Incredibly short and long over-due, but I had to write something to get my inspiration for this story going. I hope not everybody has given up on this story, even though it seemed like I had at one time. ._."
Anyway, I don't own Pokémon.

Chapter 15

"Do we really have to wear costumes?" Dawn groaned as she dragged her feet across the store after Leaf, who jumped excitedly at every piece of clothing they passed by.

"Of course! It's Halloween, isn't it? Why wouldn't you want to wear a costume?"

Dawn yawned and shrugged dejectedly. "It's silly. I'd rather stay in the dorm and sleep."

Leaf stopped in her tracks and turned around to face her. "You can't be serious. It's Halloween, for crying out loud! Costumes and candy! The two big C's! How could you not be excited?"

"I like Halloween, mind you. I'm just not… that enthused about it this year. I dunno, it seems like an extra effort my life could easily go without."

Leaf's expression got worried. "Dawn, you… you haven't really felt excited about a lot lately. It's like I'm looking at the same person, but it's not really her on the inside. You're not as cheerful as you used to be. Kinda disinterested in what's around you. What's going on?"

Dawn didn't answer. The brunette tilted her head in concern. "You can talk to me, Dawn. What's wrong?"

So much, Leaf. There's so much I wish to get off my chest and share with you, but how can I when I can't even put it in words? When I don't even know what it is?

That genuine concern in her friend's eyes, that apparent desire to help her no matter what the reason or the cost… It all made the pain in Dawn's chest heavier, all the more unbearable, knowing that while she was such a mess on the inside, there was no one who could get her out of that slump but herself.

Worrying the people that cared about her was no way to repay them for their concern; she had to be strong, she had to be okay, even if only on the outside.

It was with that resolve in mind that Dawn let a smile, albeit a sad one, bloom on her face and humbly shake her head.

"Nothing… Nothing's wrong at all." Leaf, I owe you so much more. How do I get you to not look at me like that? "Look, I… I know I haven't been completely myself lately and I'm really sorry, but I… I honestly don't know what's happening." She cast her eyes downwards. "I really want to be as cheerful and happy as before and I'm trying. I-I really am."

Leaf's gaze turned sympathetic. "I know, I can see it. I'll do my best to help you." Don't you see, Leaf? You can't help me.

But she was her friend and Dawn knew that she would. Even if it was impossible, friends don't give up on friends.

She wished she'd remembered that.

"So!" Leaf clasped her hands together and let a wide grin overcome her face. "Come on! Will you help me pick out the scariest costume ever? Yes, you will, because you, Dawn Berlitz, are my plastic. Let's go!"

Dawn's brain automatically started manufacturing excuses to mask her one and sole desire to get back to the dorm and sleep well until after graduation, but she stopped herself before any of them could get out.

"Sure, Leaf. I am your plastic." And I am going to live up to be the friend that you deserve.

"Well, duh. Now listen, my hopes are invested in a lot of candy this year, so it has to be flawless!"

Dawn smiled. "Of course. And flawless it will be with my consultation, just as long as you don't make me try on any costumes."

Leaf contemplated for a second before shaking her friend's hand in a mock-formal manner. "You have a deal, my man. Now, scurry off!"

Paul traced the faded gray lines on the crumbled sheet of paper absent-mindedly. The pencil work was smudged at places, but it still remained one of the finest sketches he had laid his eyes upon.

That evaluation had nothing to do with the creator of the drawing, of course. He just particularly liked the angle from which his beloved Torterra had been captured.

It was a pure wonder he still had it after all that time. Paul Shinji wasn't exactly someone you'd call sentimental and normally, he was the complete opposite. Keeping only the things that were of complete necessity by his side and nothing more.

And yet there he was, staring pensively at a drawing he didn't draw, which had unintentionally gotten left behind at his house what seemed like ages ago.

He didn't remember what class the project had been for, or the teacher, or even the classmates he had been presenting it to. But he remembered this, he remembered her, sprawled on the carpet in his plain bedroom back home, with concentration and life in her eyes as she worked on getting the shape right, while he was working on his part of the presentation, stealing glances at her every now and then.

It seemed like a whole lifetime ago, yet the memory was so vibrant. Nothing special about it, but it was embedded in his mind vividly, holding all the significance in the world. Because it had been a moment from the very beginning of their acquaintanceship, and a beginning in itself to something else entirely.

So much had happened since then, but his feelings hadn't changed, only grown. He didn't know if that hollow feeling inside of him was worse now that there had been something else before it, or if the sheer fact that anything warm had ever bloomed in him had been all worth it in itself.

The wrinkled piece of paper slid between his fingers and fell to the ground soundlessly.

He didn't know, but he was glad he had kept it.

"Well?"

