Amourshipping Story: Childhood Bonds

Part 5: Mending the Bond

The morning sun bathed the town in a golden glow, but Ash's heart felt heavy as he walked towards Serena's house. He had spent the whole night tossing and turning, haunted by the hurt in Serena's eyes and the way she'd run away.

When he arrived, Grace, Serena's mother, greeted him warmly at the door. "Oh, hello, Ash! It's been a while since you've dropped by. Serena's upstairs in her room."

"Thanks, Mrs. Grace," Ash said, managing a small smile. As he climbed the stairs, his nerves grew. He paused in front of Serena's door, suddenly unsure of himself. Usually, he would barge in without a second thought, but today felt different.

Knocking softly, he called out, "Serena? It's me. Can I come in?"

There was silence for a moment. Then, the door creaked open, and Serena stood there, her expression sad and tired.

"You never ask before coming in," she said quietly, her voice laced with sadness. "So why now?"

Ash felt his chest tighten. "Because I messed up, Serena. And I didn't want to just barge in like nothing happened."

Serena stared at him for a moment before stepping aside to let him in. Ash sat on the edge of her bed, fidgeting with his cap, while Serena sat on a chair by her desk.

"I'm sorry," Ash began, his voice sincere. "I shouldn't have gotten so mad at you yesterday. It's not your fault, and I was being selfish. I just... I don't know. I guess I felt left out, and I didn't know how to deal with it."

Serena's expression softened as she listened. "Ash, I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I never want you to feel like you're not important to me."

"I know," Ash said, looking up at her. "I was just being stupid. You're my best friend, and I should've been happy for you, not jealous."

Serena smiled faintly. "You really were being stupid."

They both chuckled, the tension in the room finally breaking.

"So... we're good?" Ash asked hesitantly.

Serena nodded. "Yeah. But next time, just tell me how you're feeling, okay? We've been through too much to let something like this get between us."

Ash grinned, relieved. "Deal."

---

The following week at school, Serena made an effort to balance her time. She still talked to Zack, but she also made sure to spend plenty of time with Ash, whether it was sitting with him at lunch or partnering with him in battles.

One afternoon, as they sat under their favorite tree in the park, Ash turned to Serena with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Serena. For not giving up on me."

"Always," Serena replied, leaning back against the tree. "We're a team, remember?"

Ash nodded, his heart feeling lighter than it had in days.