A/N: This is my second Pokemon fanfiction! I plan on making this one longer and more detailed than Unrevealed Affection, which, I have to admit was kind of rushed due to school work and procrastinating on homework. Anyway! I hope you guys enjoy this one and favourite, follow and review! By the way, I don't own Pokemon.
Arceus High School
Ash's POV:
I sigh as I take my seat in registration. Who knew that two weeks of Christmas break could be so stressful and hectic? After all, I did do a lot of work - more work than I usually do, that's for sure! - because we were inviting the whole of my mum's side of the family round for Christmas. Man, did that cause me a headache! Kids screaming and rushing everywhere, ladies and men in the living room talking about pointless crap and not to mention the fact that my house was practically bombarded. After each and every day, there was always a mess and I was always the one cleaning it up! I didn't get any peace and quiet at all! I guess I'm thankful to be back in school where the same stuff happens everyday and nothing changes.
"Hey, Ashy Boy!" I hear a masculine voice say. I turn around and see Gary Oak behind me, smirking. I roll my eyes. Don't get me wrong, Gary's been my friend ever since we were young but that nickname he calls me by is really annoying and I hate it.
"Gary! Stop calling me that!" I whine, which makes Gary laugh.
"Whatever you say, Ashy Boy!" he chuckles, taking his seat next to me. I ignore him and gaze out the window. I zone out for a while, before a deafening, ear-busting and booming voice brings me back to reality, causing me to jump. I turn away from the window and face the source of the voice - Principal Oak. Why is he here?
"Good morning, Class A. I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year and I also hope that this term will bring new successes for all of you," I look around and see everyone's eyes fixed on him. "Anyway, I am here to introduce to you Dawn Berlitz, who will be joining your class as of today," He turns to the door and signals for this 'Dawn Berlitz' to come in. I slowly turn my head to the door and find a girl standing there, looking extremely nervous.
I've never seen a girl so beautiful. She has sapphire blue eyes which, at the moment are filled with anxiety, long, straight midnight blue hair in a pony tail and skin paler than milk - literally. She, for one, actually looks good in our school uniform, which, for girls, consists of a white blouse, a crimson red tie, a black blazer with the school logo on it, a navy skirt, black knee length socks and black school shoes.
She walks into the classroom and stands next to our teacher, Ms Brown. She looks down at the floor, not making eye contact with a single person.
"Welcome, Dawn!" Ms Brown trills. "What a pleasure it is to have you as an addition to Class A! Now could you go and sit in that empty seat right over there?" Ms Brown points to the only empty seat in the class which is... opposite me! Oh, great! I have no idea how to talk to a new person and I'll probably make an idiot of myself and she'll probably hate me! God, Ash! Stop over-thinking! You don't even know the girl yet! You've fallen for her looks, not her personality! I watch as she pulls the chair out from under the table and sits down. My palms grow sweaty. I'm so going to look like an idiot!
"H-hi! I'm A-Ash," I stutter, trying to hide my apprehension and slow my heart beat. I shakily extend my hand. She holds it and shakes it slightly.
"Dawn," she says, smiling.
Her smile is probably the most breath-taking feature about her! It's so... angelic. Man, now I don't even know how to describe her! She lets go of my hand. I attempt to start a conversation.
"H-how are you?" I ask, saying the first thing that pops into my head. How are you?! How are you?! Can't you do any better?! I cringe at my inability to even keep my breath steady around her.
"I'm good... I guess. How about you?" she replies, timidly.
Her voice... it's so sweet and soft! Will the list of good features about her ever stop growing?
"Me? Y-yeah! I-I'm fine!" I say, quickly. I decide not to talk anymore. I'll just end up embarrassing myself. An awkward silence begins to grow when suddenly...
Brrring!
Yes! Saved by the bell! I quickly gather up my stuff and begin to saunter out of the class when I'm stopped by Ms Brown's stern tone.
"Ash! Come back here!" I quickly turn around and walk towards Ms Brown.
"Y-yes?" I say, wiping my hands down my trouser legs. Dawn is standing right in front of me.
"Aren't you going to show Dawn to her classes?" she asks.
"O-oh! Yeah! Sorry..." I say, scratching the back of my neck. "Come on... D-Dawn!" I say, trying to sound enthusiastic. Butterflies begin to flutter in my stomach as she follows me out of class. I've never had an interest in girls so what made me fall for Dawn? I hardly know her and I already love her.
I pull my timetable out of my pocket and scan it. Our first period is Science. I hate the kind of work we're doing in Science right now! We're cutting open dead Pokemon and looking at their internal organs. It makes me feel sick! I mean, it's not cruel or anything considering they're dead, but it's vile because I don't fancy taking a look inside a Pokemon and studying their hearts, lungs, livers and different systems. I also might have the slightest fear of blood.
