Hey! I'm back with Chapter 3!

I decided to update every other weekend and maybe a little earlier if I have time.

Gary: I don't think anyone cares when you will update as long as you do.

Ash: For once Gary has a point.

Dawn: Shut up! I want to go on and get to the story.

May: Yeah! What's the big secret and what's wrong with Leaf?

Leaf: There's nothing wrong with me! But what do we find at the guy's place.

Gary: Dead bodies…

Ash: Pizza…

Drew: I don't approve of you girls in our house anyway.

Paul: I agree. *gives Ash a whack on the head* and why are you so obsessed with food?

Misty: I'm offended Drew. SurferGurl14 doesn't own Pokémon. On with the story!

Me: That's my line! Oh well, Chapter 3: The Exceptions!

"Boys, these are the new students. Misty Waterflower, Dawn Berlitz, May Maple and Leaf Green." The teacher walked away.

"So you guys are the new girls I've heard all about." Gary looked at all the girls, his eyes lingering on Leaf.

Leaf kept her head down.

Ash spoke up, "Misty, are these you're friends that you were telling me about? All you girls living together without parents."

"Yeah," Misty looked at her friends, "Guys, this is Ash, remember I was telling you about?"

Dawn looked at the guys, who seemed bored. "You guys might want to read this." She handed them the Romeo and Juliet paper that had all the requirements.

Paul took the paper from her and sneered, "Romeo and Juliet?"

Drew groaned as he looked at the paper in Paul's hand. "No, anything but that!"

Ash shrugged, "I don't mind."

Gary got up and whacked Ash in the head, "You are a disgrace to guys everywhere," he said, keeping his eyes on Leaf. She looked so familiar to him. But he couldn't put his finger on it.

While the guys flew insults at Ash, the girls pulled out their phones. They put their texts so that it would be sent to all of them, Dawn started.

Dawn: Everyone try to read Ash's mind.

A few seconds later…

May: Nothing.

Leaf: Nothing.

Dawn: Same.

Misty: Told you. Try the other guys, I can't seem to read theirs either.

Dawn: Start with Paul. Misty and I got nothing.

May: Same with Drew and Gary too.

Leaf: Why can't we read any of their minds?

Dawn: I don't know. But I'm going to find out.

May: That's not really something you can find out.

Misty: But we can try.

Leaf: Teacher alert!

The girls quickly put away their phones. Leaf discreetly handed her phone to May as the teacher approached her. "Is that a phone Miss Green?"

"No, I didn't even bring my phone today," Leaf lied flawlessly unless she was nervous. In this case, she was nowhere near nervous.

The teacher looked at Leaf and went to go sit at her desk.

Leaf laughed. "Can I have my phone back May?"

May handed Leaf her phone.

Drew just looked at Leaf, "How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"That!" Drew pointed at the teacher," Ms. Smith can figure out when anyone is lying and texting."

May smiled, "She must not be that good because she never figured out all of us had our phones out!"

Dawn laughed, as all the guys looked at them.

"So anyway, about the project, I want to get it over with." Paul said, putting down the paper.

Drew took control, "So let's do this logically. We should all go to one of our houses and do the project-"

Everyone nodded.

Drew continued," I think we should split into groups and each group takes an aspect of the project; we will need two people for the report and two people for the skit and four for the poster. So what are you girls good at?"

Dawn answered, "Well I'm pretty good at research, Misty and Leaf are good at designing and making stuff and May is a brilliant actress!"

May flushed, "Dawn…"

Drew nodded, "Okay, well I'm a good actor, Paul can write good reports but can't research for his life and Ash and Gary are good at following directions."

Misty concluded, "So Dawn and Paul will write the report, May and Drew will work on the skit and Ash, Leaf, Gary and I will make the poster."

Gary looked around, "Everyone agree?"

Everyone agreed except for Paul who just nodded.

Dawn noticed, "What?" she asked innocently, looking at Paul, "You don't want to work with me?"

Paul glared at her, "No."

Dawn smirked and pointed a finger at his chest, "Well too bad."

Ash interfered, "Well how about you girls come over to our place today and we will get it done with."

"Wait," Misty looked at Ash, "You guys live together too?"

Ash smiled, "Yeah, you are the only ones living without mommy and daddy."

"There's a good idea, courtesy of Ash, how about you girls meet us after school and we'll give you a lift to our house?" Gary asked.

Paul sighed, "Just one problem geniuses, we have football practice today."

