Time Heals All Wounds, Right?

It's Not Love

Gary POV
   I just hopped off my plane and man it feels really good to stretch my legs after hours of sitting down for what felt like YEARS. "Ahhhhhhhh, so this is the fresh Kantonian air. So fresh, I should start heading towards Professor S. Lab but I should get a bite to eat because I'm starving".

   As I'm walking towards the Pokémon Center for directions I walk past a store that was releasing an AMAZING smell. My stomach rumbled so I gave in into my temptation. I walked in and guess who I found. "You never had self control when it came to food did you Ashy boy"

Ash POV
   I turned around to see my old friend standing right behind me. " Oak tree nice to see you too" I replied with a smile as we gave each other a hug.  "What are you doing here in Kalos, aren't you supposed to be helping Professor Oak at the lad?"

"Yea but he needed a bit more research on mega evolution from Professor Sycamore. I was just heading to his lab when I saw you."

"Oh ok well I better be going I have to get ready for the party, of which I now have to ask if you want to come?"

"Sure, If it's ok for me to go."

"Yea it will be a blast and I get to introduce you to my new friends." He agreed and we talked for a little bit longer before he had to take off and I had to get to my room at the Pokémon Center to get ready for tonight.

Time Skip to Party/No POV
   As the party launched people started to be filled with excitement as they came from regions all around the Pokémon World to celebrate the crowning of the new Kalos Queen and to see her performance. After Serena was crowned as the best performer in Kalos she gave the world what they considered the best that they have ever seen before. Seconds after the performance ended Ash decided to go outside and breath in a breath of fresh air.

Ash POV
   "Ahhhhhhhh, it feels good to come outside for a little bit of fresh air." I quietly said to myself as I walked towards the fountain. Once I got there I splashed some water on my face to cool down about. I noticed the reflection of the moon in the water and slowly turned my gaze upwards towards the sky. "The stars are beautiful tonight"

"Yes they are"

Serena POV
   "Yes they are" I replied lightly but just loud enough for Ash to hear. He turned around and when he saw me he smiled.

"Hey Serena didn't see you there"

"Oh I'm sorry you just seemed so, so peaceful."

" I'm not so sure I'd say peaceful. Maybe I just have lots of things to think about, how about you and I haven't seen much of each other lately. How have you been?"

"I've been ok, I'm really happy I managed to achieve my dream. All I ever had to do was not give up until it's over." I said with a small grin on my face. But without thinking I also said, "Calem asked me out after my performance and I accepted," I quickly caught myself before I revealed anything else. Why would I just blurt something so big out like it was nothing? I looked at Ash who had a tear rolling down the side of his face.

"Ash are you ok?"

"Huh? Oh yes I'm fine" he quickly said while whipping away his tears.

"Ash the only times I've seen you cry it's when something serio-"

"I said I'm fine" he said cutting me off short in a tone I've never heard him speak before. "I'm sorry Serena it's just I… I realized something but I just noticed it was too late."

"What happened Ash?"

"Doesn't  matter."

"Ash I can't help you if you don't tell me," There was a long silence between us. What was bothering him so much? Had I hurt his feelings in some way and if so how? Finally I spoke up, "Please?".

   He gave a small sigh and I was a bit  relieved that he was finally going to talk. He turned to me and moved a tiny bit closer to me. He closed his eyes and slowly spoke four words.

"I love you Serena"

   My heart fluttered a little bit as we both started to lean in closer to each other. I could feel his breath on my skin sending shivers down my spine. All I wanted to do at this very moment was jump for joy and kiss Ash, luckily I regained my senses as our lips were about to connect and pulled away.

"Im sorry Serena, I wasn't thinki-"

"It's ok Ash" I quickly cut him off, " but what you have is not love. You don't love me Ash." 

"I do love you Serena. It took me a little longer than I thought but I want to be more than your friend, I want to spend the rest of my life by your side."

"I love you too, ever since you helped me up back at Professor Oak's camp, but I'm sorry Ash," I said with a lot of sadness in my voice. I have to do this, my reputation from now on has to be my top priority. "But we can't be together."

"Why… why not?"

"The world sees you as a failure Ash. You failed the Kalos League. How do you think people would react towards me if I started a relationship with the runner up? DOESN'T MY DREAM MATTER TO YOU" I screamed out. I could see his eyes and I could tell I had broken his heart and I felt sharp pain in my own heart as I realized what I had just done, but there wasn't any turning back. At that moment Calem came in.

"Is everything ok? I heard someone screaming."

I turned my attention to Ash. I knew I had to hurt him  bad so he could hate me in return so there would be a chance we could move on.

"Ash I'm going to be with someone who can win, I'm going to be Calem's girlfriend, a real champion, not you ". At that very moment I saw Ash's fire within his eyes slowly extinguish. I wanted to run over and beg for his forgiveness but I stopped myself. I knew I had to end this before I could hurt him even more with my awful words. I turned to Calem, placed my hands on his face, stood as tall as I could, and kissed him with as much passion as I could get which was very little because I felt my own heart scream in pain. Why was I doing this to him? Ash has always been supporting me to the very end, and something even worse just happened. At this moment I had lost my first kiss to someone whom I didn't love in the slightest. When we finished I looked towards Ash who held a lifeless expression. He walked over to me and whispered in my ear, even though I was the one who just hurt him, the one who shattered his heart, he was the one to say the most painful words. These words made me want to break down because I don't think seeing him like this. His words were not mean, they weren't full of hate, didn't have any anger, they were full of sorrow. He walked passed me and in a broken tone muttered 2 words and I broke as he walked away not turning back.

"I'm sorry".