( Misty's POV )

I was running as hard as I could. I seemed to have a problem breathing while running so hard and I was sure that if I would go on for much longer I would collapse. 'Just one more.'I thought focussing on my breathing. My head felt like it was gonna explode, but I kept running. 'Just one more.' I pulled myself together and ran with a sprint to the others.

"Well done, Misty!"the teacher said. I sighed in relief and I took May's bottle of water. I panted and looked up to Sky. She wasn't much of an athletic and was still busy with her fourth round.

"How do you do it?"May asked. She was still panting from her six rounds. "Ten rounds."she said with disbelief.

I chuckled. "Well, I'm a professional swimmer maybe that helps." May gave me a smile. 

"I wished we didn't have PE so early."she said and sat next to me. I nodded and took another sip of May's water. Water had never tasted better. Paul was still running and he didn't even seem tired, though I was sure this was his fourteenth round.

"How long until class ends."I said, still panting.

"Five minutes."May said relieved. "We're almost done."

I closed my eyes for a few seconds, letting my head rest on the bench. I just thought for a moment, but I could see exactly what had happened back in Cerulean City. Like I was reliving it. I thought that was only a nightmare coming up when I was sleeping, but this wasn't even sleeping. I opened my eyes in horror the first thing I saw was Sky which didn't make me feel any better. Sky was just a reminder of Cerulean City and I needed to put that behind. She came towards me.

"Can I have some water too?"she asked smiling softly. I gave her the bottle, too tired to smile back. Sky looked at Paul. "He doesn't even look tired."

"He's a mistery to all of us."I said standing up and packing my stuff.

( time skip )

I sat next to Dawn in the canteen. I had cooled down a bit, but was still a little warm.

"How'd it go?"Dawn asked.

"Misty did TEN rounds!"May said. I just nodded while eating some lunch.

"Ten?"Dawn said in disbelief. "My record is seven."

"Paul did fifteen."I said. Dawn's eyes widened and she accidentally dropped her knife (a knife to eat, don't worry!). I chuckled when Dawn bumped her head on the table while picking up her knife from the ground.

I looked at my time table. "Science."I said and I felt some life coming into me again.

"Oh, me too."Leaf said. It was her first sentence all day. She still seemed to be pretty upset with the whole "Gary thing", but her talking again was improvement. Tomorrow it was finally weekend. I knew next week would be harder, considering I missed the first two days of school. I stood up getting ready for next class.

"Well good luck."Dawn said. "May and I have a free hour so we'll be in the library."

"Okay!"I said and Leaf and I walked to class. Luckily Gary didn't seem to be in class and Leaf could just act normal. What wasn't so lucky was that bug boy was here. He smirked at me and I was wondering why I was even looking at him. I turned my head quickly away, hiding the blush on my cheeks.

Professor Oak opened the door and the students all tried to get in the classroom at the same time as the others. I quickly claimed a place for Leaf and I and she sat next to me giving me a slight smile.

"Goodmorning."Professor Oak said smiling. The class murmured a "Goodmorning Professor Oak.', but it wasn't very... lively. "Today I would like to do a little project. As you may know we're studying fire type pokémon and how hot they can become." Some people laughed at the word hot, though they knew Professor Oak was talking about the heat. "Yes I know, hot. I would like you to get deeper into this subject. You'll all get a week to make a presentation about a certain fire pokémon. You're going to do this in pairs." Some people whispered if they would go together, but Prof. Oak interrupted them. "These pairs are randomly made by the computer." Some people groaned, including me. Professor Oak took a paper and read it aloud.

I honestly didn't really listened. I heard Leaf was with a guy named Red and Sky and some girl named Serena, but I didn't really pay attention. But then I heard my name.

"Misty you're with Ash."Prof. Oak said.

"Wait, WHAT?!"I yelled.

"Randomly made by the computer."Professor Oak said and he continued saying names. I groaned. When the Professor was done Leaf walked over to another desk where Red sat, I think. Ash walked towards me with a smirk on his face.

"Which pokémon?"I said while taking out my pencil.

"What do you think of a Charizard?"he asked. "I've got a Charizard and I think I know a thing or two about them." I just nodded and wrote it down. Ash opened his mouth to say something, but I interrupted him.

"I know we have to do this project together, but that doesn't mean we're friends."I said. Ash looked a little annoyed at me. "If you do some research on the evolution from a Charmander, to a Charmeleon into a Charizard. I will do some research on the heat of a Charizard's flame. And how much heat they can take."

Ash nodded. "You watch."he then said. "We're gonna become friends." I scoffed, but I couldn't stop hearing that sentence in my head.

"I don't think you want to..."I whispered. Ash looked up with a questionable face.

"What did you say?"he asked a little worried.

"Nothing."I said and I gave one of my fake smiles. Ash was apparently incredibly dumb for not noticing it was fake. Or he just didn't care. That was probably it.

