I am much happier with this chapter, and hopefully you will be too. I think I'm getting my old writing style back!

The next morning Ash woke up with a grin. For once in his life he was excited to go to school. He wanted to see Dawn again, and this time, he would kiss her. It had taken him most of the night, but he finally built up the courage to do it. He was gonna do it today, he just didn't know when. He decided to wait until it felt right. He was incredibly excited.

He got out of bed, got dressed, attempted to brush his unruly hair, gave up, went downstairs, ate some cereal, and walked out the door. He walked over to Dawns house, grinning the entire way. He hummed a popular love song out of pure happiness. He knocked on the door.

The door opened, and out popped Dawn. But she looked terrible. She looked as though she hadn't slept in days. Her normally beautiful hair was a disheveled and knotted.

"Dawn? You look rough." Ash said, a look of worry on his face.

"I feel terrible. I won't be coming to school today. I think I have a cold." Dawn tried to smile, but a dry cough racked her body.

"Ok. I hope you feel better soon."

Ash leaned in and gave her a hug. Dawn immediately started blushing, before wrapping her arms around the boys abdomen. She nuzzled her head into his shoulder. They stood there in the door for a few minutes, both loving the feeling of the others body against their own. Dawn didn't want to let go, and Ash didn't either. Ash quickly realized, though, that he would be late for school. He gently began pulling away.

"Hey, I have to go to school... But I'll talk to you tonight." Ash said quietly.

Dawn slowly let go, blushing a deep crimson.

"Bye Ash..." She said quietly. She watched him walk away until he was out of sight.

Ash left Dawns house feeling terrible. His whole day was ruined. He trudged angrily towards his school. 'Why today, Dawn?' He thought miserably.

The day went by in a flash for Ash (A/N I'm good at this rhyming stuff lol). Through every class he sat and daydreamed about Dawn. Holding her hand, leaning in, wrapping his arm around her waist, kissing her passionately-

RINNNNNNNNNNNNNG!

The lunch bell rang. Ash jumped and hit his knee on his desk. The entire class laughed.

"Good job, idiot." Gary's mocking call carried across the classroom. Ash just stood up and left, bitter thoughts racing through his head.

Ash went and sat at his usual spot overlooking the soccer fields. In his mind he smashed Gary's face in. Then again. And again. He kept repeating the image in his mind, Gary's nose cracking in a shower of blood, breaking. His blood was pumping. 'I'm gonna kill that bastard!' Thought Ash. He was in complete rage mode. 'It's time someone stood up to that creep! And this time it's gonna be-

"Hi."

Ash turned quickly and saw a pretty brown haired girl watching him. She immediately blushed and looked down at the ground. Ash quickly calmed down.

"Hi. What's your name?" Ash said, smiling.

"I'm Serena. I moved here a couple days ago, and today is my first day at school."

"Nice to meet you, Serena," Ash said, grinning, "do you want to come sit with me?"

Serena hurried over with a big smile on her face. She plopped down next to Ash. She was wearing short shorts, and her bare leg rubbed against Ash's own, causing them both to blush. After a moment of awkward silence, Serena spoke.

"Ash, me and you have met before. Don't you remember?" Serena said, grinning at Ash.

"Huh?"

"We met at a summer camp when we were both about ten years old. Remember, with the mud pit and the swing that went over it?"

Ash remembered this well. He and Gary had gone together to this camp, and his favourite part was the mud pit. It had a large swing over it, and Ash spent hours having mud fights with Gary. He grinned at the thought.

"I do remember! You were that girl that Gary kept trying to hit on!" Ash said excitedly.

"Yeah! But, you know, Gary was hitting on all the girls..." Serena giggled.

Ash laughed. "Yeah, and he still does. He's such a jerk."

Serena looked at him, puzzled.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

Ash related to her his long standing hate of Gary, and the many fights they had been in. All the pranks he had pulled, the names he'd called Ash... It pissed him off to no end.

"It all started in 7th grade. One day, Gary stopped being my friend. He stopped talking to me and hanging with me. Then him and some other kids came and pushed me around. Ever since then Gary has been a jerk, and I've been a social outcast."

"That's terrible!" said Serena.

On instinct she leaned in and gave Ash a hug, laying her head down on his shoulder. Both began blushing crimson. Serena quickly pulled away.

"I'm sorry, A-Ash... I d-didn't mean too do that..." Serena stuttered, blushing deep red.

"No, it's fine... Thank you for listening to me."

Ash reached out and cupped Serena's face with his hand. He smiled. She blushed an even deeper red. But sadly, this romantic moment was broken by none other than...

"Hey, loverboy! And I thought you were a fucking faggot!" (A/N no hate to gays, Gary is just an asshole. I have no problem with homosexuality.)

Ash turned and saw Gary. He had his usual gang of popular kids hanging around him.

Ash stood up and prepared to fight.

Woooooh! That was awesome, if I do say so myself. Review plz! Oh yeah, thanks to brighteststariknow for the idea to introduce Serena. And thanks to Xerco LotCn for help with writing. I'm back, baby!