Disclaimers: See the first chapter!

Chapter Four

"Ash, your tutor will be—"

It would be a very nice day—if Ash Ketchum didn't need a tutor. Mrs. Carlton said that if he didn't find one by that day, she'd be forced to pick out for him. Ash tried Brock; he was tied up on finding a girlfriend and his job on the community veterinary clinic. Tracey could do it, but backed out in the fear of making Ash fail even more.

   "Hey! Michelle!" Ash called, spotting Tracey's cousin.

   "What's up, Ash?"

   Ash twiddled his thumbs. "Uh, this is going to sound really embarrassing…but-Mrs. Carlton-said-that-I-should-find-a-tutor-or-else-there's-a-chance-I'll-fail-first-term-and- if-I-fail-first-term-I-might-ruin-my-whole-senior-year-and-I-may-end-up-repeating-the year-instead-of-going-to-college-so-I-was-thinking-that—" He said swiftly, but he was interrupted by Michelle.

   Michelle gave Ash a strange look. "Ash! Stop! I can't understand what you're saying."

   "Listen, I need a tutor, or else I'll fail first term. If I fail first term, I fail a part of senior year. If I fail a part of senior year, chances of me finishing high school this year are kaput. And if that happens, I might end up repeating the whole year again while you people go to college!"

   "Oh!" Michelle said. "Now I understand."

   "So? Can you help me? Be my tutor?"

   Michelle shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ash. I'm tied for drama club. New play auditions are coming up, and I want to get into the cast, so I'm pretty busy at the moment." She looked sorry when she said it. "Can't Tracey help you?"

   "He's afraid that he might make me even worse," Ash said gloomily.

   "Yeah, well, I'm sure Mrs. Carlton will just pick a good tutor for you."

   Good thing Gary Oak isn't a top student, or else there are high chances of getting him as a tutor, Ash thought, as he shuddered.

   "Ash!" Brock called.

   Ash whirled around to see Brock was running towards him, holding a paper on his hand. "Look! The dance was rescheduled until next Friday. It was Principal Lennon's order."

   "Really?"

   "Yeah! That means I still have a few days to find a date. And where's Mr. Traitor?"

   Ash looked puzzled. "Mr. who?"

   "Traitor Sketchit, duh," Brock said. "Remember when Suzie said that she wanted the guy who helped her in Math to ask her to the dance? Well, I found out yesterday that it was Tracey."

   "No way!"

   "Way," Brock said. "The point is, he didn't even tell me! Or you! Or both of us!"

   Ash raised his brows. "Did you also find out if he really did ask Suzie?"

   Brock frowned, trying to remember the scene from yesterday. "No, Suzie asked him! And Tracey said no, but she gave him her address and number anyway."

   "Tracey's not a traitor, Brock. If he was, he would've accepted the invitation from Suzie." Ash pointed out. "Get real."

   "But still! It was so clear he wasn't interested in her, so why is she pushing it? And here I am, dateless. What is wrong with these people?"

   Ash just shook his head as the bell rang.

~*~

"So, I gave him my address and number!" Suzie exclaimed.

   "Did he reconsider?"

   "I don't know, I was late for something and left him in the hallway," Suzie said thoughtfully. "Who cares? As long he shows up at my doorstep. He's pretty cute. And nice."

   Misty popped a French fry in her mouth. "Really, Suzie, don't you think that's kinda unfair to Sketchit?"

   "Well, it is, but what's not to like in me? Besides, I'll make sure he'll have a fun time at the dance next Friday."

   "I can't believe Lennon cancelled the dance for tomorrow and rescheduling it on next Friday," Clair Fontana said. (Clair is the Blackthorn City Gym Leader, if you've played Pokémon Silver/Gold/Crystal. Well, I have the Gold and Crystal versions. And Karen is a member of the Elite Four, on the very the same game versions I mentioned.)

   "It's a good thing, since the whole dance was a short notice anyway, and half of the student body does NOT have a date yet," Karen Iverson said. She turned to Melody, who was awfully quiet since the whole Tracey-Suzie thing. "So quiet today, eh, Melody?"

