Chapter 2

During Ash's fourth period class the next day, the class was given an assignment for the class period and he and Misty worked away trying to complete it in time. As they worked on, he couldn't help but notice that Napoleon was getting up behind him, and holding a completed version of the assignment. Ash was in shock when his new teammate turned in his paper before anyone else. When he turned it in, Ash saw that Dawn fetched him for help, and he wasted no time taking the empty seat next to her. Ash cringed in jealousy at the ease of his response. Misty tapped his shoulder from behind him.

"Are you alright Ash?" she asked him. Ash turned around and nodded.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" he snapped back. Misty laughed at his sternness.

"Oh I don't know, just…wondering…," she trailed off and returned to her work. Ash shook his head and did the same.

At lunch, the boys were eating at the same table with Misty and Dawn once again. Ash was still nervous to speak to Dawn even though he had been able to talk to her yesterday. Gary was still interrogating her shockingly, and Paul stayed moderately silent. Napoleon funnily tried to cut in the lunch line and got sent to the end of the line, and the boys couldn't help but laugh at him as he approached the table.

"Ahh! Shut up! I wasn't the only one cutting, and I like how I was the only one to get caught," he said angrily.

"C'mon Napoleon! Wha'd you think was going to happen?" Gary teased. Napoleon stared him down and pointed at him sternly.

"When we ball today, I'm dunking on you first!" he threatened. They both laughed.

"Ok, we'll see about that!" Gary retorted as Napoleon sat down. Dawn shook her head at him.

"Typical Napoleon, can't take a little joke!" she taunted. Napoleon nodded.

"You know it!" he answered. As the group continued eating, Napoleon got a nasty idea.

"So Ash, how'd you like me helping Dawn in Math today?" he taunted. Ash blushed instantly with confusion and fear. He had no idea what to say.

"Uh-uh-uh…w-w-what?" he stuttered "W-what are y-you talking about?"

Napoleon laughed along with the other boys, while Misty shook her head and smiled. "You know what I'm talking about!" Napoleon assured. Ash tried to hide himself in some way, but there was no way to really hide.

"Uh I didn't see it, why?" he answered. Napoleon shook his head and banged it lightly on the table a few times.

"Yeah you did! Stop giving me that bullshit!" Napoleon insisted. Ash was confused now. Why was he doing this?

"Nah I'm just playin' wit you Ash, its ok," he apologized. Ash shook his head and laughed. Napoleon totally got him.

"Wow, ok you got me Napoleon," Ash confessed. Paul smacked him on the back.

"Sorry if that was uncomfortable for you Dawn," Napoleon apologized. Dawn shook her head and smiled.

"It's ok! It was worth it, Ash's reaction was priceless!" she laughed. Napoleon elbowed Ash, and he knew what that meant. Ash smiled, Dawn liked something else about him!

After everyone died down, Gary continued his interrogation with Dawn.

"So, how did cheerleading go yesterday?" he asked. Dawn swallowed her food.

"Great! Everyone there was really friendly, and I was able to get a good spot on the team with my experience! I should be cheer captain in no time!" she responded. Napoleon whispered to Ash.

"Must be her good looks, know what I mean?" he suggested. Ash nodded.

"I know right?" he whispered back. Napoleon nodded.

After lunch and 5th period, it was time for basketball again, and the coach decided to pitch JV against Varsity, merging the best JV players from last year and returning Varsity together, and the best Freshman from last year and the remaining JV players. Ash, Gary, Napoleon, Paul, Drew, and Barry all played for the JV side. Ash, Gary, Napoleon, and Paul got the start from their performance yesterday, while Drew was replaced by a taller former JV player, while Barry got to ride the bench.

