The New Life

Chapter Nineteen

19 VA Fanfic TNB Sequel_Chapter Nineteen

Chad's POV

Dawn hadn't spoken for the past hour. After the session, everyone gathered around, sharing more stories and getting to know each other better. Dawn disappeared into her room after awhile.

I caught her eye before she closed the door though, and caught the silent command to follow her. Awkwardly, I stood up and headed to the closed door.

"Good luck." I heard Macon say. Turning around, I saw the guys staring at me.

I nodded my head in thanks to Macon and twisted the knob, entering the room. Dawn was flipping through the pages of the Rassvet book, ignoring the fact that I just entered. I stood by the door, waiting for something, anything from her.

Nothing.

She continued flipping and studying the book, not giving me even a look.

Finally, after a couple more minutes, she put the book down.

"Why?" She asked softly, her eyes stayed down, looking at the book.

I didn't answer.

"Why didn't you tell me? Write to me? Come find me? You knew that I still go to the log." She asked once again, this time, looking up at me. I saw the unshed tears, making her eyes shine as it caught the light.

"I'm sorry." I replied.

She stayed silent. I took that as a cue to continue my explanation.

"I didn't know how to face you. Like I've said just now, you are a different Dawn. You are popular, kind, beautiful and everyone wants to be your friend. I am just someone that came back from a private academy. I thought you will be mad at me for leaving without telling you- so I just... Chickened out." I said. It was shit defense on my part, but I know Dawn deserved the truth.

"I would've never judged you." Dawn retorted.

"I know."

The silence fell between us once more.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you, I swear. All the more after I became your Royal Guardian. I never wanted to hurt you." I apologized.

"I thought you were ashamed of me. I thought someone found out we were friends and you stopped coming around because you were being teased. I only realized I was wrong when the novices' attitudes towards me changed and you still didn't appear. Then I thought, maybe you transferred. I was mad for awhile, because you didn't even bother telling me if you had really transferred. Then that paper plane with the chocolate came. I don't know what to think anymore." She said, looking down at her hands.

Her voice was soft, almost as if she had given up. As if she's tired. As if the world had thrown everything on her and she had tried to carry everything. As if... As if she was the Dawn that nobody wanted to be friends with before.

"I'm here now. And I won't leave." I told her, slowly walking over to where she was sitting on the bed. She didn't reply. I knelt down by her side.

"At least- not yet." I added.

She cracked a smile at that. Still, she didn't speak but continued staring at her hands.

When she looked up, the tears fell. She allowed me to wipe it gently from her cheeks.

"Am I allowed to punch you?" She asked, so sincerely that I nearly missed the mischief within.

I grinned, knowing I was forgiven.

"Anytime you wish to."

****

The talk still wasn't arranged. I was surprised, I had assumed that the Guardians are anxious for the talk to happen and meet Dawn. According to the schedule given to Dawn, we didn't even have to attend the classes with the novices.