   "What? OH!" Melody said, blushing a little. "What did you say?"

   "What's wrong?"

   "Nothing…nothing," Melody said.

   Clair pointed to the cafeteria doors, where Ash Ketchum was trying his best to politely shoo away Casey Carmichaels. "That sophomore—Casey Carmichaels? I've noticed that she's got a massive crush on Ash Ketchum."

   Misty choked on her fry. "Ash Ketchum? That arrogant jerk that thinks he owns the hallway?"

   "What are you talking about?" Karen asked.

   Melody shook her head. "Some accident happened the day before that involves a forehead, a door and a pair of humans that can really shout—loudly," she explained.

   "Whatever," Karen said. "He is cute, isn't he?"

   "Cute? Please," Misty said.

   Melody looked at Ash. "Yeah, he is. What do you think, Suzie?"

   Suzie looked at Ash, Brock and Tracey as they sat on their usual table. She was actually looking Tracey, but she did get a glimpse of Ash. "Maybe."

   "Honestly!" Misty said. "Ash Ketchum…major pain in the butt. How can you think he's cute? He's not even nice—or polite either."

   "Well, he is, Misty, face it." Karen said. "He would be my second choice if Rudy isn't available. But he is, and I like Rudy."

   Misty just gave her friends a weird look.

~*~

   "Look, Brock, I'm really, sorry, dude, but she asked me. But I didn't want to go with her!" Tracey said.

   "Chill, Trace, okay? No fuss. I just happened to have a good idea," Brock said, rubbing his hands together. "What if—when 'you' have to pick her up Friday night, I'll pick her up instead."

   "Yeah, but, what happens when she slaps you?" Ash asked.

   "She won't. I'll just tell her that Tracey can't pick her up because he'll be a few minutes late, and he didn't want to make her late, so he told me to pick you up, because I'm dateless. But I won't really be. Tracey will explain to her at the dance, and 'if' she doesn't break down, everything will be great!"

   Ash looked at Tracey. "There is something really wrong about this plan."
   "I just got to have a date with Suzie!" Brock grinned. "And I'm going to get it."

~*~

   "Melody Gates, Karen Iverson et Misty Waterflower, bien fait!" Madame De Carte, the French teacher, said. "Got As on our test."

   "Merci," the three said simultaneously.

   "All right then…" She scanned the class. "This is just a small exercise, and please answer me in French. Quelle heure est-il?" She looked directly at Ash. (No, Ash is only in Misty's Science, English and French classes. Other than that, they have different schedules.) Monsieur Ketchum? Répondez à la question."

   Ash looked at Madame De Carte helplessly. "Aujourd'hui est Jeudi…?" Some of the students laughed.

   Madame De Carte looked at Ash. "Yes, I can see that you're not paying attention. Anyone would like to correct Mr. Ketchum here?"

   Misty raised her hand. "Le temps est 9:20 AM."

   "Very good, Misty," Madame De Carte said. "Ash, I suggest that you pay more attention to your French."

   "Show off," Ash muttered. He glared at Misty.

~*~

   "I see…you haven't found a tutor, Ash…" Mrs. Carlton said after classes.

   "Uh, yeah," Ash said. Get me someone good…please…he thought, praying silently.

   "Well, Ash, you heard what I said. Even if the dance is cancelled, I am still assigning your tutor today!" Mrs. Carlton said.

   "Yes, ma'am," Ash said.

   Mrs. Carlton flipped some papers over. She saw a couple of students behind Ash. She smiled. "I have picked a good tutor for you, Mr. Ketchum."

   "Who?"

   "Ash, your tutor will be—"

Wacky Witch:

CUT! Okay, not much of a cliffhanger. Once again, another of my stupid chapters has been finished. I'm rushing this story already…but I'm trying my best to keep it interesting.

I'm sorry if this chapter's got a couple of errors, I wrote in a hurry. ^_^