May's POV

We were just starting to head back towards the school building when the scream reached our ears.

Three things happened simultaneously. The school bell rang, we jumped in shock and Paul shot forwards before any of us could utter a word.

We looked at each other and sprinted after him. Paul didn't seem to mind the trees and bushes in his way. We tried our best to keep up with him though Drew was ahead of us. Paul suddenly came to a stop and froze in his place. We all stumbled out of the bushes and stopped.

What I saw made my heart run 100 miles per hour. Dawn was there pressed against a tree with her hands above her head held forcibly with another hand. A boy of our age was pressing her against a tree, with his knees between Dawn's legs and the other hand pressed against her mouth. It was a horrible sight.

I recovered quickly and looked at Paul. He seemed to be burning with rage with murder in his eyes. I realized that if we didn't stop Paul then he would probably end up killing the boy.

All my other friends were looking with horror. I pressed a finger against my lips as a signal to keep quiet. We were facing the guy's back so he hadn't seen us yet.

"You guys creep behind Paul and drag him away a bit further from here. He would kill the guy. Don't question, just do as I tell. Everything would be alright." I said.

The guys nodded in agreement. We watched in amusement as to how the three guys struggled to drag Paul away. It was like stopping a raging bull but they finally dragged him away.

Apparently Leaf had understood what I was going to do.

"If you want to click pictures then we should move a bit sideways so the guy's face is visible." Leaf said.

We crept away to the sides and I gasped silently as I saw who the guy was! It was Conway. The guy was quite intelligent with technology. I wouldn't be surprised if he had sent a small drone or something of the type to spy on Dawn and click pictures. That guy was crazy. He was interested in Dawn which was pretty clear and he seemed to creep Dawn out. But to think someone would do this.

I clicked 3 or 4 pictures and after I was satisfied I walked out from my hidden spot with Misty and Leaf following behind.

"You know, you are going to be quite famous by tomorrow. All newspapers will print your name as 'Conway the molester.' " I said coldly.

Conway jumped in shock and turned with a look which was as horrified as Dawn's was filled with relief.

I showed him my clicked pictures and he fell on his knees. Dawn rushed towards us sobbing. Misty hugged her and tried to calm her down. She looked terrified and no one could blame her. At that time the guys showed up.

Paul looked a bit more calm. If he wouldn't have been dragged away then with the beating he would have given to Conway would have resulted in suspension or possibly expulsion.

I quickly explained to the guys what I did. Drew looked at me with so much approval that I blushed a bit.

Dawn ignored us and ran towards Paul and crashed into his chest. Paul hugged her back. We let them be and the guys went towards Conway.

"Now tell us the truth! Everything!" Drew demanded.

Conway confessed that it was him who took the pictures with his almost invisible camera. Ash and Gary dragged him away.

"Dawn, weren't you in your room? When did you even come out?" Leaf asked.

Dawn had noticeably calmed down.

"I-I was a b-bit bored and wanted some fresh air. So after eating I decided to roam around a bit." Dawn explained.

We didn't tell her anything more because she was already quite shaken up. She said that she wanted to take a shower. So she left with Misty and Leaf.

"May, thanks again for controlling me on time. What you did, was the right thing. I wasn't thinking straight. Sorry." Paul said sincerely.

I smiled. "No need to apologize Paul. Besides you looked like a knight in shining armour. Someone's overprotective!" I winked and teased.

Paul blushed a bit and looked away.

"I will be going after the guys to help them." Paul said. His normal expressionless mask back.

I nodded. By that time only Drew and me were left.

"You managed the situation well airhead." Drew complimented.

I rolled my eyes but smiled. I looked towards him to see him holding out a red rose at me with a smile. I looked down at it and blushed.

Just as I was going to take the rose he shook his head and put the rose out of my reach. I frowned but he smirked. He went towards my back and I felt something being pushed into my hair.

I blinked and felt it. Soft velvety petals caressed my finger tips. I blushed as I understood what Drew had done. He had stuck the rose in my hair.

"That's better!" Drew whispered against my ear. I felt his warm breath against my neck. It sent shivers down my spine. Heat creeped upwards to my ear tips. Drew backed away but I couldn't look into his eyes.

I turned towards him and took a step only to stumble upon a rock. I closed my eyes waiting for the impact but instead a pair of hands catched me.

"Cool down airhead. Already falling on me? I didn't know you wanted me so badly!" Drew teased.

That was enough for me. I squeezed my eyes shut. My cheeks were on fire. Drew chuckled.

