sixteen year old Girl named Serena Yvonne is running through the halls of vanville high. Tears streamed down her face as she thought back to what had just happened a few moments ago. It had been the same thing for the last eight months. She came to school and was fine until she went to her second class of the day. That's when everything always got worse as she had no friends in that class so Calem and pretty much everyone else in the class made her life hell.

She hated Calem. Most people would think it was impossible that they had been childhood friends. People would be even more surprised to hear that a year ago they had started dating. It had been a wonderful summer however towards the end of summer vacation Calem had told her that he wanted to take her virginity and get in bed with her.
Serena had declined saying that not only were they too young but they also hadn't been going out for long. At the time Calem had seemed fine with it but as soon as the first day of school started the hell began. Calem had gone around and bragged about how he had slept with her and then dumped her. Although Serena adamantly denied it everyone believed Calem apart from one person. Suddenly Serena crashed into someone She looked up and saw the chocolate brown eyes belonging to her only friend and childhood Ash Ketchum.

"Serena what's wrong?" Ash asked softly.

Serena wrapped her arms around Ash and sobbed into his shirt. Ash quickly returned the embrace and rubbed serena's back hoping it would calm her. Some of the students looked at them however a quick glare from Ash made them carry on with what they had been doing before. After a couple of minutes, Serena sobs turned into whimpers. Ash then tilted Serena head up and wiped away her tears making her blush.

"Did Calem say or do something again?"

Serena nodded and watched as Ash got an enraged look in his eyes.

"I'm gonna kill him." Ash growled.

Serena eyes widened in fear. Ash had gotten in trouble for beating up Calem almost every day for the last eight months leading to him getting suspended several times. After the last suspension the principle informed Ash that if he got into trouble for hurting Calem again he would be expelled.

"No Ash you can't. If you get in trouble for hurting Calem again you'll be expelled." Serena said frantically.

"I don't care. He upset you and I care about you too much to allow him to get away with it."

Serena looked desperately at Ash. She couldn't lose him. If she did she wouldn't get through the day. He was the only thing that made it all better.

"Please Ash don't do it. If you get expelled I'll have no one here. I need you with me." Serena pleaded.

Ash looked at the look on Serena face and couldn't deny her.

"Okay. I won't hurt him again." Ash promised.

"Thank you Ash." Serena whispered in relief.

"At least we only have two more weeks of school. Then we can start our Pokémon journey together." Ash said.

Together, Serena liked the sound of that. Truth be told she had never really felt anything more than friendship for Calem. It had always been Ash for her. But when Ash had started dating miette it had crushed Serena's hopes so she had settled for what at the time seemed like second best. Of course now she knew how much of mistake that had been. Serena brushed all other thoughts aside and rested her head on Ash's chest relishing the feeling of his arms wrapped tightly around her. Ever since the start of the year Serena had dreamt of her and Ash getting together. After he had broken up with miette due to her believing Calem,
Ash had broken ties with all other friends as they had also believed Calem. Serena knew that Ash could have had any girl he wanted but he had chosen to stand by her. That thought brought a smile to her face.

Ash looked down at Serena and he felt another surge of anger. When they had come back from summer vacation Ash had heard from Serena how much fun her and Calem had. When the first day of school started Ash couldn't believe that Calem would spread such horrible rumours. What shocked Ash more was that people actually believed him. After looking around the entire school Ash had finally found Serena sobbing terribly under the tree where they had first met. Ash had sat down next to her and pulled her into a hug. Serena immediately wrapped her arms around him and she had wept for what felt like hours. Eventually she stopped weeping. He still remembered the soul destroyed look in her bloodshot eyes.

"D-Do you think I'm a slut, A-Ash? Do you believe what Calem is saying?" Serena whimpered.

"Arceus no. I think Calem is a lying stupid conniving bastard."

"Thank you Ash. I'm glad that you believe me."

Ash gave Serena another tight hug and then they went to the principle's office. After explaining the situation Serena and Ash had been allowed to go home as she had been far too distressed to stay at school and Ash didn't want to leave her alone.

Ash was brought out of his memories when he saw Calem and miette walking towards them. He glared at Calem, who was scared by the look. He had been on the receiving end of enough beat downs from Ash to know he was dangerous. But then he saw Serena and he couldn't resist the urge to make her feel like dirt.

"Hey look the whore's going after another man." Calem taunted.

"I still can't believe you dumped me for that slut." Miette snarled.

Serena let out another sob and then felt Ash go stiff in her arms. She looked at him and saw that he was grinding his teeth clenching his fists.

"Please don't do it Ash." Serena begged.

Ash wanted to hit Calem but Serena had asked him not to do it so he wouldn't. Stopping himself from hitting Calem was the hardest thing Ash had ever done. But he still needed to get rid of his anger. Seeing a locker to his right Ash slammed a fist into the locker. Calem and miette jumped back in fear as they saw that Ash hadn't even flinched.

"You better leave Calem before I make your face look like this locker." Ash said as he pointed to the now dented locker.

