Iris couldn't talk to Cilan at all after that incident. It was just to awkward to be around him now that the rumors came out. It really irritated her how the rumors have effect how they interact now. Even Cilan is too ashamed to acknowledge her now. As much as she didn't like to admit it, she misses being able to talk to him. She couldn't figure out who would do that to her, or Cilan.
"It has to be someone jealous with me, or annoyed with Cilan, maybe..." she thought.

Misty sighed as she looked out the bus window. It was getting ready to leave school. Then Leaf sat next to her.
"Hello... Is something the matter?" Leaf asked.
Misty turned toward her and faked a smile. "No, I'm fine."
Leaf put a hand on her shoulder. "I understand. You don't have to talk about it."
Misty gave her a confused look.
"I just wondered if you needed someone to talk to. When I'm upset, I'd like to talk to someone who'd be willing to listen, ya know?"
"I see... Well, when I do vent out my frustrations to my friends, they just keep saying that he didn't mean to hurt me but..." she looked away.
"He? Someone you... like?"
Misty jumped a bit, but crossed her arms and huffed a bit with a blush. "N-no! Not one... bit."
Leaf noticed the sad tone in her voice, and the way she was acting earlier.
"I used to be upset as you at one point... over a guy."
Misty looked at her. "Really?"
Leaf nodded with a frown. "When I was young... a friend of mine disappeared without saying a word."
Misty gasped. "But, why did he do that?"
Leaf looked away from her. "I... don't know. He still won't tell me, or anyone."
"So, he returned?"
Leaf nodded. "But when he left... no even now, I didn't understand why he left and couldn't say anything to me..." Tears fell from her face as she rubbed them away.
Misty just looked at her with a frown.
"I couldn't stop thinking of him. The good memory's of him hurt, even when they made me happy. But I kept believing that he'd come back and explain everything. Though he didn't... So I went searching for him."
"So, you found him?" Misty asked.
Leaf shook her head. "Never did. But when I saw him again, I realized that... I've had fallen in love with him. Remembering how sweet and brave he was..."
Leaf narrowed her eyes with a small smile, and Misty thinking of Ash did the same.
"So, is he's still the same guy as you remember?"
"Well, not exactly the same... but he still has what I like about him."
"Oh... So, have you told him? You know, about how you feel?"
She frowned and shook her head. "He... doesn't want to tell me what happened back then. So he probably doesn't feel the same."
Misty gave her a sympathizing look. "Well... I think he's missing out. Because, you're such a sweet and caring person!"
Leaf smiled a bit. "Thanks. I think you're a great person too."
They both giggled a bit.
"By the way, my name's Leaf. Mind telling me your name?"
"Misty."
"Misty... What a pretty name!"
"Thanks!"
"Anyways, I apologize for spilling out my troubles on you." Leaf looked down at the floor with a sad look. "It's just that... I wasn't really able to talk about this to anyone before." Blue was always too upset when Red's name was mentioned and probably wouldn't have cared, and Daisy never really wanted to talk about it.
Misty shook her head. "I didn't mind... I actually think I feel a little better listening to it."
They then arrived at the school.
"So, it was nice chatting with you. Maybe we can hangout sometime?" Leaf asked.
Misty smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Dawn sighed as she and Zoey walked off the bus.
"I quit the team, then Ursula gets kicked off the team," Dawn said.
"Well Dawn, maybe you you can try and see if they'd let you back in," Zoey said.
She crossed her arms with a frown. "I'll see..."
"There's also next year, so you can cheer for me in the meantime."
She laughed a bit. "True..."
Zoey put a hand on her shoulder. "Besides, your free to practice when you want, so we can hang more."
Dawn smiled and nodded. "Yeah, you're right! No need to worry!" But then she frowned a bit. "But..."
"What?"
"Iris... and Cilan I can't believe people would spread such awful rumors like that."
Zoey shrugged. "Some people are just jerks."
"Yeah... But to my friends. I just hope that this is it, and none of my other friends get lies spread about them, or me..."
"Well, I am sure whoever's doing it well get caught and into trouble."
Dawn looked down. "I hoped so."
"I'm sure! Hey Dawn, I think I'd like to see some of your cheerleading. If you don't mind that is."
Dawn looked up and beamed at her. "I don't mind at all! And I know a perfect place to show you, too!"
Dawn grabbed Zoey's hand and ran along with her. Zoey smiled a bit with a blush as she followed her. But Dawn was having trouble remembering where it is.
"Uhh..." Dawn said.
"Is everything alright?" Zoey asked.
"Yeah! It's this way! Come on!"
Dawn and Zoey ran until they both sat down somewhere hours later.
"I-I don't get it... Where is it?" Dawn whined.
"Maybe I can watch you preform later..." Zoey said. She looked at the time. "Besides, we need to go and get some dinner now."
Dawn groaned. "I'm such an idiot."
"No. It's fine Dawn. We all forget sometimes. And really, I enjoyed watching you trying to figure out where it is." Zoey then laughed.
Dawn glared at her. "It's not funny!"
"Sorry..." Then Zoey smiled at her. "But really, you are a joy to be around, Dawn."
Dawn got a bit red and looked away. "Well, I enjoy being around you too. Really... I don't know what I'd do without you..."
"Same." Zoey stood up and held out a hand. "Let's get going, shall we?"
Dawn looked at her and nodded. Then she grabbed Zoey's hand and they went to grab lunch.

