ASH 

Ash's chocolate orbs found the honey blonde that seemed quite lost. The hospital staff had taken May in their care and she was left alone, standing in bewilderment. She completely looked out of place, with her dirt splashed clothes [that looked old enough] and rain drenched hair compared to the classy aristocratic families of France. 

The auburn-eyed man filed up the formalities and glanced at Serena. He decided to walk over to her and tried to strike up a decent conversation after what had happened. She heard his approaching presence and looked up, her eyes and cheeks red from crying. 

Even though Ash was sure that he had a friendly demeanor, he could feel that Serena's guard was up as she eyed him with utmost suspicion. From what Serena had learnt - it was a give and take world. She couldn't trust him so soon. 

"I am sorry for your friend" Ash mumbled, ruffling his hair lightly as an awkward silence hung over them. Serena bit her lips and narrowed her eyes as she tried to read his intentions. But Ash was himself conflicted about what to do next. Should he let his mother know? No shıt sherlock; if he does that then he is totally dead. So instead, he decided to call the only person that would understand ─ Drew. 

"I will be outside. Call me if needed" he told her in a gentle yet direct voice. Before Serena could ask him anything, he walked away with the phone in his hand. He took out his contact list and called up Drew since he was the most sensible and logical person in his friend circle. Besides, he always had good advices and right now, Ash desperately needed one for the mess that he had trapped himself into.

"Whats up, Ash?" Drew's voice came from the other end. It sounded a bit too cheerful to the raven haired man, contrasting with the situation he was into at the moment. 

"Hey, Drew. You need to listen to the trouble I had gotten myself into" Ash breathed out in desperation as he started to narrate what had occurred in the last previous hour from the very beginning.

 SERENA 

Serena had plopped on one of the uncomfortable silver benches of the hospital instead of the comfy and homey couches that were there. Her back was hurting but she felt that her dirty clothes would ruin the fabric and she definitely didn't wanted to think how much it will cost to wash it. She was already neck deep in trouble and from the looks of the hospital, she could only imagine the money that they would want to suck out of her in the name of treatment.

Serena frowned as she looked out of the glass window. The rain had became calmer but the honey blonde just stared at it in desolation, knowing well that it would rain harder again. She heaved a sigh, muttering to herself the old phrase that she had heard. "The calm before the storm, huh? Just what more are to come in my life, I wonder" 

She cupped her cheeks in her pale hands, suddenly feeling a churning homesickness for her orphanage. The same, old and caged up place that she had wanted to be free from. But now that she thought about it, was this kind of freedom really worth the life of her bestfriend? Certainly not but even if she actually wants to go back, who would accept them? For the first time, Serena had felt so helpless. 

Clutching the hem of her frayed skirt, she glared daggers into it as she tried to shut down the mental fight that was going on in her head. The number of Palermo was clearly in her mind but her pride refused to get swallowed, for in the end she knew that most probably the old woman would laugh at her and decline to help them. 

"Are you okay?" A soft and steady female voice intervened her thoughts as Serena nearly jumped out of her skin at being so unexpectedly startled like that. In front of her stood a woman in her late 20's with pale blue eyes and striking pink hair which were obviously dyed in an uptight bun. Serena internally took note of the weird hair colour but decided to comment against it. 

She was definitely a nurse from the looks of her uniform. A batch was stapled on her and Serena squinted her eyes. The nurse chuckled at her cuteness before gesturing at the badge. "My name is Joy, sweetheart. Everyone calls me Nurse Joy. What about you?"

"Oh, its very nice to meet you" Serena blushed a bit and polietly stood up. "My name is Serena and I am actually here because my friend is being treated right now" 

Nurse Joy frowned, giving an interrogating look to the shorter blonde. The minor cuts and scratches that Serena had got from sitting at the roads were brightly visible with dried blood clotting them. "But, sweetheart, you look like that you also need to be tended -" 

"I am fine!" Serena quickly interjected as she gave a small and nervous smile. She didn't wanted to spend more money than she could actually afford but she also didn't wanted to say that out loud. The pink haired woman raised a brow but let it pass as she smiled.

"If you say so. Say, whats your friend's name?" she asked, turning around and walking as Serena mentally debated whether to follow her or not. But when the older woman threw her a glance, Serena knew that she was expected to follow the nurse to wherever she was going. So thats what the honey blonde did. 

"May Maple is her name" Serena answered while trying her level best to keep up with the nurse's fast pace. All she got was a nod in response as they soon arrived to what looked to Serena as the reception. Her eyes widened and her hands started to nervously tremble. Was Nurse Joy going to ask her for the money? But she was broke, for crying out loud. 

The nurse took a seat and switched on her computer, pale blue eyes scanning the screen. Serena's heart sped up as she could already feel the sweat on her palms. She prayed that they wouldn't throw her out after knowing that she has no money to pay. Or worse, they can ask her to take May along. 

"Ah, here it is. She is in room 301 and her medication fee is 57.8 euros for now. She would have to stay here for a few more days but the payment for that would be taken after her discharge. Say, would you like to use cash or card, sweetheart?" Nurse Joy's eyes swept to the young woman as she gave a her a kind grin that Serena anticipated would soon vanish. Her lips quivered as she struggled to think of something. 

