A New Adventure

Realization

Serena POV

I want to stay there. Stay in his arms forever. Just keep dancing all night. But, the music brings the dance to a close. I am still trying to comprehend what Ash just said, but I forget about it when I see Bonnie and Miette waiting for me. Here we go. I give Ash one last smile and we let go of hands, walking slowly back to our friends. Bonnie, unable to contain her excitement, runs out to meet us.

"That was so amazing!!" She squeals. "Serena looked just like a princess in her pretty dress, and Ash was like her prince! It was like Cinderella!" Bonnie exclaims. I give her a small smile but say nothing. Miette pulls me over to a chair and Ash goes to talk with Clemont.

"Soooo... how was it?" Miette asks, grinning. I play with my hands, not knowing what to say.

"Don't tell me it wasn't a dream come true." My cheeks heat up.

"No, no it was. It was amazing," I say, blushing even harder. Miette claps her hands together.

"Of course it was," she says.

"But Ash..." I begin softly. Miette looks up in surprise.

"H-he said something... something that made me confused," I say, not knowing how to explain.

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about Serena," Miette says reassuringly. I nod my head slowly.

"Y-yeah, I'm just worrying too much, it was nothing really," I reply, looking down. But it wasn't nothing. Miette nods in satisfaction.

"Right! Now you need to give me tips on keeping my toes safe from Clemont's terrible dancing skills."

Ash POV

I walk slowly over to Clemont, still deep in thought. He immediately notices.

"What's wrong?" He asks. I look up.

"Oh, it's... it's nothing," I reply. Clemont shakes his head.

"No it's not, something's bothering you, I can tell." I sigh in defeat.

"It's Serena," I confess.

"Serena is bothering you?" Clemont asks, confused.

"No, no, Serena isn't bothering me... well, she is... but not like, oh, I don't know," I groan.

"Do you find her annoying or something?"

"No, not that kind of bothering," I reply quickly. Quite the opposite really. Clemont scratches his head.

"Okay... so, what's up?" I rack my brain, trying to think of how to explain things.

"Well... I can't stop thinking about her," I begin. Clemont nods, not saying anything.

"And I want to spend time with her. She makes me confused, like I don't know how to feel. And I... really liked dancing with her," I say, trailing off. Clemont smiles a bit.

"Sounds like you are in love Ash."

Love

I put my head in my hands. "Thats what I was afraid of," I mumble.

"Well why don't you just tell her?" Clemont asks.

"I wish I could," I think.

"I'm afraid, afraid to ruin what we have," I admit.

"But if the feeling is mutual that's not a problem, right?" I look up at Clemont.

"But it's not, she doesn't like me anymore," I sigh.

All because I was too stupid to notice until it was too late. Its all my fault.

"Are you sure about that?" Clemont asks, snapping me out of my thoughts. I look at him, confused.

"Have you seen the way she looks at you Ash?" He says, looking into my eyes.

"She turns as red as a tomato berry everytime you talk to her," Clemont laughs.

"She gets jealous around other girls, like with Miette and that one waitress."

Jealousy? Had that been jealousy? I had always assumed Serena was just doing all those things as a friend, that she only cared for me as a friend, never anything more.

And I had thought I got over my denseness.

"You could tell how much she wanted to go with you tonight Ash. And when she danced with you... I'm surprised you didn't see it. The girl was practically glowing!"

I had been too focused on what I did wrong to notice... any of it. I guess that's what had been going on this whole time. I thought I had ruined things back when we were fourteen, but she had kept loving me; she had never stopped. And once she was gone I realized...

neither had I.

What's with the short chapters Grace?? You always go over at least 1000 words! Yeah. I know. I couldn't help it. I had to make that the ending of the chapter!! I'm sorry, the next one will be longer I promise. And... there may or may not be some confessions... ^-^

You know who I'm talking about.

You have seen it coming all along.

Clemont and Miette 😏

Jk 😁