Iris returned to the dorm area after school with a sigh. It was a hard day at school today with all the rumors. She wasn't sure what she should do now. There was some Math homework that she needed to get done, so she figured that she should try to get that done. Iris headed into the library and got out her homework and tried to work on it. She looked at a with a frown.
"If it wasn't for Cilan tutoring me... I wouldn't even get this," she thought.
Iris sighed a bit as she starred at her homework. Then someone sat down beside her. She looked to see who it was, but then instantly turned away from him. It was Cilan who sat down beside her.
"Hello Iris..." Cilan said.
"H-hi..." Iris replied.
"Iris... about these rumors, they shouldn't ruin our friendship, right?"
Iris looked down with a sad look. "No, but..."
"I'm sure the rumors well be proven false over time... but I've been thinking since it all started, that people I don't know well shouldn't keep me away from you."
Iris smiled at him with a small blush. "T-true. I guess you just can't stay away from me!" She winked at him and then giggled.
Cilan looked away with a small blush. "Well that's not... I mean..."
"Well, I miss talking to you as well, and you do have a point."
Cilan smiled a bit. "I'm glad you see it the same."

Misty saw Ash and took a deep breath before walking up to him. He was with Pikachu looking at the sky. Gary had to do some homework, so he figured he should spend some time with Pikachu.
"Ash," Misty said.
Ash got up and looked at her with a surprised look.
"Iris said you want to talk to me..."
Ash looked away from her. "Well, I've been wanting to apologize for how I was acting... when we were together. You were right I was a jerk."
Misty crossed he arms. "Glad you finally see that."
"But, I'd like to be friends again, if that's okay with you."
She glared at him. "I donno Ash. I won't I be a bother to you?"
Ash shook his head. "No Misty! Really, after all we've done, and all you done for me... I don't want to be on bad terms with you!"
Misty looked away with a sigh. "I... need some time to think about this."
Ash looked away from Misty. Pikachu however ran into Misty's arms.
Misty smiled and hugged Pikachu. "Aww, I missed you too, Pikachu."

Burgundy and Georgia were in the fields talking to each other.
Burgundy grinned. "Have you seen Cilan's face? The first time I've seen him like that. And it was great!" She laughed.
Georgia smirked. "Iris was also a wreck! Serves that brat right!"
"But, this isn't going to be it, is it?"
Georgia shook her head. "Nope. Today was only the beginning."
Burgundy beamed. "Great! I can't wait till we mess with those brats more!"
"All in due time, hun. Right now, they're still dealing with this."
"True. You're pretty sharp."
Georgia wrapped her arm around Burgundy. "Thanks, sweets. And I gotta admit, you're pretty cool."
Burgundy blushed a bit. "Well, of course! I am the best connoisseur in the world, after all." This is what she believes, anyways. Through out her life, she hasn't made any success in her career.
"This school is going to be very entertaining now with you here!"
Burgundy smirked. "Well, I'm already enjoying myself much more than before!"