Sparks Fly (reupload)

The Bench

"I can't believe she didn't recognize Ash from the Lumiose Conference," Serena observed as the group stepped out of the restaurant, bundled in their winter clothes. "It was a pretty big event."

"Probably because what came after outshone it," Clemont said. "There's people who're still afraid of being near the area where the stadium was."

Serena nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

"So wait," said Bonnie, "Serena's staying with us, right?"

"I don't see why not," Meyer replied. "If Ash can stay, so can she."

Serena looked at Meyer. "So where am I going to sleep?"

"She can sleep in my room," Bonnie suggested. "I can just sleep on the couch. Like one of those friends who comes to stay for the weekend, and then that weekend never ends."

"Really?" Serena asked. "You're okay with that, Bonnie?"

Bonnie nodded. "Yeah. I'll sleep on the couch, you'll sleep in my room, Meyer will sleep in his, and Ash and Clemont will sleep together."

"Wait, Ash could've slept in Meyer's room?" Clemont asked. He turned to the ravenette. "I'm so sorry."

'I really didn't think through this at all,' Clemont thought. 'Neither of us did.'

"Hey, Clemont, it's okay," Ash replied. "I didn't mind it."

The blonde boy could practically hear Bonnie's internal screaming.

"So what're we gonna do now?" Clemont asked Meyer.

"You guys have been asking a lot of questions," Meyer joked. "I'd prefer that you all do something that won't hurt Clemont."

"Well, I don't think playing in the snow would be a good idea," said Ash.

Serena gasped. "I got something! How about we go shopping?"

"Yeah, that works!" Bonnie grinned.

Clemont, Ash, and Pikachu stared at each other awkwardly.

"I mean... you're not going to get hurt, right?" Ash asked.

"Y-Yeah, but-"

"Relax, Clemont!" said Bonnie. "It's not like somebody's gonna take an arm off of a mannequin and start beating you with it."

Clemont sighed. "You're really starting to scare me, Bonnie."

"Thanks."

"Come on!" Serena called. She was already ahead of them on the sidewalk. "You never know what we're gonna miss out on! Look at all of the people that are out here!"

Bonnie hurried after her, while everyone else lagged behind, trying to keep an eye on them amidst the crowd.

"Do you think there's any place you and I can go together?" Ash asked.

Clemont shrugged. "Unless that place is our home," he joked.

"Our?"

His body froze. "Sorry, I meant like, y'know, me, my dad, and Bonnie's home. Because it's not just mine. It's a family home."

'Smooth.'

"Are you okay, Clemont?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, sorry. I still feel weird from the hospital," Clemont lied.

Pikachu jumped off of Ash's shoulder and onto the sidewalk. "Oh, right. Thanks Pikachu," Ash said. "Sorry S-" He looked up to see that Serena and Bonnie were gone. "Uh... I hope they made it inside one of the stores."