Always Forever

Lights, Camera, Action!

Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay. Graduation happened and I was instantly working in a job that I've hated. I don't work right now, however I'll have to go to work again soon. A lot of other, rather personal stuff happened with my family as well, and it all made me delay the continuation of this series. This chapter changed dramatically and I've decided to end the Love Triangle here, as it's just not suitable for the long run. Enjoy.

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Dawn looked at his eyes, the brown gems of his shining under the studio they hired. The light hit them at an almost direct angle, where it just about highlighted both of their best features. Ash looked back at her, smiling. The suit he had to wear was a last minute addition, but at least it made her happy. She got ready for the last part of the dance, where he was going to twirl her around and Dawn would keep it going until she blocked the entire camera as an outro. She nodded, before grabbing Ash's hand firmly, as he raised it, Dawn smiling as she started to turn around. The lights became a blur, as Ash's black tuxedo, with a white shirt which had purple stripes underneath, joined in on the show of colors to the performance of Dawn. This was everything she loved, the glitz, the fashion, everything was coming back to her. As she blocked the camera, and the directors signalled the end, she stopped dead in her tracks.

She was panting. "Dawn..." Ash said, unsure whether or not she actually enjoyed it. "I apologize if it took too much out of you, I-" Dawn turned around, smiling from ear to ear. "No-no it's alright, Ash..." She held his hand with both of hers. "I've got my confidence back again... I... I finally feel like myself again!"

Ash smiled back, before hugging her. "Welcome back then, Dawn Blitz." She hugged him back, taking his scent in. What Jasmine said back at the store replayed the moment she did so, ruining any chance of her enjoying this simple moment they had together. It's a forbidden love. Dawn said to herself, as Ash broke apart and looked at her. "Want to grab something to drink before we head back?" Dawn nodded.

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Ash slowly sat down, as the azurette did so as well. "Dawn... You've been acting a little distant, what's the matter...?" Ash asked, carefully eyeing her. "If it's something I've done, I apologize." Dawn shook her hand. At that, a waitress came to their table and asked for their order. They both decided to go with something that had light alcohol in it, to ease their mind, and also to wash the day's tiredness away. "It's... It's about me, actually." She replied finally. "And how I feel about y..." She looked to the side. "-about something."

Ash raised an eyebrow at that. "Well, what's this feeling, then?" Dawn decided to indirectly talk about her problem. "Imagine you have two seats. You want a specific someone to sit with you, however they're already with someone else, at another seat. Now, you're left with the empty seat and sadness."

Ash kind of understood it. "Oh, so this is about either a friend you're no longer close with or... a boy?" Dawn blushed, her head dropping down as she nodded. "Oh, who's the lucky boy~?" Ash teased, much to her despair. "That's the problem." Ash was even more confused now. "The boy is the problem?" Dawn nodded. "Yes, well, no..." She waved her hands. "Just forget about it..."

Ash smiled gently, before taking the azurette's hand in his. "Look Dawn, we've known each other for so long now that I just can't leave you to your own problems... Tell me, and I'll help you out." At that, the waitress brought their drinks, and the two took a huge sip each. Ash, now more concentrated than ever, looked over to Dawn, who probably rather disliked alcohol in the first place. "Sorry, maybe you should have ordered something else...?"

Dawn shook her head. "No-no, it's not that... It's just that it came off a little strong, rather than the other ingredients, that's all." Ash nodded unsurely, having to accept that. "Well, will you?" Dawn looked down at the table, looking at herself through the reflection of the glass. Her image was distorted, but her eyes most of all, were crystal clear and she could see how they shone dimmer. "I... I will, however I need you to listen to me very carefully and not to rush to get any responses in." Her entire body was clenched now. "Listen to me, is that understood...?" Ash smiled and gave a soldier salute. "Aye aye, captain!"

Dawn smiled, shaking her head as she took a huge breath in. "The boy that I love, the guy who's the problem is..." She looked up, dead at his eyes. She reached her hand out, grabbing his slowly, as she leaned in, giving a gentle smile. "It's you, Ash." She looked to the side. "Even though I know this is wrong, even though I know you and Serena are meant to be..." She sighed. "Ever since we've seen each other again, I've come to the realization that I've fallen for you. I think I always probably had a soft spot for you, and that spot has culminated into one of roses, and love." She sniffed, taking another sip of her drink. "I... I know, that you'll reject me. We can cut off our friendship as well, if you'd like to... Not that it'd make me love you any less, as a friend or as otherwise..."

"You've changed, Ash. You've bringed hope back to me, I finally felt happy again after a long time of doing these contests just because it was the path that I have chosen. It's all because of you, so thank you."

Ash was speechless. For it to be someone he knew, that was something he could handle. However, for it to be him was something else. "D-Dawn..." He stuttered, trying to get some words out.

All this time, she had been one of the closest -if not the closest- friends he had ever known. He always had a soft spot for her, just as she did for him. Sure, back then maybe things could have unfolded differently, and the roles could have been swapped in this scenario, however it wasn't. In this timeline, in this very moment, the girl that he loved the most was Serena.

She looked down at the table. "It's alright, no need to reply. I already know how you feel about this." She wiped a small tear that was forming in her eye. "I... I'll go ahead, so it won't be awkward." She said, getting up. "However..."

Ash watched in slow motion, as Dawn leaned in, closing her eyes as she did so, grabbing him by the cheek and the neck, before their lips made contact. It was different. She was rather more aggressive than Serena, more direct. She broke apart just as quick, turning around while mouthing a goodbye to Ash as she did so.

All Ash could do, was to sit down in complete silence and shock, over what had just happened.