WD: Calem

Vaniville Town, Kalos. 4th March, 2019. Eighteen days after the proposal. 3:20pm.

"Who?" Misty asked Ash. "Calem," he repeated, his eyes focused on the road. "Who's Calem?" Misty asked, making exasperated hand gestures.

Ash took a turn. "He's my friend, and Serena's rival," he told her. Misty nodded. "Ah, okay," she acknowledged.

Ash pulled up on the side of the road. "Here we are," he said, getting out of the car.

His fiancée looked around, mesmerized. Then, she made a face. "Hey, this looks just like Serena's mother's house!" she recalled.

Ash nodded. "It is." he told her. "Calem is, or was, Serena's neighbour," Misty nodded slowly.

Ash approached the door and rang the doorbell. The door creaked open. "Ash?" Calem blinked.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, letting his friend and the strange woman beside him enter.

Ash sat himself on the couch. "Well," he started. "You know how I'm champion now, right?" Calem scratched his head sheepishly. "Oh, uh," he responded awkwardly. "You are?" he asked dumbly. Ash seemed surprised, but nodded.

"Congratulations, then," he smiled sincerely. Ash and Misty grinned. "Thanks," Ash replied. "Anyways," he continued.

"This over here, is Misty Waterflower, the-" "-Water gym leader in Kanto," Calem finished for him. Ash nodded.

"How'd you know?" Misty asked curiously. "Well, you're kind of a big deal," he said. "You're the hardest gym to beat in the entire Kanto," he informed her.

"Really?" Misty asked, pushing away a stray strand that came over her face.

Calem nodded. "You actually just beat Clair's largest winning streak; 43 wins in a row, about a month ago," he told her.

Misty blinked. "Damn. Thanks," Calem saluted her. "Happy to help," he half-smiled.

"So, I have…news," Calem sat down animatedly. "What kind of news? Good news, bad news..?" Ash shook his head.

"Good news," he told him. Calem nodded. "Well, I'm…we're," he motioned to himself and the redhead. "Getting married!" he announced.

Calem blinked rapidly before grinning and nudging Ash's shoulder. "Dude, already?" he smiled. Ash nodded, grinning right back.

"Félicitations!" Calem exclaimed, hugging the raven haired man warmly and side hugging the gym leader.

Suddenly, his phone rang. "Oh, excuse me," he said, picking up the call. "Hey," Serena's sweet voice rang through the phone. Calem took a few steps to get away from the couple.

"Hey." Calem spoke lowly. "Did they tell you yet?" "Ash and Misty? Yeah," he said.

"Okay,""Okay." he chuckled lowly. "Are you gonna hang up?" Serena asked him breathily. "Maybe," he teased. "Calem!" she whisper-yelled. He grinned widely.

"I can totally see your stupid grin right now!" Serena complained. Calem shrugged. "Oh well," he said. Serena giggled. Calem looked behind him at Ash and Misty who were staring at him amusedly.

"Gotta go now," he told the honey blonde on the other side of the phone. "Ash and Misty are staring at me weird,"

"Okay," Serena replied reluctantly. "Bye," she sighed. Calem smiled softly, though he knew she couldn't see it. "Bye," he hung up.

He turned back to the couple, and the redhead looked at him mysteriously, trying to hide her grin.

"What?" Calem asked. "You have a girlfriend?" she asked. Ash blinked obliviously. "What? You do?" he faced his friend.

Calem blushed and shook his head. "Well, no," he concluded. "But-" "But you have a crush, right?" Misty leaned in. Calem looked down. "Maybe,"

"Calem! Why didn't you tell me?" Ash asked. "Who is it?" Misty asked, her eyes gleaming.

The raven haired man in question scratched his head. "Well," he started. "Don't tell her this," he warned. The couple nodded.

"It's Serena," he turned red. Misty smiled widely. "Really?" Ash grinned lopsidedly. "That's awesome!" he smiled.

"You should ask her to be your plus one at the wedding!" Misty suggested. Calem blinked.

"Plus one..?" he asked.

Ash and Misty exchanged looks of realization. "Oh yeah!" Ash slapped his forehead. "We didn't tell him he's invited, did we?" Misty and Calem shook their heads.

Ash turned to his friend. "Well, you're invited," he grinned. "The invitation will come in the mail after a month, or so," he informed. Calem nodded. "Thanks guys," he thanked them sincerely.

Misty smiled. "No problem! Just don't forget to ask Serena if-" "If she'd be my plus one at the wedding, got it." Calem laughed, and Misty and Ash joined in as well.