Author's note: this story was uploaded once but I took it down, as it was clearly in violation of the Community Guidelines. I feel that this new version is in compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the law. If you feel that this story is still in violation of the Guidelines, please show me relevant quotes from a FF moderator.
Late one night in Kalos, one young woman wasn't walking through downtown Coumarine City so much as she was gliding, propelled by the incredible night she had just had. The 15-year-old Serena had thought that a strong victory in the Coumarine City Showcase would be the best outcome she could have hoped for. Instead, she had been shocked to see someone very important from her past in the crowd, watching her and cheering her on, his presence inexplicable and unbelievable. He managed to surprise her a second time after she had won the Showcase, waiting outside to see her alone, in private.
She felt her heart race as she replayed the moment over and over in her head. She saw herself stepping outside, glancing down the stairs as she heard his voice, seeing his smiling face looking back up at her, looking as if he had been waiting for this moment forever. She could still feel his arms around her as they held each other, her tear-filled eyes buried in his shoulder. After a trip back to the Pokémon Center, she had met his traveling companions Iris and Brock, and eagerly agreed to join him on his journey through Kalos. Her mind was reeling from all of these unexpected events, and as she traveled back to her hotel she felt like she was walking on air. The night was cold, but she was completely unable to feel it, practically buzzing from head to toe.
As she stepped inside the lobby of her hotel, she felt a more literal buzzing from her duffel bag. She unzipped it and reached in, pulling out her phone as she stepped into the elevator, seeing a text message from an unknown number.
Unknown number (9:35 p.m.): Hey it's me
She immediately grinned from ear to ear, knowing who it must be. Before she had left the Pokémon Center, she had grabbed his phone out of his hand and entered her number into his contacts without even asking; this must have been him, reaching out to coordinate plans for the next day. She started to add this number to her contacts as well, before a bad memory from her past gave her pause. As she stepped into her hotel room, she decided to go with a different reply.
Serena (9:37 p.m.): Who is me
Unknown number (9:37 p.m.): Take a guess
Serena (9:37 p.m.): I need you to say your name
Unknown number (9:38 p.m.): It's Ash
Unknown number (9:38 p.m.): Who else would it be?
She sighed in relief, adding his name to her phone. She sat on her bed, looking at the contact name "Ash Ketchum", before deciding to delete the last name. It wasn't as if she knew a more important Ash.
Serena (9:39 p.m.): Ok, I added you to my contacts
Serena (9:39 p.m.): Just being cautious
Serena (9:40 p.m.): When I was in Galar someone found my phone number and pretended to be one of my friends
Ash (9:40 p.m.): Oh wow
Ash (9:40 p.m.): That's creepy
Serena (9:41 p.m.): Yes
Serena (9:41 p.m.): I had to change phone numbers after that
Serena (9:41 p.m.): Don't need stalkers following me
Ash (9:42 p.m.): Well I promise I'm not a stalker
She grinned, feeling a bit mischievous as she typed out her reply. She felt better now than she ever had before, and with that feeling came a bout of playfulness, as she decided to have a bit of fun with him.
Serena (9:42 p.m.): I don't know, Ash
Serena (9:43 p.m.): Iris said you ran all the way from Laverre City when you found out I was in Coumarine
Serena (9:43 p.m.): That's pretty stalkery
Ash (9:43 p.m.): What that's not fair!
Ash (9:43 p.m.): I thought you'd be happy to see me
She giggled to herself, kicking her shoes off and lying on her bed, looking up at her phone as she replied.
Serena (9:44 p.m.): I'm just teasing
Serena (9:44 p.m.): I'm so happy to see you Ash, I can't even tell you
Serena (9:44 p.m.): I was really touched when she said that
Ash (9:45 p.m.): I'm happy to see you too
Ash (9:45 p.m.): There was no way I was going to miss one of your performances
She felt her heart swell as she grinned from ear to ear, rolling onto her side as she kept a grip on her phone. She knew how excited she was to see him, but the thought of him being just as excited to see her was beyond her expectations. She knew they were supposed to talk about their plans for the next day, but she wasn't about to abandon this line of conversation.
