Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of the characters.
A/N: Hahaa so... I got inspired by my own fanart? Also I feel like I don't know how to make my writing flow nicely anymore. Anyway, a small school AU that hopefully won't get out of my hands too much. Shorter chapters that I'm used to write as well but hopefully I can update more often then. Un-beta'ed for now so sorry for all the grammar mistakes!
CHAPTER 1
Reggie can tell his little brother is more than just nervous. Paul, despite of his young age, isn't the one to show too many emotions on his face but right now the young boy is visibly shaken. Reggie wonders if he was quite that scared when he started school few years earlier. Probably not, he muses to himself. Back then they had still lived in their old hometown and Reggie had started his school journey with all his friends since the diaper era. But with the new city and new people no wonder Paul took his elementary school debut harder than his big brother. Not that Paul had left too many friends behind. Again, he was not like Reggie. While the older boy was social and spent lot of time with his friends his seven years old little brother mostly played with himself. Paul had been like that since he was a small baby. Reggie thinks it's probably his fault. He had been, and still was, the proud big brother type. Played with Paul a lot (maybe too much) and thus accidentally made sure Paul didn't even feel the need to make other friends because quoting his own words "I don't need anyone else than you, big bro!"
It was all going to end today though. They were in different schools now. Paul starting the first grade and Reggie entering the junior high couple of blocks away. So his cute little brother didn't have any other chances but to make new friends. Reggie had explained to him that making new friends was the best thing in the world. Only too bad Paul's expression had been anything but convinced. Maybe he just need to see it with his own eyes, Reggie comforts himself. Paul may have been a little bit too quiet and serious for a seven year old kid, but there was nothing wrong with him. He'd make friends easily. No matter how hard Paul was trying to disagree with squeezing Reggie's hand with more strength than probably was necessary.
"You know, it's going to be fine", Reggie tries to calm his little brother. To be honest, he isn't even supposed to be the one to take his little brother to the school on his first day but their parents were unfortunately busy today so the task had fallen into Reggie's lap. Not that he minds as he loves Paul. He's just not sure if he can manage to say right and reassuring things. Their mom would definitely be a better choice to try to calm Paul's nerves.
"...How can you know, big bro?" Paul frowns at him like he doesn't believe Reggie at all. They are almost at the school gates and Reggie is running out of time. Paul needs to realize first grade is going to be best time of his life and he needs to realize it in about two minutes.
"Because you're my brother and if I'm going to be fine, so are you!" Reggie smiles at his brother. Paul looks at him, still looking little unsure, "but you're cool, big bro! I'm not cool at all..."
"Bzzt! Wrong! You're the coolest guy on the planet! Remember, even the bed monster is afraid of you, because you're so cool!" Reggie now holds both of Paul's little hands and hopes they are going to stop shaking soon.
"...I thought you said it was afraid of me because I brush my teeth every night?" Paul says in a small voice like's he's afraid someone else will hear their conversation.
"That's because it's cool to brush your teeth", Reggie is now at Paul's level and looks into his little brother's dark (almost black) eyes, "don't you want to have lots of cool friends too? Together you could discuss the ways to defeat bed monsters once and for all!"
Paul's eyes widen and Reggie congrats himself for the excellent bait. Rest is easy. Paul stops shaking and actually smiles and it's a smile Reggie loves and wishes Paul would show more. When he finally leaves Paul to his new teacher (a very nice looking young man who introduces himself as Roark) his little brother doesn't cling to him like Reggie was afraid he would but waves at him instead, not looking scared anymore. Reggie waves back at him and only starts running when Paul can't see him anymore. After all, Reggie needs to be cool too and not be late on his first day.
Paul watches his big brother disappearing the same time with his newly found courage. He doesn't feel cool at all anymore. Paul wishes he could just skip the first six grades and go to that other school with his big bro. He stares at his shoes and hopes day would be over already. He doesn't know anyone here. They only moved here this summer and so far he has spent time with either Reggie or just by himself. Paul has seen couple of young kids playing football on their home street but they never even made eye contact with Paul so he never bothered with them either. Besides, Reggie was way more fun to play with than anyone else anyway. It was even better now that all Reggie's old friends weren't around anymore. He had more time to play with his only little brother.
It wasn't going to last forever though. Knowing Reggie, Paul is sure his big bro would easily make new friends in a heartbeat. It is different to him. He isn't interested playing tag or just making a general mess of himself like all the other boys do. Paul likes quiet games, strategic plays where you could plan more and act less. Needless to say, back in their hometown he hadn't been the top choice for playing outside with. Paul isn't expecting anything to change here either. And it's not like he really needs to have someone new to discuss bed monster defeating strategies with – he already had his big bro.
