Serena POV

I dragged myself through the front door of our apartment, exhausted from an afternoon spent shopping with Dawn, who still wasn't satisfied with her dress.

"It's got to be the same color as my shoes," was her mantra all afternoon as we walked up and down Fifth Avenue, searching for the perfect dress. No luck.

In the lobby I stopped to chat with Mrs. Lacey, the oldest tenant in our building and the biggest gossip in Kalos. The entire state, not just the city. She was glowing with the news that her grand daughter had been accepted at Sinnoh, making her the first member of the Lacey family to go to university.

"If she can do it, so can you, honey," Mrs. Lacey said in a caring voice, patting my cheek with her gnarled hand. "You have a special purpose in life, I just know it."

I smiled sorriest, thinking about the raise in tuition fees. I still hadn't told My mom about that and I wasn't looking forward to her reaction. Right now, university was so out of the question.

My shoulders hurt from lugging my heavy bag around as I let myself into the apartment. Thankfully I set it down on the peeling kitchen counter and walked to the dark living room, hoping My mom was there. Last night, I got home too late to talk to her and she had left for work before I woke up.

The living room was empty, but over the loud music coming from Alain's room, I heard the shower running. Phew, she's home.

Massaging my ached shoulders, I picked up my heavy bag again and headed to my room, passing Alain's room on the way which I nearly gagged from the smell that I have already received.

His door was fully open with piles of clothes on floor everywhere around the room and the loud sound of 50 Cent 'in da club' blasted from his CD player speakers while he did sit ups in shirtless without hesitation like he was fully focused. I sagged with relief by putting my heavy bag on floor as I waved at him.

"Hi, Alain." I greeted.

He must not have had anything to drink today because he only worked out when he was sober. My lucky day!

Arceus knows, I needed a break after the day I was having. Piles of homework, Dawn acting like a dress tyrant, not seeing Ash all day... I hope I see him again.

"Hey, Serena," Alain panted as sweat ran down his forehead and paused for a second, stopping doing sit ups with his hands behind his head and chest bobbing, rivulets of sweat running down his face. "Make me a sandwich, will ya?" He said breathlessly.

"Sure, just let me put my bag in my room," I said rapidly, moving away from the opened door. When Alain wanted something, it was best to do it immediately.

"And no mayo!" he yelled after me.

"Okay," I said, thanking my lucky stars that he was sober. When Alain wasn't drunk, he seemed to tolerate me more. When he was drunk... I shuddered. That was another story altogether.

So why did you tell Ash that he didn't hit you? Shut up, mind. Anyway, Alain hadn't hit me in a long time, not since My mom yelled him out over the book incident. He used verbal and emotional abuse these days. Unfortunately, it worked, even though I tried not to let it show. And even if Ash knew, what could he do to stop it. At least he would know about it.

Then what? I shrugged to myself, staring at myself in the mirror in my room. What Ash knew was more than enough. I had already said way too much, making a fool of myself and crying all over Ash to boot. He already looked at me like I was nuts. Now he would tag me as a cry baby. Ugh.

There was a sharp knock on the front door and I frowned, throwing my heavy bag onto my neat bed as it bounced up in air and down. I gritting my teeth as it creaked. Don't you dare break on me.

Was my mom expecting someone? I knew Alain didn't have any friends.

"I'll get it!" I shouted, running into the hallway past Alain's room.

I skidded to a stop a second before I ran into the door and opened it. Revealing a tall, pretty girl with dark red ponytailed hair with loose strands on each side near temples. Stood on the other side, tapping her foot on the floor with arms folded over her chest. I had no idea who she was. Maybe she's lost.

Smiling friendlily at her, I said, "Hi. Can I help you with something?"

She smiled back at me, tossing her hair over her free shoulder. "As a matter of fact, you can. My name is panelope. I'm here to see Alain. Is he here?"

Inbreed politeness trumped my curiosity and I opened the door wider giving a full view of my myself. "Yeah, he's here. Do you want to come in while I call him?" I said as I was about to go, but was interrupted.

Panelope shook her head. "No, that's okay. I won't take long. Tell him Mairin sent me."

I bit my lip nervously, gulping. "Okay, let me just go get him." I said. Sliding my hand away from the door, leaving it open for Penelope.

My heart pitter-pattered with dread as I walked to Alain's room. He's so not going to be happy. Alain hadn't heard from Mairin since she moved out and I knew that Penelope wasn't just here to say hi and find out how Alain was holding up.

With brave courage. I poked my head around Alain's door. "Uh, Alain?"

He looked up at me while doing push-ups now. "What? You made my sandwich? What is it, like hard?"

"There's someone here to see you," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

The irritated look on his face changed to one of disbelief, mirroring what I had felt when Penelope told me who she was here to see.

"Who the...?" he muttered, more to himself than to me.

"Her name is Penelope," I supplied, my mouth feeling dry. "She said-."

My voice hesitated as Alain stopped mid push-up to scowl fiercely at me. "What? Spit it out, woman!"

"She said mairin sent her," I said in a rush.

Alain blanched, his lips tightening. "And you told her I was here?" he asked dangerously, raising himself up into a standing position.

I licked my lips nervously, slowly backing away. The look on Alain's face wasn't comforting. "Well, I didn't know you didn't want guests," I explained half-heartedly like Alain having guests was something that happened everyday instead of once in a blue moon.

"You should've known that I never want guests," Alain said, wiping his face on a towel he picked up from the clothes lying on the floor. "What the hell were you thinking, telling her I was here?" Throwing me a scornful look, he answered his own question. "Nothing. As usual."

"Should I tell her you're busy?" I said hesitantly, wanting to please.

Alain shook his head as he pulled on a wife beater, a sneer on his face. "No, I'll just have to go deal with her. Make me my sandwich and for goodness sake, don't mess it up. Dumbass." He said and begins to walk up to me.

