"You're telling me she didn't recognize you? Even after talking to you?" A twenty-one year old Clemont asked in amazement as he sits down, slouching on a chair
He had been asleep the night before when his friend decided to come in so he didn't get the story until now.

Twenty-three year old Ash Ketchum grinned,

"I walked in and I thought she might know who I was but, turns out she didn't! I was kinda surprised, but then again, we both have grown and look different."

"How many years has it been anyway?"

Ash lifted a glass of orange juice to his mouth and drank, Finally he said, "Um...about...thirteen years? Yeah, cause I moved away with Mom when we were both around nine."

"Well, from the way you always used to tease her throughout elementary school, I'm not surprised that she's wiped your memory clean from her mind," Clemont responded. "So, what's your plan?"

"Plan?" Ash asked with a raised eyebrow.

The Clemont rolled his eyes. "I know you didn't come back here last night without revealing who you were just for the heck of it. Spill."

"Since I'm crashing at your place while I'm here, I figure I might as well find out more about Serena and how she's been, without letting her know who I am. Just for old time's sake you know?" Ash smiled.

"Meaning you're going to play a huge joke on her at her expense, right?" Clemont said, narrowing his eyebrow

"Isn't that how it always was?"

"And exactly how do you plan to go about with this joke? What are you gonna do?"

"I'm not sure yet...I'm kind of making this up as I go along."

"Ash, you're a grown man and you're going to play such a prank on a childhood friend?"

Clemont received a mischievous grin from Ash.

"Poor Sere," Clemont muttered. Slightly shaking his head with his eyes closed.

"So you like a man who has a sense of humor and caring?" Serena repeated to  The young woman sitting across from Serena nodded, her brown hair falling into her bright eyes. "Yes. And of course, he's got to be handsome."

"Of course," Serena replied, scribbling a note into her notebook. "Anything else?"

"Not that I can think of! When will I hear back from you?"

"Well, I have a few men in mind that may be a suitable match for you. I should be expecting even more men later on today so they could work as well. I'll give you a call by Tuesday, Miss Singer."

Miss Singer stood. "Call me Melody, please. We're about the same age anyway."

Serena grinned as she stood as well. "Alright Melody. Thanks for stopping in!"

Melody flashed a smile. The two women walked to the counter so Melody could pay, making small talk in between.

Ring! The doorbell jingled and both heads turned to gape at the young man. It was the same man from the night before. Serena quickly shot a glance at the heart-shaped wall clock. He was early. Ten minutes early to be exact.

"Why, hello there Miss Serena! Nice seeing your lovely sight again," he said, with a wave while Serena tried hard not to stare at the hard curve of muscle as he lifted his arm. His brown eyes flickered over to Melody.

"Hello. Are you perhaps a friend of Miss Serena's?"

Extending his hand, Melody allowed the man to gently shake it before she replied, "I'm one of her clients, Melody Singer. How do you do?"

"Very well, thank you. I'm a client as well," he winked at Serena . "I believe my appointment is at two o'clock?"

Serena quickly averted her eyes from his arms to his face and nodded. "Yes sir. But you're early."

"Ah good! That means more time to spend with you." With a Wink.

"Well," Melody announced. "I've got to get going! I have rehearsal in two hours!"

"Are you an actor?"

"Singer. I'm in town performing in local cafes and such for a few weeks," Melody replied to the man. "Come see me sometime!"

"Will do!" the man answered as Melody walked out of the shop with a wave, leaving Serena alone with the new man.

Serena stormed behind her counter and to her dismay, the man followed, supporting his elbows on the counter casually. "May I inquire something?"

"What?" Serena asked, dreading what sort of question a flirty man such as him might ask.

"Are you currently seeing somebody?"

"No." Serena answers.

A white teeth flashed at Serena and she turned away, trying not to get caught up in his good looks.

"Wonderful. That means I have a good chance then, eh?"

"Sir, I run a matchmaking service for other people, not myself," Serena  replied while pretending to look through her files on the computer.

"I suppose if you were running it for yourself, you'd find yourself swapped with men. I would think that a girl with your natural beauty would have at least five or six suitors!"

"Thank you sir but I currently have no interest in having even one suitor. Now, if you will please fill out this form so that I may know your requirements?" Serena shoved a clipboard across the counter to the man. Clipped to it was the form along with a pen attached by string.

He took the clipboard and went to take a seat without another word, much to Serena's relief.