Big bro who would most likely to be disappointed if Paul came back home without making even a single new friend. Paul clenches his little fists – alright then, he would give it a shot. Then nobody would be able to blame him for not at least trying. He glances his fellow first graders who are already chatting with each other and feels something knot in his stomach. Yes, he would try... when they were safely seated in the classroom.
"Okay, everyone! It's time to go to see your new classroom. We'll take your names there. Please leave your shoes next to the door when you go inside", the guy with red hair and glasses claps his hands and motions everyone to follow him. He had introduced himself to Reggie earlier, but Paul had already forgotten the guy's name. Well if he was going to be their teacher Paul assumes he would tell them his name again in the classroom.
Paul follows the other kids, not quite being the last in the line, trying to figure out who would make a good new friend. Minus the girls of course, because Paul doesn't want to befriend girls. Like ever. Girls sucks and only want to play with dolls and such. Paul hates girls. His big brother was friends with some girls back in their old hometown and Paul didn't like those girls either. Giggling loudly and making his brother laugh too much – such a bother.
So girls are out of the question but there are still bunch of guys in his class and they will do nicely.
Only thing left to do was to summon some courage to speak to them. Easy job, as easy as defeating the bed monster! Right?
Maybe I should brush my teeth again? If it's makes me cooler... Paul thinks and then frowns. He left his toothbrush at home and it's too late to get it anymore as the first class is already starting. The teacher, still not introducing himself, says they can sit wherever they like and that they will be changing the seats in every three weeks. The classroom is suddenly filled with running and yelling. Boys trying to catch the seat from the back and girls trying to sit as far away from the loud boys as possible. In the end Paul manages to take a seat somewhere in the middle. There is a girl in front of him, and to his right, but some boy sits behind him so maybe Paul can befriend him. To his displeasure, the seat to his left is empty. Paul would have liked if there was another boy there. He would have more options when making friends but he guesses the guy behind will have to do.
"Okay, let's calm down everyone", their teacher tells them and suddenly silence falls above the classroom. Paul can almost hear the visible shaking of their small hands. It's starting now – his school life. For real.
"Let's start with the introductions, shall we?", teacher continues, "My name is Roark and I'm going to be your teacher this year. I hope we're going to get along like real friends. Now let's just check if everyone's really here. When I call your name, please stand up and introduce yourself to the class and tell something about yourself as well. Alright?"
Paul feels himself tensing. Telling something about himself? What would he tell? He doesn't play any sports, and he doesn't have any hobbies worth of telling. Basically he just likes to watch cartoons and play with his brother. He looks at the others in panic. They all seem so determined, like they have all already decided what they are going to tell. Paul's hands sweat a little. He decides he hates school already.
Roark calls the first name and the girl from the front seats stands up repeating her name and telling them she has two kittens she loves. Then she sits again and their teacher calls another name. Paul's anxiety grows – he still hasn't figured out what to say.
After they have gone through five more people Paul can feel his heart beating faster and faster. Any minute now, any minute would Roark call his name and then he would look stupid for not figuring out anything to say. Every passing name feels like a tsunami coming closer and closer waiting to destroy everything. Paul wonders if it's too late to fake sick and run back home. When Roark opens his mouth again Paul closes his eyes, waiting to hear his name. He doesn't hear it. Instead he, with everyone else, hear a loud yelling from the hallway. Roark never gets to say the next name when the classroom's door swings wide open and behind it there is boy with black hair, dressed in pajamas trying to catch his breath.
"I'm... sorry... I'm... lateeh..." The boy wheezes like he had just run a marathon. Roark, with the rest of class just stares at him. Paul does too. Then Roark finally snaps out of whatever he was in, and asks, "What's your name?"
"Ash... Ketchum", the boy answers still having trouble breathing normally. Then he takes the last big inhale and seems to be back to normal, beaming at the teacher, "this is the right classroom, right? I-I'm starting the first grade today! I was so nervous last night I barely slept and of course I woke up late and then-" the boy, Ash, continues his rambling making Paul feel a little more at ease. Even if he ends up telling the class something really lame about himself, at least he wasn't late on his first day.
And wearing pajamas on the top of that! Paul chuckles real silent, making sure no one can hear him.
"You are indeed at the right place, Ash", Roark smiles at the boy, "we were just making sure everyone was here and telling some details about us."
"Oh okay", Ash still smiles, looking less and less tired every passing second, "then I'm Ash, and I... hmm... oh I know, I love croquettes! Nice to meet you all! Can't wait to be your friend!"
