A/N: I do not own Pokémon, or else the show would be called "The Pokémon Adventure of Misty, Featuring Paul!" and dratinis would be shown in every episode.
It was the last day of summer, and Paul was sweating. This sweat was due not only to the sweltering heat which resided on his best (and only) friend's porch, but also due to his nervousness as Paul considered his impossible problem. "You're my only friend," he confided, laying his heart open in a completely out-of-character sort of way. "I-I want to…be…popular…" Paul barley managed the last sentence, as this was definitely not the sort of thing he usually said.
His red-haired friend responded in song. "Don't you question me. You just do what I saaay."
"What? Hey! Stop listening to your iPod and listen to me! I'm talking, woman!"
"Huh? Hey – who are you calling 'woman'?"
Paul smirked. "So you're a man now?"
"No," Misty closed her eyes and angled her head upwards, "I'm a lady."
Paul barely suppressed his snorts of laughter. "No, seriously, I need your help."
"Well that's a new one."
"I-I want to be popular this year."
"Like meeee?" Misty was the most popular girl in the whole school. It would seem strange that she was friends with a social outcast like Paul, but their friendship went back to preschool, when they had both laughed when Ash broke his arm going down the slide. The two had been best buds ever since.
"…No, like me, only popular."
"Whatever." Misty looked over Paul critically. "You need a theme."
"What is this, a birthday party?"
"How about punk?" Misty smiled. "No, I got it. Emo!"
"I'm not an emo!"
"But you will be!" She cackled manically. "Now let's work on personality."
"Life is pain. I'd rather die than live such terrible, awful pain." Paul put on his best apathetic face, which, by the way, was pretty darn good. "I torture Pokémon to put them through the same pain my heart feels every day. Pain, pain, pain."
"Very good!" A little too good, the redhead thought. "Now let's work on your looks! Come with me!"
"Where are we going?"
"Hot Topic, of course." Like, no duh.
Paul groaned. "Not the maaaall."
One bike-ride later, the duo stood looking over fingerless gloves and mascara. "Wait, hold up. I do not, under any circumstances, wear makeup," Paul objected.
"But emo boys do!" Misty giggled. "So, you'll need a black hoodie, black skinny jeans, some cool band tees, fingerless gloves, mascara, eyeliner, and a pocketknife."
"Why a pocketknife?"
"Well, you gotta act the part, too!"
"No way!" Paul raised his voice, getting quite a few strange looks from bystanders. "I am NOT cutting myself! That's for crazy people, thank you."
"Yo, chill." Misty rolled her eyes. "It's just for show. Pretend you do it on your leg or somewhere hidden. Or, you can use red Sharpie."
"Whatever. Let's get out of here."
Back at home, Paul changed into his new costume. "Excellent!" Misty praised. "The girls will be all over you!"
Paul smirked.
"…Have you ever even kissed a girl before?"
"…What's it to you?"
"Okay, that's a no. You don't want to look inexperienced. Here, let me teach you." Misty puckered her lips and leaned in.
Paul pushed her away and ran for his life.
It was the first day of school, and Paul was confident. He was wearing his usual purple garb, and his hair did NOT obscure half of his face, nor was it dyed black. A smile played on his lips as the boy enjoyed being himself again. No one really paid attention to this new, confident Paul, but all that really mattered was that he was content.
A/N: I'm terrible at endings. :/ Reviews are love! :D
