"That was really impressive Alex." Megan said.

"Well... yeah." Alex grinned. The two were spending their afternoon on a sofa of the packed common room in the Azelf dorm, drinking some coffee instead of joining Bella for an intense homework session. This perfectly friendly meeting was allowed as Thomas was busy at Pokéathletics training meaning he'd never find out that the two were once again in contact. The topic of conversation that had emerged was of course the talk of the school; his return and victory over Cooper.

"I mean, Cooper's on a whole different level of good but you were just incredible." Megan said, further stroking Alex's already massive ego.

"It was merely a simple case of identifying the weaknesses in his team and play style, adapting my strategies to those weaknesses, formulating a plan and executing it." Alex shrugged.

"Bullshit." Megan scoffed. "Bella may believe every word you say but I know you too well. You just winged it."

"Maybe." Alex admitted. Even just talking to Megan as a friend was refreshing. He'd missed her.

"I suppose the Mega Evolution helped quite a bit. Where did you find those stones?" she raised an eyebrow inquisitively and leaned in closer to him so that he could properly smell her perfume.

"I keep telling people, the creepy cave dude gave them to me." Alex replied in a matter of fact tone. "But in all honesty, it didn't help that much. Garchomp was just a bit under par for whatever reason."

"Oh, you don't need to tell me that." Megan rolled her eyes. "Bella was giving us a running commentary as the battle went along. She kept saying stuff like: 'This new form seems to be a lot more powerful but it's bigger, bulkier and therefore is much slower. It's something both Alex and Garchomp need to get used to before it properly works.'"

"You can do the Bella impression too!" Alex gasped in fake shock.

"Anybody who's known her longer than a day can do a Bella impression." Megan laughed before checking her phone. Her happy expression vanished instantly, replaced by one of angst. "Thomas' finished training early. See you later."

"Have fun!" Alex smiled as she kissed him on the cheek before standing up and quickly walking for the exit, eager for her boyfriend not to find out about the meeting. He didn't like going behind people's backs but he didn't feel like he had much of her choice. Thomas watched over him like a dangerous predator, ready to swoop in and carry out the threats he once made if Alex even get close to Megan. Unfortunately for Alex, he desperately wanted to get closer than close.

When Megan was out of sight, he dropped the cheery persona and slumped down into the sofa, groaning. He may have been acting as though the old Alex Murphy was back but it simply wasn't true. There was still a part of him that worried about the dream, he was still barely keeping up with schoolwork and he was going absolutely nowhere with Megan. His return to New Moon Academy was supposed to have cured his depression and whilst he'd regained some confidence from beating Cooper, he was a long way from being the same old happy-go-lucky guy he was last year.

Burying his face in his hands, he thought long and hard about how his love life was going. Random girls still admired him; beating Cooper hadn't helped in that regard but he genuinely couldn't care less about them. There was one girl in the school who he had his eyes on and of course, it was the one girl who he wasn't allowed to go near. When they'd been talking, Alex had constantly been on the verge of trying to kiss Megan or at the very least tell her how he felt. There was a part of him that was completely certain that Megan still had feelings for him. But there was a much bigger part that knew that that didn't matter. She'd made her mind up when she dumped him last year and found a new love interest.

"Hey man, everything ok?" Alex looked up to see the concerned face of his best friend who had just entered the common room.

"You know what Lenny?" Alex replied. "No. Everything is not ok. I've always been happy. I take pride in being an optimist but right now... I just can't."

"Here, take this." Lenny smiled, handing over a smooth, dark purple stone. "It's a Dusk Stone. I was gonna use it on my Doublade but I figured you've been through a lot and that Lampent of yours could do with an upgrade."

"Wow." Alex said as he took the surprise gift. "Thanks man, that's so nice!"

"It's nothing really." Lenny smiled, his face reddening. "I just don't like to see you so down. It doesn't suit you."

