Sparks Fly (reupload)

The Call

It had been six months since Ash left. But for Clemont, it felt like fifty.

During that time, he would keep thinking about the airport kiss, though he wasn't sure why. He continued to believe that it had something to do with being jealous of Ash. From the looks of it, it was a good kiss...

In hopes to drown out these thoughts, he, alongside Bonnie, would call Ash and Serena. They had decided to have these every Friday, with today being so.

Clemont and Bonnie stood by their screen, anticipating Ash to call. He always did it first. Last week, Serena had told them that she was going to be in a big showcase that would last several months, and Ash, who had recently traveled from Kanto to Alola, was going to school there to learn more about Pokémon. Bonnie and Clemont, however, didn't have much to say. Clembot had been fixed and then became a fill-in leader for the Lumiose City gym.

Bonnie would excitedly tell the group about a potential keeper that she found for Clemont, right before he would tell Bonnie to stop, embarrassed that after all this time she still kept doing it. Some traditions, he thought, were better off left alone. But this would always change when he saw Serena and Ash laugh like old times. He'd start laughing too.

The feeling of being around his friends again was something that Clemont longed for. He missed Serena's determination and confidence in herself, her Pokémon, and her friends. She was also a great sister figure to Bonnie, which was part of the reason why he liked her so much. 'That's probably why I feel like this,' he would tell himself.

And then there was Ash, perhaps one of the greatest friends Clemont ever had. He was selfless, caring for many people and Pokémon alike. Ash was good-natured, fair-minded, and trusting. Whenever Clemont would present an invention, Ash would be the most curious, the most awestruck, and arguably more invested in it than Clemont. No matter how big of a failure Clemont would feel after the invention would break, Ash would always find a way to cheer him up. Always.

The ravenette was funny, optimistic, and though a bit naive, he could also be smart at times, especially regarding justice. And, admittedly, he was kind of attractive.

'Attractive?' Clemont thought. 'No, I can see why others are attracted to him. Not me.'

It would always be after this point that Clemont's thoughts would turn back to the kiss. The image had been implanted in his brain and stayed there for months, like a computer chip inside Clembot. Winter was coming soon. Surely he had to have been over it by now, or at least understood why he felt the way he did.

The screen lit up, showing Ash sitting on a couch, a tan wall behind him. "Alola- I mean, hello, guys!" Ash waved and smiled.

"Ah!" Clemont shrieked, startled out of his thoughts.

"You okay, Clemont?" Ash scrunched his brow in confusion.

"Y-Yeah, sorry. Lost in thought, I guess," he stammered.

Bonnie sighed. "Big brother, you need a vacation! Hey, Ash, sorry about him."

Ash laughed. "It's no problem. How are things?"

"Dad's working at Sycamore's lab now. He's researching Mega Evolution, and is going to be there for a few months," Bonnie explained. "Wait, where's Serena?"

"She's getting ready for the showcase, remember?" Clemont explained to his sister.

"I wish I could see it," Ash grinned. "But there's a Detective Laki marathon around the same time, and it's a really good show!"

'Wait, he's picking a show over Serena?' Clemont pondered. 'That's not like him. Did something happen between them?'

A small Pokédex hovered near Ash. "'Really good' is an understatement!" it objected. "It's one of the greatest shows ever created, with ratings and popularity to match!"

"Heh, okay Rotom, we get it," Ash joked.

"Just saying..." it added before hovering away.

"Sounds like a good show," Bonnie commented.

Clemont tried to change the subject to something he was more curious about. "How's your Z-Ring training coming along?"

"Great!" Ash responded. "It's not the same as training with you, though."

Bonnie's eyes went wide. "Really? Wait, can you show us a Z-Move? Please? I mean, it wouldn't be the same as it would be in-person, but-"

Ash shook his head. "Not on here. I might break stuff." Then he sighed. "I miss winter in Kalos."

"Huh?" Clemont asked.

"Yeah, especially the cool air and the snow. It's warm all the time here," Ash shrugged. "At least, most of the region is."

"So it's like summer all the time, then?" Bonnie grinned. "Huh! That sounds awesome!"

"Ash, I'm home!" a man's voice called from the TV. Clemont and Bonnie were aware that Ash was staying in the home of and being educated by Alola's own Professor Kukui. It was a good thing for Ash, especially now that he could have a solid father figure that Clemont knew that the boy never really had. "I heard talking. Who is it?"

"Oh, some friends of mine from Kalos," Ash explained.

"Are they, erm, those friends?" the professor asked as he stepped into view. Clemont thought it was odd that the professor chose to be shirtless, but he figured it was due to the climate. "Alola!" Professor Kukui waved.

Bonnie waved back. "Hey!"

"Ash, did you tell them yet?" Kukui asked.

Ash giggled. "I'm trying to, but they're not getting the hints!"

"Hints?" Clemont asked.

"Well, if it's okay with you guys, I'd like to spend the rest of my winter break with you guys in Kalos. It'd be amazing to see you guys in-person again!" Ash smiled.

"Yeah, but what about our Dad?" Bonnie turned to Clemont. "Y'know, with him working with Sycamore and all that. He won't be home with us!"

"I'll take care of it," Kukui assured. "I have connections with Sycamore."

"Thank you so much!" Clemont beamed.

"When are you coming over?" Bonnie asked Ash, getting as excited as Clemont.

"In a few days. Man, that's gonna feel like forever!" Ash stretched his arms out. "I can't wait!"

Clemont's smile somehow managed to get wider. "And neither can we!"

"Well, I gotta go. Bye guys! See you soon!" Ash called from the screen.

"Bye!" Bonnie waved.

"I can't wait!" Clemont responded before the screen faded into black. As Bonnie returned to her room, eager to make plans for when Ash would come, Clemont looked down at his chest. His heart was beating at a rapid rate, the beat becoming more audible with each thump. He silently prayed that it would slow down, which it did. "It's just out of excitement," he mumbled. "I'm sure of it."