After reading many high school Pokémon fanfics over the past week, I finally decided to write one! This story, unlike my last ones, will be more open ended. So, it might be a total mess since I don't have everything plan out. However, I will try my best to keep this story interesting!

Also, being an open ended story, feel free to send me ideas of how you would like the story to proceed. If I incorporate anyone's ideas, I'll be sure to give a shout out!

Additionally, please don't feel upset if you send me an idea and I don't use it. There is probably going to be times in this story where I take over it because I got an idea. Anyways, on to the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or anything associated with it.

*beep* *beep* *beep*

Groaning, Ash Ketchum reached over and shut off his alarm. Then, he turned over in bed and instantly tried to go back to sleep.

Today is his first day of school after a long summer break. However, he doesn't seem to want to start his junior year just yet.

"Ash, are you still in bed," his mom, Delia Ketchum, says as she opens his door.

"Just *yawn* five more minutes," a very sleepy Ash responds.

"Alright, but if you don't hurry up, then your going to be late." Delia, then, closed his door and left.

Sighing, Ash finally found the motivation to get up and preceded to fall into his before school routine.

Twenty minutes later, Ash walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table where his breakfast of toast and orange juice were waiting for him. With a frown, he began eating his breakfast.

"Come on, aren't you at least a little excited to see your friends again," Delia asked after noticing her sons down expression.

"I don't have any friends."

"Well it is a new year and you know what they say," Delia said while trying to brightening her sons mood. "There is no time like the present!"

"Yeah, the present where everyone hates me," Ash said as he got up from the table. "I am going to be going now." Leaving the kitchen and grabbing his backpack, Ash left.

"What am I going to do with you," Delia said as she stared at the spot Ash occupied just moments before. "What happened to my once happy kid…"

Walking to school, Ash began to think about why he didn't have any friends. In a place where those that were similar grouped off and were those that had money were popular, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why nobody liked him. He was always a polite and kind person, but he saw the world differently than those around him and came from a poor family. So, he was considered weird and a social outcast that was an easy target for bullies.

Coming up to school, Ash saw the "cool kids" gathering. This group consisted of Gary, Paul, Drew, and Calem. They got their reputation because everyone wanted to be like them. Each had their own unique trait that people couldn't help but admire. From Paul's calm and tough demeanor to Gary's easy going and fun personality. It also doesn't hurt that they are the school's star athletes.

"Hey, look what the cat dragged in," Gary said while he and his group walked up to Ash.

"Oh it isn't Mr. I am so fully of myself," Ash responded back.

"Well, I would rather be full of myself than a totally loser." Seeing the "queens" walking by, Gary smirked. "Now if you excuse me, I have a reputation to maintain," Gary said, before pushing Ash to the ground. Unfortunately, it rained last night and Ash fell right into a puddle. This caused everyone, including the "queens", to laugh at him.

Standing up and wiping the mud off of him, Ash just ignored them and walked away. He knew that he was better off to not start something.

After a quick trip to the bathroom to clean himself off, Ash was seated in the back of his first hour of the day. Hearing the door open, Ash looked towards the class's entrance and saw the "queens".

The "queens" got their title because they were considered the most beautiful girls in the school. They consisted of Dawn, May, Misty, and of course, the most beautiful of them all, Serena. Any normal guy would be ecstatic to snag one of these bombshells as their girlfriend, especially if he snagged Serena.

From being extremely rich to her golden personality, Serena had everything. Boys were always asking her out. Of course, she always turning them down and never had a boyfriend, but that never dimmed their hope. Everyone loved her. Well, all but one.

Silently, fuming at just the sight of her, Ash quickly looked away. He hated her the most out of everyone in the school.

Now you might be wondering why Ash would hate such a sweet girl. Well, that answer lies in the past. You see, Serena moved here from the Kalos region when she became a freshman. However, much earlier then that, she used to live right here in Kanto.

In kindergarten, Ash and Serena both lived in Kanto and both went to the same school. Back then, Ash was the popular one and Serena was the outcast. He used to be outspoken and positive while she was insecure and shy. Everyone loved him while everyone thought she was weird. That was until Ash comforted Serena.

One day, Ash noticed that Serena was crying all by herself during recess. Not one to turn away a person in need, he approached her and asked what was wrong. She then proceeded to tell him that she overheard her mom and dad having a big argument last night and was scared of what might happen in the future. After hearing this, Ash felt an incredible need to comfort her. With a serious, but comforting voice, he told her that it was going to be alright. He then told her that if she ever wanted to talk about it, he will always be their for her.

Shocked, Serena just stared at Ash as he smiled at her. Then, she proceeded to give him a big hug as she told him of all of her problems at home while crying.

Over the next few months, Serena's parents arguing only grew worse. Until, they eventually decided to go their separate ways and divorce. Those months were some of the hardest times of Serena's young life. However, true to his word, Ash was their for her through everything, especially, on the day she told him that her parents were going to get divorced. That day, Ash brought the shaken Serena to his house and held her as she cried the night away. Eventually, with Ash's help, Serena recovered from her dad moving away and living with just her mother.

Soon after Serena recovered, Ash took it upon himself to help her become more outgoing. Everyday, Ash encouraged her to try new things and told her to never give up until its over. Slowly, but surely, it worked and Serena came out of her shell!

Happy, Ash enjoyed the rest of his time with her by playing games and doing normal kid stuff together. Over the course of kindergarten, they became the best of friends. However, some things are not meant to last.

One day, when kindergarten was almost over, Serena told Ash, while crying, that she was moving away in a week. Like before, Ash calmed her down and told her that no matter what happens they will always be best of friends.

