Chapter 9
Ash saw Serena pinned to the wall by Calem. He looked around and saw everyone whispering to each other.
Two girls that Ash overheard said "Is Serena gonna say yes to his proposal? I never even knew her and Calem were a thing…"
"Calem is way too good for Serena.." One said.
Another whispered "I always thought she had a thing with Ash cus they're like best friends ya know?"
Ash couldn't stand another minute watching those two.
He pushed through the crowd and shoved Calem off.
"Calem, you're invading Serena's space. GIve the girl some room will ya?" Ash said urgently.
Serena opened her eyes and relaxed a little. She sweatdropped and thought "Oh no...Ash saw us… What's he gonna think now?"
Ash took Serena by the wrist and walked off in the opposite direction, leaving Calem dumbfounded.
There was a huge clamor as girls screamed. "ASH AND CALEM ARE FIGHTING OVER ONE GIRL? SERENA? OH THIS IS BIG NEWS. WAIT TILL THE WHOLE SCHOOL KNOWS." Someone exclaimed.
The bell rang and that meant school ended. Ash was still dragging Serena outside the school and to the nearest tree.
"Ow- Ash you're hurting me…" Serena said.
Ash realized he's been forcing her to follow him after all this time. "Oh sorry." He apologized- not looking at her.
They stood under the shady tree together. Serena folded her arms and took a peek at Ash.
"Ash? You okay?" Serena asked calmly.
Ash didn't answer her.
There was some awkward silence between them.
"So… you're dating Calem…? Now…?" Ash finally spoke up.
"What? Oh no. I never said yes to him." Serena said, while looking down on the floor. She seemed to be kicking the dirt with her shoes, still crossing her arms.
The two didn't make eye contact with each other.
"Are...you gonna say yes?" Ash said.
Serena looked up at Ash in a surprised facial expression. "Huh? Why would you think I would say yes?"
"Don't you like him?"
"Well yeah...I like him. As a friend." Serena clarified.
"Oh." Ash said.
He looked at Serena. "I'm sorry I dragged you all the way here. I don't know what's going on with me lately. I guess I just got a little overprotective, that's all." He told her while scratching the back of his head.
"That's okay!" Serena smiled and reassured him. "I'm okay."
"Are….we still up for dinner tonight? With me?" Ash said in a slightly nervous voice.
The girl nodded and smiled. Her face turned slight pink from her natural blush. They started to grab their belongings and walk towards the direction of him.
Serena punched Ash in a playful way. "Mr. Jealous over here is gonna pick me up at 6 still?" She winked at the raven haired boy.
Ash turned a beet red. "I AM NOT JEALOUS! Just trying to take care of my bestie…"
Serena's smile faded slowly. She thought to herself. Right…. Just a "bestie…"
That night Serena flipped her room upsidedown in order to find the perfect clothes for dinner. She ran around and tossed clothes everywhere.
May was sitting on Serena's bed with her hand on her temple and shaking her head. "Serena, just wear something normal. Be yourself. Ash isn't the type of materialistic guy where he wants everything to be perfect. He just wants to have a friendly dinner with you."
Serena panted. "But this is the first time he's ever asked me to dinner. Shouldn't I put some effort so it looks like im not THAT much of a slob?"
"Yeah I guess. But whatever you wear, he's probably gonna think you're beautiful either way." May teased and stuck her tongue out.
Serena chose a cute white cold shoulder top with light blue high waisted jeans and black booties. She curled her hair and then tied it up with a pink bow. Serena was putting on makeup in her vanity desk.
"May? Do you think Ash likes me?" Serena asked. "Tell me sincerely."
May looked up from her phone. "Honestly, who WOULDN'T like you. I mean you're practically top 5% in school. You have an amazing sweet down to earth personality, you love pokemon, you can bake and cook. Like honestly? What AREN'T you good at?"
"I don't know...sometimes I don't think im good enough." Serena sighed.
May glanced at Serena who was staring at herself in the mirror. "You like this boy don't you?" May asked.
Serena hesitated, and then slowly nodded.
May smiled at her best friend. "I called it ever since you two met on the first day of high school. Even if he was still dating that jerk Miette."
Serena had an insight. "Wait a second. I met Ash before we met at high school. We were childhood friends at a camp back in Kanto." Serena got up from her chair and walked to her nightstand. May curiously glanced at the honey haired girl who opened her drawer.
She took out a blue handkerchief with a pokeball symbol.
"That's right! I remember now. He was the boy back at summer camp when I tripped and fell. I got startled by a pokemon and right after, he found me injured. I scraped my knee falling and he took this handkerchief and wrapped it around my knee. He said 'feel better' and the words 'never give up'. Ever since, he's been my inspiration." Serena said to May.
"Oh. My. Arceus. This is like, some korean drama or something." May said.
"You have to tell him. You should return his handkerchief. Maybe he will remember you. Oh my gosh this is the cutest love story ever. Star crossed lovers from long ago. Childhood friends reuniting with their long lost love." May exaggerated and sighed. "I wish I had a cute love life like that."
Serena slapped May playfully. "I'll tell him tonight when he picks me up."
"Actually Serena...I think you should tell him...y'know...about how you feel about him. From my personal opinion...I think he likes you." May said.
"He broke up with Miette not too long ago." Serena defended- still hesitant and unsure.
"That story is soooo old. They broke up like 3 months ago." May rebutted.
