where you are now and in between Coumarine and Shalour is a place called Lagoon Town." She said as she showed Dawn the map. Dawn nodded her head at her, "that's about right."

"But, wait a minute. It says there's a showcase happening in Lagoon Town, won't you participate in that one?" May asked.

"No, I just wanna watch for now and see what a Pokémon Performer is all about." Dawn smiled.

"Dawnie, you're a coordinator. You definitely have enough experience to know what a performer is all about!"

Dawn smiled, "thanks, May.

"No problem. I'm gonna go now and get some sleep, I'll see you!" May smiled as she waved goodbye as well as Dawn then logged off the video phone. She turned around to walk to her room until she saw Ash walking out of the Pokémon center angrily. She then ran after the raven-haired trainer and saw him sit on a nearby bench.

"Ash?"

"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE— Oh, Dawn, I'm sorry." Ash shouted until he realized it was Dawn he accidentally shouted at.

Dawn sat down next to him, "are you alright? I've never seen you this angry."

"It's Serena. She's just so.. gah! She made me so mad.."

"What happened?"

Ash sighed, "she tried to sleep in the same bed with me.. again. I told her no and she started throwing a fit saying how I'll never be comfortable with her if I keep on refusing to be next to her."

Dawn placed a hand on his shoulder as he turned his head to her. She took her hand off, "why do you put up with that?"

"I.. I don't know." He said.

"Again, do you love her?" Dawn asked.

He sighed as he leaned back against the bench, "it's a sense of wanting to make things work. But, it's not working out. Am I doing something wrong?"

Dawn shook her head at him, "I just think you're trying to push things to a certain level and maybe you need a break from each other."

"A break? You mean like break up then get back together?" He asked.

"Not necessarily break up but, just take some time off from the other and have some time for yourself to reflect on your relationship." Dawn explained.

"I guess I could do that." He said.

Dawn smiled at him as he patted his back. Ash smiled at her, "thanks, Dawn. What would I do without you?" He said as he put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him as both the sides of their faces touched, Dawn blushed at the sudden action. She heard Ash sigh, but it wasn't a sad one, it sounded more.. content and at ease. She smiled at him as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.

Ash realized what he was doing and started blushing as he slowly pulled away from her and chuckled in embarrassment. "Sorry, I guess I got.. carried away." He said as he scratched the back of his head. Dawn smiled lightly at him, "it's fine."

Ash then remembered how they almost kissed back at the forest. He wondered what kissing Dawn would feel like. But, he didn't want to just kiss her right now. He wouldn't know how she'd react. She'd probably hate him then go back to Sinnoh and he didn't want that. But, he also felt like Dawn was different. That something about her brings out the best in him unlike Serena.

Maybe it's because she's just a close friend? He thought. Maybe I'm just really comfortable with her than any other girl I've traveled with.

He noticed her looking around the city and admiring the people as well as the huge tower which we found out was known as the Tower of Mastery. Ash couldn't help but stare at the way she looked, he felt like he could get lost in those sky blue eyes forever.

"Shalour City is really beautiful, don't you think— Ash? Are you alright?"

Ash didn't realize he had been staring at her for a long time and regained his composure as he chuckled in embarrassment and got up from the bench. "This city is beautiful and I can't wait to get my gym badge tomorrow."

Dawn looked at him confused but then smiled at him, "that's the spirit."

Ash looked over at her then smiled, "don't forget our deal again. You still gotta give me a hint when I beat the gym."

Dawn smirked at him as she got up from the bench and poked his nose, "if you beat the gym."

"I'm definitely going to beat it if you help me train." Ash smiled. Dawn chuckled at him, "of course." She replied as they both made their way back to the Pokémon center to do some training.

So, how'd you guys like this chapter? I know that pearlshipping isn't happening yet but I'm really trying not to rush anything and make this story interesting till the end. So I hope you guys enjoyed :)