"Okay, class, settle down!" Mr Dorset says, slamming a textbook on the table. "Thank you, Miss Maple! We don't need your constant chatter. Now, as everyone can see, I have placed a dead Pokemon in front of each of you. Your task today is to cut it open and observe the heart. You must draw me a diagram and then write what it looks like. I expect the diagram to look almost identical to the actual heart. Every piece of detail," he explains. The class responds with a bunch of sounds that resemble vomiting. I too, feel sick to my stomach.
"Sir, is this really what we're expected to do?!" a voice yells from the back.
"No arguments! Just follow my instructions! I expect all of this to be done by the end of the double lesson," Mr Dorset concludes. He leaves us alone to do our 'work' in peace. Hah! More like mutilation!
I try to stop myself from throwing up by taking deep breaths. I take a quick glance over at Dawn who is perfectly absorbed in her work, despite the fact that it's so disgusting. I watch her. I wish I could stay as calm as she is. I pick up the small knife, my fingers shaking and lower it so I can cut through the Pokemon's skin. I cringe. I really, really don't want to do this...
I manage to cut down vertically on the dead Pokemon's front side. I don't stop to think about what exactly I'm doing, causing me to cut too deep and cut open its heart. I gag as I examine the inside of its body. Is it even possible to be so dense?! All I had to do was cut a dead Pokemon open and I can't even do that! I groan inwardly at myself and raise my hand.
"Yes, Mr Ketchum?" Mr Dorset asks. I hate it when he calls us by our surnames!
"Can I have another Pokemon, please? I kind of had a little... accident with mine," I say. He stands up and walks over to me. I gulp. Is he going to be mad?
"I see," he says, observing what I've done. "Well, unfortunately, there are no other Pokemon for you to use, so you're going to have to partner up. How about... Dawn?" The butterflies begin to flutter around inside me all over again.
"D-Dawn, sir?" I ask, nervously. Mr Dorset nods. I walk over to Dawn.
"H-hi...!" I say, trying to hide my uneasiness. Dawn whips her head around and sees me. She gives me a half smile.
"Hey," she says, before lowering her head and continuing her work.
"I - uh - have to... w-work with you... I-I kind of failed..." I explain.
"Oh, okay. Well, I've already done the work so I'm just observing the other organs," she says. My eyes pop out of their sockets. She must be really smart!
"C-can I quickly do the assigned work?" I ask.
"Sure," she replies, stepping away from her desk. I stand where she once stood and start observing the heart.
As I take in every detail, I can't help but glace over at her book. Wow! She has such nice hand writing and absolutely amazing drawing skills!I try to copy her drawing but I fail terribly. My lines are no where near as good as her's and the detail that I tried to include is in the wrong places. I sigh. Why is she so perfect?
"Dude! That was the worst Science lesson in the history of Science lessons!" Gary exclaims as we sit at a table in the canteen. "I couldn't even draw the heart! It was like 'line here, line here, oops, no, that line's too wonky'. Why does Mr Dorset expect fantastic drawing? It's Science, not Art!"
"Yeah, I know! I cut too deep and ended up cutting open the heart!" I say. "So I had to go and work with Dawn, who finished the work after about twenty minutes of the lesson! And her heart diagram was so detailed, it looked like the real thing! I mean, it practically looked like she taken a photo and -" I'm cut off by the sight of Dawn alone at a table, earphones in her her ears and eyes fixed on the grey clouds outside. "Wait a sec," I say as I walk over to Dawn. She glances over at then slowly turns her head towards me. She takes out an earphone.
"Hi," she says.
"Hey," I smile. Come on, Ash! Ask her to join you and your friends! "W-would you l-like to join me a-and my friends?" I ask.
"Um... okay," she picks her bag and follows me to the table. A few of my other friends have arrived. Some of them female, so it shouldn't be so awkward for her.
"Hey, guys!" I say, cheerfully, taking my seat next to Gary. Dawn walks over to a spare seat between Gary and May.
"Can I sit here?" she asks, shyly, which isn't a surprise. Every time I've talked to her, there's been a hint of shyness in her tone that she can't hide.
"Go ahead," May smiles. Dawn cautiously takes the seat, as if someone will eat her up if she isn't careful.
"Calm down, Dawn! Nothing's going to hurt you!" Gary laughs, playfully.
"Dude, she's new! Of course she's nervous!" Kenny says, throwing a grape at his head.
"Hey! Quit throwing grapes!" Gary exclaims.
"Guys, stop harassing her and let her make friends with some of the girls so she gets comfortable," I scold. Dawn smiles at me as if to say 'thank you'. I smile back.
"I'm May. May Maple!" May says.
"Dawn,"
"So, how old are you?" May asks.
"15... you?"
"16. Geez! You're young! When's your birthday?"
"August 16th,"
"Wow! You're like the youngest in the whole of Sophomore year! Wait, no. You are the youngest!" May says, eyes wide. "Can I have your number?"
"Sure," Dawn says, opening her pencil case and taking a pink sticky note out. She quickly writes down her number and hands it to May.
"Thanks!" May says, smiling. The bell rings, indicating the end of break.
The rest of the school day drags on, with me giving Dawn occasional glances and her and May making small talk.