Don't kill the messenger!

As Alain came close, He shoved past me, pushing me against the door on purpose. I hissed in pain as my hip cracked against the door. Ow.

After waiting in the hall for a couple of minutes, I scurried to the kitchen to make the sandwich and to eavesdrop. So sue me. Unfortunately for me, Alain hadn't turned down his music so I was only able to catch snatches of the conversation. But from what I heard, Penelope wasn't scared of big, sweaty dudes with attitudes. Good for you, Penelope, good for you.

"...Mairin sent you instead of coming herself?" Alain asked, his back facing at me which I couldn't get a clear view of his face.

"...Too many memories here. And she'd rather not see you."

"How's she doing?"

"...Really wanted to know, you'd call..."

"...Doing here?"

"...Sent me to pick up her stuff," Penelope said confidently.

"...Stuff?" Alain seemed confused as I placed a slice of cheese onto a piece of buttered bread.

"Yeah. Maria's bag of..."

Sounding outraged, Alain exclaimed "I bought that! She ain't taking my baby's things!"

"...Her stuff than yours!"

"Tell her if she wants it, she can come get it herself instead of sending a messenger *****," Alain said derisively.

"What? What did you say?"

Nosily, I peered out into the hall just in time to see Penelope give Alain a resounding slap.

My heart thumped as I tried not to laugh. The look on Alain's face was priceless. He rubbed his red planted cheek, staring menacingly at an enraged Penelope. "Don't you ever call me that again," she snarled.

"Get the hell out of here," Alain snapped.

"Trust me, I'm going. But I'll be back." She looked at him up and down and snorted. "You're pathetic."

With that amazing parting shot, she turned to leave and Alain slammed the door shut with a loud bang sound.

I jerked my head back into the kitchen, busying myself by placing a piece of bread on top of the cheese sandwich. Grumbling to himself, Alain stomped into the kitchen, looking irate.

Pasting a smile on my face, I handed him the saucer. "Here's your sandwich," I said.

Immediately. He snatched it from me without a word. You are so welcome.

"If that girl ever comes here again, tell her I'm not here."

I nodded. Roger that. Alain seriously didn't want to be slapped again, even though he most certainly needed it. "Okay."

He stomped to his room as I turned back to the counter to make a another sandwich for my mom. She deserved one and at least she would be more appreciative than Alain. Luckily I was full because Dawn treated me to pizza.

We were down to our last loaf of bread.

My mom was in the living room, her feet curled under her as she rested on our damaged couch. She smiled up at me as I entered the room with a sandwich in hand.

"Hi, sweetie," she said. I smiled back at her. No matter what was wrong in my life, it seemed that my mom could make me forget about it with just one smile.

"Hi mom. I made you a sandwich."

I handed her the plate, noting the lines of exhaustion on her face close up. She was working too hard, but I couldn't do anything about that. We were living hand to mouth as it was.

"Thank you, dear." She frowned slightly as she took the saucer. "Who was at the door?"

"A friend of Mairin's, I think," I told her. Biting back a smile, I perched on the armrest of the couch. "She slapped Alain."

My mom giggled, covering her mouth with her hand and looking at me guiltily. "I hate to say this, but Alain probably deserved it," she sighed. You are so right. She patted the spot next to her. "Sit by me, dear."

As soon as she said that. I sat next to her, resting my head on her free shoulder as she put an arm around me.

"Have you already eaten?"

I nodded. "Yeah, Dawn bought me pizza," I said.

"Bought you? Didn't you just get paid?" My mom asked. Whenever I got paid, I tried to give her money to contribute to everything. She always refused, saying that I was a growing girl; I needed to have some money of my own.

"Alain took my cash," I told her softly.

She sighed, sounding annoyed. "I'll tell him to give it back to you."

I shook my head. "No, it's okay." if she makes Alain give me back my money, he would get so angry at me.

"I don't want you accepting handouts," Mom frowned.

"Dawn always buys me food if I'm with her. She'd be offended if I refused," I explained. My mom was proud like that. She didn't want anyone taking advantage of me, just because I was poor.

"Okay," she said, still not sounding too pleased. She changed the subject. "How did your meeting with the Financial Aid Officer go?"

Hesitantly I told her everything and she sighed again, closing her eyes. "Oh, dear," she said slowly.

Guilt twisted my stomach. "I've decided I'm gonna drop out if I have to," I told her, slipping my hand in hers. It wasn't fair. My mom worked herself to the bone for me. At least if I was at a public school, we'd be better off.

However, my mom shook her head, an refusing look on her face. "No. you're almost finished with school. I couldn't ask you to do that," she said fondly.

"But mom, we can't afford to keep me at Lumiose," I protested.

"There's no such thing as can't, dear." She smiled at me. "We'll find a way. We always have."

I ran a hand through my short hair, hot tears coming to my eyes as I thought about this new set of troubles I was bringing to the family.

"I don't want to be a burden, mom," I whispered. "I don't need to be at Lumiose."

My mom gave me a stern look. "Serena, you're not a burden. You're my pride and joy. Your heart is too big for this ghetto. You're gonna get out of here one day and you'll need to have a good education," she said, patting my cheek. My lip trembled and I wanted to cry because of the love in her voice.

"It's too much money for one person."

"We'll cut some things loose. That's it, end of discussion."

I felt so guilty that she was so adamant about me not dropping out. She already did too much for me. When you're older, you'd better return the favor.

Hugging her in my arms, I said "Thank you, mom. I love you."

She hugged me back, patting my back. "I love you too, sweetie. Don't worry. We'll be okay." She said.

We sat in the dark, wrapped in each other's arms and all I could do was thank Arceus that my dad had left me in my mom's hands.