It was getting colder. Snowy patches could be seen around Lumiose. Winter was always exciting in the city. The café's grew crowded with people trying to escape the chill. Trends became more fantastic every year, last year the more fashion conscious civilians could be seen sporting coats that were modelled on Furfrou clips.

Serena was wrapped up in her winter essentials - her scarf, bobble hat and gloves as she went about her business preparing for another vast exploration of a cave that had been found of the coast of Azure Bay.

Calem had insisted he accompany her around town, even though Serena much preferred to shop and travel solo. She couldn't deny she'd like the company, plus it looked to Professor Sycamore that she was moving on. Serena hoped that he'd call her, but he never did.

"So Serena, what pokémon are you bringing with you?" Calem asked, hands casually thrown in his pockets as they wandered through Vernal Avenue.

"Hmm… Probably Delphox, Roserade, Goodra, Gorebyss, Ampharos and Togekiss." She replied, listing the pokémon on her fingers.

"They're such girly pokémon, don't you think?" Calem laughed, and she wondered how he thought Meowstic wasn't a feminine pokémon.

"Don't see how that matters, we could still kick your derrière anytime!" Serena smiled broadly; she'd never lost to Calem.

He laughed sarcastically, "Me and Greninja are awesome. Though, we've still not gotten over your cheating ways. Attract? Really?"

"Hey! If it was cheating, it wouldn't be a move. Besides, it's called strategy - you should use it unless you enjoy losing!"

The rivals walked into the Stone Emporium, hoping they could haggle for some more evolutionary stones with one of the men in there. He was always so money grabbing, charging ridiculous prices for mega stones that Serena already had stowed away in her bag.

"Have you used the Absolite I gave you last time I saw you?" Calem asked absently, fiddling with his hat.

"You know, I haven't. I could go get my Absol and we can battle it out?" She offered, fidgeting on her feet trying to keep warm in the chilling wind.

"Okay, I'll wait for you outside Café Soleil." Both trainers walked off in opposite directions down Southern Boulevard. Serena towards the pokémon centre, speeding along on her roller skates.

Perhaps Professor Sycamore was right. Serena should be focusing on finding someone her own age to experience all these things with - someone who shared her interests and love of pokémon.

Of course, Calem was the obvious choice, but, he was just so… Immature? Inexperienced?

Serena couldn't deny the promise in a relationship with her charismatic Professor. He was handsome, intelligent, charming and that accent. Coming from Unova, Serena didn't have the typical Kalos accent that Professor Sycamore spoke with.

Serena was smitten. Even now feeling completely rejected and dispirited, she longed for him to call her and tell her he didn't mean it. She didn't want to have to chase him.

The blonde haired trainer skidded to a stop outside the pokémon centre before jumping off her skates to hurry inside out of the cold. Serena quickly swapped one of her party pokémon for her Absol - which she was worried she hadn't trained enough to take on Calem. Oh well, it was only for fun, she surmised.

She relished in the smooth metal of the pokeball upon her fingers. It was warm, which indicated a pokémon being inside. She could feel the excitement from the pokémon that was just itching to get into a battle.

Serena smiled, the feeling of excitement contagious.

"Okay Absol - You're gonna smash it!" She whispered, her lips brushing against the pokeball. Serena jumped with a start running out of the pokémon centre and then leaping to pirouette, landing on her roller blades and gliding off towards Café Soleil where she and Absol would take on Calem.

Serena didn't let the Pokémon Lab that she caught sight of from the corner of her eye dull her spirits. She hated feeling so melancholy.

From the window of the Lab, Augustine Sycamore was anything but engrossed in his studies. He gazed thoughtfully out of the pane and down upon the wintery scene of Lumiose. His hand froze midway through combing his inky curls.

"Serena," he breathed, watching his student cruise across Southern Boulevard. Her long blonde hair trailed in the breeze as she cheerily skated. She always managed to make that look so effortless and easy, it made Augustine smile wistfully.

Another thing he could not enjoy with her. He laughed bitterly as he imagined trying to skate along before falling on his arse like he had done in trying to be in a relationship with her. She was a child. She probably just had a silly crush on him. For her to want to engage in a sexual relationship with him was a huge step he wasn't sure he could take. Sure, he had given in to his desires with her, and he was thankful that Shauna had discovered them when she did. He would have regretted taking away something as special as Serena's virginity on his desk.

She deserved more than that, and Augustine didn't think he could give her what she so obviously wanted.

Professor Sycamore continued to watch Serena as she gracefully spun and weaved through the trees that decorated the street before she slowed to a stop outside of Café Soleil.

Augustine's breath caught and his fists tightened till his groomed nails bit into his palm. Calem was waiting for her outside the café. Augustine could see the way that Calem's whole demeanour changed when he saw Serena. He seemed lifted, brighter.

Professor Sycamore could feel the green monster of jealousy rise up when Calem pulled Serena into an embrace, swinging her around playfully before setting her down with a grin and leading her into the café.

So, Serena took his advice. She was out on a date with Calem.

Augustine felt his chest constrict. Perhaps he could talk with her, ask her how she was doing. He had purposely avoided her even though the aching need to see Serena was becoming overpowering and even worse knowing that she was with someone who shared his interest in the beautiful girl.

