Ash POV

I was totally screwed.

You know what I'm saying, out of sight, out of mind? It's a false statement. I hadn't seen Sere since the gala and yet all I could think about was that freaking kiss. And then she walked into Science class and it was all I could do not to stare.

I'm really tripping out over this.

Why, though? I'd known the girl for years, why was I thinking about her like this now? And why had I kissed her and lied about it after?

'My vision doubled.'

My voice echoed in my head and I mentally groaned myself, shaking my head. Sitting beside me, Angie gave me a quizzical look and I fake smiled, trying to act normal. But nothing was normal. Wanting to hang out with Sere all the time- that wasn't normal.

Writing notes to her in class without caring about the consequences- not normal. Staring at the back of her neck and wondering what she was thinking- creepy. Wanting to kiss her again- a thought I could do without.

I ran a hand all over my whole face, feeling rather warm. This wasn't me. I was never obsessed about girls. I could have any girl I wanted, so why was I constantly thinking about the one girl I couldn't- hell, shouldn't have?

I have got to quit thinking about her lips.

I shook myself, trying to get my confused thoughts out of my head.

Angie leaned in closer to me and whispered, "Are you okay?" in my ear. I nodded in responce, breathing in her strong perfume. Sweet.

Angie had been friends with me ever since I broke up with Miette. Unfortunately, I couldn't even concentrate on the way her hand was squeezing my arm because all I was thinking of was Serena Yvonne. I stuffed the notes from her into my pocket and got up to my feet causing some student to look in my way. I needed some air.

Mr Rowan sighed softly as he saw me stand from my seat. "Sure, just get up and leave, right in the middle of my class."

"I'm just going to get a drink of water," I protested, fighting to keep a smile off my face. My pulse sped up as Sere turned to glance at me, a bemused expression on her pretty face. If her soft cheeks went flared red, it would have been a cute face.

"No, don't worry." Mr Rowan shook his head. "There's only five minutes left and, truth be told, you wouldn't learn anything if you were in my class for a year. Bye."

He stood in front of his wooden desk with a couple of inky pens and stacks of  piled book on top of it. His hands were behind his back as he waited for me to leave while staring at me. I shrugged, picked up my unopened book from desk and simply walked out of the class without a backwards glance.

He was right. I wasn't going to learn anything, so why bother? At least it wasn't only my dad who thought I was useless; my teachers were catching on to it too. Why not start a 'We hate Ash Ketchum' fan club while they were at it?

Sighing, I headed to my own locker nearby with no around my surroundings down the empty hall.

At least this afternoon I would get a chance to hang out with Sere again. Then I could figure out that thing that she had that made her so magical and figure out a way to deal with my- crush.

Because I knew what it was now. I had a crush on Serena Yvonne and it was scaring the crap out of me.

When, why and how? I didn't know. All I wanted to do was get a hold on myself and shake it off. Getting rid of feelings you had for a crush object couldn't be that hard, after all. It wasn't as if I was in love, after all. I laughed to myself. Hell no. I was just in like. And it wouldn't last.

All I had to do was make sure Calem didn't find out. After the gala, he cornered me, wanting to know exactly what had gone on between Sere and me during the night. I didn't tell him about the kiss coz I had a feeling that if he knew about it, he would have taken a swing at me. The thought that Calem probably had a crush on Sere had occurred to me once or twice. Well, now I was in the same boat...

Finally arriving. I rested my throbbing head against the cool locker door as the bell signaling the end of classes rang. Another day closer to my operation.

Just as I was about to open my locker. A voice suddenly stopped me from doing so.

"Ash, there you are!"

I turned my head over my shoulder only to see Miette bearing down on me with a smile on her face. She was obviously not taking my showdown with Brendan as seriously as he was. He gave me threatening looks every time we passed each other. Miette had obviously elected to forget that the whole thing had ever happened. Kinda like Sere, in a way. Except that I couldn't forget about that kiss.

Miette paused right in front of me, still beaming. She shook her blue short-hair back. "So, my parents are out of town tonight. Wanna come over for a party?"

Sounded tempting, but I knew I wouldn't be hanging out with Miette today. I was going to give blood, working on the list she didn't know about, and hanging with Sere.

If only I could find a way to let her down easy.

Placing my hands lightly on her free shoulders, I said, "I really wish I could, but I got stuff to do. How 'bout a rain check?"

Wrong thing to say.

Miette's eyes narrowed and she shook my hands off her shoulder as I descended them near to my side hips. "That's what you said last time," she said in a low voice, conscious of the people around us who were probably pricking up their ears to listen in on our conversation.

