Chapter 11

~New Character Introduced~

Mr. Spenser

Original Date of Post: 09/20/2007

Narrator: Nothing like putting crap off to the last minute. So many do it! President Bush does it! My boss does it! I do it! Now if you don’t mind, I have two papers due and a test to study for. Get the hell out!

Marcus: Little buddy? (Taps on the shoulder) Hello! Little buddy! (Taps on shoulder) Little... (She hits him in the face) WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?! (Marisa takes out her headphones)

Marisa: I'm trying to study and you're being annoying.

Marcus: I was going to ask you for help with this review packet for math.

Marisa: Give me that. (Writes on a paper) Like this...like that...like this...and done! Just follow this formula here and you'll be fine. Now be quiet, I need my concentration. (Puts her headphones back in)

Marcus: Okay...ugh... (Ash walks up)

Ash: Hey guys, have you seen Brock?

Marcus: Library.

Ash: What the heck is he doing in there?

Marcus: Studying. Same thing we're doing and same thing you should be doing. (Ash walks away) I swear that kid has too much free time on his hands. (In the library)

Ash: Hey Brock, you up for a game of basketball?

Sakura: Ssh!

Ash: Sorry Sakura!

Brock: Not now Ash! Can’t you see I’m in the middle of studying for this test?

Ash: Oh but you've been studying all last week. I think you got most of that stuff down by now.

Sakura: Ssh!

Brock: I'm sorry I take my studies a little more seriously than others.

Sakura: SHUT UP! If I don’t get full concentration, I’m going to snap somebody’s head off! I’M OUT OF HERE! (She leaves)

Ash: What’s her problem?

Brock: Sakura’s a little testy when it comes to her final exams. Besides Ash, you should really study for your own exams. I mean, you don’t want to be a reclassified freshman!

Ash: Ha, that’s not going to happen! (A little later in another classroom)

Mr. Spenser: Take a seat Ash.

Ash: Am I in trouble?

Mr. Spenser: Sorta. Ash, I'm very concerned about your grade in this class. And I don't think I need to remind you of the big paper that's due in a couple of days.

Ash: I'm working on it, I swear.

Mr. Spenser: Well I'm glad to hear that Ash because you can't pull an all-nighter writing this final paper. And with your current grade you'll need to get a B on your final paper in order to pass the class.

Ash: A-And what happens if I get lower than a B?

Mr. Spenser: You will flunk the class and you'll have to take it again and will be a reclassified freshman.

Ash: (Gulps) You can count on me! I'll write you the best paper ever. (In the hallways)

Gary: Well, well, well, Ashy boy is going to be a reclassified freshman!

Ash: You don’t know anything you jerk!

Gary: Suit yourself! It just so happens that I heard through the grapevine that a certain black-haired, jackass mascot is failing English.

Ash: Ha, shows how much you know.

Gary: All I know is that I have my term paper all done. How about you?

Ash: I’m almost done with the paper smart guy!

Gary: Sure you are! See you at graduation. That is if you get there! (Laughs)

Ash: I’ll show that jerk!

Narrator: Word count for assignment - 500. Word count for Ash Ketchum - 0.

Ash: Hmm…500 words! I can do this! Catcher in the Rye by Ash Ketchum! There we go, only 493 words to go. That shouldn’t be too hard.

Narrator: He's doomed.

Delia: Ash, time for dinner!

Ash: FOOD! (Thirty minutes later) Now to finish that paper! (Cops theme song plays) Eh, I’ll work on it after the Cops marathon. (Two hours later) Boy, nothing like watching stupid criminals! (Sees the blank screen) Oh yeah, the paper. (Yawns) Can’t do this when I’m all sleepy! I’ll handle this tomorrow. (The next morning in the hallway)

Marisa: How’s the studying coming along?

Brock: Well, I’m doing okay, but I'm a little concerned about Sakura. She’s been a bit crazy about her studies.

