Ash's Bucket List- Give Blood.

Serena POV

Despite Ash's prior warning, I didn't realize just how acute his phobia of needles was till we walked into the MetLife Donor Centre.

Up until that moment, he'd been all smiles ever since we met at grand mall, offering to buy me the hugest candy apple I ever saw.

"I don't know if anyone's ever told you, but you look so cute when you eat," he informed me, his eyes glinting with mischief with a mischievous grin making my cheeks start to heat up when he complimented me.

Somehow, I don't think I would look very cute with a white cream down on my nose. Pass.

Still, it was sweet of him to say, even though it was a huge lie.

Ash seemed to be in an amazing mood despite the frigid air and the frosty sidewalk. While I was walking as slowly as possible to avoid slipping on ice and falling on my booty, he was practically bouncing around in front of me, dressed in nothing but a fully black t-shirt, grey tight jeans and nikes, cracking dumb jokes.

"Okay, I got another one for ya," he said as he held open the entrance door leading to the lobby, standing aside like a true gentlemen so that I could walk in before he did. "What kind of Christmas present do you give a man who has everything?"

I shrugged, making a beeline to the building tenant listing, searching for Lumiose Center. "I don't know," I replied, my eyes glued to the colorful directory as expensively dressed business people milled around the lobby.

Undeterred by my obvious enthusiasm, Ash came up behind me.

"Give up?" he pressed, sliding his warmth hands slowly onto my free shoulders.

"Yes," I said in a light tone. I didn't know I had it in me! But really, today Ash was kinda acting rather cheerful.

Sliding his hands up and down my upper bare arms in a smooth, sensuous way. he brought his lips so close to my right ear that I could feel the warmth of his breath fluttering against my neck.

"Want me to tell you?" he asked softly, a faint teasing sound in his voice as though he knew that the way he was touching me was giving me butterflies. He probably does know. And he probably likes it, too.

My own voice came out breathless, and I wasn't trying, which is unfortunate because I could have worked it. I just couldn't breathe right when Ash touched me like that.

"Okay." Was all I could say.

Just don't let go of me!

Brushing his lips against my ear, Ash replied, "Crack, so that next year he doesn't have anything."

And on it went.

By the time I figured out how to get to the donation center from where we were, Ash had told me a variety of ridiculous jokes laughing all the way.

"Why are you in such a good mood?" I had to ask, feeling slightly jealous. I'd just found out that Clemont had to cut my hours at work and I wasn't too happy about that. It meant less money at a time when my family needed it most.

Ash gave me that signature crooked grin and I almost melted. "I don't know. I just feel free."

Way to be vague, Ketchum. However, the instant we started walking towards the donation center, all signs of happy camper Ash flew out of the proverbial window. He suddenly clammed up by stopped walking on, staring down at the piled floor as he shuffled his feet, something I could do without.

I hate when people shuffle their feet. And even though the main reason I was supposed to be there was to support him, I took one look at the terrified expression on his face and burst out into a fit of giggles.

Ash shot me a reproachful look, raising one eyebrow. "You're not helping."

Leaning against the wall, I wiped my wet eyes as my shoulders shook with laughter. "I'm sorry," I spluttered, trying to compose myself. "But you're joking, right? You can't be that scared of needles!"

"I told you its crippling!" He glanced nervously around us in the deserted hallway and took a couple steps towards me. "When I was a kid, the nurses had to tie me to the bed and blindfold me just to give me a shot." He whispered.

The image of a tied up, blindfolded baby Ash thrashing around on a flat bed as nurses fought to hold him down set me off again. Tears of laughter rolled down my face as I clutched my aching lean-stomach. It wasn't that funny, but it was hilarious, know what I mean? Ash didn't seem to think so.

"Where's moral support when you need it? My dad would be more comforting than you are."

A hurt frown on his face, Ash folded his arms over his chest, looking steadfastly away from me. My mirth slowly dried up as I realized that he was well and truly miffed by it.

Buuurn.

Still, I guess I deserved that, after laughing at a very valid fear of his like that. Time to get serious, Serena.

I took a few steps and slowly put a hand on his shoulder, feeling the tense muscles beneath the soft fabric of his blue stripe jacket.

I bit the inside of my cheek hard to stem my laugh. This is not the place or time. I had to be a supportive friend, even if the need to laugh killed me.

"I'm sorry," I repeated, looking up into those hazel oval eyes of his without blinking. "No more laughing, I promise. I'll hold your hand. I'll even tell you a story to take your mind off things."

Ash gave me a grateful wide smile. "Thanks. And thanks for showing up." He heaved a heartfelt sigh. "None of my friends would have taken me seriously enough to come here with me."

I smiled back. "That's why you have me." Hastily, I continued, lest Ash take what I had just blurted out straight out of context. "Helping you with your list, I mean."

