'There,' Eureka said, leaning back to survey my costume. 'It's perfect!'

I tweaked my hat and ruffled my newly-shortened curls. The dress lay flat upon the coat-hanger, innocently ushering in my doom. I wasn't too sure about this. Performing… was it really for me? After last time, I'd told myself that I would never go near a Pokémon stage again.

Well, so much for that theory. The moment that the posters appeared, I had no chance; both Eureka and Satoshi simply would not let me pass it by. I don't know why – it's not like I had any particular skill at it; last time poor Fennekin tripped by my own fault, and we lost by a mile.

My thoughts were interrupted by Eureka, who grinned like a monkey and began to hop on the spot. 'You'll win for sure!' she twittered, for all the world as if she were a bird. 'Your dress is beautiful! You've trained so hard. You'll win, Serena!' I smiled at her innocence, kneeling down to her level and taking her bony hands in mine. 'I wouldn't count on it,' I said, looking into her sparkling eyes. 'If last time is anything to go on, we won't even make it as far as the stage.'

Eureka looked at me, shaking her head in disgust. 'But you've left 'last time' behind, remember? Cutting your hair, promising to do better? You've grown since then. You know how to win!' Suddenly, her eyes narrowed and a sly smile crept onto her face. 'And plus, Satoshi's watching.'

What? She knew?

My eyes wide, I struggled to form words in my mouth. 'He was watching last time too, it didn't help. It just made me more nervous, and why would that affect me anyway?' My words trailed off at the smirk on my tiny companion's face. She giggled, hands on hips, and said, 'You're not exactly Miss Secret Skitty, are you?'

My jaw dropped. Was I really that obvious? I'd been trying to keep my crush a secret, but even since the age of six it had been a struggle. And even Eureka could work it out? I was forced to listen as she went on. 'I've seen the way you look at him. You're head over heels!' Eureka laughed and skipped away, prompting me to stumble after her, mouthing words not to be repeated. She wouldn't tell him, would she? Not today, of all days… tomorrow was the performance! I broke into a run and grabbed her from behind, swinging her up and over, onto my shoulders. She drummed on my hat, the picture of childish joy. Bringing her off of my shoulders and onto my lap, I pressed a finger to her lips and began to talk.

'Ok, Eureka, you've got me. I do have a crush on Satoshi; ever since he rescued me when I was a kid, I've wanted to meet him again. Now I'm travelling with him, it's a dream come true.' Eureka's eyes widened, ready for a victory shriek. I clapped a hand over her mouth and pulled her closer. 'But you can't tell him. I'd die if you did.' My eyes flitted frantically across the room, hoping upon hope that no one would knock on the door. 'I have to be the one to tell him. When the time is right.' As I finished, she wormed out of my hands and stood resolutely before me, tiny hands clenched into fists.

'I'll make you a deal, Serena. I'm tired of watching you flirt from a distance. You'd better let Satoshi know, otherwise he'll leave you behind like he's left so many others. I happen to know he's feeling something too. But unless you win the competition tomorrow, I'm telling him – and you better believe it!' She flashed me a cunning grin and sprinted to the door. 'Goodnight!'

I waited only two seconds before collapsing on the bed, tears beginning to run down my face. Why was it so hard? Nobody understood what I felt for Satoshi. Eureka thought it was a playground crush; Citron – did he even know at all? And what did the little girl mean by 'feeling something too'? I rubbed the tears from my eyes, hiccupping wildly. I loved Satoshi. He was selfless, funny, charming; how couldn't they see? Every little thing he did made me fall for him more. And the worst thing was, he couldn't see that I loved him. He was oblivious to my love; he only cared about training his Pokémon, and he would leave me behind. I was sure of it; left behind like all of the other girls, just a story to tell the next set of companions that he travels with. I couldn't bear this to happen, but I knew – just knew – that it would. I would never feel his kiss upon my lips. More tears fell from my eyes as I curled up, helpless, upon the duvet.

Braixen materialised next to me, along with Pancham. Their snouts parted in concern and they leapt at me, curling against my neck, murmuring comforts into my ears. I gathered them into my arms and they hugged me, throwing their little furry arms around my neck. I wish they could speak, let me know how they feel. They understand, I know they do. As I cried salty tears into their fur, Braixen purred and licked them off my face. I stared into her eyes, wishing that she could tell the future.

A knock on the door reached my ears, and without warning, Satoshi came into the room. I glared at him, my eyes shining with tears. His face became a mask of concern. 'Serena! What's wrong?' He took a step further into the room and I stood, clutching a pillow to my chest. I furrowed my brows, screwing up my tear-stained face.

'You are!'

The words burst from my lips before I could stop them, along with lots of others that I never thought I'd say. 'You're ignorant. You're stupid; you fail to realise what's right under your nose. Isn't it obvious, Satoshi?' I said scathingly, hiccupping through my tears. 'Can't you tell?'

He took another step towards me, hurt crossing his stupid face. In that moment, I wanted nothing more to do with him. Why couldn't he see? As I lashed out at him, my nails catching him across his face, he recoiled and said defiantly, 'Tell what?'

'Just go. Get out of here. I wish I'd never met you, Satoshi. You're just like I hoped you wouldn't be,' I hissed, barely able to comprehend what I was saying. But I couldn't stop. 'If you can't tell, then I don't want you to. Get out. I never want to see you –' Sobs were breaking through my voice as I collapsed, choking, onto the bed. '- again.'

'Serena?' The idiot still couldn't get it? I blinked through tear-filled eyes, finding the scalded expression on his face. It was as tear-ridden as mine as he whispered, 'What can't I understand?'

I waited until he'd left before choking out 'that I love you.'

Satoshi crept along the corridor, his feet silent upon the carpeted floor. He'd left Pikachu sleeping in his room. This moment was just for him.

Quietly opening Serena's door, he padded inside to find his companion curled up, sleeping, on the bed. She was still breathing irregularly, hiccupping in her sleep. Goosebumps stood up on her arms, so he drew a blanket over her shivering body. Serena's fingers twitched in her dream. He hoped it was a good one.

Nervous, he glanced at the flowers that he held tightly in his hand. Nobody had asked him to buy them, but something told him it was the right thing to do. He still didn't understand why Serena had screamed at him, but he knew one thing; she was his friend, and friends have to make up.

He placed the flowers in a vase on her bed-table, where two Pokéballs lay. There was no better time to wake her and confess everything, but he knew that he wouldn't. She needed to rest. He did too.

He was just about to leave when he noticed a tear, orblike, shining, on Serena's cheek. He studied it closely, and then leaned over the bed and did the one thing that he'd wanted to do for so long.

He kissed the tear away.