Ash POV

"Say it's my fault."

A hard look. "It is your fault."

No sense in arguing.

Right now. I followed May behind as she led the way to a shabbily painted door right at the end of the hallway with no one around. Before she raised her hand to knock, I asked, "Do you know if Alain's there?" I questioned.

Yeah, I was a bit nervous about seeing him. But if he tried to start something, I could always say that we were bringing Sere her homework or something.

Laughing sarcastically, May said, "If he was here, I wouldn't be. Sere told me he was out."

I see she's been answering your texts and phone calls.

"Oh. Good." Was all I could say.

Alain probably wouldn't have gotten all bent out of shape if May was at the door alone. Put me into the equation- different story.

May heaved a sigh. "Here goes." She knocked three times on the door with each knock echoing in hall. Almost immediately, I heard faint footsteps from inside the apartment and seconds later the door swung open. I had to fight to keep my expression neutral as I scanned Sere's face but I couldn't stop myself from murmuring, "****," when I saw her.

Since I was standing to the side and in the shadows, Sere hadn't seen me yet but as soon as I spoke, her eyes flickered from May, who was hugging her tight, to me.

Her beautiful, bruised face fell as she backed out of May's arms. Stepping back and ending up with her back against the door.

"W-What's he doing here?" Her swollen bottom lip wobbled as she looked from me to her best friend. "May, I told you not to tell anyone, especially not Ash!"

May retorts. "Who do you think I am, Dawn? I didn't tell him anything." She jerked her head in my direction. "He followed me here from school!"

Anger made my heart beat faster as I spread my hands palm up. "I had to since nobody was giving me straight answers!"

Crap, was I wrong for caring about Sere's wellbeing? This was the thanks I got? I felt frustrated as I stared at her and I didn't know why. Well, actually, I did know why. One look at Sere's battered face and I wanted to beat up the punk that did this to her.

Sere's eyes filled with small bead tears as I took a step closer to her, silently looking down at her face. Her beautiful face.

She had put a Band-Aid under her right eye, but that did nothing to hide the violent bruise that spread out onto her cheek. Her bottom lip was swollen a little and she had another bruise on her jaw. I felt sick to my stomach and gritted my teeth. What kind of a lowlife does this kind of thing?

"I told May and Dawn not to tell you," Sere explained softly without looking up at me, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand. "I didn't want you to- to see me like this. I didn't want you to come here, because I knew that you would once you found out."

Her tears overflowed and I instinctively wrapped my arms around her, holding her close like I never wanted to let her go, smoothing down her short hair and whispering, "How could I stay away?" in her ear.

I knew exactly what she meant. At school, Sere was the happy, helpful, optimistic girl who was always smiling. But when she came home, it was clear to me that she had precious little to smile about. I'd never seen it that way before and I cringed at my insensitivity. She was embarrassed that I was here, in her natural habitat.

Suddenly down the hallway, a door slammed shut and we all turned to stare.

"We should so do this inside." May, the only level-headed one of us all, pushed me forward with Sere into the tiny apartment. She shut the door and quickly led us through the thinly carpeted narrow hallway to Sere's small bedroom.

When I entered in, I glanced around to get every detail of her room. It was sparsely decorated. A round mirror on the wall alongside an opened window with scruffy curtains, a rickety single bed, a small bookcase and a slew of pictures tacked to the wall.

May sat down on the stool and started rummaging in her bag while I stood in the middle of the room, not knowing what to say.

Hugging herself, Sere gestured to the single bed, again not looking at me. "Make yourself at home, Ash," she sniffled which made my own heart ache of her sad expression. "I'm sorry I don't have any refreshments to offer you. Or a chair to sit on. I just-." She sank down onto her bed, her head in her bare hands as she cried out leaving me to stare at her mutely.

"Serena," May started softly, setting her bag down on floor and getting up from the stool to comfort her friend. However, I got there first, the bed creaking as I sat down next to Sere, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her trembling body closer to me. She cried into my blue short-sleeves up jacket as May shot me a worried look. I hated when Sere cried and I hated that I had something to do with it this time. Self-loathing filled me as I ran a hand through Sere's soft hair. Those bruises on her face- they were there because of me.

Sere corroborated my gut-feeling, but she didn't put the blame on me.

"He saw you drop me off that morning," she said, her voice muffled by my chest that pained my heart of her broken voice. "I don't know, maybe he was going out and just happened to see me get out of your car. Maybe he was lying in wait." She shrugged. "But he saw and- he said he would teach me a lesson."

May gave a revolted snort. "He basically ambushed her right by the elevator on the ground floor. What kind of man beats an innocent girl up in full view of whoever might be passing outside?" She said with full rage in her voice.