"I would like to hang out with you alone in a forest but not now May. The teachers would have a lot to say if we don't return." Drew said.

I slowly nodded, still unable to speak. I opened my eyes to see Drew looking away. Was he blushing too? There was an awkward silence.

"W-we should h-head back." I stuttered. I cursed myself for being so clumsy.

Drew nodded. "I don't feel like going back to classes anymore." He said.

I silently agreed with him. While we walked in silence. Several unwanted thoughts entered my mind. What just happened to me a few minutes ago?

Paul's POV

After we explained everything to the principal he excused us from our classes. Apparently Conway was expelled. Serves him right. I began to think about the events.

Dawn's scream replayed over and over again in my head. My heart had nearly stopped when I saw Dawn pressed against that tree. I walked out into the garden and sat on a bench. A strange protective anger had filled me after seeing Dawn like that. The irrational urge to strangle Conway had gripped me. It was strange. I had never felt like this before.

The relief in Dawn's eyes after seeing me approach had made a strange squishy feeling to explode in my stomach. Why did I feel this way? I asked the question in my mind but didn't dare think about the answer. I am pretty sure there were several reasons. I couldn't deny I had a weakness towards Dawn. What's happening to me? All those emotions are gripping me which I never should allow. But what can I even do? Seeing Dawn in danger made me lose my mind. I couldn't think of anything. Today, without thinking anything I had hugged her back to me.

Dawn's fear in her eyes, her smile, her laugh, her giggle, everything made me experience different feelings. Those feelings were foreign to me.

I didn't notice when Drew had come to sit next to me. He smiled at me wryly. I gazed forward seeming to think about nothing in particular.

"Quite a lot happened." Drew said.

I nodded without saying anything.

"Dawn.....is she alright? Must've been hard for her." He continued.

"Misty said Dawn had fallen asleep. Good for her." I said.

"I see." Drew muttered.

I noticed something was off with Drew.

"You okay?" I found myself asking.

"Yeah.....or maybe no. Or maybe both. I am just confused."

I didn't question him further. He looked to be in deep thought. Was it about May? I thought. Is he as confused as I am? Who knows.

These feelings were complicated. I decided to head back. Drew didn't budge so I let him be. I went to our room and took out a book. Books were best. I opened a certain page and tuned out the world around me. Drew had come back after half and hour or so and did some homework. He too opened a book and started reading.

"Paul, when do someone feel nervous?" He suddenly asked.

I blinked and looked up at him. He stared back with no expression.

"You are not okay. Something is surely not right with you." I concluded after ignoring his question.

Drew chuckled. "I am not confused always. Just at certain times. It's not important."

A few minutes passed. "Mom....had sent me a letter asking whether I had seen Brianna and talked to her." Drew said.

I blinked again in shock. I wasn't expecting that.

"I am afraid Paul. I am afraid, as to what is going to come. I am afraid to tell anyone about it, especially May. Something tells me she would be sad about this letter." Drew admitted in a shaky voice.

I let the information sink in. If this is what I am thinking is then....

"It's alright Drew, maybe she is asking about her because Brianna is your family friend." I said.

"I hope you are right." Drew said.

"Guys! We have made dinner!" Leaf's voice called.

We went towards their room. After dinner we didn't talk much. Dawn was unusually quiet.

I wondered if she was still afraid. That night a scream from Dawn's room woke everyone up. "Not again...." I thought.

May already had the door open for us. Well not everyone woke up this time. Gary and Ash weren't there.

We rushed in to see Dawn twisting and turning in her bed and muttering. Tears were pouring out of her eyes. She was having a nightmare. Leaf was calling her but she wasn't waking up. I went towards her bed and shook her.

"Dawn! Dawn, wake up. It's us! Dawn!" I called.

Suddenly her eyes flew open and she jerked upwards in a sitting position holding onto my arms desperately as if I would vanish if she let go. I gritted my teeth and pulled Dawn towards me. She was sobbing again. This wasn't unexpected. She was too much scared. It would take some time for her to be back to normal.

Everyone looked worried. I gestured for Drew to go and rest. He himself wasn't well. He was worried sick. May came and hugged Dawn. I let go of her slowly and stood up. Everything slowly calmed down and I went back to our room.

"It's worse than I thought." I heard Drew say. I silently agreed with him. I had never seen Dawn like that. She was always so cheerful.

Before falling asleep I promised myself one thing.

If anyone ever touched or hurt Dawn again then they would wish they were never born.