"I found a nice black tutu that you could combine with something. Any luck with you?"

"Actually, I found an awesome costume, but it'd be perfect for you, not me."

"Leaf, I told you, I am not dressing-"

"At least come see it! It's so cute!" Leaf squealed like a four year old and grabbed her friend by the arm, completely tuning out her protests.

She dragged her around the rows for half a minute and then stopped in front of a costume with a triumphant look on her face. "Ta-da!"

Dawn's jaw dropped as she took a look at the costume and realized what it was supposed to be. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Dawn, Dawn, Dawn! Please try it on, please, please, please!" Leaf jumped up and down in excitement. "Please, just try it on! There's no harm in doing that, now, is there?"

Dawn gave her a sardonic look. "We both know how this is going to end if I try it on."

Leaf gave her the most angelic smile she could muster and batted her eyelashes innocently. "Dawn, I promise I won't make you buy it if you don't want to."

The other girl rolled her eyes. "Then what's the point in trying it on?"

"It's hilarious! Come on, you've got to admit it's a pretty awesome costume! And I want to see you with it, because you won't dress up at the party anyways!" Leaf gave her the puppy dog eyes. "Pretty please?"

Dawn rolled her eyes, already knowing how the whole charade was going to end. She took the costume with an over-exaggerated sigh and walked off to the dressing room, grumbling under her breath crossly.

Leaf grinned from ear to ear. People were so easy to control.

It was only when he opened his eyes from his unexpected afternoon nap that he realized it was Halloween.

Just an ordinary day, that he had once, as a little foolish brat, gotten hyperactive fits over, just like any kid, excited about the prospect of unlimited quantities of candy. It wasn't anything more than a mere date with no significance now, but he didn't necessarily feel sad or nostalgic about the long-lost enthusiasm around the supposed holiday.

Nothing different about the day, aside from the text from Jade that he had woken up to, telling him to meet her in a bit, but that wasn't something you would exactly call special.

Yet, he was spending the day quite unusually - lazily even, leaving his chores and training in the background for once.

It wasn't like Paul to lie around doing nothing on a free day, when he could be using the time for something productive, but his idleness didn't bother him as much as it normally would. He didn't know if there was something different in the air of his empty dorm room, but even if there was, he just couldn't bring himself to care.

Everyone deserved to take a break for a day, right?

The work that he had to get done was easy to ignore. His thoughts, on the other hand? Not so much.

And where did he find his thoughts wandering off to lately? To the most bothersome and perplexing person of all time who threatened to kill him with her frighteningly overwhelming relevance.

Being in such close proximity to her all the time in the Academy was confusing, to say the least, and he was a person for whom confusing simply didn't do. But he was intelligent enough to recognize the picture that was forming, and he wasn't sure whether he liked it or not.

Because for as ignorant as he was, he couldn't deny something as obvious to himself anymore. And he wasn't sure if he could hide it from her much longer either.

No matter what a coward one might be, there were certain things that you just had to gather enough courage to do or say. And for as big a coward he was, he would need all the courage in the world.

Maybe it was the time of the year when everyone dressed up and pretended to be someone else that he needed to let go of his own mask.

"Ah, I'm so glad we managed to put something together for a costume!" Leaf sighed contently as she practically skipped on the road across campus. "That tutu really was a gold mine!"

Dawn grumbled something incoherent. The brunette turned towards her with a brilliant smile. "And what about your costume, Dawn, dear?"

She glared and muttered a 'shut up' as they reached their dorm building. She was gloomily walking after Leaf with a bag of her own in her hands, where her newly bought Halloween costume resided. She glared at the bag, as if it was its fault it was there and for the n-th time since they had left the mall she asked herself how the hell she had ended up buying it.

Leaf's smile bordered on psychotic as she turned around to face Dawn. "You're welcome!"

Dear Arceus, I'm friends with the devil.

"Dawn." The girl blinked and turned around as she and Leaf stopped to see who had called out her name.

"Jade?" Leaf asked incredulously as the smile on her face was immediately replaced by a look that could only be described as a mother eagle's fierce protectiveness over her little one.

The taller girl regarded the brunette with a brief look. "Leafy. Sorry, I didn't see you there." She focused her piercing green gaze on Dawn once more. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Uhh… Yeah, okay." Wow, such confidence, Berlitz. Way to go.

"That's great, but is there a chance that your watchdog will give us a minute?" Jade asked, narrowing her eyes at Leaf, who had crossed her arms over her chest and seemed to have no intentions of moving.

Dawn waved her off. "It's alright, Leaf. I'll be up in a minute."

The brunette huffed indignantly, but left the two of them alone nevertheless.

Dawn turned towards Jade expectantly, trying to conceal her nervousness. "Well?"