Calem and miette quickly made their escape. Once they were far enough Ash held his hand which was now hurting like hell and let out a pained gasp.

"Ash are you okay?" Serena asked, worried.

"I'll be fine." Ash replied.

"Come on let's go to the nurses office and let her take a look at it."

Ash nodded and they walked to the nurses office. They entered the room and the nurse wasn't surprised to see Ash holding his fist. However usually Calem would come in before Ash with blood pouring from his nose.

"Who did you get into a fight with today then Ash?" the nurse asked.

"A locker." Ash dead panned.

The nurse chuckled. She could never stay mad at Ash. Despite the fact that he had sent Calem in here several times he had always done it while standing up for Serena and she had a lot of respect for that attitude.

"So who won?"

"I think we'll call it a draw." Ash said with a smirk.

"Well let's take a look at your hand then."

Ash raised his hand so that the nurse could see it and she started to examine it. She saw the worried way Serena looked at Ash and smiled. She knew how Serena felt, it had been pretty obvious for a few years now. Little did Serena know that Ash had always felt the same way. But he had always assumed that Serena saw him as a best friend or brother to her.

"Well you haven't broken anything. Just try not to get into another fight with a locker for a few days."

Serena let out a sigh of relief and gave Ash a quick hug. Ash returned it and then looked at the nurse.

"Sorry but I can't make any promises. Those lockers sometimes need putting in their place."

They all chuckled.

"Go on get out of here you two." she said softly

"Thanks for checking my hand." Ash replied.

She gave Ash and Serena a nod and then they left the room. After looking at his watch Ash saw that they still had half an hour of lunch so they walked outside and sat in the shade of their tree.

(2 weeks later)

School was finally over to Ash and Serena relief. The last of their exams had been completed and Ash and Leaf had passed with flying colours. They walked out of the school glad that they would never have to come back to this building. As they walked they started to talk about the starter they would choose. Ash had made them deliberately waited behind so that everyone else was gone which would let them walk home in peace. When they got Serena's house they spent a few hours planning their route through kalos so they wouldn't have to spend time during the journey deciding where to go. As night fell Ash returned home and both he and Serena got an early night so they would be able to choose the starter they wanted.

The next morning Ash met Serena at her house and they walked to Professor sycamores Lab. Sadly he refused to let them in until all of them were here just so it would be fair. After waiting for twenty minutes Miette and Calem finally arrived.

"Now that you're all finally here you can choose your first Pokémon." Professor Oak said.

Professor Oak opened the door and walked inside. Ash and Serena went to follow but Calem and Miette barged into them, knocking Serena to the ground. Ash scowled at them both and after helping Serena to her feet they followed them inside. They came to the main lab and saw three Pokéballs sat on a table.

"On this desk there are three Pokéballs containing the kalos starters. They are fennikin, Froakie and chespin. Now there are only three of you so you will have decided which one of you doesn't get one of them." Professor Sycamore said as he gave Ash a subtle wink.

"Well I am taking this frokie." Calem stated.

"And I'm taking chespin." Miette declared.

Calem and Miette stepped forward and snatched the Pokéballs, Serena then looked from the remaining Pokéball to Ash.

"Go on Serena you take fenneikin."

"B-But Ash what about you?" Serena asked.

She always wanted fennikin but she couldn't let Ash give up his dream so that she could become a trainer. Ash smiled and then leaned closer to Serena .

"Don't worry about it. Me and the Professor have something planned already." Ash whispered.

"Okay well I'll have fennikin." Serena said as she took the Pokéball.

"Tough luck Ash, looks like you're stuck here until sycamore gets another starter." Calem taunted.

Calem and Miette smirked at Ash but were surprised to see he was grinning at them.

"Well Calem I'd agree with you but professor and I had already planned for this so I already have my starter."

"You're full of shit Ketchum." Calem exclaimed.

"Oh am I? Chimchar we're about to leave!" Ash yelled.

A small orange monkey darted into the room and jumped on to Ash's shoulder. Ash rubbed the monkeys head making him let out a content sigh.

"This is my starter Chimchar. I met him about three months ago while helping the Professor."

"What the hell, Why didn't I get that rare Pokémon?" Calem said

"Chimchar was sent to me by Professor Rowan when I told him about my predicament with you four. Ash was here when Chimchar arrived and they bonded instantly."

"Hang on. Ash yesterday you told me that you wanted Charmander." Serena said.

"Well I wanted to keep Chimchar a secret."

Professor sycamore then handed each of them a Pokédex and five Pokéballs and Professor sycamore let them leave.

Ash and Serena walked out of the lab intent on going home and getting their backpacks so they could get on the road. However they were stopped when they felt hands on their shoulders. Ash and Serena turned around and saw Calem and Miette.

"What do you two want?" Ash asked. Sarcastically

"I challenge you to a battle Ketchum. If I win I get that Chimchar."

Chimchar and Ash chuckled. They had been doing some training over the past three months so Chimchar was more then ready to beat Calem and his frokie.

