(A/N: Pupsey this chapter is for reference on you know what

itosuzuno29 here's a colored pic of Teari you can screenshot to use)

Teari's POV

"Teari?"

I glanced up from my book to see Ember trying to get my attention.

"Finally!" She exclaimed, "I've been standing here for five minutes!"

"Oh... hehe sorry?"

Chiko laughed, taking away my book, Dark Tide by Jennifer Donnelly, and shoving it in my bag without my bookmark in its pages.

"Oh come on!" I playfully scolded my cheeky Pokémon, who just kept laughing. 'I guess I'll just have to deal with that later.'

"Ugh. You're such a bookworm," Ember scoffed at me, but in the cousin-ly way.

"Am not."

"Oh you are too," she said, placing her hands on her hips.

"I'll have you know, I am very picky when it comes to books."

Ember rolled her eyes, "Whatever, just go find your boyfriend or something and stop being antisocial."

"But what if I like being antisocial?" I said to her playfully while gathering my things. It's Study Hall right now in case you were curious.

Ember raised an eyebrow, the one on her right to be exact, "You're not denying it?" She asked, referring to her identification of Tracey.

"Ember," I started, "Have you ever once heard me deny Tracey and I as being a couple?"

She blanked out, actually thinking it over, "Huh... I guess you haven't."

"Teari, one. Ember, none."

"Oh shut up," she mumbled, punching me in the arm, "I'm going to find my boyfriend before--"

"Oh my gosh, Ember!" I shouted at her, only to be shushed by the librarian, Mrs... Walsh! Yeah that's her name. I continued my assault in a whisper, "Stop being such a pessimist! He's not going to flirt with another woman!"

Ember snorted, "Oh yeah, well how would you know?" She threw at me in the same whisper-shout-rage tone, with an extra helping of sass.

This girl...

"Ugh. You know what? Forget it. It's not worth arguing over," I sighed, "I'm gonna go find 'my boyfriend'," I mocked her, making my way to the other side of the library.

I could hear her sigh, before walking off casually. I don't know if it's unhealthy for our arguments to end like nothing ever happened, but oh well.

"Chiko?" My partner asked me. She was hugging the back of my head.

"I'm fine. How are you?" I asked her delightfully.

Honestly, I expected that going to school would be horrible, but I'm having a great day! This morning was the best though.

I'm not really upset over the Drew and May thing that happened this morning anymore either. I guess you could say that my common sense kicked in. I mean, I don't really know them that well and there are some other factors I haven't put into consideration. Like their history, for instance. I didn't even know that Drew apparently gives her 'Beautifly' roses until Ash told me in Type-Matchups class.

There's so much I don't know about Ash's friends. I met that girl from Kalos named Serena Yvonne. She seems really nice, but has that way too girly vibe to her. Apparently she has a humongous crush on Ash, and even kissed him on the cheek before he parted from them in Kalos. I wonder why Ash never said anything about it when he was talking to May this morning. Maybe it was because he realized that Misty didn't like her name being brought up or perhaps it was because Ash doesn't like Serena that way and would prefer to forget about it.

I also met Clemont, who I feel bad for. His fondness for Serena, can't help but not go unnoticed. That is, by everyone except Serena. It broke my heart a little every time I looked up at him day dreaming about Serena in class.

Then there's Iris and Cilan. I actually knew Cilan from a year or two ago when I challenged him at his Gym with my newly attained Snivy, who's now a Serperior. They apparently traveled with Ash through the Unova region. I wonder why Cilan came to Inkanni. He's a Gym Leader, right? I know that his brothers are probably taking care of it now, but what's the point of the Trio Badge being handed out by a duo? Same goes for Clemont. Who's taking care of the Gym for him?

Anyway, Iris is amazing! I love her wild and out there vibe that screams 'I can roast your a** off if I felt like it' that just intrigues me to learn more about her. Is it weird that I almost ship her with Cilan? It kinda sounds odd at first I guess, but I think it's cute.

I met Dawn too, but we haven't really talked much. I guess we just don't really connect with each other on that same level as we do with our other friends. Although, she does seem nice enough to trust and it doesn't seem like she hates me. Now with Paul... it's interesting.

He wanted to ignore me at first when Ash introduced him to me, probably thinking something along the lines of me being another one of Ash's immature, weak, and pathetic friends. But as soon as I achieved my first battle victory in Battle Strategics class, that changed very quickly. He then started to listen to me when I decided to bother him, and actually put in his input every once in awhile, while Ash just stared at us (mainly me), dumbfounded at our somewhat unpredicted alliance.