It was taking all of his control to not run down to that café and make it obvious that Serena was his, and that ignorant boys shouldn't touch his things.

Now that sounded a lot more like something Lysandre might do compared to what Augustine might, but the pokémon professor was growing anxious.

"Calem, we can't battle inside the café!" Serena tugged back on her wrist, trying to stop the boy before he trashed the place.

"I know that," replied Calem, letting go of his friend and taking a seat at a rounded table in the corner. Serena loved this café, it was cosy and warm. The waitresses were always friendly. But best of all, it was quiet. To Serena there was nothing worse than a loud and crowded place.

"So you're not going to battle me?" Serena asked, standing with a confused look upon her face.

"No, stupid. I thought you'd like to have some coffee with me first." He replied, pulling his bag from his shoulder to set it down beside him.

"Oh."

Serena sat opposite him, taking off her gloves and putting them in her bag along with her pokeball that contained Absol.

A waitress came to serve them, and after scribbling down their orders walked back to the counter to make the beverages.

"So, Serena…" Calem began awkwardly, scratching his head over his beanie.

The blonde trainer didn't like the sound of where this was going. Usually Calem was very chatty, and not at all shy.

"I heard something rather shocking the other day."

Oh Arceus.

"Really?" Serena replied, nonchalantly. Looking up to watch the waitress set down their steaming drinks and bow with a polite smile. Serena was glad for the brief time she had to gather her thoughts on what she knew Calem was about to bring up. The waitress walked over to another table to begin serving them.

"You know, it would have been nice for you to tell me. I'm rather upset by it." Calem stared at Serena from over his mug of hot chocolate with a pained expression.

"By what Calem?" Serena feigned innocence, taking a sip from the scalding café au lait in her slender fingers.

"Don't give me that. Shauna told me all about it." Serena flinched away from his harsh tone.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Apparently having had enough of the game that Serena was playing, Calem bit out, "About you and Professor Sycamore!"

Serena sighed. She hoped that Calem wouldn't ever find out about her tryst with their Professor, but she should have predicted that Shauna would blab.

"I don't see why it concerns you." Serena muttered before taking another sample of her drink.

"Of course it concerns me." Calem replied, jaw tense and eyes hard. "I'm your best friend."

"I think you like to believe there's more to us than that." Serena growled, not daring to look at her rival and friend.

Calem stayed silent, his dark hair falling to cover his eyes.

"Do you like the Professor more than you like me, Serena?" He continued to avoid Serena's concerned gaze.

"I think you're completely-"

Calem cut her off angrily, "Answer me!"

"I've never reciprocated your feelings, Calem. I've never led you on, but I've always been your friend," Serena paced her words, "I don't understand why you're getting so angry about something that never happened."

She had admitted it to herself as well as Calem that what she had wanted with her long time crush had never and would never happen. She was back in square one, if not further away from her goal than before.

"So, you've not – had sex with Professor Sycamore," muttered Calem, raising his head to meet Serena's doleful eyes.

"No," Serena could feel her throat constricting like a Seviper was coiled around her neck. She swallowed back the lump that had built up in her distress.

"I'm sorry for reacting so quickly without knowing the full story." The boy's voice seemed sincere in his apology and Serena felt her mood pick up slightly. At least she still had Calem and her pokémon.

"It's okay. I know you were just upset." Serena looked thoughtfully into her mug of tea. Calem smiled sadly and reached across the table to cover his friends hand with his. He knew that his love was unrequited, but Calem was a fighter. He would win over Serena one day, it just wasn't today.

He brushed his calloused fingers across the back of her hand reassuringly.

"Don't be so down in the dumps, Serena. It's not like you."

Calem was right. Serena wasn't the type of person to dwell on depressing thoughts. She would just busy herself with some kind of task.

"So, shall we see how well you get on with Absol against my team of super pokémon?" Suggested Calem excitedly, jumping up from his seat. Serena grinned and nodded whole heartedly.

Who needs Professor Sycamore when I've got my pokémon and friends like Calem.

Augustine Sycamore was restless. He paced about his office, sometimes coming very close to the elevator and then returning to the window to stare out of it anxiously. That boy had better treat Serena with respect, no funny business.

Augustine was well aware of what went through a teenage boys mind around an attractive girl. He understood that Serena was very beautiful and spirited. She was passionate and fiery yet coy and innocent.

Serena was what Augustine would have considered his perfect woman, had she only been older or he younger. But that was just it, to be with a girl who could be considered his daughter was indecent.

The thought of Serena being his daughter settled it. Augustine would move on, there were plenty of beautiful women in Kalos. Women closer to his age and for the Professor it would only be a matter of finding said woman. Capturing their interest was child's play for him.

Professor Sycamore turned away from the window and sat down at his desk. He pulled open the top drawer and began rummaging through until he grasped hold of a handheld machine - his Holo Caster.

Pulling it out of the mess of paperwork and stationary he set it in front of him on the desk.

With his best intentions in mind, he scrolled through his contacts until he came to a name that brought a smile to the handsome professor's face.

With just the press of a finger the machine began dialling out, until the hologram of a familiar face appeared.

"Hello Augustine." The breathy feminine tone musically greeted the Professor and the beautiful woman's full mouth broke into a dazzling smile.

"Salut Diantha."