Serena (9:45 p.m.): It meant a lot to me that you were there
Ash (9:46 p.m.): You looked pretty surprised to see me
Serena (9:46 p.m.): That's an understatement
Ash (9:46 p.m.): I hope I didn't make you nervous
Serena (9:46 p.m.): No, not at all
Serena (9:47 p.m.): Just the opposite
Serena (9:47 p.m.): I did better knowing that you were there
Ash (9:47 p.m.): Really?
Serena (9:47 p.m.): Mhmm
Serena (9:48 p.m.): I was more excited than nervous
Serena (9:48 p.m.): I've been waiting years to show you what I can do
Ash (9:48 p.m.): You wanted to show off huh
Serena (9:49 p.m.): Of course
Serena (9:49 p.m.): That whole performance was for you
Ash (9:49 p.m.): Wow
Ash (9:49 p.m.): Well you sure did show off
Ash (9:50 p.m.): I've never seen anyone perform like that
Serena (9:50 p.m.): Thank you Ash
She smirked a little, wondering just how many people he had seen perform, but decided not to mention it.
Ash (9:50 p.m.): Did you learn all that in Hoenn?
Serena (9:51 p.m.): Some of it
Serena (9:51 p.m.): Hoenn was contests, not showcases, so it was more for my Pokémon
Serena (9:52 p.m.): The dancing part was more from the showcases in Galar
Ash (9:52 p.m.): Galar has showcases?
Serena (9:53 p.m.): They do some years, but they're pretty different from Kalos
Serena (9:53 p.m.): No keys, no Master Class, no crown
Serena (9:53 p.m.): No stadiums full of people watching me perform
Serena (9:54 p.m.): Thank goodness
Serena (9:54 p.m.): Now THAT would make me nervous
Ash (9:54 p.m.): No kidding
She sighed a bit, still smiling, but her excitement had faded a bit. As her mood waned, a burning question entered her head.
Serena (9:55 p.m.): Ok, I have to ask
Serena (9:55 p.m.): Why on Earth did you leave after the showcase?
She frowned, mind going back to earlier in the evening. Immediately after the showcase, she had been eagerly waiting for Ash to show so they could catch up. Instead, after she had worked her way through a surprisingly large crowd of fans, she found herself alone in the venue, with him nowhere to be found. She spent the next five minutes devastated beyond words, thinking that she had been abandoned, before discovering him waiting outside. It had been a happy ending, but she was still feeling a bit upset about those five minutes. At the least, she wanted an answer.
Ash (9:56 p.m.): I didn't leave, I just went outside
Serena (9:56 p.m.): Well why did you go outside?!
Ash (9:57 p.m.): I didn't want to get in the way!
Ash (9:57 p.m.): You looked like you were having such a good time with your fans
Serena (9:58 p.m.): I thought you left! I thought you didn't want to see me!
Serena (9:58 p.m.): I could have cried, I was so upset
Ash (9:59 p.m.): I'm sorry! I didn't meant to upset you
Ash (9:59 p.m.): I just didn't want to interrupt
Ash (10:00 p.m.): I wanted us to talk alone
Serena (10:00 p.m.): You could have said you were going outside!
Ash (10:01 p.m.): I didn't want to distract you!
Ash (10:01 p.m.): If you knew I was waiting you might have hurried up or something and I didn't want that
Serena held her face in her hand, groaning a bit. Instead of being inconsiderate, Ash had ended up messing up by being too empathetic and getting into his own head, which was extremely on-brand for him. Now she was frustrated that she couldn't even be frustrated.
Serena (10:02 p.m.): Argh, Ash
Serena (10:02 p.m.): That is so frustratingly considerate of you
Ash (10:02 p.m.): I'm really sorry Serena
She sighed and rolled onto her back again, feeling bad for him now. It was extremely difficult to actually be angry with Ash when he meant well; it was like yelling at a small puppy. She decided to cut him some slack.
Serena (10:03 p.m.): It's ok Ash, I'm not upset anymore
Serena (10:03 p.m.): I just needed to guilt you over it
Serena (10:03 p.m.): Now I feel better
Ash (10:04 p.m.): Well
Ash (10:05 p.m.): Okay then
She laughed as she imagined him staring at his phone for two solid minutes, having no idea how to reply. For the first time this evening, she'd manage to render him speechless, instead of the other way around.
