Serena POV

My mind was a flurry of jumbled, unconnected thoughts as Ash pressed his wet lips against mine again, both of us brushing in synch with our eyes shut, and his hand cupping my face tenderly while the other was placed down on my hips making the kiss deepen in passion and bliss.

This had to be a dream.

It has to be. I mean. One second I was talking, the very next second, Ash had me pressed up against the elevator wall without so much as a 'by your leave' and my mind was trying to tell me it was really happening? Ash was really kissing the living daylights out of me.

I must've been tripping out because there was no way my body was pressed against Ash's as I ran a hand through his soft, spiked hair like I'd been wanting to do since... forever. And yet, despite my confused mind trying to confirm what was going on with cool, calm logic, the fact remained.

The elevator's been stopped and I'm kissing Ash Ketchum! And he was really kissing me now, leading me to firmly cosign the idea Leaf had put into my head ages ago. Ash was a good kisser, gentle and attentive.

He caressed my red-cheek lightly with one hand as he sensually sucked on my lower lip. I trembled involuntarily as he cautiously worked his mouth over mine, slowly and softly darting the tip of his tongue out to brush against my lips, as if to feel me out.

His other hand slipped down to my waist, which was good due to the fact that I was starting to feel lightheaded. And my legs were shaky. But thankfully, Ash's arm snaked around my waist, keeping us pushed close together.

His lips were so soft against mine as his teeth nipped teasingly at my bottom lip and then suckled the pain of the bites away. Cautiously, I kissed him back, impulsively grasping the belt on his jeans and pulling him even closer to me.

I could feel his heart beating fast through my hoodie. At least I'm not the only one who's into this. Though if he wasn't, he wouldn't have made a move on me, would he? common sense. It almost took my breath away when Ash's tongue brushed tentatively between my lips as if he was asking me if this was okay.

Shivering more with delight and anticipation than anything else, I slowly parted my lips, letting Ash's talented tongue slide into my mouth, exploring it.

He licked my teeth as both his hands came to rest on my hips with one hand resting its place on my butt cheek. The simple act caused my toes to curl. His tongue touched the tip of mine, overlapped it with his own. I tensed up, the intimate touch eliciting a strange but pleasurable feeling in my whole body that I'd never even guessed it existed.

I let out a small whimper as Ash's tongue massaged mine while his hands stroked my sides slowly.

Who would have guessed that Ash could handle his business so capably-

All coherent thought ceased as Ash moved his tongue unhurriedly and sensuously around mine, sucking my lips as I was running out of breath for air. We have been making out for the past couple of minutes without any interruptions. My body totally melt into his arms, feeling his hard biceps tense a little. With a slight suck, Ash brought my tongue into his warm, wet mouth, leaving me completely breathless.

Everything else disappeared and there was only me, Ash and the exquisite feeling of his lips on mine, kissing in sync with pure bliss, sucking and teasing by squeezing my butt cheek again causing me to breath out.

Then a sudden loud ringing noise that seemed to be originating from the elevator itself shattered the illusion that time had stopped for Ash and I. He backed up un-connecting his lips from mine, breathing hard as he stared dazedly at me, licking his kiss swollen lips. He looks so hot. Sluggishly, I started to raise my hand up to my own, stopping it in mid-air and pointing at the elevator phone.

"I think- I think it's coming from there," I said breathlessly, my voice sounding as dazed as Ash looked.

Clearing his throat, Ash said, "I'll get it," in a husky voice. He hesitated, looking like he wanted to add something, then shook his head and loped to the phone. "Hello? Yeah. No, we're okay. I'm sorry, I just- yeah, I get it. We were just talking, so I thought- uh-huh. I understand. I will. Sorry. Okay, bye."

A sheepish grin on his face as he turned around to face me. Ash said, "Apparently, stopping an elevator at the Lumiose tower backs up human traffic like nobody's business." He grinned as he pressed the emergency button to start the elevator. "Who knew?"

"I could have told you that," I said, trying to maintain my composure after that long make out. How was I supposed to act? Were we gonna talk about it? Was he gonna kiss me again? What was I supposed to do? So many questions and not a single answer.

