The New Kid: Year 1

Dense

"Well I didn't really understand what Gary was saying but seeing how desperate he was I thought it'd be a nice thing to do, you know, and you also wanted me to do it, so I did." He said with a shrug, leaving me speechless. Clueless and dense. 

"But anyway if you're asking me if I have a crush, as you call it, on anyone, my answer would be no." He continued. "I'm looking to get into those relationships just yet you know. I wanna work on my ambition first, especially after just getting back on track."

Finally, a straight answer, though Dawn won't be happy, although I don't think she'll stop just yet.

"So just to clarify, if someone said they had a crush on you and asked you on a date, you would say no?"

"I guess. Why are you asking? Woah, you don't have a crush on me or anything right? I mean I like you but as a friend, and I—"

"No I do not have a crush on you Ash." I quickly cut in before he rambled on.

"Phew, ok. I don't know how I'd take someone having a crush on me right now. I mean I just learnt what it meant a second ago. But then what am I worrying about, it's not like anyone would like me that right? I just got here." The raven haired trainer said before we both lift up another log.

"You never know Ash, you never know." I said as I contemplated how to break this to Dawn, and more importantly, what it would entail for me.

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Serena POV

I woke up to the familiar throbbing pain on my head as I glared at the flying type in front of me, who innocently tilted his head.

"Fletch?"

"You know what you did." I narrowed my eyes at my mom's fletchling who simply flew back out the window. 

"Serena! You awake yet!?" My mom shouted from downstairs.

"Yes mom!" I grudgingly answered. I hated when she interrupted my beauty sleep on the weekends. Dragging myself out of bed, I let fennekin out of her Pokéball and poured out some food for her after she finished licking my face. She was so cute when she did that. I got into the bathroom and freshened myself before heading downstairs with my fox Pokémon in tow.

"Why'd you have to wake me up at 10... it's a Saturday!" I grumbled as I entered the kitchen. She used to wake me up earlier to practice Rhyhorn racing, but ever since I started high school, I managed to wiggle out of that by saying I wanted to focus on my studies for now. In truth I just hated Rhyhorn racing. 

"Because I have something to talk to you about." She lowered the newspaper in her hands and faced me. "I will be participating in the upcoming Hoenn Rhyhorn Racing Championship, and so I'll be out of town for a month."

I groaned. Although she such events didn't come around that often, it was often enough for me to dread them. I would like to say I despised them because it meant not having my Mother around for a month, but I'd be lying. I hated these Championships because it entailed having to stay a month at the Smiths. I shuddered at the thought. Mr and Mrs Smith were the sweetest old couple in the neighbourhood, but leaving with them was hell on earth. They treated me like a kid, forcing me to take afternoon naps and such. It was so demeaning. I wanted to protest but was cut off by my Mother continuing.

"And I know how much you hate staying at the Smiths, and since we've recently gotten new neighbours, I thought we could pay them a visit and see if they could accommodate you for a month. Though I've only seen their kids..." My Mother put on a thoughtful expression and I was still trying to process what she was saying when she stood up.