The tip was won by the Varsity team since their center was a towering giant and their point guard took it up the court. Ash met him and brought him to a stop outside of the perimeter. This point guard was fast and larger than him, and he really struggled to hold him. The point guard then flipped it to the player being guarded by Napoleon across from him, expecting an easy pass. Napoleon blistered out in front and stopped it easy and took off down the court. The point guard somehow got in front of him inside the other paint, but Napoleon jumped over him and dunked over the varsity player without much difficulty. The Varsity team was shocked by the kid's athleticism and speed. The dunk made their bench erupt and fired up the team. Napoleon made his way back to the other side and waited for the Varsity team to take it down the court in retaliation.

"Good shit Napoleon," Paul encouraged. Napoleon nodded and stayed focused. The team was on their side quickly. The point guard flipped it to an open player on the perimeter and he let it fly with Gary contesting. The shot was off the mark and Paul snatched the rebound using his superb hops. He then looked up court to see an open Ash as the Varsity players sprinted to the other side to defend. Ash received the pass and pushed it up court. He then pushed it up to Gary who waited behind the three point line and launched the shot as soon as he got it. It swished easily with the open shot and the Varsiy team growled in frustration as they were getting it handed to them. Ash decided to do a full court press and ended up stealing the inbound pass. He then looked behind him and saw Napoleon sprinting across and signaling him to throw it up. Ash threw up a perfect lob behind him and Napoleon completed the alley-oop easily. Now the Varsity team was reeling and coach called a timeout to stop the onslaught. The boys high fived with great enthusiasm since they were crushing a superior team easily 7-0 already and couldn't believe it. Napoleon then looked up and noticed that students…no…girls were filing into the gym. He then noticed that rain had kicked up outside and the cheerleading squad must've had to come in the gym to take refuge. He couldn't resist and pointed out Dawn to Ash.

"Look Ash, your girl is here," he pointed out. Ash looked up at the crowd of girls filing into the gym and noticed the blue-haired girl he adored was making her way in as well. He lit up and knew exactly what to do.

"You know what that means!" he yelled. Napoleon nodded.

"What's going on? Are you guys ok?" Gary stepped in. Ash smiled and clenched his fist.

"As good as ever Gary, I'm going to win this for us!" he shouted. Gary took a few steps back.

"Wow, what's got in to you Ash?" Gary laughed. "Has your adrenaline taken over?"

Napoleon shook his head and pointed into the stands. Gary looked to where he pointed and realized why Ash was acting this way and laughed.

"Alright Ash, let's give it to em'!" Gary encouraged and put their hands together.

"Win on 3…1,2,3…WIN!" they shouted and took the court with their teammates.

Dawn looked on at the court when she noticed her newly made friends, Ash, Gary and Paul, along with Napoleon. She wasn't in the greatest of moods, since the rain cut out her chance to show off what she could do to become Cheer Captain hopefully. However, a good break wouldn't hurt her at all. Also, since she did slightly enjoy watching basketball, it would be nice to have something going on.

She looked around and noticed that most of the girls were on their phones doing anything anyone could think of, and completely oblivious to the scrimmage going on. Her best friend on the cheer squad, May, sat next to her and overlooked what was about to go down on the court.

"Why are the JV players competing with Varsity, that's not fair," May noticed.

"I don't know, but it sure is interesting isn't it?" Dawn added. May nodded. They both watched as Ash took the ball up the court after Paul grabbed a rebound and passed it off. Dawn couldn't help but stare at Ash's forearms as they were built to a nice tone. She then watched as Ash crossed over his defender and jumped to lay up the ball. As a defender attempted to block him, he extended his right arm under the flailing arms of his defender and finger rolled the ball in and was smacked in the arm, and called for an and-one (when you are fouled and make the shot at the same time, and you get one free throw). Dawn gasped as Ash hit the ground hard and didn't get up immediately. May noticed her concern and laughed. Gary and Paul came to his side and helped him up while patting him on the head for his great effort. Dawn suddenly seemed to be at ease as he was lifted up. May decided to keep it to herself. Ash went up to the free throw line and drained the free throw no problem.

