Dawn: there's a part 4? How many parts do you need for frosh year?

JC: As many as I need, don't judge! Gotta have the story flow.

Ash: What's a frosh? And I haven't read the parts yet since it's hard to read....

JC: Oh.

Dawn: My.

Paul: Fu-

Ash: SWEAR JAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

JC: Just go read it if you haven't! And that includes you too Dawn and Paul!! Maybe you'll like it!!

Dawn and Paul: Okay....

Dawn was the last to leave since she organized her sports locker again. She brushed her hair, then shoved her black beanie on, tucking all of her blue locks into it again. She decided to wear her sweats since they were a thousand times better looking and comfortable, and threw on her black hoodie sweatshirt. She grabbed her school backpack and put it on while grabbing her sports bag as she went out of the locker-room.

Dawn sighed, remembering that her mom had to go to her 2nd job after her game, leaving her at school till the girls varsity game was over, which ends around 10:30, and it was only 4. That means she would have to stick around to see Miette play on JV while Ursula lead the cheerleaders along with Hilda, Brianna and Melody during the varsity game.

Dawn was so hungry, she hadn't eaten even a small meal in two days now, only about ten granola bars, some water and a cup noodle, but that was hardly anything substantial. She was exhausted, feeling so weak and cold to the bone. All she wanted was a nice meal and nap without being screamed at, hit, beat, teased, she just wanted silence, but obviously that was impossible for her.

She threw her sports bag to the ground as she sat down, leaning against the wall. She was soooo exhausted, and starving. Dawn leaned her head on her knees again as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to think of a way to get one simple meal. She was snapped out of her thoughts as someone tapped her right shoulder lightly, making her glance up to see Paul there.

Her eyes widened at the sight. She didn't think after today he'd come up to her again, not in a million years.

"You okay?" Paul asked as he looked at her straight in the eyes. Dawn bit her lip, debating in her head whether to tell him that she was just hungry, but she didn't want to be embarrassed or teased at.

Dawn decided not to, so she faked a tiny smile "Yeah, no need to worry bout me." Paul kept her gaze until she looked away, knowing that something was wrong with the Troublesome girl. "What's wrong? And don't lie to me this time." Paul said seriously, making Dawn gulp.

She shifted her body, feeling guilt and embarrassment rise inside her. "It's...nothing that bad, I just um... need a ride home." Dawn quickly said, hoping that he'd believe her and walk away. She wasn't really telling the truth, but it's not like she was lying either.

Paul raised an eyebrow, he definitely didn't believe that corny excuse. "That's it? Sorry Troublesome but I don't believe you. I saw your mom here watching your game." He looked at her face as he saw her eyes start to get watery and instantly regret what he said. He messed up again.

Dawn sniffled as a couple years rolled down her face "S-s-she w-went t-to he-er second j-job." She choked out, trying to hold back her tears and sobs, but it was too late. She felt so emotional, weak, worthless. Like nothing. She couldn't even focus right as she just let out her painful sobbing, holding nothing back. She felt like dying, anything to end the physical pain, the emotional pain aching inside her, eating her alive. She wanted it to just end for good.

Paul's eyes widened as she stuttered out her words, and he felt his heart ache as she started sobbing right in front of him. He wish he could take his words back, he'd do it in a heartbeat. Her heartbreaking sobs rang in his ears as he sat down right next to her, slowly bringing her into a hug, cradling the fragile, delicate girl in his arms. He had never done this before, anyone would be better than him. Ash, Gary, Drew, May, Leaf, Serena, Misty, they all would know exactly what to do, but he didn't. So all he did was just hold Dawn in his arms, feeling her body trembling against his, her sobs muffled by his sweatshirt that she'd buried her face in. He felt like an ass, a jerk, heartless for leading her into her emotional state right now. Paul just held her for awhile, sitting there as he let her cry her tears. Regret and guilt stabbed him repeatedly, almost making it too hard for him to see her cry.