Serena (10:05 p.m.): Haha
Ash (10:06 p.m.): I'm glad that guilt tripping me helped, I guess
Serena (10:06 p.m.): Having second thoughts about traveling with me yet?
Ash (10:06 p.m.): No way
Ash (10:07 p.m.): Never in a million years
Serena smiled wide, covering her mouth with her hand, feeling herself flush red. Just like that, he'd regained the upper hand in their conversation. He had never talked like this with her before, and it was taking her by surprise over and over. She already knew he cared for her, as he'd always tried to make her happy when he saw her upset, but he'd never been this forward about it. Perhaps it was because they weren't talking face-to-face that he was confident enough to act this way. Perhaps, like her, he was just too relieved to be anything but candid.
Serena (10:07 p.m.): Aw, Ash
Serena (10:07 p.m.): I'm glad you can't see my face right now
Ash (10:08 p.m.): Haha blushing?
Ash (10:08 p.m.): I can imagine it
Serena (10:08 p.m.): Yes
Serena (10:09 p.m.): Which I hate because it makes me look like an underripe tomato
Ash (10:09 p.m.): No it doesn't
Serena (10:09 p.m.): Yes it does
Ash (10:10 p.m.): You're cute when you blush
Serena (10:10 p.m.): ASH
Her eyes went wide as saucers, and she immediately buried her face into her pillow after sending a reflexive message, feeling heat radiating off her cheeks. Her heart and mind both raced at the same time, as she took another peek at her phone, needing to confirm that he had actually said what he had said. He'd complimented her looks in the past, but only after prompting from her, and he had never been as forward as this. Was he flirting with her?
It seemed completely impossible, making it yet another impossible thing that had happened tonight. He shouldn't even have been here in Kalos. He shouldn't have been at the Showcase. He shouldn't have been waiting an hour in the cold just to speak to her alone. And despite all she'd hoped for, he shouldn't ever have had anything other than platonic feelings for her. She started to worry that she was dreaming; if she was, she was in no hurry to wake up.
She eventually sat back up, glancing back down at her pillow and sighing, seeing her performance makeup smudged into the pillowcase. Right now, she knew two things for certain. First, she needed to get herself cleaned up and ready for bed, because this conversation clearly was not ending anytime soon. Second, she needed to change the subject quickly, because if he said anything else like that to her, she might actually combust.
Serena (10:11 p.m.): I need to get ready for bed
Serena (10:11 p.m.): We're talking about something else after this
Ash (10:11 p.m.): Ok I'll get ready too
She rolled off of her bed and headed to her bathroom, mentally apologizing to the housekeeping staff that had to clean her pillowcase.
Serena (10:15 p.m.): How did you know I was going to be performing?
Four minutes later, she had cleaned her face and changed into her sleep clothes, and was now tucked into her bed. While she was prepared to fall asleep whenever, she had no intention of doing so anytime soon. Hopefully, Ash was thinking the same thing.
Ash (10:16 p.m.): I saw it on TV at a Pokemon center
Serena (10:16 p.m.): I thought so
Ash (10:16 p.m.): Talk about a surprise
Ash (10:17 p.m.): When did they start putting you on TV?
Serena (10:17 p.m.): You think you were surprised?
Serena (10:18 p.m.): The day I got home, Mom pulled me into the living room and showed me that commercial
Serena (10:18 p.m.): It was the most surreal thing
Ash (10:19 p.m.): I bet it was
Serena (10:19 p.m.): So you saw that in Laverre City
Serena (10:19 p.m.): When was that?
Ash (10:20 p.m.): Two days ago
Ash (10:20 p.m.): We almost didn't make it
Her eyebrows raised as she did a quick search, knowing that Laverre City and Coumarine City were not exactly next door to each other. When she saw exactly how far apart they were, she had to suppress a gasp.
Serena (10:21 p.m.): You ran from Laverre to Coumarine in two days?!
Ash (10:21 p.m.): Yeah
Serena (10:21 p.m.): Do you know how far that is?!
