Two days later, Dawn once again found herself on of Paul's doorstep.

"Hey, Paul, since you—"

"Leave," he ordered. Dawn was indignant.

"You're so rude," she said, pouting well-directed.

"I'm serious," he said, ignoring it.

"Well, I'm sorry," she then said and, to her credit, she sounded it.

His eyes squinted, hardly noticeably, and darkened. "Don't be," he ordered again, turned on his heel and went away. Without closing the door behind him.

"He's really matured within the last year," Reggie told her, when he let her in, and smiled, predictably, but. It was a bitter one.

The door closed. "You, too, Dawn."

"Paul," she called and knocked. "Paul!" She knocked again, this time more fiercely. "Oh, Paul, come on!"

"Go away," he proposed.

Then she released Mamoswine out of his pokéball and commanded him to ram the door open. He destroyed the whole wall.

Behind the ruins of his room, Paul was crouched down into a small huddle. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU LITTLE BITCH?" he hollered, as Dawn called back Mamoswine, looking only slightly sheepish.

"If I'm the bitch," she growled. "Then what are you? You—you stupid jackass excuse of a man!"

Paul did what he did best: he glared.

"I hope you get eaten by a flygon—mmmppff!"

He was kissing her. This was unexpected.

After about five seconds he let go, looking utterly mortified with himself. Dawn stared. Not in awe, because, truth be told, it hadn't been all that great—just two mouths violently pressed together—but in plain astonishment.

"Seriously," he mumbled and kicked the remnants of what used to be a doorknob. "Just shut up, will you."

"I," Dawn panted, although she didn't know why. She didn't know much of anything these days. "I haven't said anything."

"Be quiet." And she smiled.

FIN.

Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me till the end. You guys rock my nonexistent socks.