Hey guys, Jeff here!

So, I do apologise if this story is kind of in a massive delay, just like how I didn't upload a chapter last week. School is just being such a pain that I don't have much free time writing anymore :(

By the way, this chapter is sort of moving towards some more development between Ash and Serena rather than the usual plot line, so I hope you guys enjoy it :D

Without further ado, let's get to reading...


(With Ash and Serena)

Ash and Serena walked side by side on their way to school, just like any other day, but today, their hands were holding tight to one another. As they walked, they didn't really notice themselves blushing slightly, how their cheeks were slightly coloured red, how they are embarrassed which makes both their hearts race. It makes sense, since they were just not used to being a couple yet. I mean, only a week has passed from the incident that involved both of them with Drew and also whereby, you could say, they both confessed to one another. They both know that they both have promised to watch out for one another, to take care for one another, to protect one another from harm, and most importantly, to love one another until the end of time.

Throughout the week, you could say that they were glad that they were now together, but it has also been a tough time to deal with. They don't know how they can keep this relationship of theirs a secret until one of their friends either sees them out and about or, like now, how they are on their way to school. If their friends do find out, then they don't really know how to respond to that, but they've guessed that they just need to tell all of their friends at some point. Then again, it seems that they can't hide it forever as they have spotted how their friends in school are starting to have suspicions between them as, for example, they go out together into the roof and have lunch there instead of having lunch with everyone else, or hints like that, which makes it plain obvious in a way.

For now though, they just continued to walk to school and not worry about anything for now. As of this time, they are both happy and glad that they are together and now dating one another. They are ecstatic that this is the case, but they didn't really expect this happening; then again, you could say it was also meant to be, since they both spend so much time with another, like being at home for instance or how they are both in the same class, or even how they are sleeping in the same room. They both don't mind what anyone thinks. As long as they are both together, they don't really care what other people think of them. As long as they are with one another.

Ash scratched the back of his head. "Hey, Serena. What do you think?"

Serena titled her head as she looked at Ash with a confused face. "Huh? What do you mean, Ash?"

Ash sighed. "I mean, it's already been a week, right… ever since that night…"

Serena blushed, and then pouted. "Yeah, so what's your point? Aren't you happy about it?"

Ash shrugged. "No, that's not what I meant at all. I'm really glad that I got to meet you and how I am with you."

Serena laughed. "Don't worry, I'm only joking. I'm guessing what you mean was how are we going to tell the other guys, right?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah, I guess."

Serena smiled. "Well, it's been a week ever since we actually got together, but they haven't found out yet, so at least that's good."

Ash sighed. "Yeah, but how long will keep this a secret from them? I mean, they're gonna find out about us eventually, right?"

Serena giggled. "I suppose…"

Ash turned to Serena. "Then again, Serena… when the time comes, I- I want to be able to tell everyone that "

At this point, Serena then let go of Ash's hand and in turn, she then clinged onto Ash's arm instead. This then made both of them flourish with embarrassment and blush even more than they already were. Also, they felt their heartbeat race even faster than usual too. I guess they can both say that this is a sort of set up for their relationship with one another, even though it was only been a week. Even though they both feel this way, they are still glad that they do and they are both happy about how their relationship stands now, how they both love and adore one another.

Ash sighed whilst blushing madly. "Serena, what are you doing? You know we're out in public, right? People will think that we're into each other~"

"So, you're saying that we're not into each other?" Serena complained. "Is that what you think, Ash?"

Ash waved his hands out. "N- No, not at all. I'm not suggesting that in any sort of way~"

Serena laughed. "Oh, Ash. You just take most things seriously, you know that?"

Ash sighed. "Just stop messing around with me."

"But seriously though…" Serena whispered whilst blushing madly. "…that's one of the things that I love about you…"

Ash smiled. "Don't worry, Serena. We promised that we'll stay together 'till the end, right? We'll always be together."

Serena nodded. "Yeah!"