Drew put a hand through his hair, "Ah shit that is a problem."

"Why, just tell us what time you're practice finishes and we will meet you there." May said.

Gary leaned against the back of his chair, "That's the problem. Our coach ends practice at different times. So we can't give you an exact time."

Ash pondered. "Hey! I have an idea; you girls can wait for us on the bleachers. And when we are done we can give you a lift to our place."

Drew lightly punched Ash on the arm. "Now that's a good idea," he looked at the girls, "if you don't mind waiting."

The girls looked at each other, "We don't mind."

Ash sat up, "Now that that's decided," He was cut off by the bell.

Paul grabbed his bag, "Just follow us to the football field."

Gary stopped Paul, "Unless you girls need to get something?"

Misty and Dawn looked in their bags, "I need my I-pod, it's in my locker." Dawn said looking at Gary.

"I need some homework, that's in my locker," said Misty looking up.

Drew took Dawn's shoulder bag, "I'll go with Dawn."

Gary took Misty's bag from her. "I will take Misty."

Ash grinned at the two remaining girls, "So you guys just follow us."

'Huh,' May noted as they walked to the field, 'This is interesting how we can't read the minds of just these four guys…'

May looked over at Leaf who was talking to Ash; Leaf gave her a look that said 'Still nothing.'

May sighed and looked over at Paul's back. He walked in the front and didn't talk to anyone as they walked down a dark hallway.

Paul opened a door and revealed a field, "The bleachers are over there," he said pointing, "We'll come get you after we finish out practice."

Ash smiled, "You guys can watch me kick some major butt on that field!"

Leaf grinned, "Sure Ash."

May and Leaf walked over to the bleachers. "How long do you think this project will take?"

Leaf looked over at May, "Well its Friday…"

"I wonder what's taking Misty and Dawn so long."

Misty and Gary were walking toward the field from Misty's locker. "So how do you like the school so far?"

"It's nice although the guys here are kind of…creepy."

Gary laughed, "Yeah, the guys go crazy whenever there are new pretty girls."

Misty gave him a teasing look, "You think that we are pretty?"

"Yeah, and I can tell my friends do too, well except for Paul, none of us can figure out what he's thinking-"

'Neither can I,' Misty thought.

"But you girls are some of the best looking girls in this place. Even Drew is impressed, he would have never offered to go with any girl yet he's taking Dawn to her locker as we speak."

"You think Drew likes Dawn?"

"Oh no. Drew likes pretty girls but he's usually attracted to the ones that he can fight with. I can tell Dawn wouldn't want to fight unless she's mad."

"Well Paul seems to be doing a pretty good job of making her mad."

"Ah Paul, but for some reason I don't think Leaf likes me. I mean she won't even look at me."

"Leaf?"

"Yeah," Gary and Misty had arrived at the field, "Well the bleachers are right there. I think that's May waving at us."

Gary said bye to Misty, waved at May and made his way into the boys' locker room.

Drew stood, leaning against the locker next to Dawn's. She grabbed some sunglasses and put them on her head and rummaged through her locker till she found what she was looking for,

"Ah-hah!" She said holding up her pink I-pod.

Drew grinned. "What's with the sunglasses, it happens to be December."

"Well Drew, if you haven't noticed, it is rather sunny today," Dawn replied in an Australian accent.

"That's the worst Australian accent I ever heard," Drew said chuckling.

Dawn giggled as well, "I know, I just wanted to try it."

Dawn put one earphone in her ear so that she could still hear Drew.

"What song is that?"

"Uhmm," Dawn looked at her I-pod, "Be my escape."

"By Relient K?"

"Yes! They're one of my favorite bands."

"Really?" Drew raised an eyebrow, "Mine too."

They arrived at the field and Dawn gave Drew a quick hug, Dawn laughed at Drew's shock.

"Sorry, I'm a hugger."

"It's okay, I just wasn't expecting it."

Drew gave Dawn a smile as they parted.

The girls sat on the bleachers as the guys' came out from the locker room. Ash waved at them and Paul hit him on the side of the head.

Misty started her homework and Dawn put in her other headphone. May and Leaf knew not to bother them when they were in their zones. They just started their homework and watched the guys.

Dawn put on her sunglasses as they sun beat on them. It was December for crying out loud. Why was it so hot? 'Blame global warming I guess,' she thought.

Dawn watched the guys play football as the song Naturally by Selena Gomez started to play through her head phones.