I guess rethinking about my day caused me to be too distracted, and I bumped into someone.

I looked at him, his brows knitting together as his face contorted into an angry scowl. Recognising my old rival, a smirk made its way across my lips.

"What are you doing here?" He sneered, to hide his surprise and fear that was obvious when I was in his presence.

I didn't know his name. It's true. When I first discovered my strength in Pokémon battling, I never spoke to anyone that looked like they could put up a fight worthy enough to be my rival. Whenever I met eyes with a strong opponent, we stared in complete silence, nod, then send out our Pokémon for battle. I was, and still am, a serious battler. This rival, I've had exactly 3 wins during Kanto, 2 through Sinnoh, then 4 in Johto. He had yet to defeat me. Though, he was a tough challenge for me to beat, with only one other that I could think of being stronger. I believe he had red hair, red silvery eyes, and dark clothing. But that's besides the point.

The rival in front of me has brown, spiky hair, purple attire, and a Yin Yang necklace that was green and yellow. Except now, he had a lab coat on, giving me the assumption that he decided to take on after his grandfather. What? Just because I know who is grandfather is doesn't mean I know his name.

"Looking for my friend," I replied to him with my vague answer, enjoying the sight of his burnt out ego.

He smirked, "You have those? Shocking."

I decided to loosen this tension. I'm not the me he use to know anymore, and I may as well show him that I've had my awakening, you could say, "Yes. In fact, I had only one friend from a long time ago, up until 2 weeks ago."

The look on his face was so bizarre, not even Tracey could recreate it on paper and have it look like the original, "What?" Was all he could manage.

I smirked, "Come on, stranger. Can't a girl change her ways?"

Slyly, if that's a way to describe it, my rival smirked in response, seemly understanding the exchange. Extended his hand for me to shake, he said, "Gary Oak."

I took it, "Teari Howl."

"You have a weird name."

"So do you, oak tree."

"Ha ha," he fake laughed with no amusement, "So who's your friend you were referring to from the past..." He started to ask abruptly, before trailing off as Tracey approached us.

"Oh, hey Gary, Teari." He greeted, gesturing at each of us, seemingly inquiring about what we were doing.

Without providing warning, I slung an arm around Tracey, looking over to my riv- I mean Gary, seeking his reaction.

He seemed gladly surprised, "Drawer-boy?"

At that, I just bent over in laughter, not bothering to check and see if Tracey was blushing, but from Gary's increasing smirk, I could tell that it was affirmative. 'Drawer-boy! He calls him drawer-boy?!

Wait... They know each other?'

At that thought, my laughter ceased, "Wait? You guys know each other?"

Gary grinned, perhaps liking this new side of me, putting his hands behind his head, "Well, I'll take it that you've heard of Ash Ketchum?"

"Well duh," I replied, "everyone has at least heard of him, and he is my friend."

Smirking, he pulled off a cocky aura, "Well, I, sweetie, just so happen to be his childhood friend and rival." Did he just call me 'sweetie'? Oh hell nah.

'Keep your calm, Teari. Keep your calm.' I told myself.

"Huh, well it makes sense," I said to him, not giving him the kind of attention he wanted from me. I don't want to boost his ego, "Since you're both from Pallet Town and all."

"Uh... Teari?" Tracey spoke up. To be honest, I almost forgot he was there, "You're still, um..."

Oh, yeah. My arm.

"Oh! Sorry, Tray." I apologized, withdrawing my wrap around him.

"Oh, so I'm not the only one that gives him nicknames," Gary mused, crossing his arms while smirking.

'Like, bro. What's with the smirking?'

Feeling my playful side coming on, I enclosed Tracey in a side hug, preventing escape, while giving Gary a fake joking glare, "No, mine! Hiss!" I... well, hissed.

Tracey just laughed and Gary, well, rose an eyebrow, chuckling, "I ship it."

Tracey and I just shared a look.

"Well..."

"...You wouldn't be the first." I continued.

"Oh my Arceus! You guys even finish each others sen-"

"Shush!" ...Ugh, Mrs. Walsh.

Tracey leaned over, whispering, "That's what I was going to say," making me laugh.

This school year's gonna be fun.

~×~×~×~

Heyo. Short chapter, I know. I can't keep a constant flow. Sorry for the filler, though I did enjoy getting to introduce Teari's relationship with Gary and Paul a little more, as well as Ember.

So, have a nice day!

~Lilly