Chapter 45: On Accident 

If I looked frustrated, it was nothing like what Dawn looked as she rose slowly, yet gracefully, from our bench. I recognized the fire in her eyes and was glad I wasn't on the receiving end for once. "Zoey, what are you doing here?" 

"Kenny told me about your meeting the other day," Zoey explained. "It seems like it may be Paul's fault you broke your wrist. Is that true?" 

"I was running and fell. It's no one's fault but mine." Dawn clenched her working fist. 

"Did Paul tell you to say that?" Zoey asked with pity in her voice. 

"Wow, Zoey. You really have entered the world of insanity if you're blaming Paul for anything that happens to me." Dawn shook her head in disbelief. 

I stood up. "Zoey, if you have a problem with me why don't you just say it to my face instead of pretending I'm not here? Kenny enjoys doing that too. I see you're very alike." My eyes narrowed in distaste. 

"Kenny doesn't hit people, especially girls," Zoey retorted. 

"Kenny's also doesn't tell the truth. Not to mention he teases Dawn, which she dislikes. She's said so herself, and considering I listen to her, unlike you, maybe you'd realize that Kenny's pathetic whining isn't worth anybody's time, including yours." 

"I'm not interested in Kenny. I'm interested in Dawn's future." Zoey glared at me. 

"It's her future, not yours. She obviously doesn't like what you're doing for her and though she's told you that, you still won't stop." 

"Oh! So you were listening to our phone call. I bet you're the one who told Dawn to hang up on me." 

I rolled my eyes. "Dawn, tell her how you feel because your friend won't listen to me." 

"Zoey," Dawn began in a pleading voice. "You know I hate Kenny. He's horrible. I'm perfectly capable of choosing who I travel with." 

"But Paul-" 

"Paul is none of your business," Dawn said firmly. "I'm free to do whatever I want and if you can't accept that, we can't be friends anymore." 

"You're saying I traveled all day to get here and you won't even listen to me?" Zoey raised an eyebrow. 

"You're the one who hasn't been listening to me," Dawn stated calmly. "Are we friends or not?" 

Zoey looked from Dawn to me, back and forth. "If you're hanging out with him, then I can't be your friend." 

I saw Dawn tense, though she didn't say anything for a minute. "Bye, then." 

"Bye." Zoey stormed away and Dawn, dazed, walked into the Pokemon Center to our room. I followed her until she sat down on her bed and stared at the floor. 

"I can't believe that just happened," Dawn whispered. "She was one of my best friends." 

"I hate to point this out, but if she would try and manipulate you like that, she was never your friend." I sat down next to her, feeling helpless yet again, disliking the feeling immensely. How could I comfort her? 

"I don't think we've met one person who actually does approve of me traveling around with you." Dawn sniffed. 

Who cares? I almost asked. I never cared what anyone else thought. That is, until Dawn. 

Trying to think of something that would cheer her up, I asked, "Have you told Ash yet?" 

"No." 

I shrugged. "Maybe he'd be ok with it. You said he was never interested in you. Besides, he seemed to want to be friends with me despite how much I shunted him aside. He doesn't give up, that one. I actually have to admit he's not as horrifying as I let on." 

"Would you call him for me and ask what he thinks about it?" Dawn's eyes were teary. "I'd feel better if someone was on my side." 

"Arceus." I groaned. "Dawn, I sometimes feel like you ask the world of me." 

"So you won't do it?" The disappointment was obvious in her voice. 

"I didn't say I wouldn't do it. Honestly, I never feel like I can say no to you," I admitted.  

"Why?" 

"Because..." I reached for another answer I didn't have. "Because I can't pass up the opportunity to make you happy no matter how stupid I'm going to feel in the process." 

She was about to ask another question, but I sighed and said, "Just give me your Pokegear." 

Dawn handed her Pokegear to me with a bit of hesitation and I scrolled to Ash's name and pressed "call". It rang about five times before he answered, "Hey, Dawn! How's it going?" 

"Hi," I said roughly, some sort of sense of impending doom settling inside of me. Dawn had stopped crying and was watching me excitedly. 

"...Paul? What are you doing with Dawn's Pokegear?" 

"I didn't steal it, if that's what you're implying." I tried to hold back my irritation and looked at Dawn. Staring at her made it a bit easier to use a normal tone. "I'm with Dawn right now in Hoenn." 

"Really?" He sounded intrigued. "I thought you already went to Hoenn?" 

"I wanted a Bagon." 

