Chapter 3: Confession

It was dark out by the time the movie had ended, but no one was tired. Misty and Ash were goofing off in the parking lot and Bonnie was happy to join them. Serena watched in the distance as Ash laughed at Misty's 'karate skills' and kissed her on the cheek. Misty returned the kiss.

Serena stopped watching them, staring down at the ground with tears in her eyes. Ash... Her Ash... Was in love with another girl. Not her. Instinctively Serena grabbed her ribbon as the tears fell.

The ribbon. The ribbon that Ash had given her so long ago. She still wore it to remind herself how much she loved him.

Not anymore.

She carefully untied the ribbon and let it fall to the ground before walking to the car.

Serena lay in her bed, a million thoughts going through her head. She groaned, rubbing her temples.

(I guess I'll just go get a glass of water...)

As she walked past Ash's room, she saw that the door was open and no one was inside. Serena was horrified at the fact he was sleeping with someone who wasn't her. It just seemed so unreal... In her mind, it had always been her and Ash.

(But I guess not, huh? I just have to watch the love of my life get taken by someone else?)

Finally reaching the refrigerator, Serena opened the door and grabbed a water bottle, drinking the whole thing in minutes. She sighed, looking out the window at the moon. Through the darkness of the room, she could see her reflection. Something she hadn't bothered paying attention to for a while.

Her hair was growing back. It was reaching her shoulders, curving slightly at the tips. She liked it.

But then she looked into her eyes. The eyes of someone who didn't have someone they loved in their life. Someone who wasn't worth it. Someone who was passed up to be with someone else. That was what she saw as a tear fell down her face. The eyes of someone who wasn't good enough. The eyes of someone who would never be able to show her feelings. The eyes of... Clemont?

She turned around to see the blond behind her, glasses off, in his pajamas.

"What are you doing up so late?" He asked.

"I should be asking you that. What do you want?"

Clemont blushed.

"Well... I came to think about something alone..."

"Do you want me to leave?"

Clemont shook his head nervously.

"Um... N-no, there's actually something really important I need to tell you..."

Serena raised an eyebrow.

"Well, alright then... What is it?"

Her heart was racing. Was she right? Did Clemont really have a crush on her? Could things possibly be taking a turn for the better?

"I saw you last night, in the parking lot," Clemont began. "I don't like it when you're like that. You're... You're always so focused on Ash. The fact that he doesn't love you. That he's with another girl. You're crushed. But... I think..."

Clemont took a deep breath, his face growing red.

"I think that if you had paid more attention... And thought about others... You might have noticed... That someone loves you more than he ever would."

Serena's eyes grew wide, and her face turned pink.

"Clemont... You love me?"

Clemont looked at her, trying to stay calm. He swallowed hard.

"Yes, Serena. I love you."

Serena looked into his eyes for a moment. He loved her... There was someone... She was worth it... Somebody cared about her... She grew warm and tingly inside, unsure of whether she was happy or sad, or both. She carefully took a step closer toward Clemont. If this was really happening... If this wasn't some crazy dream... If this was really real... Things might get better. Things might be brighter. She might be happier. Happier... That's what Bonnie had said... And she was right. Ash was happy. And so was Misty.

Now it was her turn for happiness and content.

She slowly leaned in and closed the space between them. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her whole body was warm. In that one moment, she knew that it wasn't Ash she was after.

It was Clemont.

Bonnie crept up to the doorway of the kitchen, peering over just in time to see the action. Trying hard not to laugh, she let them be and tiptoed back to her room.

Serena slowly opened her eyes, stretching. She lay there for a few minutes, unsure of what to think about last night. That was her first kiss. And she had kissed Clemont. Clemont, who had said he loved her.

(Maybe I love him too.)

She was about to grab her outfit when she remembered the ribbon was missing and it wouldn't look the same.

She decided to wear it anyway.

This morning she wasn't awake as early. Ash and Misty were awake, as well as Clemont, once again making breakfast. Serena sat across from Misty, deciding to actually get to know this person.

"Um... Misty, right? I'm Serena. I guess I forgot to introduce myself..."

Misty smiled.

"Ash has told me a lot about you. You guys are best friends, right?"

(Maybe we're not in love, but we're still best friends.)

Serena smiled.

"Yeah. We've known each other for a long time."

She saw Clemont smiling out of the corner of her eye.