Ahhh! Nothing better than a nice sub stuffed with pretty much everything all washed down with a cold drink, Ash thought excitedly as he unwrapped his lunch at his desk. The Vanville branch of Oak Technological Operations had given him his own office to use for the durations of his stay. He decided to have lunch inside its well furnished, finely painted walls instead of in the cafeteria. He had to get away from the doddering old tycoons who treated him like he hadn't graduated with top grades in his business and engineering classes and like he hadn't known Professor Oak and Gary Oak all his life.

He took a smell of the sandwich in delight and lifted the first half to take a bite but before he could, he heard his cell phone start vibrating against the desktop. With a abandoned look at the sub, he set it back down and reached for the phone.

"Hello?"

"Alvin Ketter?"

Ash's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Serena ?"

The voice on the other end giggled, a hint of nervousness around the edges. "Um no. Sorry. This is Melody. Melody Singer?"

Mel – oh! Wow, Ash thought. Serena sure works fast!

A feeling of disappoint swelled within but he ignored it and said in a polite and respectful way, "Oh hello Miss Melody! How are you?"

"I'm doing well. I um, got your number from Serena since she deemed it okay to have a phone conversation."

"Yes," Ash said, leaning back into the soft leather of the large office chair. "She gave me your number too. Sorry you ended up calling me first. I was planning to call you after work."

"Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't even think that I might be inconveniencing you!"

Ash smiled. "No sweat. It's my lunch break."

"You work with Oak Tech, correct?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"What do you do there?"

Ash looked around the luxurious and plush office. His eyes went from the tall bookshelf stuffed with the entire Encyclopedia Britannica to the vast streak-free window that overlooked the city to the cherry-finished desk where the latest flat, touch-screen computer sat. Shoot. What had he told Serena he did? Lab rat? Messenger? Gopher?

"Mr. Ketter?"

His eyes fell upon the desk once again.

"Oh um. I...oh that's right. I do desk work," he finally replied. "Yes. They even gave me a very nice desk." Veeerrry nice indeed, he thought running a finger over a decoratively carved edge.

"That's really wonderful that you work for one of the largest companies around," Melody said. "I've heard that the people on top are pretty strict when it comes to accepting employees. Applicants have to have excellent resumes and clean records."

Both of which he had, despite rumors. "You heard right. The people on top are pretty intense."

"So Mr. Ketter," Melody said.

"Alvin. Call me Alvin," Ash said, wishing he had chosen a different name. He couldn't help but think of Alvin and the Chipmunks every time he heard the name 'Alvin.' What had he been thinking when he came up with such a name? Was Ketter even a real last name?

"Alvin then." Melody giggled slightly. "What kind of music do you like?"

Ash mentally sighed with another longing look towards the lonesome, uneaten sub and wondered how long this conversation would last. What on earth had he gotten himself into?

............

Women, Kaiwe thought, as he noticed a group of young women standing a few feet away on the train, all giggling and shooting sly glances in his direction. He heard them whispering to one another and giggle again.

Clutching the bar above his head, Kaiwe knew that if he wanted to, he could easily walk over to those women and strike up a conversation, possibly even get a number or two. Especially when they were being so obvious in their interest.
Apparently he really was "not ugly." But at the moment, he wanted nothing to do with the opposite lovemaking of his species and their crazy post-teenage hormones and post-teenage plots.

When his boss at the medical lab gave him this assignment, he thought this business trip to Vanville would be a nice little trip with a mini reunion on the side. Something casual and calm. All he had to do was meet up with his temporary business partner for the next few weeks and create new advertising and information packets.

But no, now he had to go play boyfriend to Dawn, figure out where her workplace was and figure out how to make another man jealous. He felt like he was back in high school, not a grown man with a grown man's job.

On top of that, the girls hadn't really even given him any information about this boss or where she worked. They decided that the less he knew, the better he might respond to her acting and Kaiwe didn't feel like arguing with their logic.

The overhead announcer called out a station name and Kaiwe recognized it as his stop. The train came to a halt and as soon as the doors slid open, Kaiwe made his way out.

Following the directions his boss had given him, he easily found the shop in the corner of an outdoor shopping center. As he got closer, Kaiwe noticed that the large window in front displayed many of the owner's works including fliers with photos of famous stars and logos for various companies. Every single piece looked very artful and professionally done. Kaiwe grinned, excited to be able to work with someone in this field.

Pursuing a dream of being a physician didn't allow him much opportunity to go beyond the sciences, especially since he'd be putting in his medical school application soon and needed his resume to be in tip top condition filled with medical experience.

Forget those crazy women. At least for the next few weeks while working here, he'd have his own sanctuary and freedom.

Kaiwe took a deep breath and opened the door to go in. A bell chimed above his head and he waited patiently by the front desk. He heard light footsteps coming from the back where he assumed the real studio was. A figure emerged from behind a wall.

