Serena ran through the busy streets. Its just 8.30 in the morning and it seems as if the whole city is wide awake.

Lumious city, as its name suggests, is a city of lights. Luminous. Even on the darkest of days, Lumious city was always awake. Alive. This magical city was home to more than half of the total population of Kalos. It had the most prestigious institutions, hospitals and malls. This city had the least crime rate and highest economic growth rate.

The Kalosians living here were proud citizens. And so was Serena.

But right now she had to focus on her way to school. She had to ignore the various boutiques and salons that called her. She had to avoid the showrooms that displayed the best of the best dresses. She had to pass all those yummy-food stalls that prepared the best delicacies. She just had to ignore it all. Avoid it all. Pass it all.

8.49 am. That's the time Serena burst into her class. That's the time, everyone looked at her. That's the time she received some glares and some sympathetic smiles. That's the time when Dawn gave her an 'again?' look. That's the time Serena felt so embarrassed that she could run all the way back home and hide in her closet, shut herself in and never come out again. That's the time her phone beeped. That's the time she received a text. That's the time she checked her phone. It was Keta.

Serena looked around and noticed that there was no teacher, so she slowly went to her seat besides Dawn and sat down. She let a huge sigh of relief escape her mouth as she placed her bag next to her. At least, the teachers wasn't there to give her detention. After all, it was the third time this week now that Serena was late.

"Saved today, Sere. Ms. Frost must be on her away." Dawn said to her desk-partner.

"Yeah, saved today Dawn. But I really think that Ms. Frost is as bad as me when it come to punctuality." Serena chuckled along with the bluenette.

Serena looked at her phone again. She tore her eyes of the screen and started looking around for anyone using his or her phone. She looked at the text from Keta.

Keta: Late again, missy. No worries I will wake you up the next time.

Serena slowly scanned the room for anyone suspicious. But no luck. Instead her eyes fell on Ash Ketchum who was sitting just in front of her.

Ash Ketchum. He was just perfect in every aspect. Look-wise, personality-wise and intelligence too. Not only for Serena, but for all the girls he was prince charming. He had fans and enemies. Enemies consisted of the jealous boys since he had all the girls at his heels.

Serena was snapped out of her day-dream by Dawn who pointed at her phone.

"A notification from Keta? Who are they?" Dawn whispered.

Serena opened the text and read it.

Keta: Are you still there on Earth? Cause you don't seem like it...lost in your own world, eh?

"Keta, they are just a stalker who have been following me around since yesterday." Serena remarked sarcastically before keeping her head on the table.

"This is so annoying Dawn! I don't know who they are. Not even the gender. It is all so frustrating."

"How's that?"

"Dawnie! You got a person knowing every single detail about you and you just don't know whether it is a him or her, whether this person is your classmate, friend or a stranger. What if they cause trouble?"

"Chill Sere! What all do they know? Maybe just your name, address and phone number."

"They know you are my only friend Dawn!" Serena groaned.

"And anything else?"

"Yes! No- maybe?" 

"See! They do not know anything personal about you! I have seen girls flaunting their whole private life onto the net. This is just such minute detail that eventually gets revealed." Said the architecture-pursuing girl.

Serena frowned slightly and looked back at her phone.

Sere: Are you Dawn?

This was just to ensure that Dawn wasn't the one who was texting her. But to her dismay, Dawn's phone didn't beep with that 'ting' sound. Instead, Serena's phone was the one who buzzed off.

Keta: I guess you got to know that I am not her. 

Sere: Who are you?

Keta: An anonymous person who is texting you and freaking you out!

Sere: You are enjoying this, right?

Keta: Maybe...

Serena groaned while Ash chuckled in front of her.

"Hey Serena! How are you today?" Ash turned around to face the blue-eyed girl.

"Just sulking around because Keta is irritating me." She mumbled.

"Keta?"

"A-A-As-Ash!!"

"Hey there Ketchum." Dawn chirped.

"Chatting with the girls, I see." Said a male voice, coming from behind Ash.

Ash turned to face Gary and fist-bumped him. Serena stared wide-eyed at Ash as she realized what she just mumbled out. Dawn's hand was on her back, patting it reassuringly.

"Oh hey, Dawn." Ash greeted the bluenette.

"About time you replied. I thought me saying 'hi' to you was worthless." Dawn smirked as Ash sheepishly smiled back.

"Sorry about that. I was interrupted by Gary." He pointed towards his best-buddy.