The elevator jerked back to life as Ash made his way to stand beside me. This time, he didn't kiss me, but instead slung an arm over my shoulder and hugged me to him.

"Hey, you know what?" he whispered in my ear, his hot breath making my ear tingle in a good way.

"What?" I whispered back. Trying to control my blush from overlapping all over my face.

"Today turned out to be pretty awesome, pretty much thanks to you."

I could barely breathe. Did this mean we were gonna talk about the kiss? "O-Oh, yeah? What did I do?" I asked, trying to sound flippant.

Grinning down at me, Ash kissed my forehead lightly before saying, "You helped me strike two things off my list."

I scratched my nose, confused. "What do you mean? What things?"

Ash's grin grew wider and his dimples popped into view as he replied. "Kiss somebody in mid-sentence and make out in an elevator."

My heart skipped a beat as the elevator came to a smooth stop and the doors opened just as I turned to give Ash a stare of utmost surprise. He didn't see it as he was busy ushering me out of the way of the crowd of people scrambling to get in the elevator.

What the hell had Ash just said? I helped him strike two things off his list? So did that mean he had just used me? You just got kissed and dismissed...

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry as we stepped outside, a brisk wind blowing my short hair around my face and my skirt dancing with the wind that had my placed upon it. Ash was saying something as he flagged down a cab but I couldn't focus on him. I couldn't focus on anything except for my own stupidity. I didn't want to believe it, but it had to be true. I had wanted Ash to kiss me so bad that I hadn't even wondered why he was doing it. What had changed? Obviously nothing. He just wanted to use me for his own selfish reasons. After all, I was helping him with his list. But not like that.

The taxi rolled through the streets of Vanville, Ash continued yammering on and on and I got madder and madder. How dare he use me like that? He had to have known that I had a huge crush on him, why would he stoop so low and play me out like that?

As soon as the taxi stopped a block away from my house, I turned to Ash, my hand on the door handle. Glowering at him as haughtily as I could, I said, "I'm so glad I helped you with your list today, Ash. But next time you plan to use me, don't."

And with that amazing parting shot, I scurried out of the cab, the sweet feeling of vindictiveness running through my veins. Unfortunately, that feeling was marred by ice cold guilt. You of all people shouldn't feel guilty about letting Ash know that he hurt you. Still, the look on his face just before I got out of the cab...shocked, confused and defenceless all at once.

I strode up the sidewalk, ignoring a loud argument from the neighbours who lounged in doorways of neglected buildings, selling rock and making deals. All I wanted to do was go home, curl up on my bed and try to forget about Ash Ketchum and his tendency to just say the wrong things at the most opportune times. Unfortunately, I nearly forgot about Ash's persistence.

As I pulled my jackets hood up over my head to shield my neck from the chill wind, I heard hurried footsteps coming behind me with each step getting louder. So I walked faster, knowing that it had to be Ash but getting paranoid at the same time.

Ash put both of his hands on my shoulders all of a sudden, breathing hard into my ear as he insisted on scaring the crap out of me. Well, can you blame me for being scared? It was cold and dark at late night.

"Sere, stop walking," he murmured into my ear. Taking a break to catch his breath.

Obediently, I stopped walking and turned around to eye him, one hand on my hips in an attitude-ridden pose. "What?" I said, almost in a snarl.

Taking an involuntary step back due to my fierceness, Ash seemed kinda stunned by it.

"What's wrong?" he asked in a small voice, looking concerned.

"You don't know?" I retorted. My eyebrows narrowed that made a crease on my forehead.

He grinned slightly. "If I did, I wouldn't be asking. So, c'mon. Tell me why you're mad. I'm guessing you're mad at me?" He questioned.

I nodded "Yes, Ash, I am mad, actually," I said haughtily.

Ash covered my hand with his, shivering slightly. He blinked down at me, biting his lip. "Why?" he asked simply.

I tossed my head over my shoulder to look away, biting the inside of my cheek. "Because of what you said in the elevator. Remember?" I ground out, sighing at the confused look on his face. Great. Now he was gonna say no, I don't remember, then I'd have to recap the whole story when all I wanted was to forget the sudden jolt in my stomach when Ash had essentially told me he was using me for his list. If that makes sense. I hated feeling hurt, especially when it was Ash doing the hurting.

