So I got heaps of views but no reviews :( Please, please, please review. It's the only way I can get better, and I honestly don't care if you just say you hate it, or something like that, I just want to be able to improve.

But yeah, so here's another one shot. It's a few years on, and continues with the same ideas from the last one shot. And I had to include some childish OldRivalShipping. I just had to. I love them together.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or the song.

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14 there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school

Leaf was hurrying through the streets of Pallet Town, both hands playing with her hair, trying to get the unruly locks to sit flat as she ran.

How could she have told her dad not to worry about her? She didn't even want to go to school. How could she have thought she might get to something on time when she didn't even want to go? She'd have a hard enough time getting there on time when she wanted to go. If her mum was there, this never would have happened…

No. Leaf shook her head. This was not the time to think about that. She continued running, dodging around the rain puddles that were on the ground. Luckily, the rain had cleared overnight and the outdoor ceremony could go ahead.

Pokémon

Professor Oak was driving with Gary in the back seat. It was his graduation from Trainer's School today, so Professor Oak had decided to go with him.

He saw a young girl with long brown hair sprinting down the street, jumping over puddles and dodging the people on the sidewalk.

"Is that Leaf?" He asked his grandson. He saw Gary's head shoot up from out of his lap at the mention of the girl's name. He suppressed a chuckle. Leaf really was going to be very pretty once she got a little older. He couldn't blame Gary for his reaction.

"Pull over Gramps. She's probably running late."

Professor Oak did as Gary requested, and watched the two youngster's conversation quietly.

Pokémon

"Leaf?"

She stopped abruptly and spun around. She would recognise that voice anywhere. Of course, she hadn't heard much of it lately…

No. She shook her head again. When did she start thinking such sad thoughts?

"Do you want a ride, Leaf?" He brought her back to the present. Gary was leaning out the window of his grandfather's car, and he moved to open the door for her.

Leaf sighed in relief. Maybe she would get to the school after all. And maybe things would be okay again…

No. Don't think that.

"Thank you, much appreciated."

She hopped into the car and Professor Oak began driving again.

"So why are you so late, Leaf? I thought your father would have gotten you there on time," Professor Oak asked.

Leaf felt a blush rise to her cheeks, she knew she was going to get laughed at, "I told him to meet me there because he had things to do and I could get myself there on time." Leaf replied.

"And your dad believed that?" Gary laughed, "You're the most unorganised person I know Leaf."

"Shut up Gary." Leaf retorted, brushing aside Gary's insult, and ignoring Professor Oak's chuckle from the front seat. Leaf paused, "Oh, Professor Oak, could you please drop me off around the block from school?"

Pokémon

Professor Oak thought that the suggestion was quite strange. He looked at her through the rear view mirror, trying to gauge some kind of reason for her question from her actions.

She was staring at her lap, her fingers intertwined on it. He could see her constantly biting her lip, and he noticed there was a mark on her right arm.

Professor Oak also noticed that Gary was looking at her, a look of concern on his face. He, too, was biting his lip, as if he wanted to say something but was unsure whether he should.

Then Professor Oak realised that today was the 11th of August, exactly eleven months from when Melanie Green had passed. Leaf went to visit the cemetery once a month, on this day. What a shame it had to fall on her graduation.

"Of course Leaf. Outside the cemetery?"

"Thank you Professor Oak. That would be good."

A movement from Gary caught Professor Oak's eye. He had reached out his hand to put it on Leaf's, but she moved her hands away to lean against the window.

Pokémon

Soon enough they had arrived at the cemetery, and Leaf got out of the car.

"Thank you for the ride, Professor Oak."

"Not a problem Leaf."

Gary didn't say a word, instead choosing to look out the opposite window. Leaf opened her mouth, and then shut it again.

If she was honest with herself, she knew she was the reason there was so much tension between the two.

But when was Leaf ever honest with herself? It was so much easier not to be.

She hated that Gary had left her, abandoned her in the schoolyard at lunches, in classes. When she was struggling with some theory work he never helped her unless she asked him.

And he was the only one she would ever go to for help.

At least, now.

"I miss you, Mum."

Leaf remembered back to the first time that she and Gary had fought. It had been when they were both nine, only a year ago. She had finally managed to 'grow a backbone', as her mother would have put it. Leaf had been revelling in her new found freedom, and so an argument between the growingly arrogant Gary and herself had begun. She couldn't remember what it was about though, something about Pokéblock flavours and who would feed the Pokémon.