With that, Serena then let go and stopped clinging on Ash's arm and they both held hands with one another once again. They haven't noticed, but actually, they are quite near to the school now, which means that they need to be extra cautious about being spotted by anyone, especially by some whom they know. Normally when they enter the school gates, they just walk side by side with one another and pretend that they were just 'friends', just to hide their own secret between one another and avoid anyone else finding out, which kind of makes sense, but then again, they both know that they can't keep this away forever.

As they continued to make their way to class now, they actually avoid going in contact with the rest of the group. Normally, they would wait for the rest of the group to turn up and then they will all individually go into their separate classes; however, Ash and Serena just tries to avoid them for the past week with the reason being that they don't want to be found out, but then again, they know that they will be even more suspicious about them two, which makes things worse for them trying to hide their secret. Still, just continued to make their way to class, passing through the sort of empty corridors, since it is still a bit early before everyone else comes pouring in. As they then entered the classroom, they just acted normally, like nothing is between them.

Tierno waved. "Oh, Ash! Serena! Over here!"

Shauna smiled. "Morning, Ash and Serena!"

Ash and Serena waved back. "Morning, you two!"

Tierno smiled. "Well, you two are early again."

"Good point, why have you two come in this early since the past week?" Shauna questioned.

Ash scratched the back of his head. "Well, Serena has gotten used to waking me up early, so that I won't be late for school anymore and it's just become a habit of ending up into school early."

Tierno laughed. "I suppose it's good to keep Ash in order, right Serena?"

Serena giggled. "I guess so. I mean, someone has to, right?"

Ash laughed. "Oh, come on!"

Tierno gave out a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad!"

Ash raised his eyebrow quizzically. "Huh? What do you mean? Why are you so happy about?"

Tierno scratched the back of his head. "Well, I just can't wait to get home and get some sleep. I mean, its Friday after all."

Serena giggled. "I guess it makes sense for you to be all happy like that."

Shauna sighed. "You never change, do you Tierno? You're always lazy at doing anything."

Ash laughed nervously. "I kinda feel the same way too."

Serena sighed. "Well, there's no doubt about you, Ash."

Ash sighed. "Give me a break."

With that, they just ended up talking amongst themselves and having a normal conversation as they all passed the time until the lessons actually started. Actually, inside Ash and Serena, they both felt very relieved that neither Tierno nor Shauna has discovered them two having a romantic relationship between each other. It has literally been a week, but they haven't discovered or found out anything about them yet, so at least that is one thing that they need to worry about. They are glad that their secret is still not found out and at least now it is the weekends, so they'll be safe from anyone finding out anymore. On the other hand though, they still need to be cautious for anyone else, since they are still not off the hook, so they just have to make sure they won't arise any suspicion.

Give or take, ten minutes has now passed as they all looked at the clock with the students pouring into the room, and then Professor Oak entering the classroom ready to start the lesson. As this is the case, Ash, Serena, Tierno and Shauna took their seats and got on with the lesson with Professor Oak. As the lesson got underway, Ash took a quick glance at Serena. He knows that Serena is his girlfriend and how they are dating one another, but he is also considered to be her guide too. He looked at Serena with a smile, which caused Serena to smile back. He noticed that Serena, over the weeks that has passed, has gotten used to the school and all that, which Ash is glad to know. Considering what has happened to her from her past, she is doing really well now. She has got a lot of friends at school, but also, she has got Ash too, and Ash promises that he won't make the same mistake from last time.

At that point, hours has passed since the lesson properly started, which is considered boring by everyone else. I mean, the subjects is not considered by everyone, especially Ash, boring, it's just the method of how Professor Oak teaches is what's boring the most; however, this doesn't really bother Serena, since it looks like she is incredibly interested on learning and is actually is very eager at learning compared to Ash, who has no interest whatsoever. Then again, he still listens from time to time, especially when they actually need to know about some things, since he doesn't really want to miss out and fail for a test that might come up out of nowhere, since Professor Oak likes to put out test like so; then again, he has Serena if he needs anything to be covered for him.