"Fine but when I win you have to tell everyone in Vanville town how you lied about Serena ." Ash said.

"I'll agree to that. It's not like you've got a chance anyway." Calem replied.

Ash led Calem to an open battlefield, Chimchar jumped off of Ash's shoulder. Calem then sent out his Froakie who like his trainer was expecting this to be an easy win.

"Let's end this quickly Froakie use Bubble."

"Dodge it with Dig." Ash said in a bored tone.

Froakie opened his mouth and fired a bubbles of water at Chimchar. The fire monkey saw the attack coming and quickly dug underground making the bubbles of water pass harmlessly over the hole. Calem and froakie started looking around wondering where Chimchar would come from. Suddenly the ground beneath Froakie started to shake violently. The water type looked down and saw Chimchar burst out of the ground. Before frokie had a chance to react with was hit with an electric infused uppercut that sent him flying through air. Froakie let out a loud pain filled cry as the electricity coursed through his veins. He let out another yelp as he crashed to the ground in front of Calem who looked halfway between furious and confused.

"What the hell is going on?! That thing is a fire type how did it use an electric move?"

"Calem you should have paid more attention in school. All starters get a move bred into them now to help new trainers. Chimchar's move is Thunderpunch. If you'd bothered to check your frokie you'd have found that he has a move that has been bred into him to."

Calem felt embarrassed that he had overlooked that. Ash looked at Froakie who had miraculously managed to get back up and decided to put him out of his misery.

"Flame Wheel."

Chimchar got into a ball and was engulfed in flames. He then started rolling towards frokie as fast as he could. Froakie looked back at his trainer hoping to get some instructions. Sadly Calem was not forthcoming with any ideas. Froakie then cried out in pain as he felt Chimchar slam into him. The attack sent frokie skidding along the ground and he slammed into one of the fence posts. Calem already knew that Froakie was done for so he returned him.

Ash picked up Chimchar and placed him on his shoulder.

"Way to go Chimchar." Ash said.

"Yeah good job." Serena added as she rubbed Chimchar's head.

Chimchar nuzzled Ash and then jumped on to Serena's shoulder so he could nuzzle her too. Serena giggled as Chimchar's fur tickled her skin. Ash smiled as he watched them and then he saw Calem starting to walk away.

"Where do you think you're going? We made a deal." Ash stated.

"Did you really think I was going to do that Ketchum? You're so gullible." Calem said mockingly.

"You're telling everyone the truth whether you like it or not." Ash growled threateningly.

Ash took a step towards Calem and that was all it took for him to run away as fast as he could.

"Get back here you scum bag!" Ash yelled as Calem and Miette faded from view.

Ash was about to chase after them when he felt a hand grab his arm. He looked behind him and saw Serena shake her head.

"Let them go Ash."

"Are you sure?" Ash asked.

"I don't care what those people from our school think anymore. I'm probably not going to see them again so their opinion doesn't matter."

"Okay Serena ."

Serena smiled and then wrapped her arms around Ash who returned the hug.

"Serena why did Calem start spreading those rumours?" Ash asked.

Serena looked away. She knew that if she told him what Calem wanted she would have to tell Ash the real reason she said no and not the lies she told Calem.

"Why won't you tell me? Every time I ask you won't answer. Do you not trust me?" Ash asked.

"Of course I trust you." Serena said.

"Then please tell me what happened."

Serena sighed. She knew that Ash deserved to know the truth.

"The truth is that at the end of summer vacation Calem wanted to sleep with me. I told him that we were too young and that we hadn't been going out long enough for me to be comfortable with doing that. But those were lies. The truth was that I didn't love him. I only went out with him because the guy I love was with someone."

"So who is this guy?"

Serena wasn't sure if she should tell him. Would it make things awkward on their journey if she confessed? Would he even want to travel with her? Serena shook those thoughts away and decided to just tell him.

"I-I-It's you Ash." Serena said and then quickly averted her gaze.

Ash was in shock, he really hadn't been expecting her to say that. After a few minutes of silence Serena was starting to get really worried. Ash hadn't said or done anything since she had confessed. Serena then felt Ash place his hands on her face and he forced her to look at him. Serena looked at the blank expression on Ash's face and could feel tears build in her eyes. She knew it, he didn't feel the same way. She tried to look away but Ash wouldn't let her. She looked at him again and was surprised to see a big smile now on Ash's face. Before Serena could say anything Ash's lips were on hers.
Serena was surprised and would be an understatement but she had dreamt of this moment for years so she wouldn't question it. Eventually they were forced to break the kiss so they could refill their lungs. They gazed at each other while they regained their breath. Both of them were blushing furiously and had massive smiles on their faces.

"I never expected you to return my feelings." Serena said finally breaking the silence.

"I've always loved you Serena . I just thought that you never saw me that way."

Serena pressed her lips to Ash's again briefly. When they broke apart they started walking to their homes so they could pick up their supplies and then finally start their journey.