Over their last week together, they spent as much time as they physically could together. Until it was time to say goodbye. While crying their hearts out, they exchanged their farewells. Serena thanked him for everything that he did for her and said that she would never forget him. She, then, leaned in and kissed him on the cheek while blushing mad. That's right, Serena developed some sort of crush on him.

Ash was dumbfounded by her action, but soon recovered and waved goodbye to her as she left. That was the last time that he saw her until freshman year.

Back during freshman year, when Ash heard that their was going to be a new transfer student, he at first didn't think much of it. However, when he saw her, he instantly recognized her as his childhood friend and tried to talk to her. Unfortunately, much had change from kindergarten.

In second grade, Ash's life took a turn for the worst after his dad got angry one night. That night started off like any of the other nights in the last month, with both of his parents shouting at each other. However, this night was different because Ash's dad had been heavily intoxicated. Getting angry, Ash's dad proceeded to hit his mom very hard and sent her on the verge of unconsciousness. Seeing this, Ash came out of his hiding spot and tried to protect his mother. However, his "dad" just laughed at him and told him that if he knew what was good for him, he would step aside. Not backing down, Ash's dad proceeded to punch and kick him until he decided to mark him.

Grabbing a kitchen knife, Ash's dad carved deep z marks on his cheeks for being a bad boy. At that time, the police, who his weaken mother was able to call, broke into the house and quickly disarmed his dad. However, the damage was already done.

The z marks on his cheeks scared and the young happy boy was forever lost. With no one, but his mother, to help him through the darkest time of his life, Ash changed. No more was Ash the outgoing and happy kid. He became quiet and was forced to grow up faster than he should of when he had to recall the events of that night in front of a judge. Ultimately, Ash's dad was sentenced to 20 years in prison and Delia divorced him.

Seeing the change to her son, Ash's mom tried everything from therapy to counseling to help him. It somewhat worked and Ash's kind heart never changed and he made it through. However, what he really needed was a friend.

After a couple of months with no change to her son's personality, Delia made the decision to move to a neighboring town for a fresh start. So, they packed up and moved.

At first, everything seemed great. Delia quickly got a job and Ash was warmly welcome to the school by the principle, but it quickly went bad. The student body were put off by his personality and called him a freak with his scars. Also, Delia's boss turned out to be a jerk and treated his mom like trash. Being a stay at home mom before, Delia had no work experienced and had to endure her terrible job to put food on the table.

Over the years, Ash was harassed everyday and was miserable. Every night, he would lay awake in bed and wished for a miracle. Then, in freshman year, his wish was answered when he saw Serena again.

Seeing her in the flesh, filled his sad heart with happiness and he immediately tried to approach her. However, others also noticed her and quickly pushed Ash out of the way to talk to this gorgeous new transfer student. Not discouraged, he thought that he would catch up with her some other time.

In just a day, Serena won over the whole student population with how sweet, nice, and confident she was. Her personality, like Ash's before his parents divorced, seemed to draw people to her and she quickly became the most sought after and popular person in the school as a freshman!

When Ash finally was able to approach Serena, he was so nervous in anticipation. However, when he tried to strike up a conversation with her, she smiled regretfully at him and apologized. She, then, said she had to leave and excused herself. Thinking it was just bad timing, Ash didn't think much of it and just waited until another opportunity presented itself.

However, time after time the same thing kept happening whenever he tried to approach her. After about 10 tries, Ash had enough.

One day, Ash screamed at her to get her attention in a crowded hallway before school. Shocked at what the normally quiet loser did, everyone was silent as Ash explained himself to Serena.

Not even a whisper was heard for a couple seconds after Ash finished talking. Then, the school was filled with laughter at the ridiculous lie the loser obvious made up.

Ignoring them, Ash just focused in on his best friend. Slowly, Serena started to move towards him with an unreadable expression. Seeing her action, all, once again, became silent as they waited to see what the queen of the school will do.

*slap*

That noise echoed throughout the school as Serena slapped Ash hard across the face. She, then, proceeded to get angry at him for stalker her and asked where he got his source.

Confused, Ash obvious asked for her to explain.

She explained that her mother is a famous NASCAR racer and people were always digging into her past to get closer to her family.

Ash desperately tried to explain that he was indeed her childhood friend.

However, she didn't believe him and embarrassed him in front of the whole school by pointing out the differences between him and her childhood friend. A lot of insults about his personality were thrown at him, but the remark about the "birthmarks" on his cheeks stung the worst. Humiliated, Ash fled to the nearest bathroom in near tears as the school was, once again, filled with laughter. Locking himself up their for the rest of the day, Ash finally realized why Serena excused herself every time he tried to talk to her.

She excused herself because she didn't want others to think that she associated herself with the loser. Serena cared more about her reputation than giving him a chance to be her friend. With that thought in mind and with her humiliating him in front of everyone, Ash's heart that was once filled with happiness at seeing her, was filled with hate for her.

At first, Ash thought the miracle of seeing Serena again would be a blessing, but now he knew that in reality it was a curse. Her presence from then on out, would always be a constant reminder of how alone in this world he truly is. She had once promised to never forget him, but that turned out to be an empty promise.

The next day, Serena approached him and tried to apologize for embarrassing him in front of the whole school. Ash, however, just ignored her and didn't even acknowledge her presence.

Thinking he was angry at her for exposing his lie, Serena finally gave up on apologizing and left after giving Ash a glare and snarky remark.

That was the last day that either of them tried to talk to the other.

With the sound of the bell, Ash's junior year officially began. Sighing, Ash put his head on his desk as he ready himself for another miserably year. However, little did he know that this year will be different than years past.