Drew and May left the classroom walking side by side. May had a little bounce in her step that Drew was sure he had seen before; all the girls he had ever spoken to had done the same thing. Drew nibbled on his lower lip, feeling a headache coming on. Maybe he should've refused her offer of showing him around the school. But one look at May's pretty face and he knew he wouldn't leave right away. He couldn't bear to do that.
"What are you thinking about?" May asked as they strode down the hallway. She looked up at Drew, waiting for a response. He was looking around at all the students with a bemused expression on his face. "Is this like your old school?"
"No," he replied, winking surreptitiously at a redhead who was walking beside a dark haired boy. The girl's pale face turned crimson and she looked away. The boy she was with was oblivious and continued rambling; Drew smiled.
May sighed and glanced down at his schedule, which she held tightly in her hand. "Whatever. So, your next class is in room 212—"
"Math, right?" Drew sighed. "At my old school, we had this math club. It was the best."
"How was it the best?" May's voice was suspicious as she stopped in front of room 212. Drew shrugged and held his hand out for his schedule. "Drew, I am asking you a question. What was so great about math club?"
Drew tried to take his schedule but May whipped it behind her back. Drew grinned. She was a feisty one, huh? She had seemed so submissive and sweet before. Her blue eyes bore into his and he easily kept her gaze without blinking. She turned away first.
"Fine. I don't want to know your dirty secrets anyway."
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "If I tell you, I bet it would make you mad. I don't want you to be mad at me."
"I won't get mad," May said, staring at his hand. "It had nothing to do with me. I'm just curious."
"Well." Drew pulled his hand away and leaned back against a row of lockers. "Math club was full of these gorgeous female tutors. God, they were amazing. I learned so much last year."
May snorted. "You thought that would make me mad? As if!"
"You're cute when you're mad," Drew replied, smiling at her brazenly.
She stamped her foot. "I'm not mad! And I'm not...I'm not cute!"
She stalked down the hallway and Drew watched her go, a smirk on his lips. What a strange girl; she wouldn't even accept compliments. The bell rang and Drew realized he was late for his class, even though he had been standing outside of it for the last few minutes. He strode in casually just as the teacher began to take attendance. Once again, he was introduced and told to take a seat. He found himself sitting in front of the red haired girl from before. He winked at her again and she glared at him. Drew sighed as he settled his butt on the uncomfortable chair. The girls at this school were pretty, but oh so very cold.
The girl poked him in the back and Drew shot forward. The teacher looked at him, frowning, and Drew flashed her an apologetic look. When the teacher returned to scrawling boring problems on the board, he turned around to face her.
"Hey. What did you stab me for?"
Her red hair hung to her shoulder in casual disarray and her eyes were narrowed as she rested her chin on her hands. The girl's eyes were a lighter shade of blue than May's were, Drew noted, and they were slightly grey on the rims of her irises.
"I stabbed you because I don't want you to get any ideas in that thick skull of yours," she hissed, twirling the black pen she had in her fingers.
"Ideas?" he replied, feigning innocence. "I don't know how this school works. Are you the girl who's in charge of harassing new kids?"
She kicked him from under the table as a response. Drew glowered at her, and noticed that the boy who was sitting beside her was the same loser she had been walking with earlier. He had charcoal hair and large hazel eyes. Drew nodded towards him, thinking that the guy looked like an idiot.
"Misty, who's that?" the boy asked loudly.
The teacher whirled around. "Ash Ketchum, I've told you this a thousand times. Please try to refrain from speaking while I'm speaking. Now, since I am done with the lesson, you may talk, but only about your work, please."
"Okay," Ash said, beaming at her. "Sorry, Mrs. Eisner."
Drew rolled his eyes at Ash's naivety. The boy was cute, but he probably didn't get very many girls. He seemed to be clueless and gullible; he looked as if his mom still dressed him, what with his brand new blue jeans and short sleeve shirt.
Ash turned his beam on him and Drew blinked, trying to shield his eyes from the blinding goodness of his smile.
"Hey, I'm Ash Ketchum," he said cheerfully.
Drew opened his mouth with mock surprise. "Really? I didn't know that. It's not like anyone said your name five seconds ago—ow!" he cried softly as Misty stabbed him with her pencil, sharp side pointing down on his tender flesh.
"You better shut up, Drew, if you know what's good for you," Misty growled. Her gaze softened as she looked at Ash, who was apparently her friend. "This guy is a loser, Ash. Don't talk to him."
"Why?" Ash replied, genuinely curious. "He's new. I bet he could use some friends. I know I wouldn't like it if I was alone on my first day."