Ash (10:22 p.m.): Trust me I know how far it is
Ash (10:22 p.m.): I ran it
Serena (10:23 p.m.): I can't believe you did that
Ash (10:23 p.m.): I wasn't going to miss seeing you
Ash (10:24 p.m.): I would have run across all of Kalos if I had to
Serena didn't respond, unable to look away from the message displayed on her phone, stunned more than anything else. This didn't even seem like the same boy she had traveled with five years ago. Even back then, she knew that he was more important to her than she was to him. She was supposed to be the one running to see him. How could things have changed so much?
She let her phone rest on her stomach, closing her eyes, imagining the reunion that she had been picturing for years. She saw herself as a grown woman, sitting in a giant stadium, watching Ash as he became League Champion of whatever region she had found him in. As he celebrated outside, she would walk up to him, asking if he remembered her, which he eventually would. She would tell him how he had given her the confidence she needed to achieve her dreams, and how she had become Kalos Queen only weeks before. They would have dinner together and part on good terms, remaining penpals for the rest of their lives.
She had other fantasies about how things might have gone, but she had dismissed them as unrealistic. She knew that he cared about her as a close friend, but nothing more. She knew that he would always smile when he saw her, and try to make her smile as well, but things wouldn't go farther than that. She knew he'd be happy to see her, and might have surprised her with an appearance if she was lucky, but he would never run himself ragged across Kalos to see her. At least, that's what she thought she knew. Now she felt like she didn't know anything about him after all. The uncertainty was jarring, but undeniably exciting.
She jumped a bit as she felt her phone buzzing again. She quickly picked it up, seeing another message.
Ash (10:26 p.m.): Are you still there?
She sighed, feeling embarrassed for letting herself get swept up.
Serena (10:26 p.m.): I'm here, sorry
Serena (10:27 p.m.): No one's ever done something like that for me before
Ash (10:27 p.m.): It was worth it
Ash (10:28 p.m.): Though everyone else might hate me now
Serena (10:28 p.m.): Haha
Serena (10:28 p.m.): Not what they signed up for, huh
Ash (10:28 p.m.): No
Serena (10:29 p.m.): Hopefully they understand
Serena (10:29 p.m.): They seem nice
Ash (10:29 p.m.): They are
Serena (10:30 p.m.): You'll just owe them for this
Ash (10:30 p.m.): Please don't say that in front of Iris
Serena (10:30 p.m.): Hahaha
She grinned wide, having fun again, her heart racing as she let herself get excited. While the conversation was definitely going places she hadn't expected, at the same time it felt like they had never spent a day apart. There was no awkwardness and no hesitation; despite all the ways in which they had both changed, they still felt like old friends and not strangers.
She stretched out her legs as the conversation lulled for a moment, and she checked the time. They'd been goofing around for longer than she'd planned. At some point they had to get back to the intended goal of the conversation.
Serena (10:31 p.m.): What is the plan for tomorrow?
Serena (10:31 p.m.): Which is what I was supposed to ask an hour ago
Ash (10:32 p.m.): Well we're sleeping in, then I need to train with Snivy a bit, then we're going to the gym
Ash (10:32 p.m.): I think if we get to the gym at 2 pm that should give us enough time
Ash (10:32 p.m.): Is that going to be too late?
Serena (10:33 p.m.): No, that's fine
Serena (10:33 p.m.): I have some things I need to get done in the morning anyway
Serena (10:33 p.m.): I'll meet you at the gym then
Ash (10:34 p.m.): Perfect
Serena (10:34 p.m.): Are we leaving for Lagoon Town tomorrow after your battle?
Ash (10:34 p.m.): No we're leaving the day after
Ash (10:35 p.m.): We all need some rest
Ash (10:35 p.m.): Brock and Iris might revolt if we hit the road again so soon
Serena (10:35 p.m.): Hehe
Ash (10:36 p.m.): Pikachu too
She rolled onto her side again, curling up, happy to let Ash get all the rest he needed after his marathon sprint. Her eyes traveled back to the names of his companions, curious about them. Part of her had wished she and Ash would be traveling alone, but a larger part of her knew that she hadn't matured enough for that, especially with the way this conversation was shaping up. She would hate for their travels together to be marred by her nervousness and awkwardness, and having two other people there would definitely diffuse any lingering tension. On top of that, Iris seemed eager to make a connection happen between her and Ash. Perhaps she was the romantic type.