"Kaiwe? You're here early. I told you, I don't get off work till six today."

"Dawn?" Kaiwe asked in puzzlement. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here."

Kaiwe's jaw dropped open but before he could say anything, another figure appeared, this time male.

A black haired man sidestepped Dawn and came over to Kaiwe with a wide grin, his left held clutching a large camera lens.

"You must be the one from the Oak Tech's Medical Research Lab in lumiose City."

Kaiwe dumbly nodded and mentally prayed, Please do not be Dawn's boss.

"Wonderful!" The man said extending his right hand. "Welcome to Snap Shots! I'm Lucas but you can call me Luc. And this here is my assistant, Da–"

Before Lucas could finish the introduction, Kaiwe found Dawn attached to his arm, molding her body so uncomfortably close to his that he couldn't help but blush as she cocked her head up towards Kaiwe and batted her eyelashes, a shy smile forming on her lips.

Kaiwe decided he didn't want to know why she was so good at this.

She traced a circle on the arm she had in her death-grip and said in a husky voice, "Oh don't worry. He knows who I am."

Kaiwe watched Lucas features, still appeared quite friendly. But Kaiwe was looking closely and he could see the muscles of Lucas cheeks stiffen slightly and his grin stopped for only a second before he turned his raised eyebrows towards Kaiwe and simply said. "Well. Let's have fun, shall we?"

.........

Serena looked up as the bells of her shop jingled. It had been an average day. Old clients stopped by with their friends, encouraging them to sign up for the service and providing Serena with new clients.

it was nearly five o'clock, Serena was tired and had no interest in servicing a new client who just had to come in at the end of the work day.

Luck was with Serena .

"I come bearing snacks!" Shauna called out as she entered carrying a plastic bag.

Serena grinned and saved the client file she had been working on. "Chocolate chip cookies?"

"Straight from the bakery down the street like you asked."

Shauna placed the bag on the counter and took out a small white box.
"I hope you're not going to set yourself up with me now that you've expressed your love."

The blond honey haired rolled her eyes and took the cookie her friend offered. Biting into it, she moaned in delight as the soft dough practically melted in her mouth along with the warm gooey chocolate.

Shauna pulled up a stool and bit into her own cookie. Her eyes widened. "I think I'm in heaven."

"I told you these are the best."

"Amazing."

The two women allowed themselves in their cookie craze for a few moments and Serena's mind was now blissfully calm.
She hadn't realized it till now, but all day, she had felt a sensation in the pit of her stomach which went straight into a corner of her heart, weighing it down until the weight reached her mind as well.
But now in the presence of her best friend, eating this wonderful delight and relaxing a bit, she could see that something was causing her to be out of sorts. Especially since things in her life seemed to be going smoothly.

"So any mystery men show up today?"

"What do you mean?" Serena asked, finally opening her eyes after eating the last cookie.

Shauna licked some chocolate off her fingertips. "Did you forget about my prediction?"

"You know, I sort of did," Serena replied and wondered if maybe that's what had been bothering her.

"Gee thanks. I give you a free reading and you just toss it aside."

"You don't know if it's true or not!"

"Because it might not have happened yet but I guarantee you, it will come true."

"It wasn't even a good prediction! You said my shop will fail," Serena replied.

"Only after this mystery man who's supposed to be your true love shows up."

"What good is true love if it makes my career go down the drain?"

Shauna wagged a finger in Serena 's face. "Ah ah ah. I don't think a matchmaker should be saying such things."

"I match up other people, not myself."

"Which is why with this mystery man, you won't have to match yourself up. He'll be the one chasing after you! So, did you meet any new men that might be from your past?"

Serena supported her elbows on the counter. Most of her clients today had been female. Except one. But there was no possible way he could be it.

"Why not?" Shauna asked when Serena told her this.

"Because," Serena said coming out from behind the counter to start tidying up her shop before closing time. "He was definitely way too old."

"How old?"

"He could be our father. Your predictions better not be setting me up with an oldie."

Shauna shuddered. "Unless he's some uncle from your past, I think you're safe."

"Anyways, truth be told, I don't think I'm interested in finding someone right now," Serena said grabbing the broom from her closet.

"Why not? You're young, you're hot, and you're single," Shauna replied hopping off the stool to grab another broom and help.

The two women swept opposite corners of the store as Serena said, "I could say the same thing about you."

Shauna shrugged. "Yeah but I'm a fortune teller. Guys usually find us a little freaky. You, however, work in the department of looooove. What man wouldn't want a passionate lover who knows all about the L-word?"

Serena laughed. "I am just as happy being single as you are right now and don't think I need a guy to make me any happier."

"Need one or not, according to my prediction, he's near."

Serena shook her head. "No thanks. I've got my hands full with the annoying man."

At this, Shauna stopped sweeping and leaned against her broom. "Oh has he come back today?"