I frowned. "What last time?"

"When we were making out in the supply room, you jerk. You took off and said 'rain check, babe'. Next thing I know, someone spots you at Baskin Robbins with Serena Yvonne." Miette scowled at me, red spots of anger appearing on her pale cheeks.

Oh ****. Now I remembered. But how did she find out that I had been at Baskin Robbins with Sere? Was she having me followed?

"I just have some things I need to sort out," I told her as the hallways rapidly emptied.

"Things concerning Serena Yvonne, right?" Before I could open up my mouth to respond, she continued. "I saw you two passing notes to each other in class. Don't even try to deny it." Her eyes were fully filled with hurt as she looked up at me. "So are you gonna hang with your new BFF?"

"Mie-," I started, hardly knowing what to say. What could I say? I'm sorry, but who I choose to hang with is none of your business. We're broken up, remember?

"You're acting weird. Even Misty and Calem have noticed." She gave me a quick head to toe look. "What's going on with you? You're not yourself."

Maybe the aneurysm has something to do with it.

"I'm surprised you guys notice anything out of your cozy existence," I couldn't help replying, getting a little dig in. Miette didn't rise to the bait. She just stared at me as the last person slammed their lockers shut and took off into the chilly air outside.

Stolidly in a dependant way, she said, "You're part of that cozy existence. Soon you'll realize that your infatuation with Serena is stupid." She stepped closer to me, looking at me in the eye as I kept my distance. "She doesn't belong in your life. She's not your type. Once you realize that, you'll come back to me. I'll be waiting." She said, more as if it was going to happen.

Not.

I stared down at her flawless face, wondering why it was so hard for her to accept the inevitable.

We were never going to get back together. I was just using her and she was just delusional, as much as it hurt to admit it. I couldn't do this friend with benefits thing anymore. If I really wanted to change for the better, I had to let some of my past go.

And this has nothing to do with your crush on Sere, right? I shook my head defiantly. Nope. Nothing at all.

Taking breath and signed. I spoke. "Actually, Miette, I- kinda wanted to talk to you about us."

The hallway was deserted now. It was amazing how fast students could vacate the school grounds once the final bell rang leaving just the two us.

Looking both surprised and hopeful, Miette said, "Oh yeah? Do tell," in a normal voice.

She had apparently forgotten that just a few seconds ago, she'd been pissed at me. After she heard what I was about to say, she'd be even more upset. But I couldn't backtrack now. This was the perfect time.

"Well, the argument between Brendan and I the other day-," I started.

Miette gave a deep laugh. "Don't worry about that. I managed to convince him that it was all rumors. He won't harass you."

I sighed and swallowed for a brief second. This was obviously going to be harder than I thought.

"Yeah, okay. But I was saying, it got me thinking. This- arrangement we have isn't a good idea." I said with brave courage. As if heavy weights have been lifted off my chest.

When I said that. Miette's eyes widened as I forced myself to continue. This was painful for me too. But I knew it was the right thing to do.

I continued. "I mean, we did have good time. I guess, but next time Brendan gets like that- he could really hurt me."

Incredulously, Miette hissed, "You're scared of Bren?" like she couldn't believe her ears.

I had to laugh. Was I scared of her? Hell no. But I had my own health to think about. Next time I got into it with him, I might not be so lucky.

"No way. But I just- I don't think this is worth getting beat up over."

I bit my wet lip as Miette glowered at me, placing her bare hands on her slim hips.

"You mean I'm not worth it?" she asked, her voice coming out high and reedy. Loud enough for her voice to echo down hall. I swallowed. I hated hurting Miette, hated it. Yet I always seemed to do it. Why did she keep on coming back to me?

"Exclusively, you're so worth it babe," I murmured, reaching out to her. She took a big step back away from me, wrapping her arms around her. "I'm sorry, but I can't do this anymore. It's not fair to me or you. I need to move on."

Miette's eyes were filled with tears. "You're dumping me?" Her voice quivered.

Running a hand all over my face, I nodded. I had to be grownup about this. Backing down now would just make me feel stupid and more of a loser than I already did. "Yeah. I'm sorry, Mi..."

Her eyes were cold as she glowered at me which gave me shivers down my bones. "You son of a *****," she croaked, before whirling around and walked away from me without saying another word.

"Aw, damn," I muttered to myself, leaning my back against my cold locker while looking up at the plain wall. Blinking a couple of times.

I didn't love Miette, I was sure of that, but it was still painful to go through another breakup with her.

Still, even though I felt bad about hurting her like that, and even though it cut me like a knife, I knew I'd done the right thing.