A man called Alain, that's who. Oh, give me five minutes with that jerk. He thought he was hard, beating up his cousin? He might have a degree in street fighting, but let's not forget that I do too. I could teach him a thing or two about being bad.

Sere wiped her eyes again. "He claims to do it because he loves it," she explained, her head feeling good on my shoulder. "He always says he doesn't want me to end up like my father."

I shook my head before she even finished talking. That was the most bull **** excuse to beat someone up that I'd ever heard. And what was the deal with Sere ending up like her father anyway? Didn't Alain know what kind of girl Sere was? She was the most sensible, happiest person I had ever met In my life and was about as likely to morph into a crack head as I was to take Miette back. All Alain was doing was sucking the life out of Sere.

"But you're not going to be like your dad," I said softly as I cradled her in my arms and continued. "You're smart, ambitious and you have friends who love and care for you."

May nodded in agreement as Sere raised her tear stained face up to look at me in the eye.

"So did my dad," she whispered. "And look where he ended up. Unidentified in a morgue somewhere." She squeezed her eyes shut, tears trickling down her cheek as May gave a sniff, wiping her eyes too except me. All I could do was stare at Sere. "I can't even say bye to him because I don't know where he was buried."

I shook my raven hair, my stomach clenching at the desolate look on Sere's face. "You don't know where he is. He could still be alive," I said, my words of comfort sounding weak to my ears.

"If he is alive, even he doesn't want anything to do with me," Sere replied, sounding like she had come to terms with it years ago. I hadn't come to terms with my mom leaving, even though I never talked about it. "I know he's gone. You don't know what he was like. I was only 5 and I knew he was killing himself." She swallowed. "And- I think he's better off dead." She fiddled with her locket. "Sometimes, I think I am, too."

Immediately May quickly got up from the stool and knelt in front of Sere, smoothing her short hair away from her face.

"Don't ever say that," she said fiercely, gripping Sere's shoulders and shaking her slightly. "You're not better off dead. You have so much to live for. You're going to be rid of Alain one day." Sere blinked back tears as May opened a tube of Neosporin and dabbed a little on a cotton ball. Carefully, she pulled off the Band-Aid on Sere's cheek, exposing the ugly welt just under her cheek. My stomach turned. That looked painful. I hated Alain so much it was like a physical pain.

"It won't heal," Sere wept, as May threw the Band-Aid in the garbage. I rubbed her shoulders through her thin tank top.

"That's because you keep crying," May said compassionately. Sere winced as the Neosporin covered cotton ball touched the cut on her face. Gently, May cleaned the cut and put a Band-Aid on it, "to make the cut heal without leaving a huge scar."

"I don't have anything to smile about," Sere replied forlornly.

I bit my lip. "You're still alive," I pointed out, thinking of Gary. With a pang, I suddenly realized how similar Gary and Sere were. They were both super optimistic no matter what went on in their lives. Gary had loved his life, despite having a heroin addicted father who had been in and out of rehab his whole life. He would have known just what to say to Sere, I knew it. I couldn't find the right thing to say, so I just held her tight, breathing in her sweet scent.

"For how long?" Sere laughed humorlessly as her words chilled me to the bone. "You should have seen him that day, Ash. He wouldn't listen to me. One day, he'll snap. He hates me so much!"

She started crying again as May gave me a helpless look. I realized that she'd never seen her friend like this before and it scared her. "Serena...," she started, her voice trailing off because she had no idea what to say next.

"It's true! He's hit me before, but never on my face. He doesn't care anymore. How long can this go on?" She put her head in her hands again, her thin shoulders shaking. "I can't do this."

"You will," I whispered, conscious of May's eyes on me, pleading with me to say something, anything to stop Sere crying. I didn't know what to say though. "You're a strong girl."

"Not strong enough. It keeps getting worse, Ash."

May patted her knee, close to tears herself. "Don't give up, Serena," she said, her voice choked up. "Please."

"Why?" Sere raised her head departing away her cupped hands. "I don't exactly have any options. I'm never gonna get out. Nobody does. Everyone says I think I'm too good because I go to Vanville. They live to put me down; knock me down a few notches. I know I'm not good enough to make it out of here, they won't let me. People like me just slip through the cracks." She finished.

At this. I slowly leaned forward without hesitation and gently planted a kiss on her bruised cheek which got her attention and blushed from my actions. "People like me won't let that happen," I whispered in her ear.

"I know I'm freaking you out a little bit with my- dark side, but sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it," Sere sighed.

"Don't say that! It's got to be worth it, Serena," May spoke up.

Sere nodded. "I just can't help it. I appreciate everything I have. I'm lucky to be alive, healthy, go to a good school and have friends who care." I squeezed her hand as she continued, staring down at her small feet. "But- I don't wanna do it anymore. I'm so tired of being Alain's punching bag. I can't."