As I opened my mouth to save my own skin, Ash ran a shaking hand through his raven jet hair.

"Dude, I think I'm hyperventilating." He said, dramatically.

"Just breathe slowly," I instructed him with comfort.

He shook his head, staring ahead at the door to the donor center. "I think we should go. I can't do this."

I rolled my sapphire eyes and groan, wondering why I was saddled with such a big baby.

"Ash, we're already at the door."

"I know but- I can't go through with it."

I gave Ash an appraising look. He was several inches taller than me, but rather thin. If worst came to worst-

"Why you looking at me like that?"

Ash's voice jolted me out of my study and I blinked, my mind was completely blank. The only thing I could think of to say was, "Huh?"

"You were looking at me like you wanted to... manhandle me." He smirked widely, moving closer to me right in my face and wiggling his eyebrows while making eye contact. "Do you wanna manhandle me?"

Arceus, is my face really that expressive? Sure I wanted to manhandle him, but not in the way he was making it sound, with his husky voice and those eyes- was he flirting with me?

Do. Not. Think. About. Ash. Flirting. With. You.

Placing my hand on my hip, I looked up at him, swallowing hard down my throat. Dammit, focus! "D-Don't change the subject, Ash. You're going to give blood. You already made an appointment and you're not backing out now." He opened his mouth to say something and I steamrolled over him. "If you back out now, you'll let me down."

A groan came from Ash. "Sere-," he started, but I wasn't done yet.

"And what did you say about letting me down?" Digging into my skirt pockets, I pulled out the crumpled piece of paper we had written our notes on. Clearing my throat, I started reading. "'I don't wanna let you go and I never let you down. Ash. So what-."

Suddenly I was interrupted. Ash cut me off by pressing a index finger firmly against my soft, slightly parted lips. I shivered involuntarily, feeling the heat rise in my round cheeks.

A smile was brought upon his face as he leaned in closer to me, slowly licked his lips and said, "Okay, point taken. You've convinced me. Let's go do this before I chicken out." Removing his finger like an afterthought, he grinned at me. "I finally found an effective way to shut you up."

I let out a quavering breath, my legs feeling wobbly. I didn't get it. Obviously Ash had figured out that I had a crush on him- he couldn't be that stupid and oblivious. Could he? If he wasn't stupid, why did he insist on doing things that he knew would unnerve me? Was he just like that? Yes. Probably.

Without saying another word after finding an effective way to silence me. I led the way into the donation centre with Ash behind.

When we entered through the sliding wide doors. A happy nurse met us and after asking us a few preliminary screening questions, made us fill out some forms and show her our ID. As soon as that was done, she led us to side by side beds in another room.

I lay down flat against my back on one neat bed while a slightly pale Ash on the other.

"Make yourselves comfortable. I'll be right back," the nurse told us and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind on her way out with a quiet click.

Ash immediately stretched out his arm, his free hand seeking mine. "I swear I'm gonna scream, throw up or both if you don't hold my hand," he threatened.

Grinning to myself, I slipped my small hand into his which was perfect fit and he gripped it a little hard, closing his eyes shut.

"It's gonna be okay, you'll see," I reassured him as he stroked my palm with his thumb.

He's not trying to turn you on, so stop overanalyzing things. Still, it was nice to think he was, however weird that sounds.

"Talk to me," he murmured, threading his fingers through mine and squeezing softly.

"About what?"

I felt him shrug. "What's going on in your life? Catch me up on what's happened to you since the gala. I told you I missed you."

My eyebrows rose involuntarily. "No you didn't," I exclaimed bluntly.

A snort of laughter. "Well, I should've," he replied cryptically. "So spill."

But the nurse came back at that very moment and started affixing the sharp needles and setting up all the equipment.

"Relax, guys," she told us, obviously seeing how hard Ash was biting on his lip as she carefully inserted the needle in his arm. "10 minutes tops. Just breathe."

That's what I've been trying to tell him!

After making sure that everything was okay, the nurse left again and I started watching the bags slowly fill up. Then I decided that wasn't a very good idea because it was making me feel slightly queasy and I squeezed a silent Ash's hand, wondering if he was crying.

"You okay?" I asked. He nodded and I racked my brain to find some nonsense chatter to fill in the silence. "Did I tell you that Calem caught up with me when I got home after the gala to ask how it was?"

Ash actually opened an eye at that, looking rather interested even as he avoided looking at the filling bags. "Oh yeah? He gave you the 3rd degree too?"

Wondering what kind of questions Calem had sprung on Ash and what to himself had to answered, I evasively replied, "He just wanted to know if I had fun."

Actually, Calem had wanted to know every single detail of what had went down between Ash and me at the gala. What he was especially interested in was whether Ash had 'tried anything' but I thought it was best not to bring it up since we both agreed it never happened.

