chapter three

After realizing their dorm wasn't downstairs, stair by stair, Serena, and her Fennekin walked up to the second story, dragging their items with them.

"My goodness, Fen," Serena looked up at the ceiling, throwing her suitcase back in front of her, "remind me to never do that ever again."

A simple request. Fennekin nodded.

They walked down the halls, a stench resembling lilacs and roses consuming the halls.

"They don't call it a luxury dorm for nothing," Serena breathed, looking down at the carpet and following its abstract, colorful pattern.

Fennekin barked, "Kin!"

"Huh?" Serena looked back at her Pokémon.

The Pokémon nudged its head into one of the doors of the halls.

Serena lifted her head and stared over at the doorframe of the door Fennekin leaned on. Seeing the number on the door, she looked back at her card. "Fifty-six... yep. This is it. Thank you, Fennekin." She edged closer toward the door and knocked before running into the room. After all, she didn't want to walk in on her new roommate.

"You ready, Fennekin?" Serena asked.

"Fenne!"

Serena pulled the hair dangling at her side behind her ear. "Good to hear," she laughed. "I bet our roommate will enjoy you lots... I bet it's gonna be a sweet girl... she'll be our best frien-"

A pair of sneakers appeared behind Serena's fire type Pokémon; the door had opened. "Hello?" A voice asked. It wasn't exactly a masculine voice, but it definitely wasn't feminine.

Serena looked up, her eyes scrolling past his noticeably recognizable outfit.

"Do you need anything?" He asked, passing her a smile when their eyes finally met.

Brown eyes, she thought. Nothing special. But she couldn't help but continue to stare at them.

"H-hi," she waved at her new roommate. "I'm sorry, but..." realization struck. "Wait a minute! You're the guy who jumped off the porch of this building!"

"Oh, you saw that?" Ash pushed his fingers underneath his cap and through his unkempt hair. He chuckled. "Didn't think anyone was there to see. Oh, well. You won't Rat me out, will you?"

"You're lucky I didn't Rattata your ass, actually." Serena pulled at the handle of her suitcase and pushed right through Ash, pushing him back against the door. "I had the opportunity, should've taken it- wait, unless you aren't my roommate. Are you my roommate?"

"Woah, slow down. You can't just push me aside and walk into this place like that... wait- what? Roommate?"

"So this isn't your dorm?" She threw her suitcase next to the couch set in front of the TV.

"Uh, no." Ash left the door open and walked up towards Serena. "This is my dorm and I'd like for you to at least respect my living space."

"You're joking right?" Serena facepalmed. "Of all the people- and don't get me started on your 'living space'. Looks like it needs me more than anything! You don't respect this place one bit. Look at this!" Serena extended her arm and gestured toward the carpet and area around the small living room before her eyes locked on the small kitchen area. "Oh my Arceus! For heaven's sake, what kind of roommate was I given!" Plates were stacked, a dozen cups were left on the counter unclean; the entire place was crowded and clustered.

Pikachu popped up from behind the couch and slowly trotted on over toward the guest. His cheeks flared as she looked up at her. "Pika!"

"Oh?" Serena turned around and looked over at the electric mouse Pokémon, immediately being filled with admiration. "How cute!...How could you ever own a Pokémon so cute?!" She pet Pikachu between the ears and Pikachu squeaked in glee.

"Excuse me? I think this is all moving a little too quickly." Ash walked over toward his Pokémon and called for him, but Pikachu didn't move. "Pikachu, come on, don't get used to this. We're not having her stay here."

"What do you mean by that?" Serena stood back up and placed her hands on her hips.

"I mean I'm gonna go talk to the front office and get this situated. I'm not gonna have a girl as a roommate."

Fennekin walked over toward Pikachu and wagged her tail, staring at him until he noticed her.

"Good. I don't want a guy as a roommate either." Serena crossed her arms and watched as Ash walked toward the door with his card, used as the key, in his hand.

"I'll see you once all of this is changed; don't set up any of your crap," Ash rolled his eyes, getting ready to close the door. "Come on, Pikachu."

Pikachu rolled around on the floor with Fennekin, not even bothering to pick up his head.

"Pikach- you know what? Forget it. I'll do this myself." And with that, Ash stepped outside and shut the door.

Serena shook her head and looked back over at the two Pokémon that continued to jump around and pounce on one another. "Can you believe him?" Serena tried to ask Fennekin. Neither of them responded. She sighed and turned back over to the door to vent to herself. "That boy... How rude! He left so quickly for what? So he doesn't have to deal with me!? I don't even know his name yet, for goodness sakes!" She looked around. "I doubt he'll get back here just as quickly though..." She spent more time staring at the mess surrounding her. "Might as well be nice and clean up this place." She tried to pull a smiled. It ended up only as an awkward smirk. Another sigh.