"But this is so boring!" Alex whispered to Lenny. "Why should I care about some bloke who started a revolution against Team Rocket?"

"Because it's an important piece of history." Lenny sighed. "And it's a big topic for our exams."

"That's enough chat you two." Professor Johnson called out.

"Oh, uh, sorry sir." Lenny stuttered, his face turning a vivid shade of red. Arabella turned back around to face her class neighbours to get back on with her work. She'd been curiously watching Alex and Lenny talk throughout Professor Johnson's History lesson almost waiting for them to be told off. She'd never understand not obeying the rules, but at the same time, she couldn't help but have a soft spot for those who did.

"Alright then, as I was saying before I was interrupted, the takeover of the Pokémon League was a pivotal moment in the war in Johto and Kanto and proved to be a real kick-starter for the revolution. Discuss in your tables why you think this is and write a short answer to the question on the board: What was the most important event in the revolution?" Johnson said and immediately the class exploded into chat.

"Well obviously the fact that the strongest trainers in the region were being held captive there is a pretty big point-" Bella started but she was cut off by Lucy, one of her roommates.

"You were doing it again." She grinned. Since arriving at New Moon Academy several weeks ago, Lucy had been almost like a sister to her, sitting next to her in every class, doing their homework together and training their Pokémon together. However, when Bella had somehow lost to Alex, all Lucy could go on about was just that. Alex, Alex, Alex. Nothing to say but Alex.

"Doing what?" She asked, knowing the response already.

"Staring at Alex!" Lucy said. "You just can't stop it can you?"

"Honestly Lucy, you're just looking for something that isn't there." Bella sighed as she subconsciously began writing her answer down in her History book.

"You have to admit Bella, Lu's got a point." Megan said. Megan was Arabella's other friend that she'd made since joining the school and it was fair to say that she was a lot more relaxed than Lucy, taking on a style similar to Alex's by leeching off of others class work to get by, much preferring the actual battling. Oddly enough, Bella was happy to help Megan out as the two's personalities went together really well and besides, with Megan's ginger hair, Lucy's brown hair and Arabella's blonde hair, they made quite the trio.

"No, she doesn't have a point. I happened to look over at Alex and Lenny because I could hear them talking and it was distracting. You could equally argue that I was staring at Lenny."

"Except that you're not bordering on obsession with Lenny." Lucy smiled.

"Obsession?" Bella asked.

"We've all seen you furiously making notes on that pad of yours, trying to figure out Alex's weaknesses." Lucy answered.

"There's also a very nice diagram of his strategies and their loopholes in there somewhere." Megan added.

"That's not because I like him, that's because he beat me once and he won't do it again." Bella sighed. She glanced down at her book which by now had a whole page covered in black ink with her answer. That would probably be enough.

"So you're saying that all you want is to beat him in battle?"

"Yes!"

"So he's available then?" Megan asked.

"Yes of course he's-" Bella began but she cut herself off. Both she and Lucy turned to Megan. "Why do you care?"

"Well it's just he's, kind of, well, quite good looking and, you know, he's funny and-"

"Aww, my little Megan's all grown up." Lucy grinned.

"I'm older than you."

"Yeah, I know."

"So just to be clear on this: you like Alex?" Bella asked.

"Yeah, I guess I do." She sheepishly smiled. "Is that ok?"

"Yes." Bella said. "It's completely fine."

"Alright then everybody, we're nearing the end of the lesson so let's hear what you've got." Professor Johnson said, as the class began to quieten down. "Murphy, as you were so enthusiastic to talk earlier, perhaps we could hear your answer."

"Uh, right. Sure. Got it." Alex said as he quickly read the question on the board, probably for the first time. "Well I think that the most important event in the revolution was the start of the revolution because if it didn't start, then it wouldn't have happened."

"But what was the event that started the revolution?" Alex stared back at Johnson blankly. "We covered this literally ten minutes ago..."

"The takeover of the league?" Alex guessed.

"Yes." Johnson sighed as the bell went. "Alright class, leave your books on my desk as you leave, I'll mark your answers by the time we have our next lesson."

"See what you'd get yourself into Megan?" Bella said as they left the classroom and began heading back to their dorm. "He's so irresponsible!"

"Just like her!" Lucy pointed out. "Go on Megs, you should go for it."

"You think?" Megan asked.

"Definitely!" Lucy said.