"So what did you say? That my dad and his rudeness scared you off?" Ash's tone seemed nonchalant, but I did detect a bit of worry there.

"No, I said I had a good time and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again..." My voice trailed off as I realized that might just sound like I was asking for a second date. Was I? No. I slapped my forehead with my free hand. I'm such a ditz.

"Did you really have fun or were you just trying to make me feel less guilty about my dad's douchebagness?"

I grinned at his made up word, shifting in bed to look at him. He was staring up at the ceiling, looking pensive in deep serious thought.

Choosing my words carefully, I said, "Under the circumstances, I had a good time."

Ash sighed, giving me a sideways look. "Thanks," he said, almost in a whisper. "My dad- he doesn't like me that much. And he likes taking his frustrations out on me, especially when my friends are around. I should be used to it, but it still... it gets to me."

My eyes were fixated on his sweet, sad face. Whatever had happened between Ash and his dad had obviously hit Ash hard and it showed. He clearly loved his father, but somewhere along the line, one of them had done something so hurtful that it had ruined their relationship.

"Why does he do that?" I asked, not sure what else I could say that would wipe that look off Ash's face. I wanted the 'free', bad joke cracking Ash back, not this scared of needles sad Ash.

His answer was simple. "Because he can."

I smiled bitterly. "Sounds scarily like Alain."

"Yeah?" He nodded.

"Uh huh."

"You know that Eminem song, 'space bound'?" Without waiting to hear if I did know it, he continued. I let him talk. He sounded like he really needed to. "Me and my dad, it's exactly like that. I love him but he's so hard to like. When I was a kid, I wanted to be just like him but now- he's been pushing me away ever since I was old enough to walk. And he hasn't really wanted anything to do with me since he divorced my mom. And now I know who he really is and what he's really like, I can't look up to him anymore."
His grip on my hand tightened and I squeezed back, my heart constricting as he continued to talk. This was so sad. "I wish he could just see how I'm trying to change. All I want to do is be a better role model for Leaf, be the big brother she can look up to before it's too late. Before- something happens to me."

He's thinking of the aneurysm.

Blinking back tears from the back of my eyes at the emotion in Ash's voice, I said, "I know it doesn't mean anything coming from me, but I'm proud of you for admitting you know you did wrong and wanting to change."

Ash bit his bottom lip as he smiled at me. "Thanks, Sere. That actually means a lot. And I'm sorry my dad was such a jerk to you."

I shrugged casually with my lip
turning upward. "That's okay. I know not everyone can like me."

His expression serious as his eyes raking over my face, Ash murmured, "I like you..."

"Okay kiddies, how are we doing?"

The nurse bustled back into the room, her loud chatter saving me from replying to Ash's admission as she removed the needles, giving us a cotton swab to press on the injection site. I felt heated, and it wasn't due to the lack of blood. How come every time Ash and I were together, something weird happened? Was I being given some sort of subconscious message, or was I just paranoid?

After making us sit up for a few minutes to help the lightheaded feeling pass, the nurse led us to the small canteen.

"Help yourselves to some food and drink lots of juice," she said. "Once you're done you can go." A huge smile. "Thanks for donating, guys!"

Ash steered me to a table packed with cookies, sandwiches and juice. "Scratch one more item off the list!" he exclaimed, even as I gave him a look of utter disbelief.

What the hell? Where'd the sad, brooding Ash disappear to so fast?

Still, I was glad he was back to his own version of normal. When he slipped into those introspective moods it always saddened me. Although my own father hadn't wanted me, my mom had stepped in and taken better care of me than my then 19 year old mother could have done. Ash had everything in his life apart from love, and that was the most important thing. It's all for love.

"See? It wasn't scary at all!" I just had to get a dig in.

"Are you nuts? I don't think I got enough nerve to go through that again. And definitely not alone." He nudged me, almost making me spill the juice I was pouring into a empty cup. "Thanks for coming."

I smiled up at him. "No problem."

The fascinated expression on his face as he stared at me was slightly disconcerting. He looked entranced, but his lips were twitching as though he was dying to laugh. Do I have something on my face?

Bending over the refreshments and surreptitiously rubbing my cheek. I mused, "I wonder what's in these sandwiches?" even as my stomach rumbled with hunger.

Ash heard my stomach and laughed as he scarfed down a cookie. "Shoulda let me buy you that candy apple. And I'd stick to the cookies, they look..."

His voice trailed off as I straightened, laughing. The sandwiches don't look that bad! A bit dry perhaps, but not inedible. Turning to face him, I suddenly realized what had made him stop in the middle of a sentence.

At the far corner in distance. Misty was standing in the doorway of the canteen, slack jawed with shock. Beside her stood a tall, greying man who could only be her dad, unless she was cheating on Calem.

"Ash? Serena? What the hell are you two doing here- together?"