"No," Serena replied and told Shauna, without using the names of her clients, how Melody called her after lunch to say that she felt that she and Alvin had a pretty decent phone conversation. "And if this works out, he will be completely out of my hair. Completely out of my life and set up with another woman."

As Serena spoke, she hadn't realized that her sweeping strokes were getting increasingly violent with each word until she was practically swinging the broom from side to side like a pendulum.
After a moment, Serena turned to find Shauna staring at her with a smirk.

"What?" Serena asked holding the broom still.

Shauna resumed her sweeping. "Nothing."

"I know you too well. What?"

"Promise you won't attack me?"

Serena raised an eyebrow, wondering what would come out of that mouth. "Depends on what you're about to say."

"Then I won't tell you," Shauna said leaning the broom against the wall and going to the closet to get the dustpan.

"Okay fine. I promise."

Shauna knelt down to sweep all the mess she had piled up in her corner into the dustpan. "You're attracted to him. This client of yours I mean."

"What?" Serena shrieked.

Shauna held up the small brush she had been sweeping with. "No attacking!"

"I am not attracted to him," Serena said, lowering the broom.

Like the night before, Shauna responded as she had read Serena's mind. "You so are. Otherwise, you wouldn't be denying it so badly right now to the point that you're about to murder your best friend with a dusty old broom of all things."

"Are you psychic?"

"Um no. Just a fortune teller. But you really don't need to be psychic to see that you're clearly falling for this client of yours."

Serena finally admitted, "Fine. I'll admit. I do find him physically attractive. But beyond that, nothing. Absolutely nothing, you got it? I can't be falling for my clients. Besides, I have to find my mystery man right?"

"What if he's your mystery man?"

Serena shook her head. "Nope. Although attractive, his features are still ordinary enough that I'd remember the face. He has no disguise. Besides, I know his name and it's not someone I know from my past."

Shauna shrugged and finished cleaning her corner by dumping all the dirt from the dustpan into the trashcan. "Well, I tried."

"Did you only come here to annoy me?"

"I'm bored of walking around the city by myself. What do you expect?"

Serena sighed deeply and threw a cleaning rag into her friend's laughing face.
Her fall for Alvin Ketter? Never. Never in a million years.

.........

Ash stretched his arm out as he stepped outside, finally leaving work.

"What a day", he thought

The sky was already beginning to darken and his stomach grumbled like a dog whining.
He had been working hard with paperwork, and it was now time to catch the train to go back to Clemont's, eat dinner, and relax in front of the television. Maybe play some video games.

He had also promised to call Melody that night.

Ash let his arms drop to his sides as he thought about Melody and their conversation.
To be honest, it was nice to be able to just talk about everything and nothing with someone new. They discussed music since it was her line of work. They discussed business since it was his. They talked about their respective hometowns and shared childhood memories in laughter.

And her looks were nothing short of amazing. He had to give Serena credit for so quickly finding a woman who actually did fit a good amount of his requirements.
The girl did her job and did it well. However, he just wasn't sure how he felt about Melody or even Serena for that matter.

Serena, who had told him to his face that he was her first crush. Although she was really talking to Alvin and not Ash. But still, when he had heard that confession straight from her own pink lips and seen the softness in her eyes as she recalled the ten-year old Ash, the twenty-three year old Ash had to count to ten in his head before he could respond.

Why she had ever liked him was beyond his realm of rational thinking.

He saved her at summer camp when she was lost in the dark Forrest alone with no one and support. Then, he came at the right time like a superhero coming to save the town from disaster. Although, the reason why Ash had a crush on her, wasn't the looks. It was the hug, when he lifts her up from the ground which made her fall on to him. Inside he felt the sensation and a warm feeling.

Through camp, They would play together, laugh together and be friends.

This revelation had started a tingling in the very pit of his gut, as though someone were tickling him with a feather. And he couldn't put a finger on these new emotions that surfaced every time those sea-blue eyes and silky honey blond hair popped into his mind.

As he walked, he started to really ponder over the situation he had managed to get himself into. When he had first entered Serena's store last Friday, he had no intention of being set up with someone through her service. In fact, he hadn't really had much intention past saying hello to an old friend from camp to elementary.

But now, it seemed as though things had spiraled a bit out of his hands. He was talking to a woman who was serious about finding her match while having mixed feelings for the one who set them up. All the while, he realized he was lying to both women about who he really was.

And Ash had even told Serena that he was an honest man.

Ash deeply sighed. If this got out, it would stir up the old savages from work. They would turn this white lie into some scandal and make it appear that he was unfit for his position at O.T.O. which is what they'd been trying to do since he graduated.

Man, this must be my worst punishment, Ash thought despondently in a low spirit as he climbed aboard the train to take him to Clemont's stop and having not the slightest idea of how to wrangle his way out of the potential future mess.

What can he do? tell the truth to reveal his identity? Or keep the lie?.