Yup, Ash thought grinning to himself. She's still got the same fire as she did when we were nine. I still can't believe she doesn't know who I am. Then again, I wouldn't have known who she was if Clemont hadn't told me her name. But this makes teasing her all the more fun!

For a moment, Ash's eyes flicks up to see the young woman at the counter who was currently typing on the keyboard. Making a clack-kitty-clack of the keys, was all the noise that sounded in the little shop for the next few minutes.

Ash was amazed at how much his old friend had grown. And she had certainly grown to be a very lovely young woman. No longer was she a cry little girl, but a tall woman with short honey blond hair flowing over her shoulders. The same old sea-blue eyes that had so many times years ago when they were children. It was those eyes that assured him that Serena was still Serena.

Ash knew he had changed too, but he didn't think she would have completely forgotten him. They had gone to elementary school together since second grade until he moved at the beginning of fifth grade.

Shaking away the nervousness, Ash went back to the form. Full name? Shoot...he had to make up a name. Ash certainly didn't want Serena knowing who he was. Then. A plan finally started to form in his mind as a smirk spread over his face.

He finished scribbling in his responses and stood to return the clipboard to the matchmaker.

Serena couldn't believe how this one man could affect her so much in such a short amount of time.
she didn't even know the guy's name.

A movement caught her eyes and she watched as the young man walked back to the counter and handed her the form.

Taking what was handed to her Serena  quickly scanned his careless handwriting.

"Thank you Mr. Alvin Ketter."

"Please, call me Alvin. All my friends do." He smiled.

"Very well."

"Now what comes next in this matchmaking process?" Alvin asked her, leaning against the counter once again. "Do I get a date with the matchmaker herself?"

Stupid man with his stupid smirk.
Serena pulled out a digital camera from underneath the counter. "Say cheese!"

Before Alvin had a chance, she had already pressed the button and a flash went off.

"Why Miss Serena! I didn't realize you were so intense with me, that you'd take a picture!"

Serena put on a sweet smile and said aloud, "It's for the client files. I take each client's photo."
She grinned to herself, thinking of this small rebellion against her own rules as a small revenge against Alvin who simply shrugged and said, "Now what?"

Serena Grabbed her notebook, she said, "I usually like to review the form and then proceed with an interview so that you can fully express your needs. That way, I can properly find you an appropriate match."

"Interesting. Shall we continue then?"

Serena walked out from behind the counter and motioned Alvin or should I say Ash, to follow her to the back corner of the room where a round table with two chairs was placed. She seated herself in one and requested Alvin to do the same. Resting his arms on the table.

"If you don't mind," Serena started, "I'd like to take a minute to review your form. You're welcome to help yourself to some fresh coffee over there on the table," she waved her hand in the direction of the snacks.

"Don't mind at all," Alvin replied and made his way.

Thank goodness! Serena thought. Even having him near her made her feel odd for some reason.

Serena read that this man was looking for someone intelligent and bold, just to name a few traits. Her eyes moved to the employer line which made her eyebrows shoot up. Having graduated from college the same year as herself, he was already well into the world of business by working for one of the largest companies around.

When he came back, Serena looked up.
"So you're an employee of Oak Technological Operations. Impressive."

"Yup!" Alvin murmered

"I noticed you didn't mention what exactly you do at O.T.O."

Alvin Nods.

"Would you mind giving me more detail? It's important that you and the other person know each other's jobs."

For a moment, the man said nothing and Serena noted that he appeared to be thinking.

After gulping down some coffee, he finally said, "You could say that I'm one of the office guys. You know, just desk work, computer stuff. For now."

The matchmaker scribbled down notes. "As for physical appearance, all you wrote was 'Beauty like fire and the sea.' Do you mind explaining?"

Swiping his mouth clean and gulping down some coffee, Alvin responded, "Actually, I prefer for you to take that in whatever aspect that you would like."

"I see," Serena said, even though she didn't. "Now, is there anything you would like to personally add or explain to me? I have this form but is there anything you'd like to tell me directly?"

Alvin leaned forward thoughtfully. "Well, I like romantics. I used to know a girl who was the biggest romantic around but I used to tease her about it all the time."

"Okay," Serena said, writing down what he said. "Anything else?"

"Someone who loves Cats."

"Loves? Cats?"

"Yep, loves Cats."