"Dawn don't get your hopes up high. Ash, either way, wouldn't have greeted you. He was staring at a 'certain' someone." Gary smiled cheekily. Dawn rolled her eyes at him but still laughed at his comment, which made a tint of red appear on Ash's face.

All this while, Serena remained quiet which didn't got unnoticed by Ash.

"Are you sure you are okay?" He asked as he placed his hand on hers.

"Positive Ash. But its just--Keta." She mumbled the last part, shyly.

The fact that Serena was shy didn't amuse Ash. What amused him was the fact that Serena spoke a complete sentence without stuttering once in front of him. And also the fact, that he played on her mind, even if it was as Keta. He smiled a little.

"Whoever Keta is, he must be a good guy."

"How do you know Keta is a 'he' ?" Serena asked, raising her eyebrows slightly.

Ash gulped and scratched the back of his neck before speaking.

"Because--sorry to say this, but all the girls are shooting daggers at you and if 'Keta' would be one of them, he wouldn't be doing that because- you know- he cares."

"How do you know that he cares?"

"Umm---because guys do care?"

"No, I mean- how can you say that 'he' cares? I never remember you telling about Keta and- stuff."

"I overheard your conversation with Dawn about him." Ash gave a short, quick and blunt reply.

"That may explain, a bit."

"I guess it does. By the way, I wasn't joking about the daggers thing." Ash chuckled as he turned back around to face the blackboard, trying to cut the conversation or else she would have got suspicious.

Serena blushed as she realized that she was talking to Ash. Her crush. Without stammering. And as she felt the many pairs of eyes glare at her, she panicked even more.

"Dudette! You just had a normal conversation with Ash." Dawn squealed.

But this caused Serena to panic more.

"H-How d-d-d-id ---I do t-that??!?!?!" Serena whined as she buried her hands in her face.

"You just pulled it through girly! I am so proud." Dawn continued fan-girling. 

Serena's phone beeped. She checked it.

Keta: I guess, add Ash Ketchum to the list.

Sere: What list?

Keta: Your friend's list, duh! The one of your profile.

Sere: Oh, yeah maybe...

Keta: Why maybe?

Sere: We just talked, as classmates.

Keta: That didn't seem as a 'just-classmates' conversation to me.

Sere: What do you mean?

Keta: He was concerned about you!

Sere: Yeah, so what? I get concerned about every ill or injured classmate of mine.

Keta: Kenny is your classmate too. But did he talk to you?

Sere: Uhhh---no?

Keta: But Ash did, even though he is a classmate.

Sere: What are you trying to say?

Keta: The classmates who are concerned about you are your friends. Just like Ash. He was sooo worried.

Sere: How can you say that?

Keta: The look on his face said it all. He truly cares.

Sere: Okay, I got that much.

Keta: So, is he a part of your list now?

Sere: You seem eager about him being a friend of mine or not. Sorry but, nope, not yet.

Keta: Why not?

Sere: There is someone else to add before I add Ash.

Keta: Really!? So you got yourself another friend?

Sere: Yep! And he will be a part of my list, even before Ash.

Keta: Who might that be?

Sere: Anonymous Texter- Keta.

Ash smiled to himself. Serena trusted him now.

Keta: Me?

Sere: Yep, you!

Keta: So, you trust me now?

Sere: Two people made me understand that what you were doing wasn't wrong, in any way. And besides, you returned me something very precious.

Ash knew all to well who those two people were. Dawn and he himself. But if he told that to Serena, she would suspect that Keta was very close to her and she would find out soon. Not that Ash wanted this to remain a secret forever, but right now wasn't the time to tell her. He had so much to find out about her yet.

Keta: Oh, I see.

Ash then wrote the same question that Serena asked him a while ago.

Keta: How did you know I am a 'he' ?

Sere: You pay way much too attention to what I write...

 Keta: I didn't get the answer.

Sere: A friend of mine kinda deduced that.

Ash smiled to himself as a question popped up on the screen. 

Sere: Am I right? I mean- was the deduction right?

Keta: I see no reason to hide it anymore. Yep, I am boy.

Serena blushed at the though that she was chatting to a boy who cared for her. It made her heart flutter a little.

Sere: Do you plan on chatting with me all day now?

Keta: Unless Ms. Frost doesn't make her entry.

 "QUIET NOW!!!!"

Sere: Well that's her.

Keta: Yeah, the movie starts now.

Ash and Serena smiled, happy by the fact that they talked so much, face to face and screen to screen.  

Today I got your gender Keta. Next up will be your identity.

I learnt so much about you today, Serena. Can't wait for our next chat.

  We will talk soon.