Falling Water
Drip, drip, drip, drop, drip, drop, drop, drip, drip…
The faint pattering of the raindrops didn't bother me, as it was actually pretty peaceful, almost meditative. I sat up, looking outside the cave. It was still raining. A small puddle of water started to collect as the water drops that dripped from the ceiling fell in the same place. I looked to my left, and softly smiled as I watched him nod off to the sound of the gentle patter.
He looked so at peace - a change in behaviour after the entire world nearly crumbled from a foiled terrorist attack. His expression when he was battling that overpowered Gyarados was a shocking change from his usual happy demeanour. It was shocking, almost frightening, the savage way he had to fight in order to protect the ones he loved. But oh, did I wish that he loved me in a different way than he loved his friends and Pokemon.
He stirred, and I realised that he started to shake. My eyes widened in concern, and I quickly moved my hand on his shoulder. "A-Ash? What's wrong?", I nervously asked.
"No! Don't take her away from me! Stop!", he yelled as he sat straight up. I looked at him with frightened eyes, and then quickly realised that he just had a nightmare. He looked at me, and with shaky breaths and a small apologetic smile, said, "Serena? I'm so sorry for scaring you like that… I just had a pretty bad dream…"
"Do… do you want to talk about it? You know that I'm always here for you, and that I'll always listen to your problems!"
"Well… the truth is… I dreamt that you were captured by someone, someone so strong that he beat everyone, including me. I didn't stand a chance against him. He… he grabbed you, and started to walk away. I grabbed him, but he just flung me away like I was nothing. I couldn't do anything… I couldn't protect you, Serena!", he said in a hurried voice. "I tried running to him to make him stop again, but he just… vanished."
"Oh, Ash… you… you'd really do that for me?" I asked, with a slight blush starting to creep up my face.
"Yeah… because… well… you're special to me, Serena."
My blush started getting deeper and deeper. "Uh… W-what do you mean, s-special? Ash? Ash?", I panickingly asked. My mind started to wander and began thinking of all the different scenarios that I had dreamed of since meeting him under that tree in Pallet Town.
"I… I can't really put my finger on it, but I feel… funny whenever I'm with you. I don't know how else to put it, Serena."
"Oh… Ash… uhm… I-I-I..." I couldn't speak, because all the blood started to rush into my face. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Ash… I'm just glad that you're here."
"Serena…" He leaned forward, and wrapped his arms around me. "You're not going to be captured by anyone. Not on my watch, because… you're my best friend, you know?"
I blushed, and there I sat, with his arms around me, for the rest of the night.