"If you really want to, I guess." Bella said. For some reason, she was having a really hard time believing this. Megan was a tad lazy but she was at least sensible; what could she possibly see in Alex?

*

"Alex, you really need to start paying more attention in class." Lenny insisted. "You keep on getting me into trouble!"

"Relax man," Alex grinned, "It's not like it's important."

"It is important! If we don't do well in our exams, they'll kick us out of the school!"

"Eh, they're a long way off." Alex shrugged.

"Just be more aware of the long term goal Alex." Lenny sighed. "I don't want to see you get booted off the island."

"I won't man, trust me." Alex said as they reached the bridge.

"You sneaking off to train again?" Lenny asked.

"Yeah, that's me being aware of the long term goal."

"Hey Alex!" He heard a shout from behind him. It was Bella followed by her two friends Lucy and Megan.

"Hey Bella, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing much." She said quickly. "Where are you going?"

"To train." He replied.

"But the gym is back in main building."

"Why would I go to the gym to train?" Alex asked.

"Because that's where most people train, especially in the evenings when it gets colder." Bella explained.

"Huh." Alex said. "Never would've thought of that."

"So where do you train?" She asked.

"I can show you if you want." He smiled and without waiting for a reply he dashed over the bridge and into the forest before coming to the same old clearing. Eventually, the three girls caught him up although somewhere along the way he seemed to have lost Lenny. He brushed the thought away, Lenny never seemed to be around whenever a girl was nearby, he had some serious nerve issues surrounding them.

"Wow." Lucy gasped as she saw the temple. "This is quite the spot you've got here."

"Thanks. This is where I come to train and avoid homework so that Lenny can do it for me." Alex said. For some reason the three girls looked at each other and giggled.

"Can we see a demonstration?" Bella asked, clearly fascinated by Alex's approach.

"So that you can figure out Alex's strategy for your next battle?" Megan laughed.

"Yeah alright." Alex grinned, buzzing from the attention he was getting. He quickly sent out his two Pokémon, nodded at them and they got to their positions. "Butter remember what we talked about alright?"

"Free?"

"Excuse me, there are ladies present!"

"Free, free."

"Hey!" Alex snapped. "Enough lip, now start the drill." Immediately, they got down to business. Rocks and branches from all around Marowak began flying in towards it, propelled by Butterfree's psychic powers. Wielding its bone like a vicious weapon, Marowak blocked and sliced its way through the assault, swivelling when necessary to deflect those from behind. Eventually, one broke through its defences, hitting Marowak on the back of the heel.

"Maro!" Marowak cried as fell to ground, clutching its ankle.

"Every time..." Alex sighed, adjusting the notes to the diagrams in his notepad to what he'd just seen. "Ever since evolution, the back of the heel is just slightly out of reach for Marowak but I'm working on a solution to our only weak spot."

"That was..." Bella began but she was cut off by an impressed Megan.

"Amazing."

"Thank you." Alex smiled. He hadn't heard many compliments in his time at New Moon Academy but he'd clearly made an impression on his three spectators. "Truth be told, you caught us on a bad day." He said as he sprayed a Super Potion on Marowak's foot.

"Really?" Bella gasped.

"Yeah, Marowak's got a slight shoulder strain but it's severely hindering movement. A couple of those blocks were made really tricky by it so hopefully it's only a temporary injury."

"I had no clue." Megan said. "It all looked good to me."

"Alex I had no idea you were so in depth with your training outside of class." Bella said. "It's almost like you're a different person."

"I am a different person when it comes to my Pokémon. I actually care about them. But lessons? Boring!" Alex felt a vibration in his pocket. He pulled out his phone to see a text from Lenny.

Where r u? We need to finish our essay - Lenny

"Ah, shoot, I have to go convince Lenny to write an essay for me." Alex sighed. "I'll catch you guys later."

"Wait!" Lucy said. "Megan didn't you want to -"

"No, it can wait, it's fine." Megan sighed.

"Alright then, feel free to use my place." Alex waved as he called back Marowak and set off back for the Azelf dorm.

"Free, free - free!" Butterfree chirped to him as he walked back.

"Of course they're talking about me - did you see the show we just put on?"

"Free..." Butterfree seemed to sigh and roll its eyes.

"What?" Alex said, puzzled at his partner's response. Apparently he'd got the wrong idea but Butterfree was being too cryptic to understand. As he always did, Alex quickly moved on, not caring enough to bother thinking about it. All he knew was that he'd finally managed to impress Bella, and that made him feel really good.