Misty: It’s simple, Sakura looks up to her older sisters. Each one of them had incredible book smarts from what I’ve heard and Sakura figures she should follow in their footsteps.

Brock: I heard that her sisters are beauties beyond compare! Oh what I wouldn't give to meet one of them... (Misty grabs his ear) Ow, not the ear!

Misty: Stick to studying for class and not girls you pervert! (Marcus sighs) Something wrong Marcus?

Marcus: I have my math final today and I’m terrible at math.

Misty: Hey don’t worry Marcus. As long as you studied the material and understand it somewhat, I’m sure you’ll pass the test.

Marcus: Thanks a lot Misty, I feel much better now that you cheered me up. (He blushes)

Marisa: You've been following the study sheet I gave you? (He nods) And were you able to figure out the sample questions? (He nods) Then I'm sure you'll pass.

Brock: But the person I’m worried about is Ash.

Misty: Ash?

Brock: Yeah! Rumor has it that he might fail his English class. And you know what that means?

Marcus: Reclassified freshman?

Brock: Bingo! (Misty sighs and walks away) What’s wrong with her?

Marisa: Eh, I wouldn’t get into it. (That night in Ash's room)

Ash: Oh man...I only have half a page written...no way in hell this is 500 words. Ah! I need help. Mom! Mom! (Leaves his room) Are you in? (Picks up a piece of paper) “Ash, I’ve gone to visit my sister. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” Aw man! I know, I can always call one of my dear friends. (Picks up the phone) Hey Brock, could you come over here and help me with a paper?

Brock: No can do! I’m babysitting tonight and studying for my own finals. Unless you want me to bring my brothers and sisters over there!

Ash: No, no, no! I’ll manage by myself! (Hangs up and calls another number) Sakura, could you come over here and help me with a paper?

Sakura: CAN’T YOU SEE I’M BUSY WITH MY OWN STUDIES?! DON’T CALL HERE AGAIN! (Hangs up)

Ash: Eh, okay. (Calls another number) Hi, is Marisa there?

Father: Boy, do you have any idea what time it is? What the hell do you want with my daughter? (Ash hangs up and calls another number)

Marcus: Sorry Ash, my mom won’t let me out after 7:00pm.

Ash: What kind of teenager has a curfew at 7:00pm? (Gunshots heard)

Marcus: Um...yeah, I don't want to get into that subject. (Ash hangs up and calls another number)

Gary: Hello. (Dial tone)

Ash: Ack! What the hell was I thinking? It’s hopeless! Wait a minute, there’s one more person I could try! (A little later)

Misty: I came over as soon as I could. What's going on?

Ash: Thank goodness you came over Misty. I’ve tried everyone else, but you were the only one who wants to help me. Brock’s babysitting, Sakura’s mad at me, Marisa’s father threatened me, and Marcus has a curfew.

Misty: (Blushes) I figured that this was my nice deed for the evening. So what do you need help with?

Ash: Help me with this term paper. (At the computer)

Misty: Yeesh, did you even read the book? This paper is severely lacking in detail!

Ash: Are you kidding? A book with cussing, how can I say no? Is there any hope for me?

Misty: Well, I’ve already read the book so I can help you as you go along.

Ash: Thanks a lot Misty. Hey, how’d you end up getting out of your house at this time of night?

Misty: I found a way. I put pillows under my covers. My sisters are so clueless, they won’t catch on. (At Misty’s house)

Daisy: Misty! (Opens her door) Oh, I’m sorry you’re asleep. I’ll just borrow some of your barrettes and get out of your hair.

Narrator: Throughout the night, Misty and Ash were at the computer screen working on the paper. Misty tried to keep Ash awake so he could finish the paper. The hours passed on by and the two of them were tired as they continue to add in more explanations. It was finally 1:30am and Ash finally finished his paper.

Ash: And print! (Sighs) And it's done. 500 words and then some!

Misty: I guarantee you that this is an A paper.

Ash: Thanks so much Misty. You have no idea how much this means to me. (Misty blushes)

Misty: I think I should try to go home now.