( time skip )

"So... um... if you come over to my room. Uh... sunday. We could work on the project."Ash said. I nodded.

"I'll work as hard as I can, though I'm afraid I'm the worst in fire types." Ash chuckled.

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out."

I walked to Leaf and Red. "Leaf you ready?" Leaf nodded and took her stuff.

"Thanks Red, it's really nice working with you."Leaf said smiling as she stood up and followed me out. She actually seemed a lot happier than before. Her book was gone and she finally was able to talk. We both walked to the classroom for Nursing. Nurse Joy already was there and said goodbye to the students who left.

"Hello class!"Nurse Joy said optimistic. "Don't take your books out yet! I've got a surprise for you." The class talked to each other guessing what we were gonna do.

"Hey Leaf!"we heard someone saying from behind us. Leaf didn't move anymore. Her face became as red as when Gary kissed her on her cheek.

"What?!"she said turning around with anger in her eyes. Gary looked at her with a smirk I really wanted to beat off of him. And I got a feeling I wasn't the only one...

( Leaf's POV )

"What?!"I said to him as I turned around. I looked Gary in the eyes. He was looking worried, for once and it looked good on him. Kind of like my mother looked at me when I was hurt. It made my heart go faster looking him straight in the eyes, feeling what I was...

WHAT?! What am I thinking! He isn't cute or anything! I felt my cheeks burn up just for that thought, but I made it look like it was anger.

"You okay?"he said. I wanted to yell at him for the kiss he gave me yesterday. I was so distracted back then and I tried to ignore him. How could I have known he was... No! He was playing me he was trying to make me fall into his trap. Like he did to all the others.

"I'm fine."I said a little too soft. I hated myself for blushing and thinking like this.

"She doesn't want to see you."Misty said defending me. I looked at the ground. 

"Oh come on."Gary said a little angry. "I'm just trying to apologize."

"Well... maybe you need to try to stay away!"I yelled finally looking at him again. My heart broke by my own words, but I kept my eyes angry at him. I didn't like him, I just couldn't like him. I wasn't one of those girls Gary could just... toy around with.

"If that's what you want."Gary said with a sad expression in his eyes. I wanted to walk up to him and kiss him. Right in front of everyone, but that would mean he won. And he wasn't going to win. I nodded while fighting the upcoming tears. Gary turned around walking away. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. One tear found a way to roll over my face. I quickly looked away so no one would see, though Misty put her arm on my shoulder.

"It's okay."she said as if she knew how I felt on the inside. "You're not alone."

I simply nodded and wiped away my tear. I put a smile on my face and listened to Nurse Joys surprise.

( time skip )

The bell finally rang and the last class had ended. I took my bag and ran outside. I ran to the park finding out it was closed. I tried to open the doors, but they kept closed. Great! I needed time alone and apparently my favourite place to go to was closed.

I walked to a nearby cafeteria and bought a drink. I sat on a table waiting when Red came in and sat on the other side of my table.

"Why are you sitting alone?"he said. I didn't give an answer. "I see. You're depressed and need to talk about it." I glared at him. "Or you just need a friend talking about his life that's so much better than yours." I chuckled and Red gave me an idiotic grin.

"I actually needed time alone, but the park was closed."I said smiling at him.

"That means I was right about you being depressed."he said now really serious. "What's wrong Leafy?"

For once I didn't get mad at someone calling me Leafy. "There's this guy..."

"Oh no, it's a love problem."

I chuckled. "I don't like him!"I yelled having actual fun.

"Sure thing. When a girl starts her sentence with: There's this guy... it's a love problem." I couldn't stop smiling as a complete idiot.

"He kissed me on the cheek yesterday..."I continued my story.

"Oh so we're talking 'bout Gary. Not to be rude, but he's not the kind of guy that's good for you Leafy."Red said now serious.

"It's not like that. I don't like him."I said. "It's more that he can't stop stalking me and I needed a peaceful and quiet place."

"And then I came."Red said and I chuckled. "You almost finished?" He made a gesture to my drink. I quickly drunk up my juice and nodded. "Come, I'd like to show you something."

I walked after him a little curious. When we walked for some time we came by a beautiful view of the city.

"Wow."I said with disbelief. Red chuckled and pointed to somewhere.

"There's our school."he said smiling. I looked and indeed saw our school.

"It looks so little from up here."I said in my own thoughts. Red nodded as I turned to him. "Thank you."

Red looked at me with a smile. I wanted to smile back, but felt something hit my back.

"What?"I said softly and my eyes got tired as they closed.

"Leaf?!"I heard out of Red's mouth. "LEAF!" But I didn't here anything more as my eyes closed and I fell hard on the ground. 

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I'm sorry that this is such a long chapter. Actually it was meant to be a chapter 6 & 7, but I brought them together as one long chapter. Hope you liked it! Please vote or comment😉!

Thank you!

                        -LapisLazulli2-