Cloudy Cover, Clear Contents

Chapter 6 - Quick Turnaround

I'm back once again!! Can't believe the story has 250 views now!! That blows my mind!! I'm glad that some people find this story interesting enough to read!! So basically another filler type chap, or maybe not.. Surprise? Enjoy!!

"Wait, what did she say?" "That's Ash, like our Ash?" "Loner Ash?" "Bullied Ash?". God damn they have a lot to say about me, not a lot I guess, just how I'm a loner and how I get the short end of the straw, aaaall the time. "There's no way, maybe the new guy is also named Ash?" "Hey, new guy!" "Yeah what?" "What's your last name?" "Ha, you want to know?". Every guy nods their head. "Ketchum, it's Ketchum". You should have seen their faces, the utter shock and surprise. It was amusing, quite comical, and very satisfying. "Are you really her side guy?" "When did you become the side guy?" "You were just bullied today?". I look at Serena as she sits down and then I gaze upon my uncle Cilan, who gives me a intensely malicious smirk. Oh no, he's gonna talk about this for a long time. "Ha..ha.. She's just saying that, I'm not looking to replace Calem. I'm just a friend, you could define me as a sponge, just a friend for her to talk to". Most of the guys stand up and walks towards me, there are a good six or seven of them. "Ash, I know you won't except a apology, but I'd like to say sorry for all the things we've said". They are really the lowest of the low, they grovel when they see the dirt has risen to gold level. Although I'd like to say 'piss the fuck off', I won't, because this is my opportunity to start my climb in popularity. "Sorry and when did you... no homo, get this handsome?". Wow, these guys are really something else. I notice that one of the guys is a senior who's close friends with Calem. "Hey Alain, remember me in junior high?" "Huh me? Yeah I do, oh I see.. You've just gone back to it, huh?" "What do you mean Alain? Was Ash like this before?" "Yeah he was, he was the most popular kid in school, even though he was a grade below" "Look Ash, we're really sorry. I know it's pathetic that we're saying it-" "It's alright, I guess you'll be my first group of people that recognizes that I ain't just some dirt bag, now move along". Shooing them away, Alain shoots me a wink. He must know something about this whole thing, maybe he saw Calem cheating on Serena. The guys sit down and one asks," To be clear, are you stealing Serena away?" "No, I'm just becoming a friend.. her boyfriend ploy was just to get attention". I wink at Serena, who just shrugs her shoulders. As the ice café, I guess, quiets down.. Serena then fully faces me in her seat and rests her chin on her hands. "So Ash, you were really adamant about denying the dating ploy, why's that?".

How am I going to answer that, I can't tell her my history, we barely know each other. "I won't answer that Serena" "Stubborn as always Ash" "Sorry honey, but some secrets are meant to be kept locked away". We small talk for a bit, I'm amazed at how shy she is, she seemed to talk with confidence all the time, but maybe that's not the real her. I had heard a story about her that basically said that in junior high she was a bit of a loner, but because this guy named Trevor hung out with her, she was considered popular. Once she entered high school and Calem took interest, her popularity sky rocketed. But I guess her confidence did not have as much of an improvement. "Okay Ash, here are some guide lines, we won't start until next week, I'd like you to gain some popularity first" "How thoughtful of you Sweet Tea". I'm not sure if her pause was an embarrassed pause or a disgusted pause but it seemed like it caught her off guard. "What's wrong Serena? Cat's got your tongue?" "I just don't understand why you're flirting with me, we aren't even faking it yet" "Sorry Buttercups, but Paul could tell you that this is how I talked in junior high, annoying? Sure. Does it work? Most of the time!". I shoot her a smile and a exaggerated wink. "Oh-uh.. okay then, anyways we won't ever hang out at my house for one" "Fair enough, how about my house, huh?" "I-uh" "Don't tell me that you're getting worked up by those names, I thought you were dating someone?". This time she doesn't just answer shyly, she answers while fidgeting "He never gives me nicknames" "Sorry Sere, but he ought to, it's just a natural thing for couples or flirters like me!". A frown plasters itself onto her face as she sighs and looks out the window. "Before we lay anymore ground rules, I'd like to say that your outfit is eye candy. You really should be careful, guys like me may flirt too much when seeing those clothes" "Guys like you?" "Flirters, flirters....". After some awkward silence she lays more rules, no kissing, hugs are allowed. No picking her up, just holding hands. Going on dates, but nothing more. And hanging at school is the biggest no. "How am I supposed to protect my Queen Bee at school if we can't hang out?" "We are in multiple classes.." "Yeah, but that's not enough" "I can't believe you're being selfish here, I'm giving you a chance to be popular, just take it!". She's acting like she's god, some god she is. "Honey, I'll make myself popular without your help in this next week". With that we keep chatting for a solid hour until Cilan asks for us to leave. While walking out of the café, with some guys watching, I bend down a bit so that I can face Serena eye to eye. "That was nice Sweetie, but I'm gonna have to leave, if you want you can come to my house?". Shooting her a wink, I can see the disgust written all over her face. Before I wave goodbye, I plant a kiss on her forehead.. turn around, wave and leave to my house. I think I did a good job stunning her!