Ash: Wait a second Misty! I don’t want you to walk home in the dark. Stay here for the night. (Misty continues to blush)

Misty: Oh Ash.

Ash: You can sleep on the pull out sofa.

Misty: Huh? (Thinking) I have to sleep on the sofa? (Aloud) Thanks Ash. (He pulls out the sofa)

Ash: Good night Mist and thanks again. (He turns out the light)

Misty: Good night! (Lays down) Totally worth...it. (A few hours later) Hmm...where am...I? Oh yeah, I spent the night at Ash's. I better get back home. (Walks by Ash's room) His room! (Thinking) He looks so cute when he's asleep. (Walks inside) He snores...but it's cute. (Strokes his cheek and he groans) Uh-oh, I better get out of here before he wakes up! (A little later in the hallways of school)

Marisa: Okay, where is Ash?

Marcus: Oh crap! What are you going to do with him?

Marisa: Nothing. I just have to apologize for my father. From what he told me, he threatened a boy by the name of Ash.

Marcus: Oh. Well I guess it’s a good thing that I’m on your father’s good side.

Marisa: Sure, keep believing that. If it gets you through the day, then I’m happy for you.

Sakura: Well I wasn’t too happy about him calling my house while I was in the middle of studying. (Misty walks up) Hey Misty! My God, you look awful!

Misty: I’m just very tired. I was up all night helping Ash finish his English paper.

Sakura: You mean you went over to Ash’s house last night?

Marisa: Give us all the details!

Misty: Huh? Nothing happened! All I did was help him on his paper to Catcher in the Rye and that’s it.

Brock: I can’t believe a whole year has gone by already.

Marisa: I know. It’s been a crazy year.

Sakura: It seems like only yesterday we were coming to this place for the first time. It’s so cool that we’ll be sophomores soon.

Brock: We don’t know that yet. We still need to wait for the results of Ash’s paper.

Marcus: Wait a minute…sophomores? YOU MEAN I HAVE THREE MORE YEARS IN THIS HELLHOLE?!

Marisa: (Sighs) Yes. (In another classroom)

Ash: Mr. Spenser!

Mr. Spenser: Oh Ash, what can I do for you? (He slams his paper on the desk)

Ash: I want you to have my paper now.

Mr. Spenser: Huh? Um, okay Ash. I'll tell you what. I'll read this through and at the end of 4th period I will tell you what grade you got on it.

Ash: I look forward to that. (Later outside that classroom)

Misty: Ooh, the tension is killing me. (Sakura walks up)

Sakura: There you are! You ran out after finishing your final.

Misty: Ash told me his teacher is going to give him his grade for the paper.

Sakura: So soon?

Misty: He had him read it early this morning.

Sakura: But do you think that paper will be enough to have him pass? (Bell rings) I guess we're about to find out. (Ash walks out of the classroom) Ash!

Misty: So what happened?

Ash: (Exhales) I GOT AN A!

Sakura: Congratulations Ash, you’re going to be a sophomore with the rest of us!

Ash: Thanks Sakura, but I would have never gotten this A if it weren’t for Misty. Thank you so much Misty! (He kisses her on the cheek)

Misty: Ash, I, I… (She faints)

Ash: Misty! Are you okay?

Sakura: Oh, she’s just tired! You know how finals week can be on a person.

Ash: Oh okay! (He leaves)

Misty: (Thinking) He kissed me. There’s hope!

Narrator: And thus ends a great year. What will the next year hold? Tune in to find out.

~*Preview*~

Brock: New year means new classes, new teachers, new faces...and a new chance for me to work my old Brock-magic with the pretty ladies of Pallet High. It's a brand new year and a brand new chance for me to get a lucky girl. Which girl will it be? Daisy, Grace, Kelly, Lily, Erika, Whitney, Violet, Winona, Lanette, or could it be a new one? Next time on Romance 101, Chapter 12...See you next time!