A/N: Thanks to everyone who reads, reviews, favourites and follows this fanfiction. It means a lot and it's what keeps me going! :D Now that the building work is done, I can update more often! Oh, and sorry if it appears I spelled some words such as 'favourite', 'realise' and 'colour' in the British way. It's just because I am British so that's the way I usually spell. Anyway! On with the fic! :D

Arceus High School

Dawn's POV:

Arceus High School isn't so bad. I mean, despite the fact that I'm not yet used to it, I'm not finding it that bad! It's not as bad as my previous school in Unova where I was hated. I suppose my mum getting a new job here, in Kanto, was a good thing, although I'd love if we could just move back to Twinleaf Town. I'd spent practically all my life there, until we moved to Unova two years prior. I reminisce the horrible memories of everyone at school excluding me and treating me like an outcast. The only reason people would talk to me was because they wanted to say something mean. Some people actually went to the extent of being violent towards me. I guess you could say I got bullied there.

"Perfect," I say, smiling at my reflection as I clip curl the last few strands of midnight blue hair. I get up and walk over to the door as gracefully as possible, picking my bag up in the process. I stand there, leaning against the door frame, examining my house.

It sure is bigger than my house back in Twinleaf Town, so big that I feel that I could get lost if I'm not careful. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating about its size, but it's not like I've lived here very long - we moved in two days before I started school so some of our furniture is still in boxes. We only unpacked the essentials, such as sofas, beds, tables and chairs. Everything else is still in boxes, excluding our clothes and my laptop, which we bundled into the boot of the car.

I walk down the stairs and go into the kitchen. My feet still hurt from yesterday. Note to self, never walk from school to home or vice versa. Even those it may seem like a short distance in a car, it's much longer on foot. I put a slice of bread in the toaster and wait. I think I'll just take the bus today, considering my mum's already at work. I don't want to exhaust myself again.

After eating breakfast, I exit the house and make my way to the bus stop. A few minutes later, I see the bright yellow bus make its way towards the bus stop. I grip my bag tightly in an attempt to comfort me. I don't understand. What am I so scared, worried and nervous about? Maybe I'm just paranoid. Paranoid that what happened at my previous school will happen again. Calm down, Dawn! Remember, no need to worry! I tell myself. Right at that minute, my mum's voice creeps in to my head. That's when I worry most. I feel like ripping my hair out! Am I going crazy?!

I force a smile as I board the bus and try to put my worries behind me. I sit down on the first free seat that I see. The person sitting next between me and the window turns from the glass to face me. Ash, my guide from yesterday.

"Hey!" I say.

"H-hi!" he says, before turning away. Well that was weird. Why does he sound so nervous? I shrug it off and look around the bus. I see many people, including that girl from yesterday - May - in front of me. I tap her on the shoulder and she turns around fully in her seat to face me.

"Oh! Hi, Dawn!" she smiles.

"Hi," I smile back.

"How are you?"

"I'm great, I guess... you?"

"I'm fine! Are you liking our school?" I take a minute to think about this question before answering.

"Yeah, it sure is better than my old school,"

"Where was your old school?" she asks.

"In Unova..." I say.

"So, you're from Unova?"

"No! No way!" I say in half in horror, half in shock. Do I really seem like I'm from Unova? "I'm from Sinnoh,"

"I've heard that Sinnoh is a really nice place," May compliments. I nod.

"Yeah, I miss it a lot," I say, trying to hide my sadness. I miss my home - the home I used to know. I miss the people there. I wouldn't even mind being called Dee Dee now! But, most importantly, I miss the feeling of genuine happiness all the time. When I moved to Unova, I became so - what's the word? Depressed, perhaps? I became so depressed that I felt like I could never be happy again. At least now in Kanto, I feel somewhat better. May turns to Ash.

"Hey, Ash, have you ever been to Sinnoh?" she asks. Ash shakes his head.

"I've seen a bunch of pictures of it though! It really is beautiful!" Ash gives a small smile.

"Oh, Ash..." May says. Ash looks at her, curiousity in his eyes. She cocks her head towards a slim girl with tanned skin and hair the colour of dark purple grapes. She turns around to look at me, May and Ash. Her big eyes are a light shade of brown. She winks in our direction and then turns around and starts giggling so quietly, it's just about audible. I turn to look at Ash who has a confused look on his face.

The bus finally arrives at school. I get off the bus without a word and make my way over to the school gates which are just a few metres away, when I'm stopped by a voice.

"Dawn!" I turn around and see the purple haired girl signalling for me to go to her. I slowly approach her, feeling confused and slightly paranoid.

"Y-yeah?" I say.

"You're new, right?" she asks.

"Yeah..." I reply.

"Well, I'm Iris!" she says in a cheery voice. "Have you got any friends?"

"N-no... not exactly..." By the way a gang of people are standing behind her, I take a wild guess and make out that she is pretty popular.

"Well, you can hang out with us if you like!" she concludes.

"Um... thanks?" I squeak. I cough and quickly correct myself. "I-I mean, thanks!" Without warning, she links arms with me and marches off into the school playground. All eyes are on us and people start gathering round. I feel my body begin to tense but I try to ignore it and tell myself to calm down. Maybe I have a chance to be liked at this school so I should take this opportunity.

I take a seat at a lunch table between the purple haired girl, who I now know as Iris and another girl with orange hair who previously introduced herself as Misty. I've grown slightly better at not getting nervous around huge gangs of people. Hopefully by the end of these next two weeks, I'll have no problems.

"So, Dawn," Iris suddenly says. I turn to her.

"Yeah?"

"Do you see that guy over there? With the jet black hair? You know? The one that showed you around yesterday?" she asks. I follow her gaze and fix my eyes on Ash, who's back is facing us. He's only a few tables away.

"You mean Ash? Yeah, what about him?" A hint of excitement flashes through her eyes as a huge grin spreads along her face.

"Well, I've had a huge crush on him ever since the start of Freshman year and today, I'm going to tell him!" she squeals. For some reason, I have a feeling this won't turn out particularly well.

"Well, I hope it all goes well for you!" I smile. "No need to worry!"

"Can you come with me?" Iris proposes. I hesitate before answering.

"Uh... sure!" I plant a false smile on my face and stand up.

"Not yet! When he's done eating!" Iris whispers. I sit down.

The canteen is buzzing with ear-deafening chatter, laughter and an occasional shout or scream. I feel my head spinning as people surround the table that I'm sat at. I didn't realise how crowded it had become. I'm only good at being around people that I know slightly well, not random strangers. I try to calm down by taking deep, shallow breaths but no one seems to notice.

"He's finished!" Iris cries loudly, informing the whole group that Ash is done with his lunch. A unusual feeling arises within me. For some reason, I don't want to know what the outcome will be. I don't want Ash to know. I shrug it off. It's probably just my nervousness eating away at me.

Ash walks out of the canteen, taking no notice of Iris's huge gang - he's probably used to her being surrounded by people, after all she is one of the most popular girls at school and apparently, so am I.