The Only Exception

39.

Sorry for the late update. I've been going through a lot of things lately that I just needed to get away from everything for awhile. I promise you guys that I will finish this story (I know I keep saying that but it's the truth) 

Anyways, hope you guys enjoy and thanks so much for being patient with me. 

"I love you too, Ash." Was what he heard when she comforted him. He wasn't hearing things, he wasn't dreaming, no, this was real. He pulled away from her trying to hide the blush that appeared on his face. 

She gave him a small smile. "Feel better now?" 

He chuckled as he smiled back at her, "I do. Thanks, Dawn." 

"I'm glad." She said as she got up from the couch to go to her room. Before she could walk away, Ash had grabbed her hand causing her to look back at the raven haired boy.

"Dawn, um... Did... did you mean what you said earlier?"

"About?" She asked, confused by his question.

"That you love me too?" He asked.

 She blinked at him surprised and turned away to hide the blush that started to paint her face. "Uh... I... y-yes, I did. You're one of my best friends so of course I love you."

He felt his heart drop at that. Was that really all he was to her? A best friend? Could she ever see them as something more? He hoped she could. Maybe someday she would. But as of now, Ash was just a friend to her. He got up from the lounge chair as he smiled at her and pulled her into another hug. "Thank you, Dawn." 

Dawn smiled at him as she returned his hug, "you're welcome, Ash." 

And with that, both trainer separated and left to their rooms. Dawn went into her room to see Piplup sleeping on the bed as she sat on the edge and looked out the window. She thought about earlier. About how Ash broke down in front of her. How Ash showed her a side of him he didn't show anyone else. Seeing him like that broke her. 

She then got up from the bed knowing what she has to do as she left the room. 

***

Ash walked around Lumiose City looking at the vendors and people as they chatted around him. He then looked up to see Bonnie running up to him with an anxious look on her face. 

"Ash!!" She shouted.

"Bonnie, what's up?" -

"It's Clemont! He said he's ready to have a battle with you now if you're ready!" She smiled excitedly.

"Really?" Ash thought about it for a second. After today, he didn't think he was up for having a gym battle right now. He barely had any training done and he really wasn't feeling up to it. He looked over at Bonnie and gave her a light smile. "Sorry, but, could you tell Clemont if we could battle tomorrow? I'm not... feeling myself." 

Bonnie looked at him concerned. She knew something had happened between Serena and Ash but never bothered to ask about it. She knew only Dawn would be able to understand how Ash felt. "It's no problem, Ash. Just battle when you're ready!! You gotta give Clemont your best after all." She smiled.

"Thanks, Bonnie. I'll see you later." He smiled.

The little girl nodded at him as she made her way back to the Prism tower to meet with her brother. 

Ash smiled as he continued to walk around Lumiose City. 

***

Serena sat down in her and Ash's room and looked at herself in the mirror trying to brush out her hair. She thought of ways on how to style it but didn't know what she could do with short hair. Instead she dropped her brush and just stared at herself in the mirror with frustration. 

She heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." She said, not bothering to turn around. She looked in the mirror and saw the door open only to see Dawn come inside. She rolled her eyes and she took her brush in her hand again and began brushing her hair. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you about Ash."

She scoffed, "he's perfectly happy with me."

"Is he really?" Dawn asked causing Serena to flinch. "Thought so." Dawn said as she walked towards Serena and stood behind her. She sighed as she looked at Serena in the mirror. "Look, I didn't come here to argue. I know about the deal you guys made."

Serena's eyes widened at that but she still remained calm. 

"And you should know that what you're doing... what you're trying to fix... it isn't going to work. You're just going to hurt yourself and Ash in the end." Dawn continued.

Serena felt her blood boil in anger. Oh how she wanted to turn around and yell at the bluenette for assuming it wouldn't even work between them. She knew nothing about her so what gave her the right?

"Ash is hurt by all this. He loves you Serena, but not in the way you want him to. I just want you to consider how Ash feels too and how this is affecting him." 

Serena snapped. She got up from her chair and turned to face Dawn, tears streaming down on her face. "What do you know!?!?" She shouted. "I did consider how he feels! He may not like me now but maybe after a month, he will!!!"

Dawn furrowed her eyebrows at the girl, "Serena... feelings just don't change that quickly-"

"You wouldn't know anything!!! You're only doing this for yourself just so you can get together with Ash!"

"I never-" Dawn looked at the girl in shock.

"Yeah, right!! We both know once Ash and I are over, you'll go in and make your move and have him all to yourself!" Serena shouted some more.

Dawn has had enough. "If you think that I'm that selfish to even go after Ash after he breaks up with you, then you're wrong! Ash is... Ash is someone I care about! He deserves to be happy even if it's not with me. Whether he's with some other girl, I just want him to be happy!" She shouted. 

"So you really do love him..." Serena said - a dull expression on her face.

Dawn stayed silent. She didn't even know what to say anymore. 

Serena looked at the girl, "don't even bother, Dawn. He'll never love you. So how about doing yourself a favor and just go back to your dumb little contests."

Dawn clenched her fists angrily. She glared at Serena as she turned around to walk out the door. She was not going to deal with her anymore. 

That's right. Walk out like the coward you are. Serena thought to herself.

As if the bluenette read her mind, she turned around to shoot a glare at the girl. "Just because I'm walking away from you, doesn't necessarily make me a coward. It just means I'm done trying to help you when you won't even listen." And with that, the bluenette left - shutting the door behind her leaving an appalled Serena alone in her room.