Chapter 1

Ting. Ting. Ting.

A teenage girl with long blue hair sleepily opened one eye and looked over the room to find the source of the annoying sound. Apparently just one eye wasn't enough to complete this quest, so the girl lifted her other eyelid reluctantly.

Ting. Ting. Ting.

She finally found what was making the irritating sound that had woken her up. 'Ohh… my phone…'

Ting. Ting. Ting.

The bluenette sat up in her bed and picked up her phone from the nightstand right next to it. Answering the call, she almost immediately regretted it, as a loud scream came from the other end.

"DAAAAAAAAWN!"

After rubbing her ear, Dawn hesitantly spoke to her best friend.

"May, stop screaming! What are you so excited about this early in the morning?!"

"It's your birthday, silly! So, I WISH YOU THE HAPPIEST SEVENTEETH BIRTHDAY! How could I not be excited?! I mean, you have a birthday, it's almost as if I have a birthday, because we are like sisters and, oh, please tell me I am the first one to call you today! What if someone did it before me?! Oh my God, I am a terrible best friend and─"

"Calm down, would you? And don't worry, you are the first one to call me today. But even if you weren't, that doesn't make you any less─"

"Of course I have to be the first to─"

"Okay, okay, got it."

"Even your mom hasn't still said 'Happy birthday!' to you, right?"

"Yeah, she's actually letting me sleep on my birthday, how crazy is that ?!…" – the bluenette responded, sourness visible in her voice, though she was chuckling.

"Anyway, when will I have the honour to see the birthday girl?"

"When classes start."

"But… no shopping before that?" – May's voice was pleading. – "You know, to pick out the most amazing outfit for this special day?"

"Not gonna work, May, you know we are only allowed to wear uniforms at school."

"Hmph…"

"Don't get sad, there's still the party!"

"Ooh, yeah! So what should I wear?"

There was a knock on the door and the head of a woman peeked inside the room and smiled at the sight of her daughter. "Ah, Dawn, you're awake. You better get ready for today, don't want to be late for school on your birthday, right?"

The girl nodded and as her mother made her way back downstairs, she said "I got to go, May. See you at school."

"Bye, Dawn."

Dawn hopped off her bed and headed towards her bathroom, where she washed her face, brushed her teeth and combed her hair. After that she went to her closet and put her ironed uniform on, glancing at the mirror as she did. She liked to express her own style and wear her own clothes at school, but she actually liked her uniform. It consisted a dark blue sleeveless cardigan with the school emblem on it, a white shirt underneath, a skirt with mid-thigh length and dark blue socks, that went up to the knee. Plain, but still well-combined clothes, appropriate for school. Dawn put a pair of Chucks on and went down to the kitchen, where her special birthday breakfast awaited her.

"Thanks, mom!"- the girl chirped as she looked at the freshly-made pancakes in awe.

The blue-haired woman laughed and replied "You're welcome, now hurry up if you don't want to be late for school. Don't forget to thank your friends for the party they're throwing for you, and again I'm sorry that I am busy so I don't have the time to do it myself."

"No need to worry, mom! You do it every year and I know how busy you are right now, so there really isn't a problem!" The bluenette looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. "Well, I better go now. Bye!"

And she took off to school, which wasn't far, so it only took her fifteen minutes walking to get there.

At the schoolyard she was greeted by three of her best friends: a carrot top named Misty, a redhead called Zoey and a brunette, who was jumping up and down in excitement at the sight of her blue-haired friend – that was, of course, May.

"Happy birthday, Dawn!" – The three chirped and it sounded as if they've practiced saying this sentence at the same time to the point their voices were in complete synchrony. Afterward the three trapped Dawn in a bear hug, and there was no getting out of it.

"Guys, thank you so much! Now…air…please!"

The bluenette's friends laughed heartily and let the birthday girl catch her breath.

"Hey, Dawn!" The girl turned around and saw three boys coming her way, wearing big grins as they approached her. Kenny – her friend since kindergarten, who had a not-so-secret crush on Zoey; Drew – a popular kid at school, who had grassy-green hair and just loved to make May angry; and Ash – a boy with messy black hair, who was a little dense, but good-hearted.

"Happy birthday, DeeDee!" – Kenny said and slapped Dawn's back, laughing loudly.

