Hey everyone! I'm glad people are still reading this story :) It gave me a lot of motivation to write this chapter out faster than I usually do. This chapter is going to move away from the plan for a bit and focus more on the dance and relationships. I hope you like it! ENJOY :D

Disclaimer – I do not own Pokémon! If I did, all of my fave shippings would be canon!


Chapter 9 – Rejected and Dejected

One week later...

Ash's POV

"Hey beautiful, would you like to accompany me to the dance?"

We all sat on the front steps of the school before first period class watching Gary attempt to get a date to the dance. It was fun watching him and Paul get rejected earlier when they first made the bet, but now it's becoming very boring. I'm actually surprised that one of them still doesn't have a date to the dance. I mean, as much as I hate to admit it, even I have a date to the dance. Sure, it's not Dawn, but at least I have a date... right?

"Sorry, but no. I wouldn't want to go with someone like you. I need a gentleman to be my date, not a pervert."

We all watched in shock as the girl who just rejected Gary walked away, leaving him frozen in place with a pale expression plastered onto his face.

After a few minutes of standing there like a statue, he walked over to us, his head looking down in shame.

"Wow, Gary! Another rejection? How many has that been? Oh, right... 14." Ursula said, smirking directly at him. Zoey laughed at her comment.

Gary glared at her. "Will you be quiet? I still have a week left to get a date. Piece of cake."

"That's what you said last week. And you still don't have a date..." Dawn said, trying her best not to burst out laughing.

Ouch.

"At least I'm not as big of a failure as Paul. He's had 18 rejections so far." Gary said with a conceited look on his face.

"That's because he's asked out more girls than you. At least he's trying." May said.

"Well trying isn't good enough. You gotta sweet talk the ladies, you know?" He said smoothly.

Dawn snorted. "You're unbelievable."

RIIINNGGGGG!

"That's the first bell. We better head to class!" Zoey said, standing up.

"Last one there is a loser!" May shouted out. She ran inside the school with Dawn, Zoey and Ursula running after her.

"Yeah Ashy-boy, last one there is a big fat loser! Ha." Gary said, running after the girls, laughing his head off.

I tried my best not to punch him in the face after that.

15 minutes later...

"Okay class, I want to talk about the dance which is happening next week! I could really use some help." Ms. Roxanne said as she stood in front of the class.

"Ms. Roxanne, why are you discussing the dance with us? Shouldn't we be preparing for mid-terms?" A student in the back of the room asked. I was wondering the same thing, too...

"Well... I am your teacher, but I'm also head of the dance committee! And I need some students to help set up on the day of the dance during lunch and a little bit right after school before the dance." She said.

I looked around to see if anyone would volunteer. I would, but I have to take my time when getting ready because Misty is my date and she said that I need to look "absolutely perfect" if I want to live.

Yeah... I live a freaking great life.

Anyways, I noticed that May, Ursula, Gary and Zoey put up their hands. That's new. I'd expect May and Zoey since they're always willing to help, but I would not expect Ursula and Gary. They never bother with this kind of stuff. I wonder what's up...

"Wonderful! On the day of the dance you four must meet me here at the beginning of lunch. The rest of the set up crew will be there as well." Ms. Roxanne said, turning around to finally start the lesson.

x – x – x

Normal POV

"Attention all Crystal High students! Tickets for next week's dance are selling in the cafeteria at lunch starting today until the day of the dance for only 2 poke dollars per ticket. Come and get them now before they're all gone!"

All of the students in Ms. Fantina's French class started chatting amongst themselves after hearing the announcement on the PA system. However, Drew and Zoey were sitting quietly at the back, waiting for the lunch bell to go off.

"Are you going to the dance Drew?" Zoey asked, turning towards him in her seat.

Drew glanced at her before nodding. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world. After all, I am a part of your scheme now so I really have no choice."

Zoey nodded in understanding. She had kind of forgotten about the scheme for a bit.

"Are you going to ask May to the dance?" she asked her green-haired friend.

Drew's eyes widened as a look of shock covered his whole face.

"What?"

"Are you going to ask May to the dance?" she repeated.

He didn't say anything, thinking it was best if he kept silent. He didn't want to talk about asking May to be his date to the dance. Especially with one of her closest friends.

"Come on, Drew! I know you like her. So why don't you just ask her? Are you afraid she'll say no?" the red-headed girl asked him.

Drew sighed. "Okay fine. Yes I'm afraid that she'll say no. And I'd rather save myself from heartbreak."

"What makes you think she'll say no?" Zoey asked him curiously.

"I don't know. I guess I'm worried that I hurt her to the extent where she doesn't want to be more than friends anymore."

Zoey's eyes widened in both curiosity and surprise. "Wait... what? When did you hurt her?"

"I guess it's finally time I told someone the story. Back in middle school May and I were very close friends. We used to hang out a lot at lunch, but secretly. We were afraid that no one would like our friendship because we were so different. We became really close and I really started to like her, but when we came to high school... all of that changed."

"Changed?"

"Yeah. I made new friends, cocky and popular friends. I started hanging out with them and ignoring May. I felt really bad, but I had no choice. I wanted to fit in at that time. We never spoke to each other after that, well, up until now that is." He finished.

Zoey stared out the window, taking it all in. She couldn't believe that May never told any of them this. The fact that she used to hang out with Drew in middle school and that he put a pause on their close friendship.

"What do you think I should do?" Drew asked her.

