"Paul!"

Paul looked up as Dawn slammed her way into the library. She looked furious and upset when she sat down across from him.

He looked at her, waiting for her to rant about her problems. She huffed to herself, her face scrunching up in anger and she kept clenching her fist tightly.

"Ash is dating Misty," Dawn finally said.

Paul rolled his eyes and went back to looking through his textbook.

"Come on, Paul! I need help! Don't you have anything that could help me steal him or make her life a living hell?"

He glanced back up at her, "Revenge is useless and pathetic."

"Oh my Mew, Paul! Come on!"

Paul glared at his textbook. He hated how Dawn was coming to him for her love life problems with Ash. In his eyes, Ash was pathetic and shouldn't even call himself a trainer.

"Paul, please, you don't understand! I love him!"

Paul threw his book down and stared at her coldly, "Oh, I understand perfectly."

"What? Paul, what-"

Dawn squeaked as Paul grabbed her hand and leaned in so he could place her hand on his chest.

Dawn could feel how firm his chest was but what was more significant than his muscles was how fast his heartbeat was going and how irregular his breathing was.

"Paul, are you-"

"You feel it, right," Paul interrupted. He was still staring at her but it wasn't cold anymore. He seemed...scared...and nervous.

"I'm in love. She's amazing. She's not afraid of anything or anyone. She's an extraordinary girl and even if she messes up, she'll learn from her mistakes and grow stronger. She cares about her Pokemon and makes me wanna give mine a spa day."

Paul blushed and Dawn's jaw absolutely dropped.

"She's so amazing and beautiful but she makes me wanna throw up. Everytime I see her, I get anxious. I try to be calm and cool but just being around her makes me wanna scream. You feel my heartbeat, right? And how ragged my breath is? That's really what's going on when I'm around her. I want her to believe I'm some tough guy that's worth her time and not like those other guys who faint if she gets even a  meter close to them. I want to appear rugged and stringent but inside? I'm just like those other pathetic idiots. Guys who want to shower her with love and give her things and save her from everything. I know her though. She doesn't need that. She's already strong. She doesn't need a hero, she needs a friend. Someone to be there for her. That's who I want to be. But it's hard when every second you just wanna pull out your heart and punch yourself. This is what she does to me. So yea. I think I know what love is."

Paul let go and Dawn lingered on his warm touch.

"So...you know what love is."

Paul was silent as he continued studying.

"You know how I feel so you know I can't live without him right?"

Paul gently touched her hand, "You could move on."

Dawn pulled her hand back, "I love him, Paul! I thought you understood! What was all that about?! Your feelings about the girl?! That's exactly how I feel so you know I can't just move on! What can't you understand?!"

"I love you"

A loud smack could be heard throughout the library.

"Stop playing with me."

Dawn choked before she ran out in tears.