"Wow, Ash is really good!" May pointed out. Dawn was too focused to notice her comment. The opposing team rushed down the court and broke to the basket as they blistered past the JV team, only to get their layup swatted out of the air by Napoleon. Gary caught the ball and looked up court. He then threw a perfect pass to Paul, who was able to break to an open basket and dunk with one hand.

"Seems pretty fair to me May," Dawn teased. May shook her head.

"Whatever, I had no idea they were so good!" she retorted. Dawn laughed. She then whirled around when she noticed Napoleon steal the ball and then passed it to Ash behind the three point line. Ash pulled up and shot the ball beautifully and watched as it sailed into the basket without a problem. Dawn stood up and yelled Ash's name, cheering for him, only to notice every girl looking at her funnily. She slowly sat back down and apologized, only to see them laugh, since mostly every girl on the cheer squad was her friend. Mostly was right, since Dawn noticed that one girl who has not been the kindest to her shaking her head. Her name was Serena, the Cheer Captain for last year and as soon as Dawn showed up into her world, she has despised her ever since. Dawn clenched her fist at the thought of her.

"Is everything…alright Dawn?" May asked. Dawn smiled at her almost as if she were bi-polar.

"Yep!" she responded. May shook her head. There then was another time out on the floor followed by an angry Varsity coach.

When the game finished up, the final score being 35-13, a complete and utter upset for the Varsity squad, Ash, Gary, Paul, and Napoleon high fived each other since they would shockingly be able to play at the Varsity level as sophomores.

"Good stuff fellas!" Paul yelled. They didn't just beat them, they smashed them. The reason they even scored was because the bench came in and the Varsity team went on a 13-0 run, and the starters put a quick end to that. Barry is struggling with a depleted bench, which is sad because he was a big part of their offense last year. He will just have to deal with being the sixth man for now, or just start on the JV team while the "Fab Four" go on to Varsity.

As they heard the bell ring signaling that school had ended, they all picked up their bags and began to head out, but they were stopped by Dawn.

"Wait guys! Hey! You four looked great out there!" she called to them. Ash smiled at her presence in pure excitement. The other three couldn't help but giggle. Then, May came up behind Dawn.

"Hey guys, my name's May!" she introduced. Napoleon suddenly lost interest in what Ash was talking about with Dawn and noticed this new girl. She wore a tight red shirt and black pants, and had a waist most cheerleaders have, along with a chest he couldn't keep his eyes off of. He attempted to hide his wandering eyes and somehow succeeded since she was busy introducing herself.

"You looked amazing Ash!" Dawn complimented. Ash could barely hold in his excitement.

"Really? Thanks! Hearing that is wonderful!" Ash yelped. Gary laughed. Paul shook his head.

"You all did! I'm excited for you guys this year!" May added. Napoleon took the chance to give her another quick look before he whipped his head away. Then, Dawn raised her hand up for Ash.

"High five!" she said to Ash. Paul and Napoleon scoffed while Gary facepalmed. The group suddenly grew quiet.

"Yo…I'm out," Paul laughed and fist bumped his teammates before leaving.

"F-f-f-f-frieeeeeeend zooooone!" Gary joked as he followed him out. Ash looked at her funnily and it seemed as if his world had come down on him. Dawn laughed.

"I'm just kidding Ash, I know how that works!" she teased. Ash seemed extremely realieved and wiped the sweat off of his forehead.

"So anyway, do you want to walk with me home?" she offered, knowing full well what the answer would be.

"Of course Dawn! I'd love to!" he answered, almost peeing himself. Napoleon giggled as the two love birds made their way out of the gym. Now it was just him and May.

"Well, I'm off, see you around!" she said before turning away. Napoleon waved goodbye, but something held him from walking away. Suddenly, his confident ego took over and he chased after her.

(Cliffhanger ooooooo! I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. Well, Spring Break is ending for me, so I will try to get at least one chapter up this week, so look for that! Also, please leave a review, follow/fav, all that good stuff. Thanks for reading!)