Alex sighed for the millionth time before downing yet another glass of lemonade. He turned around in his seat to face the bartender.

"You got anything alcoholic?"

"If you've got ID." the rugged man replied, giving Alex a grin that told him everything.

"Damn, you know that this is for first years don't you?" The bartender nodded and moved off to his next customer. Alex was sat, alone, at what was an annual tradition for New Moon Academy. An end of year prom, designed to celebrate exam results and the oncoming summer. Unfortunately for Alex, it was just an occasion for him to slap on his only tuxedo and feel sorry for himself.

He looked out onto the dance floor at the entirety of the year group doing the hand jive, having an apparently wonderful time. His eyes fixated on one figure in particular. Megan. The feisty redhead was busy dancing her troubles away with her friends without so much as glancing at Alex. She hadn't spoken to him at all since he'd gone through all that effort just to rescue her.

"Hey Alex," Lenny said, breaking away from the main group for a moment, "Why don't you come and dance?"

"I dunno Lenny, I'm good." he responded.

"Alright, fess up. What's wrong?" Lenny asked, sitting next to his friend.

"Nothing, I just don't dance."

"Ding ding! There goes the lie detector!" Lenny grinned. "Alex, you're my best friend, I know when something's not quite right and you haven't been yourself ever since the whole Giratina incident."

"Fine." Alex conceded reluctantly. For some reason, he never liked sharing his deep feelings with people, maybe he thought it was a sign of weakness. "It's Megan."

"What about her?"

"Look at her Lenny." Alex sighed, pointing to his source of sadness. "Just look at her. She was perfect. She was actually perfect and I cocked it up."

"You don't know that for certain." Lenny pointed out. "You should talk to her."

"What do I say?"

"How should I know?" Lenny laughed. "All I know is that sitting here by yourself won't solve anything."

"You're right Lenny." Alex nodded. "Thanks man." He stood up and straightened out his sleeves as he made his way to the dance floor, getting oddly nervous. As a slow song begun to play, people began to randomly choose partners and Alex took the opportunity gladly. "Can I have this dance?"

"Of course." Megan smiled at him. Alex took hold of one of her hands and slid his other hand around her back, placing it lightly on her black dress. Their eyes met and briefly Alex lost himself in the moment.

"How are you?" he said, attempting to make conversation as they slowly swayed from side to side. "You know, after being kidnapped and stuff."

"I'm fine, thanks." she replied. Alex could feel her every breath, their faces were so close. He could hardly contain himself. His heart was beating faster than he'd thought was possible.

"Megan, you know that I never meant for anything to happen to you." Alex whispered. "You know how much you mean to me."

"Alex," Megan said softly.

"If I could turn back time and change everything that happened I would Megan. I couldn't care less about being the one to stop the Darkness Warriors. I wouldn't care if the school took away my award and I definitely don't care about all the extra attention. I care about you. It took me way too long to realise it but I love you. I'd do anything for you." Before she could respond, he leaned towards her slightly, kissing her delicate lips.

"I love you too Alex." she said, breaking the kiss, tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. "But there's always a part of me which reminds me of what you did. Of what I had to go through. And the fact that it was your fault."

"I know it was." Alex agreed, "But I'm so sorry."

"I know." Megan smiled as the song finished. "But I just can't forgive you. I'm sorry Alex, but we're over." She let go of his hand before turning and walking away, leaving Alex alone again. Well, now he had an ex-girlfriend - that was a first, and as Megan had so eloquently said, there was a first time for everything.

*

"Hey, we're finally here!" Alex cried as the giant white ferry pulled in at Canalave harbour, sounding an incredible horn as it did so. He and his friends were standing on the deck looking out amongst the crowd, searching for their parents. The voyage back had been long and boring but it was good to be home.

"I guess that's our first year of New Moon Academy officially done and dusted." Bella smiled. "And we all passed out exams."

"Barely." Alex laughed. He'd scraped through by the skin of his teeth and had only just been allowed back into the school. "We should all get together and do something in the summer."

"I'm down." Lenny said.

"Sorry, I'm busy for pretty much the whole summer." Bella replied.

"What with?"

"I'm heading to Kalos so I can take part in the Camp Coumarine programme." she explained.

"You're going on a summer camp?" Alex said, shocked. "Why would you waste your summer like that?"

"For your information, it isn't a waste of time and it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity that I don't want to miss out on. They only let you in up to a certain age." Bella said in her usual matter of fact tone.

"Yeah Alex, don't dismiss Camp Coumarine until you've tried it." Edward added.

"You're going as well?" Bella asked, giving Edward a look that could kill.

"Yes. I am." Edward said, giving Bella his smoothest look. "Wouldn't want to miss that chance."

"Well you two have fun." Alex grinned. He could've been wrong but it looked as though Bella cursed under her breath. Funny, he'd never heard her swear before. "As for me, this is the summer break that I needed. No more Darkness Warriors, no more revision, just me, my Pokémon and finally some freedom."

Alex practically skipped down the gangplank, his feet soon meeting solid land once again. Whilst he was looking forward to the holidays, there was a bittersweet feeling in Alex's heart. This could've been the summer of his life had he and Megan still been together. For now, he tried to cast those thoughts out of his head and attempted to focus on the positives instead.

"Alex!" he heard a familiar voice cry. Through all of the faces he picked out the one that mattered, his brown eyes locking with the hazel orbs that belonged to his mother. He couldn't help a wide grin take over his mouth. Before he ran over, Alex had a few goodbyes to say. Shaking Edward's hand, giving Lenny a manly hug, waving to the girls and hugging Bella who surprisingly gave him a peck on the cheek. This school year may have finished, but Alex had a feeling that his adventures at New Moon Academy were only just beginning. Who knew what next year had in store? All Alex knew was that it was going to be exciting.

Alex Murphy will return! I am super stoked that I actually managed to complete a book and I really hope that everyone who read it thoroughly enjoyed it as much as I've loved writing it. And this is where you as a reader come in (yes, you!). I need you to show support like never before. Leave a vote if you liked but please, please, please leave a comment. Tell me what was good about the story, tell me what was bad and how I can improve. Be as critical (or as nice) as you want I just need to hear something as the next installment of New Moon Academy is coming up soon and I want it to be bigger and better than this. Having said all of that, thanks for reading, your support means everything!