Serena POV

"OMG!" A voice screamed into my ears, causing me to listen to a screeching sound for a second.

I held my cell phone away from my ear before I could be deafened by May's uncharacteristic scream, giggling uncontrollably as I plopped myself onto my creaky neat bed in my dark bedroom. Obviously, May was just about as excited as I was about the news I had just finished telling her and Dawn about via three-way calling. Probably even more.

"Ash asked you to the gala! I can't believe it!" she exclaimed like a fangirl. Probably, she like us to be together.

I continued to giggle at May's enthusiastic reaction to my great news. Although Ash had dropped me off about an hour ago, the lone fact that he, of all people, had asked me, of all people to be his date for the gala still hadn't sunk in.

I smiled at the spot where Ash had pinched me while we were still on top of the Lumiose tower. Even though it had faded, it was still a reminder that I hadn't been dreaming and Ash had indeed asked me out.

Asked you to the gala, you mean. As a friend. Don't forget that.

"I totally knew he'd ask you," the 'unflappable' Dawn said calmly on cell phone.

I rolled my eyes as a irritated May exclaimed, "No you didn't! You were the one who was fixing him up with gazelles or whatever her name is!"

"It's Giselle," Dawn simply said, sounding as though May ought to have remembered the girls name at least. I glowed red on my smooth cheeks. Ash chose me over flirty Giselle! "And I did that because I knew that would push him to ask Serena." She informed. I could even sense she was grinning, holding on to a hearty laugh.

"No you didn't." May retorted.

While they were bickering on cell phone. I pulled off my black long socks and put it in empty basket near by, trying to think how Dawn telling Ash to take Giselle to the gala made him take me instead.

"How?" I had to ask. That doesn't make any sense at all to me.

"Never mind how. The important thing is that it worked, didn't it?" Dawn said airily and I grinned wryly. Whatever Dawn's plan was to get Ash to ask me to the gala, it didn't matter because I was officially going with him.

May groaned and I could imagine her punching her pillow. "I can't believe she's trying to take the credit for this! Dawnie, you're so shameless!"

"I gave him a shove in the right direction," Dawn continued, sounding as smug as ever as May gave a mocking growl.

I shook my head with a cheerful
grin on my young un-makeup face as I said, "So I guess I should thank you then," as May spluttered wordlessly.

It was supposed to be sarcastic, but sometimes Dawn just doesn't get sarcasm. This was one of the times. "Yeah, you're welcome," she said gaily.

"Dawnie, you are so lucky you're nowhere near me right now," May threatens.

In an attempt to keep things from escalating into a phone brawl. I respond In curios, "But guys, do you think he's for real?"

Okay, so avoiding an argument between May and Dawn wasn't the real reason I changed the subject. Since Ash dropped me off home. Come to think of it, since he asked me to the gala, I'd been plagued by doubts. Although Ash had said that his friends wouldn't do anything if he showed up with me.

Memories of that day in the penthouse still stuck with me. If Calem and Misty had torn into me unprovoked, I could only imagine what they would do if I showed up at the gala, as Ash's date. Something told me I didn't want to find out.

"What do you mean, is he for real?" May asked.

I shrugged and shuffle uncomfortable on my bed, feeling stupid just for bringing it up. "Maybe he's planning something."

Dawn yawned loudly. "Planning what?"

Do I need to spell it out? "A prank."

"We're not in a story, Serena," May giggled uncontrollably.

"And it's not like he's taking you to the prom," Dawn was quick to add. "It's just a gala."

Twisting a strand of short honey blond hair around my finger, I huddled under my comforter. It may be 'just a gala' to Dawn, but to me, it was something special.

My very first prestigious Lumiose city party with Ash Ketchum as my date. If he was planning something, hopefully it would happen at the end of the gala so I'd have a chance to have fun first.

"I wish I could be there to see the look on Miette's face when you walk in with Ash," crowed May.

I cringed. That was not something I was looking forward to. Because if Miette still hooked up with Ash even after she had dumped him, she probably still wanted him. Which meant that she might just claw my eyes out before stringing me over a blazing fire with an apple in my mouth. Overactive imagination.

"Thanks for giving me something new to worry about, May," I sighed. "Just thinking about that kinda makes me not wanna go."

"What?" May sounded surprised and questioned. "Why?"

"Coz I keep thinking that something will happen."

"Like what? The attack of the fangirls?" May snickered. Great. Another set of problems to deal with.

Taking a quick breath of air, inhaling into my lungs and exhaling by letting out stress. "Like- maybe Miette will do something to me," I said softly, deciding to focus on the scariest thing for now. Fangirls were bad, but a jealous ex was worse. "She's not called the biggest ***** on campus for nothing."

"She's a skinny skank, I could take her," Dawn said scathingly. "You know, that boxer who won yesterday" she paused for a quick second, trying to think of the identity then finally she answered. "Ah yes. Anthony joshua."

"I'll go hide in the bathroom if she gives me the evil eye," I decided.

"I'm sorry I'm not going, I would have been your bodyguard," May offered. "With karate chops- take that, Miette! In your face, Misty!" She joked.

I couldn't help, but let out a burst of laughter, my head hitting the headboard.