Sure enough, Ash had 'no idea' what I was talking about. "Um... no. I don't remember. Are you gonna tell me?" He asked confusingly.

"Is the aneurysm messing with your short term memory?" I questioned in a low voice but loud enough for Ash to hear it.

I hated myself for even saying that, but it was all too late. Ash's eyes widened as he stared at me, looking shocked, hurt- as if he'd just been punched in the face by a good friend. I did this.

Shaking his head, Ash gave me a crestfallen look. "Not cool, Sere."

Swallowing hard, I said, "I'm so sorry, Ash ... I didn't mean..."

"Forget it. Just tell me what I said in the elevator then I guess we can go our separate ways." He still sounded hurt to the core but this time, I couldn't feel maliciously happy. Sure, he'd hurt my feelings, but what I said had been a low blow.

Hanging my head, my hands behind my back, I slowly reminded him of what he had said about his list while we were in the elevator.

His reaction- a loud chuckle that really did nothing to lift the hurt and anger I felt towards him. I raised my head, staring at him incredulously.

"I can't believe you just kissed me to knock something off your list, and I can't believe you're laughing about it," I hissed. "I'm getting out of here. Goodnig-."

As I was twisting away from Ash, he suddenly let go of my hands, cupped my face with his warm hands and brought our faces together. My nose bumped his as his lips brushed over mine in one movement.

"Do you still think I just kissed you because I wanted to use you?" he asked huskily as he pulled back, his gorgeous almond eyes turned serious.

"Uh... what... why...?" was all I was capable of saying.

Ash sighed, sticking his hands into his pockets and shrugging. "You're so smart, Sere, why haven't you figured it out?"

"What?" I breathed. Could it be?

"I didn't kiss you because I wanted to strike those things off my list. I kissed you because..." He hesitated for a second, gave me the most endearing smile ever, and then cleared his throat, continuing. "I kissed you because I wanted to. Because... I've been wanting to for a long time."

I wasn't equipped to handle all this in one day. What do girls say when guys tell them stuff like that? I wish Dawn was here.

"But then, why'd you even mention it?" I asked softly, gazing at him in the eye.

He laughed humourlessly. "Because I was nervous, Sere, and I didn't know what to say so I just said the most douchebaggy thing I could think of."

I smiled tentatively at him, my heart thudding with relief. Feeling chuffed that Ash had admitted to wanting to kiss me definitely wasn't making matters worse.

He grinned back, spreading his arms wide open. "Are we cool?" he asked.

Nodding was my only response with a wide smile on my upward lip. I stepped into his embrace, resting my head on his chest as he rubbed my back and his head rested on mine. "Yeah. We're cool." I muttered, managing enough to speak out.

"Good," Ash whispered into my ear as he smoothed my hair. "Can I call you tomorrow? To hang out?" He asked which caused me to smile even more.

"Okay. But I gotta get home now." I said. Reluctantly, Ash let go of me and I trotted home after we said our goodbyes, trying to ignore the cat calls and whistles I was getting while I walked to the building.

----- next day -----

Unless of course, he felt sorry for me.

That troubling thought hit around the time I pulled the covers up to my chin in bed and stayed with me while I was on the phone with Ash the next morning.

"...And we can plant a tree. What do you think?"

"Sounds good," I replied, barely paying attention to anything that Ash was saying. My mind was busy exploring, going off into tangents that had me up all night long.

Why would a rich, cute, well connected guy like Ash want anything to do with me? As in, why would he want to kiss me? It didn't make any sense. It wasn't my looks- Lumiose was filled with overflowing gorgeous girls with money. It wasn't my personality- I got so shy and nervous around guys that I always could be counted on to say the wrong thing. So what was my appeal to Ash Ketchum?

I tried to tell myself that I was wrong, that Ash didn't feel sorry for me, but the trouble is that when you've been up all night convincing yourself that something is true, it's hard to shake it off. And he'd been in the apartment building; he'd checked out my room and seen how I lived. Who wouldn't feel sorry for me?

Well, I couldn't have Ash feeling obligated to hang with me just because he felt bad about the situation I was in.