"Cool! Did you catch one?" 

"Yeah." 

"Cool!" 

I was growing very tired of this repetitive conversation. "Ash, I need to ask you something." 

"Ok." 

"If I told you that Dawn and I have been traveling around for the past couple months, what would you say?" 

"Wow, I never would have guessed that. Good for you? But, I mean, hasn't she gotten on your nerves? You're not exactly... patient." 

I smirked. "We've had a couple of rough patches along the way." 

"You didn't kill her, did you?" 

"No." I let out an exasperated noise. Dawn began laughing. 

"Hey, is that Dawn? Can I talk to her? It'd be nice to know she actually is still alive." 

I held the Pokegear to Dawn who answered it, still giggling. "Hey, Ash. What's up?" 

"Oh, so you are alive! How's life in Hoenn?" 

"Really awesome. I just won another Ribbon. How's Unova?" 

"A lot different than Sinnoh. I'm traveling around with this guy named Cilan. He has green hair and says he's a connoisseur or EVERYTHING- even things like trains and fishing. Plus he's always using food metaphors. It's really weird, but I can't insult him because he's in charge of my food. He might drug me, which I think might be worse than death for reasons I don't want to explain. And there's this girl named Iris that's with me that you'd like. She thinks I'm immature too, so you'd both get along." 

Dawn laughed. "I bet. And Pikachu. How's he?" 

"Awesome, thanks! How's Piplup?" 

"He's doing well."

"And things really are going well with you, right? You'd tell me if something was wrong?" 

"Of course, Ash. We're best friends. I'd give you a high five, but..." Dawn paused, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "Maybe some other time." 

"You can count on it, Dawn," Ash said. "Hey, I've gotta go. It's dinner time over here and I'm starving." 

"As usual," Dawn teased. 

"Give Paul my best and tell him we'll battle sometime! And have fun over in Hoenn." 

"I will. Have a nice meal. Oh, and make sure you call Misty every once and awhile." 

"Huh? Uh, can't hear you over my stomach growling!" Ash yelled. 

"Ash, you're so immature!" 

I rolled my eyes and had to force myself not to smile at Dawn being so happy to talk to her best friend despite the jealousy attempting to claw itself out of me. 

I heard him laugh. "Ok, Dawn. You win. I'll give her a call soon. I'll talk to you later, ok?" 

"Sounds good. Bye, Ash." 

"Bye!" 

"Interesting," I said when she ended the call 

"Yep," Dawn confirmed. "He's perfectly fine with us traveling together." 

"Why do other people's opinions matter so much to you?" 

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. "Good question. I think everyone's like that, though. Self conscious." 

I snorted. 

Dawn raised an eyebrow. "And you're not? You always want to be the strongest. Why? Because you want to look good in the eyes of others and you want to feel good about yourself." 

I had nothing to say to her truthful words and admitted unwillingly, "You're right." 

"We're human and making lots of mistakes is always a part of that. And sometimes the best things that happen are by mistake, right?" Dawn asked. 

I smiled lightly. "Yeah. You're right. Lots of wonderful things happen on accident."

I promised a chapter and you have received it! 

So, did you guys enjoy Ash's small appearance? I just love Ash. Not the anime one that acts all stupid and plastic nowadays, but writing about him is always fun because he doesn't have to be an absolute idiot. Plus I've always loved his friendship with Dawn. 

If you liked the chapter, make sure you comment, vote, and/or follow. Thank you so much for reading, as usual. It just means so much to me that you guys really look forward to every chapter I write and give me your opinions. You're all awesome :)

Pokemon Question of the Day: What's the most annoying thing about the world Pokemon we love so much? It could be the anime, just a weird looking Pokemon, or something about the games. 

Here are two I thought of:

1. In Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow: You don't get a bike voucher until you go to Vermillion City and then have to walk back to Cerulean City. No Running Shoes! 

2. In Pokemon Silver/Gold/Crystal: People ask for your phone numbers and sometimes they're super creepy. Or just super annoying. Youngster Joey, I'm talking about you.

Use your imagination with your answers :P Have fun with all the nostalgia!

-Flips 

New Note 7/5/19: Upon reading this again, I was thinking about how friends are typically unlike Zoey and tend to have good relationship advice and that we should listen to them. If you're dumping everyone in your life because of a boyfriend/girlfriend because they all think that person is bad for you, something is probably wrong and they are probably right. I've had that happen to me before and wish I'd listened to my friends. Just wanted to give you some food for thought.