"I'd love to be your friend!" Drew gave Ash a high five.
Misty held her head in her hands. "But Ash, I know these types of guys. They're just arrogant, awful, pricks!"
"Don't be like that," Drew said softly. "I'm...I'm like—", he flashed back to May's drawing, "I'm like a rose. I'm prickly before you know me, but I'm sweet once you climb up past my thorny stem."
Ash gazed at him with admiration. "You must be good in English class, huh?" He turned to Misty and grinned at her. "He might be even better than you!"
Misty threw an eraser at Ash and he ducked with the ease of someone who had dodged many objects. "Drew won't beat me. I can guarantee it. He just uses flowery metaphors."
"The girls here are weird," Drew commented absentmindedly, doodling a rose in the margins of his notebook. Ash and Misty stopped bickering long enough to look at him. Misty's face was a terrifying sight as she reached out and grabbed hold of Drew's shirt.
"What are you doing?" Drew was exasperated as he pulled free of her grip. She released him, gritting her teeth together. "Girls here are so violent."
"How would you know? You just got here!" Misty snapped. She tugged on Ash's arm for support. "Tell this guy off, Ash. You can't let him get away with this."
"You know, you are pretty violent, Misty," Ash snickered. "Remember all those times you dragged Brock around by his ear whenever he talked to a girl?"His gleeful expression disappeared when he saw the rage on her face. "No, never mind. I didn't mean—"
"You will suffer for this, Ash!" Misty poked him several times in the arm, always when the teacher wasn't looking. Misty never got caught.
Drew could've sworn he saw tears in her eyes but they vanished when he blinked. He realized suddenly that Misty liked Ash. He could tell by the way she wanted him to be impressed by her. He could tell by all the things Misty did as an excuse to touch him. But the boy was painfully ignorant.
"This may be weird," Drew said slowly, "but are you guys dating?"
Both of their heads snapped up and they looked at each other for the briefest instant before looking away again. Drew observed the way both their cheeks were tinged crimson. He smiled to himself. It was always interesting when best friends were in love, but didn't know it. Well, Misty knew it, but he wasn't sure about Ash.
"We're not d-dating," Misty blurted out; her voice was a tad higher than it had been earlier.
"Nope," Ash confirmed. "We're just friends. Besides, Misty told me that she liked," his voice lowered to a whisper, "Paul."
Misty moaned and buried her face in her hands. "Oh my God! Ash, what did you say that for?" She shot Drew a death glare. "You will never repeat this to anyone, anytime. Understand?"
Drew nodded quickly and Misty's face relaxed. "I won't tell. Besides," he added, reaching his hand out and touching Misty's cheek, "I'm sure you're not interested in this Paul person." She slapped his hand away and he laughed. Ash watched them, a slightly envious expression on his face that Misty didn't catch. But Drew saw everything and he laughed even more.
The bell rang and everyone got up, closing their blank notebooks. Nothing had been done here except for socializing. Drew stood up and put his backpack on, about to leave, when Ash called out his name. He pivoted on his right foot and stared down at them; they were still in their seats.
"Yeah?"
"Sit with us at lunch," Ash blurted out before Misty could say a word. "You seem like a pretty cool person."
Drew gave them an apologetic smile. "I'd like to, but I already have plans to eat with someone." This wasn't technically true, but Drew was sure he could make it happen.
"Really?" Misty raised an eyebrow, looking slightly hurt at his rebuff. "Who would that be?"
"Oh, just a girl," he answered. "Her name's May." With a curt nod, he turned and left the classroom.
Ash and Misty looked at each other, eyes wide. They both knew what the other was thinking and it was a few seconds before they could speak.
"He's eating with May?" Misty said, shock lacing every word.
"So those rumors are true?" Ash mused, eyes worried. "I never believed them. But I guess they must be. I just thought she was a really quiet girl, but—"
"The girls who look the nicest are usually the worst," Misty declared. Her mind was racing; Drew was going to eat with May? He obviously couldn't know about that girl. He probably just thought she was pretty—she was pretty, beautiful in fact—but she was a slut. She sighed and linked her arm through Ash's, revelling in the feel of his taut arm warm in hers. "Whatever. He'll find out soon enough."
Author's note: WHOA. I feel so proud for actually updating both my stories in like a day. –pats self on back- This story is about to turn interesting, so stay tuned! I apologize for the lack of Contestshipping in this chapter, but this story can't be about that 24/7. Or can it? xD Thanks so much to all my reviewers from the first chapter. I love you guys and you make my heart smile! Look forward to Contestshipping (and other shipping) action very soon!