It was a beautiful sunny day in Cerulean City. The city was buzzing with visitors from all over the region and world. The city gym had been closed in anticipation of the city's party of the year. The city's water gym leader, Misty Waterflower, was getting married the new Kanto champion, Ash Ketchum.
It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony. The reception was held in the largest hotel ballroom the city had. Champions, Elite trainers, gym leaders, friend and family from all the regions were in here to celebrate. People and pokemon were dancing. Food and drinks were flowing. The ballroom was full of cheer. Everyone was is a great mood except for the honey blonde sitting in the corner.
Serena was debating if she wanted to get a drink or just go back to her hotel room and hide until her flight back to Kalos the next day. She was a little sick of all the love in the air.
She was seated with the rest of the Kalos crew. Clemont and Korinna had been exceptionally showy with their PDA this weekend. Bonnie had been flirting with another new trainer from Hoen named Max. They'd been looking at each other with oogly eyes all. It was just a matter of time before the two hooked up.
Her wine glass was too close to empty. She needed to go for a walk. To the bar.
A boy with a spiky brown hair was drinking a glass of golden-brown liquid at the bar. Serena was admiring the drink, thinking she might need something stronger than wine. He thought she looked familiar but couldn't place the face.
"Are you a friend of the bride?" the boy who was sitting at the bar asked.
"Groom actually"
"Really? Me too. Gary Oak," he introduced himself and offered the seat next to him at the bar.
"Serena Yvonne," she takes the seat next to him. "Thanks."
"Ah. The Kalos Queen. I knew you looked familiar." It was bothering him that he couldn't place her face earlier, but how did Ash know the Kalos Queen. "I grew up with Ash in Pallet town. How do you him?"
"We travelled together in Kalos on my first Pokémon journey, but actually I met him at professor oak's summer camp in Pallet town." she smiled at him. "You wouldn't be related to professor oak, would you?"
"Actually, he's my grandfather." The last bit of information felt too much for him. He finished his drink with one last pull. The bartender arrived at the perfect time, "I'll have another"
The bartender looks to Serena waiting for her order.
"What are you drinking?" she nods to Gary's empty glass.
"whiskey"
"I'll have the same with a ginger back"
The bartender nods and turn to make the drinks. Gary raises his eyebrows at the order. So, the Kalos queen knows how she likes her whiskey. Interesting, but he's still stuck on the summer camp part of the story.
Suddenly lights dimmed. The DJ announced the first dance and a spotlight fell on the newlyweds in the center of the room. The bride was beautiful in a floor length white dress. Her green eyes sparked as she looked into the groom's eyes. He was brimming with happiness. They looked perfect. Serena fought tears as she watched her childhood crush dance with his perfect bride. To the outsider, it could easily be interpreted as tears of joy. Lots of people cry at wedding. She wiped her tears.
The drinks arrive. Perfect timing.
They pick up their glasses, clink and each take long hard pull. 'She was smart to get a ginger back,' Gary thought as he inhales a little air through his teeth to go with the burn. He looks at her as a sly smile crosses his face.
"so summer camp…"
She chuckles a little and proceeds to tell him the story of getting lost in the forest and how Ash helped her with her hurt leg.
"Do you remember how or why you fell and got lost in the forest?" the burn of the drink was still lingering in his throat.
A confused look settles on her face as she tries to figure out it the warm sensation in her core is from the drink or the slick smile on his face.
"I don't know how I got lost in the forest," she hadn't thought about that.
Gary was really good at hiding disappointment. He had remembered that day at his grandfather's summer camp well. He had worked up all his nerve to walk up to the girl in the straw hat and ask her to play hide and seek tag with him. He looked all over the playground for her. He had just decided to go into the forest to look for he saw her. She was walking out of the forest holding hands with Ash. Stupid Ashy boy.
He took another swig of his drink. It's now or never.
"I know I didn't exactly play well with others as a kid." He paused not really knowing why he started with that sentence and where to go with it. "I wanted to play with you and I'm not sure if I was trying to play tag or hide and seek. I chased you into the forest."
He looked at the ground. He couldn't look at her. He had chased her right into ash's arms. He was a kid. He didn't know what to do. He and Ash were best friends until that day. Then they were rivals until they competed together at the Indigo League and he had forgotten why he hated Ash so much. All his memories were coming back to him and he felt ridiculous.
"I'm sorry I didn't remember you."
"I know how you can make it up to me." The trademark smirk returned to his face.
"Oh yeah. How?" she had an eyebrow raised and smile on her face.
"Dance with me."
Without another word, she finished her drink with one last pull and stood up. Waiting with a smile on her face, she let him lead her to the dancefloor.