A thought popped into my head and I stared at Sere's tearstained face. "What about your mom? Why doesn't she do something about this?"

May answered my question. "She doesn't know Alain hits her," she explained, sitting down at Sere's feet.

I gave Sere a look of disbelief and her cheeks flushed. "What? Seriously, Sere?" I exclaimed.

May shrugged. "Trust me, I've been saying the same thing but at the end of the day- Serena's life, her decisions."

"Well, I know it's her life and her decisions, but-****! Where does your mom think the bruises come from? I mean, she's got to suspect something!" I stated.

"I told her I walked into a door at Dawn's house in the dark," Sere replied defiantly, slightly looking away from my gaze.

"What about the other times?" I said. I knew this wasn't the first time Alain had put his hands on Sere. And to think I had actually fallen for the, 'he just throws stuff. Not at me, though. Just at the walls,' line she fed me in walls.

"The other times- he hits me on my arms, back, my legs..." Her voice trailed off. "I usually cover up so that nobody can see the bruises. That's why mom doesn't know. She knows that he sometimes throws things at me- but that's it."

I licked my lips in one swoop making it wet. "You should tell her," I said softly.

Immediately, Sere shook her head, stark terror on her face. "Alain would kill me. He says as soon as I tell mom, he'll kick me out. I don't have anywhere to go! Our little secret. That's what he calls it."

Our little secret. Wasn't that what pedophiles told the kids they molested about what they were doing? 'This is our little secret, no one has to know.' So, if Alain was beating up Sere, could he possibly...

"Sere, does he- has Alain ever-." I could feel my cheeks getting red as I tried to ask my question, feeling like a perve for even thinking it, but needing to know regardless. "He's never made- touched you like advances, has he?" I said through my clenched teeth. If he did, my knuckles would have been white by now.

May's eyes widened to the size of golf balls as she stared apprehensively at Sere, waiting for her response.

"No!" Sere shook her head so fast that her hair whipped across my chin. "No, Ash, he hasn't."

That was good enough for me and I let out a sigh of relief. "I'm so sorry about this, Sere," I said fervently. "I didn't mean to get you into trouble."

Sere heaved a sad sounding sigh. "It's okay, Ash. I should've listened to you when you wanted to park up a block."

"It's not okay," I exclaimed. Maybe Sere had gotten all her anger out ages ago, but she still deserved to have someone who could get angry on her behalf. "He hit you. The asshole hit you and you don't deserve it."

"Yeah, I do. I broke his rule." She smiled, a real, genuine smile that made my heart skip a beat. God, I missed that smile. "He'll have a field day with this one. Probably come through saying 'I smell Mint. That a boy been here'?"

May giggled, covering her mouth with her back hand at Sere's realistic Alain voice.

"I love that you're brave," I said and wrapped my arms around her as my head rested on her shoulder and her hair tickled at my face. She took in surprise but soon hugged me back.

"To make it through the night, I have to be." She whispered in my ear.

May tapped her wristwatch. "Ash, we should go. Alain'll be home soon," she said, sounding scared.

I shrugged carelessly, feeling reckless. "Why don't we wait for him to get here? I think I need to have a man to man talk with him."

Or at least, my fists do.

"Don't try to be a hero, Ash. Alain's mean." May stood, looking at me with her head cocked to one side as I still sat on the bed, my arms wrapped around Sere. An unfathomable expression flitted across her face as she looked at us. I couldn't be bothered to wonder what she was thinking. May was always giving me unreadable looks.

"Okay," I groaned, reluctantly letting go off Sere and stood up. I shrugged as I pointed to May, who was bending over to pick up her bag. "I would have stayed longer, but- I seem to be impatient."

"Thanks for coming, you guys," Sere said gratefully, walking over to hug May, then coming to hug me. "And I'm sorry I ruined your t-shirt."

I laughed. "I think it used to be white," I joked, placing a hand on Sere's shoulder and drawing her closer. "Are you coming to school tomorrow?"

Sere shook her head making her short hair bounce. "Probably on Wednesday."

"Right. Meet me at the Lumiose tower tomorrow at around 4," I said impulsively.

Eyes widen, Sere asked, "W-Why?" She stuttered, as usual when she is nervous.

I grinned. "Just because. I don't know, maybe we can go see a movie after, or just check out the view- whatever you want."

Or maybe, just maybe, I'm asking you out on a date. Maybe...

Sere gave me a tentative, if slightly watery smile. "Okay. I will."

Patting her cheek gently, I whispered, "Take care," and unexpectedly bent my head to plant a kiss on the corner of her mouth softly. At this made May stare at me even more and Sere flush deep red.

Then suddenly. the front door creaked opened and I quickly moved back from sere as the three of us stare wide eyed at the door...