Eventually, the bell rang, which meant lessons has ended and indicated that lunch time has started. With that, Ash and Serena, as what they do as a normal routine when its lunch time, stood up from their seats and walked together to the roof, where they now eat their lunch, because first of all they want to avoid encountering everyone else in the lunch hall, but also they know that they can be alone in the roof, since no one actually eats their lunch there, which means they won't get found out that way, but then again, they will if they keep up going to eat in the roof rather than eating with everyone else, which will then arouse suspicion between them.

As Ash and Serena settled down with their lunch in the roof, as they have thought, there is no one to be seen. Normally, this is not permitted for use during lunch time or anytime by students, but as Professor Oak noticed that the lunch hall is getting filled up and how it is pretty nice as there is a casual breeze that passes through the roof from time to time, it's considered nice to eat up there, and Ash and Serena are just taking advantage of this new policy that Professor Oak has placed.

With that, Ash and Serena just tucked into their lunch, which is what both their mothers have prepared for them, just like any other day; however, since they both got together, Serena normally prepares both their lunches. She normally now prepares sandwiches for them to eat together rather than having their mothers prepare them, which makes sense and gives less hassle for their mothers in the morning. On the other hand, this in turn surprised both Delia and Grace, how they have both become independent all of a sudden, which they were kind of shocked about, but at least they were not that suspicious about them that much compared to their other friends.

Serena smiled as she looked at Ash. "By the way Ash, continuing from what we were talking about this morning~"

Ash laughed nervously. "Huh? Oh, sorry… what were you saying?"

Serena sighed. "Whether it's at home or here, you're always serious when it comes to food, huh?"

Ash laughed. "Well, come on, food is supposed to be adored and not to be placed under anything else."

Serena giggled. "Whether its food, you just happen to not take notice of what's happening around you."

Ash sighed. "I guess so… so, what were you saying before?"

Serena smiled. "From what we talked this morning, I just thought… what about our moms? What will they think about us being together?"

Ash laughed. "Well, they are not as dense as I am, so I'm guessing that they have probably worked it out by now."

Serena tilted her head. "Yeah, but why are they not showing any sort of reaction?"

"Probably because they don't want to disturb us or anything like that, so they just pretend that they don't know." Ash mentioned.

Serena smiled. "I suppose that makes sense… by the way, I just remembered something."

Ash looked at Serena. "Oh, what is it?"

"I remembered that today is the day where I'm invited to stay over at Misty's house." Serena mentioned.

"Oh, by who?" Ash asked.

"Oh, I think it was Misty, May, Dawn, and Lyra." Serena replied.

Ash laughed. "So basically… it's just an all-girls sleepover, right?"

Serena nodded with a smile. "I guess you can say that, so I won't be with you for tonight."

"Oh, that's fine." Ash replied. "As long as you enjoy yourself with everyone else, I'm cool with it."

Serena smiled. "Thanks, Ash."

At that moment, Serena then leaned on Ash's shoulder, and Ash accepted it. They then made time fly by as they relaxed and felt the warm, summer breeze that passes through them and made them carefree. On the other hand, what they didn't notice was someone was actually watching them by the door, since there is a small window on the door itself which can see the whole area of the roof. The eyes that stared at Ash and Serena are the eyes of someone with shock and the eyes that has discovered something that they shouldn't have found out in the first place…


There you have it, guys! Chapter 22 is done! Hopefully you have enjoyed this chapter! :D

Well, what can I say from this chapter! Who is that person who saw them on the roof by the door? Was it one of their friends? Most likely... ;D

Anyways, I'll see you all in the next chapter, but also please put your thoughts of this story in the reviews! Please show some support!

But also Private Message me for any story suggestions!

Also, please check me out on Twitter at jeff_amour if you can for updates of my stories!

So, that's it from me!

See ya! Have a great day!