Quick POV of Serena

Did he just.. he just kissed me. And I just told him not to! Oh that boy is gonna be so dead. I know I want to make Calem jealous and all, but Ash is so dead. To be honest, I'm not sure if I'll be able to deal with such a massive flirt, I just have a feeling that in a week, he's going to be more popular than me. I'm pretty sure by that point, he'll be able to embarrass me all he wants. Ugh, he's just the wrong guy to do it with. Walking to my dads house, I can't help but roll my eyes every time I think about that kiss, just what was he thinking. Slinging my envelope purse to my other shoulder. This is going to be a long week.

Back to the new and improved Ash

I'm about to go to bed, when my phones buzzes. Who could that be? Walking to my night stand, I pick up the phone and squint at the phone to see who it is, Paul. What could Paul want at such a late time? Checking the message it says," Ash, I don't know if you're gonna go through with the relationship, but Calem is gonna dump Serena tomorrow". I thought back to the conversations I had with Serena, I know exactly what to do. I text back "SO Paul, Imma get back to being popular again, but I'm not gonna get into a relationship with Serena until at least two weeks have passed, one week is not long enough". Fair enough right? I'm about to put the phone down, but it buzzes once more. "You sure Ash? I have this sinking feeling that Serena is not gonna be part of the popular group anymore, and you will be". True, but I want to play around, I haven't done it since junior year. "Paul listen, I want to play around, as jerky as it may be, I'd like to have some fun too". Paul replys "Ha, just promise me that you'll fix Serena after this, Dawn is really worried about how Serena's going to handle this". How should I respond? Should I act like I care, she still is one of my bullies. "Fix it? I'm not a doctor, I'm a playboy".

The next day of school was different. How different? For once, I didn't get Calem kicking or shouting at me, what I got was a high school movie scene at the entrance of the school. "Serena, listen to me!" "No, you just said you want to break up with me!". Calem sounds oddly unobtrusive, but with his popularity.. there's no way that he won't get attention. "Serena, I wanted to tell you that I have problems at my home and that school isn't going so great". "I was wondering if we could get back together later on, I just need some time to fix my life".

"I really really love you, Serena".

I don't think this guy is being honest here, he just wants to play, just like me. He's going to break Serena's heart come a months time. I should mention that Calem wasn't the guy he is today, he was a good boy and a nice boy. I believe he's receiving therapy right now, although he has been bullying me more often for the past couple of weeks, I think it's because of the therapy. Maybe he's gonna start changing back to how he used to be, I can believe it because I'm about to do the same thing. "Oh Calem, I love you too! Once your life has calmed down we'll date again!". She leans up to Calem and kisses him on the cheek, blushes and dashes towards the doors to the school. Cracking my knuckles one thought goes through my head, this is going to be the most fun I've had in years.

Hello hello!! Hope you guys enjoyed it!! The story may get confusing, but I apologize for my lack of story telling skills!

Anyways, this is DJ-Fluffy and I hope you guys have a great day!!