Teach Me How to Love - amour

Chapter Seven - A Rough Beginning

Serena woke before Ash did the next morning. She recalled what was in store for her friend that day and her day was already off to a bad start. The performer flung the covers aside and grabbed her everyday outfit to change in the bathroom.
Ash roused at the sound of someone shutting what had to be the bathroom door. Rubbing his eyes he sat up to see that Serena was already up and was probably getting ready. Pikachu was still asleep at his feet, and he took the opportunity to tickle his partner. Bad idea.

"CHU!"

An electric current coursed through the trainer's body and he was fried instantly. He let out a very manly screech and the bathroom door flung upon.
"Ash? Are you alright?" Serena called out. Her eyes fell on a clearly cranky electric mouse and she couldn't help giggling.
"Never tickle a sleeping Pikachu."
Serena laughed at this statement and went to pull her friend up. Tossing his bag to him she pushed him off to the bathroom and released the party's Pokémon. Eight hungry pocket monsters followed the honey blonde down to get some breakfast while Ash took to the shower to wash away the soot that coated his body.

—♥︎—

The male sighed as he trudged down the stairs. Serena and both trainer's Pokémon looked to have eaten already and were waiting for him.
"Hey Ash! We've got to get going if we want to make it to the airport with time to get to Misty's gate. I grabbed you something to eat on the way!" the performer said and handed him a toaster pastry.
"Gee, thanks Serena. You're more on top of things than I am and it's my friend that we're meeting!" He laughed. The teens recalled their Pokémon and waved to Nurse Joy before heading out.
The weather was pleasant with soft clouds filtering through the bright blue sky. It would've been wrong to go to the airport by any means other than walking due to this, but unfortunately time was running short. And so they ran.
"Alright, Misty should be at gate C1. Look! That must be her plane landing now!" Ash yelled. He grabbed Serena's hand and they sped through the security check and off to the gate.
Out of breath the teens made it just as the first passengers were filing out of the transport. They were both on the lookout for a girl with fiery hair, a yellow crop top, and suspenders. She was impossible to miss, and once Serena pointed her out as she stepped out into the airport with her bag Ash yelled over to her and waved.
"Hey! Misty! Over here!" The ravenette shouted. The redhead turned towards the voice and ran over to greet him. Ash threw an arm around his friend when she had caught up. Serena stood awkwardly next to Ash. Situations like these were not her specialty.
"It's been so long Ash, look how talk you've gotten! And a lot more handsome I might add. We've got so much to talk about, where do you want to go?" Misty gushed. Ash scratched the back of his neck and laughed nervously.
"Uh, just a second! I'd like you to meet Serena! She's a friend I made here in Kalos." Ash turned his head to look at his blonde haired friend. Misty looked at her and noticed that her and Ash still had their hands intertwined. The two followed her eyes and separated their hands quickly after realizing what they were doing.
"Oh, so you're Serena. Ash has mentioned you maybe one or two times I guess. I see that you're awfully close," the redhead said with a knowing tone.
"Oh! We're friends, we met when we were little kids at Professor Oak's summer camp. When I saw him on the news here in Kalos I knew I had to see him again and we ended up traveling together along with the Lumiose gym leader and his sister," Serena explained anxiously.

"I'd love to battle your gym leader friend some time. Anyways, you sound like a persistent girl. Following your long lost friend and asking him if you could stick around," Misty said with a short laugh.
"Actually, I asked her to travel with us," Ash cut in, sensing the tension. It was obvious how uncomfortable Serena was and he didn't like it. She wasn't used to the other girl like he was. Even if, she was being a little harsh on the performer by his own standards.
"How about we stop and get some lunch here in the city? Then you can tell me where we're going this afternoon and Serena will know when to expect me back at our room," the male trainer said and forced a smile.
"Our room? Why would I still be going on a date with someone who apparently has a girlfriend?" Misty taunted darkly.
"Misty, Serena isn't my girlfriend. She's just a close friend and we're sharing a room with two beds because no other ones were available in the Pokémon Center," sighed Ash. He grabbed each of the girls by one hand and pulled them out of the airport. Ash had certainly matured, by Misty hadn't seemed to.
Once outside he let go and guided them in the direction of a casual restaurant he had spotted on the way there. Serena let her Pokémon out of their Pokéballs to keep her company on the walk - Misty and Ash had resumed their conversation and she didn't want to mess things up even farther. The redhead noticed this and sneered, deciding that she would battle the girl after lunch whether she wanted to or not. Pikachu had definitely missed Misty, but he noticed Serena's sadness and hopped off of Misty's shoulder and onto Ash's before leaping onto Serena. Ash didn't mention it but he was glad his buddy was keeping her company.