Serena (10:36 p.m.): Tell me about Brock and Iris?
Ash (10:36 p.m.): They're great
Ash (10:37 p.m.): I traveled with Iris when I was in Unova, she's an excellent trainer
Ash (10:37 p.m.): She takes a bit to open up to people sometimes but she's really nice
Ash (10:38 p.m.): She cares about Pokemon a lot
Serena (10:38 p.m.): She seems really friendly
Ash (10:38 p.m.): She's friendly with people she likes
Ash (10:39 p.m.): So I guess she likes you already
Serena (10:39 p.m.): I'm glad for that
Serena (10:39 p.m.): One down, one to go
Ash (10:40 p.m.): Nah I'm pretty sure Brock likes you too
Ash (10:40 p.m.): He always likes pretty girls
Instantly, Serena was beet red again. She needed to take a minute to compose herself, feeling the texting equivalent of tongue-tied. Her previous thoughts about Iris evaporated from her mind.
Serena (10:41 p.m.): Ash, you can't just say that to me in the middle of a conversation
Ash (10:41 p.m.): Haha
Ash (10:41 p.m.): Are you blushing again?
She ran her fingers through her hair, completely flustered, feeling how hot her face was. He was almost certainly flirting with her, at this point. She didn't know what to think, or even how to think, feeling like her brain was short-circuiting. Was she reading too much into this, or was there something between them that hadn't been there before? The question was eating away at her.
After several long seconds, she typed out another message, her hands shaking.
Ash, do you have feelings for me?
She stared at it for a long time, terrified, her thumb hovering over the send button. If she sent this message, there was no turning back. If she was right, things would never be the same between them. If she was wrong, she wasn't sure she could recover from the disappointment.
After what felt like an eternity, she sighed and held down the backspace button, deleting the message. This was supposed to be a time for her to just be happy that he was here; she didn't need to rock the boat and potentially upend it. They were about to spend the next several months traveling together. She would have plenty of time to evaluate the situation for herself, and if there's anything she knew for certain about Ash, it was that he was as transparent as glass. If he did like her the way she liked him, it should have been easy for her to figure it out.
Serena (10:42 p.m.): Keep telling me about Brock
Ash (10:42 p.m.): He's one of my oldest friends
Ash (10:42 p.m.): He was there right when I was starting my journey
Ash (10:43 p.m.): I've traveled all over with him, we went through Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, Alola
She sighed as she saw the name of the third region, still bitter about what had happened during her travels there.
Serena (10:43 p.m.): Ugh, Sinnoh
Serena (10:43 p.m.): Sorry, go on
Ash (10:43 p.m.): What's wrong with Sinnoh?
Serena (10:44 p.m.): No, you finish
Ash (10:44 p.m.): Well he's super friendly, funny too, great cook
Ash (10:44 p.m.): He likes to be helpful
Ash (10:45 p.m.): Knows a lot about Pokemon too, probably even more now
Ash (10:45 p.m.): He was studying with Prof Sycamore
Serena (10:45 p.m.): Oh wow
Serena (10:46 p.m.): They sound like good people to travel with
Ash (10:46 p.m.): They are, I'm really glad I ran into them
Ash (10:46 p.m.): So what's wrong with Sinnoh?
She felt herself calm down again as she started to respond, which she desperately needed. She had to get her mind onto a different topic, and she felt like ranting to someone who wouldn't judge her for it.
Serena (10:47 p.m.): It's not that Sinnoh is bad, I just had a bad experience there
Ash (10:47 p.m.): What happened?
Serena (10:47 p.m.): Ok, so this was a few months ago
Serena (10:48 p.m.): I went there because I wanted to participate in contests, like in Hoenn
Serena (10:48 p.m.): And I wanted to be really organized so it wasn't frantic
Ash (10:48 p.m.): Right
Serena (10:49 p.m.): So I get a contest schedule and go over it really carefully
Serena (10:49 p.m.): I make an itinerary where I hit lots of contests, but I still have time to see Sinnoh
Serena (10:50 p.m.): I fly there and I arrive in Jubilife City
Serena (10:50 p.m.): Then I take another look at the contest schedule I found
Ash (10:50 p.m.): Oh no
Serena (10:50 p.m.): Specifically the year
Ash (10:50 p.m.): Oh noooooooo
Ash (10:51 p.m.): Was it from last year?