With my priorities straight, knowing full well what I had to do, I pushed on a black tight top under a light-pink dress with a waved skirt. Two black long socks that went straight up to my thighs and last my brown laced boots.

When I was finally done. I headed out to meet Ash at the park. He was waiting by the entrance, armed with two saplings, gloves and two mini-shovels. A black short-sleeved up t-shirt he was wearing and he paired it with dark jeans and Nike sneakers.

"Ready to plant a tree?" he grinned enthusiastically, leading me to the perfect spot.

Once our trees were planted, Ash suggested a walk to a shop to get something to drink. He chatted about his dad being out of town for the weekend so he didn't have to deal with his wrath till tomorrow.

"Why're you so quiet?" he asked me out of the blue as we walked up the clear sidewalk.

I was staring at my feet as I walked, concentrating so hard that I almost tripped when Ash spoke. I glanced up at him quickly, and then looked down again.

"No reason," I muttered under my breath, wondering why life had to be so complex.

Smirking, Ash stopped right in front of me, making me stop too. The breeze blew his raven hair around wildly and I bit back a grin. I loved how Ash was so cute but didn't know it.

"You have got to be the most transparent person ever when it comes to your feelings," he told me, gently pushing my short honey-blond hair back with both hands and grinning down at me.

I pouted playfully as his finger traced my blushed cheeks. "Really? No fair."

"I can read you like a book. You're being super moody. What gives?"

Sighing, I decided to bite the bullet, swallow my pride and just tell him what was on my mind. "Ash ...," I started, my voice trailing off as he looked down at me, his eyes roaming over my face.

"Yeah?" He responds.

Taking a quick breath. I said "I don't want you to... to feel like you owe me anything."

A look of utter mystification crossed Ash's face and he frowned. "Huh?"

"You know- with everything that's happened..." I said. My eyes sliding away from his view.

I was totally speaking in riddles.

"Sere- what the hell are you talking about?"

"I don't want you to be with me because you feel sorry for me," I blurted out.

Smart. Now it sounded like I thought we were a couple. It was just a kiss, Serena. Get over yourself!

Surprised, Ash raised his eyebrows. "Why would I feel sorry for you?" he asked, sounding like he really wanted to know.

I sighed. Now he was just trying to test me, wasn't he?

"Ash -," I started exasperatedly, trying to convey the fact that I knew it was almost impossible for him not to feel sorry for me. I was Serena Yvonne. I had nothing. He had everything.

"Serena, shut up." Eyes wide, I stood there with my mouth gaping as Ash spoke so firmly that I had to obey. "How do I even say this?" His eyes roved over me as he moved closer, inches away from our faces. I stared at him right in the eyes, getting every detail from his body language. "You're beautiful, inside and out. You've got a good heart and you're super helpful." I gulped, blinking back tears at the sincerity in his voice. He grasped my hands, smiling down at me. "You've got these beautiful hands filled with talent. And you've got brains. That's hot." He shot me a crooked grin. "You can be whatever you wanna be." He finished in a caring tone.

I blinked rapidly, tears threatening to run down my hot cheeks. That was hands down the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me. Add the fact that it was coming from Ash and it sounded like it was coming from the heart made it ten times better.

"You're just saying that because you want to get into my pants," I said, then clapped my hand over my mouth in horror. Luckily, Ash found my slip funny.

"I would never just say that, even though I do want to get into your pants. I don't feel sorry for you. I don't care that you live in the projects, that you're on Financial Aid or that you're poor. That's not why I like you. I like you because of what you've got up here-" he brushed his fingers against my temples, making me shiver- "...and what you've got down here-." He pointed to my heart. "So you need to stop worrying about why I like you and just be glad that I like you. "

I couldn't help giggling in between my sniffles and Ash wrapped an arm around my shoulder, planting his lips at top on my forehead.

"You've got a pretty high opinion of yourself," I joked. "What makes you so sure that I like you?"

Ash's answer was vintage Ash - short, sweet and painfully vulnerable. "Because I can't resist you and I'd hate to be alone in this." He gave me another crooked, hot grin as I stared up at him in astonishment.

Did he actually just-?