CHAPTER 1

"Good morning Sinnoh! And welcome to the world's greatest show ~ INit!" the reporter on the TV grinned in his 'celebrity' way.

"Hey Skye!" In response to my name, I immediately jerked my head up from my work.

'Ugh. Not Barry. Not now.' Shaking my head, I returned to studying.

"What's up?!" he walked over to me and slapped me on the back. You know, the usual.

"What do you want Barry?" I sighed, not bothering to look up at him.

"I dunno, I was just thinking that, you know, you might want to come to that dance-thingy... with me." He looked around the room warily.

"Why would you want to go to the dance with me?" I swatted his hand and arm away, glaring at him, "Was there really no one else to go with and you thought I'd comply if you bullied me enough? Well, no. Besides, it's just a dance, not a 'dance-thingy'."

"Well, umm, yeah. I guess there ARE other girls to go with..." he frowned and scratched the back of his head.

"Well, there's always Dawn." I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Yeah...but..." he looked over to where Dawn stood with her back to us.

"But what, Barry? What's wrong with going with Dawn?" I sighed and looked up at him.

"Well, it's just that...oh, never mind." he sighed and turned away.

"Come on," I touched his arm lightly, a slight feeling of sympathy squeezing out of my stubborn heart, "You can tell me, you know."

"Well, I was planning something, but I guess Dawn'll have to do." he hung his head and scuffed his shoe-toe on the ground, "Never mind. I guess I'll see you around?"

I felt sorry for him. Without thinking, I grabbed his arm and pulled him back to me. I released his hand and placed mine on his shoulder.

"I guess I can undo my plans. When's the dance?"

His eyes widened and a mushy grin spread across his face, "Saturday night."

I slowly slid my hand away, "I'll be there."

Friday came too quickly and I rushed home from school to dial my best friend, Misty.

"Mom! I'm home!" I opened the front door and slung my bag down on a recliner, "I'm calling Misty, making sure we're ok for tonight. Ok?"

"Have fun, sweety. Your dad and I are just popping down the road for dinner now," my mum walked out of the kitchen wearing a red dress, "So have a good time and we'll see you Sunday."

I kissed her cheek as she stepped out the door, "See you mom."

"Bye!" she waved and walked briskly across the lawn when dad honked the horn. I waved to them as the car pulled out of the driveway then wandered back inside. The house was so empty without my parents. I picked up the phone and dialled Misty's number. Her sister answered the phone.

"Hi, it's Skye, can I speak to Misty?" I flipped my hair over my shoulder.

"Whatever," Daisy spoke in her 'I'm better than you' voice and sighed, "Misty! Phone!"

"Coming!" I heard her yell in the background.

"She's-" Daisy tsked.

"Coming. I heard," I shook my head. She was so blonde...Misty wasn't that blonde, but she wasn't the smartest person in the world either.

"Hey!" Misty cheerily answered, "You still coming?" I smiled at the thought of my delightful friend.

"Yeah, I'll be on my way over now," Searching through my clothes, I found my favourite dress and shoved that into my bag along with my pyjamas and my handbag.

Misty giggled, "I'm going to do you up so well that Barry will flip when he sees you!"

"I'd rather him not flip, it might draw attention us," I laughed, "I don't even know why he's inviting me. He hated me last year, I don't see what's changed."

"Maybe he had a change of heart over the holidays?" Misty suggested.

I frowned: that didn't sound like Barry. He hated me. Why would anything change?

"Well, we'll talk more later," I swung my bag over my shoulder, "I'll see you in ten."

"See you then!" I could hear the smile in her voice, "Bye!" The hang-up tone beeped twice before the phone dimmed and went silent. I pulled on my sneakers and my jacket and walked down to the garage where I pulled out my bicycle and lifted the door. I was met with a shock.

"Barry?" I dropped my bike in the surprise, of which I wasn't sure if it was good or not, "What are YOU doing here?"

He walked forward and picked up my bike.

"I heard you were riding to Misty's, so I thought I'd join you," he shrugged casually.

Wait a minute.

I come back to school and all of a sudden, he's nice to me, he wants to take me to the dance, he waits for me after class and now he wants to walk me just down the road...that can't be. He hates me! Maybe he's just had a change of heart after all...Nah.

"Barry, honestly. What's the deal? What are doing?" I folded my arms then took my bike off him, "Why are you being so...so...nice?! It's beginning to freak me out. I mean, sure, I hated it when you bullied me, but this! This is just...weird!"

"What do you mean?" he cocked his blond head, "What's so weird about being nice to you?"

"It's not normal! All last year you bullied me, and now you want to walk me five minutes down the road?" I didn't understand.

Barry scratched his head, "Uh, you know, I got sick of the bullying thing...?"

I raised my eyebrows. Something was definitely up.

"Come on Barry, what gives? You were so mean to me last year," I hopped onto my bike, "I don't see what changed. Did your mom bug you about being nice to girls or something?"

Barry frowned: he didn't understand girls, "I dunno. I heard you're actually really...nice."

"Oh?" I squinted, "By whom may I ask?"

"Well, Paul, actually," Barry stuck his hands in his pockets. Paul! How in the world...?...! Paul is Barry's main sidekick and he hates me, too...well, supposed to anyway.

"I...I don't understand. I really don't," I sighed, "It's like you...oh, never mind."

"Like I what?" He grabbed my handlebars to stop me taking off.

"Well," I whispered the last words, "Someone might think you like me, or something."

"And?" he looked off into the distance mysteriously, "Maybe I do."

My knees went weak. Of all people, Barry was the last I thought would ever like me. Ever. It was so weird thinking that he might like me, even as a friend.

"Do...do you?" I tried to figure out what he was staring at. It was my mailbox.

"Hm," he picked up his bag from in a bush, "Yeah, I guess so."

I wasn't sure what to say. I looked at his sturdy shoulders and envied his relaxed state of mind. I then looked up to his face. His strong jaw, thin cheeks, perfect lips, straight nose, his amazing eyes, and lastly his curly blond hair. He pushed back a lock that fell across his eyes and met my gaze.

"Oh..." I frowned. I wasn't sure how to respond. What should I say? I'm sorry you had to endure my pain for a year to finally realise I wasn't the grinch you thought I was? I forgive you for being a jerk to me all last year?

"...So...can I walk with you?" He walked to my side.

I shrugged and gripped the handlebars a little less tighter, "It's a free country."

He smiled and I pushed off the ground. My knees were still weak, but Barry politely hung back with my slow pace.

"Um...Barry? Is that why you asked me to the dance?" I pushed the pedals faster.

"What do you mean?" he shoved his hands in his pockets.

I tried to pick up my pace, but my legs were too weak. Not that it really mattered. I was actually enjoying Barry's company and being able to talk to him.

"I mean, well, did you ask me," I coughed, "Because you like me?"

Barry looked up from his feet, "Yeah, something like that."

I didn't quite understand what he meant by that. We reached Misty's house and I dismounted and leant my bike on the side of her porch.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow night?" I fiddled with my locket,

He stuck out his hand, "You know what?"

"What," I fish-gripped his hand as he shook it.

"You're not the person I thought you were. You're really nice. I'm glad I finally see that in you," he smiled.

"I'm glad," I side-smiled unsurely. This WHOLE afternoon had been totally weird.