"I told you a million times not to call me that stupid nickname!" – She hissed, slightly pouting.

"So, how are you, birthday girl?" – Drew asked, his eyes then darting to May. "Didn't notice you were here, bandana-head." – He added, smirking as he waited for the hot-headed brunette's outburst.

"Shut up, grass-head!" – She replied, not wanting to explode in fury on her best friend's birthday.

"Whatever, April." – He watched smugly as her face became red with anger at the purposeful mistake of her name, and then once again turned to Dawn. "So, your party is going to be awesome, we took care of it all. You don't have to worry about a thing, 'cause we are the best organisators around and it's gonna be a blast!"

"Yeah, your only job is to show up and have loads of fun, because today is your day!" - Ash added with a wide grin.

"Thank you guys so much for your effort, I promise to have a great time!" – Dawn replied happily. She then took notice of a boy she hadn't seen at school before. He had shoulder-length hair in an odd plum-like purple color and was heading towards the main entrance of the building, his eyes fixed on a schedule paper.

Noticing the boy as well, Misty asked the others "Is that a new student? Why is he transferring in the middle of the school-year?"

Ash followed Misty's gaze and seeing who she was talking about, he frowned a little. "Drew and I saw that guy just before Dawn arrived and seeing he is new here, we offered to show him around. He said he was fine on his own and walked away."

"Why don't we try to make friends with him? He doesn't know anyone here." Kenny suggested.

"Didn't you just hear what I said? He surely doesn't seem as the friendly type."

"He's just moved here, why don't we invite him to Dawn's party and try to befriend him then?" Kenny said again.

"Okay, you don't mind, right Dawn?" Drew asked.

"Of course not. But he doesn't look like the partying type."

"Then it is our job to turn him into a wild party animal!" Ash shouted excitedly, earning eye-rolls and sweat-drops from the gang.

"Shut up, Ash." – Misty sighed and pulled the raven-haired boy by the ear. All laughed and headed towards the school, just in time before the bell rang, announcing the beginning of first period. Dawn had English, so she headed to the cabinet on the second floor and sat at her usual seat in the back. The teacher, Professor Oak, entered the room, the new boy following close behind.

"Class, I would like you to welcome our new student, Paul Shinji, who is now your classmate. Paul, do you want to present yourself to us–"

"No."

"Well, okay then. Go take a seat next to Dawn, she is the blue-haired girl in the back."

Dawn looked up and saw the new student coming her way. She studied his face as he put his things on her desk and sat down on the chair next to her. Then she returned her attention to the teacher, who was now announcing a project they would have to do.

"You will have to work in pairs to present your partner to the class in the most artistic way possible. I don't want your projects based on dry facts only, like date of birth, siblings, etc. I want you to go deeper, really get to know your partner and be creative in your presentation. You've got the complete freedom to do this task in whatever way you find best, and I really expect you to do a great job. You will present your work in two weeks' time. Any questions?"

A girl with pink pigtails called Ursula raised her hand and asked "Are we able to choose our partners?" She was glancing hopefully at Paul and winked at him, but he showed no interest.

"No, I'll be assigning you in pairs." The professor said and a few people groaned in annoyance. "Don't worry, whoever you're assigned with, I'm sure you'd do a great job."

A boy with dark green hair and glasses, who was sitting on the desk in front of Dawn, turned around and said "I hope I'm paired up with you, Dawn, it'd be great to spend some time alone with you." These words were accompanied by a creepy smirk that freaked the bluenette out. Rather than showing fear, which was pretty much what she felt towards the guy, Dawn just gave him a disgusted look.

"Back off, Conway." She replied calmly and scornfully.

He just smirked once again and turned back to the front. Dawn let out a small sigh of relief and shivered slightly, praying that she wouldn't be paired up with Conway.

Professor Oak reached her desk and said "So Miss Berliitz and Mr Shinji, you are assigned to do the project together." The professor went to pair up other students, meanwhile there were a few students, female ones, who were glaring at Dawn. She just ignored them and looked out of the window deep in thoughts.

So, she'd have to work with the new guy. It was quite a disadvantage, as all the others already knew each other, but Dawn never turned down a challenge and this project was no exception.

