Serena's POV
almost end of last period (03:20pm)
Art with Miss Cynthia:

May, Dawn and I already finished our projects and Miss Cynthia never cared if we talked, so we spend the whole class talking. I told them everything what happened with Ash. "WHAAAT!?" they both exclaimed in unison, so I motioned with my hand to calm down a little. "Psshhh!" I shushed them down. "Are you serious?!" May asked and I nodded in response. "Omg you're so lucky. You're chatting with the hottest boy alive!" Dawn exclaimed.

"It's not like that" I told them, but they didn't look like they believed me. "Yeah, sure." Dawn said sarcastically. "No, I swear it's not like that. Looking at it logically, he could do way better than me." I started, but they just looked at each other and then back to me. "Honey... its time to wake up." May said, but I had no idea what she was talking about. Dawn sensed my cluelessness and added: "Serena, this is going to be very shocking news, so be ready for this information. You're cute, so do me a favor and shut up, kindly."

"I'm a lot of things, Dawn, a lot of things, but definitely not cute!" I told them, but they both shook their heads. Dawn put her hand on my shoulder. "I know, Sere, I know, the truth hurts, but accept it." she said sarcastically and I punched her playfully. "You're impossible. Both of you." I said and they giggled.

——school end——

When I arrived at the main gate, Ash was already waiting there. His hands were in his pockets and he leaned up against a wall. When he saw me, he pushed himself off of it, his hands still in his pockets, and smiled.

"Hey." I greeted him. "Hey." he greeted me back. "So, why did you want to talk?" I asked and he shrugged. "Oh, to be honest I just needed an excuse for you to come. I don't particularly have a good reason." he answered with a smile.

"You're cute." he said, and in response, I gave him a thanks-for-the-compliment-but-I'm-not face in combination with a tint of pink on my cheeks. „By the way, I thought about it, and if you want to, I could help you with your chores." he said with his toothy grin, while I stared at him wide eyed. "What?" I asked, not believing he actually just said that. "I said 'I could help you.'" he repeated himself.

"I-I don't know if that's such a good idea. Palermo is gonna kill me when she finds out." I told him, but he didn't seem to care. Instead, he leaned a bit forward and whispered: "Well, only if she finds out, Serena. "

I stepped a few steps backwards. "I'd really like some help, really, but I can't get in trouble." I told him. He came a bit closer again. I took a few steps back and bumped into a wall with my back, no room to escape. We were just a few inches away from each other. I pressed myself against the wall, hoping I could break it and build up the distance again, but, of course, I couldn't.

"Why are you trying to run away?" he asked. His look was playful, what made me realize he was playing games with me. My fear was amusing him. "Why are you closing the distance?" I asked. His look didn't change. He still had a playful, but also hot grin on his face. Suddenly, I felt two energies in myself. One was pulling me to him, one was pushing me away. One was making me want to hug him, one was making me want to run away. I didn't know which one to trust, so I just stood still, paralyzed.

"I don't know. Feels right." he said, his hot, minty breath gliding on my flushed cheeks. "Why?" I asked. Suddenly, he pulled one of his hands out of his pocket and cupped my cheek with it, stroking his thumb over it gently. We didn't loose eye contact at all. I didn't even flinch after the sudden contact, just looked deep in his eyes. It was strange.

The urge to come closer was taking over my body, so I relaxed a bit, not pressing so hard against the wall anymore, but I didn't come closer. "You know why." he almost whispered, like he knew what was blooming inside of me, feeling a deep connection. Now, he was stroking my hair behind my ear, coming closer to whisper something in it.

"You feel why."

His hot breath tickling down my cooled neck, making me shiver a bit. The connection I felt was almost paranormal. It felt like gravity didn't exist anymore, like we had our own kind of gravity, but I didn't even really know him. Why was he making me feel that way? What was happening? I knew him for just a few days! This is wrong, but incredibly right at the same time. This feeling was almost painful.

As he backed up again, his lips brushed my cheek a bit, accidentally. Yet, they were smooth and warm on my cheek, and the touch made me shiver again. There was a distance between us, but I don't know if I was glad he wasn't close anymore, or sad. I couldn't say anything, just look at him. I don't even know how I looked, I just looked at him, trying to figure out what was happening. "Cat got your tongue?" he asked with a toothy grin. I couldn't say anything, but was able to control my muscles a bit, so I shook my head, even though that was a lie.

"Why don't you say anything then?"

I shrugged

"That much of an effect on you, huh?"

I finally came back to senses and was able to answer, even though my voice was shaky.

"A bit." I answered shakily, what made him laugh a bit. "Sorry, but if I stay longer, I'm gonna be a head shorter tomorrow." I told him. "'Kay then, text you later?" he asked and I nodded in response with a slide smile on my face. "Bye." I said. "Bye." he said back. After that, I went to my bike, almost feeling the looks of Ash on my body.

———1 1/2 hours later———

So, I already got my to-do list from Palermo and it's long. Very long.

_________________________
To-Do
-clean living room
-clean bathroom
-clean pool house
-clean Miettes room
-bake something (idc what)

Finish: 10:00 pm______________

I could never finish this. Never till 10:00 pm. Palermo is gonna kill me. She's gonna kill me. Seriously though, I don't want to be kicked out again. That's too stressful. If only I had some help.

I mean, Ash did offer his help.

No I can't do that. I can't text him

Yes I can.

No I can't.

Yes I can.

No.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

Ugh.

Time found an end as I argued with myself. I lost myself in my mind, in a new one of my countless arguments I already had with myself . Just at that moment, my phone buzzed. Someone texted me. It was him.

Him: What's on your agenda?

Me: *photo of list*

Him: Oh jesus

Me: I'm dead

Him: yuuup, except...

Me: I can't accept ur help

Him: ofc you can

Me: you don't have to do that

Him: I owe it to you

Me: Why?

Him: I've been a dick to you a few days ago.

Me: Oh, that... yeah, you have, but you apologized so it's okay, as long as you don't laugh about it again

Him: I won't, promise. And no, it's not okay. Even tho you accept my apology, I feel like I owe you something and I hate
owing people, so please let me help you

Me: Fine, but for the protocol, not because I need help, because you reaaaally wanted to

Him: Deal. Gonna be there in 10 minutes

Me: K

I just hope I won't regret this.

OMG I CAN'T STOP WRITING! THE WORDS JUST FLOW OUT OF ME! (SORRY IF THAT SOUNDED DISGUSTING!)

Btw, Ik this isn't my beeest chapter, but I really wanted an Amourshipping moment! And I hope you liked it :) Tbh, while writing the story, I really think Ash and Serena come too close too fast, but then I'm like 'DUUUH, THEY'RE SOULMATES! AND THATS A FANFIC SO YOU CAN EXAGGERATE A BIIIIT'

Idk, what do you mean

<3