"I think you should still ask her." Zoey said, smiling.

Drew started to panic at this advice. "What? Are you crazy? I can't ask her after all that's happened. What if she still hates me?"

Zoey giggled. "One, stop freaking out. Two, the fact that you both have become friends again pretty much shows that she's over it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. That was in the past Drew, now is the time to look at the future."

Drew smiled. "I guess you're right. Wow, I never thought that I'd be the one asking for romance advice."

RIIINNGGGG!

Drew and Zoey, along with the rest of the class, walked out of French and into the hallway.

"I'm going to go find May." Drew said.

"Okay. See you later and good luck!" Zoey said, giving him a thumbs up.

"Thanks!"

May's POV

"Did you find anyone to go to the dance with yet?" I asked Dawn while we walked down an empty hallway, looking at the dance ticket I just bought.

She sighed. "Nope. I guess I'm not going to go this year."

"WHAT?! But you have to go, Dawn!" I shouted in shock at the words that came out of her mouth.

"Please tell me what the point of going to the dance is if my long-time crush is going to be there with his 'date'?" She said, putting her hands on her hips and giving me a glare.

"Just ignore Ash and Misty. Besides, weren't you the one who said it wasn't necessary to have a date to the dance? Just come without one. That's what I'm doing!" I said, showing her my ticket and giving her a grin.

She scoffed. "Yeah, right. You're going with Drew, aren't you?"

"Huh? N-no way! What makes you think that?" I asked, blushing like a red tomato.

"Well, because you've been hanging out with him a lot lately. So I just assumed that you were..."

"Oh. Well, I'm not. And I doubt he's going to ask me any time soon..." I said, looking crestfallen.

Dawn gave me a sympathetic look. "Don't worry. There's still time. I'm sure he'll ask you."

I gave her a confused look. "What makes you think that he will?" I asked her quietly.

She winked playfully. "Just a gut feeling."

I laughed. I always enjoyed these kinds of moments with Dawn. It's one of the best things about being her best friend.

We kept laughing for a few minutes until someone came walking over to us.

From the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I saw Dawn slightly smirk.

"Hey May. Can I talk to you for a sec?" That voice... it must be...

"Oh of course she can talk, Drew. I'll just head back to the cafeteria on my own. Bye!" Dawn said quickly before rushing down the hallway and around the corner.

I'm so going to get her back for this.

I smiled and turned around to face Drew. "What's up?"

"Nothing really. I just wanted to ask you something really quickly." He said, rubbing the back of his head. Was he nervous?

"Okay. Go right ahead." I said, smiling.

"Well... I know we've been through some rough times and we've just recently become friends again, but I was wondering if you would like to go to the dance with me." He asked, looking right into my eyes.

I stood still for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Good Giratina! How could Dawn be right?! She's usually never right!

Should I say yes? I mean, I'm hopelessly in love with him, but what about the plan? I might be too busy to actually dance...

Ah, what the heck.

"I'd love to go to the dance with you, Drew!"

"Really? Wow, that's great! I guess I should go buy my ticket now." He said, smiling and looking at my ticket.

"I'll come with you."

He smiled at me and we both walked down the hallway towards the cafeteria.

x – x – x

After school...

Dawn's POV

"Empty hallways after gym class. Just how I like it." I said while walking down the air conditioned hallway towards the school's exit. It was a Friday so I was pretty sure that no one was still here. Everyone always rushed home on a Friday, eager to start the weekend.

As I stepped outside, I almost dropped my bag in shock.

Someone was still here... and it was...

"Oh, hey Dawn!"

"H-hey Ash! What are you still doing here? School ended 20 minutes ago..."

"I guess I just needed time to think. It's a lot quieter when everyone leaves."

"I see." I said as I carefully walked down and sat beside Ash on the third last step.

There was a peaceful silence in the cool and breezy air until Ash decided to speak up.

"You know what?" he asked, looking at me.

"What?" I asked, curious.

"We never hang out anymore. We used to be really close. I think we should start hanging out again."

I nodded, feeling a tinge of hope inside of me. "I agree. Maybe we should hang out this weekend?"

"Sorry... I can't. Misty is making me go shopping with her all weekend for the dance. She wants us to match and make sure we have the best clothes. I'm not into all this shopping stuff, but I really have no choice." He said, chuckling slightly.

I looked down and frowned. How could I be so stupid? I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up that he would actually carry out his idea of us hanging out again so soon.

"Don't worry, I understand." I lied.

"I'm glad you're not upset! But we can always hang out another time." He said, grinning at me.

I nodded with a sad smile on my face. He didn't seem to notice my depressed behaviour...

Ash glanced at his phone before getting up and looking at me. "Well I've got to go. Misty wants me to meet her at a dress store. Bye Dawn!" he said before walking off.

"Bye Ash..." I whispered, feeling majorly dejected.

I just wish Ash could see what's right in front of him. Maybe then I would actually have a chance.


The ending was kind of rushed. I didn't really know what to make them say, but I really wanted to put in an Ash and Dawn scene, so here you go!

I hope you enjoyed this kind of long chapter! It took me quite some time because I wasn't sure how to write out most of it, but I got through it :) Oh, and I've decided to change the school teachers to actual Pokémon characters (gym leaders) because it makes more sense to me.

The next chapter probably won't be out for a while... mostly because school is starting next month and it's going to take up most of my time. But I'm going to try for another update before the year ends so please look out for it!

Please review if you can and thanks for reading! :)