"By cash" Ash simply stated as he walked back in. Nurse Joy seemed to be surprised for a second before she gave him a polite and acquainted smile. 

"Mr Ketchum, its a surprise to see you. Are you this young lady's boyfriend? Pardon me if I am wrong though" she questioned sweetly. Serena raised a brow at that. How could Nurse Joy compare herself to being the girlfriend of someone as reputed as the man in front of her? While she was in her dirty and patched up clothes that were being recycled from three years, he stood in his black coat and confident attitude. 

"She is not my girlfriend" Ash dismissed as he handed her the said money like it was mere paper. Nurse Joy grinned but said nothing further as she looked at Serena who could only smile back bashfully while hiding her puzzlement.  

"You can meet your friend, if you like. Although I suppose that she could possibly be unconscious at the moment. However, that is upto you. Now I must get to work. Lovely to make your acquaintance, Serena" the pink haired woman waved with her unwavering smile as she turned to resume her work after the honey blonde had given her a vibrant smile.  

Ash suddenly grabbed Serena's wrist gently [as she unintentionally flinched], while he dragged her to an empty corridor. The honey blonde wanted to pull back but a part of her felt that it was better to let him start talking first. They stopped walking and Ash turned his contemplating gaze on her. Serena awkwardly stared back at him until she started feeling uncomfortable under his focused look. 

She shifted a bit as Ash seemed to be waken up from his trance. He looked at her in an apologetic way. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable" 

"Its okay" she responded rather timidly for no obvious reason. She had no idea about what to talk about and the scene from back at the café was enough to make her cheeks turn a scarlet red. It was too much embarrassing. Taking a deep breath, she finally found her lost composure as she lifted her eyes to meet his. "What do you want in return?" 

"Huh?" Ash tilted his head at the blunt and out of the blue question. Serena scoffed at his oblivious nature before clearing what she meant.

"I mean, what do you want in exchange for helping us? But before you ask, let me tell you that I am practically homeless and broke because I got fired from my job. I also don't think I can return your money back to you" Serena finished her rant and slumping back on the seat with reddened cheeks as she placed her head in her hands, exasperation and defeat radiating off her.

Ash sighed, feeling sympathy for her and a gnawing guilt in his heart. He still refused to let the blonde know about the truth because he couldn't bring himself too and knowing the fact that she was already suffering so much only brought him more guilt. His mind drifted back to the idea that Drew had suggested. 

"He is right. Maybe I should offer her a temporary position in my office. That way it wouldn't even be unfair to my current employees and perhaps, then it might also reduce the guilt I am feeling" he sighed to himself in a barely audible voice and cleared his throat lightly to attract Serena's attention. She looked up at him wearily. 

"I don't need anything from you. Instead, I would like to offer you a temporary position in my office. I suppose you don't have any major qualifications considering that you were working in a café after all but I do hope that you have actually studied upto highschool?" Ash questioned, oblivious to the offended look that Serena shot him. But that was covered up soon with confusion. 

"Yes, I have but why would you want to offer me a job?" she couldn't get what this man was trying to do. He seemed harmless but that still didn't change the fact that he was willing to give a job to a stranger like her in such a prestigious company; one for which people would die to work for. 

"Not again. Why do you keep coming back to square one?" Ash huffed out, crossing his arms over his chest. "I just want to help you. My fault or not, you were kicked out of your job only because I had intervened. I also would like to mention that since your friend would be in the hospital for some time, you can stay in the guest room of my penthouse until you find yourself an apartment to rent" 

Serena gaped at him and his generous offer. She wanted to jump and take the offer up in a heartbeat but restrained herself from doing something stupid. Her mind raced with thoughts as she tried to process each one of them. 

"Well, what do you say?" Ash urged, his enchanting auburn eyes on her as the honey blonde briskly pulled herself from staring at them. They were spell-binding and somewhat hypnotizing. Brown color eyes were common but his weren't entirely brown. They were splendidly blended in a perfect mix of chocolate and gold. 

"I will think about it. Can you give me this night to consider it?" Serena forced out, still not looking his way. Ash frowned slightly at her answer but decided against pressuring her. He nodded in understanding. 

"Thats okay but are you sure you want to spend your night here in the hospital? You can come with me if you like or if you don't feel comfortable to stay at my house then I can arrange your stay at the nearby hotel" Ash suggested, a bit concerned for the woman who gave an obstinate shake of head.

"I will be fine, thankyou" Serena said. Ash frowned again. He stuffed his hand into his pocket and took out his card and a wrapped up sandwich he had brought for himself earlier as a quick snack. He had thought of eating it in the meeting break session that he was supposed to attend. He groaned slightly. 

"Okay then. Here, take my number if you consider the offer and you can eat this too" he said, handing Serena the sandwich and his card. She took them from his sun-kissed hands and looked at it as a small smile graced her features. She looked up to thank the man for his kindness when she realized that he was no longer standing there. 

She frowned but let the smile take over her lips again.