Serena (10:51 p.m.): Two years ago
Serena (10:51 p.m.): When I arrived the contest season was nearly half over
Ash (10:52 p.m.): That's terrible
Serena (10:52 p.m.): I basically ran myself ragged crisscrossing Sinnoh
Serena (10:52 p.m.): I'm lucky I didn't make myself sick
Ash (10:53 p.m.): I'm sorry, that sounds awful
Serena (10:53 p.m.): Thanks
Serena (10:53 p.m.): One day I want to go back and actually enjoy it
She felt herself relax, happy to have gotten that off her chest. She smiled to herself, thinking that Ash was a good listener.
Ash (10:54 p.m.): When did you get back from Sinnoh?
Serena (10:54 p.m.): Literally a week ago
Ash (10:54 p.m.): Oh wow
Ash (10:55 p.m.): We got here at almost exactly the same time
Serena (10:55 p.m.): Yes
She let herself get swept up again, her excitement growing. She thought once again about the moment where she had seen him on the stairs outside the Showcase, and the rush of emotions that had followed.
Serena (10:55 p.m.): I can't believe you're here
Serena (10:55 p.m.): I'm just lying in bed smiling at my phone
Ash (10:56 p.m.): I can't believe we're both here at once
Serena (10:56 p.m.): Did you think you would see me when you came?
Ash (10:57 p.m.): I hoped I would but I didn't think we'd actually run into each other
Ash (10:57 p.m.): How often are you in Kalos?
Serena (10:58 p.m.): I want to say a little more than half the time
Ash (10:58 p.m.): That's more time than I spend in Kanto
Ash (10:59 p.m.): So I guess the odds weren't as bad as I thought
As she smiled and typed, she felt a random question enter her head, one that had been bothering her for the past year. She found herself typing it into her phone and sending it off, feeling too good to stop herself, certain that nothing would come of it.
Serena (10:59 p.m.): Were you in Kanto at all last year?
Ash (11:00 p.m.): Yeah I was competing in the Indigo League again
Her face slowly fell. That wasn't the answer she wanted to see. Suddenly she regretted opening this can of worms.
Serena (11:00 p.m.): Oh
Ash (11:00 p.m.): Got second place
Ash (11:00 p.m.): Why?
She held her face in her hand again, knowing she had made a big mistake. He knew something was off, based on her reply. She was going to have to come clean.
Serena (11:00 p.m.): Well
Serena (11:01 p.m.): Ash, I have a confession
Serena (11:01 p.m.): I was in Kanto last year too
Serena (11:01 p.m.): And I didn't try to find you
She watched her phone carefully, waiting fearfully for his reply. Her phone remained still, as no additional messages came her way. The phone didn't even indicate that he was typing anything. She felt her heart sink into her stomach, deeply upset with herself. It was clear that she had hurt him with this confession.
Eventually she started typing again, unable to handle the silence and hoping she could stir him into replying. Thankfully, he did.
Serena (11:03 p.m.): Ash?
Ash (11:03 p.m.): How come?
She sighed in relief and started typing again, letting herself open up, laying everything out.
Serena (11:04 p.m.): I didn't feel like I was ready
Ash (11:04 p.m.): Ready to see me?
Serena (11:04 p.m.): Yes
Serena (11:05 p.m.): I didn't feel like I had grown enough
Serena (11:05 p.m.): I told myself I wasn't going to see you again until I was Kalos Queen
Ash (11:06 p.m.): Why did you want to do that before seeing me?
Serena (11:07 p.m.): I just got it stuck in my head
Serena (11:07 p.m.): I felt like such a child on our first journey
Serena (11:07 p.m.): I didn't want to feel that way when I saw you again
Serena (11:08 p.m.): I'm sorry, Ash, I know how silly that sounds
Ash (11:08 p.m.): It doesn't sound silly
Ash (11:09 p.m.): Do you wish I hadn't been here tonight? Is this too soon?
Her eyes widened at this last message, and she quickly started typing her reply, feeling a lump forming in her throat. How could he still be so understanding after that? Why wasn't he upset?
Serena (11:09 p.m.): No! Of course not!
