Popularity or Love?
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, if I did then Iris would be dead.
Ash Ketchum is the 'nerd' of Kanto High. From his early days, he had always aced his exams and received all the academic awards related to studies. However everything comes with a cost. Being a nerd made him socially awkward and as time passed, he was kind of the class laughing material.
Now he is sixteen, on his final year in school before college or any alternate career. Throughout all his academic years, he had not made any friends. At first the other students tried to be friends with him, but his low esteem and social awkwardness gave the vibe which ended up him being like his present state.
Ash slowly closed the zip of his bag. The rush in recess time always amazed him. It felt like the food had wings and if you didn't run after it, then you will miss the bird.
However Ash always brought his food from home. Part of it is because the food was expensive in the canteen, considering he doesn't have a dad and his mom has to look after him. They were not the best financially. But the other part of it was because he loved the food his mom made.
Once the classroom was empty, he exited and made his way at the rooftop. Once in contact with fresh air, he smiled with contentment and took out his lunchbox.
'One more year, and goodbye to my favourite place.' Ash thought as he looked at the water tank on top of the roof. He has his lunch leaning with the tank and staring at a large tree which was in front of him. It was his favourite place. He didn't know why, but maybe because it's nostalgic? Or maybe because it was the place where he first met her.
'I wonder if she even remembers me…. It's been like ten years…' Ash sighed. He had met a girl in this school when he was five. But she soon left the school after few months. However within those few months they became friends. That was his first friend in all this years.
'Friends… must be fun having friends..' He shook his head and was about to take to eat when suddenly his lunchbox was filled with banana skins. He looked up and his face came in contact with tomatoes that was being thrown at him. His white shirt was now the lighter colour of red as the attacks stopped.
"Hahah! That last one hit him straight in the eye! Good job Dawn!" One of them laughed maniacally. He was Gary Oak, grandson of the richest businessman.
One his left a girl with blue hair and a white hat was laughing. Dawn… Ash didn't even know her full name… to be honest he didn't know the full name of many of his classmates. Gary however was famous and you would be stupid if you didn't know his name.
Ash stood up and looked at them with hateful eyes.
"Why did you do that? My mom made this lunch for-"
He soon found his face on the lunchbox as he felt a push from the back.
"Nice one May!" Dawn hi-fived a girl with brown hair. May Maple, the second most intelligent on her class after Ash. However she wasn't nerd and was popular like Dawn and Gary. But her character was not better than them. She was on the bully group who would find happiness seeing Ash suffer.
"So how do you feel Ashy boy? Is the food tasty?" Gary mocked as the other two girls laughed as Ash tried his best to wipe his face which was now covered in cream and salad.
"Hahaah! He looks so funny!" Dawn chirped in.
"What you saying Dawn?! He looks hot!" May acted serious which sure caught Dawn off-guard but soon May laughed and said it was a joke.
Ash slowly tried to walk past them, holding back the tears in front of them.
"You are so pathetic Ash." Dawn laughed.
"And ugly!" May added.
"And uncool unlike me!" Gary smirked.
Ash stopped and for the first time all three of them froze seeing him look straight at them in the eye.
His eye has slightly red from trying to stop the tears which made him look even more intimidating.
"And you all are piece of shits." Ash panicked and quickly looked down, and ran down the roof.
The trio stood there dumbfounded.
'What was that..' Were their thoughts.
(Scene Change)
"Are you sure you will be fine alone? It's almost 10." May asked with worry.
"Come on May, she isn't a kid." Drew spoke up. Drew was one of the most egoistic guy from their group. But was on the 'popular' group.
"I will be fine, and thanks for the party Drew! Though I would like if you keep your hands off me on the dance floor." Dawn laughed causing the rest of them to laugh too.
"It was just alcohol." Drew flipped his hair, one of his signature moves which is found 'attractive' by the girls in the school.
"Yea sure.. anyways I will see you guys later! Bye!" She bid farewell before taking a different route from them.
(Scene Change)
Ash was currently buying groceries for his mom. It was really late at night, but it was a last minute thing.
"That will be Fifteen Yen." The cashier smiled as Ash handed the money.
"Thank you mam." Ash slightly bowed before exiting the shop.