She gave her a practiced, flawless smile, but her eyes shone with determination. "I want to talk about Paul."

"Oh." Dawn didn't know what to say, so decided to just wait for the other girl to clarify.

"You seem like a smart girl, so I am going to be straightforward with you." Jade smiled again and Dawn felt her stomach churn with jealousy at the beauty and perfection that she resembled. "I am interested in Paul, if you could call it that. And I wanted to check in with you before I make any advances."

She paused and Dawn knew the silence was her cue to answer, but her throat had suddenly gone dry, just as much as her brain had become blank. "I, erm… and why exactly would you need to check in with me?"

"Oh, well, you know." Jade laughed and waved her hand graciously. "Because of this whole history you guys have."

Confusion painted itself across Dawn's face. "History? What do you mean?"

"No need to play dumb with me, Dawn. I know."

"You know what?" Dawn seriously had no idea what Jade was talking about, but the way the other girl was behaving was beginning to puzzle her for real.

"Well, about you and Paul, of course. He told me about all that happened between you two before you came to the Academy. He was reluctant at first, obviously, but then he understood he could trust me. But anyway, his personal revelations aren't what I'm here to discuss with you."

Paul had confided in Jade and shared his past involving Dawn with her? She felt as if someone had just squeezed out all her insides. "Then what are you here to discuss?" She was shocked to hear how even her voice came out, when on the inside she was anything but composed.

"I only thought it would be indecent of me to interfere in something that I'm clearly not a part of without your consultation. You're probably wondering why I'd need it, but the thing is that this whole thing seems to hold so much bitterness and I was afraid that if I came in the middle of it all, it might all turn on me. And that would be the last thing I want, especially from you. I doubt we'll become very close, but I still don't want to cross you by stepping on your toes in any way."

Dawn blinked once. Then twice. "I'm sorry, I didn't get what you're asking of me."

"I just want to make sure that there isn't anything going on between you and Paul. Because if there is, the last thing I want to do is stand in the way." Jade was looking at her expectantly.

"I, uhh…" Dawn fiddled with the hem of her shirt before steadying her hands in firm fists by her sides. "No. There isn't anything going on between us. There's no need for you to worry."

Jade smiled at her brilliantly. "That's all I needed to hear. Thank you, Dawn."

The girl just nodded briefly and picked up the plastic bag with her costume. "I'll, um… go to my dorm now. Leaf needs my help with her, err… make-up."

"Of course. I'm glad we had this chat, Dawn. I expect to see you at the Halloween party tonight?"

She just nodded again and hurried to go inside the dorm building with nothing more of a goodbye than the feeble wave of a person, who's on the verge of breaking down in sobs. She didn't, though. She just inhaled and exhaled and climbed up the stairs and ignored the fact that her heart had sunk to her heels as if she had swallowed an ice cube the size of a boulder.

And she paid no attention to the hollow feeling in her chest, to the burning jealousy, which was the only thing keeping her warm. She just carried on with a steady pace, upwards on the staircase, while her sanity had been left outside, on the nicely paved road in front of the building.

And when she saw Paul closing the door of his dorm behind him and heading down the hallway straight towards her, she didn't feel the pang in her heart that she usually felt whenever he was near. Because her heart was rolling in the dust somewhere near her sanity as well. Because she knew that whatever hidden feelings she had been denying to herself didn't matter anymore. They never had. She never stood a chance.

And she walked right past him, her gaze passing through him as if he wasn't there, as if he was empty space, just like the one inside of her. And there was nothing, she was numb and not really with herself at that moment, but somewhere above, hovering as a side observer to that insignificant moment that seemed to last a lifetime.

And she kept her eyes forward, her shoulders square and her face stony.

And she kept walking, because in that moment, it was the only thing she knew how to do.

He wasn't scared.

He was terrified.

And not of the thing he had finally made the resolve to do, but of what he had seen in that brief encounter, if you could even call it that.

He didn't know what had happened to the flame in her eyes that he had (and he admitted it to himself now) so desperately fallen in love with, but in the moment he saw that empty look in its place, he knew that a little more of its absence might just be enough to kill him.

She could hate him with a burning passion and he'd gladly choose that hatred over this ice-cold indifference, over this devoid of emotion once enchanting gaze. Emotion and passion were the things about her that had made her so dangerous to him, that had broken down his walls and stripped him of his defenses in the first place, that had made him hurt, yes, but feel as well.

They were the tools with which she painted the gray world around her and made it colorful to match her soul. They were what had brought warmth to his long-lost heart, what had made him see that it wasn't all black and white.

And he desperately wanted to see the passion and emotion in her again.

He'd have to bring back the color in her that had saved him. And for the first time ever, it felt like something he'd be able to do.