Dawn watched Paul since he was the only one of them playing at the moment.

How you choose to express yourself

It's all your own and I can tell

It comes naturally, it comes naturally

Paul threw the ball to his teammate.

You follow what you feel inside

It's intuitive, you don't have to try

It comes naturally mmmm, it comes naturally

And it takes my breath away

What you do, so naturally

Dawn's breath hitched as Paul started running with the ball. He scored a touchdown and his teammates cheered. Paul took off his helmet and for a moment he was smiling. 'He looks…hot.' Dawn thought.

You are the thunder and I am the lightning

And I love the way you know who you are

And to me it's exciting

When you know it's meant to be

Everything comes naturally, it comes naturally

When you're with me baby

Dawn quickly changed the song as Paul put his helmet back on. 'It's just the song Dawn, just the song.'

She relaxed and read a book for the rest of their practice.

The guys got changed when their practice ended.

May looked at her phone; it had only been an hour.

Two of the football players made their way over to them. One had white hair and the other had hair that was black.

The white one held his hand out to May, "Hey, I'm Brendan."

His friend extended his hand toward Dawn, "And I'm Lucas."

Brendan looked around May to see Leaf and Misty. "Hello?" Leaf smiled up at him.

Dawn smiled, taking Lucas's hand. "Don't mind them; you don't mess with Leaf, the brunette and Misty, the redhead when they are doing homework. I'm Dawn," she said explaining her friends to Lucas.

"And I'm May." May shook Brendan's hand.

Then Dawn shook Brendan's hand and Lucas shook May's.

"So were you all watching us play?" Brendan asked sitting in between May and Dawn. Lucas sat on Dawn's other side. Misty and Leaf moved forward to order to sit next to May.

"Hell yeah, we were watching," Dawn said, "You guys are good."

Lucas chuckled at Dawn's enthusiasm.

Dawn read Lucas's mind, 'She thinks I'm good at football.' he thought with pride.

May tipped her head, "I couldn't figure all of it out though."

As Brendan and Lucas were explaining football, Ash, Gary, Drew and Paul walked over to them.

Gary closed Leaf's math book. "Are you girls ready to go?"

Leaf nodded. Gary took her bag after Leaf put her textbook into it and they walked down the field with Ash and Misty after Ash took Misty's backpack.

Brendan looked at May and Dawn as Paul and Drew waited for them to pack their bags. May read his mind. 'Is May going on a date with Drew Hayden? And Dawn with Paul Shinji?'

"Are you guys going on a date?" Brendan asked.

May zipped up her backpack, "No, we are doing a project."

Drew came and took May's bag. "Come on Red, we'll be late."

"Red?"

"You wear a lot of red."

Brendan cut in, "And it looks lovely on you."

May herself turned a little red. "T-thanks."

May gave Brendan and Lucas a hug and left with Drew.

Paul sighed, "Can you hurry up?"

Dawn gave Brendan and Lucas a hug.

Lucas winked, "Later cutie."

Paul raised his eyebrows and gave Lucas a skeptic look.

Dawn grabbed her bag and they started walking. Paul took her bag.

"Thank you Paul. How gentleman like of you." Dawn smiled.

Paul scoffed, "Don't get used to it." He took Dawn's book from her hands and put it in the bag.

"Motorcycles?!?!" Dawn heard May scream.

"Is there a problem?" Paul heard Drew ask a hysteric May.

As Dawn and Paul arrived at four motorcycles Dawn grabbed Paul's hand.

"What?" Paul said as he noticed Dawn grabbing his hand.

"Don't tell me we are riding those!"

"Actually yes we are."

Dawn took her hand off Paul's and covered her face. As she uncovered her face she saw Leaf and Gary on one motorcycle and Ash and Misty on another. She saw Drew trying to convince May to get on.

Paul got on his motorcycle. "Coming?" he asked her.

Dawn hesitated.

"Are you scared?"

"No!" she said, "I don't want to ruin my hair." That sounded stupid coming from her mouth.

Paul groaned and handed her his helmet. "Here, this will protect your hair."

Dawn fastened the helmet and got on. And it seemed that Drew convince May to get on his.

They rode for about three minutes and arrived at a mansion similar to theirs.

Drew took off his helmet. "Home Sweet Home."

Ash unlocked the door and everyone went inside.

Everyone sat on the couches in the living room.

