A New Adventure

An Unexpected Invitation

Serena's POV

We had been walking for a while when I hear my name. I turn around looking for the source and find... Miette. I stare at her in shock, I haven't seen her for quite a while. What is she doing in Lumiose?

"Serena who's your boyfrie-" She begins, but stops when Ash turns around.

"Ash? How long have you been in Kalos? So you two are finally a thing, huh?" Miette says, smirking at the last part.

"He is not my boyfriend!" I shout, turning redder by the second. Miette raises her eyebrows and look down at our intertwined hands. Right. Ash and I both look down as well and let go in embarassment.

"Really Miette, we're not... she's not... we're just..." Ash says, trying to explain, but Miette stops him.

"Whatever, you two are hopeless," she laughs, shaking her head. "Anyways making fun of you two isn't the real reason I came. Serena, have you heard about the dance party for performers?"

"Dance party?" I ask, unsure of what she is talking about. Miette shakes her head.

"You would think the Kalos Queen would be more on top of things," She sighs. "Well there is a dance party being held in a couple days for performers. Aaaaaaaannd....." she says, drawing out the last part, "They need to bring a date." My heart skips a beat. A date? Dancing? I begin nervously twisting my hands. Miette continues.

"Of course you should take Ash, and I can take our friend Clemont here," Clemont looks up from his daydreaming, (probably about inventions.)

"Wait what?!" He questions, looking shocked. I feels my cheeks flush red and I avoid Ash's gaze. Who's to say he would want to go with me? He might want to go with Shauna or Miette...

"How about it Serena?" Ash asks, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Do you want to go?"

"With m-me?" I stutter. Ash chuckles.

"Yes with you, is that alright?" I manage a small nod, still taking in what was going on.

"It's settled then!" Miette says, clapping her hands together excitedly. "C'mon Clemont, we had better go practice," She says, grabbing a very surprised Clemont by the arm and beginning to drag him away. "Bonnie, we will probably need your help."

"Okay," Bonnie replies cheerily, taking Clemont's other arm. But not before she shoots a smug smile back at Ash and I. How does she know so much? Before we know it, Ash and I are left alone.

"Well that happened," Ash laughs.

"What "that" was I'm still not sure," I reply. Ash laughs again.

"Well what do we do now? Go practice?" Ash asks, still smiling from the incident. I blush.

"Um, maybe not right now..." I reply.

"Yeah," Ash agrees. Neither of us say anything. I scour my brain for something to say.

"Well, seeing that we can't go back to Clemont and Bonnie's house yet... we could go for a walk?" I suggest, trying to break the silence.

"Sounds good to me," Ash replies, smiling. "After all, I haven't seen Kalos in a while." I start to walk but Ash doesn't move. I look back to find him staring at the ground. He looks as if he wants to say something.

"Um Serena... I was wondering... well, I mean... just if you want to..." He stutters, his face flushing red. I look confused.

"Well, do you want to... uh... hold hands again?" He blurts out looking embarassed. Now it's my turn to blush. My mouth forms words but nothing comes out.

"Just... ya know... as friends," Ash says, rubbing his neck nervously.

"R-r-right, s-ure," I stutter. Ash slowly reaches for my hand and I take his. As we begin walking one word echoes through my mind

Friends.

Thats what I want right? I mean, sure I liked Ash back when I was a kid, but who's to say anything had changed? We were friends then and we are friends now. But as Ash's warm hand grips mine I can't help but think otherwise. Have things changed? Will there ever be something more? More questions swirl around my mind but I push them aside. For now, I am happy just to be by his side. I glance up at Ash's smiling face, then down at our hands.

Finally together.