"I-I... I-I'm n-not w-worth..a-anyth-thing......n-no o-one c-cares! I-I... J-just want-t i-it...t-to e-end!!" Dawn desperately sobbed, clenching onto Pauls sweatshirt as she poured out her emotions.

Paul instantly gripped her shoulders, making her look right into his eyes. "Don't EVER say that again!! Because I CARE! I've always cared, and I'll never stop! Stop thinking about that bullshit! You're worth everything!!!" Paul yelled, making Dawn stare at him with her eyes wide open. Dawn felt more tears appear in her eyes, but she couldn't look away from Pauls eyes. Usually they were so dark, so dark gray it almost looked black, but right now they were a light gray, filled with emotion she couldn't decipher.

Dawn was speechless. Did he really care for her? Was he always on her side all this time?

"So tell me what's wrong." Paul breathes out as soft as he could, loosening his grip on her shoulders.

"I'm just exhausted....and....." Dawn couldn't even finish her sentence because it was so embarrassing, telling someone that she was starving and that she hasn't eaten a meal in the past two days.

"What?" Paul asked, trying to figure the blunette out. Why wasn't she telling him? Was it too personal?

".... I'm just...a little bit hungry that's all." Dawn whispered. Paul looked at her deeply, trying to put the pieces together. She was like his puzzle; she was broken and he was the one trying to put them back together.

Paul pulled out the sandwich, Apple and water he meant to give to her earlier and handed them to her.

Dawn stared at the food in her hands, feeling her eyes water both with sadness and.....happiness. She'd never gotten any food from anyone besides her mother. Dawn then shook her head, feeling selfish. "No, I can't. I'll eat something when I get home." She tried giving the food back to Paul, who refused to lift a hand. "Don't be stupid Troublesome. When's the last time you ate something substantial?"

Dawn gulped. She looked down at her hands as she replied. "....two days..."

Paul's eyes widened, too shocked to even reply. How could she be living like this?!? His mind filled with more thoughts, until a realization hit him so hard in his chest that it ached and stung more painfully than before.

'The hiding....the self consciousness....the scars and bruises....moms second job....lonely and heartbroken....she couldn't possibly have an abus..!?! No, that CAN'T be true!' Paul thought to himself as watched her nibble on the sandwich he'd made. Was she really all alone?

"I also brought you something else because I need to ask a question." Paul said, having Dawn look at him curiously. He got up, wishing he didn't need to because of her right next to him. He felt her gaze on him as he held the rose in his right hand along with the poster and the Reece's in his left. He hid them behind his back as she stood up, looking up at him slightly confused. His heart was racing a million beats per second, hoping he wouldn't screw it up.

"Troublesome" Paul started, seeing a small smile appear on her face. He slowly brought out the items from behind his back, seeing Dawns eyes widen tremendously. He unrolled the poster in front of him "will you go to homecoming with me?" He confidently asked, seeing her eyes water up and she smiled a real smile at him.

Dawn couldn't believe her own eyes. He was asking her?!? No, this had to be a dream! He had any other girl to ask in the school and he asked her?!

Dawn nodded as she felt fresh happy tears fall down her face, since she couldn't rely on her voice right now because she was utterly speechless. She looked at his handsome face, seeing a tiny blush on his cheeks.

"Yes" Dawn managed to whisper as she engulfed Paul into a hug, feeling his arms wrap around her tiny figure tightly.

Paul felt his heart skip at least a dozen beats when she hugged him, the tiniest smile grazing upon his lips. She was so happy, he didn't want it to end. He never was the type for hugs and fluffy stuff, but this emotion he didn't recognize felt amazing.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, then Dawn grabbed all her stuff and walked with Paul down the hallway, feeling happier than ever. Is this the feeling of being happy? Feeling cared for? Those thoughts roamed in her mind as a silly smile was plastered on her face.

Paul looked down at the girl who was smiling goofily, and he couldn't stop looking at her smile. That was the first realist smile he's ever seen on her, and it made him feel a lot better, lifting a thousand pounds off of his chest.