"Uh huh." Serena wrote down the note. "I'll look through my files to find a suitable match. The next step is phone calls. I have you and the other person talk to one another on the phone and from there is usually a date. But if the phone calls don't work out, I set you up with another person."

Alvin nodded in understanding. "Anything else?"

Serena nodded. "There is the registration fee for my service."

"No problem. That it?"

"I believe so. You'll be getting a phone call me within the next few days hopefully."

Alvin raise his eyebrows. "Good. I get to hear your lovely voice again then."

Serena narrowed her eyes and stood. Walking towards the counter and rang up a bill. Alvin came over and paid the registration fee.

"Thank you Mr. Ketter. If you have any other comments, please feel free to stop by or call anytime," Serena said, handing him a business card.

Alvin slid it into his wallet. "Will do!" And with a final wink, he was gone but not before calling out, "Thank you Sere!" As he walks away, exiting the building and starts to walking down the street.

Feel free to stop or call anytime, huh? Ash grins.

Replacing the business card that he had taken out, admiring the small, boxed picture of the matchmaker herself, Ash whistled happily to himself. The next few days should be interesting indeed.

What a fun business trip this would turn out to be!

Serena growled. Sere? How dare that man call her by her nickname! Only her friends calls her 'Sere' and now this complete stranger, well, maybe he was no longer a complete stranger but still, he dared to call her 'Sere.'

She didn't understand what it was about this man that got under her skin. It wasn't as if he was rude or teaser. He simply threw little comments at her that made her get all annoyed.

Serena decided to clean up the snack area, which apparently Alvin had left a mess.

Men.

The jingling bell alerted Serena but because she still felt angered, she continued the cleaning process.

"Hey Sere!" Dawn called out.

Serena whirled around, broom in hand and blue eyes flashing dangerously. A pure warning sign to others that they needed to watch their step. Though to Dawn, this was a sign that she would be getting yet another wonderful story.

"Sere! Sere! He called me Sere that Baka! And to flirt with me again! Man, I can't wait to set this guy up so I don't have to see him anymore!" the young woman continued her anger, waving the broom around as Dawn watched with a grin.

"And furthermore, he had better not step foot in this shop with that knowing smirk one more time!" Serena took a deep breath, not knowing what she had just been yelling about.

"Are you done?" Dawn asked, pulling off her jacket and putting it over a chair.

Serena checked her thoughts to make sure she didn't leave anything out and then nodded. "Yeah. I'm done. For now."

"I don't understand why you're getting so worked up over this one guy. He couldn't have been that bad," Dawn responded. "Is he at least decent to look at?"

Serena thought and immediately cursed herself for thinking such a thing. A slight blush formed across her pale cheeks. Turning to prevent Dawn from seeing her face, Serena instead replied, "He's okay."

"Meaning good looking. So a good looking guy flirting with you can't hurt. Besides, there've been other guys who flirted with you and you didn't seem to mind so much." Dawn smiles at her friend.

Serena shook her head in confusion. "I don't know Dawn. It's just...I don't know. So what brings you here?" she questioned, changing the topic.

With a nod, Dawn plopped herself on a chair. "Well, I need some help."

"With?"

"Mr. Luc! Who else?"

Serena snorted as Dawn shot a glare.

"Sorry. But Mr. Luc is just hilarious!"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Anyways, I want you to set me up."

"Excuse me?" Serena said.

"Not with Leo of course. But I want you to find someone who will pretend to go out with me for a little while just to see if Todd gets jealous. You know, have this guy come by the photo shop to pick me up after work and whatnot," Dawn explained.

Throwing away some dirty napkins, Serena took a seat opposite her friend. "You want me to set you up falsely?"

"Pretty much."

"And who am I going to find that will agree to be your fake-boyfriend? I run an honest business here and we are adults! What other adult would agree to such a sham?" Serena exclaimed in surprise.

Dawn crossed her legs. "Well, you for one. And don't shake your head. You know you want to do this. You know you like this idea! Admit it."

Serena smiled. "Fine! I admit it will be fun to see if Mr. Luc snaps towards you, but seriously, we are college graduates. Not middle school drama queens."

"Doesn't mean we can't have some fun!" A grin spread across Dawn face.

"True." Serena nods

"So you'll do it?" Dawn asked.

Serena tapped her chin. "I suppose. You'll have to give me a little time to find someone to agree though. Most people who come in here are looking for real matches, not fake ones."

"I'm one of a kind!" Dawn exclaimed.

"That's too true!" Serena said.