"Well, I'll be there for you, Serena. If either Miette or Misty starts something, I'll finish it," Dawn said defensively.

Smiling widely, I said, "Thanks, Dawnie."

Even though she was probably going to be so wrapped up in Paul that she wouldn't notice I was in the same room as her, it was the thought that counted, right?

"Enough of that, though," Dawn said dismissively. "What are you going to wear?"

My face froze in the midst of a jaw stretching yawn. It wasn't a pretty sight.

"Um-," I started, drawing a complete blank. In the excitement of being asked to the gala, I hadn't had time to think about one of the most important aspects of a date- the outfit. What was I going to wear to an event attended by Lumiose's elite? Unless my fairy godmother did decide to show, I'd be going dressed in a burlap sack.

"Well, I was thinking I could borrow something from you guys," I said lamely.

The only formal dress I had was the one from my 16th birthday and even then it had been second hand from my favorite thrift store. I could just picture myself walking in that dress. Security would run me out of town. Dawn and May had some nice dresses and since we were pretty much the same sizes. Although I was the taller one amongst us, so I was sure I could get something to wear from them.

"Serena- you're going on a date. With Ash Ketchum. Wearing one of my old dresses is not the way to impress the guy," Dawn said immediately, sounding disgusted that I have even broached the subject.

I rolled my eyes and sign at the same time. "I don't want to impress him," I lied, crossing my fingers. "And I was thinking of your blue dress, May. The one you wore at your 17th birthday party."

"But I wore it at my 17th birthday party!" May exclaimed. "As in people saw me in it."

"I don't mind." May's 17th birthday dress was absolutely gorgeous and I knew it would be perfect for the gala. Dawnie and May- they didn't appear to think so.

"Of course you don't," Dawn screeched. "You've never been to one of these things. The ladies have eyes like hawks and they're always checking out what you're wearing."

I laughed. Sounded cute. "So? It's not like they'll ever see me again."

"That doesn't matter!" Dawn sounded ready to pull out her hair. "They'll talk about it if you show up in a dress from last season! They always do!"

I sighed. There was nothing I could do about that. It was either a hand me down or the burlap sack. I couldn't afford a brand new, this season dress. I couldn't even buy myself a new MetroCard!

"I don't have many options," I pointed out. "I'm broke right now."

"We'll loan you the money for the dress, won't we, May babe?" Dawn said firmly. Bringing my hopes up to life.

"Yeah, sure," May agreed heartily.

I opened my dry mouth. "But-."

"You can pay us back when you can," May told me softly, her voice compassionate. "I know you hate being indebted, but this is for a good cause."

"Yeah. May's dresses are soo last season," Dawn joked.

"Thank you, Dawnnie," May said, giggling.

I gulped, trying to gather my thoughts as Dawn and May had their mock argument. Did they just offer to loan me money for a dress?

"Guys. You're awesome friends. I'll pay you back as soon as I can," I said in passionate with a lump in my throat.

"When you can," Dawn repeated. "No pressure."

I nodded while still holding a cell phone in my sweaty hand from the heat. "Thanks." My voice came out barely a whisper and I swallowed.

"Hey, I have an idea," May said excitedly. "Girls weekend at my place! Aria sending someone over to do my hair and makeup, she can do all of us."

"Yay!" I exclaimed happily. Girl's weekends always rocked, especially if they were at May's, since there was the added bonus of fright night, telling scary stories to each other. Totally epic.

"So be at my place after you finish doing your afternoon things and we'll go find you a dress, Serena," May said, leaving no room for argument. Not that I was going to argue about it. "I gotta go. I have a paper to finish. Bye, lovies."

"Goodnight, May," Dawn and I said in unison.

There was a click as May hung up. And then there were two.

"Don't worry Serena," Dawn said bracingly, as I struggled to guess what she was talking about now. She changes subjects as fast as Ash! "Miette and Misty can't start anything in front of their parents. Just make sure you stay with Ash at all times and you'll be fine."

"I guess so," I said.

I had long stopped worrying about that. The dress issue weighed heavily on my mind. I hoped that we wouldn't head to an expensive store, but knowing Dawn, she'd probably take me to the most expensive shop on Fifth Avenue. She was just high maintenance like that.

"I know so," she confirmed, certainty etched in her voice. "Ash- he's not going to let anything happen to you. And I'll be there, so no need to worry"

Despite myself, I smiled. "It's going to be a fun night," I said, the old excitement seeping back into my body.

Dawn snorted. "Yeah right. They rarely are."

Dawn's ominous tone couldn't stem the anticipation I felt. After years of wistfully hearing her amuse me with tales about the woefully boring events her parents dragged her to, I finally had the chance to attend one and see for myself whether gala's were a waste of time or a people watching feast. Even if it did turn out to be boring, my date more than made up for it.

"See you tomorrow, Serena," Dawn yawned. "You gotta get your beauty sleep. You don't need bags under your eyes tomorrow."

I stretched languidly. "Indeed I don't. Goodnight."

We both hung up as we ended our long conversation and I turned over in bed, burying my head in the soft pillow with my eyes slowly about to closed, drifting me off to sleep.

I hoped to myself that I would be able to find a dress that was cheap enough for me to pay the girls back. Because going to the gala with Ash was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I didn't intend to miss it.