"Do you have a ride Troublesome?" Paul asked as she glanced up at him, making her smile fade away.

"Yeah, my....dad's picking me up at 10:45 tonight. It's fine." Dawn replied, feeling sadness wave across her again. She was so happy that she forgot about everything else, and now she was back into her reality.

Paul checked his phone, it was only 4:30 right now. Her ride was in over 6 hours?! "Hey, if you don't want to stay here, you can come to my apartment. Ash'll be there besides me." Paul suggested, not wanting to leave the girl by herself. Who knows what'll happen to her when Ursula shows up with her crew.

"You don't have to do that, really. I'll be fine." Dawn sheepishly said, feeling already terribly selfish for all Paul has done for her. She didn't deserve him and she knew it, even though she really did like him that way.

Paul lightly grabbed her arm in his hand. "I'm not leaving you here. You'll be safer at my apartment, and I'll walk you back to where your dad can pick you up." He mumbled as Dawn gave in, silently agreeing to his kind offer. Paul let go of her arm and looked at the girl beside him carrying her bags.

"Troublesome, hand me your bag. You look like a hippie when you walk like that." Paul said as he grabbed her bag for her, sliding it on over his shoulder.

Dawn felt a huge amount of weight being lifted off herself. "Thank you" she quietly whispered, seeing him smirk at her. They walked to his apartment, and boy were those stairs brutal to her body, feeling her legs burning with tiredness. At the last floor, she stopped and leaned on her knees, feeling way to exhausted as she breathed heavily.

Paul looked back to see Dawn struggling, completely out of breath. She was leaning over on her knees, taking heavy breathes from over exhaustion. "We're almost there" he said, hoping to encourage her to walk again. He felt a frown graze his lips, feeling bad for making her walk this far. She has admitted to being to exhausted, and he wasn't helping her with that matter.

"Okay" Dawn managed to barely breath out as she found a tiny ounce of energy felt in herself, knowing it'll burn out quickly. She followed Paul down the hallway and to his door. He unlocked it, opening the door and walked in and turned around to lead her in as well.

She gasped at how nice everything was, her house was nothing compared to the pleasant apartment. Her house was a wreck, bottles everywhere from her father drinking and drugs scattered as well, making the air thick and nasty. She stared at how colorful everything was, the fresh air filling her lungs, how everything looked so comfortable and how she felt safe. Dawn envied Paul for having such a nice and safe place to sleep, eat, wash, do homework, everything.

Paul turned around again as he heard her gasp slightly, watching her eyes look over everything in the small kitchen and main room with the two couches, table and TV. He noticed how surprised she looked, glancing at everything with awe.

"Troublesome...you okay?" He asked, as he saw her shyly point to the TV. "You have a tv?" She asked him, making his eyes slightly widen. Did she not have one?

"Yeah." He answered as she looked at the couch. "Is that your own couch?" Dawn asked him, and Paul nodded in response. He saw sadness fill her eyes and couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion hit him. Why was she asking him these question?

He showed her the bathroom, which she thought was cool, Making him utterly confused but somewhat concerned. He just pointed to Ashs door, which they could hear snoring come from inside the room. She laughed as he lead her to his room.

He opened the door, showing her the inside. He watched Dawns face, trying to figure out what she was thinking.

Dawn could only feel more envious, wishing she had a room like this. Her room was only 7 by 8 feet big, not even having anything compared to Pauls room. She only had an old nasty rug to sleep on the cold wooden floor and a tiny drawer for everything else she had, which was barely anything but drawings, a few pieces of clothes and a few random items. Her window was broken, feeling colder and unsafe. Dawn looked at his fancy desk, his closet, his own flatscreen TV on the wall, a nice soft chair, a huge drawer and his bed. She had always wanted a bed to sleep on, and she couldn't bear to be in such a safe place, feeling like she didn't belong.

"You.....have this?" Dawn asked as Paul raised an eyebrow.