Serena (11:09 p.m.): Tonight was perfect, I was so happy
Serena (11:10 p.m.): I don't know what I was thinking anymore
Ash (11:10 p.m.): It's ok Serena
Serena (11:11 p.m.): I just really wanted to make you feel proud of me and what I'd done
Serena (11:11 p.m.): I'm really sorry, Ash
She put her phone back down on her bed, rolling over and burying her face in her pillow again. She felt sick, embarrassed, ridiculous. She had felt anxious throughout her entire journey in Kanto, but told herself that it was for the best that she didn't see him yet; after tonight, however, she felt like she had been deluding herself the entire time, too far into her own head. She had been so proud of how much she had grown, but now she felt like she hadn't grown at all. She curled up in her bed, wanting to shrink down and disappear.
She let her phone buzz once, not wanting to see his reply yet, but when she heard a second and third message come in, she reached out and grabbed her phone again. As a fourth message came in, she read them all at once.
Ash (11:12 p.m.): You don't have to prove anything to me Serena
Ash (11:12 p.m.): I already think you're incredible
Ash (11:13 p.m.): You put yourself out there in front of all these people and you do all these things I could never do and I admire that
Ash (11:13 p.m.): I'll always be proud of you
She felt herself tearing up, covering her mouth with her hand again, the lump in her throat returning. This had been the only thing she had truly wanted: his approval, his respect, his pride in her. She felt the tears rolling down her face as she suppressed a sob, swallowing hard. For the second time that night, he had effortlessly reduced her to a speechless, crying mess, just by being his wonderful, sweet self.
She clasped her phone tightly to her chest, breathing deeply and letting herself cry silently for a couple of minutes, before she finally worked up the wherewithal to respond. There was so many things she wanted to say, jockeying for position in her mind. She eventually settled on the one that she felt most strongly in that moment.
Serena (11:16 p.m.): Thank you for not judging me
Ash (11:16 p.m.): I would never do that
Serena (11:17 p.m.): I know you wouldn't
Serena (11:17 p.m.): When on Earth did you become this person I'm talking to now
Ash (11:18 p.m.): What person am I?
Serena (11:18 p.m.): This person who's super sweet and makes me cry and says all the right things
Ash (11:19 p.m.): No don't cry
Serena (11:19 p.m.): It's ok, it's the good kind
Ash (11:19 p.m.): I'm just trying to make you happy
Serena (11:20 p.m.): You're good at that
She smiled warmly, tears still falling, as her eyes moved up to the top of her phone. She laughed when she saw how late it had become, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
Serena (11:20 p.m.): I just noticed the time
Serena (11:20 p.m.): You must be exhausted
Ash (11:21 p.m.): It's fine, I'm not tired
Serena (11:21 p.m.): That is a lie
Serena (11:21 p.m.): You were tired right after the showcase, there's no way you're not tired now
Ash (11:22 p.m.): I'm having fun talking to you
She grinned from ear to ear again, thinking about how much he didn't want the conversation to end, even though she was certain he could barely keep his eyes open. She was all done questioning how she had become so important to him, and was letting herself enjoy it.
Serena (11:22 p.m.): I am too
Serena (11:22 p.m.): But you need time tomorrow to get ready for your gym battle
Ash (11:23 p.m.): Boo
Serena (11:23 p.m.): I'll still be here when you wake up, Ash
Ash (11:23 p.m.): I hope so
Ash (11:24 p.m.): This had better not be just a dream
Serena (11:24 p.m.): I know what you mean
She sighed happily, yawning herself as she stretched out her legs again. She saw the indication that he was writing out a message, and waited patiently for it to arrive. Four minutes later, he was inexplicably still typing. She raised her eyebrows at this.
Serena (11:28 p.m.): Are you writing a really long message or did you fall asleep?
She waited another three minutes for something to happen, to no avail. She sighed happily, shaking her head. Ash had surprised her plenty tonight, but she still knew him well enough to know he was not that much of a wordsmith. She fired off two final messages before plugging her phone into its charger, turning off the bedside light and closing her eyes, still smiling as she fell asleep.
Serena (11:31 p.m.): Goodnight Ash
Serena (11:32 p.m.): I'm glad you're here
Ash is typing…