'He doesn't seem friendly.' He hadn't moved a muscle at the announcement of his partner. 'Oh, well, he'd have to cooperate if he doesn't want to fail the task.'

A little ball of scrumbled paper hit Dawn on the head and got her out of her trance. She watched it curiously and then saw the signs Ursula was giving her. It was for Paul. Dawn sighed as she picked up the paper and put it on the boy's notebook. He looked at it and then at her with a questioning look on his face. In answer she only shook her head and pointed to Ursula, who was looking at the plum-haired boy and batting her eye-lashes sweetly. He looked her way indifferently and then unfolded the piece of paper. As he read the note, his gaze travelled to the pink-haired girl, then to Dawn and then back to the paper where he wrote something as an answer to Ursula.

Dawn was curios what the chat was about, so she took a look at the note, frowning at the words written there.

'Poor you, having to work with that piece of crap. Too bad you weren't paired up with me, handsome.'

Dawn rolled her eyes, unimpressed with Ursula's words. It was only natural for the drama queen to start flirting with the new guy, who (as the bluenette reluctantly admitted to herself) was indeed good-looking. Insulting her wasn't something out of the ordinary as well. Dawn was used to the mockery she got from Ursula and her group of chosen friends and didn't pay it any attention.

What caught Dawn's eye was Paul's reply, which was consisted of two words only.

'Get lost.'

'The queen isn't going to let that just pass by. She will make him pay.' The bluenette thought. He didn't look afraid, not even interested, although he surely knew that Ursula was the popular drama queen, who ruled the whole school. Dawn watched as he tossed the paper back to the pigtailed girl. She unfolded it and when she read the short reply, anger was written all over her face. "You'll pay for that!" she hissed, but he looked as though he hadn't even heard her.

Professor Oak dismissed the class, Dawn collected her stuff and went to her locker to put it away. When she was finished preparing her books for her next class, she saw Paul standing next to her, as if waiting.

"Um…" She wasn't certain what to say. "Can I help you?"

"What days do you want to work on the project?"

'Oh, right.'

"How about Monday and Friday after school?" She replied.

"That's fine with me. We'll work in my house. Today after school I'll wait for you at the entrance."

"Okay." She said and he turned to leave, but she suddenly remembered something and called after him. "I can't today."

He turned around and gave her an annoyed look. "Today is Friday, isn't it?" He said with a cold voice.

"Yes, it is, but today is my birthday and my friends are throwing me a party." The bluenette answered, not at all bothered by the coldness in her partner's voice. "Monday then?" She asked.

He nodded and walked away.

The rest of the classes this day were really boring in Dawn's opinion. She kept dozing off, her thoughts travelling to the upcoming party for her. She didn't pay any attention to the lessons and wished that school would end sooner.

Finally, last period was over and the blunette went out of the school building, feeling happy and free. It was Friday, which meant no school for two more days and there was a party thrown for her later in the evening. It was truly a blessed day.

Dawn spotted her Kenny, May and Drew in the yard and she hopped over to them.

"Hey, Dawn! We just invited the new kid over to the party." Drew announced. "Don't know if he'll come though."

"He is cute, don't you think?" May asked, giggling. Drew looked at her confused and a little angry, but didn't say a thing. Without waiting for an answer May continued. "So, what will you wear to the party?"

Dawn opened her mouth to answer, but was cut off by May, who didn't stop talking. "Okay, see you tonight at seven o'clock, Drew's place! We have to go to finish with the preparations!" The brunette was already a few metres away as she continued walking after Kenny and Drew. "You don't worry about a thing, okay, Dawn? Okay, see you later, bye!" She was already out of the bluenette's hearing range.

Dawn just shook her head at her best friend and went home to get prepared for the party.

Dawn gasped as she entered Drew's mansion, where her birthday party was taking place. Her friends had really done a great job and she couldn't be more grateful. The decorations were done with a lot of attention and she felt flattered as she saw all the banners that said with big beautiful letters "HAPPY SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY, DAWN!"

"There she is!" May squealed as she hugged her friend and gave her a big smile. "You look amazing!"

"Thank you, you're look gorgeous yourself!" Dawn remarked, flashing a smile towards her brunette friend, who was dressed in a knee-length red dress with thin straps. The blunette was wearing a strapless midnight blue dress which reached to her mid-thigh. As always she was wearing the diamond 'D' necklace that was a gift from her dad for her fifth birthday.