Gary hadn't spoken to her for weeks afterwards, and her mother had told her that it was because he liked her. She had said that Leaf wasn't supposed to understand, but boys had this urge to be better at anything, especially when it was with someone they loved.

Then she told Leaf to wait.

Wait.

He would come around, and things would go back to normal.

Except things hadn't been normal. They hadn't been normal for eleven months.

Blinking back the tears that had made their way to her green eyes, Leaf turned and walked out of the cemetery and to the school grounds.

Pokémon

When Leaf arrived, there were students everywhere in the courtyard, but three in particular stood out.

Why did they have to be here?

One had shoulder length blonde hair. Another had very tanned skin, and black hair tied into two plaits, coiled around her head. The last had burgundy hair, a tall figure, and gorgeous blue eyes.

Leaf tried to run, but they found her.

"We saw you get here, pipsqueak." That was the blonde.

"Don't call her that, Macy," the girl with the plaits said, "It's mean. By the way, Leaf. I don't think it was nice what you said to Josie yesterday."

Leaf forced her eyes up to look the girl in the eyes.

"What do you mean, Becca? I didn't say anything to Josie."

"You didn't say it to me Leaf," Josie answered, "That's the point. It's rude to say something behind someone's back."

"I didn't say anything."

"Of course you didn't. You never do." Josie leaned in and whispered in her ear, "But no one else knows that. And no one else knows that your mummy died because she was weak. They think she actually had something wrong with her. But, I guess she did too. She had to, to have lived with you for so long."

Leaf gasped, and she felt rage come over her.

She had no idea where it had come from. She had never felt this angry whenever the trio had decided to bully her.

Maybe it was too much; her grief at her mother's passing, her frustration towards Gary, and her jubilation that she was finally going to be leaving this school.

She punched out at Josie, her small fist coming into contact with her cheek.

Josie cried out in pain, and Leaf froze. Now she was in trouble. She would never be able to get a Pokémon if she was considered violent.

She heard the three girls run off to get a teacher, and she ran in the other direction, trying to find somewhere, someone who she would be safe with.

Pokémon

Gary watched as Leaf made her way into the school grounds. He began to make his way to her through the crowd of people.

He couldn't let it end like this.

Leaf was his best friend, and in a few weeks they would be getting their first Pokémon and beginning their journeys. He couldn't let them part ways on bad terms.

There.

He finally saw her, running through the crowd.

Why would she be running?

He saw her face, tearstained and red.

He made his way to her.

"Leaf?"

She kept running.

"Leaf!" He grabbed at her arm, stopping her in mid stride, and she fell back against him.

He turned her around and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her body was shaking.

"Leaf, why are you crying?"

Leaf straightened, and wiped her face with her arm.

"I'm not."

"You are. Your face is red and blotchy."

"What a nice thing to say."

Gary was shocked. She'd never been sarcastic with him. This wasn't right.

He knew what was wrong with her. It was that trio, Becca, Josie and Macy. He had seen what they were doing to her, but he hadn't stepped in. Who would? When you're ten, you don't want to get involved.

He had been waiting.

Waiting for her to come to him so he could help her.

But she never did.

"What the heck Leaf? What did I do? I'm trying to be nice to you."

"Well you're not doing a very good job."

"Fine. I don't care. I wanted to tell you your dad was here and he wants to see you."

He stormed off into the crowd, without another glance at her.

Pokémon

Leaf froze. Her dad couldn't see her like this. He would know something was wrong, and she would have to tell him. Worse still, if Josie and her friends had found a teacher they would talk to him.

There was only one option.

"Gary?" She asked, but there was no answer. She turned in a full circle, trying to pick him out of the crowd, but he was nowhere.

Someone else was though. Her father, making a beeline straight for her. She knew there was no point in running so she put on the happiest face she could muster and walked towards him.

"Hi Dad."

"Hey Leafy. Are you excited? You're going to graduate today."

"I know." She threw in a few little hops and jumps for good measure.

Just when she thought he was buying it, Miss Walker came up to them, followed by Josie, Becca and Macy. From the short distance, it was easy for Leaf to see the mark on Josie's face.

"Mr Green?"

"Hello Miss Walker. How are you today?"

Miss Walker smiled, "I'm very well, thank you."

Small talk.

How Leaf hated small talk.

She could never understand why people couldn't just get to the point. All small talk did was prolong the inevitable conversation that was the real reason for the talk.

"Leaf?"