"You're right." Alex agreed. "It doesn't suit me at all. It's just... Megan. I can't stop thinking about her. I'm really trying to move on and I just can't. I just..." His voice tailed off as the words escaped him. It suddenly occurred to him that this was the first time this year that he'd revealed any of his romantic thoughts to anyone. He supposed it was just due to his nature of not wanting to show signs of weakness. He didn't like expressing his negative emotions.

"Well don't look to me for some advice." Lenny laughed. "I know literally nothing about girls."

"Me neither."

"Well you don't seem to have that much difficulty with them." Lenny pointed out. Alex stopped himself from making a witty remark about his current situation and instead did something very unusual. He thought for a moment.

"Lenny, have you ever had a girlfriend?"

"Not exactly." Lenny mumbled after a long pause. It suddenly occurred to Alex that he hadn't been the greatest friend to Lenny this year. They shared fewer classes together now so they saw each other less and spoke less. It was time for Alex to step up.

"Then it's about time." Alex grinned. "Lenny my friend, we are gonna get you in the dating scene."

"Really?"

"Yeah, just look around Lenny." Alex gestured around the room. "So many girls in this common room just waiting for the right guy to pounce."

"And you think that's me?"

"It's gotta be someone." Alex shrugged. "Look at that girl in the corner over there. Really fit but on her own; she's single and waiting."

"Most importantly she's out of my league." Lenny sighed, eyeing up the blonde that Alex was pointing to. He was right, she was too good looking.

"How about the brunette eating pizza?"

"Well I suppose..."

"Actually, shotgun, that pizza's got my name on it." Alex paused, noticing the perfect target. "Three o'clock, we've got a live one."

Entering the common room was a short first year and her height made her an almost perfect match for Lenny. Her chocolate brown hair was tied back into a messy Ponyta-tail, with a fringe almost obscuring her bright green eyes. She looked young and cute but she was most certainly in Lenny's league.

"You think?" Lenny asked.

"She's the one." Alex nodded.

"What do I say? What do I do?"

"Walk her up to her confidently. Say something along the lines of: 'Hey, I'm Lenny.' Then suggest a date idea. Couldn't be simpler."

"What do I suggest?"

"Anything." Alex shrugged. "A movie, bowling, roller skating, walking, talking... you could literally do anything. Just go over there, introduce yourself and get a girl." Alex pushed his friend in the general direction of the girl. Lenny was clearly nervous, wiping the sweat from his brow as he walked over, visibly shaking. Still, Alex had confidence in his friend.

"Hey Ale-"

"Shush!" Alex hissed, cutting Bella off as she approached him. "Lenny is attempting to make contact with a female!"

"Oh, good for him." Bella smiled, surprised. She looked to the area that Alex was fixated upon, observing Lenny talking to the girl before turning back to Alex, her expression grim.

"What do you think? Can he pull her?"

"Um. Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you send Lenny off to ask that girl out?"

"Yeah, I think he can do it." Alex said confidently. Bella didn't look quite so sure.

"Yeah well that's Natalie; I met on her on Camp Coumarine."

"You know her?" Alex gasped. "What's she like? Is she Lenny's type?"

"The thing about Natalie is she's kind of maybe just a little bit of a complete and total lesbian." Alex looked at Bella. Her face was completely serious. He looked towards Lenny. He looked back at Bella.

"Bugger."

*

"So I was just wondering, you know, hypothetically if you would ever consider in a million years..."

"Hey Nat, ready to go?" Lenny turned to see a beautiful blonde girl with a rather distracting chest approaching. Her sparkling blue eyes were fixated on Natalie, the girl he was attempting to ask out.

"Course I am Riley." Natalie smiled, walking over to the girl and kissing her, passionately. Lenny looked at Alex who was watching from afar.

"Sorry." he mouthed.

"I'm going to kill you." Lenny mouthed back.

"Oh sorry Lenny, what were you saying?" Natalie said after finally breaking the kiss.

"Oh nothing much." Lenny stuttered. "Just, have fun." He sighed, leaving the couple alone. That probably couldn't have gone worse. He breathed in deep, realising that this was at least a start to getting over all of his nerve problems. Next time he'd just try and go for a girl that was straight. That would probably help.