"Why are you wearing pajamas?!" Someone yells from the back the thought everyone was probably thinking. Ash looks confused at first and then he actually glances down to see what he is wearing. His eyes widen and face grows red from the embarrassment before he let's out a loud 'oops'. Everyone starts laughing and if it was Paul in Ash's place he would probably dig a hole deep enough to reach the other side of the earth and never come out again. Ash doesn't seem to mind though when he joins the other laughing kids. Even Roark is having hard time trying not to smile too widely. When the laughter dies downs he tells Ash if he doesn't mind attending wearing his pajamas he's free to take any seat that's still left.
Paul feels his pulse quicken for unknown reason when Ash walks towards him and sits down to the empty seat on his left. Up-close Paul can see bread crumbles on the corners of Ash's mouth. He probably ate his breakfast while running to school. Paul wishes he could reach out and wipe the food off Ash's face. Only when Ash turns his head and smiles directly at Paul the boy realizes he's been staring too long and quickly turns his head away, not returning the smile.
When his time to introduce himself finally comes, Paul tell the class he likes orange juice (if Ash was okay using food related stuff, Paul figures he is too). He doesn't have time to befriend the guy behind him before it's already their first recess and everyone runs out of the class in hurry. Paul is slow on purpose, taking forever putting his shoes back on. He still doesn't know anyone here, and he isn't quite bold enough just include himself to whatever his classmates are playing. When he steps outside he sees most of his male classmates playing football and probably already being friends with each other. Paul takes a spot behind a large tree. It's only the first recess, it's not like he's already an outsider. He still has time to make friends before the school ends and he meets up with his big brother again. Even if he has to play messy football with everyone else, he will make a friend.
He tells this to himself when it's already their third and final recess for the day. So far Paul has had zero luck on the friendship department. It's like he thought before - this is a small town, most of the kids already knew each other before and Paul is the unlucky new kid with no history with everyone else. He's sitting alone under the same tree again. Bigger kids like to stand in circles just talking when the smaller ones are either playing tag, or football or using the swing and the slides. Paul opens the book that's supposed to teach them how to read. He already knows how to, thanks to his big brother. So he just flips past the alphabetic letters and stops to read the longer paragraphs and stories the books has to offer. Last recess he was almost ready to join his football playing classmates but then he had seen they already had even teams. Paul would be just extra and a bother.
Tomorrow, Paul thinks desperately, I can make friends tomorrow. It doesn't have to be today. Tomorrow is good too. Or this week. Somewhere along this week. He's deep in his thoughts and doesn't notice someone sitting next to him.
"You can read already!? Cool!"
Startled by the sudden voice beside him (calling him cool!), Paul slams the book shut in panic. Then he looks at the source of the cheerful voice. It's Ash.
"No, don't close it! You can read stuff for me! I still don't know how to read at all", Ash smiles at him and Paul thinks this boy is probably incapable of not smiling all the time. He's still in a small state of panic and disarray so somehow saying something out loud feels like an impossible task. He opens up the book again instead. Shuffling through the pages, trying to look like he's searching for something to read. He can feel Ash still looking at him smiling. Paul opens his mouth, not being sure what is going to come out of there. Ash beats him to it,
"Hey, read this page! It has a cute mouse in it! Do you see, that yellow one? I wanna know what it says!" Ash leans closer to the book (and to Paul), pointing the exact page he wants to be read out loud. Paul closes his mouth and then opens it again, hesitating for a moment before reading the first sentence.
When he finishes the page, he shuts the book again. Paul thinks he can probably say it now.
"I-I'm Paul", he says and right after realizes how stupid he sounds, introducing himself even when they already did that in class. But maybe it's okay, just in case Ash has already forgotten.
"I'm Ash", Ash beams at him and Paul has to look away because that smile is seriously too bright.
"Why aren't you playing football?" Paul asks before he can stop himself. Ash points his outfit, "mom wouldn't like if I got my best pajama all dirty."
"I can't believe you'd come to school wearing that!" Paul hears himself saying and hopes Ash doesn't think he's trying to pick up a fight.
"I can't either! I guess I really was in a rush..." Ash laughs sounding somewhat embarrassed. It almost makes Paul smile too. The conversation stops there, Paul trying to figure out what to say next. He turns to face Ash again, maybe only to ask if there's anything else he wants to be read from the book.
Big brown eyes look at him eagerly and to be honest – that's all he needs,
"y-you wanna be my friend?"
Ash is stunned maybe for a second before a big goofy grin is all Paul sees.
"Sure!"