"Oh my what a gentle boy."
(Scene Change)
Ash silently walked down the road. It was like a hilly road, but he lived downhill.
'This road is scary… not a single noise.' Ash thought. Soon he heard a squeaky scream for a split second before it stopped.
He stopped and looked on the right side. He could see an empty route in between two buildings.
'Did I hear someone scream? I guess not..' He shook his head and was about to continue his walk until he could hear noises which sounded like someone was being slapped.
Without any further thoughts, he walked towards the noise. Soon he could see under a lamp post, three boys who looked older than him was carrying a girl, her hands and feet tied with rope, and her mouth was taped.
He widened his eyes in a panic. 'What do I do! They are going to rape-'
His eyes widened even more when he saw the face of the girl. Her eyes were closed but he could see the tears glistering out as the light reflected on them.
'Isn't that Dawn…' His mouth made a :o before he clutched his fist.
"Hey!" He yelled, dropping his shopping bag. The three boys looked at him. They looked around to check if there was someone else. On inspection there was none apart from Ash.
"Kid I am generous, so I will give you a chance to run away." One of them spoke as he took out a knife.
"N-No! L-let her go!" Ash mustered a bit of courage and yelled. His legs started to shake.
'I can't panic.. I can't panic… nor scared… I must… not-' He froze for a split second before an evil smirk took over his face. Dawn recognized him from his voice and was glad someone was there that she knew. However her eyes slightly widened as he saw his eyes. They were the exact same eyes that she had seen today during school.
"Kid didn't you-" Before he could speak further, his eyes were scratched by the knife he was holding.
"Arhgh! My eyes!"
The other two of them dropped Dawn and charged towards Ash.
"Gehe!" Ash smirked and the two found themselves scratched from head to two in a matter of two seconds.
They soon started screaming in pain.
Ash widened his eyes and threw the knife away.
'What did I do…' He panicked. 'No … I must not panic… if I do… I must not!' He shook his head and took a deep breath.
'Right Dawn!' He quickly untied her and gave her a piggy back and run towards his home, leaving the three boys in the street, screaming for help.
"A-Ash?" Dawn murmured, her heart beating at a faster pace.
"Don't talk… please don't talk and don't let me panic!" Ash yelled, causing her to tighten her grip on his back.
She slowly nodded on his back. "Sorry.."
(Scene Change)
Ash explained everything to his mom and let Dawn enter for the time being. Dawn called her parents who were on their way to get her.
Dawn was surprised to see how kind Ash's mother was. She didn't even ask who she was as soon as Ash said she was his friend.
Speaking of Ash… Dawn looked at the boy who was helping her mother to cook.
She smiled seeing how they were in sync in the cooking without even communicating.
"So Dawn, do you like Pasta?" Delia, Ash's mom asked in a cheerful way.
"Y-yes mam… but you don't need to cook for-"
"Nonsense, this is the second time Ash brought a friend home, I can't let you go empty stomach." She lectured. Dawn smiled and nodded.
'We aren't friends though..' Dawn bitterly thought.
Ash was surprisingly calm and didn't speak to her about the incident that just took place. Instead he focused on the cooking.
Dawn was really scared at that time… but what completely caught her off guard was his appearance. Firstly why would he help her? When all she did to him was bully. And secondly she didn't even know what Ash did back there… he was inhumanely fast… and his eyes…
She snapped out of her thoughts as she could smell the sauce. It really smelled nice.
She patiently waited a few more minutes before Ash approached her with a plate of Pasta.
He placed it in front of her.
"Thank y-"
"It's better if you don't tell your parents about what happened. There was no camera in that place, so there is no evidence about the incidence. But it's upto you, but I suggest you don't." Ash whispered on her ears before walking back to his mother.
She nodded and started eating. And not surprisingly, it tasted good. She could tell by the smell.
'A lot happened today…' She sighed. 'A lot..'
(The End)
Authors Note: So this is a new story that was in my mind. Personally I would make it a Naruto fanfiction, but later I thought I absolutely love a character from Pokemon!
This is an AU Ash x Dawn x (Will be revealed later) Fanfiction.
Anyways review x) That motivates me to write more xD