"Honestly...tell him how you feel. What's the worst thing he could do to his best friend?" The brown haired girl said.
"Break off our friendship." Serena replied.
"I know it'll be awkward...but its better than him not knowing at all. Or what if he thinks you're not interested in a guy like him? You'll lose him before you even start." May indicated.
Serena sighed. "...eeeennnnnn Well i dunno. We'll see. I just really hope he-"
DING DONG.
May and Serena both looked at each other.
"He's here."
The girls went downstairs and glanced out at the window. They saw Ash's jet black hair, a little neater than earlier today.
Serena turned to May and whimpered. "I'm nervous."
May hugged her. "It's okay. Just tell him how you feel." May placed the handkerchief in Serena's delicate hands and patted her on the shoulder.
The brown haired girl said, "I'll exit out the back door. You two have fun okay!? Tell us all about it in the group chat tonight. I'm sure Dawn, Iris and Misty are dying to know." The girl gave Serena a little squeeze on the hand before turning and leaving.
Serena turned and took a deep breath. She opened the door and Ash was waiting at her doorstep with a big smile. "Hey." He said. "You look pretty Serena."
Serena blushed and covered her face with her hand. "T-Thanks Ash."
Serena looked down in embarrassment and anxiety.
A single rose caught her eye. Ash held the rose to her face and she opened her mouth a little- slightly surprised.
"Congrats on getting #1 in the school Serena." Ash said.
She accepted the rose. "Thanks Ash. I'm glad you're improving yourself."
"Letmmeeee grab my shoes." Serena said.
Serena locked the door after and she turned to see Ash and his Charizard. He was petting it and talking to the orange dragon.
Ash held out his hand and she accepted it. She climbed up on the large pokemon and Ash climbed up behind her.
"Charizard, can you please take us to Lumiose City?" Ash said politely.
The large pokemon gruffed and opened its wings. It started to hover above in the sky and soon started to take off.
Serena's eyes widened. "This is so beautiful! This is amaaaazinnnggg!" Her arms were spread like a bird and she squealed with delight.
They soon arrived in front of Prism tower. Serena carefully jumped off and patted Charizard. "Thank you for taking us Charizard. You're one amazing pokemon" She smiled.
Having a big ego, the orange dragon let out a huge fireball and stood taller with a triumphant pose.
Ash chuckled and returned it. "Thanks buddy."
Serena looked up and then at Ash. "You got a reservation for Prism tower? Like literally, you would have to reserve a month before getting in here." She jawdropped.
"I did. I always knew you were gonna ace finals from the start. Plus….I pulled some strings." Ash said while rubbing his nose.
The two walked in and a waiter approached them. "Reservation for Mr. Ketchum?" He said.
Ash nodded and then the waiter bowed. "Follow me please."
The two followed the man inside and got seated.
Serena looked around. The view was upstairs and was spectacular. Lumiose City itself was sparkling with bright lights. Serena looked down and saw all the shimmery houses and streets with lanterns and lights. It looked like it was from a movie, such as Tangled from Disney.
Ash ordered a big steak and Serena ordered some chicken alfredo with salad on the side. Serena, being a little flirty wrapped some pasta on her fork and motioned for Ash to eat it. Surprisingly to her, he accepted it in his mouth and ate it. "It's great isn't it?" Ash said. "Yummy! This is so delicious."
He continued to eat his steak afterwards.
Serena smiled and nodded.
Ash cut a piece of meat and fed it to Serena. She giggled.
"You wanna know what's interesting?" Serena asked Ash.
"What's up?" He said while chewing his food.
"Do you...remember me? Like when you were a little kid… summer camp….?" Serena asked unsurely.
"Uhh I'm not sure I didn't go to a summer camp since i was like 5." Ash replied.
"That summer camp…. You were there. And I was there." Serena said slowly.
She handed Ash the handkerchief. He looked at it for a moment.
"Wait...I remember now… You're the straw hat girl!" Ash said in a brighter mood.
Serena smiled and blushed. "You told me to never give up ever since I was little. I wanted to return this to you...but I never had a chance to. And here we are, reunited years later."
"Well...in that case, I'm glad I met you Serena." Ash said.
They ate some cheesecake before paying the bill and leaving.
Ash and Serena walked downstairs and Serena said, "Ash? Do you wanna explore the city a little?"
Ash smiled and gave her a thumbs up. "Okay!"
The two walked around in the vendors, and sightsaw. They saw new technology and pretty decorated homes in the streets. They grabbed some ice cream and walked around more. Serena got a little tired so the two walked to a park bench and sat down to talk. It seemed like Serena could talk to that boy for hours. Their conversations seemed to thrive and there wasn't an awkward silence the whole time.
Serena looked down and then up at Ash.
"Ash?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something? You can't judge me after this okay?" Serena said nervously.
"You can ask me anything Serena."
"Do….you like anyone?" Serena asked.
"I mean...I do have this girl I like… She's pretty… smart… and has the sweetest personality." Ash replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I like you." Serena said in a confident voice.
Author's note:
OHHHHH MY GAAAAH. I FINALLY DID IT. THIS WAS HONESTLY ONE OF THE LONGEST CHAPTERS I HAVE EVER DONE. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY WORK. AND I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED THIS. Thanks for reading hehe. If you guys are curious... the ship is ending with amour. I hope you guys know this by now :D