Gary started giving instructions. "Paul and Dawn, go to the computor room and write the report. Drew and May, go to the game room and start rehearsing. Ash and Misty, you guys set up here and make a sketch for the poster and Leaf, you and me will get the supplies from my room."

Dawn looked at Drew, "I thought you said he was good at following instructions."

Drew shrugged. "This amazed even me."

Gary cleared his throat, "If we are done insulting me. Break!"

Leaf followed Gary to his room. Gary began to dig out art supplies while Leaf took a good look at the pictures in his room. They were pictures of him and other girls. Probably past girlfriends.

Then her eyes fell on a picture too famaliar to her. There was a picture of Gary younger and the girl next to him, was about the same age as him in the picture, she had brown hair and green eyes.

Leaf's eyes widened, 'He kept the picture, all these years.'

Gary noticed Leaf looking at the picture. He sadly smiled at it. The he noticed Leaf watching him.

"Before I moved to Pallet town, I lived in the Orange Islands. This girls in the picture was my best friend. Her name was Leaf too."

"W-what happened?" Leaf's voice cracked.

"She moved and I couldn't stand her not being there. So i decided to go to Pallet town with my grandpa and later i moved here with the dudes."

Leaf voice lowered to a whisper, "Do you miss her?"

Gary looked at the picture sadly, "Every day."

Leaf gave him a hug.

Gary smiled, "No worries. We are still best friends, I know it deep in my heart." He touched his heart. "But anyway, let's get this supplies downstairs."

Leaf took one last look at the picture with guilt.

That girl was her.

Ash and Misty were waiting patiently for Gary and Leaf. When they didn't show, Ash thought they needed help carrying the supplies. As they walked up, they heard Paul and Dawn arguing.

'Guess that can't be helped,' Misty thoguht.

They met with Leaf and Gary halfway up the stairs.

Leaf's face looked rather pale, Misty noted.

A few hours later, Ash, Misty, Leaf and Gary were finishing up the poster. May and Drew had their lines memorized and Paul and Dawn were printing the report.

"Come on," Paul said, "The printer is in my room."

As Paul stapled the freshly printed report, Dawn gazed out the window. She saw a balcony of the house next door. It looked exactly like her balcony. A chair, pink carpet, a small table. Then she recognized a small stuffed animal sitting on the chair. A blue monkey. That was her balcony.

"That balcony!"

Paul looked over to her. "The girl that lives there is so annoying. They just moved there and she plays her music so loud. Just this morning she played Thanks For the Memories at brain-damaging level."

Dawn had played Thanks For the Memories that morning. It was more than a coincidence.

"Oh my god We're neighbors!"

"That means you're the annoying girl who plays her music too loud, "Paul concluded. But Dawn didn't hear him, she was already out the door.

Dawn ran down to the living room where everyone else was relaxing. Paul followed her and dropped the report on the table.

Dawn looked at her house-mates. "We're neighbors!"

"What?" asked Misty.

"We live right next door!"

May stood up, "Good. Then we can leave."

Leaf and Misty had noticed that May was a little angry. That meant Drew was probably at fault.

"Well I guess that means we can leave," Dawn said.

As the girls made their way to the front door, Ash called out, "Wait!"

They turned around.

"Do you guys want to go out on a date tomorrow?" Gary asked.

"A date?" Dawn said.

"Yeah, a quadruple date- May and Drew, Leaf and Gary, Paul and Dawn and Misty and me," Ash said.

Misty looked at her friends, Leaf nodded slightly, Dawn gave a look that said she didn't care and May wouldn't look at her.

"Sure, We're in. See you tomorrow," Misty replied.

"Seven o'clock?" asked Drew.

"Seven," Dawn affirmed.

'Great,' May thought,' A date with a guy sent straight from hell.'

Wow! That was way longer than I expected! It was like 12 pages. So how will the date go? I've decided to split it into 2 chapters. The first is mainly oldrivalshipping and the second is mainly contestshipping. Sorry to the pokeshippers and ikarishippers. They will come though!

Stay tuned for chapter 4: In Too Deep. This is the oldrival part.
The air seems to whisper that the past is very much alive. Can Leaf face her past and the only guy she has ever loved?

Then stay tuned after that for chapter 5: A Game of Cat and Mouse. This is the contest part.
May is tired of being a pawn in Drew's game. When she switches the rules, the tables will turn and will Drew finally lose at his own game? And someone interrupts their date! Who is it?