"So, where are the others?" She asked, looking around the crowd (yes, there was a crowd, all people from their year were invited), trying to spot the rest of her best friends.

"They are upstairs taking care of the cake. They should be back any minute. Anyway, lets dance! Woo!" May called and grabbed her friend's hands, leading her to that area of Drew's living room that has been made into a dancing.

The girls laughed and swirled around together at the beat of the music, which was turned up to the maximum. Suddenly the music stopped and everyone could hear Misty's voice coming from the top of the staircase. She was holding a microphone and wearing a wide smile as she yelled "Hey, you, birthday girl, come here to get the first slice of your very special birthday cake!"

Dawn laughed as she and May joined the rest of the gang on the second floor where a huge chocolate cake was standing on a trolley. Just looking at it made Dawn drool.

"Wow." She couldn't say anything else for half a minute and then, when she finally could take her eyes off the majestic cake, she hugged all of them: Misty, May, Zoey, Ash, Drew and Kenny – her best friends.

"Guys, you really have outdone yourselves. Thank you so much." She said with a truly happy smile, looking at each of them with great emotion in her eyes.

"Now, lets partyyyy!" They yelled and got in the crowd, ready to have some fun.

"It's a good thing we don't have school tomorrow, so we can stay up late!" May said as she and Dawn made it to the refreshments table. "Ooh, and the sleepover party we have afterwards! It's gonna be soo much fun!" The brunette squealed in excitement.

During their little chat (maybe 'monologue' is a better word to describe it) a boy with dark green hair had quietly approached the two girls. He coughed and they both jumped, looking around alarmed.

Conway chuckled. He then offered his hand to the bluenette. "May I have this dance?"

Dawn looked at him uncertainly. She didn't want to dance with him, but she didn't want to be rude either.

"Oh, um…I-I…"
Fortunately another boy joined in and said with a playful smile. "Dawn, you promised me the first birthday dance, remember?"

Before she could say another word, he pulled her in the crowd, away from Conway and May.

"Thank you."

Lucas laughed and said "No big deal, I saw you didn't want to dance with him, so I decided to get you out of the situation." After a few moments he added "You know, Conway seems like the know-it-all nerd, but he's actually really creepy."

"I noticed the creepy part." Dawn chuckled.

"So, wanna dance?" The boy asked, smiling kindly to the bluenette.

"Sure." She answered and took his hand, her eyes shining in amusement.

"You should go."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I'm not in the mood for a party."

"Have you ever been in the mood for a party?"

Paul just shrugged and sat on the couch.

But Reggie wasn't about to give up. "Come on, it'll be fun, plus you can make some new friends. They invited you to a party on your first day at school, without actually knowing you. That's super friendly of them!"

No answer.

"Paul, before we moved here, you promised me to make friends."

"I don't want friends and I never promised you anything."

"Let's make a deal then. You go to that party, in the next few weeks make one friend. If you do just that I won't bother you." After a few moments Reggie added with a smirk. "As much."

Knowing this was the only way to get his brother off his back, Paul argued no more and decided to go to the party.

'Just how rich is this green-haired kid?!' Paul thought as he entered the huge Hayden mansion. (Hayden was Drew's surname.) 'What was the party for anyway?' Then he saw the posters hanging from the walls, remembering the blue-haired girl's words from earlier that day.

He saw the exact same girl go to the top of the staircase and hug her friends. The same ones, whose help he'd rejected that morning. They must have been the organisators of the party.

Paul sighed and leaned back on a wall, preparing himself for a boring night. Unfortunately for him three girls had noticed him and were coming his way.

"Hey there, cutie. Don't be afraid, I forgave you for that note." Paul looked at Ursula and wondered if his annoyed face really looked like a scared one to her. "It was obvious Blueberry-head over there made you write it, so it doesn't matter anyway."

Ignoring her words, he walked away, finding another spot to stay till the rest of the party. From there he perfectly saw that green-haired moron from English class to talk to the bluenette and her lucky getaway from him.

After staying there for a little while longer, Paul decided it was enough and left.

'Hope you're happy, Reggie.'