Disclaimer: Don't own pokemon! A/N: Okay, here's chapter 3! Remember, anything in ' ' are thoughts. Don't know if I mentioned that in the last chapter as a reminder. School Days Chapter 3 It had literally been five minutes since the last time Melissa spoke and Ash was growing more and more worried by the minute. 'Oh great.' Thought Ash. 'Silence is never a good thing.' "Melissa? Are you still there?" Asked Ash once more. "Y-Yeah, I'm still here." Replied Melissa shakily. "Hey Ash, is everything okay?" Asked Misty suddenly. Ash had almost forgotten that she was in the room. "Uh, yeah. Everything's fine." He replied. "Okay, well, I'll be right back. I'm just gonna go downstairs and get a drink. You want anything?" She asked from the doorway. "No thanks." He smiled. "Okay." She said while she headed downstairs. "Mel, what's wrong? Is there something I should know?" Inquired Ash in a panic. "Okay fine." She finally answered. "Look, Jared has some serious problems. One of these problems is a bad temper. His parents passed away when he was very young due to medical conditions. He has no brothers or sisters, so you can kinda imagine how he feels. That's how he developed this temper of his. While he was going out with Misty, he would tend to lose his temper at her. I confronted her about it, but she told me not to worry and that it was his own way of dealing with things. She thought that she could help him with his problems. She never blamed him for-" "For what?" Ash asked. "Well...okay, promise not to get mad?" Said Melissa. "Well, tell me what it is first and I'll see." He countered. "Ash, come on!" Yelled Melissa on the other end. "Okay, fine. I promise. Just tell me." Sighed Ash. Melissa took a deep breath and sighed. "One time, I found Jared and Misty talking after school. They didn't see me walking towards them. Then, all of a sudden...Jared hit Misty." "What?!" Screamed Ash, probably a little louder than he should have. "Hey, you promised not to get mad!" Countered Melissa. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry." He apologized. "It was only that one time and he felt terrible about what he did. He couldn't even remember why he got so mad." She explained. "Has he sought any kind of help? Cause I'll tell ya one thing, I'm not gonna let him do it again, even if he is sick." Ash told her in a strong voice that made Melissa smile. "He claimed that he was going to classes, but I don't know anymore. Its hard to tell. He really is a good guy." Melissa said trying to convince him. "If he's such a good guy, then why did him and his gang try to kick my ass when I first came to pokemon tech?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow. "He's just confused and, unfortunately, Misty's caught right in the middle of it. I know that she wants to help him, but I'm afraid that he might lose his temper at her again and who knows what he'll do." Finished Melissa in a scared tone. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to her." Ash reassured. "Thanks Ash. I knew I could count on you." She smiled. "No problem, but I do have one question." Said Ash, raising a brow. "Yeah?" "What did any of that have to do with the dance?" He asked, putting Melissa on the spot. "Uh...well, ya see..." She stammered. "Right..." Ash replied, rolling his eyes. "Oh, come on Ash. You know you wanna ask her. Don't you think she's pretty?" Asked Melissa with a smile on her face. "Of course I do, I think she's beautiful, but-" "Well, what's holding you back? She has a great personality, you are all ready good friends, come on. I'm begging you." Interrupted Melissa. "Hey, hey. Calm down. For your information, I was already planning on asking her, so don't worry." Said Ash. "All right! Its about time. Well, I guess my work here is done. I'll talk to ya later Ash. See ya." Giggled Melissa. "Bye Mel." Ash said as he hung up the phone and sighed. "That girl needs to lighten up." "So, what was that all about?" Misty asked walking back into the room with a glass in her hands. "It was nothing. She was just wondering if I was going to the dance." He explained, leaning back on her bed. "Oh, and are you?" She asked, sitting down on the chair next to him. "Going to the dance? I dunno yet. I haven't really thought about it. Are you going?" He asked cautiously. "Ash, I have to go. Me and my friends are running it, remember?" Misty smiled. "Oh yeah. I guess I forgot." He said rubbing the back of his head. Several moments passed without a word spoken between them. The tension in the room started to grow and both teens tried to find a way to break the silence. "So, um...has anyone asked you to the dance yet?" Asked Ash nervously. "No, not yet. You?" Asked Misty. "No, but I was wondering if y-" Ash was suddenly interrupted by the ringing of the phone. 'Damn!' "Hello?" Misty asked, a little disappointed about being interrupted when she was sure that Ash was gonna ask her. "Hey there babe! What's up?" Answered a suave voice. "Oh, hey Jared. How are you?" Asked Misty, sighing. "You don't sound too happy to be hearing from me. Is this a bad time?" He asked. "Um, no its okay. Go ahead." She replied. "Just wanted to know if anyone's asked you to the dance yet." He said. "No, no one's asked me yet." She replied, knowing that he would probably ask her. Upon hearing this, Ash's heart broke in two. He knew that he should've asked her earlier but he just couldn't muster up the courage to do so. Now he was gonna miss his chance. "Well, you have the extreme privilege of escorting me to the big dance." He answered in a smooth tone. "Um, well, I don't know yet. Thanks for the offer. I'll think about it." She replied softly. "Well, why not? Aren't I good enough for you? Come on Misty." Pleaded Jared. "Look Jared, I just don't know yet. I was kinda planning to go with someone else, but if it doesn't work out with him, then I'll go with you." She finished. 'Another guy?' Thought Ash. 'I knew it. I don't even know why I even bothered.' "Who is this guy anyway?" He asked, a bit of jealousy in his voice. "No one, just forget it." She said quickly. "It better not be that Ash kid. Misty, you listen to me. He's not right for you." He commented. "And you were?" Misty replied angrily. "Yes, I was. Its not my fault that you dumped me." He said. "Oh, of course not." She sighed sarcastically. "It could never be your fault." "Listen to me, I'm just looking out for your well-being. I care about you." He said in a strong voice. "If you really cared about me then you'd understand how I feel about this person. You can't control me Jared." Misty whispered. "Look, I gotta go. I'll see ya at school." With that said, she hung up the phone, glad to be out of that conversation. She looked up to see that Ash was staring blankly out of the window. "Ash? What's wrong?" She asked, concerned. "Nothing." He replied, keeping his eyes outside. "Oh, that was just Jared." She said, trying to start a conversation. "I figured." Ash answered with no emotion in his voice. "Well, I really have to get going. Thanks for having me." He got up off of her bed and started to walk towards the door. "Ash, wait." Misty sighed. He stopped at the threshold, waiting for her to speak. "What were you gonna ask me before Jared called?" Misty asked nervously. Ash definitely wasn't expecting that question. He lowered his eyes to the ground and sighed. "Nothing..." He whispered. "I'll see ya later." "Bye Ash." She whispered as he walked out the door. Misty got up from out of her seat and gently closed her door. She laid down on her bed and softly cried, wondering if Ash was really going to ask her. This is what she really wanted, to be asked to the dance by the one guy that ever understood her, the one person that she had so much in common with, and the only guy that she truly loved. A/N: Well, there's chapter 3! Its a bit shorter than I usually do it, but oh well. Hope ya like it!