She was broken out of her musings by her dad's question.

"Yes?"

"Is it true?"

Leaf knew what they were talking about, but she decided to play it a bit more.

"Is what true?"

"Did you punch Josie in her face?"

Leaf paused. She could lie. She could say it wasn't her, that someone else had hit the girl. She had a good reputation at the school. Then she may get to turn it back on them, get her revenge, and tell Miss Walker all the things that they had done to her.

But she knew she couldn't. She felt guilty.

"Yes." Her voice was small, and she felt the tears stream down her face again. She could see the smile drop from Miss Walker's face. She hadn't thought Leaf had done it.

"Why, Leaf?"

"Because…" Leaf trailed off. She couldn't say it. She wouldn't be weak. Then Josie would have even more reason to hate her.

"I think these three are not entirely innocent either, Miss Walker."

Professor Oak joined the ever growing group of people, "You know, bullying affects different people different ways. Some people act out straight away, and won't take a bar of it. Others, like Leaf, won't let anyone know. They think that that is what the bully wants. That they want them to give in and it will give them more power. In some cases, it does, which is not good. But it is still important for someone to know, so that the victim doesn't feel completely alone. Then they will act out on other people as well."

Leaf stared at the Professor. How had he known?

She saw Gary move out from behind him. Of course.

He knew everything and would notice everything.

Especially if it was happening to his best friend.

Suddenly, Leaf found her voice.

"They've been insulting my Mum, Miss Walker. For a long time. And they've been scaring me too, on purpose, and they say mean things."

"Why didn't you tell us, Leaf?" Her father asked. His voice was sad.

She didn't answer. Professor Oak had already said everything she felt.

She waited for Miss Walker to say something. She knew she could just as well kiss her Pokémon dream goodbye. She looked at Gary, but he was looking at Miss Walker, a determined look on his face.

"Leaf, I know you won't do this again. And it's your graduation, so there is actually not much I could do anyway." Miss Walker turned and faced the three girls, who had disappeared. Turning back around, now with a small smile on her face she added, "I will talk to their parents as well. They're not going to hurt you any more Leaf."

Pokémon

A few weeks on, Leaf knocked on Professor Oak's door. He answered, smiling when he saw her.

"Good morning Leaf. What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to see Gary, please."

Professor Oak moved and let her inside.

"You know where his room is."

Gary was whistling to himself as he made his way to his room.

Everything was nearly good again.

Just one thing remained, and he hoped he could fix it soon.

He entered his room, and rushed over when he saw Leaf going through his desk.

"Leaf! I keep telling you, you can't look through my things!"

She pouted, but that was soon replaced by a sad smile, as he was what she was holding.

It was a picture of the two of them, taken after graduation. They were both smiling, happier than they had ever been for a long while.

They hadn't really spoken much after graduation. He had wanted to; especially since tomorrow they wouldn't be seeing each other for a while, when they both would start their journeys.

He sat on his bed, unsure of what to say. She was staring at her lap, her hands fiddling with some hair that had fallen across her face.

"Why didn't you come to me, Leaf?"

"I didn't want to. I didn't think it would get that bad."

"You still should've come. I thought I was your best friend."

She looked up at him, "I though you hated me."

"What? Why would you think that?"

"You kept ignoring me, and when you said something you would always insult me."

He grinned and shook his head. He watched her face grow puzzled.

"Because I thought you were ignoring me. I saw one time when Becca put a fake Spinarak in your bag. None of you saw me, but I was there. I thought you didn't trust me enough to tell me, and I wondered what I had done."

"Well, it's not my fault. You should have said something."

"You should have said something to me."

Leaf grinned. "So neither of us should have doubted our friendship?"

He grinned again. "Agreed. Promise to keep in contact when we are journeying?"

"Of course."

They both stood up, and Leaf moved to let herself out.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"I'm leaving. Dad's going berserk. He can't believe his 'little girl' is going."

Gary laughed, "Okay, but one more thing. I know we don't really say sorry, but," he paused, "I remember when we were little, and I found out that when people were upset it's nice to give them a hug..." He trailed off, suddenly embarrassed. He could feel a blush rising to his cheeks and he had no idea why.

He moved quickly, giving Leaf a hug, and felt her returning it.

"This is for all the times you were upset."

Then she surprised him, turning her head and giving him a quick kiss on his cheek.

"And that's a promise that our friendship won't ever die."

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
No one's ever burned you, nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to, just try to never grow up

Please review :) It would really make my day.