"What? My own room that I don't have to share?" Paul questioned, as he saw her shake her head. He saw her point to his bed, seeing her eyes start to look glassy.

"A bed." Dawn whispered as she could only imagine how warm she'd be at night, not waking up several times from the coldness, or danger that lurked outside or from her father. She'd always dreamt of having a bed, since it was too far out from her grasp.

Pauls eyes widened bigger than ever from her simple words. Did she not have what he did? Is that why she asked about everything she saw? He saw a tear escape her eyes as she kept her gaze on his too worn out bed. He needed a new one badly since he's had it for his whole life, but he instantly felt an emotion of......gratefulness inside him. He had always complained to Reggie about not having something, but seeing Dawn like this made him appreciate what he had. She didn't even have a bed, while he complained about not having a good enough one.

"Oh Troublesome....." Paul mumbled softly, feeling his face soften as another few tears rolled down her face. She wiped her eyes quickly and slowly walked over to his bed and delicately touched one of his blankets, rubbing the fleece material between her thumb and pointer finger.

Paul could only stare at the girl, feeling so selfish about everything. "It's so soft." Dawn said, and Paul couldn't take it anymore. He turned around and quickly walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He leaned his hands on the counter as he felt something sting his eyes. He blinked a few times as he saw that his vision had become blurry from......tears. He never cried, ever, and the girl he had brought with him had made him feel so guilty, so spoiled at himself. She envied his blankets, making him not bear the strong emotions that keep stabbing himself repeatedly.

Paul thought to himself for a few minutes, still leaning on the counter. Thoughts swarmed his head, making him shut his eyes tightly to straighten his thoughts out. He finally came to a conclusion as he walked back out and into his room doorway, finding her still standing in the same spot.

He was the one to build her shattered pieces back together, and he had to start somewhere.

Paul walked over next to her "I don't mind if you rest on it, I'll get us something to eat." She looked at him with her big blue eyes widened, and started to open her mouth to deny but he shook his head. Dawn didn't move for about a minute, until she spoke up.

"I've never slept on a bed before.....or a blanket."

Paul sadly glanced at her, not even knowing what to do or say anymore. He lifted up his blankets as she looked for him to the blankets. "Here, just slide under." He said as she refused to move.

"Troublesome, don't feel guilty, it's ok." He spoke again, hoping she would be convinced by his words. Dawn slowly started to, but her hands were shaking so much that sh pulled back. She was so focused on her quivering and shaking hands that she didn't realize Paul had picked her up bridal style until she felt his chest and arms secure her. Dawn could only watch as he set her in his bed and pull the blankets over her, a little below her chin.

"Get some rest." Paul said, taking a look at her shocked face, then walked out, closing the door behind him.

Dawn felt frozen, feeling the comfortable fuzzy warmth around her. She was laying in a bed, and she felt herself silently crying, her salty tears cascading down her face as she flipped to her side and curled up into a ball. Endless tears escaped her eyes until they slowly closed, falling into a deep sleep.

Gary: *sniffles* that was so emotional!! WAAHHHH!!!

Ash: *cries with Gary* WAAAHH!!!!

JC: *tearing up* it turned out so emotional..... Why did I make myself cry?!?

Paul: It's just a story.

JC: *glares* Hey! You haven't even read it like I told you and Dawn to do!!! So GET BUSY!!!

Dawn: O.O okay....

Paul: Whatever.

JC: And you guys are gonna have a quiz on the chapters so far!!!

Dawn and Paul: *groan* No.....

JC: Yes! Woohoo!

Gary: is the next chapter gonna be emotional too? *wipes tears with his sleeve*

Ash: *blows nose into tissue, making a honk sound*

JC: Maybe.... I can't tell you guys! These chapters are supposed to be emotional, so you might need a few more boxes of tissue and chocolate.

Dawn: Why do I look so sad in the picture?

Paul: why am I even in the picture?

JC: Read. It'll solve your answers.

Dawn and Paul: -_- okay...